Why Chinese transformers are in high demand globally

09:56, March 20, 2026 By Ding Yiting ( People's Daily

A technician conducts quality inspections on transformer cores at a workshop of Chint, a globally renowned leader in smart energy solutions, in Shanghai. (Photo/Cai Bin)

Transformers, seemingly unremarkable devices, have recently become highly sought-after products worldwide.

According to China's General Administration of Customs, China's transformer exports exceeded 64.6 billion yuan ($9.29 billion) in 2025, up nearly 36 percent year on year. The average export price per unit reached about 205,000 yuan, roughly 1/3 higher than the previous year.

Many transformer manufacturers already have full order books, with some orders for data-center applications scheduled to run through 2027.

What drives this strong global demand for Chinese transformers? The most immediate factor is surging international need.

Developed economies such as Europe and the United States are upgrading aging power grids. Meanwhile, emerging markets face rising electricity consumption and increasing shares of clean energy power generation, accelerating investment in grid infrastructure. Concurrently, the rapid expansion of overseas computing infrastructure, including data centers, further fuels demand. These converging trends propel the growth of China's transformer exports.

With numerous companies worldwide competing in this expanding market, why has China emerged as the world's top transformer producer? Three key words hold the answer. Together, they explain not only why Chinese transformers are selling well, but also the deeper logic behind the global competitiveness of Chinese manufacturing sector.

First, "speed" -- made possible by a highly integrated industrial chain.

The competitiveness of a product depends not only on the product itself but also on the industrial ecosystem behind it. China has established the world's most comprehensive transformer manufacturing system, encompassing everything from raw materials like copper and aluminum to critical components such as transformer cores and on-load tap changers. This system accounts for roughly 60% of global production capacity.

Close coordination between upstream and downstream industries, together with a highly controllable supply chain, allows Chinese companies to respond rapidly to changes in demand. Their delivery times are often far shorter than those of European and American manufacturers, whose lead times typically range from 18 months to two years.

The advantages of a complete industrial system extend beyond transformers. In robotics, for example, China has steadily developed a comprehensive supporting ecosystem, from high-precision reducers and high-performance servo systems to intelligent controllers. Robots fully manufactured in the Yangtze River Delta now use 100 percent domestic core components, reducing costs by about 40 percent. In 2025, China's exports of industrial robots exceeded imports for the first time.

Industrial competition cannot rely on isolated efforts. By leveraging its industrial scale and well-established supporting industries, China has built secure and efficient industrial and supply chains, enabling its enterprises to thrive in the global market and securing the strong foundation of Chinese manufacturing.

Second, "adaptability" -- the ability to accurately identify and respond to market demand.

Innovation is reflected not only in technological upgrades but also in products that dynamically adapt to market needs. To satisfy environmental standards in European and American markets, Chinese companies have developed vegetable-oil transformers. For data center applications, they have designed solid-state transformers that occupy less space while offering higher efficiency. By focusing on market requirements and addressing specific customer needs through specialized and customized production, China's transformer industry has grown rapidly.

Technicians test new energy transformers at a workshop in Hefei, east China's Anhui province, before the equipment is delivered to customers. (Photo/Zhao Ming)

Some foreign businesspeople remark that Chinese entrepreneurs have an exceptionally sharp eye for market opportunities: wherever demand appears, Chinese suppliers are often among the first to respond.

In the small appliance sector, multifunctional heaters, capable of warming a room on all sides while heating tea on top, have become popular in Japan and South Korea. In heavy machinery, cranes equipped with desert tires and special fire-extinguishing systems have gained popularity in Middle Eastern markets. These examples illustrate a simple principle: following the market and responding to demand can open wider global opportunities for Chinese manufacturers.

Third, "reliability" -- supported by the vast and diverse application scenarios of Chinese market.

Application scenarios are valuable and often scarce resources for innovation. China's domestic projects, from power grid upgrades to the construction of computing infrastructure, have provided transformer companies with real-world testing grounds to overcome technological challenges. Over the past five years, the State Grid Corporation of China has completed and put into operation "Eight AC and Eight DC" ultra-high-voltage (UHV) transmission projects, helping the country secure technological leadership in UHV transmission and intelligent transformers.

Diverse domestic scenarios, ranging from urban governance to logistics networks, are spurring the rapid development of low-altitude economy. Challenging environments such as high-altitude regions, deserts, Gobi and barren areas, and low-wind-speed zones have pushed wind power companies to develop customized technological solutions.

China's enormous market size and rich application scenarios allow products to be tested extensively at home before entering international markets, ensuring both reliability and practicality.

Amid the uncertainties of a rapidly changing external environment, it is precisely these strengths -- solid industrial foundations, strong innovation momentum and scenario-based advantages -- that give Chinese companies the confidence to compete on the global stage.

They also highlight an important lesson: regardless of shifting market trends, companies that strengthen their capabilities, sharpen their competitiveness and continuously drive industrial upgrading will be well positioned to succeed in the long run.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Between buildup and bottleneck -- Washington's narrowing path in war with Iran

Xinhua) 15:26, March 23, 2026

CAIRO, March 22 (Xinhua) -- The United States is deploying additional troops and warships to the Middle East even as its president, Donald Trump, suggested a possible "winding down" of strikes against Iran.

Analysts say the ongoing military buildup highlights how steep an uphill battle Washington faces in the war with Iran. With growing rifts between the United States and its allies, and the spread of anti-war sentiment fueled by the conflict's spillover, Washington is navigating a narrower path in continuing this war.

ELUSIVE GOALS

Media reports on Friday suggested that about 2,500 more U.S. Marines are being deployed to the Middle East, along with extra naval vessels, including the USS Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

This adds to an earlier deployment of 2,500 Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, which moved from Japan to the region aboard the USS Tripoli.

The Pentagon has also reportedly prepared detailed operational plans for potential ground missions in Iran. A Thursday report by Reuters said Washington is considering deploying thousands of U.S. troops to secure the Strait of Hormuz and potentially target Iran's Kharg Island, which handles about 90 percent of the country's oil exports.

The U.S. Capitol building is seen in Washington D.C., the United States, on Sept. 30, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)

Analysts suggest that the sustained military buildup reflects the difficulty Washington faces in achieving its initial objectives. The U.S. mission, they say, now appears focused on securing the Strait of Hormuz and potentially occupying or blockading Kharg Island, which would require a sustained ground presence and pose significant risks.

The National Interest, an American bimonthly international relations magazine, said Thursday that the U.S. military presence in the region has become a strategic liability, with Iran's attacks on U.S. bases having killed multiple U.S. service members, impaired at least 17 U.S. sites, and damaged equipment worth billions of dollars.

"The recent U.S. troop buildup reflects a combination of deterrence and damage control rather than strategic success. Washington is trying to reassert control over a rapidly evolving regional landscape," Akram Atallah, a Gaza-based Palestinian political analyst, told Xinhua.

Washington "is being pulled deeper due to the widening scope of confrontation and the inability of its allies to decisively shift the balance on the ground," Atallah noted.

Washington's "expectation of a swift war has failed," commented Mohammed Zakaria Aboudahab, a professor of public law and political science at Morocco's Mohammed V University.

Meanwhile, its "coalition escort" plan for the Strait of Hormuz has received no takers, reflecting U.S. allies' attempt to seek alternative solutions based on their own economic interests, and the limitations of U.S. mobilization capacity on the international stage, he told Xinhua.

GROWING DIVERGENCES

As the United States and Israel continue their strikes against Iran, the two allies are increasingly revealing their differences over the conduct of the war and its objectives, despite their verbal show of unity.

People attend a funeral ceremony in Tehran, Iran, March 18, 2026. People in large numbers attended a funeral ceremony in the Iranian capital Tehran Wednesday for the crew members of a frigate sunk by the United States as well as one the country's top security officials and a high-ranking military commander killed in Israeli attacks. (Xinhua/Shadati)

One crack appeared when Israel struck an Iranian energy facility earlier in the week. On Wednesday, Israel struck Iran's South Pars offshore natural gas field in the Gulf, which Iran shares with Qatar.

Following the strike, Trump said that "the United States knew nothing about this particular attack," adding that no more attacks would be made by Israel on the natural gas field.

Responding to Trump's remarks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel had not informed the United States before the attack.

It marked the first public sign of potential divisions between the United States and Israel over the Iran war, after both countries had taken pains to project full coordination and no daylight on the war's timeline, causes and ongoing operations, said an article published by the Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz.

Citing senior U.S. officials, the article noted that the two countries have their own independent goals in the ongoing war. U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard also told a House Intelligence Committee hearing that "the objectives laid out by the president are different from the objectives laid out by the Israeli government."

Regional analysts and experts say the divergences reflect a growing gap in priorities, risk tolerance and long-term objectives between the two countries.

Atallah, the Palestinian political analyst, said that Israel tends to favor a more aggressive approach, including the possibility of targeting Iran's critical infrastructure, to weaken its regional influence and deterrence capabilities, while the United States is more cautious.

The analyst explained that striking Iran's energy facilities could trigger a broader regional war, disrupt global energy markets, and directly threaten U.S. interests in the region. However, Washington is trying to calibrate escalation, maintaining pressure without crossing thresholds that could lead to an uncontrollable conflict, he added.

A woman stands in front of damaged buildings in Tehran, Iran, March 12, 2026. (Xinhua/Shadati)

Other differences are likely regarding the scale and duration of military operations, said Jumaa Mohammed, a politics professor at Iraq's Tikrit University. "The United States generally seeks to avoid a broader regional war that could disrupt global markets and alliances, while Israel may prioritize longer-term strategic degradation of Iran's capabilities."

NARROWER MARGIN

Although the United States may find it difficult to achieve its short-term strategic goals, experts say that domestic politics, market disruptions and rising anti-war sentiment will limit its willingness to persist, leaving Washington in a strategic dilemma.

After the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, the shock waves soon reached global energy and financial markets. Oil prices shot up to nearly 120 U.S. dollars a barrel, shipping costs around the world went through the roof, and ordinary Americans also felt the pinch in their daily lives.

A CNN poll on Americans' views of the attacks showed that 59 percent disapproved of the war. Subsequent surveys, including a Reuters/Ipsos poll, also confirmed that the majority of Americans were opposed to the conflict.

With the U.S. midterm elections in November approaching, analysts say that public opinion at home could play a decisive role in whether Trump can continue pursuing the war.

"In the United States, electoral considerations will influence how far the administration is willing to engage militarily," said Oytun Orhan, a senior researcher at the Ankara-based Center for Middle Eastern Studies. "A prolonged conflict with rising economic costs could reduce domestic support."

People protest against U.S. military attack on Iran in New York, the United States, on March 2, 2026. (Photo by Zack Zhang/Xinhua)

The international community, including some U.S. allies, has also raised objections to a prolonged and escalating war in the region.

Amid disruptions to global energy markets and maritime routes, which are fueling prolonged regional instability, U.S. allies, particularly in Europe and the Gulf, are likely to push for de-escalation, putting further pressure on the United States, said Mokhtar Ghobashy, secretary-general of the Cairo-based El-Faraby Center for Political Studies.

"Taken together, these variables suggest that the United States is operating within a narrow margin," said Atallah.

"In this context, achieving clear and decisive objectives becomes difficult," he stressed. "The most likely outcome is not a definitive victory, but rather a managed containment of the conflict, with periodic escalations and temporary understandings rather than a comprehensive resolution."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
TENA introduces new men's reusable underwear designed to look and feel like regular boxers, helping men stay confident and in control without compromise.

PHILADELPHIA, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Essity, the global hygiene and health company behind the world-leading incontinence brand TENA, has announced the US launch of TENA Men's Washable Protective Boxers, a reusable underwear solution designed to provide discreet protection from drips and light bladder leaks without compromising on comfort or style.

Man wearing TENA washable boxers

These washable boxers provide reliable protection that looks and feels like everyday underwear. A discreet built-in pouch uses advanced textile technology to capture drips while remaining invisible under clothing, helping men stay dry and confident all day.

Made from 96% organic cotton and 4% elastane, the boxers are designed to offer a soft, breathable fit with built-in protection. The underwear is washable and reusable up to 100 times when washed at 104F, making it a practical option that can be washed with regular laundry.

Key features include:

High-performance protective pouch powered by advanced textile technology

Quick-dry top layer fabric designed to help keep skin dry

Dual absorption layers that capture and retain liquid in seconds

Leak-proof barrier layer to help keep liquid securely contained

Millions of men across America experience bladder leaks, yet many feel uncomfortable using traditional guards or disposable briefs due to stigma or visibility. TENA's washable protective boxers are designed to change that by providing a familiar underwear style with built-in protection, allowing men to go about their daily routines with greater confidence and peace of mind.

"This launch reflects our commitment to supporting men with solutions that prioritize dignity, comfort and performance," said Hazel Villarreal, Marketing Director for TENA North America. "With our new washable boxers, men no longer have to choose between protection and wearing underwear that feels normal. It's about helping them feel confident and supported in their everyday lives."

TENA Men's Washable Protective Boxers are available in sizes SXXXL and can be purchased exclusively online at: https://shop.tena.us/pages/washables.

Essity in North America

Essity employs nearly 3,700 employees across the United States and Canada. Its North American headquarters are in Philadelphia. In addition to Pennsylvania, Essity operates offices as well as manufacturing and distribution locations across the following U.S. states: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Kentucky, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin. In the U.S., Essity makes, sells and distributes professional hygiene products under the leading global brand Tork; personal care and incontinence products under the TENA brand; and medical solutionssuch as orthopedic, compression and wound-care productsfrom world-renowned trademarked brands such as Leukoplast, JOBST, Cutimed, Actimove and Delta-Cast.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2939070/TENA_Men_Project_Romeo.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2535031/TENA_Logo.jpg

SOURCE TENA
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Last Wednesday, a federal judge denied an asylum claim for the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, the five-year-old boy in the floppy blue bunny hat whose photo went viral when he was detained by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) earlier this year. Liam, whose family is appealing the ruling, became the face of President Donald Trumps immigration crackdown, and the detention facility where he and his father were held, Dilley Immigration Processing Center, quickly became the subject of increased scrutinyand reportingby ProPublica, New York, the Associated Press, the New York Times, the Texas Tribune, and the Marshall Project, among other publications.

The war in Iran, a brewing energy crisis, and fallout from the Epstein files have pushed immigration from the headlines since ICE agents killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti during protests in Minnesota in January. Early this month, Trump fired Kristi Noem, whose retaliatory and self-aggrandizing approach to running the Department of Homeland Security had grown increasingly controversial, and replaced her with Senator Markwayne Mullin. At his confirmation hearing last week, Mullin struck a milder tone, telling senators that his goal for the next six months will be that DHS isnt in the lead story every day.

Immigration reporters, meanwhile, have stayed remarkably focused on illuminating the dark corners of the US immigration system. Detention centers have always been black boxes, but during the second Trump administration they have become especially opaque, as Shannon Heffernan, a reporter at the Marshall Project who has been covering Dilley, the countrys only family detention facility, told me. Retaliation, or at least the threat of retaliation, means sources held there are often afraid to talk. Like many DHS facilities, Dilley is remote and difficult to get into. They choose these rural towns on purpose, Emily Gogolak, who reported on Dilley for The New Yorker around the time it opened, said. Data on who is there and why often doesnt add up: the Vera Institute, a nonprofit focused on criminal justice reform, notes that ICE often obscures the breadth of its detention network by reporting limited, incomplete statistics, and only for a fraction of facilities. The number of people in detention, including children, has increased sixfold since Trump retook office last year. Many journalists feel that while reporting on family detention has never been more difficult, its also never been more important.

Journalists on the immigration beat have navigated these challenges by thinking creatively: they have published letters and drawings from children in Dilley and used a drone to photograph a protest at the facility that would otherwise have been invisible to outsiders. Brenda Bazan, who photographed Dilley for the AP, told me she couldnt fly the drone overhead because the area within the perimeter of the detention center itself is restricted. (Picture an infinite line from the fence to the sky, Bazan said. I couldnt cross that.) So she made sure the drone hovered right outside the fence, as close to the imaginary line as she could get it. Many continue to rely on statistics from the Deportation Data Project, which gathers and publishes government data via public-records litigation.

When ICE arrested Estefany Rodriguez, a journalist who covers immigration in Nashville, on March 4, she too disappeared into the system. Though her lawyers knew where she was, they were only able to reach her ten days later. (She was also barely able to speak to her husband, according to court filings.) Rodriguez was eventually granted bond; she was released on Thursday. (A separate habeas case is ongoing in federal court.) When she finally spoke to her legal team, she cracked open the black box. She recounted being in isolation for five days after being searched for liceeven though a woman who combed out her hair didnt find anything. Later, she was forced to strip naked, she said, and an officer poured a chemical liquid she believed to be something used to clean floors over her scalp.

Information, even in the most tightly controlled settings, has a way of getting out. Much of the journalism published about Dilley in recent weeks outlines conditions like those Rodriguez described, which were included in a recent court filing. ProPublica noted that kids found worms and mold in their food; the AP recounted a detainees suicide attempt; the Times told the story of a toddler who was denied healthcare for weeks. Why is this happening to us? an eighteen-year-old girl asked, according to the Marshall Project. (In a statement, DHS broadly categorized these claims, naming the Times story in particular, as FALSE.)

Dilley, which is managed by a private prison operator called Core Civic, was inaugurated during the Obama administration, in December of 2014. Seven years later President Joe Biden closed it, but it resumed operations soon after Trump took office for the second time, in 2025. For Gogolak, who was one of the first to report on Dilley, access was already a problem. Though she no longer covers immigration, she has continued to follow the story. Over the years, she has found that Dilley, a former agricultural hub once known for growing as much as twenty-five million pounds of watermelon a year, always reappears in the public consciousness somehow.

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Mica Rosenberg, an investigative reporter at ProPublica, started reporting on Dilley in late 2025. She received mixed messages when she tried to organize a press visit, so when a spokesperson for ICE told her that she could go in as a visitor if the detainees she was talking to agreed, Rosenberg figured she should just go for it. While Rosenberg, unlike many reporters, saw the inside of the center, her work lets sources speak for themselves. Drawing from letters written by kids at Dilley, her story documents the detainees day-to-day concerns: waiting to get medicine when they are sick, feeling bored, not understanding why they are there, wanting to go home. In interviews, children told Rosenberg they missed McDonalds Happy Meals, their favorite stuffed animals, and their dogs.

The Trump administration often says it is arresting the worst of the worst, but when people see the drawings or see the videos, it doesnt fit with what a lot of people in the country might be behind, which is arresting violent criminals, Rosenberg said. For her piece, she talked to a Venezuelan child who was picked up outside a hospital in Portland, Oregon (her parents had applied for asylum), as well as with a teenager who was sent to Dilley after her father was charged with involvement in an anti-Semitic attack in Boulder, Colorado, among others. Whatever the circumstances of these kids arrests, its hard to argue that a child is a danger to society; reporting on family detention shows that theres a stark difference between what the administration says is their priority and who is being detained there, Rosenberg told me.

Valerie Gonzalez, who has covered Dilley for the AP and likewise used letters and drawings as part of her reporting, told me that the method helped her talk to kids in detention without retraumatizing them. Interviewing adult detainees posed its own challenges. There were some women who were just flat out not going to talk, and I told them, Thats fine, I completely understand, she said. Thats when I heard that they felt that they had been threatened. A source told Gonzalez that members of the staff at Dilley had said that if detainees spoke poorly about the conditions at the center, there would be a report filed that could negatively affect their immigration proceedings. If you are in that position, who are you to distrust what they are saying? Gonzalez said.

Its possible that the more light journalists shed on whats happening inside Dilley, the harder it will be to report on it. A few weeks ago, ProPublica published a follow-up to its first story, chronicling a clampdown at the detention center. The piece describes guards going through a detainees room: lifting up mattresses, opening drawers, rifling through papers. Their reasoning soon became clear enough: among the list of items seized were crayons and colored pencils.

Other Notable Stories 

On Friday, US District Court Judge Paul Friedman ruled that the Pentagons restrictions on press outlets violate the First and Fifth Amendments, siding with the New York Times, which sued the Defense Department in December. The restrictions, which were introduced in October, prohibited journalists from soliciting information not authorized for release by the Pentagon, even if it was unclassified. (CJRs Ivan L. Nagy, who has been covering the saga from the start, wrote about the lawsuit early this month.) The Times argued that the policy would deprive the public of vital information about the United States military and its leadership. Friedman agreed. 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, he wrote in his opinion. Later that day, Sean Parnell, the Pentagon spokesperson, said on X that the Trump administration plans to pursue an immediate appeal.

On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission approved Nexstars 6.2-billion-dollar deal to acquire Tegna, which will push its control of local stations above the existing federal cap. At least eight states, including New York and California, are suing to block what Letitia James, New Yorks attorney general, called an illegal merger that threatens the integrity of local coverage. For CJR, Kyle Paoletta previewed this decision in October, noting that Brendan Carr, the chair of the FCC, was using the public airwaves as a means to force the nations broadcasters into fealty to Donald Trump.

On Friday, Bari Weiss, the editor in chief of CBS News, and Tom Cibrowski, the networks president, sent a letter to employees announcing layoffs. They framed the decision as a strategic pivot: Its no secret that the news business is changing radically, and that we need to change along with it, they wrote. That means some parts of our newsroom must get smaller to make room for the things we must build to remain competitive. The layoffs come amid a broader pattern of job cuts at Paramount, CBSs parent company, since its takeover by David Ellisons Skydance.

Last week, the Wall Street Journals Alexandra Bruell profiled Patrick Soon-Shiong, the billionaire who in 2018 bought the Los Angeles Times. Soon-Shiong, who is pursuing a public offering for the media company, told Bruell he wants to turn it into a Murdoch-style family affair. Neither of his children, however, is currently involved. (His daughter Nika Soon-Shiong is the publisher of Drop Site News.) Meanwhile, Julia Turner, a Los Angeles Times alum, launched LA Material, a news outlet animated by an abiding obsession with what makes this city great and whats at stake when it falters. An independent nonprofit, LA Material is owned by its founders, founding employees, and a group of investors.

Following devastating cuts at the Washington Post in February, Robert Allbrittons digital publication NOTUSNews of the United Stateshas announced that it will hire a handful of well-known former Post journalists. The Guardians Jeremy Barr reported that the company plans to double its staff of fifty by the end of the year, a decision that Allbritton said was precipitated by the Post layoffs, which sped up the companys longstanding plans to grow.

Last week, the Kansas Reflector reported that a committee in the Kansas State Legislature is considering a bill that would criminalize unlawful approach of a first responder, which could affect journalists reporting on emergencies and breaking news. Violations could be punishable by up to a thousand dollars in fines and six months in jail.

Lisa Nandy, the UK culture secretary, announced plans to grant BBC leaderships demand for a permanent charter, a pivotal step toward securing the broadcasters integrity amid political pressure. For now, the charter must be renewed every ten years; the current one expires in 2027. As Reform UK, the Nigel Farageled far-right party that is highly critical of the BBC, gains ground ahead of the next general election, the move could save British public media from the fate of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and US Agency for Global Media.



And in a New Yorker piece published in this weeks print edition, David Remnick, the magazines editor, grapples with what the Pentagon policyas well as other attacks on the pressmean in light of the war in Iran. The cruellest irony, he wrote, is that the President who addresses the Iranian people in the language of liberation, urging them to throw off the yoke of a regime that has brutalized them for decades, is the same man who threatens American journalists with treason charges and tries to strong-arm broadcasters into subservience.
A Philadelphia man has been charged for his alleged role in a vehicle title-washing scheme involving dozens of stolen luxury vehicles valued at nearly $4 million, according to state police and prosecutors.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said an investigation revealed that Adam K. Richardson an authorized tag agent for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)  submitted to that state agency falsified paperwork connected to 65 stolen vehicles. The vehicles were given Pennsylvania titles, then sold by the persons who used Richardson for the illegal title washing service, according to prosecutors.

A PennDOT authorized tag agent is a private business contracted by PennDOT to provide vehicle title transfers, temporary tags, license renewals and other services as an alternative to official PennDOT DMV locations.

Nearly all of the involved vehicles were high-end brands, including a quarter-of-a-million-dollar Ferrari, several Mercedes and BMWs, and Cadillacs.

In all, investigators identified 65 vehicles  valued at more than $3.8 million  that were sold. They said nearly 40 vehicles have been recovered.

The scope and harm from this criminal enterprise went beyond cutting corners to obtain paperwork  many of these vehicles were sold to individuals who knew they were stolen, Sunday said. That is particularly concerning as washed vehicles provide criminals the means to move around and perpetrate crimes without being detected by law enforcement.

He said the investigation is ongoing and more charges could be filed in connection with the stolen vehicles.

The investigation began when the Pennsylvania State Police identified stolen vehicles and discovered they had been titled by Richardson. From there, state police partnered with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to launch a broader investigation, and, later, the Office of Attorney Generals Insurance Fraud Section.







The investigators said they learned that Richardson was known as the tag guy where individuals took vehicles they knew were stolen for title washing to be resold at huge profits. Richardson was paid a fee to wash the titles.

Criminal charges are merely allegations and Richardson is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Floridas $833 million My Safe Florida Home mitigation program is as popular as ever, providing grants for homeowners to harden their homes and install new roofs. But its wasteful, is a tax-dollar giveaway, and has some glaring issues that do little to reduce insurance costs, a state lawmaker has charged.

Were not really fortifying homes by putting on a new roof, said Florida state Rep. Brian Hodgers, R-Viera. An old roof is a maintenance item, not an insurance matter.

Hodgers, one of two insurance agents in the Legislature, filed a bill this year that would have revamped the My Safe Florida Home program by allowing roof replacement matching grants only if a homeowners existing roof fails to meet state building code standards. Program inspectors also would have to verify, under penalty of perjury, that grant-recipient homes have been properly retrofitted.

Hodgers said he has seen examples and heard stories of roofs funded by the program that do not include a crucial, secondary, water-tight membrane under the shingles. Some unscrupulous contractors simply tape over the seams between the plywood decking sheets, he contends. (Hodgers said he is not referring to the increasingly popular, green-colored ZIP sheathing system that has a membrane built in and is approved by code.)

Florida building codes and the safe home program require either the self-adhering peel and stick membrane across the entire roof decking, or taped seams along with felt or similar nailed-down underlayment.

But once a roof installation is completed, its difficult for inspectors to see if what, if any membrane is present, Hodgers and others noted. A Florida home inspector and a roofing contractor said that on almost every roof job they have seen, workers have installed a secondary membrane. But they agreed that most contractors dont provide photographs of roof work in progress.

The My Safe Florida Home, which has provided more than 32,000 grants over the last few years, many of those for new roofs, is managed by the state Department of Financial Services. Officials there did not fully respond to requests for information, other than to acknowledge that it can be difficult for inspectors to verify the presence of a secondary water barrier. While home inspectors are supposed to enter a homes attic and look in the seams between the plywood roof decking, a membrane is not always obvious.

The mitigation program encourages but does not require photographs of roof jobs.

For the installation of a SWB (secondary water barrier) to be considered for grant funding, applicants must show proof that the SWB was put in the right way, the programs website notes. It is also a good idea to take photos during the work 

Another issue: The program is predicated on allowing premium discounts for homeowners with stronger roofs. But most Florida insurers provide only minimum credits for new roofs. As an insurance agent, Hodgers has access to much of that information. His analysis showed an average annual premium discount of just $18 after new roofs were installed.

Theres a better way, Hodgers said: Ditch the roof grants altogether. By slashing grants for roofs, the program could provide millions more in funding for improvements that would better reduce insured losses and claims, such as impact-resistant windows and doors, and roof-to-wall connections, Hodgers said.

His bill to that effect, House Bill 1359, saw little action in this years legislative session, which ended last week except for negotiations on a state budget plan. But Hodgers hopes his concerns can generate enough interest to revive the bill next year.

Hes not the only one with worries about the program, despite its nation-leading funding and a big backlog of applicants. One home inspector explained that under the My Safe Florida Home regulations, candidate homes are inspected to see if they may qualify for a grant. After retrofit work is completed, the house is inspected again.

But if it fails that inspectionthats it. Theres no option for a third inspection to see if an issue has been corrected. The grant funding is nullified, said Glenn Stephens, a home inspector, roofing contractor and president of the Florida Association of Building Inspectors.

Its a tough break for the homeowner when that happens, he told Insurance Journal.

The quirk in the rules can leave homeowners and contractors at a significant lossup to $10,000 in some cases. Some contractors could even face lawsuits from irate homeowners who missed out on the expected grant mitigation funding, said Mike Silvers, director of technical services for the Florida Roofing and Sheetmetal Contractors Association.

As a contractor, you need to be concerned about that, Silvers said.

Stephens said that if homes are rejected for a grant after a second inspection, homeowners should work with the contractor to have the problem corrected, then hire another inspector to document the corrections, and appeal to the program.

A bill that passed the Legislature this year, SB 1452, tweaked some eligibility requirements for the My Safe Florida Home program. But it did not address the need for a third inspection. Rejected applicants would be able to reapply for grants, but only after two years, the bill reads.

Even without legislation, some significant regulatory changes are just around the corner. After months of consideration and workshops, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation recently updated the Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form, which property insurers use to determine premium discounts and credits. The new form, seen here with the changes underlined, takes effect April 1, with more detailed questions about mitigation work done on a house.

For the first time, the form asks not only if a new roof system includes a secondary membrane, but what type: a self-adhering underlayment; tape on the seams; or a double layer of felt or synthetic underlayment. The form also allows an inspector to note if the membrane is missing, or if it is unknown or undetermined.

Those choices allow a greater range of discounts, as determined by insurers, but they introduce a number of issues that contractors and inspectors are still learning about, Stephens and Silvers said.

Bringing significant change to the My Safe Florida Home program may be an uphill battle. Insurance carriers have supported it, and have clamored for newer roofs across Florida for years. The Florida governor and homeowners also have expressed strong support for the program, with lawmakers providing another round of funding in 2025. And academic experts have praised the plan, arguing that wind mitigation is the key to reducing claims and the cost of claims.

Still, Hodgers and Stephens hope the program can be significantly improved.

If were not going to kill the program, why dont we at least fix it and truly harden peoples homes, Hodgers said.
The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for a multibillion-dollar racketeering lawsuit that accuses Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. and Eli Lilly & Co. of marketing the Actos diabetes drug without disclosing its link to bladder cancer.

In a one-line order Monday, the high court refused to consider the companies contention that the case shouldnt go forward as a class action on behalf of tens of thousands of insurers and other so-called third-party payers who covered the cost of Actos prescriptions. The drug companies said a federal appeals court improperly approved the group suit without a viable way of excluding class members who hadnt suffered any harm.

Business groups had eyed the case as a way to put new limits on class actions. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and industry-backed Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America joined the companies in urging Supreme Court review.

The appeals court ruling threatens manufacturers with enormous class action exposure whenever a plaintiff alleges that purported misstatements or omissions in marketing materials or drug labeling may have resulted in additional prescriptions or higher prices, the trade groups argued.

The union health care fund pressing the case urged the Supreme Court to reject the appeal. The fund told the court that the vast majority of class members covered the cost of more Actos prescriptions than they would have had the cancer risks been adequately disclosed.

The probability that any given class member was injured exceeds 98% and the injury-producing conduct and its economic effects are provable through common, admissible evidence, the Minnesota-based Painters and Allied Trades District Council 82 Health Care Fund argued. The suit accuses the companies of violating the U.S. Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

The class covers all third-party payers that reimbursed the cost of five or more separate Actos prescriptions. Takeda and Lilly said the plaintiffs provided no way to determine which of the millions of prescriptions at issue in fact would not have been made, let alone which TPPs paid for each of those prescriptions.

The companies in their appeal described the case as a multibillion-dollar dispute covering millions of prescriptions. Takeda agreed in 2015 to pay $2.37 billion to resolve US lawsuits from patients accusing it of hiding Actos cancer risks.

The case is Takeda v. Painters and Allied Trades District Council, 25-625.

Top photo: The U.S. Supreme Court in Washington. Bloomberg.

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.
Environmentalists suffered a setback on Monday when Germanys top appeals court threw out their cases seeking to ban Mercedes-Benz and BMW from selling new combustion-engine cars from November 2030.

The federal court of justice in Karlsruhe upheld lower court rulings against the lawsuits, brought by three managing directors from the DUH environmental lobby

The DUH had based its case on a carbon budget calculated for each of the two automakers

But the court ruled that no such budget had been allocated to individual companies

Both Mercedes-Benz and BMW welcomed the ruling while stressing their commitment to sustainability

The decision provides legal certainty for companies operating in Germany, a BMW spokesperson said

(Reporting by Knapp and More; editing by Thomas Seythal)
Famous jazz musicians ignited a revolution from New Orleans dives in the early 1900s, mixing African beats, blues soul, and fearless solos. Jazz legends like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington turned raw energy into timeless art, rippling through swing, bebop, and fusion to shape modern sounds.

Famous Jazz Musicians

Jazz sprang from the streets where Black workers turned hardship into rhythm. Ragtime piano rolls and marching bands fed its fire, hitting Harlem clubs by the 1920s. Famous jazz musicians grabbed trumpets, saxophones, and drums, improvising nights away in smoke-filled rooms.

Their sound crossed oceans fastradio waves carried it to Europe, where fans danced to the beat. These trailblazers dodged racism's grip, proving talent trumped hate. Picture Armstrong grinning through cornet blasts; that's jazz's heart, bold and unbreakable. Today, streams and festivals keep their spark alive for new listeners.

Who Are the Greatest Jazz Musicians?

Louis Armstrong tops lists of jazz legends with gravelly trumpet lines that sang stories. His Hot Five records from 1925 flipped jazz from group jams to star solos, making every note count. Duke Ellington orchestrated big bands like symphonies, dropping hits like "Take the A Train" that packed dance floors.

Miles Davis shifted gears endlesslycool jazz in the '50s, then electric fusion that rocked the '70s. Charlie "Bird" Parker sped up the tempo with bebop, his alto sax weaving webs of speed no one matched. Thelonious Monk banged out jagged piano riffs, quirky angles that forced ears to rethink harmony.

Ella Fitzgerald scattered like a trumpet, pure tone wrapping classics in gold. John Coltrane chased spiritual highs on tenor sax, sheets of sound pouring from A Love Supreme. Dizzy Gillespie puffed cheeks for high notes, co-founding bebop with Parker in smoky after-hours spots.

Billie Holiday bent melodies with raw ache, turning "Lady Sings the Blues" into gut punches. Count Basie kept it simplepiano stabs driving riff-heavy swing that Kansas City cats loved. These famous jazz musicians didn't just play; they rewrote the rules.

Louis Armstrong: Trumpet/Vocals; 1920s breakthrough; scat & virtuosic solos.

Trumpet/Vocals; 1920s breakthrough; scat & virtuosic solos. Duke Ellington: Piano/Leader; 1930s-40s; sophisticated big band.

Piano/Leader; 1930s-40s; sophisticated big band. Miles Davis: Trumpet; 1950s-70s; cool to fusion shifts.

Trumpet; 1950s-70s; cool to fusion shifts. Charlie Parker: Alto Sax; 1940s; bebop speed.

Alto Sax; 1940s; bebop speed. Ella Fitzgerald: Vocals; 1930s-60s; pure improvisation.

Vocals; 1930s-60s; pure improvisation. John Coltrane: Tenor Sax; 1950s-60s; spiritual intensity.

Tenor Sax; 1950s-60s; spiritual intensity. Billie Holiday: Vocals; 1930s-50s; emotional depth.

Vocals; 1930s-50s; emotional depth. Thelonious Monk: Piano; 1940s-60s; angular harmony.

Sites like Jazzfuel highlight these giants, ranking 42 all-timers with deep dives into their discographies.

Who Is the Father of Jazz?

Louis Armstrong claims fatherhood with ironclad proofthose Hot Five sessions etched jazz's blueprint. Born poor in New Orleans, he hauled coal by day, gigged riverboats by night. By 1923, his cornet cut through ensembles, stretching solos that breathed life into every bar.

Armstrong invented scat on a flubbed lyric during "Heebie Jeebies," turning mumbles into melody. His wide smile lit screens worldwide, from "Hello, Dolly!" clips to royal commands. Bing Crosby stole his phrasing for pop hits; rockers like Louis Prima echoed his swing. No one else bottled joy like Satchmo.

King Oliver mentored him early, but Armstrong lapped the field. His tone warmed cold rooms, influencing everyone from Sinatra to Wynton Marsalis. Jazzfuel calls him the cornerstone, and records back it upover 1,000 sides that still swing.

Who Is the King of Jazz?

Duke Ellington wore the crown with velvet finesse, composing 3,000 pieces over 50 years. Paul Whiteman snagged the "King" tag in 1920s press for sweet bands, but Ellington's edge ruled deeper. "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" coined the phrase, his orchestra purring like a fine engine.

He molded starsJohnny Hodges on alto, Cootie Williams on trumpetspotlighting them in suites like Black, Brown and Beige. Ellington dodged labels, blending blues, gospel, and classics into "Mood Indigo" melancholy. White House gigs in the '60s proved jazz's class.

His piano whispered cues, the band roaring back polished yet wild. From Cotton Club residencies to global tours, Ellington adaptedsacred concerts in cathedrals, even. Learn Jazz Standards praises his catalog as endless inspiration for today's players.

Read Also: Celebrity Musicians Who Began as Classical Prodigies

Most Influential Jazz Legends

Dizzy Gillespie teamed with Parker for bebop's birth, trumpet fireworks lighting '52 Carnegie Hall. Ornette Coleman tossed chord changes in free jazz, Free Jazz double quartet sparking fights and fans. Stan Getz cooled Brazil's bossa nova with "Girl from Ipanema," platinum sales pulling jazz to beaches.

Count Basie's crew riffed tight at the Reno Club, "One O'Clock Jump" blueprint for jump blues. Art Blakey drummed hard bop with Messengers, grooming Lee Morgan and Wayne Shorter. Sarah Vaughan octave-leaped like an angel, velvet voice rivaling horns.

Thelonious Monk's "Round Midnight" haunted nights, hats tilted over Blue Note cuts. Modern echoes hit hip-hopGuru sampled Basie, A Tribe Called Quest nodded to Trane. These jazz legends seeded fusion, prog rock, even EDM grooves.

Impact on Music History

Famous jazz musicians birthed rockMuddy Waters rumbled with Basie swing, Chuck Berry riffed bebop. Miles Davis's Bitches Brew electrified Hendrix paths, Weather Report following. Pop bowed tooBeatles soaked Ellington harmonies, Michael Jackson grooved on swing beats.

Civil rights rode their wavesMax Roach and Abbey Lincoln's We Insist! drummed protest. Festivals like Montreux pulse yearly, legends' sets mixed with Nubya Garcia fire. Vinyl reissues flood Discogs, young drummers chasing Elvin Jones rolls.

Global reach? Japanese fusionists twist Trane, Norwegian black metal nods Monk dissonance. Jazz legends democratized musicanyone grabs a horn, improvises free.

Why Jazz Legends Still Resonate Today

Platforms beam Kind of Blue to billions, algorithms pairing it with Bad Bunny remixes. Kamasi Washington channels Coltrane quests in Heaven and Earth, epic horns filling arenas. Jazz legends teach bend rulesMonk's skips inspire glitch-hop glitches.

Festivals like Newport revive '60s vibes, Gregory Porter belting Armstrong soul. Schools drill Parker changes, kids scatting Fitzgerald lines. In chaos, their freedom ringsimprov blueprints for life's riffs. Famous jazz musicians pulse eternal, every note a fresh start.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who are the most famous jazz musicians?

Famous jazz musicians like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Miles Davis top the list for their groundbreaking solos, big band leadership, and genre-shifting albums such as "Take the A Train" and Kind of Blue. These jazz legends defined swing, bebop, and cool jazz through raw talent and innovation. Their influence spans from New Orleans clubs to global stages.

2. Where did jazz originate?

Jazz originated in New Orleans around the late 1800s, blending African rhythms, blues, and brass band traditions in places like Storyville's red-light district. Early pioneers honed skills on riverboats and funeral marches, spreading the sound north to Chicago and Harlem by the 1920s. This melting pot birthed the genre's improvisational core.

3. Who is considered the father of jazz?

Louis Armstrong earns the title for revolutionizing solos with his Hot Five recordings and scat singing in tracks like "Heebie Jeebies." Rising from New Orleans poverty, his trumpet warmth and charisma made jazz a soloist's art, influencing everyone from pop crooners to rock stars. No other figure stamped the genre so deeply.
Valmet Oyj's press release on March 23, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. EET

ESPOO, Finland, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Valmet is planning changes to its manufacturing in Sweden and Poland and has initiated change negotiations in its Global Supply unit concerning the planned closure of manufacturing at its Sundsvall site in Sweden. In addition, Valmet starts negotiations about proposed changes to its Global Supply unit's operations in Gothenburg, Sweden, and Jelenia Gora, Poland.

The purpose of the planned changes is to support Valmet's long-term competitiveness of its Biomaterial Solutions and Services segment and the efficiency of its global manufacturing network, in line with the company's Lead the Way strategy. As uncertainty in the global economy remains high and continues to impact customers' decision making, the company plans to assess actions that would enable it to adapt to the market situation. These plans concern at maximum 170 roles in Sundsvall, at maximum 55 roles in Gothenburg and at maximum 130 roles in Jelenia Gora.

Valmet drives global competitiveness through its Global Supply unit and targets EUR 100 million in cost efficiencies from procurement, logistics and the optimization of production by 2030. The planned actions in Sweden and Poland represent main footprint-related measures currently identified in the Global Supply unit. As a result of these planned changes, Valmet estimates the potential annual run-rate net cost savings would be approximately EUR 20 million, with full run-rate achieved by early 2027.

The planned closure of the manufacturing in Sundsvall and proposed changes in Gothenburg and Jelenia Gora will be discussed with employee representatives in both countries according to local legislation and practices. Valmet is committed to working closely with its employees and their representatives to ensure a smooth negotiation process and will provide support to employees throughout the planned change.

Valmet is also focused on ensuring uninterrupted deliveries and project execution to the customers.

VALMET

Corporate Communications

Further information:

Aki Niemi, Executive Vice President, Global Supply, Valmet, tel. +358 40 515 1145

Valmet is a global technology leader in serving process industries. We work with our customers throughout the lifecycle, delivering cutting-edge technologies and services, as well as mission-critical automation and flow control solutions. Backed by more than 225 years of industrial experience and a global team of 18,500 professionals close to customers, we are uniquely positioned to transform industries toward a regenerative tomorrow.

In 2025, Valmet's net sales totaled approximately EUR 5.2 billion. Our head office is in Espoo, Finland, and we have experts in approximately 40 countries around the world. Valmet's shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.

Follow us on valmet.com | X | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram | Instagram (IR)

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https://news.cision.com/valmet-oyj/r/valmet-plans-changes-to-its-manufacturing-footprint-in-sweden-and-poland,c4325356
Award Recognizes VikingCloud for Transforming PCI Compliance into Continuous Cybersecurity Protection for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses

CHICAGO and DUBLIN, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- VikingCloud, a cybersecurity and compliance protection company trusted by more than 4 million businesses worldwide, today announced it won Cyber Defense Magazine's 2026 Global InfoSec Award in the Market Disruptor Compliance category for its CCS Advantage platform.

CCS Advantage brings together PCI DSS compliance and cybersecurity monitoring in a self-service platform built specifically for SMBs navigating today's increasingly complex threat environment. No dedicated security staff required. The platform embeds VikingCloud's patented Cyber Risk Score directly into the PCI compliance process, giving merchants a continuous A-F cybersecurity grade across website security, network security, and compliance posture, along with clear, prioritized guidance on what to fix first.

"SMBs commonly assume that meeting minimum PCI DSS compliance requirements means they're cybersecure. It doesn't. That's precisely why they remain the number one target for cybercriminals. This award reflects what we set out to build: cybersecurity that simply works, with no technical skills or internal resources required," said Mark Brady, CEO of VikingCloud.

The numbers tell the story. VikingCloud's research found that 84% of SMB owners manage cybersecurity themselves, often without dedicated training or expertise. Yet 67% believe PCI DSS compliance means they're secure. VikingCloud's own merchant data tells a different story: nearly 60% of merchants score in the higher-risk range (C, D, or F) on its cybersecurity grading scale.

VikingCloud has supported the world's largest acquirers, payment processors, and ISOs in managing PCI DSS compliance programs for SMB merchant portfolios for nearly two decades. The company has over 100 Qualified Security Assessors (QSAs), full Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV) capabilities, and a platform supporting more than 4 million merchant locations globally.

Now in its 14th year, the Global InfoSec Awards by Cyber Defense Magazine (CDM) recognizes the most innovative leaders in information security. Winners are selected by an independent panel of certified security professionals (CISSP, FMDHS, CEH) based on unique value and technical ingenuity, not market share or capital raised.

For more information about CCS Advantage, visit https://www.vikingcloud.com/ccs-advantage.

About VikingCloud

VikingCloud delivers battle-tested cybersecurity and compliance protection that simply works. Our expert-led approach combines proven technology and AI-driven insights with dedicated support  keeping businesses secure, audit-ready, and uninterrupted. VikingCloud is trusted by over 4 million businesses in 70+ countries to stop threats before they stop business, so they can work on what matters most. For more information, visit www.vikingcloud.com and follow us at www.linkedin.com/company/vikingcloud/.

SOURCE VikingCloud
President and CEO of Saudi's Aramco, Amin H. Nasser, speaks during the Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia October 29, 2024.

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 a headline speaker at the conference, one of the energy industry's biggest events.

CERAWeek, organized by S&P Global and beginning on Monday, draws top executives, government officials, and policymakers from around the world to discuss the 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.
One basis point is equal to 0.01%, and yields and prices move in opposite directions.

The yield on the policy-sensitive 2-year note dropped more than 4 basis points to 3.848%. The 30-year bond yield was off 4 basis points at 4.92%.

The benchmark yield was down more than 4 basis points at 4.348%. Earlier in the session, the benchmark security hit its highest level since July as traders had feared the Federal Reserve wouldn't be lowering interest rates this year and actually could hike as their next move. It then fell sharply, but then turned back to flat before moving lower once again as traders processed the news.

The 10-year Treasury note yield fell on Monday after President Donald Trump said further military strikes against Iran had been postponed after "productive" negotiations between the warring sides.

In a Truth Social post, Trump said that the U.S. and Iran had been in "VERY GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS" about the conflict that began in late February.

"BASED ON THE TENOR AND TONE OF THESE IN DEPTH, DETAILED, AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS, WHICH WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, I HAVE INSTRUCTED THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR TO POSTPONE ANY AND ALL MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRANIAN POWER PLANTS AND ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A FIVE DAY PERIOD, SUBJECT TO THE SUCCESS OF THE ONGOING MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS," Trump added.

To be sure, Iranian state media reported shortly thereafter that the regime has denied any direct or indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran as having taken place.

"In order for equities to stabilize, beyond oil price considerations, bond yields need to stabilize too," said JPMorgan equity strategist Mislav Matejka in a Monday note.

The economic data docket is mostly bare this week. The S&P Global Flash U.S. PMI report is due Tuesday morning, which measures the economic health of American manufacturing and services sectors.

February's PMI report indicated a slowdown of business growth for services firms and employment expansion, and economists expect further softening. A reading above 50 tends to indicate growth, and forecasts predict the latest report to come in at 50.5, down from 51.9 in February.

The University of Michigan will release its consumer sentiment index for March on Friday.

Traders have been worried over the hostilities in the Middle East. Trump had said Saturday that he would "obliterate" Iran's power plants if Tehran failed to fully reopen the Strait within 48 hours.

Iran responded by escalating threats to target energy infrastructure and desalination facilities in the Gulf. Iranian Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also said Saturday that entities that purchase American government bonds and "finance the U.S. military budget" would be considered legitimate targets, alongside military bases.

 CNBC's Holly Ellyatt and Fred Imbert also contributed to this report.
Apple CEO Tim Cook (L) stands with Siemens CEO Roland Busch prior to the opening ceremony of the China Development Forum 2026 at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse on March 22, 2026 in Beijing, China.

BEIJING  As corporate giants navigate U.S.-China tensions, more than 80 global executives, from Apple to Eli Lilly , traveled to Beijing this weekend for the annual state-organized China Development Forum.

The executives' remarks reflected renewed interest in capturing the Chinese consumer, after years of uncertainty from the Covid-19 pandemic, slower growth and U.S. trade tensions.

Fresh off a recovery in Apple iPhone sales in China, the company's CEO Tim Cook took the stage after Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Sunday, praising the "extraordinary" pace of technological progress in the country, such as factory automation.

He said: "We are proud to be part of that progress, and we're committed to working alongside our supplier partners to push it even further." He added that more than 90% of Apple's production in China is powered by clean energy.

Apple still manufactures most of its iPhones in China, which accounted for nearly 18% of Apple's revenue in the December quarter. Thanks to the iPhone 17 release, Apple smartphone sales in the first nine weeks of the year were up 23% year-on-year, bucking a 4% decline in China's overall smartphone market, according to Counterpoint Research.

On his way to Beijing, Cook also visited Chengdu, China, as Apple has been pressured to cut its China App Store fees.

According to an official delegate list seen by CNBC, attendees included more than 30 executives of U.S. companies, including McDonald's, Coach parent Tapestry, and Mastercard, along with representatives of British, South Korean and German corporations.
Iranian Shia women shout slogans during Eid al-Fitr prayers, marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, at the Grand Mosalla mosque in Tehran on March 21, 2026.

Asia-Pacific markets sold off sharply on Monday, with major indexes in Japan and South Korea falling as much as 5%, as investors fled risk assets amid escalating conflict in the Middle East that has entered its fourth week.

President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he would "obliterate" Iran's power plants if Tehran failed to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz  a vital artery for global energy flows  within 48 hours

Iran pushed back, threatening to target energy infrastructure and desalination facilities in the Gulf if the U.S. carries out its ultimatum.

Iran's Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Saturday that attacks on the country's power plants would "immediately" be met with retaliatory strikes on energy and oil infrastructure across the region.

"Critical infrastructure and energy and oil infrastructure throughout the region will be considered legitimate targets and irreversibly destroyed, and oil prices will rise for a long time," Ghalibaf said on X.

Japan's Nikkei 225 declined 3.5% to close the session at 51,515.49, paring losses from the earlier session, while the broad-based Topix dropped 3.4% to 3,486.44.

South Korea's blue-chip Kospi plunged 6.5% to 5,405.75, and the small-cap Kosdaq fell 5.6% to finish the session at 1,096.89. The sharp sell-off prompted the Korean exchange to briefly suspend trading earlier in the day.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 shed 0.74% to 8,365.9. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index and the mainland CSI 300 dropped 3.5% and 3.3% to 24,382.47 and 4,418, respectively.
HOUSTON  Asian countries want to buy more U.S. energy to reduce their dependence on oil and gas exports from the Middle East, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told CNBC on Monday.

Japan, South Korea and Taiwan rely heavily on exports through the Strait of Hormuz. Oil tanker traffic through the strait has plunged as Iran attacks commercial ships in the Persian Gulf.

"They want to buy more energy from the U.S.," Burgum told CNBC's Brian Sullivan in an interview. President Donald Trump's energy dominance agenda is designed to provide U.S. allies with a stable, alternative supply of energy, the Interior secretary said.

The U.S. is the largest oil and gas producer in the world.

"Our allies and our friends can buy from us as opposed to having to buy from countries that either wage war or fund terrorism," said Burgum, who traveled to Japan earlier this month.

The U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran has triggered the largest oil supply disruption in history. Tokyo relies on the strait for 90% of its oil imports, said Takehiko Matsuo, a vice minister at Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

"The impact is significant," Matsuo said at S&P Global's CERAWeek conference here. Japan has placed a high priority on finding alternative supplies, he said.

"I must say it's not easy," the vice minister said. "The United States is one of the most anticipated alternative energy source for Asian countries."

Asian economies are also heavily dependent on liquefied natural gas, or LNG, exports through the strait. Iranian attacks on Qatar's energy infrastructure has shut down about 20% of the world's LNG supplies.

Alaska will play a major role in providing Asia with secure energy, Burgum said. The Interior Department recently held an oil and gas lease sale for the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. The Trump administration has also made a massive LNG project in Alaska a top priority.

Energy exported from Alaska takes just eight days to reach Asian allies, Burgum said. Five days of the transit route are in U.S. territorial waters along the Aleutian Islands, he said.

"It's a secure supply of energy," the Interior secretary said.
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HOUSTON  The Trump administration plans to bring additional diesel to the market as fuel prices surge, Energy Secretary Chris Wright told CNBC on Monday.

"We do have some ideas on diesel, that we can bring extra diesel to the marketplace," Wright told CNBC's Brian Sullivan in an interview. "I think we'll see that happen before too long."

Diesel prices have surged about 40% to $5.29 per gallon, the highest level since 2022, as the Iran war has triggered the largest oil supply disruption in history. Diesel is used by trucks and freight trains to transport goods to market.

Wright said the U.S. is not considering limiting diesel exports as prices rise.

"You don't want to interrupt the free flow of energy trades," Wright said. "We refine more oil than we can consume. If we blocked exports, we'd have to turn down our own refineries and produce less oil and less refined products. That wouldn't be productive for the United States, certainly wouldn't be productive for the world."

The U.S. will release about 1 million to 1.5 million barrels per day from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve to address the supply disruption triggered by the Iran war, Wright said at S&P Global's CERAWeek energy conference here. Emergency stockpile releases could reach nearly 3 million bpd total, he said.

"It's going to be between a million and a million and a half barrels a day out of U.S. stocks," Wright said. "And we'll get possibly close to 3 million barrels total."

Oil from the U.S. strategic reserve started flowing on Friday afternoon, Wright said. "Japan has also moved quickly, some nations a little bit more slowly," the energy secretary said.

More than 30 nations in the International Energy Agency agreed on March 11 to inject 400 million barrels of oil into the global market. The U.S. will release 172 million barrels from its strategic reserve as part of that effort.

Wright told CNBC that the U.S. is not planning to release more barrels from the reserve. "I think that's highly unlikely," the energy secretary said.

Oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has plunged as Iran attacks commercial ships. The strait is the most important sea route in the world for oil exports, with about 20% of world supplies passing through the waterway before the war. Iran has also targeted energy infrastructure in the Persian Gulf Arab states.

Oil prices have surged more than 30% since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28. Prices plunged Monday after President Donald Trump said Iran and the U.S. held productive talks. Trump said he was holding off on striking Iranian power plants for five days.

Wright described the oil supply disruption as a short-term challenge. He said prices have not surged high enough yet to depress global demand.

"Markets do what markets do," Wright said. "Prices went up to send signals to everyone that could produce more, please produce more. Prices have not risen high enough yet to drive meaningful demand destruction."
An LPG gas tanker at anchor as traffic is down in the Strait of Hormuz, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Shinas, Oman, March 11, 2026. Benoit Tessier | Reuters

Taken from CNBCs Daily Open, our international markets newsletter  Subscribe today

Hello, this is Leonie Kidd writing to you from London. Welcome to another edition of CNBC's Daily Open. I don't know about you, but I have found that ultimatums rarely work. But President Donald Trump's decision to issues Tehran with a deadline (which runs until 19:55 eastern time tonight) to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could mark a turning point in the conflict. Good or bad. The markets don't quite know what to make of it, with certain stocks markets selling off, while oil surged before turning negative.

What you need to know today

U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday delivered a stark ultimatum to Iran, threatening to "obliterate" Iran's power plants if Tehran does not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. Iran responded by warning it would target U.S. infrastructure in the Gulf, including energy and desalination facilities, if Washington carried out its threat. Iran's speaker of the Parliament also warned that financial entities supporting the U.S. military budget were legitimate targets, and that buyers of U.S. Treasury bonds were purchasing "a strike on your HQ and assets." It makes for a confusing trading environment. Stocks in Japan and South Korea led declines in Asia, while futures in both Europe and the U.S. are quietly accelerating declines. Meanwhile, oil prices seesawed during the early part of Monday's trading session. Later today, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will chair an emergency meeting with Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves and Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey to discuss the economic fallout of the war in Iran. This follows a call between Starmer and Trump where they discussed the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz. In other news, an Air Canada plane has collided with an airport fire rescue truck upon landing at New York's LaGuardia airport, with MSNow reporting that no details on passenger welfare have been released yet.  Leonie Kidd

And finally...
Huel makes vegan, powdered meal replacements, catering to people who "deem themselves time-poor" but want healthy, environmentally sustainable meals.

French food and beverage maker Danone said Monday it's set to buy protein drinks maker Huel as a more health-conscious younger generation and the rise of weight-loss drugs pushes companies to rethink what people want to consume.

Huel sells a range of protein shakes and drinks fortified with nutrients. It's backed by celebrities such as The Diary of a CEO podcast host Steven Bartlett and actor Idris Elba.

Combining Huel's range and digital capabilities with Danone's global reach and nutritional expertise is an opportunity in "the new and fast-growing nutritionally complete space," said Danone CEO Antoine de Saint-Affrique in a statement.

"Most people don't get enough protein, fibre, or the right nutrients," added Huel CEO James McMaster. "That's the problem Huel exists to solve."

The deal, which is subject to regulatory approvals, is about 1 billion euros ($1.15 billion), the Financial Times reported, citing a person close to the company. Danone declined to comment on the value of the transaction.

Danone CEO De Saint-Affrique told CNBC's Charlotte Reed in 2024 that its portfolio, which includes yoghurts and water, was "extremely complementary" to growing health awareness and the use of GLP-1 drugs. Danone also makes specialized nutrition and baby milk, with key brands such as Activia yoghurts, Alpro plant-based milk and infant formula Aptamil.
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HOUSTON  U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright will speak Monday at an energy conference, as financial markets hope President Donald Trump is signalling the Iran war could soon end.

Top oil executives, senior U.S. government officials and influential policymakers from around the world are gathering in Houston, Texas, for S&P Global's annual CERAWeek conference. The gathering takes place as the Iran war has triggered the largest oil supply disruption in history.

Wright's comments Monday come after Trump said he would delay strikes on Iran's power plants for five days following "productive" conversations with the Islamic Republic. The president told CNBC that the U.S. is "very intent on making a deal with Iran."

The president had threatened Saturday to bomb Iranian power infrastructure if Tehran did not fully open the Strait of Hormuz. Iran warned it would retaliate against "all infrastructure of energy, information technology, and desalination facilities" in the region belonging to the U.S. and Israel, according to state media.

Oil tanker traffic through the Strait has plunged as Iran attacks commercial ships in the Persian Gulf. The Strait is the most important sea route for oil exports in the world. About 20% of global supplies passed through the narrow waterway before the war.

The hardline rhetoric from the U.S. and Iran has stoked fears that energy infrastructure in the Middle East will face renewed attacks that exacerbate the supply disruption. But Trump's Monday comments raised market hopes that there still might be a path to de-escalate the war. Oil prices cratered Monday, while Dow futures jumped. The 10-year Treasury yield moved lower.

Brent oil prices , the international benchmark, have surged more than 40% to top $100 per barrel since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28.
An Estee Lauder pop-up store is seen inside a Daimaru store on Nanjing Road in Shanghai, China, Aug. 6, 2021.

Estee Lauder Companies said Monday that it is in talks with Spanish beauty group Puig to potentially merge the two companies.

"No final decision has been made, and no agreement has been reached," Estee Lauder said in a statement.

Shares of the U.S. beauty company were down nearly 8% following the news, which was first reported by the Financial Times. Puig's stock rose roughly 3%.

Puig owns major beauty brands including Charlotte Tilbury, Jean Paul Gaultier and Rabanne. The companies did not disclose any financial details of the potential deal.

Estee Lauder has been struggling amid ongoing headwinds from tariffs and its restructuring as it enacts its "Beauty Reimagined" turnaround plan to revitalize the business. In its second-quarter earnings report last month, the beauty retailer said it's expecting a $100 million hit to its full-year profitability due to tariff impacts.

Estee Lauder's stock has dropped roughly 25% this year.
The Iran-flagged container vessel "Nora", in Kalundborg harbor, Denmark, March 18, 2026. The vessel was detained by Denmark's maritime authority in February over registration concerns.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 was up 1.65% shortly after 3:50 p.m. in London (11:50 a.m. ET), having traded almost 2% lower earlier in the session, with major bourses and most sectors surging into positive territory.

LONDON  European stocks rebounded sharply on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump signaled a potential dramatic de-escalation in the ongoing Iran conflict.

President Trump said he was postponing strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure for five days. The president wrote in a TruthSocial post that U.S. and Iranian officials had held "very good and productive" talks regarding a "complete and total resolution" of hostilities.

Travel and leisure stocks led the way in Europe, advancing 2.9% after Trump's post, while basic resources, which had tumbled 3.1% in morning trade, was last seen up 3.2%.

Precious metals eased earlier losses. Spot gold was down 2% on Monday at $4396.64, with gold futures 3.8% lower, at $4401.70.

The swings followed a sell-off in Asian markets on Monday, amid continued concerns over the Iran war and the blockage of vital maritime passage, the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday that he would "obliterate" Iran's power plants if Tehran failed to fully reopen the Strait within 48 hours.

Iran responded by escalating threats to target energy infrastructure and desalination facilities in the Gulf. Iranian Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also said Saturday that entities that purchase American government bonds and "finance the U.S. military budget" would be considered legitimate targets, alongside military bases.

In corporate news, Poste Italiane tumbled 6.5% after Italy's majority state-owned postal service unveiled plans to buy Telecom Italia in a cash-and-share deal worth 10.8 billion euros ($12.5 billion). Poste Italiane is Telecom Italia's largest shareholder. Telecom Italia's shares rose 5.4%.

Delivery Hero advanced 10.7% in afternoon dealmaking after it said it had agreed to sell its delivery platform in Taiwan to Grab Holdings for $600 million.

Crude prices whipsawed in volatile trading on Monday, with global benchmark Brent rising 1.3% to $113.70 earlier in the day, before plummeting 8.1% to $102.99 following President Trump's comments.

Asia-Pacific markets traded lower, while U.S. equities jumped at the market open, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising 800 points, or 1.7%. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq were also positive.

 CNBC's Anniek Bao contributed to this market report.
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - MARCH 21: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) K-pop boy band BTS perform onstage during comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square on March 21, 2026 in Seoul, South Korea. The free concert is the band's first performance in nearly four years. (Photo by Kim Hong-Ji - Pool/Getty Images)

Shares in Hybe, the parent company of South Korean boyband BTS, fell 15% on Monday as their much-anticipated comeback in Seoul on Saturday drew a smaller crowd than expected.

Local authorities said just over 100,000 fans attended the band's first concert in more than three years, falling short of the 260,000 forecast, Reuters reported. The event came under criticism from some South Koreans for tight security measures enforced on a crowd that mostly failed to materialise.

BTS is key to Hybe's revenues, with profit slumping during the band's extended hiatus for mandatory military service from 2022. Hybe owns the band's record label, Big Hit Music, which brought BTS to international fame after the release of their first album in 2013.

Its share price hit reflected investor disappointment in the band's return, although the tour is streaming on Netflix in 190 countries, which may help offset some of the in-person attendance declines.

The seven-piece group is widely credited as pioneers of the K-pop genre, but the industry has grown increasingly competitive in their absence.

Bands like Blackpink, Seventeen and Stray Kids have all taken market share, and Netflix's "Kpop Demon Hunters" movie has proved particularly popular among younger audiences.

Its share price decline comes counter to lofty analyst expectations for the stock, based on a "larger than expected" number of tour dates, according to Nomura, which raised its target price on the stock to 410,000 won, or around $276, from 354,000 won back in January.

The group is set to perform 79 shows across 23 countries in its first leg of the tour, which started with Seoul on Saturday night.

 CNBC's Lim Hui Jie also contributed to this report.
Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, chief executive officer of Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC), during India Energy Week in Goa, India, on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026.

HOUSTON  The United Arab Emirates on Monday condemned Iran's attacks against shipping in the Strait of Hormuz as a form of "economic terrorism" that is holding the world hostage.

"Let me be absolutely clear, weaponizing the Strait of Hormuz is not an act of aggression against one nation," said Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.

"It is economic terrorism against every nation, and no country should be allowed to hold Hormuz hostage  not now, not ever," Al Jaber told oil industry executives at S&P Global's CERAWeek conference here.

The strait is the most important sea route for oil in the world. About 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies transited the narrow waterway to global markets before the war. Tanker traffic has ground to a halt due to Iran's attacks on ships in the Persian Gulf.

"While we all appreciate all efforts to stabilize markets and reduce prices, let us be clear  this is not a supply issue," Al Jaber said. "It is a security issue and has only one durable answer  keeping the strait open."

Al Jaber delivered his remarks through a video message. The CEO was scheduled to attend the conference but canceled his appearance because of the war.

Kuwait Petroleum Corporation CEO Shaikh Nawaf S. Al-Sabah has canceled his in-person appearance at the conference Tuesday due to the war. He will deliver virtual remarks instead, a spokesperson told CNBC.

Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser has pulled out of the conference as well, Reuters reported, citing an unnamed source.

The U.S. and Israel launched a massive attack against Iran on Feb. 28, killing its head of state, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and other senior leaders. The two allies have launched waves of airstrikes for weeks targeting the Islamic Republic's military capabilities.

Iran has responded by attacking Arab neighbors that did not participate in the U.S.-Israeli attack. Tehran has launched 352 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and more than 1,700 drones at the UAE since the war began, according to the UAE's Defense Ministry. The attacks have killed eight people and left 161 injured, it said.

"The United Arab Emirates was hit by an attack that was illegal, erratic, unjustified and completely unprovoked," Al Jaber said. "We did not ask for this conflict. In fact, we took every possible step to prevent it."

The war appeared to be escalating further over the weekend when U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Iran's power plants if it did not allow traffic to resume through the strait.

Trump on Monday said he postponed those strikes for five days after he said the U.S. had talks with Iran, which he described as "productive." Oil prices plunged nearly 11% on Monday as Trump's sudden change of course raised hopes that war might be resolved through negotiations. Prices have surged more than 30% since the war began.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the press before departing the White House for Miami on March 20, 2026, in Washington, D.C.

As the war in the Middle East entered its fourth week, Iran has widened its warnings to target buyers of U.S. Treasury bonds, the latest salvo in an intensifying exchange of threats, as the Trump administration's 48-hour ultimatum neared expiry.

In a social media post on Sunday, Iran's Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that U.S.-linked financial institutions holding American government bonds would be targeted alongside military bases.

"U.S. treasury bonds are soaked in Iranians' blood. Purchase them, and you purchase a strike on your HQ and assets," Ghalibaf said. "Alongside military bases, those financial entities that finance the U.S. military budget are legitimate targets," he added in the post.

The escalating warning came after U.S. President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Tehran on Saturday to reopen the Strait of Hormuz  a key artery for global energy shipping  or face strikes on its power plants. The deadline is set to expire on Monday evening in Washington.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to back the U.S. threat: "Whatever we do, we do together, and as far as possible, in confidence."

Speaking at the site of an Iranian missile attack in the southern city of Arad on Sunday, Netanyahu called on world leaders to join the war efforts, including the European nations. "They have the capacity to reach deep into Europe ... they are putting everyone in their sights."

Iran has pushed back, threatening to completely shut the waterway and attack energy infrastructure and desalination facilities in the Gulf if the U.S. follows through on its ultimatum.

Ghalibaf warned on Sunday that any U.S. or Israeli strike on Iran's power plants would "immediately" trigger retaliatory attacks on energy and oil infrastructure across the region, causing "irreversible" damage.

"Critical infrastructure and energy and oil infrastructure throughout the region will be considered legitimate targets and irreversibly destroyed, and oil prices will rise for a long time," Ghalibaf said on X.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin, President Donald Trump's nominee to be Homeland Security secretary, testifies before a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, March 18, 2026.

"My goal in six months is that we're not the lead story every single day. My goal is for people to understand we're out there, we're protecting them and we're working with them," Mullin said last week at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

The Oklahoma Republican was chosen by President Donald Trump earlier this month to replace Kristi Noem , who attracted a flurry of scrutiny from Democrats and Republicans alike for her leadership of the department and her use of taxpayer dollars.

Two Democrats  Sens. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico  voted with most Senate Republicans in favor of Mullin's appointment. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who publicly feuded with Mullin at his confirmation hearing, was the lone Republican to vote no.

Mullin now takes over a DHS that's shut down as Democrats continue to withhold support for a funding package over concerns about immigration enforcement policies. Trump, meanwhile, is trying to jam through an unrelated voter-ID bill and has told Republicans to hold off on a DHS funding deal with Democrats until the SAVE America Act is passed.

Funding lapsed for the agency in February, the month after federal immigration agents in Minneapolis killed two U.S. citizens during an enforcement surge.

Mullin is generally well-regarded by his Senate colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and at his confirmation hearing he signaled he was open to shifting the direction of the agency.

He told the panel he would require immigration agents to obtain judicial warrants to enter private property and said he would like to see ICE become a "transport more than the front line" in immigration enforcement.

"This is going to surprise some people, but I consider Markwayne Mullin a friend. We have a very honest and constructive working relationship," Heinrich said in a statement on Sunday after supporting Mullin in a procedural vote.

"I have also seen firsthand that Markwayne is not someone who can simply be bullied into changing his views, and I look forward to having a secretary who doesn't take their orders from Stephen Miller," Heinrich continued, referring to the White House deputy chief of staff and homeland security advisor, whom Democrats say called the shots during Noem's tenure.

Despite the cross-party camaraderie, many Democrats on the Senate panel pressed Mullin on his close ties to Trump, his hard-line stances on immigration and a trip he said he took abroad while a member of the House that he said was "classified."

Mullin also got in a spat with the committee chair Paul, whom the Trump nominee recently called a "freaking snake." Before earning the DHS nomination, Mullin also reportedly said he could "understand" why Paul's neighbor assaulted the Kentucky Republican in 2017.

Mullin did not apologize when confronted by Paul in the hearing room.

"I just wonder if someone who applauds violence against their political opponents is the right person to lead an agency that has struggled to accept limits to the proper use of force," Paul said.
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The Novo Nordisk logo is seen with tablets, capsules, and syringes in this photo illustration in Brussels, Belgium, on August 9, 2025. Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images

The first wave of generic versions of Novo Nordisk's GLP-1 weight-loss drugs launched in India over the weekend, with at least five domestic drugmakers undercutting the original price by up to 80%. It comes as the Danish drugmaker's patent expired on Friday, with the company fighting to maintain its lead in the lucrative market. India is a critical market, with around 100 million people living with diabetes and nearly a quarter classified as obese. The country is also known as "the world's pharmacy" with its well-developed generic drugs industry supplying around 20% of global offpatent medicines. Sun Pharmaceutical , one of the top generics manufacturers in the world, on Saturday launched a generic semaglutide for as low as 750 rupees ($8) for a weekly injection, or about 3,400 rupees per month. That compares with Novo's retail price of between 8,800 and 10,000 rupees in India, depending on the dosage. Meanwhile, export-focused Dr. Reddy's Laboratories has so far launched semaglutide for treating diabetes at around 4,200 rupees per month and plans to expand to Canada, Turkey and Brazil this year. The company's goal is to democratize access to GLP-1 drugs worldwide, said Deepak Sapra, CEO of Pharmaceutical Services and API at Dr. Reddy's, at a virtual launch event on Saturday. It's targeting annual sales of 12 million semaglutide pens in the first year of launch across all markets, including India. "This is something that Indian generic players have been preparing for a very long time," Salil Kallianpur, an independent pharma consultant based in India, told CNBC. More than 50 brands are expected to launch generic versions of semaglutide in the coming months. That's a small number by Indian standards, because of the relative complexity of making such drugs with their more stringent quality controls, Kallianpur said.

A price war

Even as semaglutide remains protected from generic competition in the U.S.  its largest market by far until 2032, patent expirations in India, Canada, Brazil, and China this year are likely to have a sizable impact on its revenue. In February, Novo warned that sales could decline by 5% to 13% in 2026. Novo is already facing declining market share amid fierce competition from Eli Lilly and other drugmakers. U.S. President Donald Trump has also pushed for lower drug prices, and a November deal with the administration slashed GLP-1 prices in the country. It is unclear whether higher sales volumes will offset the lower prices. In December last year, Novo reduced the price of Wegovy by 37% from its launch price in India, before its patent expired, Reuters reported. Analysts told CNBC that Novo needs to cut prices in India to defend its market share. Vishal Manchanda, a pharma sector analyst at Systematix Group, said that Novo could retain a large share of the market if it maintains a 15%20% premium over generic versions. Generic entries will affect Novo's sales in India, but it's not yet clear whether the Danish drugmaker will lose its leading position, said Sydbank analyst Sren Lntoft Hansen. Novo has historically maintained a leading market share despite losing patent protection. The company has been a leading producer of insulin since its inception a century ago, and it has continued to dominate the market while still selling at a premium to generic rivals. Generic manufacturers have struggled to scale up production to challenge Novo's dominance, Hansen said.

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Novo is confident in its ability to retain users in India. "Our size, technology, and complete care ecosystem justify the price we are getting after a 37% reduction," Vikrant Shrotriya, managing director of Novo Nordisk India, told CNBC's "Inside India" on Friday. Even though Novo launched popular obesity drug Wegovy and diabetes treatment drug Ozempic in India after Lilly launched its rival Mounjaro and Zepbound, it "converted a mistake into an opportunity," as it came in at a much lower price and is now launching second brands, Kallianpur said. Wegovy is being launched as Poviztra through a partnership with Emcure Pharma, while Ozempic is being marketed as Extensior in collaboration with Abbott India. These partners bring deep ties to pharmacies and physicians across the country, improving the drugmaker's reach. It's a classic strategy for protecting a premium brand against cheaper generics, Kallianpur said, adding that Novo is banking heavily on its reputation. "The brand is essentially the moat."

The growing Indian market

Michael Siluk | UCG | Universal Images Group | Getty Images

While Sun Pharma and Dr. Reddy's launched semaglutide at about 50% below Novo's original prices, smaller domestic-focused manufacturers such as Natco Pharma and Alkem Laboratories are offering steeper discounts of nearly 80%. Natco Pharma' s vial formulation is priced at 1,250 rupees per month, making it one of the most affordable options on the market, while Alkem Laboratories has introduced the lowest-priced prefilled semaglutide injections starting at 1,800 rupees per month. Through a combination of affordable pricing and "extensive distribution across smaller cities in India, Alkem aims to "make this product accessible to more patients who need it," the company's CEO Vikas Gupta told CNBC in an email. Sales of GLP1 drugs in the country have risen rapidly, with the moving annual turnover in February rising 178% from a year earlier to 14.46 billion rupees, according to data from Indian market intelligence firm Pharmarack. Despite the rising popularity of these GLP-1 drugs in India, the price remains a key deterrent. Rajiv Kovil, a diabetes specialist, said nearly 50% of his patients could benefit from GLP-1 drugs, but only 5% are currently using them. There is no official indication from Novo or Eli Lilly on a fresh round of price cuts, acknowledged the Mumbai-based diabetologist, but said that "Novo will bite the bullet eventually." Meanwhile, he plans to wait for more evidence on the effectiveness and availability of the new generics before switching his patients from Novo's and Lilly's GLP-1 drugs.

Challenges for Indian generics

GLP-1 drugs such as semaglutide are peptide-based medicines that require specialized technology for production and distribution, including a cold chain for storage, making them more complex to manufacture. This is unlike most drugs manufactured in India, such as painkillers and antibiotics. "You have to pay really good attention to quality control, because these molecules are way more complex than aspirin, for example," Knud Jensen, a chemistry professor at the University of Copenhagen and President of the European Peptide Society, told CNBC. "Quality control for these large molecules is more difficult than for small molecules," he said. "The molecule that is given to patients has to be perfect, and it cannot have any side products or contaminants." Kallianpur, however, said that many underestimate the progress of Indian drug manufacturers over the past 10 years.



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"They've understood that compliance is today not a cost, but it can be converted into a very valuable moat," he said. "That is a big mindset shift that is happening in India." Experts, however, still largely agree that despite progress, quality control in India is still catching up with Europe or the U.S. There is also concern among some industry watchers that generic semaglutide could become available in markets where the drug is still patent-protected. "If India is starting to manufacture GLP-1s at a large scale, that will not all stay in India, whatever companies try, countries try to prevent it from coming in," Ben van der Schaaf, Partner at Arthur D. Little, told CNBC. "It's big business." Jyske Bank analyst Henrik Hallengreen Laustsen says that if the laws are followed and semaglutide is sold only in countries where the patent has expired, Novo would be able to maintain its market dominance.
Pfizer on Monday said it will seek regulatory approval for a Lyme disease vaccine candidate despite the shot failing a late-stage trial.

Pfizer said the vaccine missed the trial's statistical goal because not enough people in the study contracted Lyme disease to be confident in the results. Still, the company said the shot reduced the rate of infection by more than 70% in people who received the vaccine versus placebo, efficacy the company thinks is strong enough to take to regulators.

"The efficacy shown in the VALOR study of more than 70% is highly encouraging and creates confidence in the vaccine's potential to protect against this disease that can be debilitating," Pfizer Chief Vaccines Officer Annaliesa Anderson said in a statement.

A vaccine for Lyme disease isn't expected to become a best-seller for Pfizer, with the company's partner Valneva estimating peak annual sales of $1 billion. Pfizer expects overall revenue of around $60 billion this year, with its Covid-19 vaccine representing more than $5 billion of that forecast.

But Pfizer had billed the Lyme vaccine results as one of its major catalysts this year, and it represented a chance to introduce the only human vaccine for Lyme disease.

Moving forward with a shot that technically failed a clinical trial under an administration that has preached stricter scrutiny for vaccines may prove risky for Pfizer, and it could serve as a litmus test for vaccine policy in the U.S.

Lyme disease is an illness caused by bacteria most commonly spread to humans from ticks. It can cause arthritis, muscle weakness and pain. About half a million Americans are diagnosed with or treated for Lyme disease every year, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Despite the disease's prevalence, especially in the Northeast, there isn't a vaccine for humans available. A company that would later become GSK introduced a shot called LYMErix in 1998 but pulled it only a few years later after public concerns about safety tanked demand. That experience hobbled development of Lyme vaccines for humans, though multiple companies now make them for dogs.

Pfizer and Valneva have faced their own setbacks. In 2023, the companies dropped about half of the participants in the Phase 3 trial because of quality concerns with third-party clinical trial site operator Care Access. The trial had initially enrolled about 18,000 people and after the cuts ended up with about 9,400. Care Access denied the allegations of quality violations.

The companies' vaccine targets the outer surface protein A of the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. A vaccinated person creates antibodies that are passed to a tick and prevent the bacterium from being transferred from the tick to the human. The series involves three shots in the first year, then a booster dose the following year.

The companies said they didn't observe any safety concerns in the trial.
Margaret Ryan, Director of the SEC's Division of Enforcement. Source: Harvard Law School

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's top enforcement official, who left abruptly last week, had clashed with agency leaders over the direction of its enforcement program, including the handling of cases with ties to President Donald Trump and his family, according to three people familiar with the matter. SEC Enforcement Division Director Margaret Ryan resigned last Monday after just over six months on the job, Reuters was the first to report. Her resignation email, seen by Reuters, did not say why she was leaving. Ryan declined to comment when reached by phone and text. Two of the people said Ryan wanted to be more aggressive in pursuing charges for fraud and other misconduct including in cases that touched the president's circle, but faced resistance from SEC chair Paul Atkins and other top Republican political appointees. A spokesperson for the SEC said that, under Atkins, the agency made enforcement decisions based on facts, the law, and policy, not on politics: "In every case, the Commission has faithfully applied the federal securities laws. Debate and discussion among our lawyers and other staff is common and encouraged." White House spokespeople did not immediately respond to a request for comment. One case that sparked tension involved cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun, a major backer of the Trump family's World Liberty Financial venture, and another involved Tesla boss Elon Musk, a big donor to Trump's campaign who briefly served as the president's special adviser, the two people said. Reuters granted the sources anonymity to discuss confidential matters related to regulatory enforcement. One of Sun's attorneys and a spokesperson for Musk's law firm, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, declined to comment.

'Our mission is too important'

The tensions between Ryan and top SEC officials, which have not previously been reported, shed additional light on how the SEC is policing corporate America under Atkins, who has repeatedly criticized the agency as opaque and unpredictable in enforcement dealings. The SEC has also pivoted away from big corporate cases and a crypto crackdown by previous Democratic leaders, to focus on bread-and-butter fraud and manipulation cases such as Ponzi schemes and insider trading. The SEC chair sets the broad enforcement agenda and, along with other politically appointed commissioners, votes on disciplinary actions and penalties recommended by enforcement staff. But under Trump's second administration, the chair and commissioners have sought more control, revoking enforcement staff authority to open formal probes and requiring they seek commissioners' approval. Ryan, a former Marine and military judge with little experience in securities law, previously clerked for conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. She was seen as an unusual pick to lead the SEC's enforcement team of more than 1,000 people and was not accustomed to the SEC's lengthy and protracted process for building consensus around charges and penalties, said two SEC enforcement officials. She nevertheless won over many career staff by backing them in their dealings with individuals and companies they were investigating, three other sources familiar with the matter said. At an internal meeting last year, she criticized defense attorneys  including Brad Bondi, a Paul Hastings partner who was also Atkins' former counselor  for what she saw as attempts to go above career staff's heads on enforcement matters, two of the sources said. Approaching top SEC officials about enforcement cases is, however, permissible in certain circumstances. Bondi, who is Attorney General Pam Bondi's brother, did not respond to Reuters questions sent by email and text message. A Paul Hastings spokesperson did not immediately respond to emails requesting comment. In a February speech, Ryan said some aspects of the SEC's enforcement program warranted fixing, but added that the agency was committed to pursuing "quality" enforcement actions. "Our mission  of protecting investors; maintaining fair, orderly, and efficient markets; and facilitating capital formation  is too important," she said at the time.

'Staff have disagreements'

Among the cases that three of the people familiar with the tensions said were a source of frustration for Ryan was an SEC settlement disclosed this month to resolve charges that the watchdog's previous Democratic leadership brought against Sun. In 2023, the SEC sued the crypto entrepreneur and three of his companies, alleging Sun generated more than $31 million through fraudulent trades. In a deal negotiated by Brad Bondi and other lawyers, one of Sun's companies paid $10 million to settle the fraud charges, though it did not admit or deny the SEC's findings. The agency dismissed the other related charges.

Justin Sun, founder of TRON, speaks during the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, US, on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. Bridget Bennett | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, during a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said the Department of Defense's decision to designate artificial intelligence startup Anthropic a supply chain risk "appears to be retaliation."

In a formal letter to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday, Warren noted that the department "could have chosen to terminate its contract with Anthropic or continued using its technology in unclassified systems."

"I am particularly concerned that the DoD is trying to strong-arm American companies into providing the Department with the tools to spy on American citizens and deploy fully autonomous weapons without adequate safeguards," Warren wrote.

U.S. senators are seeking more answers from the Defense Department's contracts with tech companies as the war in Iran continues, with the conflict entering a fourth week.

In the days leading up to the war, the DOD and Anthropic clashed as the department sought unfettered access to its models for all "lawful purposes," while Anthropic wanted assurance that its models would not be used for fully autonomous weapons or domestic "mass surveillance."

On Feb. 27, Hegseth posted that he was directing the DOD to apply the "supply chain risk" label on the company. The official notice came a week later as the department continued to use Anthropic's Claude model in Iran.

Anthropic filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration after the company was blacklisted and deemed a threat to U.S. national security. A preliminary hearing for the suit is scheduled for Tuesday in the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of California.
Conservative U.S. Supreme Court justices signaled skepticism on Monday toward a Mississippi law challenged by Republicans that allows a five-day grace period for mail-in ballots received after Election Day to be counted in a case that could lead to stricter voting rules around the country.

Republican President Donald Trump's administration argued in favor of the challenge to Mississippi's law, which permits mail-in ballots sent by certain voters to be counted if they were postmarked on or before Election Day but received up to five business days after a federal election. Absentee voting by mail is limited to a few categories of voters under the law including elderly people, the disabled and those living away from home.

The Supreme Court heard arguments in Mississippi's appeal of a lower court's ruling that deemed its mail-in ballot law illegal. The dispute centered on whether federal laws setting Election Day for federal elections preempt state laws in various states that allow ballots to be received after that day.

U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer, arguing on behalf of the Trump administration, criticized Mississippi's law as unduly "general and permissive."

"Official receipt is at the definitional heart of 'election,'" Sauer said, referring to the receipt of ballots.

The Supreme Court has a 6-3 conservative majority. Questions posed by some of the conservative justices during the arguments appeared to express concern over mail-in ballot practices more broadly, beyond grace periods, including who can receive a ballot, whether it must be postmarked and even whether states may allow mailed-in ballots to be recalled by the voter.

Trump last year vowed to end the use of mail-in ballots nationwide before the 2026 U.S. midterm elections in November, a move that likely would disproportionately benefit his party given that Democratic voters traditionally have been more likely to use mail-in ballots than Republican voters.

Legislation now being considered by Congress would put new restrictions on mail-in ballots involving requirements for certain government-issued photo identification. Trump, however, has urged Senate Republicans to expand the proposal to include a sweeping ban on mail-in voting, with limited exceptions for military personnel and certain others.

Republicans have taken a skeptical view toward mail-in ballots. Trump has sought to cast doubt on the security of these ballots, although evidence of voter fraud is rare. Trump has continued to make false claims of widespread voting fraud in the 2020 presidential election that he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

About 30 states and the District of Columbia accept at least some ballots that are postmarked on or before Election Day but received afterward.
In this screenshot taken from a congress.gov webcast, Impeachment Manager Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., speaks on the second day of President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial at the Capitol in Washington, Feb. 10, 2021.

Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., has dropped his lawsuit against Bill Pulte which accused the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency of weaponizing mortgage fraud investigations to target critics of President Donald Trump.

Swalwell  a California gubernatorial candidate  filed the lawsuit in November, arguing that Pulte unlawfully accessed and disclosed his private mortgage records in violation of federal privacy law and the First Amendment's "bedrock prohibition on viewpoint-based retaliation."

"Director Pulte has combed through private records of political opponents. To silence them," Swalwell posted in a statement at the time on X.

Swalwell, a seven-term congressman and House impeachment manager during Trump's second impeachment, has long been one of the most vocal critics of the president.

Pulte had referred Swalwell to the Department of Justice over claims that the congressman may have made false or misleading statements in loan documents for a Washington home. Swalwell called the claims "patently false."

Swalwell's decision to drop the suit comes as his gubernatorial opponents have raised questions about his eligibility to run for California's top post, with rival Democrat Tom Steyer accusing Swalwell of living in California "on paper only."

A separate lawsuit attempting to block Swalwell from appearing on the ballot, brought by conservative filmmaker Joel Gilbert, was tentatively rejected Friday after a California judge found sufficient evidence that he had lived in the state for the required five years.

"Pulte threatened a case. We called his bluff. He never brought it," Micah Beasley, a spokesperson for Swalwell's campaign, told CNBC. "And we just won on the same nonsense issue in California. Case closed."

Pulte did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Shares of Synopsys climbed about 3% Monday as activist investor Elliott Investment Management built a multibillion-dollar stake in the company, CNBC's David Faber confirmed.

"As AI drives a step change in chip complexity and capital investment, Synopsys is uniquely positioned to benefit from this growth," Jesse Cohn, managing partner at Elliott, told CNBC.

"We believe there is a clear opportunity for Synopsys's financial performance to more fully reflect the value it delivers," Cohn added, highlighting Elliott's plans to help the company "align operational execution, profitability and monetization with its potential and importance to the semiconductor ecosystem."

The Elliott stake in Synopsys was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

Elliott declined to provide the exact value of its investment. The firm took a $1 billion stake in Pinterest earlier this month.

Synopsys' services include electronic design automation and silicon design, which can help develop chips to power artificial intelligence. The California-based company has a market cap of about $80 billion.

In December, Nvidia purchased $2 billion of Synopsys common stock in a computing power partnership.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang called the investment "a huge deal" and said the partnership was about revolutionizing design and engineering.

The surge in AI data center construction, powered in large part by Nvidia's chips, which require large amounts of memory, has contributed to a semiconductor shortage.

Synopsys CEO Sassine Ghazi told CNBC in January that he expects the memory chip "crunch" to continue through 2027.
Investors looking for gains in this volatile market should pick and choose their spots in artificial intelligence while also adding exposure to names unlikely to be disrupted by the new technology, according to investor Dan Niles. "You want to have a mix between asset-heavy names [and] be well diversified," the founder of Niles Investment Management said Monday in a CNBC " Squawk on the Street " interview. "The AI trade  with OpenClaw having come out, that's a good area still and I think you're hitting another inflection point in token demand." "What you're going to see is, as more people start to deploy things that are actually useful, that's eventually going to lead to these AI trades, or at least my favorite ones, starting to work again," he added. "That's why you want to have this barbel of 'HALO' names and AI names." HALO refers to "heavy asset, low obsolescence" stocks, which are seen as less vulnerable to AI disruption. Niles also said the overall stock market is oversold. That makes this "a good time to consider putting some cash to work." The S & P 500 posted on Friday its fourth losing week in a row as the U.S.-Iran war continued. Stocks rallied on Monday, however, after President Donald Trump said the two countries had "productive" talks over the weekend. On the AI front, Niles recommends investors have exposure to stocks that will likely benefit from "a massive uptick in agentic AI." Alphabet is one name that is poised to gain ground on the AI trade this year, Niles said, pointing to the company's robust resources and technology stack. To be sure, the stock has fallen more than 3% this year as the AI trade appears to lose steam. However, "as more and more people start to deploy things that are actually useful, that's eventually going to lead to these AI trades, or at least my favorite ones, starting to work again," Niles said. GOOGL YTD mountain GOOGL year to date For HALO exposure, Niles said he likes stocks in the utilities, materials, energy, staples and industrials sectors. "Not everybody's going to win" in AI, Niles said. "You need to be very selective when you go through this, and that includes owning some of the names in the heavy asset, low obsolescence category." And while software stocks may be rallying along with the rest of the market, Niles said it's best to steer clear of those names. "On a longer-term basis, you are going to get a lot of software companies getting absolutely wiped out," particularly if those firms don't own the underlying data, Niles said. "You got to figure out who the winners are going to be."
The North Korea fake IT worker scheme has become a pernicious threat across several industries. While best practices emphasize precautions throughout the hiring phase, once onboarded such operatives can be challenging to detect. Combinations of behavioral analytics, threat intelligence, and other points of information are taking shape as essential defenses, as a recent case attests.

According to a recent report from LevelBlue SpiderLabs, a suspected North Korea-linked operative was hired, passed security checks, and was assigned to work on Salesforce data before being identified and terminated 10 days later. It took a combination of geolocation anomalies, unmanaged device access, and threat intelligence correlation to identify the threat.

In August 2025, routine onboarding quickly unraveled when Cybereason XDR behavioral analytics flagged suspicious login patterns and LevelBlue SpiderLabs threat intelligence confirmed the organization had unknowingly hired the bad actor.
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.
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The Russian war in Ukraine has become unpopular with most Russians. From the beginning, few Russians were interested in volunteering to join the military and fight in Ukraine. Russian recruiters soon discovered that poor rural Russians were willing to take a chance as a soldier in Ukraine if the financial inducements were high enough. Last year nearly $8 billion was spent on signing bonuses for new soldiers. Over 95 percent of the soldiers came from poor rural areas where the bonuses could buy more than in a major city. These bonuses were life-changing for many rural families. Once a rural soldier was killed, wife or parents received up to $100,000.

There is one critical flaw in this compensation system. The rural soldiers, especially from particularly poor regions, are not trained, treated or used as professional soldiers, but as highly expendable men used in expensive, in the number of casualties suffered, operations. The government or media praise these dead soldiers received is that they, as rural men, often from ethnic communities that were once known as fierce warriors. The poverty and lack of economic opportunities is rarely mentioned.

Even with all this money spent on recruiting, after four years of war in Ukraine and over 1.3 million soldiers killed, disabled or missing in combat, Russia is having problems recruiting soldiers. Russia was able to recruit 400,000 last year and expects to do the same this year. In the last two years, new recruits were often foreigners, including South Americans, Cubans, Africans and many countries in Asia. Recruiting standards have been lowered in Russia, where prisons have been emptied and alcoholics, drug addicts and the mentally ill have been induced, tricked or forced to sign a contract to join the military. Recruiters have been particularly successful in rural Russia where good jobs are scarce and alcoholism is rampant. Recruiters will sometimes visit a venue that serves alcohol and buy drinks for likely new recruits. Once these inebriated men have signed, the recruiter will often have to enlist local police to go where the new soldiers lived and tell the now sober men that they are in the army and take them away. Soldiers recruited in this way are not expected to last long in Ukraine, so their physical or mental condition is not important.

Recruiters have other problems to deal with. Twenty years ago, Russian leaders were informed that the rapidly aging Russian population was not only shrinking but was not fit for any major economic or military efforts. Some 60 percent of Russians were elderly, children, or disabled. Out of 20 million males of working age, one million were in prison, a million in the armed forces, five million were unemployed or unemployable due to poor education, health or attitude, four million were chronic alcoholics, and a million were drug addicts. Thus, there is something of a labor shortage, with plenty of jobs for women and immigrants. The birth rate is below replacement level, and a declining population needs more immigrants just to keep things going. Improving medical care, and health habits, especially treating alcoholism and drug use, was a government priority, in order to raise the lifespan of Russian males. All of this made the idea of a smaller all-volunteer military more attractive. Too many of the current troops were drunks, addicted to drugs or just unreliable. Volunteers must be paid much more, but their discipline is much higher. Russian officers are very impressed with what the British, Japanese and Americans have done with all-volunteer armed forces and want to emulate them. That never happened.
Another week, another Reform UK press conference  yet no sign of the party's biggest Conservative scalp, Nadhim Zahawi.

A former chancellor, education secretary, vaccines minister and Tory party chairman, Zahawi was the big hire in January. But he's not been seen at a Reform party since.

I hear it's because Reform members are unimpressed. Around 1,000 of them resigned in protest at the recruitment of Zahawi, who was sacked from the Cabinet by Rishi Sunak.

An ethics inquiry had found that Zahawi broke ministerial rules by failing to disclose that his tax affairs were under investigation by HMRC. He handed over a sum 'just shy of 5million' to close the matter.

There was no job for Zahawi in Nigel Farage's top team. He then blotted his copybook when he said of the war in Iran: 'Whatever the US needs, we should make all of our assets available'  a stance which would now put him at odds with the party hierarchy.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage with former Tory chancellor Nadhim Zahawi as they announced his defection to the party

Reform's other defector, Robert Jenrick, was never popular on the Tory benches.

Simon Hoare, the usually mild-mannered MP for North Dorset, says of his ex-colleague: 'Party loyalty, national interest... not sure Mr Jenrick would recognise those things if they French-kissed him.'

Does Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy tune in to hear her colleagues getting kebabbed on Radio 4's Today programme?

'Heart FM is my morning listening,' she says, citing that their presenters are full of fun.'

Nandy does flick through the newspapers too, she says, lest anyone thinks she remains blissfully unaware of the Government's dire performance.

Defence Secretary John Healey is a creature of habit  he never travels without HP Sauce.

As the New Statesman magazine reveals: 'At the Munich security conference, he produced the welltravelled bottle at dinner to douse his steak with.'

Healey is following in celebrated footsteps. Harold Wilson, who won four general elections for Labour in the 1960s and 1970s, was so keen on the sauce, it was known as 'Wilson's gravy'.

Hannah Spencer MP walking along the River Thames which the caption, 'How I walk to work knowing the Establishment are terrified of me'

New Green MP Hannah Spencer has shared a video of herself strolling along the Thames with the caption: 'How I walk to work knowing the Establishment are terrified of me xx'. Strange. Instead of heading for Parliament, she was walking in the opposite direction!

I spy Morgan McSweeney striding in the direction of Downing Street last Friday. Sir Keir Starmer's ex-chief of staff is deeply mired in the disastrous decision to hire Lord Mandelson as ambassador to US. Yet could he be planning a comeback?

Is Sir Ian just a 'bard' loser?

Legendary luvvie Sir Ian McKellen is baffled by the fuss over the Oscar-winning film Hamnet, the moving tale of William Shakespeare's reaction to the death of his 11-year-old son.

'I don't quite get it,' says McKellen. 'I'm not very interested in trying to work out where Shakespeare's imagination came from, but it certainly didn't just come from his family life.'

Is this the same McKellen who starred in 2018 drama All Is True, directed by Sir Kenneth Branagh, which looked at the same subject? It got zero Oscar nominations compared with Hamnet's eight.

The warm-up act for Chancellor Rachel Reeves before her unimpressive Mais Lecture last week was Andre Spicer, dean of London's Bayes Business School. Just the man. Prof Spicer's book is named 'Business Bull***t'.
March 23, 2026: Three years the Chinese government sought to create a surge in economic activity through a combination of new quality productive forces. This was to be financed via government subsidies and venture capital. Much of the government money went into infrastructure projects. This was supposed to be a second economic Great Leap Forward. The first one took place between 1958 and 1962 and was a catastrophic failure, with up to 50 million dead from famine and delaying the Chinese enter into the Industrial Revolution by two decades. Starting in the 1980s Chinese entrepreneurs were free to get rich as long as they did not threaten the CCP/Chinese Communist Party. This worked and within forty years China had the second largest GDP in the world. In the last decade that economic engine began to slow down because of corruption, mismanagement and poor decision making by the Chinese government.

As a result of this China is undergoing an unprecedented series of economic, demographic and medical disasters. In the last four years theres been a 20 percent drop in American imports from China. The Chinese economy is consuming and producing less because the population is declining while the national health system is trying to cope with continued covid19 deaths, some of it from a botched Covid vaccine that is not working and often killing people. The government denies this and threatens any Chinese reporters or health officials who speak out on what is happening.

Historically, Chinese leaders learned historical lessons when deciding how to rule China effectively and remain in power. One event Chinese leaders still pay close attention to is the collapse of communist governments in Europe between 1989 and1991. While China could understand why the East European communist nations rebelled against communist governments imposed on them by Russia after World War II, the Chinese are still careful to avoid the errors that brought down the mighty Soviet Union in 1991.

The key problem, as the Chinese see it, was the inefficiency of the Soviet economy. The Soviets never allowed a free market to develop, as China did in the 1980s. By the 1990s the Chinese market economy was growing ten percent or more a year, a rate sustained for twenty years. Thus per capita GDP went from $333 in 1991 to $14,000 now. The Russian GDP continued shrinking after 1991 and it took more than a decade for a market economy to get going. Yet Russian economic growth is still crippled by corruption and the continued existence of State-Owned Enterprises/SOEs.

Chinese leaders thought they had learned from these Russian mistakes, but now Chinese economists and bankers are reporting that China has many of the problems that brought down the Soviet Union and kept post-Soviet Russia weak. While China currently has the second largest economy on the planet, it has many serious problems that cannot be ignored. For one thing, China still has a lot of SOEs, which employ nearly a fifth of the workforce. For political reasons the communist government cannot get rid of these SOEs even though they are a major threat to the banking system. Inefficient and often unprofitable SOEs consume about half the available bank credit while only sustaining a fifth of the GDP. The Chinese Communist Party/CCP needs the SOEs to provide jobs for many key supporters, and that means a lot more corruption is tolerated in SOEs than in free market firms.

China has made impressive efforts to deal with corruption it concentrates on, such as corruption that causes the most unrest among the general population. This includes blatantly corrupt behavior at the local level as well as in the military or companies where the bad behavior leads to tainted food or medicine. But if you are a loyal senior official and show discretion and restraint in your corrupt practices you are left alone. That form of favoritism is necessary to run what is just another Chinese dynasty.

The 1911 revolt that ended the monarchy did not replace the emperor and his bureaucracy with anything much different. After four decades of civil war and fighting Japanese invaders, the communists took control and what they established quickly evolved into the usual hereditary aristocracy. By 2017 China had returned to the emperor for life model as Xi Jinping persuaded the Chinese leadership to accept the restoration of lifetime tenure for the supreme leader, instead of the five-year term system adopted after the disastrous lifetime rule of the first communist emperor Mao Zedong in 1976. Mao was a better rebel leader than emperor and his 18 years of misrule killed over fifty million Chinese and made an anemic economy even weaker. After Mao, there was reorganization rather than chaos and among the many practical reforms instituted was a market economy that could thrive under the rule of a communist police state.

But then came 1989-91 and the wealthier and wiser Chinese rulers sought answers to why all those communist police states in East Europe just evaporated, replaced by various degrees of democracy and free market economies. Chinese leaders are still unsure what the most important lessons for China are to be learned from all that. Some of the lessons were obvious. For example, a communist command economy cannot compete with a free market economy. Or at least no one has figured out how to do it. But creating a market economy proved easier than repairing the damage decades of communist rule had inflicted. In addition to the corruption, the free-market economy grew in part by simply bribing disruptive communist officials to get out of the way.

Then there was growing pollution of both water and the air. All that economic growth produced more pollution which Western democracies were quicker to clean up. Politicians who got in the way of that were unable to get re-elected. In a communist police state bad news could be kept out of the news for a while but with the capital suffering some of the worst air pollution in the world, the pollution became a major issue, is still a long way from being fixed, has fostered both bad health in general and susceptibility to lung diseases in particular, and contributed to Chinas increasing population crash.

Some of the other lessons learned from the Soviet collapse are also being increasingly ignored. For example, it was noted that the Soviet economy collapsed in large part because over 20 percent of the GDP went to military spending and related foreign subsidies. The Soviets recklessly spent large sums on supporting allies. The Soviet subsidies kept North Korea and Cuba economically viable and loyal. Lesser sums were wasted on arms sales financed by low-interest loans that were never paid off. Same with a lot of non-military foreign aid.

Now Chinese leaders are being reminded that they are moving towards the self-destructive Soviet practices, even though in the 1990s it was agreed that arms races and bad loans to fickle allies were a bad idea. While on paper the Chinese defense budget is about a third of what the Americans spend, Chinese economists point out that the U.S. economy is better able to support that degree of spending. Meanwhile, if you calculate Chinese defense spending the same way the Americans do, the Chinese defense spending is closer to half what the Americans spend. Another expensive Chinese decision was to adopt a nationalist posture to obtain more support from Chinese who would otherwise be questioning the wisdom of communist rule because of the corruption and pollution.

That may change China's One Belt, One Road/OBOR program to purportedly establish secure sea lanes for Chinese trade and new roads, railways and pipelines throughout Eurasia, especially Southeast Asia and Central Asia. Many of the new port projects are being built in South Asia and Africa. A lot of these projects are very risky because, if they cannot trigger enough additional economic activity, China will end up holding the bad debt. China is investing over a trillion dollars in OBOR projects. Some see this as one huge make-work effort for Chinese workers and engineers who are sent overseas to build OBOR projects.

This effort is financed by the Chinese banking system. The Chinese bankers are increasingly worried about too much bad debt and what that can do. Japan is a nearby example that suffered from a bad debt crisis because of a real estate bubble. Japan has yet to recover from that mess and Chinese bankers dont want to be stuck with the same mess. Now they are and there is no relief in sight. Worse, that trillion-dollar investment will be toast if China goes to war with the United States over Taiwan.

This use of nationalism has led Chinese leaders to make a lot of the expensive mistakes they belittle the American leadership for. While the United States is often accused of ignoring the cultural differences with its allies and opponents and making bad decisions based on misperceptions, other countries often do the same. While the United States has made many mistakes because American leaders believed foreigners thought like Americans but in a different language, at least the U.S. has come to acknowledge that this problem exists. Not so in China where this lack of empathy for other cultures is rampant in the government and especially in the military. This includes that part of the military that prepares plans for dealing with foreigners in crisis situations that could lead to war.

While Chinese leaders are very conscious of their own history and the many lessons they can still learn from all that, the one lesson that makes their neighbors nervous is that the Chinese believe Chinese expansion is a natural and justified policy for China. Their neighbors are very uncomfortable with China's reemerging and quite ancient attitude that China is the center of the universe and long known as the powerful Middle Kingdom that everyone should respect and pay tribute to.

The Chinese government encourages these nationalistic attitudes, and many Chinese are eager to see China become more powerful and get more respect. This is a dangerous attitude and a common prelude to war. China is run by a communist police state that sees nationalism as a useful tool to keep the communists in power. This is the sort of atmosphere that triggered the two World Wars. In 1914 Germany, long the disunited and picked apart mess in Central Europe, was united in 1870 for the first time and wanted respect to go along with its newfound economic and military power. That did not turn out well.

In contemporary China, an actual war would likely destroy the communists, who are unpopular already because of corruption, abuse of power and pollution. A major component of any future war would be economic, as China is now dependent on imports of raw materials. That is something new in Chinese history, as the Chinese have, for thousands of years, prided themselves on self-sufficiency. That is gone and can't be regained without some drastic economic and cultural changes. The Chinese communists are playing a game of bluster and bluff. This is especially true when you consider that the Chinese armed forces are also crippled by massive corruption and mismanagement. For that reason alone, the Chinese government should avoid actual war. But short of large-scale fighting, there's a lot the Chinese can do to push their neighbors around. China tries to substitute economic power, as the Russians often did with their loans, but China is finding that their cheap loans are no more effective than the Russian ones.

American planners have become aware of the lack of realistic planning by the Chinese military. Chinese wargames tend to ignore the reality of how their neighbors make military and diplomatic decisions. The Chinese military planners are particularly blind to the intricacies of politics in democracies and the influence of media, especially the Internet. While the Chinese appreciate the Internet as a tool for propaganda and espionage, they have a blind spot when it comes to how the mass media influences political and military decision making in the powerful democracies like the United States, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea they might face in a future war. The U.S. is trying to develop ways to deal with this blind spot and so far, can only conclude that China has now become a more irrational and dangerous adversary because the Middle Kingdom leaders are too busy staring at themselves in a mirror rather than paying attention to what is happening outside their borders.
Prithee, fair maid. Pray tell what in the name of blithering pilchards is thy Captain Poldark up to now?

As played by Aidan Turner the sexy Cornish mine owner who was last seen seven years ago in a hugely popular BBC adaptation of the Winston Graham novels.

Over five smash hit series and many unforgettable scenes involving topless scything, naked swims, syllabub tasting and crushing kitchen maids to his manly chest, Turner made his Poldark an irresistible blend of Rhett and Mr Rochester, with a dash of Darcy thrown in, too.

Everyone adored him  and no wonder! Under a handsome frown, under his Bible-black curls, under a tricorn hat, under a thunderous sky and under siege from delirious fans, Aidan gave good brood; a boulder of smoulder hewn straight from some deep fissure in the Cornish rock.

His Poldark became a sensation: his face on tea towels and coffee mugs, his poster on walls, his image recreated on key rings and calendars  and even in knitting patterns.

I am not ashamed to say I was one of those women who lovingly knitted and stuffed his little Poldark. Ours was a silent worship in wool, each darling curl crafted in plain and purl.

The actor went on to star in various film and TV roles, including playing a tempestuous television interviewer in the recent Disney+ series of Jilly Coopers Rivals. For the latter character he even grew a preposterous, Borat-style moustache, as if to sabotage his good looks and keep his panting fans at bay.

Lesley Manville and Aidan Turner star in Les Liaisons Dangereuses at the National Theatre, which Jan Moir went to see on Saturday night

No need! I think it is fair to say that our swashbuckling hero has never quite reached the lusty Poldarkian heights of hunkdom that made him famous  but is that about to change?

On Saturday night at the National Theatre in London, Aidan Turner was on stage for the first public performance of Les Liaisons Dangereuses, the famous 18th-century French novel adapted by Christopher Hampton and first performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1985.

In this revival, Turner stars as dastardly rake the Vicomte de Valmont opposite Lesley Manville as the Marquise de Merteuil. They play jaded French aristocrats who were once lovers but now use sex as a weapon to humiliate and dominate others.

From the opening scenes until curtain down three hours later, Turner does his best to seduce almost every woman in his path. He spends much of the play thrashing about on silk sheets, stalking around chateaux in shirts slashed to the waist and snogging various lovelies with merry abandon.

Quick, I thought halfway through the first act, pass the double-ply and fetch my trusty needles. For ye olde urge to knit is upon me once more.

Yet something is lacking in this particular pattern, a dropped stitch in time. And it is not just that the Vicomte speaks in Turners own native Dublin accent instead of a high society Vicomtes posh tones.

It sounds odd. Show a proper confidence in my ability, he barks at the Marquise at one point, sounding less a French aristo on the prowl and more like Bob Geldof berating some poor sod who pumped him the wrong fuel at a Dundalk petrol station.

In addition, 42-year-old Turner gave an interview to a Sunday newspaper at the weekend in which he bemoaned his previous status as a sex symbol and stated his wish to be taken seriously as an actor. Im not 25 any more. I wont ever look like that again. And Im not 30, holding a scythe in the field, he said.

I welcome it, really, he added, of reaching his 40s. A lot of my career, my early career, was based on how I look. And for a long time that was frustrating. Like, God, is this really all Im being hired for? 

Aidan Turner as the sexy Cornish mine owner, Ross Poldark, in the BBC period drama. His Poldark was an irresistible blend of Rhett and Mr Rochester, with a dash of Darcy

The actor went on to star in various film and TV roles, including playing tempestuous television interviewer Declan O'Hara in recent Disney+ series Rivals

Oh, Aidan! The gentleman doth protest too much, methinks. After all, this is the man who walks on stage topless in the opening scenes of the second half of this play  still looking scythingly tremendous, if Im allowed to say that without being arrested for sexually objectifying a sex object.

In testament to Turners  and Manvilles  pulling power, the play runs until June and is almost completely sold out, with only a smattering of single tickets available. But there will be a nationwide cinema release from June 25, giving filmgoers the opportunity to experience the former Captain Poldark reborn as an 18th-century love machine for themselves.

Prepare for our hero pressing maidens up against walls in his tight matador trousers and pinning them down on carpets when all else fails. He performs ghastly face-holding kisses whenever a virgin falls into his orbit and then feverishly burrows under their crinoline skirts like a wombat tunnelling for a nice turnip amid what the script calls much mutual delirium on the path of no return. I didnt know whether to gasp or guffaw.

Of course, Turner treads in the footsteps of the great seducers. In the original RSC production, the late Alan Rickman played the Vicomte in London and on Broadway wearing a frock coat, an evil smirk and wielding an unmatched, icy malice. John Malkovich brought a menacing feyness to the role in the 1988 film adaptation, while Dominic West played the Vicomte in the 2015-16 revival at the Donmar Warehouse in London.

Poor Dominics interpretation wasnt an unqualified success, with some reviewers calling him a likeable libertine rather than a genuinely terrifying one. Booming, lusty and plummy were some of the kinder words used.

Indeed, I wonder if Turners return (he made an acclaimed debut in the West End in 2018 in The Lieutenant Of Inishmore) will meet with entirely positive critical approval, for sometimes he is about as dark and foreboding as a character in a Brian Rix farce. Hes got the garters, but has he got the guts?

Lesley Manville is a far more chilling prospect as the Marquise de Merteuil; all blood-red gowns and restrained fury as she declares war on her former paramour Valmont, a man who is partly redeemed  and then wholly destroyed  by love. My victory wasnt over her, it was over you, she seethes, in one heart-stopping moment.

And given that Manville is 70 years old, how thrilling that she and Turner play lovers and contemporaries in age, despite the 28-year-gap between them.

Significant age differences are not uncommon in Hollywood and the theatre, but it is usually the men who are 20 to 40 years older than their female counterparts.

Manville even appears onstage in stockings, suspenders and a basque, looking fabulous. Even more remarkable when one considers that she appeared in that very first RSC production as the naive Cecile de Volanges, a character cruelly seduced by the Vicomte at the request of the Marquise as part of their clammy game of revenge. Arent the French just exhausting?

You might wonder what is the point of reviving the infamous 1782 epistolary novel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, given the strictures of intimacy coordinators and the difficulties in showing a sexual predator at work in this post-Epstein world.

However, surely it underlines that the perils of committing to paper in the 18th century are just the same as committing to email in the 21st century.

Finally, there was much speculation about whether Turners Borat moustache would stay for Les Liaisons and, if it did, would it want a saucer of milk and some kibble at the interval?

I thought he was an Iranian taxi driver, said puzzled socialite Nicky Haslam, who met the whiskered star at a party recently.

On Saturday night, however, I can report with delight that the moustache has gone, although by the end of this long, long evening at the theatre I was beginning to wonder if it was growing back again. Mine certainly was.

This production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses has its thrills. There is some lovely choreography throughout and as a former Irish ballroom dancing champion, Turner excels in these scenes.

Yet as a nobleman of the French court he is called upon to bow a lot and is oddly terrible at this; instead of a noble sweep he just folds over like a prawn having a heart attack.

Lawks, Miss Demelza! What on earth would Poldark say?
Whether it was a dramatic one-off or a warning of things to come, Irans launch of two long-range missiles across more than 2,000 miles towards Diego Garcia, Britains territory in the Indian Ocean, should have been a wake-up call for our government.

Instead, in his tour of breakfast TV and radio studios yesterday, housing minister Steve Reed  not a defence minister  offered bland and misleading reassurances.

He asserted that Iran did not have missiles that could reach London, saying there is no assessment to substantiate the suggestion. He also claimed: We have systems and defences in place that keep the United Kingdom safe.

I fear he is wrong on both counts.

Until the past few days, Irans Khorramshahr missiles were thought to have a range of 1,240 miles. Now, it seems theyve been adapted to travel up to 2,400 miles, which puts not just Diego Garcia, but London at the edge of their range  and at risk.

The Khorramshahrs  based on a North Korean design  are formidable. They can be loaded with fuel in just 12 minutes, making them hard to detect and destroy on the ground.

Yet they are not the only long-range threat available to the mullahs. Iran also has basic rocket systems for launching communications satellites which could be repurposed to deliver warheads, and perhaps already have been.

Irans Khorramshahr missiles were thought to have a range of 1,240 miles. Now, it seems theyve been adapted to travel up to 2,400 miles

Could the claims about Irans new long-range strike power be exaggerated?

The clearest and most troubling account of the Iranian threat has come from Israel, whose prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has an interest in spreading fear and dragging other countries into the war on his side.

But even if Israel has scaremongered in the past, we now have daily evidence of Irans prowess in ballistics technology, including missiles with multiple manoeuvrable warheads.

To judge from the Diego Garcia attack  one missile was intercepted, the other fell short  it would be complacent to dismiss the suggestion that there has been a big leap forward in the distance Iranian rockets can travel, as our government seems to have done.

Could the destruction of Irans weapons stockpile in the past few weeks justify ministers confidence that we are safe?

The recent attacks on factories and missile stores and the assassination of the regimes missile scientists have certainly reduced the threat. But it has by no means been eliminated.

Back at the dawn of rocket technology, when Hitlers scientists invented the V1  a primitive cruise missile with a jet engine  and then the V2, a supersonic ballistic missile, they did so in the teeth of a massive RAF bombardment.

Yet these deadly missiles were still churned out in their thousands, hitting London and the South-East hard.

Equally troubling is Britains vulnerability. We have no ground-based anti-missile defences and the handful of ship-based systems we do possess are aboard vessels deployed far from our shores.

The Government is now talking about contingency plans, but its too late. The touch paper has already been lit.

Irans launch of two long-range missiles across more than 2,000 miles towards Diego Garcia, Britains territory in the Indian Ocean, should have been a wake-up call

Why has our Prime Minister been so worryingly vague about what actually happened at Diego Garcia, in the Chagos Island group?

Despite Steve Reeds reassurances, the plain truth is that there is next to nothing this country can do to prevent a multi-stage Iranian rocket from hitting us. We would depend on American missile systems stationed round Europe.

If the mullahs decide to test the morale of the nation they denounce as the Little Satan, southern England will simply have to take it.

The least the British public can expect is some honesty about the situation. Back in the 1940s, we trusted Churchills government to give us the bad news as well as the good, to spell out the hard truths  and he delivered.

In contrast, Keir Starmers instinct is to cover things up with weasel words. What exactly is defensive bombing, for example? Why has our Prime Minister been so worryingly vague about what actually happened at Diego Garcia?

Such a mealy-mouthed approach can only add to the growing sense of anxiety and crippling indecision.

For Britain, there is no immediate relief in sight. Even if Donald Trump does somehow achieve the complete victory he demands, a terrible genie has escaped the bottle.

The threat of missile and drone warfare from Iran and its allies is all too likely to remain. Moreover, war and the threat of war are real prospects on other fronts - not least from such serious military and scientific powers as China and Russia.

This is no time to be asleep at the wheel.
The shocking news that Iran has missiles that may be able to reach London should make even critics of Trumps war  among whom I number myself  ponder deeply.

We dont know how many such weapons Iran possesses, nor how accurate they are. But the regime has just fired two missiles at the British-American military base on the Chagos Islands, a distance of about 2,400 miles.

Before the Iraq War, no one  not even Tony Blair in his most deluded state  thought Saddam Hussein could strike London. Nor was there any evidence that Iraq was trying to develop nuclear warheads. Iran, on the other hand, has almost certainly been doing precisely that.

So the potential threat to Britain from Iran is much greater than it was from Iraq more than two decades ago. Of course, the US assault may have degraded Iranian capabilities in the past three weeks. But if the regime survives, it will recover.

Note, too, that after years of our politicians being asleep on the job, we havent got a defence system capable of shooting down incoming Iranian missiles.

Shall we agree that there is cause for worry? I dont say we should be kept awake at night. I do think that we face a threat of which, this time last week, we were unaware.

Donald Trump is the most unreliable, incompetent, wayward war leader of any Western country in the past 80 years, says Stephen Glover

And yet there has so far been no indication that the Government or our European allies are contemplating joining Trumps war. This seems to me completely understandable.

Donald Trump is the most unreliable, incompetent, wayward war leader of any Western country in the past 80 years. He makes George W. Bush, the brash instigator of the Iraq War, look like Prince Metternich, the master diplomat who served the Austrian Empire in the first part of the 19th century.

Id go further and say that Trumps reckless and ill-conceived conduct of the war has probably made us less safe since, unless by some miracle he dislodges the Iranian regime, it could become an even more deadly enemy than before.

Trump didnt bother to consult Britain or Americas other major allies before bombing Iran. Only Israel, which has its own anti-Iranian agenda, was in the loop.

And yet the tempestuous President was soon blaming Britain for not doing more. He evidently believes allies should do what they are told even if he hasnt thought it necessary to seek their advice.

His grumbling about Sir Keir Starmer not making British bases available to American forces was reasonable, since close allies should offer minimum support.

But Trump made up a story about the Government giving serious thought to sending both our aircraft carriers to the Middle East so that it could join wars after weve already won. Starmer had no such plan since one carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, is holed up in port for the foreseeable future.

During the past three weeks, the President has often suggested that the war has been won and then, almost in the next breath, threatened escalation. One moment he is musing about withdrawing, the next he is doubling down.

He has claimed that American and Israeli bombing has obliterated Irans military infrastructure and neutralised its navy. And yet Iranian missiles continue to be fired in all directions, and its small boats threaten Western shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Last Tuesday Trump declared that the United States didnt need any help in reopening the Strait. Then on Friday he said it would be easy for Nato allies to clear it, implying that it was their job to pick up the pieces of a war he had started.

The latest thought to tumble out of Trumps mind about the Strait of Hormuz is that unless Iran reopens it within 48 hours he will hit and obliterate the countrys power plants.

Such zigzagging is close to madness. Trump appears to have no hold on reality. How can allies be expected to rally to the side of an American President who is so unpredictable and inconstant?

And then there is the abuse. Nato countries are dismissed as cowards even though some of them have stood by America in several of its misguided wars, with 457 British military personnel dying in Afghanistan. It was a contemptible thing for Trump to have said.

God knows, we dont need him to tell us that Starmer is no Churchill. All the same, civilised world leaders dont indulge in name-calling. Denigration of Starmer should be left to domestic politicians and the Press.

Its no wonder Americas allies are keeping their distance. They dont know what he is trying to achieve. They dont trust him. And they dont relish being abused by him.

I suppose its still possible that the Iranian regime will cave in after being pulverised by American and Israeli bombing, and with about 40 of its leaders having been assassinated, most notably the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

If the present crop of extremists and jihadists were to be replaced by less threatening leaders, who renounced Irans nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, that would constitute a signal victory for Trump.

But it seems unlikely that such a transformation will take place. All the regime needs to claim victory is to survive in some form. For them, not being defeated amounts to winning.

Experts fear Iran's missiles could reach London after the reported strikes on Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands

Smoke and flames rise at the site of US air strikes on an oil depot in Tehran, the capital of Iran, on March 7

If they are undefeated, they will continue to threaten Western interests. In the shorter term this will mean pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and continuing disruption of the free flow of oil and gas, all of which will weaken the global economy, not least already fragile Britain.

Meanwhile, the Iranian regime would be free to go on developing a nuclear bomb. It could also rebuild its depleted stock of missiles and produce more effective long-range ones.

I suspect that Trump will declare victory quite soon, since he cant afford for this war to go on for much longer if he wishes to reclaim some of his damaged reputation. We could then be left with a vengeful Iran, more determined than ever to attack America and its allies.

Dealing with the Iranian regime would not have been easy for the most far-sighted and statesman-like of American Presidents (of whom there have been precious few in recent decades) supported by loyal and level-headed allies.

In Trump we have a kind of morally deficient and temperamentally unfit monster  someone who on Saturday wrote, after the death of an arch-enemy, former FBI director Robert Mueller: Good, Im glad hes dead.

How far has America fallen. How unfortunate for all of us that such a man should be in the White House. He surrounds himself with sycophants, who are often ignorant hillbillies.

One of the worst is a braggart called Pete Hegseth, Secretary for War, who delights in attacking the Presidents media critics. He asserted with characteristic Trumpian crudeness four days after the war began that America was winning decisively, devastatingly and without mercy.

When Trump has left the White House, and Hegseth returned to the obscurity from which he was plucked, we will be left with the problems they failed to solve or made worse.

Iran will probably remain a dangerous enemy, while Britain may be recovering from the economic shock of a war that was rashly begun and foolishly pursued.
Six years ago today, on March 23, 2020, then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the first UK-wide Covid lockdown.

It was the most draconian restriction of civil liberties in modern British history and we are still living with the disastrous consequences today.

What began as a short period of effective house arrest to prevent the spread of the virus morphed into a prolonged period of enforced stasis from which Basket Case Britain has still not recovered.

Many of the problems blighting not just the economy but society as a whole can be traced back to lockdown.

To be fair, at the outset no one knew anything about Covid-19, although fevered speculation was rife. We did know for certain that elsewhere it had already claimed hundreds, possibly thousands, of lives.

So when Boris announced a brief three-week shutdown to flatten the sombrero we complied willingly. If we exercised restraint and stayed home we would save lives and protect the NHS from being overwhelmed.

Even confirmed sceptics like me went along with it at first. Frankly, we knew too little about the virus so we gave ministers the benefit of the doubt. When Boris contracted Covid and hovered at deaths door, we were all spooked.

But as three weeks turned into three months, serious doubts began to creep in. It soon became apparent that we were in for a long haul. The Government was hiding behind the science and had no idea what to do next.

Then prime minister Boris Johnson addresses the nation from 10 Downing Street as he announces the start of the Covid-19 Lockdown on March 23, 2020

As they doubled down on freedom of movement and assembly, whatever faith Id initially had in their cautious judgment evaporated and then turned into outright hostility.

Worse, vested interests had started to capitalise on the Covid confusion to advance their own selfish agendas. One of the predictions I did get right was that green fanatics would co-opt social distancing to launch a vicious and prolonged anti-car campaign. Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, 20mph limits, carpeting the country with deserted bike lanes, all backed by exorbitant fines and driving bans, are now par for the course.

I also told you that once the restrictions were eased, the Warden Hodges tendency would draw up a whole new series of curbs on our liberties. There would be nothing normal about the so-called New Normal. Temporary measures have a nasty habit of becoming permanent. And so it has proven.

The police behaved abominably, enthusiastically committing frequent abuses of power too widespread to repeat here in detail.

But who could forget them sending up drones to track dog walkers in the countryside breaching curfew, arresting women for drinking coffee in the open air, fining sunbathers and, shamefully, handcuffing a 73-year-old woman and throwing her in the back of a patrol car for the heinous crime of taking her 97-year-old mother out of a care home for a cup of tea and a cream cake.

Officers were dispatched to pubs and restaurants to measure pizza slices and determine whether or not sausage rolls constituted a substantial meal within the meaning of the hastily drawn-up new laws.

Yet while the enforcement of these ludicrous restrictions was bad enough, the real long-term damage was done by furlough and the temporary instruction to work from home (WFH) wherever possible.

The idea of briefly paying people to stay at home during the pandemic was superficially attractive, compassionate even. But it soon became seen as an absolute entitlement. Money For Nothing And Your Chips For Free is now a way of life.

We are still living with the disastrous consequences of the Covid restrictions today, writes Richard Littlejohn

Littlejohn predicted that fanatics would co-opt social distancing to launch a vicious an anti-car campaign, leading to Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, 20mph limits, and countless bike lanes

It looks as though, if the Iran pause doesnt bring peace, we could be staring down the barrel of another Covid-style lockdown, writes Richard Littlejohn

Today, there are nine million people of working age officially economically inactive, with another 3,000 a day signing off sick with pretend illnesses such as mental elf ishoos, no questions asked. Covid persuaded a vast section of the population that the State would always provide for their every need.

Consequently, the benefits bill has gone through the roof and, under the law of unintended consequences, millions of immigrants have been imported by employers to fill jobs British citizens are unwilling to do any more.

Why would they bother working when they can live the life of Riley on benefits at the expense of the dwindling number of people still prepared to get out of bed, do an honest days work and pay taxes?

WFH is seen as a yuman rite, especially in the sclerotic public sector, with staff refusing to turn up to the office more than three days a week  if at all. Commuter stations are practically deserted on Mondays and especially Fridays.

The welfare bill has exploded and as a nation we now have debts no honest man could pay, to take a line from Bruce Springsteens Atlantic City. Rachel from Complaints is borrowing 150billion just to pay the interest on our accumulated international loans.

As a result, we have the highest tax burden since the Second World War  and back in 1945, unlike today, we at least still had proper Armed Forces, even after six years on the battlefield.

Our NHS, which became a virtual Covid-only service during the pandemic, was overwhelmed, according to inquiry findings published last week. It still hasnt recovered. GP surgeries closed for months and even now patients are having to wait weeks for routine appointments.

Schools were closed entirely unnecessarily, with the full support of the militant teachers unions, depriving a generation of children a decent education. Absenteeism is still running at record levels as parents got out of the habit of taking their kids to school.

And despite the temporary Money For Nothing And Your Chips For Free scheme, the hospitality industry was crippled permanently. Labour is delivering the coup de grace through cruel tax increases, a hike in the minimum wage and sky-high business rates. I read a figure at the weekend which claimed seven pubs a week are closing for every vape shop which opens.

Sounds about right. The expansion of online shopping during Covid has turned our traditional high streets into ghost towns. Extortionate parking charges and anti-car measures brought in during Covid, along with National Insurance rises and Labours money-grubbing taxes on small businesses, have done the rest. Vape shops and fake, money-laundering Turkish barbers are about all there is left.

Its also worth remembering that while the Tories were ultimately punished  partly but far from exclusively  for the fall-out from Covid, the Labour Party wanted to lock down even longer and harder.

Looking back, those of us who cast doubt on the wisdom of blanket lockdowns and outrageous curbs of our liberty were in a tiny minority. More than nine out of ten people were all in favour.

It seems vast numbers of our fellow citizens rather enjoy living under heavy manners, as they say in Jamaica.

Until Donald Trump paused the bombing of Iran, following fears of a global energy crisis, I got the impression that plenty of folk were salivating at the prospect of the return of Covid-style restrictions and rationing.

Just as many survivors of the Second World War later expressed the opinion that those were the best years of their lives, millions today seem to have relished the privations of the pandemic and appear to be only too happy to relive it.

Prior to the current pause, the Government had been dusting off plans from the International Energy Agency, which include petrol rationing, a ban on gas cookers and the introduction of widespread WFH  though half the country has already beaten them to it.

Over the past week or so, Ive heard tales of people stocking up with jerry cans of unleaded in anticipation of the pumps drying up. Drive past any Costco and the queues are 15-deep.

If the prospect of Iranian ballistic missiles dropping on Britain, doodlebug-style, ever became a reality, there would once again be Covid-era punch-ups in the aisles over dried pasta and tins of baked beans. Pretty soon the Bog Roll Bandits would be back in business.

Six years on it looks as though, if the Iran pause doesnt bring peace, we could be staring down the barrel of another Covid-style lockdown. And, far from being terrified, there would be no shortage of people prepared to hunker down singing Happy Days Are Here Again.

Makes you proud to be British.
Tehyana Jonhson was just 12 when she began suffering agonising menstrual cramps and heavy bleeding - but it would take a decade for doctors to take her agonising health woes seriously.

Ms Johnson, now 22, from Norwich, said up until she was diagnosed with endometriosis last year, her symptoms, which included painful periods and heavy bleeding, blood in her urine, full body pain and vomiting, were consistently dismissed by doctors.

The condition, which affects around one in ten women worldwide - roughly 190 million people - occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows elsewhere in the body.

She said: 'I would go to hospital, and they would say, "are you sure it's not just a bad period?"

'They'd tell me to go back to my GP and, effectively, ignore me, and then my GP would say, "if your pain is that bad, you need to go to hospital".

'I'd been fobbed off for so long and told that this isn't what's wrong with me, so when I was diagnosed, I almost felt vindicated because I was right  but I was angry.'

Ms Johnson said she self-diagnosed herself with endometriosis  when cells similar to the ones in the lining of the womb are found elsewhere in the body  before receiving her official diagnosis in July 2025.

This came after a laparoscopy, a type of keyhole surgery, which revealed her endometriosis had been found extensively, with lesions and scar tissue present on multiple organs, including her bowels.

Tehyana Jonhson's periods were so heavy that she was often unable to go to school

She was forced to wait for the laparoscopy - which is considered 'the gold standard' for diagnosing endometriosis - for a year, during which her symptoms continued to worsen, including severe abdominal pain, nausea, bladder spasms, bowel dysfunction and debilitating sciatica.

'It's traumatic. I'm on the floor, I'm screaming, crying, and the pain lasts for hours,' she said.

Although some of the tissue was removed during the procedure, she was told not all of it could be excised safely due to the extent and location of it.

'They said there are lesions which look like they've been there for about 15 years, and I've got massive scarring on basically everything,' she said.

'At this point, I'm thinking, you've left it so long that now there's not a chance that (treatment) will work.'

Ms Johnson still experiences 'flare ups' but says using her TENS machine, which passes a weak electrical current to the nerves, helps ease her pain.

She may need further surgery in future as part of her treatment or, in a more severe case, a hysterectomy to remove her womb, but in the meantime, she is determined to raise more awareness and campaign for more education and support.

'Always advocate for yourself and fight for yourself but you're not alone as there are millions of us with this condition and there are support groups,' she said.

'I'd say to GPs, think about if this was your child or your wife or your partner, you'd want them to be heard.

'Medical professionals need to educate themselves and be willing to be educated again.'

Ms Johnson has plenty of experience of advocating for herself - or at least trying to.

She started her period aged nine but experienced heavy bleeding and was subsequently diagnosed with an iron deficiency. This was managed by taking iron tablets and eating iron-rich foods.

However, from the age of 12, her symptoms worsened to include nausea, vomiting and such severe cramping that she would be 'off school, in bed for days'.

'I couldn't move and I'd just curl up into the foetal position,' said Ms Johnson, who works as a regional assistant for a social care company.

Ms Johnson, pictured during one of her hospital admissions

'That would go on for days but when we went to see the doctors when I was about 14, there was no investigation and they just stuck me on the pill.'

Ms Johnson said the pill stopped her periods, although she still experienced 'phantom pain' and occasional light bleeding, and she required physiotherapy for back pain but was told this was due to 'growing pains'.

Her symptoms continued to worsen, even leading to hospital admissions as the pain felt like her 'body was on fire', but still she was 'ignored'.

From 2014 onwards, she claims she was 'fobbed off' and told her symptoms were due to her weight or 'just a bad period', and she believes she has had more than 250 consultations in the past three years alone.

In 2023, Ms Johnson said she was finally referred to a gynaecologist, but she was stuck on the waiting list for a year and her symptoms affected her ability to sleep, walk and study.

Her 'debilitating pain' led to Ms Johnson doing her own research, which led her to learn about endometriosis.

She continued: 'I wasn't going into my lessons because I couldn't get up, I didn't have any support, so I started Googling my symptoms and looking at WebMD and I came across endometriosis.

'I just thought, wait a second, this is what's been going on with me for the past 10 years.'

During this time, she changed GP surgeries and was fortunate to see a locum doctor who recognised the extent of her pain, prescribed codeine for pain management and escalated her referral to urgent.

In 2024, she said she was seen by a male gynaecologist and had subsequent ultrasound and MRI scans, which came back clear, and she was again told she did not have endometriosis.

She said she was instead told her weight was the cause of her symptoms.

'He spent the whole (appointment), telling me it's because of my weight and he said to me: 'Your weight is my ideal weight as a 6ft 5in man',' she said.

'Trying to explain (my symptoms) to someone who has already decided what he thinks is the answer, he just wasn't listening.'

She has urged other women to advocate for themselves and not to be fobbed off

That same year, Ms Johnson experienced an unplanned pregnancy that became a suspected ectopic pregnancy  when a fertilised egg implants itself outside of the womb  but she said doctors dismissed this, too.

A week later during a private scan, clinicians identified what appeared to be a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, which can be life-threatening, and she was rushed to hospital for further investigations.

It was discovered she had suffered a partial rupture, but Ms Johnson said the pregnancy later 'dissolved' on its own before surgery was needed.

Although she felt 'vindicated' by the diagnosis, Ms Johnson believes much of this could have been prevented and she is now campaigning for earlier diagnosis for this 'invisible' and currently incurable condition.

'I was doing the research into what's wrong with me and I was right every single time.

'But this is something I'm going to have to live with for the rest of my life because everything we have tried so far hasn't worked.

'I wish someone would have just listened to me in the first place.'

According to the charity Endometriosis UK, on average, it takes nine years and four months from the first GP visit to get a diagnosis for endometriosis.

Endometriosis happens when cells similar to those in the lining of the uterus grow in other parts of the body, causing chronic pain, heavy bleeding and, in many cases, infertility.

Symptoms vary from person to person and can include pelvic pain, periods that interfere with daily life, heavy menstrual bleeding, pain during sex and painful bowel movements.

Dr Susanna Unsworth, women's health expert for Intimina, said: 'Too many women are still told that severe period pain is 'just something they have to live with'.

'But pain that stops you going about your normal daily life is not normal and should always be assessed.

'If your periods are affecting your quality of life, trust your instincts, seek medical advice and keep advocating for yourself.

'Women deserve to be listened to when they say something isn't right.'
A toxin that could trigger cancer, autism and brain damage has been detected in popular 'fast fashion' clothing.

Fast fashion, churned out quickly using synthetic materials, is sold by global giants such as H&M, Shein and Zara for a little as just a few dollars. The US fast fashion market is extremely popular, valued at about $21 billion in 2024.

While more awareness has been raised on the environmental impact of fast fashion, less is known about the health impacts.

But now, researchers have put that to the test and found many items may contain lead, a heavy metal that can enter the bloodstream and damage the brain and neurons, potentially raising the risk of autism and behavioral problems, and blood vessels, raising the risk of high blood pressure.

Experts say there is no safe level of lead exposure. However, the Consumer Product Safety Commission sets a limit of 100 parts per million for children's clothes.

In their study, the team in Indiana tested 11 fast fashion children's shirts that were dyed red, pink, orange, yellow, gray and blue and found all of them contained lead levels above the recommended safe limit.

Overall, the garments that were brightly colored, such as red or yellow, were found to have the highest levels of the heavy metal.

The clothing was sold at four fast fashion and discount retailers, which were not named, and were for children.

But, because of the detection of the lead in children's fast fashion, it is likely that the heavy metal is also present in rapidly-produced garments meant for adults.

Fast fashion, churned out quickly using synthetic materials, is sold by global giants such as H&M, Shein and Zara for a little as just a few dollars (file photo)

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Cristina Avello, an undergraduate biology student at Marian University who led the research, said: 'Not only are children the most vulnerable to the effects of lead, but they are also the population that is going to be putting their clothes in their mouths.'

It was not clear why lead was in the clothing, but the researchers said it could be linked to how the color is added.

Fast fashion manufacturers often soak clothes in lead acetate, an inexpensive substance that helps dyes stick to clothes, creating long-lasting colors.

There are natural alternatives, such as tannins from oak bark and pomegranate peels, but these are generally not used as they tend to be more expensive.

In the study, the researchers tested all the garments to check whether they contained lead levels exceeding those set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) - and found they did.

As part of the study, they also simulated digestion in the lab to determine the amount of lead that would be absorbed by the body.

This was to simulate the impact of chewing clothes, which children often do.

Results showed that the levels of lead in the body following digestion would be above 100 parts per million.

Researchers did not specify which fast fashion brands were tested or whether the clothes were laundered before the research, which may reduce lead levels.

Scientists warned that sucking on these clothes for just a short period could cause lead exposure above the safe level (stock image)

The research is set to be presented at the spring meeting of the American Chemical Society, held this week in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dr Kamila Deavers, a biologist and the project's principle investigator, said the study was carried out after she found her young daughter had a brief spike in blood levels of lead after she was exposed to certain toy coatings.

Deavers said: 'I started to see many articles about lead in clothing from fast fashion, and I realized not too many parents knew about the issue.'

Previous research has found high lead levels in metal parts of some children's clothes, including zippers and buttons, which have led to product recalls.

Deavers has called for consumer pressure on manufacturers, warning that, without it, it was likely that the industry would keep making fast fashion products using lead.

Now, the researchers are planning to study more shirts and examine their data to find out if there is a relationship between lead levels in the fabric and the amount that children could absorb.

They are also planning to investigate how laundering affects lead levels in clothing.

Children and adults can be exposed to lead from multiple sources, including paints, water pipes, toys and zippers. About 500,000 children in the US are estimated to have lead levels in their blood that is above the safe limit, according to the CDC.

Warning signs of elevated lead levels include behavioral problems, speech and hearing problems and learning difficulties. Adults are also at risk from the toxin.

Officials say the best way to treat lead exposure is to remove the main source of lead from the home environment.

If parents are concerned, children may also be offered tests to check the lead levels in their blood.
Just east of Ocho Rios, the five-star Jamaica Inn occupies a quiet stretch of coastline, set across eight acres of landscaped grounds and a 700-foot private beach. Family-owned and operated by the Morrow family for nearly 70 years, the hotel has built a reputation on consistency, discretion and a strong sense of heritage.

That legacy is still very much present today. Owners Eric and Belinda remain actively involved in the day-to-day running of the property, often seen speaking with guests around the grounds, alongside their black Labrador, Shadow. Its a detail that reflects the hotels wider approach  personal, familiar and intentionally low-key.

Jamaica Inn leans into its history without feeling dated. Returning guests are common  during my stay, one couple told me they had been visiting annually for 24 years  and its easy to see how that loyalty forms. Within a day, I found myself slipping into the same rhythm. Service is warm but unobtrusive, with a clear emphasis on making guests feel at ease from the outset.

The hotels past is woven subtly throughout the property. Framed photographs and stories reference notable former guests, including Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller, who honeymooned here in 1957, as well as Winston Churchill and Ian Fleming, who wrote multiple Bond novels from the hotels bar.

The rooms

Jamaica Inn has 55 suites, along with a small collection of standalone cottages and beachfront bungalows, all oriented towards uninterrupted views of the Caribbean Sea. Among them are Suite 21, set on its own private peninsula, and a selection of one- and two-bedroom cottages, which feature private plunge pools, outdoor showers and direct sea access.

One of the one-bedroom cottages at Jamaica Inn

I stayed in the West Wing in one of the Premier Verandah Suites (from 517 per night). Interiors are simple but considered: white walls are offset by dark wooden furnishings, anchored by a king-size four-poster bed. Theres a deliberately unfussy feel throughout, with vintage photographs and sketches on the walls, alongside traditional details such as manually operated shutters and lighting.

Notably, rooms are free from televisions, radios and even clocks  something I only fully appreciated on my second day, when I realised how rarely Id reached for my phone.

The ensuite bathroom is bright and well-ventilated, with views out to sea from the shower, and stocked with Molton Brown toiletries. Much of the living space, however, is centred around the outdoor terrace, which extends out towards the water. Here, theres a generous seating area with a sofa and chaise longue, a small dining setup and a fridge  effectively functioning as a second living room, and where I ended up spending most of my time.

Thoughtful touches are consistent throughout: a pitcher of water and an ice bucket are replenished daily, while a nightly treats jar is topped up with homemade snacks such as butter cookies and coconut clusters. Practicalities are also well covered, with mosquito repellent and umbrellas provided  a necessary inclusion in this part of the Caribbean.

Food and drink

Breakfast is served at Sea Shanty, where white tables dressed in pink tablecloths sit just steps from the water. Service is both attentive and relaxed: waiters circulate with platters of fresh fruit, butter and house preserves, including guava jam (good enough that I bought a jar before leaving) and orange marmalade. Guests can choose between Jamaican and continental options, alongside eggs cooked to order and a selection of sweet dishes.

By midday, Teddys Beach Bar becomes the natural gathering spot for informal, barefoot dining by the sea. The menu leans classic and crowd-pleasing, with wood-fired pizzas, club sandwiches, jerk chicken wraps and Caesar salads all featuring. Most dishes are best paired with a side of fries, alongside a chilled Ting or fresh coconut water.

Teddys Beach Bar is the spot for barefoot dining by the sea

As the afternoon rolls into evening, the Lounge draws guests in for pre-dinner drinks and light bites. Cocktails are the main attraction  the mango margarita is a highlight, and quickly became a daily ritual  alongside small plates such as salted coconut crisps, sweet potato crisps and local favourites like bacon-wrapped plantain.

Dinner at the Terrace Restaurant is accompanied by live reggae music

Dinner is served at the Terrace Restaurant, a refined, open-air setting often accompanied by live reggae music. The menu changes daily, but dishes such as smoked salmon blinis, blackened tuna and beef tenderloin medallions reflect its overall style  well-executed and unfussy. Desserts are equally considered, with the Tia Maria cheesecake a standout.

Facilities

Jamaica Inn is one of the few hotels on the island with a private beach. While most beaches in Jamaica are public, the resorts enclosed layout ensures this stretch of sand remains exclusively for guests. Fringed by palm trees, its lined with sun loungers positioned in both sun and shade, each equipped with a small blue flag  raise it, and staff appear promptly to take food or drink orders.

Jamaica Inn is one of the few hotels on the island with a private beach

Service extends beyond the loungers. At 11am each day, the team circulates the beach with trays of rum punch and freshly made smoothies  a daily ritual that quickly becomes part of the days rhythm.

For those looking to do more than unwind by the water, the hotel offers a range of complimentary non-motorised watersports, including kayaking, sunfish sailing, stand-up paddleboarding and snorkelling. Theres also a steady programme of low-key activities, from rose and croquet tournaments on the lawn to James Bond film nights on the beach and rumology tasting sessions at Teddys Bar.

Saturday afternoons bring croquet and rose on the lawn at 3pm

Guests wanting something more active can join yoga sessions at the ocean pavilion or make use of the outdoor pool or small on-site gym, equipped with a rowing machine, treadmills, a bike, a cross trainer and a selection of free weights.

The spa

For a more restorative experience, the Ocean Spa offers a quieter corner of the property dedicated to relaxation. On arrival, guests are welcomed with a homemade ginger and lemongrass iced tea before being shown to the changing rooms  a simple but effective start that sets the tone.

The treatment rooms are particularly distinctive: treehouse-like structures perched above the shoreline, designed to feel fully immersed in their surroundings. During treatments, the sound of the waves, the sea breeze and uninterrupted ocean views all form part of the experience.

The treatment rooms are treehouse-like structures

The spa menu is extensive, covering both traditional and more specialised therapies. I opted for the hour-long CBD Cannabis Massage, which combines classic massage techniques with the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD to help relieve tension in muscles and joints. Its a treatment that feels both considered and effective  and one I was still feeling the effects of hours later.

What to do nearby

Take a tour of the Jacana farm

Set in the mountains of St. Ann, eco-luxe cannabis farm Jacana is around a 45-minute drive from the hotel, along a notably bumpy but scenic route that feels far removed from the coast. The 100-acre property operates with a strong emphasis on sustainability, with its land nourished by water from the nearby White River and home to more than 50 varieties of medicinal plants and organic produce, including cucumbers, tomatoes and carrots.

Visits are guided and immersive. Ours, led by Ayana, combined a walk through the grounds with hands-on activities, including a coffee scrub-making session and a spliff-rolling workshop. The experience concludes with a farm-to-table lunch, served on-site and prepared using ingredients grown just metres away.

Climb Dunns River Falls

One of Jamaicas most iconic natural attractions, Dunns River Falls is a terraced waterfall that flows directly into the Caribbean Sea. Just a half-hour boat ride from the hotel, the experience begins at the shoreline, where youll meet your guide  ours, Sheldon, set the tone with both humour and expert know-how. The rocks are carefully scraped each day to improve grip, but water shoes are still essential.

As you make your way up the 180-metre cascade, youll follow the rhythm of the group, pausing to cool off in natural pools along the way. Guides keep things light but firm  Step on the brown, youre going to fall down  a reminder to tread on the lighter, textured rock and follow instructions, especially as the currents can be surprisingly strong.

Go for a swim in the Blue Hole

In need of more adventure, the Blue Hole  also known as Island Gully Falls  is another of the islands standout experiences. Located just outside Ocho Rios, its known for its vibrant turquoise pools (thanks to mineral-rich limestone), waterfalls and lush jungle surroundings. A local guide leads you through a series of waterfalls and pools, where cliff jumping, rope swings and hidden caves add to the appeal.

Rates start from around 517 per night. For more information, or to book, visit jamaicainn.com.
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The 60s didn't have anywhere near as huge a selection of cosmetics as we do today (and forget modern inventions like 'primer' or 'setting spray') - but the graphic eyeliner, bold lips and shimmery foundation looks reminiscent of the decade are far from old news in 2026.

Young models and influencers are ditching barely there make-up looks for loud eyeshadows as social media continues to drive a surge for 'retro' make-up - but how many of the products we used back then are still available today?

While some nostalgic items like Maybelline's chunky cake mascara and Yardley's sticky 'slickers' glosses are long gone, you can get your hands on Revlon's icy raspberry 'Cherries in the Snow' lipstick and Max Factor's trusty 'Pan Stik'.

Elsewhere, while Mary Quant's vibrant 'Jeepers Peepers' didn't stick around, Bourjois' Little Round Pot Blush is still on the market.

'Retro beauty is powerful because it gives young people something that many modern trends do not; a unique personality and the chance to explore themselves in a different way than the current generation does,' beauty consultant Dominique Tufa told the Daily Mail.

'A 1960s inspired look, for example, has shape, attitude and personality. Its no wonder, then, that many of us are gravitating toward bright liner, fluttery lashes and pastels.

'Similarly to fashion, beauty has a tendency to come back. Trends from the past get repeated, readjusted to modern times and Gen Z loves innovating older looks.

'People get tired of seeing the same face over and over again, and older styles start to feel exciting, especially when they come back through a new lens. The most important reason is that younger generations are open to vintage beauty and love the nostalgia behind them, the feeling of old glam.

'To them, the past, as discovered via Pinterest, TikTok, celebrity touchstones and 30 to 60 second tutorials, feels accessible rather than remote.'

She added however, that the retro looks have evolved into more modern reimaginings.

'Rather than mimicking the 60s, though, they are adopting the styles most recognisable elements and tailoring them to suit their current-day aesthetic,' Dominique added.

'The result doesnt feel costumey, but rather a modern look with personality. There are certain beauty trends that seem destined to come back around every few decades.

'They hit all the right notes, and each new generation tweaks them just enough to feel like its making it its own.'

Read on to see how many of these discontinued products you can still remember from back in the day - and see which ones you can still get your hands on...

WHAT YOU CAN'T BUY ANYMORE

Maybelline Cake Mascara

Before we had high-tech bristles, mascaras consisted of a block of dark pigment and a tiny brush for application. People used to spit in the tub to wet the mixture and apply it on the eyes - and while the tools appear fiddly to modern eyes, they achieved surprisingly theatrical results.

Yardley Slickers

Yardley's association with 60s stars like Twiggy make them a staple of the decade - and in particular demand were its shiny, sticky glosses

Woolworths' Baby Doll Sheeners

A brand called Baby Doll optimised shine and shimmer - but also sold the legendary long, spidery lashes of the time

Mary Quant 'Jeepers Peepers'

It's not a 60s look without a powdery dash of colourful pigment across the eyes and Mary Quant's eyeshadows were a classic go-to

Rimmel Translucent Blush

Rimmel is still popular with shoppers today - but no longer produces its memorable translucent blushes

Yardley False Eyelashes

Twiggy was the It-Girl of the 60s, so it's no wonder Yardley used her as the face of its false lashes

...AND WHAT YOU CAN

First released in 1938, Max Factor's Pan Stik foundation continued to be popular throughout the 60s and was one of the mainstream brands offered at the time. Its signature roll on foundation product is still available to buy, touting a creamy formula and quick application.

Emerging in 1953 and maintaining its status as a must-have make-up item, Max Factor's creme puff powder is 'medium to high coverage pressed powder with a flawless matte finish'. And it appears to have stood the test of time.

These little pots of blush date back as far as the 1860s - initially invented as a less fussy alternative for stage make-up - but continued to be a popular cosmetics staple throughout the 60s, in part due to its memorable packaging.

Elizabeth Arden has maintained its legacy as a sophisticated yet accessible cosmetics brand for British women. And particularly famous is its 'Flawless Finish Sponge On Cream Make-up'. The creamy formula is particularly recommended for mature skin, as it won't accentuate fine lines.

This near fuchsia shade screams 60s, opulence meeting romance - and has continued to remain popular. Launching in 1953, it also became known as the lipstick The Bell Jar author Sylvia Plath wore.

The 60s were all about the eyes - and Khol eyeliners began to kick off, helping achieve the heavy, smoky look everyone was after. Lancome's pencil variant has been around since the 1930s, but became a go-to as dramatic smudges and graphic lines began to take over trending maquillage.
When 32-year-old Chantelle Asciak went to her doctor in February 2022 with a scratchy throat and chest pain, she was sent away with a prescription for antibiotics and a diagnosis of a chest infection.

Id been getting really tired in the weeks leading up to it, but I had a busy job as a visual merchandiser, I was on my feet all day, and I thought it could be related to that, or possibly anaemia, she tells Daily Mail.

But when, after a month, the pain in her chest hadn't got any better, Chantelle went back for a second opinion.

By this stage, it was so bad at work that I was having trouble catching my breath, she says. I just broke down at work and went straight to a respiratory clinic.

In spite of Chantelles obvious distress and past history, the respiratory clinic was more worried about Covid than anything else.

I told them Id tested myself and was negative, but they tested me again anyway. In the end, they sent me away with more antibiotics for a chest infection.

This pattern of dismissal from doctors continued over the course of the next few months, even in the face of worsening symptoms.

It was suggested that it could be stress, or a hangover from having Covid, says Chantelle, from Melbourne, Australia.

In 2022, 32-year-old Chantelle Asciak went to the doctor with a persistent scratchy throat and chest pain. She was diagnosed with a chest infection and sent home with antibiotics

'I couldn't sleep all night. I was in tears I could barely draw breath and it felt like someone was choking me,' Chantelle said of the symptoms doctors repeatedly dismissed

After tests with her gynaecologist for her endometriosis treatment revealed alarmingly low iron levels, Chantelle returned to her doctor and was told she was anaemic  but still not offered any follow-up.

By late August, with her face now swelling on top of relentless cold and flulike symptoms, Chantelle again sought medical help,

By this stage, I couldnt lie flat in bed  it felt as though something was crushing my chest, she recalls.

I told my mum, "I have to go to the doctor." I couldnt sleep all night. I was in tears I could barely draw breath and it felt like someone was choking me.

When the ambulance arrived, they put it down to an anxiety attack, and put me on a telehealth call with a doctor who, again, diagnosed a chest infection.

After another couple of weeks of anti-inflammatories and antibiotics, Chantelles condition continued to worsen.

Her face swelling was now so severe that she could barely see, her entire upper body was full of fluid, and she could not lie flat at all for the crushing pain in her chest.

Desperate, Chantelle and her mother went back to the doctors clinic, by which stage her old general practitioner had moved on.

Chantelle underwent a CT scan on September 8. The next day, she was told she had lymphoma, a blood cancer, and was sent directly to hospital for treatment

Chantelle was eventually diagnosed with primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL), a rare and aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma. 'I found out later that the growth in my chest - that was causing the pain and pressure - was the size of a small watermelon'

They finally ordered a chest X-ray, which I had, and then it was four days of me calling for the results and begging for an answer before they told me, "OK, come in."

When she presented again to the clinic, the only doctor available was a paediatrician  who Chantelle says might just have saved her life.

He told me to stop taking the anti-inflammatories and go for a CT scan right away, she says.

I think he knew then what it was, but if he hadnt sent me for that scan when he did, I don't think I'd be here right now.

Chantelle had a CT scan on September 8. The next day, she was told she had lymphoma, a blood cancer, and was sent directly to hospital for treatment.

My mum and I just broke down in tears when the doctors told us, she explains, and then, it was all go. I had to organise my dog, Bobby, to be cared for, and I didnt know how long Id be in there, or even what kind of lymphoma I had.

From there, things kicked into overdrive.

They couldn't get needles into my arms because my upper body was so swollen, so they had to put them in my groin and feet, Chantelle says.

Soon after being admitted to Royal Melbourne Hospital, then to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Chantelle was transferred to ICU, because her back had stiffened up and her condition had deteriorated.

I had two nurses behind me now from the Royal Melbourne holding me up on ten pillows to stabilise me for them to get a biopsy from the lymphoma that was in my chest.

Before Chantelles team even had a definitive diagnosis, they knew they had to do everything they could to reduce the growth.

Chantelle has now been in remission for almost three years and says: 'The one lesson I've come out of this with is how important it is to advocate for yourself medically'

It was 2am, and the specialist came in, and theyre like, "OK, weve got two options. We can intubate you to help you breathe, but we're not sure if its gonna crush your heart. But then if we dont intubate you, you could still die, because we dont know if the chemo that we're going to give you will be the right one because we still don't know what kind of lymphoma you have."

As a result, Chantelle spent the following four days intubated, slipping in and out of consciousness. For her, it was the lowest point.

It was so awful. It's probably the most traumatic part, and ever since then, any time I have the thought of tubes going down my throat I panic.

Chantelle was eventually diagnosed with primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL)  a rare, aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

I found out later that the growth in my chest  that was causing the pain and pressure  was the size of a small watermelon.

The next few months were a blur of treatment, where Chantelle's family, friends and faithful dog Bobby all gathered around to support her.

Honestly, they were there every day. My brother would leave work and come over every time I had a panic attack. I just had so much support around me.

It was during her first round of treatment that Chantelle also met fellow patient Sarah, a connection that felt like a 'guardian angel' appearing at her lowest point.

Sarah had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma the week after me, she recalls, though Sarahs disease had been caught much sooner after the onset of symptoms.

Despite the differences in their clinical stages, they became an essential support system for one another, leaning on each other to navigate the fear and exhaustion that defined their daily lives.

After seven rounds of treatment  from multiple forms of chemo to immunotherapy, CART therapy and even pioneering microrobotic surgery  Chantelle finally received the call she had been manifesting: on September 19, 2023, she was told she was 100 per cent cancerfree.

I just burst into tears, because there had been times throughout treatment where I really didn't think I was going to make it.

Chantelle has now been in remission coming up to three years, and in spite of being in and out of hospital during 2024 for pneumonia and lung infections, and a relapse scare at the end of 2025 that ultimately proved to be a false alarm, she is hopeful about the future  and dedicated to making life easier for others in her position.

Chantelle now dedicates her time to Lymphoma Australia, helping create the Aggressive Lymphoma Roadmap  the resource she desperately wished she had during her six months of misdiagnosis.

The one lesson Ive come out of this with is how important it is to advocate for yourself medically, whether its a health issue you feel just isnt right, or even in the middle of treatment, if you think you need more answers, or more options, she says.

I know that if I hadnt spoken up for myself, I might not be here. If I can make my experience matter to someone elses journey, Im going to keep speaking up.
He won the hearts of the nation before scooping victory in the Traitors finale.

But it's not just Stephen Libby's Scottish accent and rugged looks that fans have fallen for, as fans continue to be inspired by some of the Scotsman's most flamboyant outfits.

Comedian Ivo Graham is the latest to admit he snapped up a pair of 'high-waisted baggy trousers inspired by Stephen' just minutes after the series four finale concluded in January.

The comic was speaking about his shopping habits on Spent, the finance podcast produced in association with Nationwide.

'[It was] less than an hour between watching the episode of The Traitors and buying these online,' Ivo told host Matt Edmonson.

'I don't think I've ever been as invested in a reality TV contestant. I think [Stephen] was so charming. And may I be the millionth person to say [that] every episode, it was a thrill to see what he was wearing.'

But Ivo's moment of inspiration didn't stop there, with Ivo revealing he'd even asked his costume designer friend to make a bespoke orange jumpsuit in the style of Stephen's memorable finale ensemble which earned him comparisons to Harry Styles.

Scotsman Stephen, 32, made waves with his 1970s-inspired wardrobe of collared shirts and colourful trousers throughout the show, though he later admitted it was all part of a ruse to throw his fellow contestants off the scent of him being a Traitor - and it clearly worked, with him going on to scoop the jackpot alongside fellow Traitor Rachel Duffy.

Stephen Libby's personal style - and his trademark trousers - have won him a legion of fans

Comedian Ivo Graham is just the latest Traitors fan to be inspired by Libby's wardrobe

His eclectic style even won him a fashion slot on ITV's This Morning, alongside Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley.

Meanwhile, data from Google Trends reveals searches for men's jumpsuits spiked in the hours after the Traitors finale aired on 23rd January.

Ivo was speaking to Matt Edmonson on the podcast Spent, with Nationwide

Dubbed 'the Stephen Libby effect', videos soon started appearing on TikTok with creators sharing tips on how to imitate his style at home.

And it's not just his wardrobe that's been making waves, with recent reports that he also caused a sales spike in ginger shots after swigging on the healthy drink during filming.
The United States has downgraded Venezuela's travel advisory from Level 4 to Level 3.

This means that Venezuela is no longer under the "Do Not Travel" list, and the advisory is now "Reconsider Travel."

Venezuela Now at Level 3 of US Travel Advisory

According to the US Department of State, Level 3 or "Reconsider Travel" for Venezuela means tourists should reconsider travel "due to risk of crime, kidnapping, terrorism, and poor health infrastructure."

The State Department, however, notes that some areas have increased risk and has a "do not travel" advisory for the following:

Venezuela-Colombia border region (20 miles from the border) due to the risk of crime, kidnapping, and terrorism

Amazonas state due to the risk of terrorism

Apure state due to risk of terrorism

Aragua state outside of Maracay due to the risk of crime and kidnapping

Bolivar state rural areas due to the risk of crime and kidnapping

Guarico state due to the risk crime and kidnapping

Tachira state due to the risk of crime and terrorism

According to TravelPulse, the change in travel advisory comes after the US Department of Transportation approved flights to operate between Miami and Venezuela's Caracas and Maracaibo.

Other Countries Under Level 3

It should be noted that travel advisories change depending on the destination's current safety situation. As of press time, the following are also under Level 3 along with Venezuela:
A 29-year-old influencer has died after initially mistaking a tumor for a muscle strain from lifting heavy items.

Wang Wei-Chien's death was confirmed on Thursday, March 19, by representatives behind her business operations.

Wei-Chien was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2021 after experiencing swelling and pain under her arm.

She had initially thought it was a muscle injury, but sought medical attention after discovering a lump.

Despite undergoing treatment, the tumor continued to grow rapidly, as reported by Creatorzine.

Over the years, Wei-Chien, from Taiwan, amassed over 18,000 followers by sharing her daily life online.

In 2022, after chemotherapy caused her hair to fall out, she posted a photo of herself with her boyfriend and friends, who had secretly shaved their heads in solidarity.

She wrote: 'The moment I saw them, I burst into tears - my emotions just exploded.

Wang Wei-Chien, 29, has died after initially mistaking a tumor for a muscle strain from lifting heavy items

Wei-Chien was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2021 after experiencing swelling and pain under her arm

She initially thought she was suffering from a muscle injury, but sought medical attention after discovering a lump

Over the years, Wei-Chien, from Taiwan , amassed over 18,000 followers by sharing her daily life online

In 2022, after chemotherapy caused her hair to fall out, she posted a photo of herself with her boyfriend and friends, who had secretly shaved their heads in solidarity

Wei-Chien founded the skincare brand Hermacy

'They showed me, through their actions, that I didn't need to be afraid.

'At that moment, I felt completely filled with courage and strength, and suddenly shaving my head didn't feel scary at all.'

Wei-Chien founded the skincare brand Hermacy, which released a statement following her passing.

They said: 'As Ms Wang was the core of our company's operations, after careful consideration, the company has decided to officially cease operations.'

In her Instagram bio, Wei-Chien described herself as the 'most beautiful anti-cancer ambassador', a title her fans had affectionately given her.

Her last post, on New Year's Eve, read: 'See you next year, babies. Bye bye, 2025.'

The exact date of her death has not been disclosed, though a friend's condolence post on 3 February suggests she may have passed away in January.
Children's educator Rachel Accurso - known widely as Ms Rachel - has sparked a firestorm of criticism after campaigning to shut a family detention center in Texas.

The former preschool teacher, 43, has gained worldwide recognition for her YouTube channel, Songs for Littles, and has become an increasingly vocal advocate for children's rights globally.

Last week, the entertainer spoke via video call with two children, Deiver Henao Jimenez, nine, and Gael, five, both detained at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in South Texas.

She described the experience as 'devastating' before defiantly claiming: 'I am political.'

Following the video calls, Accurso told NBC News she is now endeavoring to work with lawyers and immigration rights activists to 'close Dilley and make sure that kids and their parents are back in their communities where they belong.'

But her comments sparked backlash among many who insisted that she did not fully understand the situation, nor was she qualified to weigh in.

'How is it every celeb is this political activist all of a sudden? Like she went from teaching your kids the ABCs to fighting ICE, interesting career trajectory,' one wrote.

'Kid content-creator going political is new,' another snarked, as someone else claimed she was 'legitimately one of the most dangerously idiotic people in the country.'

Children's educator Rachel Accurso - known as Ms Rachel - has sparked a firestorm of criticism after campaigning to shut a family detention center in Texas

Last week, the entertainer spoke via video call with two children, Deiver Henao Jimenez, nine, and Gael, five, both detained at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in South Texas

'Maybe she should leave grown-up issues to people who don't dress like toddlers,' another scathingly commented in reference to her trademark fashion combination of pink t-shirt and denim dungarees.

In the call, which was shared to Accurso's Instagram account, nine-year-old Deiver Henao recounted the conditions at the Southern Texas center, where there have been reports of limited education and poor quality food.

The child told Accurso he 'wants to leave and go to the spelling bee,' which she said was 'devastating.'

'Please let Deiver Henao out now so he can go to his spelling bee. Let his family back into their community. This is cruelty,' she urged in the post to Instagram.

She later told NBC it was 'unbelievably surreal' to talk with a child inside the center.

'To see this sweet little face and feel like I was on a call with somebody who's in jail. It broke me, and it was something I never thought I'd encounter in life,' Accurso said.

'We're trying to get a child out of a jail to do a spelling bee. I just never thought those words would go together.'

Accurso also admitted she was initially unsure about speaking out about Dilley and previously would have tried to remain more apolitical.

But, she acknowledged that she 'is political,' resharing her stance regarding advocating for children's rights.

In the call, which was shared to Accurso's Instagram account, nine-year-old Deiver Henao recounted the conditions at the Southern Texas center

However, the comments outraged some, who slammed the children's educator in social media comments

Accurso added she first became aware of the family detention center in January, following federal immigration agents' detention of the father of five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos in Minneapolis before they were both sent to the facility.

'It's political to believe that children are worthy of love and care, and that every child is equal, and that our care shouldn't stop at what we look like, our family, at our religion, at a border,' she told the publication.

The YouTuber star also spoke with Gael, a five-year-old with significant developmental delays, whose parents said has been suffering significantly while in the center.

Last week, Accurso sparked furious backlash online after parents accused her of making them feel bad about their kids' development.

But when she shared a video showing off one-year-old daughter Susie's impressive vocabulary, it left some viewers wondering if their own children were behind.

The clip, which was shared to TikTok last week, showed Ms Rachel sitting with her daughter in her lap.

She asked the youngster to say things like 'hi,' 'bye,' 'mama' and 'dada' to the camera, all of which Susie said easily.

The baby also said the words 'nana,' 'papa,' 'pop,' 'aw,' 'uh oh' and 'yay' as well as 'baba,' which Ms Rachel explained was her nickname for her brother.

And while the mother-of-two was extremely proud of her daughter, not all viewers were as impressed.

In fact, many moms and dads admitted in the comment section that it was extremely upsetting to see how advanced Ms Rachel's daughter was in comparison to their own kids.
Adult star Seth Peterson, real name Adam Aguirre, has died aged 28, his partner announced.

News of his death was confirmed by fiance Kobe Marsh on social media on March 21.

'It is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of my fiance and best friend Seth,' Marsh said.

'I'm truly at a loss for words, and my heart is broken.'

It's not yet known how Peterson died.

Marsh has launched a GoFundMe to raise money for Peterson's funeral costs.

At the time of writing, $2,469 has been raised out of a goal of $9,000.

Messages of condolences have been pouring in for the late star, who had built up a fan base of over 350,000 people on X (formerly Twitter).

Seth Peterson has died aged 28, his fiance Kobe Marsh shared on social media

A GoFundMe to raise money for the adult actor's funeral costs has so far exceeded $2,000

Taking to X, one fan said: 'I'm so, so sorry. Seth was so amazing and smart and just beautiful all around.'

Another wrote: 'The news is sad, and shocking. I am sorry to hear of his death. I mourn along with his legion of fans. He was too young to be taken so soon.

'I hope his family and loved ones are comforted by knowing his life mattered and the amount of joy he brought to his fans. RIP.'

Adult star Rocky Heron said that while he didn't know Peterson 'deeply,' he knew that life 'wasn't always easy for him.'

'Because I saw parts of my own journey reflected in this, I always tried to reach out when I saw him struggling.

'He was someone with a big heart, a lot of passion, and a depth that not everyone understood.'

Heron concluded his post by adding that he hopes Peterson has 'found peace.'

Peterson rose to fame in the early 2020s through his collaborations with Helix Studios.

Peterson had built up a fan base of over 350,000 people on X in his relatively short career

His death comes just months after Blake Mitchell died in a motorcycle crash aged 31

He was nominated for multiple industry awards during his relatively short career.

Last year, he attended the 2025 GayVN Awards show at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.

The news of Peterson's death comes just months after Lane V Rogers, who went by the stage name Blake Mitchell, died at the age of 31.

The popular OnlyFans creator was killed in a motorcycle accident in Oxnard, which is between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, according to TMZ.

He was driving his motorcycle down a road just before 4pm when he plowed into a box truck, the site reported after talking to a family member who is still in shock over the sudden passing.
Britain's oldest supermodel Daphne Selfe has died aged 97, her family has announced.

The groundbreaking model, who became a household name after relaunching her career at 70 - and later starring in a Dolce & Gabbana campaign and British Vogue - died on Saturday.

Her agent Chantal Murray at Models 1 told the Daily Mail: 'It's very sad. She was absolutely incredible. She was such a joy to work with and she was just so inspirational. She was a very kind person, too.'

Daphne's family shared a post on Instagram on Monday to announce her death, which was understood to be from natural causes, featuring a photo of pink magnolia blossom against a blue sky with the dates '1.07.1928 - 21.03.2026'.

Tributes have poured in from across the fashion industry, including from model Erin O'Connor, 48, who wrote: 'RIP wonderful woman and fashion icon x.'

Photographer and model Alistair Guy added: 'She was my greatest friend and muse, I will miss you so much wonderful Daphne. Please rest in peace.'

Another photographer, Julia Fullerton-Batten, commented: 'I am so so sorry... I photographed Daphne for my Mothers and Daughters project.'

Britain's oldest supermodel Daphne Selfe has died aged 97, her family has announced

Daphne's family shared a post on Instagram on Monday to announce her death, which was understood to be from natural causes, featuring a photo of pink magnolia blossom against a blue sky with the dates '1.07.1928 - 21.03.2026'

Born in Edmonton, North London, Daphne's extraordinary seven-decade career began when she won a modelling competition for the cover of a local Reading magazine in the late 1940s after working in the fashion department of John Lewis.

But it was her remarkable late-career renaissance that cemented her status as a fashion icon.

After marrying Jim Smith, who worked in theatre and television production, she stopped modelling to raise their three children - Mark, 70, Claire, 66, and Rose, 65 - in Hertfordshire, where she lived for the rest of her life.

Following the death of her husband Jim, who had suffered various strokes, in 1997, Daphne restarted her career at 70 when she was approached by the brand Red or Dead for London Fashion Week in 1998.

The timing, she later reflected, was 'fortuitous' as she could never have travelled abroad while caring for her husband.

'It timed itself rather well, it was just after my husband died that I got the shoot and I could never have done it when he was alive,' she said at the time.

'I was looking after him as he'd had various strokes and things and I had to do things for him. I couldn't have gone abroad before, which obviously modelling takes, and that was very exciting because I hadn't really been abroad. I'd been to the Isle of Wight and that was about it.'

After walking the catwalk for Red or Dead, Vogue magazine invited her to be part of an article on ageing shot by Nick Knight, where a scout from Models 1 said they wanted Daphne on their books.

She remained with the prestigious agency for more than 20 years.

Her agent, Chantal, previously described Daphne as having 'an incredible spirit and energy about her which is totally enchanting', adding that 'she has incredible bone structure and poise which made her stand out'.

Daphne was signed up with the prestigious agency Models 1 for more than 20 years

The silver-haired icon became a symbol of what the media dubbed the 'greynaissance' - a movement celebrating older women in fashion

Her career saw her photographed by Mario Testino and modelling for Dolce & Gabbana, as well as appearing in campaigns for Nivea, Gap and Primark

She was forthright about beauty standards, once saying: 'A big smile is better than Botox'

Her career saw her photographed by Mario Testino and modelling for Dolce & Gabbana, as well as appearing in campaigns for Nivea, Gap and Primark.

She was named the world's oldest professional fashion model by the Guinness Book of World Records.

Speaking about her unexpected success, Daphne once said: 'You don't have to be that young, you can be whatever age now. I'm still managing to go at 90, so why not? If you've got the experience and the know-how you can do anything.'

The silver-haired icon became a symbol of what the media dubbed the 'greynaissance' - a movement celebrating older women in fashion.

In 2015, she set up the Daphne Selfe Academy to give women of all ages the benefit of her industry experience, teaching professionalism, positive thinking and healthy living.

Known for her boundless energy and dedication to fitness, Daphne practised yoga from the age of 20 and continued with ballet and Pilates exercises throughout her life.

'Taking care of your health is the most important thing because modelling is hard work if you do it properly,' she advised. 'It's long hours, lots of hanging about, lots of physical activity, and also you need a good work ethic.'

She was equally forthright about beauty standards, once saying: 'I don't do retiring' and 'A big smile is better than Botox.'

On going grey naturally, she reflected: 'I can't understand why so many women whose hair has lost its colour feel compelled to douse it with dye.

'Going grey is nature's way of complementing an older complexion. It was an extraordinary relief to be embracing my natural self, no longer clinging onto the past.'

She said of ageing: 'Everybody should remember they've got the potential to take up something again, or start to do something different. It's never too late. People can do all sorts of things.'

In her later years, while living in a care home, Daphne continued to maintain close relationships with her three children and four grandchildren, as well as making appearances at high-profile events including the Royal Variety Performance.
After 30 years of the party's well-documented debauchery and spectacularly glamorous excess, the new editor of Vanity Fair decided enough was enough.

His magazine would still hold its annual post-Oscars bash, welcoming the great and the good of Hollywood to celebrate or commiserate. But from now on, he decreed, there would be no journalists allowed.

The move was to make the party more exclusive, insiders claimed, and allow the real A-list to let their hair down without eagle-eyed loiterers looking on. The New York Times, Associated Press and even The Hollywood Reporter were all told that this year they were not welcome.

Which rather begs the question: what was CNN's Kaitlan Collins doing there? And more to the point, who does she think she is?

The 33-year-old from Alabama, who in 2021 became the youngest chief White House correspondent in CNN's history, certainly sees herself as a hard-hitting, reliable reporter.

'When you go on CNN and give a report from the White House, people from all walks of life are listening to you to see what's going on, and they're counting on you to know what you're talking about and to present it fairly,' she told Forbes in February of that year. 'I think that the best way to earn the respect of your colleagues - not just within your own team but within the entire White House press corps - is to be well-read on what's going on and to have good reporting.'

But five years on, as she posed at the Vanity Fair party, her CNN colleagues were asking whether she really was still focused on her reporting. Perhaps, some snarked, Hollywood had turned her head.

'When you become more well known as a red carpet influencer than a journalist, there's a problem,' one seasoned network executive told the Daily Mail, adding that she was becoming seen as 'out of touch' and chasing 'red-carpet notoriety.'

'When you become more well known as a red carpet influencer than a journalist, there's a problem,' one seasoned network executive told the Daily Mail. (Pictured: Collins posing for a photo at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party)

Pictured: Collins and photographer Emilio Madrid at the 2026 Grammy Awards last month. An industry source suggested to the Daily Mail that Collins' success has gone to her head

The source noted that Matthew Belloni, author of news website Puck's influential media gossip column, had decreed Collins the new holder of 'the Don Lemon crown of CNN-er who most enjoys flying to LA for parties.'

It was not, the source said, a compliment.

Lemon was ousted from CNN in April 2023 amid widespread discontent within the network at his seeming arrogance and starry ways.

'His tenure at the network was plagued by ill-informed, opinion-laden commentary masquerading as journalism with spouts of drunken debauchery on full display during New Year's Eve coverage,' the source said of Lemon.

'If I were Collins, I'd see this as a wakeup call and focus more on my day job and less on gallivanting around town.'

The signs, perhaps, have been there for a while.

In June 2025, CNN's parent company, Warner Bros Discovery, announced that it was splitting into two separate companies: one focused on the HBO Max streaming service and Warner Bros studio, and the other comprised of CNN and other television networks.

The news was greeted with trepidation among staff at CNN, after a bruising start to the year: six percent of the workforce, around 200 people, were laid off in January 2025, Axios reported.

Yet at that precise moment, it emerged that Collins had splashed out on a Nantucket beach house, which Page Six reported was 'very expensive.' The average home price on the sought-after Massachusetts island was roughly $4.5 million as of May 2025, according to Realtor.com.

'She just bought some bougie place and CNN people are grossed out that she paid so much,' one disgruntled colleague told Page Six.

Don Lemon - Collins' former, fired, costar - and actress Keke Palmer at this year's NAACP Image Awards at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 28

'If I were Collins, I'd see this as a wakeup call and focus more on my day job and less on galivanting around town,' the source said

The source said Collins will certainly be party hopping again next month amid the White House Correspondents' Dinner weekend

Collins, instead of keeping a low profile, boasted about her new holiday home, describing herself in August 2025 as 'The Influencer Driving Nantucket Crazy This Summer.'

The following month, Collins was in London, attending a political society wedding at the Palace of Westminster.

Striking in a large yellow hat and polka dot dress, Collins posed with the former UK ambassador to Washington, Dame Karen Pierce, and with the bride, Emily Benn - granddaughter of British political giant Tony Benn. It's not clear how Collins knew Benn, a Labour party councillor, although Benn did spend time working at a bank in New York and at Harvard.

In the new year, Collins was again mingling with famous faces - this time at the Grammy Awards, held in Los Angeles.

And once again, CNN staffers were left wondering what she was doing there.

'Seems Collins cares more about the perks of journalism,' the source said - noting that she will certainly be party hopping again next month amid the White House Correspondents' Dinner weekend.

Few could begrudge her that - after all, she is a near daily presence in the White House briefing room.

But, the source said, Collins' penchant for parties was being noticed.

'The all-about-me journalism is clearly in the DNA at CNN  and Collins is no exception,' the source said.

'When in doubt  go out. CNN is clearly in a tailspin so why not enjoy the notoriety while you can.'

Neither CNN nor Collins' spokesperson at CNN responded to requests for comment.
A former co-host of The View is set to make her grand return after claiming the daytime talk program has a 'toxic environment.'

Abby Huntsman, 39, served as one of the panel's conservative voices from 2018 to 2020. The View said in a social media post on Sunday that she will return to daytime television this week as a guest host.

Huntsman is joining a list of temporary co-hosts filling in for former Trump official Alyssa Farah Griffin while she is on maternity leave.

The media personality initially said her 2020 departure was to assist her father, Jon Huntsman, in his campaign for Utah governor.

However, a year later, Huntsman revealed on her podcast, I Wish Somebody Told Me, with her friend, comedy writer and media producer Lauren Leeds, that there was more to her decision.

She confessed that The View 'did not reflect my values' and was 'rewarding people for bad behavior.'

Huntsman said that the executives were 'all about money and the tabloidsYou 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.'

She went on to reveal that a producer on the show had requested she read a statement on air denying reports of a toxic workplace, which she refused.

Abby Huntsman, pictured above in 2019, is set to return to The View as a temporary co-host this week, following her sensational departure in 2020

Huntsman left television after she departed from The View. Rumors swirled at the time of a feud between her and fellow conservative co-host, Meghan McCain. She's pictured above (second from the left) with Joy Behar, guest Jamie Lee Curtis, Sunny Hostin and McCain in 2019

Huntsman, pictured above in a social media post in January, was on MSNBC and Fox News before her tenure on The View from 2018 to 2020

Huntsman launched a podcast in 2021 with her friend Lauren Leeds. The cover of the show is pictured above

Huntsman claimed that when she said she would not read the statement, the producer later texted her, 'That was a mistake.'

She reflected on her last day on set and said that before taping had even concluded, her sister emailed her a news article citing a source inside the show who claimed that producers were planning to fire her before she resigned.

'When I was walking out of the building that day, I was living again,' Huntsman said on her podcast.

'I could breathe and feel myself breathing. I was present and I hadn't been present for the almost two years I was there.'

Prior to her departure, reports surfaced of tension between Huntsman and her fellow conservative panelist, Meghan McCain.

A CNN Business article at the time cited multiple sources who described a toxic work environment on set and a 'soured relationship' between the two conservative women.

McCain and Huntsman had a longtime friendship, having both come from well-known Republican families.

However, sources said that their relationship was frayed when Huntsman began discussing her children on-air following McCain's miscarriage.

Huntsman told her friend Lauren Leeds, pictured above, on her podcast that the environment on The View was 'toxic'

Reports surfaced before Huntsman's departure that she had a feud with longtime friend Meghan McCain. The two are pictured above on The View in 2019

A slew of panelists, including Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Savannah Chrisley, are also filling in for Alyssa Farah Griffin

'Abby was sick of being berated by Meghan for perceived slights,' one of the sources told CNN. 'She ultimately decided she didn't need this job and it wasn't worth it.'

An ABC spokesperson denied the report at the time, telling CNN in a statement: 'There has always been a fascination with the behind-the-scenes at the show since the show began, but they do a tough job by going out there every day to share their opinions and beliefs on live TV.'

Huntsman struck a different tone in her goodbye message, telling viewers how difficult it was to leave The View and calling it the 'most iconic show on television' with the 'smartest women.'

Prior to her tenure on the show, Huntsman was a host on MSNBC and Fox News. During her time as a panelist, Huntsman hosted alongside Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin and Meghan McCain.

Farah Griffin took over McCain's seat on the show in 2022, following multiple public clashes between McCain and the other panelists.

Other conservative commentators filling in for Farah Griffin include reality star Savannah Chrisley and former host Elisabeth Hasselbeck, who sat on the panel from 2003 to 2013.

Hasslebeck has also offered harsh words for The View's current lineup, telling Fox News in 2025 that the show 'refused to put anyone there who has a lick of sense on most days.'
A CNN anchor has abruptly announced she is leaving her job at the end of the week.

Early Start's Rahel Solomon broke the 'personal news' to close her usual 5am broadcast on Monday.

'I have decided that this will be my last week at CNN. More to come on what's next for me, but I'm really excited about this next chapter,' Solomon teased during the dramatic handover.

The show's official X account went on to share the moment shortly thereafter.

'Thank you to the team at Early Start,' Solomon stated. 'To the larger team here at CNN - I'm going to be cheering you on. I look forward to watching.'

Solomon said Friday would be her last show. She did not share any other future plans.

'So this is truly not goodbye, but see you soon,' the correspondent said.

The 37-year-old recently returned from six months of maternity leave, doing so in December. She was initially tapped to host 'Early Start' the March before.

Early Start anchor Rahel Solomon announced that Friday will be her last show with CNN on Monday morning

Solomon, 37, has been with the network since 2022. She joined CNN from CNBC, only anchoring Early Start for a few months

The stint followed roughly three years at the network. Solomon joined CNN from CNBC in 2022 after spells with Colorado and Philadelphia's CBS affiliates.

She married Philadelphia-based lawyer Marcel S. Pratt in July 2024. The two welcomed a baby girl in 2025. Solomon stepped away temporarily in June.

Solomon's fellow staffers were said to be 'supportive' of her decision to leave for good, the Daily Mail learned. The departure was an amicable one, the Mail understands.

The decision comes just three months removed from Solomon's return to the air last year.

The network's parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, is currently being sold to rival company Paramount for more than $100billion.

Journalists are bucking at the prospect of coming under the purview of Paramounts Trump-friendly CEO, David Ellison, sources told Status when the deal was inked in February.

Ellison went on to insist this month that CNN's 'editorial independence' will be 'maintained' if and when the merger is federally approved, while speaking to Warner execs on the studio's lot in Burbank.

The network's parent company is currently in the process of being sold to rival media company Paramount. The CNN center is seen here in Atlanta, Georgia

Solomon (fourth from left) is seen here with then-costars Sara Sidner, Poppy Harlow, Phil Mattingly, Melissa Mahtani, and Abby Phillip at the Kodak Theatre in 2023

Several observers have speculated that the move would mean an also-merged CNN and CBS News.

CNN, meanwhile, is suffering record low viewership during the day and primetime, according to Nielsen.

Hosts such as Solomon - and even fixtures like Wolf Blitzer and Abby Phillip - have failed to move the needle.

Worsening the waning linear ratings are constant barbs from the administration.

Donald Trump said back in December of CNN parent Warner: 'I dont think the people that are running that company right now and running CNN - which is a very dishonest group of people - I dont think that should be allowed to continue.'

'I think CNN should be sold along with everything,' he added at the time.

Paramount CEO David Ellison's father, billionaire Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, is also a well-known Trump ally.

CNN mainstay Anderson Cooper stepped away from his longtime second gig at 60 Minutes on CBS earlier this year before Paramount had its bid for Warner accepted.

Hollywood tech scion David Ellison was tapped to be Paramount's chief executive over the summer. He recently said he was honored to 'steward' CNN into the current age

Pictured, Donald Trump and Oracle founder Ellison at the White House in January. Trump said back in December of CNN parent Warner: 'I dont think the people that are running that company right now and running CNN... I dont think that should be allowed to continue'

A message from Rahel Solomon: pic.twitter.com/6HMOSZTdsZ  CNN Early Start with Rahel Solomon (@EarlyStart) March 23, 2026

Several other journalists have left the network since Ellison was named CEO over the summer.

As was the case with the Paramount-Skydance merger last year, the $111billion acquisition of Warner still requires regulatory approval.

The FCC will conduct a review beforehand. The move would grant Paramount ownership of CNN, HBO Max, and Warner Bros.s movie and TV studios.

A CNN spokesperson, meanwhile, told the Mail in a statement: 'We are grateful to Rahel for all her contributions to CNN over the past four years and are supportive of her decision. We wish her all the best in her next chapter.'
China has cemented its status as a major player in the global car market as imports of vehicles and parts from the country into the EU has - for the first time on record - surpassed the number of European-made cars and components moving in the opposite direction, according to new analysis.

Exports of cars and parts from the EU to China fell 34 per cent last year to 16billion (13.85billion), a report by consultancy EY found. Since 2022, exports have more than halved.

At the same time, imports from China rose 8 per cent to 22billion (19billion).

It means within a matter of years, an export surplus has turned into a deficit.

There are now around 40 different Chinese car brands sold across Europe's new car market, with the top five players - MG, BYD, Jaecoo, Omoda and Leapmotor - accounting for 84 per cent of total Chinese registrations.

EU car imports from China surpass exports for the first time as China continues to dominate the European car market

The closing gap between Chinese imports and EU exports continues on a national level.

In Germany, Europe's automotive epicentre, China was only the sixth most important export market for German manufacturers in 2025.

German exports do still exceed imports but the gap has shrunk significantly.

Since the peak in 2022, German exports to China have more than halved from around 30billion (26bn) to 13.6billion (11.8bn), while vehicle imports from China rose by two-thirds to 7.4billion (6.4bn).

If current trends continue, imports and exports could reach parity in 2026, the EY analysis said.

It's important to note that the category of automotive parts includes electric vehicle batteries, a market dominated by Chinese suppliers.

EY expert Constantin Gall says that Chinese car makers currently face challenges in Germany, where Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and BMW have so far successfully defended their market shares. But in other markets, Chinese manufacturers have already made noticeable gains.

According to Gall, competition is expected to intensify further in 2026, increasing pressure on Germany as an automotive production hub.

German car makers and suppliers also have production facilities in China to manufacture for the local market as well as shipping vehicles and components to Europe.

These include models from BMW subsidiary Mini, the Cupra Tavascan SUV from Volkswagen and Smart vehicles produced by Mercedes-Benz together with its major shareholder Geely in Xi'an.

New data from LeaseLoco shows that nearly one in five drivers are now considering leasing Chinese brands

The increasing popularity of Chinese cars

New data from leading vehicle leasing comparison site LeaseLoco shows Chinese manufacturers now account for 18.1 per cent of all UK lease enquiries in 2026 so far, up from just 9.2 per cent in 2025

That's a 97 per cent lease enquiry rise for Chinese cars in 12 months.

The figures suggest British drivers are becoming far more open to competitively-priced vehicles from Chinese manufacturers despite a relative lack of prior knowledge of these brands.

LeaseLoco's experts say the shift is likely being driven by the fact Chinese manufacturers are focusing heavily on EVs and offering models with advanced technology and longer battery ranges at lower price points than many established European brands.

In fact, LeaseLoco's latest data shows that monthly lease prices for Chinese brands are, on average, around 27 per cent lower than those for European brands.

Jato Dynamics' - which analyses the European motor sector - data similarly shows a stark increase in the popularity of Chinese cars in Europe.

Chinese car brands increased market share to a record 5.5 per cent in August 2025.

More than 43,500 units were registered by Chinese car brands that month  a 121 per cent year-on-year increase and more than the individual volumes recorded by several major European brands.

Combined registrations of Chinese car brands in August 2025 were higher than those of Audi (41,300 units) and Renault (37,800 units).

Felipe Munoz, global analyst at Jato Dynamics said: 'European consumers are responding positively to the growing, competitive line-up from China's car brands.

'It appears that these brands have successfully tackled the perception and awareness issues they have experienced.'
Growing numbers of couples do not talk about their investments or tell their partners they even invest money in the stock market or in cryptocurrency assets, new research has revealed.

One in ten people in a relationship under the age of 35 say they invest money without telling their partner, research from asset manager Columbia Threadneedle claims.

This has risen in a year with triple the number of young couples saying they don't tell their partner they are investing.

It comes as part of a wider trend which shows one in three couples are put off talking about investing for fear it will cause arguments and conflict in their relationship.

Investing remains a difficult topic for couples to broach, with 31 per cent of couples saying they fear conversations about investing would cause fights.

Different approaches to asset type and appetite for risk are also reasons couples find discussing investing and how they invest to be a thorny issue.

One in ten people in a relationship under the age of 35 say they invest money without telling their partner

One couple This is Money spoke to, who have been together for six years, described investing as 'an open secret' in their relationship.

Ayodeji Shopeyin, a 33 year-old software engineer, invests in stocks and shares and also buys cryptocurrencies.

This feels too risky for his partner, aged 29, who does not wish to invest and instead prefers to stick with the reliable returns of cash Isas.

Mr Shopeyin says: 'We save towards holidays with our cash Isa but when it comes to investments I like to take some risk to grow my money and she prefers a cash Isa even when I talk to her about the benefit of investing returns.'

Money conversations between couples are more likely to be triggered by events or savings goals like a holiday or an unexpected bill which needs to be paid than as part of routine planning.

By neglecting to talk about what they invest in and how much, many couples could be putting off important conversations about financial planning for their future together.

More long-term couples are chosing not to get married and more are sharing aspects of their lives such as living arrangement but not finances.

But more than a third of young couples want to be able to talk more openly about money and investing with their partners, while two thirds believe avoiding money conversations causes problems later, research shows.

Victoria Hasler, head of fund research at investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown, says: 'When it comes to investing money together, communication is key.

'It's important to carve out time to draw up a budget so you know how much you have to invest, but also to talk about why you are investing and what's important to you.'
Applied Nutrition said its sales were boosted by Ozempic users and fitness fanatics ditching the pub, but shares sank on investor jitters over the impact of the war in Iran.

The protein powder and supplement firm said sales rose by 56.5 per cent to 74.5 million for the six months to 31 January, compared with a year earlier.

But shares fell by as much as 15 per cent on Monday morning after it said sales volumes in the Middle East would be affected by the conflict.

Thomas Ryder, the boss of the FTSE 250 group, said sales are booming as health-conscious customers switch their plans from the pub to the gym.

Applied Nutrition has partnered with event firms such as Coffee and Vibes who organise fitness classes, followed by healthy food and DJs.

'These social gatherings are becoming way more popular than pub gatherings, or club gatherings, said Ryder, a Liverpudlian former scaffolder who set up the business in 2014.

Coleen Rooney, who is also an investor in the company, is the face of a marine collagen range

He added that the increasing uptake of fat jabs, such as Ozempic, has been another opportunity to reach new customers.

Weight-loss drugs, medically known as GLP-1s, can cause a loss of muscle mass alongside fat, so doctors advise that users take up strength training and eat enough protein to combat the unhelpful side effects.

Ryder said: There's definitely an uptick in consumers wanting these products to support their weight loss journey.

He said that a range of 53 protein-focused meals and snacks with supermarket Morrisons, which targets consumers who are on the jabs, has been selling really, really well.

And a range of Marine Collagen supplements, fronted by Coleen Rooney, who is also an investor in the group, have also been selling well, he said.

But news that pre-tax profits leapt by 77.1 per cent to 20.9million for the half-year was not enough to reassure investors after it said it expects some reduction in sales volumes in the Middle East.

It said: The group is cognisant of the current disruption to shipping routes and purchasing activities within the Middle East. Although we expect some reduction in volumes into the region during the second half, at this stage there is no change to FY26 guidance of full year revenue of approximately 140 million.

There have also been concerns over pressure on households in Britain, as energy prices are now predicted to spike later this year.

But Ryder said he was confident that wellness was one of the top priorities for his customers and said: You know, every year there's always something going on. We always navigate our way through and we're just very confident for the second half.

And the group said it still expects to meet annual sales targets of around 140million.

Adam Vettese, market analyst for eToro, said: Applied Nutritions shares have fallen sharply this morning despite delivering a solid set of interim results that confirmed the upbeat trading update issued in February.

The sell-off looks like classic sell the news  much of todays performance was already in the price, and investors are focusing on working-capital drag hitting free cash flow conversion, tougher H2 comparatives and potential Middle East shipping headwinds. At current levels the valuation is undeniably demanding.
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Car park operator NCP will permanently close around 20 of its sites after it filed for administration earlier this month.

Britain's biggest car park firm told landlords and employees that administrators had found that the sites were 'no longer commercially viable to operate,' according to Sky News.

The company employs 682 people and manages approximately 340 car parks nationwide, including in major towns and city centres, airports, hospitals and transport hubs.

A source told Sky that the closure of 20 sites is expected to result in a 'small' number of job losses.

Car park firm NCP will reportedly close around 20 firms after it appointed administrators

After filing for administration, the firm said it had not recovered from business lost in the Covid pandemic amid the rise in flexible working.

A statement issued on behalf of NCP said had 'insufficient cash available to meet its financial obligations and the directors have therefore taken the decision to appoint administrators.'

Joint administrators PwC said it would 'engage with landlords' and a sale of 'all or part of the business' is being considered, along with site closures.

NCP, which charges up to 33 for 24 hours parking in Manchester and 60 at sites in central London, has been frequently criticised for levying extortionate fines.

This is a developing story
French giant Danone is set to buy the UK nutrition supplements group Huel - backed by Idris Elba and his wife - for 860million amid growing demand for health-focused products.

Founded in 2015, Huel targets health-conscious millennials, commuters and those who are too busy to cook meals.

Its signature product is a meal replacement drink, which it proclaims is a nutritionally complete serving - but it has expanded into new products, such as instant pasta pots.

Danone, which makes Activia yoghurt and Evian water, is looking to cash in on consumers' appetite for healthier alternatives.

In 2022, Luther actor Elba, 53, and his wife Sabrina, 36, backed Huel in a 20million fundraising and stand to cash in from the sale.

Meanwhile, Huel founder Julian Hearn will make more than 400million from the deal. He owns just under half of the business and is selling his entire stake.

Investors: Luther actor Elba, 53, and his wife Sabrina, 36

Hearn left school at 16 with just two E grade GCSES, before starting a job digging up roads in Buckinghamshire. He then went back into further and higher education before founding Huel in his garage.

Diary of a CEO presenter Steven Bartlett also holds a small stake. He resigned as a director last year, according to filings at Companies House.

In 2024, adverts for Huel, in which Bartlett praised its products' health benefits, were banned by the Advertising Standards Authority. The watchdog said the social media promotions were 'misleading' as the brand had failed to disclose that Bartlett, who is also a star on Dragon's Den, had a financial interest in the business.

James McMaster, Huels chief executive officer, will remain as the head of the company.

He said: We've grown into an omnichannel business with a strong direct-to-consumer foundation, an expanding international footprint, and a retail business that's scaling quickly.

The business has expanded from its original meal replacement drink into low-calorie meals

'At the centre of it all is a loyal customer base. Most people don't get enough protein, fibre, or the right nutrients. That's the problem Huel exists to solve.

The sale means that Huel will have the capability to go further, into new markets and to more people, as demand for convenient, complete nutrition continues to grow, McMaster added.

Demand for its products has also been buoyed by a rise in people taking weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic, he told the Financial Times. He said its products were 'great with the GLP-1 crowd'.
It's a quiet community of around 10,000 people but boasts a rich industrial heritage, known for becoming the world's first railway town more than 200 years ago.

Now, Shildon in County Durham has another title to celebrate  after being named by Zoopla experts today as Britain's most affordable town for families to buy a home.

The status is based on Shildon having the lowest 'value to earnings' ratio - the equivalent number of years' salary it would take two adults to buy a home.

The town, which was the world's first place to see a steam locomotive hauling passengers on a public railway in 1825, has an average house price of just 82,500.

Properties in Shildon have an estimated monthly mortgage repayment of 325 at 80 per cent loan-to-value, with the estimated required earnings to buy being 60,800.

The town's value to earnings ratio is therefore 1.36x  with homes in the area also found to be three times cheaper than the South East's most affordable locations.

The property website based its rankings on the 300 most popular towns for families looking to buy three-bedroom homes, based on the number of views per home.

These towns were then ranked by affordability - with towns in northern England, Scotland and Wales topping the list; and those in southern England at the bottom.

Shildon in County Durham is quiet town of 10,000 people with a rich industrial heritage

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A newly-restored replica of Locomotion No.1 departs Shildon station as it passes along the Stockton and Darlington Railway to mark the bicentenary of the route on September 26, 2025

Adelaide Terrace is traditional street in Shildon with a row of red-brick terraced houses

The most expensive house for sale in Shildon is this five-bedroom property for 400,000

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In second place was Peterlee, also in County Durham, with a 1.62x ratio  from an average value of 98,750, earnings of 60,800 and monthly payment of 389.

Another County Durham town was in third place, Ferryhill, with a 1.64x ratio from a 99,700 average value, 60,800 earnings and 392 monthly payment.

Fourth place went to Ferndale in the Rhondda Valley of Wales, with a 1.85x ratio from a 113,000 average value, 61,000 earnings and 445 monthly payment.

Cumnock in East Ayrshire topped the list in Scotland with a 1.68x ratio from an average value of 113,600, earnings of 67,700 and monthly payment of 447.

Four other North East England towns followed behind - Stanley (1.88x), Crook (1.70x) and Hartlepool (2.25x) all in County Durham and Ashington (2.10x) in Northumberland. Completing the top ten was Irvine in North Ayrshire (1.x).

The researchers said all UK regions have affordable towns, but higher house prices in southern England mean less affordability and higher monthly repayments.

Dover in Kent is the most affordable town in the South East but the value to earnings ratio is 4.07x with monthly payments of 1,100.

Lowestoft (3.60x) in Suffolk tops the affordability ranking for the East of England and Cinderford in Gloucestershire (3.64x) for the South West.

Zoopla executive director Richard Donnell said: 'The housing market is entering one of its busiest periods, with the most homes for sale in many years and at a time when buyers are becoming increasingly focused on value for money.

Join the discussion What do you think drives the huge gap in house prices between the North and South of England?

The second most expensive home on sale in Shildon is this 340,000 four-bedrrom property

A four-bedroom detached house in Shildon with two ensuite shower rooms is up for 189,000

This three-bedroom terraced house in Shildon with a rear yard is on the market for 80,000

Those looking for a first home in Shildon can get a three-bedroom house for just 35,000

'What stands out is the scale of the affordability gap across the UK. In parts of the North East, families can buy a home for much less than the cost of buying in the most affordable towns in southern England.

'While there are affordable options in every region, buyers often face a trade-off between lower house prices and their proximity to major employment centres.

'Many of the most affordable towns in southern England are coastal meaning better affordability may come at the cost of more expensive travel which may not work for everyone.'

He added that there were many tools 'to help buyers make better informed decisions and understand the trade-offs to make a successful move in 2026'.

Zoopla said all 300 towns in the list had a minimum of ten for-sale listings in the three months to January 2026 and a total stock of more than 1,000 three-bedroom homes.

Local earnings required was estimated using local authority level Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) data for a single earner - then doubled for two people, adjusted to bring it forward to January 2026 and rounded to the nearest 100.

Monthly payment amounts were based on the monthly mortgage repayment for a typical three-bedroom house in the town, assuming the home is bought with a 20 per cent deposit and have a repayment period of 30 years at a rate of 4.25 per cent.

Zoopla said cities were excluded from the analysis, including Greater London.

Top ten most affordable towns in the UK Rank GB region / country Postal town Average value of a 3-bed home Estimated earnings required (2 full-time earners) Value to earnings ratio (Jan 2026) Estimated monthly mortgage repayment 1 North East Shildon 82,500 60,800 1.36 325 2 North East Peterlee 98,750 60,800 1.62 389 3 North East Ferryhill 99,700 60,800 1.64 392 4 Wales Ferndale 113,000 61,000 1.85 445 5 Scotland Cumnock 113,600 67,700 1.68 447 6 North East Stanley 114,450 60,800 1.88 450 7 North East Crook 118,100 60,800 1.94 465 8 Scotland Irvine 120,900 70,900 1.7 476 9 North East Ashington 130,800 62,300 2.1 515 10 North East Hartlepool 132,600 59,000 2.25 522

Most affordable towns within each region/country Rank GB region / country Postal town Average value of a 3-bed home Estimated earnings required (2 full-time earners) Value to earnings ratio (Jan 2026) Estimated monthly mortgage repayment 1 North East Shildon 82,500 60,800 1.36 325 4 Scotland Cumnock 113,600 67,700 1.68 447 6 Wales Ferndale 113,000 61,000 1.85 445 9 North West Egremont 139,500 69,200 2.02 549 62 Yorks & H Immingham 157,700 59,100 2.67 621 75 E Mids Gainsborough 175,300 62,900 2.79 690 162 W Mids Telford 215,300 64,300 3.35 847 208 South West Cinderford 272,250 74,800 3.64 1,071 225 Eastern Lowestoft 234,800 61,900 3.79 924 287 South East Dover 280,300 68,900 4.07 1,103
Carl Jones's small detached home in the heart of suburban Manchester is nothing out of the ordinary.

The bespectacled owner appeared to all his neighbours in Hale as a typical middle-class resident, living a low profile existence in one of the city's most expensive celebrity enclaves.

But in reality, this non-descript lifestyle was masking a sinister secret, and one that exposes the dark side of one of the north's most desirable postcodes.

Earlier this year Jones, 59, was jailed for 30 years after being unmasked as a 'extremely dangerous' drugs and gun dealer.

He used the EncroChat code name 'stalehead' to peddle AR-15 assault rifles, AK47s and an Uzi submachine gun.

Locals knew nothing of his underworld dealings, telling the Daily Mail of their shock at his true identity after he was found guilty of conspiracy to supply heroin and weapons charges.

Upmarket Hale is home to multiple Premier League stars and a litany of celebs - often seen as one of the most sought after villages in Greater Manchester.

But lurking beneath the surface of this affluent area, where Tommy Fury and Molly-Mae are regularly spotted driving around in their G-Wagon, is more evidence of criminality.

Like Jones, mobster Philip Waugh hid behind a respected businessman persona. He had launched one of the first trendy health food shops Prepped2go on the pretty high street.

Pictured: Hale, where most homes go for 650,000 - it is one of the most desirable villages in the north

Carl Jones (pictured) was found guilty of conspiracy to supply heroin and conspiracy to transfer prohibited weapons

There is nothing out of the ordinary about Carl Jones's quaint home (pictured) in the heart of suburban Manchester

Pictured: Molly-Mae and Tommy Fury taking their daughter to Bambi to ballet in Hale

But he was also an arms dealer, trading guns and drugs, with underlings ordered to throw acid on his rivals.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that Waugh had a particular interest in 'melts' - and was keen to 'cook' more than food.

Crown prosecutors told how the Spanish-based criminal commissioned Liverpool gang member Jonathan Gordon to target his underworld rivals.

Waugh was an exacting customer, telling Gordon that he wanted to inflict life-changing injuries on Nathan Simpson and his partner.

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His message read: 'Acid him and bird proper. Blind em both.'

Waugh added: 'Just need let him cook for a couple of minutes' and 'just need him blind and face melted.'

The shop he owned, serving freshly cooked meals, has since shut down but the sign still remains in place.

A Hale man who used to buy food there said: 'I remember it well. Looking back it was really ahead of its time, opening up before lockdown. There was nothing to suggest there was any criminal money behind the scenes.'

Waugh's astonishing arsenal of weapons that he traded included: Several Grand Power pistols, two AK47s, a tech-9 pistol, an Uzi, an Scorpion sub-machine gun, a .38 Taurus pistol, a Walther PPK and Star 9 self-loading pistol.

Honorary Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC sentenced Waugh to 26 years and eight months in prison.

Judge Menary said Waugh traded in military standard weapons that were associated with 'tragic loss of life.'

He pointed to the calculated and commercial way in he traded in serious firearms that caused real damage to communities.

On the planned acid attack Judge Menary added: 'It was a contract hit. Calculated to leave a victim marked for life.'

Despite gangsters using Hale as a stomping ground for business, residents argue that the village 'oozes' safety.

An estate agent said: 'People feel safe in Hale. The village just oozes discretion and safety. Sunday mornings area so dreamy with children choosing cakes in the bakery window.

'People just fall in love with the village and then want to buy a house here.'

Pictured: Zara Charles, the girlfriend of Ryan Giggs shopping in Hale

Philip Waugh, left, who traded guns, drugs and had underlings throw acid on his rivals was behind one of the first trendy health food shops in the village Prepped2go. Right, Julian Solomon a well known bully in the Southport area, later moved to leafy Hale until he was implicated in 66million drug plot

Thomas 'Slab' Murphy, (pictured) was sentenced to 18 months in jail in February 2016 after being convicted of nine charges of failing to comply with tax laws

But others say the sweet atmosphere is a mere facade.

The owner of a family business said: 'It started in the last ten or fifteen years. Some of the new shops and business just seem to have come from nowhere.

'How can a shop make money when it's empty all week? For me there are just too many tinted windows, cold stares and mystery.

'I used to know everyone with a business in Hale but now I feel surrounded by strangers. Most of the locals used to drive old Volvos and it was all fairly low key.

'There are rumours some of the blacked out Range Rovers have bullet proof glass. Something has changed.'

Julian Solomon was a heavy set former doorman with a violent past. A well known bully in the Southport area, he later moved to leafy Hale until he was implicated in 66million drug plot.

Solomon's gang organised the importation of 141 kg of heroin and cocaine from Belgium to Hull. The drugs were secreted inside a tractor on the back of a flat bed lorry.

At the time, the 83kg seizure of heroin and 58kg of cocaine was a record haul for Greater Manchester Police.

Solomon was jailed for 25 years for his leading role in the audacious plot. However following his sentencing troubling details began to emerge of his violent past.

The Mail has seen court documents which revealed that Solomon was suspected of knocking out the manager of a lap dancing club in Liverpool city centre.

Solomon left the man with a shattered jaw after 'stealing' it on him in the club's toilets. The attack attracted the attention of Liverpool criminals who controlled security at the nightclub.

One notorious club land enforcer was looking for Solomon, and planned to assault him with a Maglite torch.

It also emerged that Solomon had been jailed in 2008 for battering a young student senseless in Ormskirk.

CCTV footage was released which showed a mob assaulting the young man in a shop doorway.

Lurking beneath the surface of the upmarket village where Tommy Fury and Molly-Mae can regularly be spotted driving around in their G-Wagon is an underbelly of crime

In 2005, there was disbelief in the area when a government agency raided a home in the heart of Hale said to be linked to the IRA.

The Asset Recovery Agency's led the raid on a property on South Downs Road due to alleged links to Thomas 'Slab' Murphy, said to have been the IRA's 'chief of staff.'

At the time, the agency said it was investigating a company which owned 250 properties in the south Manchester area - said to be connected to Thomas Murphy.

A solicitor acting for the businessman whose Hale home was raided claimed the ARA had been 'duped' and that his client was connected to Michael Murphy, who was Thomas's brother.

Thomas 'Slab' Murphy, was sentenced to 18 months in jail in February 2016 after being convicted of nine charges of failing to comply with tax laws.

He was accused of not furnishing authorities with a return of income, profits or gains, or the sources of them over eight years from 1996 to 2004. He had pleaded not guilty.

Murphy, who has always denied links to the IRA, was said by police to been the head of a multimillion-euro smuggling empire.

In his statement issued by his legal team, Murphy further denied two witnesses had been intimidated during the trial - a vet and a landowner he rented land from.

'This is absolutely untrue. The witnesses did give evidence. The prosecution's legal team did not even allege there was witness intimidation,' he said.

Murphy also criticised the investigation by Revenue chiefs and the Garda.

Gerry Adams spoke out following the conviction, claiming Murphy had been 'treated unfairly' and described him as a 'good republican.'

He said: 'Many prominent public figures accused of tax irregularities, including TDs ... have not been treated in the same fashion as Mr Murphy.

'Neither have they been labelled as criminals by those media outlets currently writing lurid headlines about Mr Murphy.'

NCA branch commander Jon Hughes said: 'These men are extremely dangerous offenders and the streets are safer now they're in prison.

'We've seen in recent years that entirely innocent victims can be tragically caught in the crossfire of feuding organised crime groups.

'Drugs and firearms crimes are often interconnected. The NCA will continue to work with partners at home and abroad to protect the public from these threats.'
A celebrated Shakespearean scholar who hosted a birthday lunch for his hero was handed a 100 parking fine - despite his car being in a town 50 miles away.

Nicholas Fogg, a retired literary expert and Marlborough College master, mingled with old friends and Stratford luminaries alike in April last year, as he celebrated the special day in the hometown he shares with The Bard.

His rental stay was documented and his picture was even taken for the local paper, with Mr Fogg seen beaming next to Shakespearean actor Jonathan Slinger at the special event in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire.

In short, nobody could be mistaken about where he was that spring afternoon.

And yet just 10 days later, Mr Fogg, 82, was perplexed to receive a letter from the National Car Park (NCP) slapping him with a fine for a parking violation said to have occurred an hour's drive away in Northampton.

The correspondence claimed he had left his Renault Megane Scenic in a prohibited spot at St Peter's Way carpark.

Mr Fogg told the Daily Mail that not only had he clearly not been in Northampton that day, but he had never once visited the town.

'I have never heard of this car park or been anywhere near it in my life,' he said.

Indeed, his actual whereabouts were very well documented. Photos, alibis and a paper trail all placed him in Stratford, hosting the prestigious event as president of the Bran and Chaff Shakespeare Club.

But the strange thing was, it was definitely his car in the photograph.

At the same time, his car was alleged to have been in a Northampton car park - and Mr Fogg received a 100 fine, pictured, just days later

Nicholas Fogg pictured, left, with actor Jonathan Slinger at a lunch in Stratford to mark Shakespeare's birthday on April 26, 2025

'It is my car shown but it doesn't show it stopped in a definite parking place. It couldn't have been in Northampton, it is just in the wrong place. That is the bizarre bit of it,' he said.

There have been many reported instances in recent months of fines placing the recipient's car in entirely the wrong place but the majority are issued by scammers and not by the largest parking provider in the UK.

Explanations often include cloned number plates or faulty cameras, but Mr Fogg was always certain the car pictured is his.

And he was convinced a friend or relative hadn't taken his car for a spin across the Midlands, adding only he is insured for the vehicle.

NCP has since apologised for the 'admin mistake' which saw an official enter the wrong location on the document, and has rescinded the Penalty Charge Notice (PCN). It insists the mix-up is a very rare occurrence.

Mr Fogg has had several books about Shakespeare and Stratford published across a distinguished career.

The academic has also served as a schoolmaster at Marlborough College - which will count Prince George among its pupils later this year - and has been elected as mayor of the town.

Going back and forth with the company for months, Mr Fogg admitted he wasted a great deal of time attempting to get to the bottom of the PCN.

'My tracks were pretty well covered. I certainly wasn't in Northampton. I have never been to Northampton,' he insisted.

He even had a hearing at Swindon Crown Court booked in for April 2, which had been referred to the Small Claims Division.

'You reply and they completely ignore any reply you have made,' he added. 'I imagine it is computer driven, this series of escalating letter ending in being taken to court.

'They are just formal letters pre-written for everybody. They don't respond to things.

'You just get into an inexorable process in which whatever you say is ignored and you get the next stage of the computer process.

'If you write to them and explain yourself, then you still get this series of escalating letters.

'You can only cough up, that is all you can do. And you end up wishing you had coughed up, because it's so much hassle.'

Mr Fogg eventually had his fine struck off but not every victim of a similar mistake has been so lucky.

Last April - just days before Mr Fogg's alleged parking offence - Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander accused parking firms of 'trapping' motorists with faulty machines.

Campaigners said thousands of people could have been hit by the PCNs, which Ms Alexander described as 'a problem that needs to be tackled'.

She said: 'Government is working on a code of practice because we recognise that we need to drive up standards in the private parking industry. People's experience is not good enough at the moment.'

The Transport Secretary called on parking companies to install 'machines and equipment that work' and become easier to contact.

Campaigner Lynda Eagan said faulty machines often had 'sticky keys' which did not respond properly to being pressed or encouraged motorists to pay for parking before they had entered the full registration.

Code of conduct plans introduced by the Conservative Government in 2022 proposed implementing a fairer appeals process, halving the cap on tickets for most parking offences to 50 and removing aggressive language from fines.

The Penalty Charge Notice claimed Mr Fogg had left his Renault Megane Scenic in a prohibited spot at St Peter's Way carpark, pictured

The code was scrapped following a legal challenge by various parking companies.

Government data last November revealed that UK drivers are hit with more than 41,000 PCNs each day.

Mr Fogg added: 'It was a complete pain because I'm pretty busy, in spite of my advanced age, and so it was quite time consuming. It was a huge worry and a nuisance to put it mildly.'

A NCP spokesperson said: 'Having investigated this we can see that although the PCN was correctly issued for parking in a staff bay which was clearly signed, the PCN was manually issued, and our team selected the wrong location by mistake.

'The customer was parked in Rother Street in Stratford, but the PCN referred to St Peter's Way in Northampton.

'So, it was an admin mistake on issuance by NCP. We will cancel the parking charge with immediate effect, with our apologies for the location error on the PCN.'
A beautician branded 'incompetent' in an online review is banking on Google to pay up and clear her name as she takes the search giant to court.

Bianca Mayer worked as an administration manager and course advisor at Melbourne's 'world class' Elly Lukas Beauty Therapy College in 2024.

But just days before Christmas that year, she earned the ire of a disgruntled customer, the Supreme Court of Victoria has heard.

A person operating under the pseudonym 'Phoebe Intervention' published a one-star review taking aim at Ms Mayer personally.

'Bianca displayed a lack of competency and professionalism,' the review alleged, according to court documents.

'When questions about enrollment and course details were raised, she insisted that payment of school fees was necessary before providing any useful information.

'This approach makes little sense; prospective students should have access to all relevant details before committing financially.'

The blistering review further accused Ms Mayer of failing to take responsibility for her 'incompetence' when called out, the court heard.

Bianca Mayer had been working as an administration manager and course advisor at Melbourne's Elly Lukas Beauty Therapy College when her world was turned upside down

'What added to the disappointment was Bianca's tendency to shift blame rather than take responsibility for her lack of organisation,' the review stated, according to court documents.

'When the person I was trying to assist didn't receive any emails, instead of troubleshooting the issue - perhaps by double-checking the email was sent or even making a simple phone call - she pointed fingers at them.

'This kind of attitude is unprofessional and detrimental to potential students seeking guidance.'

Court documents claim the review caused instant nightmares for the beautician with her employers.

The review remains online despite Ms Mayer filing a writ with the Supreme Court of Victoria calling for it to be taken down.

On Christmas Eve, Ms Mayer claimed she was issued a formal letter by the 72-year-old school titled: 'Performance concerns re allegations raised in a Google review.'

In it, Ms Mayer was warned if the allegations made in the review were true, it put the entire organisation at risk due to its compliance and regulatory responsibilities.

'By reason of the Review, the Plaintiffs annual 2025 bonus was suspended and her 5-year long-term incentive was placed under review, with a warning of possible employment termination for gross misconduct,' court documents stated.

Bianca Mayer claims Google has refused to take down a nasty and untrue review

Ms Mayer's legal team claimed the imputations of the review were inherently serious because they alleged professional incompetence, unethical conduct, and unfitness for Ms Mayers employment in a regulated vocational training environment.

'The Plaintiff has been approached and shunned by staff members, clients and members of the beauty college community who have enquired as to the veracity of the imputations, thereby indicating a belief in the truthfulness of the matters complained of,' the documents stated.

Ms Mayer's team argued Google reviews were prone to 'grapevine effect', which further impacted on her credibility.

Last week, Elly Lukas Beauty Therapy College held a 3.2 star rating on Google from 37 reviews.

Ms Mayer alleged that the reviewer was not even an actual customer of the school.

'The Review Author, Phoebe Intervention, was not a customer or student of Elly Lukas; the Review Author is understood to be the relative of an course applicant and the review does not reflect a genuine first-hand customer experience,' the writ alleges.

'Despite the foregoing, the Defendant failed to enforce its own content policies and remove the Review.'

Ms Mayer has denied all of the claims made in Phoebe Intervention's review and maintained she was 'competent, professional and diligent in the performance of her duties as Course Coordinator at Elly Lukas.'

Google is being taken to court in Melbourne amid claims it is running untrue reviews

A reviewer going by the handle 'Phoebe Intervention' provided a scathing review of Ms Mayer

Ms Mayer's legal team claims Phoebe Intervention was not even a student at the school. Above, an extract of the review, from court documents

Bianca Mayer is taking Google to trial in Melbourne

At the time the writ was lodged, Ms Mayer's lawyers claimed the review was being taken seriously by prospective students.

'Analytics for the period May 2025 to October 2025 demonstrate substantial exposure, including 7,411 business profile views, 2,724 search impressions, and 2,166 business profile interactions,' the writ stated.

'The Review has attracted 24 likes or reactions, reinforcing its visibility and perceived credibility to ordinary users of the Platform.'

The matter is set to go to trial where it will be decided by a judge alone.

Google has a market capitalisation of more than $US3.7trillion. Daily Mail contacted Elly Lukas Beauty Therapy College for comment.
For most people, being handed a property portfolio worth in excess of $100 million in a divorce would likely mark the end of any financial wrangling.

But not for TV director Ernestine Rathborne, who is heading back to court in Massachusetts two years after divorcing her property magnate husband Philip DeNormandie.

This time the showdown is over a $3.1 million parking lot in a historic neighborhood in Boston, the Daily Mail can reveal.

It comes after the former couple agreed to a settlement that saw Rathborne, 75, handed $105 million worth of property, according to court papers filed last May.

Their split has already featured eye-watering payouts, claims of hidden fortunes and a lifestyle so lavish they had a staffer to brush their pets' teeth.

Rathborne claimed in court papers that her ex-husband had tried to fool her into thinking their fortune of $221 million was far less, but he was rumbled after financial investigators uncovered a $500,000 receipt for wooden duck decoys and he was probed further, exposing their true wealth.

Now, in the latest court filing, Rathborne, who directed episodes of cult TV hit Twin Peaks, said that DeNormandie, 78, has failed to hand over the documents necessary to make the parking lot her own.

The court papers said that DeNormandie had handed over all but one of the necessary papers required for the transfer.

Since her filing last year, DeNormandie and his lawyer filed several continuances in the case saying he and his ex-wife were in talks to figure out a solution.

Ernestine Rathborne is heading back to court for more legal wrangling in her high profile divorce

She claims her property magnate husband Philip DeNormandie has failed to hand over necessary documents to facilitate transfer of a parking lot

The filings indicate that a judge granted the two a divorce in February 2023 after six years of back and forth.

Less than two weeks later, the pair filed a joint motion to amend the divorce in which they lowered a lump sum payout to Rathborne from DeNormandie from $4.7 million to $1 million.

It was also agreed that DeNormandie would pay $550,000 to cover his ex-wife's legal fees, while Rathborne was given the couple's $7.5 million home in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which had also been her childhood home.

DeNormandie, meanwhile, was awarded their private island, in Maine, worth $1.2 million and a parcel of land in Massachusetts worth $1.3 million.

They also agreed to end litigation between the two over another property which Rathborne owned.

But in March 2023, Rathborne went back to the courts alleging her ex-husband had not paid her the $1 million agreed, her legal fees or handed over a $2.6 million Antigua home she'd been awarded in the divorce.

The two then decided to allow the courts to appoint a special master to oversee their dispute as it continued to drag on, although all matters appeared to have been resolved before the parking lot dispute erupted last year.

It is not the first hiccup that has affected the legal proceedings, with Rathborne accusing DeNormandie in court documents of making her believe their combined wealth was just $90 million - when in actual fact it was $220 million.

Rathborne was handed a home worth $2.6 million in Antigua, seen here, in the divorce with her ex-husband

The lot, pictured here, is worth $3.1 million, according to court papers

Philip Y. DeNormandie, 75, amassed a large real estate empire and collection of decoy ducks

Foster Island, seen here, was given to DeNormandie in the divorce, court papers indicate it is worth $1.2 million

Rathborne was also given this $7.5 million house in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which was her childhood home

His alleged deception unraveled after she discovered a $532,000 receipt for a batch of wooden duck decoys and other art, which triggered a probe into his finances, court papers revealed.

DeNormandie hit back at his ex-wife, a Harvard-educated debutante, and described her as being a brilliant but spoiled woman when the two spoke with The Boston Globe separately in 2023 to air out their grievances about one another.

He also claimed in court papers that her extravagant lifestyle extended to one staffer being paid $80,000 per year to walk their dogs and brush the teeth of their animals.

The couple first met when they were both students at Harvard University in the 1970s and married in 1973 shortly after graduation.

'We loved doing the same things,' Rathborne told the outlet. 'We loved hiking and sailing. He's a nature boy. I loved walking in the woods with him.'

After buying a home in Boston, Rathborne relocated to New York and then Los Angeles for her film career.

Their relationship suffered and they first divorced in 1987.

'We were standing in front of the judge sobbing,' she said to the Boston Globe as she recalled how the judge asked if they were sure they wanted to end things, with DeNormandie responding: 'It's geography, your honor. It's geography.'

The couple then reconciled and remarried and Rathborne raised the couple's two sons as stay-at-home mother, saying she had been 'fulfilled' in her career.

The couple previously owned part of the historic Blackstone Block in Boston, which includes the city's famed Union Oyster house

The couple owned luxury real estate enclave Lewis Wharf on the Boston Harbor waterfront, court papers said that it now belonged to Rathborne

One of the many decoy ducks in Philip Y. DeNormandie's sprawling collection

Rathborne directed episodes of cult TV hit Twin Peaks, some of the cast is seen here including star Kyle Maclachlan, far right

'I found the work I was born to do and I was longing for children,' she said to the Boston Globe: 'I had the privilege of being a mom. I didn't look back over my shoulder.'

During those years DeNormandie built a sprawling real estate profile of over 100 profiles across New England and the south, with an interest in Louisiana where he now lives.

They include the historic Blackstone Block in Boston, where the Union Oyster House resides, and the luxury real estate enclave Lewis Wharf on the waterfront.

When things turned messy in the midst of their second divorce, DeNormandie claimed he had been unhappy with Rathborne's period as a stay-at-home mother.

'I made all of the money. She was an incredibly capable person who did nothing,' he said to the Boston Globe. 'She had seven-day-a-week help all the time.'

Rathborne started divorce proceedings in 2017 after the two grew apart, alleging in court papers that DeNormandie was aggressive and exhibited controlling behavior.

Both ultimately agreed to split their value down the middle at $110,379,691 apiece with DeNormandie agreeing to pay $600,000 in Rathborne's legal fees.

Court papers indicate that they will meet in court next month to resolve the issue over the parking lot after discussing it with a judge.

The Daily Mail approached Rathborne and DeNormandie's lawyers for comment.
Kate Johnson's followers are used to seeing mom content on her Instagram account. The 38-year-old mother of four and MAHA influencer frequently posts dispatches from her life in Tampa, Florida, on her social feed, under the handle @nursekatejohnson, a nod to her former life as a working registered nurse.

On her Instagram page, on any given day, you'll find photos and videos of her children and husband, the conservative YouTuber Benny Johnson, interspersed with content about her workouts, recipes, and health.

In recent weeks, however, the feed has been decidedly different.

In February, Johnson announced in a joyful Instagram video that she was pregnant with her fifth child. Posts that followed showed her sharing the news of the pregnancy with her husband and talking about parenting a large family.

Then, at her ten-week sonogram in late February, the unthinkable happened; there was no heartbeat. Johnson had experienced what every expectant mother dreads: a miscarriage.

Now, in an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, Johnson has shared that heartache hoping that, in doing so, she might offer comfort to the millions of women who have suffered a similar loss.

She recalled: 'Walking into your appointment and finding out that there's no heartbeat is shocking. As a mom, you become instantly connected to your baby. As soon as you find out you're pregnant, it's all consuming, it's all you think about.'

Johnson and her husband had decided to share the pregnancy earlier than they had with any previous ones, even consulting their pastor ahead of announcing it.

Johnson frequently shares dispatches from her life as a wife and mother of four in Tampa, Florida on her social media

Johnson (left) often posts about what it's like to parent a large family

She felt that sharing her pregnancy so early could provide insight into the challenges of the first trimester for the many young mothers who make up her audience. Instead, in the wake of the miscarriage, while grieving privately, Johnson found herself faced with the pain of publicly sharing the news of her loss.

She did so with trepidation, yet she has found in the outpouring of support she received in response to her announcement, an unexpected balm to her grief.

She said: 'It wasn't intentional that it was public, I would have never chosen that. But it's turned out to be a surprisingly good thing that it was public. I've had a lot of support that I wouldn't have otherwise had. But it's given a lot of opportunity for other women who've walked this and done it completely alone, privately, they've never told anybody.

'It's given them an opportunity to talk about it and to find healing in being able to talk about it. So, while I would have never chosen it, I'm ultimately thankful that it has gone this way.'

For Johnson, finding support and community with other women who had experienced early loss in a pregnancy was affirming, especially as she cycled through a slew of confusing emotions.

She said: 'A shocking upside to this being public is that I've had just an overwhelming amount of support from friends, families, neighbors - people sending us dinner, people sending us flowers, sending us notes, sharing their experiences.'

Johnson, an outspoken figure in the MAHA movement, said that it was hard to realize that even though she lived and advocated for a healthy lifestyle, there were some things that were ultimately out of her control.

Johnson is an outspoken figure in the MAHA movement

Johnson (right), pictured here with Robert F Kennedy Jr (left)

She said: 'My immediate thought was, "What did I do? What didn't I do?" And then a lot of shame. In the space I work in, I talk a lot about health and about living as optimally as we can, a healthy lifestyle, and so to have to publicly say that I experienced this felt really shameful at first.

'But life is up to God and so it's not your fault. You don't need to turn that anger or the loss into anger against yourself. You can release it to God and trust that he's in control.'

As a result of this experience, Johnson realized that miscarriages were far more common than she realized. According to a 2023 report published in Reproductive Sciences, there are approximately 5 million pregnancies per year in the US and 1 million of them end in miscarriage. But despite this, Johnson said, much of the physical and emotional realities of what women experience go unspoken.

'I don't think a lot of people understand is that you have to go through [aspects of the] delivery of that baby and all that comes with that,' Johnson said.

'You have to go through the hormone shifts and the hard parts of postpartum without having all of the upsides of having your baby and that's hard. I don't know how somebody walks this without, one, hope in Jesus, and two, a strong partner, a strong husband by their side to be a steady hand.'

Johnson experienced a missed, or silent, miscarriage, which is when a baby has died in the womb, but has not been physically miscarried, so the mother doesn't have the usual signs of pregnancy loss, such as bleeding or cramping.

In cases like Johnson's, where pregnancy tissue doesn't pass naturally, medical providers may prescribe medication like misoprostol or mifepristone or a form of surgery management like vacuum aspiration or a dilation and curettage (D&C), where tissue is physically removed from the uterus, to prevent infection or hemorrhaging.

'You have to choose what is the best choice for you,' Johnson said of her miscarriage management. 'There's a risk assessment involved with that for risk of bleeding and risk of infection. The timeline for me was that my body still was not recognizing the loss. It had been three weeks, so the risk of infection starts to go up. We decided to have a surgical procedure to mitigate that risk, because if you have an infection or you hemorrhage, the chances that you damage your ability to conceive again are much higher. So that was a choice.'

Of motherhood, Johnson (left) said: 'As a mom, you become instantly connected to your baby'

Johnson had a D&C - a procedure that is legal in Florida for miscarriages but prohibited for women seeking to terminate pregnancies after six weeks.

She said: 'I didn't choose for my baby to not live. For me, this was a choice about making sure I was doing the best thing that I could do to be as healthy as possible for my four children and my husband, who are here. This was not about the baby at all. That decision was about me. People who choose to use a D&C to terminate a pregnancy and intentionally end the life of their babywell, I pray for them.'

Johnson is staunch in her belief that life begins at conception.

She said: 'In the Western medical space, we hear all these terms kind of get thrown around as if the life doesn't matter until we hit that point of viability outside of the mother's body, or until the baby is born, that it's just a 'clump of cells.' But I'm just a clump of cells. Everybody's just a clump of cells.

'The spark of life is not contingent on how many cells you have. I cannot separate my Christian faith from my clinical background, so for me, this is a life. It's a life from the moment of conception, and it is the loss of a life in our family. You are allowed to grieve this as a loss. You are allowed to feel all of the depth of that pain.'

As Johnson and her family move through the grief of losing their fifth child, they've found ways to honor and remember the baby they didn't get to meet. Johnson's two daughters had begun calling the unborn baby 'Rosemary' when she was pregnant and now, in memory of the child, the family has planted rosemary bushes in their yard.

For Johnson's husband Benny, who sits by his wife's side as she speaks, trying to make sense of this tragic loss has been impossible - an inconceivable sadness that has been paralleled only by the assassination of his friend and former colleague, Charlie Kirk.

Benny (far left) and Kate (middle left) were good friends with the late Charlie Kirk (middle right) and his wife Erika (far right)

He explained: 'We had to deal with the loss of a dear friend of our family, Charlie Kirk, this year. We were very close with Charlie and Erika. And I will never, for the rest of my life, be able to explain it to you why that happened.

'I don't know. And I've decided to stop trying [to understand]. Because God is the author of life and death. Charlie was so connected with God. He was so spiritually in tune. And Charlie's life was not mine. It wasn't Donald Trump's. Charlie didn't belong to the Republican Party or Turning Point, he belonged to God, ultimately.

'And so to fight that, or to be embittered over it, would be to be embittered against our creator, which is a losing battle.

'Whether you're going through a miscarriage, or whether you're just a human being living on this earth you are going to suffer loss.'

Johnson hopes that by sharing her story, other women might feel a little less alone when they're experiencing pregnancy losses of their own. And that they might be open to sharing their stories as well.

She said: 'I think that more women should talk about this experience if they want to. There shouldn't be a social stigma that it's somehow gauche to talk about this. The amount of women that suffer through this in silence and shame and feel alone...I think it's been very revealing for me just how much pain they're carrying, because they never got the opportunity to even acknowledge that this life mattered to them.'
Australia's fuel security weaknesses have been laid bare by the Middle East war, with experts warning that decades of refinery closures have left the nation dangerously dependent on foreign supplies.

Former defence and energy adviser John Blackburn said a series of policy decisions over the past two decades had effectively dismantled Australia's fuel resilience, forcing the country to rely on overseas refineries, foreign tankers and fragile international shipping routes at a time of rising geopolitical risk.

The vulnerability has now become clear as conflict in the Middle East disrupts the vital Strait of Hormuz, pushing fuel prices higher and triggering supply strains in parts of regional Australia.

Mr Blackburn said Australia still produces crude oil and has significant energy resources, but lacks the refining capacity to turn much of it into usable fuel.

'We export all of that because we can't process it even though we knew this was going to happen,' he said.

'And so we import 90 per cent of all our fuels, most of which comes to us from the Asian refineries.'

He said about 94 per cent of Australia's crude oil is shipped overseas, while most imported fuel is refined in countries such as South Korea, Japan and China - nations that are themselves heavily reliant on oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz.

'When they run out of oil stocks that's going to give them a big problem,' he said.

The Clyde oil refinery was destroyed in 2012

The Port Stanvac refinery was destroyed in 2003

How Australia's energy supply is vulnerable

According to global energy data, Australias proven oil reserves are equivalent to just 4.3 years of current consumption -but the countrys total oil potential is far greater than these confirmed reserves suggest

'We've seen China saying, well in about a month we're not going to sell anything - we need it for ourselves.'

Australia's refining sector has been dismantled over the past 15 year, bleeding money, too small to compete with massive Asian plants and facing eyewatering upgrade costs that owners said simply weren't worth it.

Port Stanvac closed in 2009, Clyde in 2012, Kurnell and Bulwer Island in 2014, and BP's Kwinana and ExxonMobil's Altona refineries finally shut in 2021.

Today only Ampol's Lytton plant in Brisbane and Viva Energy's Geelong refinery remain, supplying just a fraction of the nation's fuel needs.

Macquarie Business School lecturer Dr Lurion De Mello said the shutdown of Australia's refineries has left the country dangerously exposed.

'For Australia, the consequences are particularly acute,' he said.

'If the crisis at Hormuz continues for weeks or spreads further, genuine shortages become plausible. This is not a theoretical scenario. It is a foreseeable consequence of failing to build resilience.'

Mr Blackburn warned the strain on fuel supply chains would become visible within two months.

Explosions erupt following US-Israeli strikes at Tehran Oil Refinery in Iran

Retired air marshal Jon Blackburn (pictured) blamed politicians for the fuel drama

'If the war continues, we're going to have to readjust how much fuel we're using,' he said.

Australia's exposure has also been worsened by the loss of its domestic fuel shipping fleet, leaving supply chains dependent on foreign-flagged vessels.

'All that supply chain is run on foreign flagships, more than half Chinese owned,' Mr Blackburn said.

'Monty Python couldn't have written this. It is that dumb. Everywhere there's a point of failure.'

Mr Blackburn said Australia is now confronting the consequences of years of wilful political blindness from both major parties, arguing that anything not seen as an immediate election issue was routinely ignored.

'What a dumb way to run a country,' he said.

'We could have actually prepared for this, not unaffordably, there's things we could have done, but neither side of politics was prepared to do it.

'We've gone from producing 40 per cent of our own fuels down to 10. We've gone from seven refineries to two. It doesn't take a genius to see the whole system has got worse while the politicians fiddle around the fire.

A fuel tanker passes the Mobil fuel distribution centre in Melbourne as the demands and prices of petrol and diesel soar due to the Middle East conflict

'That will require controlled rationing but that's still some months away.'

Australia produces only modest volumes of oil, and output has been trending downward for years as ageing fields decline and new discoveries fail to keep pace.

According to global energy data, the country's proven reserves amount to just 4.3 times its annual oil consumption.

At current usage rates, and without factoring in net exports, that leaves Australia with the equivalent of about four years' worth of oil.

Yet Australia's long-term oil potential is far greater than current reserve figures suggest.

American geologists have estimated there could be around 2.6 billion barrels of undiscovered oil spread across Western Australia and the Northern Territory -in basins including the Perth Basin, the North West Shelf, the Browse Basin, the Bonaparte Gulf, the Canning Basin and the Beetaloo Sub-basin in the NT.

At current consumption rates, that would theoretically cover Australia's entire fuel needs for more than six years.

But finding oil and getting it out of the ground are two very different things.

About half of that 2.6 billion barrels is conventional oil - the kind that flows relatively freely once you drill a well.

The other half is locked in dense, impermeable rock and can only be released using hydraulic fracturing, or fracking - an expensive, water-intensive process that is particularly challenging in the remote, arid regions where much of Australia's potential oil sits.

The challenge is even greater for a further 13.4 billion barrels identified by Geoscience Australia in oil shale deposits.

Unlike drillable oil, oil shale is a solid material embedded in rock that must first be mined, then crushed and superheated to extract usable fuel.

It is costly, carbon-intensive and technically demanding, with only a handful of countries who do it at commercial scale anywhere in the world, and no one does it in Australia.

At current oil prices and with existing technology, most of Australia's harder-to-reach resources are not economically viable to extract, though that calculation could change if prices rise, technology improves, or governments choose to invest in developing the capability.
Fears are mounting in Texas that a controversial Islamic center and school with alleged ties to Iran could be quietly shaping a generation of young Americans  even as war rages overseas and tensions spike at home.

Residents in Houston say they are increasingly uneasy about the Islamic Education Center of Houston (IEC) and its affiliated Al-Hadi School  a sprawling religious complex that has come under renewed scrutiny amid the escalating US-Israel conflict with Iran.

The concerns are stark: allegations that children have been exposed to pro-regime ideology, trained to idolize Iran's leadership and encouraged to see themselves as future 'soldiers' of the Islamic Republic.

At the center of the controversy is a now-infamous video from July 2022.

Footage showed dozens of children inside the Houston complex, waving green flags and wearing red martyr-style headbands as they chanted and sang in praise of Iran's leadership  including Ali Khamenei and figures linked to the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

'In spite of my age, I will be your army's commander... I make an oath to be your martyr, Ali,' the IEC youngsters sang.

The clip, which quickly went viral before being deleted, sparked outrage across the US and beyond, raising uncomfortable questions about what exactly was being taught behind the walls of the center.

Now, nearly four years on, critics say those children are no longer just kids.

'They are older teenagers and young adults now who are potentially very dangerous for our community here in Houston and in the US,' said Kasey Zang, an Iranian-American who has been vocal in opposing Tehran's clerical regime.

A shocking 2022 video showcased how the Islamic Education Center of Houston encouraged children to be 'martyrs' for the Islamic Republic

Footage showed dozens of children singing in praise of Iran's leadership  including Ali Khamenei and figures linked to the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. (Pictured: A child holds a photo of Iran's supreme leaders Ali Hosseini Khamenei and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini at a rally in New York City)

Zang told the Daily Mail that the center acts as a pipeline for ideological influence, exposing children to messaging that aligns with Iran's rulers from an early age.

'They train them how to be against America, how to be pro-regime,' he said.

His warning comes at a fraught moment.

The US-Israel war with Iran has sent shockwaves through global markets and raised fears of retaliation  including the possibility of sleeper cells or lone-wolf attacks inside the US.

Against that backdrop, institutions like the IEC are facing renewed attention.

Founded in 1985 in the wake of Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, the center has grown into a major hub for Houston's Shia Muslim community  offering Friday prayers, Farsi language classes and a full K-12 education to around 600 students at Al-Hadi School.

But critics say its growth has been fueled not just by community demand  but by links to Tehran.

The center's property has long been owned by the Alavi Foundation, a New York-based nonprofit that US prosecutors have described as a front for the Iranian government.

That connection has placed the IEC squarely in the crosshairs of federal scrutiny for years.

In a separate case, two Houston men admitted in 2024 to funneling tens of thousands of dollars in donations to funds associated with Iran's leadership  moving the cash in increments designed to avoid detection and bypass US sanctions.

InfluenceWatch, a right-of-center watchdog group, said those men, Muzzamil Zaidi and Asim Mujtaba Naqvi, were linked to the IEC.

The group also accused the center of promoting a pro-Iranian worldview and teaching principles aligned with jihadist ideology  claims that have been fiercely debated but continue to fuel concern.

Attempts to reach IEC officials by phone and email, including resident scholar Farhat Abbas Rizvi, were unsuccessful. The center has in the past stressed that it operates independently of Alavi and rejected any ties to terrorism or illegal activity.

The IEC pulled down copies of the controversial 2022 video, but not before it went viral

The IEC boasts the K-12 Al-Hadi School for some 600 students at two sites across Houston

Smoke rises following an explosion, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran

Footage showed children inside the Houston complex, waving green flags and wearing red martyr-style headbands

For critics like Dexter Van Zile, a fellow at the Middle East Forum, the issue is not just about geopolitics  but about the long-term impact on American society.

'It's a terrible thing to isolate the next generation and set them at odds ideologically with their neighbors,' he said.

Van Zile argues that institutions like the IEC risk creating a divide between young Shia Muslims raised within such environments and the broader communities around them.

He also believes the Houston case is part of a wider pattern.

Similar dynamics, he said, can be found in pockets of the US with large Shia populations  including areas around Dearborn  where religious and political loyalties can intersect in complex and sometimes controversial ways.

Adding to the unease are claims that the IEC has become more opaque in recent years.

Adrian Calamel, of the France 2050 think tank, said that after facing intense public scrutiny, the center has scaled back its online presence  reducing social media activity and becoming more selective about what it shares publicly.

'Theyve gone silent they dont want this kind of attention anymore,' he said, warning that this makes it harder to monitor what is being taught behind closed doors.

He called the center a 'petri dish' for breeding radicals and militants. Graduates of the IEC were primed to carry out 'lone wolf' attacks or enlist with Iran's spymasters to train for assassination hits or other strikes for the Islamic Republic, he claimed. To date, no such attacks have been linked to the center.

When carrying out attacks, Iranian agents and proxies seek to protect the regime and expand influence. That's a marked contrast to Sunni extremist groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda that often target civilians in mass casualty outrages.

Zang and Calamel said the problem extends beyond a single Shia institution.

They said similar centers exist across the country, forming a broader network that promotes Iranian interests  even as Tehran remains locked in a bitter confrontation with the US.

At the same time, Zang argued, American authorities face a difficult balancing act.

The Islamic Education Center Houston has repeatedly attracted protests by Iranian Americans who want to see their homeland revert to secular rule

US and Israeli strikes have rocked Iran for weeks. US and Israeli military officials claim that thousands of targets have been hit

Critics noted how Houston mums even brought babies in strollers to the Islamist youth rally at the IEC

US President Donald Trump's decision to start a conflict with Iran has proven hugely controversial sparked an energy crisis

Protections for freedom of speech and religion mean that even deeply controversial views can be legally expressed  limiting the ability of law enforcement to intervene unless clear criminal activity is established.

'I'm surprised places like this are still open  are they waiting for something bad to happen?' said Zang, using a pseudonym for fear of reprisals.

The political pressure is growing. In 2023, Republican lawmakers, including Lauren Boebert, urged the federal government to investigate the IEC and similar centers, citing concerns about alleged ideological ties to Iran.

Yet despite the controversy, the center has continued to operate  and even receive public funding.

Records show that between 2021 and 2023, Texas provided roughly $485,000 in taxpayer money to the IEC, adding another layer of complexity to an already fraught debate.

Meanwhile, a long-running legal battle over the Alavi Foundation reached a turning point earlier this month when the US Department of Justice announced a deal to dismantle the organization and transfer its assets to a successor entity.

What that means for the IEC's future remains unclear. For now, the center continues to serve as a focal point for Houston's Shia community  even as questions swirl about its past, its funding and its influence.

And as the conflict with Iran intensifies abroad, the debate over its presence at home shows no sign of fading.

The Council on American Islamic Relations and other advocacy groups have recorded a rise in anti-Muslim hate incidents as fighting across the Middle East rages.

Shias and other Muslims are scapegoated amid these tensions, it is claimed.

For residents watching events unfold from afar, the concern is no longer abstract. It is local. It is immediate. And they fear it could have consequences that reach far beyond the walls of a single school.
by Charles Siegel

In one of my first columns for 3 Quarks Daily, I began by noting that my law firm had just filed, along with other firms, a petition for habeas corpus relief in federal court in Dallas. Our client was Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian woman living in New Jersey, who was imprisoned in a detention center in Alvarado, 40 miles away. Last week, almost exactly one year after she was detained, Ms. Kordia was freed. We are, of course, relieved and beyond happy that she has been released from detention. But her case was an utterly grotesque abuse of the American immigration justice system.

Leqaa grew up in the West Bank. Her parents divorced when she was young and her mother moved to Gaza, and eventually to the United States where she remarried and had other children. In 2016 Leqaa joined her mother in New Jersey, obtained a student visa, attended classes and worked as a waitress and at other jobs. At home, she took care of her mother, who is severely asthmatic, and her autistic half-brother.

Her mother, who is a U.S. citizen, filed a family-based petition for Leqaa to begin the process of obtaining permanent residency. This petition was approved, but this also created a tripwire that ultimately seriously disadvantaged her: a teacher told her, mistakenly, that with the family-based process underway, she did not need to maintain her student-visa status.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked Israel from Gaza, killing approximately 1200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 250 hostages. Israel responded with unrestrained fury, bombing Gaza into ruins for two years and destroying the basic infrastructure of life there. Nearly 30 months into the war, conservative estimates are that at least 75,000 deaths have occurred in Gaza. The Israeli army itself has accepted a figure of 70,000 deaths. These numbers may well be undercounts, but even if they arent, they indicate that for every single Israeli killed by Hamas on or after October 7, 2023 (including hostages who were later killed or who died in captivity), nearly 50 Gazans have died.

Among those tens of thousands of victims are close to 200 of Leqaas extended family. She told the New Yorker six months ago that she was heartbroken; my mind was all about Gaza, nothing else. To feel helpless  this is one of the most awful feelings in the world. There is no safe place in Gaza.

As the war ground on, the presidential campaign got going. Trump repeatedly said he would use immigration enforcement measures against students speaking out in support of Palestinians. At a rally in Las Vegas, he promised to terminate the visas of all of those Hamas sympathizers, and well get them off our college campuses, out of our cities, and get them the hell out of our country. In spring 2024, he vowed to campaign donors that any student that protests, I throw them out of the country. He also said that if you get me reelected, were going to set that movement [for Palestinian rights] back 25 or 30 years. Marco Rubio said that the government should cancel the visa of every foreign national out there supporting Hamas and get them out of America.

Relying on these statements, and the odious executive orders that followed, organizations opposed to Palestinian rights began publicizing names of individuals they thought should be deported, and submitted tips to ICEs tip line. For example, Betar USA, an openly Islamophobic group, has published lists of names and urged ICE to deport them. Betar has bragged that it has submitted names of hundreds of terror supporters to the Trump Administration. Canary Mission, a similar group, has similarly proclaimed it has identified suspected foreign nationals to be deported.

Leqaa would occasionally take the train from her home in Paterson, New Jersey to New York City. On one such visit, on April 30, 2024, she joined a rally for Gaza at Columbia University. At one point, she began to feel lightheaded, and sat down on the sidewalk. At the same time, police began to clear the crowd and make mass arrests. She was arrested, but the charges were very soon dropped, as were the charges for virtually every other person arrested at Columbia that day.

Nearly a year later, DHS agents visited her home; her mother called her, and the agents told her they just needed to speak with her. So she went to the Newark DHS office, with her lawyer, thinking it was a routine check-in. In one of the many little sick, devious changes that the government has made to immigration procedure, she was arrested there. How hollow, how insecure must a regime be, when it abducts people by deceiving them into showing up for routine administrative appointments?

And in another of the truly despicable maneuvers that has characterized this regime, ICE immediately flew Leqaa 1300 miles away to Texas. ICE has done this to thousands of detainees because it wishes to have their cases evaluated by federal courts in the Fifth Circuit, the most conservative court of appeals in the country (the court covers Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi).

Thus began Leqaas year at the Prairieland Detention Facility in Alvarado. On ICEs website, our government tells us that one of ICEs missions is to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of those aliens who undermine the safety of our nations communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws. Leaving aside the blood-and-soil overtones of homeland, the agency goes on to say that detention centers house aliens to secure their presence for immigration proceedings or removal from the U.S. It further states that ICE detains aliens who are subject to mandatory detention or those that ICE determines are a public safety or flights risk.

You will not find, on the ICE website, much information about the fact that Prairieland is operated by LaSalle Corrections, a private prison company. The subject of the private prison industry in this country is itself worth a dozen more columns. (And perhaps an additional column about the lawsuit pending against LaSalle for pervasive racial discrimination in employment at Prairieland. Just this month, an extremely conservative federal judge, appointed by Trump, denied LaSalles motion for summary judgment in the case, and so it will proceed to trial.)

When Leqaa arrived, the facility was so overcrowded that no beds were available. Instead, she and approximately 55 other women were housed in a room intended for 20. She slept on the concrete floor with a thin mattress and blanket; as a result, she developed a severe rash, which bled anytime she touched it. It only stopped bleeding when she bought a long-sleeve shirt from the commissary. A nurse said she would give her medicine but only provided Vaseline, which gave no relief.

Eventually a bed became available in her holding area, but it was located a few inches below an air-conditioning unit that blew frigid air almost constantly. She could not sleep restfully, and experienced a sore throat and a headache every day. She made three requests to change beds, but never received a response, and so she asked to move back to the floor. She preferred the rash to constant sore throats, migraines, and weakness.

Leqaa submitted several requests for medical care, but was rarely offered anything besides ibuprofen. Even a cough drop was sometimes out of the question; once a nurse told her they were out of cough drops because the facility was overwhelmed by the number of inmates.

The place is squalid. Leqaa frequently saw roaches near her on the floor. Many of the plumbing fixtures do not work; in the bathroom she shared with dozens of other people, only one of four sinks worked. The showers have little temperature control, and so are either freezing cold or scalding hot. Because of the bugs, broken sinks, and uncontrolled showers, Leqaa struggled to stay clean. Once, while doing her laundry, Leqaa saw a snake on the floor of the laundry room. When she called repeatedly for a guard, no one came. When a guard finally turned up, she told Leqaa to pick the snake up herself.

Food ranged from impermissible to inedible. From the beginning, she requested halal meals, which is her constitutional right, but was refused them. After some weeks, guards began to give her cellophane-wrapped kosher meals. When she pointed out that kosher and halal are not the same, the guards simply ignored her. What little food Leqaa could eat was atrocious. Moldy and smelly meals were common. As a result of all of these problems, Leqaa at one point had lost approximately 35 pounds.

Lights went out only late at night, and came on again at 4:00 a.m. An inmate is not allowed to have her phone or other devices. Despite all this, and despite the loneliness and endless slowness of time, Leqaa tried hard to be hopeful, even resolute. When I visited her with other members of the legal team a few months ago, she was in relatively good spirits. When my law partner visited her again with other team members a few weeks ago, they were short one chair in the spare conference room; while one of the lawyers went to ask about finding another chair, Leqaa told him not to worry. This is my home now, she said. In my home you are guests, so I will stand while you sit. Please make yourself comfortable.

Meanwhile, legal efforts to end Leqaas detention proceeded. Broadly speaking, these efforts went forward on two tracks: in immigration court, and in federal court. These are distinct systems: immigration courts are administrative courts within the Department of Justice, and as such are in the executive branch. Trump can thus summarily fire immigration judges, and in fact has fired more than 100 of them, all while massively increasing the systems caseload. Federal courts, conversely, are within the judicial branch, and so are theoretically free from pressure by the executive, although Trump viciously pressures judges constantly. Once nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate, a federal judge can serve as long as he or she wishes.

The United States seeks to deport Leqaa and has instituted removal proceedings against her. (The issue of where it could or would send her is itself a fraught one.) Normally, or at least before Trump 2.0, people are not typically detained during the pendency of such proceedings. That has changed drastically, which is why ICE is scrambling to construct or lease dozens of new detention facilities, some of which will hold thousands of people.

A person may petition for release from detention during the pendency of removal proceedings, and often release is conditioned on the posting of a bond. In order to grant release on bond, an immigration judge must determine that an individual is neither a danger to the community nor a flight risk.

In support of her request for bond, Leqaa submitted letters from friends and family. DHS argued that she was both a danger and a flight risk, stressing that she had sent money to a family member living in Palestine, and suggesting that this amounted to support for Hamas. Ultimately, the immigration judge disagreed, noting that the government had no information about the recipient of this single transaction.

But ICE did not release her. ICE now keeps individuals confined for at least 24 hours after a bond hearing, even where the person posts a bond, so that DHS attorneys may seek an automatic stay from the Board of Immigration Appeals of any decision granting bond. Under past practice, ICE virtually never confined an individual legally admitted to the country with no criminal history, particularly where that person has a viable defense to removal or an approved family-based petition for a green card, and usually would not invoke an automatic stay of the decision.

Under the relevant regulations, DHSs filing of an appeal automatically prevents the bond order from going into effect. This means the person will necessarily remain in custody until either the BIA decides the bond appeal, or 90 days pass. Since DHS has ten days to file the appeal before the 90-day clock starts, this stay provision creates a 100-day, due-process-free zone where there is no ability to be heard at a meaningful time.

At the end of the automatic stay period, the immigration judges order to release a noncitizen on bond remains stayed for up to 30 days while the BIA considers any discretionary stay request. Thus, the regulations in effect permit a 130-day period of confinement without any procedures to contest or challenge that confinement.

In Leqaas case, the immigration court actually ordered her released twice, conditioned on the payment of a $20,000 bond, in April and August of 2025. DHS twice appealed, and twice invoked the automatic stay provision, preventing her release during the pendency of DHSs bond appeal. DHS also twice sought a discretionary stay of the bond order, which the BIA twice granted, without providing any reasoning or giving Leqaa an opportunity to respond.

Finally, three weeks ago, the BIA issued an order remanding the immigration judges August 28, 2025 bond decision. The BIA panel acknowledged that DHS [did] not challenge the determination that the respondent does not present a danger, but it found the $20,000 bond set by the immigration judge insufficient, and remanded the case for her to set a significant bond.

Leqaas immigration counsel submitted over 100 pages of additional evidence attesting to her ties to the community, financial support from her family, and increasingly severe medical condition (she had recently suffered a seizure, and had been taken to a hospital where she had been chained to a bed for 72 hours). Two weeks ago, the immigration judge ordered her released yet again. She again stated that she did not view Leqaa as a serious flight risk, but acknowledged that the BIAs remand order required her to raise the bond amount. This she set at $100,000, and stated her hope this would be high enough to avoid another remand. A nonprofit fund immediately posted the bond. After a few more days delay, the government finally announced that it would not appeal this third decision.

While all of this played out in immigration court, the habeas corpus litigation proceeded in federal court. The federal magistrate ruled in Leqaas favor, recommending that she be released, but that ruling was never finally adopted by the district judge (federal magistrates do not have lifetime tenure, and typically issue recommendations to district judges, who can accept, reject or modify them). But eventually the immigration court freed Leqaa anyway, and so now the habeas corpus petition is moot.

I said at the start of this column that this entire case has been a grotesque abuse of the immigration justice system. In my next column, I will explain why I think that. The important thing for now, of course, is that Leqaa is free. The day I submitted this column, she flew home to New Jersey.
Amelia Markson was only three years old in December 1995 when serial child rapist David Allen Funston appeared at the Sacramento apartment complex where she lived  and lured her into his car by promising her a Barbie doll.

Her memory is spotty but what she does recall is chilling.

The depraved sex offender kidnapped her by taking her to his house where police said he sexually assaulted her.

'I remember him putting me in the house. I remember being in a bathtub,' Markson, now 33, told the Daily Mail in an exclusive interview. 'I can remember seeing his fireplace and stuff.'

One image has never left her:

'Then when he put me on the bed, he was getting dressed up, like in some fishnets and like a little tutu with makeup,' she told the Daily Mail.

Funston drove her to his home, assaulted her, and later abandoned her in an unfamiliar neighborhood, telling her to knock on a stranger's door for help.

Like at least six other children Funston targeted during a six-month spree in the Sacramento area, Markson was not notified that her abuser was granted parole on February 24 and was scheduled to walk free at the end of last month  despite being sentenced in 1999 to three life terms for kidnapping and child molestation.

David Allen Funston, 64, was granted parole after being convicted of 16 counts of kidnapping and child molestation in 1999, under a controversial California law

In 2020, with Governor Gavin Newsom's approval, the legislature lowered the eligibility threshold to convicts who are 50 years old with 20 years served

At Funston's original sentencing hearing, Sacramento Superior Court Judge Jack Sapunor called him 'the monster parents fear most'.

'I was like, what the f***?' Markson said, apologizing for her language.

'I'm like, f*** that. You don't need to be out. You need to stay where you're at.

'He doesn't deserve no freedom.

'It makes me want to cry. I'm still afraid of him. I'm not going to feel safe if he gets out.'

Funston was originally sentenced to three life terms after he carried out a series of abductions in the Sacramento area, targeting very young children he encountered outside apartment complexes and residential neighborhoods.

But under California's Elderly Parole Program, Funston, now 64, was deemed suitable for release.

In 2018, while Governor Gavin Newsom was serving as lieutenant governor and preparing to take office, California lawmakers passed legislation allowing inmates who were 60 years old and had served at least 25 years to be considered for parole.

After Newsom became governor in 2019, his administration supported and signed additional criminal justice reforms. In 2020, the legislature  with Newsom's approval  lowered the eligibility threshold to 50 years old with 20 years served.

Amelia Markson, now 33, was just three when she was abducted and sexually assault by serial rapist David Allen Funston

The law did not exclude sex offenders serving life terms for crimes against children.

The Daily Mail can reveal that court documents show that Funston told a parole board in 2022 that he still masturbated to fantasies about children.

'The primary one was a fantasy involving a young girl that lived across the street from where I lived with my daughter,' he testified. 'She was an eight-year-old girl so I had a fantasy involving her.'

At his 2025 hearing, he said his fantasies now involved 'adult women,' though he acknowledged they sometimes included 'teenage women' and 'children.'

The parole board granted release.

But just as Funston was preparing to walk free, amid mounting public outcry, the Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire filed new charges stemming from a 1996 sexual assault of a child in Roseville, a northern suburb of Sacramento.

Funston was arrested February 26 and booked without bail.

He pleaded not guilty March 9 to a felony charge of committing lewd or lascivious acts on a child younger than 14 years old.

The Daily Mail can reveal that court documents show that Funston told a parole board in 2022 that he still masturbated to fantasies about children

His next court hearing is April 6  and while many are relieved that he is back behind bars again, they say it was a travesty he was ever paroled and worry that he could beat the new charges.

'I was horrified when I found out he was getting out,' former Sacramento District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert, who prosecuted the original case, told the Daily Mail.

'I applaud the Placer County DA for doing this but let's not forget that he was released from prison. They let him out. So while he's back in jail for now he won't be back in prison until convicted of these new charges.'

Under state law, because this is not a murder case, Newsom does not have the authority to reverse the Boards determination. But Schubert pointed out that Newsom could do one of two things: call an emergency session of the state Legislature to roll back the law  or ask for the resignations of the parole board members who voted to parole Funston.

Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper called the decision to release Funston 'dead wrong' and asked 'what the hell is happening' in California.

'You've seen some of the things he did,' Cooper said. 'There's no explanation.

'Someone that does these type of things, they don't deserve a second chance in life.'

Because Funston had been sentenced to three life terms in prison for his crimes in Sacramento County, the Placer County DA decided it did not need to prosecute on behalf of the Roseville victim.

But the DA's office had a warrant out for him at the time which it revived this month.

Schubert said her case has never left her.

Funston was known to lure children into his car with offers of Skittles, Tootsie Rolls or dolls.

Funston, 64, was sentenced to three life terms in 1999 but his release was approved under California's elderly parole program before he was arrested again

'A stranger kidnapping very very young children, toddlers, was jaw-dropping. He hunted these children,' Schubert said. 'It's not like he did it over 20 years. He did it in a six-month period of time.'

She said several victims were recent Ukrainian immigrants who barely spoke English.

'He was picking these little kids because they're little,' she said.

Funston was ultimately identified after a neighbor, Nansey Honeycutt, spotted him attempting to lure two young Ukrainian sisters into his car and wrote down his license plate.

Honeycutt, now 65, spotted him from her upstairs window attempting to take two little Ukrainian sisters who were walking home from their grandmother's apartment to their parents' unit.

'I yelled, I'm on the phone with the Sheriff's Department,' she told the Daily Mail.

As he pulled away, Honeycutt stayed on the line with 911, tracking his exit from the complex.

'I watched him pull away, and that's when I'm on 911 saying he's driving away and giving them his license plate number,' she said.

Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper said that Funston being granted parole was 'dead wrong'

Funston was apparently spooked enough by Honeycutt's actions that he stopped the car not far from the complex and let the sisters out.

One of those two sisters, Martha Romaso, now 34, told the Daily Mail that she considers Honeycutt 'our angel'.

'I think we were the only two that were unharmed,' Romaso said. 'He just grabbed us, but nothing worse than that.

'He lured us with candy. I think it was a Tootsie Roll. And then he said something about giving us a ride home.'

The offer didn't make sense, she remembered.

'We were already home. We were in our apartment complex we were almost home. And so it didn't make sense to us. But I was four, and I was with my sister, who was only five.'

Honeycutt was reduced to tears on the phone with the Daily Mail several times during an interview.

'It is a travesty that this animal was going to be released,' she said. 'I saw it on the news and I literally was sickened.'

Though the Romaso sisters were unharmed, Martha said her mother remains traumatized to this day and her older sister suffered with night terrors for years.

'She'd wake up screaming,' Martha said.
When Sam Rushton saved up donations to help hungry children in Morocco, he never imagined his act of kindness would land him in a prison cell.

But that is exactly what happened to the 20-year-old from Ashton-under-Lyne, who was detained by foreign authorities, held in jail for several hours, and had his passport and phone seized for days.

Mr Rushton, a carer, was arrested on Thursday, March 5, after filming himself handing out basic supplies to local children in Marrakesh using money he had raised through social media.

He felt he had to help after seeing the youngsters begging on the streets - and went to buy essentials such as nappies and milk to distribute to families in need.

However, Mr Rushton was apprehended after authorities discovered he had filmed the moment, accusing him of 'bringing shame' on the country and recording children without their consent.

He spent an evening behind bars before being released, but remained on tenterhooks in Morocco - where he said English is not widely spoken - for over a week after officers confiscated his belongings.

Finally, after an urgent appeal by his mother, Rachael Rushton, Mr Rushton was able to return to Britain last week.

Speaking to the Daily Mail about the ordeal, Ms Rushton described how her son's dream holiday turned into the week from hell for their family.

Sam Rushton (pictured) was detained by Moroccan authorities after filming himself handing out basic supplies to local children in Marrakesh

Mr Rushton (pictured) spent an evening behind bars before being released, but remained on tenterhooks for over a week after officers confiscated his belongings

She said: 'Sam had gone to Marrakesh with his brother, Jack, on a holiday - he wanted to visit there.

'They were supposed to go for six nights, and as Jack loves sightseeing, the two had gone to the Sahara and on camel rides, making the most of it.

'Sam said they were staying where there were a lot of beggars, and that the beggars were mostly children. In fact, this whole situation started because he came across two 15-year-old boys begging.

'Sam ended up speaking to them as one boy spoke English and helped him with translation. Sam told him, as a thank you for helping him with translation, that he could pick something from a shop and he would buy it for him.

'He chose powdered milk- and Sam said, "right, your friend can also pick something". He chose cooking oil.

'This interaction must have played on Sam's mind all day, because he later rang me and said, "Mum, what 15-year-olds choose powdered milk and cooking oil? If you were in the UK, they'd probably want sweets and biscuits."

'Later on, he wrote a story on his Facebook pleading to help the children. It said something like: "If anyone wants to donate so I can buy milk, nappies, and food for these kids, please do".'

Ms Rushton said her son received eager donations from Facebook friends and the public, intended to pay for supplies - which she said he wished to film himself buying to remain accountable to those who donated.

Mr Rushton (left) was in Marrakesh on holiday when he felt compelled to help children begging on the streets

She said: 'He raised some money, and then he did a video on Facebook saying: "Thanks for your donations. I'm going to the Sahara on a trip overnight, and when I come back, I will buy stuff for the kids."

'He then recorded himself buying all these things and one of the kids helped to carry the bags - there was a lot of stuff, like basics and supplies for babies.

'Sam distributed the items to all these kids, and they were swarming him. He was just filming this to prove to people back here who donated that he didn't do a fast one with the money and actually spent it on the kids!'

It was then, however, that Ms Rushton said her son was arrested by local authorities - who initially accused him of 'bringing shame onto Morocco' by recording himself donating essentials, and then of filming street children without their consent.

She said: 'I believe the police caught him in the act of distributing the items and filming himself doing so, and arrested him.

'They kept him in custody for several hours that night - it happened on a Thursday evening. Sam said he was brought to three different police stations.

'His phone and passport were taken from him, leaving communication limited, as police can't speak English and he did not have access to Google Translate.

'He also did not have access to money, as he used Apple Pay, which is connected to his phone.

After securing a lawyer, Mr Rushton (pictured), has since been allowed to return to Britain

'His brother Jack became the line of communication between Sam and me and helped out - but Jack has had to return to the UK for work.

'Luckily, Sam's girlfriend, Izzy, went to Marrakesh to be there with him, and I was able to send her money for Sam until he was allowed his phone again.

'The ordeal has made me poorly. Sam didn't really say much as he tried not to worry me, but it did knock me for six.'

Ms Rushton described the crippling anxiety she felt at the prospect of her son possibly not returning to Britain, after her son was told by local authorities he would face a Moroccan judge.

And on top of that, Mr Rushton's legal situation had not been without its complications.

Ms Rushton - who cannot work due to illness  had to raise funds to pay for a lawyer in Morocco, as well as cover costs for hotels, flights and potential fines.

She said: 'I started a GoFundMe so Sam could continue to stay in hotels, pay for food, and for a suitable lawyer - which I phoned numerous.

'I also contacted the consulate, and Sam was in touch with the British Embassy in Morocco, but they were not much help.

'Sam was struggling with understanding the lawyers and local authorities in Morocco because they say they speak English, yet there was still a clear language barrier.

'He had just been running around trying to find things out but getting nowhere because no one's English. He couldn't take his phone into the police station to Google Translate, because you're not allowed to take phones into the station.'

Ms Rushton said he had been jumping from hotel to hotel before finally, after securing a lawyer, was told he could return to Britain.

After paying the lawyer, it was confirmed that they could attend court on behalf of the youngster, with the hearing adjourned until April.

Finally, on March 14  nearly two weeks since he went on holiday  Mr Rushton touched down at Manchester Airport.

Writing on GoFundMe  where Ms Rushton was able to raise over 2,500 to aid her son's safe return, she said: 'After a long week of not knowing if Sam would be able to Come home, he touched down at Manchester Airport at 16.40.

'I would like to thank each and everyone of you for your support, without all of you Sam wouldn't be back home where he belongs.'

And when asked if she was pleased to have him home, she replied: 'Very much so.'

In a later social media post, Mr Rushton expressed a similar gratitude.

He said in an Instagram story reshared by his mother on Facebook: 'On my way back to Ashton now thank god, the lawyer managed to sort some things out so I could leave and he will represent me in court on Monday.

'Wouldn't have been able to do it if it wasn't for everyone's help, thank you everyone.'

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson confirmed the department had supported 'the family of a British man detained in Morocco', and had been in contact with the local authorities.
Have you heard the one about the new ayatollah? It reportedly made President Donald Trump and senior US intelligence officials laugh out loud.

US intelligence operatives have apparently concluded that the new Supreme Leader of the fundamentalist, homophobic Islamic regime in Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, is likely gay.

Within hours of the leak of the intel assessment, the story exploded across social media.

Here was the newly anointed ayatollah of an Islamic theocracy that executes men for sodomy, a man who'd spent his life in the service one of the most repressive regimes on earth, reportedly harboring a secret that, if revealed, may result in imprisonment  or even the death penalty  for an ordinary Iranian citizen.

Of course, nothing is funny about persecution, abuse of power and sickening hypocrisy. But perhaps even more jawdropping is that - if the US intelligence is accurate - Mojtaba Khamenei's situation is quite common across Middle Eastern and Arab autocracies.

Take the late Sultan of Oman, Qaboos bin Said. The Sultan ruled for 50 years and lived what was widely described in diplomatic circles as an open secret.

Unmarried and never producing an heir, Qaboos  who died, aged 79, in 2020  was likely a gay ruler of a country where subjects faced imprisonment for homosexuality.

Despite such risks for ordinary Omanis, Qaboos' sexuality was, as multiple accounts confirm, quietly acknowledge throughout both Oman and neighboring Persian Gulf nations.

US intelligence has concluded that the new Supreme Leader of the fundamentalist, homophobic Islamic regime in Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, is likely gay

Mojtaba Khamenei stepped into the Supreme Leadership on March 8, days after US and Israeli strikes killed his father and other family members

Qaboos was known to have had a male English companion. Elegant young men populated his palaces. But the Omani and Arabic press, muzzled and censored, published nothing. And Qaboos did little during his half-century reign to change the laws that criminalized his own people.

When world leaders offered glowing condolences after his death  Boris Johnson called him 'exceptionally wise,' Tony Blair praised his 'vision and purpose'  all failed to mention Qaboos' unconventional lifestyle.

Sultan Qaboos was hardly alone.

Khalid al-Qasimi, son of the ruler of Sharjah  one of the seven emirates that form the UAE  was a London-based fashion designer who died in 2019 of a drug overdose at the age of 39. The never-married al-Qasimi was apparently in the company of a man named Yohan at the time of his death. Years earlier, al-Qasimi's father had imprisoned his son for being gay before the prince escaped to Europe.

There's also Saif al-Arab Gaddafi, one of Muammar Gaddafi's seven sons, described by a former associate as having participated in group sex with men and women.

Mohammed Sinwar, brother of slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who faced credible accusations of sexual abuse of male minors during his time in an Israeli jail cell. Hamas has a history of executing suspected homosexuals  even high-ranking officials. But like across the region, Mohammed was protected from scrutiny by a more powerful and influential family member, in this case his brother, Yahya  who's been described as the mastermind behind Hamas' October 7th massacre.

The Sultan of Oman ruled for 50 years and lived what was widely described in diplomatic circles as an open secret. (Pictured: Qaboos bin Said al Said with Queen Elizabeth II in November 2010)

Qaboos was known to have had a male English companion

His Majesty Sultan of Oman Qaboos Bin Said as a young man

Khalid al-Qasimi (right), son of the ruler of Sharjah (left)  one of the seven emirates that form the UAE  was a London-based fashion designer who died in 2019 of a drug overdose at the age of 39

The never-married al-Qasimi was apparently in the company of a man named Yohan at the time of his death

Like across the region, Mohammed was protected from scrutiny by a more powerful and influential family member, in this case his brother, Yahya Sinwar (pictured)

The throughline in every case is the same: homosexual men protected by power, while ordinary people with no such privilege bear the full weight of the laws evaded by their rulers.

'Homosexuality is a human reality that exists across all societies and social classes,' says Arsham Parsi, founder of the Iranian Railroad for Queer Refugees, a Toronto-based organization that has helped resettle nearly 900 LGBTQ Iranians since Parsi fled Iran in 2005. 'The real issue is how the system uses sexuality as a tool of control, repression, and at times political leverage.'

Parsi knows this system from the inside. Back in 2001, while still living in Iran, he launched an online support group for LGBTQ Iranians after three of his friends  gay or transgender  took their own lives. By early 2005, local authorities had begun to follow him, and he made the decision to run. Late that winter, Parsi took an overnight train from his hometown of Shiraz in southern Iran to Tehran, then a bus to the Turkish border, and then a train into Turkey.

'I just felt that I'm stepping into exile and I can't go back,' he said. 'If you go back, they may kill you.'

He has lived in Toronto since 2006. The Iranian Railroad for Queer Refugees was named as a deliberate echo of the Underground Railroad in the US. Parsi describes running the organization not as a job but as a life.

Although Iran still executes people facing for the 'crime' of homosexuality, the regime has grown more careful about covering their tracks since an international outcry followed the 2005 hanging of two young men in the city of Mashhad. Parsi's group has documented more than 4,000 such executions across Iran between 1979 and 2000 alone.

Mojtaba Khamenei stepped into the Supreme Leadership on March 8, days after US and Israeli strikes killed his father and other family members.

He had previously spent decades as what analysts called 'the power behind the robes'  gatekeeper to his increasingly frail father, the son widely described as even more hardline than the patriarch he served. The younger Khamenei has not appeared on camera since being named Supreme Leader.

There's also Saif al-Arab Gaddafi, one of Muammar Gaddafi's seven sons, described by a former associate as having participated in group sex with men and women

The intelligence about his sexuality rests primarily on a reported long-term sexual relationship with a man who served as his childhood tutor. Another source suggests the person involved worked for the Khamenei family in separate capacity. No formal photographs or documentary evidence has yet to be revealed, though Khamanei and his wife faced a well-documented struggle to start a family.

Officials reportedly revealed told the Post the intelligence comes from 'one of the most protected sources that the government has.' And reports suggest his father viewed Mojtaba as ill-suited to succeed him because of his lifestyle.

Parsi cautions that ordinary Iranians may suffer blowback from the allegation. The regime, stung by the Khamanei disclosure and under pressure to reassert its moral authority, may respond by cracking down even harder on gay Iranians.

In repressive theocracies like Iran, exposure of the powerful rarely translates into relief for the powerless.

He also warned against cautious about Western audiences applying a 'western' way of thinking to this topic. Many LGBTQ Iranians lead compartmentalized lives, Parsi explained, their sexuality separated from their everyday activities not as form of denial - but as a survival strategy.

Whether Mojtaba Khamenei is 'gay' is almost beside the point. What matters most is that the Islamic Republic has spent nearly five decades executing and imprisoning its citizens for behavior it has apparently tolerated within its own leadership.
Corey Lewandowski, who served alongside Kristi Noem at the Department of Homeland Security, was 'not expected' to land another job in the Trump administration after her sensational departure.

Lewandowski, a longtime Trump confidante who served as an unpaid adviser to Noem, has been iced out by the White House amid multiple scandals, according to reports.

Noem has been fired as DHS secretary after a series of high-profile controversies within the department.

She is slated to leave the position at the end of the month and will take a new title of Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas, a military coalition established by Donald Trump.

After Noem's demotion, questions loomed over whether her top confidant and rumored romantic interest would remain in the department.

But officials in the Trump administration told the New York Times on Saturday that Lewandowski was 'not expected' to land another job following Noem's exit.

Lewandowski's tenure at DHS and his political career prior have been littered with controversy.

Lewandowski and Noem, both of whom are married, faced reports that they were in a romantic relationship. Noem dismissed the allegation as 'tabloid garbage.'

Corey Lewandowski, a top aide to Kristi Noem at the Department of Homeland Security, is reportedly 'not expected' to land another job in the Trump administration after the secretary's sensational departure

Lewandowski served as an unpaid adviser to Noem, who was fired as DHS secretary after a series of high-profile controversies within the department. He was also thought to be in a relationship with the former South Dakota governor

Noem with her husband Bryon. She called allegations of an affair 'tabloid garbage'

Concerns have also grown that Lewandowski was approving government contracts and demanding payments from contractors.

Around 20 current and former administration officials spoke to the New York Times about Lewandowski's overreach during his tenure at DHS.

Sources said that Lewandowski would hold meetings in Noem's office, presided over Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, and was even referred to as 'the chief' by staff.

People familiar with Lewandowski's role said he had a significant presence in the department and attended numerous classified briefings.

He was even said to have access to the president's classified daily brief prepared for the secretary.

The brief is known to include highly sensitive national intelligence material reserved for the highest-ranking members of the administration.

Sources told the Times that Lewandowski often approved contracts over $100,000, a new policy Noem initially implemented to reduce government spending.

The approval process previously came under scrutiny as local leaders struggled to get disaster assistance.

Earlier this week, NBC News reported that the founder of a private prison group told White House officials that they were asked to pay Lewandowski.

Lewandowski served as an unpaid adviser to Noem, who was fired as DHS secretary after a series of high-profile controversies within the department

Lewandowski had reportedly been the nexus for Noem's appointment at the head of the Department of Homeland Security, as he personally lobbied the president to give her the job. He is pictured in 2024 with Eric Trump

Sources familiar with the matter said that Lewandowski had a tense relationship with GEO Group founder George Zoley.

The two had reportedly been on the outs since the transition between Trump's November 2024 election and his January 2025 inauguration, before Lewandowski officially worked for the federal government.

He told Zoley at the time he wanted to be paid in exchange for protecting and growing GEO Group's Department of Homeland Security contracts, but Zoley told Lewandowski he would have no part in it, a senior official and three people familiar with the conversation told NBC News.

When Lewandowski then became a 'special government employee' serving Noem, Zoley sought to meet with him again, and secured a meeting in late February or early March 2025.

At that meeting, Zoley reportedly offered to put Lewandowski on retainer with the GEO Group, but Lewandowski said he wanted to be compensated based on the company's new and renewed contracts with DHS - something Zoley declined.

In the months that followed, the length of two of the company's federal contracts shrank and several of its facilities that could house migrants sat idle, even as Congress and Trump poured money into DHS to execute his mass deportation campaign.

GEO Group officials believe that is tied to their founder not agreeing to Lewandowski's solicitations, a source familiar with the company's thinking said.

A senior DHS official also claimed that within weeks of that second meeting, Lewandowski told him not to award any more contracts to the GEO Group.

Lewandowski is now facing questions about his relationship with Noem, which the Daily Mail exclusively exposed back in 2023.

Lewandowski, through a spokesperson, denied those claims, noting that in December 2025, GEO Group did receive a new contract for $121 million for services to help locate migrants.

'This is absolutely false and did not happen - Mr Lewandowski never demanded any payment or compensation from the GEO Group at any time,' the spokesperson said.

When asked whether he received 'any money from any of the contracts' he signed off on, Lewandowski also previously told NBC News 'zero, not one penny.'

But Lewandowski is now facing questions about his relationship with Noem, which the Daily Mail exclusively exposed back in 2023.

He had been the nexus for Noem's appointment in the first place, as he personally lobbied the president to give her the job.

Trump is then said to have appointed Noem as a favor to Lewandowski, who had a long reputation of being a Trump absolute loyalist.

Noem has repeatedly denied having any relationship with Lewandowski, but when California Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove brought up the allegations earlier this month, Noem seemed to try and avoid answering her questions.
A man accused of executing a pregnant woman and her unborn baby on her way to work in Washington state has been found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Cordell Goosby was charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder after fatally gunning down 34-year-old Eina Kwon and her unborn child in June 2023, leaving her husband, Evan Sung Kwon, injured in the random Seattle attack.

Kwon, who was eight months pregnant with her second child, was shot four times - including in the chest and head - as the family sat at a red light while heading to work at their Japanese restaurant.

Authorities later found Goosby, who raised his hands and declared, 'I did it! I did it!' according to court documents obtained by Fox News.

On Saturday, the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office signed off on Goosby's not guilty by reason of insanity ruling, a move his defense attorneys had secured just a day earlier.

The ruling means that while he admits carrying out the brutal attack, he will not be held criminally responsible because of his mental state at the time.

His defense pursued an insanity plea prior to trial, with both a defense expert and an independent expert hired by prosecutors concluding he was legally insane at the time of the shooting.

Goosby will be committed to the custody of the state Department of Social and Health Services for treatment at a psychiatric hospital, such as Western State Hospital, according to KOMO News.

Goosby allegedly shot 34-year-old Eina Kwon (left) and her unborn child to death in June 2023, leaving her husband, Evan Sung Kwon (right), injured in the random attack

Cordell Goosby (pictured), accused of fatally shooting a pregnant woman and her unborn baby on her way to work in Washington, was found not guilty by reason of insanity

Kwon and her husband were in her white Tesla, stopped at the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Lenora Street on their way to work at their Japanese restaurant, Aburiya Bento House

Surveillance footage captured Goosby running toward the family's car with a gun in hand (pictured)

'This does not mean that Mr Goosby will be released to the streets now, a week from now, or in the immediate future,' the office stressed in a statement.

He could be locked in a psychiatric hospital for life, with officials repeatedly reviewing whether he remains a threat.

Any attempt to loosen restrictions or set him free would have to clear multiple layers of scrutiny - prosecutors, a judge and a state safety panel.

Ultimately, the court now holds full control over whether Goosby will ever be granted unconditional release.

The ruling comes more than two years after Goosby gunned down the pregnant mother in a broad daylight attack described by then-Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell as an 'unimaginable tragedy.'

On June 13, 2023, Kwon and her husband were in her white Tesla, stopped at the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Lenora Street on their way to work at their restaurant, Aburiya Bento House.

Witnesses described Goosby randomly running toward the family's car with a gun in hand before firing through the driver's side window.

Carliss Todd, who works close by, told KIRO News at the time that he heard three or four gunshots and saw a man sprinting away with a large rifle.

Kwon, who was eight months pregnant with her second child, was shot four times - including in the chest and head (family pictured)

Goosby (pictured) will be committed to the custody of the state Department of Social and Health Services for treatment at a psychiatric hospital

Responding officers described Goosby as appearing to be in the midst of a crisis at the time of his arrest

A nearby worker told KIRO News at the time that he heard three or four gunshots and saw a man sprinting away with a large rifle (pictured)

'An unknown gunshot rang out, and instinctively, the husband tightly embraced his wife. Despite feeling no pain due to the suddenness of the incident, he realized that the objects hitting his arm were bullets,' friend Dong Won wrote in a GoFundMe.

'Thinking he had successfully blocked all the randomly flying bullets, he turned to look at his wife and noticed that she had been shot and was in critical condition,' he added. 'He frantically tore his clothes to stem his wife's bleeding.'

In the aftermath of the shooting, another bystander said they saw an injured man, believed to be Kwon's husband, lying in the street.

In court papers, prosecutors wrote: 'In a short span of time, he fired a gun in the victim's car window, striking the victims inside the car,' according to Fox.

'After firing all the bullets he had in the gun into the victims' car, he turned and ran from the scene,' they added, noting that he also got rid of the weapon. 'The defendant's actions left a family and community shattered.'

Kwon was rushed to Harborview Medical Center, where doctors performed an emergency cesarean section in a desperate bid to save her unborn child.

The restaurateur was pronounced dead shortly after giving birth and her baby died a short time later. Her husband, who was shot in the arm, was released from treatment soon after.

'Sung was able to hold his beautiful daughter for a quick moment to say goodbye,' Won said in the fundraiser.

Bodycam footage obtained by KING 5 News showed Goosby telling officers after the shooting that his life was 'in danger' (pictured)

At the police station, Goosby said: 'I blacked out with everything, so it was kind of like a blur' (pictured)

Pictured above is a memorial set up at the family's restaurant

'Doctors were able to remove the bullets from his arm, but fragments scattered inside could not be removed,' he added. 'Fortunately, the bones and nerves were not affected.'

Authorities quickly found Goosby, who allegedly claimed he fired at the couple's Tesla because he thought they had a gun, though surveillance footage showed him running up to the window with his arm extended.

'As he approached the vehicle, smoke could be seen coming from either the handgun he was firing or from the shattered glass window of the vehicle,' Won wrote.

Because of his criminal record as a convicted felon in Illinois, Goosby was prohibited from owning a gun, and officials later claimed the weapon he used on the Kwons had been stolen.

He allegedly also admitted to officers that he had long struggled with mental health issues, with responding officers describing him as appearing to be in the midst of a crisis at the time of his arrest.

Bodycam footage obtained by KING 5 News showed Goosby approaching officers after the shooting, repeatedly telling them his life was 'in danger.'

In footage captured at the police station, Goosby said: 'I blacked out with everything, so it was kind of like a blur.'

Documents previously obtained by The Daily Mail revealed that he had been arrested in Illinois on multiple drug and weapons charges, as well as for theft.

In court papers, prosecutors wrote: 'In a short span of time, he fired a gun in the victim's car window'

Kwon (pictured with husband) was rushed to Harborview Medical Center, where doctors performed an emergency cesarean section. Both she and her baby passed away

Goosby (pictured) was previously arrested in Illinois on multiple drug and weapons charges, as well as for theft

Goosby's ruling means that he admits to carrying out the attack, but will not be held criminally responsible because of his mental state (pictured: Kwon and her husband)

During this week's ruling, officials emphasized that some individuals found not guilty by reason of insanity in serious felony cases - including homicides from decades ago - remain confined in state hospitals, according to KOMO.

Prosecutors confirmed they would have gone to trial if their expert had ruled that Goosby was sane at the time he carried out the deadly attack.

They explained that under state law, a homicide charge cannot be applied to an unborn child unless the baby is born alive, and there was not enough evidence to pursue manslaughter since Goosby may not have known Kwon was pregnant.
Allegations of bullying and sexual harassment have run rampant at a top City of London legal firm, forcing bosses to issue a companywide clampdown against the emerging 'pattern'.

Senior partner of Kennedys law firm, John Bruce, told partners across the globe that he had received both 'informal and formal' reports of rising levels of 'allegations of both bullying and sexual harassment' at senior levels in the company.

Sexual harassment has long been a contentious issue at City legal firms and Mr Bruce's frank assessment could increase concerns.

Kennedys is part of an elite group of insurance law practices in the City, with 13 offices across the UK and 33 more in 20 countries. It employs nearly 3,000 people, with 363 partners.

Mr Bruce was 'spitting feathers' during the global conference call with the firm's senior partners, an insider told industry paper RollOnFriday. Because of increased reports of sexual harassment and bulling, Mr Bruce will 'now oversee the complaints process himself', the source added.

A litany of similar incidents has plagued legal firms over the past decade. Reports of sexual misconduct reached an all-time high in the UK between 2023 and 2024.

Some 109 cases were reported in that period, a Freedom of Information request by the country's biggest legal regulator, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), revealed - more than the previous four years combined.

The SRA's 2022 report said: 'Sexual misconduct might not directly relate to an individual's work as a lawyer or the work being done by a firm but have a connection to practice, their role, and their position in relation to the recipient of the behaviour.'

Senior partner of Kennedys law firm, John Bruce (pictured), was 'spitting feathers' on a global conference call after receiving reports for rising 'allegations of both bullying and sexual harassment' at senior levels in the company

Kennedys has its UK headquarters in the Walkie Talkie skyscraper in the city of London

Kennedys is one of the 25 highest earning law firms in the country - pulling in 428million in revenue between 2024 and 2025, a 13 per cent growth on the year before.

There have been several high-profile cases of sexual misconduct at global law firms. Former head of Baker McKenzie Gary Senior was fined 55,000 in 2020 by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal for attempting to drunkenly kiss a junior college.

Regulators struggle to enforce sexual misconduct claims however, as Freshfields partner Ryan Beckwith overturned a 35,000 and a 200,000 court costs order after allegations he had sex with a junior lawyer while drunk.

The High Court ruled this was 'consensual' sexual activity with a colleague.

John Bruce told the Daily Mail: 'Kennedys is focused on maintaining a respectful and high-performing culture across the firm, with clear expectations around behaviour and accountability, including from partners.

'Like most large organisations, issues occasionally arise. Where standards fall short, I am personally committed to addressing them head on, through the firms established governance and disciplinary processes.

'In line with that commitment, in September 2024 we launched our Speak Up reporting channel allowing any member of staff to report any concerns anonymously and confidentially.

'Our firm has a zero-tolerance approach in addressing behaviour that falls short of the high standards we expect from our people.

'I wont comment on individual personnel matters or conversations, but I am confident our processes are robust and operate as they should.'
Pope Leo XIV, the world's first American-born pope, strongly denounced President Donald Trump's war in Iran on Sunday.

Speaking from the Vatican, the pope said the death and suffering has created a 'scandal to the whole human family,' while renewing his plea for an immediate ceasefire.

'We cannot remain silent in the face of the suffering of so many people, the defenseless victims of these conflicts. What hurts them hurts the whole of humanity,' Leo said at his weekly Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square.

'The death and pain caused by these wars are a scandal for the entire human family and a cry that rises to God,' he continued.

'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,' the pope added.

His remarks came as the joint US-Israeli operation in Iran stretched into its fourth consecutive week - with the World Health Organization warning that the war has now entered a 'perilous stage.

'I urgently call on all parties to exercise maximum military restraint and avoid any actions that could trigger nuclear incidents,' said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO directorgeneral.

But Trump has not backed down, warning Tehran on Saturday night that it had just 48 hours to allow cargo to pass through the Strait of Hormuz 'without threat' or he would 'obliterate' their power plants.

Pope Leo XIV, the world's first American-born pope, condemned the war in Iran on Sunday

US President Donald Trump has not backed down on his threats against Iran

Iranian officials, though, also remained firm.

President Masoud Pezeshkian, for example, said Tehran would 'firmly confront delirious threats on the battlefield'.

He added: 'The illusion of erasing Iran from the map shows desperation against the will of a historymaking nation. Threats and terror only strengthen our unity. The Strait of Hormuz is open to all except those who violate our soil.'

A spokesman for the Iranian armed forces also warned that if the US 'carries out its threats' the Strait 'will not reopen until our damaged power plants are rebuilt'.

Iranian officials further warned that if its plants were decimated then energy infrastructure 'across the entire region' would be 'irreversibly destroyed'.

They also warned that the Strait of Hormuz  through which 20 percent of the world's oil supply passes  would be 'completely closed' and they would hit Israeli nuclear sites.

As Washington DC now debates how to respond to the threat, thousands of US Marines are already heading to the region.

They could be used for a potential invasion of Kharg Island to seize the strategically vital territory through which Iran exports 90 percent of its crude oil and to force Tehran to surrender.

But the Iranian regime warned if they do so it will 'face a response that is unprecedented' as they would 'set fire to all the facilities in the region' which would likely crash the global economy.

The pope said the death and suffering caused by the war in the Middle East are a 'scandal to the whole human family. Emergency workers are pictured standing near the remains of a residential and commercial building in Tehran, Iran on Saturday

Pope Leo cited the 'defenseless victims' of the war in his statement. Civilians are pictured looking at the remains of a building in Tehran

The threats came after Iranian missiles hit two towns near a nuclear plant in Dimona, southern Israel, injuring more than 160 people. It was thought to be retaliation for a reported Israeli strike on the Natanz nuclear facility in Iran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu then visited the sites of the Iranian strike on Arad, near Dimona, southern Israel, and vowed: 'We're going after the IRGC [Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps], this criminal gang.

'We're going after them personally, their leaders, their installations, their economic assets,' he vowed.

Of the 160 injured from two ballistic missiles that struck Arad and Dimona, 70 were children.

Israeli officials they will continue striking Iran for at least another three weeks, with IDF chief of staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir saying, 'We are halfway through.'

Israel's military said Iran has fired more than 400 ballistic missiles at the country since the start of the war, with around 92 percent of them intercepted.

Rocket trails are seen in the sky above Israel as day broke there on Monday

Meanwhile, Iran has continued to strike its Gulf neighbors, with Saudi Arabia's defense ministry saying three ballistic missiles were detected around the capital yesterday.

The IRGC also warned residents to evacuate Doha, Qatar 'as quickly as possible' as it stated the area is now a 'legitimate target' due to US forces stationed there.

Near Baghdad Airport in Iraq, at least three drones hit the American diplomatic and logistics hub.
A mom was shocked to discover fentanyl in the packaging of a Barbie doll she purchased from a discount store in Missouri, where five other dolls were sold.

Jade Adams purchased one of the tampered Barbie dolls from Cargo Largo in Independence on Saturday while shopping with her husband and daughter.

'When [Adams' husband] opened it with a knife, it was like, poof, in the car,' Adams told WDAF. 'We were like, "What is that?"'

Adams said she went back to the convenience store to warn the staff to get the dolls off the shelves.

The Independence Police Department (IPD) said in a statement on Saturday that Cargo Largo Security contacted them regarding a suspicious powder substance.

Officials then determined the substance was fentanyl and immediately began an investigation to determine how many compromised dolls were sold.

Investigators found that five units were sold, which have all been tracked down and recovered.

'IPD's investigation revealed the Barbie Dolls themselves were not compromised,' said the authorities.

Jade Adams purchased one of five tampered Barbie dolls from Cargo Largo in Independence on Saturday while shopping with her husband and daughter

She returned to the store to warn staff who then contacted police. Investigators discovered that five more dolls were sold which were later recovered

'Fentanyl was discovered taped inside the back packaging of the dolls.'

Adams told the outlet how she was terrified at the thought of how things could have gone much worse: 'They could have dusted that all over themselves, their house, wherever they opened it.'

'Like, it's not just me, it's really just the kids for me. That's my baby, that's my last baby, that's terrifying.'

IPD added that they do not believe any of the tampered dolls were sent to other retailers.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported; however, police noted that an investigation is ongoing.

Adams took to social media to shed further light on the incident, where several others expressed their shock and gratefulness that the mother was able to take action.

The fentanyl was discovered by the mother behind the doll in the products packaging. Adams said it clouded the air of their car when it was opened

Officials said they do not believe other retailers are affected. They added that no injuries were reported and are continuing the investigation

One user wrote: 'Thank God you found it and let them know!! I hope no children were hurt.'

Another added: 'Damn, now we have to have Narcan when we take our children to Toys' R ' Us. Lord help us.'

A third said: 'So glad youre an aware and proactive parent, Jade!'
Shabana Mahmood will deport thousands of failed asylum seekers before they can use human rights laws to appeal or block their removals.

Using laws drawn up by Tony Blair's Labour government, the Home Secretary plans to remove migrants as soon as their asylum claims are rejected, so they can only appeal once back in their home countries.

The tougher approach is aimed at reducing the record backlog of more than 100,000 appeals made by rejected asylum seekers - many of whom are housed in hotels costing the taxpayer millions.

Failed asylum seekers will be deported to 25 'safe' countries identified by officials before they can appeal. These include India, Brazil, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Albania and Ukraine.

The measure has come under fire from Labour leadership challenger Angela Rayner, who said it was 'un-British' and 'pulled the rug' from hardworking families. Nearly 50 other MPs threatened to rebel over Mahmood's immigration crackdown last month.

Alex Norris, the border security and asylum minister, told The Telegraph: 'A firm and fair approach to immigration does not mean hard-working taxpayers provide for individuals with refused human rights claims, many of whom are vile criminals.

'That is why we are scaling up the use of these powers to deport more foreign national offenders to their home countries, where their appeals can be heard. We will not hesitate to remove incentives which draw people to the UK illegally. '

There are currently more than 100,000 appeals made by failed asylum seekers - many of whom are being housed at the expense of millions to taxpayers

Shabana Mahmood's crackdown would see asylum seekers from 'safe' countries whose claims are rejected immediately deported before they can appeal while still in the UK

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Join the discussion Should rejected asylum seekers be deported before having the chance to appeal in the UK?

Under Blair's Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, the Home Office can only deport failed asylum claims to safe countries where they do not face a 'real risk of serious irreversible harm'.

Some 14,000 failed asylum claims from last year come from the 25 countries deemed 'safe' by the Home Office - 4,000 from India, 2,700 from Nigeria and 1,750 from Albania.

The act removes rights to taxpayer-funded accommodation, support and their ability to appeal while in the UK once their asylum claim is rejected.

Migrants are then given the option to go voluntarily with paid flights or to be forcibly removed.

There were 104,400 failed asylum appeals by the end of 2025 - nearly double 2024's total.

The number of those removed without appeal did increase by 50 per cent to 8,476. However, with so many more new appeals, removals dropped to 10.6 per cent as a proportion of the total 80,000 rejected asylum seekers.
A crazed criminal who rammed his truck into a Dallas news station in 2018 has been arrested again for allegedly tossing human remains at an FBI field office.

Michael Chadwick Fry, 41, was taken into custody on Thursday and charged with abuse of a corpse for the disgusting act, which police in Bartonville, Texas said he filmed and posted on YouTube.

He was caught after his mother called police on March 16 to report that her son had asked her for money to rent a U-Haul.

When she asked why, the son said he 'had a body that needed to be moved,' according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by NBC News.

At that point, Fry became 'irate' and left the home, the probable cause affidavit stated.

Shortly after, police said they received a call from Fry's sister that he 'filmed himself on YouTube' throwing 'Elizabeth's remains' over the fence to the FBI Dallas office, the Denton Record-Chronicle reports.

That video allegedly showed him throwing a large, closed white bucket over the fence into the secure parking lot of the FBI building.

He claimed he was trying to compel the bureau to intervene in 'what he describes as wrongdoing by Denton County officials from a past arrest.'

The bucket 'contained numerous bones' that appeared to be human, the FBI said. Those bones are now awaiting further forensic analysis.

Michael Chadwick Fry, 41, was taken into custody on Thursday and charged with abuse of a corpse after he allegedly tossed human remains at the FBI field office in Dallas, Texas

Police have confirmed to KDFW that Fry is the same man who rammed a truck into the station's building in downtown Dallas in 2018 (pictured)

Fry later posted another video to YouTube showing what appeared to be a human skull at his Denton County home, which he allegedly called 'Elizabeth Virginia Lyons.'

This led police to believe the skull came from the same set of human remains as those found in the bucket.

But Denton police spokesperson Amy Cunningham said Lyons was buried at a local cemetery and her grave remains undisturbed.

Fry's mother told police she found in her vehicle's GPS history three searches for cemeteries - one in Arlington, Texas and two in Oklahoma City.

She also said she found a shovel that was never at their home before and that her son had started to lock the shed in the back of the home, which he didn't do previously.

As the investigation continued, investigators learned Fry had stolen an urn containing human remains from a cemetery in Oklahoma City - which was the subject of a police investigation there.

FBI agents also found evidence at a cemetery in Denton 'indicating that a coffin containing human remains had been removed from a mausoleum.'

Reporters visited the cemetery and observed damage to the Magee mausoleum, which contains the remains of Jasper P Magee and Mary Myrtle Wright, a married couple who died in 1942 and 1940, respectively.

The case against him now remains active, and police said the next of kin have been notified.

Authorities found him in 2018 pacing and scattering numerous handwritten leaflets outside

Officers later determined Fry was upset about a 2012 police shooting that killed his friend, and a Dallas police spokesperson said he was trying to get media attention

Fry was unable to enter the building and was soon arrested

Meanwhile, police have confirmed to KDFW that Fry is the same man who rammed a truck into the station's building in downtown Dallas in 2018.

Footage of the attack showed Fry slowly approaching the building, coming to a full stop before accelerating once again and then swerving head-on into the building.

The vehicle then goes in reverse - pulling with it a large panel of glass.

After returning to the street, the truck once again slams into another part of the building.

Police said at the time they arrived on the scene and arrested a 'ranting' man behind the wheel of the pickup truck.

He also was seen pacing and scattering numerous handwritten leaflets outside, but Fry was not able to enter the building and was soon arrested.

But he left behind a suspicious bright orange duffel bag that prompted police to set up a perimeter and bring in a bomb squad.

Officers later determined Fry was upset about a 2012 police shooting that killed his friend, and a Dallas police spokesperson said he was trying to get media attention.

Fry later apologized to the news station during a court hearing.

He also has a number of other arrests, most recently on March 20, 2022 when he was booked on a criminal mischief charge that occurred on October 26, 2021, according to the Cross Timbers Gazette.

In total, Fry has been arrested 28 times by the Denton County Sheriff's Office, Denton Police Department and Argyle Police Department dating back to August 5, 2003 on charges including burglary, engaging in organized criminal activity, arson, theft making terroristic threats and resisting arrest.

He is now being held on a $300,000 surety bond.
Virgin Australia set to increase price by 5 per cent on Monday

Keith believes high airfares will become the new normal

A leading aviation expert has warned Aussies to expect surging airfare prices to become the new normal even if the conflict in the Middle East dissipates.

Keith Tonkin, Managing Director and Principal Consultant of Aviation Projects, said Australians should expect to fork out a lot more when booking domestic flights as airlines try to recoup their losses.

'It's feeling a lot like Covid again. There's talk about work-from-home arrangements, limiting travel - and that's not with the consequence of catching a virus - but it still has an impact on the way that people plan their activities and interact with each other,' Mr Tonkin told the Daily Mail.

The former Qantas and Royal Australian Air Force pilot said he expects more Aussies will opt to to travel around Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands as travel through the Gulf remains tenuous.

However, in doing so, demand is likely to hike prices even more.

'We saw that too during Covid - people still want to travel, so if you can't go overseas - and that's not to say that all overseas destinations aren't available - we might see those travel intentions change a little bit,' he said.

Mr Tonkin said travellers should consider their need to travel, and which airline they'd opt to fly with, when looking at booking any arrangements over the coming months.

'Take advantages of any discounts or airfare sales wherever you can... at the moment, it feels like those fares are going up and they might hold up for a while,' he said.

Aviation expert Keith Tonkin warned surging domestic airfares could become the new normal

He expects more Aussies will opt to travel around Australia, NZ and the Pacific Islands

'The aviation industry will come back. It always does. People have an innate need and desire to travel the world so, we'll see it come back, we'll just be talking about higher airfares for sometime.'

It comes as Virgin Australia confirmed it will increase the price of domestic airfares by five per cent at midnight on Monday (March 23).

'Costs across the aviation sector continue to rise, now significantly exacerbated by the situation in the Middle East,' a Virgin spokesperson said in a statement.

'We are making necessary fare adjustments to reflect these cost pressures.'

Australia's national carrier Qantas also raised prices on its international flights earlier this month and said they will conduct fortnightly reviews into its domestic airfares.

However its budget airline, Jetstar, similarly increased airfares last week after the cost of jet fuel nearly doubled in just under a month.

The Daily Mail has contacted Jetstar and Qantas to confirm if any further price hikes are due.

Mr Tonkin said it was only 'natural' for the airlines to increase airfares in order to 'preserve some sort of cost control and ideally some profitability.'

Join the discussion How do you feel about airlines raising fares amid global crisesare travelers being treated fairly?

Virgin Australia will increase their domestic airfares by five per cent at midnight on Monday

However he warned airlines faced a tricky balancing act when choosing how much, and when, to introduce price hikes.

'Theres a consequence to increasing fares too much as people won't travel and then [they're] losing the money altogether,' he said.

It comes as Energy Minister Chris Bowen said more fuel could be released from Australia's national reserve should the crisis in the Middle East continue.

While emphasising there was plenty of fuel available to get through April, Chris Bowen said additional releases from reserves were on the table.

'Fuel suppliers will continue and are locked in and will continue to arrive,' he told reporters in Brisbane on Friday.

But beyond late April, the situation was more uncertain and dependent on how international events panned out, Mr Bowen said.

Oil prices have soared and global supplies cut after Iran's de-facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation against US-Israeli strikes.

One-fifth of the national reserve of petrol and diesel has already been released from emergency stockpiles, including 500 million litres going into regional areas.

Government subsidies will continue to Australia's two remaining oil refineries, in Geelong and Brisbane, after six months of negotiations over the payments.
Keir Starmer was last night accused of a coverup after failing to tell the public about an Iranian missile attack on a British overseas territory.

The Government finally admitted that missiles had been fired at Diego Garcia more than 30 hours after the attempted strike  and only after it had been confirmed by US officials.

Kemi Badenoch accused the Prime Minister of overseeing a 'culture of cover-ups' as she urged the Government to explain why it didn't inform the public earlier.

Writing for the Daily Mail, the Conservative leader said: 'The secrecy from the Labour Government tells its own story. They would rather hide bad news than confront it.

'Of course, matters of genuine national security concern should be kept secret. But beyond that, Parliament and the public must be informed about key developments.'

It came as:

The Prime Minister was due to hold a Cobra meeting on the war's economic fallout today;

Donald Trump posted a Saturday Night Live UK comedy sketch mocking Sir Keir;

The US President said he would 'obliterate' Iran's power plants if the Strait of Hormuz was not reopened within 48 hours;

Iran warned that energy infrastructure across the Gulf will be 'irreversibly destroyed' if their facilities are attacked;

Tehran hit two cities near a nuclear plant in southern Israel in a ferocious warning shot that injured more than 160.

Keir Starmer was last night accused of a cover-up after failing to tell the public about an Iranian missile attack on a British overseas territory

The Government finally admitted that missiles had been fired at Diego Garcia more than 30 hours after the attempted strike

A Khorramshahr-4 missile is launched at an undisclosed location in Iran

Iran launched two ballistic missiles at the US-UK Diego Garcia military base in the Chagos Islands between 11pm on Thursday and 2am on Friday.

Diego Garcia is 2,360 miles from Iran and neither missile found its target. One was shot down by a US warship while the other reportedly fell into the ocean after travelling 1,990 miles.

The first report of the attack appeared in the Wall Street Journal at 12.20am UK time on Saturday  about 24 hours after it happened. This was confirmed with further details by CNN at 2.15am UK time, with both outlets citing multiple US officials.

The Government finally confirmed the attempted attack on Saturday morning  more than 30 hours after it had happened.

Mrs Badenoch said it highlighted the 'culture of cover-ups and problem with the truth' within the Labour Government, adding: 'The attempted strike... was reported in the States and confirmed by US officials well before our Government acknowledged it.'

But a Government source said: 'This is more desperation from a Tory leader who has been consistently wrong at every stage of this crisis.'

The Government has still not confirmed exactly when the attack took place, only that it came before it gave permission for the US to launch strikes against Iran from Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford on Friday afternoon.

But there was no mention of the attempted attack alongside this announcement or in an update from the Ministry of Defence on Friday evening.

Nigel Farage accused Sir Keir of being 'deceitful and dishonest' and said that if news of the attack had not emerged in the media 'the Government would not have told the public'.

The Reform UK leader told the Daily Mail: 'If there has been any attempt by this Government to downplay or cover up an Iranian attack on the Chagos Islands, then frankly it is a national scandal.

'This isn't some minor administrative slip, this is about national security and the safety of British territory.'

Israel has been ramping up the threat to Britain following the strike, claiming it proved Iran 'can reach London, Paris or Berlin'.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu seized on it to urge the UK and European allies to join their fight against Iran.

But yesterday Steve Reed suggested that Israel's warnings about Iran developing long-range missiles capable of reaching Europe were exaggerated.

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The Communities Secretary said the British military was 'perfectly capable' of protecting the country, but refused to reveal how close Tehran's missiles came to reaching Diego Garcia.

There are also fears Iran could launch drones against military targets in Britain, with former defence minister Tobias Ellwood warning it was 'a matter of time' before Britain suffered its own 'Pearl Harbor'.

He said Diego Garcia 'is one of the most defended military garrisons in the world', but most UK military bases 'do not have the luxury of American capabilities'.

Britain has no equivalent to Israel's Iron Dome defences and instead would rely on a fleet of six Type 45 destroyers. But much of the fleet is in port and would be ineffective against an immediate strike, while one, HMS Dragon, is still en route to Cyprus.

It means Britain would be heavily reliant on Nato allies, including Turkey's THAAD system, the American Aegis Ashore systems in Romania and Poland, or Germany's US-made Patriot systems.

A Government spokesman said: 'This Government has been clear about the threat that Iran's indiscriminate attacks pose to British nationals, British interests and our partners.

'To suggest otherwise is completely false  and that's why we have been conducting defensive operations in the Middle East since day one of this war.'

No 10 said last night that Sir Keir had spoken to Mr Trump about the need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

A spokesman said: 'The leaders discussed the current situation in the Middle East. They agreed that reopening the Strait of Hormuz was essential.'
A former Google executive has been confirmed as the BBC's new director-general, it has been reported.

Matt Brittin's appointment was said to have been approved by the Corporation's board last week.

Mr Brittin emerged as a dark horse for the role after two leading candidates - Apple TV executive Jay Hunt and former Channel 4 chief Alex Mahon - are understood to have ruled themselves out of contention.

His appointment is expected to be announced this week following due diligence checks, The Times reported.

The 57-year-old is succeeding Tim Davie, who resigned after widespread criticism over a misleading Panorama edit of a Donald Trump speech.

That would make Davie's interim successor, Rhodri Talfan Davies, the shortest-serving BBC director-general in the national broadcaster's history.

Mr Brittin left Google last year after 18 years at the tech giant, the last 10 as president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

After stepping down from the tech giant, he had announced plans to take what he called a 'mini gap year'.

Former Google executive Matt Brittin has been confirmed as the BBC's new director-general, according to media reports

He said at the time: 'I hope to apply what I've learnt about technology and leadership to help people make the most of this wave of innovation in education, business, science and society - from different vantage points.'

The decision to appoint someone from the world of tech with no direct television experience represents a significant break with tradition for the BBC.

He was part of the British rowing team at the Seoul Olympics in 1988 and could expect a financial package comparable to the 540,000 to 544,999 earned by Mr Davie.

For a man who once admitted he didn't know how much he was paid, a role leading a public service broadcaster that publishes its managers' salaries could be perfect.

In 2016, Mr Brittin told MPs on the public accounts committee that he had no idea how much he was paid  while being questioned about a tax deal between HMRC and Google.

Then, in February 2025, after leaving Google Mr Brittin joined Guardian Media Group's board as a non-executive director.

Davie is said to have spoken favourably about Mr Brittin in the past, though there are some who have reservations about appointing a tech boss to the top job at a content company.
The mistake some voters are making right now is to assume that One Nation's rise automatically points to its eventual takeover of the Coalition as the major party on the right of Australian politics.

The story goes that would give them the potential to then challenge Labor for government at state and federal levels in the not too distant future.

That's not going to happen.

The weekend result in South Australia has only reinforced the pipe dream for some, as Pauline Hanson's minor party outpolled the SA Liberals on primary votes. Opinion polls suggest it's capable of similar results, if not better, around the country and federally too, which also feeds the frenzied belief that One Nation's rise is only going to continue.

However Australia's system of preferential voting along with compulsory voting makes it all but impossible for One Nation to challenge for government. That's unless it completely changes its brand, which would only risk its current support, perhaps leading to a decline.

What is actually happening, at least under Australia's electoral system, is something that only damages the Liberals' chance of forming government, with no serious prospect of One Nation ever going on to form government, certainly not in its own right.

And it's highly unlikely it will depose the Liberals as the major party on the right.

What we are witnessing is much less transformative than a full realignment. It's a continuing split in the non-Labor vote that makes Labor harder to beat. That's the real story.

Pauline Hanson said the historic surge in One Nation votes during the South Australian election is 'just the start' of her party's political earthquake

One Nation can grow. It can win seats. It can even - in the right conditions - humiliate the Liberals in particular regions and further expose how hollow the Coalition has become. But replacing the Coalition as the major force on the right is another matter entirely.

Australia's preferential voting system is the central barrier. In the House of Representatives, and in lower houses using preferential voting, parties do not merely need a big protest vote. They need an expandable vote.

They need to be able to win absolute majorities after preferences are distributed. That is a much higher bar than merely topping the primary vote in angry, fragmented contests.

The AEC's own explanation of preferential voting is straightforward: if nobody gets more than 50 per cent on first preferences, candidates are excluded and preferences distributed until someone does. This system rewards parties that can build broader coalitions, not merely sharp insurgencies. Staying closer to the centre is more likely to garner preferences.

There is plainly a substantial constituency for One Nation. In South Australia this weekend, that constituency was large enough to shake the entire political system. One Nation's primary vote is tracking at roughly 21 per cent, ahead of the Liberals, and it is in contention for as many as four seats.

But even at that level, the party's path to becoming the alternative party of government remains far narrower than the headlines suggest.

One Nation can attract disillusioned Coalition voters, some working-class anti-establishment voters, and a chunk of people who simply want to send a message. But it cannot easily consolidate the softer Liberal vote, especially in metropolitan seats.

There are simply too many voters in affluent suburban and inner-metropolitan electorates who might flirt with a tougher migration line or a more populist critique of the establishment, but who recoil from Pauline Hanson, from the party's brand, and from the idea of One Nation as a mainstream governing force.

In short, it has a cap when preferences are distributed that makes it hard to win seats, much less enough to become the official opposition, and certainly nowhere near enough to form government. All it does is destroy the Coalition's chances of forming government.

An enthusiastic supporter throws their fist into the air as Labor Premier Peter Malinauskas declares victory in South Australia's election on Saturday

Under preferential voting, a voter who dislikes Labor and the Liberals, but cannot stomach One Nation as their final choice, can still stop One Nation with their second and third preferences. That is precisely the sort of brake preferential voting imposes on parties seen as too far outside the mainstream.

The Greens have a political ceiling for the same reason, as a radical left wing party.

First-past-the-post systems - such as the UK's model, where the Reform party is ahead in the polls - dont allocate preferences, and while that doesn't guarantee success for insurgent parties, its much more likely than under our system. Under first-past-the-post voting, a party does not need to become everybody's acceptable second choice. It only needs to become the largest single bloc in enough constituencies. That is a very different test.

It means an insurgent party can, over time, replace an older party seat by seat if the old party collapses badly enough and the insurgent consolidates one side of politics. Australia's preferential system makes that sort of hostile takeover much harder, because the insurgent must also survive the preference test.

Queensland in 1998 highlights the difficulty of One Nation succeeding under preferential voting, similarly to what happened on the weekend in SA. Back then One Nation won 22.68 per cent of the statewide primary vote and 11 seats at that election. It also finished second in many more contests.

Yet even that remarkable breakthrough did not put it on a clean path to replacing the Coalition as the dominant force on the right.

The electoral system mattered, and so did preference flows. Queensland's politics at the time were also shaped by optional preferential voting, which fractured the conservative side and helped produce a hung parliament and then a Labor minority government.

In other words, the surge was real, the disruption was real, but the end result was not a smooth transition from old right to new right. It was conservative fragmentation and Labor took advantage of it.

Hanson is seen all smiles at the results during Channel Nine's coverage on Saturday night

That is exactly the danger for today's Coalition.

South Australia now looks like a contemporary version of the same structural problem. If One Nation is indeed finishing with around a fifth of the primary vote and turning that into a small cluster of seats rather than a parliamentary takeover, the lesson is not that it is on the verge of becoming the new Liberal Party. The lesson is that the right is splitting in a way that leaves Labor dominant.

Compulsory voting adds another obstacle for One Nation if its ambition is to move from insurgency to replacement major party. Australia's turnout is unusually high by international standards because voting is compulsory. The AEC says turnout at the 2025 federal election was about 90 per cent, while turnout at the UK's 2024 general election for example was just 59.7 per cent.

Non-compulsory systems often magnify the intensity of protest parties taking aim at existing major parties. Angry, highly motivated voters are more likely to show up than softer, more detached voters. In Australia, One Nation can't simply rely on the most alienated voters turning out while everyone else stays home. Because voting is compulsory.

Then there is the Hanson problem, which is also the Hanson asset. Pauline Hanson is still the party's brand, its emotional core and its most recognisable selling point. For a protest party, that is invaluable. For a party seeking mainstream majority status, it's also a barrier to entry.

Hanson is the key reason One Nation has endured for so long when other right wing populist parties have come and gone. But she is also the reason some voters will never cross over to One Nation. Replace her with a more polished figure and perhaps the party becomes more acceptable to some mainstream conservatives. But then it risks losing the authenticity, the anger and the anti-establishment identity that made it a successful minor party in the first place.

One Nation without Hanson might look more respectable, but it might also look less like One Nation. And if a more conventional conservative, such as Andrew Hastie for example, ever did make such a move, the party could gain moderation only by losing its insurgent soul. That is not a simple trade-off, it could be fatal to the very coalition of voters the party currently holds together.

There is, however, one narrower scenario in which One Nation could make enormous strides short of replacing the Liberals outright: it could progressively wipe out the Nationals and reconstitute the Coalition from the outside.

That is more plausible than a full-scale One Nation takeover of the whole right. The Nationals are smaller, more regionally concentrated and more vulnerable to a populist nationalist style party.

But even this scenario creates major problems for the Liberals. A Liberal Party tied too closely to One Nation rather than the Nationals would face a much sharper backlash in metropolitan seats, especially teal seats. The Liberals are already struggling to hold together their outer suburban conservatives and their shrinking moderate wing. Any formal or informal realignment with One Nation might only intensify that contradiction.

It's the deepest of ironies that many One Nation voters are voting for the minor party as an act of revolt against a bad Labor government, or against a political class they think has failed them. They don't think much of the Liberals, but they think even less of Labor and the PM. But under Australia's institutional settings, they are helping to keep Labor in office. They aren't helping to realign the right and replace the Liberals with One Nation. And certainly not in government.

The rise of One Nation is manna from heaven for Labor strategists hoping to stay in government for as long as possible.
This was the scene in France on Sunday as the latest group of migrants to attempt to cross the English Channel waded out to an inflatable boat.

The crowd of mainly young men clambered onto the small dinghy at Gravelines beach  many risking the trip without life jackets  as gendarmes looked on but made no effort to stop them.

More than 500 migrants arrived in the UK on small boats over just three days last week, beginning on Wednesday when 262 made crossings on overloaded vessels.

That brought the total for the year so far to 3,979  although the figure is now believed to have surpassed 4,000 as a Border Force vessel was spotted offloading more than 50 people in Dover harbour on Sunday.

On Friday, Britain's border chief Martin Hewitt stood down having failed to curb the number of illegal migrants making their way to the UK.

Heavy winds meant no one successfully made the 21-mile crossing on Saturday but French and British authorities are bracing themselves for a fresh onslaught this week as conditions improve.

More than 67,000 have crossed the Channel on small boats since Sir Keir Starmer became Prime Minister 20 months ago, promising to 'smash' the gangs that organise the journeys.

In comparison, 65,784 small-boat migrants arrived in the UK under his Tory predecessor Boris Johnson over a 39-month period.

This was the scene in France as the gendarmes looked on

More than 67,000 have crossed the Channel on small boats since Sir Keir Starmer became Prime Minister

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Border Security commander Mr Hewitt stood down last week after just 18 months in the job.

But Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: 'The Government's complete failure on small boats isn't down to Martin Hewitt.

'It's because Keir Starmer and [Home Secretary] Shabana Mahmood are too weak to take the necessary action  such as coming out of the European Convention on Human Rights and deporting all illegal immigrants within a week of arrival.'

Sir Keir appointed Mr Hewitt, a former senior police officer, shortly after becoming Prime Minister in 2024 but crossings have continued at sky-high levels since.

His tenure also saw the second-highest annual total of people crossing the Channel, with 41,472 people arriving last year.

Meanwhile, 78 migrants were rescued by the French coastguard on Saturday after the engine of their small boat broke down while attempting to travel to the UK from Belgium.

The Home Office was contacted for comment.
A cabinet minister has been accused of 'hypocrisy' after figures revealed almost one in ten of his civil servants are working four-day weeks despite a promised crackdown.

Communities Secretary Steve Reed wrote to all council leaders in England at the end of last year warning them not to introduce four-day working weeks.

But figures show 339 civil servants in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) are working four-day weeks on full pay, according to analysis by the Conservatives.

This is equivalent to 9 per cent of Mr Reed's departmental staff working a four-day week on 'compressed hours arrangements on full pay'.

Full-time MHCLG civil servants are required to work 37 hours per week or 36 if they joined before 2013.

Just before Christmas last year, the letter sent round to all council leaders said that he had hope he made the government's policy on four-day weeks 'unambiguously clear to all councils', the Telegraph reported.

The letter continued: 'Council staff undertaking part-time work for full-time pay without compelling justification would be considered an indicator, among a wide range of factors, of potential failure'.

Tory shadow local government minister David Simmonds said: 'This is blatant hypocrisy from Labour's Housing Secretary, who is unable or unwilling to enforce his approach to the four-day week in his own department.'

Communities Secretary Steve Reed has been accused of hypocrisy after it was revealed he allowed his department's staff work a four day week despite saying councils who do the same would be seen as a 'potential failure'

It is not the first time that the minister has been accused of hypocrisy.

He was branded a 'NIMBY' after the housing secretary tried to block a housing development in his own constituency in 2024 despite saying he wanted to 'build, baby, build', the Telegraph revealed.

An MHCLG spokesman said: 'The figures show staff doing five days' worth of working hours for five days' pay.'


Murderous drug cartels tried to use Ireland as a route to get cocaine worth hundreds of millions of euro into Europe following reports of the countrys poor defence capabilities, the head of the Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau has said.

Detective Chief Superintendent Seamus Boland also said he feared the level of crime that would have happened if the failed MV Matthew drug smuggling operation been successful in its illicit 2023 mission.

Last year, eight men were jailed for a combined 129 years for their roles in trying to smuggle 2.2 tonnes of cocaine  worth more than 157million  into Ireland.

The drugs were found off the Irish coast on board the Panamanian cargo ship MV Matthew in September 2023.

It was the largest cocaine seizure in Irish history.

Gardai believe several international drug cartels worked together on the MV Matthew plot  but that the smuggling operation was headed by the Kinahan gang.

Mr Boland told the Irish Mail on Sunday: It became obvious to us in the course of the MV Matthew investigation that the reason Ireland was being targeted was because of all of the media reports about Ireland not being secure, that it had no navy and no capability.

The senior detective said that information went as far as Dubai and Iranian gangs and the Kinahans and all those groups and thats why they diverted all these big loads towards Ireland.

Mr Boland said the success of the MV Matthew operation has resulted in much less of that activity now.

Gardai believe several international drug cartels worked together on the MV Matthew plot  but that the smuggling operation was headed by the Kinahan gang

Haul: The Irish army aboard the MV Matthew

Not alone did they lose an expensive ship, but every time one of those crews is taken out expertise is taken out and the route is dismantled and its costing them [drug cartels] millions, he said.

The top garda noted that the MV Matthew arrived off the coast of Ireland at a time when the logistics routes were being adapted by cartels because of the successes in Rotherham and Antwerp. So much stuff was being seized and also success along the Spanish coasts. We started to see all that activity when routes were being adapted.

But Ireland has stood up to that challenge as well. We are as a nation standing up to all of the challenges, he said.

In September 2023, Irish Special Forces, Customs officials and gardai joined forces to carry out the dramatic operation off the coast of Waterford that resulted in the States biggest-ever drugs haul.

Cocaine with a street value of up to half a billion euro was seized from a Colombian cartel on Irish seas in what is the biggest-ever drugs seizure in the history of the State

A Garda handout photo of partially-burned cocaine stash inside a lifeboat on the MV Matthew

Intelligence gathered by gardai was key to the success of the operation and this data stated that there would be drugs importation by sea into Ireland.

This information was shared with the Customs and the international agency, Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre Narcotics in Lisbon, which then identified the MV Matthew and a fishing vessel, the Castlemore.

The major multi-agency operation followed an alert after a fishing trawler ran aground off the east coast.

Two men were winched to safety from the stricken vessel, but what began as a rescue mission soon developed into a major security operation.

The MV Matthew had been tracked by the Irish authorities over several days before it was seized.
Donald Trump has promised the 'total decimation' of Iran as reports emerged of American plans for a lengthy ground war in the Middle East with thousands of US marines arriving in the region this week.

Amid reports he is ready to send his troops, Mr Trump promised that the destruction of Iran would 'work out very good' and the rogue state is 'getting their comeuppance'.

He may seize Kharg Island, Irans oil terminal in the Persian Gulf, although the White House insists no final decision has been made.

Iran has ferociously rejected President Trump's ultimatum to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Midnight tonight, UK time, and threatened to wipe out the entire region's energy infrastructure.

Trump warned Tehran on Saturday it had 48 hours to allow cargo through the vital global shipping lane 'without threat' or he would 'obliterate' their power plants.

But the regime hit back yesterday saying if its plants were targeted then energy infrastructure 'across the entire region' would be 'irreversibly destroyed'. This morning the regime, via Irans Fars News Agency, revealed the eight Persian Gulf energy sites it will strike.

Oil prices rose today. As markets opened, the price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the US benchmark crude, was up 1.8 per cent to just over $100 per barrel and the cost of North Sea Brent crude increased to $113.44 per barrel before sliding to around $111, 45 minutes into trading.

Tehran also warned that the Strait of Hormuz  through which it still allows some nations friendly to Iran safe passage  would be 'completely closed' and they would hit Israeli nuclear sites.

Speaking to News Israel about the Strait and whether Iran would cave to his ultimatum, President Trump said: 'You'll find out what's gonna happen. You're gonna find out soon. It's gonna be very good. Total decimation of Iran. It's gonna work out very good'.

He added: 'They've [Iran] been very bad for 47 years. Now they're getting their comeuppance'.

And in another attack on Nato countries including the UK, and their failure to help the US in Hormuz, he added: 'They are not doing anything. It's too bad'.

Over the weekend it was reported that Mr Trump is considering putting American troops on the ground in Iran in order to seize Kharg Island, Iran's oil terminal.

A Pentagon source briefed the Israeli media last night to say: 'The assessment is that this is an operation that will last for many weeks...the goal is a broad strategic change'.

As Donald Trump threatened Iran with 'total decimation':

Iran has vowed to lay mines throughout the entire Persian Gulf if the US and Israel attack the country's coast and islands including Kharg Island;

The President's deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz will expire just before midnight UK time, on Monday;

In a post on his Truth Social platform he warned Iran that there would be: ' PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, TO PUT IT MILDLY!!!';

Mr Trump spoke with Sir Keir Starmer for 20 minutes last night about reopening the Strait of Hormuz. It was described by aides as 'constructive'. The Prime Minister will host a Cobra emergency committee meeting this afternoon;

After Tehran was hit hard on Sunday, Iran was firing missiles again overnight, choosing targets in Israel. Several were shot down close to Tel Aviv;

Donald Trump warned Tehran on Saturday it had 48 hours to allow cargo through the vital global shipping lane 'without threat' or he would 'obliterate' their power plants

An explosion in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where Saudi air defences intercepted 8 ballistic missiles launched by Iran

Iran ferociously rejected an ultimatum to reopen the Strait of Hormuz (pictured) yesterday and threatened to wipe out the entire region's energy infrastructure

Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, may even be in a coma after attacks by Israel and the US

The threats came after Iranian missiles hit two towns near a nuclear plant in Dimona, southern Israel, injuring more than 160 people. It was thought to be retaliation for a reported Israeli strike on the Natanz nuclear facility in Iran.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that the war has now entered a 'perilous stage'.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO directorgeneral, said: 'I urgently call on all parties to exercise maximum military restraint and avoid any actions that could trigger nuclear incidents.'

As the conflict enters its fourth week, Iran's chokehold over the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 per cent of global oil passes, is ramping up pressure on Mr Trump.

Oil prices have risen 50 per cent to over $100 (75) with fears they could double, sparking a global recession.

Mr Trump wrote shortly before midnight UK time on Saturday: '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 doubled down on his threats yesterday, telling Iran it would face 'total decimation' if the Islamic Republic failed to fully open the strait.

Speaking to Israeli channel N13, Trump said: 'You'll find out what's gonna happen. Will they cave in to the ultimatum? You're gonna find out soon. It's gonna be very good. Total decimation of Iran. It's gonna work out very good.'

He added: 'They've [Iran] been very bad for 47 years. Now they're getting their comeuppance.'

But despite nearly its entire top leadership being wiped out by devastating USIsraeli precision strikes, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian yesterday said Tehran would 'firmly confront delirious threats on the battlefield'.

He added: 'The illusion of erasing Iran from the map shows desperation against the will of a historymaking nation. Threats and terror only strengthen our unity. The Strait of Hormuz is open to all except those who violate our soil.'

A spokesman for the Iranian armed forces also warned that if the US 'carries out its threats' the Strait 'will not reopen until our damaged power plants are rebuilt'.

Thousands of US Marines are heading to the region as Washington decides how to force open the Strait.

It is reportedly mulling a potential invasion of Kharg Island to seize the strategically vital territory through which Iran exports 90 per cent of its crude oil and to force Tehran to surrender.

But the Iranian regime warned if they do so it will 'face a response that is unprecedented' as they would 'set fire to all the facilities in the region' which would likely crash the global economy.

Join the discussion Do YOU think targeting energy infrastructure is justified in conflict?

The US is reportedly mulling a potential invasion of Kharg Island (pictured) to seize the strategically vital territory

Israel and Iran have continued to trade blows as the war spirals and shows no sign of concluding. (Pictured: Rocket trails in the sky over the Israeli city of Netanya amid Iranian missiles)

As the war continues to spiral, Israel has vowed to continue hitting Iran for at least another three weeks.

IDF chief of staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, said: 'We are halfway through, but the direction is clear.'

Benjamin Netanyahu visited the sites of the Iranian strike on Arad, near Dimona, southern Israel, yesterday and vowed: 'We're going after the IRGC [Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps], this criminal gang.

'We're going after them personally, their leaders, their installations, their economic assets.'

Of the 160 injured from two ballistic missiles that struck Arad and Dimona, 70 were children.

Israel's military said Iran has fired more than 400 ballistic missiles at the country since the start of the war, with around 92 percent of them intercepted.

Iran continued its strikes on Gulf neighbours last night, with Saudi Arabia's defence ministry saying three ballistic missiles were detected around the capital yesterday.

The IRGC also warned residents to evacuate Doha, Qatar 'as quickly as possible' as it stated the area is now a 'legitimate target' due to US forces stationed there.

Near Baghdad Airport in Iraq, at least three drones hit the American diplomatic and logistics hub.
Australia 'asleep at the wheel' says expert

A leading Australian fuel security expert has warned the escalating war in Iran could leave the nation starved of vital fuel supplies within three weeks.

Macquarie University senior lecturer in applied finance Doctor Lurion De Mello told Daily Mail on Monday that with petrol prices already soaring, diesel may rise even further than the current $3 a litre seen at some service stations in major cities.

With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed due to skyrocketing insurance costs and growing fear among tanker operators, Dr De Mello expects fuel supplies to dwindle by April 13.

'The Iranians are giving mixed messages, saying the Strait of Hormuz is not closed, but it's mostly the insurers who are not providing coverage, so tankers are too scared to go through it,' Dr De Mello said.

While some ships, including a few Japanese tankers, have been allowed passage, threats against vessels linked to the United States, Europe, or involved parties have created massive uncertainty, he said.

A recent attack on a Thai ship has only amplified the risks.

Dr De Mello said the Australian government had been 'asleep at the wheel' when it came to securing fuel reserves.

'The penetration with electric vehicles is so small and people haven't realised that we need to have fuel and this has been warned about,' he said.

Diesel threatens to rise even higher than the current $3 a litre seen at some bowsers in major cities

Dr Lurion De Mello expects fuel supplies to dwindle by April 13

'There was a report done in 2008 that was submitted to the government where it was warned that we have to have a greater amount of fuel storage if you're going to close down all the refineries.'

Iran has vowed to 'completely close' the Strait of Hormuz if Donald Trump follows through on his threats to strike the regime's power plants.

On Saturday night, Trump posted on social media: '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!'

Iran has now hit back, with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps claiming they will keep it completely shut if the US targets Iranian energy infrastructure.

For Australia, which relies heavily on imported refined fuels rather than direct crude from the Middle East, the crunch is coming fast.

'Short term, we'll be okay. There's a bit of fuel coming in until about mid-April,' Dr De Mello said.

'But after that, there's too many uncertainties. Tankers are being diverted, and Australia doesn't own any of its own tankers. We purely rely on overseas ones.'

The nation's two remaining refineries can only meet about 20 per cent of fuel needs, with the rest coming from Asian refineries in Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia, India, and Taiwan - all of which depend on Middle Eastern crude transiting the Strait.

Macquarie University senior lecturer in applied finance Doctor Lurion De Mello

Dr De Mello said Anthony Albanese's Australian government had been 'asleep at the wheel' when it came to securing fuel reserves

Dr De Mello warned that even alternative sources, such as US crude, face delays of a month or more to reach Australia and be refined.

Worse still, Australia's fuel reserves are far below international standards.

Unlike true strategic reserves which are government-owned and held for crises, Australia only has commercial stockpiles for normal operations.

'We never had a strategic reserve,' Dr De Mello said.

'We used to have oil stored in America - about 150 million barrels - but the Labor government sold it off in 2022 when prices were high.

'By the time you ship it here and refine it, it takes almost two months anyway.'

Current government figures show around 36 days of petrol, 32 days of diesel, and 29 days of jet fuel, but Dr De Mello stressed these are not crisis buffers and could deplete rapidly if disruptions persist.

The immediate pain is already hitting bowser prices hard, with prices in Perth breaching $3 a litre for premium diesel last week.

Nationwide, 91 octane unleaded petrol is selling for between $2.40 and $2.50 a litre, while diesel is edging closer to topping the $3.00 mark.

Independent petrol stations have felt the pinch harder than anyone

Petrol is running low across the country

Dr De Mello said prices could climb much, much higher, drawing parallels to the Russia-Ukraine invasion when petrol hit $2.45 to $2.50.

'I'm surprised it's not even closer to $3 yet ... it'll definitely keep creeping up,' he said.

Diesel is the biggest worry, he said, as it's intrinsic to the nation's infrastructure and vital for trucks, farming, fishing, mining, and even backup generators for renewables.

'It's an industrial fuel,' Dr De Mello said.

'Seafood prices will go up, freight costs will rise - everything gets passed on.'

Panic buying and hoarding are worsening the situation, Dr De Mello warned.

Independent stations are running dry first as major distributors prioritise their own networks.

'Normally independents are cheaper, but now company-owned ones are holding back fuel,' Dr De Mello said.

'It's flipped.'

Panic buying and hoarding are worsening the situation, Dr De Mello warned

Aviation faces risks too, with potential flight cancellations and questions over jet fuel for new airports like Western Sydney.

While the government insists supplies are secure and has released emergency stocks, Dr De Mello urged transparency. He pointed to his recent LinkedIn analysis using shipping data, which shows incoming diesel but escalating risks.

In a worst-case full closure, he predicted catastrophic impacts: rerouting via longer shipping routes, soaring tanker costs passed to consumers, and shortages hitting remote areas hardest during Easter holidays.

'People booked trips far away, they might have to rethink it,' he advised.

'We won't run out completely before school holidays end, but it'll be expensive.'

Dr De Mello dismissed claims from within the community that petrol stations were price-gouging customers.

'The cost of tankers has gone through the roof. It has to be passed down. It's not gouging; it's the market,' he said.

He compared the crisis to past shocks like the Gulf War or Houthi attacks, calling it far more severe due to Australia's vulnerability at the end of the global supply chain and years of neglect on fuel security.

Australia gets most of its fuel from Asia, but those markets rely on oil from the Middle East

Join the discussion Should Anthony Albanese have built up strategic fuel reserves instead of relying so heavily on imports?

'We've pumped money into renewables but we've kind of missed the plot because for the next 15-20 years we're heavily dependent on fuel,' he said.

'Electric vehicle uptake is tiny.'

In the long term, Dr De Mello expects negotiations to prevail...but warned the next few weeks, and especially beyond mid-April, will test Australia's preparedness

'If this drags onto Christmas, we'll be in a genuine World War III. I'm not expecting that. I expect some sort of dialogue or some negotiation will prevail,' he said.

'It's all going to be (clearer) over the next 48 hours I think. If America goes ahead with its threat, there might be some retaliation and they'll go "bang, bang, bang" at each other and then stop.

'But it's going to be catastrophic and I don't think the Americans are silly enough to hold the whole world hostage by letting this drag on to June or July.'

Two large ultra-low-sulphur diesel cargoes from India have been confirmed and are en route to Australia, Dr De Mello said.

'Multiple diesel shipments from Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea show continued strength in supply.

'One US diesel cargo is currently tracking for arrival on April 14 - a reminder of the monthlong voyage required for transPacific barrels,' he said.

Several petrol shipments covering 91/95/98 RON and unspecified grades are also already in transit.

'Multiple jet fuel/kerosene cargoes from South Korea and China are scheduled for earlytomid April arrival,' he said.

'This should keep Australias aviation sector wellsupported despite tight AsiaPacific refining margins. Supply from Japan could be of concern.'

Dr De Mello said Australias shortterm fuel outlook remained solid, with diesel, petrol, and jet fuel all supported by strong regional inflows.

'Monitoring will continue as Middle East disruptions evolve,' he said.
Volodymyr Zelensky has said he has a 'very bad feeling' about war in the Middle East affecting efforts to end the fighting in Ukraine.

He also addressed the strain on the 'Special Relationship' between the UK and US amid the Iran war, saying the history between the two nations is 'stronger than the emotions of two or three people'.

The Ukrainian president highlighted that Russian leader Vladimir Putin 'will want a long war' in the Middle East as it helps weaken the former's country.

He told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: 'I have a very bad feeling about the impact of this war on the situation in Ukraine and the focus of America. It's more on the Middle East than on Ukraine, unfortunately.

'Therefore, you see that our diplomatic meetings are constantly postponed. There is one reason  war in Iran.'

He added that Donald Trump is 'concentrating on Iran'.

On Friday, the US President said the UK 'should have acted a lot faster' in allowing America to use British bases to strike Iranian missile sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz.

It is not the first time Mr Trump has berated Sir Keir Starmer's leadership over the war, with one personal attack blasting him for being 'no Winston Churchill'.

Volodymyr Zelensky (pictured) has said he has a 'very bad feeling' about war in the Middle East affecting efforts to end the fighting in Ukraine

Communal workers at the scene of a Russian drone strike on a residential area in Odesa, Ukraine, March 19 2026, amid the ongoing Russian invasion

Mr Zelensky said the two leaders should meet and 'reload' the relationship.

'Keir is a smart and very good partner, absolutely,' he explained. 'We know there are emotions in everyone at different times. I think Keir's in touch with President Trump, he can meet with him and reload the relationship again.

'It happens. I don't see a big problem, to be honest. Your history is stronger than the emotions of two or three people. Your history is simply stronger.'

Mr Zelensky also said on the programme: 'For Putin, a long war in Iran is a plus. It means the depletion of US reserves and the depletion of air defence manufacturers, so we have a depletion of resources.

'He needs to weaken us and this is a long process. The Middle East is one of the ways to do that.'
There was still no sign of HMS Dragon in Cyprus on Sunday a full three weeks after the Iranian drone strike on RAF Akrotiri.

Quizzed on the whereabouts of the Type 45 Destroyer yesterday, Labour Housing Minister Steve Reed could only say it is 'on its way to the region'.

Despite conflict looming for months, Sir Keir Starmer's Government did not have a single warship in place when it erupted on February 28.

Iranian proxies launched a Shahed UAV which hit Akrotiri, a British Sovereign Base Area, in the early hours of March 2.

The Royal Navy scrambled to get HMS Dragon seaworthy in six days but it has yet to reach Cyprus which is instead relying on French, Italian and Greek ships.

Asked where it is on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg yesterday, Mr Reed said: 'The HMS Dragon will be on its way to the region.

'What happened there is that it was undergoing a six-week refit that was completed in six days instead, thanks to the fantastic capability of our Navy.'

Pushed once more on if it had yet made it to Cyprus, Mr Reed said: 'That ship is now on its way to join the hundreds of additional personnel, the Typhoon fighter jets, the Merlin and Wildcat helicopters that were already stationed in the region before the conflict even began.

Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dragon departed from Portsmouth on March 10 but there was no sign of it in Cyprus

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'The UK was fully prepared with resources there to defend our interests in case this conflict started, and it did start.'

On Sunday a Ministry of Defence spokesman declined to say where it is but said: 'We have deployed HMS Dragon, equipped with the cutting-edge Sea Viper missile system which can take down drones and missiles, to play a vital role in safeguarding UK assets and interests in the Middle East.

This is one element of our wider approach and builds on the defensive capabilities we've been bolstering in the region since January, including additional Typhoons, F-35 jets, air defence systems and an extra 400 air defence personnel into Cyprus.

'Those preparations made a real difference, enabling our troops to conduct defensive operations from day one.'

Meanwhile, Britain's nuclear-powered submarine, HMS Anson, has arrived in the Arabian Sea, say military sources.

The Astute-class vessel is fitted with Tomahawk Block IV land-attack missiles with a range of 1,000 miles and torpedoes.

The fallout from the attack on Akrotiri and Britain's slow response has caused fury in Cyprus. Last week President Nikos Christodoulides said: 'When the situation is over in the Middle East we are going to have an open and frank discussion with the British Government.'
A children's charity has blasted Argos for selling an 'influencer kit' aimed at toddlers.

The wooden set, made by the retailer's in-house toy brand Chad Valley, features wooden toys of the accessories used to make online content.

Children as young as two are encouraged to act out filming videos and posing for selfies in what the makers describe as 'career role-play'.

Smartphone Free Childhood co-founder and director Daisy Greenwell said: 'Is anyone genuinely thinking this is what a two-year-old needs? We have to ask what we're teaching our children to aspire to.

'When we normalise the language and props of influencing in toddlerhood, we send the message that being watched matters more than being curious.

'Childhood should be a time to discover who you are  not to start polishing your personal brand.'

The online description for the set, which costs 15, reads: 'This beautifully crafted wooden live streaming set includes six essential components  a sturdy tripod stand, adjustable aperture lens, miniature camera, smartphone model, tablet, and microphone.

'All can be neatly stored in a convenient carrying pouch.'

Argos has been slammed for selling this 'wooden influencer set'

The set comes with a tripod stand, adjustable aperture lens, miniature camera, smartphone model, tablet, and microphone.

Smartphone Free Childhood co-founder and director Daisy Greenwell said: 'Is anyone genuinely thinking this is what a two-year-old needs?'

Join the discussion What impact do you think influencer culture toys have on young children's values and development?

Smartphone Free Childhood, backed by 250,000 families and celebrities Paloma Faith, Benedict Cumberbatch, Kate Winslet and Myleene Klass, says smartphones damage young people's development, mental health and relationships  and expose them to dangers lurking online.

It comes after MPs rejected an outright ban on social media for under-16s last week.

However, Ofcom ordered Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Roblox and X to have more robust age checks for under-13s.

Mum-of-two Lucy Simpson, 37, from Poole in Dorset, said: 'We shouldn't be teaching our toddlers to make a career out of taking selfies, especially with the use of a ring light.

'Influencers use these to hide blemishes and make their lives appear more polished and perfect. It is completely irresponsible.'

In the UK, 89 per cent of 12-year-olds now own a smartphone, as do a quarter of children aged five to seven. On average, British children get their first smartphone aged nine.

An Argos spokesman said: 'We offer a broad selection of toy sets that encourage imaginative and creative play.

'This product is part of that wider range, which includes items such as our Chad Valley Tool Box, Wooden Toaster and Pizza Counter sets, designed to help children have fun.'
Before she died, TV star Rhoda Roberts said the mysterious, brutal murder of her twin sister - found decapitated in bushland - never left her.

Tributes have poured in since the 66-year-old actress, Indigenous arts leader and theatre producer, died at the weekend from ovarian cancer.

In the background, Rhoda was always the driving force in the quest to find who murdered her sibling Lois Martha Roberts, aged 39, in 1998.

Lois's decapitated body was found in a shallow bush grave off a fire trail in the Whian Whian Forest, 50km west of Byron Bay, on January 8, 1999 - some five months after she disappeared.

Lois's badly decomposed remains, bound with a grey electrical cord, were found in a shallow pit covered with leaves when a bushwalker walked 30m off Nixon's Fire Trail to answer the call of nature.

Lois had around 40 defence wounds on her body. Her head was never found. Police believed she had been held captive for a week or more, tortured and sexually enslaved before she was killed.

At the time, Rhoda was in mid-production of the groundbreaking Indigenous segment of the Sydney 2000 Olympics Opening Ceremony, named Awakening.

She was also then married to the late Australian movie star Bill Hunter.

Twins Lois and Rhoda Roberts grew up in Lismore and were virtually inseparable until Lois was injured in a car accident and then, in 1998, was brutally murdered and decapitated. Rhoda fought for years to bring her sister's killer to justice but has now died aged 66

Lois Martha Roberts vanished in in mid-1998. Five months later, her decapitated remains were found in a remote forest near a fire trail, sparking a decades-long search for her killer

Lois's decomposed remains were found in a shallow pit by a bushwalker who had walked 30m off Nixon's Fire Trail (above) in the Whian Whian state forest

Rhoda - who had gone from guest starring in Blue Heelers, A Country Practice and Home & Away to being a prime mover in TV, stage and music - was also Sydney New Year's Eve creative director and founder of multiple festivals and shows.

Lois was last been seen hitchhiking the 30km home to Lismore from Nimbin Police Station on July 31, 1998. A police officer saw her from a window, looked away, and when he turned back she was gone.

A witness watched Lois get into a white car. Lois was well-known and liked around the NSW Northern Rivers District where she had grown up.

The twins were among the four children of Church of Christ pastor and activist Frank Roberts. Just days before their 21st birthday, Lois was left with a brain injury after surviving an horrific car accident and spent two years in rehabilitation.

Lois had been a hairdresser, but could no longer drive, work or raise kids and thereafter Rhoda and her mother Muriel each took in one of Lois' two young children.

Popular and social though probably too trusting post-brain injury, Lois remained independent and was often seen thumbing a ride around the region.

Her initial disappearance did not spark immediate alarm or action when reported by the Roberts family to the police.

Rhoda was angered by their slow response and the fact they had said that Lois had 'probably gone walkabout'.

At the time her sister Lois disappeared and then was found murdered, Rhoda Roberts (above) was preparing the Indigenous 'Awakening' segment of the Sydney 2000 Olympics Opening Ceremony

Twins Lois and Rhoda Roberts (above as children) grew up in NSW's Northern Rivers region from which Rhoda went on to be an arts supremo, but Lois had a tragic end

'The Coroner's inquest revealed she had been held captive for a period of time before her death,' Rhoda told documentary maker Ivan Sen for his 2007 production, A Sister's Love.

'If the police had acted sooner ... well, who knows?'

Rhoda told Nine News in 2017 that she used her connections to light a fire underneath the local cops, and the police helicopter was out searching for her sister the following day.

But it was still ten days since her brother had first reported Lois missing.

'What people dont understand is that you deal with this every day. It never leaves you,' Rhoda told Nine.

Rhoda suspected a man who had been living at the Nimbin Crystal Tourist Park. The park's owner, now dead, told Rhoda he heard Lois call out from the man's caravan, 'I know who you are, you paedophile and Im going to expose you.'

The owner then heard the sound of a piece of wood hitting a body, and said the next day that there was 'blood outside this guys caravan'. The man said he had only been killing kangaroos.

In 2018, an SBS podcast Cold Justice broadcast three theories about Lois's murder.

Lois Roberts grew up in a respected Northern NSW family and was the twin of arts entrepreneur Rhoda Roberts, but had a tragic car accident followed by her 1998 murder

Lois was last seen alive hitchhiking from Nimbin Police Station in July 1998. Her dismembered remains were found in January the following year in the remote Whian Whian state forest

One related to Lois's alleged last word - that she was about to expose a Lismore paedophile ring. Another centred around her being one of the list of women who disappeared from the Northern Rivers in the late 1990s as suspected victims of a serial killer.

Police had a more compelling theory linked to the the man from Nimbin caravan park, and that he may have killed Lois because he was infatuated with Rhoda.

Police investigated the man, who was never publicly named, and it was found he had handwritten notes in the back of his station wagon, including one with a map to a bush grave.

The map had Rhoda's name written on it, as well as a cross, the trail in Whian Whian forest and a nearby dam.

'He (the detective) spent three hours with me ... he wanted to show me this photograph of this car because he kept thinking the guy was going to come get me,' Rhoda told Nine, 'the detective thought, "Oh, he got the wrong sister."'

The suspect was briefly held and his car impounded, but detectives did not have enough evidence to charge him.

He told them he had drawn the map from details reported in the media.

Police let him go.

Now that Rhoda Roberts is being laid to rest, it remains to be seen who will carry on the fight to find her twin sister's killer.
Prince William has sparked controversy after it was revealed he has a 'quiet faith', despite being destined to govern the Church of England.

Critics were disappointed at the heir to the throne's failure to be more demonstrative, but many members of the clergy were quick to support his reported approach.

Debate was sparked after a source close to the prince confirmed he has a 'quiet faith' and 'commitment to the Church of England', and wishes to build 'a strong and meaningful bond with the Church and its leadership'.

The revelation came shortly before the future king attends the installation of the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, on Wednesday.

Conservative churchman the Reverend Marcus Walker said diplomatically, 'God will find William by the time he is on the throne.'

He told the Daily Mail: 'Elizabeth I said we should not make windows into men's souls, but wherever Prince William is on his journey, I'm sure God will find him.

'Where a person is on their faith journey is a delicate matter.

'The prince has been honest, and I think that's a good thing. He knows his duties and his responsibilities. Hopefully there's a long time before he is Supreme Governor of the Church of England.'

Critics were disappointed at Prince William's failure to be more demonstrative, but many members of the clergy were quick to support his reported approach

Join the discussion Do YOU think Prince Williams quiet faith is the right approach for a future king?

Right-wing broadcaster Calvin Robinson, who is a Christian, said: 'Now is not the time for "quiet faith".'

Referring to the prince, the source told The Sunday Times: '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 very seriously, in my own way".'
An award-winning female novelist has blasted the appointment of a trans woman to an endometriosis charity.

Human rights activist Steph Richards, 73, has been handed the role of parliamentary engagement officer for Endometriosis South Coast, it is reported.

Ms Richards, a trans woman who was born male, previously stepped down as the charity's CEO in 2024 following backlash from women's rights campaigners.

In her new position she will represent the charity to members of parliament (MPs), while continuing to act as chief executive for trans campaign group TransLucent, which she founded.

Amanda Craig, author of novels such as The Lie of the Land and The Golden Rule, compared it to a white person speaking on behalf of black people.

Ms Craig, who has previously suffered from acute endometriosis, told The Times the appointment was 'absolutely ridiculous'.

She added: 'It's as ridiculous as someone purporting to speak for black people when they're white.

'It's fundamentally discordant and wrong. Even if it comes from a good place and wanting to help women.'

Novelist Amanda Craig, author of novels such as The Lie of the Land and The Golden Rule, called the appointment of a trans woman to an endometriosis charity 'absolutely ridiculous'

Steph Richards, a trans woman, previously stepped down as the charity's CEO in 2024 following backlash from women's rights campaigners

In her new position she will represent the charity to members of parliament (MPs), while continuing to act as chief executive for trans campaign group TransLucent, which she founded

However, quizzed about the appointment, Endometriosis South Coast said it was 'scientifically inaccurate' to claim only women experienced endometriosis - and that it also affected trans, non-binary and intersex people.

Rosie Duffield, Independent MP for Canterbury and a prominent proponent of 'gender-critical' ideology, called Ms Richards' appointment 'inappropriate'.

She said she was 'uncomfortable' with the charity being represented in parliament by someone with 'no possible lived experience' of endometriosis.

Endometriosis happens when cells similar to those in the lining of the uterus grow in other parts of the body, causing chronic pain, heavy bleeding and, in many cases, infertility.

Symptoms vary from person to person and can include pelvic pain, periods that interfere with daily life, heavy menstrual bleeding, pain during sex and painful bowel movements.

Yet despite the severity of symptoms, many women struggle for years to be taken seriously.

The latest survey by Endometriosis UK found that 39 per cent of respondents reported needing to visit their GP 10 times or more before the condition was suspected.

For 28-year-old Bethany Backhouse, from Stoke-on-Trent, her symptoms were dismissed for six years before she was diagnosed in 2017.

She said: 'For a long time, I was told I was too young to have endometriosis, I was told that my symptoms were just painful periods, despite passing out at school due to the pain.

'It took about six years for me to get a diagnosis and it has had a huge impact on my education, my mental health and my life.'

This narrative is echoed by Louise Spice, 29, whose periods were 'painful from day one', and she was repeatedly told by her GP that it was just 'heavy periods'.

'My entire teenage memories are of pain, lying in bed and clutching a hot water bottle', she previously told the Daily Mail.

Ms Richards previously described criticism of her leadership of Endometriosis South Coast as 'transphobic'.

The charity said that Ms Richards was 'a volunteer in a parliamentary engagement capacity' and was appointed on the basis of her talents.

They added: 'The ability to advocate meaningfully for a condition does not require personally having that condition; this standard is applied consistently across healthcare, policy, and the voluntary sector, and we apply it here, too.'
This is the moment an Iranian ballistic missile is blown up in space above Israel.

Iran launched a fresh barrage of missiles at Israel late on Sunday night as the two countries continue to trade blows.

Damage was caused at multiple locations in central Israel from debris and fragments of drones but no injuries were reported.

Footage shows an Israeli defence system, said to be an Arrow 3 exoatmospheric anti-ballistic missile, intercepting an Iranian missile in space.

Following the interception, a large light blue and purple glow lights up and lingers in the night sky.

The Arrow 3 system is designed to operate outside the earth's atmosphere, stopping threats while they are in space.

The hypersonic anti-ballistic missile has been used to tackle intercontinental ballistic missiles and can be used to hit enemy satellites.

Israel has already targeted the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force Headquarters for launching satellites.

This is the moment an Iranian ballistic missile is blown up in space above Israel

Following the interception, a large light blue and purple glow lights up and lingers in the night sky

The headquarters had been used by the IRGC to bolster its aerospace efforts, including the 2022 launch of the Khayyam satellite.

Despite Israel's highly advanced defence technologies, at least 180 people were wounded in two Iranian strikes on two southern Israeli towns near to a nuclear facility.

Israel's health ministry said 116 people were injured in Arad and another 64 in Dimona, following ballistic missile strikes on the towns on Saturday evening.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the site of the impact in Arad, and said it was a 'miracle' that no one was killed.

He also claimed Iran's missiles have 'the capacity to reach deep into Europe' and the regime is 'putting everyone in their sights.'

The Israeli Air Force has said Iran has fired 400 missiles at Israel since the war began, with 92 per cent succesully intercepted.
A small North Queensland town has become one of the first areas outside of remote Australia to hit the $3-a-litre mark for diesel.

The NightOwl Shell service station on Queen Street, Ayr, raised prices on Monday - and also ran out of standard E10 - sparking fury from local residents.

It comes as Assistant Trade Minister Matt Thistlethwaite refused to rule out petrol prices soaring past $4-a-litre as the conflict between US, Israel and Iran enters its fourth week.

An Ayr resident told the Daily Mail she blamed the Albanese government for the situation.

'Three dollars a litre for diesel. I've lived here all my life and I've never seen anything like it,' she said.

'Every dollar on the diesel price goes straight onto the cost of getting food to the table for people in the cities - but they're the ones voting for the government that got us here.

'We're not just paying for our own fuel. We're paying for their greeny bulls***.'

She argued that regional communities were being left behind and would suffer the most.

Diesel at the Nightown Shell station in Ayr broke $3-a-litre, with no E10 fuel available

'Everything comes by truck up here. Groceries, medicines. Everyone in town pays for it.

'And the economy up here relies on diesel. What about the tradies and people out at the mines who drive in and drive out... how is this sustainable?'

Fuel costs have climbed sharply since coordinated USIsraeli strikes on Iran triggered the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint through which 20 per cent of global oil supply flows.

Diesel prices in parts of Sydney and Melbourne are already nearing $3 a litre, while unleaded 91 is averaging about $2.45.

Assistant Minister Thistlethwaite, when asked whether Australians could soon pay $4 a litre, said he could not offer certainty.

'I can't speculate on what's going to happen with prices, but obviously, the longer the conflict goes on, the more potential it has to restrict supplies and push up prices,' he told Sky News.

'This conflict is having an effect, and the longer that it goes on, the more destabilising it could be.

'That's why the Prime Minister and our government has been calling on the Trump administration and the Netanyahu administration to try and negotiate a ceasefire.'

The Albanese Government was unable to comment on whether fuel will hit $4-a-litre

Thistlethwaite said the government was working to protect Australia's fuel security.

'The Prime Minister is negotiating with our Asian neighbours and counterparts to try and maximise the amount of fuel that is available in Australia,' he said.

'But at the moment, people should take what they need and no more, and we'll continue to work through this situation.'

The $4-a-litre price threat comes as International Energy Agency executive director Dr Fatih Birol revealed the world is losing more barrels of oil each day than during the two 1970s oil crises combined.

He described the ongoing situation in the Middle East as 'very serious', and worse than two oil crises in 1973 and 1979.

'At that time, in each of the crises, the world has lost about five million barrels per day, both of them together, 10 million barrels per day,' Dr Birol told the National Press Club in Canberra on Monday.

'And after that we all know that there was major economic problems around the world, and today, we lost 11 million barrels per day. So more than two major oil shocks put together.'

Gas markets have also been heavily impacted during the ongoing Iranian conflict - almost double that during Russias invasion of Ukraine.

'So the situation is if we want to put in a context, this crisis, as it stands now, two oil crisis and one gas crash put all together,' Dr Birol said.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen at the weekend admitted it would be 'sensible' for Australians to work from home more often during the fuel crisis.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has expressed concern that the Albanese government did not act urgently enough in response to the fuel supply crisis.

State Treasurer and Energy Minister David Janetski also wrote to the federal government as early as March 10, calling for stronger guarantees to protect fuel supplies in regional areas.
An elderly Tennessee DoorDash driver who raked in nearly $1 million after a viral video captured him struggling with a Starbucks delivery revealed that hes not retiring after the generous influx of donations.

Richard Pulley, 78, was seen on doorbell footage struggling to climb the stairs as he slowly made his way to Brittany Smith's front door earlier this month to deliver a coffee order for her daughter.

Smith, a nurse in Manchester, set up a GoFundMe page called 'Give Richard a Chance to Rest Again' after discovering he had been forced out of retirement when his wife, Brenda, abruptly lost her job.

On Friday, Pulley was handed a life-changing check totaling $965,868 after more than 32,000 people donated, including a $20,000 contribution from the company itself.

But even after viral fame and a massive payday, Pulley revealed that hell be back to work within a few days, according to Today.com.

'Theyve set my wife and I up so that we can live a more comfortable life,' the hardworking driver told the outlet.

'But after a week or two of this and it cools down, well get back to work because I feel good being useful,' he added.

Instead, his wife said they plan to use the funds to slow down and ease financial stress, with Pulley adding that the donations are 'making life livable once again,' according to WSMV 4 News.

Richard Pulley, a 78-year-old DoorDash driver, was handed a life-changing check totaling $965,868 from a GoFundMe set up for him and his wife, Brenda (both pictured)

Pulley was seen on doorbell footage struggling to climb the stairs as he slowly made his way to Brittany Smith's front door earlier this month

Smith (left), a nurse in Manchester, set up a fundraiser after discovering Pulley (center) was forced out of retirement when his wife, Brenda (right), abruptly lost her job

'I taught myself how to be a good worker again, although the last couple of shifts have worked out hard because people stop and take pictures with me and all sorts of things,' he told Today.

'I'll get back to work in the next few days,' he added, explaining that while the job was initially for money, it has also given him the benefit of daily exercise.

The touching tale began just weeks ago, when Smith said she was not happy after learning that her daughters father had arranged for Starbucks to be delivered to her front door for the third time that week, according to The Independent.

That one order, however, may have been fate. When Smith clicked on the Ring doorbell app, she saw 'a little old man walking up the steps.'

'My heart just sank,' she told Today.

In the brief clip lasting just 20 seconds, an elderly man in a plaid button-down shirt and khakis gripped the handrail as he slowly climbed a small set of stairs and carefully set a brown paper bag at the front door.

'I called my husband and was like, "I don't know what kind of tip you left this man, but it better have been a good one,"' Smith told Today, explaining that her husband, who is quadriplegic, never had any contact with the driver.

'He's like "Why?"' she added. 'I downloaded the video and sent it to him and he's like, "Oh my God, that is awful."'

Pulley (pictured) revealed that hell be back to work within a few days, despite the newfound fame and massive payout

Brenda said they plan to use the funds to slow down and ease financial stress, with her husband adding that the donations are 'making life livable once again'

Pulley's wife of 56 years was let go from an insurance company, and while they receive Social Security, it wasn't enough to cover her medication costing thousands a year (both pictured)

Smith felt compelled to use social media to track down the 'precious man,' sharing the moving video in an effort to learn his name.

The clip quickly amassed millions of views, with one Facebook user recognizing the man as Pulley, who regularly delivered DoorDash orders to her office.

Smith tracked down his address, confirmed the car in the driveway matched her doorbell footage and showed up at his door with an unexpected $200 tip.

'They are the most genuine people I have ever met,' she told the outlet. 'He genuinely loves and cares for her and she genuinely loves and cares for him.'

She later learned that Pulley had come out of retirement after his wife of 56 years lost her job, leaving the couple with little to nothing after paying monthly bills and medication costs.

'My wife was working for an insurance company and they ended up letting her go,' Pulley told Today, adding that while they receive Social Security, it still wasnt enough to cover his wifes expensive medication costing thousands a year.

'When she left, it really put a pinch on us to pay bills,' he added. 'I had gotten lazy. You know, when we get 65 and retire... I wasnt doing a lot, but all of a sudden, I had to get to work.'

Over the past year, hes completed around 6,000 DoorDash deliveries full-time while working alongside his wife, who stays behind the wheel as he hops out to deliver the goods.

In a year, Pulley has completed around 6,000 DoorDash deliveries full-time while working alongside his wife

Smith and her daughter met Pulley and his wife at a local burger restaurant just days later to reveal the total amount of donations (all pictured)

More than 32,000 people donated to Pulley's fundraiser, including a $20,000 contribution from DoorDash

'With just one income in the family, you have to push. Just losing that, we had to supplement it,' Pulley told WSMV.

Brenda added: 'When youre past your mid-70s, theres not exactly a line of people waiting to hire you.'

'Sometimes you just look at all the things that you need to pay because if it dont, youre going to end up in the hospital with something even more expensive than that.'

Smiths fundraiser exploded online overnight, drawing donations from over 12,000 people by the very next day.

She and her daughter met Pulley and his wife at a local burger restaurant just days later to reveal the total amount of donations.

The couple were stunned by the generosity, admitting it was hard to believe that complete strangers had come together to support them.

'Its just really difficult to believe that theres that many people that are that generous to try to help us. People that dont even know us,' Brenda told the outlet.

'I just cant believe that someone would be that caring to set this up for us,' she added. 'It takes off a lot. It really does.'

Smith said that the response to the fundraiser was 'overwhelming,' but she would 'do it all over again in a heartbeat'

Pulley said that while the job was initially for money, it has also given him the benefit of daily exercise

The couple said it was hard to believe there is 'that many people that are that generous to try to help us,' especially complete strangers

Smith said that while the response to the fundraiser was 'overwhelming,' she would 'do it all over again in a heartbeat.'

'I don't know,' she told WSMV. 'It's just, I love this man.'

Her daughter added: 'I want him to be my grandpa.'
The showdown between US President Donald Trump and Iran over access to the Strait of Hormuz has entered a critical stage as experts warn the world economy is under 'major threat.'

Iran maintains they have control of the strait, through which 20 percent of the world's oil passes. The regime has barred access through the narrow waterway to anyone except countries allied with Iran.

International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol has now warned that the global economy is under 'major threat' from the ongoing closure of the strait, and said 'no country will be immune' to its effects.

'This crisis, as things stand, is now two oil crises and one gas crash put all together,' he said at the National Press Club in Australia's capital, comparing the current energy crisis to those of the 1970s and the effects of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

'The global economy is facing a major, major threat today, and I very much hope that this issue will be resolved as soon as possible,' Birol said.

'No country will be immune to the effects of this crisis if it continues to go in this direction. So there is a need for global efforts,' he added, noting that 'at least 40 energy assets in the region are severely or very severely damaged across nine countries.'

President Trump has threatened to destroy those assets even further, warning on Saturday night that if Iran did not open up the major trade route within 48 hours, he would 'obliterate' the country's nuclear power plants - 'starting with the biggest one first.'

US President Donald Trump has threatened to target Iran's nuclear facilities if the country doesn't open the Strait of Hormuz by Monday night

International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol has now warned that the global economy is under 'major threat' from the ongoing closure of the strait

Trump threatened on his Truth Social platform Saturday night to strike the 'biggest' power plant in Iran first if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened

He called his threat on Sunday night 'PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH'

He then doubled down on that threat late Sunday night, writing on his Truth Social page: 'PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, TO PUT IT MILDLY!!!'

Iranian officials now have until Monday night to heed that warning, though they have thus far remained firm, warning that if its plants were decimated then energy infrastructure 'across the entire region' would be 'irreversibly destroyed'.

They also warned that the Strait of Hormuz would be 'completely closed' and that they would hit Israeli nuclear sites.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed that Tehran would 'firmly confront delirious threats on the battlefield.'

He added: 'The illusion of erasing Iran from the map shows desperation against the will of a historymaking nation. Threats and terror only strengthen our unity. The Strait of Hormuz is open to all except those who violate our soil.'

As Washington DC now debates how to respond to the threat, thousands of US Marines are already heading to the region.

Those troops could be used for a potential invasion of Kharg Island to seize the strategically vital territory through which Iran exports 90 percent of its crude oil and to force Tehran to surrender.

But the Iranian regime warned if they do so it will 'face a response that is unprecedented' as they would 'set fire to all the facilities in the region' which would likely crash the global economy.

Join the discussion Should the world risk all-out war to keep the Strait of Hormuz open for global oil supplies?

Iranian officials have warned that if its plants were decimated then energy infrastructure 'across the entire region' would be 'irreversibly destroyed.' An Iranian man walks past a view of Tehran's research reactor late last month

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Amid the back-and-forth, the World Health Organization has warned that the war has entered a 'perilous stage.'

'I urgently call on all parties to exercise maximum military restraint and avoid any actions that could trigger nuclear incidents,' said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO directorgeneral.

At the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV also called for an end to hostilities, saying the death and suffering caused by the war in the Middle East are a 'scandal to the whole human family.'

'We cannot remain silent in the face of the suffering of so many people, the defenseless victims of these conflicts. What hurts them hurts the whole of humanity,' Leo said at his weekly Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square.

'The death and pain caused by these wars are a scandal for the entire human family and a cry that rises to God,' he continued.

'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,' the pope added.

Yet Iranian forces launched a fresh barrage of missiles at Israel late Sunday night, causing damage at multiple locations in central Israel from debris and fragments of drones, but no injuries were reported.

Footage shared online shows an Israeli defense system, said to be an Arrow 3 exoatmospheric anti-ballistic missile, intercepting an Iranian missile in space.

Following the interception, a large light blue and purple glow lights up and lingers in the night sky.

Iranian forces launched a fresh barrage of missiles at Israel late Sunday night

The Iranian missiles (pictured) caused some damage in central Israel, but no injuries were reported

The Arrow 3 system is designed to operate outside the Earth's atmosphere, stopping threats while they are in space.

The hypersonic anti-ballistic missile has been used to tackle intercontinental ballistic missiles and can be used to hit enemy satellites.

Israel has already targeted the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force Headquarters for launching satellites.

It has said Iran has fired more than 400 ballistic missiles at the country since the start of the war, with around 92 percent of them intercepted.

Israeli officials now say they will continue striking Iran for at least another three weeks, with IDF chief of staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir saying, 'We are halfway through.'

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also vowed: 'We're going after the IRGC [Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps], this criminal gang.

'We're going after them personally, their leaders, their installations, their economic assets,' he vowed as he assessed the damage in Dimona, southern Israel, where two Iranian missiles struck and injured more than 160 people, including 70 children.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to 'go after the IRGC'

He made the comments as he assessed the damage in Dimona, southern Israel, where two Iranian missiles struck down and injured more than 160 people, including 70 children

But on Friday, Iranian officials warned that they would start attacking civilian targets worldwide, including at luxury resorts, as millions of Americans headed out for spring break.

General Abolfazl Shekarchi further warned that Israeli and US officials would not be safe after strikes wiped out Iran's leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Following the threats, Americans around the globe, especially those in the Middle East, were reminded on Sunday by the State Department to follow the guidance of their nearest US embassy or consulate.

They 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 FBI and the Department of Homeland Security have already put their counterterrorism operations on 'high alert' for possible Iranian retaliation on US soil.
Read also: Three rushed to hospital and dozens evacuated

He is in a stable condition

The man was in his 50s

A man has suffered catastrophic injuries and lost his leg after welding equipment caused a gas bottle explosion in Western Sydney.

NSW Ambulance said the male, in his 50s, suffered injuries to his face and legs on Grevillea Road, Chester Hill just before 12.30pm on Monday.

'He had facial injuries as well as serious shrapnel wounds on his leg,' the spokesman said.

Witnesses saw smoke and heard a loud explosion that echoed across multiple streets before contacting emergency services.

Fire and Rescue NSW said on arrival, crews found no active fire, but discovered one person suffering serious injuries.

The explosion was believed to have been linked to a welding accident although the welding gas bottle did not explode.

Two fire engines and eight firefighters were on scene as well as four ambulance crews including an aeromedical team with critical care paramedics.

'Specialist HAZMAT firefighters conducted atmospheric testing using gas detectors, with no issues or hazards identified,' a Fire and Rescue NSW spokesman said.

A man has suffered catastrophic injuries and lost his leg after welding equipment caused a gas bottle explosion on Grevillea Road, Chester Hill

The man was transported to Royal North Shore Hospital and is in a serious but stable condition.
An Air Canada flight collided with a ground vehicle while landing at LaGuardia Airport in New York City on Sunday night, leaving the pilot and co-pilot dead.

The flight from Montreal was landing at around 11:40pm when the aircraft struck a Port Authority rescue vehicle on the runway, a spokesman told the Daily Mail.

Sources told NBC New York that the pilot and co-pilot died in the collision. Multiple others were injured.

The aircraft struck the rescue vehicle, which was responding to a separate incident at the time, the Port Authority spokesman added.

The plane could be seen on the tarmac after the incident, with its nose badly damaged, front tilted into the air.

The flight was affiliated with Jazz Aviation, a regional airline in Nova Scotia, and was operating on behalf of Air Canada.

'Emergency response protocols were immediately activated. The Port Authority Police Department is on scene along with the agencys Chairman and Executive Director,' a Port Authority spokesman said in a statement.

'The Port Authority Police Department is working closely with our airline partners as well as federal authorities, and will provide additional updates as more details become available.'

An Air Canada Express plane collided with a Port Authority vehicle on Sunday night on Runway 4 of LaGuardia Airport. The cockpit suffered severe damage

The Port Authority vehicle was turned on its side as several emergency responders flooded the runway

The jet, which had reportedly been carrying 76 passengers and crew, being removed from the runway by Port Authority Police following the incident

The New York Fire Department confirmed to the Daily Mail that its crews had received reports of an incident involving an aircraft and a vehicle on runway four.

The Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft was reportedly carrying 76 passengers and crew during the incident.

The Federal Aviation Administration announced a ground stop due to an aircraft emergency, effectively closing LaGuardia Airport at 11.50pm EST.

Photos of the aftermath showed Port Authority Police removing the front half of the plane.

Port Authority's vehicle was pictured after the collision turned on its side as several emergency responders flooded the runway.

The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into the collision.

The Daily Mail has reached out to LaGuardia Airport, the FAA and Air Canada for comment.

LaGuardia warned of flight disruptions due to weather conditions at 8.30pm EST as New York experienced rainy conditions.

The incident comes as airports are already facing mounting pressure amid a DHS funding standoff.

Join the discussion What do you think are the biggest risks facing airport safety right now and who's really to blame?

Photos of the crash first circulated on the Citizen app. The grainy images depicted the front of the plane badly damaged as emergency services arrived

Emergency personnel worked to clear the damage overnight on Monday in the aftermath of the collision

Port Authority Police and FDNY responded to the collision. LaGuardia subsequently closed to allow emergency crews to respond. The aftermath of the collision is pictured above as Port Authority worked to clear the plane

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LaGuardia is among many airports facing challenges, with employees forced to work without pay and passengers facing long security lines.

Travelers reported lines spilling through the parking lot on Sunday morning, with some saying they waited for up to three hours.

Donald Trump announced that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents would be sent to airports on Monday to help TSA agents.

'If the Democrats do not allow for Just and Proper Security at our Airports, and elsewhere throughout our Country, ICE will do the job far better than ever done before!' Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Saturday.

'I look forward to moving ICE in on Monday, and have already told them to,"GET READY." NO MORE WAITING, NO MORE GAMES!'

Multiple emergency personnel vehicles reponsed to the scene, pictured above. The massive response caused the airport to close

Information is still coming to light as to what caused the crash. A massive rescue presence was seen at the airport in the early hours of Monday

The Port Authority vehicle was responding to a separate incident when the crash occurred. The Air Canada plane is pictured above on the tarmac in the aftermath of the collision

Border czar Tom Homan told CNN that he had been working to finalize a plan with ICE Director Tedd Lyons and acting TSA administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill to deploy ICE agents.

He added that the officials would have a plan, including which airports would be targeted, in place by the end of the day on Sunday.
An innocent bystander has suffered serious injuries after a woman fell to her death on top of him in a suspected suicide from a building rooftop in Melbourne CBD.

The male pedestrian was on a footpath in a laneway near the city's courts precinct on William St when the woman suddenly plunged from the sky and landed on him.

The woman was killed instantly, but the man, believed to be in his 30s, survived although he was critically injured.

It is understood the man was having a cigarette and standing next to the 19-storey building on William Street just before midday on Monday, when the woman fell from a height and landed on him.

Emergency services responded quickly, but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

The man suffered serious injuries to his upper body and was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital where he is in a serious condition.

Police said the woman's death is not being treated as suspicious. A brief will be prepared for the coroner.

The incident comes just weeks after a bank worker died in a plunge from the 14th floor of an NAB corporate building in nearby Bourke Street in Docklands.

It's understood the man had been smoking a cigarette in a laneway when he was crushed by the falling woman

The alleyway has a construction site at one end and the woman fell from the building above

The laneway is located near William St (pictured) in the Melbourne CBD

Victoria Police confirmed it attended that tragic incident in the CBD on March 5.

A worker in NAB's fraud division is understood to have taken his own life by plunging from the roof of the bank in front of his colleagues.

If you need support, contact Lifeline 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 224 636
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has blasted One Nation after a senator belonging to the party grilled her over the Prime Minister's chaotic visit to Lakemba Mosque.

Senator Malcolm Roberts raised the March 20 incident during a fiery Question Time this week.

The confrontation erupted when Anthony Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke attended Eid prayers at the mosque. Parts of the crowd were hostile and the PM was heckled, booed and insulted.

Video online shows worshippers shouted 'Get out!', accused the PM of being a 'genocide supporter,' and one man yelled 'putrid dog.' Security rushed Albanese away as people surged towards him.

Roberts used the scenes to question whether the Prime Minister felt safe.

'Videos posted of the incident show, by my count, 20 people in the security team, including uniformed officers from NSW Police who took up a position inside,' he said.

Roberts claimed Albanese had 'never needed a 20person security detail to attend a Christian church' or meet 'everyday Australians', but now needed heavy protection in Lakemba. He then echoed Pauline Hanson's comments about the suburb being 'unwelcoming'.

'One Nation leader, Senator Hanson, remarked only three weeks ago that Lakemba wasn't safe for everyday Australians,' he said.

'If the Prime Minister organised a 20person security detail doesn't that prove the Prime Minister believed Lakemba mosque was not a safe place for him to visit?'

Penny Wong (pictured) slammed the Liberals for preferencing One Nation in the SA election

MPs erupted, yelling 'shame!' across the chamber.

Wong fired back. 'I'm sorry, I disagree with most of what is included in your question,' she said.

She argued that many Australians were 'rightly distressed by the conflict in Gaza, the loss of life,' but insisted politicians should avoid 'turning up the temperature' or 'making people angry'.

She also took a swipe at the Greens for doing so moments earlier and defended Albanese's mosque visit as leadership.

'It is a good thing for the Prime Minister of the country to go to a mosque and to engage with Australian Muslims That is about our social cohesion.'

She added: 'We should work to protect a society where we can have differences of views without anger, and without division.'

Roberts pushed again: 'My question was about whether or not the Prime Minister felt safe. Is it true, Minister, that social cohesion in the hands of the Albanese government simply means surrendering to radical Islam?'

That line sent Wong over the edge, with her unleashing on the Liberal Party for preferencing One Nation in the South Australian election, which is expected to help the party secure up to four lowerhouse seats.

One Nation's Malcolm Roberts (pictured) asked if Labor had surrendered to 'radical Islam'

'I do hope that members of the Liberal Party listen to that question and recognise that the result in South Australia is fueled by your preferences,' Wong snapped.

'You are delivering them votes and seats I hope you think about that. The party that is now cannibalising you, you are fueling their support.'

Wong then slammed Roberts' claim about 'everyday Australians.'

'Everyday Australians come from all walks of life, all faiths, all backgrounds Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, Christians, members of the Jewish community.'

Despite the uproar, Albanese later downplayed the mosque confrontation.

He insisted the visit was 'incredibly positive' aside from 'a couple of hecklers in a crowd of 30,000.'
Four Jewish volunteer ambulances were set on fire outside a synagogue in London this morning in a suspected antisemitic hate crime condemned by Keir Starmer.

Police are investigating after vehicles belonging to the Jewish Community Ambulance service were torched in the late night arson attack.

Six fire engines and 40 firefighters rushed to Highfield Road, near the Mchzike Hadath synagogue in Golders Green, at around 1.45am to put out the flames. No one was injured.

CCTV footage shared on social media shows three hooded suspects approaching a parked ambulance before it ignites into flames. They then flee the area.

Another shows the ambulances engulfed in flames, with several loud explosions heard in the background.

The force of the blasts, believed to be gas canisters onboard the Hatzola ambulances, caused windows to break in a nearby block of flats.

The synagogue, which is one of the oldest in Europe, has its roof damaged and stained glass windows smashed in the fire.

Condemning the 'deeply shocking' attack, Sir Keir Starmer said: 'My thoughts are with the Jewish community who are waking up this morning to this horrific news.

'Antisemitism has no place in our society. Anyone with any information must come forward to the police.'

Gideon Falter, chief executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: 'We are absolutely heartbroken that this is how low Britain has sunk. This horrific act truly plumbs new depths.'

The ambulances were provided by the volunteer-run Jewish organisation Hatzola, which provides free emergency medical response and transportation to hospitals.

Three hooded suspects were seen approaching the emergency vehicles before they were set alight

Four ambulances were set on fire in the Jewish community of Golders Green in London

Three of the community ambulances were left in pieces and burned out after fires triggered explosions inside the vehicles

Around 40 firefighters were called after multiple cylinders on the vehicles exploded

Residents in the area were evacuated as a precaution and roads in the surrounding area remain closed.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced that the four ambulances would be replaced by vehicles from the London Ambulance Service.

Speaking at the scene of the attack in North London, he said: 'We will be providing four replacement ambulances on loan initially before permanent replacements can be found.

'The Jewish community cannot foot the bill for this.'

He added: 'Antisemitism is an old hatred, but it is alive and kicking in our country and all of us, particularly those who are not Jewish, have to wake up, stand up and work with our Jewish friends and neighbours in confronting and defeating this despicable hatred.'

Damon Hoff, chairman of the synagogue that hosts the Hotzala ambulances, lives in the local area and heard the explosions.

He told the Daily Mail: 'The smoke was blowing, and it's frightening. It is frightening. And when those explosions are going, it's terrifying.

'They were worried there was a gas leak, but we don't know if there was.

'I think this is the greatest sense of vulnerability that you have, that you actually are attacked in your home.

'This is an overt attack on the Jewish community, and it's ambulances. It's absolutely intended to instill fear, and that's exactly what it's done.'

Mr Hoff said there was also damage to the roof of the synagogue and stained glass windows had been shattered.

'Those things you can replace, but you can't replace the scar tissue,' he added.

Jack Taub, 33, is part of the leadership at the Machzike Hadath Synagogue, which was damaged in the attack.

He said: 'This synagogue was targeted because it is one of the oldest in Europe. It's an emblem of the community.

'We don't know exactly how bad the damage is to the synagogue, but we think we can see some of the windows have been blown out by the force of the explosion.

'We have to figure out how to resume operations as soon as possible at the synagogue. We want to get straight back to it.

'But it doesn't scare us. It's obviously disappointing, it's saddening, but our resilience is there. This is not gonna be a defining moment for this community. If anything, it's gonna embolden us to build back better and stronger, and will increase our security.

'The Hatzala ambulance service looks after people in the general community. It's not limited just to Jewish people. Anyone that lives in the local community benefits from the service.'

Sam Denciger, 44, a Shomrim volunteer who lives nearby, was awoken in the middle of the night to the sound of explosions.

'When I arrived, the place was full of was full of smoke and fire,' he told the Daily Mail.

'We tried to see where we could help and thankfully no one was hurt. My daughter who lives on the road was evacuated, the whole building was.'

Lucy, who also lives in Golders Green, told the Daily Mail: 'I'm stunned to my core.

'I am absolutely horrified, the thing that makes it so much worse is that ambulances care for vulnerable people so this was not just the 'normalised' anti-Zionist attack, its an attack on vulnerable individuals and the communities ability to look after vulnerable people.

'How many people will suffer as a result? Heart attacks, stroke victims, choking children. I think this is a very shocking thing and should be a wakeup call if its not already.'

She added: 'There's a sense at the moment that I feel there's an absolute silence and people need to really talk and think about what's happening to their society, antisemitism in any society is a bad thing, it's a sign of social decline.

'I feel so isolated, I was never a religious Jew, but people don't understand our spirit, we feel as one.'

You could fit the number of adult voting Jews in the UK in the city the side of York, it's like it's happening to a small town, that's how we feel.'

Dov Forman, 22, is a local author and campaigner against antisemitism.

He is the great-grandson of Holocaust survivor Lily Ebert, who passed away in October 2024.

Mr Forman said his great-grandmother had been helped multiple times by the ambulance service, adding: 'Everyone here will have a story about Hatzola, the incredible work they do to save lives every single day.'

Join the discussion Should laws be tougher when it comes to hate crime?

The suspects were seen on CCTV running away from the scene on foot

Firefighters surveying the damage on Monday morning after the arson attack in Golders Green

Aerial footage shows the aftermath of the blaze, where three of the ambulances have been completely destroyed

Hatzola, which was established in 1979 and is run by volunteers, provides free medical transportation to those living in North London.

Seeking to reassure Londoners on Monday, Sir Sadiq Khan said: 'This is a cowardly attack on the Jewish community.

'I am in close contact with the police who are stepping up patrols in the area, and I urge anyone with information to come forward.

'Londoners will never be cowed by this kind of hatred and intimidation.'

Superintendent Sarah Jackson, said: 'We know this incident will cause a great deal of community concern and officers remain on scene to carry out urgent enquiries.

'We are in the process of examining CCTV and are aware of online footage. We believe we are looking for three suspects at this early stage.'

No arrests have been made and anyone with information is being urged to come forward. Patrols are being ramped up in the local area.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the fire as a 'sickening attack', in a statement on social media.

He added: 'Thank goodness there appear to be no injuries. Anyone with information should come forward to the Police. We must stand together against antisemitic hatred.'

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said in a statement on X: 'The deliberate arson attacks against Hatzola ambulances in London are a particularly sickening assault - not only on the Jewish community, but on the values we share as a society.

'Our Hatzola volunteer ambulance corps is an extraordinary service, whose sole mission is to protect life, Jewish and non-Jewish alike.

'The targeting of Hatzola by people so committed to terror, hatred and the desecration of life is a most painful illustration of the ongoing battle between those who sanctify life and those who seek to destroy it.

'At a time when Jewish communities around the world are facing a growing pattern of these violent attacks, we will meet this moment with shared resolve and stand together against hatred and intimidation.'

Community Security Trust (CST), a charity which monitors antisemitism in the UK, confirmed in a statement on X that it was assisting police in their enquiries.

They said: 'We are aware of multiple Hatzola ambulances that have been deliberately set alight in London.

'This has obvious comparison to similar antisemitic arson attacks recently in Belgium and the Netherlands.'

The area was cordoned off by police while 40 firefighters responded to the blaze

Firefighters pictured on the scene in Golders Green London after an arson attack on four vehicles

Shomrim, a non-profit organisation which operates a neighbourhood watch in the Golders Green neighbourhood, said it was 'aware of loud explosions' early on Monday morning.

'The explosions were caused by oxygen tanks not a bomb or explosive device,' they said.

Golders Green ward councillor Dean Cohen, who was at the scene, told Jewish News that the fact the incident was taking place in the 'car park of a synagogue is particularly chilling and will send shockwaves through our community at a time of already heightened fears over antisemitism in the UK'.

He said: 'It's beyond time for the authorities to wake and do more to tackle this hate running riot.'

Councillor Peter Zinkin, who represents the Golders Green ward on Barnet Council, added: 'We will be doing everything we can to encourage the police, and of course, our own Community Security Trust, to recognise the elevated level of threat that we now seem to be under, and to increase the level of security, which the community is sheltering behind, which is just terrible. Just terrible.'

Cllr Barry Rawlings, the Leader of Barnet Council, said: 'Hate crime in any form will not be tolerated in our borough.

'An attack on one part of our community is an attack on us all. We stand in full solidarity with our Jewish residents and with all the other communities who make up Golders Green and who are feeling vulnerable today as a result of this cowardly act.'

Housing minister Matthew Pennycook said the apparent arson attack on ambulances in Golders Green, north London, was 'deeply shocking'.

When asked whether there was a concern it could be a pro-Iranian attack, Mr Pennycook said: 'I'm sure the security services will be looking into that, and the Met will be investigating. I'm very reluctant to get ahead of what is still a live investigation.'

Board of Deputies of British Jews President Phil Rosenberg said the attack on Hatzola Jewish community ambulances was 'despicable'.

Mr Rosenberg said: 'While the motives are unclear at this stage, this attack comes in the context of rising antisemitism around the world. This is a threat not just to the Jewish community but to our societies as a whole.

'The UK Jewish community will meet the moment with strength, pride and resolve. We will replace the ambulances and continue our service to this nation that we love.

'We shall not be moved.'

The ambulances used by Hatxola are custom made and are funding from donations made by members of the community.

The charity is fundraising to raise funds to replace the vehicles damaged in the fire.

It comes after an art exhibition was reported to police after accusations it displayed antisemitic and Nazi imagery.

The exhibition, titled Drawings Against Genocide, was reported for depicting Jews using offensive stereotypes and inflammatory symbolism linked to the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Critics said 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.
The second person ever to be charged with terrorism offences in Western Australia is seeking bail ahead of his trial as more details of his alleged plot are revealed.

Jayson Joseph Michaels, a 20-year-old from Bindoon - about 75km north of Perth, attended Perth Magistrates Court on Monday for a bail application hearing.

Michaels was arrested on February 26 after a joint counter-terrorism raid at his parents' home, where he lived, allegedly uncovered an arsenal of weapons, including hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and dozens of guns and knives.

Officers also allegedly found a 'manifesto-style document outlining plans for a nationalist and racist ideologically-motivated act of violent extremism involving mass casualties', WA Police said.

It's alleged Michaels, who worked at a gravel business, had intended to attack Parliament House, police headquarters and Muslim places of worship in Perth.

He was charged with preparation for a terrorist act, firearm offences, possessing a prohibited weapon and using a carriage service to harass or cause offence.

The 20-year-old has been remanded to custody since his arrest and has not entered any pleas.

Magistrate Belinda Coleman on Monday said she would need more time to review the home detention report and affidavit submitted as part of Michaels' bail application.

Jayson Joseph Michaels (above) allegedly planned terrorist attacks on Parliament House, police headquarters and Muslim places of worship in Perth

Officers allegedly found dozens of rounds of ammunition, guns and knives at the home of Michaels' parents

'I need to consider the matter and I'm not going to rush through it  I don't want to take a precursory glance,' she said, Newscorp reported.

Commissioner Col Blanch previously revealed police were tipped to investigate Michaels after he allegedly shared antisemitic, Islamophobic and racially-motivated hate speech over an encrypted messaging app.

Prosecutors will allege Michaels was radicalised online by white supremacist ideology and hate websites.

'We will allege he was acting alone to prepare for an extremely serious terrorist attack that would create a mass casualty event,' Commissioner Blanch said.

Premier Roger Cook praised police following Michaels' arrest last month.

'Whatever our differences, we all have the right to go about our lives free from the fear of violence,' he told reporters.

It's understood Michaels' lawyer, Christian Porter, will interview a detective on evidence collected for the case and its exceptional circumstances.

Mr Porter told the court on Monday his case required answers on how different facts might be interpreted.

The matter was adjourned to April 1.
Nine people have died and at least 15 were injured after a minibus taking holidaymakers on an excursion to a mountain in the Peruvian Andes plunged down a hill.

Local firefighters said around 25 tourists and their guides were on the vehicle, which was about 10 miles from the famous 17,969ft Rajuntay mountain when it crashed.

Peru's Health Ministry confirmed in a statement overnight: 'The incident has left 15 people injured who have been transferred to four different hospitals.

'Nine people have died, seven at the scene of the accident and two in hospital.

'Through its emergency teams, the Ministry of health will continue to offer full assistance to the casualties.'

Firefighters involved in the rescue operation said: 'A tourist bus that veered off the road and overturned on the highway toward Marcapomacocha, approximately 15 kilometres from the Rajuntay snow-capped mountain.

The vehicle was carrying around 25 tourists along with tour guides, with multiple injuries reported at the scene on Sunday.

'Upon our arrival, an emergency triage was immediately carried out, allowing the victims to be classified according to the severity of their injuries and prioritising their evacuation to health centres with greater capacity for care.

Pictures from the scene showed the crash vehicle on its roof with passenger belongings flung on the ground around it

An investigation into the cause of the accident was ongoing today, with local reports saying the foggy conditions in the area at the time could have been a factor

'Subsequently, the affected individuals were evaluated and stabilised on site.

'Patients were transported to health centres in the area, including a more serious case referred to the Hospital of Matucana and others to the Casapalca clinic, with the support of the National Police of Peru. '

It was not immediately clear this morning if any foreign tourists including British or Irish nationals were among the dead or injured.

The accident occurred around 5pm local time yesterday.

Pictures from the scene showed the crash vehicle on its roof with passenger belongings flung on the ground around it.

An investigation into the cause of the accident was ongoing today, with local reports saying the foggy conditions in the area at the time could have been a factor.

Local media also reported that the road the bus was traveling on is unpaved and located in a difficult terrain.

Rajuntay is described online as a breathtaking destination for adventure seekers.

Hikers trying to reach the peak are recommended to have previous trekking experience.

Many tours from Lima depart on Saturday nights and return Sunday.
Keir Starmer had an awkward call with Donald Trump just hours after he posted a sketch mocking the PM as a 'coward'.

Sir Keir discussed the Iran war and how to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz with the US president in a 20-minute call last night.

No10 tried to play down tensions between the pair over the mounting crisis in the Middle East following US-Israeli strikes, insisting the chat was 'constructive'.

But it is not clear if Mr Trump's slew of public insults at his Transatlantic partner were mentioned.

Shortly before the conversation, the president spread a toe-curling clip from the British version of 'Saturday Night Live' on his Truth Social platform.

The scene from the show - which aired for the first time on Sky this weekend - 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'.

Despite the jibes from Mr Trump there was hope of a breakthrough as he dramatically announced a five-day ceasefire.

In an all-capitals post on his Truth Social site, the president said 'productive' talks had been going on with the regime.

Iran has yet to respond or give any indication whether the crucial Strait of Hormuz will reopen.

Markets staged a breathtaking relief rally, with oil prices dropping below $100 a barrel again.

But even if hostilities end the economic damage from the war will be felt for months to come.

Donald Trump spread a toe-curling clip from the British version of 'Saturday Night Live' on his Truth Social platform yesterday

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'

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'.

He has also called Nato countries - including the UK - '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 over the 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.

Mr Trump has set a deadline of just before midnight for Iran to reopen the Strait 'fully', or face 'obliteration' of its power plants.

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 Tina Fey, Bill Murray and Eddie Murphy.
A British pensioner accused of smuggling 200,000 worth of meth into Chile is fighting for his life behind bars after being locked up since May, amid claims he was lured into the plot by scammers.

William 'Billy Boy' Eastment, 80, has been languishing in a high-security Chilean prison since May, where his health is said to be rapidly declining.

The elderly Brit, originally from Wales, has reportedly been struck down multiple times by pneumonia while in custody, compounding a catalogue of existing medical issues.

Those close to the case have painted a deeply worrying picture of his condition, with one source telling The Mirror: 'His health isn't good at all. He's very vulnerable, and being in prison is making everything worse. There's real concern about how much longer he can cope.'

Behind the scenes, frantic efforts are now underway to prevent the case from dragging through the courts.

His legal team is pushing for a dramatically shortened legal process in a bid to spare him from the strain of a full trial - a move understood to mirror plea bargain-style negotiations.

'They are negotiating a shortened trial and process,' a source explained to the Mirror. 'It's essentially an attempt to resolve the case more quickly, given his condition.'

Eastment is currently being held in Santiago 1 Penitentiary - a facility long associated with overcrowding and harsh conditions - after Chilean authorities allegedly discovered 200,000 worth of methamphetamine concealed in his luggage.

William 'Billy Boy' Eastment, 80, has been languishing in a high-security Chilean prison since May, where his health is said to be rapidly declining

Eastment is currently being held in Santiago 1 Penitentiary - a facility long associated with overcrowding and harsh conditions - after Chilean authorities allegedly discovered 200,000 worth of methamphetamine concealed in his luggage

Sergio Paredes, head of the PDI anti-narcotics unit at Santiago airport, said Eastment told officers he had been handed the suitcase by a stranger in Mexico shortly before boarding his flight.

'He alleged he had been deceived,' Paredes said after the arrest on May 26.

'He claimed he had been promised a prize of 3.7 million for delivering the suitcase to its final destination - and was even carrying a rudimentary certificate referring to the prize.'

'He told us he was going to spend the night in Santiago and fly to Australia the next day,' the officer added.

Any hope of a swift return to Britain, however, appears to have evaporated.

Extradition is not considered a viable option, with officials warning that such a process could take years, time the ailing pensioner may not have.

Instead, a controversial fallback plan is being explored. Lawyers are attempting to broker a deal that would see Eastment released from prison, but only under strict supervision within Chile.

According to insiders, the proposal would keep him under close watch, requiring regular check-ins with authorities while barring him from leaving the country.

It is seen as a last-ditch attempt to remove him from the harsh prison environment without breaching Chilean law.

But even that fragile lifeline faces significant hurdles.

One major stumbling block is financial. Because Eastment entered Chile as a tourist, he is not entitled to state-funded healthcare, leaving him responsible for mounting medical costs.

Officials have reportedly insisted on a guarantor to cover those expenses before any release can be approved.

'The problem is he needs a family member to step forward and act as guarantor for his healthcare bills,' a source told the newspaper.

Eastment maintains he was ensnared in an elaborate scam

Efforts to locate relatives willing - and able - to take on that responsibility are ongoing, but so far progress has been slow.

Without that backing, his chances of leaving prison appear slim.

His financial situation only adds to the turmoil. Having spent months abroad, he has effectively lost his UK state pension payments, leaving him without any income while detained thousands of miles from home.

The case has left the elderly Brit caught in a bleak limbo - too unwell to remain behind bars for long, yet unable to secure release without support that has yet to materialise.

Meanwhile, Eastment maintains he was ensnared in an elaborate scam.

He has told prosecutors he believed he was corresponding with figures linked to the International Monetary Fund, before being instructed to travel abroad in relation to an alleged inheritance.

His lawyer said: 'In these emails, a person named Carolina, whose surname he does not remember, informed him that one of his relatives in New Zealand had died and that in order to access that person's inheritance, he had to travel to Auckland, New Zealand, to sign certain documents at a public notary's office.'
The total number of meningitis cases linked to the Kent outbreak was unchanged this morning, a day after health officials revealed some patients were wrongly diagnosed.

'Confirmed cases' of the potentially fatal disease remained at 20 today, having been downgraded to that number yesterday from 23 on Saturday following further testing.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also said nine suspected cases were still under investigation today  after that number fell yesterday, from 11 on Saturday.

The total number of cases remains at 29, after falling yesterday from 34 on Saturday. More cases could still be downgraded as further laboratory checks are finished.

A UKHSA spokeswoman said: 'Whilst we expect some further probable cases to be downgraded in the coming days, this outbreak is not yet over. As we go into this week, we remain fully committed to ensuring people receive the advice and treatment they need to stay safe.'

It comes as Health Secretary Wes Streeting confirmed the outbreak is 'a contained situation, with the majority of cases linked to a defined group of young adults'.

He also told Kent Online that 'antibiotics being offered are working well for those exposed', adding: 'While outbreaks like this are worrying, they are typically limited.'

Yesterday, Sophie Kasaei told how 'life can change in the blink of an eye' as her boyfriend Jordan Brook remains in hospital battling viral meningitis and encephalitis.

The Only Way Is Essex star revealed two weeks ago that he was admitted to hospital and has 'swelling of the brain'. He has since been diagnosed with viral meningitis.

His case involves inflammation of the brain and spinal cord lining  which is a different type of the disease to the outbreak of bacterial meningitis B in Kent. But Mr Brook has also been diagnosed with encephalitis, a life-threatening inflammation of the brain.

People queue for receive vaccines and antibiotics at Vicarage Lane Clinic in Ashford yesterday

People queue for receive vaccines and antibiotics at Vicarage Lane Clinic in Ashford yesterday

Pregnant Sophie Kasaei's boyfriend Jordan Brook is in hospital battling viral meningitis

Jordan Brook was diagnosed with a viral form of meningitis - different to the Kent outbreak

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Pregnant Miss Kasaei, who was allowed to see Mr Brook for the first time in hospital on Friday, said she is in a 'living nightmare' amid the 'hardest thing she's ever known'.

She said on Instagram: 'Life can come at you really fast. Literally in the blink of an eye. One minute you're dreaming about your future together and the next, you're sitting in a hospital room, holding onto hope with everything you have.

'Watching the person I love in pain and fear, something I can't fight for them is the hardest thing I've ever known. And through all this I'm carrying the tiniest piece of us a reminder that even in the darkest moments, life is still growing, still holding on.

'I never imagined I'd feel this much fear and this much love all at once. Life really can change in the blink of an eye. Please don't take a single moment, a single person, for granted.'

Meanwhile Dr Lindsey Edwards, a microbiology expert at King's College London, warned that the Kent bacterial outbreak  which originated in Club Chemistry nightclub earlier this month - is 'likely to keep spreading'.

She told the Daily Mail: 'This is one of the most worrying strains of meningitis It's more virulent and more dangerous than other types It's able to hide better from our immune system and attach to the cells in the body better.

'This means it's more likely to cause sepsis, and can get into the spine or brain, triggering deadly complications. Time is the biggest pressure here, meningitis symptoms start off mild and then become severe in a matter of hours.

'This means the window of time that patients have to seek medical help is small - that's why it's important that people know the symptoms to look out for'

She added that the outbreak 'had all the ideal conditions for a super-spreader event', given it originated in a 'poorly-ventilated club filled with people kissing, vaping, sweating and shouting'.

Dr Edwards continued: 'These people will have then gone back to their flats or gone back home to a different part of the country, bringing the bacteria with them

'This outbreak will likely continue until health officials can contain it. We need to track down everyone exposed to the bacteria and give them antibiotics to stop it spreading. But unless health officials can trace every case, it's likely to keep spreading.'

Mr Streeting has offered his condolences to relatives of the two students who have died from the outbreak in Kent and said his thoughts are with those in hospital 'fighting this terrible disease'.

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Juliette Kenny, 18, was described by her family as 'fit, healthy and strong' before her death. A University of Kent student aged 21 has also died but has not been named.

Mr Streeting said yesterday: 'It has been an incredibly difficult week for those affected and for those working on the frontline response to this outbreak.

'As we look ahead to another challenging week, I wanted to pay tribute to the Herculean efforts of everyone who has worked tirelessly to care for those affected and keep people safe.'

The Health Secretary thanked UKHSA officials and NHS teams, as well as school, college and university staff, and the 'thousands of students, pupils and other members of the public who have so readily and responsibly come forward for antibiotics and vaccination'.

It came after dozens of eligible people, including students, queued up again around the county yesterday for the menB vaccine or antibiotics, although numbers in the lines have dropped considerably since the rollout began on Wednesday.

Dr Sherine Thomas, infectious diseases consultant at the UKHSA, said: 'We continue to remain vigilant for new cases and work closely with NHS England and local authorities across the country to ensure that any new cases identified are responded to as quickly as possible.

'It's reassuring to have seen so many eligible young people come forward for antibiotics and vaccination, and we'd like to thank everyone involved in this effort so far.

'Although the risk to the wider population remains low, it is still really important that people know the symptoms of invasive meningococcal disease and seek immediate medical attention if they or anyone they know develops them. UKHSA continues to work with partners to identify contacts and offer necessary treatment.'

NHS Kent and Medway said more than 9,078 meningitis B vaccines had been handed out as of Saturday evening while 12,595 antibiotics had been administered.

Another college has warned parents of a suspected meningitis case, although it is not linked to the Kent outbreak.

St John Rigby College, in Orrell, Wigan, said it affected a sixth-form student, adding: 'All [of their] close contacts have been identified and offered antibiotics as a precaution.'
Audio has been released of the moment an air traffic controller pleaded for a fire truck to stop before an Air Canada jet crashed into it while landing at LaGuardia Airport in New York City, killing the pilot and co-pilot.

The flight from Montreal was landing at around 11.40pm on Sunday when the aircraft struck a fire truck on the runway.

Air traffic control audio shared by NBC New York revealed the moments leading up to the collision, which began with another flight reporting an emergency on the other side of the airport.

The fire truck was cleared to cross the airport's Runway 4 before air traffic controllers frantically urged a Frontier plane bound for Miami  and the vehicle  to stop.

'Truck One, stop, stop, stop!' an air traffic controller is heard saying, before addressing the plane seconds later: 'JAZZ 646, I see you collided with the vehicle. Just hold position. I know you can't move. Vehicles are responding to you now.'

Air traffic controllers told the Frontier crew that the runway would be closed, asking if they would like to return to the ramp.

'We got stuff in progress for that man, that wasn't good to watch,' a Frontier pilot said.

'Yeah, I tried to reach out to them. We were dealing with an emergency, and I messed up,' the controller replied, before the Frontier pilot tries to reassure him, saying: 'No, you did the best you could.'

An Air Canada Express plane collided with a Port Authority vehicle on Sunday night on Runway 4 of LaGuardia Airport. The cockpit suffered severe damage

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The jet, which had reportedly been carrying 76 passengers and crew, being removed from the runway by Port Authority Police following the incident

The plane could be seen on the tarmac after the incident, with its nose badly damaged, front tilted into the air.

The flight was affiliated with Jazz Aviation, a regional airline in Nova Scotia, and was operating on behalf of Air Canada.

Two pilots were left dead following the collision, and 41 people were hospitalised.

According to unnamed sources via the NY Post, a female flight attendant was ejected through the front of the jet while still in her seat during the crash. She survived and was rushed to the hospital.

'Emergency response protocols were immediately activated. The Port Authority Police Department is on scene along with the agency's Chairman and Executive Director,' a Port Authority spokesman said in a statement.

'The Port Authority Police Department is working closely with our airline partners as well as federal authorities, and will provide additional updates as more details become available.'

The New York Fire Department confirmed to the Daily Mail that its crews had received reports of an incident involving an aircraft and a vehicle on Runway 4.

The Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft was carrying 76 passengers and crew during the incident.

The Federal Aviation Administration announced a ground stop due to an aircraft emergency, effectively closing LaGuardia Airport at 11.50pm EST.

Photos of the aftermath showed Port Authority Police removing the front half of the plane.

Port Authority's vehicle was pictured after the collision turned on its side as several emergency responders flooded the runway.

The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into the collision.

The Daily Mail has reached out to LaGuardia Airport, the FAA, and Air Canada for comment.

LaGuardia warned of flight disruptions due to weather conditions at 8.30pm EST as New York experienced rainy conditions.

The Port Authority vehicle was turned on its side as several emergency responders flooded the runway

Emergency personnel worked to clear the damage overnight on Monday in the aftermath of the collision

Port Authority Police and FDNY responded to the collision. LaGuardia subsequently closed to allow emergency crews to respond. The aftermath of the collision is pictured above as Port Authority worked to clear the plane

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The incident comes as airports are already facing mounting pressure amid a DHS funding standoff.

LaGuardia is among many airports facing challenges, with employees forced to work without pay and passengers facing long security lines.

Travelers reported lines spilling through the parking lot on Sunday morning, with some saying they waited for up to three hours.

Donald Trump announced that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents would be sent to airports on Monday to help TSA agents.

'If the Democrats do not allow for Just and Proper Security at our Airports, and elsewhere throughout our Country, ICE will do the job far better than ever done before!' Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Saturday.

'I look forward to moving ICE in on Monday, and have already told them to, 'GET READY. NO MORE WAITING, NO MORE GAMES!'

Border czar Tom Homan told CNN that he had been working to finalize a plan with ICE Director Tedd Lyons and acting TSA administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill to deploy ICE agents.

He added that the officials would have a plan, including which airports would be targeted, in place by the end of the day on Sunday.
A close ally of Sir Keir Starmer will tonight defend the UK's adherence to 'international law' in what may be seen as a tacit rebuke of Donald Trump.

Attorney General Lord Hermer will defend playing by the rules as in the UK national interest tonight in the wake of a deepening transatlantic right between London and Washington.

The peer and Cabinet minister is expected to say there is no contradiction in believing in 'international law and human rights' alongside a strong military, as the US prepares to commit what the UN says could be war crimes in Iran.

Although it is understood the speech will not mention Trump by name, it comes hot on the heels of the president warning Tehran on Saturday it had 48 hours to allow cargo through the vital global shipping lane 'without threat' or he would 'obliterate' their power plants.

The Islamist regime hit back yesterday saying if its plants were targeted then energy infrastructure 'across the entire region' would be 'irreversibly destroyed'.

Hermer's address in Manchester will also include a robust defence of Nato in the wake of persistent criticism of the defensive alliance by Trump and his administration.

They have hit out at member states for refusing to join the US-Israeli offensive action against Iran, and the amount they spend on defence.

It could also be seen as a shot fired across the bow of people like the Green leader Zack Polanski, who has advocated for the UK withdrawing from the alliance, something Hermer will say is 'reckless'.

Attorney General Lord Hermer will defend playing by the rules as in the UK national interest against a backdrop of declining US interest in upholding them

Trump warned Tehran on Saturday it had 48 hours to allow cargo through the vital global shipping lane 'without threat' or he would 'obliterate' their power plants - a potential war crime

It also comes after the UK eased its restrictions on the missions carried out by US forces based in Britain to allow them to strike Iranian targets throttling traffic through the Straits of Hormuz.

'There is no inherent tension in passionately believing in international law and human rights, while at the same time believing that a strong military is an absolute necessity to protect us in a dangerous world,' Lord Hermer is expected to say in the speech at his alma mater, Manchester University.

'It was military strength and valour that defeated Nazism. And the idea that in the face of the threat currently posed by Russia we should be leaving the Nato alliance is utterly reckless.

'So, it is not despite being a human rights lawyer that I passionately believe in the strength and professionalism of our armed forces  it is because of it.'

Last night Trump made yet another attack on Britain and other Nato allies for refusing to help the US with its floundering war against Iran.

'They are not doing anything. It's too bad,' he told News Israel in an interview about the Strait and whether Iran would cave to his ultimatum.

'You'll find out what's gonna happen. You're gonna find out soon. It's gonna be very good. Total decimation of Iran. It's gonna work out very good'.

He added: 'They've [Iran] been very bad for 47 years. Now they're getting their comeuppance'.

UN secretary general Antonio Guterres has warned both sides that such attacks on energy infrastructure may 'constitute a war crime'.

Allies said Lord Hermer is also expected to take aim at the Tories and Reform over their support for leaving the European Convention on Human Rights.
Flights to Dubai have been pictured with rows of empty seats, as fears over airline safety amid the Iran war have grown.

At least 39 passenger aircrafts at Dubai International Airport have landed or departed within just five minutes of a warning of incoming fire during the conflict, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The same can be said for six planes at Abu Dhabi's airport and 12 at Sharjah airport.

And at least five planes parked at airports in the Middle East have been hit by Iran, as relentless strikes have battered the region.

Photos and videos shared on social media show rows of vacant seats on planes headed to Dubai, with one caption reading: 'I've never seen an empty Emirates flight.'

Last Monday, Dubai Airport was temporarily closed after an Iranian drone hit a fuel tank and started a massive fire.

Flights were diverted and roads to the airport closed as a pall of black smoke could be seen from several miles away.

Emirates flights from as far away as Melbourne and Sydney and Thiruvananthapuram in India had to turn back mid-air following the closure and land back at their departure cities.

Photos and videos shared on social media show rows of vacant seats on planes headed to Dubai

At least 39 passenger aircrafts at Dubai International Airport have landed or departed within just five minutes of a warning of incoming fire

Despite the ongoing danger from missile and drone strikes, airlines in the Middle East have reinstated hundreds of flights per day

According to data from Flightradar24, the past two weeks have seen Emirates flying around 300 flights a day

Services from Heathrow, Edinburgh, Manchester and Dublin were also among those returned to their original departure point.

At least two drones struck the airport, and for several hours, Emirates airline advised passengers not to travel while some flights were redirected to the smaller Al Maktoum International Airport in nearby Jebel Ali.

According to the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, the suspension of flights was imposed as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of passengers and staff following the attack at around 4am local time.

Authorities meanwhile quickly took to social media to reassure the public that the attack caused 'minimal damage and no injuries, referring to the fire as a 'drone-related incident'.

This past week, the debris from three ballistic missiles struck three private jets parked at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport.

The two other aircrafts hit while parked at an airport were an Emirates A380 and a Saudia A321, stationed at Dubai International Airport at the start of the conflict.

Despite the ongoing danger from missile and drone strikes, airlines in the Middle East have reinstated hundreds of flights per day.

According to data from Flightradar24, the past two weeks have seen Emirates flying around 300 flights a day, which amounts to 60% of its pre-conflict capacity.

Combined with airlines such as Etihad, Flydubai and AirArabia, Emirati companies have operated over 11,000 trips since the war began.

In order to mitigate danger, the UAE has designated specific flight corridors in case of a diversion, and jet fighters have been deployed to protect planes, according to people familiar with the strategy.

A spokesperson for Etihad said in a statement: 'We do not operate any flight unless it has been fully assessed and approved as safe.'

Dubai Airports Chief Executive Paul Griffiths also told CNN: 'The ability to detect and respond to threats as they've unfolded has been very, very effective and efficient.'

Meanwhile, foreign airlines including British Airways have cancelled all flights into Dubai until summer - blaming the 'continued uncertainty' and 'airspace instability'.

The airline announced last week it would also suspend travel to Amman, Bahrain and Tel Aviv until after May 31.

Trips to Doha in Qatar are on hold until the end of April - while flights to Abu Dhabi have been called off until later this year.

More than 63,000 Britons have returned home from the UAE since the start of the conflict in the Middle East, according to Government figures.

This comes as the UAE is attempting to downplay the severity of the situation in the holiday hotspot, with officials going to great lengths to clamp down on videos of the conflict being published online.

A smoke plume rises from a fire at Dubai International Airport in Dubai on March 16,

The Emirates has cracked down on social media posts showing missiles, drones, or interceptions, in an effort to maintain the countrys image as a safe haven.

Dubai officials have been telling people the 'big booms' in the sky are 'the sound of us being safe' as the UAE air defence system takes action.

On Friday, UAE police revealed that more than 100 people were arrested in Abu Dhabi for filming and posting misinformation.

They confirmed the arrests in a social media post, writing: 'Abu Dhabi Police announced the arrest of 109 individuals of various nationalities who filmed sites and incidents and circulated incorrect information via social media platforms during current events,' adding that some had shared 'misleading information'.

'Such actions are liable to incite public opinion and spread rumours among members of the community,' the post added.

The UAE attorney-general has ordered the arrests of 35 people so far for publishing misinformation, filming or publishing footage of incidents related to the war or glorifying 'a hostile state and its political and military leadership'.

This comes after a European tourist was arrested in Dubai for posting a picture of a hotel on fire.

The father-of-three, who shared a photograph of the world-famous Fairmont The Palm hotel in the aftermath of an Iranian drone attack, was detained on March 9.

Authorities said he would be taken to Al Qusais police for one or two hours and returned, but he has reportedly not been seen since.

And the previous week, a 60-year-old British man was one of 21 people charged under cybercrime laws in connection with videos and social media posts relating to the recent missile strikes.

The Londoner is accused of 'broadcasting, publishing, republishing or circulating rumours or provocative propaganda that could disturb public security'.

The man said he deleted the video from his phone when asked and had no intention of doing anything wrong.

Similar measures have been taken across the Gulf as Iran hits US assets but also civilian infrastructure, including landmarks, oil and gas facilities, airports and residential areas.

In Qatar, authorities have arrested more than 300 people for sharing images and what they described as 'misleading information' during the war.

Bahrain and Kuwait have also made similar moves.
The father of an Australian woman who claims she accidentally crossed into a warzone and then married an ISIS fighter for her security has pleaded for the government to bring her home.

Zakaria Zahab on Monday called for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to expedite the safe return of his daughter, Nesrine Zahab, who has been in Syria for more than a decade.

Nesrine previously told the ABC's Four Corners she had been in the Middle East on a holiday with her relatives when she became stranded.

Nesrine, now in her early 30s, was aged in her 20s when she travelled from Sydney to Lebanon in 2014. Among the group was her male cousin, former Sydney maths teacher Muhammad Zahab, who later became a crucial recruiter for ISIS.

While in Lebanon, she and a female cousin snuck away from their family to deliver aid to refugees on the Turkish side of the Syrian border.

However, Nesrine said she unknowingly crossed the border and 'freaked out' when someone asked for her passport and she saw an Islamic State flag.

She was not allowed to leave and later married Ahmed Merhi, a Sydney-born Islamic State terrorist, as she believed it was her best chance for survival. She escaped while pregnant in 2017 and made it to Kurdish-controlled northern Syria where her son was born in al-Roj refugee camp.

They both were sent back in a prisoner swap, but later returned to al-Roj after the fall of the barbaric regime. Her father, Mr Zahab, reiterated her claims in an interview with the Daily Telegraph on Monday.

Nesrine Zahab (above) claimed she was tricked into becoming an ISIS bride in 2014

Nesrine married Ahmed Merhi (above), a Sydney-born Islamic State terrorist who was sentenced to death

'She's Australian, she didn't do anything wrong. She has no involvement with ISIS,' Mr Zahab said.

He added his daughter was 'young' when she made the 'mistake' that ruined her life.

'How can a government live with itself leaving people in a camp to die? Please, please Mr Albanese, bring her home. Australia needs to bring her back.'

Mr Zahab said Nesrine was part of a group of 23 women and 11 children who attempted to flee the Kurdish-run al-Roj camp in February.

It's understood the group were issued Australian passports and given the all-clear to return home but only made it 50km from the camp before being turned back by Syrian authorities.

The repatriation effort had been overseen by prominent Western Sydney doctor Jamal Rifi. It's believed another attempt is in the works - pending ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Mr Zahab said he has only been able to speak with his daughter once every three months for the last 10 years.

'She was young, I haven't seen my daughter or ever met my grandson who was born over there, he is now eight years old,' he said.

Nesrine was part of a group (some above) of women and children who tried to flee Syria in February

Nesrine is being held in Kurdish-run Al Roj camp (above)

'I've never met my grandson. Nesrine is a good girl, she was naive, she didn't know what she was doing, she was caught on the border.'

Mr Zahab added it is 'Australia's responsibility' to bring her home.

Daily Mail has contacted the Department of Home Affairs for comment.
A paedophile Labour councillor who was joined on the campaign trail by Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves before he was caught in an undercover sting has avoided jail.

Liron Velleman, 30, used the alias 'Tim Graham 95' to send sexual messages and nude photographs on an online chatroom and Snapchat to a police officer posing as a 13-year-old girl named Kaylee.

The British-Israeli father-of-one struck up a conversation with the girl at the start of December 2024 on messaging service Chatib.

Prosecutor Edmund Blackman said despite being told from the start she was 13, Velleman 'maintained an interest in her' and moved the chat to Snapchat where 'it became sexual quite quickly'.

In message exchanges between December 3 and 10, 2024, the former Hope Not Hate activist and member of the Jewish Labour Movement stripped down to his underwear and pressured the girl to send pictures of herself in her underwear.

He demanded the child show him her bra and her school uniform, asked if she was a virgin and if she was home alone.

The depraved messages continued over the course of several days, during which Velleman talked about sex acts before sending a video of his penis, Mr Blackman said.

Velleman, of North Finchley, was elected as a Labour councillor for Barnet's Whetstone ward in 2022 but resigned from the role with no explanation in April 2025, which is now understood to have been after his arrest for child sex offences.

Paedophile Liron Velleman, 30, used the alias 'Tim Graham 95' to send sexual messages and nude photographs on an online chatroom and Snapchat to a police officer posing as a 13-year-old girl named Kaylee

Chancellor Rachel Reeves (far right, pictured next to Velleman) campaigned for him as recently as 2022, highlighting him as 'brilliant'

Labour immediately suspended Velleman when it was notified of his arrest.

In February, he pleaded guilty having been charged with attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause a child aged 13 to 15 to look at an image of sexual activity.

Appearing at Southwark Crown Court on Friday supported by his parents, he was handed an eight-month prison sentence suspended for the next 15 months and will be on the Sex Offenders Register for the next 10 years.

Judge James Lofthouse also ordered him to carry out 180 hours of community service and 20 rehabilitation days as part of his suspended prison sentence.

He will be under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the next 10 years, and must also pay 150 in costs and a 187 victim surcharge.

During sentencing, Judge James Lofthouse told Velleman: 'You know you have no one to blame for the disintegration of your personal and professional life but yourself.

'This is where your reckless, vile and frankly devious interest in children has led you.'

After his guilty plea in February, The Daily Mail revealed Velleman had been joined on the campaign trail by Keir Starmer and eight ministers.

Sir Keir has deleted a social media post showing he campaigned for Velleman to be elected as a councillor in 2018.

The then-shadow Brexit secretary tagged him in an X post seen by the Mail that said: 'Great to campaign with you [Velleman]  you deserve to win. Good luck!'

Photographs show four now Cabinet ministers campaigning for Velleman in 2022, when he was elected in Barnet, north London.

Then shadow chancellor Ms Reeves described him as 'brilliant' at a Labour Friends of Israel event that November.

And in April that year, Shabana Mahmood shared a picture on X of her with Velleman with the comment: 'Brilliant to be out campaigning in Whetstone ward in Barnet yesterday for [Velleman].'

The Home Secretary, Chancellor, Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, courts minister Sarah Sackman KC, victims minister Alex Davies-Jones, employment minister Diana Johnson and school standards minister Georgia Gould all also campaigned for him that year.

In message exchanges between December 3 and 10, 2024, Velleman (pictured) stripped down to his underwear and pressured the girl to send pictures of herself in her underwear

Velleman, 30 (second from left), who quit his role as a councillor with no explanation in April last year, has also been pictured with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan (fourth from right)

None were ministers at the time but some were in the shadow cabinet, including Sir Keir and Ms Reeves. Velleman, 30, who quit his role as a councillor with no explanation in April last year, has also been pictured with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.

There is no suggestion the PM, Sir Sadiq or any minister knew of the offences when they endorsed him.

In February, Labour condemned his 'sickening crime' and said 'nobody could be aware of his future conduct'.

But Tory MP Jack Rankin said: 'Starmer pledged to tackle violence against women and girls, yet sex offenders threaten to be the defining issue of his premiership.'

In a statement released in January, advocacy group Hope Not Hate, where Velleman worked as a junior employee until early 2023, said: 'HOPE not hate fully condemn these heinous crimes and believe that he should rightfully be punished under the full force of the law.'

It added: 'HOPE not hate has had no contact with Velleman since before his arrest.'

According to a now deleted biographical profile on Holocaust education program Echoes and Reflection's website, Velleman's grandfather was a Holocaust survivor from Poland.

It goes on to say Velleman 'grew up in a Jewish and Zionist household, attended Jewish primary and secondary schools, and was an active member of New North London Synagogue'.

He studied at the University of Leeds where he gained a degree in politics in 2016.

During his time at university, Velleman became 'very involved' in the Jewish Society and the Union of Jewish Students.

In 2017, he spoke out about anti-Semitism at British universities, telling MPs: 'A number of campuses have Holocaust denial literature posted on university noticeboards. We have swastikas drawn on cars  this is not something I expected in 2017.

'We need a serious conversations about what the swastika is. It's either being seen as a casual symbol of fun which is pretty horrifying, or people are using it as a legitimate way to attack people.'
For decades, their chiselled, oiled bodies have left women salivating and screaming in delirium.

Seen as Britain's answer to the Chippendales, their stripteases on stage saw members of Dreamboys reach global stardom.

A meeting with Princess Diana even left the royal blushing when they arrived at Whitehall Palace scantily dressed as gods.

But behind the gyrating and adulation lies a darker side of the troupe, marred with death and violence.

Last week, former member George Goodayle, 47, handed himself in to police after his 49-year-old girlfriend, Jayne Nicholson, was found dead at their home in rural France.

The 47-year-old construction worker has been remanded in custody and is accused of shooting dead his partner with a hunting rifle.

Goodayle, who performed under the name 'Gorgeous George', denies murder and claims the shooting was accidental.

But he is not the first to have supposedly fallen foul of the so-called 'Dreamboys curse'.

George Goodayle, 47, is accused of killing his 49-year-old partner, Jayne Nicholson, with a hunting rifle on March 15

Goodayle was a dancer for the well-known strip show, Dreamboys

The group's former boss David Richards was in 2023 jailed for 27 years for attempting to murder his estranged model girlfriend with an axe.

He had laid in wait for hours outside Alex Alam's Essex home before ambushing her as she took her dogs for a walk.

The brutal attack left the young mother of their children with a fractured skull and cuts to her face and scalp in what was described as a 'bloodbath'.

Richards battered Ms Alam after he spotted her kissing reality TV star Kirk Norcross. He sobbed in the dock when he was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Months later he was found dead in his cell by warders at Lowdham Grange prison in Nottinghamshire.

Richards, who established the male strip show brand before selling the business for 1m in 2019, had been in a nine-year relationship with Ms Alam and built a luxurious house complete with stables for them to share, placing the property in both of their names.

But the ex-boxer was abusive towards Ms Alam throughout the relationship, and she had repeatedly reported him to police for alleged coercive control before throwing him out of the house.

The group's former boss David Richards was in 2023 jailed for 27 years for attempting to murder his estranged model girlfriend Alex Alam with an axe

Months later he was found dead in his cell by warders at Lowdham Grange prison in Nottinghamshire

Ms Alam was left with 'life-changing' injuries that required her to spend days in hospital and needed 100 stitches

In 2017, Dreamboys member Tyson Cross was sacked over allegations he attacked two female clubbers.

Cross, who has previously appeared on Channel 4's First Dates, was sacked with immediate effect following the incident at Tiger Tiger, which involved a group of eight friends from Nottingham who were out in Manchester celebrating a 21st birthday party.

One of the girls said a man became aggressive when they declined to speak to him.

She said: 'Eight of us were out in Manchester for a friend's 21st birthday. This guy came up to us and tried to talk and flirt with us.

'We all have boyfriends and we told him we weren't interested but he started to get angry. I tried to calm him down but he pushed one of the girls over.'

That same year fellow hunk and Lauren Goodger's former flame Lotan Carter made headlines when he was kicked out of the Big Brother house for 'intimidating behaviour'.

The stripper, who insured his penis for 12million, was removed following an explosive row in which he called Isabelle Warburton a 'f***ing tramp'.

The nephew of TV dancer Louie Spence had to be restrained by fellow housemates after throwing a water bottle at her when she suggested he was a bad 'role model' to his son.

Lauren Goodger's former flame Lotan Carter made headlines when he was kicked out of the Big Brother house for 'intimidating behaviour'

The Dreamboys stripper, who insured his penis for 12million, was removed following an explosive row in which he called Isabelle Warburton a 'f***ing tramp'

Lotan was dropped by the group following his removal from the house.

Tragedy also befell the group in 2016 when one-time member Ghent Wakefield was discovered dead at his home in Tunstall, Staffordshire, aged just 35.

An inquest a year later found the fanatical bodybuilder may have died from misusing insulin used to treat diabetes.

The hearing heard how his hopes of becoming a wrestler in the US had been destroyed after he tore his biceps at show in Skegness, in 2011.

With his dreams dashed, Mr Wakefield turned to a life of crime  setting up a fake construction company that he and former Army corporal Paul Hackney used for a lucrative fraud.

Prior to that Wakefield had appeared at a tournament in his home town which had featured the world famous masked wrestler Kendo Nagasaki.

The bodybuilder had set up the firm in his own name, which was used in a failed bid to make a fraudulent VAT reclaim of 45,000.

Mr Wakefield also became a personal driver and 'henchman' for Hackney, who would reward him with a trip to Australia, helicopter rides around London and stays in luxury hotels.

He was sentenced to 17 months in prison on April 2 2013 for conspiracy to cheat HM Revenue and Customs.

On December 14 this year, Mr Wakefield's landlord found him dead in his room after a neighbour grew concerned.

While medics have been unable to ascertain a cause of death, one theory was that Ghent's use of insulin to improve his bodybuilding had possibly resulted in a fatal collapse.

He had used steroids to enhance his physique before turning to insulin in an effort to boost his muscles and improve his work rate in the gym.

Coroner Ian Smith delivered an open conclusion.

The group's founder Barry Solomons, aka Bari Bacco, revealed in a tell-all book about the debauchery and off-stage antics of his greased up strippers.

He created the male-stripping troupe in 1987 after he watched the notorious Levi's advert that saw Nick Kamen stripping off in a launderette.

'The Dreamboys bonked and bonked and then bonked some more, the length and breadth of the UK, and then they bonked their way across Europe - only occasionally stopping to perform the shows,' he said.

'Girls threw themselves at the boys, who discarded them like used Kleenex tissues, knowing there was always the next town, where they could invite the eager girls to their private after-show party in the hotel rooms, and allow the girls to try out the goods they had been tempting them with on stage.'

A representative for Dreamboys told the Daily Mail: 'The Dreamboys has been under new ownership and management since 2019, during which time the troupe has greatly professionalised.

'All incidents referred to are historic, predating the current ownership and do not represent the Dreamboys in its current form.'
An ex-Dreamboys stripper was seen 'laughing and joking' with his girlfriend just hours before allegedly shooting her dead at their home in France.

George Goodayle, 47, is accused of killing his 49-year-old partner, Jayne Nicholson, with a hunting rifle on March 15.

The former exotic dancer and model is said to have gone to the police at 9am the following day, claiming the shooting had been an accident.

The incident sent shockwaves through the village of Les Champs, near Brillac, where stunned neighbours said: 'We saw them over the weekend of the shooting laughing and joking  they didn't seem to have a care in the world.

'They had just been on a short holiday, and seemed to be part of a proper love story, and were looking forward to the future together'.

Police entered the couple's property on Monday, where they found Ms Nicholson's lifeless body.

Prosecutors have since charged Goodayle with the murder of a spouse using a firearm.

The construction boss has been remanded in custody.

George Goodayle, 47, is accused of killing his 49-year-old partner, Jayne Nicholson, with a hunting rifle on March 15

Police entered the property in the village of Les Champs, near Brillac, where they found 'a lifeless body' according to the Public Prosecutor's statement

An autopsy carried out at the forensic institute in Poitiers found Ms Nicholson had suffered two gunshot wounds to the upper body, according to the Angouleme prosecutor's office.

'The on-site examination by the forensic pathologist confirmed the presence of two ballistic wounds in the victim's upper body,' the statement said.

A hunting rifle was recovered from the couple's home, while the investigation has been handed to gendarmes from the Confolens research brigade.

Angouleme prosecutor Benoit Bernard said: 'On March 16, 2026, at 9.00am, a 47-year-old British national, a resident of Brillac since 2016 and with no declared occupation, reported to the Confolens gendarmerie.

'He confessed to having shot his partner the previous evening with a shotgun.

'The suspect was taken into custody on suspicion of spousal murder.

'During his interviews in police custody, the accused suggested the theory of an accidental shooting.'

The pair, both British nationals, had been in a relationship since June 2025.

One neighbour told a local paper: 'They very often invited the whole neighbourhood over for drinks and a meal. It was a regular party at their place. They seemed very much in love.'

Facebook images show the pair working on their estate, which appears to feature a swimming pool, horse paddock and outbuildings.

Goodayle was a dancer for the well-known strip show, Dreamboys

The pair, both British nationals, had been in a relationship since June 2025

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Also on the estate was a bar named Pink Pony Hut with a menu featuring snacks, small plates, and cocktails, according to Google Maps.

In a Facebook post shared by Goodayle in October last year, however, it was revealed that the establishment had closed after it was discovered that the property was on protected land.

'We have looked into finding other solutions with the Maire, but at this time we are all a bit stumped. They are looking at diminishing the protected area, but this could take a long time,' the message read.

Photos from Ms Nicholson's Facebook page also show the pair walking through Christmas markets in France together in December last year, as well as the couple driving through a snowy landscape in January.
A Labour council has launched an online 'myth-buster' urging people not to blame asylum seekers for violence against women.

In a post on social media, Liverpool City Council warned against associating foreign cultures with attacks on women and girls - adding there is 'no causal link between asylum seeker populations and increased levels of VAWG'.

It then urges residents to 'know the facts', providing a link to a page on its website addressing the 'most common myths' and the truth about them.

Common misconceptions include asylum seekers being treated better than the British homeless, and them being responsible for 'rising violence against women and girls', according to the council.

The advice comes amid growing concerns across the UK surrounding sex crimes committed by foreign nationals, including taxpayer-funded hotel migrants.

Police made 8,500 arrests of foreign nationals for sexual offences including rape in 2024 and start of 2025, figures showed, although this referred to all non-British citizens not just asylum seekers.

Concerns about the level of violence towards women and girls by asylum seekers has been growing since Ethiopian migrant Hadush Kebatu sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl and a woman in Epping, just eight days after arriving in the UK last year.

He was then mistakenly released from prison, prompting a three-day hunt before his arrest in Finsbury Park, north London.

People thought to be migrants onboard a small boat during an attempt to cross the Channel on March 3

Liverpool City Council launched a 'myth-buster' shutting down various concerns about asylum seekers in the UK

In other sections of the myth-buster, available on their website, the council addresses concerns about people 'pretending to be refugees to get free stuff'.

'Every asylum claim is assessed carefully by the Home Office. Most people seeking asylum are fleeing war, torture or persecution,' the council states.

'They want safety, dignity and a chance to rebuild their lives.'

In another section, acknowledging the claim that migrants are given 'better treatment than our homeless', the council responds: 'Asylum seekers are housed due to the government's legal obligation to do so.

'Homelessness is a separate and equally urgent issue. One crisis should not be used to dismiss the other.'

A fourth section, titled 'They're living in luxury hotels at our expense', states that hotels used to accommodate asylum seekers are 'budget hotels or repurposed buildings'.

'The rooms are small, often shared, with no kitchens and very little privacy. People seeking asylum have no choice over where the Home Office places them,' the council adds.

A Liverpool City Council spokesperson said: 'Protecting women and girls remains a priority. We continue to work closely with partners, including Merseyside Police and specialist support services, to prevent abuse, support victims and ensure perpetrators are held to account.'

Join the discussion Do YOU think councils should challenge public perceptions on sensitive issues like this?

Ethiopian asylum seeker Hadush Kebatu (pictured) sparked national outrage when he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl and a woman in Epping - just eight days after arriving in the UK last year

They added: 'We are committed to ensuring that all residents feel safe, and that public conversations about community safety are grounded in accurate, evidence-led information.

'The information shared in our recent communications draws on national data, including from the Office for National Statistics, alongside local policing insight and established research. This evidence consistently shows that violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a widespread issue across all communities and backgrounds.

'National data indicates that the majority of violence against women and girls is committed by someone known to the victim, such as a partner, ex-partner or acquaintance, rather than by strangers. This is reflected locally by Merseyside Police, which has highlighted that most sexual offences are carried out by individuals known to the victim.

'Research from organisations including the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford has found no evidence of a causal link between the presence of asylum seekers and an increase in violent crime.

'Our myth-busting content forms part of a broader commitment to providing clear, factual information and supporting informed public understanding. It addresses unverified claims that can create fear, undermine trust and distract from the work needed to prevent violence and support survivors.'
Keir Starmer dodged on whether Iran can hit Britain with missiles today as he pleaded for Donald Trump to 'de-escalate' the war.

The PM did not give a direct answer when challenged on signs the Tehran regime has a longer range arsenal than previously thought.

Alarm was sparked after two missiles were fired at the Diego Garcia military base on Friday, 2,360 miles from Iran.

One was shot down by a US warship while the other reportedly fell into the ocean around 400 miles short.

Israel said the attacks proved Iran 'can reach London, Paris or Berlin', urging more countries to join the war.

Ministers have been trying to play down concerns that the UK does not have adequate defences to deal with any missiles.

However, there was hope of a breakthrough today as Mr Trump dramatically announced a five-day ceasefire.

In an all-capitals post on his Truth Social site, the president said 'constructive' talks had been going on with the regime.

Iran has yet to respond or give any indication whether the crucial Strait of Hormuz will reopen.

Markets staged a breathtaking relief rally, with oil prices dropping below $100 a barrel again.

But even if hostilities end the economic damage from the war will be felt for months to come.

Keir Starmer did not give a direct answer when challenged on signs the Tehran regime has a longer range arsenal than previously thought

A Khorramshahr-4 missile is launched at an undisclosed location in Iran

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Asked this morning whether Britain was within range of Iranian strikes, the PM merely said there was 'no assessment that we're being targeted'.

Sir Keir told broadcasters: 'We carry out assessments all the time in order to keep us safe, and there's no assessment that we're being targeted in that way at all.

'But of course, it's my job to ensure that British interests, British lives are always uppermost in my mind.

'What we need here is de-escalation, and that's why we had a statement from a number of countries last week about what we need to do about the Strait of Hormuz, which obviously needs careful coordination and a viable plan.

'But it's very important we defend our interests, we defend British lives, but without getting dragged into the war, and that's the clear divide I've put in place.'

Sir Keir discussed the Iran war and how to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz with Mr Trump in a 20-minute call last night.

No10 tried to play down tensions between the pair over the mounting crisis in the Middle East following US-Israeli strikes, insisting the chat was 'constructive'.

But shortly before the conversation, the president spread a toe-curling clip from the British version of 'Saturday Night Live' on his Truth Social platform.

The scene from the show - which aired for the first time on Sky this weekend - 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.

The real Mr Trump has repeatedly vented fury at Sir Keir's reluctance to take a bigger military role, branding him 'disappointing' and 'no Churchill'.

He has also called Nato countries - including the UK - '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 aerial view of Diego Garcia, which faced an attempted rocket attack this weekend

The blue-chip FTSE 100 has continued its plunge, having lost more than 1,100 since the end of February

Interest rates on 10-year gilts were spiking again this morning as concerns rise

An Opinium survey released over the 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 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.

Mr Trump has set a deadline of just before midnight for Iran to reopen the Strait 'fully', or face 'obliteration' of its power plants.
Buckingham Palace and Downing Street are facing fresh calls to cancel or postpone a state visit to the United States by the King while it is engaged in a war with Iran.

Polly Billington became the latest Labour MP to warn that the monarch should not be 'embarrassed' by an appearance with Donald Trump while the US is engaged in a chaotic campaign in the Middle East.

The overseas tour has yet to be officially announced, but the King and Queen Camilla are expected to visit Washington and New York in April ahead of the 250th anniversary of American independence.

With the visit potentially just weeks away the war, which is causing increasing economic hardship in the UK could still be going on when they touch down.

East Thanet MP Ms Billington told BBC Radio 4's the Westminster Hour: 'I do think we've got to think quite carefully about how we deploy things like a state visit. Because of the message it sends.

So we will see how things shake down... I think at the moment I don't want to see anything which embarrasses the Monarch'.

Last week senior Labour MP Dame Emily Thornberry, the chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, suggested it would be 'safer to delay' the visit.

But Trump last week declared the monarch is coming to see him 'very shortly'.

Polly Billington became the latest Labour MP to warn that the monarch should not be 'embarrassed' by an appearance with Donald Trump during the war

The overseas tour has yet to be officially announced, but the King and Queen Camilla are expected to visit Washington and New York in April

Mr Trump has previously branded the UK's approach to the conflict 'terrible' and repeatedly lashed out at Sir Keir, including describing him as 'not Winston Churchill'

Mr Trump has previously branded the UK's approach to the conflict 'terrible' and repeatedly lashed out at Sir Keir, including describing him as 'not Winston Churchill', with the special relationship between the two allied nations appearing increasingly strained.

The Prime Minister has insisted the UK will not be drawn into a 'wider war'.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch backed the US state visit, saying the King represents 'standards which both Sir Keir and Mr Trump could actually learn from'.

She said: 'I do think that makes sense and it also reminds people that there are some people who are above this diplomatic row.

'I think the King is a huge asset to our country. He is very much loved. He represents so much about our country  history, tradition  and I think the standards which both Keir Starmer and Donald Trump could actually learn from.'

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the tensions with the US make the King's planned visit 'even more imperative' and it must go ahead.

Mr Trump was feted with a second state visit to the UK, unprecedented for an American leader, last year.

The royal family's soft power diplomacy is viewed as an important and unique way of engaging with the billionaire-turned-politician, who is well known for his love of the monarchy.

Buckingham Palace said it was a matter for the Government, with state visits undertaken on the advice of the Foreign Office.

A recent YouGov poll found 46 per cent of Britons believe the King should cancel the trip and not travel to the US this year.
A mountaineer was killed in a horrific rockfall on Mont Blanc just hours after sending his father a touching WhatsApp message to mark Father's Day.

The Italian man, Carlo Chiodini, was taking part in an elite alpine training course on March 19 when tragedy struck on the French side of the mountain.

The incident unfolded at around 1.30pm in the Grand Flambeau area, perched some 11,154ft above sea level in Haute-Savoie, close to the Italian border.

Chiodini, 43, originally from Maniago in the province of Pordenone, died at the scene after rocks came crashing down from above.

In a heartbreaking detail, his father, Giancarlo Chiodini, revealed his son had sent a WhatsApp message on the morning of the incident, wishing him a happy Fathers Day before setting out.

In Italy, Fathers Day is celebrated on March 19 - unlike in the UK, where it falls later in the year, on June 21.

Chiodini's fellow trainee, Federico Andreozzi, from Rome, was left with multiple fractures and was airlifted to a hospital in Annecy, where he was placed in a medically induced coma ahead of surgery.

The instructor accompanying the group, from Trentino-Alto Adige, escaped without injury.

Carlo Chiodini was taking part in an elite alpine training course on March 19 when tragedy struck on the French side of the mountain

Chiodini, 43, originally from Maniago in the province of Pordenone, died at the scene after rocks came crashing down from above (Pictured: Chiodini poses with another hiker in an undated photo)

The incident unfolded at around 1.30pm in the Grand Flambeau area (pictured, stock), perched some 11,154ft above sea level in Haute-Savoie, close to the Italian border

The trio had been roped together on the exposed section of the Grand Flambeau when the deadly rockfall struck, with horrified mountaineers nearby witnessing the incident and raising the alarm.

They had earlier ascended via the Skyway cable car from Courmayeur and were participating in a professional training course organised by the Collegio Guide Alpine del Friuli Venezia Giulia.

Specialist mountain rescue gendarmes from Chamonix rushed to the scene, while prosecutors in Haute-Savoie have since opened an investigation into the fatal incident.

Daniele Guagliardo, president of the Alpine Guides of Friuli Venezia Giulia, said the instructor had been ahead of the two trainees on the rope when the rocks fell, adding that checks confirmed the instructors qualifications were all in order.

Chiodini had spent 16 years working as a naval engineer, including overseeing the construction of a vessel in South Korea, before leaving the profession behind to pursue his passion for the mountains and train as an alpine guide.

He is survived by his seven-year-old son.
Brazen vandals defaced a wall with ancient carvings in Utah by inscribing their contact information, prompting officials to launch a search for them.

The Grand County Sheriff's Office has asked the public to help identify whoever is responsible for crudely carving words and numbers into a rock wall with petroglyphs in the Tusher Tunnel area.

Tusher Tunnel is an ancient sandstone formation in a remote part of Utah, about 220 miles southeast of Salt Lake City.

Petroglyphs in that area have been estimated to be at least 1,000 years old. The carvings depict ancient peoples and scenes, and they are thought to have been made by ancestral Native American Puebloan and Fremont cultures.

'This type of damage to cultural and historical resources is taken seriously and is under investigation,' the Grand County Sheriff's Office said.

The sheriff's office added that it believes a Baja race team may be responsible for the vandalism.

Baja races are high-speed, off-road endurance races that feature vehicles such as ATVs, trucks, buggies and motorcycles, and they often take place in deserts.

Photos posted to Facebook by the Grand County Sheriff's Office show enormous letters and numbers scrawled onto the rock wall just beneath a petroglyph that appears to depict a person.

Authorities in Utah are searching for the vandals responsible for this inscription carved onto a rock wall with a petroglyph, and they believe a Baja race team may be responsible

The Grand County Sheriff's Office shared photos of the vandalized site with the petroglyph, which appears to depict a person, circled in red

Petroglyphs in the area are estimated to be more than 1,000 years old and are thought to have been made by ancient Native American cultures. A petroglyph depicting what appears to be a person on the vandalized rock wall is pictured

The inscription includes the number '646,' as well as the letters 'ATV OO.' The word 'Hi' was carved inside the first 'O.'

The words 'BAJA TOYS' are scrawled into the wall to the right of those letters. The sheriff's office also included pictures with the petroglyph on the rock wall circled in red.

The images shared by the sheriff's office also show older vandalism inscriptions around the recent one, including initials, names and dates, indicating that this is not the first time the site has been defaced. One of the inscriptions shows the date 1934.

The Grand County Sheriff's Office has asked anyone who may have information about who is responsible to call 435-259-8115.

'Your help in protecting these irreplaceable resources is appreciated,' the sheriff's office said.

The recent case of petroglyph vandalism came a little more than a year after another similar case in Utah.

In November 2024, two tourists were wanted by the Kane County Sheriff's Office for carving into a rock wall between the Wire Pass and Buckskin Gulch trail heads, which is right along the Utah-Arizona border.

The walls in that area have carvings depicting various animals, such as bighorn sheep, that were made by ancient Native American peoples.

The vandalism occurred in the area near Tusher Tunnel (pictured), which is an ancient sandstone formation in a remote part of Utah about 220 miles southeast of Salt Lake City

The Tusher Tunnel vandalism came a little more than a year after a similar incident in Utah near the state's border with Arizona. Tourists are pictured vandalizing a rock wall in that case

The tourists were accused of causing about $7,000 in damages with their vandalism, and one of them was identified and arrested after about just one week.

At the time, Utah's Bureau of Land Management released a statement that said: 'Vandalism is not only a crime punishable by the law, but this destructive behavior has lasting consequences that can never be made 100 percent whole again.'
A disabled man who dreams of becoming a binman has been left heartbroken after being rejected twice - despite completing a nine-month internship for free.

Bryan Rowe, 21, said he had been left feeling like he is 'not good enough' for his dream job after his local council turned him down.

Mr Rowe suffers with myotonic dystrophy (DM) and ADHD, but worked as a waste management loader for nine months as part of his supported internship.

Myotonic dystrophy is a form of muscular dystrophy which affects muscles and organs in the body, causing progressive muscle degeneration with weakness and shrinkage of muscle tissue.

After completing the unpaid role, further job opportunities came up and he was encouraged to apply, but was left 'broken-hearted' after being rejected twice.

His mother, Claire Rowe, described how her son, from Sholing in Southampton, Hants, had been obsessed with being a bin man from the age of two.

She said said she sent a formal complaint to the council and was told their recruitment services were under review.

Mr Rowe has been left looking for jobs ever since his initial placement ended in June 2025.

He said: 'I felt very disappointed not to get the job after two interviews with the council I worked for, I told mum that I am not good enough to get anything not even a binman job.

'One of the senior team always asked if I was enjoying being there, I would always say yes.

'I don't know what to do as this is all I want to do but, I don't want to sit around and do nothing.'

Bryan Rowe, 21, said he had been left feeling like he is 'not good enough' for his dream job after his local council turned him down

Mr Rowe suffers with myotonic dystrophy (DM) and ADHD , but worked as a waste management loader for nine months as part of his supported internship

His mother, Claire Rowe, described how her son, from Sholing in Southampton, Hants, had been obsessed with being a bin man from the age of two

Mrs Rowe said: 'He had been there for nearly nine months, and the council didn't have a problem with him, and then all of a sudden he's not good enough and can't do the role.

'He worked for free for nine months, he was always enthusiastic and on time.

'How are people meant to get enough experience?'

She said that since leaving college last summer, Mr Rowe has been trying to get a bin worker role with other local authorities and is also looking into private waste businesses - but has had no success.

She said: 'Bryan was completely broken-hearted about it, but he went back with his head held high and finished his placement.

'If that's not a kick in the teeth I don't know what is.

'He is very downhearted, he said he doesn't want to bother applying anymore because nobody wants him.

'While Bryan can do it, we want him to do it, because there might be a time where his myotonic dystrophy will pop up and stop him.'

A spokesman for the council said: 'Southampton City Council is committed to fair, inclusive and transparent recruitment processes.

'We are unable to comment on individual applications or personal circumstances, but recruitment decisions are made through formal interview processes which are reviewed to ensure they are fair and equitable, with appropriate involvement from HR.

'The council continues to keep its recruitment practices under review to ensure they are as inclusive and accessible as possible.'
An elderly San Francisco woman has walked free from a California courthouse after slamming her car into a young family of four and killing them.

Mary Fong Lau, 80, was handed two years of probation and 200 hours of community service after the horror crash that killed Apple executive Diego Cardoso de Oliveira, 40, his wife Matilde Ramos Pinto, 38, and their two children Joaquim, 20 months, and Caue, three months, in March of 2024.

Judge Bruce Chan, of the city's Superior Court, said that Lau's age, lack of criminal record and remorse had all factored into his decision, The New York Times reported.

Chan added that the high profile case against Lau and her poor health could make her a target of other inmates if imprisoned.

The family of four had been waiting for the bus to go to the San Francisco Zoo for their wedding anniversary when Lau's Mercedes hit them at around 70mph in a residential neighborhood with a 40mph limit.

The parents of Oliveira and Pinto filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Lau in June 2024, followed by another civil suit in May 2025 to void any financial transfers she may have made in light of the litigation.

They have accused Lau of transferring properties to new limited liability companies and selling them to third parties, possibly amounting to millions of dollars.

She had pleaded no contest to four felony counts of vehicular manslaughter, each punishable by up to 15 years behind bars.

As part of her sentencing, Lau was also banned from driving for three years. Her attorney Seth Morris told ABC7 that she does not intend to drive again.

Mary Fong Lau, 80, was handed two years of probation and 200 hours of community service after the horror crash

Lau pleaded no contest to killing Diego Cardoso de Oliveira, his wife Matilde Ramos Pinto, and their two children Joaquim and Caue

He told the outlet: 'There are no good outcomes for such an immense tragedy.

'Everyone who came to court felt the pain that is present in the community and from these families and we feel it, too. Mrs. Lau feels the pain of this tragic loss.

'She has taken accountability by pleading no contest. Not requiring the district attorney's office to do a preliminary hearing or to take the case to trial which would have taken years with an unknown outcome.

'She hopes that by entering a no contest plea it could begin a process of healing for these families.'

The San Francisco Standard reported that Lau told witnesses at the scene that she was trying to park when she accidentally hit the accelerator.

However, Lau told cops at the hospital that her car malfunctioned before she plowed into the bus shelter where the family of four was standing.

Investigators found no problems with Lau's car, which they said was traveling at an estimated 66 to 75 mph, the Standard reported.

According to the New York Times, the hearing on Friday was the first time that Lau had ever addressed the friends and family of the victims.

She told them: 'I want to say to your family sorry.'

Lau has been accused of changing her story over the fatal crash, first saying she accidentally hit the accelerator before telling cops her car malfunctioned

Joaquin, seen here, was killed at the scene along with his father, while his brother and mom died at the hospital

Jim Quadra, an attorney representing the victim's family in the civil case, told ABC: 'She doesn't have home detention - she doesn't have any restriction of her freedom.

'She just has to ask permission to maybe travel out of state, it's minimal in the consequences.'

He continued: 'They asked her for 200 hours of community service that rounds up to about five weeks.

'Five weeks of undefined community service which could mean whatever. We don't know what for - taking four lives.

'That is what we have and that is just not fair. That is not justice and doesn't give anything to the family to make them feel that they were heard.'

Diego and Joaquin were killed at the scene while Matilde and Caue succumbed to injuries in hospital.

Other people waiting for the bus to arrive were also injured in the crash and received medical attention.
A man who abandoned his puppy outside of an airport in Pennsylvania after he was told he could not fly with the pet is facing charges, according to police.

The Allegheny County Police Department said that Omar Perez, 42, left his chocolate Labrador outside of Pittsburgh International Airport on Friday 'when he realized he was unable to fly with it.'

Officers with the department who were working at the airport responded to reports of a sad and confused pup running outside in the departures hub around 5pm.

The officers were able to safely capture the dog with the help of witnesses, and they shared photos of the adorable puppy online.

The Allegheny County Police Department told the Daily Mail that Perez has been charged with second-degree and summary animal cruelty, as well as a summary charge of abandonment of an animal by its owner.

'Sadly, this is not the first time weve had this happen at our airport in recent years, and wed urge people to have a plan if they want to travel with pets,' a spokesperson for the department told the Daily Mail.

'Otherwise, we will investigate and we will file charges.'

Police said that after securing the dog, they managed to track down Perez and question him.

This chocolate Labrador puppy was abandoned by its owner, Omar Perez, at Pittsburgh International Airport when the man realized he was not able to fly with the dog, police said

Officers with the Allegheny County Police Department responded to reports of the abandoned pup running around at about 5pm on Friday. They secured the dog with the help of witnesses

The man initially claimed that he saw an Uber driver abandon the dog at the departure hub, but it was soon determined that Perez was indeed the owner and that he had left the dog behind, the department said.

Police did not detail how or where Perez was found, though it is likely he was caught before he boarded his flight.

Police told the Daily Mail that Perez, who hails from Texas, was released after he was issued his charges.

The department added that the Labrador puppy 'is doing well and being taken care of' and that it will be placed in a foster home.

The department gave 'a special shoutout' to Patrol Officer Riley Tkatch for conducting the investigation to determine Perez was the dog's owner and for helping find a safe home for the pup.

According to Pennsylvania law, if Perez is convicted of his second-degree misdemeanor animal cruelty charge, he faces a sentence of up to two years in jail and a fine of up to $5,000.

His summary charges are less serious and would carry a potential sentence of 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $300.

In the comments of the Allegheny Police Department's Facebook post about the lost puppy, hundreds of people thanked the police for their work, offered to adopt the dog and expressed anger at Perez for allegedly abandoning it.

Join the discussion What punishment do you think someone deserves for abandoning a helpless pet at an airport?

The Allegheny County Police Department gave 'a special shoutout' to Patrol Officer Riley Tkatch for his role in helping rescue the pup

Police said that the dog is being well taken care of and will be placed into a foster home. A Facebook user posted this photo with an officer and the dog that was taken shortly after it was found

'I'll take him! And give me 5 minutes with Omar...' the top comment on the post said.

'That's a good looking dog! I'd cancel my flight if I couldn't fly with him!' another user wrote.

'Think of the kind of life that pup would have had with that loser. So happy the puppy has another chance at a life he deserves,' said a third.

'Where can I find the pup for adoption at. Would love some info on him,' a fourth wrote.
Angela Rayner has been warned that Brits continue to hold a 'negative' view of her - despite growing speculation she is poised to challenge Keir Starmer.

The former deputy prime minister last week used a speech in a Westminster pub to set out an apparent Labour leadership pitch.

She warned Labour is 'running out of time' to deliver change and cannot 'go through the motions in the face of decline'.

Her intervention sparked fresh claims she is 'on manoeuvres' and could launch a bid to replace Sir Keir as Prime Minister following May's local elections, in which Labour are expected to perform poorly.

But a leading pollster has told Ms Rayner she still faces a challenge in winning over voters following her tax row last year.

She quit as housing secretary, deputy PM and Labour deputy leader in September following her tearful admission she failed to pay correct stamp duty on a new flat.

Luke Tryl, the UK director of More in Common, said recent focus groups revealed the public verdict on Ms Rayner was 'fairly negative'.

He also shared some examples of voters' responses, with one saying: 'Angela, there's a lot of baggage there.'

Angela Rayner has been warned that Brits continue to hold a 'negative' view of her  despite growing speculation she is poised to challenge Keir Starmer

The ex-deputy PM last week used a speech in a Westminster pub to set out an apparent Labour leadership pitch, which sparked fresh claims she will launch a bid to replace Sir Keir

Your browser does not support iframes.

Join the discussion Do YOU think Angela Rayner can rebuild public trust after this?

Another added: 'I used to really love her, but I don't think she's got a hope in hell after what was pulled off with her tax'.

And a third said: 'Well, she got caught for that. What else is she doing? You know what I mean? What else are they doing, these people who are hiding stuff?'

Mr Tryl also pointed to More in Common polling from last month that found nearly half (48 per cent) of voters thought it would be unacceptable for Ms Rayner to return to the Government.

This compared to less than a quarter (24 per cent) who thought it would be acceptable, while 28 per cent said they didn't know.

Previous research by the pollster, in January, showed Ms Rayner's net favourability among voters was -35, with only 14 per cent holding a positive view of her.

This made Ms Rayner less popular among voters that other leading Labour figures such as Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, Health Secretary Wes Streeting, new Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell, and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham.

Only Sir Keir and Chancellor Rachel Reeves were more unpopular than Ms Rayner, according to the January poll.

Mr Tryl said it was 'clear' that people in Westminster had 'moved on more quickly' than the general public from Ms Rayner's tax row.

'The problem is the tax issue has cut at the heart of one of the public's biggest frustrations with politics and politicians, the notion of "one rule for them",' he added.

'So my view is that Rayner probably needs a bigger mea culpa moment (and potentially more time out) acknowledging it  perhaps explaining more and what she'd do differently.

'Rayner's biggest strength remains her authenticity and the fact she's not seen as more of the same, demonstrating that and doing the sort of apology people don't expect from politicians is probably necessary.'
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker mourned the Americans who were shot and killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, but hasn't said a word about the Chicago woman who was allegedly murdered by an illegal migrant.

Pritzker, one of the wealthiest politicians in the US, attended a vigil outside the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago in late January after Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both 37, were killed during ICE protests in Minneapolis weeks earlier.

The 61-year-old Democrat, known for speaking out against immigration enforcement and Donald Trump, shared images of himself placing flowers at a memorial site for Good and Pretti on his social media pages, but has remained tight-lipped about the recent death of the freshman Loyola University student who was allegedly killed by an illegal migrant Thursday.

Sheridan Gorman, 18, was walking with friends along Lake Michigan around 1.30am when Venezuelan migrant Jose Medina-Medina, who was dressed in all black and hid behind a face mask, approached her and allegedly shot her in the head.

Gorman was later pronounced dead at the scene. Medina-Medina, who was caught by US Border Patrol in 2023 but later released under the Biden administration, is in custody.

Despite the horrid crime happening in his state, Pritzker has not commented publicly on Gorman's death.

His team issued a statement to the Daily Mail about her murder only after being contacted for comment.

'Our thoughts are with the family, friends, and Loyola University community grieving the senseless murder of Sheridan Gorman,' the spokesperson said.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker seen placing flowers outside the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago at the memorial site for the two Americans, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were fatally shot by ICE agents in January

Sheridan Gorman, 18, was walking with friends along Lake Michigan around 1.30am when Venezuelan migrant Jose Medina-Medina approached her and allegedly shot her in the head. She died at the scene

'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 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.'

His radio silence has left many infuriated, with social media users rushing to the comments section of his most-recent post, shared Sunday, which had nothing to do with her murder.

'Maybe keeping our students from being murdered should come first, Big Boy. Sheridan had no accelerated opportunity,' one person wrote.

Medina-Medina, who was caught by US Border Patrol in 2023 but later released under the Biden administration, is in custody

Another repeated her name, written in all caps, while someone else posted an image of Gorman.

'And yet, Sheridan Gorman is still dead,' a third added.

'You have Sheridan Gormans blood on your hands with your disgusting Sanctuary State Policies. No statement from you either,' wrote another.

Others pointed toward a video Pritzker shared in September, gloating about the 'absolutely gorgeous' Chicago lakeside - the same spot where Gorman was killed.

'Here on the Southside. Early morning. Lots of runners coming by on the lakefront path, lakefront trail. Absolutely gorgeous,' the governor said before flipping the camera to show the area around him.

'Just gorgeous, look at that overpass over Lakeshore Drive. Really beautiful.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to Pritzker's office for comment.

Just over a month after being released back into the US in 2023, Medina-Medina was arrested for shoplifting but was once again released into society, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revealed.

Pritzker shared a video in September, gloating about the 'absolutely gorgeous' Chicago lakeside - the same spot where Gorman was killed

'Sheridan Gorman had her whole life ahead of her before this cold-blooded killer decided to end her life,' DHS 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.'

Bis then called on Pritzker and other 'sanctuary politicians to commit to not releasing this criminal illegal alien from jail back into American neighborhoods.'

Gorman 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.'

Her loved ones added that they are 'demanding answers' and won't stop fighting until the person responsible for Gorman's death is brought to justice.

Gorman 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

Gorman's death is eerily similar to the murder of Laken Riley, the 22-year-old Augusta University nursing student who was attacked and murdered while jogging on February 22, 2024, by a Venezuelan immigrant

Her death is eerily similar to the murder of Laken Riley, the 22-year-old Augusta University nursing student who was attacked and murdered while jogging on February 22, 2024 by Venezuelan immigrant Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26.

Investigators said she was targeted by Ibarra, 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 Ibarra, who entered the US illegally and had been arrested twice before he killed Riley.

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, 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.
A British midwife who moved to Canada for a fresh start after her husband died could be deported back to the United Kingdom over an English language test.

Heather Gilchrist, a registered midwife based in Victoria, British Columbia (BC), has had her whole career and life upended after Canadian immigration officials said she failed to upload her language test in her application.

But, according to Gilchrist, who grew up in Perthshire and speaks fluent English, she completed the test last July, and there was no option for her to submit her results.

The Scot also said the checklist that came with the application did not mention the test at all.

Because of this, her work permit has been canceled, meaning she could face removal from the country, Gilchrist told CityNews.

Gilchrist, who had originally studied at the University of Glasgow, said she has built a highly successful practice, training twice as many midwives in Scotland as are currently registered in BC over the years, yet immigration officials have not taken her experience into account.

'It just doesnt make any sense, and I just need someone to lift their head and understand that it cant be this faceless system,' she told the outlet.

'You have someone as qualified as myself, and youre pushing them out the door.'

Heather Gilchrist could be deported back to the UK from Canada because of an English language test error on her immigration application

She moved to Canada after her husband died, starting a new life in a new country

The 'How to Apply' web page on the government's Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) site for post-graduate work permits has since added a note that tells people how the test must be uploaded upon application submission, but that was only added in December.

The disclaimer wasn't there when a number of people applied and were later denied because they did not include their results, like Gilchrist.

The issue became so dire that a Change.org petition pushing to end the 'unfair PGWP refusals by IRCC,' and to reinstate applicants who were rejected over the language test, has been launched online.

As of Monday afternoon, more than 1,487 people have signed the petition.

Because of her denial, Gilchrist had to immediately stop practicing, leaving her life in limbo.

'You are going to have me leave, and yet you seem so proud of the people you're attracting,' she said as the news of her citizenship ordeal came after the Ministry of Health announced its progress in recruiting health professionals from America.

Gilchrist added: 'Im already here, and now I have to leave? Doesnt make any sense.'

She said midwives often get overlooked, especially when compared to nurses and doctors.

The Midwives Collective, a maternity clinic Gilchrist works for, has since taken to social media, urging the public to send a letter asking federal immigration officials to reinstate her visa (Pictured: Gilchrist with her co-workers)

'We're not like doctors or nurses where there's a red carpet to welcome you in,' Gilchrist said. 'Midwives fall through the cracks a little.'

The IRCC told the outlet that people who have been denied can apply again for reconsideration, and that they are working on making the language test uploads more understandable.

But Gilchrist has already shelled out $60,000 to start her new life in BC and can't afford to wait and see what will happen next for her and her patients.

'That phrase about throwing the baby out with the bathwater seems more relevant than ever as a midwife, because thats whats happening right now,' she stated.

The Midwives Collective, a maternity clinic Gilchrist works for, has since taken to social media, urging the public to send a letter asking federal immigration officials to reinstate her visa.

Gilchrist has already shelled out $60,000 to start her new life in BC and can't afford to wait and see what will happen next for her and her patients

'One of our amazing midwives, Heather Gilchrist, had her work visa immediately revoked and may have to leave the country after a bureaucratic government bungle,' the group wrote on Facebook.

'Heather is an experienced, exceptional midwife - please help us get the word out to pressure federal immigration to re-instate her visa. Please send the linked letter in the URL in our bio (and comments) and share this widely. Her full story can be watched in the news clip in our bio. Thank you!'

Gilchrist has tried contacting the Ministry herself to figure out the next steps, but she has not heard back, she said.

'What do I do? How do I... where do I go from here? It's just not a good reflection of how I feel about being in Canada. Sorry,' she continued.

The Daily Mail contacted the Ministry of Health and IRCC for comment.
Iran has taunted Donald Trump after he claimed the US was halting strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure following what he called 'very good' peace talks with Tehran.

An Iranian official told Fars News Agency, which is aligned with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, that there is 'no direct or indirect contact with Trump'.

The unnamed source said Trump backed down after 'hearing that our targets would include all power stations in West Asia.'

Iranian Major General Abdollahi said: 'The use of a new, secret weapon will begin soon and it will bring an end to the enemy's operations.'

The taunts came just minutes after Trump claimed the two countries had held 'productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities.'

Markets lurched on Trump's announcement, initially surging before pulling back. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, swung from $92 a barrel to as high as $103 in chaotic trading.

The Dow swung 700 points before the opening bell and was last up around 1.4 percent.

Trump said he had ordered the Pentagon 'to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure' for five days, speaking to Fox Business and CNBC on Monday morning as he sought to soothe markets.

Trump speaks to the press before his departs the White House en route Miami, Florida on March 20

Smoke and flames rise at the site of airstrikes on an oil depot in Tehran on March 7

An explosion erupts following strikes near Azadi Tower close to Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran on March 7

Closing the Strait of Hormuz has proven relatively inexpensive for the regime, relying on drones and explosive suicide boats to disrupt global shipping

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu, accompanied by Dimona Mayor, Benny Biton, speak to media while visiting the area destroyed by an Iranian ballistic missile last night, leaving over 50 wounded residents on March 22

He warned that the cessation of the strikes was 'subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions.'

Trump's ceasefire announcement comes after he threatened over the weekend to bomb Iran's electricity grid unless the regime reopened the Strait of Hormuz with 48 hours.

Iran responded by ignoring Trump's deadline, vowing to strike water and energy facilities in the Middle East.

Trump had downplayed any sense of ongoing diplomacy with Tehran amid the secret peace talks this weekend.

Iranian authorities also warned they would deploy naval mines across the Gulf on Monday if the US attempted to invade its coastline or islands.

Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the war has caused a global oil and energy crisis.

Gas prices have surged to an average of $4.00 a gallon nationwide up from $2.90 before the conflict began three weeks ago.

The narrow strait - through which a fifth of the world's oil flows - remains blocked by the threat of Iranian mines and missiles.

Join the discussion Do YOU think this ceasefire claim will hold?

An Iranian official told Fars News Agency, which is aligned with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, that there is 'no direct or indirect contact with Trump'

Gas prices have surged to an average of $4.00 a gallon nationwide up from $2.90 before the conflict began three weeks ago

Trump previously threatened to use US troops to seize the small, rocky Kharg Island located in the Persian Gulf, where 90% of Iran's crude oil exports

Tehran has not promised to reopen the passageway. Iran's stranglehold over the strait is seen as its greatest leverage over the US in the ongoing conflict.

It remains unclear what Trump's ceasefire framework will cover or whether Israel will feature in the discussions.

US and Iranian diplomats have previously clashed over the regime's ballistic missile and nuclear enrichment programs, as well as their current defense stockpiles.

The Daily Mail has contacted the White House for comment.
An eco-activist who caused thousands of pounds of damage after throwing paint on a public building has been ordered to pay just 750 in costs.

Gabriella Ditton, 32, and fellow environmental campaigner Nicola Stickells, 55, hurled pink paint on the main doors of Norfolk County Council and Norwich City Council's headquarters.

The women - who were accused of hypocrisy after it emerged they used a diesel van to drive to the buildings - admitted taking part in the stunt.

But Stickells was acquitted of both criminal damage charges following a trial after claiming it was a lawful protest and Ditton was only convicted, by a majority verdict, of targeting the city council offices.

Appearing at Norwich Crown Court, illustrator and animator Ditton uttered 'whatever you think' as Judge Anthony Bate told her to pay the 750 contribution towards costs within six months.

The judge told her the doors were a 'cultural and heritage asset' to the city and cost a 'significant amount of money' to fix as he also handed the defendant a 12-month community order and 150 hours of unpaid work.

The trial last month heard that Ditton and Stickells vandalised the buildings on February 15, 2021, as part of a campaign called Burning Pink to highlight what they claimed was the inaction of local authorities to help tackle the climate crisis.

The women, who live streamed their protest, drove their Mercedes Vito can to County Hall first and caused between 3,000-4,000 of damage before moving on to City Hall. They then handed themselves in to police.

Gabriella Ditton, 32, and fellow environmental campaigner Nicola Stickells, 55, hurled pink paint on the main doors of Norfolk County Council and Norwich City Council's headquarters

Stickells, of Needham, told the trial she and Ditton had been desperate to shock people out of their bubble about climate change.

The diesel van was necessary, she claimed, because the paint couldnt be transported on a bus or bicycle.

Ditton, of Norwich, was asked by prosecutor Jude Durr if it was hypocritical to use a diesel van but replied that it was overshadowed by the damage being done to the environment.

The defendant, who represented herself, added the water-based paint had been watered down.

The aim was not to create the most damage but raise a conversation, she told the court.

I have written letters, done marches, done everything and it's not working.

Both councils had been warned a month earlier about the protest in an email that demanded councils to act on climate change or face a campaign of non-violent direct action.

Mother-of-two Stickells, of Needham, Norfolk, who studied environmental science at the University of East Anglia but dropped out of the course, was cleared of both offences after telling jurors she had a 'lawful excuse' for her actions.

Judge Anthony Bate told Ditton City Hall's historic bronze doors were a 'cultural and heritage asset' to the city and cost a 'significant amount of money' to fix

Paint was also thrown over the entrance to Norfolk County Council's headquarters

There were gasps in court from supporters when Ditton, of Norwich, was acquitted of the charge at the county council building but convicted on the other count.

Speaking after the verdicts, Ms Stickells said: This is not a victory for us. We are facing the greatest threat humanity has ever known.

We need many more people to stand up, take action, and force the changes that are so desperately needed. This is the responsibility of our time.

During the sentencing hearing on Friday, Mr Durr said the incidents involved a 'high level of planning or premeditation'.

City Hall's historic bronze doors were the 'physical embodiment of some significant creating and artistic endeavour' which 'celebrate the life and calling of previous craftsmen to the life, history and economic success or Norwich', he added.

Ditton became involved in direct action from 2020 and had 12 convictions for 17 offences, the court heard.

Causes she has been involved in include Extinction Rebellion, Insulate Britain and Just Stop Oil.

Activists cleared of criminal offences include three Extinction Rebellion members who were accused of obstructing the railway after climbing onto a Docklands Light Railway train in East London in 2022.

Stickells was acquitted of both criminal damage charges after claiming it was a lawful protest

A Mercedes Vito diesel van similar to the one used by Ditton and Stickells for their protest

MPs warned it provided a green light for people to commit crime after the judge, sitting in January 2022, cited the defendants' right to protest under the European Convention of Human Rights.

Three Just Stop Oil members used a similar argument when they were cleared in October last year of criminal damage and causing a public nuisance after they sprayed Stonehenge with orange powder using a fire extinguisher.

The trio accepted taking part in the protest but cited in their defence 'reasonable excuse' and their rights under Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights to freedom of speech and freedom to protest.

They told the court that the protest at the World Heritage site was a 'peaceful action with good intentions'.
Two Algerian migrants have been jailed after tearing a 65,000 watch from a driver as he took a picture of his Bentley in Mayfair.

Belal Amine, 26, and Gabriel Kamali, 23, who were smuggled across the English Channel in 2019, snatched Besart Krasniqi's Patek Philippe in a 'planned robbery' on May 11 last year.

Mr Krasniqi had left a cafe in the luxury central London district with his pregnant wife when one man ripped the designer watch from his wrist before fleeing the scene with two other men.

The victim gave chase but was aggressively shoved onto a black Mercedes by Kamali, who was described as the group's 'spotter' after he identified the watch as 'genuine high-value'.

The three perpetrators then managed to get away via nearby side streets. The watch was never recovered.

In his victim statement, Mr Krasniqi said that he had inadvertently taken a photo of the robbers moments before they targeted him.

'At about 4pm I was with my wife at the Hideaway Cafe 100 Mount,' he said. 'I walked around the front of my car and took a picture of it in the sun.

'Unbeknown by me I had taken a picture of one of the males who stole my watch. I would later show the picture to the police.

Belal Amine (left), 26, and Gabriel Kamali (right), 23, who were smuggled across the English Channel in 2019, were jailed this week for robbing a Patek Philippe watch worth 65,000 in Mayfair

CCTV footage shows the watch thieves being chased through Mount Street, Mayfair

The video shows Mr Krasniqi being pushed over by his asailants

'I was pushed on the left shoulder by a male. A second male ripped the watch off my left wrist. The watch was now in the hand of the second male.

'Both men ran off along Carpenter Street. A third male picked up the leather watch strap.

'The third male ran after me. I ran up Carpenter Street chasing the males. After a few metres the third male pushed me and then knocked me to the floor.

'I lost sight of the males. I called 999 and reported the matter. A male came over to me and said that he had filmed them, and had pictures of them.'

It was heard that Algerian Amine and Kamali were both in the United Kingdom illegally. Kamali came to the country on a small boat aged 16 or 17.

His representative Anne Asfaw told the court: 'He says that as soon as he pushed this poor man (Mr Krasniqi) he felt terrible,' Ms Asfaw said.

'He would like to apologise to the victim and ask for his forgiveness.'

While Tim Williams, for Amine, said the 26-year-old was an asylum seeker and therefore not allowed to work.

'He was interested in working, that's what he'd like to do, get a job and stay in the UK,' Mr Williams said. 'Clearly, that's not going to be possible after Your Honour passes sentence.'

Kamali pleaded guilty to one count of robbery, while Amine was convicted on the same charge following a trial.

Sentencing the pair on Monday, Judge Perrins said the robbery was 'a serious, planned, group attack'.

'This was not therefore an opportunistic robbery - the overwhelming evidence was that you were out that day looking for wealthy victims to rob,' the judge said.

Amine was jailed for four years, while Kamali was sentenced to three years' imprisonment. Because of the length of their sentences, both were subject to automatic deportation provisions, the court heard.

'My expectation is that you will be deported on release,' Judge Perrins said.

Mayfair, one of London's plushest and most expensive regions, has become a crime hotspot with gangs of robbers often frequenting the area in search of goods to steal.

The criminals targeted Besart Krasniqi on Mount Street, where he stood with his pregnant wife on May 11 last year

Mr Krasniqi and his wife had just left the plush Hideaway House (pictured) when they were robbed by the two Algerians and another accomplice

Our map shows how gangs of bike thieves like to target the richest areas of central London around Park Lane, Mayfair and Oxford Street

Algerian groups in particular have targeted the district, with an investigation revealing that 28 per cent of phones stolen in Britain end up in the north African country, making it the global destination ahead of China.

Criminals have begun waiting for visibly wealthy people at posh bars in Mayfair, before violently mugging them when they come out onto the street.

Earlier this month, BBC presenter Ben Thompson was left fearing for his safety after being robbed while leaving a restaurant in Mayfair with his friend.

He and Roja Dove were grabbed by six men on March 11 before Roja was thrown to the floor and robbed of his 150,000 Patek Philippe watch.

'After this attack my behaviour has changed  I no longer feel safe in London,' Mr Thompson said in a victim impact statement read out as two of the gang were jailed this week.

'I am nervous and jumpy when I hear a jogger or cyclist approaching behind me,' added the former Middle East correspondent.

It is thought that the Algerian gangs have pivoted from phone snatchings to violent robberies after a Metropolitan Police crackdown on mobile thefts.

Indeed, the number of phone thefts in London last year fell from 81,365 in 2024 to 71,391.

David McKelvey, a former Detective Chief Inspector with the Met Police, said: 'The criminals are able to adapt very quickly and once the police began to have some success in bringing down the number of phone thefts, it was inevitable that they would start looking at other areas.

'A simple "risk vs reward" assessment means for them it will make sense to try to steal one very valuable watch instead of any number of valuable phones.

'Ultimately the police need to catch these people more quickly and respond to new developments more quickly to do that.'
Parts of Britain have enjoyed some excellent weather for the time of year in recent weeks, with glorious spring sunshine and temperatures above 20C (68F).

But conditions are about to change dramatically following the country's early taste of spring, with forecasters warning of colder and wetter conditions later this week.

The Met Office said Wednesday will be a 'shock to the system' as the mercury drops to as low as -5C (23F) with heavy rain, strong winds, frost and even snow possible.

It comes after the UK recorded its warmest day of the year so far last week as thermometers reached 20.9C (69.6F) at Gogerddan in Wales on March 18.

Conditions should remain fine in England and Wales today with hazy sunshine, while Scotland will experience rain and strengthening winds with possible coastal gales.

Tomorrow is expected to be wet and windy for many areas of the country, with particularly heavy and persistent rain across parts of northern England and Wales.

Blustery showers will move into Scotland and Northern Ireland, with forecasters anticipating hail and thunder as well as wintry showers over higher ground.

Wednesday will feel significantly colder across the UK with rain, sleet and hail showers expected quite widely and snow likely over higher ground in the North.

A dog waits for a drink of water from a bottle during a walk along Paignton in Devon today

People pose for photos under a cherry blossom tree at St James's Park in London today

Hazy sunshine above the Grand Union Canal in Denham, Buckinghamshire, this morning

A cyclist travels on a road on a dull morning in the Oxfordshire countryside at Dunsden today

Colder air from the Arctic will push into Britain from the north-west over the coming days

Conditions elsewhere will be blustery and cold due to the wind chill, although there will be some sunshine.

Temperatures will fall during the night - potentially to -5C in rural Scotland - with a widespread frost likely for most areas and ice in the North on Thursday morning.

Most places will stay dry with sunny spells on Thursday, although cloud and rain is expected to push into Northern Ireland and western areas of Britain later on.

Temperatures are expected to return closer to average from Friday onwards, but forecasters said further weather systems could impact northern areas this weekend.

Met Office deputy chief forecaster Steven Keates said: 'After a spell of mild and brighter weather, the UK will turn increasingly unsettled in the coming days.

'A series of weather fronts will bring periods of rain, strong winds and much colder air by midweek. Wednesday could be quite a shock to the system.'

Mr Keates added that temperatures will range from 6C (43F) to 10C (50F), although conditions will feel 'closer to low single figures for many areas in the wind'.

He continued: 'Wintry showers are likely, especially over higher ground in the north, and a widespread frost - with icy patches for some - is possible on Wednesday night.

'It should be a little milder again by the end of the week, with many areas seeing another spell of rain on Friday.'
A couple have been jailed for life for killing their own 13-week-old baby - with newly released police bodycam footage revealing the moment the pair were arrested.

Klevi and Nivalda Pirjani were found guilty of murdering their son Miguel Pirjani, who died in November 2024 after being 'systematically abused' by his evil parents.

He was left with numerous broken bones and a bleed on the brain, having seemingly been subjected to repeated assaults during his short life.

The husband and wife later sought to blame one another for his death, with Nivalda, the baby's mother, alleging Klevi had 'lost control' before headbutting and kicking their son.

Both returned to Liverpool Crown Court for sentencing on Monday after being unanimously convicted of murder in a trial by jury last October.

Appearing in the dock wearing a beige turtle neck jumper and glasses, Nivalda Pirjani was handed a life sentence with a minimum 15 years and three months behind bars.

Nivalda showed no reaction, sitting with her arms folded as she was jailed for life.

Sitting to her right, Klevi Pirjani, who was said to have referred to Miguel as a 'monster' and 'it', was meanwhile told that he must serve at least 19 years before having any chance of release.

Klevi Pirjani, 37, was told he must serve at least 19 years before having any chance of release

Nivalda Pirjani, 34, was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 15 years and three months behind bars

He appeared to be wiping away tears as he learned his fate, closing his eyes and hanging his head at one stage before taking of his glasses and rubbing his eyes.

Chilling police bodycam footage has been released showing Nivalda being interviewed by officers after her son Miguel was found fatally injured.

In the video Nivalda can be heard asking 'what are the injuries' before a policeman details a number of wounds, including a 'fractured skull' and a 'bleed on the brain'.

Medical tests revealed he suffered a fractured skull and ribs.

Miguel passed away at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool, Merseyside, on 29 November 2024 five days after the brutal incident.

Police began investigating the incident after Miguel was found unresponsive inside the couple's house in Seacombe, the Wirral, Merseyside, on November 24 2024.

In a separate audio clip of the 999 phone call made by Klevi he can be heard calmly saying he has a 'three-month young one that just stopped breathing' and 'not reacting at all'.

He was later seen with his hands on his head in tears after the paramedics arrived at his house.

Chilling police bodycam footage has been released showing Nivalda being interviewed by officers after her son Miguel Pirjani was found fatally injured

In a separate audio clip of the 999 phone call made by Klevi he can be heard calmly saying he has a 'three-month young one that just stopped breathing' and 'not reacting at all'

High Court judge Mr Justice Baker said during today's sentencing: 'The best of medical science could not save Miguel Pirjani. He died from the irreversible effects of severe trauma to the head and neck.

'Miguel was 13-and-a-half weeks old when he died. You were his parents, and you killed him by what must have been an act of appalling violence, intending him to suffer really serious harm.

'It is possible that you intended to kill him to be rid of him, but I am not sure that was your intention.

'I am sure that the fatal trauma Miguel suffered involved a heavy blow or series of blows to the right side of his head.'

Mr Justice Baker added that he 'cannot say' precisely how the infant's head injuries were inflicted - or how many blows to the head he had suffered.

He added that it was unclear whether Miguel was 'battered onto a hard surface or some blunt object' was used in the attack, adding that it was 'probable that it was you, Klevi', who dealt the fatal injuries.

The judge said: 'What exactly happened to Miguel that morning remains the guilty secret of a warped relationship where you came first to one another. The interest of Team Klevi and Nivalda came first.

He said there must have been an escalation in the violence against Miguel in the final few days before his death before the fatal head injuries he sustained on November 24.

He was later seen with his hands on his head in tears after the paramedics arrived at his house

In the video Nivalda can be heard asking 'what are the injuries' before a policeman details a number of wounds, including a 'fractured skull' and a 'bleed on the brain'

Mr Justice Baker added Miguel's murder was an 'abuse of power and gross abuse of trust of the bond between a baby and parents'.

He said there was 'no mitigation available for Klevi' despite his 'difficult' childhood, which was 'affected by armed conflict (in his native Albania) and the deaths of your father and young sister'.

The judge told the court Nivalda was of previous good character. She had suffered from post natal depression and was estranged from her family, the Liverpool Echo reports.

The judge said she had shown a 'measure' of remorse - but that she had tried to limit her own responsibility in Miguel's death by fighting a trial.

The court previously heard that Klevi had called 999 shortly before midday on November 24, 2024, to report that Miguel was unresponsive.

Prosecutor Peter Wright KC said: 'He told the operator that Miguel just stopped breathing. Curiously, he referred to his son as it. 'It just stopped breathing'.

'It is a matter for you to consider in due course as to whether this was a product of distress on his part, a language barrier or an unintended indication of his attitude towards Miguel.'

Emergency services thereafter attended the family home on Percy Road in Seacombe, Wirral, 'within minutes' and found the baby in cardiac arrest.

While paramedics were able to recover a pulse, he was subsequently taken to Alder Hey Children's Hospital in an 'extremely serious' condition.

Doctors discovered that Miguel had sustained bruising on the left side of his head, while a CT scan found a fissure to his skull and bleeding on the brain, in addition to fractures to his right collarbone, left upper arm and left shin.

These broken bones were said to have been of varying age, with Mr Wright saying: 'The inevitable conclusion to be drawn from the injuries was that Miguel had been subjected to a course of conduct in which serious and obvious injuries had been sustained.'

Miguel remained in an unconscious state over the coming days, although his injuries were ultimately found to be 'irreversible'.

He remained on life support until November 29, 2024, when he died following the removal of artificial ventilation.

Mr Wright added during the prosecution's opening: 'At the time of his passing, his mother was permitted to hold his hand. Whilst present, she was heard to say "I should have protected you."'

A post mortem examination later revealed further injuries, including retinal haemorrhages, displaced skull bones, bleeding on both sides of the brain, bleeding around the cervical cord and a fatal hypoxic ischaemic brain injury.

Under interview, Nivalda gave a prepared statement to detectives in which she described Klevi as being abusive and violent.

Tributes pictured outside the couple's house on Percy Road, Wirral, in the days after baby Miguel had been murdered

The 34-year-old added that she did not blame her partner for Miguel's injuries but said 'she was frightened of him and feared what he may do'.

She also went on to repeat her claim that her husband was the one responsible for looking after Miguel.

But Mr Wright said of this account: 'We say her account is a fiction, calculated to conceal her own involvement in these events and to infer that any responsibility for the injuries sustained by Miguel and his death are the sole responsibility of her partner Klevi. We say they were in it together from the start.'

When he was questioned, Klevi disputed Nivalda's claims and said that no concerns had been raised during previous appointments with healthcare professionals.

The 37-year-old also queried whether Miguel's rib fractures could have been caused by resuscitation efforts.

Mr Wright said that the injuries to Miguel's ribs were of varying ages.

He told the court that some had been inflicted before November 24 and that any fractures later found were, in the opinion of a Home Office forensic pathologist, 'not consistent with CPR'.

Mr Wright said: 'Each of the injuries found, whether fatal or non-fatal, were, in his professional opinion, non-accidental in origin.

'We say that Miguel was systematically physically abused by his parents. They caused him really serious non-fatal injury with intent so to do. They caused or allowed his death.'

In her evidence, Nivalda told the court that she met her husband and co-defendant online in 2014, when she was living in Kirkby and he was residing in Birmingham, before they moved in together in 2016.

But she said: 'I've always been scared of Klevi. I was scared of Klevi trying to do something to me, because Klevi can be violent, aggressive, lose control. He [would] give a slap and beat me, on the face and on my body.'

Asked whether she had previously tried to leave the relationship, Pirjani said: 'Klevi stopped me all the time. Shouting, frightening, scaring me.

Miguel spent the first six weeks of his life in hospital due to medical issues and was struggling to feed

'I just tried to run away from the house. He tried to be aggressive with me, lost control, shouting and tried to beat me as well.'

Miguel was then born on August 27, 2024, and spent the first six weeks of his life in hospital due to medical issues.

She recalled that Klevi would 'get angry' if Miguel was struggling to feed and, on occasion, would 'probably give a slap on Miguel or bang his head on Miguel'.

Nivalda described how Klevi had slapped the baby on his back with 'very strong' force or hit his head 'by head by head'.

Of an incident two days after Miguel was discharged from his initial stay in hospital, she added: 'Miguel didn't take the milk like Klevi wanted.

'Klevi got angry and lost control and held Miguel by hips and banged Miguel on the bed on the floor at lot of times.

'I ran to stop Klevi. Then Klevi left and he came back, and he kicked Miguel on the left side of his hips.'

Asked what she had done to intervene, Klevi replied: 'I just stopped Klevi. I didn't do nothing because I was scared of Klevi. I just took Miguel from his hands, pushed Klevi away.'

Klevimeanwhile told the jury that he and Nivalda had a 'good relationship, very strong' and denied being violent or controlling towards his wife.

The former chef and digger driver went on to describe himself as 'the best dad in the world', saying of the moment that he learned he was going to have a son: 'It was a dream for me. My Miguel.'

His counsel Sarah Vine KC put to him Nivalda's claims that he had assaulted Miguel when he was struggling to feed, but he said: 'No, that's not true. How can I harm my son? Never can I harm my son.'

She subsequently put to him: 'Mr Pirjani, the injuries to your baby son were extensive, devastating and fatal. Did you cause any of those injuries?'

Klevi then appeared to become emotional as he responded: 'How can I harm my son? I never would do that. I love my son so much.

'My blood, you know. I cared for him, the best treatment for him. I loved him so much.'

In cross-examination, Nivalda's defence counsel Rupert Bowers KC detailed how Klevi had previously stood trial before the same court accused of a violent offence in 2016.

He had denied this charge but was ultimately convicted by a jury, leading to him conceding: 'I was lying. That was 10 years ago.. I was very young at the time. I did not say the truth.'

Asked who he had 'blamed for it', Klevi replied: 'I can't remember details, I think I said Nivalda I can't remember the evidence that Nivalda gave. I didn't tell Nivalda what to say.'

Asked who had caused the injuries that led to Miguel's death, Klevi said 'I don't know'. He also said he had not 'seen them being caused', before Mr Bowers put to him: 'If it wasn't you, Mr Pirjani, then who was it?'

Kelvi replied 'Nivalda' before adding 'I didn't see'. Mr Bowers continued: 'You can't quite bring yourself to tell that last lie, can you? You did not see, so you say, Nivalda commit any assault on Miguel. And yet you are blaming her, aren't you?'

But Klevi said 'no, I'm not blaming her'. When Mr Bowers asked 'who are you blaming then, who did it?', he responded: 'I don't know. I haven't seen.

'I never seen those injuries. What can I say, if I never seen those injuries? I didn't do it.'

Mr Bowers went on to reference a text message, sent from Klevi to Nivalda Pirjani prior to Miguel's death, in which he said 'I'm feeding your bishe'.

While the defendant maintained that the final word meant 'hero' in Albanian, it was put to him: 'It means monster. It means beast. I'm feeding your beast.'

Klevi however said 'no, that's not true'. Mr Bowers then alleged that he 'didn't like the fact that Miguel was born with abnormalities and difficulties' to which he replied: 'How can you say I didn't like Miguel if I never missed an appointment? How didn't I care for my son?'

Mr Bowers then said: 'You cared so well for your son that you have no idea how he came by 41 fractures and suffered a fatal blow to the head. Is that right?'

Pirjani responded: 'I don't know where his injuries came from. Of course I loved my son. I did love my son. I loved him.'

Nivalda's account that her partner had 'headbutted their son at three in the morning' was then put to him, but he said 'no, that's not true'.

Asked whether his wife had 'made it up', Klevi Pirjani stated: 'I don't know sir. That's not true. She's lying, yeah.'

Concluding his questioning, Mr Bowers said: 'You caused all of those injuries to your son, didn't you?

'It was you that got frustrated with your son again on the morning of the 24th of November and you did it again, didn't you?'

Pirjani responded: 'No, never. No. Nivalda was there. How can I harm my son, sir? How can I harm my son? I never harmed my son. No, I never harmed my son, sir.'

Detective Inspector Holly Chance, of Merseyside Police, said on Monday following the sentencing hearing: 'Baby Miguel's life was cruelly cut short at the hands of his parents who were meant to nurture and protect him.

'We hope this sentencing provides some sense of justice for Miguel's wider family who won't be able to see him grow up and our thoughts remain with them.'
Rather than leaning on his formal Cabinet, President Trump appears to be taking cues on Iran from outside forces, leaving his immediate advisors in a state of relative silence.

Some of his closest advisers reportedly view his campaign as 'misguided.'

Privately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, media magnate Rupert Murdoch, and several conservative voices urged Trump to strike Iran, according to sources familiar with the discussions who spoke on the condition of anonymity to Bloomberg.

But within Trump's Cabinet, some of the people closest to him were reportedly quieter about military engagement with Iran and deploying American soldiers to fight the war.

Those advisors include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.

Direct dissent was virtually non-existent; rarely did anyone label the plan as misguided to the president's face, even if they disagreed with the direction he was taking the war.

While Wiles focused on clarifying the President's strategic alternatives, Vance pushed for blunt honesty from senior officials, reportedly interrogating the logistical realities and long-term mechanics of a potential conflict.

State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggot responded to reports of a rift, saying it's 'an old familiar story of people not knowing what they are talking about, pretending that they do. There is no division. President Trump is making the world safer, and the entire administration is lockstep in that effort.'

'What he wanted for his advisers in his second term was people who were more amenable just to saying, 'Yes, sir' when he wanted to do X or Y, as opposed to people who said, 'Have you considered this or that or the other thing,' said Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton.

As the conflict crosses the one-month mark, the weight of the President's decision is becoming clear. His administration now teeters on the edge of a systemic crisis, grappling with alienated allies and volatile energy pricesall while Republican strategists eye a darkening horizon for the November midterms.

Iranian Red Crescent emergency workers use a bulldozer to clear rubble from a residential building that was hit in an earlier US-Israeli strike in Tehran on Monday

Trump speaks with CIA Director John Ratcliffe, accompanied by White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during military operations in Iran, at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort

Smoke and flames rise at the site of airstrikes on an oil depot in Tehran

President Trump's Iran policy is reportedly shaped less by his cabinet than by external influences, while his West Wing inner circle has remained notably quiet on the matter

But within Trump's cabinet, some of the people closest to him were reportedly more 'muted' about military engagement with Iran. Those advisors include Secretary of State Marco Rubio , Vice President JD Vance and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles

Meanwhile, Iran is now taunting Trump after he claimed the US was halting strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure following what he called 'very good' peace talks with Tehran

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has argued against this, saying it's a well-known fact that President Trump always 'wants to hear the honest opinions of everyone in the room.'

'Anyone who has actually been present for meetings with him will tell you he often solicits the opinions of all of his advisers, no matter their title or expertise, asking, 'What do you think?' And he expects honest feedback,' Leavitt explained.

Like Trump said last Friday: 'I have much more power in my second term.'

Republican anxiety is mounting over the war's potential to cannibalize their electoral margins, particularly as the November midterms increasingly hinge on volatile economic sentiment and the rising cost of living.

The administration's shift toward conflict has drawn fierce backlash from influential voices like Steve Bannon and Tucker Carlson. For months, both have leveraged their video broadcasts to hammer the president for abandoning his 'America First' principles in favor of a new foreign entanglement.

On the flip side, some conservative figures in the media like Senator Lindsey Graham and Mark Levin continue to push a full-force for the war with Iran.

Even those within Trump's advisory circle who once voiced opposition to military action have stayed quiet. Testifying before Congress last week, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard deferred entirely to Trump, asserting that the President remains the 'only person' capable of determining if Iran continues to pose an 'imminent threat.

Direct dissent was virtually non-existent; rarely did anyone label the plan as misguided to the president's face, even if they disagreed with the direction he was taking the war

Emergency personnel work at the site of a strike on a residential building in Tehran

Privately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , media magnate Rupert Murdoch , and several conservative voices have urged Trump to strike Iran, according to sources familiar with the discussions who spoke on the condition of anonymity to Bloomberg

An Iranian official told Fars News Agency, which is aligned with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, that there is 'no direct or indirect contact with Trump'

An explosion erupts following strikes near Azadi Tower close to Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran on March 7

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu, accompanied by Dimona Mayor, Benny Biton, speak to media while visiting the area destroyed by an Iranian ballistic missile last night, leaving over 50 wounded residents on March 22

Meanwhile, Iran is now taunting Trump after he claimed the US was halting strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure following what he called 'very good' peace talks with Tehran.

An Iranian official told Fars News Agency, which is aligned with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, that there is 'no direct or indirect contact with Trump'.

The anonymous source said Trump backed down after 'hearing that our targets would include all power stations in West Asia.'

Iranian Major General Abdollahi said: 'The use of a new, secret weapon will begin soon and it will bring an end to the enemy's operations.'

The taunts came just minutes after Trump claimed the two countries had held 'productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities.'

US and Iranian diplomats have previously clashed over the regime's ballistic missile and nuclear enrichment programs, as well as their current defense stockpiles.
As hundreds of senile lawmakers roam the halls of Congress, Americans are making it clear that they want age limits for their elected officials.

More than six in ten Americans, 63 percent, support age limits for their elected officials, according to a new Daily Mail/JL Partners poll.

When asked what the cutoff should be, the most popular option, selected by 24 percent of respondents, was 70 years of age.

While some members of the old Washington guard realize that it's time for new leaders to replace them, not everyone is getting the hint.

Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters, 87, recently announced her plan to run for re-election. She is even slated to retake the gavel as chair of the US House Financial Services Committee as its most senior member, if Democrats win control of the House of Representatives in the midterm elections.

It has caused other Democrats to privately complain behind the scenes. Publicly, her challenger is urging her to 'pass the baton.'

However, a few prominent lawmakers have - finally - read the writing on the wall.

Washington, DC, representative Eleanor Holmes Norton, 88, first planned to run for re-election to a 19th term. But she ended up terminating her bid in January.

Maxine Waters, a Democrat from California, speaks as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent testifies during a House Financial Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on February 4, 2026

Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Democrat from the District of Colombia, during a hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, July 23, 2025

Former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, 84, is retiring at the end of his 7th Senate term after fears about his health after enduring multiple falls in the halls of Congress.

And former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 85, is not seeking re-election this year, after serving in Congress for 20 terms.

'If you take a look at my energy and what I do  I am Auntie Maxine,' Waters told Politico in an interview.

'I'm the one who popularized 'reclaiming my time.'  I don't know who's got more energy, more concern. And so, Maxine Waters seems to be doing alright,' she added.

Waters' challenger, Myla Rahman, noted in her own interview with Politico that 'she's done a lot of great work,' before adding that it was time to 'pass the baton and let a new generation of leadership come have a seat at the table.'

Some districts have already started passing the baton to younger lawmakers, and others look poised to do so in the coming weeks.

Earlier in March, Democratic newcomer Christian Menefee, 37, bested Al Green, 78, in a member-on-member primary in Texas. The duo will face off in a runoff on May 26.

Menefee was only elected to the House last month, in a special election to fill the seat previously held by Sylvester Turner, 70, who passed away in 2025.

Nancy Pelosi speaks to the media after attending Congressional briefings on Iran at the U.S. Capitol on March 3, 2026 in Washington, DC

Representative Al Green, Democrat of Texas, protests before President Donald Trump delivers the first State of the Union address of his second term to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, February 24, 2026

However, not all younger challengers are emerging triumphant over older incumbents.

In Mississippi, a top congressional Democrat easily defeated an upstart millennial challenger, a rebuke to the narrative that progressive voters across the country are looking for a new generation of leadership in their political party.

Mississippi Democratic Representative Bennie Thompson, 78, is on the glidepath for another term in the House of Representatives after trouncing Evan Turnage, 34, who has been alive as long as Thompson has been in office.

Thompson first came onto the political scene as an activist in the then-segregated South, in his home state of Mississippi.

During his time in Congress, he served twice as chairman of the powerful Homeland Security Committee, both from 2007 to 2011 and from 2019 to 2023.

Bennie Thompson speaks to the media as he departs the US Capitol following a vote in the House of Representatives on March 5, 2026

Jerry Nadler mingles during his election night victory party in the Democratic primary election, Tuesday, August 23, 2022, in New York

Another top longtime Democrat leader announced his decision to leave Washington in part due to the way older elected leaders are treated.

Representative Jerry Nadler, 78, who has represented New York City's Upper West Side for over three decades, cited the spectacle made of former President Joe Biden's cognitive decline as a key reason for his decision to announce his departure from Congress in an interview with The New York Times last year.

Biden's disastrous performance in last year's presidential debate escalated the scrutiny of the age and health of top leaders in the Democratic party.

'Watching the Biden thing really said something about the necessity for generational change in the party, and I think I want to respect that,' Nadler noted to Times, adding that a younger successor 'can maybe do better, can maybe help us more.'

'This decision has not been easy. But I know in my heart it is the right one and that it is the right time to pass the torch to a new generation,' Nadler noted in a statement issued by his office back in September.
All train services from Glasgow Central will resume on Wednesday as platforms fully reopen more than two weeks after a fire in a nearby building forced the stations closure for several days.

The main part of the busy transport hub was shut for more than a week while demolition work continued on the fire-damaged building, though platforms seven to 15 were brought back into use last Wednesday.

Network Rail Scotland said that following substantial progress on the demolition, the size of the exclusion zone can be reduced, meaning platforms one to six can reopen on March 25.

The fire began in a vape shop on Union Street on Sunday, March 8, and spread through the building and around the corner, with only the facade of the Victorian building at the junction with Gordon Street left standing.

All platforms will be fully available for passenger services from Wednesday, including ScotRail, Avanti West Coast, TransPennine Express, CrossCountry and Caledonian Sleeper services.

Ross Moran, route director at Network Rail Scotland, said: Glasgow Central is at the heart of the city and is Scotlands busiest station, and weve been fully focused on getting everyone back safely.

The aftermath of the fire has been a significant challenge for everyone involved, but our teams have been working tirelessly to restore the station and support our passengers, train operators and retailers.

Id like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding. Their co-operation has made a difficult situation easier and were grateful for the support shown.

All train services from Glasgow Central will resume on Wednesday

The fire began in a vape shop on Union Street on Sunday, March 8

Our priority now is to keep people moving safely and give everyone who relies on this station a smooth and welcoming experience on Wednesday.

The low-level station, which is below the main concourse of the high-level station, reopened for train services within days of the blaze.

The reopening of the high-level station comes after detailed inspections, operational checks, repairs and cleaning.

Station facilities including the main toilets and shops will also reopen, and mobility support will continue to be available.

A small exclusion zone will remain in place on the high-level concourse as work continues on the fire-damaged building.

The entrances on Gordon Street and Union Street will remain shut as part of the small exclusion zone still in place.

The upper Hope Street entrance, the Hope Street driveway and the low-level entrances will be open and staff will be on hand to guide passengers.

ScotRail said it will resume its normal timetable from Glasgow Central high level on Wednesday.

David Ross, ScotRail chief operating officer, said: This is excellent news for our customers and I am very pleased we will be able to resume our normal timetable when Glasgow Central high level reopens for business on Wednesday.

We understand how frustrating the closure has been for customers whose journeys have been disrupted and were very sorry for the impact it has had.

The safety of our customers and staff is our priority, and the decision to reopen the high level has only been taken following comprehensive safety checks by Glasgow City Council and Network Rail.

We know some people will be travelling by rail for the first time since the fire, so we will have staff on hand at Glasgow Central and across the network to support customers and answer any questions.

ScotRail said there may be some minor alterations to services as some trains may be out of position following the station closure and advised passengers to check their journey before travelling.

Glasgow City Council confirmed at the weekend the facade of the fire-damaged building on Gordon Street has now been demolished by contractors and work to remove rubble from the site has begun in earnest.
President Donald Trump lashed out at a reporter's 'crazy' question about whether the US is intent on sending ground troops into Iran as the White House negotiates with Iranian officials.

Thousands of US Marines were deployed to the Middle East in recent weeks. At least two Marine units, comprised of over 4,500 Marines have reportedly been ordered to head towards Iran.

Trump spoke to reporters as he boarded Air Force One just hours after announcing the US was halting strikes on Iranian energy sites, following Tehran's opening of peace talks with Washington - a claim Iran has flatly denied.

'It's been reported that there are Marines [who] left California, left San Diego last week, at the end of the week. Why are they headed there now?' the reporter asked.

Around 2,500 Marines aboard three ships were deployed late last week to the Middle East, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. A week prior, the USS Tripoli, carrying over 2,000 Marines, was ordered to head to the Middle East from the Pacific.

Trump immediately shot back: 'Well, let me ask you this. If you were in my position and I asked you that question, do you really believe I'd give you that? It's a crazy question.'

The President has repeatedly refused to answer media questions about upcoming military actions in the war, saying that if he did, the operational security of the plans would be compromised.

If those talks go sideways and Iran doesn't cooperate, Trump said US forces will keep 'bombing our little hearts out.'

President Donald Trump said on Monday morning that Iranian officials called his administration to begin negotiations to end the war. Iranian officials, meanwhile, have refuted Trump's claim

At least two US Marine units are currently en route to the Middle East aboard the USS Tripoli and the USS Boxer

Trump said that if Iranian officials do not continue negotiating with US officials the strikes on Iran will continue

The President said Monday morning in a social media post that the US will hold off on striking Iranian energy infrastructure as the two countries look to strike a deal.

Within the hour, Iranian officials swatted down those claims, saying the President and his team were not in contact with their officials.

An Iranian official told Fars News Agency, which is aligned with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, that there is 'no direct or indirect contact with Trump.'

Markets lurched on Trump's announcement, initially surging before pulling back. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, swung from $92 a barrel to as high as $103 in chaotic trading.

The Dow swung 700 points before the opening bell and was last up around 1.4 percent.

Trump said he had ordered the Pentagon 'to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure' for five days, speaking to Fox Business and CNBC on Monday morning as he sought to soothe markets.

Later in the morning, Trump doubled down.

'I didn't call, they called; they want to make a deal.'

Smoke and flames rise at the site of airstrikes on an oil depot in Tehran on March 7, 2026

The White House has not heard from Iran's new Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, Trump said on Monday

Workers clear rubble from a bombed out building in Tehran on Monday

Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were in talks with Iranian officials on Sunday, the President said.

'We have had very, very strong talks. We'll see where they lead. We have major points of agreement... They went, I would say, perfectly. I would say that if they carry through with that, it'll end that problem, that conflict.'

The US is demanding in the negotiations that Iran give up its ambitions to create a nuclear weapon.

'We want to see no nuclear bomb, no nuclear weapon  not even close to it  low key on the missiles, we want to see peace in the Middle East. We want the nuclear dust... I think we're going to get that.'

The President added that Iran had agreed 'not have nuclear weapons any more,' though there has not been reporting indicating they have actually created one.

Trump said early on Monday before markets opened that the US would stop bombing Iranian energy infrastructure for five days

US gas prices have surged since the start of the US-Iran war on February 28. The average price for a gallon of regular gas was around $2.90 before the conflict, now it is around $4.00 per gallon

Still, the President reiterated his claim that Iran was on a path to make a nuclear weapon 'in two weeks' had the US and Israel not taken military action.

However, the administration has yet to get in contact with the country's new ayatollah, Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the former leader who was reportedly injured in US strikes.

'We have not heard from the son,' Trump told reporters.

Iran has attacked oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz since the US and Israel first struck the country on February 28.

The attacks and subsequent closure of the Strait have caused a global energy crisis.

US gas prices have surged to an average of $4.00 per gallon nationwide, up from $2.90 before the conflict began three weeks ago.

The narrow strait - through which a fifth of the world's oil flows - remains blocked by the threat of Iranian mines and missiles.
A homeless man has been charged with theft after allegedly stealing a violin worth 150,000 from a north London pub.

Ahmed Sami Madour, 46, is accused of swiping the antique instrument from a musician as he dined with a friend at the Marquess Tavern in Canonbury Street.

The violin, which was crafted in Florence in 1740, had been loaned to diner David Ibanez for his performances with London's Philharmonia Orchestra.

Madour, from the Leytonstone area of east London but of no fixed address, has now been charged with two counts of theft.

It is alleged he stole Mr Ibanez's violin on February 18 last year - and Madour is also accused of stealing a 4,000 violin on the same day in Hackney.

The Metropolitan Police said today that Madour was charged on January 19.

He appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court last week where his trial was set for May 10, 2027.

Court records show Madour has been released on unconditional bail after entering not guilty pleas to both counts of theft.

Police issued an image of a suspect after the 150,000 violin was stolen from a pub in north London

Scotland Yard said: 'The theft of a violin, valued at 150,000, was reported to the Met on Tuesday February 18 2025'

A homeless man has been charged with theft after allegedly stealing a violin (pictured) worth 150,000 from a north London pub

The violin, which was crafted in Florence in 1740, had been loaned to diner David Ibanez (pictured) for his performances with London's Philharmonia Orchestra

Scotland Yard said: 'The theft of a violin, valued at 150,000, was reported to the Met on Tuesday February 18 2025.'

'It was stolen from the Marquess Tavern, Islington.

'Madour was arrested on Wednesday June 25 on suspicion of theft.

'He was taken into police custody and later released on bail pending further inquiries.'

At the time of the alleged theft, PC Michael Collins, from the Met's local policing team in Camden, issued an appeal for information.

He said: 'The victim, who is a member of London's Philharmonia Orchestra, has told us the piece is worth more than 150,000 and was made in Florence in 1740,' he said.

'It is incredibly precious, and for the victim, it's priceless.'
A woman accused of butchering her own sister and stealing her luxury Rolex watch will go on trial next month, a court has heard.

Nancy Pexton, 69, is alleged to have carried out a brutal knife attack on her sibling Jennifer Abbott - a film director and author - before taking the diamond-encrusted timepiece she was known to wear every day.

Ms Abbott, who also went by the name Sarah Steinberg, was discovered dead in her Camden flat days after she was last seen alive, sparking a murder investigation.

Neighbours and her niece were forced to break into the property in Mornington Place on June 13 after growing concerned for her welfare, where they made the grim discovery.

Inside, her pet Corgi named Prince had been shut in a bathroom and left without food for three days, the court was told.

Pexton, who lives in nearby Marylebone and is just months younger than her sister, denies murder.

She appeared at the Old Bailey for a brief hearing, where Judge Mark Lucraft confirmed the case is due to be heard from April 7.

Nancy Pexton with sister Jennifer Abbott in a photo taken in the USA, shared on social media

Nancy Pexton, 69, is alleged to have carried out a brutal knife attack on her sibling Jennifer Abbott - a film director and author - before taking the diamond-encrusted timepiece (pictured) she was known to wear every day

Earlier prosecutor Ben Holt said: 'The deceased and the defendant were sisters. On 13 June shortly after quarter to six police were called to an address in Mornington Place.

'A report was made by the deceased's niece who attended the property out of concern for her aunt's well being and found the door locked secure and no response to knocking.

'A neighbour assisted her by gaining entry forcing door and the deceased was found laying on the living room floor covered by a blanket.

'The blanket was moved and there was signs of blood and decomposition. There was a smear of blood around the body and black adhesive tape around the mouth.

'A roll of duct tape with blood on the outer surface was found in the kitchen. The evidence suggested the tape was applied after the fatal injuries.

'The knife block in the kitchen had one knife missing and blood smears were found on the kitchen worktops.

'Ambulance services attended and life was pronounced extinct at 6.06pm. Her niece reported she would routinely wear a valuable Rolex watch and Cartier bracelet which were worn habitually and not removed.

Jennifer Abbott with pet dog Prince who had been shut in a bathroom and left without food for three days, the court was told

'The Rolex was not found on the deceased's body. The cause of death was sharp trauma to the neck behind the collar bone. There were eight wounds around the neck and upper back including a slash on the neck.

'The last sighting of the deceased was at 7.30am on the morning of 10 June. She was seen returning to her home address having walked her dog.'

Pexton was arrested at a hospital on 18 June and it is alleged the Rolex watch was found in her property bag.

Ms Abbott moved to Los Angeles to become a film producer directing films and writing several novels.
Footage of a passenger being taken into ICE custody during a chaotic episode at San Francisco International Airport was unrelated to immigration agents being deployed to help ease airport security lines, it has emerged.

Video swept social media on Monday showing a woman being aggressively detained by agents in the lobby of the airport, sparking anger from liberals complaining about ICE agents being deployed to airports.

But in a statement to the Daily Mail, an ICE spokesperson said the arrest occurred on Sunday, before President Trump deployed agents to help travelers facing huge security lines.

The agency said the woman being detained in the clip and her daughter, Angelina Lopez-Jimenez and Wendy Godinez-Jimenez, are illegal immigrants from Guatemala.

The family had an outstanding final order of removal that was issued by an immigration judge in 2019, the spokesperson said.

'While being escorted to the international terminal for processing, Lopez-Jimenez attempted to flee and resisted law enforcement officers. ICE is working as quickly as possible to repatriate the family unit to their home country of Guatemala,' the agency said.

The footage swept social media as travel chaos impacted travelers from the nation, as disgruntled passengers have been stuck in monster lines stretching over four hours.

In response to the crippling TSA shortages, President Trump deployed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to several major airports on Monday in hopes of easing the massive backlog.

Additional raw footage from new angle. 



This woman is U.S. citizen traveling with her young daughteraccording to witness who filmed video.



She could not prove her citizenship to satisfaction of the agentsand was violently taken into ICE custody.



San Francisco Airport pic.twitter.com/d1WXpZwIm3  LongTimeFirstTime (@LongTimeHistory) March 23, 2026

Footage of a passenger being taken into ICE custody during a chaotic episode at San Francisco International Airport was unrelated to immigration agents being deployed to help ease airport security lines, it has emerged

The footage showed mother and daughter Angelina Lopez-Jimenez and Wendy Godinez-Jimenez being detained. ICE told the Daily Mail on Monday that they are illegal immigrants from Guatemala, who were arrested when they 'attempted to flee' the airport

Airports across the country are reporting unprecedented wait lines for security amid a severe shortage of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers due to a partial government shutdown.

Record numbers of TSA workers have resigned or called out of work at major airports as the shutdown halted their pay, leading to massive security lines.

Footage from John F Kennedy (JFK) Airport in New York on Monday showed passengers were lined up all the way out into the parking lot, causing many to miss their flights despite arriving hours early.

At the nation's busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson International in Atlanta, officials told passengers in a statement to arrive at least four hours early for their flights.

Furious flyers say even that much time is not enough, as traveler Julie Kwert said she and her husband were forced to rebook despite arriving almost five hours before their flight.

'We've just been standing and standing,' Kwurt told CBS Mornings. 'Our feet are killing us, and my husband has a heart condition on top of that.'

Airports across the country are reporting unprecedented wait lines for security amid a severe shortage of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers due to a partial government shutdown

Security lines at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport (pictured) snaked around the baggage claim area, with airports across the nation reporting wait times of over four hours

As of Monday morning, ICE agents were deployed to JFK, Chicago O'Hare, Louis Armstrong International Airport in Louisiana, and Pittsburg International Airport, with more expected at a number of other hubs in the coming days.

TSA staff have been without pay for weeks and missed their first full paycheck on Friday, which led to over 11.5 percent of officers nationwide calling out the next day.

Trump blamed the 'radical left' for the shutdown and its impact on airports, saying they had refused to 'honor the deal that was approved and voted on in Congress.'

Over 300 TSA agents have resigned since the partial shutdown began on January 31, and officials fear that hundreds more could leave if they are forced to go without pay for much longer.

'Our kids, our families, houses  everything is at stake at this moment,' one TSA officer told CBS News Atlanta.

'We are literally drowning in silence, and the world doesn't even know it.'

The chaos at America's airports comes as a Canada Air aircraft collided with an airport truck at New York's LaGuardia on Sunday night, killing two people and injuring at least 41 others.

The tragedy appeared to be the result of low staffing at air traffic control at the airport, an issue that has been plaguing travelers for months.

In response to the crippling TSA shortages, President Trump deployed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to several major airports on Monday in hopes of easing the massive backlog

Lines at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport were snaked out of the building and into the parking lot on Monday morning

Monster lines have been reported at a number of airports across the nation, with travelers at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (pictured) saying they missed flights despite arriving four hours early

Lines stretched out into parking lots at several major airports across the nation on Monday

In a statement on Monday morning, JFK Airport officials blamed 'the federal funding lapse' for the huge backlogs.

Wait times at the airport had previously been reported at over three hours, but officials said in the update that the airport was no longer giving estimates because 'wait times are subject to rapid change based on passenger volumes and TSA staffing.'

The deployment of ICE agents to airports has proved controversial following a number of incidents involving the agency in the past year.

Trump acknowledged the controversy in a Truth Social post on Monday, saying he would 'greatly appreciate NO MASKS when helping our country out of the Democrat caused MESS at the airports.'

Controversies involving ICE have been blamed by Democrats for the partial shutdown, as many are refusing to fund the Department of Homeland Security - which controls both ICE and TSA.

Travelers are seen standing in long lines inside of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Monday

Trump acknowledged the controversy surrounding ICE agents on Monday, saying he would 'greatly appreciate NO MASKS when helping our country out of the Democrat caused MESS at the airports' in a Truth Social post on Monday

On Sunday, the CEOs of several major airlines including United, Delta and American sent an open letter to Congress urging them to re-open the government immediately.

The executives warned that TSA staff going unpaid was 'simply unacceptable', and cautioned that the crisis could deepen if they do not solve the issue urgently.

'It's difficult, if not impossible, to put food on the table, put gas in the car and pay rent when you are not getting paid.'

The CEOs told lawmakers they needed to pass the Aviation Funding Solvency Act, the Aviation Funding Stability Act and the Keep America Flying Act, which would protect TSA workers and air traffic controllers from going without pay in the case of a future shutdown.
President Donald Trump floated joint control of the Strait of Hormuz and suggested he didn't know who was currently leading Iran when responding to a reporter on Monday morning.

Trump spoke to journalists on the tarmac of Palm Beach International Airport as he departed Florida after spending the weekend at Mar-a-Lago and was asked by CNN's Kaitlan Collins who was in control of the Strait of Hormuz.

The President answered that the Strait would be open 'real soon' if a deal he's teased with Iran works.

'It'll be jointly controlled,' he said of the waterway.

When asked who would be jointly controlling it, Trump added, 'maybe me, maybe me.'

'Me and the ayatollah, whoever the ayatollah is, whoever the next ayatollah [is.],' the President continued.

Trump then argued that no matter what, Iran's next leader would represent 'regime change.'

'There's automatically a regime change,' the President added.

President Donald Trump floated joint control of the Strait of Hormuz and suggested he didn't know who was currently leading Iran when responding to a reporter on Monday morning

Smoke plumes out of an oil tanker on the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran war. Trump suggested the major shipping passageway could be 'jointly controlled' by the US and 'whoever the ayatollah is'

Leaders of Iran's Islamic Republic named Mojtaba Khamenei the new Supreme Leader after his father, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in the first day of Israeli and US strikes.

But Trump confirmed that it's not Khamenei who the US is negotiating with.

'We have not heard from the son,' he told reporters. 'We don't know if he's living.'

Instead the President teased that a Iran ceasefire deal was being worked out with somebody very 'respected.'

'We're dealing with some people that I find very reasonable, very solid, the people within know who they are, they're very respected, and maybe one of them will be exactly what we're looking for,' Trump said.

'Look at Venezuela how well that's working out,' he added.

After the US's January capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, the Trump administration left Maduro's No. 2, Delcy Rodriguez, in charge.

A replacement of the ayatollah with another religious cleric would not appease the pro-democracy protesters who have taken to Iran's streets in recent months - and whom Trump pledged to help before starting strikes on February 28.

President Donald Trump threatened to blow up Iranian power plants on Saturday night if Iran didn't free up the Strait of Hormuz (pictured) but on Monday morning said he'd hold off on such an attack, due to negotiations proceeding

Axios reported Monday that Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were in touch with the speaker of the Iranian parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, according to an Israeli source.

Trump hasn't identified the Iranian official talking to the US, for fear it would get him killed.

'We are dealing with a man that I believe is the most respected,' Trump said.

The Israeli source also told Axios that mediating countries were trying to convene a meeting this week in Islamabad, Pakistan, with Ghalibaf and other officials representing the Iranians.

Witkoff, Kushner and possibly Vice President JD Vance would represent the American side, the source told Axios.

Vance doubled down on his support for the war last Monday after previously condemning American adventurism in the Middle East.

The President's comments Monday morning marked a notable change in tone from the threat he made on Truth Social Saturday night, saying he would start striking Iranian power plants if the country didn't open the Strait of Hormuz.

He called that threat off Monday morning due to the progress made with negotiations.

President Donald Trump (left) talked about the Iran war with reporters before boarding Air Force One on Monday morning

The Saturday night threat to blow up Iranian power plants over the Strait of Hormuz also marked a departure from how he said he viewed the issue Friday when departing the White House.

Trump shrugged off Iran's chokehold on the Strait, saying the US didn't 'use' it.

'We don't use the Strait,' he said. 'The United States, we don't need it. Europe needs it. Korea, Japan, China, a lot of other people.'

'So, they'll have to get involved a little bit on that one,' Trump said.

The President has also insisted that he's not 'putting troops anywhere' despite reports saying that the Pentagon has prepared such plans.

A new Daily Mail/JL Partners poll showed Trump with the lowest approval rating since his second term started.

Registered voters said they were concerned about Trump's handling of the Middle East and inflation, as gas prices have spiked in the three weeks since the war began.
HS2S top speed could be slashed to slower than comparable trains in developing countries such as India, Morocco and Indonesia under the latest cost-cutting measures being considered.

Ministers today ordered HS2 bosses to look at slashing top speeds from the currently planned 360kph (224mph) to as little as 300kph (186mph).

By comparison, high-speed rail reaches up to 350kph (217mph) in China and Indonesia and 320kph (199mph) in Japan, Morocco and India.

Conventional trains in the UK run at speeds of up to 200kph (124mph). The definition of high-speed covers trains running at 250kph or more.

The move put Labour on a collision course with union barons, who said it would leave Britain in the slow lane.

Announced today by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, the review is the latest attempt to shave billions of pounds more off the severely over-Budget, delayed and curtailed project.

She ordered HS2 bosses to review the potential savings from slashing top speeds to either 320kph or 300kph, with a final decision to be taken later this year. The originally planned top speed of 360kph would have made HS2 trains the fastest in the world.

HS2 trains could now become slower than comparable trains in developing countries such as India and Morocco

HS2 has burnt through more than 40billion since 2019 but is only half complete, meaning the London to Birmingham leg alone will likely cost more than 80billion

HS2 trains could now become slower than comparable trains in developing countries such as India and Morocco, under a review announced today by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander

But no railway in the UK, or globally, is currently engineered for speeds so high.

It means a bespoke track would need to have been built to test trains, delaying completion by several more years and costing billions of pounds.

HS1, which Eurostar trains run on between London and Kent, is engineered to allow speeds of up to 300kph, meaning HS2 trains could be tested on this if they are lowered to this speed. France's high-speed trains run at up to 320kph, while in Germany and Italy they run at 300kph.

Insiders said the latest move would only extend journey times between London and Birmingham, currently projected to be 41 minutes, by around three to five minutes because trains were rarely meant to reach 360kph. The fastest route with Avanti West Coast is currently around 75 minutes.

Ms Alexander said: 'This Government is determined to deliver HS2 as effectively and efficiently as possible.

'In doing so, I will look at every opportunity to claw back construction time, save taxpayers money and ensure the project delivers for the country.

'I share the publics anger about the waste and mess of the past which is why this Government is pulling HS2 out of its sclerosis and setting it on a more sensible course.'

HS2 CEO Mark Wild added: 'We are rightly exploring options to create further efficiencies.

'Speed has never been the primary objective. This railway will deliver better journeys, more capacity on the network, and economic growth  all of which are vital to the countrys future prosperity.'

The beleaguered high-speed rail project has swallowed up 46.2billion of taxpayers cash since 2019.

This was the year that it was given a budget of 44.6billion by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. But it is only half complete despite already going over this budget.

HS2's original route was supposed to connect London with Leeds and Manchester, but these legs were axed amid spiralling costs and delays

HS2 has been at the centre of complaints by residents who live near the route about noise and disruption caused by workmen

It means HS2 bosses have had to go grovelling for more money to Treasury officials, who are expected to hand over another 7billion from April for next year (2026/27), so building work can continue.

The project initially had a price tag of 37.5billion, including for eastern and western legs branching off further north to Leeds and Manchester from Birmingham, when first announced by the then Labour government in 2009.

But only Phase One, connecting London and Birmingham, will now go ahead after both northern legs were axed by previous Tory Governments amid spiralling costs and delays. Phase One alone is projected to cost more than 80billion and could even top 100billion.

It comes after the Mail revealed how HS2s PR department still has nearly 100 staff costing up to 14million a year, which critics said showed the project has struggled to get spending under control.

Meanwhile, Mark Wild, who took over as CEO in December 2024, is in line for a total pay package of up to 940,000 this financial year.

It dwarfs the 676,763 that Mark Thurston, the previous CEO, got in his final year at the helm.

Tory MP for Mid Buckinghamshire, Greg Smith, whose constituents have been blighted by HS2 building works for several years, said: The UK has never been able to afford this vanity project that wont deliver anything useful for anyone.

Maryam Eslamdoust, boss of the TSSA rail union, said: HS2 must be safe but instead of offering a choice between further delays or reduced speeds, ministers should be seeking solutions now so that HS2 is running at full speed on day one.

Frankly anything else will leave Britain in the slow lane.
A father wiped away crocodile tears as he and his wife were handed life sentences for the horrific murder of their baby son - who he had referred to as a 'monster' and 'it'.

Miguel Pirjani, aged just 13 weeks, died in November 2024 after being 'systematically abused' by his evil parents.

The tiny youngster was left with 41 broken bones and a bleed on the brain, having seemingly been subjected to repeated assaults during his tragically short life. He died in hospital.

A court heard Miguel's father Klevi Pirjani, 37, and mother Nivalda Pirjani, 34, had tried to blame each other for the murder but both were unanimously convicted by a jury last October.

At the sentencing hearing earlier today, Klevi Pirjani appeared to be wiping away tears as he learned his fate, closing his eyes and hanging his head at one stage before taking of his glasses and rubbing his eyes.

Nivalda Pirjani, who appeared in the dock wearing a beige turtle neck jumper and glasses, sat with her arms folded, staring straight ahead. She must serve a minimum 15 years and three months behind bars.

Sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court today, Mr Justice Baker condemned what he called 'an abuse of power and gross abuse of trust of the bond between a baby and parents'.

He told them: 'The best of medical science could not save Miguel Pirjani. He died from the irreversible effects of severe trauma to the head and neck.

Murderous father Klevi Pirjani, left, appeared to shed crocodile tears as he and wife Nivalda Pirjani, right, were handed life sentences over the death of their son

'Migel was 13-and-a-half weeks old when he died. You were his parents, and you killed him by what must have been an act of appalling violence.

'I am sure that the fatal trauma Miguel suffered involved a heavy blow or series of blows to the right side of his head. Precisely how that was inflicted, I cannot say.'

The judge said it was 'more probable' that Miguel's head was battered by his father but he added: 'What exactly happened to Miguel that morning remains the guilty secret of a warped relationship. The interest of Team Klevi and Nivalda came first.

'There must have been an escalation in the violence against Miguel in the final few days, culminating in the assault on the 24th of November. You were in this together, encouraging each other.'

Klevi Pirjani, who was said to have referred to Miguel as a 'monster' and 'it', was told that he must serve at least 19 years before having any chance of release.

Mr Justice Baker said that although Klevi Pirjani had a 'difficult' childhood, 'affected by armed conflict (in his native Albania) and the deaths of your father and young sister', no mitigation could be considered.

The judge took into account Nivalda's post-natal depression and expression of remorse  but he added: 'That is rendered a little shallow by your determination to fight your trial, which extended to trying to limit your criminal responsibility.'

At their trial, the husband and wife later sought to blame one another for his death, with the mum even alleging that the dad had 'lost control' before headbutting and kicking their son.

Floral tributes to Miguel Pirjani piled up outside the family home in Seacombe, Wirral

Miguel died at Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, when his life support machine was switched off five days after emergency services were called to the family home in Seacombe, Wirral.

Klevi Pirjani had called 999 shortly before midday on November 24 2024 to report that Miguel was unresponsive, telling the operator: 'It just stopped breathing'.

During the trial, Peter Wright KC, prosecuting, told jurors: 'It is a matter for you to consider in due course as to whether this was a product of distress on his part, a language barrier or an unintended indication of his attitude towards Miguel.'

Doctors subsequently discovered that Miguel had sustained bruising on the left side of his head, while a CT scan found a fissure to his skull and bleeding on the brain, in addition to fractures to his right collarbone, left upper arm and left shin.

Arrest footage of Klevi Pirjani which has been released by Merseyside Police after sentencing

Miguel's mother Nivalda Pirjani pictured at the time she was arrested for murdering her son

These broken bones were said to have been of varying age. Miguel remained in an unconscious state and his injuries were ultimately found to be 'irreversible'

Mr Wright added: 'At the time of his passing, his mother was permitted to hold his hand. Whilst present, she was heard to say 'I should have protected you'.'

A post mortem examination later revealed further injuries, including retinal haemorrhages, displaced skull bones, bleeding on both sides of the brain, bleeding around the cervical cord and a fatal hypoxic ischaemic brain injury.

Under interview, Nivalda Pirjani gave a prepared statement to detectives in which she described Klevi as being abusive and violent  and said her husband was the one responsible for looking after Miguel.

Klevi Pirjani disputed Nivalda's claims and said that no concerns had been raised during previous appointments with healthcare professionals.

The father also queried whether Miguel's rib fractures could have been caused by resuscitation efforts.

Detective Inspector Holly Chance, of Merseyside Police, said: 'Baby Miguel's life was cruelly cut short at the hands of his parents who were meant to nurture and protect him.

'We hope this sentencing provides some sense of justice for Miguel's wider family who won't be able to see him grow up and our thoughts remain with them.'
A council has been forced into an apology after promoting a controversial art exhibition accused of featuring antisemitic imagery including a depiction of 'Jews eating babies'.

Thanet District Council removed a listing for the Margate show from its tourism website after complaints flooded in, distancing itself from the event and admitting it should never have been promoted.

In a statement, the authority said: 'Visit Thanet lists many events, activities and exhibitions on its website. Once the council was contacted regarding the nature of the content, the link to this exhibition was removed.

'The council is not affiliated with the gallery or this exhibition and apologises sincerely for any distress or offence that has been caused.'

The exhibition, Drawings Against Genocide, staged at Joseph Wales Studios, has sparked fury over a series of disturbing images linked to the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Among the illustrations is one depicting two auctioneers linked to Sotheby's, which is owned by French-Israeli billionaire Patrick Drahi, and in it they are devouring babies, with blood dripping from their mouths.

Campaigners say the work draws on deeply offensive antisemitic stereotypes. Alex Hearn, from Labour Against Antisemitism, said the images portray Jewish people 'as blood-soaked, baby-eating demons'.

Among the illustrations is one depicting two auctioneers linked to Sotheby's, which is owned by French-Israeli billionaire Patrick Drahi, and in it they are devouring babies, with blood dripping from their mouths

Another piece shows Lisa Nandy alongside cash and an Israeli flag, with speech bubbles stating: 'I am a Zionist' and 'I am paid by Israel'

The artist, Matthew Collings, has strongly denied that interpretation. He insisted 'nothing in the drawing says 'Jews' or claims Jews eat babies' and said the work instead criticises Zionism, adding it 'makes a comment that the owner of Sotheby's is a Zionist' and 'the message is that Zionism is a brutal ideology'.

Elsewhere in the exhibition are images of an Israeli soldier standing over blood and human remains, and figures holding a blood-soaked Star of David flag.

Another piece shows Lisa Nandy alongside cash and an Israeli flag, with speech bubbles stating: 'I am a Zionist' and 'I am paid by Israel'.

Some attendees were also reportedly wearing 'globalise the intifada' T-shirts, a slogan often interpreted as endorsing violence against Jews.

A spokesman for the Campaign Against Antisemitism condemned the works, saying: 'These images are grotesque. This isn't art but incitement, drawing on classic tropes.'

The row escalated after a Jewish visitor claimed she was driven out of the gallery during a confrontation with the artist.

Writer Zoe Strimpel described feeling shaken after the encounter, alleging she was shouted at and surrounded when she challenged the imagery.

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 incident was reported to police, but officers concluded no laws had been broken

Some pictures also featured Nazi imagery and it was reported that some attendees were also wearing 'globalise the intifada' T-shirts, a slogan often interpreted as endorsing violence against Jews

Detailing the exchange, she said: '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.'

She added: '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.'

According to her account, the situation deteriorated rapidly: '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'.'

Collings later hit back online, dismissing the backlash as 'Zionist nonsense'.

He wrote: 'Someone else in the room said 'I'm a Jew and I don't feel unsafe'. I would say my feeling personally is that this Zionist nonsense of making all these false allegations so anti-Semitism can be conflated with anti-Zionism has run out of effectiveness.'

The exhibition is the work of artist Matthew Collings, 70, who was present during the confrontation. He has since hit back online, dismissing the backlash as 'Zionist nonsense'

Elsewhere in the exhibition are images of an Israeli soldier standing over blood and human remains, and figures holding a blood-soaked Star of David flag

But Ms Strimpel's 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 incident was reported to police, but officers concluded no laws had been broken.

A spokesperson said: 'Kent Police received a report concerning artwork deemed to be offensive at an exhibition in Dane Hill, Margate, at 4.20pm on Saturday 21 March 2026. Enquiries have been carried out by officers, and no criminal offences were identified.'
An undertaker was found crushed to death by a piece of equipment used to move bodies from the back room of a funeral parlour, an inquest heard.

Funeral administrator Sally Blundell, 58, had been working alone at the East of England Co-op Funeral Services branch in Swaffham, Norfolk when she was found 'trapped' in the scissor lift that was 'used to lift caskets in and out of the fridge'.

The grandmother was discovered by a colleague from another branch, who had attended after concerns were raised by a family who had a pre-arranged appointment at the funeral parlour but found no staff there.

Stephen Kemp, who works in the Dereham branch, then rang emergency services on December 1, 2023.

Police officer Luke Heffer told the court Ms Blundell was found in the back room of the parlour where she was 'trapped in the scissor lift', lying across a bar and with the upper part of her body inside the frame.

Norfolk area coroner Yvonne Blake said Mrs Blundell's medical cause of death was recorded as 'contusion and compression of the chest by an external object'.

Dawn Salisbury, who had made arrangements to see a deceased relative, became concerned when there were no staff at the funeral parlour for her 11am appointment.

Sally Blundell (centre), 58, was found crushed to death by a piece of equipment used to move bodies from a fridge in the back room of a funeral parlour, an inquest heard

In a statement read to the Norwich inquest, she said that 'after about 10 minutes I decided to ring the landline number for that branch'.

When she could not hear a phone ringing within the branch, she tried calling the celebrant she had been dealing with and a message was passed to another branch.

Mr Kemp, a funeral manager at the Dereham branch of East of England Co-op Funeral Services, said he asked security to remotely check CCTV cameras at the Swaffham branch.

He said they could see two ladies sat in the reception area, who had attended the 11am appointment, and Mrs Blundell's car in the car park, but no sign of her.

The inquest heard there are no CCTV cameras in sensitive areas of the funeral parlour where bodies are kept.

Mr Kemp went to the Swaffham branch and discovered Mrs Blundell was dead.

In a statement, he said that a 'hydraulic hoist had come down on her body and was crushing her over the chest area'.

He said it was 'apparent to me she was already dead'.

The grandmother was found at the East of England Co-op Funeral Services branch in Swaffham, Norfolk on December 1 2023

Mrs Blundell's daughter, Lucy Blundell, said in a statement: 'I understand she had raised concerns about lone working.'

She said that her mother, of Great Cressingham, was 'respected by her colleagues' and had a 'wide network of friends'.

The coroner said Mrs Blundell was last seen on CCTV in the branch at 9.46am on December 1, walking away after taking a call on her work mobile phone.

Mr Kemp is seen to arrive at the branch just after midday, when he found Mrs Blundell.

Paul Bradbury, senior food and safety officer at Breckland Council, which investigated the incident, said Mrs Blundell was found 'trapped in the mechanism of the mortuary hydraulic pump lift'.

His report said she had been due to facilitate a viewing of a deceased person that morning.

There was an initial police investigation before the local authority took over, he said.

He said the council investigation looked at the condition and maintenance of the trolley, arrangements for lone working and training of staff.

The 200kg hydraulic scissor lift mortuary trolley, manufactured in 2008, was sent for examination by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Mr Bradbury said.

He said this examination identified issues including that 'the return spring on the control handle wasn't fully operating and didn't close the operating valve without manual assistance'.

His report also noted that 'the design of the handle means in some positions it can be knocked against a solid object and advanced'.

'The time taken for the mechanism to descend is also deemed to be relevant,' he said.

Mr Bradbury said it was thought the trolley had been raised to a height of no greater than 1.5 metres 'as the deceased person had been placed in the middle of the three refrigerated drawers and there would have been no need for Sally to lift the lifting mechanism any higher'.

He said records show the trolley was last checked in October 2023, with no defects identified.

Records indicate Mrs Blundell was in date for various training courses, including health and safety, the report said.

Mrs Blundell was seen on CCTV entering the chapel of rest room at 9.46am.

An hourly lone worker alarm, at 10am, was manually closed at the remote alarm receiving centre, the inquest was told.

He described situations where the trolley 'could descend unexpectedly'.

One was that 'the release valve lever could be released with the operator expecting the spring to stop descent and see it appears to have done so, whereas it might only have reduced the descent speed'.

Describing another possible scenario, Mr Wright said the lever could have been 'left in the notch position - jolting or moving the trolley could have caused its release, causing it to descend'.

The inquest, being heard with a jury, continues.
The former boss of Battersea Power Station was accused of 'unbecoming' behaviour for a CEO - including hugging a person in a Peppa Pig costume - before being fired, a tribunal has heard.

After he was dismissed in May 2025, Donagh O'Sullivan said he was ousted for voicing concerns over financial misreporting that gave a false picture to investors and the public.

He has filed an employment tribunal claim for unfair dismissal and whistleblowing detriment.

In its defence submission to the tribunal, BPS said Mr O'Sullivan had been 'unable to demonstrate any real insight into what was required of him as CEO' and by November 2024 he had lost his senior team's support.

But Mr O'Sullivan claimed he was given just two examples of 'unbecoming' conduct, including posting an image of him hugging the person in a Peppa Pig costume at an event to open a new shop in the development.

The other example was that he addressed cleaners and security guards by their first names and allowed them to do the same to him, he claimed.

The company said it had not shared full details of complaints with Mr O'Sullivan to protect complainants.

In November 2024 Mr O'Sullivan reportedly raised concerns that internal accounts valued plots of undeveloped land at hundreds of millions of pounds more than independent estimates.

Donagh O'Sullivan was fired as CEO of Battersea Power Station in May 2025

He claimed one of the only examples of 'unbecoming' behaviour he was told of was when he hugged a person dressed as Peppa Pig at a shop opening event

BPS denied any accounting irregularities and said Mr O'Sullivan was sacked for poor performance, lack of strategic leadership and misconduct allegations.

The Irishman, who joined BPS in 2024 after spending more than 20 years at London property developer Galliard Homes, was hired to plan a 'good financial return' for the development's investors.

In its defence filing BPS said the development had been costly, with investors facing a 'commercial challenge' given the 'significant historic costs incurred on the project'.

But Mr O'Sullivan said the company had put expenses on the balance sheet rather than taking them as an upfront hit to profits, which he claimed meant unbuilt parts of the site were overvalued in financial reporting, according to the FT.

He claimed external assessments had judged the land to be worth much less.

Mr O'Sullivan said he flagged his concerns to BPS's directors but the company said the accounting methods used were appropriate.

BPS Holding, which is not a party in the tribunal, has denied any accounting irregularities.

Mr O'Sullivan's tribunal claim said a forensic accountant he hired had confirmed his concerns had a basis.

BPS's defence said third-party accountants had found no evidence that executives were aware of financial discrepancies which they chose not to correct.

Mr O'Sullivan had spent more than 20 years at Galliard Homes before joining BPS in 2024

It said Mr O'Sullivan realised he was likely to be fired and made allegations to 'improve his personal position when facing dismissal for poor performance'.

A lawyer hired by BPS to investigate misconduct allegations was critical of Mr O'Sullivan's treatment of senior female colleagues, saying he displayed a 'brusque and at times intemperate manner, veering into aggression if angry' and a 'continued lack of leadership' over strategy, according to the defence filing.

A spokesman for Battersea Power Station Development Company (BPSDC) told the Daily Mail: 'We strongly deny and are robustly defending the unfounded allegations made by Mr O'Sullivan in the Employment Tribunal.

'There are no claims made by Mr O'Sullivan relating to BPSDC's accounts.'

The company said it used forensic accountants to investigate 'historic claims' and they concluded Mr O'Sullivan's concerns were 'not borne out'.

It added its practices 'adhere to international accounting standards' and that it was audited by PwC, which has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

BPSDC said it managed the power station's estate on behalf of Battersea Project Holding Company, the holding company of the 42-acre regeneration project.

The spokesman added: 'Adhering to the confidential nature of Employment Tribunal procedures, we cannot comment on this matter further at this time.'

Battersea Power Station once provided a fifth of the capital's electricity before it was decommissioned in 1983.

Three Malaysian investors bought it out of bankruptcy in 2012.
A Massachusetts cop is on trial for pointing a gun at colleagues in a complex criminal case that's dividing the state.

Kelsey Fitzsimmons, 29, went on trial this week over the chaotic episode in June 2025, in which she was accused of pulling out her service weapon and threatening to shoot officers when they arrived at her home.

They were there to serve a restraining order filed by her then fiance, Justin Aylaian. He is a local firefighter.

Aylaian alleged that Fitzsimmons was mentally ill and had threatened him and their four-month-old son, who he hoped to gain sole custody of.

Fitzsimmons claims she intended to shoot herself because she was afraid of having her son taken away from her, and denies she attempted to shoot her fellow officers.

But prosecutors allege that the officers saw her point the gun at them and pulled its trigger, leading Noonan to shoot her in self-defense. She was hospitalized for several weeks with a collapsed lung after being shot in the chest.

In opening statements this week, prosecutor James Gubitose said the weapon had a full magazine and that the only reason it did not fire when Fitzsimmons pulled the trigger was because its chamber was empty.

Glamorous Massachusetts cop Kelsey Fitzsimmons, 29, allegedly pointed a gun at her colleague. She is now on trial for it

The chaotic episode unfolded when Fitzsimmons' firefighter fiance Justin Aylaian served her with a restraining order and alleged that she had threatened him and their four-month-old son

The first witness in the trial on Monday was North Andover Police Lt. Sean Daley, who testified that he waited outside Fitzsimmons' home as the other two officers attempted to serve her with the restraining order.

Daley said he did not see Fitzsimmons bring out her weapon, but heard Noonan saying from inside the home, 'Don't do it Kelsey'.

He said he began running up the stairs and heard gunshots, then saw Fitzsimmons on the ground with a gunshot wound.

He said she told the officers as she lay injured on the ground: 'I'm sorry, I want to die.'

Prosecutors also showed footage from outside her home, showing Aylaian walking into their basement before hearing gunshots fired upstairs and running out of the house.

The footage then showed first responders arriving at her home and carrying the cop out on a stretcher.

At Fitzsimmons' trial, prosecutors showed footage of officers arriving at her home and then wheeling her out in a stretcher after she was shot

Fitzsimmons, seen at her trial on Monday, denies attempting to shoot her fellow officers and claims she only brought out the gun to kill herself

Fitzsimmons was a North Andover Police officer for just over a year before the shooting incident in June 2025. She was fired following the incident

The crux of the trial rests on whether Fitzsimmons pulled her gun on herself or on the other officers, with her attorney Timothy Bradl arguing that the episode was a tragic suicide attempt.

He noted that officers were heard yelling 'Kelsey, no, Kelsey, no', saying that 'you don't say that when you're staring at the muzzle of a gun pointed at you. You say that to a person who has a gun to their head.'

'And you don't shoot someone in the chest when they are seeking clearly to only harm themselves,' he added.

Massachusetts does not have a state law requiring police departments to wear body cameras, and the North Andover Police Department officers at the scene were not wearing cameras that would have shown the episode in Fitzsimmons' home.

Bradl alleged that officer Noonan tried to 'adjust the narrative' after the shooting in order to protect himself, and argued that he did not need to shoot Fitzsimmons in the chest.

Fitzsimmons says she was in the throes of post-partum depression and never intended to harm anyone but herself

Fitzsimmons said she was terrified of police taking her baby away from her

He described Fitzsimmons as a panicking mother who thought her life was spiraling out of control as she faced losing custody of her daughter, and said she tried to tell the officers to leave the room so she could end her life.

'She made a decision for herself and it's a decision that takes your breath away,' Bradl said.

'She decides to end her life with her firearm in her bedroom. She knows her firearm is in her bedroom, and she tells police something else.

'She tells them the guns are in the basement, because she doesn't want to involve them. The idea of harming them, the evidence will show, is ludicrous.

'She's trying to get them away from her.'

Pat Noonan, pictured, is the police officer who shot Kelsey Fitzsimmons during the fiery confrontation with her ex-fiance, a court was told

Prosecutors alleged that Fitzsimmons lied about where her service weapon was during the incident, alleging that she abruptly grabbed it and pointed it at officers. She claims she only intended to shoot herself

The former police officer was shot in the chest during the incident, and suffered a collapsed lung

Prosecutors disputed Fitzsimmons' version of the incident, claiming that the only reason it did not turn deadly was because there was no bullet in the chamber of her gun and due to Noonan's SWAT team training.

He said that when officers arrived at her home to serve her with the restraining order, she lied about where her guns were and told them she kept them in her basement.

He said Noonan was with Fitzsimmons when she then went into her bedroom, and he 'noticed that her demeanor changes and she gets upset... at that point she lunges to her right.'

The prosecutor alleged that she picked up her service weapon from in her bedroom, pointed it at the officers and pulled the trigger, but it did not fire.

He alleged that she then tried to rerack the gun and raised it up, leading Noonan to shoot at her twice. One missed her and the other hit her in the chest.

She was hospitalized for several weeks with a collapsed lung, and was later charged with assault.

Fitzsimmons was a North Andover Police officer for just over a year before the shooting incident in June 2025. She was fired following the incident.

She requested a bench trial instead of facing a jury, meaning a judge will decide her fate. The judge in her trial expected that he would hear evidence and come to a verdict within a week.
British warship HMS Dragon will take part in the defence of Cyprus from tonight - more than three weeks after an RAF base on the island was hit by an Iranian drone.

Defence Secretary John Healey this afternoon told MPs that the Type 45 destroyer had arrived in the eastern Mediterranean after voyaging from Portsmouth.

He added the vessel will begin 'operational integration into Cyprus's defence' from Monday evening.

It follows a huge row over Britain's failure to have a single major warship in the region when the Iran war broke out on 28 February.

Criticism over the UK's lack of preparedness for the conflict deepened when RAF Akrotiri, a key British airbase situated on Cyprus, was hit by a drone on 2 March.

An Iranian-type Shahed UAV caused slight damage when it hit facilities at Akrotiri, a British Sovereign Base Area, in the early hours.

The suicide drone is said to have been launched by Iranian proxy group Hezbollah in Lebanon.

A day after the attack, Keir Starmer announced the deployment of HMS Dragon - but it was a further week until the vessel left Portsmouth after a scramble to get it ready.

British warship HMS Dragon will take part in the defence of Cyprus from tonight - more than three weeks after an RAF base on the island was hit by an Iranian drone

Criticism over the UK's lack of preparedness for the conflict deepened when RAF Akrotiri, a key British airbase situated on Cyprus, was hit by a drone on 2 March

The Government was further criticised when vessels from other European countries - including France and Greece - arrived in the Mediterranean within days of Iran launching retaliatory attacks across the Gulf.

In a statement to the House of Commons on Monday afternoon, Mr Healey gave an update on Britain's response to the Iran conflict, which erupted when the US and Israel launched strikes on Tehran.

'RAF and Navy pilots have now racked up nearly 900 flying hours in defence of Cyprus, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates,' he told MPs.

'We have more jets in the region than at any time in the last 15 years.

'There are an extra 500 air defence personnel in Cyprus, and as more military capabilities are committed to the eastern Mediterranean, we're working closely with the Republic of Cyprus to coordinate the contribution of allies, including the US, France and Greece, to reinforce the security of Cyprus.

'And I can confirm that HMS Dragon has arrived in the eastern Mediterranean and tonight begins operational integration into Cyprus's defence alongside allies.'

The Defence Secretary also confirmed that two Iranian missiles were launched in the direction of the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, the largest of the Chagos Islands, but 'normal operations continue'.

'One fell short of its target, the other was brought down short of its target,' he added.

'Neither got close to Diego Garcia. The UK was not required to take action and normal operations continue.

'I totally condemn Iran's reckless attacks. Iran must stop  it must de-escalate. We want to see this war end now.'

Mr Healey later said the missiles fired in the direction of Diego Garcia fell 'well short' of the island.

He told the Commons he would attend a Cobra meeting later on Monday, chaired by the Prime Minister, because 'Iran is holding the Strait of Hormuz hostage by laying mines, targeting ships, including Red Ensign vessels, and putting lives in danger'.

He added: 'We've now deployed UK military planners into US central command to develop options.

'We're looking to accelerate new UK minehunting and drone technology and on Friday, we confirmed that the current permission we've given for the US to use UK bases for defensive strikes against specific Iranian targets extends to their missile sites and capabilities that threaten the Strait of Hormuz.

'We are determined that the UK plays a leading role in securing the Strait so commercial ships can move freely and confidently again.'
A wife accused of plotting to murder her ex-husband in a doorstep acid attack admitted in court that she had texted him saying 'I hope you end up with acid on your face'.

Paris Wilson, 35, told jurors that she messaged Danny Cahalane, 38, saying 'drop dead' a month before the fatal attack.

But Wilson, who has denied the murder, insisted she was being 'nasty' and was 'just relaying' threats that had been hurled towards Mr Cahalane from a drugs kingpin that he was mixed up with.

Prosecutors alleged Wilson helped plot the murder of fitness instructor Mr Cahalane after the breakdown of their marriage.

She allegedly fed information to a drugs kingpin that Mr Cahalane owed 120,000.

The father-of-two was 'doused in acid' in his own home in Plymouth, Devon, last year and died in hospital from his injuries 10 days later.

Wilson, who shared a child with Mr Cahalane, is also accused of setting him up to be ambushed the month before the attack.

The court previously heard she helped set up the ambush in exchange for around 2,000.

Paris Wilson, 35, told jurors that she messaged Danny Cahalane, 38, saying 'drop dead' a month before the fatal attack

Mr Cahalane was 'doused in acid' in his own home in Plymouth, Devon, last year and died in hospital from his injuries 10 days later

Pictured: Wilson. Prosecutors alleged she helped plot the murder of fitness instructor Mr Cahalane after the breakdown of their marriage

However, she denied ever getting money from the drug lord Frost, whose real name is Ryan Kennedy at Winchester Crown Court.

Today, she tearily told the court that she was 'angry' at the suggestion that she would put her child at risk.

She said: 'There's no way that I'm going to put that little girl at risk, not a chance.

'It just makes me angry.'

In January 2025, Frost told her that Mr Cahalane had stolen from him, and she subsequently messaged her ex saying 'Don't message me, drop dead'.

She also wrote: 'I hope you and your butters girl both end up with acid on your faces'.

Explaining the messages, Wilson said: 'I was being nasty to him, but I know that it feels almost impossible to consider that me saying it was a coincidence, and it wasn't a coincidence.

'I had heard that as a threat, I've heard Frost threaten Dan with melting him.

'I had heard that threat back from Dan to Frost.'

She said she was 'just relaying what I have heard'.

The court heard details about sour messages between Wilson and Mr Cahalane.

Jennifer Knight KC, defending Wilson, told the court that Wilson - who is 'spiritual' - texted Mr Cahalane that he was doing things which had 'low frequency energy', including lying and being selfish.

While crying, Wilson told the court: 'We did have quite a turbulent relationship when we were together and after, but he was so capable.

'He was a crappy person, but he also wasn't. I just I wanted him to be the person I knew he could be, not the person he was being.'

She said she was 'just being mean' when she said she didn't care if he became a 'slaphead'.

In total nine people are on trial at Winchester Crown Court, Hampshire.

Wilson, from Plymouth, is accused of murder, manslaughter, participating in the criminal activities of an organised crime group, attempted kidnap and attempted grievous bodily harm with intent.

The others accused of murder are five men from London - Abdulrasheed Adedoja, 23, Ramarnee Bakas-Sithole, 23, Israel Augustus, 26, Isanah Sungum, 22, Brian Kalemba, 23 and one woman from Plymouth, Jude Hill, 43.

These defendants have also pleaded not guilty to a charge of manslaughter against Mr Cahalane at Winchester Crown Court.

Adedoja, Bakas-Sithole, Augustus, Wilson, Sungum and Kalemba have all denied participating in the criminal activities of an organised crime group, along with Jean Mukuna, 23, and Arrone Mukuna, 25, from London.

Adedoja, Bakas-Sithole, Wilson, Jean Mukuna and Arrone Mukuna have pleaded not guilty to the attempted kidnap of Mr Cahalane.

The trial continues.
Shabana Mahmood battered away jibes that Angela Rayner was running immigration policy today amid a Labour civil war over over plans to tighten the system.

The Home Secretary said it was 'absolute rubbish' to suggest Ms Rayner was calling the shots from the backbenches, after the former deputy prime minister joined rebels opposed to making it harder for people to settle in the UK.

The are trying to see off Ms Mahmood's plan to at least double the time it will take immigrants to qualify for indefinite leave to remain (ILR), from five to 10 years for standard applications and 20 years for refugees.

Controversially, the plans would apply retrospectively to migrants already here, affecting 2.2million people who have arrived since 2021.

Last week Ms Angela Rayner became the most high-profile critic of the proposal, labelling it 'un-British' and warning such 'moving the goalposts ... undermines our sense of fair play'.

In the Commons shadow home secretary Chris Philp goaded Ms Mahmood, asking: 'Who is is running the government's immigration policy now, is it her or is it the former deputy prime minister?'

The Home Secretary replied: The assertion that he makes at the heart of what he just said is absolute rubbish.

'He knows the government has already said it will be consulting on the changes that we wish to make and I will bring forward those proposals in due course.'

The Home Secretary said it was 'absolute rubbish' to suggest Ms Rayner was calling the shots from the backbenches

The former deputy prime minister joined rebels opposed to making it harder for people to settle in the UK

In the Commons shadow home secretary Chris Philp goaded Ms Mahmood, asking: 'Who is is running the government's immigration policy now, is it her or is it the former DPM?'

At the weekend 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 Ms Rayner of picking a fight with the Home Secretary because she saw her as a future Labour leadership rival.

Critics of the plan on the Labour benches are preparing to invoke a little-used parliamentary procedure to force a symbolic vote on the measures in the coming months, the BBC reported.

Communities Secretary Steve Reed stressed that Labour was elected on a manifesto commitment to reform the immigration system. But he admitted there was a 'robust' debate within Labour over the policy.

Ms Rayner's intervention last week has sparked claims she could be preparing for a return to frontline politics less than a year after she quit over unpaid tax on the purchase of a holiday home.

Her speech in a Westminster pub set out an apparent Labour leadership pitch as she warned the party is 'running out of time' to deliver change and cannot 'go through the motions in the face of decline'.

Her intervention sparked fresh claims she is 'on manoeuvres' and could launch a bid to replace Sir Keir as Prime Minister following May's local elections, in which Labour are expected to perform poorly.

But a leading pollster has told Ms Rayner she still faces a challenge in winning over voters following her tax row last year.

She quit as housing secretary, deputy PM and Labour deputy leader in September following her tearful admission she failed to pay correct stamp duty on a new flat.

Luke Tryl, the UK director of More in Common, said recent focus groups revealed the public verdict on Ms Rayner was 'fairly negative'.

Your browser does not support iframes.

He also shared some examples of voters' responses, with one saying: 'Angela, there's a lot of baggage there.'

Mr Tryl also pointed to More in Common polling from last month that found nearly half (48 per cent) of voters thought it would be unacceptable for Ms Rayner to return to the Government.

This compared to less than a quarter (24 per cent) who thought it would be acceptable, while 28 per cent said they didn't know.

Previous research by the pollster, in January, showed Ms Rayner's net favourability among voters was -35, with only 14 per cent holding a positive view of her.

This made Ms Rayner less popular among voters that other leading Labour figures such as Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, Health Secretary Wes Streeting, new Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell, and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham.

Only Sir Keir and Chancellor Rachel Reeves were more unpopular than Ms Rayner, according to the January poll.

Mr Tryl said it was 'clear' that people in Westminster had 'moved on more quickly' than the general public from Ms Rayner's tax row.
An illegal immigrant who stabbed his wife to death could avoid being kicked out of Britain - because of a deadly 'blood feud' sparked by his own crime.

The convicted killer, who can only be named as KD, entered the UK in a lorry illegally and was living in London when he stabbed his 23-year-old wife ten times in 2005.

He was jailed for life for murder before being released in 2018 on licence.

Ministers wanted to deport him immediately to his native Turkey - only for the killer to claim asylum on human rights grounds.

The Kurdish killer, 54, argued that being sent back home would place his life at risk due to a 'blood feud' - fearing he could be hunted down by his wife's family.

He claimed he faced political persecution over his support of a group allegedly linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party, which is illegal in Turkey and a terrorist organisation in the UK .

His legal team argued that two relatives had been killed in similar revenge attacks and that he could be the next target.

KD's first asylum claim was rejected in 2004 after a judge found it to be 'wholly fraudulent', but he has remained in the UK unlawfully since.

An illegal immigrant who stabbed his wife to death could avoid being kicked out of Britain - because of a deadly 'blood feud' sparked by his own crime. (Pictured: The Old Bailey)

After being told he was liable to be deported upon his release from prison for murdering his wife, KD made a second asylum claim in 2016, claiming again that he would be politically persecuted.

Despite the Home Office arguing that he presented a danger to the public, KD won an initial court battle last year against deportation after applying for 'humanitarian protection'.

That decision was last month overturned at the High Court after judges found errors in law.

However, they concluded his fears of a revenge attack had not been properly assessed - meaning the case must be now heard once again by the immigration courts.

After the upper tribunal ruled that the Home Office could not challenge the decision, the department took the case to the Court of Appeal, with its barristers telling a hearing last month that the original ruling was 'perverse' and 'legally flawed'.

Lord Justice Peter Jackson said of the claim: 'It is uncomfortable that a foreign criminal subject to deportation should be able to claim human rights protection because of an alleged blood feud resulting from his crime.

'But the appeal must be decided in accordance with principle.'

KD first entered Britain illegally with his spouse in August 2001 after sneaking on to a lorry and had a political asylum application turned down two months later.

His later attempts to secure asylum were deemed to be 'fraudulent'.

KD then went on to kill his wife in a fit of rage in December 2005. A court heard how he caught her chatting to another man online while running a kebab shop in the capital.

The Old Bailey heard that relatives feared KD could be 'provoked' into hitting his wife after she 'belittled' him for being infertile.

Before murdering his wife, he told her: 'Your battery is finished now, that is the end of your life.'

Describing the criminal case, Lord Justice Jackson said: 'In December 2005, KD killed his wife by stabbing her multiple times in a fit of jealous rage.

'She was 23 years old. In December 2007, he was convicted of murder at the Central Criminal Court, the jury having rejected his plea of diminished responsibility. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 12 years.

'The Recorder of London described the offence as having involved very considerable violence.'

His claim was rejected in 2004 after a judge found it to be 'wholly fraudulent', but he has remained in the UK unlawfully since.
At least 77 people have been pulled from a burning Colombian military airplane after it crashed down to the ground in a fireball while carrying 125 people.

The aircraft, a Hercules C-130 used for transporting troops, came down near the town of Puerto Leguizamo, in Putumayo province, on Monday morning.

The plane erupted into flames but dozens of people have so far been rescued alive after emergency workers were dispatched to the area, near the border with Peru.

Eight people have been confirmed as dead although it is feared the death toll could be much higher. Around 40 people are unaccounted for, authorities said.

Images shared online showed a black cloud of smoke rising from a field where the plane, which was carrying 114 passengers and 11 crew members, crashed.

Carlos Fernando Silva, the commander of Colombia's Air Force, said: 'At this moment we do not know details.

'Except that the plane had a problem and went down about two kilometers from the airport.'

The air force commander added that two planes, with 74 beds, had been sent to the area to fly the injured back to hospitals in Bogota and elsewhere.

The aircraft, a Hercules C-130 used for transporting troops, came down near the town of Puerto Leguizamo, in Putumayo province. Credit: X/@ELTIEMPO

Colombian President Gustavo Petro earlier said that he hoped there would be 'no deadly casualties in this accident that should have not occurred.'

Colombia's defence ministerr Pedro Sanchez expressed 'deep sorrow' over the disaster.

'Military units are already at the scene,' Sanchez said, adding that 'the number of victims and the causes of the crash have not yet been confirmed.'

'It is a deeply painful event for the country. May our prayers bring some measure of comfort,' said Sanchez.

Earlier Sanchez said the aircraft had suffered 'a tragic accident while it was taking off from Puerto Leguizamo, transporting troops of our security forces'.

He did not disclose if there had been any casualties but described the incident as 'deeply sad for the country'.

'All care protocols for the victims and their families have been activated, as well as the corresponding investigation,' Sanchez said in a statement on X.

'I express my most sincere condolences to the families of those affected and, in respect for their pain, I call for avoiding speculation until official information is available.'

Videos from the scene show a huge crowd of grey smoke and flames surrounding the remains of the aircraft.

BluRadio cited authorities as saying 110 soldiers were on board, and that the crash took place just 3 km (2 miles) from an urban centre

Members of the community, startled by the magnitude of the accident, mobilised to collaborate in rescue efforts, according to a report in El Tiempo.

At the end of February, another Hercules C-130 belonging to the Bolivian Air Force crashed in the populous city of Alto, barely missing a residential block.

More than 20 people died and another 30 were injured, and banknotes from the plane's cargo scattered around the city, prompting clashes between residents and security forces.
Keir Starmer suggested Donald Trump uses insults as a 'pressure' tactic today after the President posted a sketch mocking him as a 'coward'.

The PM gave an insight into how he approaches Mr Trump's bewildering communications style as he appeared before MPs.

Sir Keir has been branded 'no Churchill' and 'disappointing' by the US leader, who has also peppered him with invective about the Chagos 'surrender' deal. The jibes have raised questions about the status of the so-called Special Relationship.

Liaison Committee chair Meg Hilliar asked the premier how he handled Mr Trump's 'rude comments' and the sense there were 'different presidents on different days of the week'.

'I am utterly focused on what's in the best interests of our country,' he said.

'Notwithstanding the pressure that comes from elsewhere I will remain laser focused on the British national interest.

'A lot of what is said and done is undoubtedly said and done to put pressure on me, I have no doubt about that. I understand exactly what is going on.

'But I am not going to be wavering on this... That has served me well in recent weeks.'

Keir Starmer gave an insight into how he approaches Donald Trump's bewildering communications style as he appeared before a Commons committee

Sir Keir discussed the Iran war and how to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz with the US president in a 20-minute call last night.

No10 tried to play down tensions between the pair over the crisis in the Middle East following US-Israeli strikes, insisting the chat was 'constructive'.

But it is not clear if Mr Trump's slew of public insults at his transatlantic partner were mentioned.

Shortly before the conversation, the president spread a toe-curling clip from the British version of 'Saturday Night Live' on his Truth Social platform.

The scene from the show - which aired for the first time on Sky this weekend - 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'.

Despite the jibes from Mr Trump there was hope of a breakthrough as he dramatically announced a five-day ceasefire.

In an all-capitals post on his Truth Social site, the president said 'productive' talks had been going on with the regime.

Iran has yet to respond or give any indication whether the crucial Strait of Hormuz will reopen.

Markets staged a breathtaking relief rally, with oil prices dropping below $100 a barrel again.

Donald Trump spread a toe-curling clip from the British version of 'Saturday Night Live' on his Truth Social platform yesterday

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'

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'.

He has also called Nato countries - including the UK - '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 over the 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.

Mr Trump has set a deadline of just before midnight for Iran to reopen the Strait 'fully', or face 'obliteration' of its power plants.

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 Tina Fey, Bill Murray and Eddie Murphy.
Four women have been rushed to hospital with stab wounds after a bar fight broke out inside a Los Angeles restaurant.

The violence unfolded at Zaya Restaurant in the downtown area of the California city late Sunday afternoon.

Sources told Fox LA that fighting erupted inside the eatery after servers handed an all-female party their bill and they all started arguing.

One member of the party pulled a knife, the outlet reported, while another woman grabbed a glass bottle.

Sources also told CBS that one woman was struck over the head with a glass bottle, causing it to smash, while the woman with the knife stabbed three people.

According to officials, two suspects were taken into custody at the scene. Their identities have not yet been made public.

The four women who were taken to hospital were said to be in a 'fair' condition. They are aged 26, 27, 28 and 37.

The incident happened inside Zaya Restaurant in the downtown area of the California city

Sources told CBS that a man smashed a glass bottle over the head of one person and a woman then armed herself with a knife before stabbing three other people at the restaurant

According to officials two suspects were taken into custody at the scene, their identities have not yet been made public

The restaurant is an upscale 'dinner and a show' themed eatery that also run a Sunday brunch

In a statement, the restaurant said: 'We are aware of the incident that occurred earlier today.

'While some situations develop unexpectedly and are beyond our control, the safety of our guests and staff remains our highest priority.

'We are especially grateful for the swift response of our team, as well as the immediate support of local law enforcement and emergency personnel.

'We appreciate the patience and support of our community and look forward to moving ahead together.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to the Los Angeles Police Department for further comment.

The restaurant is an upscale 'dinner and a show' themed eatery that also run a Sunday brunch special every week.
A man and a woman in their 70s were arrested following the 'suspicious' death of a care home resident.

A woman, 88, was found dead at Sleaford Manor Care Home in Lincolnshire, at around 2am on Sunday.

Lincolnshire Police said a 74-year-old man and a 75-year-old woman are being held by officers investigating what the force described as a 'suspicious death'.

The pair have been released from custody, but police have confirmed a murder probe has been launched.

A spokesman for Care UK, which runs the care home, told Lincolnshire Live: 'We are deeply saddened by this incident and send our condolences to the resident's family.

'The incident is now part of an active police investigation so it would be wrong for us to comment any further at this time.

'We will be cooperating with the investigation in any way we can.'

The incident has caused considerable concern locally.

A woman, 88, was found dead at Sleaford Manor Care Home in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, at around 2am on Sunday (file photo)

A woman in her 60s, who did not wish to be named, told the website: 'You've got the old person home there and the community centre being built there, so it's not something you would expect to have happen in your neighbourhood.'

Police said they were in the very early stages of the investigation and expected officers to be in the area 'for some time'.

The force continued: 'Members of the public may see several police vehicles as a result of our enquiries, which we know can cause anxiety.

'But please be assured this is a normal part of the investigative process and should not cause alarm.'

Lincolnshire Police said on Monday evening: 'Our investigation into a suspicious death in Sleaford is ongoing.

'We were called to Sleaford Manor Care Home yesterday at 2am to a report that an 88-year-old woman had died at the scene.

'The 74-year-old man and a 75-year-old woman who were arrested in connection with this incident have been released from custody.

'A postmortem has been conducted and we have commenced a murder investigation.'

Detective Inspector Mel Rooke, of the Major Crime Unit, said: 'Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victim this evening. Our specially trained officers will be providing support to her family as our inquiry continues.

'I understand any unexpected death is a concern to our communities and this tragic death will be no different. I can say there is no wider risk to the public.

'Our inquiries will take some time to complete and I would ask that the family and the care home are left in peace and their privacy is respected.'
An Iranian backed sleeper cell has allegedly claimed responsibility for the ambulance firebombing in Golders Green last night.

Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, which translates to 'Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right', shared unverified footage of the ambulances burning with their logo pasted over it, hours after the fire.

The fire, which is widely being considered an anti-Semitic attack, took place outside a north London synagogue in the middle of the night.

CCTV footage shows three hooded suspects approaching a parked Hatzola with patrol cans before it ignites into flames.

They then flee the area as the four Jewish community ambulances were engulfed by fire, with several loud bangs heard as oxygen cannisters exploded, shattering nearby windows at 1.45am on Monday. There were no injuries.

The last post Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, which can also be called Ashab al-Yamin, shared on Telegram before seemingly attacking the ambulances said: 'In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

'This is the Final Warning To all the peoples of the world, especially in the European Union.

'Immediately distance yourselves from all American and Zionist interests, facilities, and what is affiliated with them.'

Three hooded suspects were seen approaching the Jewish emergency vehicles before they were set alight this morning outside a synagogue

They then flee the area as the four Jewish community ambulances were engulfed by fire

Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, which translates to 'Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right', have appeared to take responsibility for the attack

Israeli embassy sources told The Telegraph today that the attack has 'all the hallmarks' of an Iranian-backed attack.

The style of the attack appears to follow the same pattern as the terrorist linked group's other alleged targetings: taking place in a Jewish community, property focused, overnight and then shared online with their insignia.

The Telegraph reported that the group also follows previous examples of Iranian backed terror groups, a technique implemented by Tehran to pursue overseas activities which does not imply direct affiliation with the regime.

Ashab al-Yamin's insignia, bearing a raised arm with a rifle pointing right with a globe slightly faded in the background, is very similar to the IRGC's, Lebanese Hezbollah and Kata'ib Hezbollah in Iraq.

The right hand is typically associated with divine favour, honour and righteousness in Islamic culture.

Featuring the right hand will lend the group's imagery to a spiritual mission, rather than an ideological pursuit, according to experts.

Although the group have not established their own Telegram channel - which is usually to be expected when a new terror group has been announced - their posts are being widely shared by channels tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Hezbollah.

Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, which is reported to have links to Iran's network of proxies, has seemingly taken responsibility for other attacks in Europe over the past few weeks.

Three of the community ambulances were left in pieces and burned out after fires triggered explosions inside the vehicles

An explosion in Belgium at Synagogue of Liege is also linked to the group.

This is believed to be the start of the group's campaign, taking place on March 9, which saw windows shattered across the street.

A second attack in Greece took place two days later at a Jewish site in Athens with footage seemingly showing two people fleeing the scene.

Hours later, a lengthy statement circulated on Telegram channels affiliated with Hezbollah which called on 'the warriors of Islam, the knights of the shadows'.

The only Jewish school in the Netherlands was the next target, with the synagogue set on fire in Amsterdam on March 13 - four young men were arrested on suspected involvement.

UK authorities are yet to verify the claims by the group that they instigated the fire in London last night. The group is said not to have appeared in any databases three weeks ago, nor did it have a previous footprint online.

However, their Telegram post promised 'targeting the most prominent Zionist centres in London' - seemingly threatening more attacks.

Scotland Yard has said today they are hunting for three suspects and it is a 'priority' for them to verify if Ashab al-Yamin are involved, amid fears across Europe of Iranian sleeper cells awakened by America and Israel's attacks on the country.

A police car parked outside a Jewish school in teh Netherlands following an explosion

The Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right has claimed to have carried out the attack

The group posted a video online showing an individual igniting a fire before it explodes and driving away

Counter-terrorism police are leading the investigation, Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams said, but the arson is not yet being treated as a terror attack.

He said: 'We believe we are looking for three suspects at this early stage. CCTV footage appears to show three people in hoods pouring an accelerant on to the vehicles before igniting them and fleeing.

'While this has not been declared a terrorist incident at this stage, the investigation is now being led by counter terrorism policing with all the specialist expertise they bring, and all lines of enquiry remain open.

'We are aware of an online claim from a group taking responsibility for this attack. Establishing the authenticity and accuracy of this claim will be a priority for the investigation team but it is not something we can confirm at this point.

'There have been no arrests at this early stage, and we would urge anyone with information to please contact us as soon as possible - you can do so anonymously if you wish.'

Health Secretary Wes Streeting visited the scene on Monday and called it a 'despicable act of evil'. He was briefly heckled with cries of 'shame on Labour' from the crowd.

He said: 'The aim of these attackers is clear. They want Jewish people in this country to live smaller lives, to live less Jewish lives, to be less visible as Jewish people, to fear going about Jewish life.

Four vehicles will be in place 'tomorrow morning at the latest' to replace those that were destroyed, with work ongoing to get permanent replacements, the Health Secretary said.

Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook said of the potential Iran links: 'I'm sure the security services will be looking into that, and the Met will be investigating. I'm very reluctant to get ahead of what is still a live investigation'.

Forensic officers are carrying out searches on a residential street near to Highfield Road.

A police cordon preventing people from entering a section of Brookside Road has been put in place this afternoon.

Six fire engines and 40 firefighters rushed to Highfield Road, near the Mchzike Hadath synagogue in Golders Green, at around 1.45am to put out the flames. No one was injured.

The force of the blasts, believed to be gas canisters onboard the Hatzola ambulances, caused windows to break in a nearby block of flats.

The synagogue, which is one of the oldest in Europe, has its roof damaged and stained glass windows smashed in the fire.

Condemning the 'deeply shocking' attack, Sir Keir Starmer said: 'My thoughts are with the Jewish community who are waking up this morning to this horrific news.

'Antisemitism has no place in our society. Anyone with any information must come forward to the police.'

Gideon Falter, chief executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: 'We are absolutely heartbroken that this is how low Britain has sunk. This horrific act truly plumbs new depths.'
Despite Republicans controlling the House, the Senate, and the White House, political leaders still cannot make a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security.

As the DHS shutdown crossed into week five, Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune offered Donald Trump a deal to fund all divisions within the department other than ICE.

Thune offered Trump a package that Democrats would back, as well as a handful of Republicans, per Punchbowl News.

The President reportedly rejected the offer, which would have funded TSA, stopped chaos at airports, and still not given in to top Democrat demands such as banning immigration agents from wearing masks.

Trump has also stated that he wants lawmakers to forgo their upcoming two-week Easter break, adding that he would shame lawmakers for going on vacation.

He even said he would host GOP senators and their families at the White House for Easter if they can't get a deal together.

It's a thinly veiled 'threat' in the eyes of some lawmakers who want to celebrate the religious holiday with their families at home, per Punchbowl.

In a Sunday night Truth Social post, Trump called for the passage of the SAVE Act, which would require voter ID, urging lawmakers to 'stay in D.C. for Easter, if necessary.'

President Donald Trump at an event at the White House on Thursday, March 5, 2026

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, talks to reporters about a funding bill to end the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security shutdown that began more than a month ago, at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, March 23, 2026

Trump also noted in an earlier Sunday morning post on 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.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents patrol Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport on March 23, 2026 in New York City

Passengers wait in long TSA security screening checkpoint lines inside the domestic terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 23, 2026

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's nominee for DHS Secretary, Markwayne Mullin, is expected to pass a confirmation vote on Monday evening.
Two suspects arrested over an incident at Faslane have been released without appearing in court.

Iranian Sarsam Abutakir and Romanian Alina Valentina were due to appear at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Monday afternoon.

But they were released without appearing in the dock, and prosecutors say they remain under investigation.

Abutakir, 34, and Valentina, 31, were detained by police at around 5pm on Thursday, March 19, 2026.

They were taken into custody after allegedly trying to enter the naval base, which is near Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute, and is home to the UK's nuclear-armed submarines.

They were held in police custody for four nights after being detained at the site, officially known as HM Naval Base Clyde, ahead of their planned court appearance.

It's understood Kurdish and Romanian interpreters has been scheduled to translate for the suspects in court.

Bur they did not appear before Sheriff Lorna Anderson as planned and were liberated from custody.

The Faslane naval base is the Royal Navy's headquarters in Scotland and is home to Britain's nuclear submarines including the Vanguard vessels armed with Trident missiles

Abutakir, 34, and Valentina, 31 taken into custody after allegedly trying to enter the naval base, which is near Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute, and is home to the UK's nuclear-armed submarines

A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said: 'The Procurator Fiscal received a report concerning a 34-year-old man in connection with an alleged incident on March 19, 2026.

After full and careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case, he was liberated from custody pending further inquiries and did not appear in court.

'The case against him remains live and under consideration.

'The Procurator Fiscal received a report relating to a 31-year-old woman and an incident said to have occurred on March 19, 2026.

'After careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case, including the available admissible evidence, the Procurator Fiscal decided that there should be no proceedings.

'The Crown reserves the right to proceed in the future should further evidence become available.'

Faslane, home to all of the Royal Navy's nuclear submarines, is around 25 miles north-west of Glasgow and sits on the Gare Loch.

The UK's four Vanguard-class ballistic missile submarines, which carry Trident nuclear missiles, are stationed at the base.

Iranian Sarsam Abutakir and Romanian Alina Valentina were due to appear at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Monday afternoon

The CPS said the two men remain under investigation

Abutakir and Valentina were detained amid the conflict between the United States and Israel and Abutakir's homeland, the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Wide-ranging strikes have taken place on the Middle Eastern country, and were responsible for the February 28 death of Ali Khamenei, the state's supreme leader.

In response, Iran launched attacks on Israel and other Gulf states which are allied to the USA.

Groups such as the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), which was founded in 1957, have advocated for the removal of Trident missiles from the base, while a peace camp has been stationed next to the site for over 40 years.

The camp, which first appeared in 1982, was established to protest against Margaret Thatcher's government's purchase of the nuclear missile system.

But it remains there to this day, with campaigners, who regularly hold protests, living in tents, caravans and other makeshift dwellings.

Faslane's Vanguard submarines are set to be replaced after 2030 by the new Dreadnought-class submarines.

The Astute-class attack submarines, which are conventionally armed but nuclear powered, are also stationed at the base, while Britain's nuclear warheads stock is held at Loch Long, at the at the nearby Royal Naval Armaments Depot (RNAD) Coulport.

The United Kingdom's nuclear-powered submarines can remain underwater at sea for months and have operated continuously since 1969.
A schizophrenic Florida mother will not face jail time after she tried to hire a hitman to kill her three-year-old son.

Jazmin Paez, 20, was sentenced to probation instead of 40 years behind bars after pleading guilty on Monday to offering to pay $3,000 to have her child killed through a parody website in 2023.

Paez was arrested after she visited RentAHitman.com and submitted a form to have a killer take out her toddler in a matter of days.

The then-18-year-old sent photos and an address of where her child would be and added specific notes, including that she wanted to have her son murdered 'to get something done once and for all.'

She also requested he 'be taken away, far, far, far away and possibly be killed but ASAP,' police said.

Her inquiry was immediately flagged to the police by Robert Innes, the website's owner, who only created the webpage to promote an IT business years back, but kept it going after realizing it could help nab criminals.

Despite receiving hundreds of similar solicitations every day, Innes told NBC6 Miami the one Paez submitted was alarming because of how specific it was.

'The ability to research names and addresses and verify the intended target lived at a particular addressthat to me is a red flag,' he explained.

Jazmin Paez, 20, avoided jail time after she tried to hire a hit man to take out her three-year-old son in 2023

The schizophrenic mother pleaded guilty to the crime on Monday in exchange for parole

'If that information is corroborated, that is something that needs to be looked at, and thats why I referred it.'

After police heard about Paez's online request, investigators contacted her, pretending to be the rented killer.

After making contact, they arrested her and matched the IP address to her home.

The toddler's grandmother then spoke to authorities, verifying that the child was the intended target.

The child, who Paez had when she was 15, was living with her grandmother at the time, the outlet previously reported.

After her arrest, Paez was released from jail on a $15,000 bond.

Her father also defended his daughter after she was released, telling the outlet: 'My daughter is not a monster. My daughter is a little girl who was born with health problems.

'She has liquid retained in her neck. She's had 12 surgeries, she lost the ability to move her face. She's been bullied in school, they called her "the monster."'

She submitted an inquiry for a hit on the website RentAHitman.com, a parody webpage created by Robert Innes

On Monday, she pleaded guilty to soliciting first-degree murder, unlawful use of a communications device, and tampering with evidence.

In exchange, prosecutors offered her a withhold of adjudication, meaning Paez will not be legally classified as a convicted felon.

Instead of four decades of jail time, Paez was sentenced to two years of community control, 12 years of reporting probation, and mandatory behavioral therapy until it is no longer deemed necessary.

Her parental rights were terminated in dependency court, and she is not allowed to contact her son until her probation is up in 2040.

Her child has since been adopted by Paez's mother. She now lives with her father, attorneys said, per NBC News.

Innes previously told the Daily Mail that his satirical website has managed to lead to the arrest of dozens of people and at least 12 convictions, after users tried to have their friends, colleagues, and their own children murdered.

Innes (pictured) created the site to promote an IT business years back, but kept it going after realizing it could help nab criminals

In addition to Paez, the site also snared a wannabe hitman who fell for its 'careers' page.

In April 2023, 21-year-old Josiah Garcia, an Air National Guardsman, was charged after applying through the website to become a killer-for-hire.

In January 2022, Wendy Wein, 53, was jailed for seven to 24 years for trying to solicit the murder of her ex-husband.

She applied through the site then offered an undercover cop $5,000 to commit the murder.
President Donald Trump has given a Christopher Columbus statue thrown into Baltimore Harbor by Black Lives Matter rioters a second act on the White House grounds.

The 13-foot statue was installed over the weekend on the north side of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, in clear view of pedestrians on Pennsylvania Avenue.

It is a replica assembled in part from pieces of the original, which was dedicated in the presence of Ronald Reagan and stood for 36 years before BLM rioters dumped it in the harbor on July 4, 2020.

Trump wrote to Basil Russo, the leader of the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations, thanking him for gifting the statue to the government.

'I am truly honored that this magnificent statue will now sit on the grounds of the White House,' the President wrote.

Trump praised Columbus as 'the original American hero and one of the most gallant and visionary men to ever walk the face of the Earth.'

Russo shared the President's letter online and to members of the other organization he heads, the Italian Sons and Daughters of America.

The statue is the latest move in Trump's broader anti-woke agenda, which has seen him rename military bases that had shed their Confederate names and push to strip 'ideological' content, including slavery exhibits, from the Smithsonian.

A statue of Christopher Columbus was erected on the grounds of the White House, on the north side of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, over the weekend

The statue had been on display in Baltimore until July 4, 2020 when Black Lives Matter tossed it into Baltimore Harbor. Pieces of the original statue were used to make replica

While Columbus is credited with discovering the Americas, his legacy has become more complicated in the modern era, due to his history of enslaving people and bringing disease and conflict to Native Americans.

Some states started celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day instead of Columbus Day every October.

Joe Biden joined them in 2021, becoming the first president to mark Indigenous Peoples' Day.

Trump signed a proclamation last October to mark Columbus Day exclusively, saying in the Oval Office: 'We're back, we're back, Italians.'

The statue's fate is entangled with one of the defining crises of Trump's first term: the death of George Floyd, a black man killed by white Minneapolis police officers over Memorial Day weekend 2020.

Floyd's death set off a wave of BLM protests around the world amid the pandemic.

The Columbus statue was tossed into Baltimore Harbor during Independence Day festivities that year.

Trump, running for reelection at the time, was openly critical of the protests, opting to push a law-and-order and 'Blue Lives Matter' message instead.

The date of the original statue's destruction is listed on the base of the new statue, located outside the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and visible from Pennsylvania Avenue

The head of two prominent Italian-American groups reached out to the Trump administration about displaying the statue after Baltimore officials refused to display it again

The statue (left) had been on display in Baltimore's Little Italy until it was toppled and dragged into Baltimore Harbor on July 4, 2020, with only the pedestal left remaining (right)

Video posted on social media captured the statue of Christopher Columbus in Baltimore, Maryland being toppled and dragged to the Baltimore Harbor on July 4, 2020 amid the Black Lives Matter protests

Baltimore Police officers look at the submerged statue of Christopher Columbus, which was dragged and drowned by Black Lives Matter protesters on July 4, 2020. The statue was reassembled and recreated and erected on White House grounds over the weekend

He also disavowed the destruction of monuments that included statues of Confederate figures.

By planting the statue in one of Washington's most visible corridors, Trump is pushing back on two fronts at once: the movement to retire Columbus and the Black Lives Matter cause that toppled him.

In Baltimore, officials refused to install the new statue, leading Russo to reach out to the Trump administration instead.

'Columbus statues have long stood as symbols of pride and cultural identity for more than 18 million Americans of Italian descent,' Russo argued in a statement.

'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,' the Italian-American leader added.
The first men have been tested as part of a landmark UK trial into the future of prostate cancer screening.

The Transform trial could produce results and lead to lifesaving changes in as little as two years.

Experts hope it will inform the future of population-wide prostate cancer screening for men by seeing which tests  such as genetic tests or 10-minute MRI scans  can be combined.

It comes as the UK National Screening Committee (UKNSC), which advises ministers, is due to publish its final guidance this week on screening men for the disease.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, with 63,000 cases and 12,000 deaths each year - but unlike breast, bowel and lung cancer, there is currently no national screening programme.

In a draft recommendation last year, the UKNSC only recommended screening men with BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations every two years, between the ages of 45 and 61.

It would not recommend population screening using the prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test because it may result in too many men undergoing unnecessary biopsies or surgery for tumours that would never have caused them harm in their lifetime.

However, a review by York Health Economics Consortium has found the model used by the UKNSC relied on outdated data, diagnosis methods and treatments; failed to account for the impact of a coordinated screening programme on the UK's existing testing landscape; and did not address serious population health inequalities.

One of the first people tested in the new Transform trial is Jaroslaw Galik, 55, from London.

Analysis of contemporary MRI-led screening studies suggests that the model cited by the UKNHS may have substantially overstated the harms up seven-fold.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he was surprised by the UKNSC's draft recommendation and vowed to consider the views of charities and other experts before making a final decision.

The UKNSC has also agreed to review any new evidence from the Transform trial.

One of the first people tested in the new Transform trial is Jaroslaw Galik, 55, from London.

He and other men attended the InHealth community diagnostic centre in Ealing, west London, for a combination of PSA blood tests, fast MRI scans and/or genetic spit tests to find the safest and most effective way to detect the cancer.





Mr Galik said: 'I'd heard a bit about prostate cancer over the years and had always thought I should probably speak to my GP, but I never actually got round to doing anything about it.

'There isn't that routine screening programme, so it just wasn't something that felt urgent.

'When the letter about Transform came through, I realised this was a straightforward way to check my own risk while also contributing to something bigger.

'If taking part helps move us closer to having a proper screening programme in the future, so men are just invited by their GP like they are for other cancers, that would make such a difference.

'To think that just by taking a couple of tests I could be helping to finally get to screening and save thousands of lives is incredible.'

The Daily Mail is campaigning to end needless prostate cancer deaths and for a national prostate cancer screening programme, initially targeted at high risk men, such as those who are black, have a family history of the disease or particular genetic mutations.

Laura Kerby, chief executive of Prostate Cancer UK, said: 'Men across the country are crying out for a screening programme and we're committed to building a future where every man gets that chance.

'We know that a safe and effective mass screening programme could save thousands of men's lives and it starts with these men walking through the door today and trialling these tests.

'They're helping to build a future where prostate cancer is found early, consistently and fairly, and where no man's diagnosis is left to chance.'

Mr Streeting said: 'Transform is the most ambitious prostate cancer research programme in a generation and I'm proud the Government is backing it.

'The evidence it generates will be crucial in shaping how we screen for this disease for decades to come.'

At first, the trial, funded by Prostate Cancer UK and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), will test new techniques against current NHS methods.

The next stage takes the best methods forward to testing in a group of up to 300,000 men.

Professor Lucy Chappell, chief scientific adviser at the Department of Health and chief executive officer of the NIHR, said: 'Welcoming the first men to this trial is a huge moment.

'Transform aims to tackle one of the biggest killers.'
Keir Starmer is so weak he would cave in to John Swinneys demand for an independence vote if the SNP win a majority in May, Russell Findlay has warned.

The Scottish Tory leader said the First Minister could easily bludgeon Sir Keir into another U-turn in the wake of Labour collapsing in elections across the UK.

Summing up Sir Keirs record as Mr Flip-Flop, he said: Be in no doubt. The threat is real.

Mr Findlay also warned Reform UK were ready to put the Union on the line by fielding separatist candidates for Holyrood and offering to work with rational Nationalists.

Speaking to Tory activists in Glasgow, Mr Findlay said his party had every reason to be confident going into the final 45 days of the campaign.

Although the polls were not pretty, the partys policies on tax cuts, curbing runaway benefits and fairer justice mirrored the electorates priorities.

Mr Swinney has set the SNP the goal of winning an outright Holyrood majority, which he claims would trigger a referendum based on the precedent of the SNPs 2011 landslide.

Academics and lawyers say there is no legal way to compel the UK Government to grant a vote, and Labour ministers have ruled one out.

Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay gave a speech on the threat a weak Sir Keir Starmer poses to the Union on Monday

But Mr Findlay said Mr Swinney was as determined as Sir Keir was weak, and an SNP majority posed an existential threat to the country.

Polls suggest Labour will lose seats at Holyrood, the Welsh Senedd and English councils in May.

Mr Findlay said: John Swinney is increasingly confident of winning an outright majority and he is 100 per cent clear about what that means.

He says it will give him the green light for a second referendum. He will spend day and night ramping up pressure on a weak and unpopular prime minister, Keir Starmer.

Nothing else will matter to him and his party. We must not sleepwalk back in time to 2011.

He must not allow the SNP to win a majority of seats on May the 7th. Because if they do they will start agitating to break up Britain on May the 8th.

He later added: This is existential. Scotland is on the precipice of potentially having not just another SNP government for five years, but potentially an SNP majority.

Were the only party who have the ability, the strength, to stand up to the SNP. A vote for Reform right now only risks putting John Swinney back into Bute house with a potential majority.

The occupant of No 10 Downing Street is Mr. Flip Flop, Mr U-turn, Sir Keir Starmer.

If John Swinney wins a majority, the first thing he will say is this gives him a mandate for another referendum, just as happened in 2011 for the 2014 referendum. The threat is absolutely real.

No matter what the Labour government say, we know how weak they are. We know how prone they are to U-turning.

Mr Findlay fears the Prime Minister could be 'bludgeoned' into a referendum U-turn after May's elections

The idea that an emboldened John Swinney, on May 8, potentially with a majority, would be able to bludgeon Keir Starmer into potentially committing another U-turn - the threat is very, very real.

A Lord Ashcroft Poll for Holyrood magazine yesterday suggested the SNP could win just shy of the 65 MSPs needed for a majority.

SNP MSP George Adam said of Mr Findlay even a broken clock is right twice a day.

He added: If the SNP win a majority we will offer the people of Scotland the chance to build Scotland anew through a fresh start with independence.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie accused the SNP and Tories of wanting to fixate on the arguments of the past, instead of focusing on the issues affecting Scots today.
It was meant as a special treat to celebrate improved academic achievement or an outstanding attendance.

But after parents whined the bouncy castle booked for the primary school pupils fitting the criteria was unfair, the event was simply cancelled.

The headteacher at Newark Primary, in Port Glasgow, Renfrewshire, pulled the plug from the treat after the outcry with complaints children would be left distressed at missing out.

Pupils most improved or above 95 per cent attendance records were set to among those taking part in the frivolities.

But the well-meaning staff were forced to cancel the event after parents complained and claimed that singling out children for praise would cause distress to those who had been absent throughout the year.

School headteacher Lauren OHagen even apologised to parents at the bouncy castle plans which had caused upset.

She said: This type of incentive is not our usual, however we had considered it a motivator on this particular occasion.

We know that our families care deeply about their childrens education.

We value your input and understand that this proposal has not been received well by our parents, and for that we apologise.

Plans for a bouncy castle at Newark Primary School were abandoned over fears it would be unfair for pupils who missed out

That was never our intention.

Schools used to offer events to children with excellent and improved attendance  with trips to theme parks, bouncy castle days and other incentives up for grabs.

And some even offered rewards for perfect attendance, presenting a certificate and a small gift during the end of year assembly in front of their peers.

But these have dwindled in recent years amid growing concerns at the apparent effect on pupils with additional support needs.

It comes as attendance across Scottish schools has declined over recent years  with more than 70,000 pupils having missed more than half of lessons since 2019.

Alarmingly more than 6,000 pupils have not attended school at all during that time.

The complaints at Newark Primary began after a letter was sent out to parents by Lisa McGroarty, the schools attendance lead, The Scotsman newspaper reported.

She revealed that a whole school attendance target of 94 per cent had been set, and they were falling slightly short of the ambitious aim.

Addressed to parents, the letter said: On the 26th March 2026 we have booked an inflatable company as a treat to recognise those who have shown great commitment to their learning and those who have made a fantastic effort to join us more often.

She said the school was not just looking for perfect number in attendance but was also celebrating consistency, improvement, and the power of showing up.

The school was hit with criticism from parents, who wrote in and took to social media to vent their fury. One mother even branded it diabolical.

The bouncy castle was hired as a treat for pupils who had shown good attendance and 'consistency and improvement' at school

An Inverclyde Council spokesman said: Staff at Newark Primary School have been in touch with parents to reassure them of the intention behind this event.

They have confirmed that the event, as outlined in the initial letter, will not go ahead.

All schools in Inverclyde pride themselves on building strong relationships with parents and carers and creating a strong school community to support all our young people.

This work will continue, alongside the meaningful, person-centred approach we take to address any issues with pupil attendance.
Barnaby Joyce's ex-wife fears that she will be forced to work until she's 80 after losing her nest egg in Australia's biggest superannuation collapse.

Natalie Abberfield is among more than 12,000 customers whose super funds were wiped out after First Guardian and the related Shield Master Fund collapsed in May 2024, owing about $1.2billion.

Liquidators allege First Guardian director David Anderson and others siphoned millions of dollars to fund their luxury lifestyles, ASIC documents show.

Ms Abberfield, who was married to Joyce for 24 years before they separated in 2017 when he left her for his now-wife Vikki Campion, estimated that she has lost more than $400,000.

'I didn't really want to be working when I'm 80, but at the moment, I don't have anything,' the motheroffour told A Current Affair.

'I went through a licensed, regulated super and now I have nothing.

'Something needs to be done.'

Her exhusband, who recently left the Nationals to join Pauline Hanson's One Nation, has called for a 'pay now, recover later' scheme to help fund collapse victims.

Natalie Abberfield (formerly Joyce) has lost more than $400,000 in the super fund collapse

Her ex-husband Barnaby Joyce (pictured together in 2015) is now lobbying on behalf of victims who lost all of their super

'He's a good politician and he speaks his mind,' she said.

Ms Abberfield is part of SOS Save Our Super, an online community of victims trying to recover their missing super.

'When you're dealing with people who are going through it with you, it's a good support network and there's information there,' she said.

'If I didn't find it, I probably wouldn't have lodged a complaint with AFCA (Australian Financial Complaints Authority).'

The program also spoke to Ferras Mehri, a Venture Egg financial advisor being investigated by AFCA over the collapse.

'I'm here to face the music but I strongly deny that I have done anything unlawful,' he told ACA.

'I followed the rules in front of me and that will be found out in the courts.'

Mr Mehri had this message for impacted victims.

Join the discussion Should the government immediately compensate victims of super fund collapses, no matter the cost?

AFCA is investigating financial advisor Ferras Mehri's role in the super collapse. He insists he has done nothing illegal

First Guardian fund director David Anderson is accused by ASIC of siphoning millions of dollars into his personal ANZ bank account and shifting money overseas

'I'm deeply sorry. It hurts every single day that I have to wake up and not see their money paid back,'Mr Mehri said.

The deadline to make a complaint to the AFCA was recently extended indefinitely.

The watchdog says it is meeting with and supporting victims as it vowed to bring those responsible for the collapses of the Shield Master Fund and First Guardian Master Fund to account.
A Nazi-obsessed teenager who tried to kill a stranger with an axe begged a friend to kill all Jews and Muslims in Britain, a court has heard.

Alina Burns, then 18, attacked Iranian Kurd Mohammed Mahmoodi, 27, while he was stood outside a barber shop with a friend in Bedminster, Bristol, on August 2 last year.

Burns, who was carrying a scalpel and multiple darts, tried to strike Mr Mahmoodi on his neck with her axe but he managed to duck out of the way.

She attempted to hit him again but Mr Mahmoodi, who suffered scratches on his neck and cheeks from the attack, disarmed her and she was detained by police shortly after.

The far-Right extremist told officers she 'wanted to cut his neck'.

Burns, a member of Neo-Nazi group Patriotic Alternative, hung an England flag above her bed and wrote notes about Adolf Hitler and weapons used by Germany during the two World Wars.

She described herself as the 'embodiment of hell' and in one email addressed to a friend, wrote: 'Kill all Jews and Muslims in Britain, please.'

Serena Gates KC, told Bristol Crown Court Burns had 'a desire for a white England, achieved, if necessary, through terror'.

Nazi-obsessed Alina Burns, then 18, begged a friend to kill all Jews and Muslims in Britain

Burns attacked Iranian Kurd Mohammed Mahmoodi, 27, while he was stood outside a barber shop with a friend in Bedminster, Bristol, on 2 August last year

Police found messages where Burns said she 'realised my role in existence: I am the embodiment of hell, destined to annihilate everything holy I bear witness to'.

In another message, she spoke of carrying out a 'plan' and wanting 'all the credit and glory', Sky News reported.

Burns pleaded guilty to attempted murder after buying the axe from Screwfix to use to 'kill or injure the man'.

She also wrote about how it was 'better if they flee out of fear rather than displace us in our own home'.

Days before the attack, the teenager searched Google for 'how to properly use an axe for self-defence' and 'what age [can] you buy an axe?'

She also searched for YouTube videos about white supremacist Patrick Crusius who slaughtered 23 people at Walmart in 2019.

Burns denies having a terrorist motive but said it was 'fair enough' she was arrested for attempted murder during an assessment by a mental health practitioner.

She also said she 'wanted to go on again but to succeed' before asking if the attack was in the news.

Burns also pleaded guilty to three charges of carrying a bladed weapon in a public place.

The incident was initially investigated by Avon and Somerset Police before being taken over by counter terrorism police.
While thousands of Marines are arriving in the Middle East, senior military officials are considering deploying an Army paratrooper division to the region as the Iran war stretches into week four.

Top officials are weighing whether the Army's 82nd Airborne Division should be deployed, the New York Times reported on Monday.

That would provide the military with 3,000 soldiers for a possible invasion of Kharg Island - where 90 percent of Iran's oil exports are processed.

Sources told the Times that no orders have yet been given by Donald Trump, who lashed out at a reporter earlier Monday who asked about boots on the ground.

'Well, let me ask you this. If you were in my position and I asked you that question, do you really believe I'd give you that? It's a crazy question,' the President responded.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reported about 2,500 Marines aboard three ships were deployed last week to the Middle East.

The Times reported that a different Marine unit, the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, based in Japan, which was headed toward the region, could also be used to seize Kharg Island.

The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit will arrive Friday, the Wall Street Journal reported, the deadline Trump gave the Islamic Regime to get a peace deal across the line.

President Donald Trump is being given options to deploy Army paratroopers to the Middle East, while thousands of Marines are already headed to the region

The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, photographed here in February, are headed to the Middle East and are expected to arrive on Friday

Kharg Island's airfield was damaged in recent US strikes, with former US commanders telling the paper that it was more likely the Pentagon would first bring in the Marines, who have combat engineers who could rebuild it.

After that, the 82nd Airborne could jump in.

The behind-the-scenes military planning comes as Trump has teased 'a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East.'

The President said he would halt strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure for five days as envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner try to get a deal done with an unnamed Iranian official.

Trump told reporters as he departed Florida for Tennessee that, 'we're dealing with a man who I believe is the most respected and the leader.'

It was not, however, the new Supreme Leader of Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's son, who has not been seen since the strikes that killed his father on February 28.

'We have not heard from the son,' Trump told reporters. 'We don't know if he's living.'

Axios reported Monday that Kushner and Witkoff were in touch with the speaker of the Iranian parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, but it's unclear if Ghalibaf is the individual Trump was referring to.

The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit is captured conducting routine operations last week. The group is headed to the Middle East and is expected to arrive Friday

Iranian officials slapped down the President's claim of peace negotiations, with an Iranian official telling the Fars News Agency, which is aligned with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, that there is 'no direct or indirect contact with Trump.'

The prospect of peace had markets moving upward on Monday, with investors favoring de-escalation in the region over a prolonged Iranian conflict.

Despite the troop movement, the President previously said he wouldn't put US boots on the ground in Iran.

'No, I'm not putting troops anywhere,' Trump said Thursday, while hosting Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in the Oval Office.

'If I were, I certainly wouldn't tell you,' he then told the reporter who asked him.
Doreen Lawrence was 'conned' into joining a legal claim against newspapers, a key witness in the case said on Monday.

Private detective Gavin Burrows insisted statements submitted to the High Court in his name were 'complete and utter untruth,' adding that Baroness Lawrence, Prince Harry and other public figures in the case were 'seriously misled'.

Giving evidence, Mr Burrows, 55, repeatedly denied he had worked for the Daily Mail or The Mail On Sunday.

Baroness Lawrence, 73, and the Duke of Sussex, 41, are among seven public figures involved in a breach of privacy case against the Mail and the MoS.

Associated Newspapers, which publishes both titles, denies its journalists commissioned private detectives to hack voicemails, intercept landline calls, bug vehicles and properties and 'blag' their private information.

Lawyers for the claimants, who include Liz Hurley, Sir Elton John and Sadie Frost, submitted purported witness statements from Mr Burrows as part of their case.

In the key statement from 2021, the private detective allegedly said he had targeted 'hundreds, possibly thousands of people' for the MoS.

But in a 2023 rebuttal, he said he had never been commissioned by anyone from the Mail or the MoS to conduct any unlawful information gathering, and said the signature on the 2021 statement was 'a forgery'.

Doreen Lawrence, pictured last month, was 'conned' into joining a legal claim against newspapers, a key witness in the case said on Monday

Mr Burrows blamed former tabloid journalist and convicted phone hacker Graham Johnson, a member of the research team working for the claimants.

He branded Mr Johnson 'a proven conman' and 'professional liar' and said the witness statement submitted in his name was 'a load of rubbish'.

David Sherborne, for the claimants, suggested Mr Burrows' claims of forgery and fakery were made after a 'falling out' with Mr Johnson over money, adding: 'This is simply revenge.'

In his opening submissions earlier in the trial, Mr Sherborne had branded the assertions by Mr Burrows as 'wild and unsubstantiated'. Mr Burrows denied the allegation.

Under cross-examination, he said: 'Apart from calling me Jack the Ripper you've put every possible name in there you could possibly think of.'

In an apparent reference to Mr Johnson, he went on: 'The man went too far. Your little creator went too far. I believe you've been conned.'

Mr Burrows said Mr Johnson had offered him a book deal to publish a memoir, and had paid him to give 'expert opinion' about how private detectives worked with newspapers.

He said the former tabloid journalist had been fixated with the Mail and had repeatedly asked him to say that he had carried out work for the newspaper and the MoS, which he had denied.

Mr Burrows said a notation where he wrote: 'That was definitely me, a hardwire tap of a phone call from Liz [Hurley]' was intended as a joke with Mr Johnson. He described it as 'banter'.

The private detective said he was 'absolutely furious' when he found a witness statement had been submitted in his name, and that Baroness Lawrence had joined the case after learning of his supposed evidence.

Mr Burrows added: 'I thought Baroness Lawrence had been conned, so I called the Mail.'

He then received independent legal advice and made a fresh witness statement, denying the earlier allegations, was which was filed to the High Court.

Mr Burrows said Mr Johnson had hoped Associated Newspapers would settle out of court to avoid any negative publicity.

The trial continues.
A military plane with 121 people on board, mostly soldiers, crashed shortly after taking off Monday in southwestern Colombia, killing at least one and leaving at least 77 injured, with many more feared dead.

Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez said on X that the 'tragic accident' occurred in Puerto Leguizamo, a remote municipality in the Amazonian province of Putumayo, which borders the neighboring South American countries of Peru and Ecuador.

Images shared online by Colombian media outlets showed a black cloud of smoke rising from a field where the plane crashed and a truck with soldiers rushing to the site.

The air force said in a statement that at least 77 people were rescued from the crash site with injuries, as rescue efforts were continuing.

At least one person was confirmed dead, according to a statement from the military command posted online by Colombian President Gustavo Petro.

The air force said that 121 people were on board the Hercules C-130 plane, including 110 soldiers and 11 crew members.

It added that the plane had been transporting soldiers to another city in Putumayo province.

Officials earlier had said 125 people were on board.

A military plane with 121 people on board, mostly soldiers, crashed shortly after taking off Monday in southwestern Colombia, killing at least one and leaving at least 77 injured, with many more feared dead

The air force said in a statement that at least 77 people were rescued from the crash site with injuries, as rescue efforts were continuing

Media outlets shared videos of soldiers being rushed from the site on motorcycles driven by local residents.

Carlos Fernando Silva, the commander of Colombia's air force, said details of the crash were not yet known, 'except that the plane had a problem and went down about two kilometers from the airport.'

The air force commander added that two planes, with 74 beds, had been sent to the area to fly the injured back to hospitals in the capital, Bogota, and elsewhere.

Petro seized on the accident to promote what he called his long-time campaign to modernize planes and other equipment used by his country's military.

He said those efforts have been blocked by 'bureaucratic difficulties' and suggesting that some officials should be held accountable.

'If civilian or military administrative officials are not up to the challenge, they must be removed,' Petro said.

Sanchez wrote that the accident was 'profoundly painful for the country,' adding that: 'We hope that our prayers can help to relieve some of the pain.'

Erich Saumeth, a Colombian aviation expert and military analyst, said that the Hercules C-130 that crashed on Monday had been donated by the United States to Colombia in 2020.

An ambulance transports victims of a plane crash to the Central Military Hospital in Bogota

In this photo distributed by Colombia's Armed Forces press office, people who were injured on a military cargo plane that crashed shortly after take off are loaded on to another military plane to evacuate them for treatment

Three years later, it went through a detailed revision known as an overhaul, in which its engine was inspected and key components were replaced.

'I don't think this plane crashed because of a lack of good parts,' Saumeth said. He said that investigations will have to determine why the engines of the Hercules, which has four propellers, failed so quickly after take off.

In a message on X Monday, Defense Minister Sanchez said that so far there were no signs indicating that the plane was attacked by rebel groups that operate near Puerto Leguizamo.

Sanchez wrote that the accident was 'profoundly painful for the country,' adding that: 'We hope that our prayers can help to relieve some of the pain.'
The head of Scotland Yard warned on Monday night of the 'grave' threat from Iran as he deployed hundreds of extra officers to protect the Jewish community after a firebomb attack.

In the 'sickening' raid on a Jewish volunteer service, three hooded men were caught on CCTV setting fire to four ambulances parked outside a synagogue in north-west London in the early hours of Monday.

The incident in Golders Green is being treated as an anti-Semitic hate crime, but the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism unit is also investigating amid suspicions that Tehran is behind it.

Chilling footage showed the three hooded figures pouring accelerant on the vehicles, which belong to Jewish community ambulance service Hatzola, setting them ablaze before running away.

Oxygen gas canisters within the ambulances exploded at around 1.45am, blowing out the windows of the synagogue and several nearby homes.

Residents were evacuated as a precaution, but no one was hurt in the attack on the service established in 1979 to provide free medical transport and emergency response to those living in north London.

On Monday, counter-terrorism officers were trawling through CCTV footage to establish where the trio fled in the hope of identifying those responsible.

Within hours, a video was posted on Telegram by an Islamist group called Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, showing a map of the location and footage of the fire.

Three of the community ambulances were left in pieces and burned out after fires triggered explosions inside the vehicles

Four ambulances were set on fire in the Jewish community of Golders Green in London on Monday

On Monday night, Scotland Yard Commissioner Mark Rowley warned: 'The rapid growth in recent years of Iranian state threats is grave: hostile state surveillance activity, 20 disrupted plots and recent attempted attacks on the Iranian diaspora. None of this is isolated  it is part of a rapidly shifting threat landscape.

'It is too early for me to attribute the attack in Golders Green to the Iranian state  that is rightly for the counter-terrorism investigation to determine  but whoever was responsible, the impact is serious.'

Sir Mark was speaking at an annual dinner of the Community Security Trust  a charity providing protection for the Jewish community.

He said: 'We are pursuing all lines of enquiry, including an online claim of responsibility by an Islamist group who have claimed other attacks across Europe and have potential Iranian state links.'

He said that the quick local response to the attack had saved lives, adding: 'An attack on Hatzola is not only an attack on the Jewish community but on all of us. There is no "us and them". There is only an attack on a British community.'

The Home Secretary warned of a dangerous rise in anti-Semitism in Britain, describing the firebombing as an 'attack on this country and on us all'.

Shabana Mahmood spoke of 'the oldest hatred rising once more', suggesting Jewish people in the UK were now living in constant fear of attack.

The Met are now stepping up firearms patrols to protect the Jewish community, sending an additional 264 officers to work alongside existing neighbourhood police deployed to 'vulnerable locations'.

Three hooded suspects were seen approaching the emergency vehicles before they were set alight

Around 40 firefighters were called after multiple cylinders on the vehicles exploded, blowing out the windows of the synagogue and several nearby homes

The force will also be utilising drones, and Sir Mark announced a strengthened protective security plan for Jewish schools, synagogues and community centres ahead of Passover.

Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams said it was a 'priority' to verify the claims made by the Islamist group that it was responsible.

It came to prominence after claiming responsibility for anti-Semitic attacks across Europe, which were similarly carried out under the cover of darkness, between March 9-13.

The group, which translates as 'Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right', claimed it had carried out an explosive attack at a synagogue in Liege, in Belgium, an arson attack on a Rotterdam synagogue and set off a device at a Jewish school in Amsterdam.

Now the group has spoken of 'targeting the most prominent Zionist centres in London'.

Joe Truzman, a security analyst for the Foundation For Defence Of Democracies, said: 'My suspicion is we are observing an Iran-crafted front, meaning this is an organisation created by Iran, perhaps the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, to carry out attacks against Jewish institutions. I suspect Iran is outsourcing these attacks to criminal organisations.'

Israel's ministry for diaspora affairs and combating anti-Semitism said the group had suspected links to pro-Iranian networks.

Police have recently seen a surge in threats from Iran and its criminal proxies.

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, who visited the scene, said it was 'a particularly sickening assault'

Last week the alleged ringleaders of a separate Tehran-led plot to spy on the Jewish community in London were charged by police.

In October two worshippers were killed in an attack on a synagogue in Manchester.

The Home Secretary added last night: 'To target Hatzola, an institution devoted to saving lives... is so warped it defies words.

'Today, Jews in this country are being forced to live a smaller life: they are hiding the signs of their faith.

'They are fearful as they send their children to school. Even when they attend a hospital appointment. They attend synagogues that require security.

'History has repeatedly screamed its warning at us. And yet, here we are again, in 2026, with the oldest hatred rising once more.'

Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his 'disgust at the horrific anti-Semitic attack'.

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said it was 'a particularly sickening assault'.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting was heckled as he visited the scene. He said the Government would fund the replacement of the ambulances.
Meghan Markle will return to acting after the unravelling of her exclusive $100 million dollar Netflix deal, a friend and former Suits co-star insisted to the Daily Mail in an exclusive interview.

And veteran actor Eric Roberts said he believes a Hollywood comeback by the former TV star will 'blow everybody's mind'.

'She will come back,' Julia Roberts's brother said, speaking on the red carpet at a charity gala last week alongside his casting director and manager wife Eliza.

'It is time. And Meghan needs to come back to work. I feel like her whole family will support it, and she is amazing,' Eliza added.

The couple reflected on Markle's future amid reports that her Netflix exclusive production deal and business brand As Ever collaboration has been downgraded to a first-look deal.

The brand is continuing independently.

Roberts, 69, who played shady billionaire Charles Forstman on the legal drama, developed a friendship with Markle while shooting the hit USA Network show.

Fans are speculating what's next for Meghan and Harry after the unravelling of their $100 million deal with Netflix

Eric Roberts, 69, played billionaire Charles Forstman on Suits and formed a friendship with Markle on set

Eliza claimed the 44-year-old stepped away from Suits because the Royal Family had concerns about her 'very sexy' screen character, paralegal Rachel Zane.

'It is tricky because of the monarchy. Her role in Suits was very sexy,' she said.

'Her making love with another man, that was just  they've never seen anything like that.

'She worked so hard to get there. That was just too much,' Eliza said. 'Women don't give up their jobs for a marriage anymore.

'I understand the intention, and she thought she'd be satisfied with doing good works in the world. But she needs to be acting.

'She is a young woman who needs to be acting.

'Meghan is a star,' added Eliza. 'From the second you see her, she just has star quality. It doesn't matter. It was always going to happen.'

Eric Roberts was definitive in his opinion about Markle's potential comeback.

'I think she should come back. I think she will come back,' he said. 'And I think she's going to be fantastic and blow everybody's mind.'

Before leaving Hollywood for the Royal Family, Markle starred as paralegal Rachel Zane in the legal drama series Suits

The Duchess of Sussex was seen walking the red carpet at a Beverly Hills charity bash on March 19

In the last few years The Sussexes have seen deals fall apart and have been hit with negative comments from industry insiders.

The couple signed a reported $20 million deal with Spotify, which produced only one 13-episode podcast, Archetypes, before the parties split.

Meghan had plans for her passion project, a Netflix animated series called Pearl, which was canceled before it got off the ground as their lucrative partnership was drastically paired down.

Reports of the size of the couple's original deal with Netflix have ranged from $30 million to $100 million, while two sources told Variety last week that the figure was $60 million.

One Spotify executive labeled them as 'f***ing grifters', though there has been no proof of any wrongdoing by the former Royal couple.

Roberts, who has appeared in over 800 films including The Dark Night and The Expendables, described Markle as a 'really cool person, really easy, laid back, kind, smart'.

He and Eliza, 73, knew her before she and Prince Harry met each other.

'She's a good mom. She is a caring, loving, kind mom. That's all you need to know about somebody,' said Eliza. 'And same with him.'

They insisted that supportive Harry would back his wife's career U-turn, after walking away from Hollywood following their 2017 engagement.

Eliza said that the 'magic' of Suits could even return  despite the ill-fated Los Angeles-based spin-off being canceled after one season last year.

The powerhouse pair spoke as Roberts, who has been nominated three times for Golden Globes, was honored with a Legacy Award at Charmaine Blake's The Night Of Many Stars gala in Los Angeles on March 15.

Last year the Duchess of Sussex reportedly shot a cameo  as herself  in the upcoming movie Close Personal Friends with Brie Larson, Lily Collins, Jack Quaid, and Henry Golding.

The couple reckoned that the door could be open for Rachel Zane to return to screen, teasing that a Suits project may be green-lit in the future.

Roberts was unimpressed with the NBC reworking, Suits LA.

'I don't really have anything to say except it was a mistake. They made a boo-boo,' he said.

Eliza was upbeat that a comeback of the original cast may happen.

'You never know,' she said. 'They may have made offers.

'I think they thought starting fresh would avoid the comparison. Instead, that created the comparison. But I think they should try again.

'There's magic there.'

The Roberts spoke openly before the luxury event, which benefits the Faber Ryan Youth Foundation empowering underserved youth through arts programs, mentorship, and life-enriching opportunities.

Roberts was honored with the Legacy Award 'for his extraordinary and enduring career in film and television spanning decades of acclaimed performances'.

Smiling on the red carpet, Roberts graciously attributed his success to his spouse.

'What do I owe my success to? My wife and the fact that I have the greatest job on the planet', he said.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Roberts and his wife Eliza both predicted a strong return to Hollywood for the Duchess of Sussex

'The old days were more fun because they were more precious. Everything mattered more,' he reminisced.

'But now that it's all kind of like instant coffee, it's about speed. It's about getting it done in five minutes.

'It's very ineffectual now,' he said. 'But it's fun because it's like a race.'

Eliza, 73, spoke with pride about her husband's varied career, which includes movies Runaway Train and The Specialist.

'It's the diversity,' she said. 'I love that he was the character in Suits, and two minutes later he's the character in Righteous Gemstones.

'That's like old-school acting, without any affectation. It just kind of emerges with good writing.

'And also, you appreciate it so much when you begin. The first part you get, you're so elated. 'Trying to hang on to that feeling. of really appreciating being a working actor, to me that is really important.

'It's paramount. That's the most important thing.'

Roberts was given a standing ovation at the Oscar Sunday celebration, created by Blake, which also saw guests enjoy an elegant three-course dinner, luxury gift bags, celebrity media interviews, and an after-party celebration featuring a high-fashion runway presentation by Beatta J Collection.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's links to Jeffrey Epstein have given the Royal Family a bigger crisis than King Edward VIII's abdication, a biographer claimed today.

Andrew Lownie said public anger is greater about the former prince's behaviour and his links to the paedophile financier than when the king stepped down in 1936.

Mr Lownie, who wrote 'Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York', compared current events to when Edward abdicated to marry US divorcee Wallis Simpson.

The author told the Oxford Literary Festival yesterday that Edward's abdication was a 'three-day wonder' - and the public did not engage with the full details at the time.

Mr Lownie also cited how Edward's support of Nazis was not yet common knowledge  and how he resigned voluntarily to marry a woman he loved, reported The Times.

The biographer - who also wrote 'Traitor King: The Scandalous Exile of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor' - compared this to Andrew being stripped of his royal titles and honours after allegations continued to be revealed about his relationship with Epstein.

Andrew, 66, was released under investigation on February 19 after being held for 11 hours in police custody on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

The former Duke of York was also stripped of his royal title and evicted from Royal Lodge in Windsor by his brother in the wake of the Epstein scandal.

Royal biographer Andrew Lownie is photographed at the Oxford Literary Festival yesterday

A photograph from the Epstein files which shows Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (left) and Lord Peter Mandelson pictured in bathrobes alongside paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein (centre)

Edward VIII abdicated in 1936 to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson (pictured in 1942)

But Mr Lownie said it was unlikely Andrew will be prosecuted, because the royals will not want him in court saying: 'Everyone knew about this - why am I being penalised?'

Andrew was spotted over the weekend for the first time since his arrest, cutting a solitary figure as he took his dog for a walk around Sandringham.

The King's disgraced brother wandered about the countryside for 90 minutes near Wood Farm, part of Charles's estate in Norfolk, where he now lives.

It was the first time Andrew had been pictured since photos were taken of him slumped in the rear of a Range Rover following his arrest four weeks ago.

Andrew appears to be desperately clinging on to his royal styling, however  hundreds of removal boxes stamped HRH office, HRH sitting room and even HRH meeting room were last week delivered to his new abode.

The five-bedroom house has been hastily upgraded in recent days, with security fencing, CCTV and broadband installed as well as works carried out on the grounds.

Last week, Scotland Yard's chief said it was investigating a 'whole range of sexual allegations' against Andrew to see if they 'merit a criminal investigation'.

Andrew was accused of having sex with Jeffrey Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre three times, including when she was 17, after being trafficked by the paedophile financier.

The former prince was arrested last month on suspicion of misconduct in public office over claims he shared sensitive information with Epstein when he was the UK's trade envoy - but Andrew has not been arrested in relation to any sex offences.
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Prince William has sparked controversy with a somewhat lukewarm endorsement of the Church of England, which he will one day govern, after it was revealed he has a 'quiet faith'.

However, if the future King is in need of a spiritual boost, he need look no further for inspiration than his wife and sister-in-law Meghan Markle who have both leaned into their religious beliefs to manage some of life's greatest obstacles.

The Princess of Wales reportedly used her faith as a tool while she navigated her cancer diagnosis, while King Charles also used his relationship with the church to manage his respective health battle.

Meanwhile, prior to meeting Prince Harry and converting into the Church of England, Meghan Markle, who was raised Protestant, would gather her Suits co-stars for a prayer circle before filming.

According to Meghan's old school friend Ninaki Priddy, it was God who got the Duchess of Sussex through her 'darkest moments'.

It comes as the Prince of Wales has revealed his commitment to the Church of England, despite not being a regular churchgoer.

Days before attending the Archbishop of Canterbury's enthronement, William for the first time confirmed his wish to forge 'a strong and meaningful bond with the Church and its leadership'.

While the British monarch is required to be an Anglican to serve as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, other members of the Firm are not bound to a particular religion.

1. Meghan Markle

Raised as a Protestant who attended a Catholic school, Meghan's faith is said to be a key part of her life, with the Duchess even routinely gathering her Suits castmates for a 'prayer circle' before they began filming

Raised as a Protestant who attended a Catholic school, Meghan's faith is said to be a key part of her life, with the Duchess even routinely gathering her Suits castmates for a 'prayer circle' before they began filming.

'She used to gather the cast and crew of Suits for a prayer circle before starting work,' they claimed. 'Her invocations on set were never about a specific theology.

'Instead, she wanted to bring everyone together during moments of transition or difficulty.'

Writing in Finding Freedom, royal authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand reveal that although the Duchess' family was not overly religious, she was raised with an 'awareness of God'.

Her mother, Doria Ragland, was brought up Protestant and her father Thomas Markle became a confirmed member of the Episcopal Church at the age of 14, but Meghan attended a Catholic school for educational reasons.

According to Thomas, Meghan was not christened as a child because he and Doria did not share the same faith.

While studying at Northwestern, one of Meghan's best friends came from a Christian family and the pair would reportedly 'often pray together while at school'.

Close friend Ninaki told Mr Scobie and Ms Durand: 'Part of what helped Meghan get through this difficult time was her faith.

'Her relationship with God and with her church is extremely important to her. That's something most people do not know about her. It plays a central role in her life, as an individual, as a woman.'

In 2018, Meghan underwent a 'beautiful' baptism into the Church of England ahead of her royal wedding.

A further source claimed: 'It's prayer and conversations with God that have gotten her through the darkest moments.

'That's something that plays a significant role in her life and her relationship with Harry. The two have been on a journey of faith together.'

2. The Princess of Wales

When Kate was diagnosed with cancer in early 2024, she reportedly turned more to her faith to manage her health battle. Pictured: the Princess of Wales attends the Easter Mattins Service at St George's Chapel in April 2023

When Kate was diagnosed with cancer in early 2024, she reportedly turned more to her faith to manage her health battle and became 'more interested' in religion.

The princess, who announced her diagnosis to the world in March 2024, was said to have become 'rather more interested in questions of faith as a result of her condition', according to royal author Robert Hardman.

'I would say that things are more hopeful there,' one church-goer friend of the Waleses family told Mr Hardman in his book, King Charles III.

Meanwhile, according to royal expert Ian Pelham Turner, her illness 'strengthened Kate's values with her Christian faith by talking to friends who have strong religious values'.

Mr Turner told Fox News Digital that these conversations had 'impacted positively on her recovery'.

'It doesnt surprise me that she is more interested in faith,' added British broadcaster Helena Chard. 'The power of faith can never be underestimated in overcoming challenging times and I hope [it] has given her immense solace.'

In line with her growing interest in religion, Kate has been pictured on occasion wearing a crucifix, including during a visit to Sandringham to view the floral tributes left following the death of the late Queen in 2022.

She had worn the pendant on several occasions before, including in happier times at Trooping the Colour in 2019, which she attended with Prince William and their three children.

The pendant features a diamond 'bail' - the part of the necklace that attaches a pendant to the chain.

3. The Prince of Wales

For several years, there has been heightened speculation that William could be the first British monarch in five centuries to break official ties with the Church of England. However, the prince has now revealed he has a 'quiet faith'

Join the discussion Do YOU think Prince Williams quiet faith is the right approach for a future king?

For several years, there has been heightened speculation that William could be 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.

'He [William] is a modern young man,' a source previously told Mr Hardman.

'I think he gets embarrassed by certain aspects of ceremonial and religion.'

Meanwhile, a senior Palace figure said: 'His father is very spiritual and happy to talk about faith but the Prince is not. He doesn't go to church every Sunday, but then nor do the large majority of the country. He might go at Christmas and Easter but that's it.

'He very much respects the institutions but he is not instinctively comfortable in a faith environment.'

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.

However, ahead of the Archbishop of Canterbury's enthronement, a source close to the prince recently told The Sunday Times that it is 'really important' to clarify William's stance on religion.

They added: '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".'

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.'

4. King Charles

A regular churchgoer, King Charles has embraced his role as a modern monarch and spoken openly about his interest in other religions. When he was diagnosed with cancer in early 2024, Charles too reportedly relied on his faith as a source of comfort

A regular churchgoer, King Charles has embraced his role as a modern monarch and spoken openly about his interest in other religions.

Despite holding the traditional title of Supreme Governor of the Church of England, Charles has presented himself as a 'defender of all faiths', and frequently hosted faith leaders and activists at Buckingham Palace.

Before he was officially crowned, the royal delivered a speech in 2022 in which he emphasised the need to protect other religions, later addressing this directly during his coronation.

When the King's Coronation arrived in May 2023, the event included a procession of faith leaders.

In his first address to the nation upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II he spoke of his responsibility to the Church of England.

When he was diagnosed with cancer in early 2024, Charles too reportedly relied on his faith as a source of comfort.

Shortly after the news of his illness broke, the King was pictured walking to St Mary Magdalene Church for a Sunday service.

5. Queen Elizabeth II

Throughout her life, Queen Elizabeth II held her Christian faith dear after first attending church with her parents, the Queen Mother and King George VI, as a child - and she once said her religion was 'an inspiration and anchor' during her reign

Throughout her life, Queen Elizabeth II held her Christian faith dear after first attending church with her parents, the Queen Mother and King George VI, as a child - and she once said her religion was 'an inspiration and anchor' during her reign.

The Monarch's dedication to her religion no doubt helped her through some of the most difficult times in her life - particularly after the loss of her husband Prince Philip in April last year.

During her Christmas Day address to the nation in 2021, Her Majesty paid tribute to her late husband for his devotion to her and dedication to public service throughout his life.

Later in the speech, she spoke of how the story of Christ helped her, and many others around the world, appreciate new beginnings.

During 70 years of her reign, the Queen's Christmas Day speeches invoked Biblical references to the story of the birth of Christ, as well as other stories including the Good Samaritan.

As the world prepared to ring in the new Millennium in the year 2000, the Monarch used her Christmas Day address to honour the birth of Christ once more.

She said: 'Today we are celebrating the fact that Jesus Christ was born 2,000 years ago; this is the true millennium anniversary.'

The monarch added: 'For me, the teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life.

'I, like so many of you, have drawn great comfort in difficult times from Christs words and example.'
America's most dangerous airports have been exposed by federal officials, with dozens of high-risk runway 'hot spots' flagged across the country.

Data from the Federal Aviation Administration shows 291 locations within US airports where the risk of runway incursions, near-collisions and taxiing errors are significantly elevated.

These hot spots are marked on pilot charts as areas with a documented history of confusion or heightened collision risk  places where even experienced crews can make critical mistakes.

The danger is far from theoretical. In a fatal runway collision at New York's LaGuardia Airport on Sunday, those risks became a deadly reality.

The problem is especially acute in California, where the FAA's latest report identifies 34 airports with more than 80 runway hot spots.

It warns that complex layouts at San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego's main airports increase the risk of pilot error, confusion and potential accidents.

At Phoenix Sky Harbor in Arizona, crews have mistaken taxiways for departure runways.

Other major hubs flagged by officials include Seattle-Tacoma, Harry Reid International in Las Vegas, Salt Lake City International and Albuquerque International Sunport, where wrong-runway departures, misalignment risks and complex layouts have all been highlighted.

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An Air Canada Express plane collided with a Port Authority vehicle on Sunday night on Runway 4 of LaGuardia Airport in New York. The crash killed two pilots and injured dozens more

Northeast

The Northeast faces significant risks. Newark Liberty and Reagan National are known for their disorienting taxi routes and aircraft inadvertently entering active runways, while JFK, LaGuardia, Philadelphia and Boston remain under scrutiny due to dense traffic and packed intersections.

At LaGuardia, those risks have now proved deadly. The collision of an Air Canada Express regional jet with a Port Authority fire truck killed two pilots and injured dozens more on Sunday. It will only intensify scrutiny on the airport's tight layout, intersecting runways and high traffic.

The accident follows other frightening near-misses in the region. At Newark Liberty, close calls in 2025 and 2026 included technical failures causing 90-second radar blackouts, in-air near-collisions and emergency runway incidents.

Pilots operating at New York's busiest airports must navigate a maze of taxiways where a single wrong turn can place an aircraft directly in the path of another.

In May 2025, a passenger jet at LaGuardia was forced to abort takeoff when another aircraft was taxiing on the same runway, with the two planes coming within just 0.27 miles of each other.

Because hot spots remain marked on official airport diagrams until they are resolved, each one on the map represents an active safety concern rather than a historical issue.

Randy Klatt, flight safety officer for The Foundation for Aviation Safety, told the Daily Mail: 'No airport is designed to be more unsafe, but they can't all be neatly laid out on 50 square miles.'

The FAA defines a hot spot as any area where the risk of collision or runway incursion is significantly elevated, often due to confusing layouts or limited visibility.

Multiple fatalities were reported after two planes collided while attempting to land at the Watsonville Municipal Airport, in California in 2022

One of the planes involved plummeted into an adjacent field (pictured)

West Coast

California accounts for a significant share of these high-risk hot spot zones.

At Los Angeles International Airport, aircraft often exit one runway only to approach another within seconds, leaving little margin for error.

The airport has recorded multiple near-misses in recent years, including a September 2024 incident in which an American Airlines jet aborted takeoff at high speed to avoid a cargo plane crossing the same runway.

San Francisco International faces similar risks due to its complex layout, which has been linked to one of the most alarming near-disasters in US aviation history, when a pilot nearly landed on a taxiway crowded with aircraft.

Federal records show the airport has averaged about three runway incursions per 100,000 flights since 2010, with incidents peaking in 2023.

Across California, airports from Oakland to San Diego continue to report pilots missing turns, mistaking taxi routes, or inadvertently entering active runways, problems that extend to smaller facilities where tight spacing and unclear markings increase the risk of error.

In 2022, three people were killed when two aircraft collided midair while approaching Watsonville Municipal Airport, highlighting the dangers even outside major hubs.

Similar concerns have emerged in the Pacific Northwest, where airports including Seattle-Tacoma and Portland have reported repeated cases of aircraft entering active runways without clearance, often due to misread instructions, poor visibility, or limited signage.

This is the moment United Airlines Flight 1724 and Delta Air Lines Flight 1070 came perilously close to colliding in midair with 400 people on board as they prepared to land at the Phoenix airport

Southwest

Arizonas airports face a distinct set of risks tied to pilot confusion and crowded airspace.

At Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, pilots have mistaken taxiways for runways and crossed into active flight paths, contributing to multiple close calls over the past decade.

In 2025, the FAA launched an investigation after two passenger jets carrying hundreds of travelers nearly collided near Phoenix, coming within just 425 feet of required separation.

Across neighboring states, layout and visibility remain major concerns.

Albuquerque International Sunport in New Mexico has converging taxiways that create frequent confusion points.

Salt Lake City International Airport in Utah has reported aircraft entering active areas from ramps or misjudging short distances between runways, including a 2024 incident in which two aircraft passed within 530 feet of each other after a communication breakdown.

In Nevada, Las Vegass Harry Reid International Airport has been flagged for alignment risks, where pilots have mistakenly lined up on the wrong runway, an error that can lead to catastrophic consequences.

Midwest

Colorado's high-altitude airports add another layer of complexity.

At Denver International, one of the busiest airports in the country, pilots have crossed into protected runway areas without clearance, while nearby airports report confusion caused by vast, open pavement that makes it difficult to distinguish between taxiways and runways.

The FAA data shows that congestion and tight runway spacing are among the biggest safety concerns at major airports across the Midwest.

Hubs including Chicago OHare, MinneapolisSt Paul, Kansas City International, Des Moines and St Louis Lambert have been flagged for complex taxiway intersections and rapid runway crossings that leave pilots with little margin for error.

Officials warned that many Midwest airports operate under heavy traffic pressure, where aircraft must move quickly through crowded layouts, increasing the risk of runway incursions and close calls during peak operations.

Klatt noted that while Denver's wide layout and parallel runways were designed for efficiency, older airports such as Chicago O'Hare face different challenges, including congested taxiways, limited space, and decades of runway expansions layered onto aging infrastructure.

'Most large US airports are surrounded by development and have little room to expand,' Klatt said. 'As traffic increases at older, crowded airports, the potential for safety issues naturally rises.'

In August 2025, a Delta Air Lines plane clipped an empty parked aircraft during pushback at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson, marking a notable incident involving aircraft contact

The crash occurred after Tokyo-bound flight DL295 clipped the back of flight DL5526 to Louisiana as it was taxiing for takeoff

South

In the Southeast, Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), one of the busiest in the world, faces constant pressure from volume and layout, with pilots navigating tightly spaced runways and taxiways that can quickly lead to confusion.

In August 2025, a Delta Air Lines plane clipped an empty parked aircraft during pushback at ATL, marking a notable incident involving aircraft contact

Florida's major airports have also experienced repeated incidents involving wrong-runway alignments and unauthorized crossings.

The airport suffered another incident a year prior when two Delta Airline planes collided in the morning.

The crash occurred after Tokyo-bound flight DL295 clipped the back of flight DL5526 to Louisiana as it was taxiing for takeoff.

The regional jet, an Endeavor Air CRJ-900, was left with a severed tail while the Airbus 350 sustained damage to its wing.

Smaller airports across Idaho, Montana and Wyoming highlight how these risks are not limited to major hubs. Pictured is a collision at Kalispell City Airport, Montana in 2025

Dangers have also been found across the border in Canada. Pictured is a aircraft after it crashed on the runway at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada on February 17

Remote airports

Alaska presents some of the most challenging conditions in the country.

At Anchorage, low visibility and complex layouts have led to aircraft crossing runways unintentionally, while other airports report confusion compounded by weather and even unauthorized vehicles entering movement areas.

Hawaii adds its own unique risks, as at Honolulu Airport (HNL), pilots have missed turns and entered active runways, while at other airports, aircraft and ground vehicles share tightly constrained spaces.

In early 2023, officials investigated at least three separate runway close-calls in under a month at HNL, including a United Airlines flight that crossed a runway while a Cessna cargo plane was landing.

Taken together, the FAA's findings reveal a nationwide web of risk stretching far beyond a handful of problem airports.

Because these hot spots remain active until they are corrected, federal officials are sending a clear warning: these are not isolated incidents from the past, but ongoing dangers pilots are still navigating today.
The Earth's climate is more out of balance than at any other time in observed history, a shocking new report has revealed.

Scientists from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) say that humanity has just endured the 11 hottest years on record from 2011 to the end of 2025.

Last year was the second or third hottest year on record, with an average temperature 1.43C (2.57F) above the 18501900 average.

From global temperature and greenhouse gas concentrations to sea levels and glacier retreat, scientists now warn that every indicator is 'flashing red'.

The WMO's annual State of the Climate report identifies largescale changes that experts say could impact the planet for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.

Importantly, the report gives the first clear view of Earth's energy imbalance, which measures the rate at which energy enters and leaves the atmosphere.

Our planet's energy imbalance is now at its highest in the 65year observational record, triggering rapid warming of the atmosphere and oceans.

UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres says: 'Planet Earth is being pushed beyond its limits. Every key climate indicator is flashing red.'

Scientists warn that Earth's climate is more out of balance than ever before, as a shocking report shows that we have just endured the hottest 11 years on record

2025 was the second or third hottest year on record, with an average temperature 1.43C (2.57F) above the 18501900 average

In an ideal world, the rate at which energy arrives from the sun would be roughly equal to the rate at which heat escapes through the atmosphere.

However, greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide trap infrared radiation in the atmosphere, throwing Earth's energy off balance.

The WMO now confirms that concentrations of these gases have reached their highest levels in history.

Carbon dioxide is now present at 423 parts per million in the atmosphere, which is 152 per cent of the concentration before the Industrial Revolution and the highest it has been in the last two million years.

Likewise, nitrous oxide and methane are at their highest concentrations in the last 800,000 years.

The concentration of methane is 266 per cent of the preindustrial level, while nitrous oxide is at 125 per cent of preindustrial concentrations.

That means heat is building up faster than it can escape, producing enormous amounts of excess energy.

WMO SecretaryGeneral Celeste Saulo says: 'Scientific advances have improved our understanding of the Earth's energy imbalance and of the reality facing our planet and our climate right now.

The energy balance, which measures how fast energy enters and leaves the atmosphere, was at its most imbalanced since measurements began 65 years ago

Over 90 per cent of the world's excess heat is absorbed by the ocean, driving rapid warming and an increased frequency of marine heatwaves

The five key climate indicators 'flashing red' Temperature: The last 11 years have been the hottest ever recorded. Greenhouse gases: Carbon dioxide concentrations are the highest in the last two million years. Ocean heating: Ocean heating is at its fastest rate ever recorded. Sea ice: Arctic sea ice was at or near record lows in 2025. Glaciers: Mass loss from glaciers in 2025 was among the five worst years on record.

'Human activities are increasingly disrupting the natural equilibrium and we will live with these consequences for hundreds and thousands of years.'

While the last 11 years have been the hottest on record, experts say that it is likely to get hotter in the coming years due to the natural El Nino weather cycle.

Dr Akshay Deoras, senior research scientist at the University of Reading, says: 'El Nino naturally releases a lot of heat from the ocean into the atmosphere, and when that sits on top of very high greenhouse gas levels it can push global temperatures to new records.

'There is a good chance we will see El Nino conditions develop again later this year. Thus, it could bring another spike in global temperatures in 20262027 on top of the already high baseline.'

However, the part of the atmosphere that we feel only absorbs one per cent of that excess energy.

Of the remaining energy, five per cent is stored by the continental land masses, three per cent goes into melting ice, and more than 91 per cent is absorbed by the ocean.

Ocean heat content hit a record high in 2025, and the rate at which the seas are warming has doubled from 19602005 to 20052025.

In fact, each of the last nine years set a new record for the amount of heat stored in the ocean.

Warming oceans have eroded the polar ice caps, with Arctic sea ice at or near its lowest point on record in 2025

Mass loss from glaciers has also been accelerating due to the warming planet, with 2025 seeing some of the most extreme melting in the last five years

Hottest years on record globally 2024 (59.2F/15.1C) 2023 (58.96F/14.98C) 2025 (26.95F/14.87C) 2016 (58.66F/14.814C) 2020 (58.65F/14.807C) 2019 (58.60F/14.78C) 2017 (58.50F/14.723C) 2022 (58.42F/14.682C) 2021 (58.38F/14.656C) 2018 (58.35F/14.644C) (Figures in brackets refer to global average air temperature for the year) Source: Copernicus

The WMO now estimates that the oceans absorb between 11 and 12.2 zetajoules of heat energy every year  equivalent to 18 times humanity's yearly energy consumption.

This is warming the oceans at a rapid rate and triggering profound consequences for the global climate, including marine heatwaves, sea level increases, and retreating polar ice.

In 2025, 90 per cent of the ocean's surface experienced an ocean heatwave, despite a cooling La Nina weather pattern.

Professor Scott Heron, of James Cook University, says: 'Intensifying marine heatwaves have already impacted ocean systems through coral bleaching and mortality across the tropics, seagrass death and catastrophic marine disease outbreaks in tropical and temperate zones, as well as episodes of salmon lice in polar aquaculture.

'If rainforests are thought of as the lungs of our planet, the ocean provides the heart and circulation  and humaninduced climate change is giving us all heart disease.'

The WMO's research shows that sea levels are rising at an accelerating rate due to the melting of ice sheets and the natural expansion of warming water.

Sea levels in 2025 were comparable to their record highs in 2024, sitting 4.3 inches (11 cm) higher than they were at the start of satellite records in 1993.

Currently, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that sea levels could rise by 3.2ft (one metre) by 2100 if climate change is not slowed.

Since the warmer atmosphere holds more energy, recent years have also seen an uptick in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events

However, a recent study has suggested that sea levels at the end of the century could be around 11 inches (28 cm) higher than expected in the UK and between 3.2ft and 4.9ft (11.5 metres) higher in parts of Southeast Asia.

With an estimated 50 to 80 million people currently living below sea level, even small increases could be devastating for millions of people in coastal areas.

Warming oceans are also causing the retreat of polar sea ice, with the annual sea ice extent in the Arctic at or near record lows in 2025 and average extents in the Antarctic at their third lowest on record.

Likewise, mass loss from glaciers in 2024 to 2025 was among the five worst years on record, with exceptional levels of mass loss in Iceland and the Pacific coast of North America.

At the same time, the warming of the climate is producing serious consequences that are already taking their toll on human life.

A warmer atmosphere carries more energy and water, which means that extreme weather events are more frequent and more devastating when they do occur.

Late last year, Hurricane Melissa made landfall in the Caribbean as the most powerful storm in Jamaica's history.

Researchers found that the catastrophic category 5 hurricane had been made four times more likely by climate change.

While some regions experienced record rainfall (dark blue), other areas saw recordbreaking droughts (dark brown). These patterns are leading to more flooding and wildfires

In a cooler world without climate change, a Melissatype hurricane would have made landfall once every 8,000 years.

Meanwhile, backtoback periods of extreme drought and heavy rainfall are leading to a greater number of more intense wildfires and flash floods around the world.

Dr Mortlock, head of climate analytics at the University of New South Wales, says: 'Even seemingly small increases in temperature can have outsized effects on extreme weather.

'The frequency and intensity of bushfires, floods, cyclones and hailstorms are all linked to the warming of the atmosphere. At the same time, more people are living in harm's way.'

Recent research shows that these shifting weather patterns also risk fuelling the outbreak of deadly diseases such as dengue fever.

Warmer, wetter weather is pushing the habitat of the diseasespreading Asian and Egyptian mosquitoes northwards, into cities including London, Vienna, Strasbourg, and Frankfurt.

Although the species is not in these cities yet, its rate of northward spread in France has been accelerating from about 6km (3.7 miles) per year in 2006 to 20km (12.4 miles) per year in 2024.

A new study has shown that storms make outbreaks of this disease far more dangerous.

As the climate warms, it is becoming more suitable for mosquitoes that spread diseases such as dengue fever. Scientists now warn that these insects' breeding grounds could spread into northern Europe

Following a cyclone in Peru during 2023, an outbreak of dengue fever was 10 times larger than normal for the area.

Experts say the weather which triggered the outbreak is now three times more likely due to climate change.

Mr Guterres concludes: 'The State of the Global Climate is in a state of emergency.

'Today's report should come with a warning label: climate chaos is accelerating and delay is deadly.'
A private space company will try to land on the 'potentially hazardous' asteroid Apophis when it skims past Earth in three years' time.

In echoes of the film Armageddon  when a team are sent to touch down on an asteroid and blow it up  scientists hope to send two 'landers' to explore the space rock during its flyby.

Apophis, which measures 340 metres (1,115 feet) across, was first discovered in 2004 and is heading in our direction from 140 million miles (225 million km) away.

Calculations initially showed that it had a high chance of hitting our planet  up to 2.7 per cent  in April 2029, potentially destroying an area the size of a city.

While the threat has now been downgraded, with no chance of impact for at least 100 years, it will still pass extremely close to Earth.

As it flies by just 19,800 miles (32,000km) above our planet, two landers will attempt to touch down on the asteroid.

These cubeshaped devices will take pictures of the celestial rock as they slowly approach and gently land on its surface, collecting information on the asteroid's composition and surface structure.

'The goal is to gain images from the surface of the asteroid,' Miguel Pascual, chief science officer and cofounder of US company ExLabs told New Scientist. 'There's some really exciting science that can happen.'

A private space company will try to land on the 'potentially hazardous' asteroid Apophis when it skims past Earth in three years' time (artist's impression)

Apophis, which measures 340 metres (1,115 feet) across, was first discovered in 2004 and is heading in our direction from 140 million miles (225 million km) away

ExLabs has announced that its mothership spacecraft, named ApophisExL, has passed an important review phase ahead of a planned launch in 2028.

It will carry up to 10 spacecraft and instruments from different companies, including the two landers.

One is from an unnamed source, while the other is from Japan's Chiba Institute of Technology where it is being developed with the help of students.

ExLabs will deploy the lander, which is the size of a shoebox, from 400 metres (1,312 feet) above Apophis where it will then descend at 10 centimetres per second.

Its camera will continue to take images as it gently touches down around an hour later.

The landing will take place up to a week after Apophis's flyby of Earth, to ensure that it doesn't interfere with the asteroid's trajectory.

'Giving students the opportunity to design and fly hardware that will land on an asteroid is transformative,' Joi Ito, president of the Chiba Institute, said.

'It reshapes how they see engineering, science and their role in humanity's future in space.'

As shown in this diagram, the asteroid 99942 Apophis will skim by Earth at just 20,000 miles (32,000km)  onetenth of the distance to the Moon

Apophis: Key facts Name: 99942 Apophis Diameter: 340 metres (1,115 feet) Closest approach: 19,800 miles (32,000km) above Earth Flyby: April 13, 2029 Estimated speed at closest approach: 7.4 km/s Rotation period: 30.6 hours Discovery: 2004

The mission, described as the 'world's first commercial deepspace rideshare', is being supported by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Historically, missions to asteroids have been limited to large, multibillion dollar programmes led by national space agencies.

ExLabs says its model can dramatically reduce costs and barriers to participation.

'We're working to overcome the barriers that have long kept deepspace exploration in the hands of only the largest space agencies,' said Keiko NakamuraMessenger, vice president of Mission Development at ExLabs and a former NASA mission scientist.

'There are likely dozens of advanced, spacequalified instruments sitting in cleanrooms around the world, flight spares, experiments from missions that never launched, or amazing instruments developed by college students.

'ExLabs is building the affordable, flexible spacecraft needed to give these payloads real flight opportunities to the inner solar system.

'Our collaboration with Chiba Tech embodies our vision of deep space exploration: internationally collaborative, commercially enabled, and open to the next generation for the future space exploration.'

No private company has ever landed on an asteroid, although there may be an attempt later this year by US asteroid mining firm Astroforge.

When Apophis skims past Earth, its trajectory will take it so low that it will pass under geostationary satellites used to monitor the weather.

It will be 10 times closer to Earth than the moon and is expected to be visible to the naked eye for billions of people.

Experts have described the flyby as a 'onceinalifetime event, providing an 'unprecedented opportunity' to study an asteroid up close. It could also improve planetary defence models.

Multiple spacecraft from the US, Europe, Japan and China are planning to study the asteroid before, during the after the flyby.

ExLabs has been contacted for more detail.
Archaeologists have uncovered a 2,000yearold sling bullet with a taunting message for its target  'Learn your lesson'.

The small, almondshaped weapon, which would have been shot out of a handheld projectile pocket, was found in the remains of the ancient city of Hippos in Israel.

It measures 3.2 x 1.95cm (3.2 x 0.76 inches), weighs 38 grams and was likely used by the Greek defenders of the city.

While dozens of lead sling bullets have been found at the site, this one stands out  as it is the first one to bear this specific inscription.

'Sling bullets were a cheap munition, a handthrown projectile, used for millennia,' Michael Eisenberg, an archaeologist at the University of Haifa, told the Daily Mail.

'This is the first instance of the Greek word "learn" attested on sling bullets  probably the local defender's sense of sarcasm.'

His team believe the word can be interpreted as a mocking order addressed to enemies advancing up the road.

And it joins similar bullets inscribed with dark humour uncovered in the region  including those that read 'catch' and 'take a taste'.

The lead sling bullet is inscribed with Greek letters that form the word , which the researchers believe is a command in ancient Greek to 'learn'

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The inscription was likely created by pouring molten lead into a mould emblazoned with the Greek letters .

The authors have interpreted the inscription as a form of the word 'mathaino', which means 'learn', and they believe the spelling indicates it was a command that meant 'learn your lesson'.

'This represents local sarcastic humour on the part of the city's defenders, who wished to teach their enemies a lesson with a wink,' Dr Eisenberg said.

The ancient city of Hippos, now known as Sussita, was located around a mile east of the Sea of Galilee.

The archaeologists believe the bullet was fired by a defender from the city walls, which overlooked a road.

It was uncovered by a metal detector in 2025, close to an area that would have been 'the most convenient point of attack towards the city's main gate'. And it was found at a distance of 260m (853 feet) from the city walls, indicating the impressive distance they could be fired.

One side of the bullet was destroyed in a powerful impact, with experts suggesting it originally weighed 45 grams.

'At short distances they were highly effective at hitting individual targets, while at longer distances they were effective against a cluster of enemies,' Dr Eisenberg said.

The ancient city of Hippos, now known as Sussita, was located around a mile east of the Sea of Galilee. Pictured: An aerial view of the area

What are sling bullets? A sling bullet was a small, almondshaped projectile that was made of lead or stone

It would be placed in the central pouch of a slingshot and then rotated around the head or side to build up momentum

The attacker would then release one cord at a precise moment to send the bullet flying towards the enemy

Some calculations suggest the projectile could fly as far as 400 metres (1,312 feet)

Most are blank, but some have been found to bear the names of gods, military units, cities, personal names and acclamations of victory

Alongside 'learn your lesson', other inscriptions include 'catch' and 'take a taste'

While most sling bullets are blank, some have been found to bear the names of gods, military units, cities, personal names and acclamations of victory, the team wrote in the journal Palestine Exploration Quarterly.

'Although some are decorated with a scorpion or a thunderbolt, the bullet described in this paper is the first one with an inscription,' they added.

Sling bullets were among the most common munitions of the time, the researchers explained, as they were cheap and easy to make.

Analysis of this sling bullet dates it back to the second half of the second century, or the beginning of the first century BC.

Dr Eisenberg said it's possible the bullet was used during the battle between the Jewish Hasmonean kingdom expanding toward the Galilee and the Golan.

'In 101 BC, we see Alexander Jannaeus trying to conquer Hippos and this region,' he added.

He said other scenarios are also possible, including that the slingshot was launched in earlier confrontations between different Greek kingdoms or that it was used during training.

'We don't know if it was a rock or a person, but there was definitely an impact,' he said.

A sling bullet would have been fired by placing an almondshaped projectile made of lead or stone into the central pouch of a sling.

The operator would hold the cord ends and rotate the sling rapidly over their head or side to build up kinetic energy.

They would then release one cord at a precise moment, sending the bullet flying quickly towards an enemy.

Some calculations suggest the projectile could fly as far as 400 metres (1,312 feet).
An emergency evacuation of an air traffic control tower at Newark Liberty International Airport on Monday morning forced a ground stop for thousands of flights.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials said tower staff at the New Jersey airport were forced to vacate immediately due to reports of smoke, triggering a ground stop at one of the Northeast's busiest airports.

The ground stop began around 7.50am ET and was lifted around 8.40am. However, travelers are still reporting delays.

The latest update showed delays escalating sharply, with the total number of delayed flights jumping from 420 to 1,814, signaling a rapidly worsening situation at one of the nation's busiest airports.

The maximum delay reached 149 minutes, while the average delay climbed to 53 minutes.

The disruption affected flights departing from multiple major airspace regions, including those serving Chicago, Atlanta, Washington, DC, New York, Boston, Detroit, Minneapolis and Jacksonville, as well as several Canadian cities, including Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Halifax and Quebec City.

The issues at Newark come just hours after a deadly crash at LaGuardia Airport, where an Air Canada flight struck a ground vehicle Sunday night, killing both pilots.

The issues at Newark and LaGuardia are causing a rippling effect, as Philadelphia International Airport has just issued a departure delay.

An emergency evacuation was ordered at Newark Liberty International Airport on Monday morning after smoke was reported inside the control tower, halting flights and delaying hundreds of travelers. Pictured is a tower at the airport

The airspace surrounding Newark and LaGuardia is tightly connected to Philadelphia, meaning delays at one airport can quickly spread to others across the region.

As congestion builds in the New York-area airspace, flights departing Philadelphia are being slowed to prevent overcrowding and maintain safe spacing between aircraft.

Reports from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) indicated that the smoke in the tower was traced to the elevator's gears.

FAA staff were relocated to a backup tower in Terminal C before operations resumed, the Port Authority said.

EWR serves roughly 130,000 to over 135,000 passengers daily based on the 2024 annual traffic of 48.9 million, making it one of the busiest airports in the US.

The airport operates with over 1,000 flights daily, with peak travel times in the mornings and evenings.

A passenger at Newark described the chaos unfolding in real time, writing on X that his plane was stuck at the gate after the captain announced the control tower was being evacuated due to smoke.

About 20 minutes later, the flyer said the pilot told passengers that in his 36 years of flying, he had never seen anything like it.

The latest update showed delays escalating sharply, with the total number of delayed flights jumping from 420 to 1,814, signaling a rapidly worsening situation at one of the nation's busiest airports

By around 8.15am, the passenger reported the tower appeared to be operating again, possibly using a backup, and flights were beginning to move, though delays continued.

In a final update, the traveler said the plane was finally pushing back from the gate but warned that the taxi to take off could take 10 to 45 minutes because of heavy congestion.

The disruption in New Jersey comes as LaGuardia is closed until at least 2pm due to the fatal crash overnight.

The flight from Montreal was landing at around 11:40pm when the aircraft struck a Port Authority rescue vehicle on the runway, a spokesman told the Daily Mail.

Sources told NBC New York that the pilot and co-pilot died in the collision. Multiple others were injured.

The aircraft struck the rescue vehicle, which was responding to a separate incident at the time, the Port Authority spokesman added.

The plane could be seen on the tarmac after the incident, with its nose badly damaged, front tilted into the air.

The flight was affiliated with Jazz Aviation, a regional airline in Nova Scotia, and was operating on behalf of Air Canada.

'Emergency response protocols were immediately activated. The Port Authority Police Department is on scene along with the agencys Chairman and Executive Director,' a Port Authority spokesman said in a statement.

'The Port Authority Police Department is working closely with our airline partners as well as federal authorities, and will provide additional updates as more details become available.'
A mysterious humming noise has been reported in neighborhoods across several US states, rattling homes and leaving residents struggling to sleep.

The latest reports come from Vineland, New Jersey, where locals say the sound began after construction started on a massive 2.5-million-square-foot data center, though officials have not confirmed a direct link.

Residents say the constant noise is disrupting daily life. 'That is not construction, and that monstrosity is only partially built,' Scott Montgomery told ABC 6. 'It is infringing on our peace of mind and our tranquility.'

Similar complaints have surfaced in parts of Virginia, home to hundreds of data centers, and in Connecticut earlier this year, though officials in those areas have yet to identify a confirmed source.

Experts noted that data centers can produce continuous low-frequency humming caused by powerful cooling systems and electrical equipment operating around the clock.

Thousands of servers generate intense heat, requiring large fans and chillers that can produce noise levels between 55 and 85 decibels, often described as a low-pitched roar capable of traveling long distances.

'It's not even fully built yet. That's the scary part,' Montgomery added.

'If it sounds like this now, what's it going to be like when everything's up and running?'

The latest reports come from Vineland, New Jersey, where locals say the sound began after construction started on a massive 2.5-million-square-foot data center

Cumberland County Department of Health has acknowledged the noise concerns in the New Jersey town, noting it does not play a role in planning, zoning, or approving construction projects.

The agency added that it will investigate the construction site to determine if it is the source of the noise.

'If our inspectors find that noise levels are higher than those allowed under the code, we follow the enforcement guidelines under which a penalty may be issued if compliance is not obtained within a certain timeframe,' the agency shared on Facebook.

'While the Cumberland County Department of Health does not have the legal authority to shut down a facility, we do work collaboratively with those involved to resolve any confirmed violations of the Noise Control Act.'

The 2.4 million-square-foot data center is being built on South Lincoln Avenue and is owned by the company Data One.

In a statement, the company said the facility is complying with local regulations.

'Our site is operating in full compliance with Vineland City noise ordinance limits,' the company said. 'We will continue deploying sound reduction measures to minimize any impact on our neighbors.'

While authorities have yet to blame the data center for the noise, locals are sure it is the source.

The 2.4 million-square-foot data center is being built on South Lincoln Avenue and is owned by the company Data One

One local shared on social media: 'I live about two miles away, and it's definitely there. Sounds like a huge engine idling all the time.'

Montgomery, who lives about a half a mile from the facility, said: 'It keeps you up at night, as you can hear it coming through the house.'

Another local, Theresa Lewis, expressed the same concern, saying that even when her doors and windows are closed, she still hears a constant humming.

'It's like someone is using some type of machinery around my house,' Lewis told ABC 6.

Montgomery posted a video of the noise on social media. In the recording, a humming sound can be heard.

'We're afraid it's even going to get worse, so it's just maddening to listen to this all the time. It's hard to fall asleep at night,' he said.

Similar reports from Connecticut surfaced earlier this year, but locals said they have been bothered by a humming noise since 2020.

A persistent low-frequency hum has disrupted life in West Haven, with residents describing the sound as both mysterious and, at times, unbearable.

Similar reports from Connecticut surfaced earlier this year, but locals said they have been bothered by a humming noise since 2020

After collecting more than 140 signatures on a petition, residents persuaded city leaders to approve $16,000 to hire an independent acoustic firm to investigate the source, which many believe may be linked to nearby industrial activity.

'For years, our community has been plagued by a constant or intermittent humming noise and low-frequency vibrations affecting multiple areas of town,' the petition notes. 'This disturbing phenomenon occurs at all hours, disrupting our ability to sleep, concentrate and enjoy life to its fullest.

'Many residents have reported increased levels of stress, anxiety and physical discomfort due to this incessant noise and vibration.'

While Connecticut authorities have yet to confirm the source, there are several data centers near West Haven, primarily in nearby New Haven, Wallingford, and the surrounding southern Connecticut area.

Lumen New Haven Data Center is about three to five miles from West Haven, while Fibertech Networks is about four miles away, and Cloudsmart Data Center and ChimeNet Data Center are up to 20 miles from the town.

West Haven Commissioner of Human Services John Carrano shared that the City Council approved a $16,000 budget to hire a third-party acoustics firm to pinpoint the source of the 24/7 noise

Similar humming complaints have emerged across parts of Virginia, where hundreds of large data centers operate around the clock.

Residents have described hearing a deep, low-frequency buzz, sometimes accompanied by vibrations, fueling speculation about whether expanding data center infrastructure could be contributing to the unexplained noise.

Dale Brown from Great Oak told WUSA9: 'We're about 700 feet from the data center right here. It's just really, really loud.'

Residents living near the Amazon Web Services data center in Manassas and nearby facilities report both a persistent hum and low rumbling sounds that have sparked ongoing complaints.

Local Roger Yackel said: 'These data centers are loud, noisy beasts and they are being built too close to residential areas. That's not something that we should have to live with.'

John Lyver, a retired NASA analyst, has begun tracking noise coming from data centers near his neighborhood.

'I'm finding that the noise is far worse than anybody ever figured it was going to be,' he said.
Matt Damon ditched the private jet and took a commercial flight with wife Luciana Barroso during his visit to Australia on Monday.

The actor, 53, was accompanied by his wife, 49, as the pair boarded a commercial Virgin Australia flight from Sydney to Ballina.

The A-lister shunned the usual celebrity fanfare, checking in, queueing to board, and disembarking like every other passenger with no apparent VIP treatment.

Matt and Luciana were also accompanied by friends, including Aussie businessman and AVMIN founder Paul O'Brien, who ironically made his fortune in private jets.

The group were headed to the beachside town of Ballina, which is located a short drive from Byron Bay, where Matt's good friend Chris Hemsworth lives, and where his family have spent many summers.

The actor dressed down for the short flight, wearing a blue, checked flannel shirt along with jeans.

One of us! Matt Damon flew commercial during his visit to Australia on Monday

Couple goals: The 53-year-old was accompanied by his wife, Luciana Barroso

Matt popped on a pair of designer sunglasses and carried a black backpack over one arm.

He finished the look with white sneakers, and was seen wheeling luggage.

Luciana also opted for a casual look, sporting a fitted white top with matching pants.

Jet-setters: The couple boarded a commercial Virgin Australia flight from Sydney to Ballina

The look: Matt dressed down for the flight, wearing a checked flannel shirt along with jeans

She added a touch of luxury with a black leather Chanel bag and finished the outfit with a pair of simple flip flops.

For accessories, the star wore a dangling silver necklace and a number of rings.

She had earlier arrived in a black cardigan, which she stripped off in the terminal.

Finishing touches: The star popped on a pair of sunglasses and had on a black backpack

Casual: Luciana also opted for a relaxed look, sporting a fitted white top with matching pant

All smiles: Matt was seen with a slight grin at the airport
Passengers running to make the train on time, hurling cases onto the station escalators and obstructing doors are all common sights during a rail journey.

But these risky behaviours can lead to injury - two people a day in the UK are harmed at train stations because of travellers compromising their safety to save time or effort.

Some 31 per cent of passengers blame their 'inner voice' for urging them to do such things.

Only 20 per cent admit to getting stuck in a closing train door, but 25 per cent say they have witnessed it first-hand.

According to new research by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), 800 injuries take place on the network each year that are preventable.

Despite the hundreds of painful incidents, not many passengers seem to realise the dangers of their actions.

The data, collected from a survey of 2,000 UK adults, revealed 32 per cent didn't know running for a train could lead to injury.

Meanwhile, 27 per cent admitted to not realising taking heavy luggage or buggies on the escalator would be unsafe or have implications.

Two people a day in the UK are harmed at train stations because of travellers compromising their safety to save time or effort

In an attempt to encourage travellers to slow down and travel safely, GTR has partnered with award-winning comedian Diane Morgan

But, around half of passengers say running for a train is embarrassing, and 79 per cent think the same about getting stuck in a train door.

GTRs top stations for accidents are Gatwick Airport, Brighton, East Croydon and Victoria.

In an attempt to encourage travellers to slow down and travel safely, GTR has partnered with Last One Laughing star Diane Morgan.

In the video, travellers are encouraged to allow extra time for journeys, avoid rushing, and prioritise safety the next time they catch a train.

The UK's largest train operator is set to release its first-ever train safety film, Travel Safe with Diane Morgan. It will be available to watch on Monday, March 23.

Diane, known for her dry wit, will star in the video, which shows the beloved comic on the verge of committing common station safety no-nos.

She gets involved with all the classic risky train passenger behaviours, from sprinting down the platform to forcing the closing doors, before being hilariously interrupted.

It's a light-hearted way to shine light on the different choices the nation can make when travelling by train.

Speaking about the campaign, Diane Morgan says: 'As has been well publicised, I have always been a strong advocate for rail safety.

'Unlike some of my comedy contemporaries, who would love to see passengers fall down stairs or get their head trapped in the closing doors, I have always made it quite clear that rail safety is my number one priority.'

She describes the short films as a 'culmination of my life's work'.

The comedian goes on to urge train passengers to watch and 'Enjoy them'.

Samantha Facey, Health, Safety and Security Director at Govia Thameslink Railway, adds: 'Most injuries we see from these behaviours are preventable and we're committed to helping our customers travel safely.

'We know that people are busy, journeys can be rushed, and some of these habits are so ingrained that they stop feeling like risks at all.

'That's exactly why we needed a different approach, and working with Diane gave us something powerful  a chance to make people laugh at behaviour they might recognise in themselves, and in doing so, genuinely think twice.

'We want customers to pause, take their time, and travel safely, and I hope this film is a step towards that. If you've ever sprinted for a train, wrestled luggage onto an escalator, or tested a closing door, watch the film. It might just change your mind.'
With spring officially in motion, dog owners - and their four-legged friends - are once more gearing up for long walks across the country's picturesque pathways, winding woodlands and vast green spaces - but where are some of the most scenic routes?

To help inspire your next adventure with your pooch, a new roundup by Tails.com has revealed 10 of the best walks across the UK, whittled down from a list of the leading 30.

The ranking was calculated based on the amount of Instagram hashtags each location has.

So, whether you're planning breezy coastal walks or whimsical strolls through the woods this spring, read on to discover the most beautiful routes for you and your dog to enjoy.

South West Coast Path - Somerset, Devon, Cornwall

The South West Coast Path boasts 8 miles of unspoilt cliffside views, dramatic rock formations and fresh sea air

If it's breathtaking coastal views and hillside walks you're after, the South West Coast Path might just be the place.

The area boasts eight miles of unspoilt cliffside views, dramatic rock formations and fresh sea air - a refreshing start to the new season.

Dogs are free to splash around in the sea and run along the sand, with many beaches along the route welcoming dogs throughout the year.

Derwentwater Circular - Lake District, Cumbria

This 10-mile scenic loop around Derwentwater follows winding paths through ancient woodland at the Lake District

This 10-mile scenic loop around Derwentwater follows winding paths through ancient woodland and along the iconic lake.

Perfect for both people and dogs, this enjoyable trail provides the perfect opportunity to take in views of the Lake District, with various dog-friendly cafes and picnic spots along the way.

Northumberland Coast Path, Northumberland

Northumberland Coast Path offers the perfect mix of scenery, fresh air, and relaxing walks

If you're planning a trip to the North East this spring, it's worth making a stop at the Northumberland Coast Path.

This historic coastal route offers the perfect mix of scenery, fresh air, and relaxing walks, featuring expansive dunes, dramatic views, and miles of dog-friendly shorline - and the iconic Bamburgh Castle can even be spotted from afar on clear days.

West Highland Way, Milngavie to Fort William, Scotland

Whether you're up for a multi-day journey or just a scenic stroll, you'll be treated to breathtaking mountain vistas at the West Highland Way

The West Highland Way - one of Scotland's most famous walking routes - offers an epic 96-mile trek through the heart of the Scottish Highlands.

Whether you're up for a multi-day journey or just a scenic stroll, you'll be treated to breathtaking mountain vistas and tranquil paths along the lochs.

It's an ideal way to experience Scotland's legendary landscapes with your dog as your hiking partner.

Hadrian's Wall Path, Cumbria

Hadrian's Wall Path blends UNESCO World Heritage history with scenic landscapes

Following the famous 84-mile Roman wall, Hadrian's Wall Path blends UNESCO World Heritage history with scenic landscapes.

Walkers can enjoy ancient ruins, rolling hills, and charming villages, and the route is generally dog-friendly, though keeping dogs on leads is necessary in farmland with livestock.

Mam Tor & Great Ridge, Peak District, Derbyshire

Mam Tor offers breathtaking, panoramic views across the Hope Valley

As a premier hike in the Peak District, Mam Tor offers breathtaking, panoramic views across the Hope Valley, walking along a dramatic, well-maintained path.

Though it's a fantastic, energetic walk for dogs, its steep conditions can be challenging for older, less mobile pets.

Thames Path, Gloucestershire to Essex

The Thames Path offers a 185-mile scenic journey following England's most famous river from the Cotswolds to London

The Thames Path offers a 185-mile scenic journey following England's most famous river from the Cotswolds to London, blending rural landscapes with historic towns and city scenery.

Ideal for leisurely dog walks, the trail features peaceful stretches of riverside, though some areas require dogs to be on a lead near the road.

New Forest, National Park, Hampshire

The New Forest National Park is a dream for hikers and dog owners with its ancient woods and heathlands

The New Forest National Park is a dream for hikers and dog owners, offering a mix of ancient woods, vast heathlands, and scenic trails.

You'll likely cross paths with the local ponies, and since they roam freely, it's important to remember to keep your dog on a lead when they're nearby.

The ground can get pretty boggy in some areas, so wear sturdy boots and pack a towel to dry off your pup afterward

Seven Sisters Cliffs Walk - East Sussex

The Seven Sisters coastal walk offers breathtaking views of dramatic white chalk cliffs

The Seven Sisters coastal walk is widely considered one of England's most scenic routes, offering breathtaking views of dramatic white chalk cliffs overlooking the English Channel.

While it offers stunning, panoramic views, the 13-mile trail can be demanding due to the frequent climbs and descents across the seven hills.

South Downs Way - Hampshire to East Sussex

Dog owners and their pooches are free to roam across miles of rolling countryside at South Downs Way

Across the South Downs Way, which runs through the heart of the South Downs National Park, dog owners and their pooches are free to roam across miles of rolling countryside offering spectacular views of the wider area.

This route features long, gentle climbs and exposed ridges, and, while not overly steep, the sparse resting spots make it demanding for older dogs, so it's advised to schedule frequent breaks.
In Najran province of Saudi Arabia, about 75 miles north of Najran City, you can find an extraordinary open-air gallery of ancient petroglyphs that has been telling the stories of people in this region for more than 7,000 years.

As a vital sanctuary and resting place on ancient trade and pilgrimage routes, Hima Cultural Area is a profound chronicle of history. The carvings etched into the sandstone cliffs feature depictions of animals, ancient battles, weary travellers, and inscriptions in multiple languages, a deeply moving legacy of human activity.

Many of these ancient languages have now fallen silent, making this UNESCO site a magnificent lithic and linguistic record of a polyglot age. A symphony of voices is carved onto the rockface, spanning many millennia.

Here, you can trace the elegant, geometric lines of Musnad, an ancient South Arabian script, alongside the flourishes of Thamudic, a nomadic language. And the extent to which these ancient people travelled becomes clear, as we see also Aramaic-Nabatean, the graceful, early Arabic Kufic script, and even ancient Greek.

The carvings etched into the sandstone cliffs feature depictions of animals, ancient battles, weary travellers, and inscriptions in multiple languages

Many of these ancient languages have now fallen silent, making this UNESCO site a magnificent lithic and linguistic record of a polyglot age

The history of human communication is here quite literally written in stone, a silent library in which the calls of merchants and pilgrims from the past echo faintly through the canyons of these beautifully preserved legacies.

Officially recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021, it is a site that is preserved by Saudi's Heritage Commission, one of 11 sector-specific commissions under the Ministry of Culture, and has been credited with chronicling the history of the Arab people more effectively than any other place.

What makes Hima Cultural Area so special?

Unlike many other heritage sites you may have visited, Hima Cultural Area remains a destination of untouched purity, completely free of modern development.

The arid and timeless landscape, along with its remote location, has preserved the inscriptions and images with exquisite clarity. Etchings are as sharp and clear as the day they were carved, offering an unfiltered connection to the soul of the past.

At the heart of this ancient crossroads are the wells of Bi'r Hima, the reason why this location has seen so much activity throughout the ages. These seven freshwater springs have provided life-giving sustenance to weary travellers for millennia and continue to flow today.

Standing beside these enduring waters is to stand beside the lifeline that sustained the great trade routes of antiquity. For countless centuries, they were the final, vital oasis for caravans before they turned north for a long, arduous journey.

The history of human communication is here quite literally written in stone

Clues to the past

As well as scripts, Hima Cultural Area is also a canvas of artworks, depicting a world transformed from how we know it today. These petroglyphs offer a startling glimpse of an Arabian Peninsula with a far more temperate climate. Detailed carvings of creatures now vanished from the region, giraffes, large-horned cattle, ostriches, and even lions, serve as silent witnesses to a time when the plains must have been a lush, verdant savannah.

As a pivotal station on the famed Incense Route, Hima Cultural Area was a sophisticated international hub. The world's oldest known toll station is located here, where merchants were required to pay for passage towards the Mediterranean.

A spirited human story is captured here as well. Life-sized figures are shown in ritual dances, some holding what appear to be musical instruments similar to the traditional rebab; in other areas, ancient conflicts are preserved. Brave warriors on horseback wield spears and shields, a testament to societies that were as brave as they were cultured and artistic.

A journey back in time

Exploring Hima Cultural Area is like entering a vast, silent, and empty open-air museum, where you are granted the rare luxury of solitude. You may have the wide-open desert landscapes entirely to yourself, with a soundtrack of only the soft wind whistling through the sandstone canyons and the rare call of a hawk from high overhead.

The dunes are themselves full of rugged beauty, where the colour of the sand changes with the daylight through deep reds, to glowing gold before dimming again in the twilight. Dramatic shadows are cast across the ground by rocky outcrops, and the low ridges or towering monoliths of sandstone are silhouetted against the sky.

Etchings are as sharp and clear as the day they were carved, offering an unfiltered connection to the soul of the past

As you stand here, among these ancient stones, you aren't merely a spectator to the past, but the latest arrival at a 7,000-year-old crossroads. You are standing where caravan leaders once unrolled their rugs and tethered their camels.

Where the artists of the ancient world left their mark for the generations to come, where humans have sought rest under the great Arabian sky for centuries. It is a unique, immersive experience, untouched by the modern world.

As the main gateway to the Hima Cultural Area, Najran is a good base for your adventures, allowing you to transition from modern comfort to a timeless desert experience in just two hours.

And the city itself is a haven of storied heritage worth exploring. In particular, the extraordinary 'mud skyscrapers,' traditional homes created from sun-dried clay and straw and adorned with limestone detail, sculpt a skyline that is not quite like anywhere else in the world.

Visit Saudi Heritage Commission https://heritage.moc.gov.sa/en for more information
A new 600million history-themed attraction set to open in Oxfordshire could be a notable 'strategic opportunity' for the surrounding area, it has been revealed.

Dominic Hare, the CEO of Blenheim Palace, said the proposals for a new site from Puy du Fou will have a positive impact on the region.

Puy du Fou, a French company known for its popular park in the Loire region, submitted plans for a UK version last year.

The new park, set to be located near Bicester in Oxfordshire, will boast immersive, history-themed attractions, allowing visitors to step back in time to witness gladiator tournaments and Viking invasions.

The company submitted an outline planning application to Cherwell District Council on 1 September, with hopes to open the UK location in stages starting from 2029.

Puy du Fou's proposal near Bicester, near Oxfordshire, will be open from April to October each year and will include four period villages and 13 live shows.

There will be three onsite hotels, each themed to different periods of British history.

There will also be a state-of-the-art conference centre which will be open on demand all year round.

The company submitted an outline planning application to Cherwell District Council last year

The UK attraction will be inspired by the Puy du Fou amusement park in France

Now, in a letter to Cherwell District Council, Dominic Hare said the 'arrival of another world-class, award-winning visitor attraction' in the local area would provide a 'significant strategic opportunity'.

The BBC reported that he wrote: 'The economic contribution of a tourism asset of this calibre would be substantial and lasting.'

Dominic added: 'The scale, complexity and originality of their productions, combined with the care they invest in their visitor experience and their constructive relationships with surrounding communities, left a strong impression.'

The company has shown consideration for the surrounding area, hoping to build the park a distance away from nearby homes.

According to the site's proposal, the shows will also be oriented to direct potential noise away from our neighbours.

It adds: 'Considerable bunding, some up to 7m tall, will be landscaped around the park and around each individual show, with trees planted on top to help screen views, light and noise.'

The park also aims to protect the landscape, including three ancient woodlands which will be entirely preserved and protected.

The website adds: 'To enhance the environment, around 20,000 new trees will also be planted, as well as over 5km of new hedgerows and 40 acres of biodiverse, species-rich wildflower meadows.

To blend in with the surrounding landscape, the UK park will feature 40 acres of wildflower meadows, lakes and more than 20,000 planted trees

'New ponds and wetland habitats will be created. Bird and bat boxes will be used to enhance nesting and roosting opportunities, along with log piles to create habitats for amphibians and invertebrates.'

According to application documents, the proposed park will include outdoor and indoor theatres, restaurants, hotels, conference facilities, offices, warehousing and storage, security control centre, medical centre, animal facilities (including stables, aviary, animal sheds), laundry facility and workshops, and supporting infrastructure.

Puy du Fou is a multi-award-winning theme park in in Les Epesses, in the Pays de la Loire region of western France.

Since opening in 1977, Puy du Fou has grown to become one of France's most beloved attractions.

The UK version of the park will be modelled on its French counterpart.

However, the plans for the new park have come under fire.

The prospect of the 600 million theme park sparked a bitter local war last year, with many villagers up in arms about the project.

'I'm against it purely on the logistics,' said Sarah Evans-Roberts, 64, Cherwell District Council's revenues and recovery officer.

'This road here will just become a further rat-run for staff going up there, and this road is ridiculous as it is.

'I think Bicester needs more attractions, so I'm not against the fact that we're getting an attraction, but I think there's plenty of brownfield sites that would be more suitable.

'There's plenty of space at ex-RAF sites up at Heyford Park. And it's not a case that I'm a Nimby either. It's just purely that the roundabout and the B4100 just will never cope.

'The proposed 2.5 million visitors a year, it's going to be ridiculous - and they're selling it on the basis that they believe people will be coming here on public transport.

'They won't be, because there isn't any. The same customers that go to Bicester Village will not be the same sort of customers that want to come here.'

Other disgruntled locals have voiced their concerns, with one concluding: 'It's going to be a nightmare in this village. I can't see this lane being very quiet when it's open.'
Demand for holidays to the Caribbean has boomed since the Iran war began as British tourists look for alternative luxury destinations away from the Middle East.

Overall searches for trips to the region have jumped by 81 per cent in the first two weeks of March compared to the prior fortnight, according to TravelSupermarket.

Travellers are rearranging plans after six million people going to or from the Middle East have had flights axed since the conflict began on February 28. Some 63,265 out of 118,642 scheduled services to or from airports in the region have been cancelled.

The war has also narrowed the corridor for long-haul flights between Europe and Asia and hiked the price of jet fuel amid concerns over longer-term impact on prices.

Now, Brits who might have travelled to high-end destinations such as Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi for their holidays are now looking at alternatives in the Caribbean.

Experts said some tourists are also considering switching countries within the Caribbean, trying out areas which have been traditionally less popular with Brits.

The Turks and Caicos Islands were found to have seen the biggest boost in interest since the conflict started with share of Caribbean searches surging by 119 per cent.

The Dominican Republic was second with its search share up 100 per cent, while Tobago was third with a 79 per cent rise and St Lucia was in fourth up 55 per cent.

The Turks and Caicos Islands has seen the biggest boost in interest since the Iran war started

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The Dominican Republic has also seen a big boost in interest from Brits since the war began

Antigua's share rose 53 per cent, Jamaica was up 49 per cent and Aruba increased 42 per cent; while Barbados and the Bahamas were both up 23 per cent.

Chris Webber, head of holidays and deals at TravelSupermarket, said today: 'When global events change holiday plans, we tend to see travellers pivot quickly.

'The Caribbean is a natural beneficiary. What's striking here isn't just the overall jump in searches, but how broadly that interest is spread.

'Destinations like Turks and Caicos and Tobago aren't typically where British holidaymakers look first, so to see them surging suggests people are still keen to try somewhere new.'

The research analysed all searches on TravelSupermarket.com over the two weeks from March 2 to 15, compared to the previous fortnight.

British Airways Holidays has also seen a boost for the Caribbean, with Barbados searches up 46 per cent and Antigua up 63 per cent versus the same time last year.

BA last week announced an expansion of its Caribbean routes for this winter - including a new daily London Gatwick to Barbados service from October 25.

The Al Seef market in one of the main tourist areas of Dubai is mostly empty on March 13

An Emirates plane prepares to land at Dubai Airport on March 16 following a drone strike

There will also be a standalone daily St Lucia service from the same date as well as increased flights from Gatwick to Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.

It comes as former BA boss Willie Walsh warned last week that air fares are soaring as the crisis engulfing airlines sparked by the Iran war is 'akin to post-9/11'.

Mr Walsh, now boss of industry body the International Air Transport Association, said tickets on US-UK transatlantic flights would be the worst and quickest hit.

He said that while bookings were holding up, travellers are opting more for Western and Southern Europe and North Africa rather than eastern European destinations such as Cyprus or Turkey, which are closer to the conflict.

Airline bosses have warned soaring fuel prices sparked by the Iran war could be passed onto families looking to get away this summer if the conflict drags on.

Demand has been dropping from UK holidaymakers for getaways to the likes of Turkey, Cyprus and Egypt since the US-Israeli war on Iran began.

But bookings are up for Portugal, Italy and Spain as well as longer-haul trips to the Caribbean as well as the US, Cape Verde, Mauritius, Thailand and India.
Kris Marshall quit paradise because he wanted to see more of his children  but now hes finding the West Country just as distracting as the Caribbean.

I surf, sail, swim, do triathlons. Its like my own personal playground. So actually, I rather love it, says the actor, who is married to Hannah and father to pre-teens Thomas and Elsie.

They lived in Guadeloupe with him when he played Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman in the long-running cosy crime series Death In Paradise.

But Kris left in 2017, saying he wanted his kids to go to school in England. His character also moved back to follow the love of his life in the show Martha, played by Sally Bretton, and the spin-off Beyond Paradise was born in 2023.

Set in the west of England, its gentle blend of drama, crime and mystery has been a big hit.

Now Kris, 52, finds himself spending five months of the year away from the family home in the New Forest, filming in Devon and Cornwall. We only film Monday to Friday, but theyre 14-hour days. Then its a four-hour drive home so I dont come home every weekend, he admits. My kids are growing up. Theyve got their own lives.

Does he struggle with this arrangement? Actually, I love it. I get the beauty of seeing my family every other weekend, but then I also get the solitude I enjoy at the end of a really hard working week, he says.

I rent the same place every year in a wonderful village. Its on a beach that isnt touristy because its quite rocky, but its got a wonderful little surf break there. There are fishermen. I feel assimilated into the community. I go surfing with the locals.

Kris Marshall as Humphrey Goodman in Beyond Paradise, a role he first played in the much-loved, long-running cosy crime drama Death In Paradise, which was set in the Caribbean

Kris with Sally Bretton, his on-screen wife Martha in both Death In Paradise and its follow-up

The Cornish fishing town of Looe stands in for the fictional Shipton Abbott, where Humphreys police station is located. A film crew of 100 people turning up with 30 trucks is always going to cause some issues, but Beyond Paradise has brought a lot to the place.

Series four is now ready to go and Kris is at home in the New Forest today. Off-duty he looks strikingly different from his character, with long surfer hair, a pair of cool glasses and a heavy bandit-style moustache.

Is it a struggle to readjust to being at home after filming? You have to relearn each others ways. Its difficult. Lets not beat around the bush. Its an extremely blessed job when youve got your own show, youre looked after and solitude is something you turn to, he says.

Time on your own, not having to do school drop-offs and all the things that come with family life. But you always have to remember how to be a parent when you come back, which is difficult because to me it is all about a light touch on the tiller.

What does he mean? You lose your humour when youre away. Parenting is all about not taking things too seriously, because otherwise youre constantly fighting battles and everyone gets exhausted.

Born in Bath in 1973, Kris was a boarder at Wells Cathedral School but got expelled for misbehaviour. By the time I got to the end of my school career Id burnt most bridges and was left with just a rickety one across to the adult world, which was acting.

Kris in the new series with co-stars Barbara Flynn, left, and Sally Bretton

Although Kris left Death in Paradise in 2017 so that his children Thomas and Elsie could go to school in England, he hasn't ruled out a return to the hit show

His big break came as Nick, the son in the sitcom My Family. Then came Colin in Love Actually, but Kris really became a household name when he took over from Ben Miller as the lead in Death In Paradise in 2014.

Both Paradise shows share DNA  with a detective who appears bumbling but is actually brilliant. But the crimes are different, says Kris. Death In Paradise is all about the murder, its in the title. Were slightly beyond that.

Series four begins with what looks like a suicide by a bestselling author, but its never that simple. To me Beyond Paradise is coloured by folklore, paganism, theres something Celtic in there as well, says Kris.

Huge waves and sweeping cliffs are part of the vibe. Life there is all about storytelling. In winter it gets dark at 3.30 in the afternoon, the weather comes from the west, off the ocean. So you hunker down and tell stories. You get a bit whimsical and embellish the story to draw people in. Beyond Paradise captures that well.

Would Kris be up for a return to the island of Saint Marie? Yeah, he says slowly. I never say never. But Im very happy with where I am. My family situation does not present itself to going back for any more than a one-off.

'Its all very well being on a glorious, sunny island, but not if youre there on your own. Paradise is only paradise with people you love.

Beyond Paradise returns on Friday, March 27, at 8pm on BBC1
Debby Ryan reunited with three of her Jessie co-stars much to the delight of Disney fans.

The actress, 32, reconnected with Karan Brar, Kevin Chamberlin and Peyton List in New York City over the weekend.

In a series of photos shared to social media, Ryan revealed she and Chamberlin, 62, went to watch 27-year-old Brar perform in his off-Broadway techno thriller play Data.

The group then reconvened with List, 27, after her own performance in the show, Heathers the Musical!

The former colleagues looked thrilled to be back in each other's company and showcased huge smiles as they posed for group photos.

Sharing their special weekend on Instagram, Ryan captioned the post: 'Karan & Peyton are nine years older than I was when we started filming Jessie.

'Currently NINE years older than the character of Jessie. And they and Kevin are living in NYC for real and thriving in theater. And I have a kid of my own family.'

Her co-stars were equally delighted over the reunion.

Debby Ryan reunited with Jessie co-stars Karan Brar and Kevin Chamberlin in New York City

The group also reconnected with fellow Disney Channel star Peyton List

Commenting underneath Ryan's post, Brar said: 'The joy you bring into my life is unmatched. Love you Deb.'

Chamberlin added: 'I had far too much fun! Going to nap now! Love you, Deb, Karan and Peyton.'

Comedy series Jessie aired on the Disney Channel from 2011 to 2015 for four seasons.

Ryan played the lead role of Jessie, a recent high school graduate rebelling against her strict father who wanted her to join the army.

The series also starred the late actor Cameron Boyce, who died in 2019 aged 20 due to complications from epilepsy, and actress Skai Jackson.

Fans also went wild over the snaps.

'This is so important for me, love you guys!' one enthused.

Echoing a similar sentiment, another said: 'This makes my heart so happy.'

Ryan gushed over her successful co-stars and said they are 'thriving in theater'

List and Ryan pictured with actress Skai Jackson in the Disney Channel show

The show also starred the late child star Cameron Boyce, who died in 2019 aged 20

Ryan welcomed her first child, daughter Felix Winter Dun, with rocker husband Josh Dun in December.

The star first began dating the drummer in 2013  and the couple later said 'I do' on December 31, 2019.

Ryan previously told Vogue in 2020 how the nuptials came to be with only 28 days of planning.

'We began to flirt with the idea of having a destination party celebrating the new decade, then decided in December to get married [in Austin] on New Year's Eve, and just keep dancing until after the ball dropped,' she explained.

The lovebirds tied the knot inside a church, with the actress telling the outlet: 'It became more and more important to us that the sanctity of the union exist in a reverent place.

'I think I saw every church in the greater Austin area and narrowed it down to two. Joshua chose the one we went with. The stained glass windows really got me.'
Line Of Duty fans were delighted as Vicky McClure posted a photo of new co-star Robert Carlyle kicking off series seven on the BBC set.

The actress, 42, who plays Kate Fleming, took to Instagram to share a momentous picture with the show's viewers.

It shows Robert, 64, holding up a clapper board indicating filming today for much-anticipated series seven.

Over the social media picture, a caption reads: 'Line of Duty 7. Day 1.'

As well as Vicky, the show's creator and showrunner Jed Mercurio is also tagged in this post.

One fan commented: 'And theyre off! What a way to start the week. Have a great shoot everyone. We cannot wait to see the series.'

Vicky McClure and Jed Mercurio thrilled Line of Duty fans by marking series seven filming beginning - with new cast addition Robert Carlyle

The popular police procedural drama is returning for a seventh series - which is set to hit screens next year

Another said: 'POST of the year!! Woohoo It's finally happening. Beyond excited.'

A third wrote: 'I never thought id see this and i still cant believe we will! The best series ever!'

While a fourth penned: 'Excited for this!'

The popular police procedural drama originally aired on BBC Two, before moving to BBC One for series four.

Three series aired up to 2021, which was when the show initially ended after completing six series.

In November 2025, it was reported series leads Vicky, Martin Compston and Adrian Dunbar would all reprise their roles for a seventh series.

And last month, it was revealed The Full Monty and BAFTA-winning star Robert Carlyle had been cast as a guest character, Detective Constable Shaun Massie.

He follows in the footsteps of former guest stars Kelly Macdonald, Stephen Graham, Thandiwe Newton, Daniel Mays, Keeley Hawes and Lennie James.

Robert said of joining the cast: 'Having been a huge admirer of Jed Mercurios work for many years, Im delighted to be given the opportunity to join such an exceptional cast for series 7 of Line of Duty.

'The scripts for the series are excellent and will absolutely maintain the quality that the audience have come to expect from this fantastic show.

'DC Massie is an extraordinary character and I look forward to bringing him to life.'

Series writer Jed added: 'On Line of Duty we've been honoured by the glittering guest leads who've joined the cast over the years.

'We couldn't be more thrilled that Robert Carlyle will star in series 7 as Specialist Rifle Officer Shaun Massie.

'I've been a huge fan of Robert's work for many years and it will be a career highlight to work with him.

'Robert always brings mesmerising power and depth to every role; I know viewers will be on the edge of their seats wondering what his character will do next, and why.'

While director of BBC drama Lindsay Salt concluded: 'Sometimes a piece of casting feels so right that you just can't imagine anyone else.

New cast member Robert Carlyle will join returning series leads Martin Compston and Vicky McClure

'Robert Carlyle is one of our greatest actors and the perfect fit for the phenomenon that is Line of Duty.'

Series seven of Line Of Duty will follow the familiar faces of AC-12 after it was been disbanded and rebranded as the Inspectorate of Police Standards.

The anticorruption unit will be seen working harder than ever as Steve Arnott, Kate Fleming, and Ted Hastings are assigned their most sensitive case so far.

The synopsis teases: 'Detective Constable Shaun Massie is a Specialist Rifle Officer (SRO), a veteran marksman, operating with Tactical Operations Unit 7 (TO-7) to take down Organised Crime Groups.

'A gruff loner, Massie keeps himself to himself, but when his boss, TO-7's commanding officer DI Dominic Gough, is accused of being a sexual predator, Massie's otherwise detached demeanour changes drastically.'

The seventh series of Line Of Duty will also see the former AC-12 trio trying to track down the elusive 'H', according to reports.

The news will thrill fans who were left disappointed by the controversial ending of series six in 2021, when bumbling Det Supt Ian Buckells (Nigel Boyle) was unmasked as 'H' - the shadowy criminal mastermind behind the police corruption.
Just One Thing (BBC1)

Rating:

Newsreader, warzone reporter, intrepid traveller, quiz host and now medical expert with a sideline in quick'n'easy recipes . . . is there nothing Clive Myrie can't do?

The News At Ten anchor took a break from firing questions on Mastermind and reporting from Tel Aviv on the war with Iran to switch into afternoon telly mode.

Ambushing a shopper named Sam in a supermarket, on Just One Thing, he urged her to eat more oily fish. When she looked doubtful, he grabbed a packet of mackerel from the cold counter, peeled it open and persuaded her to nibble a piece.

'It contains these good fats called Omega 3,' he explained. 'And what's brilliant about that is it can help all parts of your body, but it's also really good for your brain.'

You might think it's better still for the digestion to wait till you get home, rather than snacking on chilled fish straight from the plastic. I can't see sushi in the supermarket aisle catching on.

Just One Thing was the brainchild of the late Dr Michael Mosley, an evangelist for all kinds of quick health fixes and lifestyle changes, from 24-hour fasts to ice baths.

Michael died while on holiday in 2024. The BBC, quite rightly, wants to continue his legacy, but this new daily half-hour show misses half the point.

It isn't enough to offer us advice. Michael Mosley was a compelling presenter because whatever he preached, he tackled himself.

The News At Ten anchor took a break from firing questions on Mastermind and reporting from Tel Aviv on the war with Iran to switch into afternoon telly mode

Clive was keen to lecture us on the benefits of eating oily fish three times a week, but Michael would have wolfed a tin of sardines before he reached the checkout, and then tucked into kippers for breakfast, pickled herring for lunch and anchovies on toast for tea.

He'd have been salmon fishing in Scotland, or manning the nets on a trawler in a Force 8 North Sea gale. The most Clive attempted was to don a pair of orange oilskin waders and pretend to be a fishmonger. That's half-hearted. This show lacks the Mosley bounce.

It was left to marketing freelancer Sam and her friends in the Sussex town of Rye to supply the enthusiasm. Understandably, after an initial burst of eagerness, they began to run short of ideas.

On the voiceover, Clive claimed to have the solution: 'I've shared one of my favorite quick and easy oily fish dishes, smoked mackerel and tomato pasta.'

So now he's a celebrity chef. How would he like it if Jamie Oliver started reading the news?

Clive is in danger of stretching his talents too widely. He's a first-rate reporter and newsreader, a man we trust to cover state occasions and elections with probity, diligence and gravitas.

But he will jeopardise that reputation if he continues to moonlight on daytime magazine shows, dressing up like a children's presenter. No one can do everything.
Louis Theroux is reportedly being lined up for a huge Netflix deal following his smash hit Inside the Manosphere.

The documentarian, 55, went behind the scenes of a fast-growing cultural movement of extremist influencers targeting young men with misogynistic, homophobic, and racist views in his first show for the platform after decades working for the BBC.

He met with a series of content creators, with thousands of followers across Instagram, YouTube and TikTok, to discuss their shock views on masculinity, women and society in the feature-length special.

Now the streamer is said to 'clambering' for more shows and look set to offer Louie a contract, in what has been described as a 'blow' to his former employer.

A source said: 'This is going to make very uncomfortable viewing for the BBC, as they've already had to watch him front his first documentary that wasn't for the corporation.

'Now Netflix will be clamouring for more shows from him, which may even include another visit into the manosphere, after all, he won't be short of subject matter.

Louis Theroux is reportedly being lined up for a huge Netflix deal following his smash hit show Inside the Manosphere

They told The Sun: 'Although he's likely to be able to pick whatever subjects he wants to explore, and Louis has always had a broad spectrum of interests, from the world of celebrities to serious politics.'

Daily Mail have contacted Netflix for comment.

In the show Louis met with influencer Amrou, better known as Myron Gaines on platforms including Instagram, YouTube and TikTok, to discuss his shocking views on women and relationships.

The content creator rose to fame online among a young male audience due to his controversial 'Fit and Fresh' podcast, which has hosted Andrew Tate in the past.

The series, which is a two to five hour show focusing on topics including masculinity, relationships, fitness and finance, is streamed online across X, formerly Twitter, and paid-for content site Kick, where young men pay to subscribe.

During the documentary, Louis sat in on a recording of the 'After Hours' section of the podcast, which sees Amrou spar with local female influencers around a table, and in one shock clip saw him brand a female guest 'fat f***ing b***h'.

Louis also quizzed Amrou on his hopes to have 'multiple wives' - following a 'one-way monogamous' relationship with his now ex-girlfriend, which allowed him to sleep with other women, while she remained faithful.

Now the streamer is said to 'clambering' for more shows and look set to offer Louie a huge new contract, in what has been described as a 'blow' to his former employer BBC

Now, the content creator has branded Louis a 'liar' to his army of fans in another podcast format, titled The Debrief, where Amrou shares his controversial and divisive opinions on recent news stories.

In the horrifying over seven-hour long stream titled 'Inside the Therouxsphere of lies', which saw him react to a shooting at a synagogue and developments on the Middle East conflict, he hit out against the documentary as 'making him look crazy'.

Branding Netflix as a 'bunch of woke garbage' and referring to the documentarian as 'Louis the liar', he said of his TV appearance: 'For a very long time I was hesitant.

'I was not really interested in doing it and the reason why was because I saw how they did my boy Andrew Tate. I wasn't really happy about it.

'These companies understand that "normies" are easily shocked and offended, and what they do is, they find polarising people, they get them for interviews, they cut out all the context, all the background, why they think the way that they do and they cut out how they came to their conclusion.

'Their goal is to take a polarising person, put them in a box, make them look crazy, give shock value and sell it off.'

Elsewhere in the controversial episode, Amrou shockingly told his devoted followers that overweight people 'don't deserve' to find love and that 'feminism was behind' all of the 'problems' in the world - met with hundreds of followers in agreement.

He also used a homophobic and ableist slurs as he hit back at followers with views of disagreement, branded women 'w****s' and 'h**s', and used an anti-semitic caricature image as he spoke about Jews.

In the Netflix documentary, Amrou was quizzed over his relationship with Angie, his now ex-girlfriend - who it was revealed had split from the Manosphere influencer six months ago.

Taking to his own social media platforms, Amrou addressed the split saying Angie was keen to 'have a family' - something he was not ready to do.

He told fans: 'That's what she wants, and she's been waiting around for a minute, so who the f**k am I to tell her, "Nah, keep waiting" or deny her that.'
Australian OnlyFans star Annie Knight has slammed the controversial male influencers that appear in Louis Theroux's new viral documentary, Inside The Manosphere.

The Netflix film investigates the rise of anti-feminist ideologies amongst young men, influenced by figures such as Andrew Tate, Sneako and Harrison 'HStikkytokky' Sullivan.

Annie, 29, who has been dubbed 'Australia's Most Sexually Active Woman', has hit back at the hypocrisy exhibited by some of the men in the documentary, particularly HS, who believes OnlyFans stars are 'disgusting' despite earning money promoting them.

'Regarding HStikkytokky, he basically said that he would disown his daughter if they were on OnlyFans, yet he runs an OnlyFans management agency,' Annie told Daily Mail.

'I think it's disgusting that someone who doesn't believe in their own business would profit off people that he thinks are "disgusting". If I were an OnlyFans creator who he was managing, I would feel deeply concerned.

'How can you trust someone to have your best interests at heart when they disagree with what you're doing and look down on you? It's hypocritical that he's preying on these people and trying to profit off them.'

Australian OnlyFans star Annie Knight has slammed the controversial male influencers that appear in Louis Theroux's new viral documentary, Inside The Manosphere

Annie, 29, who has been dubbed 'Australia's Most Sexually Active Woman', has hit back at the hypocrisy exhibited by some of the men in the documentary, particularly Harrison 'HStikkytokky' Sullivan, who believes OnlyFans stars are 'disgusting' despite earning money promoting them

Annie went on to say 'men hate' that they 'can't get a slice of the OnlyFans pie', and the only way they can make as much money as women on OnlyFans is if they manage the female adult content creators who work on the site.

'If someone is doing that because they want to make money and they genuinely have the models' best interests at heart - if they believe in what they're doing and feel like they're benefiting the world - then good on them,' she continued.

'But if you're doing that while fundamentally disagreeing with it, I think that's hypocritical. I just think what he said was, quite literally, f***ed.

'Regarding all the other people Louis Theroux interviewed in the documentary, I just find it so hard to believe that people like that actually exist.

'To be honest with you I wonder if they truly believe in what they're saying. I feel like with some of them, you can tell that they do. But with others, I'm like, are you just rage-baiting? Are you just saying these things to incite anger?

'If you are, then that's appalling, because people are listening to you, and you are making a really negative impact on the world by doing that. I don't understand their views.

'People can have different views, of course, but I think the scary, dangerous thing is that they're pushing their views onto other people.'

She went on to say she is 'in two minds about the documentary'.

'On one hand, I'm glad that he's bringing these horrible people to light and sort of making a joke out of them, but at the same time, we are shedding more light on them for people to know who they are,' she said.

Join the discussion How should influencers be held accountable when they profit from industries they publicly condemn?

The Netflix film investigates the rise in anti-feminist ideologies among young men, influenced by figures such as Andrew Tate, Sneako and Harrison 'HStikkytokky' Sullivan

'We're giving them more of a stage to preach their beliefs on, and all it takes is a few people to watch that documentary and think, "Oh, look at these men with their flashy cars, their expensive lives - I need to think this way to get there." It's damaging, and it's dangerous, and it's obviously horrible,' she concluded.

Meanwhile, British sex worker Bonnie Locket has revealed her own real-life run-in with HS after she agreed to work with the internet personality to film 'safe-for-work' content.

'One thing the documentary reminded me of is how easily narratives about women get created and spread online,' she told Daily Mail.

'I've experienced that myself with HSTikkyTokky, who publicly claimed he had slept with me, which simply wasn't true.

'Content we filmed together was completely safe-for-work, but it was later framed in a way that suggested something else had happened.'

She goes on to allege that there were rumours spread online saying she was 'somehow involved romantically' with HS, 'which wasn't the reality'.

'When things later turned sour, that narrative shifted again and suddenly there were claims being made that we had slept together, which simply never happened,' she said.

'What struck me watching the documentary is how familiar that dynamic feels.'

Meanwhile, British sex worker Bonnie Locket, 37, has revealed she had her own real life run-in with HS after she agreed to work with the internet personality to film 'safe-for-work' content

'One thing the documentary reminded me of is how easily narratives about women get created and spread online,' she tells Daily Mail

'In some of these online spaces, stories about women can be exaggerated or reshaped depending on what suits the moment,' she continues.

'The narrative changes, but the woman whose name is attached to it is still the one left dealing with the fallout.

'It's another reason why conversations about respect and accountability matter.

'When someone builds attention or credibility by attaching themselves to a woman's name, it shows how easily women can become part of someone else's storyline rather than being recognised as individuals with their own voice.

'For me it just reinforces why women speaking for themselves and owning their own narrative is so important.'

Louis' Inside The Manosphere has been hailed 'his most chilling documentary yet' as critics have admitted that they were left 'quivering behind their sofas' by the 'horrid, yet addictive' probe into the world of alpha males.

His latest 90-minute documentary was released on Netflix on Wednesday, 11 March.

It follows Louis, 55, as he explores how extremist influencers are manipulating young boys in society with their views, interviewing the likes of Harrison Sullivan (HSTikkyTokky), Myron Gaines and Nicolas Kenn De Balinthazy (Sneako).

The film has largely received rave reviews from critics, who applauded the probe into the rising online movement, brought to the attention of many by hit Netflix drama Adolescence.

The Manosphere itself refers to an online network - including forums, websites and blogs - that promote anti-feminist beliefs, masculinity and misogyny.
Sienna Miller is the irresistible face of Charlotte Tilbury Beauty's new Pillow Talk campaign, the Daily Mail can reveal.

The Hollywood actress, 44, who is currently expecting her second child with boyfriend Oli Green, 29, smoulders in pink lingerie for the brand-new advertisement, pouting with the blush lip tint gracing her lips.

Lying atop a bed, Sienna conceals her bump beneath delicate lace, just four months after revealing she is pregnant with her third child at the British Fashion Awards.

With her freckled face resting on her hand and her blonde hair cascading in loose waves, Sienna radiates effortless glamour in the latest chapter of the global luxury beauty brand's iconic Pillow Talk collection.

Charlotte Tilbury MBE, chairwoman and makeup artist to the stars, has a longstanding friendship with Sienna and chose her as the muse for the Pillow Talk in Bloom campaign as she awaits the arrival of her third child.

Sienna, who returned to Instagram on Friday after an eight-year hiatus with a picture of her baby bump, is already a mother to 13-year-old daughter Marlowe, whom she shares with ex-fiance, actor Tom Sturridge, and a two-year-old daughter with Oli, with the couple now expecting their second child together.

Sienna Miller is the irresistible face of Charlotte Tilbury Beauty's new Pillow Talk campaign, the Daily Mail can reveal

Sienna was joined in the glossy campaign by Charlotte's niece Bella Tilbury, as the pair lay side by side while modelling the new Pillow Talk Blush Balm Lip Tint.

The model, who has worked with fashion houses including Burberry and Gucci, before becoming an ambassador for Marks & Spencer, flashed a hint of skin beneath pink lace lingerie.

Ahead of the beauty reveal, Sienna returned to Instagram for the first time since 2017.

Her celebrity friends were quick to comment on the post, which showed off her growing baby bump, including actor Justin Theroux, who joked: 'Oh my God, the non-stop posting with you. It's relentless.'

Lindsay Lohan and Poppy Delevingne were among those who celebrated Sienna's return to social media, sharing emojis and welcome-back messages.

Presenter Laura Whitmore, 40, who is also currently pregnant, replied: 'Relatable.'

It comes as Sienna's sister, Savannah Miller, revealed she is also expecting a baby at the age of 47 with her husband, James Whewell - 21 years after the birth of her eldest daughter.

She announced the news on Instagram, writing: 'Our longed-for miracle baby is joining the gang in August.'

The actress, who is currently expecting her second child with boyfriend Oli Green, smoulders in pink lingerie for the brand-new advertisement, pouting with the blush lip tint gracing her lips

Sienna, who has worked with fashion houses including Burberry and Gucci, before becoming an ambassador for Marks & Spencer, flashed a hint of skin beneath pink lace lingerie

Ahead of the beauty reveal, Sienna returned to Instagram for the first time since 2017 to showcase her growing baby bump

Speaking about the signing, Charlotte Tilbury said: 'Darling, I am so excited to reveal my wonderful friend Sienna Miller as the star of my Pillow Talk in Bloom campaign.

'Sienna is the ultimate beauty muse to bring this campaign to life. She has always had this effortless, magnetic allure  she's a true style icon with an enduring screen presence and a natural radiance that makes her so captivating.

Pillow Talk in Bloom is the next chapter of my globally adored Pillow Talk phenomenon  a reimagined world of fresh, romantic, natural beauty  and Sienna embodies that spirit perfectly.

'Seeing her on set in the English countryside, surrounded by wildflowers and soft autumn sunlight, she looked irresistible in her pretty Pillow Talk look with just-kissed lips, love-blushed cheeks and a dreamy, radiant glow.

'Sienna and I have known each other for years, so welcoming her into her very first Charlotte Tilbury campaign felt like a perfect full-circle moment.

'And I know how much she loves Pillow Talk, darling it has been in her makeup bag for years, so bringing her into this new era was like making a Pillow Talk dream come true.'
Malin Akerman may be one of the most beautiful woman in Hollywood, but even she struggles with society's impossible body standards.

The star, 47, stripped off for steamy scenes with Brittany Snow in The Hunting Wives - with their very first intimate moment forcing her to come face-to-face with her own 'worst critic.'

Now Akerman has revealed more about how she silenced the negative self-talk for the show in an exclusive interview with The Daily Mail.

'I worked hard for this body, I'm not gonna lie. I work out. I eat right. Try to stay healthy and full of energy,' she told The Daily Mail at Clarins' Night of Extra soiree at the Academy Museum's Dolby Terrace on Friday.

'So I feel good, but I also feel like, you embrace what you've gotten, what you worked hard for and it's really hard because we're our own worst critics, and we can all look at our bodies, no matter how great we look, no matter what we see, we have to remember to just say thank you, because this body gives us everything we need.

'And it's hard. I can absolutely see things in the mirror, and I can critique myself left, right and center, but I really try to change, shift that narrative in my mind and just say thank you for all the hard work that I've been putting into it.'

Malin Akerman revealed more about the 'worst critic' that she has battled over her body during an exclusive interview with The Daily Mail

Akerman was one of many celebrities attending the Clarins soiree, thrown to celebrate the cosmetic company's new Extra-Firming Energy cream.

She absolutely stunned in a floorlength black gown with thigh-high slit, a look that flashed a hint of leg and her toned arms.

Fans may be surprised someone as gorgeous as Akerman struggled with body insecurities - which she candidly described last year.

She revealed how she and Snow picked apart their own bodies ahead of filming their first intimate scene on The Hunting Wives.

'Before our very first intimate scene together, there was a lot of nerves and we're so used to dissecting our own bodies and looking in the mirror and finding all the things that were wrong with our bodies and it's terrible,' she said at the She Sees Me: The Power of Female Friendship (in Life and Art) panel, according to People.

'And we saw it in each other firsthand as we were like, 'Oh my God.'"

"I just went, 'Britt, you know what? We're f***ing beautiful. We've worked hard for these bodies. We've worked hard our whole lives and you're a beautiful f***ing person and let's not do this,' " Akerman continued. "'Let's just go out there and have a great time  as much as you can with all these cameramen.

'It's a weird time, but let's just be in it together and let's support each other right now and let's just feel great about ourselves and let's just, I look at you and you're beautiful, and let's celebrate our bodies right now."'

The Hunting Wives has cemented itself as one of the most provocative shows on television.

Join the discussion Would YOU push past your own fears for a career-defining moment?

Akerman took it off for streamy love scenes with Brittany Snow in The Hunting Wives

The wildly-popular series became an instant hit after it debuted on Netflix

Akerman stunned in a gorgeous floor-length gown at the Clarins bash

Akerman previously revealed how she silenced her negative self-talk ahead of filming the steamy scenes

Adapted from May Cobbs bestselling erotic thriller, the series mixes murder mystery with erotic drama, unflinching in its depictions of full-frontal nudity, same-sex encounters, and messy, no-holds-barred passion.

Critics have compared it to Big Little Lies and Desperate Housewives, but with far more explicit scenes.

Forbes reviewer Dana Feldman said there hadnt been a 'book-to-screen adaptation this salacious' since Fifty Shades of Grey.

In one scene that alludes to the sexual politics, Margo says: 'Open marriages are for liberals, Jed and I have an arrangement.'

The series was picked up by Netflix after its original home, Starz, dropped the project, the series debuted July 21 and became an instant streaming hit.
Kyle Sandilands has lawyered up ahead of a landmark $88million legal fight against his former employer ARN, after the radio network terminated his contract last Wednesday.

The ex-host of the KIIS FM Kyle & Jackie O show has reportedly filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against his former employers in the Federal Court.

Backed by a prominent legal team, 54-year-old Sandilands claims that ARN deliberately conspired to sabotage his $100million, 10-year contract in a calculated attempt to exit the costly agreement after just over 14 months.

Sandilands' legal team is led by the 'ferocious' Kevin Lynch, a partner at Johnson Winter Slattery, according to The Australian.

Over the past two weeks, Lynch has carefully examined every detail of the host's agreement and strategised a comprehensive attack on ARN.

He filed the necessary papers on Friday.

Kyle Sandilands (pictured) has lawyered up ahead of a landmark $88million legal fight against his former employer ARN, after the radio network terminated his contract last Wednesday

Sandilands is seeking his contract to be honoured in full.

On Monday morning, ARN issued a statement in an ASX market update, asserting that the network disputes Sandilands' claims and plans to defend the proceedings.

'The applicants claim the termination of Mr Sandilands' contract was invalid on the basis they allege that there was no act of serious misconduct or breach of contract, and that the termination was unconscionable under the Australian Consumer Law,' their statement read.

'The applicants seek an order for specific performance of two contracts, payment of whatever amounts are due and payable under the contracts at the time of judgment, and damages.'

Meanwhile, ARN's newly appointed CEO Michael Stephenson is working hard to prevent the legal dispute from escalating by trying to persuade Sandilands' former co-host, Jackie 'O' Henderson, to return to KIIS FM with a solo show.

However, ARN is hoping to bring back Henderson at a much lower rate with a new program, after the network also terminated her $100million, decade-long deal last month.

The Australian reports that Henderson is not enthusiastic about that offer, while sources close to the former co-hosts indicate that she intends to watch how Sandilands' legal offensive unfolds.

Sandilands may not be struggling financially with an estimated $100million business empire, but the termination of his contract at ARN has certainly hit his back pocket.

Join the discussion Should high-profile radio stars fight for massive payouts, or walk away when axed by networks?

Sandilands' legal team is led by the 'ferocious' Kevin Lynch (pictured), a partner at Johnson Winter Slattery

Jackie 'O' Henderson intends to watch how Sandilands' legal offensive unfolds before making any moves

The end of the Kyle & Jackie O show was announced last Wednesday when Sandilands released a statement at 7am announcing that KIIS' parent company, ARN, had terminated his 10-year, $100million contract.

It comes as rumours that Sandilands is planning 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 is eyeing off 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 $100million, Sandilands could purchase a controlling stake for $51million.

'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 $51million, 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.'

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.

ARN is hoping to bring back Jackie O at a much lower rate with a new program, after the network also terminated her $100million, decade-long deal last month

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.'

Just an hour after Kyle's bombshell statement, news.com.au reported that ARN chief executive Michael Stephenson sent an email to staff announcing that The Kyle & Jackie O Show had been axed.

'This morning, ARN announced that it has issued a notice of termination of contract with Kyle and Quasar Media,' the email read.

'As a result, ARN will no longer present the Kyle and Jackie O Show.'

It was also revealed that Mike E would continue to helm the breakfast music show.

ARN announced last month that Henderson's $100million contract had been terminated after she told executives she 'cannot continue to work with Mr Kyle Sandilands' following his harsh on-air comments that left her in tears.
A popular Australian influencer has been branded 'tone-deaf' and 'uneducated' after sharing a bizarre post flaunting her wealth amid the country's fuel crisis.

Georgie Stevenson, 32, is an Instagram and YouTube star who promotes health and body positivity. She has built a multimilliondollar empire thanks to her brand NU Harvest and her 'mindset and manifestation' app, Rise And Conquer.

In a since-deleted video shared to Instagram, Georgie sipped on an iced coffee in her kitchen alongside a caption criticising those complaining about soaring petrol prices across the country, which have reached $2.40 per litre for unleaded and $2.84 for diesel on average in NSW.

'Some people choose to complain about the cost of fuel,' Georgie began.

'Other people chose to build their own success, co-own three companies and buy a [Porsche] at 28 years old. I'm other people.'

Georgie's post was met with furious Aussies who took to the comments to condemn her 'tonedeaf' statement.

Australian influencer Georgie Stevenson has been branded 'tone-deaf' and 'uneducated' after sharing a bizarre post flaunting her wealth amid the country's fuel crisis

'Some people complain because they literally have to choose between fuel and groceries. But hey, at least being delusional is free - that we CAN afford!' one follower wrote.

'Seriously... read the room. Calling people "complainers" while they are funding your lifestyle is wild. Go touch some grass.'

Another user added, 'As if you reposted this. A full [tank] of petrol for a family size car is up to $250+ for some families. That's the difference between putting food on the table and paying rent.

'Do you even know why fuel prices have gone up? Are you aware there is a war going on and people are dying? You're actually so ignorant and up your own a**.'

'This is not the flex you think it is,' someone else shared.

'Go have a cup of water, touch some grass and understand "manifestation" doesn't help MOST things. It's a state of mind - not reality.'

Meanwhile, on Reddit, more added to the pile-on over the influencer's 'out of touch' comments.

'She is as tone deaf as they get. Has zero concept of the real world,' someone wrote.

Join the discussion Should influencers show off luxury lifestyles during tough times, or is it out of touch with reality?

Georgie Stevenson has been branded 'tone-deaf' and 'uneducated' after sharing a bizarre post flaunting her wealth amid the country's fuel crisis

Georgie's post was met with furious Aussies who took to the comments to slam her 'tone deaf' statement

'She won't be this smug if we hit recession and no one can buy anything from her companies. May have to sell that Porsche,' added another.

One user said, 'This is so gross. I can't stand influencers who think they are better than everyone else,' while another commented, 'And I bet [she] has never worked a real job in her life. These influencers need to be cancelled.'

Georgie has removed the post from her social media and has yet to comment on the backlash.

The average price for petrol in Australia has spiked by more than 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 no 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'.

Meanwhile, on Reddit, more took aim at the influencer's 'out of touch' comments

The government has so far also shot down talk of any WFH mandates after the International Energy Agency suggested working from home or driving more slowly 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.

Deakin Law School energy policy expert Professor Samantha Hepburn earlier told the Daily Mail that the country is particularly vulnerable to fuel shortages, as it 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.

Professor Blackburn added that recent panic buying 'had only made things worse' because 'our fuel system wasn't built for huge demand shocks like that'.
Disgraced BBC presenter Huw Edwards is furious about a new Channel 5 drama depicting his downfall.

His outburst comes as it can be revealed the former newsreader is plotting a comeback  and he makes a grovelling apology to the Daily Mail for his 2024 conviction for possessing indecent images of children.

Edwards, 64, lambasted Wonderhood, the production company behind the two-part drama Power: The Downfall Of Huw Edwards, which airs tomorrow night at 9pm starring Martin Clunes.

His statement, issued exclusively to the Daily Mail, said: [They] made no attempt to check with me the truth of any aspect of their narrative before going ahead with the production.

They belatedly asked for a response after the drama had been made, while reserving the right to edit any such response. They also refused to disclose whether any of those making allegations had been paid for their contributions.

Former BBC presenter Huw Edwards leaves court after being handed a six-month suspended jail sentence for child abuse image offences in 2024

Channel 5s factual drama is hardly likely to convey the reality of what happened.

The drama charts how Edwards groomed a young man on social media. No doubt, it will be a painful watch for the former BBC News at Ten host, not least as it will be a reminder that just three years ago he was still presenting the flagship show  a job he did for decades, breaking some of the nations biggest news stories including the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Now, though, it seems possible we will be seeing Edwards again.

A source said: Huw has got himself an agent and we are going to be seeing something of him in the coming months.

The statement goes on to offer regret and remorse for his crimes. He received a six-month sentence suspended for two years after admitting three charges of making indecent images of children.

It says: My deep regret and remorse for the crimes I committed were expressed in court. In pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity, I took full responsibility for my reprehensible actions. I am repelled by the idea that some people enjoy viewing indecent images of children. Every image represents an innocent victim. I offer my sincere and profound apologies for what I did.

Edwards also told the Daily Mail that he plans to tell his side of the story: I am making an effort to produce my own account of these terrible events. This is a slow process given the fragile state of my health.

I have been open about my struggle with persistent mental illness over a period of 25 years. What is less well known is the severity of that condition, which was managed successfully until the downward spiral which led to an appalling outcome.

Mental illness is misunderstood by many but can never be an excuse for criminality.

It can, however, at least help explain why people sometimes behave in shocking and reprehensible ways, and why things fell apart for me in the way they did.

Channel 5's new drama based on the story, called Power: The Downfall Of Huw Edwards, starring Martin Clunes and Osian Morgan

Former newsreader Edwards was arrested in November 2023 by Met Police in relation to possessing indecent images of children

While Edwards apologised for actions leading to his conviction, he did not apologise for his interactions with the teenager.

One source harshly criticised the statement: It feels like Huw is deluded and self-pitying  but he clearly wants his say, they said.

And a BBC insider said: Huw hid behind his mental health for quite some time. He got very good care yet is still talking about it.

A promotional summary of the programme reads: The drama explores the story of how a vulnerable 17-year-old was groomed by one of the most powerful figures in television  Huw Edwards.

Starring Martin Clunes as Edwards, the series explores the newsreaders double life as it spirals out of control, leading him to make the greatest announcement of his career  his total exit from public life following his conviction for serious child sexual offences.

Edwards is yet to see the show but told the Daily Mail: It is difficult to see how this approach can be considered remotely responsible or fair, or be in compliance with key sections of the Ofcom code on broadcast standards.

It seems rather bizarre that Edwards, who retreated from London to the quiet Welsh village where his mother lives, has decided to take pre-emptive action. Not least because the drama will inevitably bring up again the horrific time that his ex-wife Vicky Flind and their five children endured.

She ended their 30-year marriage after police charged him. Family friends say it has been devastating for them.

A Channel 5 spokesman said: Power: The Downfall Of Huw Edwards is based on extensive interviews with the victim, his family, the journalists who revealed his story, text exchanges between the victim and Edwards, and court reporting. It has been produced in accordance with Ofcoms Broadcasting Code. All allegations made in the film were put to Huw Edwards via his solicitors six weeks before transmission.
Coleen Nolan's son's ex-girlfriend, Emma Kivell, has branded the Loose Women star a 'cruel bully.'

Emma and Shane met through mutual friends in 2015 and welcomed a daughter, Amelia Rose, the following year.

Although they were not in a relationship, Shane had reportedly promised to support Emma as a single mother after their daughter's birth.

While Coleen initially appeared supportive, Emma claims that changed over time, alleging: 'Coleen actually stopped seeing Amelia Rose for a while because she was not willing to go to my house.'

Emma also believes the situation contributed to her having a breakdown.

She told The Sun: 'She'd call me every name under the sun, like 'you jealous b****', and she was vile.

Coleen Nolan's son's ex-girlfriend, Emma Kivell, has branded the Loose Women star a 'cruel bully' (Coleen pictured last week)

Emma and Shane met through mutual friends in 2015 and welcomed a daughter, Amelia Rose, the following year (Coleen and son Shane)

'Coleen wanted me to know that she's in charge, she's got the power, and I'm nothing, that's how I felt.'

The Daily Mail has contacted Coleen for comment.

It comes months after Emma took another swipe at the Loose Women star's 'toxicity and pettiness' as the family feud rumbles on.

The Daily Mail previously revealed how Coleen has not been able to see her granddaughter Amelia Rose for nearly seven years.

Her son, Shane Jnr, welcomed Amelia with Emma Kivell in 2016, with Coleen even being present at the birth.

However, a source close to the situation told how there is 'no contact between the little girl and the Nolans'.

In September, Shane took to social media to insist he had been paying child maintenance and even upped his contributions after not being able to offer support during the Coronavirus pandemic.

He told his fans: 'I would never not pay. We miss her and can't wait for one day for her to be in our lives.'

Emma  who met Shane while they were working together as Bluecoats at a holiday resort  hit back.

Last summer, it was revealed that Shane had found love again with mortgage manager Kimberley Sallis, who has a 12-year-old daughter

She has claimed Shane has not 'made any real effort to be involved' in his daughter's life in a scathing social media post.

Emma penned: 'He's never asked how she is, how she's doing, if she needs anything, not even a message during the height of Covid. Financial support stopped during that time too, and only resumed because of court enforcement.'

She continued by alleging Shane was blocked from seeing his daughter as a result of 'breaches' to court orders.

Emma added: 'My little girl used to wait by the door for a dad who often wouldnt turn.

'And when he did, lets just say the care she received was far from what she deserved.

'There is so much more I could say and in time, I probably will. But for now, let me be clear: speaking the truth does not make me the villain.'

Directly speaking about the Nolan side of the family, Emma said: 'She doesnt need your pettiness, or the toxicity from your side of the family.

'She has a strong, supportive, and loving one here. And by the looks of it seems like Coleen wrote her own version of the story anyway, and why now after seven years.'

The Daily Mail has contacted a representative for Coleen for comment.

Last summer, it was revealed that Shane had found love again with mortgage manager Kimberley Sallis, who has a 12-year-old daughter.

Previously speaking about becoming a grandmother for the first time, Coleen told The Mirror: They got together one night and there you go.

In the same interview, she said: But theyre not compatible in a relationship. Obviously, you wish they were badly in love and could see a future together. Thats the best scenario for anyone. But then I thought "Oh my God Im going to be a nanny and was thrilled".'

In June 2024, Coleen announced that she was set to become a grandmother again when she revealed online that her youngest son, Jake Roche was expecting a little boy with his fiancee Georgia.

Shane Jr married former Miss Great Britain Maddie Wahdan in July 2022, after dating for six years.

Little Amelia was not at the lavish nuptials held at Rushton Hall in Kettering as her dad walked down the aisle before posing for pictures with his famous parents.

The following year, in December 2023, the couple split up after it was reported that Shane had cheated on Maddie.
Cate Blanchett and Rachel Zegler celebrated after both triumphed at the Standard Theatre Awards winners dinner at Claridges Hotel in London on Sunday.

Aussie actress Cate, 56, who took home Best Actress in A Play for The Seagull, was the epitome of chic in a black velvet sculpted bodice.

The look was completed with a figure-hugging pencil skirt and she added extra height to her frame with pointed heels.

Meanwhile Rachel, 24, who won Best Musical Performance for her lead role in Evita, sizzled in a daringly plunging lace gown.

Her dress hugged every inch of her jaw-dropping figure and teased ample cleavage as she forwent jewellery letting the look speak or itself.

Also in attendance was Hayley Atwell, who was honoured for her role in Much Ado About Nothing, as she made a rare public appearance with fiance Ned Wolfgang Kelly.

Cate Blanchett and Rachel Zegler celebrated after both triumphed at the Standard Theatre Awards winners dinner at Claridges Hotel in London on Sunday

While Cate (L) took home Best Actress in A Play for The Seagull, Rachel (R) won Best Musical Performance for her lead role in Evita

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.

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.

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.

Aussie actress Cate, 56, was the epitome of chic in a black velvet sculpted bodice

Cate's look was completed with a figure-hugging pencil skirt and she added extra height to her frame with pointed heels

She accentuated her timeless features with glam make-up and wore her blonde locks in loose waves

The two time Oscar winner had another gong to add to the mantle piece

Meanwhile Rachel, 24, sizzled in a daringly plunging lace gown

Her dress hugged every inch of her jaw-dropping figure and teased ample cleavage as she forwent jewellery letting the look speak or itself

Rachel could not wipe the smile off her face as she posed with her trophy

The gorgeous pair posed with the evening's host Evgeny Lebedev

Sir Stephen Fry cut a dapper figure in a black velvet suit

Also in attendance was Hayley Atwell , who was honoured for her role in Much Ado About Nothing, as she made a rare public appearance with fiance Ned Wolfgang Kelly

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 with Roger Vivier heels

Hayley posed proudly with her trophy following her name being announced

Cate (L) and Hayley (R) beamed as they posed together

Sir Stephen Fry was another big winner on the night

(L-R) Winners (L to R) Stephen Fry, Cate Blanchett, Hayley Atwell, Ava Pickett, James Graham, Gracie Oddie-James and Rachel Zegler

(L to R) Cate Blanchett, Hayley Atwell, Ava Pickett, James Graham and Gracie Oddie-James

Gracie Oddie-James, winner of the Emerging Talent award for her role in The Lady From The Sea

Emma Thynn, Marchioness of Bath looked gorgeous in a plunging black gown

She was joined by dashing husband Ceawlin Thynn, Viscount Weymouth

Joe Bromley and Isobel Richmond were also at the VIP event

'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'.

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.
Bella Hadid flashed her taut tummy while out in Los Angeles on Sunday.

The 29-year-old model-turned-entrepreneur  who was spotted out in West Hollywood on Friday  was headed to an event for her fragrance brand Orebella.

She was clad in a girlish white top boasting a lace-trimmed collar complete with a bow ribbon.

The delicate, three-quarter sleeve blouse also had lace trim along the cuffs and hemline and the fashionista teamed it with faded blue bootcut jeans.

As she headed to Soho House Holloway for her Jasmine Blues fragrance launch, she added cream-colored pointed-toe heels.

Her long, auburn-tinged locks were swept into a sultry updo with face-framing curtain bangs.

Bella Hadid flashed her taut tummy while out in Los Angeles on Sunday

The 29-year-old model-turned-entrepreneur was headed to an event for her fragrance brand Orebella

It comes amid Hadid's on-off relationship with boyfriend of two years Adan Banuelos.

'The split was brief but needed,' a source told Us Weekly in early February after it was reported in late January that the couple had broken up.

'They have been up and down since December, but she still cares deeply about him and wants to make it work.'

Sunday was all about work for the Vogue cover girl, as she changed into a lacy blue slip dress for her glossy event.

An Instagram recap from the affair described it as 'an afternoon of wonder.'

The caption continued, 'To celebrate the arrival of JASMINE BLUES, we gathered with friends for afternoon tea, bottle painting, and floral bouquet making - an intimate first experience of our newest fragrance.

'Inspired by wonder, intuition, and gentle reflection, the white floral scent filled the air as we got to shake & spray in beautiful company.

'Be the first to experience our limited edition skin parfum now, exclusively at orebella.com.'

Hadid's Jasmine Blues fragrance launch was hosted at Soho House Holloway

The brand's sixth skin parfum was introduced on social media last week

It comes amid Hadid's on-off relationship with boyfriend of two years Adan Banuelos

The brand's latest product was introduced on social media last week as Hadid posed on white pillows while holding a bottle of the scent.

An Instagram caption read, 'Meet JASMINE BLUES, our sixth skin parfum. A luminous white floral where creamy jasmine meets the aquatic softness of blue lotus, brightened with bergamot and wrapped in skin-hugging silky musks.

'The fragrance unfolds in layers: Top - jasmine, blue lotus, bergamot. Middle - clove blossom, rose petals, crystallized moss. Base - silky musks, cedarwood, patchouli, balsam resin.

'The limited edition scent of wonder coming 03.20.26.'
TikTok personality Benjamin Gleason was arrested on Friday in New York in connection with accusations of rape.

The social media influencer, 39, was booked March 20 in connection with multiple felony sex assault charges, TMZ reported, citing legal docs it reviewed.

Among the criminal charges filed against Gleason include two counts of rape, according to legal docs reviewed by the outlet.

In addition, Gleason was charged with criminal sex in the first degree by forcible compulsion; sexual abuse in the first degree; aggravated sexual abuse in the second degree; and predatory sexual assault committed against more than one person.

The social media personality was also charged with a count of criminal sex acts conducted with a person incapable of consent, TMZ reported after reviewing documents.

Daily Mail has reached out to the Columbia County Jail in Hudson, New York for further comment on the story.

TikTok personality Benjamin Gleason, 39, was arrested on Friday in New York connection with accusations of rape

Gleason, a native of Campbell Island, New York, has 1.1 million followers on his TikTok page, on which he bills himself as 'an American artist' and 'your girlfriend's favorite influencer.'

He has another estimated 31,000 followers on his Instagram account, where he describes himself as a performance artist, AV production guy, musician and 'lost AF.'

On social media, Gleason is seen performing songs, lip synching to music and candidly discussing his battle with borderline personality disorder.

Earlier this month, Gleason took to GoFundMe in an effort to raise $6,000 for dental procedures he says are essential after his teeth were damaged following a long stretch of substance abuse.

'My name is Benjamin, and Im reaching out for help to repair my teeth after years of struggling with addiction,' Gleason said in the March 6 post.

Amid a two-year stretch of being 'clean and sober,' Gleason said the 'damage to [his] teeth from [his] past is something [he] cant fix on [his] own.'

The online influencer spoke about the toll it took on his self-esteem.

'Every day, Im reminded of my journey and the toll it took on my health, especially when I look in the mirror or try to smile,' he said.

Gleason, a native of Campbell Island, New York, has 1.1 million followers on his TikTok page

Gleason describes himself as a performance artist, AV production guy, musician and 'lost AF'

Gleason said that 'as an influencer with over a million followers on TikTok, connecting with people and spreading positivity is [his] passion,' but he's unable to 'truly be' himself until he gets his teeth fixed.

'I cant smile or express joy the way I want to, and its left me feeling embarrassed and like a light has gone out inside me,' Gleason said. 'The cost of dental repair is overwhelming, and its simply out of reach for me right now.'

Gleason said that a measure of financial support from his followers 'would mean the world to' him - helping with both physical pain and mental health.

'I want to regain my confidence, share my true self with my audience, and continue using my platform to inspire others,' he said.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's upcoming Australian trip has been billed as a grand homecoming - a return to the country where they enjoyed a rapturous hero's welcome eight years ago.

But as the date approaches, doubts are emerging over whether the visit will even proceed as planned. Since its announcement, the tour has faced a groundswell of backlash, logistical headaches and a string of setbacks that threaten to derail the high-profile tour before it even begins.

At the centre of the drama is Meghan's headline (and so far, singular) engagement: a speaking appearance at the exclusive 'Her Best Life' retreat, scheduled from April 17 to 19 at the InterContinental Sydney in Coogee Beach.

The event, billed as a three-day wellness and empowerment experience for women, commands ticket prices ranging from $2,699 to $3,199 per person.

While organisers are claiming the pricey event has already sold out, beneath the surface, cracks are showing.

Entrepreneur Gemma O'Neill, who is organising the retreat via her company Besties, has a chequered history with large-scale events. In 2023, Besties was set to host a sold-out luxury summit at Kokomo Private Island in Fiji, boasting a celebrity speaker line-up including comedian Celeste Barber and fashion designer Pip Edwards.

Eight years ago, Harry and Meghan enjoyed a rapturous hero's welcome on their Australian tour. This time around, things could be very different

In their now-infamous televised interview with Oprah Winfrey, Harry and Meghan said their Australian tour was a catalyst behind their decision to step away from royal duties

While organisers are claiming the Her Best Life Retreat event has already sold out, beneath the surface, cracks are showing

Tickets for that event started at $9,000 for a shared room and $18,000 for a solo booking, with guests expected to arrange their own travel to the island.

However, the retreat was cancelled weeks before it was due to take place, leaving many disappointed. It raises questions about O'Neill's ability to deliver on high-profile promises.

This time, the shadow of uncertainty is cast not only by the organiser's track record, but by the state of the retreat venue itself. The InterContinental Sydney in Coogee Beach is in the middle of an ambitious $111million redevelopment.

Construction on key facilities - including its new leisure deck, infinity pool, spa and Club InterContinental - is ongoing, with completion slated for April, mere days before the 'Her Best Life' event is meant to begin.

The timing leaves little room for error, and according to the hotel's own website, several amenities remain unfinished, adding further doubt as to whether the venue will be fully operational for Meghan's appearance.

Additional legal wrangling has complicated matters: a court dispute over noise regulations with Randwick Council has delayed the renovation, with hotel operators seeking to bypass requirements for a noise management plan.

Attendees anticipating picturesque sunrise swims may be disappointed for another reason: Coogee Beach is grappling with a persistent pollution crisis. Since early 2024, waves of mysterious, foul-smelling brown balls, later identified as a blend of cooking oil, soap scum, hair and human waste, have repeatedly washed up on shore.

Experts believe the balls broke off from a 'fatberg' within Sydney's sewer system, an issue still not fully resolved. The vision of a serene, luxury beachfront experience stands in stark contrast to the reality facing local residents.

In February, Jackie O (right) stepped away from her Besties business partnership with Gemma O'Neill (left). O'Neill asked Jackie to interview Meghan at the retreat, but she refused

In 2023, Besties was set to host a sold-out summit at Kokomo Private Island where Jackie often holidays with daughter Kitty (right). The event was cancelled just weeks out from the big day

Behind the scenes, the retreat is also embroiled in personal drama. In February, radio presenter Jackie 'O' Henderson walked away from her business partnership with O'Neill.

O'Neill claims she implored Henderson to interview Meghan as part of the event program - saying she had 'imposter syndrome' about fronting the gig herself - but Henderson refused.

Since then, Henderson has been at the centre of a media storm herself, as a rift with her radio co-host Kyle Sandilands led to the abrupt termination of their longstanding breakfast show, with lawyers now involved.

O'Neill, meanwhile, is facing scrutiny for her own business and financial dealings. Just weeks before the collapse of her talent firm - which owed $546,000, mostly to the Australian Taxation Office - she purchased a $1million home in the country, a move that has further fuelled controversy.

The connection with Meghan was reportedly facilitated by Markus Anderson, a mutual friend and prominent Soho House consultant.

Anderson is known in elite circles for curating celebrity relationships, and was instrumental in Meghan's early days with Prince Harry.

O'Neill's connection with Meghan was reportedly facilitated by Markus Anderson, a mutual friend and Soho House consultant. Anderson is known for curating celebrity relationships and was instrumental in Meghan's early days with Harry. (Anderson and Meghan are seen in 2014)

The speculation is that the royal trip may coincide with the long-anticipated opening of Soho House Sydney, a point of intrigue among members, though the club's official opening date remains secret.

All this turbulence is not lost on the Australian public, many of whom are facing an unprecedented cost-of-living and petrol-price crisis. A Change.org petition, now signed by more than 30,000 people, demands that taxpayers not subsidise security or any other costs linked to the Sussexes' visit.

The petition, launched by advocacy group Beyond Australia, calls for the Federal Government to confirm that no official resources will be allocated to what they label a 'private, commercial venture'.

Organisers note that since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Harry and Meghan have operated as private citizens, no longer representing the Crown or performing official duties. The groundswell of criticism shows just how far sentiment has shifted since the couple's last visit.

Even their accommodation remains up in the air.

During their 2018 royal tour, the Duke and Duchess were guests at Admiralty House in Kirribilli, a residence reserved for visiting dignitaries and royals. Given the current controversy over taxpayer support, it's unclear if they'll enjoy official hospitality this time or opt for private arrangements, especially as they attempt to style this trip as independently financed.

All of these mounting challenges stand in stark contrast to the couple's last experience Down Under. Eight years ago, a newly pregnant Meghan was embraced by ecstatic crowds, with the media gushing over the royal couple.

The 16-day itinerary saw the Sussexes attend multiple Invictus Games events, visit Dubbo, tour Taronga Zoo, climb the Harbour Bridge and spend time on K'gari (formerly Fraser Island).

In their headline-making 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Harry and Meghan pointed to the 2018 Australian tour as a turning point - a catalyst for their decision to step away from full-time royal duties.

Meghan described the period after the tour as especially fraught: 'After we had gotten back from our Australia tour, we talked about when things really started to turn, when I knew we weren't being protected.'

The pair's relationship with Australian audiences and the media has changed dramatically in the years since. Meghan has now secured a trademark for her As Ever brand in Australia, signalling her intent to expand her business and personal platform after her Netflix deal ended.

With so many unanswered questions, the planned 'triumphant return' now looks anything but certain. Event drama, financial scrutiny, government petitions, venue chaos, and a wary public all threaten to overshadow the Sussexes' carefully orchestrated comeback.

What unfolds in the coming weeks will reveal whether the couple can recapture Sydney's former warmth - or if this trip marks a watershed moment in their relationship with Australia.
Details have emerged about Kyle Sandilands' $88 million legal battle with his former employer ARN, after the radio network terminated his contract last Wednesday.

The ex-host of the KIIS FM Kyle and Jackie O Show has reportedly filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against the media giant in the Federal Court.

Sandilands, 54, was suspended earlier this month for 'serious misconduct' before his axing, following an on-air spat with Henderson on February 20.

An insider now says the shock jock will claim as part of his defence that he had no warnings from ARN management over the issue of how he spoke to his co-host.

The former king of the radio ratings will also argue that ARN 'promoted' their notorious on-air brawls.

'(There were) no warnings, whether formal or informal,' an insider revealed to news.com.au on Monday.

Details have emerged about Kyle Sandilands' $88 million legal battle with his former employer ARN, after the radio network terminated his contract last Wednesday. Pictured: Sandilands

'ARN promoted that kind of content and put it in social media snippets and played it across the network,' they said.

According to the report, Sandilands and his legal team are trawling through footage of The Kyle and Jackie O Show to argue that it was 'normal' for the pair to fight.

The insider also revealed that Sandilands is putting in regular invoices to ARN on the basis that his axing was 'invalid and opportunistic'.

Apparently, legal mediation is off the table as a way of resolving the conflict between ARN and Sandilands, says the source, because the radio star believes that there was no 'valid reason for his termination'.

Backed by a prominent legal team, Sandilands is claiming that ARN deliberately conspired to sabotage his $100 million, 10-year contract in a calculated attempt to exit the costly agreement after just over 14 months.

Sandilands' legal team is led by the 'ferocious' Kevin Lynch, a partner at Johnson Winter Slattery, according to The Australian.

Over the past two weeks, Lynch has carefully examined every detail of the host's agreement and strategised a comprehensive attack on ARN.

He filed the necessary papers on Friday.

Sandilands, 54, was suspended earlier this month for 'serious misconduct' before his axing, following an on-air spat with Henderson (pictured) on February 20

Sandilands is seeking his contract to be honoured in full.

On Monday morning, ARN issued a statement in an ASX market update, asserting that the network disputes Sandilands' claims and plans to defend the proceedings.

'The applicants claim the termination of Mr Sandilands' contract was invalid on the basis they allege that there was no act of serious misconduct or breach of contract, and that the termination was unconscionable under the Australian Consumer Law,' their statement read.

'The applicants seek an order for specific performance of two contracts, payment of whatever amounts are due and payable under the contracts at the time of judgment, and damages.'

Meanwhile, ARN's newly appointed CEO Michael Stephenson is working hard to prevent the legal dispute from escalating by trying to persuade Sandilands' former co-host, Jackie 'O' Henderson, to return to KIIS FM with a solo show.

However, ARN is hoping to bring back Henderson at a much lower rate with a new program, after the network also terminated her $100 million, decade-long deal last month.

The Australian reports that Henderson is not enthusiastic about that offer, while sources close to the former co-hosts indicate that she intends to watch how Sandilands' legal offensive unfolds.

The end of the Kyle & Jackie O show was announced last Wednesday when Sandilands released a statement at 7am announcing that KIIS' parent company, ARN, had terminated his 10-year, $100 million contract.
Action star Alan Ritchson was caught on camera allegedly attacking his Tennessee neighbor during an explosive street brawl on Sunday.

The Reacher actor, 43, appeared to throw multiple punches at the alleged victim in front of two children on motorbikes - believed to be his sons - in a video obtained by TMZ.

In the clip, the 6ft3in leading man - who has previously spoken about being diagnosed with bipolar disorder - is seen striking a man on the ground several times.

Ronnie Taylor, the alleged victim, told the publication that the incident started on Saturday when Ritchson was riding his green Kawasaki bike through their quiet upscale neighborhood.

Taylor alleged that the entertainer was going at an excessive speed, as well as revving his engine and disturbing the peace.

A Brentwood Tennessee Police Department spokesman told the Daily Mail: 'There is an active investigation, and no arrests have been made. There will be a police report available when the investigation has concluded.'

The Daily Mail has also reached out to Ritchson's representative for comment and has yet to hear back.

Action star Alan Ritchson, 43, was pictured allegedly beating up his Tennessee neighbor in a shocking street brawl on Sunday

Here the actor is seen shirt-free on Instagram

Ronnie Taylor, the alleged victim (pictured), told the publication that the incident started on Saturday when Ritchson was riding his green Kawasaki bike through their quiet upscale neighborhood

The neighbor says he flipped Ritchson off, and the actor responded in kind.

The following day, Ritchson rode through the neighborhood again at around noon - this time with two kids on their own bikes - and was allegedly speeding.

Taylor asked Ritchson, 'Can you f*****g stop this please,' which is when the situation escalated.

The alleged victim claimed he reported that Ritchson punched him in the face and kicked him to the police.

He also claimed that the actor proceeded to fall off his bike, before getting up and attempting to run him off.

Taylor also alleged that Ritchson hit him 'at least four times' and in the back of the head at one point.

He said the incident, which was reportedly witnessed by neighbors, left him with bruises and swelling, but he did not go to the hospital.

Law enforcement sources confirmed to TMZ that an investigation is underway into an incident, though no arrests have been made.

In the clip, Ritchson is seen picking up his helmet off the ground and grabbing his bike after allegedly assaulting Taylor.

He then loses control of the bike, which veers onto the lawn. Meanwhile Taylor is seen picking something off the ground and walking up to Ritchson, and then away again. The actor then gets back on his bike and drives off, followed by the two youngsters.

The incident took place in a quiet suburban neighborhood

Here the motorcycle is seen hitting the sidewalk

There clearly was physical contact between the two men in broad daylight near the sidewalk

A punch was thrown so hard it knocked the man to the ground

Two people on motorcycles looked on during the intense fight

Taylor is pictured with his motorbike in a social media snap

Ritchson is best known for playing Jack Reacher in the Amazon Prime Video series Reacher. The fourth season of the action-packed thriller will be released in 2026

Ritchson shares three sons with wife Catherine, whom he married in 2006, after they met while taking a dance class at college.

He is best known for playing Jack Reacher in the Amazon Prime Video action series Reacher.

Sources close to the actor later claimed he did not instigate the fight with his neighbor and was allegedly 'pushed off his bike twice' by Taylor before the fight,

The insiders claimed to TMZ that witnesses saw Alan riding his motorcycle down the street in ahead of his two kids on their mini-bikes Sunday afternoon - before Taylor allegedly 'bolted into the street to try to stop Alan's bike in a really aggressive manner.'

Ritchson is said to have fallen off his motorbike and suffered cuts and bruises as well as a minor injury to his finger.

Taylor is said to have 'dared' Ritchson to hit him while 'yelling' at the actor - who w as still on the ground.

Sources claimed Ritchson tried to leave but was allegedly shoved to the ground by Taylor, provoking the confrontation.

It was further claimed the actor had been 'cooperative with the police and nobody has been arrested.'

Ritchson confirmed Reacher was renewed for a fourth season in October 2024, sharing a photo of himself smashing a car window with the caption, 'Windows everywhere beware. Reacher Season 4 is official. What are you gonna give me if I spill the beans on the book?'

The fourth season of the action-packed thriller will be released in 2026.

Based on Lee Child's Jack Reacher novel series, the show stars Ritchson as the former military police officer who uses his combat skills and imposing physique to take down criminals.

Season four will follow Child's 2009 book, Gone Tomorrow.

The show originally premiered in 2022 and quickly became one of the most popular series on the Amazon streaming platform.

Ritchson's other television credits include Smallville, Blue Mountain State, Blood Drive, and Titans.

As for movie roles, he played Raphael in the 2014 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot and its 2016 sequel, and has appeared in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013), Lazer Team (2015), and Fast X (2023).

In 2024, Ritchson revealed that he had attempted suicide in 2019, and said a vision of his sons ultimately convinced him to continue living.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Ritchson revealed he had become incredibly depressed and was forced to finish editing his directorial debut, Dark Web: Cicada 3301, from bed.

After the suicide attempt, he sought help from a doctor who diagnosed him with bipolar disorder.

The actor shares three sons with wife Catherine, whom he married in 2006, after they met while taking a dance class at college; The couple pictured in 2023

'I was diagnosed as bipolar right after. Deep down, I was comforted to know, "OK, there's a name for this."'

A friend then suggested he try MDMA therapy with his wife Catherine.

'I swear to God, the biggest light bulb went off, and it rewired my brain in the best way. MDMA is a proven therapy to treat PTSD in veterans, and its something that can work in cognitive therapy settings.'

The therapy session made him reflect on his existential journey and conclude that his purpose is 'to make the world a better place and serve others.'

Ritchson's epiphany prompted him to seek out more fulfilling opportunities in his career, ultimately leading him to the TV series Reacher.

During his interview, Ritchson also claimed he had been sexually assaulted while working in the modeling industry.
Pregnant Sophie Kasaei has stressed how 'life can change in the blink of an eye' as she opened up on Instagram on Sunday as boyfriend Jordan Brook remains in hospital battling viral meningitis and encephalitis.

The TOWIE star, 31, revealed two weeks ago that he was admitted to hospital and has 'swelling of the brain'.

In a new update over the weekend, Jordan revealed he had been diagnosed with a viral form of meningitis, inflammation of the brain and spinal cord lining. This is a different type of meningitis to the outbreak of bacterial meningitis B in Kent.

However he has also been diagnosed with encephalitis, a rare, serious, and potentially life-threatening inflammation of the brain.

Now worried Sophie, who was only allowed to visit Jordan for the first time on Friday, has said she is in a 'living nightmare' seeing her partner in hospital.

Sharing a series of photos of the couple from happier times, the pregnant star, who is expecting the couple's first child, opened up about the 'hardest thing she's ever known'.

Pregnant Sophie Kasaei has said she is in a 'living nightmare' as boyfriend Jordan Brook remains in hospital battling viral meningitis and encephalitis

The TOWIE star, 31, revealed he has been diagnosed with a viral form of meningitis, as well as encephalitis, a rare, serious, and potentially life-threatening inflammation of the brain

She wrote: 'Life can come at you really fast. Literally in the blink of an eye.

'One minute youre dreaming about your future together and the next, youre sitting in a hospital room, holding on to hope with everything you have.

'Watching the person I love in pain and fear, something I cant fight for them is the hardest thing Ive ever known. And through all this Im carrying the tiniest piece of us a reminder that even in the darkest moments, life is still growing, still holding on.

'I never imagined Id feel this much fear and this much love all at once. Life really can change in the blink of an eye. Please dont take a single moment, a single person, for granted.

'Everyday I fall in love with you more and more @jordanbrook11 this whole thing feels like Im living in a nightmare waiting to be woke up by you next to me in bed but Im just grateful your here and fighting for your family.

'Our little baby boy is what is keeping this family going. I love you @jordanbrook11'.

On Saturday, Jordan shared a video from his hospital bed where he explained the swelling on his brain is 'getting worse' and said: 'We're not out of the woods yet, but we're getting there.'

In the clip, he said: 'This is the first time I've really been able to speak strong enough about what's going on. There's been a lot of speculation as to why I'm here and what's going on, and there's a few comments and people saying things, but this is my diagnosis that I got yesterday.

'I've been diagnosed with not one, but two viruses that are attacking similar part of my body. I've got viral meningitis and encephalitis together. That's the inflammation of the brain and the lining around it. So this isn't something small or minor.

Now worried Sophie, who was only allowed to see Jordan for the first time on Friday, has said seeing her partner in hospital is the 'hardest thing she's ever known'

Sharing a series of photos of the couple from happier times, the pregnant star, who is expecting the couple's first child, stressed how 'life can change in the blink of an eye'

She wrote: 'One minute youre dreaming about your future together and the next, youre sitting in a hospital room, holding on to hope with everything you have'

WHAT IS ENCEPHALITIS? Encephalitis is an uncommon but serious condition in which the brain becomes inflamed (swollen). It can be life-threatening and requires urgent treatment in hospital. Anyone can be affected, but the very young and very old are most at risk. Encephalitis sometimes starts off with flu-like symptoms, such as a high temperature and headache, but these don't always occur. More serious symptoms develop over hours, days or weeks, including: confusion or disorientation, seizures (fits), changes in personality and behaviour or loss of consciousness. Dial 999 for an ambulance immediately if you or someone else has these more serious symptoms. It's not always clear what causes encephalitis, but it can be caused by viral infections. Several common viruses can spread to the brain and cause encephalitis in rare cases, including the herpes simplex virus (which causes cold sores and genital herpes) and the chickenpox virus. Source: NHS

'I've had CT scans, MRI scans, lumbar punctures. We've got round the clock care since I've been in this hospital. I'm on IV drips, everything, antiviral, pain management, physio, seizure monitoring as I have minor seizure risk at the minute.

'But unfortunately, the swelling on my brain is getting worse. It's really, really tough, even the simple day to day activities and normal things aren't easy right now.'

He warned fans and friends not to listen to people commenting conspiracies regarding his condition, as he said: 'Be conscious of some things that people are writing and commenting.

'This isn't like a joke, or people are writing that I'm a lot worse than I am, and there's big C-words being dropped and things like that. It isn't that, but the swelling on my brain is really bad, pumped to my meds, my steroids, to try and get the swelling down.

'I don't know how much longer I'm going to be.'

He turned his attention to his pregnant girlfriend Sophie, as he continued: 'My focus right now is simple. I need to get healthy.

'My Soph has been amazing, and she's growing my precious baby boy. I just want to be a young, healthy dad, home for my family, with my baby, that's the goal.

'This won't beat me. I will get out of this.'

He added: 'Thank you as I said to anyone who is thinking of me and please be kind to Soph and support Soph and anybody else in the same boat.'

Clarifying his diagnosis, Jordan captioned the video: 'My diagnosis  First time I've been strong enough to speak on this. Not one, but two viruses  viral meningitis and encephalitis.

'This isn't minor. Scans, treatment, and still a long road ahead. Be careful what you read  not everything being said is true.

'Right now my focus is simple: Get healthy and get home to my family. Grateful for the doctors, my family, and everyone supporting me.

'Life can throw curveballs when you least expect it. I will not beat  JB .'

Sophie revealed on Friday that she could now visit Jordan in hospital after it was revealed he isn't 'contagious'

Earlier this week, Jordan took to Instagram to share a black and white photo of himself lying in bed.

Alongside it, he wrote: 'Another day in paradise. Praying for a better one or some sort of miracle.'

He didn't go into any further detail about his condition at the time.

Sophie revealed on Friday that she could now visit Jordan in hospital after it was revealed he isn't 'contagious'.

She wrote: 'As hard as this is I am finally allowed to see my Jords as there's nothing contagious. His strength is just amazing and we will get through this as a family. Thank you for all your well wishes we are all praying for a more positive day.'
Nicola Coughlan has admitted she struggles with her own social media and has made the decision to delete her account on Monday.

The Irish actress, 38, explained that she deletes social media apps from her phone because they have a 'really negative impact' on her.

Nicola, who is best known for starring in Bridgerton and Derry Girls, said she only uses Instagram to promote work.

Speaking to the BBC, she said: 'I just download social media to post something and then delete it straight away as it can have a really negative impact.'

Nicola is starring in the new adaptation of Enid Blyton's beloved The Magic Faraway Tree and is portraying the kind-hearted fairy Silky.

Her co-stars Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy, who play the children's parents, agreed with Nicola's views on social media.

Nicola Coughlan has admitted she struggles with her own social media and has made the decision to delete her account on Monday

The Irish actress, 38, explained that she deletes social media apps from her phone because they have a 'really negative impact' on her

Spiderman actor Andrew, 42, added that he's very worried about the impact that social media has on young people.

He said: 'The more we live through this technological revolution, the more we understand that our consciousness is being hijacked.

'Our attention, a valuable commodity, is being commodified and is being used and abused by tech companies.'

Andrew explained that he feels 'very strongly' about the issue and stressed that we need to put in 'the hard work of divesting our attention and reconnecting with eternal things like nature'.

Meanwhile Claire added that the issue goes beyond social media and it 'affects all of us' not just children.

Asked whether she would support something like a social media ban for under 16s, she said it may not be as simple as that but she does support action.

It comes after Nicola hit back at assumptions that she is 'plus-sized' as she revealed she was a size 8-10 during her Bridgerton nude scenes.

The actress said that despite featuring in such scenes she has 'no interest' in promoting body positivity and finds any criticism or furore around her figure 'boring.'

Posting on the cover of ELLE UK's April edition, Nicola shared she'd 'lost a bunch of weight' before filming her viral nude moment in Bridgerton's third series.

She added that in the past she's 'hated' speaking to fans who wanted to praise her figure as she feels it dilutes the value of the work she's put into the role.

Nicola said: 'The thing I say sometimes that p****s people off is I have no interest in body positivity.

'When I was a kid growing up, I never thought about that. I didn't look at actors and think about their bodies. So, I actually don't care.

'There's a lot of things I'm passionate about, it's not one of them That's someone else's thing. It's not mine.'

Nicola, who is best known for starring in Bridgerton, said: 'I just download social media to post something and then delete it straight away as it can have a really negative impact'

Reflecting on comments about her figure on the show, she added: 'You know what was really bizarre was, when I was shooting that series, I was exercising a lot because I knew I had to, so I had lost a bunch of weight  I was probably a size 10 and one of the corsets was a size eight.

'And then people talked about how I was plus size and I was like, "How f****d are we that I am the biggest woman you want to see on screen?"'

'I remember this really drunk girl once talking to me in a bathroom being like, "I loved [Bridgerton] because of your body." And started talking about my body, and I was like, "I want to die. I hate this so much"

'It's really hard when you work on something for months and months of your life, you don't see your family, you really dedicate yourself and then it comes down to what you look like  it's so f*****g boring.'

Nicola also shared rare insight into her relationship with boyfriend, actor Jake Dunn, saying: 'We try our best. I send him annoying videos all the time and then, you know, a lot of Facetime, but he's super-busy.

'Before we were together, I just thought he was a really talented actor. But I love when people have their own stuff going on.'
Arabella Chi has ditched Dubai for a birthday getaway in Saudi Arabia as she shared Instagram photos on Monday while the war continues to rage on in the Middle East.

The Love Island star, 34, who moved to the to the UAE last year, celebrated her 35th birthday with her baby daughter Gigi and boyfriend Billy Henty during a lavish getaway in the desert at Bab Al Shams.

Arabella looked happier than ever as she posed for photos with her nine-month-old baby girl before the family enjoyed a camel ride together.

The TV personality looked sensational in a brown plunging swimsuit which she teamed with a coordinated headscarf as she posed for a selfie.

Arabella showed off the lavish 327-a-night desert hotel before relaxing on a sunlounger with Gigi playing at the end.

She wrote: 'Birthday weekend in the desert with my people'.

Since the US-Israeli war with Iran broke out in February, influencers and reality stars have been using their platforms to vouch for the safety of Dubai as the region continues to plunge into chaos.

Arabella Chi has ditched Dubai for a birthday getaway in Saudi Arabia as she shared Instagram photos on Monday while the war continues to rage on in the Middle East

The Love Island star, 34, who moved to the to the UAE last year, celebrated her 35th birthday with her baby daughter Gigi and boyfriend Billy Henty during a lavish getaway in the desert

When the bombs started, the UAE authorities sent out mass texts to hundreds of thousands of Westerners, issuing dire warnings that nobody was to post anything about the terror raining down on them from the skies: nothing that 'results in inciting panic among people'.

As a result, it is hard to know exactly how the hundreds of influencers who live there feel about the ongoing conflict, yet in recent weeks many have scrambled to leave the emirate in a bid to secure their continued safety.

Even after claiming that they feel secure knowing that the Dubai government are doing all they can to protect residents, many opted to fly back to the UK.

While celebrities were once attracted to the tax-free salaries and low crime rate, it is no longer proving to be the safe haven that it once promised.

But Arabella, who revealed earlier this month why she still won't move back to the UK despite the war continuing.

And the TV star, who is one of the many famous faces who have continued to paint Dubai in a positive light, has gone straight back to her day to day life in Dubai despite reports of 'rising panic'.

The reality star star moved to the to the UAE last year and was left terrified in the early days of the missile strikes in the region, initially telling her 1.2million followers how she was planning to 'hide her family in a storage cupboard' after clearing it out as a precautionary shelter for her brood.

But a day later the Influencer was back to regular content, and has spent the last weeks posting pictures from her romantic evenings out with her boyfriend Billy and lounging by the pool with her baby daughter Gigi.

Arabella hit the beach, snapping a series of photos with her daughter as she caught some sun in a white bikini. She captioned the carousel of carefree photos 'sandy toes,' making no mention of the ongoing unrest in her home city.

On Monday, Donald Trump has declared a five-day pause on military strikes against Iran after holding 'very good conversations' about ending hostilities in the Middle East.

Arabella looked happier than ever as she posed for photos with her nine-month-old baby girl before the family enjoyed a camel ride together

The TV personality looked sensational in a black bikini as she worked on her tan on a sunlounger at a lavish resort

She wrote: 'Birthday weekend in the desert with my people'

Arabella showed off the lavish 327-a-night desert hotel

Since the US-Israeli war with Iran broke out in February, influencers have been using their platforms to vouch for the safety of Dubai as the region continues to plunge into chaos

When the bombs started, the UAE authorities sent out mass texts to hundreds of thousands of Westerners, issuing dire warnings that nobody was to post anything about the terror raining down on them from the skies: nothing that 'results in inciting panic among people'

The star soon continued with her day to day lifel, posting content on social media. On Monday, Arabella looked stylish in zebra print trousers as she posed with Gigi for a mirror selfie

Arabella shared a sweet snap of Billy and her baby girl enjoying lunch

The President announced he has instructed the US Department of War to postpone all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure.

The United States and 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,' Trump wrote, in all capitals, on his Truth Social platform.

Trump added further talks will take place to work towards a 'total and complete resolution' of the conflict which broke out on February 28 when Operation Epic Fury was launched.

It comes after the President issued a 48-hour ultimatum for Iran to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday.

The financial markets immediately reacted to Trump's post with the price of oil and gas dropping as stocks rebounded across Europe.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has given a rare insight into her 16-year relationship with Jason Statham as she stripped down for Vogue Australia.

In perhaps her most honest interview yet, she details how a failed business venture resulted in a battle with depression, with recovery taking a year.

In her latest Vogue shoot, Rosie, 38, looks incredible going underwear-free under a blue lace sheer gown as she reclines on a velvet sofa.

A second image sees her laying on the floor of a Sydney apartment while wearing a blue and green pretty floral co-ord which shows off her toned waist.

And for the cover, mother-of-two Rosie wears an incredible red Alaia number which shows off a flash of her gym-honed torso.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley gave a rare insight into her 16-year relationship with Jason Statham as she stripped down for Vogue Australia - and details how a failed business venture resulted in a year-long battle with depression

She discusses how hers and Jason's love of interiors is collaborative, saying: 'Jason has the most impeccable taste. He taught me so much about architecture and furniture'

During the interview, Rosie talks about how important her long-term relationship with British actor Jason, 58, is to her.

'It's very grounding,' she says, smiling. Her friendship circle is intimate and longstanding; loyalty and discretion are essential, and privacy matters, but what she values most is honesty. She believes self-knowledge is power.

She discusses how hers and Jason's love of interiors is collaborative, saying: 'Jason has the most impeccable taste. He taught me so much about architecture and furniture.'

Theyve spent the past two years building a house together and she notes: 'Hell say its been a nightmare. I love the interiors.'

And she credits Jason with being her greatest champion, mentally strong, grounded and unmoved by smoke and mirrors, which is everything to her.

Her family are planning a move to the English countryside near the New Forest, with an incredible dressage school around the corner so that they can get muddy and the children can cllmb trees but mostly so they can feel peace.

Rosie suffers from migraines and reveals she never has more than two drinks at any one time because otherwise she can be out of action for 24 hours at a result and she doesn't want to lose whole days.

During the interview, Rosie also discusses past failures and notes how entrepreneurship is now no longer something she chases.

During the interview, Rosie also discusses past failures and notes how entrepreneurship is now no longer something she chases

Her family are planning a move to the English countryside near the New Forest, with an incredible dressage school around the corner so that they can get muddy and the children can climb trees but mostly so they can feel peace (pictured with Jason in September 2023)

Rosie calls a previous business venture which ended with a public unravelling, 'one of the worst experiences of my life'.

While she doesn't name brands, it's well known that in 2024, she announced on Instagram she was no longer associated with Rose Inc, the beauty brand she launched in 2021.

She said back then: 'I founded Rose Inc with a vision to foster a beauty community and create exceptional products in line with my values and beliefs.

'However, due to significant changes within the business, Ive made the considered decision to step down from the brand.'

She told Vogue that she felt shame and experienced depression, with recovery taking a year.

But she acknowledges that the growth from failure is like nothing else, saying it 'roughed her up' and she embarked on therapy for a while.

Rosie has now learned to say no to things and said that while she did not want to be seen as difficult before, now, she is happy to speak up 'because reputation matters and energy matters'.

Vogue Australias April 2026 is on sale from March 30.
Georgia Toffolo has ignored the noise surrounding James Watt and his former business BrewDog, instead enjoying a 'very special' trip to Scotland with her husband.

The former Made In Chelsea star, 31, has shared a series of blissful snaps from the couple's weekend in Aberdeenshire, where her millionaire husband, 43, owns a home.

The Instagram post was shared hours after the new owner of BrewDog launched a scathing attack on James whilst newly released documents showed his beer brand racked up debts of more than 500million before collapsing into administration.

Georgia, known as Toff, made no mention of her husband's business drama in her lengthy caption, instead focusing on the happiness she feels when in James' Scottish home.

'I dont think Ive ever properly explained why I love Scotland so much' she gushed alongside snaps of the couple enjoying countryside walks with their dog Monty.

'People always ask whats so special about it, and I never quite know how to answer but when youre there, its actually very obvious.'

Georgia Toffolo has ignored the noise surrounding James Watt and his former business, instead enjoying a 'very special' trip to Scotland with her husband

The Instagram post was shared hours after the new owner of James' former company BrewDog launched a scathing attack on the beer brand's co-founder

'The air feels fresher, the mornings are slower My nervous system resets when I am here. Its also James home, and now mine too. He grew up in Aberdeenshire, so theres something very special about getting to share that and call it home as well.'

She aadded that her Scottish 'daily uniform becomes pyjamas and wellies' whilst she's also taken up salmon fishing and become 'hooked.'

'Its never just one thing but somehow it all adds up to being very hard to beat. Thats exactly why I love it so much,' Toff concluded.

On Sunday BrewDog's new owner criticised James' tenure at the company - insisting his reputation is a 'stigma' for the brand.

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 Toff's husband, 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 James' legacy 'a stigma we would have to overcome'.

The former Made In Chelsea star has shared a series of blissful snaps from the couple's weekend in Aberdeenshire, where her millionaire husband owns a home

Georgia, known as Toff, made no mention of the business drama in her lengthy caption, instead focusing on the happiness she feels when in her husband's home

'People always ask whats so special about it, and I never quite know how to answer but when youre there, its actually very obvious,' she wrote

'The air feels fresher, the mornings are slower My nervous system resets when I am here. Its also James home, and now mine too'

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.

However, from 2021 James was hit by allegations of a 'toxic' workplace culture amid the company's abandonment of the Real Living Wage in 2024.

James 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.

He 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.

She continued that her Scottish 'daily uniform becomes pyjamas and wellies' whilst she's also taken up salmon fishing and become 'hooked'

'Its never just one thing but somehow it all adds up to being very hard to beat. Thats exactly why I love it so much,' Toff concluded

On Sunday BrewDog's new owner criticised James' tenure at the company - insisting his reputation is a 'stigma' for the brand

On Monday newly released documents showed BrewDog racked up debts of more than 500million before collapsing into administration with thousands of small investors now set to lose everything.

The once high-flying craft beer firm owed creditors 553.8million at the point of its sale, leaving an estimated 480million black hole after its pre-pack rescue deal.

Shareholders, including those who piled into its much-hyped 'Equity for Punks' crowdfunding scheme, are not expected to 'receive any return', while unsecured creditors owed nearly 400million are likely to get less than one penny in the pound.

The figures lay bare the scale of the company's dramatic downfall, which saw its brewery and 11 bars snapped up by Tilray for just 33million - alongside the closure of 38 pubs and 484 redundancies.

Even major lenders have not escaped the fallout, with secured creditors such as HSBC facing an estimated 85million shortfall.
Toni Braxton looked incredible while performing during The New Edition Way Tour, which was held at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, WI on Saturday.

The R&B songstress easily defied her 58 years wearing a silver rhinestone-fringed mini-dress and matching heels selected by stylist Ashley Sean Thomas.

Wig maker Marie Brown coiffed Braxton's middle-parted long raven mane and Emmy-winning make-up artist Alex Lucas made sure she was ready for her close-up at the concert.

The seven-time Grammy winner's show went better than it did the following evening at Target Center in Minneapolis, MN which she was 'unable to finish.'

'My loves, I am so sorry I wasn't able to finish the show last night,' Braxton - who boasts 16.3 million social media followers - wrote via Instagram story Monday morning.

Toni Braxton looked incredible while performing during The New Edition Way Tour, which was held at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, WI on Saturday

'I had an unexpected personal emergency and had no choice but to step away. You deserved my everything and I hate that I couldn't give it to you. I feel your love from here. Thank you for understanding.'

Indeed, TwinCities.com reported Sunday that 'the evening could have used more of Braxton who only popped out occasionally to sing good, but not great, renditions of Breathe Again and You're Makin' Me High.'

The Maryland-born belter discovered she suffered from the autoimmune disease Lupus as well as Microvascular Angina during a health crisis in 2008.

Braxton, New Edition and Boyz II Men are next scheduled to bring their 30-date The New Edition Way Tour to Ohio's Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati this Thursday.

The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation is honoring the Breathe Again producer-star for her role executive producing and playing Mel Montgomery in Stanley M. Brooks' romantic drama He Wasn't Man Enough, which aired November 22 on Lifetime.

The 51st annual Gracie Awards Gala is scheduled to take place May 19 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA.

On the personal front, Braxton welcomed two sons - Denim, 24, and Diezel, 22 - during her 12-year marriage to ex-husband Keri Lewis, which acrimoniously ended in 2013.

The R&B songstress easily defied her 58 years wearing a silver rhinestone-fringed mini-dress and matching heels selected by stylist Ashley Sean Thomas

Wig maker Marie Brown coiffed Braxton's middle-parted long raven mane and Emmy-winning make-up artist Alex Lucas made sure she was ready for her close-up at the concert

The seven-time Grammy winner's show went better than it did the following evening at Target Center in Minneapolis, MN which she was 'unable to finish'

'My loves, I am so sorry I wasn't able to finish the show last night,' Braxton wrote Monday. 'I had an unexpected personal emergency and had no choice but to step away. You deserved my everything and I hate that I couldn't give it to you. I feel your love from here. Thank you for understanding'

The Maryland-born belter discovered she suffered from the autoimmune disease Lupus as well as Microvascular Angina during a health crisis in 2008

The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation is honoring Braxton for her role executive producing and playing Mel Montgomery in Stanley M. Brooks' romantic drama He Wasn't Man Enough, which aired November 22 on Lifetime

The 51st annual Gracie Awards Gala is scheduled to take place May 19 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA

The contralto crooner is married to second husband, Cash Money Records co-founder Birdman, whom she began dating on/off in 2016.

Braxton famously filed for divorce from the 57-year-old rapper (born Bryan Brooks) two weeks after their 2024 wedding, but she dismissed the filing last year.

The Braxtons star - who pulls 6.7 million monthly listeners on Spotify - first found fame in a girl group with her sisters, but has since sold over 70 million records worldwide as a solo artist.
'Hot felon' Jeremy Meeks reflected on the immediate aftermath of his mugshot going viral in 2014 after the Stockton Police Department posted it on their Facebook page.

'I was probably getting 300 letters a day, and it was just too much,' the 42-year-old White Cross Management Model told Matthew Cox's podcast Inside True Crime on Sunday.

'I'm getting naked pictures, I'm getting money orders. All kind of money's being sent in.'

But the worldwide fame got tiring for Meeks once random people started snatching up his coveted two visitor's passes allotted per week at the Sacramento County Jail, and arriving unannounced.

'And Sacramento is very strict and just a**holes when it comes to visiting,' the Washington State-born heartthrob recalled.

'Hot felon' Jeremy Meeks reflected on the immediate aftermath of his mugshot going viral in 2014 after the Stockton Police Department posted it on their Facebook page

'I was probably getting 300 letters a day, and it was just too much,' the 42-year-old White Cross Management Model told Matthew Cox's podcast Inside True Crime on Sunday. 'I'm getting naked pictures, I'm getting money orders. All kind of money's being sent in'

'I'm getting random people visiting me and I'm denying them before I even walk up the stairs into the section and I'm like, "I don't know who that person is!" I could see him through the glass. I'm like, "I don't know who that person is!"

'They're like, "Well, I'm still taking your visit. You can deny it, but I'm still going to take your visit for the week." So now my family can't come because I got f***ing random people coming to see me and it was so frustrating.'

Meeks - who scored nicknames like 'prison bae' and 'the blue-eyed bandit' - would plead with the strangers not to come back so he could see his children.

'They're like, "Well, we drove all the way from Tennessee!"' the Love After Holidays actor recalled.

'"I understand that and thank you. But my son's five years old and he doesn't understand why I'm not home and he needs to see me. And so I'm just going to ask that you please don't come back. Write me."'

Meeks welcomed 15-year-old son Jeremy Jr. during his decade-long marriage to nurse Melissa Meeks, which amicably ended in 2018.

The former Crips gangster is also father to seven-year-old son Jayden from his two-year relationship with Topshop heiress Chloe Green, which ended in 2019.

But the worldwide fame got tiring for Meeks once random people started snatching up his coveted two visitor's passes allotted per week at the Sacramento County Jail, and arriving unannounced (pictured in 2022)

'And Sacramento is very strict and just a**holes when it comes to visiting,' the Washington State-born heartthrob recalled. 'They're like, "Well, I'm still taking your visit. You can deny it, but I'm still going to take your visit for the week." So now my family can't come because I got f***ing random people coming to see me and it was so frustrating'

Meeks - who scored nicknames like 'prison bae' and 'the blue-eyed bandit' - would plead with the strangers not to come back so he could see his children: 'They're like, "Well, we drove all the way from Tennessee!"'

The Love After Holidays actor recalled: '"I understand that and thank you. But my son's five years old and he doesn't understand why I'm not home and he needs to see me. And so I'm just going to ask that you please don't come back. Write me"'

Meeks welcomed 15-year-old son Jeremy Jr. during his decade-long marriage to nurse Melissa Meeks, which amicably ended in 2018 (pictured in 2024)

The former Crips gangster is also father to seven-year-old son Jayden from his two-year relationship with Topshop heiress Chloe Green (R, pictured in 2018), which ended in 2019

At the time, Meeks was serving 13 months for possession of a firearm and resisting arrest in 2015-2016 following his prior nine-year sentence for grand theft and corporal injury to a child aged 16.

'The hate came from the correction officers [not the other inmates],' the Dutch III: International Gangster actor continued.

'I was very angry with the correctional officers who, you know, they were beating the s*** out of me for a while, different shift changes and [it was jealousy]. There's a lot that I could say.'

Meeks - who boasts 2.2 million social media followers - scored his latest brand ambassadorship last November with the clothing company SAYA, which was dubbed 'Oriental Angels.'
Josh Duhamel has opened up about becoming a father to a little girl.

The Transformers star, 53, and wife Audra Mari, 32, announced earlier this month that they are expecting their second child.

Duhamel married the former beauty queen in 2022 and they are parents to two-year-old son Shepherd. He is also dad to son Axl, 12, with ex-wife Fergie, 50.

The actor recently told Extra's Derek Hough about becoming a 'girl dad': 'I'm just so  I cannot wait to meet her! And I think there's something about dads and their little girls. It's different, you know?'

'Adding a little girl to our story.. We cant wait to meet you,' Mari captioned black and white maternity shoot photos shared online several weeks ago.

Fergie, real name Stacy Ferguson, warmly took to the comments to write: 'Welcome the cuteness!'

Josh Duhamel has opened up about becoming a dad for the third time; pictured in October 2025

The Transformers star, 53, and wife Audra Mari, 32, announced earlier this month that they are expecting their second child, a girl; pictured March 14

Duhamel and Mari announced their engagement in January 2022 via social media after more than two years of dating.

They each shared the same photo of them on a beach as Duhamel held up a piece of paper that said, 'Audra Diane Mari, will you marry me?'

The actor-director captioned the image, 'It's on! She found a message in a bottle that washed ashore and said yes!'

And underneath her post Mari said, 'My heart is so happy.. I love you @joshduhamel.'

Duhamel's engagement announcement received a six-heart emoji 'congrats' from Fergie, whom he divorced in November 2019 after eight years of marriage.

He and the pop star were married from 2009 until their separation in 2017.

'Were just very different,' the Ransom Canyon star said to hosts Lauryn and Michael Bosstick in an appearance on The Skinny Confidential podcast this month. 'She and I just have different views of the world, and thats OK.'

He reflected on the relationship, 'We have a beautiful son.'

Duhamel had nothing but kind words for his ex as he explained that she and his current wife are 'both very different in a lot of ways but both really, really great women.'

He noted, 'Fergie is also very wholesome, believe it or not, especially since she stepped away from it all,' he said about the Black Eyed Peas frontwoman.

Join the discussion Do YOU believe having daughters makes men more emotional?

Duhamel married the former beauty queen in 2022 and they are parents to two-year-old son Shepherd

He is also dad to son Axl, 12, with ex-wife Fergie, 50; They are seen in 2016

The former couple were married from 2009 until their split in 2017; Seen in 2015

Elsewhere in the episode he recalled fearing Mari was 'too young' for him because of their 21-year age gap.

He invited her to a barbecue at his house but initially ruled out dating her because of her age.

'She and I had been in contact because I knew she was from North Dakota, she'd done really, really well in Miss USA [beauty pageant]. I wasn't even inviting her because I wanted to date her, because she was too young for me, to be honest,' he detailed.

'I wasn't looking for [that]. I'm not going to be that dude. So I invited her and she comes to the door and I'm like: 'Holy s***. [She's] so beautiful.'

Duhamel was won over by Mari after seeing the way she interacted with the children at the barbecue, as he recalled she came across as 'really wholesome' and reminded him of 'home.'

'I remember her taking care of these kids at the party, making sure they had enough [to eat] and I was like that reminds me of home and the kind of girl I want to really be with,' he added.

'And I'd gone through a couple of relationships with girls here in LA and it just wasn't the same. There's something really wholesome about it and I think that was when I was like hmm, maybe she's not too young,' he said with a laugh.
Gypsy-Rose Blanchard received substantial backlash over the weekend for a tone deaf TikTok collaboration she did with fellow disgraced influencer Natalie Reynolds making light of the grisly murder of her mother Clauddine 'Dee Dee' Blanchard.

While taking part in the trend 'We listen and we don't judge' last Saturday, the 34-year-old ex-con stated: 'I went to prison for eight and a half years because I [unalived] my own mom.'

When the 23-year-old blonde replied 'Oh my god,' Blanchard snapped: 'Hey, we listen and we don't judge.'

Reynolds' viral video went on to amass 12.5 million views mostly by horrified TikTok users like @brentsenff, who amassed 209,000 likes for commenting: 'We listen and we call a judge.'

It's only been two years since the Life After Lock Up star was released from Chillicothe Correctional Center after serving eight years of a decade-long sentence for the second-degree murder of her abusive mother at age 48.

In 2015, Blanchard gave her online ex-boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn - who has an IQ of 82 - duct tape, gloves and a knife to stab Dee Dee 17 times in the back while she slept in her bed.

Gypsy-Rose Blanchard (L) received substantial backlash over the weekend for a tone deaf TikTok collaboration she did with fellow disgraced influencer Natalie Reynolds (R) making light of the grisly murder of her mother Clauddine 'Dee Dee' Blanchard

The conspiring couple then stole $4,400 in cash from her mother and mailed the murder weapon back to the autistic 36-year-old's home in Wisconsin where they fled by bus.

Godejohn is serving a life sentence without parole at Missouri's Potosi Correctional Center plus an additional 25 years for armed criminal action.

The murder - which they blamed on Dee Dee's undiagnosed Munchausen syndrome by proxy - inspired Hulu's eight-part series The Act and Lifetime movie Love You to Death, both of which were released in 2019.

'I do deeply apologize to anyone who might have been offended by [the comedic TikTok]. That was never my intention,' Blanchard told TMZ on Monday.

'Like, I was not laughing about it. I don't think it's funny to joke about a heavy topic in my past. I apologize because the delivery was wrong on that. I am trying to be my authentic self and if my authentic self is saying, "I did something bad in my past but look at where I am now."

'That's where I'm coming from with it but I would never joke about my past. So I do apologize if it came off too abrasive.'

The aspiring podcaster added: 'This is, like, the first time that I tried something different in a head-on approach. Unfortunately, it wasn't received like we wanted.'

But hours later on TikTok, Blanchard was far less apologetic, declaring 'all together, we did an amazing collab' and people just 'misunderstood' them.

'Some chose to put a negative spin because literally me being on this Earth [irks] their nerves,' the wig-loving vlogger replied to one fan.

Join the discussion Should Gypsy-Rose use her criminal past for online fame, or should some topics stay off-limits?

While taking part in the trend 'We listen and we don't judge' last Saturday, the 34-year-old ex-con stated: 'I went to prison for eight and a half years because I [unalived] my own mom'

When the 23-year-old blonde replied 'Oh my god,' Blanchard snapped: 'Hey, we listen and we don't judge'

Reynolds' viral video went on to amass 12.5 million views mostly by horrified TikTok users like @brentsenff, who amassed 209,000 likes for commenting: 'We listen and we call a judge'

It's only been two years since the Life After Lock Up star was released from Chillicothe Correctional Center after serving eight years of a decade-long sentence for the second-degree murder of her abusive mother (R) at age 48

In 2015, Blanchard gave her online ex-boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn - who has an IQ of 82 - duct tape, gloves and a knife to stab Dee Dee 17 times in the back while she slept in her bed

The conspiring couple then stole $4,400 in cash from her mother and mailed the murder weapon back to the autistic 36-year-old's home in Wisconsin where they fled by bus

Godejohn is serving a life sentence without parole at Missouri's Potosi Correctional Center plus an additional 25 years for armed criminal action

The murder - which they blamed on Dee Dee's undiagnosed Munchausen syndrome by proxy - inspired Hulu's eight-part series The Act and Lifetime movie Love You to Death, both of which were released in 2019

'I do deeply apologize to anyone who might have been offended by [the comedic TikTok]. That was never my intention,' Blanchard told TMZ on Monday. 'Like, I was not laughing about it. I don't think it's funny to joke about a heavy topic in my past' (posted Monday)

She added: 'I apologize because the delivery was wrong on that. I am trying to be my authentic self and if my authentic self is saying, "I did something bad in my past but look at where I am now." That's where I'm coming from with it but I would never joke about my past'

But hours later on TikTok, the aspiring podcaster was far less apologetic, declaring 'all together, we did an amazing collab' and people just 'misunderstood' them: 'Some chose to put a negative spin because literally me being on this Earth [irks] their nerves'

Two months ago, Into the Weeds procured over 100 never-before-seen disturbing video calls between Blanchard and Godejohn through a freedom of information (FOI) request.

'The plan for us if we have a boy first, we're going to protect him and protect our children from the outside world because they can't know about us,' the Louisiana native said as her alter ego Demona in 2015.

'They can't know about you being a vampire. But we're going to protect them and keep them educated on what not to say in front of people and make sure that they understand the severity of keeping this secret.

'And if we have a girl she has to lose her virginity to you because you are the master of the household. So I'm going to have to explain that to her whenever she comes of age where it's time to explain it. Like, when she's seven I won't explain that but around 13 I'll explain.'

Last August, Lifetime canceled Blanchard's reality series Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up following two seasons.

The NY Times bestselling author - who commands $108.90 on Cameo - posts paid partnerships for brands like Bondi Sands Australia, e.l.f. Cosmetics and Avia Leggings.

On the personal front, Blanchard and her fiance of two years - Ken Urker - are proud parents of 14-month-old daughter Aurora Raina Urker.

She surreptitiously rekindled her on/off romance with the 33-year-old bartender in March 2024, which effectively ended her 20-month marriage to ex-husband Ryan Scott Anderson.
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.'

Family makes emotional plea for help in search

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.

'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.

Savannah remains off air as search for mother continues

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.

Mystery suspect captured on camera in disappearance case

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.

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.

Share your thoughts with us in the comments
It's been two years since Gypsy-Rose Blanchard was released from Chillicothe Correctional Center after serving eight years of a decade-long sentence for the second-degree murder of her mother Clauddine 'Dee Dee' Blanchard.

But the 34-year-old ex-con showed no remorse on Saturday as she joined forces with fellow disgraced influencer Natalie Reynolds to make light of the scandal for the TikTok trend 'We listen and we don't judge.'

'I went to prison for eight and a half years because I [unalived] my own mom,' Blanchard said.

When the 23-year-old blonde replied 'Oh my god,' she snapped: 'Hey, we listen and we don't judge.'

Beyond the Meme

In the comments of the tone deaf post, TikTok user @brentsenff got over 209,000 likes for writing: 'We listen and we call a judge.'

TikTok user @langston_dagoat commented 'Um... maybe no...' along with a meme of a horrified face, which earned over 76,000 likes.

'So this is a confession right?' TikTok user @.CELYNE. commented.

TikTok user @itsbrandonmax wrote: 'Call the judge?'

'Nothing funny about this at all,' TikTok user @jennifersynder commented.

In 2015, Blanchard gave her online ex-boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn - who has an IQ of 82 - duct tape, gloves and a knife to stab her abusive mother 17 times in the back while she slept in her bed.

The conspiring couple then stole $4,400 in cash from Dee Dee and mailed the murder weapon back to the autistic 36-year-old's home in Wisconsin where they fled by bus.

Into the Weeds

Godejohn is serving a life sentence without parole at Missouri's Potosi Correctional Center plus an additional 25 years for armed criminal action.

The murder - which they blamed on Dee Dee's undiagnosed Munchausen syndrome by proxy - inspired Hulu's eight-part series The Act and Lifetime movie Love You to Death, both of which were released in 2019.

Two months ago, Into the Weeds procured over 100 never-before-seen disturbing video calls between Blanchard and Godejohn through a freedom of information (FOI) request.

'The plan for us if we have a boy first, we're going to protect him and protect our children from the outside world because they can't know about us,' the Life After Lock Up star said as her alter ego Demona in 2015.

Keeping the secret

'They can't know about you being a vampire. But we're going to protect them and keep them educated on what not to say in front of people and make sure that they understand the severity of keeping this secret.'

'And if we have a girl she has to lose her [expletive] to you because you are the master of the household. So I'm going to have to explain that to her whenever she comes of age where it's time to explain it. Like, when she's seven I won't explain that but around 13 I'll explain.'

Last Monday, Blanchard shared snaps to celebrate her 'first time wearing a two-piece in public' after shedding 35lbs off her petite 4ft11in frame.

The wig-loving vlogger had previously shared video of herself stepping onto a scale which read 108.2 lbs and claimed she lost the weight naturally as 'an adjustment to freedom' without using a trendy GLP-1 agonist drug.

Blanchard and her fiance of two years - Ken Urker - are proud parents of 14-month-old daughter Aurora Raina Urker.

The Louisiana native surreptitiously rekindled her on/off romance with the 33-year-old bartender in March 2024, which effectively ended her 20-month marriage to ex-husband Ryan Scott Anderson.

Last August, Lifetime canceled Blanchard's reality show Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up following two seasons.

The aspiring podcaster - who commands $108.90 on Cameo - posts paid partnerships for brands like Bondi Sands Australia, e.l.f. Cosmetics and Avia Leggings.

Share your thoughts with us in the comments
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.'

Spring Break Under Siege

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.

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.

48 Hours to Obliteration

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.

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.'

Beyond the Middle East

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.

From Defence to Offence

'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.'

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'.

Share your thoughts with us in the comments
Target has imposed a strict new dress code on employees as the struggling retailer tries to win back customers.

It comes just months after the chain upset staff and left shoppers unnerved during the holidays when they rolled out new rules demanding sales assistants smiled more.

Staff were told to smile at customers within 10 feet - and to greet anyone within four - in a push to create a friendlier in-store experience.

Target's front-of-house must now abide by a rigid dress code: they will now be required to wear red shirts with blue jeans or khakis.

This marks a shift from the current rules, which allow employees to wear clothing with graphics or designs on them - as well as non-blue denim.

Employees who opt to wear a company-provided red vest will still be allowed to wear any sleeved shirt underneath.

The move will impact staff across all 2,000 stores when it is rolled out this summer. Workers are up in arms about the change, with many taking to Reddit to complain about the cost of abiding by Target's new dress code.

'In this economy, I barely make enough here to pay rent. I will not be wasting money on a whole new wardrobe for this company,' one user wrote. 'What a waste of resources. Of all things to be worried about right now, THIS is what you choose?'

Target angered staff members and left shoppers unnerved during the holidays when they mandated that all sales assistants plaster smiles on their faces while on the job

The newest demand goes a step further: Target's front-of-house must now abide by a rigid dress code

Michael Fiddelke took over as Target CEO in February

Others argued that if Target wants a more uniform look, it should provide the clothing. 'Part time employees should be given two and full time should be given five,' one staff member wrote.

Another agreed: 'If you worked anywhere else they would provide a uniform if they were going to be this strict.

A different employee wrote: 'Our store has been getting a ton of new "rules" and things we have to follow lately, and leadership has been overbearing, much more than usual.'

'A fellow coworker in my department got told he had to go buy a new shirt or clock out and go home because his shirt was too full of a shade of red, so it could be seen as almost brown,' they added.

'Despite him using that shirt regularly at work for over a year and it never having been a problem.'

The Minneapolis-based retailer says the changes are part of a broader effort to make stores feel cleaner, more organized and easier to shop.

'Target is focused on getting back to growth, with clear strategic priorities that include elevating the guest experience,' a company spokesperson told the Daily Mail. 'As part of that focus, were continuing to create a more consistent, recognizable in-store experience that delights our guests and helps them easily connect with our team.'

New CEO Michael Fiddelke, who took over last month, has pledged to return the company to growth after a prolonged slump.

Target's stock price has fallen more than 50 percent over the past five years - even as rival Costco's has tripled and the total value of Walmart has surged above $1 trillion.

Store workers will be required to wear red shirts with blue jeans or khakis

Earlier this month, Target's new CEO Michael Fiddelke announced plans to draw back shoppers by redesigning stores and offering better products.

'Sales trends have improved in recent months,' said Fiddelke on an early-March conference call.

Fiddelke said Target would win back business with 'wicked fast' same-day delivery

Last month, Target announced plans to eliminate corporate roles as it increases staffing in stores. The change came after customers complained of empty - and messy - shelves and long waits to check out.

The big-box retailer said it would cut 500 positions across distribution centers and regional offices, an internal memo seen by CNBC says.
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When people state that China is a triumph of communism; those people obviously do not know what communism, the Marxist-Leninist version of the communist political ideology, is. By embracing capitalist economic principles and practices, China has essentially dropped most of the ideological philosophy of Mao Zedong, Karl Marx, and Vladimir Lenin.

As the founding figure of the Peoples Republic of China, Mao presided over a revolutionary project rooted in Marxist and Leninist principles, emphasising class struggle, collective ownership (collectivisation), and the eradication of inequality. Yet, looking at modern-day China, it is difficult to ignore the profound transformation that has taken place since his death in 1976.

Many observers argue that the system that now defines China would have been unrecognisable, and perhaps deeply troubling, to Mao himself.

China has abandoned Communism Economy 45 years ago.

Now, China has an Authoritarian government with a Capitalism economy, which is more ruthless than Americas. There are no food banks, food snaps, food stamps in China.

And tens of thousands of young people are becoming https://t.co/wq7u52d0hQ pic.twitter.com/UI9GSLZzoZ  Songpinganq (@songpinganq) November 29, 2025

Of course, todays China does incorporate a totalitarian/authoritarian form of faux communist ideology, but this is invariably intertwined with capitalistic elements, stock markets, billionaires, and the inevitable wealth gaps and inequality that capitalism brings.

Meanwhile over 30 million Chinese peasants are still living in mud huts, without running water, indoor toilets, indoor heating. They are too poor to send their kids to schools. The kids have nothing to do but play dirt..Without education, poverty becomes multi-generational https://t.co/3g5ce4XxcS pic.twitter.com/wPgQ2996UV  Songpinganq (@songpinganq) December 18, 2025

The turning point for China came under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping, who initiated sweeping economic reforms in the late 1970s and early 1980s. These reforms dismantled much of the centrally planned economy and introduced market mechanisms, private enterprise, and foreign investment.

While the Chinese Communist Party retained political control, the economic sphere was increasingly opened to forces traditionally associated with capitalism.

Deng famously justified this shift with a rationalist ethos, suggesting that it did not matter whether a cat was black or white so long as it caught mice. Ideological purity was subordinated in favour of economic performance. It seemed that the Chinese wanted the good things in life as much as the capitalists were enjoying in the rest of the world.

Over the decades, this capitalistic approach has produced extraordinary economic growth. China transformed itself into a global economic powerhouse and the globalists manufacturing hub, where pretty much everything is made cheaply, then transported to the rest of the world and sold for huge profit.

However, this success has also brought consequences that sit uneasily alongside classical Marxist doctrine. The rise of billionaires, vast private fortunes, and powerful corporate interests appears fundamentally at odds with the ideal of a classless society. Wealth disparities between urban and rural areas, as well as between different regions, have widened significantly.

Mao Zedongs vision of China mirrored that of Karl Marxs economic principles that focus on a critique of capitalism, arguing that it relies on the exploitation of the working class (proletariat) by the owner class (bourgeoisie) through the extraction of surplus value.

Key underlying concepts include the labour theory of value, historical materialism, and the inevitable shift toward collective ownership. Marx argued that capitalism forces workers to sell their labour for subsistence wages, alienating them from their work. In modern China, this is very much true, with millions of Chinese workers paid at a very basic subsistence level.

Moreover, the emergence of what some describe as crony capitalism has fuelled concerns about corruption and the concentration of power.

Although the state remains dominant in key sectors, the blending of political authority and private wealth has created an environment in which influence and resources are often closely intertwined. This raises questions about whether the system still reflects the egalitarian aspirations that once defined the revolutionary movement.

From a strictly ideological perspective, the current model is difficult to reconcile with orthodox Marxism-Leninism. Classical theory envisages the eventual abolition of private property and the withering away of class distinctions.

Contemporary China, by contrast, operates a hybrid system in which the state guides and regulates a largely market-driven economy. While the Party continues to invoke socialist rhetoric and maintains tight political control, the lived economic reality for many citizens resembles that of a capitalist society.

China is still far behind the West. Over 30 million peasants are still living in mud huts, Without running water, indoor flushing toilets, indoor heating and paved roads. 35 million rural children are undernourished to the point of facing permanent IQ stunting. https://t.co/rFCDzdVMQI pic.twitter.com/zO0wxeytpf  Songpinganq (@songpinganq) December 9, 2025

The Chinese leadership often argues that its approach represents an adaptation of socialism to national conditions, sometimes described as socialism with Chinese characteristics. For many traditionalists, what the Chinese leadership is doing today is dabbling in greed-fuelled capitalistic behaviour that denigrates and betrays the core philosophy of Mao Zedong and his vision for China.

Inequality is rife, especially in rural areas of China, where poverty is still a major factor of life. Whilst the showcase cities and their lights display wealth, many Chinese people have been left behind. In this respect, the betrayal and desecration of pure Chinese communist ideology is complete. One could even postulate that some European countries, like the UK hold more communistic characteristics, especially with their welfare system and socialist NHS and education systems.

The prominence of private wealth, the persistence of inequality, and the role of profit-driven enterprise are prime examples of this abandonment of communism.

China is not communist; it is a corrupt capitalist dictatorship.
The decision by Derry City and Strabane District Councils Governance and Strategic Planning Committee (GSPC) to defer a decision on the proposed redevelopment of Rosemount Factory has been welcomed by a local residents group.

The Concerned Residents Around Magee (CRAM) campaign said it was now calling for meaningful consultation with local residents before any further decisions are taken.

The group also announced it is hosting a public meeting at 7.00pm, on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 in Brooke Park to discuss the plans for the Rosemount Factory.

Endorsement of the proposed redevelopment of Rosemount Factory, including accommodation for 100 students, will be discussed at Full Council on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.

CRAM said it believed there had not been enough public consultation on the plans for how the factory might be developed and urged people to have their say at the public meeting.

"What happens to the factory will impact everyone in Rosemount but especially those living around it. Whatever your views come along and make your voice heard."

It has also strongly disputed the suggestion there is widespread local support for the proposal to house up to 100 students in the redeveloped building.

Plans for the 5 million redevelopment of Rosemount Factory, including the incorporation of 100-bed student accommodation, were presented to the GSPC on March 3 by Foyleside Developments Limited.

The Committee was told that Glen Development Initiative (GDI) was the lead partner in the community consultation around the future of the Factory, in partnership with The Village Hub and Ballymagroarty Hazelbank Community Partnership.

Councillors Brian Tierney (SDLP) and Shuan Harkin (PBP) voiced concerns about the project and a decision on Council endorsing it was deferred until Full Council on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.

Speaking to The Derry News, a spokesperson for CRAM said: There has been insufficient public debate about the development plans. In addition, the proposal to include accommodation for up to 100 students was not clearly communicated to the community.

Most of the people we have spoken to in the Rosemount area were unaware that the redevelopment proposal included student accommodation, added the spokesperson.

The suggestion by GDI that there had been extensive community engagement is not reflective of the views of local residents.

Some of the meetings that took place were invite-only rather than open to the public and were heavily attended by staff from partner organisations, which created an imbalance between local representatives and project representatives.

The decision to include accommodation for students - a largely transient population - appears to have been taken later without this being clearly communicated to the community.

CRAM would strongly dispute the suggestion that there is widespread local support for the proposal, said the spokesperson, who added that CRAM has also raised questions about the status of the steering group which was previously referenced as part of the redevelopment process.

In reality, residents have received little information about whether the steering group is still active or what role it has played in shaping decisions, said the CRAM spokesperson.

We would argue that the proposal runs contrary to the Magee Taskforces aim that purpose-built student accommodation should be located in or near the city centre. CRAM would ask why this commitment is not being delivered.

We also believe the development would add to existing pressures in the Rosemount area, which already accommodates around 80% of the citys HMO (houses in multiple occupation).

In the context of an ongoing housing crisis, CRAM believes, prioritising accommodation for transient residents risks further destabilising an already pressured residential community.

The redevelopment of Rosemount Factory could generate income through a variety of alternative uses that would better support a stable, long-term residential population, rather than further concentrating student accommodation in the area, said the CRAM spokesperson.

Cllr Shaun Harkin said the claim made during the GSPC meeting that the redevelopment proposals for Rosemount Factory had the backing of SDLP MLAs had not yet been confirmed.

He added that it was a minority (80 out of 700) of those who participated who said they wanted student accommodation in the Factory.

But this is not the only issue, added Cllr Harkin. The owners of the Factory will be handed more than 1 million in profit if the Sinn Fein proposal goes through. That will come from public money, just as the 1.3 million for the Austins building did.

GDI plans to set itself up as a landlord using the profits from the students to buy houses.

I think it is a serious issue for politically aligned and publicly funded community groups to become housing landlords, making decisions about who will get house and who wont in the middle of a housing scarcity crisis, which is only getting worse because of Stormont failure.

To justify this they have been running down social housing. I would have expected community groups to be leading the charge for building more social housing and private rental regulation, not running down the Housing Executive.

There is also the issue of gatekeeping community assets. The examples of this are everywhere, with people feeling and being excluded from access and support. This should not be allowed to happen with the iconic Rosemount Factory.

The Derry News contacted the Glen Development Initiative for comment. At the time of publication, none had been received.
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What it described as an "unacceptable" response to its recommendations on access to GP services has prompted an Assembly Committee to recall of senior officials to address its concerns.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will hear from Department of Health officials at its meeting on Thursday, March 26 March, from 2.10pm to 4.00pm.

The Committee was unanimous in its view that the Department of Healths (DOH) update on progress on the area lacked, "urgency, clarity and credible delivery timelines".

PAC said it would not accept prolonged strategic planning in place of tangible progress.

In February, PACs Chairperson, Daniel McCrossan MLA wrote to Mike Farrar, Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health outlining a number of areas of concern.

In his letter, Mr McCrossan requested that senior officials appear in front of the Committee again, in person, to provide a full account of the Departments position and address Members serious concerns.

In December 2025, a PAC report said the primary care sector was in crisis and there were serious failings in how access to GP services was provided. Following an Inquiry, the Committee published its, Report on Access to General Practice in Northern Ireland which outlined a litany of shortcomings and set out 10 recommendations for change.

The Committees work was informed by extensive evidence from stakeholders and more than 15,000 members of the public who responded to a PAC call for evidence.

The Committees chair, Daniel McCrossan MLA said the evidence it had gathered pointed to a system under significant strain, with serious implications for patients and the wider health service.

Daniel McCrossan MLA said: At our meeting on February 12, the Committee considered an official government reply from the Department of Health to recommendations set out in our report. We were deeply disappointed that it did not reflect the level of urgency that the evidence demanded.

While DOH has formally or partially accepted our recommendations, its response lacks urgency, clarity and credible delivery timelines. In several critical areas, the projected implementation dates extend years into the future - without adequate justification or evidence of meaningful interim action.

Over 15,000 people took the time to share their experiences with this Committee, and Members continue to hear day and daily about the ongoing challenges they face when trying to access their GP. This response makes it clear that the Department does not appreciate the gravity of the crisis and its impact on the public.

Watch here: Home - Northern Ireland Assembly TV
A man has been given a suspended sentence at Derry Magistrate's Court after he threatened his neighbours over a noise issue.

Ryan McShane (48) of Rossess Gate in Derry appeared charged with assaulting a female and threatening to damage property on March 21.

A police officer said he could connect the accused to the charges and said there was a request for a Restraining Order.

The court heard that the defendant lived above the injured party and it appeared that there had been issues about noise.

A police officer told the court that at around 6pm on March 21 police received a report that McShane was banging on a door and threatening to put the windows in.

READ NEXT: Unacceptable response' on access to General Practice prompts Assembly Committee's recall of officials

The injured party told police that the defendant had claimed it was due to noise the night before .

The assault occurred when McShane tried to force entry to the address putting the woman in fear of assault.

Defence counsel Stephen Chapman said that there was 'sone tension' between these residents but that McShane had no intention of carrying out his threats and described the incident as 'a one off'.

McShane was fined 125, given a three month sentence suspended for 12 months and had a Restraining Order imposed for 12 months.
Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Irelands Major Investigation Team, who launched a murder inquiry following the death of a woman in Derry, have officially named the deceased as Amy Doherty.

Amy, aged 28, was found injured in a house in the Summer Meadows Mews area of the city on Saturday morning, March 21.

Detective Inspector Ferguson said: Amy was found, badly injured, at around 10.20am on Saturday. She was taken to hospital by colleagues from the Ambulance Service but, sadly, passed away a short time later.

At 28 years old, Amy was just a young woman. And my thoughts are, first and foremost, with her family and friends at this unimaginably distressing time.

Detective Inspector Ferguson continued: A 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder, and remains in custody at this time.

Our enquiries are continuing, and the local community will continue to see a police presence in the Summer Meadows area over the coming days.

I am appealing to anyone with information to contact us on 101, quoting reference 469 of 21/03/2026.

Alternatively information can be provided, with total anonymity, to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org
The UK Government is still not listening to the warnings from the voluntary sector about the impact of replacing EU funding schemes in Northern Ireland, MPs have said.

In a report, the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee also warned that more support is needed for small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) to encourage economic growth in the region.

In 2023, EU funding to charities and community groups in Northern Ireland from its European Social Fund (ESF) was ended because of Brexit.

It was replaced by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), which will in turn be replaced by the Local Growth Fund.

That new fund has a 70/30 capital-to-revenue split, resulting in funding cuts to the voluntary and community sector and prompting the Executive to write to Communities Secretary Steve Reed calling for a more favourable resource allocation.

Mondays report from the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee follows an inquiry launched to understand how economic growth in Northern Ireland could be enhanced by UK Government economic initiatives.

Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi MP, chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, said one of the keys to economic growth is tackling economic inactivity.

We are frustrated that the Government is still not listening to the warnings from across the voluntary and community sectors about the impact the funding make-up of the new, local growth fund will have on the ability to help people into and stay in work, she said.

Its imperative that the UK Government recognises the clear need for current spending to fund employment support services and either reverses the 70/30 capital-revenue split or support the sector to find the funds elsewhere.

The report also urged the Government to work more closely with the Stormont Executive on economic issues and says that the multiple bodies providing support in different ways may be confusing,

The committee recommends establishing a completely overarching one-stop shop for SMEs to help them invest and grow and take advantage of East-West and North-South trading opportunities.

The report concludes that Northern Irelands productivity and skills challenges are long-standing and well known, and criticises the Executive for failing to grip these problems, as well as chronic issues with inadequate infrastructure and delayed planning decisions.

Ms Antoniazzi said Northern Irelands economy has performed well in recent times but there are still challenges holding it back.

The many central and devolved government economic missions, strategies and support bodies can be bewildering to businesses, while a lack of investment in skills and infrastructure is having a detrimental effect on growth, particularly beyond Belfast.

Economic development is the responsibility of Stormont, and the Executive has been under-performing itself in this area for too long.

But the UK Government cannot afford to ignore these obstacles, given its core mission of kickstarting economic growth right across the UK.

A UK Government spokesperson said the Local Growth Fund will support the delivery of long-term infrastructure to boost economic growth across the UK.

Northern Ireland will receive 45.5 million in each of the next three years, on top of its record 19.3 billion annual funding settlement, they said.

For economic inactivity programme funding, the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive are working together to try and find a way forward that provides organisations with the clarity they need to plan for this year.

We continue to work with the Executive and the sector to reach the best outcome possible by the time the Local Growth Fund begins delivery on 1 April.
The UK Government is dishonouring commitments made on Legacy legislation and there are difficulties and discord in Labour around the protection of veterans, the DUP leader has said.

Gavin Robinson said he believes the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill will not pass this year as Labour MPs do not want it to come through ahead of local elections in England, Scotland and Wales.

All UK police investigations into Troubles-related killings were shut down in May 2024 under the previous Conservative governments Legacy Act, and a new Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) was established.

Labours Bill, agreed as part of a joint framework with the Irish government, will put in place a reformed Legacy Commission with enhanced powers.

Mr Robinson told reporters at Stormont it had been anticipated that the reformed Legacy Bill would be at committee stage on Tuesday, but it now would not be before MPs for at least another month.

The Labour Governments promise to repeal and replace is threadbare, he said.

There has been no focus on prioritising the legacy of Northern Ireland or delivering for victims or for veterans, we are seeing a lack of direction and delay, and it is shameful.

This session will end in about a month or six weeks time and after two years of an extended parliamentary session, this Labour Government will not have delivered on its key promise to Northern Ireland to deal with the legacy of our past, there will have to be a carryover motion.

I dont believe this legislation will pass in 2026, I believe the Legacy Commission will have spent two of their five-year budget before the legislation is even passed, so time is over for delay on legacy.

Mr Robinson stated his belief that the legislation could have been done and dusted by Christmas of last year but there are clearly difficulties and discord within the Labour Government around protection of veterans.

Northern Ireland veterans commissioner David Johnstone previously said that the Governments proposed legislation treats veterans worse than terrorists.

In January, Irish foreign minister Helen McEntee said any significant changes to legislation linked to a joint UK/Irish framework on the Troubles must have the full agreement of both governments, after UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer indicated there may be new protections for military veterans.

The DUP leader said: I do not believe there are people within Labour who want to see this legislation progress in advance of the local elections in England, Scotland or Wales.

There are tensions and complexities within the legislation, as well you know, but Labour are not navigating them well, and they are dishonouring the commitments that they have made to the people of Northern Ireland and those most particularly concerned by the legislation.

A UK Government spokesperson said: We are making significant progress in repealing and replacing the last governments Legacy Act, which was widely rejected across Northern Ireland, including by all the political parties.

In recent months we have reached an unprecedented information sharing agreement with the Irish government and are providing certainty for veterans, with new protections, following the last governments flawed Legacy Act.

We will continue to progress the Troubles Bill, while engaging widely with all those affected to ensure we get this right.

The date for the Bills Committee stage will be announced by the Leader of the House in the usual way.
Police have named the woman who died after being found injured in Co Londonderry at the weekend as 28-year-old Amy Doherty.

On Saturday the PSNI launched a murder investigation after they were called to a property in the Summer Meadows Mews area of Derry and Ms Doherty was found badly injured.

The mother-of-two was taken to hospital where she later died.

A 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder, and remains in custody.

According to Womens Aid, Ms Doherty is the 30th woman in Northern Ireland to be killed since 2020, and the region is consistently flagged as having one of the highest rates of femicide in Europe.

Major Investigation Team detectives, who launched a murder inquiry following the death of a woman in Derry/Londonderry on Saturday 21st March, have named the deceased as 28-yr-old Amy Doherty. Our thoughts are with her family & friends at this time. More: https://t.co/TyLJRNPgp4 pic.twitter.com/ZEI095sYGo  Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) March 23, 2026

Speaking at Stormont on Monday, DUP leader Gavin Robinson said no amount of money is going to change the black hearts of men who commit violence against women.

The Executives Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, introduced in 2024, aims to tackle a culture of misogyny through prevention programmes in schools, stronger protections and support services for victims, and co-ordinated multiagency action to reduce genderbased violence.

Mr Robinson was asked if he felt that strategy was adequately funded.

I dont know just how much money you could ever allocate that would change the heart of any man that would treat a woman that way, he said.

We have a societal problem where some men continue to behave in such an irresponsible, disgraceful, unpalatable way, privately, behind closed doors to women.

Our society has suffered a lot  the Northern Affairs Select Committee, weve been launching our own inquiry, we had (Home Office minister) Jess Phillips before us last week.

In fact, the UK Government took lessons from the Executives programme for ending violence against women and girls, because our Executive was the first to bring forward a plan anywhere on these islands.

But still, there are women in our society who are suffering.

He added: So youre asking me: what can we do? We cannot lose our focus on these issues, but nor can we suggest that an extra 50,000 here or 100,000 there  though Womens Aid needs support  that any amount of money is going to change the black hearts of those who would so callously treat their loved ones in many circumstances, but anyone, the way they do behind closed doors.

In a statement following Ms Dohertys death, Womens Aid NI offered their sincerest, heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, and all those who knew and loved her.

We cannot begin to imagine your pain following Amys death, but please know we stand with you, and you will forever remain in our hearts and thoughts, they said.

Amy is the 30th adult woman to be killed in Northern Ireland since 2020, a devastating statistic that comes merely two weeks after the Fermanagh community also lost Ellie Flanagan.

Twenty-three-year-old Ellie Flanagan was found dead in Enniskillen in early March by officers who were carrying out inquiries relating to a crash on the Carn Road near Tempo.

In a statement on Sunday First Minister Michelle ONeill said she was deeply saddened by the tragic news coming from Derry of the murder of young mother-of-two, Amy Doherty.

In less than three weeks two more young women have lost their lives in heartbreaking circumstances, she said.

Everyone must stand up and tackle the scourge of violence against women and girls.
Philippine broadband provider Converge ICT Solutions inaugurated a new 12MW data centre inaugurated in Angeles City, Pampanga on Friday as it also announced the completion of its national digital infrastructure buildout.

Converge said the Angeles Data Centre has officially finished construction and is ready to house critical infrastructure, both for Converge and onboarding enterprise customers.

The Angeles facility is configured to handle high-performance computing workloads, especially for AI and machine learning. The data centre will also house Converges sovereign cloud infrastructure.

Converge said its initial IT load capacity of 12MW is easily scalable, and will be powered by renewable energy similar to its existing data centres in Clark and Pasig.

Including the new Caloocan Data Centre launched last year, Converge now has four data centres as part of its digital architecture, which also includes nearly 900,000 km of fibre nationwide, three international cable systems (Bifrost, SEA-H2X and C2C-EAC) and two new landing stations in Davao and La Union.

All of this adds up to a fully integrated, future-ready architecture designed to support the company in bringing cutting-edge technologies across sectors, said Converge CEO and Co-Founder Dennis Anthony Uy at the Angeles data centre launch event.

You cannot move into AI, cloud, or advanced tech solutions without a strong digital backbone in place. This is the complete stack digital infrastructure that we have built. This is infrastructure designed for full coverage, reliability, and scale, Uy said. With this advanced infrastructure, Converge is now ready to power the digital journeys of every Filipino and make full use of the latest innovations to drive the nation forward.
Orange Middle East & Africa and Huawei are addressing one of the biggest challenges in African telecoms  delivering reliable connectivity in remote areas  through the deployment of AI-enabled solar-powered base stations.

Speaking at Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona, executives from both companies outlined how a new AI Solar approach is helping tackle issues such as unreliable power infrastructure, harsh environmental conditions and the high operating costs that have historically limited rural network expansion.

The system combines solar power with AI-driven forecasting and energy management tools designed to keep sites operational even during prolonged periods of poor weather  a common challenge for rural towers that rely heavily on solar energy.

Mamadou Coulibaly, Deputy CEO and COO of Orange Cote dIvoire, said maintaining stable power remains one of the biggest operational challenges in rural deployments.

Our key challenge in rural locations is power consumption and keeping these sites working, he said. We have rolled out almost 1,200 sites in rural locations today. With this new collaboration we are able to reduce downtime by around 45%.

According to He Yunru, President of Huaweis SingleRAN Product Line, the AI Solar platform analyses historical traffic data alongside weather forecasts to anticipate both network demand and solar energy availability.

This allows the system to dynamically adjust site operations when energy becomes constrained. Non-essential equipment can be temporarily shut down in stages, ensuring that core services remain operational for longer periods.

In Cote dIvoire, Huawei says the approach has helped reduce outages by nearly 50% without requiring additional battery capacity  typically one of the most expensive components of remote site deployments.

The AI solar solution provides a more resilient network for remote areas, effectively enhancing digital inclusion, bridging the usage gap, and enabling more people to participate in the digital economy.

The central role of AI

For Ben Haidara, Deputy CEO and COO of Orange Middle East and Africa, AI will increasingly play a role not only in powering sites but also across wider network and customer-facing systems.

We will be using AI not only in solar systems but across the entire network, he said, pointing to applications such as zero-touch network management, CRM optimisation and next-best-offer platforms.

Orange Middle East and Africa currently serves more than 170 million customers across 18 countries. Haidara added that expanding connectivity in rural areas is only part of the objective; the longer-term goal is ensuring that digital services  including financial platforms such as super app Max It  deliver tangible benefits to users once connectivity is in place.

By combining AI-driven network management with solar infrastructure, the companies argue that rural sites can become more commercially viable, potentially shortening the traditionally long return-on-investment timelines associated with remote network deployments.

As operators continue to search for sustainable models to expand coverage, the partners say intelligent energy management could play an increasingly important role in extending connectivity to underserved communities across Africa. This digital innovation will further drive growth in key areas of the real economy, such as agriculture, manufacturing, and financial services, enhance social productivity, and facilitate inclusive economic transformation.
Digital infrastructure operator BW Digital announced on Friday that it has successfully landed the Hawaiki Tonga subsea cable in Vavau, giving Tonga extra international capacity as well as needed resilience.

The 383-km cable, which officially landed on March 18, connects Tonga directly to the transpacific Hawaiki Cable linking Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii and Oregon on the US West Coast, with branching units for American Samoa and New Caledonia.

The Hawaiki Tonga cable  which has been in the works since June 2024  was jointly funded by Australia, through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific, and the Government of New Zealand. BW Digital delivered the cable in partnership with the Government of Tonga and Tonga Cable Limited.

In a LinkedIn poston Friday, BW Digital said work is now underway to prepare the system for commercial service in the coming months.

The Hawaiki Tonga cable is Tongas second international subsea connection, and its first direct link to a major transpacific cable system. Up to now, its only source of international subsea capacity has been the Tonga Cable  owned by Digicel Tonga, the Government of Tonga and Tonga Communications Corporation  that connects to Fiji.

The lack of redundancy has made Tonga highly vulnerable to internet disruptions. In January 2022, the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haapai volcano damaged both the Tonga Cable and the Tonga Domestic Cable Extension (TDCE), the island nations sole domestic subsea cable that connects the main island of Tongatapu with the northernmost island of Vava'u.

The TDCE suffered damage again in 2024 due to an earthquake.
Late last week saw the opening of what is described as the largest commercial space component and sub-systems manufacturing site on the African continent.

NewSpace Systems (NSS), a leading multinational spacecraft systems manufacturer and Africas largest exporter of space-utilised hardware, officially opened its new 5,200 square metre manufacturing hub in Somerset West, South Africa last Thursday.

The purpose-built facility is designed to meet the high-volume production requirements of modern satellite constellations. NSS currently supports the majority of commercial spacecraft manufacturers globally.

Since breaking ground on the advanced facility in October 2024 the company has focused on scaling its guidance, navigation and control (GNC) product lines.

Its growth has been fuelled by the rapid expansion of low Earth orbit (LEO) constellations. The companys products, ranging from sun sensors to reaction wheels, currently fly on spacecraft weighing up to six tons.

As well as its vast footprint, the new Somerset West hub features a 1,260 square metre state-of-the-art Cleanroom that is ISO 14644-1 certified; a 120 square metre dedicated engineering lab for R&D; Helmholtz coil calibration areas for magnetically sensitive hardware; dark rooms for optical testing; thermal/vibration testing zones; and assembly lines for repeatable, high-precision manufacturing.

Following the successful opening of phase one, NSS, which is headquartered in South Africa with offices in the US, UK and New Zealand, plans to integrate thermal vacuum (TVAC) testing capabilities into the facility shortly. This will allow for end-to-end environmental qualification on-site.

The company is also developing its next generation of intelligent subsystems, which will feature built-in diagnostics and AI-driven capabilities to meet the evolving requirements of the 2027-2030 launch manifest.

Every unit produced meets IPC (Institute for Interconnecting and Packaging Electronic Circuits) and/or ECSS (European Cooperation for Space Standardisation) standards and is manufactured in a production environment designed to ensure traceability, consistency and uncompromising quality.

The purpose-built hub is designed to support the rapidly growing global demand for flight-proven, high-precision hardware used on satellites and constellations, further strengthening Africas role in the international space supply chain.

With this new facility, NSS says it is also establishing one of the most advanced commercial spacecraft component manufacturing hubs in the Southern Hemisphere.
Developing Telecoms was pleased to meet up with senior representatives from Orange Liberia, ZTE and the ITU during MWC 2025. We were there to learn more about how a key project employing ZTEs Rural EcoSite technology is providing reliable and affordable connectivity and driving digital inclusivity, by enhancing rural coverage in underserved regions of Liberia.
With the introduction of the Samsung Galaxy S26 series and the One UI 8.5 update, Samsung has introduced a variety of new features. These new updates have put a lot of focus on the connectivity-related upgrades, as the company has a bunch of features that enhance the ecosystem connectivity. Most recently, though, Samsung has introduced support for using Quick Share with Apples AirDrop. This allows users to share files between their Samsung phones and Apple devices without the need for any third-party tools or services. Lets quickly take a deep dive into how you can use the feature on your Galaxy S26 Ultra and other supported Samsung devices.

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Also Read: Samsung Galaxy S26 series gets AirDrop support: Here is how it works

How to use AirDrop data transfer on Samsung: Step-by-step guide

File transfer between Android devices and Apple devices isnt new, as previously Google introduced support for the same on their Pixel 10 devices. Though the feature doesnt work in the same way, users would have to enable support for it manually first.

Follow the steps mentioned below to enable the feature:

First up, go to the settings menu on your Samsung Galaxy S26 series device.

In there, visit the Connected Device page, which should be at the top of the menu.

Once inside, youll see the option for Quick Share; tap that button.

Scroll down below, and there should be a new feature called Share with Apple device.

Go to the page, and just tap the enable button.

Once done, you will now be able to use the AirDrop data transfer feature on your Samsung Galaxy S26 series device.

Now every time you want to transfer a file to a nearby Apple device, you can simply click on a file and use the Samsung Quick Share. In there, youll be able to see all your Apple devices that have AirDrop running. Both sharing and receiving data are supported via this feature.

AirDrop data transfer on Samsung: Eligible devices

As per the official Samsung blog post, the update has started rolling out on the latest S26 series. This includes the Galaxy S26 Ultra, the Galaxy S26+, and the base Galaxy S26. The feature is currently available in South Korea only, but it will expand to other regions too. These include Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, Latin America, North America, Southeast Asia, and Taiwan.

Samsung also announced that support for older Galaxy devices will be released later. Though they havent announced any release timeline for the updates so far. Safe to say, users of previous models have to wait a while before they can share files with their friends on iPhone.

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Foldable smartphones have improved a lot over the past few years, but battery life is still one area where many users want to see better performance. Latest leaks about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 suggest that Samsung might finally be planning a noticeable upgrade in this department. The next-generation foldable from Samsung is still months away from launch, but reports have already revealed what you can expect from the device. Here is everything we know so far.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 features and specifications (Expected)

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is rumoured to pack a 5,000mAh battery. If this information turns out to be true, it would be a notable improvement compared to the battery capacity found in the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. Charging speeds may also see an upgrade. The device is rumoured to support 45W or possibly even 60W fast charging.

When it comes to the display, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is expected to feature an 8-inch AMOLED main screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. The panel could also offer peak brightness of up to 2,600 nits.

On the outside, the phone might include a 6.5-inch cover display that also supports a 120Hz refresh rate. Reports suggest that this outer screen could be protected by Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2.

Also read: Samsung Galaxy S26 series gets AirDrop support: Here is how it works

Performance-wise, the foldable is rumored to run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor. The device could be paired with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of internal storage, which should provide enough power for multitasking, gaming, and productivity tasks.

For photography, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 may feature a triple rear camera setup. This could include a 200MP primary camera, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 10MP telephoto camera. On the front, the phone is expected to house a 10MP camera for selfies and video calls.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 launch timeline and price (Expected)

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is expected to launch in the second half of 2026, possibly in July. In terms of pricing, the foldable flagship could arrive in India with a price between Rs 1,85,000 and Rs 1,95,000.

Also read: Best Phones Under 30000
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busy street in Dublin while shouting 'Allahu Akbar' told detectives he was inspired by the founder of Isis, Musab al-Zarqawi, and had pledged his allegiance to the terrorist organisation. A self-described jihadist who set fire to a pub owned by Conor McGregor and later stabbed a garda on awhile shouting 'Allahu Akbar' told detectives he was inspired by the founder of Isis, Musab al-Zarqawi, and had pledged his allegiance to the terrorist organisation.

A sentencing hearing at the three-judge Special Criminal Court also heard that 24-year-old Abdullah Khan, who describes himself as a Salafi jihadist, is part of a "wider group of people of a like-minded mindset".

Giving evidence this Monday, Det Inspector Gavin Ross of the Garda Special Detective Unit said an investigation is ongoing with lines of inquiry still open.



He said that statements made to gardai by Khan's associates are also the subject of ongoing investigations.

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Khan's defence counsel, Michael Bowman SC, suggested that there may be others who are "operating in the shadows" and preferred to have Khan, who has a history of social isolation, depression and paranoia, operating in broad daylight.



Det Insp Ross said that when Khan was asked for the motivation behind his crimes, he said he wanted to send a message to Mr McGregor and others with a "right-wing mindset" not to insult the prophet Muhammed.

He said he was angry that the State allowed people to insult the prophet and attacked the garda to show his anger and make his protest known.



He said he had listened to speeches by al-Zarqawi, who was killed in 2006, and was inspired by them. He said he found al-Zarqawi "charismatic" and his message resonated with him.



Khan, with an address in Dublin that cannot be published due to a court order, previously pleaded guilty to eight charges. He was charged that on July 25, 2025, at the Black Forge Inn, Drimnagh Road, Dublin 12, he committed arson by pouring petrol on the front door of the pub and lighting it with a match.



He was charged that four days later, on July 29, 2025, at Capel Street, he assaulted Garda Gary Lynch causing him harm and attempted to assault Garda Patrick Nevin.

He was further charged with producing a knife during the same incident and two counts of endangerment, in that he intentionally or recklessly engaged in conduct which created a substantial risk of death or serious harm to the two gardai.



Khan was further charged with two counts of engaging in terrorist activity or terrorist-linked activity on the dates of each offence.



Detective Sergeant Liam McLoughlin told the sentencing hearing that Garda Lynch and Garda Nevin were on foot patrol near Little Britain Street in Dublin city when Khan ran up behind them carrying a knife and stabbed Garda Lynch in the arm while shouting 'Allahu Akbar'.

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The gardai put distance between themselves and their attacker as he continued to wield the knife and tried to move towards them. They used their 'ASP' batons and pepper spray and a member of the public brought Khan to the ground before the two gardai moved in to arrest.



Garda Lynch suffered two lacerations to his arm that required stitches and nerve damage that required surgery. In a victim impact statement handed into court, the garda described his "shock and disbelief" that there was nothing he could do to prevent such a violent attack. He described ongoing pain, discomfort and stress.



During his first interview following his arrest, Khan immediately admitted to setting fire to Mr McGregor's pub four days earlier, saying it was "better to get that over with now than have it come back to me later."



Khan said he came from a professional family but when he had issues with his mental health, he resisted their efforts to find help and he became homeless for some months prior to the offences.

Detective Inspector Ross told prosecution senior counsel Gerardine Small SC that the Special Detective Unit (SDU) became involved due to the concern that Khan had been radicalised by Islam. The use of the term, Allahu Akbar and an attack on police was similar to terrorist attacks elsewhere in Europe, he said.



In his first interview with the SDU, Khan said it was "undeniable" that what he had done was terrorism. He later explained that from the age of 18 he had started listening to people like al-Zarqawi online and his beliefs progressed in his early 20s.

Detective Inspector Ross said Salafi Jihadism is a puritanical and literal interpretation of Muslim law that was adopted by Isis. In his interviews, Khan referenced the four core principles of Salafi, including a rejection of man-made laws and the ability to declare those who do not follow the religion as apostates and legitimate targets. His beliefs removed prohibitions on attacking members of the security forces in any country where the State does not follow a literal interpretation of the Koran, the inspector said.



Detective Inspector Ross said that when it became more difficult to visit Isis territory in Iraq and Syria, the leaders of the movement declared that individuals could take responsibility for their own jihad wherever they lived. During his garda interviews, Khan declared his support for Isis ideology, saying he had a love for them and had pledged his allegiance to the organisation.



Khan spoke of being motivated by insults against the prophet by "people with a right-wing mindset" and said he was angry at the Irish State. He described such insults as "outrageous and unacceptable" and said they made him sad and angry. He said Mr McGregor had helped the far-right to grow in Ireland so he held him responsible for the insults.



He said he wanted McGregor to know that he was "playing dangerous games". He added: "When it comes to the prophet, we don't see it as a matter of freedom of speech." He said insults to the prophet are always provocative and there is a "duty on the state anywhere in the world" to denounce such insults.



When he attacked Garda Lynch, he said he did not expect his victim to die, but he wanted to "injure him to make the point".

He added: "This was a message to the Irish government that if, under the name of free speech, you insult our prophet, there will be people who are angry."

In mitigation, Mr Bowman asked the court to consider his client's early guilty plea and his admissions to gardai. He said his client was in a "state of mental crisis" and apologises to his victims.

Mr Bowman said his client is the youngest of six siblings and had a "difficult period" in Pakistan after being taken there by his father. He was socially isolated on his return, counsel said, and later his mental health deteriorated as he became withdrawn, paranoid and depressed.

Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, presiding, commended the bravery of the two gardai who arrested Khan. She adjourned sentencing to April 20 and remanded Khan in continuing custody.
Louth Fine Gael Councillor John Reilly, who says he is also a small farmer in Faughart, and who previously worked in the oil industry, has passionately called on the Government to urgently overhaul the VAT and tax policies surrounding Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) biofuel.

Cllr Reilly emphasised that HVO is a proven, low-emission, drop-in replacement for diesel and is capable he said, of reducing greenhouse gases by up to 90%, according to several independent industry assessments.

The Dundalk-Carlingford councillor shared that Louth County Council is already leading the way by switching to HVO biofuel for its operations. This early adoption he said, highlights the pressing need for the Government to realign its tax policies with Irelands environmental goals.

As a small farmer, this is the busiest and most fuel-dependent time of the year, Cllr Reilly told the Dundalk Democrat. Ploughing, sowing, and preparing the land, demand long hours and significant fuel. Having spent years in the oil sector, I know the current fuel tax system  and right now, it penalizes farmers who choose cleaner, greener fuel.

Cllr Reilly said that under current VAT rules, farmers using HVO face a hefty 23% VAT, while traditional green diesel is taxed at just 13.5%.

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Its illogical that the cleanest fuel is taxed the most. Farmers are urged to reduce emissions, but when they try, theyre hit with higher costs, Cllr Reilly pointed out.

He highlighted that while sectors like haulage, logistics, local authorities, and emergency services are quickly adopting HVO, Irish farmers are being left behind due to outdated tax policies.

With Ireland facing a looming fuel supply challenge, its critical that duties and VAT are reviewed immediately, he urged.

Farmers are already battling rising costs, and yet, for choosing a fuel that can cut emissions by 90%, they face the highest VAT rates.

Cllr Reilly called on the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Agriculture to take action by:

- Lowering the VAT rate on HVO for farmers.

- Introducing incentives to help farmers switch to cleaner fuels.

- Ensuring farmers arent penalized financially for reducing emissions.

He added, If the Government truly wants to lead on climate action in agriculture, it cannot continue to treat the cleanest fuels as luxury products. This policy must change, now, he insisted.
A man who was arrested in connection with ongoing investigations into criminal activity in West Cork has appeared in the district court where he was charged with one count of handling stolen property.

David Hill, aged 29, of Dunscullib, Leap, Co Cork, appeared before Judge Joanne Carroll at Bandon District Court.

Giving evidence of arrest, charge, and caution, Detective Garda Martin Bohane said that he arrested the accused at 3pm on March 19, 2025, and Hill replied: I didnt know it was stolen at the time when the charge of handling stolen property was put to him.

Det Gda Bohane said that Hill was charged with handling stolen property, namely a Milwaukee brand inch drive gun valued at 1,500. Det Gda Bohane said that the arrest was connected to ongoing investigations in West Cork, and gardai were not objecting to bail subject to certain conditions being met.

Solicitor Plunkett Taaffe, acting as agent for solicitor Killian McCarthy, said that the conditions sought for bail had been agreed. Judge Carroll said she would grant bail on condition that Hill surrender his passport and EU travel card, and does not apply for another.

He was also ordered to provide a mobile phone number where he could be contacted and to sign on at Clonakilty Garda Station on Wednesdays between 8am and 8pm.

The judge also ordered Hill to abstain from intoxicants in public, not to have any contact with witnesses or alleged injured parties, either directly or indirectly, and also to abstain from all social media communications except with immediate family members.

An independent surety bond was also provided by Hills mother of 500 in addition to Hills own bond of 100.

He was remanded on continuing bail to appear again at Skibbereen District Court on May 26, 2026.
Shining a laser from the balcony of an apartment into the cockpit of a helicopter which was involved in a search of the River Lee for a missing person resulted in a 35-year-old man confessing to the crime today.

Barrister Elaine Audley confirmed at Cork District Court that Daniel Kazirodek with an address at an apartment at 29/30 Lower John Street, Cork, had signed a plea of guilty to the charges against him in respect of an incident after midnight on October 18, 2023.

On the application of Sergeant Aisling Murphy, Judge Mary Dorgan sent the case forward for sentencing at the sessions of Cork Circuit Criminal Court commencing on April 27.

Judge Dorgan previously said the case was too serious to be dealt with at district court level.

It is far too serious. The fact that a helicopter was looking for a missing person and I must also take into consideration that it happened twice and that it is alleged that the helicopter had to be stood down  apart altogether from the safety of the helicopter, Judge Dorgan said.

Search

Sergeant John Kelleher outlined the allegations in the case: During this search a request was made of the Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 117 to assist in the search from Waterford.

At approximately 00.15am the crew of 117 reported a green laser being pointed into the cockpit of the helicopter and the search operations had to be suspended.

At approximately 1.55am the crew in Rescue 117 reported a second laser strike in the helicopter.

The camera operative had observed a male standing on a balcony shining the laser at the aircraft. Search operations were again suspended and gardai were guided to the location of the laser,"! said Sgt Kelleher.

With the assistance of the Irish coastguard the address of a second floor apartment with a balcony at 29/30 Lower John Street was identified. Gardai were invited into the address by Mr Kazirodek who was highly intoxicated.

A search warrant was subsequently obtained for his apartment and it was subsequently searched. He handed Sergeant Colin Dowling a box containing a number of different attachments for a laser. He said he discarded the actual laser by throwing it into a nearby factory."

The charge under the State Airports (Shannon Group) Act 2014 states that on October 17, 2023 at Lower John Street, Cork, the accused man did deliberately and recklessly shine a laser in the direction of an Irish Coast Guard Aircraft so that the light may dazzle, distract or confuse the pilot or person in the performance of their duties.
Caught rotten, was how a district court judge referred to the arrest of a man with a homemade balaclava, gloves and a crowbar at the scene of a break-in to a pub in Cork in the early hours of Saturday.

Garda Laura Prenderville testified that 48-year-old David OBrien, of 15 Maple Place, Togher, Cork, was arrested and brought before Cork District Court.

There was an objection to bail being granted to the defendant, who was charged with carrying out a burglary at Flannerys of Glasheen, Cork.

Garda Prenderville alleged there was a break-in at the premises after 2.30am on March 21, where a crowbar was used to force open a side door.

Gardai arrived at the scene in response to the alarm. Garda Prenderville testified a man was found upstairs trying to open the till.

The evidence given by Garda Prenderville was that the man was carrying a crowbar and was wearing gloves and a hat pulled down over his face, with cut-outs for the eyes.

The defendant said he was attending for treatment for drug and gambling addictions and said to Judge Mary Dorgan: It is treatment I need at the moment and not custody. David OBrien applied for bail through his solicitor Frank Buttimer, but Judge Mary Dorgan refused bail and remanded him in custody until March 30.

Judge Dorgan said: He was caught with a crowbar, a balaclava and gloves so he was caught rotten allegedly committing this offence.
Before moving to Cork in 2009, I first fell in love with traditional music in America about 25 years ago.

Growing up around the Boston area, there was no shortage of traditional music and Irish cultural influence.

Traditional music felt deeply historic and viscerally meaningful. It held everything; love, grief, power, nature, renewal, survival, loss. All the same stuff poets hope and dream of.

Traditional music seemed to span the full spectrum of human emotion, from joy and playfulness to mysteries and depths I didnt yet understand as a teenager.

My early impression was that traditional music (especially sessions and festivals) was more communal and welcoming than other musical forms or genres. I was probably a little naive. Like any art form, trad music has its share of egos, hierarchies, and competition. But it still felt communal to me, and I threw myself into it.

I learned the flute by ear, playing along to CDs, recording sessions on a tape recorder (this was before YouTube and online learning was a thing!) Some websites like www.thesession.org helped me track down tunes and find session locations to play and connect with other like-minded people in the real world.

My entry into traditional music felt easy. I didnt put pressure on myself, and furthermore, had no notion of becoming a really good flute player. I simply wanted to learn a few tunes and sit quietly on the edge of a session without drawing attention to myself.

But, apparently, if you learn a tune a week and keep going for over 20 years, one day youll wake up to realise youre a traditional musician. Im still at it all these years later, and thankfully with much more company than when I first started.

When I first moved to Ireland, I was surprised to hear so many people say they had always wanted to learn traditional music, but never felt able. I had met beginners from all over the world - Americans, Canadians, Japanese, Germans - who threw themselves into learning trad music. Surely, living in Ireland, surrounded by sessions, festivals, TG4, and a rich musical heritage, people would feel entitled to take part?

Yet I still regularly hear comments like, I learned a bit in school, but its too late now, or Im not from a musical family, or Id love to, but I wouldnt be able for all that.

From years of teaching and playing, my sense is that many people would love to engage with traditional music. They just seem blocked, not knowing where to begin.

Even for those who can already play a handful of tunes, pub sessions can feel intimidating. While seemingly open and social, many sessions in Cork city (and all over) are fast-paced, high-energy spaces with their own unspoken rules and etiquette. Often, theyre led by experienced musicians who are paid to keep the music lively. Sessions are often brilliant, vibrant occasions, but theyre not the easiest environment for a newcomer or returning player to find their footing.

Classes and workshops can be a great starting point. There are excellent opportunities across the city, including various branches of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann in Douglas, Glanmire and Ballincollig, as well as community groups like Club Ceoil Ballyphehane, Blarney and Knocknaheeny. But even finding that pathway can be a challenge if youre starting from scratch.

Theres also another large cohort of musicians out there who just need an outlet. So many amateur musicians are perhaps too experienced for classes, but not quite up to performance tempo for Sin-e or the Corner House. And this is where I suggest people should come check out Feile Fearann Ri.

Established in 2023, this small but growing traditional and folk festival on the northside of Cork city is built on a partnership between Creative Tradition, Music Generation Cork City, local schools, and community groups.

The Feile was founded to bring communities and different generations together, and offer a space where newcomers can collaborate with stellar guest artists, like Liam O Maonlai, Muireann Nic Ambhlaoibh, Donal O Connor, and John Spillane.

With a variety of formal, informal concerts, sessions, and workshops available, the festival was designed to cater to learners and established musicians of all ages and abilities.

The 4th annual festival from March 25-28 is set to welcome Clare Sands as our guest artist. Her original, vibrant artistry combines powerful fiddle playing and bilingual songwriting and will truly bring something fresh to this years festivities.

Over the past few months, groups across the northside have been preparing to collaborate with her, and it promises to be a vibrant and uplifting few days.

That being said, the Feile isnt just for those already involved in Farranree. There are free workshops, open sessions, and informal events open to the public. You dont need to be an expert. You dont even need to play! Listening and coming for the craic is important too!

Traditional music doesnt belong to a select few. Its a living, evolving practice that grows when more people take part. You dont need permission to begin. But if youve been waiting for an invitation, here it is!

The full programme is at www.creativetradition.ie/feile. The festival is supported by Music Generation, Cork City Council, Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaion, and the Department of Education and Youth.
Advanced fertility treatments at Sims IVF Cork in Mahon Point include egg donation and genetic testing for couples and individuals who want to build a family. The Sims IVF brand has been in operation since 1997, initially opening in Dublin, and now with clinics nationwide. It is at the forefront of assisted reproductive technology, offering advanced fertility treatments for people facing fertility challenges. They also provide assisted human reproduction (AHR) services to the LGBTQ+ community and solo women.

At Sims IVF, advanced fertility treatment means combining pioneering science with truly personalised care. For patients who need more specialised support, options such as egg donation and genetic testing can open new possibilities on the path to parenthood. From carefully matched donor programmes to preimplantation genetic testing that provides valuable insights before implantation, these treatments are delivered by experienced fertility specialists using the latest laboratory technologies.

The goal is simple: to maximise success, reduce uncertainty, and give every patient the confidence that they are receiving world-class fertility care tailored to their unique journey. Sims IVF Cork is proud to offer advanced fertility care to patients of Munster and beyond.

Nurse manager at Sims IVF Cork, Amanda Aher, says the clinic is very proud that it offers the most affordable egg donation package that you can get in Ireland.

Using donor eggs, also known as egg donation, is one of the most successful fertility treatments available when a woman has difficulty conceiving with her own eggs. In this process, another woman donates her eggs to help someone else have a baby. The donated eggs are fertilised with either partner or donor sperm in a laboratory to create embryos.

A woman may need donor eggs to conceive if her own eggs are not suitable. This can happen due to age, early menopause, certain medical treatments like chemotherapy, genetic conditions, or surgeries that affect the ovaries. There is also a cohort of older women with age-related infertility who would be looking for egg donation.

Sims IVF provides two egg donation packages for patients requiring donor eggs to conceive. The first package is for six oocytes, costing 7,900, with an expectation of having one blastocyst for transfer. Our eight oocyte package costs 9,900 and we would expect to have two blastocysts for transfer, says Aher.

The treatment costs reflect the expense of the technology, the clinic space and the world class level of professional expertise from doctors, nurses and well-qualified clinicians.

Sims IVF is linked with Next Fertility in Faro, Portugal. There is no travelling involved for prospective parents. Everything is done onsite at the Sims Clinics. There is a success rate of approximately 60 per cent.

Aher acknowledges that the decision to go down the egg donation route is a very big one. To help support those on their journey, patients must undergo counselling looking at the implications of the outcome of the treatment prior to commencing their treatment.

Aher, who has been working at Sims IVF for 10 years, currently manages a team of 10 nurses. She specialised in midwifery. Ive always had an interest in womens health. Fertility is a good branch of that. Its a privilege to be able to support women and couples on their fertility journey. Its a really lovely job. Fertility treatment is now spoken about openly, whereas before, it was often seen as a taboo subject. More celebrities are talking about it, and theres more knowledge out there.

Theres definitely an increase in egg freezing. Mainly, single patients come in to us for stimulation of their ovaries in order to gather eggs. We freeze those eggs for use at a later date. It could be a single woman who is focusing on her career or studying and has no immediate plans for children but may want the option in the future. She can come back in a couple of years and use the eggs either with her partners sperm or donor sperm. There is no time limit for freezing the eggs. They can be frozen indefinitely.

Sims IVF has recently launched Egg Freezing Ireland. Egg Freezing Ireland has been created to empower individuals to make proactive, informed decisions about their reproductive health without the pressure of a biological clock.

Fertility preservation through egg freezing offers women the opportunity to help safeguard their future options, giving them peace of mind, flexibility, and confidence as life unfolds.

It is recommended that eggs be frozen under the age of 35. Theres a decline in egg quality after 35. It drops further after 38. The younger the patient is, the better the quality of the eggs. Also, after 35, there is a decline in the number of eggs produced.

Dr Sarah Pace is the laboratory manager at Sims IVF clinic in Cork. A clinical scientist with a doctorate in molecular cell biology, she is one of five working in the Cork clinic laboratory. From the UK originally, where she worked for the NHS, Dr Pace moved to Ireland 12 years ago.

She says the patients she meets are well-informed about fertility treatment. We do patient open mornings and information evenings, explaining the technology in the laboratory and the different treatments. Dr Pace brought the preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) programme into the Sims Clonskeagh clinic when she started working there.

PGT is a laboratory test used during in vitro fertilisation (IVF) to check embryos for certain genetic or chromosomal conditions before they are placed in the uterus. A few cells are carefully taken from each embryo and analysed to identify abnormalities that could affect implantation, lead to miscarriage, or cause inherited disorders. PGT helps doctors select embryos with the best chance of developing into a healthy pregnancy, giving patients more information and confidence during the fertility process.

Its one of those areas that is still growing and developing. Certainly, for a lot of patients, its a very positive tool that we can offer. PGT looks at the number of chromosomes in the embryo. It allows us to determine whether an embryo is considered genetically normal, or has an incorrect number of chromosomes which may mean the embryo is not viable, or have a condition such as Edwards syndrome. In addition, our sister clinic in Dublin has the ability to perform additional PGT testing, which can look in more detail at diseases and conditions that can be passed from parents to children.

For Dr Pace, her job is made more interesting by the fact that patients often have done their research before they come into the clinic. Sims IVF provides a range of resources to help educate patients and help them to understand more about fertility.

What of the future for fertility clinics? There are a lot of scientific papers talking about AI. They are asking if AI can help improve embryo selection and how we can improve the way we stimulate patients using AI. But AI is not going to replace embryologists. Its role is to support decision-making. Backed by science, Sims IVF Clinic is helping people to fulfil a momentous decision of their lives  creating new life. Sims IVF has been creating parents since 1997. If youre starting your journey to parenthood or taking the next step, talk to the team trusted by families across Ireland.

Speak to the fertility specialists today. Learn more at sims.ie

sims.ie
Dr. S. Keith Hargrove, Sr. was elected the 8th chancellor of Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) on May 15, 2025, by the University of North Carolina Board of Governors following a national search and nomination by UNC System President Peter Hans. Hargrove brings more than three decades of leadership, teaching, and research experience in higher education and industry, with service at three historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Previously, Hargrove served as immediate past provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Tuskegee University, where he led the implementation of a five-year strategic plan that resulted in a 10% increase in enrollment for consecutive years and improved graduation rates. His tenure also included the development of a new aviation program and a data science initiative. Were only as great as we allow ourselves to be. Learn more
The Federal Communications Commission has released a notice today designating any consumer routers manufactured outside the US as a security risk. The rule states that new foreign-made product models for network routers will land on the Covered List, a set of communications equipment seen as having an unacceptable risk to national security. Previously purchased routers can still be used and retailers can still sell models that were approved by the prior FCC policies. In an exception to the usual rule, routers included on the Covered List can continue to receive updates at least through March 1, 2027, although the date could potentially be extended.

The move stems from a goal in the White House's 2025 national security strategy that reads: "the United States must never be dependent on any outside power for core componentsfrom raw materials to parts to finished productsnecessary to the nations defense or economy." The notice from the FCC states that companies can apply for conditional approval for new products from the Department of War or the Department of Homeland Security. However, that requires the businesses to provide a plan for shifting at least some of their manufacturing to the US in order to receive that conditional approval.

Few, if any, brands known for consumer-grade routers currently build products stateside. It seems likely this sweeping provision could face legal challenges from and cause confusion for the many companies that have production facilities overseas. In addition to Chinese tech giants like TP-Link, US companies will also be affected. NetGear, Eero and Google Nest are all headquartered domestically but have manufacturing in Asia. At least some of that manufacturing activity happens in regions like Taiwan that have historically been on good terms with the US. Until the sector sorts out this new restriction, don't expect to see any new router models on store shelves.
As Google promised, Apple AirDrop sharing is expanding to more Android devices. Samsung announced today that its Galaxy S26 Series is getting AirDrop support through the Quick Share feature.

Google first introduced the Quick Share feature on its Pixel 10 phones last year and, in February, shared plans to increase the number of devices included. The setting allows Android users to send and receive photos and files from an Apple device, much like two Apple users do with AirDrop. To get media from an iPhone, Android users need to turn visibility settings onto "everyone for 10 minutes."

Starting tomorrow, March 23, Samsung will begin rolling out this AirDrop support in Korea. It should then expand to areas such as North America, Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, and Latin America. Once again, Samsung states that additional devices should be able to get AirDrop compatibility soon.
Prince William has stirred discussion over his personal religious beliefs after sources revealed he maintains a 'quiet faith' despite his future role as Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

A source close to the Prince told The Sunday Times that William feels, "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."

The disclosure comes ahead of the installation of Dame Sarah Mullally as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury this Wednesday. The Prince's measured approach has drawn mixed reactions.

Conservative churchman the Revd Marcus Walker commented on William's reported beliefs, telling the Daily Mail, "God will find William by the time he is on the throne. Elizabeth I said we should not make windows into men's souls, but wherever Prince William is on his journey, I'm sure God will find him."

Walker emphasized the private nature of spiritual development, stating, "Where a person is on their faith journey is a delicate matter. The Prince has been honest, and I think that's a good thing. He knows his duties and his responsibilities. Hopefully there's a long time before he is Supreme Governor of the Church of England."

However, not all responses have been supportive. Christian Calvin Robinson, a right-wing broadcaster, was worried about the Prince's quiet religious expression. He said, "Now is not the time for 'quiet faith'."

Supporters say that William's approach shows how public figures today view faith, putting honesty above show. A person close to the prince said that his "quiet faith" shows that he is committed to the Church without needing to show it off in public. He wants to build "a strong and meaningful bond with the Church and its leadership."

The announcement's timing is noteworthy, considering its implications for the Church of England today. The discussion above points to the changing views of tradition and gender within the church's hierarchy.

The discussion above also points to the need to take a closer look at the role of religious beliefs on the lives of the royal family.

Some views suggest that personal religious practices lead to a greater and more enduring connection to religious responsibilities. Other views point to the role of more visible religious practices.

Prince William's relatively understated recognition, however, has sparked considerable public discussion, thereby underscoring the ongoing scrutiny of the royal family's individual beliefs, particularly as he prepares for the future responsibilities associated with kingship.
Jason Momoa joined thousands of residents in evacuating Oahu's North Shore after historic flooding struck the Hawaiian island, forcing families from their homes and leaving communities struggling.

The 46-year-old actor, known for his roles in "Aquaman" and "Game of Thrones," shared updates on social media, reassuring fans that he and his family were safe despite losing power during the storms.

"We're safe for now but there's a lot of people who weren't, so sending all of our love," Momoa wrote on Instagram.

According to US Magazine, the actor described the North Shore as "pretty gnarly right now," urging residents to stay safe as heavy rains and flooding continued to impact the area.

Thousands of people were affected, with evacuation orders issued for roughly 5,500 residents north of Honolulu. More than 2,000 homes remained without power as the storms battered the island.

Governor Josh Green warned that conditions were still dangerous due to saturated ground, saying even minimal rainfall could trigger additional flooding, road closures, and property damage. Officials estimated that total damages, including roads, homes, airports, and a hospital in Maui, could top $1 billion.

 Jason Momoa and his family just barely escaped the massive storm slamming Hawaiis North Shore.



Powers out for thousands, people are trapped.



Hes safe for now but said: Were breathing out just loving and hopefully everyones safe."pic.twitter.com/sMUPD35eEG  Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) March 23, 2026

Jason Momoa and Adria Arjona Distribute Meals

Despite the chaos, Momoa and his girlfriend, Adria Arjona, took time to help the community, distributing more than 200 meals to families affected by the floods, Fox News reported.

"We spent time on the west side, just trying to show love, bring some food, and remind our community that we see you, we stand with you, and you're not alone," Momoa said. "That's what aloha is. It's showing up for each other when it matters most."

Images shared by the actor showed debris along beaches, damaged roads, and the ongoing efforts to rescue and support displaced residents.

According to local authorities, over 200 people were rescued, and several were treated for hypothermia. In one extreme instance, residents had to be evacuated using bulldozers after floodwaters rose over a road near Waialua.

Momoa also highlighted plans to organize a fundraiser to assist those impacted, filming an event space and encouraging followers to donate.

"Mahalo to Ko Olina and Hawaiian counsel helping put together a fundraiser soon. Stay tuned to help donate, we still got to get through this weekend. Stay safe all my aloha," he wrote.
Brenda Song and fiance Macaulay Culkin faced a frustrating travel ordeal when Alaska Airlines reportedly gave away their family's first-class seats at the last minute, forcing the couple to be separated from their two young sons, Dakota, 4, and Carson, 3, during a recent flight.

"I didn't know when you book your first class tickets six months in advance for your family of six for your son's birthday@alaskaair can just give away your seats the morning of with no warningsplitting up you and your 3 and 4 year old kids," Song wrote on Instagram Stories March 21.

She concluded by urging fans, "We will never fly @alaskaair again and neither should you."

Culkin, 45, reposted Song's statement, adding a touch of humor, saying, "Hell hath no fury like a Brenda scorned."

Alaska Airlines responded to the incident, calling the situation "unacceptable" and emphasizing that it does not reflect the airline's standard of care.

A spokesperson told E! News, "Traveling can be stressful, especially with young children, and we pride ourselves on being a top airline for traveling families. We are deeply sorry for adding friction to the experience."

The airline also noted that they had reached out to Song and Culkin to resolve the matter privately.

Brenda Song Calls Out Alaska Airlines for Giving Up Her Familys Seats with No Warning



She complains splitting up kids but bought 6 ticketsBut still sat in 1st class. Sorry, it happens a lot to us peasants. https://t.co/Q7JdjeDBSl  Cheeky  (@Irenebyrd45) March 23, 2026

Brenda Song: Parenting Strengthens Bond With Culkin

The couple, who began dating in 2017 after meeting on the set of "Changeland" and got engaged in early 2022, have previously shared insights into their parenting experiences.

Brenda Song has described how raising young children together has strengthened their relationship.

"No matter how well you know your partner, when you have kids, it's another phase of your relationship, because you are dealing with situations that you've never dealt with," she told sources in April.

Culkin has also spoken about how fatherhood changed his daily routines, humorously admitting that he became "a suburban dad who wears Crocs" after seeing his eldest child in a bright pink pair, DailyMail reported.

"So, of course, I got a pair of pink Crocs," he said, adding that it became part of his new reality as a parent.

Despite the airline mishap, Song and Culkin remain focused on family and shared parenting duties, though she jokes that he remains low-maintenance in other areas, like skincare.

"He has no skincare routine," she said, laughing.
19 Kids and Counting star Josh Duggar has publicly come to his brother's defense after a molestation allegation surfaced, rejecting the claim as a "false accusation" and thrusting the Duggar family back into the spotlight amid renewed scrutiny over its long history of abuse-related scandals.

Read more: Kendra Duggar Arrested for Child Endangerment as Joseph Duggar Faces Additional Charges

Josh talked about his brother's situation through his lawyers, from FCI Seagoville, a federal prison in Texas where he is serving a 12.5year sentence for receiving child sexual abuse material. Joseph Duggar was arrested in Tontitown, Arkansas, on 18 March on child molestation charges linked to a nine-year-old girl in Florida.

The Bay County Sheriff's Office in Florida said the case stems from a 2020 incident in Panama City Beach, when the girl, then aged nine, was on a family holiday. According to the sheriff's account, she later reported that Joseph asked her to sit on his lap and 'grazed her genitals' under a blanket. She told investigators the incidents stopped in 2020 after he apologized.

Josh Duggar's 'False Accusations' Claim And Joseph's Reported Admission

Josh Duggar's intervention has been channelled through two separate statements from his legal team. In comments to Us Weekly on 20 March, his attorney said Josh 'does not know the details of the claims that have been made against his brother' but insisted he understands the impact of public scrutiny on the family.

'Josh Duggar does not know the details of the claims that have been made against his brother, Joseph. But, he knows the media frenzy that any incident regarding his family creates,' the lawyer said. 'He feels for his brother because everything is amplified out of proportion by the media interest in his family. This makes the pain of the criminal justice process exponentially worse.'

'Josh prays for his brother', the lawyer said. 'And he hopes that he can stay strong. He too has felt the crushing wave of accusation that is powered by the media spectacle to which his family is subjected.'

Earlier the same day, in remarks to the Daily Mail, the lawyer said Josh was 'deeply saddened' to learn of the charges against Joseph and went further in challenging the allegations.

'Josh understands the stigma of being accused,' the attorney said. 'He lives with the painful reality of how false accusations can destroy a life. He understands how the targeting of a person for publicity can twist the truth into sensationalised fiction.'

A separate statement, cited in other reports, also noted that 'Josh and Joe are not in frequent communication'.

Police, meanwhile, say the case was brought back to authorities' attention when the girl's father confronted Joseph earlier this month. Investigators state that Joseph again admitted his behaviour, both to the father and to detectives from the Tontitown Police Department in Arkansas.

Joseph Duggar, 31, a married father-of-four, is facing counts of lewd and lascivious behaviour involving a victim under 12 and unlawful sexual activity with a minor.

Duggar Family Fractures Over Joseph Duggar Allegations

Other members of the Duggar family have struck a very different tone in public. Jill Duggar Dillard, one of the most outspoken siblings in recent years, said in a blog post that she and her husband, Derick Dillard, were 'shocked and heartbroken' when they learnt of Joseph's arrest from a friend's text message about media reports and an alleged confession.

'We strongly condemn abuse. We support the rule of law and hope that justice will be achieved,' their statement read. 'Our hearts go out to the innocent juvenile victim of this unspeakable crime and her family. We pray God gives her strength, comfort and hope, and that she is able to get all the help and support she needs and deserves in the days ahead.'

They also expressed sympathy for Joseph's wife, Kendra, saying they could not imagine 'the indescribable pain' she and the children were facing.

Years before his own arrest, Joseph himself had publicly commented on Josh's conduct. In a 2015 episode of the Duggar spinoff Counting On, filmed after it emerged that Josh had molested five girls as a teenager, including four of his sisters, Joseph said it 'broke my heart' to learn that someone he respected had been 'living such a secret' life.

Josh, meanwhile, remains in prison after being convicted in 2021 of one count of receiving child sexual abuse material and one count of possessing such material; the possession count was later vacated.

He was sentenced to 151 months, or roughly 12.5 years, and is scheduled for release in October 2032, followed by 20 years of supervised release. He has pleaded not guilty and mounted multiple appeals, which the article notes have so far been denied.
President Donald Trump said Monday that "regime change" was underway in Iran as the United States holds peace talks with an unidentified alternative leader.

Trump's surprise announcement to reporters in Florida was short on detail about whom the US side had contacted, but he said it was "not the supreme leader," Mojtaba Khamenei.

He described the unidentified negotiator as "a top person" and "the most respected and the leader."

"We're going to get together today, by probably phone, because it's very hard to find a country -- it's very hard for them to get out, I guess," Trump told reporters before boarding his plane.

Trump was speaking shortly after he backed down from a threat to bombard Iran's power stations within the next day -- an escalation Iran vowed would be met by reprisals at sensitive regional targets, further roiling the US and world economies.

Trump announced on his Truth Social site that he was allowing five days for talks.

But if talks don't produce results, he told reporters later, "we'll just keep bombing our little hearts out."

- Venezuela comparison -

Trump said there were already "major points of agreement" with the Iranian negotiators.

US conditions, he said, include Iran abandoning any nuclear ambitions and giving up its enriched uranium stockpiles.

"We want no enrichment, but we also want the enriched uranium," he said.

Trump said the unidentified Iranian officials reached out under pressure of his threat to attack power stations.

"They called, I didn't call," he said. "They want to make a deal, and we are very willing to make a deal."

Iran has lost a swath of leadership to US and Israeli bombing.

Mojtaba Khamenei is the son of the previous supreme leader, but he has not been seen in public since the war began and US officials say he may be badly injured.

Trump suggested that he was looking for an arrangement similar to Venezuela, where US forces toppled long-time strongman Nicolas Maduro in January. The country is now run by a US-backed figure.

"Look at Venezuela, how well that's working out," Trump said. "Maybe we find somebody like that in Iran."

- 'Going very well' -

Earlier, Trump told AFP in a brief phone interview that "things are going very well."

Trump has repeatedly said he does not know whom to negotiate with because so many leaders have been killed.

On Monday, he dismissed Khamenei, saying "I don't consider him really the leader."

"But we think we have people that are very representative of the country and will do a good job," he said.

Asked why he wouldn't identify the people talking to the United States, Trump said "because I don't want them to be killed."

Iranian media however said on Monday that there were no negotiations underway towards ending the war.

"There are no talks between Tehran and Washington," said Mehr news agency citing Iran's foreign ministry, adding that Trump's statements were part of a push "to reduce energy prices".

Trump's backtrack on attacking Iranian energy sites came just hours before Wall Street was set to open after brutal selloffs on European and Asian markets and a further climb in the price of oil.

The oil price has posed an increasing political headache for Trump as Americans complain of higher prices at the pump, ahead of crucial midterm elections in November that will determine the make-up of Congress.

bur-sms/des
YOUNGSTOWN  On a recent evening in the midst of Lent, among a sparse congregation, the Polish devotion of Gorzkie Zale  literally, Bitter Lamentations  unfolded solemnly. Youd wonder how this beautiful music might have sounded a generation ago, when the power of the chorus filling the pews would complement the organs thundering notes. Yet even with an attendance of only about a dozen or so seated in a few rows, the voices from this fellowship still managed to convey how deeply tender these texts are.

Through a collaboration between PolishYoungstown and St. Columba Cathedral, the centuries-old devotion has been revived, offered at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays during the months of February and March. The cathedral acts as the North Star of the Youngstown Diocese and is situated between downtown and the campus of Youngstown State University. The 45-minute service includes scripture-based reflections, traditional hymns and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament; the final one this season was planned for March 25.

For the Polish Catholic community and their friends, this tradition has become a way not only to meditate on the Passion of Christ, but to hold fast to a disappearing world of language, customs and parish life that once defined family identity for scores of Ohioans before dwindling attendance led to numerous church consolidations and closures over the years.

You can take the building, but you cant take our faith. Our faith stays with us, and our means of celebrating  that is unique to us  stays with us, said Aundrea Cika Heschmeyer, who initiated the return of the service.

A home for our hearts.

Heschmeyer is the director of PolishYoungstown, an organization dedicated to educating and inspiring Mahoning Valley residents on all things Polish. She said the group approached the cathedral with an offer to raise money for a new spiritual home for Polish Catholics  a home for our hearts  where they could feel they still belonged. Cathedral leaders quickly embraced the idea, offering space and pledging to give the group a visible, permanent place in the life of the church, making clear they were not just visitors but part of the parish family.

The text and reflections of Gorzkie Zale invite worshipers to move beyond routine and into an encounter with Christs suffering, seen through the eyes of Mary and the faithful. Because Lent is a reflective season, the lamentations are meant to help worshippers fully enter into Marys grief as she watches her son die, making the experience both spiritually contemplative and emotionally raw. Heschmeyer compares it to meditation.

A lot of times, people will repeat a word over and over, like a mantra, yeah? And the reason they do that is to get into a different headspace. Thats what the lamentations do, because in our busy weeks, we dont necessarily focus on Lent every minute or anything like that, right? So this is a time that you step away, she said. It is a meditation on the Passion of Jesus Christ.

Changing times

For one longtime participant, the devotion is a way of preparing the heart for Easter.

It kind of gets you into the feeling of, you know, this is what Jesus went through. And its your way of preparing for His resurrection, said Ursula Gerchak.

She notes the emotional power of Marys voice in the text.

With Marys dialogue, you feel what this mother is actually going through, seeing her child go through all this. It gets emotional.

For many, including Gerchak, this time of year is inseparable from the story of St. Stanislaus, once a busy Polish parish in Youngstown whose closure marked the end of an era.

Gerchak, 70, attended grade school there and recalled how thoroughly faith and heritage were woven together in that church.

For years, the early Sunday service at 8 a.m. was conducted entirely in Polish, she recalled  the mass, the songs, everything was in Polish. By the 1990s, much of the liturgy had shifted into English, but many of the musical elements stayed in the old language: the entrance hymn, offertory, communion and recessional were all kept Polish. And the community fought to keep it that way, to preserve the language and music as they had always been woven through the Mass, holding out until, over time, Gerchak said, they seemed to lose it all. She reflected on how generational shifts have affected participation and tradition.

Like with every place else, if you go nowadays, theres hardly anybody in churches, like in the big cities or whatever, she said. You figure it was the older generation that has passed on. With many younger people uninvolved, shes doing her part to keep some of the culture alive.

The shuttering of ethnic parishes has been felt across the diocese, said Monsignor Robert Siffrin.

One of the things thats happened in the last 20 years as many of our nationality parishes have grown old and some of them are closed (is) were trying to keep the heritage and the tradition of our people alive and not only understood but treasured, he said.

Some of the examples of that heritage, thankfully, havent gone far. After St. Stanislaus closed, its cherished icon  the valleys only shrine to Our Lady of Czestochowa  was brought to St. Columba and now rests in the cathedral tower, part of an effort, Siffrin said, to signal that Polish Catholics are welcome there. At the same time, the cathedrals gorgeous floortoceiling mosaic of the saints, first installed along with the buildings construction in 1958 and recently cleaned and cast in the glow of new lights, depicts the national patrons of different countries, from St. Boniface and St. Louis to St. Casimir, St. Patrick, Martin de Porres and Thomas More. That mosaic, depicting the saints of so many nations side by side, reflects how the valley was founded by Catholic immigrants from across Europe. It also continues to affirm St. Columba as a place where the diverse customs of the faithful may find refuge even in changing times.

The tradition of focusing on the sufferings of Jesus during Lent is a strong Polish tradition. In fact, Eastern Europe and southern Europe tend to have an emotional focus to the sufferings of Jesus, and the Polish tradition is one of those. So when there was an interest in reviving and bringing it here, I thought, well, this is a natural place to bring people. Siffrin said.

Continuity

During the homily, Deacon Mark Izzo preached about the weight of words, enough to make any reporter in the room sit up.

The Word of God is so powerful, the word of Jesus  thats why we listen, he said. Our words also have power.

He was describing how language can either complement the life-giving work of God or undermine it when its used to put down others spiritually, emotionally or socially.

That sense of responsibility in expression carries into the music for the service, too. Musician and accompanist Luke Politsky, who played the organ, said that recomposing the melodies and carefully choosing and shaping each musical phrase connects him and the wider congregation to those who came before.

The music that I played  was not written down anywhere. Its more of an oral or auditory tradition, and you basically cant find sheet music to it. So, as somebody who just wants to get it right and try to help preserve the tradition, I had the couple folks who know it sing it for me.

He recorded them in sessions; sometimes they left him voicemails.

And then I would go back and listen to it and plot it out in sheet music. So that was really interesting, and its a way for me to connect with my heritage and my faith too, he said.

His family history runs straight through the old parish, as well.

Im Polish and my family attended St. Stans. My grandparents were married at St. Stans. My parents were married at St. Stans, he said. Certainly, my great-grandparents would have attended. They lived in the same neighborhood as Saint Stans. So, you know, Ive got stories from my grandmother about her walking to church. And so it was their neighborhood hub. So when it closed, it was very unfortunate, but were happy that St. Columba allows us to carry on the tradition.

That sense of continuity is spiritual as much as cultural.

Knowing that in some way, my family has participated in this, and that Im still helping to carry that on in a different way, in a different location, that means a lot to me, he said.

Heschmeyer hears the same theme in the stories that resurface each year.

Those grandma stories. Oh my gosh, I remember going to this with my grandma. She said. Thats all part of this. Every time we tell a story like this, the person is not forgotten.

For firsttimers, the organizers have worked hard to make Gorzkie Zale accessible. Heschmeyer said they created a bilingual booklet so the prayers are printed in both English and Polish, allowing people who dont know the native language to follow the entire service.

She offers this invitation to anyone seeking a deeper faith practice:

There is no more contemplative Lenten experience in the middle of the week for one hour than this. Take a moment, one hour of your time, to be immersed in the experience of the Passion.
A dog attack has left 34 pregnant sheep dead in Lincolnshire, dealing a heavy blow to a local farmer and prompting a police appeal for information.

The incident happened on 13 March in a field west of Haugham Road near Tathwell, close to Louth, where a dog or dogs targeted the flock.

Four sheep were killed outright, while the remaining animals later died from shock and injuries. All were pregnant, intensifying both the welfare impact and the financial loss, estimated at between 10,000 and 15,000.

Det Con Aaron Flint, a wildlife crime officer, described the toll on farmers, saying: Incidents like this are devastating for farmers, both emotionally and financially.

He warned that livestock worrying remains a serious and often underestimated offence.

Livestock worrying is a serious offence, and dog owners must take responsibility for ensuring their animals are properly controlled at all times, he said.

Flint added that even well-behaved pets can pose a danger in rural environments, noting: Even a normally well-behaved dog can instinctively chase or attack livestock if given the opportunity.

The case comes as new legislation strengthens penalties for such incidents, with dog owners now facing unlimited fines if their animals attack livestock.

The updated laws, replacing rules dating back more than 70 years, also give police the power to take DNA samples from dogs suspected of attacking, chasing or causing distress to farm animals.

Flint said the changes reinforce that harm does not have to be physical for an offence to be committed.

The law now makes clear that a dog does not need to physically injure animals to commit an offence - chasing or causing distress to livestock is sufficient, he said.

Police are urging anyone with information to come forward via the 101 non-emergency number or anonymously through Crimestoppers, as investigations continue into the incident.
Sheep farmers are facing mounting pressure this lambing season, as a major new survey launches to capture the realities on the ground across the UK.

The UK Lambing Survey 2026 is calling on producers to share their experiences amid growing concerns over disease threats, vaccine shortages and increasingly unpredictable weather.

Led by the University of Nottingham alongside Fiona Lovatt of Flock Health Ltd, the initiative aims to gather timely insight from farms during one of the most demanding periods in the farming calendar.

Dr Lovatt underlined the strain on producers, saying: There isnt a time in a sheep farmers calendar more stressful than the lambing season.

She added that recent years have brought added pressure from the additional threat of both Schmallenberg and Bluetongue viruses, disrupted vaccine supplies, unpredictable weather conditions and increasing scrutiny of lambing-time practices.

The survey will collect baseline data on what is happening on the ground and in the lambing shed, providing evidence to support future decision-making and policy development within the sector.

Dr Lovatt stressed the importance of participation, noting that the UK sheep industry has a good reputation for responsible medicine stewardship, good practice and high welfare standards, which must be supported by robust data.

We are very grateful to everyone who supports this survey, both by filling it in and encouraging others to do so, she said.

Backed by organisations from across the sheep industry, the survey takes around 12 minutes to complete and all responses are anonymous, with no identifying details collected.

Farmers managing multiple flocks are encouraged to submit separate responses for each, ideally soon after lambing has finished. The survey will remain open until 30 June 2026.

Findings will be published in aggregate form and used to inform the sheep sectors contribution to the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Targets Task Force (RUMA TTF), helping shape antibiotic stewardship targets through to 2029.

The results will also build on previous studies carried out in 2012, 2017 and 2024, which coincided with significant losses linked to Schmallenberg virus, offering a longer-term view of how disease and management pressures are evolving across UK flocks.
An organised cattle theft involving five men  including a farmer  has led to sentencing after DNA evidence exposed the crime.

The case highlights the serious impact livestock theft can have on farm businesses and rural communities.

The group targeted a farm near Llanerch-y-medd on Anglesey in December 2022.

The cattle were secured in a shed on the evening of 10 December, but by the next day 14 were missing.

The theft would have represented a significant financial and operational loss for the farmer.

Police tracked a lorry seen near the farm and later identified on the A55 heading towards Wrexham.

The vehicle was linked to Liam Kettleborough, 29, whose phone data revealed messages between him and four others involved.

Phone records, messages and cell site data showed the group had travelled to Anglesey before returning to the Wrexham area in the early hours.

The lorry was then driven to a farm owned by Clifford Smith, 65, in Stoke-on-Trent.

Officers recovered 12 stolen cattle from Smiths properties.

DNA testing later confirmed that nine of the animals came from the Anglesey farm.

Andrew Warman, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said the case relied on multiple strands of evidence.

The evidence in this case had to be pieced together from a variety of sources, he said.

He added the investigation was extremely thorough, allowing prosecutors to show how each individual was involved.

Mr Warman warned that rural crime has a significant impact on farming communities, severely affecting livelihoods.

All five men were sentenced at Caernarfon Crown Court on 20 March 2026.

Billington received a 14-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months, along with 250 hours of unpaid work, rehabilitation requirements, a driving ban and 1,000 in compensation.

Jones and Kettleborough each received 19-month suspended sentences, with unpaid work, rehabilitation requirements and 1,000 compensation.

McLeod was given a 19-month suspended sentence, a six-month electronically monitored curfew and ordered to pay 500.

Smith received a five-month suspended sentence, along with rehabilitation and mental health treatment requirements, and was ordered to pay 200.

The case underlines the growing sophistication of rural crime  and the increasing use of forensic and digital evidence to bring offenders to justice.
A key route to market for Scottish farmers has collapsed after a food supplier went into liquidation, leaving 71 workers redundant after 35 years in business.

Enterprise Foods Limited, based in East Kilbride and trading as Localist, had helped producers get goods onto supermarket shelves  making its collapse a blow to the farming supply chain.

The company went bust after failing to refinance debts of more than 5 million, following a period of mounting financial pressure.

Problems were driven by bad debts after customer failures, alongside tough trading conditions squeezing margins across the retail and hospitality sectors.

George Lafferty of BTG was appointed provisional liquidator after a petition was lodged by the business.

The collapse removes a key buyer and distribution route for some producers, potentially leaving gaps in supply chains.

The collapse has resulted in 71 redundancies, with staff now being supported through the process.

Thomas McKay, managing partner of BTG in Scotland and Northern Ireland, said efforts had been made to rescue the business.

He said: The directors had made efforts to restructure the debt of the company in order to save the business and rescue the jobs, and the loss of the jobs was sadly inevitable when this was not successful.

He warned many small suppliers to the business are owed money, highlighting the wider impact on producers.

Mr McKay added the loss of this route to market will have a serious knock-on effect on food producers.

Work is ongoing to assess claims and determine whether any payments can be made to unsecured creditors.

However, any return is not likely to be significant given the level of secured debt.

Regrettably, the failure of the company has resulted in 71 redundancies, he said.

Support is being provided to affected staff, including access to financial entitlements and assistance from Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) and the Redundancy Payments Service.

Our priorities now include ensuring these employees receive the guidance and advice they need, Mr McKay said, alongside efforts to maximise returns from asset sales for creditors.

The failure comes amid wider strain across the food and farming sector, with businesses facing rising costs, tighter margins and ongoing market volatility.

The collapse adds to growing pressure across the UK food supply chain, underlining the growing pressure on suppliers and farmers across the UK.
After the release of Dhurandhar: The Revenge, several celebrities have showered praise on Aditya Dhar and Ranveer Singh's film. The latest in that list is Singh's Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani co-star Alia Bhatt. The actress shared her favourite still from the film and lauded Singh for his performance.

The scene features his character Jaskirat Singh Rangi as he returns to his village to meet his mother and sister. It marks an emotional moment in the character's journey as he was away for years in Pakistan for his mission, and now he has received the chance to reunite with his family. Ranveer looks at them with pain and tears in his eyes, and the screen cuts to black, not revealing to the viewers that he decides to head back without meeting them.

Sharing that scene, Alia wrote, "Jaskirat Singh Rangi and this moment..is everything (red heart emoji) the magic of the director and the actor in complete sync! Congratulations Team Dhurandhar for this historic run at the movies."

Dhurandhar: The Revenge picks up from where Dhurandhar ended and sees Ranveer's character rise in Pakistan. He is an Indian spy on a mission and uses the alias Hamza Ali Mazari in the country. Besides following him in his mission, the film also takes us back to his past and shows us the transformation of Jaskirat to Hamza.





The film also stars Sara Arjun, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Rajat Bedi and Danish Pandor, among others.





Our reviewer gave the movie 3.5 stars and stated, "Aditya Dhar crafts a film that is detailed, unapologetically loud, and steeped in hyper-nationalism. Its gory, visceral, and very much in tune with the current mood of the nation. Subtle it is not, but then again, subtlety was never really on the menu."

Also Read: Karan Johar Says Hes Proud As Alia Bhatt Talks About Launching Outsiders Through Her Film
Kareena Kapoor Khan has recently opened up about grandfather Raj Kapoors legendary RK Studios. Established in 1948, RK Studios was an iconic film studio founded in 1948 by Raj Kapoor. It served as the creative heart of the Kapoor legacy and a hub for some of Hindi cinemas most memorable films.

Some time back, some reports stated that the studios are being revived. However, Kareena quashed the rumours and called them untrue. Kareena said, "Thats just not true. It was even being discussed in our family group, and everyone was like, This isnt happening."



While opening up about it, Kareena also admitted that fans are eager for the new generation of Kapoors to revive the studio. Calling Ranbir Kapoor the "the best actor in India," she said that he is currently focused on acting. She revealed that her cousins, and her sister Karisma Kapoor are all busy and reviving the studios won't happen right away. "It is heartbreaking, but its not happening," Kareena mentioned. She further clarified that she doesnt envision herself stepping into such a role, as she does not think from a director's or producer's perspective.



RK Studios is known for popular films like Barsaat (1949), Awaara (1951), Mera Naam Joker (1970), Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978), Prem Rog (1982) and more.

On the professional front, Kareena is currently busy working on Meghna Gulzars Daayra. Some behind-the-scenes clicks from the movie were revealed some time back. Opening up about the film, Kareena mentioned, "Trying to do something different every year. Our film (Daayra) is topical, and Im really looking forward to it." She revealed, "I am hoping to do something really different this year, maybe a good show, maybe a miniseries." The actress hasn't opened up about other projects yet.
BTS, comprising RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook returned as OT7 after four years of temporary hiatus. They performed at the Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, in a historic comeback for their album ARIRANG. It was streamed live on Netflix across 190 countries.

For Indian ARMYs, the experience extended far beyond the screen. Netflix India transformed the comeback into a fan-led cultural moment. One fan said the journey to finding BTS was deeply personal. They added, "The day I felt so lost was the first time I came across them BTS felt like an encounter with my lost dreams. I am so happy to celebrate this moment with fellow ARMYs. I am in disbelief." Another fan added, "I only wanted to see the boys. I am so happy that this is happening. This is truly the biggest dream for any ARMY and honestly, I still dont think its fully sunk in yet. I am so glad that BTS is making a comeback. We waited long enough."



For those unaware, Indian ARMYs celebrated as the OTT platform hosted two large-scale live screenings in Mumbai and New Delhi. It was an immersive fan experience as well as the screenings featured curated menus inspired by BTS' favourite foods, themed spaces and a shared viewing environment built for the ARMY to come together. As the livestream began, fans reacted in unison. They cheered, laughed and sang long. Some waved their ARMY bombs in unison while experiencing the long-awaited reunion together.

The scale of the event underscored the growing global footprint of BTS with Netflix enabling simultaneous access to this historic and landmark performance across borders. For desi ARMYs, this comeback live and experience was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the full scale of BTS' artistry, no matter the distance.
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!
SIPA's market indices, benchmarks and rating solutions, infraMetrics, privateMetrics and privateAlpha, will become part of PEI's asset-class platforms, significantly strengthening PEI's ability to offer market references, valuation analytics and advanced research for institutional investors and asset managers.

Expanding PEI's analytics portfolio

The acquisition reinforces PEI's commitment to developing data-driven intelligence and analytics to support the need for transparency and alignment within private markets. SIPA produces the only indices and benchmarks that truly reflect the risk and the performance of private markets as an asset class: with one million private asset prices computed each month, SIPA data achieves both robustness and granularity, allowing superior benchmarking to listed proxies or appraisal data.

Together PEI and SIPA will deliver a comprehensive suite of market analysis, fund, firm, deals data together with indices and market benchmarks which will enable strategy, risk, and investment teams to make the most -informed investment decisions, with greater accuracy and transparency.

Global SIPA reach through the PEI platform

SIPA indices and benchmarks are already used by investors representing more than USD1Tr of AUM in private assets as well as prudential frameworks like the International Capital Standard. Through PEI's global reach, access to SIPA data will expand to the entire private market ecosystem, from institutional investors to consultants and fund managers, private wealth advisors, and retail investors. This integration will allow both PEI and SIPA clients to benefit from a unified granular view of private markets performance and risk reporting, fund and manager selection and private asset valuation.



Continuing scientific excellence through collaboration with EDHEC

SIPA's origins go back to 2016, when EDHEC established EIPA to advance the scientific understanding of private markets. That led to the creation of new standards including The Infrastructure Company Classification Standard (TICCS), and the Private Company Classification Standard (PECCS), and the development of advanced market valuation and credit risk methodologies for private assets. SIPA was successfully spun out in 2019 to commercialise these innovations. PEI will partner directly with EDHEC and EIPA, ensuring continued academic development of the quantitative methodologies underpinning SIPA's technology.

Edouard Tavernier, CEO, PEI Group, commented:

"SIPA's recognised private asset benchmarks are an excellent fit with PEI's strategy of providing vital intelligence for decision-makers in global private markets. By integrating infraMetrics, privateMetrics and privateAlpha within our platforms and augmenting them with our unique insights and differentiated data sets, we will take a major step forward in our commitment to providing rigorous analytics to investors and fund managers."

Frederic Blanc-Brude, CEO, SIPA, added:

"SIPA was created to bring scientific rigour to private markets, and PEI is the ideal partner to scale that mission. With access to PEI's global intelligence, research network, and client reach, we can accelerate the evolution of our rankings, benchmarks, and analytics - and deliver broader, more actionable insights to our clients. We will also continue working closely with EDHEC to ensure our products remain anchored in world-leading academic research."

Emmanuel Metais, Dean of EDHEC Business School, commented:

"EDHEC ventures like SIPA are created to transform academic research developed at EDHEC into impactful and relevant science-based solutions for the industry. The acquisition of SIPA by PEI is proof that this strategy continues to work and creates value for both EDHEC and market participants. For EDHEC, the success of SIPA is an encouragement to pursue its important investment in private asset research, whether it involves the question of asset valuation, risk measurement or the evaluation of the performance of investors in this asset class."

About PEI Group

Established in 2001, PEI Group is a global provider of vital market intelligence, data, analytics and events for the private markets. Through its portfolio of networks and events, information brands, proprietary datasets and research platforms, PEI supports the decision-making of more than 30,000 institutional investors, asset managers, advisors, and other market participants worldwide.

More at: pei.group

About Scientific Infra & Private Assets (SIPA)

SIPA is an index provider and administrator registered with the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) and delivers quantitative data and analytics solutions for private markets. SIPA applies academically validated methods to produce private market indices and benchmarks. SIPA's platforms, provide robust and representative asset-level metrics aligned with the PECCS and TICCS classifications.

More at: sipametrics.com

About EDHEC Business School and EDHEC Infrastructure & Private Assets Research Institute

EDHEC Business School, founded in 1906 and ranked among Europe's top institutions, is recognised internationally for its impactful research and thought leadership. Its dedicated academic research centre, EDHEC Infrastructure & Private Assets Research Institute, advances the scientific understanding of private markets, producing globally used benchmarks, valuation methods and risk frameworks. EDHEC Business School remains committed to supporting businesses, society and students in addressing today's major challenges.

More at: EDHEC.edu and edhecinfraprivateassets.com

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LEEDS, UK / ACCESS Newswire / March 23, 2026 / For the second consecutive year, Antea Group UK is thrilled to announce co-sponsorship of the 11th annual Global Water Stewardship Forum hosted by the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS). Widely recognized as a global platform for advancing responsible water management, the event will take place 23-24 June 2026 in Edinburgh, Scotland.

This year, Antea Group UK will co-sponsor the forum alongside Antea Group Brasil, Antea Group France, Antea Group USA, as well as several Inogen Alliance associates, including Baden Consulting in Switzerland, Brown & Green in Philippines, CDG Environmental in Costa Rica, Chola MS Risk Services Limited (CMSRS) in India, HPC France, HPC Italy, Mediterra in Spain, and Sustainera Solutions in Azerbaijan, Tonkin + Taylor in New Zealand.

'Participating in the AWS Global Water Stewardship Forum as a co-sponsor through Inogen Alliance underscores our commitment to driving innovative, collaborative solutions to today's water challenges', shared Alex Perryman, Head of Water Services at Antea Group UK. 'Events like this are essential for strengthening the collective response to water-related risks.'

For over 10 years, the AWS Global Water Stewardship Forum has been a fundamental event for water stewardship professionals worldwide, bringing together experts, practitioners, and organizations to share knowledge, build partnerships, and drive forward best practices in sustainable water management.

To learn more about the AWS Forum 2026, visit their website.

About Inogen Alliance

Inogen Alliance is a global network made up of 70+ local businesses and over 6,000 consultants around the world who can help make your project a success. Our Associates collaborate closely to serve multinational corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, and we share knowledge and industry experience to provide the highest quality service to our clients. If you want to learn more about how you can work with Inogen Alliance, you can explore our Associates or Contact Us. Watch for more News & Blog updates here and follow us on LinkedIn.

About Antea Group UK

Antea Group is an environment, health, safety, and sustainability consulting firm. By combining strategic thinking with technical expertise, we do more than effectively solve client challenges; we deliver sustainable results for a better future. We work in partnership with and advise many of the world's most sustainable companies to address ESG-business challenges in a way that fits their pace and unique objectives. Our consultants equip organizations to better understand threats, capture opportunities and find their position of strength. Lastly, we maintain a global perspective on ESG issues through not only our work with multinational clients, but also through our sister organizations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America and as a founding member of the?Inogen Alliance.

Find more stories and multimedia from Antea Group UK at 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Antea Group UK

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/antea-group-uk

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Antea Group UK

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/antea-group-uk-sponsors-2026-aws-global-water-stewardship-forum-1150563
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - March 23, 2026) - Eguana Technologies Inc. (TSXV: EGT) (OTC Pink: EGTYF) ("Eguana" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has reached an agreement to amend the maturity date of the ITOCHU Corporation ("ITOCHU") unsecured Convertible Debenture to April 30, 2026, providing additional runway as the partners finalize a longer-term solution. Consistent with prior extensions, the amendment includes all accrued interest.

"We remain in active discussions with ITOCHU and expect to finalize a long-term solution within the second quarter, which we believe will have favorable balance sheet implications," said Eguana CEO Justin Holland. "Both the North American and Tokyo-based teams continue to be highly collaborative and solutions-oriented as our utility channel opportunities progress toward rollout."

The Company also continues to advance key commercial and technical initiatives, including:

completion of additional feeder improvement installations in Western Canada;

a collaborative agreement with a leading Alberta electricity distributor to demonstrate distributed energy storage benefits;

a partnership with Shadow Power to support third-party ownership models; and

successful final testing for a Northern California virtual power plant (VPP) rollout expected in the coming months.

Holland added, "We've seen continued success validating our hardware and software platforms across multiple VPP environments in both the U.S. and Canada, and we expect this to translate into increased volumes through our utility channels over the balance of the year."

These developments support the Company's path toward scaled deployment and improved financial positioning in 2026.

About ITOCHU

The history of ITOCHU Corporation dates back to 1858 when the Company's founder Chubei Itoh commenced linen trading operations. Since then, ITOCHU has evolved and grown over 150 years. With approximately 110 bases in 63 countries, ITOCHU, one of the leading sogo shosha, is engaging in domestic trading, import/export, and overseas trading of various products such as textile, machinery, metals, minerals, energy, chemicals, food, general products, realty, information and communications technology, and finance, as well as business investment in Japan and overseas.

About Eguana Technologies Inc.

Based in Calgary, Alberta Canada, Eguana Technologies Inc. (TSXV: EGT) (OTC Pink: EGTYF) designs and manufactures high performance residential and commercial energy storage systems. Eguana has two decades of experience delivering grid edge power electronics for fuel cell, photovoltaic and battery applications, and delivers proven, durable, high quality solutions from its high capacity manufacturing facilities in Europe, Australia and North America.

With thousands of its proprietary energy storage inverters deployed in the European and North American markets, Eguana is one of the leading suppliers of power controls for solar self-consumption, grid services and demand charge applications at the grid edge.

To learn more, visit www.eguanatech.com or follow us on Twitter @EguanaTech.

Forward-Looking Information

The reader is advised that some of the information herein may constitute forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (together, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning assigned by National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations and other relevant securities legislation. In particular, we include, among other things: the Company's ability to obtain necessary approvals from the TSXV and the issuance of the Common Shares.

Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involves a number of risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or future events or developments, to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, but are not limited to, risks associated with: failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals; general economic, market and business conditions; industry capacity; the operations of Eguana's assets, competitive action by other companies, and other factors set out in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's most recent annual management's discussion and analysis for the three and twelve months ended September 30, 2022 which may be found on its website or at sedarplus.ca. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which speaks only as of the date hereof. The Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289534

Source: Eguana Technologies Inc.
DUBAI, UAE, April 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Bybit, the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, announces the launch of Boost Battle 2026 Series 3, a trading competition offering participants the opportunity to share in a total prize pool of 500,000 USDT.

The event introduces a multi-week trading competition designed to reward active participation through both leaderboard performance and task-based incentives.

Pre-registration runs from April 3, 2026, at 12 a.m. UTC through April 12, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. UTC. Registration and the event period both begin on April 13, 2026, at 12 a.m. UTC and conclude on May 10, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. UTC. The competition is structured across four weekly rounds, each running from Monday at 12 a.m. UTC to Sunday at 11:59 p.m. UTC.

Each round features a leaderboard with a prize pool of up to 100,000 USDT. The top-ranked trader in each round may receive up to 8,000 USDT, depending on performance and eligibility requirements. Leaderboard rewards are distributed within 14 working days after the end of each round.

In addition to leaderboard incentives, participants can complete daily tasks to earn entries into a lucky draw, with each draw offering rewards of up to 0.0005 BTC. Lucky draw rewards are credited within three hours of winning, while task completion updates may take up to three days due to verification processes.

Participants earn points based on trading volume using Unified Trading Accounts. Trading designated boosted tokens applies multipliers to trading volume, allowing users to accumulate points more efficiently and improve their rankings. Rankings are updated daily based on the previous day's activity, though updates may be subject to delays.

Only trades and deposits made after registration are counted toward event performance. Eligibility is limited to users who have completed Identity Verification Level 1. Only Main Accounts are eligible, with Subaccount activity aggregated under the primary account. Institutional users, market makers and affiliates are excluded.

Key participation mechanics include:

Trading eligible non-zero-fee pairs via a Unified Trading Account

Monitoring boosted tokens for each round through the event page

Accumulating points through trading volume to climb the leaderboard

Completing daily tasks to earn additional reward opportunities

Boosted tokens may be adjusted during the event, and prize pools are unlocked based on cumulative boosted trading volume. Participants must meet minimum point thresholds within each round to qualify for rewards.

Participation is restricted in certain jurisdictions. The event is not available to users residing in the European Economic Area, including France, Germany, Italy and Spain, among others. Additional restrictions apply in accordance with Bybit's service policies.

Bybit / TheCryptoArk / IMakeIt

About Bybit

Bybit is the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving a global community of over 80 million users. Founded in 2018, Bybit is redefining openness in the decentralized world by creating a simpler, open and equal ecosystem for everyone. With a strong focus on Web3, Bybit partners strategically with leading blockchain protocols to provide robust infrastructure and drive on-chain innovation. Renowned for its secure custody, diverse marketplaces, intuitive user experience, and advanced blockchain tools, Bybit bridges the gap between TradFi and DeFi, empowering builders, creators, and enthusiasts to unlock the full potential of Web3. Discover the future of decentralized finance at Bybit.com.

For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press

For media inquiries, please contact: media@bybit.com

For updates, please follow: Bybit's Communities and Social Media

Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube

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The launch reflects a broader shift in how organisations need to think about digital traffic. Where bot management has traditionally focused on malicious automation, enterprises are now dealing with a wider mix of automated actors, including AI agents, crawlers, scrapers, partner automation, and malicious bots, each with different levels of legitimacy, risk, and operational impact.

For years, Netacea has helped enterprises classify web traffic server-side, distinguish between legitimate and malicious automation, and apply appropriate controls without disrupting genuine users. The Trust Layer builds on that foundation, extending the same visibility and governance model into an internet increasingly shaped by machine-driven interaction.

Netacea analyses billions of behavioural signals in real time to help organisations reduce fraud, account takeover, scraping, abuse, and distorted digital signals, while giving them a clearer understanding of who, or what, is interacting with their services.

Built for large-scale ecommerce, financial services, media, and other digital-first environments, Netacea's server-side approach allows automated traffic to be classified before it reaches the application. This gives enterprises a stronger basis for decision-making, allowing them to permit and optimise access for trusted automation, increase scrutiny where trust is not yet established, and mitigate against malicious or unwanted activity.

The Trust Layer is supported by Netacea's threat intelligence capabilities and by the recently updated BLADE, the Business Logic Abuse Definition Framework. Originally created by Netacea with support from leading industry specialists and donated to OWASP, BLADE provides a shared framework for understanding how automated activity and business logic abuse affect modern digital services.

"At its core, this is still the problem Netacea has always solved, understanding who, or what, is interacting with a digital service, and helping enterprises decide what to trust, what to challenge, and what to control," said Andy Still, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder at Netacea. "What has changed is the nature of the web. Enterprises are now seeing a broader mix of automated actors, including AI agents, crawlers, scrapers, and malicious automation, all interacting with systems in different ways and for different purposes. Because Netacea has been classifying web traffic server-side for years, we are well placed to help customers extend that same visibility and governance into the agentic era."

Netacea will showcase the Trust Layer at RSAC Conference 2026 in San Francisco, from 23 to 26 March.

https://netacea.com/

Notes to editors:

About Netacea

Netacea helps enterprises stop sophisticated automated abuse without disrupting real customers. Using server-side telemetry and behavioural intent signals, Netacea enables organisations to understand automated activity in the context of business risk, apply proportionate controls, and protect digital experiences across key customer journeys.



Media Contact

Press Office, Netacea

press@netacea.com

Customer Enquiries

hello@netacea.com

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 23, 2026) - Perseverance Metals Inc. (TSXV: PMI) ("Perseverance", "PMI" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed the second and final tranche of a non-brokered private placement (the "Second Tranche") for aggregate gross proceeds of $4,715,503. The Company previously announced (see PMI NR Mar 10 2026) a First Tranche closing of the Private Placement on March 10, 2026 for aggregate gross proceeds of $3,499,987. Together with proceeds from the first tranche, the Company has raised total gross proceeds of $8,215,490.

The Second Tranche included investments from Teck Resources Limited ("Teck"), a leading Canadian resource company, NQ Investissement Minier ("NQIM"), a regional institutional mining investment fund created to support the development of the mining industry in Northern Quebec, and Altius Minerals ("Altius"), a diversified minerals royalty company focused on long-life, high-margin natural resource assets; among others.

"The overwhelming interest in this financing - which was upsized twice and oversubscribed by more than $5 million - provides a strong endorsement of the Perseverance Metals business model and our portfolio of North American critical minerals assets," said John Foulkes, President. "With a robust treasury now in place, we are shifting immediately into execution mode to unlock significant value through the drill bit and prove up the district-scale potential of these high-grade Ni-Cu-Co-PGE systems."

The Second Tranche was comprised of 4,623,042 Quebec flow-through units of the Company (the "Quebec FT Units") priced at C$1.02 per Quebec FT Unit for gross proceeds of $4,715,503.

Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (a "Share") and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional common share of the Company (a "Warrant Share") at a price of $0.95 for a period of 36 months from the date of issuance. The expiry date of the Warrants is subject to acceleration such that, should the closing price of the Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") equal or exceed $1.30 for ten consecutive trading days, the Company may, within 15 business days of such event, accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants to a date that is 30 calendar days following the date on which notice of such acceleration is given by news release, with the new expiry date specified in such news release (the "Acceleration Clause").

The gross proceeds from the sale of the Quebec FT Units will be used by the Company to fund "Canadian exploration expenses" related to the Lac Gayot Project in Quebec that will qualify as "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures", as such terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) (collectively, the "Qualifying Expenditures"). All Qualifying Expenditures will be incurred on or before December 31, 2027, and renounced in favour of the subscribers effective no later than December 31, 2026.

The Shares and Warrants comprising the Quebec FT Units, but not the underlying Warrant Shares, each qualify as a "flow-through share" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada). Each Share and Warrant underlying the Quebec FT Units qualify as a "flow-through share" within the meaning of section 359.1 of the Taxation Act (Quebec).

In connection with the Second Tranche, the Company paid cash commissions of $18,830 to certain finders and issued 21,000 finder's warrants (the "Finder's Warrants"). Each Finder's Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Share at an exercise price of $0.95 per Share for a period of 36 months from the date of issuance, subject to the Acceleration Clause.

All securities issued pursuant to the Second Tranche are subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day in accordance with applicable securities laws. The closing of the Second Tranche is subject to final approval of the TSXV.

The securities issued pursuant to the private placement have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction in which the offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Perseverance Metals

Perseverance Metals is a critical minerals explorer with a project portfolio that is strategically located in key North American Ni-Cu-Co-PGE and hard rock lithium regions, including Quebec's prolific James Bay district and Michigan's productive Mid-Continent Rift.

Our strict science-driven approach and extensive track record of discovery as leveraged via an exceptional technical advisory board, coupled with an industry-leading team armed with next-generation exploration tools, provide us with a distinct competitive advantage. This offers a unique opportunity for investors to be exposed to a portfolio of projects with the potential for multiple discoveries.

Perseverance's exploration assets include:

i). the Lac Gayot high-grade Ni-Cu-Co-PGE and lithium pegmatite project, which covers the entirety of the 30km Venus Greenstone Belt in Quebec, featuring multiple, very high-grade Ni-Cu-Co-PGE showings and zones along with numerous large spodumene-bearing pegmatites with consistently high lithium grades in channel sampling;

ii). the drill-ready Voyageur Ni-Cu-Co-PGE project which covers 680 km2 of the Upper Peninsula in Michigan, 65 kilometres west of the only producing nickel mine in the United States, and;

iii). the Armit Lake Ni-Cu-Co project, which is the consolidated and underexplored western half of the nickel- and gold-rich Savant Lake Greenstone Belt in Ontario.

Additional information about Perseverance Metals can be found at www.perseverancemetals.com.

On Behalf of the Board,

Michael J. Tucker

CEO and Director

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Perseverance Metals Inc.

Michael J. Tucker, CEO

+1 (778) 834-3528

mtucker@perseverancemetals.com

Perseverance Metals Inc.

John Foulkes, President

+1 (604) 614-2999

jfoulkes@perseverancemetals.com

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including the intended use of proceeds from the Second Tranche, including the timing of incurring all Qualifying Expenditures; the tax treatment of the securities issued under the Second Tranche; the receipt of regulatory approvals, including final acceptance by the TSXV; the market's ongoing support for the Company's business model and portfolio; the Company's ability to unlock expected value in its portfolio; and the Company's operational strategy, execution, and mineral exploration goals.

Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connation thereof.

Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that the Company will use proceeds from the Second Tranche as anticipated; that all requisite approvals, including TSXV final approval, will be received; and assumptions relating to the renunciation and related tax treatment in respect of the securities underlying the Quebec FT Units.

Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's plans or expectations include risks that the Company will not use proceeds of the Second Tranche as anticipated; that the Company will encounter unforeseen delays impacting the timing of incurring of all Qualifying Expenditures; that the Company will not receive all requisite regulatory approvals, including TSXV final approval; and changes in laws and regulations.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289573

Source: Perseverance Metals Inc.
Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - March 23, 2026) - E-Power Resources Inc (CSE: EPR) (FSE: 8RO) ("E-Power" or the "Company") announces that it intends to complete a private placement of units for total gross proceeds of up to $350,000 (the "Private Placement").

Securities to be issued pursuant to the Private Placement shall consist of an amount of up to 7,000,000 units of the Company (the "Units") issued at a price of $0.05 per Unit, with each Unit comprising one common share in the capital of the Company (each a "Common Share") and one common share purchase warrant (each a "Warrant"), with each warrant entitling its holder thereof to acquire one additional common share of the Company at a price of $0.075 per Common Share for a period of 60 months from the closing date of the offering (the "Offering").

Net proceeds from the Offering will be used by the Company for Tetepisca project development and general working capital purposes.

Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106"), the Common Shares, the Warrants and Units will be offered by way of private placement pursuant to applicable exemptions from NI 45-106. The Offering is expected to close on or about April 10, 2026, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the customary closing conditions, including the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE"). The Company may pay brokers in the context of the Offering. The Offering may close in multiple tranches.

The securities to be offered pursuant to the Offering have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

The company also announces that Mark Billings has resigned as Director of the Company, effective immediately. The Company wishes to thank Mr. Billings for his dedicated service and valuable contributions to the Company.

About E-Power Resources Inc.

E-Power Resources Inc. is an exploration stage company engaged principally in the acquisition, exploration, and development of graphite properties in Quebec. Its flagship asset, the Tetepisca Graphite Property, is located in the Tetepisca Graphite District of the North Shore Region of Quebec, approximately 215 kilometers from the Port of Baie-Comeau. For further information, please refer to the Company's disclosure record on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) or contact the Company by email at info@e-powerresources.com.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations, or beliefs of future performance are "forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company based on information currently available to it. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289617

Source: E-Power Resources
Recognized for pioneering technology that enables enterprises to safely scale AI agents

SAN FRANCISCO, March 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Geordie AI , the security and governance platform for agentic AI, today was named the "Most Innovative Startup" at the RSAC 2026 Conference Innovation Sandbox contest, one of the cybersecurity industry's most prestigious startup competitions.

The RSAC Innovation Sandbox contest highlights emerging cybersecurity companies transforming the industry with breakthrough technologies. The contest's top 10 finalists presented their innovations live to a panel of expert judges and a global audience at the RSAC Conference on March 23.

Founded in 2025 by cybersecurity leaders from Snyk, Veracode, and Darktrace, and backed by Ten Eleven Ventures and General Catalyst, Geordie has developed a disruptive approach to securing and governing autonomous AI agents. The company was recognized for its ability to provide enterprise teams with a deep, continuous understanding of agent behavior and posture, enabling the safe adoption of AI agents.

"When we started Geordie, we believed agent adoption would accelerate far faster than expected and that security and AI teams would need new governance models to keep up," said Henry Comfort, CEO and co-founder of Geordie. "Winning the RSAC Innovation Sandbox is a powerful validation of the work our team is doing to help enterprises safely adopt AI agents. We look forward to continuing to partner with enterprises so they can understand, secure, and confidently deploy this fast-growing technology."

For two decades, the RSAC Innovation Sandbox contest has served as one of the cybersecurity industry's most reliable predictors of future market leaders. Collectively, Innovation Sandbox alumni have generated more than $50.1 billion in investments and over 100 acquisitions, underscoring the contest's track record of identifying transformative companies early and launching the next generation of cybersecurity category leaders.

This recognition from RSAC comes as Geordie experiences exponential momentum in the market, with the number of secured agents increasing 10x in just under five months. Revenue has also increased tenfold in the last two months, and Geordie was recently recognized as a representative vendor in Gartner's Market Guide for Guardian Agents, having also won the Black Hat Innovation Spotlight competition in London.

Today, Geordie also released Beam , a new solution for managing AI agent risk through context engineering. The remediation suite assesses risk holistically and continuously feeds mitigation back to the agent using context-based controls, so teams' AI initiatives can continue at full speed.

Attendees at RSAC 2026 can meet with Geordie's team at the Early Stage Expo throughout the RSAC Conference at Moscone South, in Kiosk 12.

About Geordie AI

Geordie is the only AI Agent Security and Governance Platform built from the agent out - because your agents are already operating beyond your perimeters, invisible to pre-agent tools and only partially visible to those built around them. Meeting agents where they live, Geordie maps their full anatomy, connections, and context, steering with precision so your business never has to choose between security and innovation. Trusted by some of the most forward-thinking organizations in the world.
SHARP has announced a strategic manufacturing partnership with Amber Enterprises to locally produce air conditioners. The collaboration is designed to support SHARPs expansion within India, which currently stands as one of the worlds fastest-growing markets for cooling appliances.

Production Targets and Timeline

Under the new agreement, SHARPs air conditioning units will be manufactured at Amber Enterprises facilities located in Dehradun and Sri City. Production is scheduled to commence in March 2026. The partnership has set a clear operational target: to scale manufacturing output to 500,000 units over the next three years, thereby stabilizing and strengthening SHARPs product availability in the domestic market.

Technological Synergy and Local Manufacturing

The collaboration integrates SHARPs Japanese engineering background and proprietary Plasmacluster ion air purification technology with Ambers extensive supply chain and manufacturing infrastructure. Amber Enterprises has an established track record of contract manufacturing for various global and Japanese consumer durable brands, particularly in the room air conditioner segment. The tie-up also aligns with the Indian governments ongoing Make in India initiative to promote domestic manufacturing.

Indias Growing Cooling Market

This move comes amid consistent growth in Indias air conditioning sector. Industry data indicates that the domestic room air conditioner market has surpassed 10 million units in annual sales. Driven by rising average temperatures, rapid urbanization, and a shift toward energy-efficient appliances, the market is projected to grow at a double-digit compound annual growth rate (CAGR). Notably, demand is expanding beyond major metropolitan areas into Tier II and Tier III cities.

Upcoming Product Portfolio

To capitalize on this market momentum, SHARP is preparing to widen its product portfolio. The upcoming lineup will feature split ACs, window ACs, and commercial air conditioning solutions. Select models within the new window AC range will feature SHARPs Plasmacluster ion technology, combining standard cooling with active air purification capabilities. The company states that these developments are aligned with its corporate philosophy of creating products that are In Step With Your Future.

Market Share Goals and Distribution Expansion

Looking ahead, SHARP has set a strategic goal to capture a 2% to 3% share of the Indian air conditioner market over the next five years. To achieve this, the company will focus on expanding both its product offerings and its geographic footprint.

Currently, SHARP distributes its air conditioners through retail and distribution partners, modern trade networks, online marketplaces, and commercial channels. The brand maintains an established operational presence in Kerala, Maharashtra, Delhi NCR, Gujarat, Punjab, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. In its next phase of growth, SHARP plans to establish additional distribution partnerships to scale its reach across the remainder of the country.

Commenting on the development, Osamu Narita, Managing Director, SHARP Business Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd, said:

India continues to be a strategically important market for SHARP, and we see strong long-term growth potential in the cooling appliances segment. Strengthening our manufacturing ecosystem through tie-ups such as this reinforces our commitment to the Indian market. By combining SHARPs Japanese innovation with Indias growing manufacturing capabilities, we aim to deliver advanced products that meet the evolving expectations of Indian consumers while supporting the countrys vision for local manufacturing.

Mimoh Jain, Chief Business Officer  SHARP Appliances Division, added:

India is one of the fastest-growing markets for air conditioners globally. We restarted our air conditioner business in India last year and, despite a challenging year for the category, we sold around 0.40K units with a limited product portfolio. This early response reinforces our confidence in the long-term potential of the market. Our tie-up with Amber Enterprises allows us to combine SHARPs technology-driven innovation with a strong manufacturing ecosystem in India, enabling us to scale our presence and deliver high-performance cooling solutions integrated with air purification technology.
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.
BEIJING, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to the 10th summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), which opened Saturday in Bogota, the capital of Colombia.

Xi said that since its establishment, the CELAC has been committed to promoting peace, stability, development and prosperity in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region, injecting new impetus into the unity, cooperation and common development of the Global South.

Last year, the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC Forum was held successfully in May in Beijing, Xi said, adding that he attended the opening ceremony and announced that China and LAC countries would jointly launch the five programs on solidarity, development, civilization, peace and people-to-people connectivity, receiving a positive response from LAC countries.

Over the past year, China and LAC countries have worked closely together, advancing the steady implementation of the five programs and delivering tangible benefits to the people on both sides, Xi said.

Xi emphasized that China will always be a good friend and good partner of LAC countries, and will support them in safeguarding their sovereignty, security and development interests.

China stands ready to work with LAC countries to uphold international fairness and justice, and jointly write a new chapter in building a China-LAC community with a shared future, Xi said.

Colombia currently holds the rotating presidency of the CELAC.
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Qatar says 6 found dead after helicopter crash in territorial waters

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

22.03.2026 [14:44]

Baku, March 22, AZERTAC

Qatar's Interior Ministry said Sunday that six of the seven people reported missing after a helicopter crash in the country's territorial waters have been found dead, Anadolu Agency reported.

A ministry statement said that ongoing search and rescue operations led to the recovery of six individuals who had been aboard the aircraft, confirming their deaths.

Authorities said specialized teams are continuing intensive efforts to locate the remaining missing person.

The ministry did not provide further details on the cause of the crash or the identities of those on board.

Earlier Sunday, Qatar's Defense Ministry said a helicopter suffered a "technical malfunction" during a routine mission and crashed in the country's regional waters.

No immediate information was available on the cause beyond the technical malfunction, and there was no indication that the crash was the result of hostile action.

The incident occurred amid heightened regional tensions. Qatar has faced repeated Iranian drone and missile strikes since the start of US-Israeli joint attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, with the country's Ras Laffan Industrial City, one of the world's largest LNG production hubs, struck multiple times.

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The President of the Republic of Cyprus had a telephone conversation with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, yesterday

Republic of Cyprus

From: Presidency of the Republic

22/03/26 09:48 | Press release | Foreign Policy, President of the Republic / Presidency

Written statement by Government Spokesman Mr Konstantinos Letymbiotis

The President of the Republic of Cyprus held a long telephone conversation today with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (UK), Sir Keir Starmer, yesterday, 21 March 2026, at the latter's initiative, in the context of the regular contact between the two leaders on geopolitical developments in the wider region.

During their conversation, the President of the Republic of Cyprus underlined the role of the Republic of Cyprus as a pillar of stability and as a reliable partner in the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as the importance of further strengthening coordination and cooperation with the UK, within the framework of the Strategic Dialogue between the two countries, which is grounded in close and sincere cooperation and based on mutual respect and a longstanding partnership.

The President of the Republic of Cyprus briefed the Prime Minister of the UK on the approach he presented before the leaders of the European Union (EU) member states at the recent European Council, regarding the need to undertake a coordinated initiative, in cooperation with partners, with the aim of de-escalating the crisis. He emphasised that leveraging multilateralism constitutes the fundamental diplomatic route for strengthening these efforts and making a meaningful contribution to safeguarding stability, while, at the same time, actively supporting the countries of the region. Within this context, the substantive strengthening of EU-UK relations constitutes an important element, and the Republic of Cyprus supports and will contribute to the further enhancement of this strategic cooperation.

The British Prime Minister concurred and referred to the recent joint statement issued by the UK together with other countries, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, Canada and the United Arab Emirates, in relation to the Strait of Hormuz, which reaffirms the shared approach towards strengthening multilateralism and focusing on de-escalation.

During the discussion in regard to the British Bases in the Republic of Cyprus, President Christodoulides referred both to the challenges that have arisen and to the lessons learned from the management of the crisis thus far. In this context, he presented a proposal on the launch of relevant discussions.

The British Prime Minister reiterated to the President of the Republic of Cyprus that the security of the Republic of Cyprus is fundamental to the UK and, to that end, a decision has been made to enhance the means contributing to the precautionary measures already in place.

Finally, the Prime Minister reiterated that the British Bases in Cyprus will not be used for any offensive military operations.

The two leaders agreed to remain in close contact, in view of the developments in the region and the common challenges.

(RM/MS/KA)

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Hezbollah strikes multiple military positions in Israeli-occupied territories

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 22 March 2026 6:51 PM

The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah says it has targeted military bases and several gatherings of Israeli soldiers during multiple attacks on different parts of the occupied territories.

In a series of separate statements released on Sunday, the resistance group said it targeted gatherings of Israeli troops with a barrage of drones at the Marj site opposite the town of Markaba, as well as in Jal al-Hammar, south of Odaisseh.

It also said it carried out a third missile barrage targeting Israeli soldiers in the Taybeh project area.

This came after Israeli attacks struck residential areas and targeted a coastal bridge in southern Lebanon.

Lebanon's National News Agency reported that an Israeli attack had targeted southern Lebanon's Qasmiyeh Bridge, a key route along the coastal highway.

Footage appears to show a series of explosions simultaneously on and near the bridge, with a cloud of smoke rising.

Israeli warplanes have relentlessly targeted civilian infrastructure and residential neighborhoods in the capital, Beirut and elsewhere during the ongoing aggression against Lebanon.

Hezbollah started launching retaliatory attacks earlier this month after Israel bombed the eastern and southern parts of the Arab country on a daily basis in violation of the November 2024 ceasefire.

Israeli media, which are stunned by Hezbollah's military capabilities, have admitted that the resistance group was able to inflict heavy losses against the Tel Aviv regime's military over the past few days.

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Six killed as Qatari army copter crashes due to technical malfunction

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 22 March 2026 9:58 AM

A Qatari military helicopter has crashed in the Persian Gulf country's waters, killing at least six people on board.

In a statement released on its X account on Sunday, the Qatari Defense Ministry said the chopper had crashed after suffering a "technical malfunction" during "routine duty".

The country's Interior Ministry also said that seven people were on board the helicopter and that operations continue to find the last missing person.

The incident came amid heightened tensions in West Asia caused by the US-Israeli aggression against Iran.

Israel and the United States launched an unprovoked war on Iran on February 28, assassinating former Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several top commanders.

The onslaught has sparked Iran's retaliatory strikes against locations in the Israeli occupied territories as well as US military bases and assets across the region, including Qatar, which hosts the headquarters of the US military in West Asia.

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Lebanese Prime Minister Says IRGC Commanding Hezbollah Fighters

22:38 22.3.2026

Lebanon's prime minister said members of Iran's hard-line Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are commanding pro-Tehran Hezbollah fighters in the country in the group's war against Israel.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, in an interview with the Al Hadath network on March 22, slammed Hezbollah for dragging Lebanon into the Middle East war by firing rockets toward 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 Iran's late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of US-Israeli air strikes on Iran.

Salam said an incident in which an Iran-made drone hit a British sovereign base in Cyprus earlier this month was initiated by 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.

Lebanon has banned the activities of the IRGC in the country and has imposed a ban on Hezbollah military activity.

The United States has designated Hezbollah a terrorist organization, while the EU has sanctioned the group's military wing but not its political organization in the country.

With reporting by AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-live-blog- trump-khamenei/33640284.html?lbis=445194

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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Szijjarto Accuses Polish Leadership of Spreading Fake News to Support Hungarian Opposition

Sputnik News

20260322

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto on Sunday accused Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski of spreading fake news to support the Hungarian opposition.

On their X accounts, Tusk and Sikorski responded to a post alleging that Szijjarto regularly calls Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during breaks in EU meetings.

"Instead of spreading lies and fake news, come to Budapest to support the opposition! Last time it worked... for us...," Szijjarto wrote in response to Tusk's post.

Regarding Sikorski, the Hungarian minister replied that he would not succeed in establishing a "pro-war puppet government" led by the Tisza party in Hungary.

On Saturday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, commenting on media reports about Szijjarto's "calls" to Lavrov, told Sputnik that Hungary's enemies have an "inflamed fantasy."

 Sputnik

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Russo-Ukraine War - 22 March 2026 - Day 1488

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, 116 combat clashes have taken place since the beginning of this day.

Ukrainian defenders inflict a permanent fiery impact to the opponent, destroying personnel and depleting his combat potential.

The Russian opponent made 42 aviation strikes - dropped 169 controlled air bombs. In addition, Russian forces operated 5722 kamikaze drones to impress and carried out 2,678 shells of settlements and positions of Ukrainian troops.

In the North Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, the Russian enemy carried out 88 shelling of the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements, five of them - with the use of the RSV. Committed one air strike with the use of four cabs. One enemy assault action was recorded in the direction.

In the South-Slobozhansky direction, the Russian enemy four times attacked the positions of Ukrainian units in the areas of the settlements of Staritsa, Vovchansky Khutory and towards Zibinyo, Ohrimivka.

In the Kupyans komu direction, Russian troops attacked four times in the areas of Borivs koi Andriyivka, Kupyanska and towards Novoplatonivka and Kivsharivka.

In the Lyman direction, Ukrainian soldiers repelled three Russian assaults in the direction of Shiykivka, Dibrova and in the area of the settlement Medium.

In the Slavic direction, theRussian opponent tried to advance seven times in the areas of Zakitny, Riznikivka, Pazeno and Platonivka. One attack is underway.

In the Kramators komu direction, the Russian aggressor twice tried to improve his position, attacking in the areas of Orihovo-Vasilivka and Chasovoye Yaru.

In the Konstantinivsky direction, the Russian occupiers today stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the areas of the settlements of Konstantinovka, Pleshiyivka, Ivanopylya, Rusyn Yar, Sofiyivka and Novopavlivka 11 times.

Russian troops committed 23 attacks in the Pokrovsky direction. The Russian occupiers tried to advance in the areas of settlements Bilitske, Rodinske, Mirnograd, Pokrovsk, Kotline, Udaachne, Novomikolaivka and towards Grishinyo, Shevchenko.

According to preliminary calculations, 49 Russian occupants were eliminated and 23 wounded in this direction; a vehicle unit and three occupant shelters destroyed; 95 shelters damaged, three control points and a cannon. Destroyed or suppressed 267 BPLA of different types.

In the Oleksandrivsky direction, the Russian occupiers attacked five times in the areas of settlements of Ternove, Novogrigorivka, Krasnogirsk and towards Yegorivka. One attack is underway.

Ten Russian attacks were recorded in the areas of the settlements of Gulyaipole, Solodke and Mirne in the Gulyaipil direction. One assault action continues.

In the Orihiv direction, the Russian enemy's attack was not observed.

In the Pridniprovsk direction, the Russian enemy's assault actions have not been recorded.

In other directions, there have been no significant changes in the environment.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.

As a result of resolute actions, units of the Sever Group of Forces gained control over the settlement of Potapovka in Sumy region.

The Group's units inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of a territorial defence brigade close to Velikaya Chernechina, Ikriskovshchina, and Novaya Sech in Sumy region.

In Kharkov region, units of two mechanised brigades, a motorised infantry brigade of the AFU, two territorial defence brigades, and two national guard brigades were hit close to Verkhnyaya Pisarevka, Veseloye, Izbitskoye, Prikolotnoye, and Shevchenkovo in Kharkov region.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 200 troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, nine motor vehicles, and one artillery gun. An ammunition depot, a fuel depot, and three materiel depots were neutralised.

The Zapad Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. Russian troops inflicted losses on formations of four mechanised brigades, an assault brigade, a security brigade of the General Staff of the AFU, a territorial defence brigade, and a national guard brigade near Novoosinovo, Staroverovka, Tamarganovka (Kharkov region), Koroviy Yar, Krasny Liman, Svyatogorsk, and Sosnovoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses amounted to up to 190 troops, one infantry fighting vehicle, three armoured vehicles, 21 motor vehicles, and three artillery guns. One electronic warfare station and two ammunition depots were neutralised.

The Yuzhnaya Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. The Group's units hit formations of four mechanised brigades, an assault brigade, an airmobile brigade, a mountain assault brigade of the AFU, and a marine brigade close to Druzhkovka, Konstantinovka, Kramatorsk, Nikolayevka, Piscunovka, and Rai-Aleksandrovka in the Donetsk People's Republic.

The enemy lost more than 120 troops, one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier and one U.S.-made Stryker armoured vehicle, four armoured fighting vehicles, 18 motor vehicles, and three field artillery guns. An ammunition depot and four materiel depots were neutralised.

The Tsentr Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line. Russian troops inflicted losses on formations of five mechanised brigades, an airmobile brigade, an airborne brigade, an assault regiment of the AFU, a marine brigade, the Azov Special Operations Brigade, and six national guard brigades near Belitskoye, Vasilyvka, Vodyanskoye, Dobropolye, Lenina, Priyut, Torskoye in the Donetsk People's Republic, Ivanovka, and Novopodgorodnoye in Dnepropetrovsk region.

The AFU losses amounted to more than 360 troops, three armoured personnel carriers, eight armoured fighting vehicles, 16 motor vehicles, and one 155-mm Bogdana self-propelled artillery system.

The Vostok Group of Forces continued advancing to the depth of the enemy's defences. The Group's units inflicted losses at formations of two mechanised brigades, two assault brigades, two air assault brigades, three assault regiments of the AFU, and a territorial defence brigade near Gerasimovka (Dnepropetrovsk region), Komsomolskoye, Kopani, Lesnoye, Mirnoye, Novoselovka, Rovnoye, and Tersyanka (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy lost more than 300 troops, three armoured personnel carriers, four armoured fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, one 155-mm Bogdana self-propelled artillery system, and one materiel depot.

The Dnepr Group's units improved the tactical situation and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of a mechanised brigade of the AFU and a marine brigade near Grigorovka, Orekhov, Preobrazhenka (Zaporozhye region), and Kazatskoye (Kherson region).

Up to 45 troops, three pickup trucks, one electronic warfare station, and two materiel depots of the enemy were neutralised.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack drones, missile troops and artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces inflicted damage on the facilities of the Ukrainian fuel and power infrastructure, used in the interests of the AFU, on the facilities for preparation and launch of long-range unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as on temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 144 areas.

Air defence systems shot down eight guided aerial bombs and 244 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 671 aircraft, 284 helicopters, 126,137 unmanned aerial vehicles, 652 anti-aircraft missile systems, 28,423 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,690 MLRS combat vehicles, 33,999 field artillery guns and mortars, and 57,480 units of support military vehicles have been neutralised.

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Proposal for Electing Comrade Kim Jong Un as President of State Affairs of DPRK

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, March 23 (KCNA) -- The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea conducted the important and responsible work for electing the head of state on March 22.

Deputy Ri Il Hwan made a proposal for electing the president of the State Affairs of the DPRK.

The speaker stressed that the success of socialist construction at a new stage facing the Korean people as well as the future and development of the DPRK and its people will be decided by the result of electing the head of state, the most important agenda of the 15th SPA.

Referring to the days that have made the Korean people keenly realize that all of daily happiness, regarded as so common things every day and every hour of the past years, were extraordinarily good fortune given to all of them and to the deep and great meaning of the powerful country that is being deeply cherished again today, he went on:

On this planet, only the strong has the right to defend the dignity and security of a state, and the greatness of Comrade Kim Jong Un is the most powerful national strength of the DPRK.

The DPRK's mightiness is neither the strongest weaponry nor the one and only code itself, but the faith of self-respect and the political courage of Comrade Kim Jong Un that no one in the world can match.

Another strength that makes our state invincible, remaining unperturbed despite any world event or upheaval, is the single-minded unity in which the intention of the leader, who values the self-respect more than life, becomes the will of the people and the purpose of struggle and life.

The DPRK has the faithful people upholding in a single-minded and devoted manner the leader's firm faith that the dignity of the state is the life and cannot be bartered for anything and the revolutionary armed forces regarding it as their true nature to remain absolutely loyal and obedient to the orders of the leader.

This nobility and tenacity have made our country powerful and pushed our revolution to victory in all ages.

The great feats, which can neither be made in seven years nor be achieved even in 70 years, have been attained by the revolutionary spirit of the DPRK people closely rallied around Comrade Kim Jong Un .

The speaker said that now the DPRK people have keenly realized how the aspirations and wishes kept in the days of founding the Republic are being translated into brilliant reality, adding that this is a new phase of the people-first politics unprecedented in the history of building the state where the people's aspirations and demands are reflected in the state's policies and laws and the service for the people has been established as the mode of state activities. And he referred to the undying exploits Comrade Kim Jong Un performed before the times and the revolution, the country and the people, and to his personality as a great man.

All the things, which Comrade Kim Jong Un executed in the worst of hardships, were the start of the people's new life of enjoying beautiful new civilization and happiness, their centuries-old desire, and the new biography of building the most popular socialist state.

The people clearly see what country Comrade Kim Jong Un is building, keenly experiencing how the historic and epoch-making tasks, which others have never thought of or have regarded as impossible, are adopted as top priority state affairs and are being realized without fail.

The DPRK is the country where people lead a life of equality, the country where they live in harmony, helping and leading each other, and the country where the results of the state affairs are reviewed by the laughter of the people. This is the image of the DPRK which the Korean people have seen under the care of Comrade Kim Jong Un .

The Korean people have turned out in a new advance to consolidate the successes achieved in the struggle to usher in a heyday of state development unprecedented in the history of nation building and continue to lead them to greater and more substantial results, the speaker said, adding:

The great confidence in the unconditional success that our people have in the course for making great changes and development surpassing those in the past period is based on the powerful executive ability and strong guiding force of Comrade Kim Jong Un , an outstanding politico-ideological theoretician, strategic designer of the building of a great state and great master of creation and change.

The outstanding leadership of Comrade Kim Jong Un , who arouses the patriotic consciousness and creativity of the masses and inspires the whole country to the struggle of the new era simultaneously, while effectively mobilizing the national forces and resources in any enormous work, has fully demonstrated the advantages of the socialist system and brought about miracles that can be achieved only by our own style of socialism.

Thanks to the road of development opened by him and the valuable and excellent wealth he made on this road, Korean-style socialism has been proved that it is creative socialism with great might not only in overcoming difficulties and challenges but also in promoting progress and innovation, and powerful and development-oriented socialism which is based on the ideological integration of all the people well versed in science and technology and which the value as a social being and the quality of life are coincided with the results of labor.

Comrade Kim Jong Un has successfully led the first stage of the new revolution to definitely put socialism, defended through a bloody struggle, on the track of prosperity. This is the distinguished exploits that has dispelled all sorts of abuses and sophism about socialism and demonstrated the bright future of our state and the invincibility of the socialist cause.

There can be no other option for the people who are firmly convinced that our future will be filled with another new and eye-opening development, just as Comrade Kim Jong Un has made our present quite different from the past.

Deputy Ri Il Hwan courteously proposed to the Supreme People's Assembly to entrust the heavy responsibility of the President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to Comrade Kim Jong Un again, representing the unanimous will of all the people, for the invariable might of the DPRK and the new era of its prosperity and for the future generations to be always happy in its embrace. -0-

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Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Reelected as President of State Affairs of DPRK

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, March 23 (KCNA) -- The election of the president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea representing the state and its people is the most important state affairs that the supreme power body determines on behalf of the unanimous will of all the Korean people for the destiny and future of tens of millions of people, the eternal dignity and mightiness of the DPRK and for leading the great pioneering period of national rejuvenation unprecedented in the history of its founding to an everlasting heyday.

The Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK reelected Comrade Kim Jong Un as President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea at the First Session, the first state affairs activity of its 15th term, on March 22.

The Pyongyang Assembly Hall was full of the extraordinary political awareness and revolutionary enthusiasm of the SPA deputies who would decide in a responsible manner the most important state affair of great political significance in reliably guaranteeing the eternal cause of the Juche revolution on the basis of the mission and rights entrusted by the times and the people.

The 15th Supreme People's Assembly solemnly declared at home and abroad the historic decision to elect Comrade Kim Jong Un , the outstanding leader of the Juche revolution, to the top post of the Republic, reflecting the unanimous will and desire of all the Korean people.

Invariably holding Kim Jong Un in high esteem as the head of our glorious DPRK is a political event, to be specially recorded in the history of our state's power activities, and another significant revolutionary auspicious event the Korean people greeted in the course of ushering in a new period of upturn for national prosperity along the bright path indicated by the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea.

The election of Kim Jong Un , the most prominent thinker-theoretician of the present world, the great strategist of state building and the great master of creation and change, to the top post of our state opened up a firm prospect for further strengthening the government of the Republic as a powerful political weapon for building a great power and realizing the great ideals and aspirations at an early date.

Growing stronger is the iron faith and will of all the people and service personnel in the country that Korean-style socialism will always emerge victorious and the historic cause of building a rich country with a strong army will surely be accomplished when they advance, always holding in high esteem at the helm of the revolution Comrade Kim Jong Un , who has opened up the bright future for all generations while bringing about unprecedented great changes and great victories only in the course of the sacred struggle of our Party and the state.

Guided by him as the head of state, the DPRK will prosper as a dignified country of the people and a power independent in politics, self-supporting in the economy and self-reliant in national defence advancing along the road of most sacred and bold pioneering. -0-

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First-day Sitting of First Session of 15th SPA of DPRK Held

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, March 23 (KCNA) -- The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was opened in the capital city of Pyongyang at a historic time when all the people across the country have courageously turned out in the patriotic struggle to usher in a new heyday of steady leap forward and development of our great state, true to the decisions of the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea.

For the past seven years since the First Session of the 14th SPA was held, the DPRK's supreme power body has thoroughly embodied the WPK's original ideas of state building, independent revolutionary line and people-first principle in its activities and fulfilled its mission and duty entrusted by the Constitution in a responsible manner in response to the demand of the era of great transformation, thus firmly guaranteeing legally and institutionally the implementation of the policies of the Party and the state for the comprehensive prosperity and development.

The first-day sitting of the First Session of the 15th SPA was held on March 22.

The session was convened to further consolidate the state power and provide a solid legal foundation for socialist construction at a new stage. It was attended by the newly-elected SPA deputies and, as observers, officials concerned from Pyongyang and provinces including those of the Central Committee of the WPK, the SPA Standing Committee, the Cabinet, commissions, ministries, national agencies and armed forces organs.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un was present at the session.

When Kim Jong Un appeared at the venue of the session, all the participants welcomed with enthusiastic applause the peerlessly great man, the leader of the people who with his great ideas and outstanding political caliber, put the absolute dignity and national power of our state on the peak of the century and ushered in a new era of great prosperity in which the people's ideal and eternal happiness are realized in a comprehensive way.

Leading officials of the state took the platform.

Deputy Ko Kil Son, secretary general of the SPA Standing Committee, made an opening address.

When the session was declared open, the DPRK national anthem was played.

There was a speech by Choe Ryong Hae, chairman of the Standing Committee of the 14th SPA and chairman of the preparatory committee for the First Session of the 15th SPA.

He referred with pride to the great honor of his life when he has personally experienced the greatness of the ideas and leadership of Comrade Kim Jong Un while working as the chairman of the Standing Committee of the 14th SPA which witnessed the opening of the era of great transformation unprecedented in the history of the development of the DPRK spanning nearly 80 years.

He recalled with deep emotion the achievements made by the 14th SPA in its sovereign activities, true to the intention of the Party Central Committee, including the enactment and amendment and supplement of hundreds of laws to perpetuate the position of the DPRK as a nuclear weapons state, give fuller play to the advantages of the Korean-style socialist system and promote the comprehensive development of the state, and innovative change in the state political activities of the deputies.

He stressed it is absolute truth he realized working as the chairman of the Standing Committee that the eternal prosperity and mightiness of our country and the promotion of the wellbeing of all the people in the country can be ensured only when we remain single-mindedly faithful to the state-building ideas and leadership of Kim Jong Un .

Expressing his regret for failing to repay the great trust of the Party and the expectation of the state and the people with greater successes, he earnestly asked all the deputies to glorify the days of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly as the ones of honor keeping pace with the Ninth Party Central Committee, true to the great Comrade Kim Jong Un 's grand plan for building a powerful country and his noble intention to make devoted service for the people's wellbeing.

The session expressed thanks to outgoing Chairman Choe Ryong Hae who made a significant contribution to implementing the policies of the Party and the state during his term of office and encouraged the deputies to the 15th SPA.

The session elected the chairman and vice-chairmen of the Supreme People's Assembly before discussing agenda items.

Deputy Jo Yong Won was elected as chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK and deputies Kim Hyong Sik and Ri Son Gwon as its vice-chairmen.

Deputy Jo Yong Won made a pledge to be always aware of his mission and duty before the Party and the people, remain faithful to the leadership of the great Comrade Kim Jong Un and the Constitution of the DPRK and make selfless, devoted efforts for the realization of the people-first policy of the WPK and the prosperity and development of the state, bearing in mind the trust and expectation of the deputies for him to make single-minded efforts for the prosperity of the country and its people with warm love for and boundless devotion to the country and the people as the chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly.

The chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly presided over the session.

The following agenda items were brought up for discussion at the First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK:

First, on the election of the President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Second, on the election of the state leadership bodies of the DPRK

Third, on the election of the sectional committees of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK

Fourth, on the amendment and supplement to the Socialist Constitution of the DPRK

Fifth, on the thorough implementation of the five-year plan for national economic development set forth by the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea

Sixth, on the fulfillment of the state budget of the DPRK for 2025 and on the state budget for 2026

The session discussed the first agenda item.

The deputies to the SPA were extremely excited as they would represent the will of the people across the country at the most responsible time for the future of the country and the people and the prospects of the Juche cause.

Deputy Ri Il Hwan made a proposal for the election of the President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The dignity and mightiness of the DPRK, directly linked to the destiny of tens of millions of Korean people, are unthinkable apart from the high prestige and leadership of the state leader, and the historic task of making the great pioneering period of national rejuvenation lead on to an everlasting heyday can be carried out only by the leadership of the prominent head of state, he said, adding that the agenda item is very weighty and crucial but our choice of decision on it is very clear.

He courteously proposed to the current Supreme People's Assembly to entrust Kim Jong Un with the heavy responsibility as President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea again for the eternal mightiness of the DPRK and the new era of its prosperity and for the descendants who will always lead a happy life under his care, representing the general will of all the people who unanimously trust and follow him who has given socialist Korea the great dignity, honor and glory and defended the destiny of the people and bears the responsibility for even the future of all generations to come.

All the participants expressed full support and approval for the proposal representing the unanimous will and ardent desire of all the people and service personnel across the country with the stormy cheers of "Hurrah!" and applause.

The Supreme People's Assembly solemnly declared that Kim Jong Un , who is leading the cause of building a powerful socialist country only to sure victory with his gifted ideological and theoretical wisdom and rare and outstanding leadership practice, was elected President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

His election as the head of state of the DPRK makes it possible for the DPRK and its people to glorify their sacred dignity and honor forever and more dynamically advance toward the goal of achieving the just and far-reaching ideal and prosperity with the outstanding ideology and political power and the invincible force of the harmonious whole.

The session elected the state leadership bodies as the second agenda item.

Kim Jong Un proposed a motion to form the State Affairs Commission.

The session elected the deputies, proposed by the President of the State Affairs of the DPRK, as first vice-president, vice-president and members of the State Affairs Commission.

It elected chairman, vice-chairmen, secretary general and members of the SPA Standing Committee of the DPRK.

And it elected the premier of the DPRK Cabinet.

Deputy Pak Thae Song, elected as premier of the Cabinet, proposed members of the Cabinet upon authorization of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, and they were appointed with full approval.

The session appointed the director of the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office and elected the president of the Supreme Court.

Premier of the DPRK Cabinet Pak Thae Song, on behalf of his Cabinet members, took an oath to be loyal to the Constitution of the DPRK and live up to the trust and expectation of the Party and the people with remarkable results.

He vowed that the Cabinet would hold fast to it as a basic task for the socialist economic construction to lay the developmental foundations for the stable and sustainable growth in the country's economy and substantially improve the people's living standards, in accordance with the general goal and principle of development of the Ninth Central Committee of the WPK, and make sure that the guidance and management by the Cabinet-Responsibility System, Cabinet-Centred System prove successful in ceaselessly bringing about upsurges in the new phase for the comprehensive development.

He solemnly promised the current Supreme People's Assembly and all the people that he would fulfill his heavy mission as the premier of the Cabinet in a responsible manner, deeply mindful of the heavy responsibility for the economic work of the country at a crucial time when the era of a new upsurge and a new change of the Juche revolution is being ushered in.

The session elected the Legislative Committee, the Budget Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee, the sectional committees of the Supreme People's Assembly, through the discussion of the third agenda item. -0-

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PM chairs CCS Meeting to review the situation and mitigating measures in the context of ongoing West Asia Conflict

India - Press Information Bureau

Prime Minister's Office

Short, Medium and Long term measures to ensure continued availability of essential needs discussed in detail

Alternate sources of fertilizers for farmers were also discussed to ensure continued availability in the future

Several measures discussed to diversify sources of imports required by chemicals, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals and other industrial sectors

New export destinations to promote Indian goods to be developed in near future

PM instructs that all arms of government should work together to ensure least inconvenience to citizens

PM directs that a group of Ministers and Secretaries be created to work dedicatedly in a whole of government approach

PM instructs for sectoral groups to work in consultation with all stakeholders

PM asks for proper coordination with state governments to ensure no black-marketing and hoarding of important commodities

Posted On: 22 MAR 2026 9:06PM by PIB Delhi

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security to review the situation and ongoing and proposed mitigating measures in the context of ongoing West Asia Conflict.

The Cabinet Secretary gave a detailed presentation on the global situation and mitigating measures taken so far and being planned by all concerned Ministries/Departments of Government of India. The expected impact and measures taken to address it across sectors like agriculture, fertilisers, food security, petroleum, power, MSMEs, exporters, shipping, trade, finance, supply chains and all affected sectors were discussed. The overall macro-economic scenario in the country and further measures to be taken were also discussed.

The ongoing conflict in West Asia will have significant short, medium and long term impact on the global economy and its effect on India were assessed and counter-measures, both immediate and long-term, were discussed.

Detailed assessment of availability for critical needs of the common man, including food, energy and fuel security was made. Short term, Medium term and Long term measures to ensure continued availability of essential needs were discussed in detail.

The impact on farmers and their requirement for fertiliser for the Kharif season was assessed. The measures taken in the last few years to maintain adequate stocks of fertilizers will ensure timely availability and food security. Alternate sources of fertilizers were also discussed to ensure continued availability in the future.

It was also determined that adequate supply of coal stocks at all power plants will ensure no shortage of electricity in India.

Several measures were discussed to diversify sources of imports required by chemicals, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals and other industrial sectors. Similarly new export destinations to promote Indian goods will be developed in the near future.

Several measures proposed by different ministries will be prepared and implemented in the coming days after consultation with all stakeholders.

PM directed that a group of ministers and secretaries be created to work dedicatedly in a whole of government approach. PM also instructed for sectoral groups to work in consultation with all stakeholders.

PM said that the conflict is an evolving situation and the entire world is affected in some form. In such a situation, all efforts must be made to safeguard the citizens from the impact of this conflict. PM instructed that all arms of government should work together to ensure least inconvenience to the citizens. PM also asked for proper coordination with state governments to ensure no black-marketing and hoarding of important commodities.

***

MJPS/PRK

(Release ID: 2243625)

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Iran threatens to target US, Israeli infrastructure if attacked amid Trump's power plant ultimatum

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

22.03.2026 [17:13]

Baku, March 22, AZERTAC

Iran threatened Sunday to strike all US and Israeli infrastructure across the region if its facilities came under attack, following an ultimatum from US President Donald Trump, Anadolu Agency reported.

"If Iran's fuel and energy infrastructure is attacked by the enemy, all energy, information technology, and desalination infrastructure belonging to the United States and the (Israeli) regime in the region will be targeted," a spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the body overseeing Iranian military operations, said in a statement reported by Fars News Agency.

The threat came shortly after Trump issued an ultimatum Saturday, giving Tehran 48 hours to open the Strait of Hormuz or face strikes on its power plants, "starting with the biggest one first."

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that Iran would show "zero restraint" if its infrastructure was attacked.

The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively disrupted since early March, pushing oil prices higher. The US-Israeli strikes on Iran began Feb. 28 and have reportedly killed at least 1,300 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

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Saudi Arabia gives Iranian military attache and 4 other embassy staffers 24 hours to leave country

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

22.03.2026 [12:13]

Baku, March 22, AZERTAC

Citing Iran's recent attacks, Saudi Arabia has declared the Iranian military attache, assistant attache, and three other Iranian Embassy staffers persona non grata, giving them 24 hours to leave the country, Anadolu Agency reported.

In a statement late Saturday, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said it condemns Iran's attacks on the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

Iran's attacks targeting Saudi Arabia represent "a flagrant violation of all relevant international conventions, the principles of good neighborliness, and respect for state sovereignty."

They also violate "the Beijing Agreement, UN Security Council Resolution No. 2817, and contradict Islamic brotherhood and the values and principles of the Islamic religion that the Iranian side constantly speaks of, confirming that these are merely words not reflected by actions," it said.

Those attacks will have a "profound" impact on bilateral ties both now and in the future, the ministry said, expressing the kingdom's resolve to take necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and security.

The move made Saudi Arabia the second country to take such steps since the war started on Feb. 28.

Earlier this week, Qatar expelled Iran's military and security attaches after Iranian missiles caused extensive damage to the Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility.

Hostilities in the region have escalated since US and Israeli strikes on Iran began on Feb. 28, with Tehran retaliating with repeated drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting US military assets.

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HE GCCSG Renews Strong Condemnation of Continued Iranian Attacks on Council States

General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council

Mar 22, 2026

General Secretariat - Riyadh

His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), has renewed his strongest condemnation and denunciation of the continued blatant and treacherous Iranian attacks on the GCC states. These attacks involve the deliberate targeting of infrastructure and oil facilities in flagrant violation of international law and norms, posing a direct threat to regional security and the stability of global energy supplies.

His Excellency emphasised that the persistence of these attacks clearly reveals the escalatory approach of the Iranian government toward the Council states. He described them as unacceptable acts of aggression that undermine de-escalation efforts and threaten both regional and international security.

His Excellency Mr Albudaiwi stressed that Iranian claims attempting to hold the GCC states responsible for any military operations are false and categorically rejected. He stated that such claims are entirely baseless, reaffirming that the Council states pursue well-established policies grounded in respect for state sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, and the promotion of security and peace, regionally and internationally.

Furthermore, His Excellency affirmed that the GCC states reserve their full legal right, guaranteed under Article 51 of the United Nations (UN) Charter and the provisions of international law, to take all necessary measures to protect their security and stability, safeguard their assets and resources, and respond to these aggressions.

Moreover, His Ecellency called upon the international community to fulfill its responsibilities by condemning these attacks, taking a firm and deterrent stance, and working to compel Iran to immediately comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026) to halt these violations and preserve regional stability.

His Excellency concluded his statement by emphasising the unity and full solidarity of the GCC states in the face of any threat to their security and interests, reiterating their steadfast commitment to joint action to enhance regional stability and achieve peace for their peoples.

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True Promise 4: Iran and resistance axis ops. against US-Israeli assets on Mar. 22

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 22 March 2026 8:03 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 Sunday, March 22, 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 74 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 22:

Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC):

Wave 73 of Operation True Promise 4, under the code "Ya Heydar, peace be upon him," and in honor of air defense martyrs, the south and north of the occupied Palestinian territories were firmly and decisively targeted by missiles and drones.

Military installations and centers in "Arad," "Dimona," "Eilat," "Beersheba," and "Kiryat Gat" in the south of the occupied Palestinian territoriesfollowing the collapse of the defense system of the usurping Zionist armyas well as the Al-Salem, Mnahad, and Al-Dhafra bases of the US military in the region, were precisely struck by Fattah, Qadr, and Emad missile systems and destructive drones.

Wave 74 of Operation True Promise 4, with the sacred code "Ya Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him)", dedicated to the martyrs of the Fath al-Moubin operation during the Holy Defense war in the 1980s, was executed against US military bases in the region and parts of the occupied Palestinian territories.

In this wave, the US "Malek Sultan" base, the US Fifth Fleet, and the hideout of Komala terrorists were targeted by Emad, Fateh, and Qiam missiles and attack drones.

Military bases and intelligence centers in "Tel Aviv", "Petah Tikva", "Holon", and "Ramat Gan" were also destroyed with Ghadr, Kheibar-Shekan, and Khorramshahr 4 missiles.

Iranian Army:

Launched drone attacks at the aerospace industries of the Israeli regime adjacent to the Ben Gurion Air Base and the location of US reconnaissance aircraft at the Prince Sultan Air Base.

Targeted and downed an F-15 fighter jet violating Iranian airspace with ground-to-air systems of the Army Air Defense Force over the southern coastal waters of the country, near Hormuz Island, after being tracked and engaged with missiles.

Hezbollah:

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in Jal Al-Hammar, south 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 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 at the Ruwaisat Al-Alam site in the occupied Kafr Shuba hills 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 in the "Branit" barracks with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the Al-Randa area between the border towns of Alma Al-Shaab and Al-Dhahira 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 in "Jabal al-Bat" in the border town of Aitaroun with artillery shells.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers at the newly established position in "Namir Al-Jabal" opposite the border town of Alma Al-Shaab with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers at the "Hanita" site with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the fighters of the Islamic Resistance targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers southwest of the border town of Alma Al-Shaab with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers east of the town of Naqoura 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 east of the city of Khiam with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Birkat Risha" site opposite the border town of Yarin 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 "Jdeidet Mays Al-Jabal" with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Avivim" barracks for the second time with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the Aitaroun forest with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Avivim" barracks for the third time 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 in Jabal al-Bat in the border town of Aitaroun for the second time with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers northeast of the border town of Maroun Al-Ras with artillery shells.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the Al-Raheb site opposite the border town of Aita Al-Shaab with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Nahal Gershom" base south of "Ramot Naftali" with a swarm of attack drones.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Meron" base for air surveillance and operations management in northern occupied Palestine 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 "Manara" settlement with a rocket barrage.

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 artillery shells.

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 "Zarit" settlement with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Honin" barracks with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the border town of Dhuhaira with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers at Tal Abu Madi in the border town of Dhuhaira with a rocket barrage.

Islamic Resistance in Iraq:

Targeted a Mossad espionage headquarters in Erbil, northern Iraq, with a barrage of drones.

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Iran says US, Israel must pay reparations for attacks on nuclear sites

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 22 March 2026 6:22 PM

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has called on the United Nations to make the United States and Israel pay reparations over their attacks on the country's nuclear facilities.

In a Sunday letter to the UN chief and members of the Security Council, Araghchi described recent attacks on Iran's civilian nuclear facilities as instances of war crimes and aggression against international peace, adding that Iran must be fully compensated for the attacks.

He said that attacks that targeted facilities in Natanz, in central Iran, and on areas near the Bushehr nuclear power plant, on the Persian Gulf coast, were a violation of the UN Charter, the Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and peremptory norms of international law.

Making a reference to the text of UN laws and regulations, the top Iranian diplomat said that "the State responsible for such internationally wrongful act is under an obligation 'to cease that act,' 'to offer appropriate assurances and guarantees of non-repetition,' and 'to make full reparation for the injury caused by the internationally wrongful act' and 'to compensate for the damage caused.'"

Araghchi also called on the Security Council to require the Israeli regime to join the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

"The Security Council must enforce its previous resolutions regarding the regime, and accordingly demand that the Israeli regime must renounce the possession of nuclear weapons, accede without delay to all international legally-binding instruments banning weapons of mass destruction," said his letter.

The letter comes a day after Iran said part of its nuclear facilities in Natanz had come under attack during an ongoing US-Israeli aggression on the country.

Iran has repeatedly condemned reckless US and Israeli attacks on its nuclear sites which have been carried out under the banner of fighting Tehran's alleged efforts to build nuclear weapons.

That comes as numerous UN reports have confirmed the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear activities and its compliance with international norms and standards.

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Iran will respond to Trump's 'delirious threats' on battlefield: Pezeshkian

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 22 March 2026 4:35 PM

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says Tehran will give a decisive response to "delirious threats" made against it on the battlefield.

Pezeshkian made the remark in a post on his X account on Sunday after US President Donald Trump threatened to attack Iran's power plants if the country does not "fully open, without threat, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 hours."

In response to a scathing report by The New York Times, a frustrated Trump claimed that the US has "blown Iran off of the map" and that he has achieved all his goals in the war "weeks ahead of schedule."

"The illusion of erasing Iran from the map shows desperation against the will of a history-making nation," Pezeshkian wrote.

The Iranian president added that threats and terror will only strengthen national unity.

"The Strait of Hormuz is open to all except those who violate our soil. We firmly confront delirious threats on the battlefield," he emphasized.

Since February 28, when the US and Israel launched their unprovoked aggression, Iran has blocked the Strait of Hormuz to oil and gas tankers affiliated with the aggressor regimes and those cooperating with them.

The disruption of tanker traffic in the waterway, lying between the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, has triggered a major surge in energy prices.

In a desperate attempt to control the market, Trump said that the US Navy will escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. He even offered political risk insurance for tankers transiting there.

The US president also sought to form a coalition to secure the strait, asking NATO countries to contribute naval and air assets. However, most of Washington's allies have declined to commit forces.

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf also responded to Trump's rhetoric and said the Islamic Republic will "irreversibly" destroy vital energy and fuel infrastructure across the region if the United States attacks power plants inside Iran.

The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters also warned of Iran's "immediate punitive" measures in case of any attack on the country's fuel and energy infrastructure. The Intelligence Service of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said critical technology centers beyond the region will be targeted within 48 hours.

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Iran warns it will completely shut Strait of Hormuz if power plants attacked

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 22 March 2026 3:46 PM

Iran's highest operational command unit has warned that the Islamic Republic will completely close the Strait of Hormuz if its electricity generation infrastructure comes under attack.

Spokesman for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaqari issued the warning on Sunday in response to US President Donald Trump's threat to attack Iran's power plants if the country does not "fully open, without threat, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 hours."

Zolfaqari said Iran would take "immediate punitive" measures if the country's fuel and energy infrastructure is attacked. "We have repeatedly declared that the Strait of Hormuz is closed only to the enemy and harmful passage and has not been yet closed completely and is under our smart control."

"Non-harmful transit continues under specific regulations which guarantee our security and interests," he added.

The spokesman emphasized that if threats against Iranian power plants are implemented, Iran would completely close the Strait of Hormuz and would keep it closed until the damaged facilities are reconstructed.

He said all Israel's electricity generation plants, energy infrastructure and systems of information and communication technology (ICT) would be targeted.

Iran will also obliterate all similar companies with American shareholders in the region, he noted.

Zolfaqari further warned that power plants in regional countries hosting American bases would also be considered legitimate targets for Iran.

The spokesman reiterated that the armed forces are prepared to "completely destroy all the US economic interests in the West Asia region."

He once again affirmed that Iran did not start the war and would not initiate further escalation, but if the enemy inflicts damage on the country's power plants, Iran would not hesitate to defend national interests.

He cautioned that the "non-stop" measures to destroy the enemies' targets would begin if Iran's power plants are attacked.

"Nothing can prevent us from proceeding with our operation to demolish energy and oil infrastructure and industry of the US and its allies in the region," Zolfaqari asserted.

Earlier on Sunday, the Intelligence Service of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) also responded to Trump's threat and said critical technology centers beyond the region will be targeted within 48 hours.

The Intelligence Service said in a post on X that from now on, Iran's armed forces have an eye on extra-regional technological and political targets associated with the Islamic Republic's enemies.

Iran has declared the strategic waterway is open to those who do not stand on the side of the enemies.

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Any attack on Iran's power plants will cause blackout in entire region: VP

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 22 March 2026 2:43 PM

Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref has warned that any attack on the Iranian electricity generation infrastructure would trigger counterattacks resulting in a blackout in the entire region.

In a message issued on Sunday, Aref said that those threatening Iran with more attacks on its infrastructure would be responsible for their repercussions.

The warning came after US President Donald Trump threatened that he would order attacks on Iranian power plants if Iran does not ease its restrictions on transit in the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf.

"Attacking public facilities is tantamount to directly targeting the people and constitutes a clear violation of humanitarian principles and international law. The Islamic Republic of Iran will act decisively in defense of its nation and territory," Aref said.

"An attack on Iran's infrastructure will cause widespread blackouts across the region."

The Iranian vice president said that Iran did not start the ongoing war with the US and Israel, but it will not hesitate to defend its people and territory and will determine how the war will end.

Iran has warned from the very beginning of the US-Israeli aggression on the country in late February that any attack on its energy infrastructure would trigger counterattacks on corresponding facilities in the region that are linked to the United States and the Israeli regime.

Attacks were launched on oil and gas facilities in Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia earlier this week right after airstrikes targeted parts of Iran's natural gas processing installations in the Persian Gulf coastal town of Asaluyeh.

Trump said after Iran's massive attacks on a Qatari gas field that the US and Israel would not repeat airstrikes targeting Iran's energy facilities.

However, he issued an ultimatum in the early hours of Sunday, saying he would target Iran's power plants if Iran does not open the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway in the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of global oil demand passes, within 48 hours.

Iran has indicated it may ease restrictions on passage through Hormuz once the aggression completely stops.

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Iran's military doctrine shifts from defensive to offensive: Senior commander

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 22 March 2026 2:05 PM

A senior Iranian commander says the Islamic Republic's military doctrine has shifted from a defensive posture to an offensive one, as the armed forces introduce more advanced weaponry and new tactics in their relentless reprisal attacks targeting the US and Israeli interests.

In a message on Sunday, Commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Iran's highest operational command, Major General Ali Abdollahi announced that the shift in the country's military strategy is aimed at disrupting enemy calculations with the deployment of new advanced weaponry.

According to General Abdollahi, the shift is not merely theoretical but it entails a comprehensive overhaul of battlefield tactics to align with the new offensive strategy.

He also emphasized that the armed forces are increasingly leveraging the talents of motivated young scientists who are working tirelessly to develop cutting-edge equipment and weaponry. The commander also noted that the potential impact of these advancements has not gone unnoticed by adversaries.

"The criminal enemies of Iran have already understood some aspects of it on the battlefield," he said, noting that the new military capabilities are already affecting enemy operations and strategic planning.

Abdollahi further insisted that this period of transformation is just the beginning.

He went on to say that Iran aims to deliver "new surprises" in future military engagements, highlighting an intention to keep adversaries off balance.

Abdollahi further reiterated that the Iranian armed forces would stand firm under the guidance and leadership of the Islamic Revolution's leader.

"The national cohesion and history-making solidarity of the warrior nation and the proud armed forces of Iran under the full subordination of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution promise more victories ahead," he said.

Meanwhile, the armed forces executed their 74th wave of Operation True Promise with precision.

The latest wave of the operation targeted US bases in the region as well as locations within the occupied Palestinian territories.

Notably, the US Malek Sultan base, the Fifth Fleet, and the Komala terrorist hideouts were struck using a combination of Emad, Fateh, Qiyam missiles, and attack drones.

Significant military and security centers in Israeli cities including Tel Aviv, Petah Tikva, Holon, and Ramat Gan were also devastated by a barrage of Qadr, Khyber Shekan, and Khorramshahr 4 heavy missiles.

Military analysts say the strategic confusion in CENTCOM's command networks, the collapse of the American-Zionist defense apparatus, and a broader disruption of American weapons support systems vital to their strategies in West Asia have changed the equations of war in Iran's favor.

The anger and desperation of the American and Zionist warmongers were predictable, and warnings had been given earlier about the quagmire of war for the United States and the Zionist regime, as well as a wider, more intractable regional conflict, they say.

On February 28, the United States and the Israeli regime launched an unprovoked war on Iran, assassinating Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei as well as several top military commanders.

Iran immediately began to retaliate against the aggression by launching barrages of missile and drone attacks on the Israeli-occupied territories as well as on the US bases in regional countries.

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Global tech centers will be hit within 48 hours of attack on Iran's power plants: IRGC

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 22 March 2026 1:50 PM

In response to threats by US President Donald Trump about hitting Iran's power plants, the Intelligence Service of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says critical technology centers beyond the region will be targeted within 48 hours.

The Intelligence Service said in a post on X on Sunday that since February 28, Iran's armed forces have managed to stabilize the Strait of Hormuz, forcing the United States to evacuate its bases in the region, and damage and destroy technological centers of the Israeli regime.

From now on, the Service stated, Iran's armed forces also have an eye on extra-regional technological and political targets associated with the Islamic Republic's enemies.

Trump yesterday threatened that Iran's power infrastructure would be bombed if the Strait of Hormuz is not opened within 48 hours.

Iran has declared that the strategic waterway is open to those who do not stand on the side of the Islamic Republic's enemies. It has also warned of extra-regional political consequences in case of an attack on its power infrastructure.

On February 28, the United States and Israel attacked Iran. They assassinated Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and a number of high-ranking military officials.

The two enemies have also killed hundreds of Iranian civilians in airstrikes on the country. Notable among the martyrs are the more than 160 school children of the southern city of Minab.

Iran's response to the aggression by the US and the Israeli regime has been decisive and precise.

Barrages of missiles and drones have paralyzed the air defenses of the United States in the region. This has also compounded Israel's inability to intercept Iranian missiles pounding the occupied territories.

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Retaliatory operations will continue until enemies surrender completely: Iran's Defense Ministry

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 22 March 2026 11:33 AM

The spokesman for the Iranian Defense Ministry says the country's missile and drone strikes in retaliation for the unprovoked US-Israeli onslaught will continue fiercely and forcefully until enemies surrender completely.

Brigadier General Reza Talaei-Nik stated on Sunday that this is a public demand, as well as a request from Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei and families of the victims.

He stated that the US and Israel are undoubtedly the chief aggressors against Iran.

The spokesman noted that Donald Trump has become a plaything in the hands of Israeli officials, and the US president, together with his accomplices, has forgone the interests of Americans, many peoples around the globe as well as the Iranian nation to serve the Tel Aviv regime, and subsequently launched a war of aggression against Iran on February 28.

Talaei-Nik stated that Israel and the US have contravened most obligations under international law and ethics pertaining to armed conflict in the course of the ongoing anti-Iran offensives.

He emphasized the legitimacy of retaliatory operations being carried out by Iranian Armed Forces and allied resistance fighters against US interests in the region and Israeli positions in the occupied territories.

"While anti-Zionist campaigns have surged over the past two years, anti-US movements, particularly those against despicable Trump and criminal Netanyahu, are now emerging across the United States and among the international public opinion," the senior Iranian military official stated.

Talaei-Nik further said that Iran reserves the right under the UN Charter and in accordance with its religious teachings, national and ethical beliefs, as well as humanitarian principles to retaliate.

"It is our right to employ all capabilities, and utilize all national and trans-national defense means in order to thwart aggressors' plots and defeat enemies," the spokesman added.

The United States and Israel launched a large-scale onslaught against Iran late last month, assassinating Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking military commanders despite indirect Tehran-Washington negotiations on Iran's peaceful nuclear program.

Within the framework of their legitimate response Iranian Armed Forces immediately initiated powerful missile and drone strike on US military installations across West Asia and Israeli positions in the occupied lands.

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Iran Army hits invading F-15 fighter jet over southern coast

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 22 March 2026 11:17 AM

The Iranian Armed Forces have managed to target an invading F-15 fighter jet in the skies over the country's southern coast.

In a statement released on Sunday, the Islamic Republic of Iran Army said that the Joint Air Defense Command had intercepted and fired ground-to-air missiles at the enemy fighter jet near Hormuz Island a few hours ago.

It also noted that investigations are underway to learn about the F-15's fate.

The interception adds to Iran's previous targeting of six invading jets, three of them over Iran's skies and the remaining in Kuwait.

It further reflects Iran's assertions of its growing military prowess and readiness to defend its airspace amid the illegal US-Israeli aggression against the country.

The US and Israel launched their criminal military assault against Iran on February 28 by assassinating Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders, in flagrant violation of the country's sovereignty.

The enemies have deliberately targeted Iran's civilian infrastructure and energy facilities, killing hundreds of Iranian people.

Iran began to swiftly retaliate against the terrorist act of aggression by launching barrages of missile and drone attacks on the Israeli-occupied territories as well as on US assets in regional countries.

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Russia warns of nuclear disaster amid US-Israeli strikes on Iran's civilian atomic facilities

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 22 March 2026 9:34 AM

Russia's permanent representative to the international organizations in Vienna has categorically denounced US-Israeli strikes on Iran's civilian nuclear facilities, warning that such acts of aggression risk to result in a nuclear disaster.

"The US and Israel continue strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities. The IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) policy -- making bodies long ago characterized such reckless actions as a violation of international law, and a violation of the UN Charter and the IAEA Statute," Mikhail Ulyanov wrote in a post published on his X account on Sunday.

He underscored that such anti-Iran attacks "risk to cause a nuclear disaster."

Earlier this year, Iran's UN ambassador highlighted the horrific humanitarian and environmental repercussions stemming from the ongoing US-Israeli onslaught against Iran, saying the war of aggression has led to significant air pollution and health risks for civilians.

Amir Saeid Iravani stressed in separate letters to UN Secretary General Antonio Gueterres and other senior UN officials that these attacks constitute a clear violation of international obligations arising under multilateral environmental agreements -- including the United Nations Framework Convention on Biological Diversity, which underscore States' responsibility to protect the global environment and to refrain from actions that may cause widespread harm.

"The government of the Islamic Republic of Iran calls upon the United Nations and its relevant bodies to urgently address these developments and to undertake appropriate measures, including condemning environmentally destructive acts and pursuing accountability for those responsible for this manifest environmental crime."

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 Army successfully attacks Ben Gurion airport using advanced Arash-2 drones

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 22 March 2026 8:38 AM

The Islamic Republic of Iran Army has successfully carried out retaliatory strikes targeting Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport using advanced Arash-2 drones.

Army spokesman Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia announced the operation on Sunday amid sustained retaliatory operations by the Iranian Armed Forces in the face of the US-Israeli aggression against the country.

"Most of the drones used against the Ben Gurion airport were Arash-2 which are more advanced and destructive that Kian and Arash-1 drones," he said, adding that Arash-2 unmanned aerial vehicles "have a range of 2,000 kilometers and are known as Israel-hitting drones."

With its small cross-sectional area, Arash-2 drone can easily pass through radar systems while it is very difficult for the enemy to detect it, he added.

Arash-2 drone, which is capable of carrying out precision-strike attacks, can fly for a long time and has low price compared to other drones and air defense missiles that target it.

Akraminia also said, "Arash-2 done is produced very fast and can swiftly be prepared for launch. Therefore, whenever we decide, we can easily launch a large number of this UAV."

Meanwhile, the Army spokesman described Ben Gurion as the Israeli regime's largest airport, where refueling tankers have stationed.

He further noted that aircraft maintenance industries are located near the Ben Gurion airport, which is the source of attacks against Iran.

"Due to maritime and ground restrictions, more than 90 percent of the regime's trade is carried out by airlines, mainly through the Ben Gurion airport, which is considered the Zionists' main economic artery and driving force."

The criminal US-Israeli aggression on Iran began on February 28 with airstrikes that assassinated senior Iranian officials and commanders.

The Iranian Armed Forces have responded by launching almost daily missile and drone operations targeting locations in the Israeli occupied lands as well as US military bases and assets across the region.

The Islamic Republic has been exercising its legitimate right to self-defense by carrying out retaliatory strikes against the enemies, which are based on the principle of "eye for an eye."

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Ansarullah: Iran's missile strikes alter equations in favor of resistance front

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 22 March 2026 7:05 AM

The Yemeni Ansarullah resistance movement has praised the Iranian Armed Forces for conducting crushing missile strikes on Israeli positions in the occupied territories, emphasizing that the attacks have changed the enemies' equations in favor of the Axis of Resistance.

"We felicitate Iran's missile operations that have left a large number of Zionists killed and injured. These attacks come at the same time that the enemy's air defenses have been obliterated in [Iranian] strikes over the past few days," the political bureau of Ansarullah said in a statement late on Saturday.

It added that the joint US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran is within the framework of targeting the Muslim Ummah, and in line with the so-called scheme of changing the face of West Asia.

Ansarullah further stressed that the ongoing anti-Iran onslaught is meant to facilitate the Israeli regime's complete dominance over the entire region.

The Yemeni resistance movement highlighted that Iran is now fighting a battle in defense of the region, the Muslim world and sanctities against arrogant powers.

"The Israeli regime and the United States don't understand anything other than the language of force, and the sole remaining option is struggle and resistance," Ansarullah said.

The statement came shortly after the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)'s Aerospace Force declared achieving "missile dominance" over the skies of the occupied territories.

"Tonight, the skies over the south of the occupied territories will remain illuminated for hours," Commander of the force, Brigadier General Majid Mousavi, wrote in a post published on his X account.

He added, "The new tactics and launch systems to be employed in the upcoming waves will leave American and Zionist commanders astonished."

The comments come amid the Iranian Armed Forces' ongoing retaliatory Operation True Promise 4 against US interests in the region and Israeli positions in the occupied lands.

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Iran's Long-Distance Strikes On Diego Garcia Put Europe On High Alert

By Rikard Jozwiak March 22, 2026

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.

Europecontinues 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.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-missile- europe-threat/33712889.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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Israeli Says Iran Has Fired Over 400 Missiles At Israel Since Start War

14:16 22.3.2026

The Israeli Army announced on March 22 that Iran has fired more than 400 ballistic missiles at Israel since the start of the war, about 92 percent of which have been intercepted.

Israeli military spokesman Nadav Shoshani said the rocket attacks on Arad and Dimona in southern Israel on March 21 were "catastrophic." It had previously been reported that 175 people were treated for injuries following the attacks.

According to Arad Hospital, 31 people, including 18 children, were hospitalized in the city, at least nine of whom are in critical condition. Dozens of others were also lightly injured.

In Dimona, five people were hospitalized, including a 12-year-old boy who is reported to be in critical condition, according to the city hospital.

Israeli emergency services also announced that at least 15 people were injured in new Iranian attacks on March 22 after a cluster munition hit Tel Aviv.

An Israeli military spokesman added on March 22 that the missiles used in the recent attacks were similar to the ballistic missiles that have been used repeatedly since the start of the war.

According to the Israeli military, four direct hits have been reported on cities in the country in the past three weeks: Tel Aviv, Beit Shemesh, Arad, and Dimona.

In addition, there have been cases of rocket debris or cluster munitions hitting Israel. According to the spokesman, all casualties from Iranian rocket attacks in Israel so far have been civilians.

He said the number of rockets fired at Israel daily currently ranges from the high single digits to around 20, and Iran has repeatedly used cluster munitions against population centers, including in the recent attack on Tel Aviv.



Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-live- blog-trump-khamenei/33640284.html?lbis=445168

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's Rutte Says More Than 20 Countries Plan To Be Involved In Strait Of Hormuz Reopening

21:24 22.3.2026

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said that more than 20 countries were planning to be involved in the reopening of the key Strait of Hormuz after US President Donald Trump pushed the alliance to increase efforts on the matter.

"I know the president was angry because he feels that European and other allies have been too slow," Rutte told Fox News on March 22. He added that NATO was now looking to work on the issue together with Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain.

"So we are now planning the military people and others amongst this group of 22 nations and with the US," Rutte said.

His comments came amid a heated exchange between US and Iranian officials concerning the Strait of Hormuz. Trump gave Tehran 48 hours to "fully open" the Strait of Hormuz, or the United States would "obliterate" Iran's power plants. The Iranian military command threatened to retaliate.

Backing up Trump's ultimatum, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told NBC it was "the only language the Iranians understand," adding that "sometimes you have to escalate to de-escalate."

Separately, he also addressed Trump's comments about Kharg Island, a major hub for Iran's oil production. Speaking to Fox News, Bessent said that US forces have destroyed Iranian military assets on the island, adding: "We will see what happens with -- whether that eventually becomes a US asset."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-live-blog- trump-khamenei/33640284.html?lbis=445192

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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Trump Gives Tehran 48 Hours To Open Hormuz Or US Will 'Obliterate' Iran's Power Plants

By RFE/RL March 22, 2026 00:14 CET Updated March 22, 2026 19:51 CET

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 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.

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.

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

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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Iran Will Completely Close Strait of Hormuz If US Attacks Energy Facilities - Headquarters

Sputnik News

20260322

TEHRAN (Sputnik) - If the United States attacks power plants in Iran, Tehran will completely close the Strait of Hormuz until the plants are back to work, Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesman for the Khatam Al-Anbiya central headquarters, said on Sunday.

"If the US threats against Iranian power plants are carried out, Iran will immediately take the following measures... The Strait of Hormuz will be completely closed until the Iranian power plants that have been struck are restored," Zolfaghari said, as quoted by the Tasnim news agency.

In the event of attacks on Iranian power plants, Tehran will consider Israel's entire energy infrastructure, as well as "information and communication technology facilities," to be the targets of military strikes, the spokesman added.

All companies in the Middle East in which the US has interests, as well as power plants in those countries in the region where the US has established military bases, will also be destroyed, Zolfaghari said.

 Sputnik

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Military Action Against Iran Bring People Together Around Its Leadership - Kremlin

Sputnik News

20260322

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Military actions against Iran have led to greater unity of the Iranian people around the country's leadership, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

"We see that, unfortunately, the war is spreading. We all know that at the start of this campaign - this aggression - the goal was, after all, to bring about regime change in Tehran. But one thing is now clear - every action like this only serves to unite the Iranian people more closely around their leadership," Peskov told Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin in an interview out on Sunday.

No sensible person would attempt to predict how the situation in the Middle East will unfold, but it is clear that nothing good is happening there, the spokesman added.

The assassinations of Iranian leaders will have far-reaching consequences, Peskov also said.

"This is indeed the reality we live in, but let's hope it's not the norm. In any case, it's an abnormal situation that has - and will continue to have - very profound consequences. It cannot fail to have consequences," Peskov told Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin in the interview out on Sunday.

The Kremlin spokesman has previously said that Russia strongly condemns any actions aimed at harming the health of members of the leadership of sovereign Iran, let alone their murder.

On Relations With Europe

The issue of paying bills for gas, gasoline, and electricity has eclipsed Ukraine as the primary focus for European states, Peskov said.

"They [Europeans] now have their number one priority not Ukraine, but how to settle bills for gas, gasoline, and electricity," Peskov told Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin.

Europe is facing a difficult situation yet refuses dialogue with Russia, preferring to prolong the Ukraine conflict without means to fund it, Peskov said.

"Europe is torn apart by contradictions. Europe is in a difficult situation. Europe still does not want to talk to us. Europe still wants the continuation of the war in Ukraine and does not know how to pay for it," Peskov told Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin in the interview out on Sunday.

Russia does not refer to European countries with obscene language, Peskov said, recalling the remark of former UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill that diplomacy is "the ability to tell someone to go to hell in such a way that they look forward to the trip."

 Sputnik

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Iranian Military Intercepts Another F-15 Fighter Jet - Reports

Sputnik News

20260322

TEHRAN (Sputnik) - The Iranian military has intercepted another F-15 fighter jet during the conflict with the United States and Israel, the Iranian state-run broadcaster IRIB reported on Sunday.

A F-15 fighter jet was intercepted off the southern coast of the country near the island of Hormuz, after which it was hit with a surface-to-air missile of the Iranian army air defense system, the report said.

The military said it was investigating the future of the fighter.

 Sputnik

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Passage Through Strait of Hormuz Open to All But Not Enemies - Iranian Envoy

Sputnik News

20260322

DUBAI (Sputnik) - Ships, excluding "enemy" vessels, may transit the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with Tehran, Ali Mousavi, Iran's permanent representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), said on Sunday.

"Vessels can pass through the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with Tehran. The strait is open to everyone except enemies," Mousavi was quoted as saying by the Al-Alam broadcaster.

Iran stands ready to work with other nations and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to enhance navigation safety in the Strait of Hormuz, Mousavi added.

"Iran is ready to cooperate with the International Maritime Organization and other states to bolster navigation safety and protect ship crews," Mousavi was quoted as saying by the Al-Alam broadcaster.

Iran prioritizes a diplomatic resolution but insists aggression must fully cease alongside confidence-building measures, the envoy said.

"Actions by Washington and Tel Aviv have led to the current situation in the Strait of Hormuz," Mousavi said.

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.

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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Trump Ultimatum Looms, As Israel Warns Of 'Weeks' Of More Fighting Against Iran, Hezbollah

By RFE/RL March 23, 2026

As US President Donald Trump's devastating deadline looms for Iran to open the crucial Strait of Hormuz, the Israeli military warned its citizens that "more weeks" remain in the twin wars against Iran and Hezbollah.

"Citizens of Israel, we face more weeks of fighting against Iran and Hezbollah," military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said in televised remarks on March 22.

"With each passing day, we are further weakening the terror regime [in Tehran]. We will not allow it or its proxies to threaten the citizens of Israel or the existence of the state of Israel," said Defrin, who added that the ground campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon would intensify in the coming week.

"The operation against the Hezbollah terrorist organization has only begun...This is a prolonged operation," Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir added in a statement.

The United States has designated Hezbollah a terrorist organization, while the EU has sanctioned the group's military wing but not its political organization in the country.

Trump's Hormuz Deadline Looms For Iran

The Israeli comments come in the backdrop of somewhat conflicting remarks from the US side on the potential length of the war.

Looming next is an ultimatum set by Trump on March 21 at 7:44 p.m. Washington time in which the US president demanded Tehran "fully open" the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours or face dire consequences, a major escalation of tensions in a war that already threatens to spin out of control.

"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.

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 with, he asserted, most US goals achieved. The Pentagon is also reportedly sending thousands of additional ground forces to the region.

Iran vowed to retaliate if Trump should carry out his threat on power plants.

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.

Separately, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, speaker of the Iranian Parliament, warned 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."

Such Iranian retaliatory attacks would likely have devastating effects on Gulf Arab countries, which are huge power consumers and rely heavily on desalinated sea water. Bahrain and Qatar get 100 percent of their water from desalination plants, while other countries get 50-80 percent, Reuters reports.

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.

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. Iranian attacks on oil and gas facilities in the Gulf have also caused fears in the market.

Nations Preparing For Strait Duty: Rutte

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. He has expressed anger with the reluctance of many nations to become involved.

But on March 22, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said more than 20 countries were planning to be involved in the reopening of the strait in the face of the Trump pressure.

"I know the president was angry because he feels that European and other allies have been too slow," Rutte told Fox News on March 22.

He added that NATO was now looking to work on the issue together with Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain.

"So we are now planning the military people and others amongst this group of 22 nations and with the US," Rutte said.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has been singled out for criticism by Trump, spoke with the US president by phone on March 22, with the leaders discussing the situation in the Middle East and the need to reopen the strait to global shipping, Downing Street said.

A Pause On Embassy Attacks In Iraq?

In Iraq -- which is increasingly being pulled into the conflict across its border -- an influential pro-Iran Iraqi armed group said on March 23 that it would extend a pause on its attacks on the US Embassy in Baghdad by five days.

"The deadline given to the embassy of American evil will be extended by an additional five days," Kataeb Hezbollah said in a statement.

Pro-Iran militias in Iraq have targeted US sites in the country, while they themselves have been hit by air strikes that they blame on the United States and Israel.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Farda, Reuters, AFP, and dpa

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-trump-deadline- hormuz-israel-war-oil/33712932.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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All energy facilities in region within reach of our missiles, Iraqi resistance warns US

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 22 March 2026 5:01 PM

Iraqi Islamic resistance group, Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, says it will target energy infrastructure facilities across the West Asia region if the United States and Israel attack Iran's power plants.

The group's military deputy, Abdul-Qader al-Karbalai, said in a statement on Sunday that all regional energy facilities are now within the reach of the resistance's missiles and drones.

Karbalai issued the warning in response to US President Donald Trump's threat on Saturday that Iran's power infrastructure would be bombed if the Strait of Hormuz is not opened within 48 hours.

The balance of power has shifted, Karbalai said, warning that any hostile action by the enemies will face a direct military response.

"The men of the resistance are people of action, not words," he added.

Trump has been under growing pressure as Washington's allies refuse to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz by force. The strategic waterway is currently under the full control of the Iranian armed forces.

Since February 28, when the US and Israel launched their unprovoked aggression, Iran has blocked the Strait of Hormuz to oil and gas tankers affiliated with the aggressors and those cooperating with them.

The IRGC has warned that the scope of retaliation to any attacks on Iran's power plants would not be limited to energy infrastructure in the region, but would also cripple the technological and water supply systems supporting the US-Israeli military presence in the region.

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US Facilities At Baghdad Airport Attacked Overnight

11:59 22.3.2026

The AFP news agency, citing an Iraqi security official, reported eight overnight rocket and drone attacks on the US diplomatic and logistics center at Baghdad International Airport.

According to the report, the attacks continued through the morning of March 22, with some rockets landing near the US base. Meanwhile, another security source reported that employees had left the US facility at the airport on March 21.

Security sources said at least six attacks had been confirmed and the police had discovered a rocket launcher in an area near the airport. The facility, located in the Baghdad International Airport complex, has been targeted several times since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran on February 28.

Meanwhile, armed groups close to the Iranian government have claimed responsibility for attacks on US interests in Iraq and elsewhere in the region. A coalition calling itself the Islamic Resistance in Iraq said it had carried out 21 rocket and drone attacks against "occupier bases" in the past 24 hours.

These groups had previously called for the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq.

However, the US Embassy in Baghdad has not been targeted for the fourth consecutive night. This comes after the Kataib Hezbollah group announced on March 19 that it would temporarily halt its attacks for five days.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-live-blog-trump- khamenei/33640284.html?lbis=445155#entry-shared

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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FM Sa'ar delivers statement to the press at the site of the Iranian missile strike in Arad

Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs

FM Sa'ar: "None of these attacks have any military meaning or significance whatsoever. The only target, the only objective, is to hurt as many civilians as possible. So, this is clearly a war crime."

Type: Press Releases

Topic: Terrorism

Publish Date: 22.03.2026

Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa'ar today (Sunday, 22 March 2026) visited the site of the Iranian missile strike in Arad. Following are his remarks to the media:

You can see here, very clearly, the war crimes of the Iranian regime. You can see a totally civilian neighborhood, no military dimension, and the Iranian regime is solely and deliberately targeting civilians and civilian populations. Without any exception, from the beginning of this operation a bit more than three weeks ago, we didn't have even one military casualty from the Iranian attacks. All the casualties from the Iranian attacks, without exception, are civilians.

So, from that simple fact you can understand the strategy. The strategy is to shoot on civilian populations in order to increase the number of civilian casualties. We had here actually a miracle - that seeing the destruction all around, the number of casualties was relatively low.

We had also yesterday, as you know, in Dimona, another attack. In both scenes we have children who were severely injured. Here we had a child who was literally thrown out of his bed on the third floor and found himself here. And of course, a few minutes ago, we had another attack on Tel Aviv.

None of these attacks have any military meaning or significance whatsoever. The only target, the only objective, is to hurt as many civilians as possible. So, this is clearly a war crime.

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President Herzog visits missile impact site in Arad

Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs

President Herzog: The Iranians do not differentiate between Muslims and Jews and Christians or between the elderly and the young. All civilians are there to be killed and destroyed.

Type: Press Releases

Topic: Terrorism

Secondary topic: Iran

Publish Date: 22.03.2026

(Communicated by the President's Spokesperson)

President Isaac Herzog today (Sunday, 22 March 2026) visited the scene of the overnight missile attack on the city of Arad in southern Israel.

President Isaac Herzog:

"We're here in Arad, and as you can see, this clearly is a site that shows the havoc from a half-ton missile from Iran.

"As you know, the Iranians do not differentiate between Muslims and Jews and Christians or between the elderly and the young. All civilians are there to be killed and destroyed, but we are here to show something else: we are ever resilient.

"It's no secret to all of you that Iran is now deploying all of its capabilities. Remember that they denied that they have missiles all the way to the United States. Well, you've seen it in the launch at Diego Garcia, over 4000 kilometers, 2500 miles. That means that they will employ and deploy all their capabilities in order to scare all of us. But this doesn't really work. On the contrary, it shows us what a cruel regime it is and what kind of danger it is  which is what we've been saying to the world for way over a generation.

"That is why this head of the snake, this evil empire, must be stopped. That's why we're in this war. I sincerely trust the resilience of Israelis and the people of Arad. This place will be fully rebuilt."

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PM Netanyahu at the Site of the Missile Hit in Arad

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

Type: Events and Speeches

Government: The 37th Government

Publish Date: 22.03.2026

"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.

Second, they are using, 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 religion. Third, they fired an intercontinental ballistic missile on Diego Garcia. That's 4,000 kilometers. I've been warning all the time. They have now the capacity to reach deep into Europe. They already have fired on European countries, Cyprus. They are putting everyone in their sights. and fourth, they're stopping a 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. 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. 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".

Prime Minister Netanyahu Answers Reporters' Questions:

"We're responding with great force, but not on civilians. We're going after the regime. We're going after the IRGC, this criminal gang, and we're going after them personally, their leaders, their installations, their economic assets. We're going after them very strongly".

"we've defined two clear goals. One is to break completely their nuclear program, break completely their missile program, break completely their capacity to produce the components for both of these programs. We're well on our way in achieving it. 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".

"I think President Trump knows exactly what he's doing, and whatever we do, we do together and as far as possible in confidence".

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PM Netanyahu at the Site of the Missile Hit in Dimona

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

Type: Events and Speeches

Government: The 37th Government

Publish Date: 22.03.2026

"If anyone needed an explanation of why Iran is the enemy of civilization, and the enemy and the danger to the entire world. You got it in the last 48 hours. In the last 48 hours, they fired a terror weapon on civilians, on children. There's a children's nursery here. There's an old person's home here. Civilians, families, they fire terror weapons on civilians, and often they use cluster bombs, which are forbidden by international law.

The second thing that they did is that they fired on Jerusalem right next to the holy places. They sent ballistic missiles that could have destroyed the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Western Wall. The three holiest sites to the three monotheistic religions, they don't care. They're firing on everything.

The third thing they did is they fired an intercontinental ballistic missile 4,000 kilometers right into Diego Garcia, the American-British base. They can reach now with these ballistic missiles everywhere in Europe, almost everywhere in Europe. I've been warning that for years.

The fourth thing that they did is that they shut down the important maritime Strait of Hormuz, trying to blackmail the world with oil terror blackmail.

Four things that they're doing in 48 hours. And I ask the leaders of the world, the leaders of the free world, the leaders of the moderate states, what more are you waiting for? President Trump has correctly said that Israel, the United States and Israel in this great partnership, we're fighting the battle not only for ourselves, but for all of you. And he asked a simple question, where are you? And it's time to heed President Trump's call, his leadership and his vision, not merely for our sake, but for your sake".

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PM Netanyahu Speaks with Dimona and Rishon LeZion Mayors

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

Type: Media Statements

Government: The 37th Government

Publish Date: 21.03.2026

Updated date: 22.03.2026

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this evening (Saturday, 21 March 2026), spoke 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.

Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated the importance of entering protected areas and strictly adhering to Home Front Command instructions.

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PM Netanyahu Speaks with Arad Mayor Yair Ma'ayan

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

Type: Media Statements

Government: The 37th Government

Publish Date: 21.03.2026

Updated date: 22.03.2026

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this evening Saturday:

"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."

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Japan-Germany Defense Ministerial Meeting

Ministry of Defense of Japan

(Press Release: Provisional Translation)

March 22, 2026

Ministry of Defense Japan

On 22 March 2026, from 13:25 to 14:30 (approximately 65 minutes), Minister of Defense Koizumi welcomed H.E. Boris Pistorius, Federal Minister of Defence of the Federal Republic of Germany in Yokosuka, where the Japan-Germany Defense Ministerial Meeting was held.

At the outset, Minister Koizumi stated that, amid the rapidly and dramatically changing global security environment, in order to address challenges facing the international community and to strengthen deterrence in the region, it is more important than ever for the two countries to work closely together. Minister Pistorius expressed views to the same effect. To this end, they concurred that when necessary to ensure the security of both countries and peace and stability in the region, Japan and Germany would consult with each other and consider appropriate responses, and that they would conduct the necessary consultations on a regular basis to this end. Furthermore, the two ministers welcomed the steady expansion of bilateral defense cooperation and exchanges across all three servicesland, maritime, and airincluding the goodwill visit to Germany last September by JASDF F15 fighter aircraft as part of their first-ever deployment to Europe. In addition, the two ministers exchanged views on the current situation surrounding Iran as well as regional security issues, including those in the IndoPacific, and confirmed that they would continue to coordinate closely. The two ministers confirmed that they will continue to further deepen Japan-Germany defense cooperation and exchanges in various forms, under their shared recognition that security in the EuroAtlantic and the IndoPacific is inseparable.

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Japan May Join Mine Clearance Mission in Strait of Hormuz - Foreign Minister

Sputnik News

20260322

TOKYO (Sputnik) - Japan may participate in mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz once hostilities end, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said on Sunday.

"Japan's mine-clearance technology is one of the best in the world, so - while this remains purely hypothetical - if a ceasefire is achieved and mines pose a barrier, we could explore that option," Motegi told Fuji Television.

Deploying Japan Self-Defense Forces would be highly challenging due to constitutional and legal constraints amid ongoing conflict, the minister said.

During the Japan-US summit, the Japanese side had informed US President Donald Trump of these legal limitations, stressing that Tokyo must operate strictly within the law, he added.

On Thursday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that Japan, which relies on the Middle East for over 90% of its oil, has a strong stake in ensuring safe tanker transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

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.

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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Spokesperson's Press Briefing (March 19, 2026)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea

Date: 2026-03-19

Press Briefing

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Affairs Park Il

March 19, 2026 14:30 KST

Good afternoon. Let me start today's briefing.

I have two things to share with you today.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will hold the Fifth Overseas Nationals Protection Committee meeting on the afternoon of March 20, with Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun as its chair.

The Committee consists of officials of 14 relevant government agencies and civilian experts for deliberations on issues pertaining to the protection of overseas Korean nationals based on the "Act on Consular Assistance of Protecting Overseas Korean Nationals."

During the meeting, the participants will review and adopt the second General Plan for Protecting Overseas Korean Nationals.

This government-wide plan will serve as a guideline on activities to protect overseas Koreans over next five years from 2026 to 2030.

The Foreign Ministry will do its utmost to formulate and implement to make a real difference in people's lives.

Moving on, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Yoonjoo will have a meeting with Secretary (East) of the Ministry of External Affairs of India Periasamy Kumaran in India on March 20.

This high-level bilateral meeting will take place approximately one month after the 6th vice-ministerial Korea-India Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue held in Seoul in February. The interagency Korean delegation to the forthcoming meeting will comprise officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, and the Financial Services Commission, among others.

At the meeting, the two sides will discuss in depth bilateral cooperation projects in such areas as economy, science and technology, finance, defense and defense industry, people-to-people exchanges and culture, designed to promote their Special Strategic Partnership.

(A question-and-answer session followed.)

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Saudi Arabia Declares 5 Iranian Embassy Employees Personae Non Gratae - Foreign Ministry

Sputnik News

20260322

Saudi Arabia has declared five employees of the Iranian Embassy in Riyadh, including the military attache, personae non gratae, demanding they leave the kingdom within 24 hours, due to attacks on its territory, according to a statement from the Saudi Foreign Ministry published on Saturday.

"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has notified the Iranian military attache, his assistant, and three other diplomatic mission employees of the requirement to leave the kingdom within 24 hours, declaring them personae non gratae," the statement read.

Earlier this week, Qatar expelled employees of the Iranian military attache's office, accusing them of violating good-neighborly principles.

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.

The escalation around Iran has led to the de facto halt of traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for deliveries of oil and liquefied natural gas from the Persian Gulf countries to the global market, affecting oil exports and production in the region.

 Sputnik

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Saudi Arabia Offers Condolences to Qatar and Turkiye over Helicopter Crash

Saudi Press Agency

Sunday 03/10/1447

Riyadh, March 23, 2026, SPA -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the martyrs of duty and to the governments and peoples of the State of Qatar and the Republic of Turkiye, following the crash of a helicopter due to a technical malfunction while conducting a routine mission in Qatari territorial waters, which resulted in the death of the helicopter crew from the Qatari Armed Forces and the Qatari-Turkish joint forces.

In a statement, the ministry affirmed the Kingdom's solidarity with the families of the martyrs of duty, as well as the governments and peoples of the State of Qatar and the Republic of Turkiye in this tragic incident, extending its sincere wishes for safety and well-being to all.

-- SPA

02:02 Local Time 23:02 GMT

0002

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HRH the Crown Prince, French President Discuss Regional Escalation; Macron Reiterates Solidarity with Saudi Arabia

Saudi Press Agency

Sunday 03/10/1447

Jeddah, March 23, 2026, SPA -- His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received a phone call from French President Emmanuel Macron, during which they reviewed the latest regional developments and their repercussions.

President Macron affirmed France's solidarity with and support for the Kingdom, condemning the repeated Iranian attacks targeting Saudi Arabia. He also reiterated France's backing of the measures taken by the Kingdom to preserve its sovereignty, maintain its security, and protect its territory and airspace.

-- SPA

01:40 Local Time 22:40 GMT

0001

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Review of special defense budget bills to begin Monday

ROC Central News Agency

03/22/2026 03:01 PM

Taipei, March 22 (CNA) Taiwan's Legislative Yuan is expected to see tense debates when it begins reviewing three competing special budget bills on arms procurement on Monday, including a Cabinet proposal totaling NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.4 billion).

The Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee and the Finance Committee will hold joint sessions on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday to review the bills proposed by the Cabinet, the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT), and the smaller opposition Taiwan People's Party (TPP).

Monday's session will focus on questioning defense officials on the various measures proposed, while line-by-line reviews of the bills will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, according to the Legislature's agenda.

Both the ruling and opposition legislative caucuses were expected to make sure all of their members on the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee would attend the meetings.

The committee consists of seven KMT lawmakers, including Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (), seven lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), and one TPP legislator.

In addition, the members of the Finance Committee -- seven from the KMT, six from the DPP, and one from the TPP -- are also expected to take part in reviewing the special budget bills.

At present, the KMT and TPP together hold a majority of 60 out of 113 seats in the Legislative Yuan, while the DPP holds 51 seats. The remaining two seats are held by KMT-leaning independent lawmakers.

The review process is expected to spark debate and draw considerable attention given the difference in funding proposed in the three bills and the support the United States has given to the passage of the Cabinet's proposal.

3 competing budget plans

The Cabinet's version of the national defense special act, formally titled the "Special Act for Strengthening Defense Resilience and Asymmetric Capabilities Procurement," spans eight years (2026-2033) and has a total budget of NT$1.25 trillion.

Since being sent to the Legislature for review on Nov. 27, 2025, the Cabinet bill has been repeatedly blocked by the KMT and TPP due to what they said was its lack of transparency, preventing it from being referred to committee before the end of the previous legislative session on Jan. 31.

The TPP's version, formally titled the "Special Act for Safeguarding National Security and Strengthening Asymmetric Capabilities Procurement," was introduced on Jan. 26 this year.

It includes five procurement items, including M109A7 self-propelled howitzers, HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems, and anti-armor drone missile systems, caps arms spending at NT$400 billion through 2033, and requires funding to be allocated on an annual basis.

The KMT's version, formally titled the "Special Act for Strengthening National Defense and U.S. Military Procurement," was introduced on March 5.

It sets a budget cap of NT$380 billion and authorizes the Ministry of National Defense (MND) to propose a "second-phase special act" if additional U.S. arms purchases are needed in the future.

In addition, the KMT bill stipulates that all procurement projects must be completed by 2028.

Defense Minister Wellington Koo () has said, however, that such a timetable was not realistic and would effectively block major procurement programs, including the HIMARS systems.

The funding provided for in the TPP and KMT bills is enough to cover the US$11.1 billion in arms packages approved for sale to Taiwan by the U.S. in December 2025.

The MND has argued, however, that military investment planning follows a program-based budgeting system, and that any version of the special budget act must comply with this system to be implemented.

It said the issue is not merely about project items and funding levels. "If one looks only at the funding and ignores the requirements, the entire plan will inevitably be disrupted," the ministry contended.

(By Matt Yu and Elizabeth Hsu)

Enditem/ls

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Nuclear review can go hand in hand with green energy push: Lai

ROC Central News Agency

03/22/2026 06:17 PM

Taipei, March 22 (CNA) Reviewing a possible restart of nuclear power plants is compatible with Taiwan's continued push for renewable energy, President Lai Ching-te () said Sunday in defending his administration's policy reversal on nuclear power use.

Speaking to reporters, Lai said the government will continue developing green energy -- including wind, solar, small hydropower and hydrogen -- alongside any assessment of nuclear restarts.

"The two approaches can move forward together without any contradiction or conflict," he said.

Opposing nuclear power has long been a central tenet of Lai's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Former President Chen Shui-bian () of the DPP tried to stop the construction of the fourth nuclear power plant soon after he took power in 2000 and then pushed an amendment to the Basic Environment Act in 2002 that called for devising plans to "progressively achieve the goal of a non-nuclear homeland."

Former President Tsai Ing-wen () then fully embraced the goal of a "non-nuclear homeland" by 2025 during her unsuccessful 2012 presidential campaign and enshrined it into law after winning the presidency in 2016.

Responding to questions on whether the move contradicted the longstanding "non-nuclear homeland" policy, Lai said the goal had already been achieved after the second reactor at Nuclear Power Plant No. 3 was shut down in May 2025.

Lai argued that renewable energy had compensated for the loss of nuclear power generation under former President Tsai's green-energy initiative, helping maintain a stable power supply, but that Taiwan's energy strategy now needed to be reassessed.

Several factors, such as an expected rise in electricity demand driven by economic growth and AI development as well as low-carbon standards and geopolitical shifts, had to be accounted for to ensure an adequate, resilient and low-carbon supply of electricity, Lai said.

Some DPP members argued the move was triggered by the opposition-controlled Legislature's passage of amendments to the Nuclear Reactor Facilities Regulation Act allowing nuclear power plant operators to apply for a 20-year license to extend the life of their facilities.

Lai said that based on those amendments, state-run Taiwan Power Co. was preparing to submit restart plans for the No. 2 and No. 3 nuclear power plants to the Nuclear Safety Commission by the end of March.

Any restart would be contingent on nuclear safety, waste management solutions and public consensus, he said.

Some environmental groups that had long supported the vision were stunned and angered by the potential shift back to nuclear power.

Tsui Shu-hsin (), secretary-general of the Green Citizens' Action Alliance and a long-time anti-nuclear advocate, said Lai had not only compromised the dignity of the presidency but also appeared to have forgotten his role as party chairman.

"The president may be able to explain himself to his business friends, but how is he going to answer to his supporters?" she said.

The opposition Kuomintang (KMT) said Lai's position aligns with the KMT's long-standing energy stance but criticized the government for inconsistency, asking: "So restarting nuclear power no longer counts as nuclear power? What would the restarted plant be called?"

The KMT urged Lai to "honestly admit mistakes and apologize to the public," arguing that past anti-nuclear policies had led to costly and inefficient energy decisions.

Meanwhile, Taiwan People's Party (TPP) Chairman Huang Kuo-chang () said at a press conference that the decision to pursue nuclear restarts was "correct and necessary," but called on Lai, in his capacity as DPP chairman, to formally apologize for past policy positions and political attacks during debates over nuclear legislation.

Huang himself has taken differing positions on nuclear power policy in recent years, opposing a referendum in 2018 that supported eliminating the non-nuclear homeland policy while backing a referendum in August 2025 that was for restarting the third nuclear plant.

(By Yeh Su-ping and Lee Hsin-Yin)

Enditem/ls

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Senior Taiwan official attends MQ-9B delivery ceremony in U.S.

ROC Central News Agency

03/22/2026 02:04 PM

Taipei, March 22 (CNA) Taiwanese officials attended a ceremony last week to mark the delivery of the first two of four MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones Taipei purchased from the United States, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) announced Sunday.

A delegation led by Vice Defense Minister Hsu Szu-chien () and joined by Taiwan's Representative to the United States Alexander Yui () attended the ceremony on March 17, according to an MND statement.

The ministry did not disclose the ceremony's location.

The MND thanked the U.S. government and the drone manufacturer, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., for facilitating the delivery, and said it would continue to work closely with Washington to ensure delivery of the remaining drones on schedule.

According to the MND, Taiwan has ordered four MQ-9B surveillance drones from the U.S., with deliveries scheduled in two batches of two in 2026 and 2027.

Hsieh Pei-shiue (), an assistant research fellow at the MND-funded think tank Institute for National Defense and Security Research, wrote in 2020, when the U.S. first approved the sale, that the drone is capable of linking to satellite communications shared among U.S. allies.

This means Taiwan and its U.S. counterparts could instantly share battlefield intelligence, creating opportunities for cooperation during a conflict.

The MND's announcement came one day after it said the same group of Taiwanese officials had been shown the first of 66 F-16V fighter jets purchased by Taiwan from the U.S. on March 16.

The aircraft has completed an initial flight test and is expected to be delivered later this year.

(By Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/ls

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2026.03.2

Issuing AuthorityPolitical Warfare Bureau

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1.Date:

6 a.m. Mar. 22 (Sun.) to 6 a.m. Mar. 23 (Mon.) (UTC+8)

2.PLA activities:

7 PLAN ships and 3 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.

3.Illustration of flight path is not provided due to no PLA aircraft operating around Taiwan were detected during this timeframe.

1150323_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

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Britain Says Cyprus Base Not Included In Deal With US Forces

22:25 21.3.2026

Britain said its Akrotiri airbase in Cyprus would not be involved in its new agreement with the United States to use UK bases.

The announcement came on March 21 after a phone call between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides.

A day earlier, London gave authorization for US forces to use RAF Fairford in England and Diego Garcia, a joint US-UK base in the Indian Ocean, to carry out defensive strikes on Iranian missile sites attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran on March 21 fired two ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia, although neither reached the site some 4,000 kilometers from Iranian territory.

On March 2, an Iranian-type Shahed drone caused slight damage at the Akrotiri base, while two others were intercepted. No further incidents related to the war have been reported on the island.

Britain retained sovereignty over two bases when it granted Cyprus, its former colony, independence in 1960.

"RAF Akrotiri would not be involved in the UK's continuation of its agreement with the US to use UK bases in collective self-defense of the region," a spokesperson for Starmer's office said in a British readout of the call with Christodoulides.

With reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-live-blog- trump-khamenei/33640284.html?lbis=445094#entry-shared

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Nuclear-powered British submarine arrives in Arabian Sea

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

22.03.2026 [16:42]

Baku, March 22, AZERTAC

A nuclear-powered Royal Navy submarine has arrived in the Arabian Sea, positioning British forces within striking distance of Iran, the Daily Mail reported Saturday, citing military sources.

The HMS Anson, a 97-meter (318-foot) Astute-class attack submarine, departed Perth on March 6 and is believed to have taken position in the deep waters of the northern Arabian Sea, it said. The vessel is armed with Tomahawk Block IV land-attack cruise missiles with a range of around 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles), as well as Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes.

The reported deployment would give British forces the capacity to launch strikes on Iran if the conflict further escalates.

The UK Defense Ministry declined to confirm the submarine's location, with a spokesperson saying the government would not provide details on specific operations or deployments, adding that capabilities in the region were kept "under constant review."

The report came after Downing Street confirmed that Prime Minister Keir Starmer had agreed to allow the US to use British bases to launch strikes on Iranian sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz, a move that drew criticism from US President Donald Trump, who said Britain had been "very late" in stepping up.

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UK Navy Nuclear Sub Moves Into Iran Strike Range - Report

Sputnik News

20260322

HMS Anson, fitted with Tomahawk Block IV land-attack missiles with a range of  1,609 km and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes, is believed to be taking up position in the waters of the northern Arabian Sea, reports the Daily Mail.

Lieutenant General Nick Perry, running overseas missions from Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJH), could potentially give the order to fire salvos at Iran if authorized by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, defense sources told the outlet.

This comes as Starmer recently caved to US pressure and allowed the use British bases to launch strikes on Iranian sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz.

The decision triggered a mass rally in London, where thousands took to the streets to protest US-Israeli aggression against Iran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned in a post on X that the UK PM was putting the lives of his compatriots at risk by allowing British bases to be used for aggression against Iran.

 Sputnik

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Russia Continues Deadly Strikes On Ukraine Amid Stalled Peace Efforts

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service March 22, 2026

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 yesterday's 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.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-war-drone- missile-strikes/33712857.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Russian Forces Liberate Potapovka Settlement in Sumy Region

Sputnik News

20260322

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia's Sever battlegroup liberated the settlement of Potapovka in the Sumy region, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

"As a result of decisive actions, units of the Sever battlegroup have liberated the settlement of Potapovka in the Sumy region," the ministry said in a statement.

Ukraine lost over 360 soldiers in combat against Russia's Tsentr battlegroup

Over 300 soldiers eliminated over the past day by Russia's Vostok battlegroup , up to 200 Ukrainian soldiers eliminated by the Sever battlegroup , and up to 190 by the Zapad battlegroup

, up to 200 Ukrainian soldiers eliminated by the , and up to 190 by the More than 120 Ukrainian soldiers were eliminated by the Yug battlegroup, and up to 45 by the Dnepr battlegroup

 Sputnik

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There Are Signals that Further Exchanges May Be Possible, and This Would Be Good News and Confirmation that Diplomacy Is Working - Address by the President

President of Ukraine

22 March 2026 - 20:35

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

Today, I received a report from our negotiating team following the second day of their meetings in America with envoys of the President of the United States. Actually, it's two days of meetings: yesterday afternoon and evening, and today as well. It is clear that the attention of the American side at this time is primarily focused on the situation around Iran and in that region, but this war of Russia against Ukraine must also be brought to an end. This is understood the same way by everyone in the world, and I am very grateful to American society for its clear support for a normal, dignified peace for Ukraine. It is important to ensure that the aggressor is not rewarded for this war. And it is important that none of us is forced to return to war in a few months or years, which means that security guarantees for Ukraine and for all of Europe must be sufficient for peace - for a reliable peace. I expect that after our negotiating team returns to Ukraine, we will discuss in detail all aspects of the meetings, which for now cannot be safely discussed over the phone. There are signals that further exchanges may be possible, and this would indeed be very good news and confirmation that diplomacy is working. We hope this will happen.

Overall, the situation remains quite clear: Putin does not want to end the war. But the key thing is what the world wants. We must all do everything possible together - and we will continue to do everything possible - to end the war.

There was also a report today from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and Chief of the General Staff Andrii Hnatov. Detailed updates on all sectors of the front. In some areas, the Russians have significantly stepped up their activity in recent days - taking advantage of the weather - and there have been more assaults. But this also means higher Russian losses. Over this week alone, there have already been over eight thousand occupiers killed or seriously wounded. They also carried out mechanized assaults. Our drones are performing well, and the positions of our army are strong. I thank every one of our soldiers, sergeants, and officers - every brigade - for the results for Ukraine.

And I would like to separately recognize all our defenders of the sky - this is our daily, constant priority. Especially this week, our gratitude goes to the warriors of the 96th Kyiv Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade, all our electronic warfare units, the crews of army aviation helicopters, and, of course, our F-16 and Mirage pilots, as well as every interceptor drone crew - and in particular, the crews of the 1020th Anti-Aircraft Missile and Artillery Regiment and the 302nd Kharkiv Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade. Thank you, warriors! Thank you for the fact that Ukraine's experience in defending the skies is one of the strongest in the world, and that it will certainly keep Ukraine among the leading contributors to security even after this war - among those the world will need to ensure security. Only with Ukraine is real stability possible here in Europe - real protection. And, as we can see, in other parts of the world as well, which clearly need our experience and our support in protecting lives. We are already working with the Gulf countries, and in fact, every day at the team level, we are in contact with these countries to ensure that our experience and our support grow into long-term cooperation and respect for Ukraine and our warriors. There are already concrete results from our units in defense - we are providing our expertise and our real support. Other countries of the world should now also make their contribution to stabilization. And we know from our intelligence how much it irritates Russia that Ukrainians are needed by the world, and that Ukrainians can help bring about stabilization. We all need joint decisions and joint work so that there is more security for everyone. I thank everyone who contributes to coordination and shared results. This is exactly what is most unacceptable for those like Russia - when countries of the world are not left alone, and when peoples are not left alone with the occupier. Thank you to everyone who stands with us, who stands with Ukraine!

Glory to Ukraine!

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Kyrylo Budanov Met with Head of the House of Habsburg Karl von Habsburg

President of Ukraine

22 March 2026 - 18:24

This week, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov held a meeting with Honorary President of the Pan-European Union of Austria and Head of the House of Habsburg Karl von Habsburg.

Kyrylo Budanov thanked Karl von Habsburg for his long-standing support for Ukraine and his clear and principled stance on defending our country's sovereignty and European integration.

"Everyone who stands up for Ukraine today is our ally. Such international solidarity inspires us and brings us closer to a shared victory," the Head of the Office of the President emphasized.

At the instruction of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Kyrylo Budanov awarded Karl von Habsburg the Order of Merit, III class, for his contribution to strengthening interstate cooperation, promoting Ukraine on the international stage, and his active charitable work.

During the meeting, the parties discussed deepening cooperation within European institutions. Kyrylo Budanov noted that the shared goal of Ukraine and its partners is to build a strong, secure, and united Europe, in which our country has its rightful place.

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Schumacher slams shameful abuse after Colapinto-Ocon clash

Ralf Schumacher has condemned the "shameful" online abuse directed at Esteban Ocon following his collision with Franco Colapinto in China.

Franco Colapinto

 Alpine

The incident triggered a wave of toxic messages on social media, prompting Colapinto's own management to issue a public plea urging fans to stop sending hate or death threats to the Haas driver.

Schumacher says the situation highlights a worrying trend.

We also need to talk about the shadow side of the Argentine fans, and it's not the first time, he told Sky Deutschland.

The former F1 driver made clear he sees a line being crossed when sporting incidents escalate into personal attacks.

That's really horrible, Schumacher said.

I think it's sad and shameful, because it has nothing to do with sport anymore.

He stressed that the issue is not about nationality, but about a small group of fans taking things too far.

I know Argentina - a great country, great people, he said.

But especially on the internet you see that those who are critical are called out or even threatened.

Schumacher believes stronger action is needed.

Violence or calls for violence on the internet can't happen. That doesn't belong anywhere in this world, he said.

He also pointed out that even Colapinto's own camp has recognised the seriousness of the situation.

The people around Colapinto have also reported that no one should send hatred or death threats, Schumacher noted.

The German added that such incidents are becoming more frequent as Formula 1's global audience expands.

Through Netflix, Formula 1 has broadened much more, he said.

There are many more fans - and unfortunately there are also these types among them.

For Schumacher, the fallout ultimately risks hurting the driver at the centre of it all.

It is not a good advertisement for Argentina and certainly not what Franco Colapinto wants, he said.

(GMM)
Verstappen finds 10/10 fun amid F1 frustration

Max Verstappen says his weekend at the Nurburgring was "definitely a ten" out of ten for enjoyment - a stark contrast to his current mood in Formula 1.

Max Verstappen, Australian GP 2026

 Red Bull

The four-time world champion switched focus to GT3 machinery between the Chinese and Japanese grands prix, winning from pole in the NLS round before being disqualified for using one set of tyres too many.

Definitely a ten, Verstappen said of the experience when asked to rate the weekend.

The Dutchman has made no secret of his dissatisfaction with Formula 1's 2026 regulations, repeatedly criticising the new era.

However, he insists his frustration is not simply down to Red Bull's lack of competitiveness.

It has now emerged the RB22 is significantly overweight - by as much as 28.5 kilograms - costing roughly a second per lap compared to the minimum weight benchmark.

That overweight costs them a second per lap, confirmed simulator driver Rudy van Buren. The big steps for Red Bull are in the weight.

Even so, much of Verstappen's criticism continues to centre on the driving style demanded by the new rules, particularly heavy energy management and lift-and-coast techniques.

Former driver and GPDA chairman Alex Wurz says he understands the Dutchman's position.

He's obviously not happy with the situation, including where his team is and the regulations - and I understand that 100 percent, Wurz said on ORF.

But we can't change it tomorrow or the day after. All we can do now is try to get used to it.

Wurz believes improvements will come over time.

The teams will improve, his team will improve too. The performance will become more competitive, he said.

He also pointed to a deeper issue with the current format.

It should once again be rewarded who spends the most time on the gas and the least on the brakes. Right now it's exactly the opposite - and I understand that's not cool.

For now, Verstappen is expected to spend more time at the Nordschleife, particularly with the April calendar gap created by the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian grands prix.

I'll try to race as much as I can, he said.

We're looking at what's possible.

However, Ralf Schumacher has warned that Verstappen must not lose focus on his primary role.

Max needs to be more focused, he said.

"This year he doesn't have the best car, and when he tries too hard, he makes mistakes.

Now is the time to accept the situation and help the team.

(GMM)
BOPP creates history: Becomes first GSE stock to hit GH100, joining NewGold ETF in triple-digit club

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Treasury bill sale undersubscribed as yields begin to rise again

Kweku Zurek Business News Mar - 23 - 2026 , 06:21

The government of Ghana fell short of its Treasury bill target in the latest auction, as investor demand for short-term instruments weakened, according to results released by the Bank of Ghana.

The government aimed to raise about GH5.0 billion but received bids totalling approximately GH3.7 billion. Of that amount, GH3.26 billion was accepted, resulting in a shortfall of about GH1.3 billion.

The 91-day bill attracted the highest level of interest, with bids amounting to GH2.23 billion, representing nearly 60 per cent of total submissions. However, about GH1.76 billion was taken up.

For the 182-day bill, bids totalled GH667.12 million, all of which were accepted. Similarly, the 364-day bill recorded bids of GH831.41 million, with the full amount accepted.

Yields increased across all tenors. The rate on the 91-day bill rose by 7 basis points to 4.78 per cent. The 182-day bill climbed to 6.36 per cent from 6.28 per cent, while the 364-day bill increased to 9.58 per cent from 9.41 per cent.

The rise in yields reflects a shift in market conditions, following a period of declining rates in recent auctions.
Featured

Its time for the UN to formally recognise the transatlantic slave trade as a crime against humanity - John Dramani Mahama writes

John Mahama/www.theguardian.com Opinion Mar - 23 - 2026 , 08:02 3 minutes read

This month my country, Ghana, celebrated its 69th independence day. In my address to the nation, I invoked the courage and conviction of our founding leaders, who stood firm in the face of immense adversity to secure our freedom.

Kwame Nkrumah reminded us that political independence without transforming the global systems that shape our economies and opportunities remains incomplete.

It is in that spirit that, this month, Ghana will table a resolution at the United Nations general assembly calling for the formal recognition of one of the greatest moral tragedies in human history: the transatlantic trafficking and enslavement of Africans as a crime against humanity, and the need for a process of repair.

This initiative is not Ghanas alone. It carries the support of the African Union, the Caribbean Community (Caricom), and a growing coalition of countries across the global south. Together we seek not to reopen old wounds but to acknowledge them honestly, and to work collectively toward healing and justice in ways that strengthen our shared future.

The call for reparatory justice is not new. It is rooted in a long, continuous tradition of resistance, advocacy and moral reasoning spanning centuries. From early African leaders who protested against the capture and sale of their people, to the struggles of the Haitian revolution, and the post-independence movements that reshaped the modern world, the demand for justice has endured.

In recent decades this tradition has taken institutional form. The 1993 Abuja Proclamation recognised the enslavement and trafficking of Africans as an unprecedented crime. The Caricom Reparations Commission has articulated a comprehensive framework for reparatory justice. The Accra Proclamation of 2023 reaffirmed Africas collective commitment to this cause. The African Union has now declared 2026 to 2035 as the Decade of Action on Reparations and African Heritage, underscoring the urgency and legitimacy of this global conversation.

Our proposal at the UN builds on these foundations. It seeks to move the international community from acknowledgment to action: from recognition of historical injustice to a structured dialogue on repair.

This is not about assigning collective guilt to present generations. Nor is it about revisiting history in a spirit of division. Rather, it is about understanding how historical injustices have shaped contemporary inequalities, and how a more honest reckoning can contribute to a fairer, more inclusive global order.

The transatlantic slave trade and the system it sustained disrupted societies, extracted human and economic value on an unprecedented scale, and left enduring legacies that continue to influence patterns of development, opportunity and vulnerability across the world. Recognising this history fully is essential, not only for Africa and its diaspora, but for humanity as a whole.

The international community has, in the past, taken important steps. The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action in 2001 acknowledged the transatlantic slave trade as a crime against humanity. Yet, more remains to be done to translate that recognition into meaningful dialogue and practical pathways for repair.

Africa brings to this conversation a perspective shaped by its own intellectual and moral traditions  one that holds that injustice does not simply fade with time, but requires deliberate effort to address and redress. This perspective aligns with the broader principles of international law and human rights, which affirm that certain wrongs demand enduring accountability.
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Earth being 'pushed beyond its limits' as record energy imbalance heats planet, UN warns

BBC International News Mar - 23 - 2026 , 09:20 4 minutes read

The Earth's climate is further out of balance than at any time in recorded history, the UN's weather agency has warned.

The World Meteorological Organization says that our planet is gaining much more heat energy than it can release, driven by emissions of warming gases such as carbon dioxide.

This record "energy imbalance" heated the ocean to new heights last year and continued to melt our planet's ice caps.

And scientists fear that a natural warming phase called El Nino  expected to begin later this year - could soon bring further heat records.

In response to the report, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres reiterated his call for countries to move away from fossil fuels to renewable energy to "deliver climate security, energy security and national security".

"Planet Earth is being pushed beyond its limits. Every key climate indicator is flashing red," he warned, in a typically punchy video address.

The last 11 years were the Earth's 11 warmest years in records stretching back to 1850, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) says.

In 2025, global average air temperatures were about 1.43C above those of "pre-industrial" times - before humans started burning large amounts of fossil fuels.

A temporary cooling from the natural La Nina weather pattern meant that 2025 was not quite as hot as 2024, which was boosted by the opposite El Nino phase.



But last year was still one of the three warmest years since records began. Many scientists now believe that warming is accelerating, although they say temperatures are broadly within the range of long-term predictions.

And the WMO points to a wealth of other evidence showing that the climate is changing faster than we have ever seen before.

Perhaps the most comprehensive measure is the amount of extra heat energy being taken up by the Earth.

This "energy imbalance" ultimately drives climate change and reached a new high last year, the WMO says.

While scientists are still working out exactly why the Earth has accumulated so much extra heat over the past decade or so, they have no doubt that heat-trapping greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) are the root cause of the imbalance.

Levels of CO2 in the atmosphere are at their highest for at least two million years, the WMO says, due to human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels.



Some of the extra energy trapped by these gases warms the atmosphere and the land, as well as melting the planet's ice.

The world's glaciers had one of their five worst years on record in 2024/25, according to provisional data, while sea ice at both poles was at or near record lows throughout most of 2025.

But more than 90% of the Earth's extra energy heats the oceans, which in turn harms marine life, drives more intense storms and contributes to sea-level rise.

The heat stored in the upper 2km (1.2 miles) of the global ocean reached a new high last year, the WMO says. Over the past two decades, it has been warming more than twice as quickly as during the late 20th Century.

"Human activities are increasingly disrupting the natural equilibrium and we will live with these consequences for hundreds and thousands of years," said Prof Celeste Saulo, secretary general of the WMO.

The report points to the impacts of rising temperatures today, which are helping to intensify many types of extreme weather and aiding the spread of diseases such as dengue.

The south-west US is currently in the midst of a record-breaking early-season heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 40C in places over recent days  about 10-15C above average.

Rapid analysis by scientists at the World Weather Attribution group on Friday found that intensity of heat would have been "virtually impossible" without human-caused climate change.

Researchers are also closely watching the Pacific Ocean, with long-term forecasts strongly suggesting that a warming El Nino phase could form in the second half of 2026.

An El Nino - on top of the background human-caused warming trend - could push temperatures to new heights into 2027.

"If we transition to El Nino we will see an increase in global temperature again, and potentially to new records" said Dr John Kennedy of the WMO.
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Gabon plans chicken import ban by 2027, turns to Senegal for help

Ayodeji Adegboyega / Business Insider Africa International News Mar - 23 - 2026 , 17:02 2 minutes read

Gabon is stepping up cooperation with Senegal as it prepares to overhaul its poultry industry and reduce reliance on imported chicken, ahead of a planned import ban in 2027.

The push follows a working visit to Dakar by Gabons agriculture minister, Pacome Kossy, where officials from both countries discussed technical assistance, training and industry structuring.

Senegalese authorities said they were ready to help Gabon co-build a high-performing sector by sharing lessons from their own experience in developing a competitive domestic poultry market.

Librevilles outreach to Dakar comes as Gabon accelerates a broader food-sovereignty strategy. The government has announced plans to end broiler chicken imports from January 2027, a move aimed at boosting local production, creating jobs and reducing a heavy import bill.

Senegals poultry model

Senegal is widely regarded as one of West Africas most successful poultry producers after maintaining a ban on imported frozen chicken since 2005, initially introduced during an avian influenza outbreak.

The restriction, which still covers poultry meat, eggs and most live birds, allowed local producers to expand while shielding them from cheaper imports.

Over the past two decades, Senegal has built an integrated value chain covering hatcheries, feed production, farming, processing and distribution.

The country also set up an inter-professional body to coordinate producers, processors and traders, helping to standardise practices and improve productivity.

As a result, domestic output has risen sharply. International data show that Senegals chicken meat production has increased more than fivefold since the mid-2000s, while private investment has supported large-scale egg and feed operations in recent years.

Gabon faces a steep starting point

Gabons poultry sector remains far less developed. The country still relies heavily on imports to meet domestic demand, with local production covering only a small share of consumption.

To close the gap, the government has launched a programme to train around 40,000 workers across the poultry value chain, from feed manufacturing to processing and cold-chain logistics.

Officials say the partnership with Senegal will help accelerate that transition by giving Gabonese farmers, veterinarians and agribusiness operators direct exposure to a working model in the region.

During the Dakar visit, the delegation toured farms, training centres and feed mills to better understand how the industry is organised and regulated.

Replicating the model will not be straightforward

Despite Senegals success, analysts say replicating its model will require major investments in feed production, veterinary services, financing and infrastructure in Gabon, where production costs are typically higher and domestic markets smaller.

Still, Libreville views the partnership as a key step toward reducing food imports and strengthening local agriculture.

If implemented successfully, the planned import ban could reshape poultry trade flows in Central Africa and create new opportunities for regional suppliers of feed, breeding stock and processing equipment.
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Sudan drone attack on key hospital killed 64 people during Eid, WHO says

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Hong Kong police can now demand phone passwords under new national security rules

BBC International News Mar - 23 - 2026 , 09:25 2 minutes read

Hong Kong police can now demand phone or computer passwords from those who are suspected of breaching the wide-ranging National Security Law (NSL).

Those who refuse could face up to a year in jail and a fine of up to HK$100,000 ($12,700; 9,600), and individuals who provide "false or misleading information" could face up to three years in jail.

It comes as part of new amendments to a bylaw under the NSL that the government gazetted on Monday.

The NSL was introduced in Hong Kong in 2020, in wake of massive pro-democracy protests the year before. Authorities say the laws, which target acts like terrorism and secession, are necessary for stability - but critics say they are tools to quash dissent.

The new amendments also give customs officials the power to seize items that they deem to "have seditious intention".

Monday's amendments ensure that "activities endangering national security can be effectively prevented, suppressed and punished, and at the same time the lawful rights and interests of individuals and organisations are adequately protected", Hong Kong authorities said on Monday.

Changes to the bylaw was announced by the city's leader, John Lee, bypassing the city's legislative council.

While law enforcement officials in many parts of the world have the authority to demand access to electronic devices as part of criminal investigations, the NSL covers a sweeping range of vaguely defined offences from secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with external forces.

The NSL also allows for some trials to be heard behind closed doors.

The city has seen the arrests of hundreds of protesters, activists and former opposition lawmakers since the introduction of the NSL.

In February, the father of pro-democracy activist in exile was jailed for trying to cash out her insurance policy, under a homegrown law that expands on the NSL.

Also in February, media tycoon Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in jail after being convicted of foreign collusion and publishing seditious material under the NSL.
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Sudan drone attack on key hospital killed 64 people during Eid, WHO says

BBC International News Mar - 23 - 2026 , 09:31 3 minutes read

Sudan's army has denied it carried out a deadly attack on a major hospital on Friday night in a city in the west of the country held by its rivals, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said 64 people - including 13 children, two nurses and a doctor - had died in the strike on el-Daein Teaching Hospital and 89 others had been wounded.

"Enough blood has been spilled," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus posted on X, urging the warring parties to end the conflict, which started nearly three years ago.

The RSF said an army drone had hit the hospital in el-Daein, the capital of East Darfur state, on the day Muslims were marking the festival of Eid.

Sudan was plunged into a civil war in April 2023 when a vicious struggle for power broke out between the military and the RSF, who had once been allies after coming to power in a coup in 2021.

More than 150,000 people have since died in the conflict and about 12 million have fled their homes - nearly a third of the country's population - in what the United Nations has called the world's largest humanitarian crisis.

Dr Tedros, who said el-Daein Teaching Hospital was no longer able to function following Friday night's attack, condemned the frequent targeting of medical facilities.

"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," the WHO chief said in his tweet.

"The time has come to de-escalate the conflict in Sudan and ensure the protection of civilians, health workers, and humanitarians," he said.

"Health care should never be a target. Peace is the best medicine."

In a statement, the RSF said the strike had completely destroyed the hospital's top floor, caused extensive damage to the accident and emergency department and destroyed vital medical equipment.

In response, the military said it was surprised by the accusation it was behind the attack, adding that it abided by "international norms and laws".

The Emergency Lawyers group has called for an independent and transparent investigation and for those responsible to be brought to justice.

The local rights organisation, which has documented atrocities by both the army and the RSF throughout the war, said the hospital in el-Daein was a vital health facility relied upon by thousands of civilians in the city and surrounding villages.

There have been muted gatherings across Sudan this year to mark Eid and the end of the Muslim fasting month

East Darfur borders the Kordofan region, a new front line in the war where there are near-daily drone strikes.

The area is a major corridor linking the western Darfur region, which is controlled by the RSF, to the capital, Khartoum, which was retaken by the army last year.

No end is in sight to bring a stop to the fighting, now considered one of the deadliest conflicts in Africa for civilians - despite US-led peace efforts.

Across the country there were muted celebrations this year for Eid-al-Fitr, when Muslims around the world mark the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.
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Afram Plains to host first Farmer Services Centre as President Mahama pushes mechanised agriculture

GraphicOnline Mar - 23 - 2026 , 06:51 3 minutes read

President John Dramani Mahama has broken ground for the construction of Ghanas first Farmer Services Centre at Takoratwene in the Afram Plains, marking what he described as a decisive step towards modernising the countrys agricultural sector.

The sod-cutting ceremony, held on Saturday, fulfils a key pledge made during the 2024 election campaign and signals a shift in government policy towards mechanised, technology-driven farming.

Addressing farmers and local residents, President Mahama stressed the need to move beyond subsistence methods, arguing that Ghana must adopt modern agricultural practices to remain competitive. The era of farming with traditional tools such as cutlasses and hoes must give way to modern, mechanised agriculture, he said. Across the world, developed countries are far ahead because they have embraced technology and sophisticated machinery in farming.

The proposed centre is designed as an integrated agricultural support hub, providing access to tractors, combine harvesters, threshers and other equipment, alongside a dedicated maintenance unit to ensure operational efficiency. It will also function as a training facility, where registered farmers will be equipped with modern techniques and best practices.

A central component of the project is a soil testing laboratory intended to guide farmers in crop selection and fertiliser application, with the aim of improving yields and reducing input waste. The facility will further offer access to seeds and fertilisers, supported by extension officers to provide technical assistance.

In addition, the centre will include storage infrastructure such as warehouses and silos, enabling farmers to avoid distress sales during harvest periods. Under the model outlined by the President, the facility will purchase produce, store it, and release it onto the market when prices are more favourable.

Government will also introduce a minimum recommended price each year to guarantee farmers receive fair prices for their produce, often higher than prevailing market rates, the President announced.

He explained that the Afram Plains was selected for the pilot phase because of its role as a major food-producing area, particularly for maize, cassava and groundnuts. The Farmer Services Centre represents a bold step towards modernising agriculture in Ghana, he said. Together, we can transform Afram Plains into a true engine of food security and economic growth for our nation.

The President also outlined complementary interventions aimed at boosting agricultural productivity. He disclosed that funding for food purchases under the National Buffer Stock Company had been increased from GH200 million last year to GH300 million this year, while fertilisers would be supplied free of charge to farmers following losses recorded during the previous bumper harvest.

He further assured that no new permits had been issued for maize imports, emphasising the governments commitment to supporting local producers.

Beyond agriculture, President Mahama announced infrastructure projects to enhance access to markets, including the award of a contract to SONITRA Constructions Limited for the construction of the AdawsoEkye Amanfrom bridge across the Afram River. He added that irrigation schemes covering about 900 hectares had already been initiated in the area to promote year-round farming, while the AdawsoAbloblodepke road would be upgraded under the Big Push Programme.

The initiative forms part of a broader strategy to reposition agriculture as a key driver of economic growth, job creation and food security.
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Ghana School of Law: Student dies after collapsing during lecture

GraphicOnline Mar - 23 - 2026 , 12:11 2 minutes read

A student of the Ghana School of Law has died after suffering a medical emergency during lectures, prompting calls for a review of emergency response systems on campus.

The Students Representative Council (SRC) confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Monday, March 23, indicating that the student collapsed during an academic session on Saturday, March 21.

According to the SRC, colleagues immediately intervened and rushed the student to the Ridge Hospital, where he was pronounced dead despite efforts by both students and medical personnel to save his life.

The SRC has confirmed that the incident occurred during academic activities our now deceased was assisted by colleagues and transported to the Ridge Hospital, where he unfortunately passed despite efforts made, the statement said.

The Council described the incident as a devastating loss to the school community and extended condolences to the bereaved family, friends and fellow students.

It also acknowledged steps taken by the schools management to offer counselling and psychological support to students affected by the incident.

However, the SRC raised concerns over reports that the institutions clinic may not have been accessible at the time the emergency occurred, describing the situation as troubling.

The SRC notes with concern reports that the School Clinic was not accessible at the time emergency care was needed. While these reports are yet to be fully established, they raise serious issues regarding student welfare and emergency response systems on campus, the statement added.

The Council said it had requested an urgent meeting with management to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and to advocate reforms aimed at strengthening student health and safety.

Among the measures being proposed are improved access to on-campus medical care, clearer emergency response protocols and increased investment in health infrastructure.

The safety, health, and well-being of students remain our utmost priority, the SRC stressed.
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Ibrahim Mahama: Artist halts international engagements after alleged Police assault

Mohammed Fugu Mar - 23 - 2026 , 14:33 3 minutes read

Renowned Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama has suspended a series of international engagements following an alleged assault by personnel of the Ghana Police Service in Tamale, which he says has left him injured and traumatised.

The artist, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Red Clay Studio, said the incident has forced him to halt work and cancel planned lectures and exhibitions across Europe.

He had been scheduled to travel to London to deliver lectures at the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford and the Royal Academy of Arts, before continuing to Helsinki, Milan and Venice this week.

However, he indicated that the incident had made it impossible for him to proceed with the trips.

Incident

Giving an account of the incident at a press conference in Tamale on March 23, 2026, Mr Mahama said it occurred shortly after Eid-ul-Fitr prayers on Saturday, March 21, 2026, while he was returning home with family members.

He explained that his vehicle was caught in heavy traffic near the Mariam Hotel junction when a team of police officers attempted to force their way through the congestion.

According to him, when the officers were unable to pass, they redirected their frustration towards nearby civilians, approached his vehicle, entered it and assaulted him and his uncle.

As a result, he said he sustained injuries, including a broken front tooth, and is currently receiving medical treatment.

Describing the impact of the incident, Mr Mahama said: I cannot really sleep at night because my entire body, especially my ribs are paining me and my mouth is full of sores.

He further alleged that after the incident, the officers took him to the Sakasaka Police Station, where he was again manhandled.

At the Sakasaka police station, the officers took my phone and deleted all the pictures that I took during the altercation. They even threaten that they can kill us and nothing will happen to them. he said.

Mr Mahama said he has since lodged a formal complaint with the Northern Regional Police Command, where his statement has been taken and a medical report issued.

He called for justice, urging authorities to ensure accountability and prevent similar incidents.

Condemnation and investigations

The Northern Regional Minister, Ali Adolf John, has condemned the alleged assault and assured that any officers found culpable would be dealt with in accordance with the law.

Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has directed investigations into the incident.

In a separate statement, the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, expressed deep concern and extended sympathy to the artist.

She highlighted Mr Mahamas contribution to Ghanas cultural sector, particularly through Red Clay Studio, and described the alleged assault as troubling, reaffirming the countrys commitment to justice and human rights.

Ms Gomashie added that she had engaged the Minister for the Interior on the matter and received assurances of full support in identifying those responsible.

Please be assured that we stand with you; your safety, well-being, and your priceless contributions to the creative sector remain of utmost importance to Ghana and the world, she said.
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'Minister's visit was staged' - Doctors claim Korle Bu emergency crisis worse than official narrative

GraphicOnline Mar - 23 - 2026 , 19:25 5 minutes read

The Korle Bu Doctors Association (KODA) has issued a stark warning that the Accident and Emergency Centre of Ghana's premier teaching hospital is operating under conditions so compromised that both patient safety and the professional futures of its medical staff hang in the balance.

In astatement released on Monday, March 23, 2026, the association detailed a crisis it describes as far more complex than the "no bed syndrome" that has dominated public discourse.

The doctors warned that administrative pressures and a fractured national referral system have created an environment where emergency care is increasingly being delivered in hallways, on chairs, and on the floorconditions they say expose clinicians to grave legal jeopardy.

'The law courts would not accept such a sacrifice'

KODA Chairman, Dr Asare K Offei, signed off on a statement that pulled no punches in its assessment of the dangers facing both patients and practitioners. While reaffirming the doctors' commitment to the "No Bed" policy; the principle that no patient should be turned away; the association made clear that the current trajectory is unsustainable.

"This status quo is unsustainable and poses significant risks to both patient recovery and professional integrity," the statement read.

The doctors issued a direct warning to their colleagues about the legal implications of working under such compromised conditions.

"The law courts would not accept such a sacrifice," the association cautioned, urging members to resist pressure to perform procedures or administer treatments that violate basic safety standards or ethical boundaries, regardless of systemic pressure.

KODA further instructed its members to engage in rigorous documentation of the clinical environment, explicitly noting when care is provided in sub-optimal settings such as floor mattresses due to lack of bed space. Every instance of overcrowding or resource deficit, the association said, must be formally escalated in writing to the Head of Unit and copied to the Director of Medical Affairs.

"Do not assume 'they already know,'" the statement warned.

Occupational hazards and human toll

Beyond patient safety and legal exposure, the doctors highlighted the physical and mental toll the crisis is exacting on healthcare workers. The association pointed to rapid burnout and physical exhaustion among staff, which it said further jeopardises the quality of care.

Particular concern was raised about the occupational hazards of providing emergency care on the floor. The doctors noted that repeatedly squatting or bending to attend to patients poses significant trauma to the spines of healthcare professionals"the effect of which would be appreciated in the near future."

Minister's visit did not reflect reality

KODA's statement also addressed a visit by the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh to the emergency department on Saturday, March 21, 2026, a visit reportedly prompted by a viral video showing patients being treated in chairs and on the floor.

According to the doctors, the minister encountered conditions that appeared near normal and subsequently suggested the social media publication was inaccurate.

KODA, however, offered a blunt rebuttal: "The environment on the day of the minister's visit was not a reflection of what actually happens daily at the emergency. It is normal practice to prepare prior to a visit by a minister of state. This arrangement is not new whenever a government official plans a visit to a hospital."

The association insisted that accepting the actual situation on the ground is an important step towards finding meaningful solutions.

Beyond beds: A national referral system in ruins

Perhaps the most significant dimension of KODA's analysis was its insistence that the crisis at Korle Bu cannot be solved by simply procuring more beds. The association argued that the "No Bed Syndrome" is far more complex than the availability of physical space.

"The provision of 1000 extra beds would not immediately translate into enough health personnel to take care of these patients," the statement said.

The doctors identified the root of the problem as the collapse of Ghana's referral system. Lower-level hospitals, they explained, lack the capacity to manage conditions they encounter, leading to a default practice of referring patients to Korle Bu.

"The bigger problem revolves around the capacity of other hospitals that are referring these patients as well as coordination to the Korle Bu emergency department. Any number of beds provided in Korle Bu would be filled up in no time, because the referring hospitals don't have the capacity to take care of the conditions they are referring to the higher centres."

KODA called on hospital management to engage with the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service to ensure the referral system functions as a genuine network rather than a one-way funnel to Korle Bu.

Calls for legal indemnity and systemic correction

The association issued a series of demands to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital management, including an immediate review of referral linkages, the provision of adequate logistics and temporary holding spaces that meet basic clinical standards, and crucially, written administrative cover providing legal indemnity for staff working under compromised conditions dictated by administrative directives.

KODA also called on the Ministry of Health and hospital leadership to stop making scapegoats out of a problem they are responsible for as leaders of healthcare.

While appreciating the immediate efforts by management and the minister to provide temporary solutions, the doctors insisted that the focus must shift from "crisis management" to "systemic correction."

"Long-term solutions have previously been put forward by the Ghana Medical Association and other stakeholders," the statement noted. "A political will is thus required to discuss and implement them."

KODA concluded by expressing openness to immediate dialogue, stating that the goal is to prevent and reduce avoidable mortalities.

"The evidence is real. The crisis is real. And the response must be equally real," the statement concluded.
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No mobile money, no shortcut: Interior Ministry issues alert over recruitment scam

GraphicOnline Mar - 23 - 2026 , 06:29 2 minutes read

The Ministry of the Interior has issued a warning to all prospective applicants, urging them to disregard any text message related to the upcoming medical screening phase unless it bears the official sender ID CSERP.

In a statement released to the public, the Ministryin collaboration with Recruiting Agenciesclarified that no SMS notifications concerning the medical screening have been dispatched to applicants as of yet.

Authorities have scheduled the official SMS rollout between the 29th and 31st of March 2026, with the medical screening itself set to commence on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at designated centres across all regions.

This clarification follows growing concerns over the activities of fraudsters seeking to exploit unsuspecting job seekers.

The Ministry has cautioned the public against falling prey to messages from dubious sources, particularly those demanding mobile money payments. Officials stressed that no applicant will be required to send money directly to any mobile money number. Instead, all legitimate payments must be processed through the secure web checkout system available on the applicant portal.

In addition to verifying the sender ID, applicants have been advised to monitor their portal dashboards for a critical status change. Once the official SMSs are sent, qualified applicants will see their status shift from Qualified to MEDICAL SCREENING.

The Ministry has entreated individuals to double-check any correspondence by ensuring that this status update is reflected on the portal before proceeding with any financial transaction.
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Ghana, Colombia sign direct Tema Cartagena shipping deal to cut trade costs

Mohammed Ali Mar - 23 - 2026 , 17:59 2 minutes read

Ghana and Colombia have signed a maritime trade agreement to establish a direct shipping route between the Port of Tema and the Port of Cartagena, a move expected to reduce transport time and cost for businesses in both countries.

The agreement was signed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, at the closing ceremony of the CELAC Africa High Level Forum held in Bogota. Colombias Vice President, Ms Francia Elena Marquez Mina, was present at the ceremony.

The forum, which took place from March 18 to March 21, 2026, in the Colombian capital, ended with the adoption of the Bogota Declaration.

It marked the first structured high level engagement between the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and African countries, bringing together heads of state, ministers and business leaders.

In a Facebook post on Monday, March 23, 2026, Mr Ablakwa said the agreement creates direct maritime trade links between Ghana and Colombia and is expected to expand trade between Africa and Latin America.

He said the Atlantic Ocean, once associated with the transatlantic slave trade, is now being redirected towards economic activity.

He stated that the corridor, which previously represented the horror of slavery and a mass grave, is being deliberately transformed into a voyage of opportunity, job creation and economic empowerment.

Ms Marquez described the agreement as a new phase in relations between Africa and Latin America. She said ties between the two regions had, in the past, been uneven and lacked consistency.

Ghana also used the forum to call for slavery to be recognised as a crime against humanity, a position that reflects the countrys stance in ongoing global discussions on reparations.

Mr Ablakwa commended Colombias Foreign Minister, Ms Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio, for her role in the process and acknowledged the support of Ms Marquez in advancing the agreement.
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Former President Akufo-Addo takes on new role in Anglican Church

GraphicOnline Politics Mar - 23 - 2026 , 10:07 2 minutes read

Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been installed as an Honorary Lay Canon of the Anglican Diocese of Koforidua in the Church of the Province of West Africa.

The ceremony took place at the St. Peter Anglican Cathedral on Passion Sunday, the fifth Sunday in Lent, following what the former President described as a period of prayerful consideration.

In a message shared on social media after the ceremony, Mr Akufo-Addo said the honour recognises his contribution to public service and social justice, and entrusts him with responsibilities within the Anglican Communion in areas including health, evangelism, education, investment, tourism and hospitality.

Reflecting on the recognition, he indicated that his lifes journey had been guided by faith and divine providence. My experiences and service, throughout my adult life, have been a testimony of Gods love, and a vindication of the words of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, as quoted at Matthew 19:26, which states With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible, he said.

Mr Akufo-Addo also pledged his continued commitment to the Church, stating that he would dedicate himself to a life of service, prayer and support for the growth of the Anglican faith within the diocese and beyond.

I commit, as I have always, to continued service to the Church, to live a holy life, to pray regularly for God's blessing upon the work of the Church in the world and especially in this Diocese and the West African Province, and to enter gladly into the succession of those in each generation who have served God through the worship offered in this Cathedral, Diocese and Province, he added.

He expressed gratitude to the Anglican Diocese of Koforidua and the wider Anglican Communion, as well as to the diocesan bishop, Felix Odei Annancy, and the officiating clergy for the honour bestowed on him.

The installation places the former President among distinguished lay persons recognised by the Church for their contributions to society and their commitment to advancing its mission.
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The Guam Police Department arrested Tony Frank Toves Manila, 46, on Sunday at a Yona residence after receiving a tip he was there, police said in a Monday media release.

On Monday, Manila was charged with burglary to a motor vehicle and theft of property as second-degree felonies, according to a magistrates complaint filed in Superior Court.

Manila was released on $3,000 personal recognizance, according to Office of Attorney General documents.

This means he was freed from jail while awaiting trial without paying bail, based on a signed promise to appear in court.

Wanted flyer

Manilas arrest comes two days after GPD issued a wanted flyer of him, in connection with a burglary at Pacific Islands Club Guam.

Manila, of Yona, was wanted for questioning related to a burglary to a motor vehicle complaint at PIC.

On Sunday, Tumon-Tamuning Precinct Command and Central Precinct Command Units went to a residence in Yona after receiving a tip that Manila was there.

Manila was located and apprehended without incident, GPD said.

He was processed, booked and confined to the Department of Corrections.

Burglary

Around 8:25 a.m. on March 16, police responded to a report of a burglary to a motor vehicle at PIC. An employee told police a guest reported belongings in his vehicle were missing.

The PIC employee said he saw items being taken from the vehicle by an individual later identified to be Manila in surveillance, the complaint stated.

Police looked at the footage and saw Manila exiting a Corolla after the guest parked his white Jeep Wrangler and took a bag and later returned and took a luggage, documents stated.

Police spoke with the guest, who said the bag and luggage contained about $1,513.13 worth of items.

The PIC employee said Manila was not a guest at the hotel, but was staying in a room. Officers met with a woman who said she was Manilas girlfriend and that he had given her some items, including the bag and green luggage taken from the vehicle, documents stated.

Officers couldnt locate Manila at the time and the woman tried to call him to turn himself in, but Manila declined to turn himself in, the complaint stated.

On Sunday, around 9:59 a.m., officers were advised that Manila was at a house in Yona and they went to go look for him.

When officers got to the house, they heard a noise from behind the residence and when they checked, they saw Manila attempting to hide in the bed of a blue Toyota Tacoma.

When officers took Manila into custody, he asked if it was related to PIC. He told police he took a black Coach bag and a green luggage from a white Jeep, the complaint stated.
The Guam Environmental Protection Agency may need to update employee salaries, with staffing levels so low that it is now impacting operations, according to discussion at last weeks board meeting.

Acting Guam EPA Administrator Glenn San Nicolas addressed staffing issues upon questioning from the board.

Inspections are falling behind. Grant objectives are being jeopardized because of it, San Nicolas said.

The shortage comes as the agency is expected to ensure billions of dollars in expected military construction follow environmental regulations, investigate the source of cancer-linked pesticide dieldrin thats considered widespread in Guams drinking water, and prosecute a $1.7 million finethe biggest in decadesover last Octobers East Hagatna landslide.

It also comes as the agency will have to seek local funds to support operations, with the Trump White House slashing federal grant funding that accounted for 85% of the agencys budget, $3.4 million to $3.5 million per year.

With 53 full-time employees, some divisions are running at less than 50% capacity, San Nicolas told the board Thursday, with some programs run by just one or two people.

The agency is losing three engineers, and is short on environmental health specialists, he said.

Some of the agencys longest serving employees are already long-gone, Guam EPA board member Steven Hollister noted at one point during the discussion.

I think the major issue is recruitment, San Nicolas said. Nobodys even applying, and for the ones that make the interview, theyre like, Oh, Im sorry, we got another job somewhere else.

He said even entry-level positions like environmental health specialists, that anyone with a college degree can take, are hard to fill.

The agency is seeking grant funding to hire two engineers, the hardest roles to fill, at higher pay scales.

San Nicolas said he believes salary may be the driving factor, with Guam EPA unable to compete with salaries for environmental jobs at the Department of War, the private sector, or revenue-generating government agencies like the utilities.

Were just not comparable with the best, he said, adding that pay at Guam EPA is also behind some equivalent positions in regular GovGuam agencies like the Department of Public Health and Social Services.

The acting administrator said the governor has allowed the agency to do a salary survey for its positions.

Thats something that were going to have to work on, because were losing people, and we dont have succession planning, he said.

San Nicolas, who also has a background in human resources, said he would probably start by analyzing Guam EPAs competitors locally for environmental hires, and then pick salary numbers right in the middle.

Were not asking for the top end. Were not asking for the low end. But lets just get in the middle, you know, just so that we can be a bit competitive, he said.

Guam EPA board member Heather Quitugua said the agency should also account for its competitors off-island.

If you limit it to just sort of looking at Guam and taking an average...you may never, ever still be able to hire people if your competitor is the Nebraska EPA, and theyre going to always pay 100% more than we pay on Guam. Quitugua said. I think that for whatever the sales pitch for that, its important...Because you have to be able to say, this is a specialized (position), I mean, its sort of like doctors.
To deepen collaboration between Hefei and Hong Kong in technological innovation and industrial development, and to jointly seize opportunities arising from the development of new quality productive forces, the "Hong Kong Enterprises Hefei Tour" was held from March 16 to 20 as part of the "Luzhou International Gathering Lounge" series. Nearly 20 entrepreneurs and institutional representatives from Hong Kongcovering sectors such as green technology, property management, investment management, innovation and technology, overseas services, and new materials research and developmentconducted an in-depth inspection of Hefei's strategic emerging industries. The event was co-hosted by the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Hefei Municipality, the Hong Kong Productivity Council, and the Zhongguancun Hong Kong-Macao-Taiwan Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center. The "Hefei-Hong Kong Enterprises Tour Delegation Exchange Seminar" was held on the morning of March 17 at Zhong'an Chuanggu, serving as the opening event of the tour. Officials from Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Hefei Municipality, Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Investment Promotion Bureau, and other relevant municipal departments gathered with representatives from the Hong Kong Productivity Council and enterprises to engage in in-depth discussions under the theme "Hefei-Hong Kong Collaboration, Creating the Future Together." During the seminar, Hefei presented a comprehensive overview of its investment environment, achievements in scenario-based innovation, and thriving technological innovation ecosystem to the Hong Kong delegation. A dedicated promotional presentation was also delivered by the Grand Union of Innovation (GUi) Service Platform Company. The representatives of Hong Kong enterprises actively spoke, sharing their respective strengths in technology, market, and management, and expressed a strong willingness to engage in in-depth cooperation with their counterparts in Hefei. During the event, the Hong Kong Enterprises Hefei Tour delegation went to the frontlines of Hefei's industries, embarking on an intensive series of visits. They toured representative enterprises and institutions that exemplify Hefei's technological innovation and industrial development, including iFlytek, SUNGROW, China Speech Valley, Huami Corporation, the Hefei Institute for Public Safety Research of Tsinghua University, Hefei Haier Industrial Park, NIO's advanced manufacturing base, Anhui Innovation Pavilion, and the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Science Island). Through these visits, they gained an intuitive understanding of Hefei's industrial foundation and vibrant innovation vitality in fields such as artificial intelligence and new energy vehicles. The "Hefei-Hong Kong Enterprises Tour: Scenario-Based Supply-Demand Matchmaking Meeting" served as the centerpiece of the event. Approximately 50 representatives from enterprises and institutions in Hefei and Hong Kong participated. Hong Kong enterprises brought innovative needs to share, while local Hefei enterprises delivered project pitches. The two sides engaged in precise and efficient targeted matchmaking focused on specific application scenarios and market demands.

Source: Hefei Evening News
Companies are also to receive a digital identity in the EU. Similar to the EUDI Wallets planned for EU citizens, the European Business Wallet is intended to enable companies to have secure and trustworthy identification and authentication throughout the EU for business transactions and with authorities. The EU Commission hopes to simplify administrative processes and achieve cost savings  the savings potential is expected to be over 150 billion euros per year with widespread use of the wallet.

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The Business Wallet, presented as part of the EU Commission's Digital Omnibus Package, is intended to have the same legal status as actions performed in person, on paper, or by other legally recognized methods. In addition to identification, the wallet will also allow companies to sign, timestamp, or seal documents. This would enable companies to create and exchange verified digital documents such as licenses, certificates, and permits.

No obligation for companies

However, only public administration will be obliged to support the European Business Wallet. Under the current draft, companies are free to decide whether or not to use the wallet. In an accompanying document to the draft law, the EU Commission estimates the costs of introducing it in public administration at around 7.33 billion euros in the first year, with 6.18 billion euros being one-time implementation costs for training, software changes, and the like.

For businesses, the introduction could incur costs of just over 45 billion euros in the first year across three-quarters of all companies, of which 25 billion euros are one-time costs. Ultimately, however, the savings potential is expected to far outweigh the costs of implementation and operation.

Two-year implementation phase

The technical architecture and functions of the Business Wallets are to be based on the EUDI Wallets, thus offering an interoperable cloud-based identity solution. Wallet providers will be responsible for guaranteeing cryptographic integrity and confidentiality between the backend and frontend of the wallet applications and devices. The EU Commission will work out precise technical standards and requirements together with its member states and the private sector and conduct large-scale pilot projects.

In any case, the draft for the wallet still needs to be approved by the European Parliament and the member states. After adoption, a two-year transition period for the introduction of the European Business Wallet is currently planned for all levels of public administration throughout the EU.

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(axk)

Don't miss any news  follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Mastodon. This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication.
In a quite detailed blog post, Microsoft's Windows boss, Pavan Davuluri, announced extensive changes to many Windows 11 functions. Without explicitly saying so, this includes the already foreseeable departure from AI everywhere. In addition, some functions that users have repeatedly complained about are to be made less intrusive.

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In the post titled Our Commitment to Windows Quality, Davuluri explicitly addresses participants in the Windows Insider program. These receive new features faster than through general Windows updates at their own risk. In the remaining days of March and in April, they will receive the planned changes in new builds. They are encouraged to express their opinions in the redesigned Feedback Hub  which now offers more free-text fields, among other things. What will ultimately be included in the generally available builds, and especially when, is as always not foreseeable.

Fewer interruptions from Windows Update

Davuluri's post primarily addresses two central points that have drawn increasing criticism: the integration of AI functions and the behavior of Windows Update. The latter is intended to cause fewer work interruptions in the future, for example, by allowing updates to be rescheduled more flexibly and requiring fewer restarts for installation. A restart or shutdown without installing updates, presumably as already under Windows 10, will also be possible in the future. On new devices or a new installation of Windows 11, updates can be skipped for the time being; this could be a significant relief for administrators.

Copilot no longer pushes itself everywhere

With We are reducing unnecessary entry points for Copilot, the Microsoft manager openly admits that his company has clearly overdone it lately with the push to use Windows AI. This earned the company the nickname Microslop. Initially, Davuluri specifies, the reference to Copilot will be removed from the Editor (Notepad), the Snipping Tool for screenshots, and the Windows Photo Viewer. In general, Copilot will only appear in the future where it is, literally, really useful.

Davuluri also acknowledges that the file explorer is the part of the operating system that many users interact with most frequently. Microsoft now acknowledges that, even on the same hardware, it runs more sluggishly from Windows 10 to Windows 11 and is more cumbersome to use  for example, through restrictions in the context menus. Therefore, a new version is to become, again literally, faster and more reliable, starting with the startup time.

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Taskbar possible on all sides again

Microsoft is also daring a bit more Windows 10 with an immediately visible change: the taskbar can in the future be docked to all four edges of the screen again. This has been a standard function in other operating systems, including Microsoft's, for decades. However, it was removed with Windows 11 and could only be reactivated with additional tools. This is useful, among other things, for very wide displays, such as in a 21:9 format, where you might prefer the taskbar on the side to reduce scrolling. And with many programs running simultaneously, a (additional) portrait display with a correspondingly long taskbar on the side can also be useful.

The fact that the increasingly loud criticism seems to have reached Microsoft culminates in Davuluri's sentence at the end of his post: Windows belongs to you as much as it belongs to us. Economically, this is of course not true, but it would be nice if the company would really take its customers more seriously in the long term.

(nie)

Don't miss any news  follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Mastodon. This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication.
The software Windchill and FlexPLM contains a security vulnerability that allows code execution. The manufacturer urgently calls for security measures to be taken  a patch is not yet available at the moment.

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Information about the vulnerability is scarce; neither a CVE identifier nor warnings from national CERTs (Computer Emergency Response Team) are available. However, the manufacturer and its partners appear to be concerned: they are assigning the highest score of 10.0 points on the CVSS scale and urging customers to react immediately.

Apparently, the error is hidden in the deserialization of the servlets /servlet/WindchillGW/com.ptc.wvs.server.publish.Publish and /servlet/WindchillAuthGW/com.ptc.wvs.server.publish.Publish . If these are accessible to an attacker, for example, because the Windchill server is reachable from the internet, they can inject and execute code.

Many versions affected

According to the manufacturer PTC's extremely brief security notice in the Knowledge Base, the following versions are affected:

Windchill PDMLink 11.0 M030

Windchill PDMLink 11.1 M020

Windchill PDMLink 11.2.1.0

Windchill PDMLink 12.0.2.0

Windchill PDMLink 13.0.2.0

Windchill PDMLink 13.1.0.0

Windchill PDMLink 13.1.1.0

Windchill PDMLink 13.1.2.0

Windchill PDMLink 13.1.3.0

Windchill PDMLink 12.1.2.0

FlexPLM 11.0 M030

FlexPLM 11.1 M020

FlexPLM 11.2.1.0

FlexPLM 12.0.0.0

FlexPLM 12.0.2.0

FlexPLM 12.0.3.0

FlexPLM 12.1.2.0

FlexPLM 12.1.3.0

FlexPLM 13.0.2.0

FlexPLM 13.0.3.0

Workaround: Restrict access via Apache configuration

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Until a patch is available, admins should use a workaround. As described by the Windchill service provider EAC in a communication to its customers, this requires a configuration change to the Apache web server. According to EAC, this should be done immediately to neutralize the risk of an exploit.

Create a new configuration file <APACHE_HOME>/conf/conf.d/90-app-Windchill-Auth.conf . (If a file with the prefix 90- or higher already exists, the new file should receive the highest number to be loaded as the last file) Incorporate the following directives into it:

<LocationMatch "^.*servlet/(WindchillGW|WindchillAuthGW)/com\.ptc\.wvs\.server\.publish\.Publish(?:;[^/]*)?/.*$"> Require all denied </LocationMatch> Restart the web server using the known commands.

Apparently active attacks  admins should keep their eyes open

Although the manufacturer claims to have no knowledge of successful attacks, service provider EAC mentions some "Indicators of Compromise" (IOC). This means that attacks against Windchill or FlexPLM servers must have already occurred. The IOCs indicate that after a successful exploit, attackers upload files with malicious code to the server, typically web shells. Instances operated by PTC itself are already protected.

Insecure deserialization is a known entry point for exploits and is popular with cybercriminals and state-sponsored attackers. Just a few days ago, the US cybersecurity agency added another deserialization vulnerability in Microsoft SharePoint to its database of Known Exploited Vulnerabilities.

(cku)

Don't miss any news  follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Mastodon. This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication.
Police said the attack took place at around 9.15am at Maatullin peruskoulu in the Tapulikaupunki area of the Finnish capital. Both the suspect and the victim are minors and attend the upper level of the school.

A pupil stabbed another pupil at a comprehensive school in Helsinki on Monday morning after a dispute between the two escalated, prompting a police response, hospital treatment for the victim and suspension of the school day.

Officers arrested the suspect without resistance after he left the school grounds. Police said the act targeted one individual and posed no further risk to others at the school.

The injured pupil received first aid at the scene before transfer to hospital. The extent of the injuries has not been disclosed.

School principal Heli Siljama said the incident followed a dispute between the two boys that began the previous week. She told Finnish media that both pupils had been barred from attending school late last week due to the conflict.

Police confirmed that the case involves what they described as a settlement of a dispute between two pupils. Authorities said a bladed weapon was used.

The school day was halted after the incident. Pupils were directed to remain in classrooms before being sent home. Parents gathered outside the school as emergency services arrived.

The school serves around 700 pupils from first to ninth grade. A daycare centre with about 240 children operates in the same building.

Police said they have secured the premises and confirmed that those inside the school and daycare were safe. Investigators remain on site, and the area stayed restricted during the day.

Crisis support has been arranged for pupils and staff. School authorities said classes will resume on Tuesday.

HT
The court confirmed that both states submitted declarations under Article 63 of its statute. The case, filed by South Africa in December 2023, alleges breaches of the Genocide Convention during Israels military campaign in Gaza.

The Netherlands and Iceland have filed to join a case at the International Court of Justice that accuses Israel of genocide in Gaza, as Germany withdraws its plan to support Israel in the same proceedings, marking a shift among European states over the legal battle.

The Netherlands stated that forced displacement, starvation and the blocking of aid may fall within acts prohibited under the convention. It said such conduct may play an important role in determining the intent to commit genocide.

The Dutch submission also addressed harm to children. It stated that acts directed at children require separate assessment and could be highly significant in proving genocidal intent.

Iceland set out a broader approach to intent. It argued that the court should not require genocide to be the only explanation for conduct. It stated that the presence of other motives should not prevent a finding of genocide. It added that intent may be inferred from patterns of conduct rather than direct proof.

Both countries stressed that their role concerns interpretation of the convention, not a judgment on facts in the case.

The interventions raise the number of states seeking to take part to 18. Countries that have already filed include Colombia, Mexico, Spain, Turkey, Ireland and Brazil. Palestine and Belize have also sought to join under a separate provision that allows states with a legal interest to participate.

South Africa argues that Israels actions include killing, causing harm and imposing conditions of life aimed at destruction of a group. Israel rejects the allegation.

Data cited in the proceedings place the number of Palestinians killed in Gaza at more than 70,000 since October 2023, with women and children forming a large share. Large parts of housing, health facilities and schools have been destroyed.

The ICJ has issued three sets of provisional measures since January 2024. These orders require Israel to prevent acts under the convention, ensure its forces comply, and allow aid into Gaza. The court also ordered Israel to report on steps taken. It did not order a ceasefire.

A United Nations commission of inquiry reported in September that it found evidence of genocide in Gaza. Members of the panel, including Navi Pillay and Chris Sidoti, said the inquiry used methods similar to those applied by the court, according to Middle East Eye.

At the same time, Germany has stepped back from its earlier position. A foreign ministry spokesperson said Berlin will not intervene on Israels behalf. The move reverses a pledge made in January 2024, when Germany rejected South Africas claims and said it would support Israel.

Officials linked the change to a separate case at the ICJ. Nicaragua has accused Germany of violating international law through support for Israel. The court allowed that case to proceed. Germany continues to defend its conduct.

Berlin has not changed its view on the allegations against Israel. It continues to reject claims in the Nicaragua case. Its decision not to join Israels defence alters the alignment among states involved in the proceedings.

Legal experts note that Article 63 interventions do not make states parties to the dispute. They allow submissions on how a treaty should be read. The court will consider these views when it interprets the Genocide Convention.

Israel faces a deadline to submit its counter memorial in response to South Africas filing. The court has granted several extensions. It has not confirmed whether the document has been filed.

The case stands as one of the largest before the ICJ in terms of third state participation. A final ruling on whether Israel breached the convention is not expected for several years. Estimates cited by legal analysts place a decision near 2028.

Outside the court, demonstrations have taken place during hearings. Protesters have called for action on Gaza and for enforcement of the courts orders.

The Netherlands and Iceland stated that the convention must serve its aim to prevent and punish genocide. They urged the court to assess conduct such as denial of food, shelter and medical care as part of that framework.

HT
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Mexican authorities arrested a man wanted in Colombia and Ecuador for allegedly carrying out the assassination of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio in 2023.

Identified as Angel Esteban Aguilar Morales, the suspect was arrested in Mexico after attempting to evade immigration controls using a false identity as a Colombian citizen. Aguilar was later transferred to Colombia, although it remains unclear whether he has been formally extradited, as CBS News reports.

Mexican officials said Aguilar was detected by authorities as soon as he entered the country and was placed under real-time surveillance. Using intelligence provided by Colombia, authorities said they were able to pinpoint his location in Mexico City.

Also known as "Lobo Menor," Aguilar is believed to be one of Ecuador's most-wanted fugitives and an alleged ringleader of the Ecuadorian gang Los Lobos.

Colombian police said Aguilar entered Mexico from Medellin using a forged passport with the "express purpose of strengthening criminal networks in the region," CBS News noted.

Derivado de trabajos de inteligencia y de los mecanismos de cooperacion internacional, elementos de @SEMAR_mx, @SSPCMexico @SSC_CDMX e @INAMI_mx detuvieron en la Ciudad de Mexico a Juan Carlos N, alias Lobo Menor, lider del grupo delictivo Los Lobos con presencia en pic.twitter.com/Vm4y9wbfZg  Omar H Garcia Harfuch (@OHarfuch) March 18, 2026

Lobo Menor is one of three individuals formally linked by Ecuadorian prosecutors to Villavicencio's killing, who was shot on Aug. 9, 2023, as he was leaving a political rally in Quito.

Authorities also said Aguilar has ties to Mexican cartels and to Nestor Gregorio Vera, known as Ivan Mordisco, the leader of a dissident faction of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.

The arrest of Aguilar is a major blow to Los Lobos, which already lost its leader last year. In November, Spanish authorities arrested Wilmer Geovanny Chavarria Barre, also known as "Pipo," the leader of Los Lobos. At the time of his arrest, Ecuadorian officials believed him to be responsible for at least 400 deaths and for forging a strong alliance with Mexico's Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

Ecuadorian officials said Chavarria Barre had previously faked his death and assumed a new identity to hide in Europe while continuing to direct his criminal network from abroad. He also allegedly underwent as many as seven facial surgeries to avoid detection.

Who are Los Lobos?

Originally a group of hitmen working for their now-rival gang Los Choneros, Los Lobos rose to prominence in 2020 after breaking away from the organization. The group evolved from a small gang into a criminal enterprise involved in drug trafficking, illegal gold mining and murder for hire.

Through its leadership, Los Lobos forged a key alliance with the Jalisco cartel, allowing the group to strengthen trafficking routes and expand its operations across the world.

The partnership between Los Lobos and CJNG went beyond drug shipments. U.S. and Ecuadorian authorities say the Jalisco cartel also supplied the group with weapons, training and strategic support, helping Los Lobos surpass Los Choneros as Ecuador's most dangerous criminal organization.

As reported by Infobae, Ecuadorian officials estimate that Los Lobos has more than 8,000 members operating in 16 of the country's 24 provinces.

Originally published on Latin Times
Billionaire Elon Musk, the world's richest person and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, offered Saturday to personally cover the salaries of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel caught in the crossfire of a partial U.S. government shutdown over Department of Homeland Security funding.

In a post on his social media platform X, Musk wrote: "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." The statement, made early Saturday morning U.S. time, quickly garnered hundreds of thousands of likes, reposts and replies, amplifying attention on the crisis.

The offer comes as the partial shutdownstemming from congressional deadlock over DHS appropriationsenters its second month for some agencies. TSA officers, deemed essential workers, have continued screening passengers without paychecks since mid-February in certain cases, marking the second unpaid period in six months for many. Reports indicate more than 300 TSA staff have already called out sick or resigned amid financial strain, contributing to longer security lines, flight delays and widespread traveler frustration at major hubs like Atlanta, Chicago O'Hare and Los Angeles International.

Average TSA officer salaries hover around $51,000 annually, starting at about $40,270, with transportation security screeners averaging just over $61,000, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. With roughly 60,000 TSA employees nationwide, covering even a portion of payroll would represent a substantial outlaypotentially tens of millions monthlythough Musk's net worth exceeds $400 billion, making it feasible if structured as a personal or corporate contribution.

The proposal arrives amid heightened political tension. President Donald Trump threatened Saturday to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to airports if the impasse persists, aiming to bolster security amid staffing shortfalls. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) accused Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) of staging a "fake TSA funding stunt" by pushing procedural motions that he said did nothing to actually resolve the crisis. Schumer has countered that Republicans are holding TSA pay hostage to extract concessions on immigration enforcement funding without reforms.

Musk's intervention has sparked debate over feasibility and implications. Legal experts note that while private individuals can donate to government programs or provide aid, directly paying federal employee salaries could face hurdles under federal ethics rules, anti-deficiency laws and conflict-of-interest concernsespecially given Musk's companies hold significant government contracts in defense, space and transportation. No formal mechanism has been outlined, and neither the TSA, DHS nor Musk's representatives have confirmed acceptance or next steps as of Sunday.

The shutdown stems from broader fiscal battles in Congress, where Republicans seek increased border security allocations while Democrats push for balanced funding without what they call unrelated policy riders. TSA funding falls under DHS, one of the agencies hardest hit by the lapse. Travelers report escalating chaos: security wait times exceeding two hours at some airports, canceled flights and growing calls for resolution.

Musk's post drew mixed reactions. Supporters praised it as pragmatic generosity from a private citizen stepping up where government failed, with some urging him to "do your thing" and break the deadlock. Critics questioned motives, pointing to Musk's influence in Washington through his role in advisory capacities and companies' reliance on federal approvals. Others highlighted irony, recalling past reports of Musk-linked entities facing scrutiny over government funding cuts or restrictions.

The offer has spotlighted the human cost of shutdowns. TSA workers, many living paycheck-to-paycheck, face mortgage payments, childcare and basic expenses without income despite mandatory shifts. Unions representing federal employees have called for immediate back pay and resolution, warning that prolonged strain could compromise aviation security.

As of March 22, no breakthrough in negotiations has emerged, though both parties face pressure from airlines, business groups and the traveling public. Musk's proposal, while symbolic for some, underscores frustration with partisan gridlock and raises questions about the role of ultra-wealthy individuals in filling public sector gaps.

Whether Musk's offer translates to action remains uncertain. If pursued, it could set a precedent for private intervention in government operationsor highlight the limits of such gestures in a complex federal system. For now, millions of Americans face disrupted travel, while TSA staff continue working without guaranteed pay, hoping for an end to the impasse.

Originally published on ibtimes.com.au
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are set to deploy to American airports as early as Monday, with White House border czar Tom Homan confirming the deployment will serve a dual purpose  easing mounting pressure on the Transportation Security Administration while continuing active immigration enforcement operations. The announcement came as the partial Department of Homeland Security shutdown entered its sixth week, with security queues at major airports stretching for several hours and travellers across the country missing flights.

Homan, appearing on CNN's 'State of the Union with Dana Bash,' said the deployment was 'about going to 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.' He added that ICE agents were already present at airports across the country, calling Monday's move an expansion of existing operations rather than a new initiative.

Lines, Resignations, and a Stalled Shutdown

The context behind the deployment is a staffing crisis that has developed over weeks. More than (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/400-tsa-officers-quit-shutdown-rcna264581) TSA workers have quit since the partial shutdown began on 14 February, leaving them working without pay, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The agency noted that nearly half of those who resigned had more than three years of experience, and a third had served for over five years  a significant loss of institutional knowledge.

Callout rates have spiked nationwide, with the highest single-day airport callout rate reaching 55 per cent at Houston Hobby International Airport on 14 March 2026. The situation has been particularly acute at major transit hubs during the spring break travel season, with some passengers enduring waits of up to three hours before reaching a security checkpoint.

Homan said he believed the deployment would initially concentrate on large airports with the longest wait times, with agents covering security points but not assisting with baggage screenings. He was direct about the limits of ICE's role: 'I don't see an ICE agent looking at an X-ray machine because they're not trained in that,' Homan said. 'There are certain parts of security that TSA is doing that we can move them off those jobs and put them in the specialized jobs, help move those lines.'

'Potentially to Brutalize or Kill Them'

The move drew immediate and sharp criticism from Democratic leaders. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries slammed the plan, saying '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 made his remarks during the same CNN programme, referencing the fatal shootings of two US citizens in Minneapolis earlier this year involving federal agents.

Jeffries further accused Republicans of choosing to 'force TSA agents to work without pay, inconvenience millions of Americans all across the country and now potentially expose them to untrained ICE agents and create chaos at airports throughout the land, rather than get ICE agents under control.' He insisted Democrats would not back down from their reform demands in exchange for DHS funding.

Homan pushed back when CNN's Dana Bash pressed him on the pace of the rollout. 'How much of a plan does it take to guard an exit to make sure no one comes through that exit?' he responded. He maintained that ICE officers were well-trained in security and in identification procedures.

Homan also made clear that agents would continue to enforce immigration laws as they deployed to terminals and security lines, saying 'we do immigration enforcement at airports all the time. So it's not going to change.'

Shutdown Talks Remain Deadlocked

Despite the escalating pressure, a political resolution remained elusive on Sunday. Bipartisan appropriators held a brief meeting with Homan on Friday evening that sources from both parties called 'productive,' though a further meeting previewed by Senate Majority Leader John Thune for Saturday was cancelled.

Two major sticking points remained  whether to require judicial warrants on immigration enforcement actions and whether to require ICE agents to remove their masks  both key Democratic demands that the White House has resisted. Senators from both sides expressed a desire to reach a deal before Easter recess at the end of the week.

 BREAKING: Tom Homan just sent a MASSIVE warning to illegal aliens as ICE deploys to airports tomorrow



ICE can check identification before people enter the screening area! 



Foreign invaders on notice. This is what securing the homeland looks like. pic.twitter.com/ebIWaMR2Hx  Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 22, 2026

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy offered a sobering warning about what lies ahead if the impasse continues. 'If this homeland security funding isn't resolved, I think you're going to see more TSA agents as we come to Thursday, Friday, Saturday of next week, they're going to quit, or they're not going to show up,' Duffy said.



The deployment of immigration enforcement agents into a civilian security role at commercial airports marks an unprecedented blurring of mandates within DHS. With over 50,000 TSA employees having gone without pay for more than five weeks, and spring break travel pushing passenger volumes higher, the pressure on the US aviation system is compounding daily.

Originally published on IBTimes UK
Mexico has recorded nearly 200,000 repatriations of its citizens from the United States since President Donald Trump returned to office and tightened immigration policies, according to figures released by the Mexican government.

Interior Secretary Rosa Icela Rodriguez said that between late January 2025 and mid-March 2026, a total of 189,830 Mexican nationals were returned to the country. Most arrived through land border crossings, while tens of thousands were flown back as part of coordinated repatriation efforts. The returns are being handled under the government's national strategy known as "Mexico te abraza."

Rodriguez said more than 130,000 returnees have received assistance through the program's network of reception centers, primarily located along Mexico's northern border as well as in southern cities such as Villahermosa and Tapachula, as EFE reports. "Those who decide not to go to these spaces are still given assistance," added Rodriguez.

The program is designed to manage both the immediate arrival of deported migrants and their longer-term reintegration. Upon arrival, individuals receive a repatriation document that allows them to access services including temporary shelter, healthcare, job placement support and social programs. Authorities have also coordinated transportation to migrants' home states at no cost.

Officials say the strategy includes a broader effort to stabilize returnees economically and socially. Many have been enrolled in public health coverage through the Mexican Social Security Institute, while others have been connected with employment opportunities in the private sector. Financial support is also provided through government-issued assistance cards to help cover initial expenses.

The "Mexico te abraza" plan operates through multiple components, including consular support in the United States, reception infrastructure in border states, and reintegration programs focused on employment, education and access to basic services. It also includes digital tools and expanded consular services aimed at assisting Mexican nationals before and during the repatriation process.

Rodriguez said the government remains committed to supporting returnees. "Our country awaits them with open arms," she said, describing the program as a coordinated effort to ensure a structured and dignified transition for those arriving back in Mexico.

Originally published on Latin Times
In Brief: The Crowne Plaza Resort in Gurgaon Sohna, India, is set to open in early 2029, marking another addition to the country's burgeoning luxury hospitality market.

Crowne Plaza Resort Gurgaon Sohna Scheduled to Open in First Quarter of 2029 - Image Credit IHG Hotels & Resorts

IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed a management agreement with Harisons Hotels & Resorts Pvt. Ltd. to open Crowne Plaza Resort Gurgaon Sohna near Palwal in the National Capital Region, with the opening scheduled for the first quarter of 2029.

IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed a management agreement with Harisons Hotels & Resorts Pvt. Ltd. to introduce Crowne Plaza Resort Gurgaon Sohna near Palwal in the National Capital Region. The resort is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2029.

The upcoming Crowne Plaza Resort Gurgaon Sohna will be located within a 70-minute drive from Delhi International Airport. The hotel is positioned to cater to demand for weddings and social celebrations in the National Capital Region, as well as weekend leisure travel and corporate offsite events from neighboring states.

The resort will offer 150 contemporary rooms. Plans include four dining options: a lobby lounge, an all-day dining restaurant, a specialty restaurant, and a bar. Additional amenities will include banqueting and meeting venues, a health club, a spa, a swimming pool, and both indoor and outdoor leisure spaces.

IHG currently operates 51 hotels across six brands in India: Six Senses, InterContinental Hotels and Resorts, Crowne Plaza, voco Hotels, Holiday Inn Resort, and Holiday Inn Express. The company has a pipeline of 89 hotels scheduled to open in the next three to five years.
In Brief: Jonathan Gough's article explores the emerging trend in 2026 of consumers increasingly favoring shorter, last-minute hotel stays, potentially reshaping the hospitality industry's approach to bookings and accommodations.

Hotel Booking Trends 2026: Are Shorter Stays and Last-minute Searches the New Normal? - By Jonathan Gough - Image Credit Lighthouse

The global share of searches for one-night stays rose by 9% from Q1 2023 to Q4 2025, while the share of searches made for hotels within 28 days of the date of stay have likewise risen by 9% over the same period.

This marks a broad-based and persistent trend towards shorter stays and lead times over the last three years that shows no signs of disappearing in Q1 2026.

Travelers, especially in North America, appear to be shifting to a more flexible approach, likely driven by changing demographic, economic and technological conditions.

The extent of this trend, reaching across regions and across several years of data, shows how the hospitality industry needs to be proactively adapting. The hotel industry needs to embrace out-of-season travel, last-minute deals, changing search patterns, and dynamic pricing strategies to reflect a less predictable travel consumer.

Shorter hotel length-of-stays are on the rise

The data is unequivocal: average length-of-stay (LOS) is falling.

Driving this change is the increase in one-night hotel stays, searches for which have risen noticeably in our data over the last three years.

The share of searches for one-night-stays made on Online Travel Agencies (OTA) and metasearch sites has risen globally from 28% to 37% between Q1 2023 and Q4 2025.

At the same time, searches for stays of between eight and 14 days have declined, albeit at a much slower rate of change, declining from 8% of all searches in Q1 2023 to 6% in Q4 2025.

Critically though, the rise in shorter stays appears sustained and across a wide geographical range. The rise in searches for one-night stays has trended higher in every region aside from Asia, where searches for single night stays were already comparatively high.

Concurrently, searches of over eight days have declined in every region aside from Latin America.

The trend is especially pronounced in North America, where the share of searches for one-night stays has jumped dramatically from 31% in Q1 2023 to 56% in Q4 2025, a 25-percentage-point increase.

Overall, there is a striking trend of very short in well-developed travel markets, whereas growth markets appear to be transitioning slightly more slowly, with compression of intermediate length stays happening at a slower rate.

In Europe, the change in the share of single-night stay queries went from 39% to 20% between Q1 2023 and Q4 2025, a difference of 19% - while the comparable figures for Oceania were a rise from 36% to 45%, a 9% increase.

As noted, there was a decline in one-night stays in Asia between these two points, and a more modest 5% increase in Latin America and 7% in Africa and the Middle East.

Flight and hotel booking lead times gently decline

There has also been a small, but perceptible, shift in lead times for searches, with travelers looking at both flights and stays closer to the point of expected travel in 2025 compared to previous years.

This compression of the search window is more pronounced for stays than flights, with the latter generally booked first, and further in advance overall, reducing the impact of changing consumer search preferences.

At the same time, overall search volumes have not fallen but increased, indicating that travelers are not taking a devil-may-care approach, instead continuing to conduct considerable research, but pulling the trigger later.

Globally, the share of searches for flights made within 28 days of the stated departure date increased by 4% by Q4 2025 to a quarter of all searches.

For accommodation, searches made within 28 days of the stated arrival date rose 9% to 38% of all searches.

Once again, these changes were broad based, with decreasing lead times in almost all regions, Latin America being the most notable exception.

The biggest changes in the way travelers search for both flights and accommodation were experienced in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and North America.

From Q1 2023 to Q4 2025 flight searches made within 28 days rose:

Africa 6.2%

Europe 7.5%

Middle East 5.5%

North America 3.1%

While the same figures for accommodation were:

Africa 10.3%,

Europe 15.0%

Middle East 17.2%

North America 13.6%

These changes come alongside increasing search volume overall.

Searches for accommodation made on OTA and metasearch sites for European stays, the most popular destination globally for international arrivals, grew by 45% between Q1 2023 and Q4 2025, while flight search volumes rose 23% over the same period.

The combination of increased search volume overall, but a reduced window to do so indicates more intense searches by consumers for their journey and a greater focus on obtaining perceived value.

Whats driving the change in consumer travel behaviour?

The fact that we can see this trend developing across different regions and in different dimensions of consumer search behavior tells us that there is a clear shift underway, but what could be the drivers?

It seems likely that there are multiple factors at work that are combining to bring down duration of stay and shorten the booking pipeline.

Foremost among these are the changing economic conditions. Consumers have been squeezed in recent years, while continuing to prioritize travel as a key discretionary item. This is leading to households continuing to engage in leisure travel, but to economize with shorter trips and to hunt out deals wherever possible.

Forty-one percent of travelers in Criteos Winter 2025 Travel Pulse global survey of consumers said that rising travel costs were impacting their travel plans, compared to 19% who said that there was no effect.

Despite this, intention to travel remains, and consumers are prioritizing it within their household budgets. Klooks Travel Pulse 2026 of 11,000 global travelers uncovered that 88% intend to increase or maintain travel budgets in 2026 and Criteo noted that 52% of consumers consider travel an essential compared to other lifestyle categories.

These competing aspects of pressure on household budgets but rising desire to travel are pushing consumers towards shorter trips at less popular times of year, and for those trips to be jam-packed to maximize value.

In an indicator of changing behaviors in action, we noted in our 2026 trends that off-peak travel was on the rise, with peak occupancy in Barcelona, Istanbul, London, Paris and Rome now coming in shoulder season rather than during the traditional August period.

Alongside this, Klook found that two thirds of travelers stated a desire to visit multiple destinations per trip.

Demographically, it is increasingly possible to engage in off-peak and more spontaneous travel. Traditional peak vacation periods are becoming less important as fewer households have children, either in the form of younger, childless households becoming more commonplace. Or in the rapidly expanding older demographic segments, which have largely seen improved economic fortunes over the last decade.

In the EU, there are 75 million single adult households without children, an increase of 17% in a decade. In the US the share of childless women rose by double digits in all age cohorts under 34, while East Asia has even higher rates of childless households.

Retirees are part of this changing demographic picture, making up a larger share of the population and also seeing their incomes and wealth rise over the last decade, increasing their capacity to spend on travel.

Finally, there is the changing role of technology in the travel funnel which is changing the booking experience and booking behavior. The rise of AI is allowing travelers to conduct more searches and gather information faster, increasing the potential to make last-minute bookings in confidence.

Search volume is going up, not down, as we noted above, while Criteos Q3 2025 research estimates that the average traveler goes through 25 hotel options before making their final choice.

In combination, an increasing share of travelers report using AI, with 51% of those polled in Klooks survey saying they use it for travel research and 41% in Criteos research using it for accommodation research, up 4% YoY.

Put together, its clear that travelers are conducting more searches than ever, and doing more of that research with AI, which is altering the typical booking journey.

Spotlight on North America

The US is worth highlighting, not just as one of the worlds major travel markets, but also because it clearly shows these trends in action, especially with regard to very short stays.

While one-night stay searches rose substantially and continuously from 2023 to 2025, all other lengths-of-stay declined.

Overall, those one-night stops went from 30% of search volume in Q1 2023 to over 50% in Q4 2025 (52%). Americans were most likely to ditch four-to-seven-night stays, with the share of these lengths declining 10% across the period.

The trend for compression of the search and booking window for accommodation was also clearly apparent, although there was no concurrent change in flight search behavior.

Searches made within 28 days of the date-of-stay rose from 32% of US queries in Q1 2023 to 46% in Q4 2025, a change of 14%, and comparing Q4 2023 to Q4 2025 there was a more modest, but still noticeable, 6% increase.

Outside our proprietary data, Criteos survey also found an ongoing compression, particularly in the US. In their data, the share of US respondents who reported that they finalized their bookings within two weeks of the trip starting rose from 29% in Q3 2024 to 34% in Q3 2025, while the share doing so over two months after departing fell from 25% to 21%.

There was no comparable change in Asia, while in Europe the share completing their bookings within two weeks of departure increased 4% to 26% of respondents.

It is time for hoteliers to adapt to changing booking behaviour

These trends are not slowing down. Shorter stays, tighter booking windows, and a consumer who shops harder before committing; this is the baseline you are working with in 2026.

The question is whether you can see it happening in time to act.

When guests are booking later and staying fewer nights, the window to price correctly and capture demand gets shorter. Static strategies built on historical averages wont cut it.

You need visibility into whats happening in your market right now and the tools to act on it fast.

Thats where Lighthouse Pricing comes in. With guests booking closer to arrival, demand can spike and dissolve faster than traditional forecasting catches.

Lighthouse Pricing pulls together forward-looking flight and hotel search data, real-time competitor rates (including short-term rentals), and AI-driven pricing recommendations into a single workflow.

You can see a demand shift developing before it shows up in your on-the-books pace and respond with the right rate before your competitors do.

The insight-to-action lag is where revenue gets lost in a short-window market. Lighthouse AI Smart Insights feature closes that gap, so you can fully optimize rates. By scanning over three billion daily data points across the next 90 days, it surfaces demand changes, competitor sell-outs and pricing opportunities directly to your team, without anyone having to dig through dashboards to find them.

A revenue manager can walk in, see whats changed overnight, and move. Thats the difference between reacting in time and missing the window entirely.

When you add in Lighthouse Performance you gain even more visibility. You can track how your booking curve is developing, segment demand by length of stay and lead time, booking channels such as direct bookings or OTA, and benchmark against your competitor set, all in near real-time.

When a shorter booking window means the next 28 days are your most critical trading period, having up-to-date business intelligence is essential to drive Average Daily Rate (ADR).

Lighthouse is the number one rated platform for hospitality decision makers. Discover how Lighthouse, with its AI powered insights can help you get ahead of a market thats moving faster than ever.

Jonathan Gough

Jonathan Gough is Content Team Lead at Lighthouse, spearheading all things content marketing. With a marketing career of over a decade, dedicated solely to travel, tourism and hospitality, Jonathan is passionate about leveraging Lighthouses technology to move the sector forward and provide lodging professionals with the tools they need to grow their business.

About Lighthouse

Lighthouse (formerly OTA Insight) is the leading commercial platform for the travel & hospitality industry. We transform complexity into confidence by providing actionable market insights, business intelligence, and pricing tools that maximize revenue growth. We continually innovate to deliver the best platform for hospitality professionals to price more effectively, measure performance more efficiently, and understand the market in new ways.

Trusted by over 65,000 hotels in 185 countries, Lighthouse is the only solution that provides real-time hotel and short-term rental data in a single platform. We strive to deliver the best possible experience with unmatched customer service. We consider our clients as true partners - their success is our success.

Source: View the original article at Lighthouse.
In Brief: In 2025, Greece experienced a 5.9% increase in international air arrivals, a growth attributed to the country's diverse market offerings and a surge in off-season tourism.

Image Credit INSETE

Greece recorded a 5.9% increase in international air arrivals in 2025, reaching 31 million passengers, with notable growth in Athens and Thessaloniki, a more diverse market mix, and signs of an extended tourist season, according to a new INSETE study.

Overview of International Air Arrivals

Greeces international air arrivals reached 31.0 million in 2025, marking a 5.9% increase compared to 2024, when 29.3 million arrivals were registered. The growth was particularly strong at the countrys two largest airports, Athens International Airport (AIA) and Thessaloniki Airport, which, together with regional airports, contributed to the overall positive trend.

The data, compiled by INSETE using information from Athens International Airport, Fraport Greece, and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), covers a wide range of airports across the country. These include major hubs such as Athens and Thessaloniki, as well as regional airports in Heraklion, Chania, Corfu, Rhodes, Kos, Mykonos, and Santorini.

Airport Performance in 2025

Athens International Airport handled 12.0 million international arrivals in 2025, up by 989,000 passengers or 9.0% from the previous year. Thessaloniki Airport saw 2.7 million international arrivals, an increase of 249,000 passengers or 10.2%. Regional airports collectively recorded 16.3 million arrivals, up 486,000, or 3.1%, from 2024.

The five busiest airportsAthens, Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Rhodes, and Corfuaccounted for 77% of all international arrivals in 2025.

Market Diversification

The top 20 source markets made up 89% of international air arrivals, but no single market exceeded 17.4% of the total, indicating a broad distribution of visitors. The United Kingdom remained the largest market, with 5.4 million arrivals, a 3.5% increase from 2024. Germany followed with 5.1 million arrivals, showing the largest absolute increase of 279,000 passengers (5.8%).

For Athens International Airport, the top five markets were Italy, Germany, the UK, France, and Cyprus. Thessalonikis top markets were Germany, the UK, Cyprus, Italy, and Poland. Regional airports saw the most arrivals from the UK, Germany, Italy, Poland, and France.

Notable Percentage Increases

Among all markets, Israel showed the highest percentage increase in arrivals, up by 27.2%. The United States and Turkey also saw significant growth, with arrivals increasing by 18.5% and 14.5%, respectively.

Tourist Season Trends

July remained the peak month for international air arrivals, with 5.2 million passengers accounting for 16.6% of the annual total. However, the study highlighted a trend toward an extended tourist season. While the MaySeptember period saw single-digit growth, higher increases were recorded at the beginning and end of the year. This suggests a growing demand for off-season travel and opportunities to further develop tourism products outside the traditional peak months.

Data Notes and Methodology

The studys figures differ from those in monthly statistical bulletins due to the inclusion of additional airports, data revisions, and a broader definition of international arrivals that includes returning Greek residents. The analysis provides a comprehensive overview of air travel trends and market composition for Greece in 2024 and 2025.
In Brief: The current government shutdown has resulted in Congress members receiving paid leave while Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees are working without pay, causing potential disruptions in travel security and subsequent effects on the hospitality sector.

TSA Pay Lapse Threatens to Disrupt U.S. Air Travel As Funding Fight Drags On - Image Credit HNR News

A growing funding dispute in Washington is creating new pressure on the U.S. air travel system, as TSA officers continue working without regular pay and industry groups warn that prolonged instability could lead to longer airport lines, higher absenteeism, and broader disruption during a busy travel period.

Published March 23, 2026 | By HNR News Staff Reporter

TSA Pay Dispute Raises Travel Industry Concerns

The U.S. travel industry is raising alarms over the impact of the ongoing Department of Homeland Security funding lapse, warning that continued disruption could weaken airport operations and traveler confidence at a critical time for the sector.

In a sharply worded statement, the U.S. Travel Association urged Congress to resolve the impasse before leaving Washington for recess, arguing that Transportation Security Administration officers should not be required to secure the nations airports while receiving no paycheck.

The associations comments come as the broader travel sector grows increasingly concerned that what began as a federal funding dispute may become an operational problem for air travel and airport processing.

Absenteeism and Delays Become a Growing Risk

According to Reuters, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that TSA staffing shortages linked to the funding lapse could soon force some small airports to shut down. Reuters reported that about 10 percent of TSA personnel are currently absent each day, roughly five times the normal rate, with absenteeism reaching 25 percent to 38 percent at major hubs including JFK, Atlanta, and Houston.

Those figures have heightened concerns about checkpoint delays, longer wait times, missed flights, and mounting stress on airport operations as spring travel volumes remain elevated.

Industry Groups Push for Immediate Action

Earlier this month, U.S. Travel joined Airlines for America, the American Association of Airport Executives, and the American Hotel & Lodging Association in launching a campaign calling on Congress to ensure federal aviation workers continue to receive pay during shutdowns or funding lapses.

The coalition said transportation security workers are essential to the safety and reliability of the U.S. travel system and should not be used as leverage in budget disputes.

U.S. Travel has also backed the bipartisan Keep America Flying Act, which would ensure that TSA officers and air traffic controllers continue to receive pay during future funding disruptions.

Operational Fallout Could Reach Hotels and Destinations

For the hospitality industry, the issue extends beyond airport security lines. Prolonged air travel disruptions can affect hotel demand, meeting attendance, and traveler sentiment, particularly in markets that depend on domestic fly-in traffic and major airport gateways.

If airport wait times worsen or regional airports face partial closures, the impact could reach well beyond airlines, affecting destinations, convention travel, and short-term booking behavior.

Travel System Stability Becomes the Real Story

While the political dispute centers on federal funding, the practical concern for the travel industry is system stability. TSA officers are a frontline part of the infrastructure that keeps travel moving, and prolonged uncertainty over pay increases the risk of staffing attrition, service disruption, and reputational damage.

Reuters previously reported that TSA officers had already received only a fraction of their regular pay during the earlier funding lapse, intensifying concerns about worker strain and retention.

Outlook

The latest U.S. Travel statement underscores a broader point for the hospitality and travel industries: disruptions in federal travel operations can quickly become commercial disruptions as well. If Congress does not resolve the funding fight soon, the consequences may be felt not only in Washington but across airports, hotels, and destinations nationwide.

For travel operators, the core issue is no longer just politics. It is whether the infrastructure supporting air travel remains stable enough to sustain demand, service, and confidence during one of the busiest periods of the year.
In Brief: Accor has shared plans for expansion across its Emblems, MGallery, Handwritten, and Ennismore collections, indicating a strategic growth in its portfolio to meet varying customer demands.

Lucknam Park, Emblems Collection - Image Credit Accor

Accor announced that its collection brands now operate over 180 hotels worldwide, with more than 125 additional hotels in the pipeline across Emblems Collection, MGallery Collection, Handwritten Collection, Morgans Originals, and Paris Society Hotel Collection.

Accors collection brands, including Emblems Collection, MGallery Collection, Handwritten Collection, Morgans Originals, and Paris Society Hotel Collection from Ennismore, now operate more than 180 hotels globally. The company reported a pipeline of over 125 hotels for these brands, representing more than 65% growth over the coming years.

Emblems Collection, positioned as an upper-luxury soft brand, has 13 properties in the pipeline totaling more than 1,000 rooms and aims to reach 60 properties globally by 2032. The first Emblems Collection property, Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa in the United Kingdom, opened in November 2025 with 51 rooms. Rimrock Banff, Emblems Collection, is scheduled to open in North America in June 2026 following a renovation. Six additional Emblems Collection openings are planned in Greece and Italy by early 2027.

MGallery Collection currently operates over 125 hotels, with more than 50 addresses in the pipeline. The brand has grown by nearly 30% since 2022 through conversions and new developments. In France, recent openings include L'Isle de Leos Hotel & Spa and Le Talaia Hotel & Spa. In Greece, Athens Capital Suites opened as the brand's first standalone suites concept, and five more hotels are in the pipeline, with plans to more than double the brands presence in the country by 2029. In Albania, Green Coast Hotel opened in 2025. In Southeast Asia, South Palms Resort & Spa Panglao opened last summer.

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Ennismore, through itsandbrands, continues to expand its portfolio. Morgans Originals will open LUURA Paros in Greece and Roswyn Mumbai in India this year. Paris Society Hotel Collection, launched in 2025, includes Abbaye des Vaux-de-Cernay and Le Refuge de Solaise in France, and Aliee in Istanbul, Turkey.

Handwritten Collection, launched in 2023, has surpassed 40 hotels open and has more than 45 in the pipeline. Recent openings in France, Belgium, Greece, the Netherlands, Hungary, and Romania in 2025 were noted. Properties such as Hotel Maison Maastricht Centrum and Bucharest Unirii Square have joined the brand.

Collection brands currently represent 3% of Accor's global operating network and account for 8% of its development pipeline. According to, collection brands provide independent owners with access to operational support and global distribution systems while maintaining the individual identity of each property.
In Brief: Radisson Hotel Group has launched a worldwide program to certify its hotels as net-zero carbon emitters, marking a significant step in the industry's sustainability efforts.

Radisson Hotel Group Launches Global Verified Net Zero Hotels Program - Image Credit Radisson Hotel Group

Radisson Hotel Group has announced the global rollout of its Verified Net Zero Hotels (VNZ) program, with a target of 100 hotels by 2030 and an initial phase beginning in 2026.

Radisson Hotel Group has initiated the global expansion of its Verified Net Zero Hotels (VNZ) program, moving from a pilot phase to a structured, multi-year roadmap. The next phase of the initiative was introduced at the International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF) 2026, taking place from today through Wednesday, 25 March.

The VNZ program, launched as a proof of concept to demonstrate that net-zero status can be achieved in existing hotel buildings, is now being scaled to reach 100 Verified Net Zero hotels by 2030. The expansion includes a phased rollout starting in 2026 in Norway, followed by Denmark, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, with South Africa hosting the first VNZ hotel in Africa. Further expansion is planned into Germany, Austria, and Spains Canary Islands over a five-year period.

The VNZ program is built on a framework that addresses all three emission Scopes, is based on the Net Zero Methodology for Hotels, and is aligned with the Science Based Targets Initiative. At participating hotels, Scope 1 and 2 emissions are eliminated through electrification, renewable city heating and cooling networks, and 100% renewable energy sourcing. Operational Scope 3 emissions are reduced across food and beverage, waste, laundry, amenities, and business travel. Each hotel undergoes third-party verification by TUV Rheinland to ensure compliance with the Net Zero Methodology for Hotels.

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Year-to-date results from the two operational VNZ hotels in Manchester and Oslo show awareness scores above 70%, with about 20% of guests stating they booked the hotel because of its Net Zero status. The hotels report strong carbon reduction across all emission scopes, high guest awareness, and support for sustainable meetings and events.

The Verified Net Zero icon, unveiled at IHIF 2026, will serve as the programs physical and digital symbol across hotel lobbies, guest touchpoints, and QR-enabled digital storytelling. A 3D-printed version of the icon, incorporating organic waste material from hotel operations, was displayed at the event.

TUV Rheinland provides independent verification of decarbonization measures for the VNZ program, ensuring transparency and credibility in sustainability efforts through rigorous evaluation.
Berkshire County Commission on the Status of Women Host Public Hearing

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  The Berkshire County Commission on the Status of Women (BCCSW) will host a public hearing on Saturday, March 28 from 2:004:00 PM at the Pittsfield Public Library at the Berkshire Athenaeum (1 Wendell Ave) to hear directly from women and girls across Berkshire County.

The Commission invites women and girls of all ages and backgrounds to share their concerns, experiences, and policy priorities. Participants may offer oral testimony or submit written statements for the record. Testimony gathered at the hearing will be compiled into an official report and shared with the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW) and Massachusetts state legislators to help inform state policy.

This public hearing provides a structured opportunity for residents to speak directly into the policymaking process  ensuring that the lived experiences of women and girls in Berkshire County are reflected in local and statewide decisions.

To support broad participation, a Spanish-language interpreter will be present and first aidcertified childcare will be provided on site.

"This is about listening," said Marissa Meehan, Secretary of the Commission. "We want to hear directly from the women and girls in our community to understand what's working and what needs to change. Even from our corner of the Commonwealth, Berkshire voices deserve to meaningfully inform Massachusetts policy."

Taking place at the start of spring  a season of renewal and new beginnings  the hearing is an opportunity to come together and build something better for our community. Gathering in the heart of our county's largest city, in a space provided at no cost by our public library, also reflects what thoughtful public policy can make possible: free, welcoming places where neighbors can exchange ideas and be heard. This event offers not only a chance to share concerns, but an opportunity to help shape the kinds of policies that create more spaces and support like this for all.

The hearing is open to the public. Community members are welcome to attend in support.
Galaxy S26 Series, Samsungs latest flagship line-up that redefines how we connect, create, and live using a device we rely on every single day is now officially launched in the Philippines. With Galaxy AI built into every corner of the Galaxy S26 Ultra, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26, your phone anticipates your next move and makes daily life easiercementing its place as Samsungs Most Intuitive Devices Yet.

Your phone is with you every waking hour. Shouldn't it feel like it knows you by now?

Welcome the Galaxy S26 Arrival with Exclusive Deals

Experience the AI phone era and get 45% off on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 when you trade in your current phone. Get up to 12% off with 0% installment up to 36 months through Metrobank, Unionbank, BPI, BDO, EastWest, and HSBC at participating Samsung Authorized Stores nationwide. Pair the Galaxy S26 Series with Buds4 Series or Watch for extra savings up to 15% until March 31, 2026.

For those with no credit card, Samsung Finance+ offers up to 15,000 off at zero processing fee with 0% installment up to 24 months, plus flexible 36-month terms via Home Credit at a low 1% add-on rate per month. For added peace of mind, Samsung Care+ is available at 25% off for 2-year unlimited repair coverage, including accidental and liquid damage, with worldwide support.

Galaxy S26 Ultra introduces the mobile industrys first built-in adaptive screen technology, Privacy Display, that shields sensitive information from prying eyes. By controlling how pixels disperse light, its a customizable feature that ensures that only the intended user sees the content clearly, while those nearby perceive a dimmed or obscured view.

Powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform, an Enhanced Vapor Chamber, and Super Fast Charging 3.0 which minimizes downtime by reaching up to 75% charge in just 30 minutes, the Galaxy S26 Ultra delivers uncompromising performance, security, and efficiency in one sleek device.

Experience Intuitive with Galaxy AI

Introduced for the first time, Now Nudge analyzes what's on your screen and provides smart, contextual suggestions right from your keyboard toolbar so you never have to jump between apps. While the enhanced Now Brief can now proactively surface timely reminders for important events based on your personal context, helping you stay organized throughout the day. Powered by its built-in on-device learning it delivers smarter personalization without sharing data externally, meaning the more you use it, the smarter it gets for you specifically.

Bixby, on the other hand, returns as a conversational device agent, a convenient upgrade that helps users easily navigate their devices and adjust settings using natural language, without digging in the settings and even the need for exact terminology or commands.

To prevent the frustration of receiving spam or uncalled-for calls, Samsung introduces Call Screening. Galaxy AI intelligently identifies suspicious numbers in real time, by asking first who is the caller and their intention, giving you the option to decline or accept. This ensures that only the calls that truly matter reach you, adding an extra layer of convenience and peace of mind.

Galaxy AI also helps redefine the way users express and create with the enhanced Photo Assist that now allows users to easily make a photo taken during daytime to a night shot, remove unwanted people in the background, and even complete a photo by adding other elements, all by simply typing it.

Creative Studio, on the other hand, allows users to customize or create stickers, wallpapers, invitations, etc easily from a sketch or by using a prompt. The upgraded Audio Eraser has also been refined and is now accessible in thirdparty applications such as Instagram and YouTube.

While all these features use and analyze the users data daily, Samsung Knox provides multi-layered security, protecting Galaxy devices from the chip level up. On-device Galaxy AI runs on the Personal Data Engine (PDE) for context-aware personalization, secured by Knox Enhanced Encrypted Protection (KEEP) and Knox Vault, which isolates sensitive data in dedicated hardware. With user controls for AI features, the Galaxy S26 series combines hardware and software to deliver system-wide protection for personal data.

Complete the seamless Galaxy experience with Samsungs latest audio innovations  Galaxy Buds4 Pro and Galaxy Buds4. The Buds4 Pro feature a wider woofer, upgraded Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), and an adaptive equalizer for richer sound. Users can also launch AI agents like Bixby, Google Gemini, and Perplexity hands-free with voice controls.

Availability

The Galaxy S26 lineup embraces a cohesive design across all models, offering different colorway choices such as Cobalt Violet, White, Black, and Sky Blue, with Samsung.com exclusives including Pink Gold and Silver Shadow.
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North Koreas rubber-stamp legislature has re-elected Kim Jong Un as its leader following a highly choreographed vote.

Mr Kims election as the head of the countrys highest policymaking body for his third consecutive term reflects the unanimous will and desire of all the Korean people, according to the state news agency KCNA.

Analysts say elections in North Korea are designed to give the Kim regime a veneer of democratic legitimacy. The national legislature, the Supreme Peoples Assembly, formally approves state policy crafted by the ruling Workers' Party.

Following his re-election, state media lauded Mr Kim, 40, as a prominent thinker-theoretician and great strategist of state building who would strengthen the nation as a powerful political weapon.

Photos of the event showed Mr Kim dressed in a formal western suit with a tie as top officials broke into applause in front of two giant statues of his father and grandfather at Mansudae Assembly Hall.

open image in gallery The 15th Supreme People's Assembly sits for its first session at Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang in North Korea ( AFP via Getty )

Mr Kim is the third-generation ruler of the country founded by his grandfather, Kim Il Sung, in 1948. He took power after the death of his father, Kim Jong Il, in 2011 and was recently re-elected as head of the Workers' Party, cementing his 15-year grip on the countrys sole ruling party.

The party won all 687 seats in the Supreme Peoples Assembly in this years parliamentary election but its share of the vote was down from 99.99 per cent in 2019 to 99.93 per cent.

Observers argued that state media reported on the 0.07 per cent of the vote against the party this year to create the false perception of a limited or tolerated opposition.

open image in gallery North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, centre, at the first session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly at Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang ( AFP via Getty )

The weekends meeting of the legislature also covered proposed amendments to the constitution, steps to implement a five-year national development plan unveiled at the ruling party congress as well as the 2026 state budget, state media reported.

Although no details were released, it was understood that the meeting would revise the constitution to formalise Mr Kims "two hostile states" policy towards South Korea.

In recent years, Mr Kim has abandoned Pyongyang's long-standing goal of peaceful reunification and redefined the South as the nations enemy.

Mr Kim's powerful sister, Kim Yo Jong, was notably absent from the list of members of the State Affairs Commission, the country's highest leadership body, on which she had served since 2021.

South Korea's unification ministry said that it was looking into why she was no longer listed, but analysts said the move did not necessarily signal a loss of influence.

"Her absence suggests not a decline in status but a strategic division of roles," said Lim Eul Chul, a professor at Kyungnam University, adding that the younger Kim continued to wield real power as department director in the Workers' Party where she could play a higher-level, party-centred role coordinating policy.
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The ever-shifting, interconnected system of global air and ocean currents dictates the weather we experience daily.

This year, however, scientists are warning that a particularly potent version of one of Earth's most infamous climate phenomena, El Nino, could dramatically alter these patterns.

Climate scientist Daniel Swain recently posted on X (formerly Twitter), stating: "Whew. All signs are increasingly pointing to a significant, if not strong to very strong, El Nino event."

This sentiment was echoed by Washington Post meteorologist Ben Noll, who cautioned that "changes in location, intensity and frequency of droughts, floods, heat waves and hurricanes are all likely."

open image in gallery A wildfire burnss on Mount Merbabu in Java, Indonesia in October 2023, triggered by a prologned dry season stemming from the 2023/24 El Nino event ( Devi Rahman/AFP via Getty Images )

In his X post, Noll estimated a 22 percent chance of a "super El Nino" by August and an 80 percent chance of a "strong" one based on new modeling from the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.

This outcome is not set in stone, and predictions in early spring tend to be less reliable than predictions later in the year. Some scientists have warned against making assumptions just yet.

But if it does happen, the impact on U.S. weather would be profound.

What is El Nino?

For hundreds of years, fishermen off the western coast of South America had their livelihoods rocked by a periodic change in water temperature that caused mass death in the food chain they relied on.

Since it always happened around December, they dubbed it "El Nino de Navidad"  literally 'the little boy of Christmas'  in a sardonic reference to the birth of Jesus Christ.

open image in gallery Fish congregate in the shallows of the depleted Morris Reservoir near Azusa, California in March 2007, after an El Nino event that coincided with record heatwaves across the Golden State ( David McNew/Getty Images )

What we now call simply El Nino (the boy) is a disruption in the usual pattern of water and air movement in the Pacific Ocean, occurring roughly every two to seven years.

Normally, warmer surface water from the eastern Pacific is continuously moved westward by strong winds. Colder water wells up from the deep ocean to fill the gap, making the eastern Pacific far cooler than the western Pacific.

Sometimes, though, this process falters (although scientists disagree on exactly why). Those stiff westerly winds get weaker, and the eastern Pacific gets warmer, causing massive updrafts of warm air that change the path of the air currents flowing east over the Americas.

According to The Washington Post, a 'super' version of El Nino happens roughly once every 10-15 years. The impact on our weather is profound  and can be catastrophic.

How would it affect the U.S.?

The impact of El Nino on the U.S. is often unpredictable, but there are some patterns.

A strong El Nino generally makes the whole world warmer, as all that heat wafting up from the ocean gets spread far beyond the tropics.

That could lead to a hotter-than-usual summer in the western U.S., potentially worsening the wildfire season in California and Oregon. In the past, it has also often meant a cooler summer in the U.S. South.

Conversely, Western and Southern winters could be wetter than normal, leading to more snowfall in the mountains and perhaps some relief for the ongoing droughts in many states.

open image in gallery A luxury home in Orange County in the L.A. metro area slips down an eroded hillside on March 19, 1998, following heavy El Nino rains earlier in the month ( Vince Bucci/AFP via Getty Images )

The Midwest might see drier weather, while the Pacific Northwest is likely to be unusually hot.

"El Nino patterns could bring more rain than normal to the Colorado Basin," said AccuWeather meteorologist Chat Merrill. "The early start to the El Nino can lead to an increase in moisture from the southern Plains to East Coast during summer and fall.

While hurricanes in the Atlantic generally find it harder to form, they are more active in the Pacific, meaning that Hawaii and east Asia might suffer more storms.

open image in gallery Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo (fourth from left) inspects flood damage in February 2002 amid heavy rains from the 2002/03 El Nino cycle ( Oscar Paredes/Getty Images )

Pacific Islands such as Guam, Hawaii, and American Samoa tend to get drier weather, but the increased chance of cyclones means they may be suddenly lashed by high rainfall.

Extreme weather is more likely overall, with intense heat in tropical countries and potentially widespread droughts around the world.

A strong El Nino would accelerate global warming

If human industrial civilization had not been eagerly warming the world for the past century or two, we could expect El Nino's extra heat to ultimately dissipate.

But now, scientists fear the phenomenon may lead to a permanent and sudden jump in global temperatures.

"Due to the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases, the climate system cannot effectively exhaust the heat released in a major El Nino event before the next El Nino comes along and pushes the baseline upward again" Defense Department meteorologist Eric Webb told The Washington Post.

Indeed, the El Nino event of 2023/24 reportedly contributed to 2024 being Earth's warmest year on record.

open image in gallery The Lake Powell reservoir in Arizona, kept bottled up by the Glen Canyon Dam, stands at just 39 percent full during drought conditions in June 2024 ( Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images )

A super El Nino in 2026/27, according to climate scientist Zeke Hausfather, "would push up our estimate for 2026 global temperatures (though it's still unlikely to surpass 2024 as the warmest year), and make 2027 very likely to be the warmest year on record."

That comes after federal meteorologists calculated that the winter of 2025/26 was actually the warmest on record for the continental United States, despite brutal blizzards in the Northeast and Midwest.

The findings underscored how a warmer climate in general can have unpredictable and varied impacts across different regions.

"The East, especially the Northeast, had winter," said National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration climate monitoring chief Russell Vose. "In the West, there were certainly places where you could say we missed the winter."
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A man has been charged with theft after a rare 150,000 violin was allegedly stolen from a north London pub.

Ahmed Sami Madour, 46, is accused of taking the antique instrument from violinist David Ibanezs side as he dined with a friend at the Marquess Tavern in Canonbury Street. The violin, crafted in Florence in 1740, had been loaned to Mr Ibanez for his Philharmonia Orchestra performances.

Madour, of no fixed address but from Leytonstone, east London, faces two counts of theft. He is alleged to have stolen Mr Ibanezs violin on 18 February last year, and a 4,000 guitar on the same day in Hackney.

The Metropolitan Police said on Monday that Madour was charged on January 19, and appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court last week when his trial was set for May 10 2027.

Court records show Madour was released on unconditional bail until trial, after entering not guilty pleas to both counts of theft.

The theft of a violin, valued at 150,000, was reported to the Met on Tuesday February 18 2025, said Scotland Yard.

It was stolen from the Marquess Tavern, Islington.

Madour was arrested on Wednesday June 25 on suspicion of theft.

He was taken into police custody and later released on bail pending further inquiries.

At the time of the alleged theft of the violin, Pc Michael Collins, from the Mets local policing team in Camden, issued an appeal for information.

The victim, who is a member of Londons Philharmonia Orchestra, has told us the piece is worth more than 150,000 and was made in Florence in 1740, he said.

It is incredibly precious, and for the victim, its priceless.
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Counterterrorism police leading the investigation into a suspected antisemitic hate crime attack on four Jewish community ambulances are looking into claims an Islamist group with possible Iranian state links is behind it.

The vehicles were set ablaze during the early hours of Monday in Golders Green, north London, with CCTV showing three hooded suspects pouring accelerant over the ambulances, which belong to the community service Hatzola.

A manhunt is currently underway, with the Metropolitan Police stating the incident was not currently being treated as terrorism.

A Telegram channel seen by The Independent purporting to be the official channel of an Islamist group called Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, whose name translates to the Islamic Right-Wing Movement, appeared to claim responsibility for the attack in a video shared to the channel early on Monday morning.

Speaking on Monday evening at the annual dinner of the Community Security Trust, a charity that monitors antisemitism in the UK, Sir Mark Rowley, head of the Metropolitan Police, said the rapid growth in recent years of Iranian state threats is grave, but it was too early to attribute the attack to the Iranian state.

He said: We believe three suspects were involved and we are pursuing all lines of inquiry, including an online claim of responsibility by an Islamist group who have claimed other attacks across Europe and have potential Iranian state links.

Earlier, Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, who leads policing for the area, said investigators were aware of a group apparently claiming responsibility for the attack online, but had not yet verified whether this is true.

Sir Keir Starmer called for communities to all stand together in the face of the horrific antisemitic attack, while Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said the targeting of the volunteer service was particularly sickening.

The prime minister said: Antisemitism has no place in our society and its really important that we all stand together at a moment like this.

open image in gallery The scene in Golders Green, London, after the arson attack ( PA )

Police will give extra support for key Jewish locations around Golders Green, both for the coming days and leading up to Passover in early April, while the government has pledged to replace the destroyed ambulances.

Health secretary Wes Streeting, who visited the scene on Monday, said: The aim of these attackers is clear.

They want Jewish people in this country to live smaller lives, to live less Jewish lives, to be less visible as Jewish people, to fear going about Jewish life.

He added: I know that the Jewish community will not be cowed by this despicable act of evil, but it is the responsibility of the rest of us not to be bystanders.

Every decent person in this country needs to stand up and speak up against this vile antisemitic hatred.

Home secretary Shaban Mahmood told the Community Security Trust dinner on Monday night that the attack was so warped it defies words.

Gas canisters kept in the ambulances exploded after they were set alight at the site in Highfield Road, Golders Green, northwest London, around 1.45am on Monday, but no injuries have been reported.

Nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution and road closures in the area remain in place.

open image in gallery Health secretary Wes Streeting visiting the scene as the government says it will fund replacement ambulances for the service ( PA )

On Monday evening, Commander Helen Flanagan, head of the Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: Were aware this attack has caused a great amount of concern amongst the Jewish and wider community in the area, but I want to reassure the public that we have officers working around the clock to identify those responsible.

Residents described being woken in the early hours by the noise, with the force of the explosions blowing out windows, including those of the nearby synagogue.

Speaking to The Independent, a passerby, Dov Forman, 22, said he was relieved his great-grandmother and Holocaust survivor Lily Ebert was no longer alive to witness the incident.

My great-grandmother was an Auschwitz survivor, he said. She moved to this country after the Holocaust to rebuild her life. She rebuilt from the ashes.

She lived directly opposite the site of the attack, and she would have been completely devastated because it would have completely shattered that thought that the UK was a safe place for her and her family to live.

Sir Ephraim said in a statement on X: The deliberate arson attacks against Hatzola ambulances in London are a particularly sickening assault  not only on the Jewish community, but on the values we share as a society.

open image in gallery Dov Formans great-grandmother survived Auschwitz and had resettled in Golders Green ( The Independent )

Our Hatzola volunteer ambulance corps is an extraordinary service, whose sole mission is to protect life, Jewish and non-Jewish alike.

The targeting of Hatzola by people so committed to terror, hatred and the desecration of life is a most painful illustration of the ongoing battle between those who sanctify life and those who seek to destroy it.

At a time when Jewish communities around the world are facing a growing pattern of these violent attacks, we will meet this moment with shared resolve and stand together against hatred and intimidation.

Hatzola, which was established in 1979 and is run by volunteers, provides free medical transportation and emergency response to those living in North London.

London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan said it was a cowardly attack on the Jewish community and insisted Londoners will never be cowed by this kind of hatred and intimidation.

open image in gallery Londons mayor Sir Sadiq Khan says the incident is a cowardly attack on the Jewish community ( Getty )

Peter Zinkin, who represents the Golders Green ward on Barnet Council, told the Press Association that his initial response is shock and horror as you would expect, but the second response is a deep and overwhelming sadness that this has happened.

Fellow councillor Dean Cohen said: It is a despicable act, not only to attack the Jewish community, but to attack ambulances, ambulances that are there to save lives day in, day out, 24/7, is a new low.

The Archbishop of Canterbury condemned the appalling antisemitic attack, while the British Medical Association (BMA) criticised deliberate attacks on healthcare services as reprehensible.

Damon Hoff, president of Machzike Hadath Synagogue, where the ambulances were parked, said the community was feeling vulnerable and feeling frightened.

Jewish leaders met the prime minister in Downing Street on Monday afternoon, with Michael Wegier, chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, saying Jews in the UK feel less safe now than a few years ago.

open image in gallery Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said 'nothing is going to terrorise or intimidate us' ( PA )

Keith Black, chair of the Jewish Leadership Council, told the Press Association: Jews dont feel as safe as they should.

He added: Weve seen identity politics turn violent and, for one reason or another, Jews are caught in the crossfire.

On Monday night, more than 250 people have attended a rally against antisemitism in Golders Green with people waving the Israeli flag and leading chants like no to Jew hate.

The latest official figures on hate crime recorded by police in England and Wales showed Jewish people had the highest rate of religious hate crimes targeted towards them of any faith group.

Two worshippers were killed in a deadly attack on a synagogue in Manchester in October 2025, while in a separate investigation earlier this month two men were charged with allegedly spying on Jewish people and locations for Iran.
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Sarah Mullally is poised to make history on Wednesday as she is enthroned as the Church of England's first female Archbishop of Canterbury, inheriting the formidable task of uniting a fractured 85-million-strong global Anglican Communion.

The 63-year-old will be formally installed at Canterbury Cathedral in a ceremony attended by 2,000 guests, including the Prince of Wales, the Princess of Wales, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Her appointment in October immediately drew sharp criticism from Gafcon, a conservative bloc of Anglican churches predominantly in African and Asian nations. This month, Gafcon established a new council, presenting a direct challenge to her leadership.

The group, which previously rejected Mullally's predecessor Justin Welby over same-sex blessings, opposes the ordination of women  a practice approved in the Church of England for over three decades  and greater inclusion of LGBTQ+ members.

The enthronement service for the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury will intricately weave centuries-old tradition with profound global symbolism. Mullally will formally seek admission by knocking on the cathedral's west door, where she will be greeted by children.

open image in gallery The Archbishop of Canterbury Dame Sarah Mullally (centre) walks with the Bishop of Dover the Right Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin (right) and the Dean of Canterbury Cathedral,the Very Reverend Dr. David Monteith (left) at Canterbury Westgate Towers during an 87-mile pilgrimage from London to Canterbury Cathedral, ahead of her formal enthronement ( Gareth Fuller/PA Wire )

Prayers and readings in multiple languages, including Urdu, alongside African choruses, are planned to underscore the Anglican Communion's vast global reach, her office confirmed.

More than 100 guests will travel to Britain from provinces across 165 countries for the ceremony, which will seat Mullally in the Chair of St Augustine, made from Purbeck marble in the early 13th century.

St Augustine, who brought Christianity to early Anglo-Saxon England, became the first Archbishop of Canterbury in 597.

"To be welcomed into the city and diocese of Canterbury is an immense privilege," Mullally said.

In preparation for her installation, Mullally walked 140 km (87 miles) along the "Becket Camino" route from St Paul's Cathedral in London to Canterbury, stopping at churches, schools and abbeys en route.

open image in gallery The Archbishop of Canterbury Dame Sarah Mullally at Canterbury Cathedral after her pilgrimage (Gareth Fuller/PA) ( PA Wire )

Mullally, who previously served as England's Chief Nursing Officer, was ordained as a priest in 2002 and became one of the first women consecrated as a bishop in the Church of England in 2015. She has invited nurses and carers to the service, her office said.

"Installing Sarah as our first female Archbishop would have been almost unimaginable even 50 years ago," said the Dean of Canterbury, David Monteith, who will preside over her installation.

While tension between progressive and conservative Christians is not unique to Anglicanism, the Archbishop's role is largely symbolic and dependent on persuasion, unlike the Pope, who wields clear authority over Catholics worldwide.

Mullally also inherits a Church of England facing decades of declining attendance and working to rebuild trust in its 16,000 parishes after historic safeguarding failures, one of which caused Welby's resignation.

Still, the Church remains woven into British life, running thousands of schools and overseeing charities and community projects. Britain's monarch remains the Supreme Governor of the Church, a role dating back to the 16th-century Reformation.
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An 84-year-old British woman is facing court action for unpaid council tax while stranded in Cyprus, having been cut off from her pension after the Department for Work and Pensions mistakenly believed she had died.

Marie Collins, from Narborough, Norfolk, travelled to the island for a two-week holiday in September.

However, a severe chest infection rendered her unfit to fly home, leaving her marooned.

Her financial woes began in early November when her pension payments ceased. The DWP later informed her the payments had stopped because they had erroneously recorded her as deceased, she said.

Adding to her distress, Breckland District Council is pursuing her for 875 in alleged unpaid council tax. Ms Collins disputes this, asserting that her age and disability exempt her from such payments.

She was scheduled to appear at Norwich Magistrates Court on Wednesday, but remains unable to return to the UK due to her lack of funds.

If I am ineligible to pay, how come they (Breckland District Council) are demanding council tax from me? she said.

Marie Collins is stranded in Cyprus after developing a chest infection ( Cover Images )

A spokesperson for the authority said that they were unable to comment on individual cases, adding: We can confirm that when we are notified that a resident's circumstances have changed, it will trigger a reassessment of their council tax bill and their eligibility for support and discounts.

We have a responsibility to collect council tax from all our residents and to pursue any missed payments on behalf of the public purse.

However, we always take a collaborative approach with individuals and work with them to understand their individual situation.

Ms Collins, who is staying with friends, is still waiting for the DWP to clarify the situation with her pension payments.

After recovering from the chest infection, she had a fall and has since undergone physiotherapy, but still has limited use of her hand and no pressure in her fingers, leaving her unable to write properly.

Doctors provided letters confirming she was not fit to fly, and both local and specialist medical evidence was sent to the DWP, she said.

The DWP has been repeatedly contacted by Ms Collins, her niece, South West Norfolk MP Terry Jermy and the British Consulate in Cyprus, but her payments remain suspended.

Mr Jermy said he is trying to help Ms Collins as a matter of priority.

My team and I are actively supporting Marie and have been pursuing every possible way of getting this situation resolved for her as a matter of priority, the MP said.

But Ms Collins said: They have still not given me a penny after five months. This keeps going around in circles. The DWP is just making excuses. They assumed I was dead.

The continued battle has had an impact on her physical and mental health, she said.

I dont know how much longer I can live going on like this.

She said that she spent weeks and weeks trying to contact the DWPs offices by phone, often waiting on hold for hours before being cut off.

She asked her niece in Yorkshire to intervene on her behalf, but was told that the department could not speak to her niece without power of attorney.

Ms Collins arranged the paperwork and sent it by recorded delivery in early January. Tracking confirmed it had arrived, but her niece was later told the department had no record of it and still could not discuss the case.

At one stage, Ms Collins said that she was unable to make international calls after running out of mobile credit, leaving WhatsApp as her only means of communication.
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A major UK route is bracing for the return of Operation Brock over the Easter period as authorities anticipate a surge in holidaymakers heading to Europe.

The emergency traffic management scheme, which bosses admit is "not always popular", is set to be deployed again in Kent.

The Kent and Medway Resilience Forum (KMRF) confirmed that the barriers will be in place on the M20 from April 2, remaining until April 8 when the motorway is expected to reopen as normal.

Designed to maintain traffic flow during potential delays at Channel ports, Operation Brock directs lorries bound for the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel into a dedicated lane.

This allows other vehicles to continue moving in both directions, albeit through narrow lanes on the opposing carriageway.

The contraflow system will be in place on the M20 coastbound between junctions eight and nine at a reduced 50mph speed limit.

The emergency measures were first designed to curb post-Brexit disruption around the Port of Dover but were later made permanent to respond to any kind of traffic disruption in the area.

A view of holiday and freight traffic queueing to use the Port of Dover in Kent ( Gareth Fuller/PA )

A Freedom of Information request by the BBC published last month found implementing the traffic control system cost more than 3 million last year, with an initial deployment cost of 226,000 and nearly 35,000 extra every 24-hour period.

KMRF strategic lead for border disruption, Simon Jones, said: We only deploy Operation Brock when there is clear data showing there will be a higher-than-usual demand for crossings.

The whole KMRF team understand the decision to put the Brock barrier in place at busy times is not always popular and we do not take the decision lightly.

The predicted number of crossings during this week fully support its deployment.

KMRF chiefs are advising drivers to check their routes before travelling, allow extra time for the journeys and pack the car with essentials such as food, water and medication in case of being held up in traffic.

The forum was unable to give expected passenger numbers as it is based on commercially sensitive information.

In December, Faversham and Mid Kent MP Helen Whately said the scheme, which was only meant to be for emergencies, is now a regular headache.

Brock jams up our roads when traffic grinds to a halt, lorries cut through villages, and families face delays getting to work, she said.
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An attack on four Jewish community ambulances in Golders Green has shocked the nation as counterterrorism police are investigating the incident in northwest London.

The incident is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime by the Metropolitan Police, but not as terrorism at this stage, although counterterrorism police are investigating an online claim by a suspected terror group that has taken responsibility for the attack.

A Telegram post from Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI) has circulated online which claims to be the group behind the arson.

An unverified video, posted after 6am on Monday on the groups Telegram channel, showed street view Google Maps, images of the ambulances and footage of explosions.

open image in gallery The incident took place in Highfield Road, Golders Green, London ( PA )

Who are they?

Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia is a new group with suspected links to pro-Iranian networks, according to Israels Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism. Their name translates to the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right[eous].

The groups Telegram channel, which appeared to only be created on Saturday, includes numerous videos from alleged incidents. This includes unverified footage of the explosions in Golders Green, and of an attack in Amsterdam targeting a US bank.

Earlier this month, the Israeli diaspora ministry released a report which said the attacks appear to be part of intimidation and psychological warfare against Jewish communities in Europe.

open image in gallery Israels minister in charge of combating antisemitism Amichai Chikli said the attacks in Europe were part of a disturbing pattern of action ( Getty )

Diaspora affairs and combating antisemitism minister Amichai Chikli told The Times of Israel: The recent events in Europe are not isolated incidents but part of a disturbing pattern of action: Terrorist networks affiliated with the Iranian axis are trying to expand their arena of operation into the cities and Jewish communities of Europe.

The report also said that the group operates through local cells or individuals who are directed from abroad.

It highlighted that the organisations name is similar to one used by the Iraqi militia, Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya, which was described as a terrorist organisation by the US State Department.

The groups logo also closely resembles the symbols used by Iranian-aligned militant groups, according to The Times of Israel.

open image in gallery A Met forensic team investigate a location near to where four Hatzola ambulances were set on fire ( Getty )

What has the group claimed?

The terror group issued a statement at the start of an unverified video on its Telegram channel which claimed its primary target was the Machzike Hadath Synagogue due to its links to Israel.

The post also cited Conservative former prime minister Rishi Sunaks visit to the synagogue during the election campaign in June 2024 to express his countrys unwavering support for Israel.

What other incidents are they linked to?

open image in gallery Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia has claimed responsibility for an attack at a synagogue in Liege, Belgium ( AFP/Getty )

The group previously claimed responsibility for several attacks on Jewish sites in Belgium and the Netherlands between 9 and 14 March, according to the Israeli ministry.

They included an explosive attack at a synagogue in Liege, Belgium, an arson attack on a Rotterdam synagogue and an explosive device set off at a Jewish school in Amsterdam.

open image in gallery Police outside a Jewish school following an explosion that caused minor damage, in Amsterdam, for which Harakat Ashab al-Yamin claimed responsibility ( Reuters )

HAYI was also suspected to be linked to an attack at a Jewish site in Greece, according to the Israeli diaspora ministry.

Israels ministry of foreign affairs posted on X (formerly Twitter) on 15 March that HAYI was a jihadi group tied to an Iranian proxy, responsible for attacks at a Jewish site in Greece.

It said the IRGC continues to sponsor and export terror across the globe.

The police response

Metropolitan Police Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams said: We are aware of an online claim from a group taking responsibility for this attack.

Establishing the authenticity and accuracy of this claim will be a priority for the investigation team, but it is not something we can confirm at this point.

Police are currently looking for three people in hoods, seen on CCTV pouring accelerant on the vehicles, which belong to Jewish community ambulance service Hatzola, before setting them on fire and running away.
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Warship HMS Dragon has arrived in the eastern Mediterranean, the Defence Secretary said, almost three weeks after its deployment was first announced.

John Healey told MPs the Type 45 air defence destroyer, which left Portsmouth earlier this month, will begin operational integration into Cypruss defence later on Monday.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced the destroyer would leave the UK for the Mediterranean earlier this month, after RAF Akrotiri on Cyprus was hit by a drone.

Making a statement about the Iran war and the Middle East, Mr Healey also said all UK personnel so far are fully accounted for in the region.

He told the Commons: RAF and Navy pilots have now racked up nearly 900 flying hours in defence of Cyprus, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

We have more jets in the region than at any time in the last 15 years.

There are an extra 500 air defence personnel in Cyprus, and as more military capabilities are committed to the eastern Mediterranean, were working closely with the Republic of Cyprus to co-ordinate the contribution of allies, including the US, France and Greece, to reinforce the security of Cyprus.

And I can confirm that HMS Dragon has arrived in the eastern Mediterranean and tonight begins operational integration into Cypruss defence alongside allies.

Conservative shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge accused the Government of extraordinary double standards, claiming the UK had been relying on the US to defend us whilst denying them the use of our bases.

open image in gallery HMS Dragon was seen leaving Gibraltar (PA) ( PA Wire )

He also asked if the Defence Secretary regrets not sending HMS Dragon much, much sooner and when the defence investment plan (Dip) will be published.

Mr Healey replied: We have been blunt and we have been open about the threat that Iran poses.

He declined to say when the completed Dip would be released.

Sir Keir earlier on Monday told the Commons Liaison Committee that the Government was finalising the document.

Mr Healey also told MPs that two Iranian missiles were launched in the direction of Diego Garcia, the Indian Ocean island where the UK operates a military base jointly with the United States.

One fell short of its target, the other was brought down short of its target, he added.

Neither got close to Diego Garcia.

The UK was not required to take action and normal operations continue.

I totally condemn Irans reckless attacks.

Iran must stop  it must de-escalate.

We want to see this war end now.

HMS Dragon has a crew of around 200.

It is one of the Royal Navys six Type 45 destroyers.
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Irans ambassador to the UK has been summoned by the Foreign Office following what it described as his countrys "reckless and destabilising actions" both within Britain and overseas.

The diplomatic intervention comes after an Iranian national and a British-Iranian dual national were accused of carrying out hostile surveillance on Londons Jewish community.

Instructed by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, the summoning of Seyed Ali Mousavi saw Middle East minister Hamish Falconer convey the UKs grave concerns.

The Foreign Office reiterated that it takes the threat posed by Iran and its proxies "extremely seriously".

open image in gallery Two men were accused of carrying out hostile surveillance on Londons Jewish community ( Ben Whitley/PA Wire )

A Foreign Office spokesman said: The summons follows the recent charging of two individuals, one Iranian national and one British-Iranian dual national, under the National Security Act, on suspicion of providing assistance to a foreign intelligence service.

National security remains our top priority, and we take threats posed by Iran and those who do its bidding extremely seriously.

This government will take all measures necessary to protect the British people, including exposing Irans reckless and destabilising actions at home and abroad.

Nematollah Shahsavani, 40, and Alireza Farasati, 22, are accused of engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service between July 9 and August 15 last year.

The men were arrested on Friday March 6.

open image in gallery The scene in Golders Green, London, after an arson attack on four ambulances belonging to the Jewish community ambulance service in London ( Jonathan Brady/PA )

Sir Keir Starmer has said he felt disgust at the arson attack on four Jewish ambulances and said that targeting the emergency vehicles is simply horrendous.

The prime minister, who met with Jewish community leaders on Monday, said: The idea that we live in a society where people should feel they need to hide their identity or their religion is, frankly, abhorrent.

The incident, which took place in Golders Green, is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime by the Metropolitan Police but not as terrorism at this stage.

No arrests have been made at this stage.

A Telegram post from Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI) has circulated online which claims to be the group behind the arson.

An unverified video, posted after 6am on Monday on the groups Telegram channel, showed street view Google Maps, images of the ambulances and footage of explosions.
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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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British porridge and oat drink brand Moma has issued an urgent warning about several of its products following concerns over potential mouse contamination at its manufacturing site. The recall affects seven porridge pots and two porridge sachets.

Customers have been told not to eat the affected products and to return them to their place of purchase for a full refund.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) confirmed the recall, stating: "Moma Foods is recalling various porridge pots and sachet products because of possible mouse contamination at the manufacturing site." It added: "These products may contain mouse contamination, making them unsafe to eat."

The recalled porridge pots include the almond butter and salted caramel, apple, cinnamon and brown sugar, banana and peanut butter protein, blueberry and vanilla, cranberry and raisin, golden syrup, and plain no-added sugar varieties.

Additionally, the almond butter and salted caramel, and apple, cinnamon and brown sugar porridge sachets are also impacted.

open image in gallery The products have been recalled over possible mouse contamination ( Getty Images/iStockphoto )

The full list of recalled products is below, including the codes which can be found on the bottom of the brands porridge pots and the back of their sachets.

MOMA Almond Butter & Salted Caramel Porridge Pot 55g (Pack size - 1pk 8pk 12pk; Lot number - M5296, M5297, M5303, M5304, M5315, M5339, M5342)

MOMA Apple, Cinnamon & Brown Sugar Porridge Pot 65g (Pack size - 1pk 8pk; Lot number - M5261, M5328, M5329, M6026, M6027)

MOMA Banana & Peanut Butter Protein Porridge Pot 65g (Pack size - 1pk 8pk; Lot number - M5248, M5251, M5304, M5307)

MOMA Blueberry & Vanilla Porridge Pot 65g (Pack size - 1pk 8pk; Lot number - M5283, M5284, M5285, M5335, M5336, M6027, M6028)

MOMA Cranberry & Raisin Porridge Pot 70g (Pack size - 1pk 8pk 12pk; Lot number M5293, M5294, M5295, M5321, M5322, M5329, M5330, M5331)

MOMA Golden Syrup Porridge Pot 70g (Pack size - 1pk 8pk 12pk; Lot number - M5241, M5244, M5245, M5261, M5293, M5311, M5314, M5346, M5349)

MOMA Plain No-Added Sugar Porridge Pot 65g (Pack size - 1pk 12pk; Lot number - M5279, M5280, M5281, M5308, M5309, M5310, M5311, M5345)

MOMA Almond Butter & Salted Caramel Porridge Sachets 7x40g (Pack size - 1pk 5pk; Lot number - M5289, M5290)

MOMA Apple, Cinnamon & Brown Sugar Porridge Sachets 6x40g (Pack size - 1pk 5pk; Lot number - M5293, M5294, M5295)

open image in gallery The nine recalled Moma products ( Moma Foods )

Moma said in a statement: Even though the chance of contamination of any of the above products being affected is low, we have taken this precautionary step to ensure the safety of our consumers.

Any consumers who have purchased affected Moma porridge products are asked not to consume them. Instead, they should return the products to the store where they were purchased and a full refund will be issued.

Notices will be displayed in all retail stores selling the items, and an alert has been displayed on Momas website. The company has confirmed that none of its other products are affected by this recall.

Moma Foods was founded in Deptford, south-east London in 2006 initially selling smoothies and porridge but have since expanded to Barista oat milk and ready-to-drink iced oat coffees.
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Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of complacency by senior MPs as he faced a grilling over the UKs lack of preparedness for the war in the Middle East.

The prime minister clashed with both Labour and Tory MPs as he appeared before the Commons liaison committee  made up of the chairs of parliamentary select committees  where he was challenged with claims that the UK is at war.

The appearance came ahead of the prime ministers chairing of an emergency Cobra meeting on Monday afternoon to prepare for the wars impact on the cost of living, and he admitted to MPs he was unable to give a timetable for the end of the conflict despite Donald Trumps declaration of a ceasefire.

But the concerns expressed forcefully by MPs on the liaison committee are reflected in polling by Ipsos, released on Monday just ahead of Sir Keirs appearance, revealing that public concern about defence issues has more than doubled since last month.

Ipsos found that those worried about the UKs defence increased from 16 per cent to 31 per cent, putting it up three places to third behind immigration and the economy in priority.

open image in gallery Keir Starmer reiterated his calls for a swift de-escalation in the Middle East ( House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA )

During a difficult committee hearing, a flustered-looking Sir Keir was asked how long he expected the conflict to continue. He said: Its hard to answer that question, if Im honest about it.

I think all our focus and energy has to be in the swift de-escalation, but weve got to plan on the basis that it could go on for some time, and thats the way in which well plan this afternoon.

At one point, he got visibly angry as he was reminded that Winston Churchill had not needed a defence review to carry out Britains defence in the Second World War.

The subject is a sensitive one for the prime minister, who was described as no Winston Churchill by Donald Trump.

When then asked about quite rude comments made by Mr Trump, Sir Keir said: A lot of what is said or done is undoubtedly said and done to put pressure on me, I have no doubt about that. I understand what is going on. But I am not going to waver on this. I am the British prime minister and my job is to be absolutely focused on what is in the British national interest.

He was also challenged over the lack of Royal Navy ships in the Mediterranean when President Trump launched his war on Iran, amid questions about why the UK was so ill-prepared to protect its crucial bases in Cyprus.

In a particularly tetchy exchange, veteran Tory MP Sir Bernard Jenkin suggested the government had a lack of war-fighting mentality and claimed defence decision-making smacks of enormous complacency.

He argued that the UK is at war and asked why the government is not just getting on with it.

open image in gallery Bernard Jenkin told the PM his government had a lack of war-fighting mentality ( House of Commons/PA )

Sir Keir responded: Because the strategic review commits us to a war footing, and we now need to put the funding in place to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent, something that didnt happen under the last government, and where at the election a credible proposition wasnt put forward by your party.

Sir Bernard, however, argued that every government has to pick up problems from its predecessors.

The prime minister responded: Well, this smacks of the fact that for years there was under-investment by the last government and the hollowing out of our armed forces, copyright Ben Wallace.

The former Conservative defence secretary Sir Ben once claimed, while he was in government, that the armed forces had been hollowed out and underfunded.

Earlier, the current chair of the defence select committee, Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, was also scathing about the lack of preparedness of the government for the Middle East crisis.

open image in gallery Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi criticised No 10s lack of preparedness for the conflict ( Parliament TV )

He said: We were seeing reports of the US significantly ramping up its forces around Iran in preparation for attack, but when they started the war it was embarrassing that we couldnt even muster one single naval asset around the region.

The questions have been mounting since Iran launched drone attacks on Cyprus, with one hitting the UK base RAF Akrotiri at the start of the conflict.

While the destroyer HMS Dragon was deployed, it has only just arrived in the Mediterranean and needed six days hurried preparations before it could set sail. There were no other ships in the region.

The issue has been embarrassing for the UK after the Greek and French governments were able to deploy naval assets to defend Cyprus before the UK.

Mr Dhesi also raised questions about in-year savings to the defence budget and wanted assurances that the UK is on schedule to meet its commitment of 5 per cent of GDP spent on defence and security by 2034.

He joined Sir Bernard in pressing for when the crucial Defence Investment Strategy is set to be published, with the prime minister appearing to admit that there is a stand-off between the MoD and Treasury, adding: It is my job to resolve this.

Regarding the defence of the Cyprus bases, Sir Keir said: We constantly assess this, and we do have very effective ways of defending ourselves.

I dont want to raise levels of public anxiety. They are anxious about what theyre already seeing on their television screens. Theyre anxious about the impact it will have on them, particularly economically, in their households. And I dont want to raise their levels of anxiety.

I can tell you our military personnel, our security and intelligence services, are working literally 24/7 to keep us safe and doing a very good job in that regard.

Sir Keir also told the committee that Britain had embedded the UK airspace battle management specialists into military commands in the Middle East to defend against Iranian missile attacks, adding: We are working with industry to distribute air defence missiles to Gulf partners. Were deploying short-range air defence systems to Bahrain at speed. This was an issue that came up as a matter of some urgency over the course of this weekend, and we are doing the same with Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
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The Reform UK candidate who lost a crunch by-election last month has defended using AI to help write his latest book.

Matt Goodwin came in second place, behind the Green Partys Hannah Spencer, in the Gorton and Denton vote  a sign that Nigel Farages party may be losing momentum with voters.

Now the ex-university academic, who came under fire during the campaign for calling for women and young girls to be given a biological reality check, has had to defend his use of ChatGPT on his latest book, Suicide of a Nation: Immigration, Islam, Identity.

The book has been described as a story of how Britain, one of the most remarkable countries on earth, is not just in decline but is committing national suicide.

Matt Goodwin also said mass immigration is weakening our education system ( PA )

The description adds: It is a story of how a people are losing their own country. Mass uncontrolled immigration, porous borders, two-tier multiculturalism, and a draconian regime of censorship are all contributing to not just the transformation of a country and a people but their very replacement.

After its publication, critics took to X to point out that ChatGPT was mentioned in the URL in some of Mr Goodwins references in the book.

In response, he has posted a long thread, defending his use of AI.

He said: I see no issue obtaining datasets via AI so long as they are cross-checked with the original source.

He also hit out at what he said were high numbers of children in schools speaking English not as their first language. We should have a shared language. Bilingualism undermines our shared culture and nation. Mass immigration is weakening our educational system, he claimed.

Last month The Independent revealed that Mr Goodwin previously suggested people who dont have children should be taxed extra as punishment.

The former academic also warned that many women in Britain are having children much too late in life. The comments were made in a clip posted to his personal YouTube channel in November 2024.

In the video, Mr Goodwin argued: We need to explain and educate to young children, the next generation, the severity of this crisis.

We need to also explain to young girls and women the biological reality of this crisis. Many women in Britain are having children much too late in life, and they would prefer to have children much earlier on.

He got 10,578 votes in the by-election, ahead of Labours Angeliki Stogia on 9,364. Ms Spencer secured 14,980 votes.
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Britain and France are united in their efforts to curb small boat crossings, Downing Street says, as the Government seeks to renew a crucial migration agreement with Paris before its expiry next week.

The current arrangement, valued at nearly 500 million, is set to conclude at the end of March.

No 10 has emphasised the need for "long-term value for money" in any successor deal.

The previous Conservative government, when announcing the 478 million package in 2023, said that it would finance a new detention centre in France and hundreds of additional law enforcement officers on French shores.

Despite the investment, Channel crossings have increased, with 41,472 people arriving in the UK by small boat in 2025.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is now facing considerable pressure to reduce these numbers.

Migrants sit aboard a dinghy as they prepare to sail into the English Channel on 4 March in Gravelines, France ( Getty )

Ms Mahmood is understood to be advocating for the new agreement to incorporate performance-related clauses, which would tie funding directly to the proportion of boats intercepted by French authorities, according to reports in The Times.

A Home Office delegation is in Paris this week to negotiate the terms of the renewal, as reported by The Sun.

Downing Street, however, declined to specify the financial commitment that the Government is prepared to make for a fresh deal when questioned by reporters on Monday.

Asked whether Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer wanted to see the existing deal improved, his spokesman said: We always want to improve where we can improve our abilities to prevent small boat crossings.

I wont get ahead of negotiations but we are looking at how we can build flexibility and innovation into any deal with the French to ensure that there is long-term value for money and a real impact on small boat crossings that builds on the 40,000 crossing attempts that have been prevented since this Government came into office.

Asked whether the existing deal had provided value for money, he said the preventions were a testament to the work our teams have been undertaking with French teams.

We are united in wanting to stop small boat crossings, which put lives at risk, the official added.

So far this year, some 4,169 people have arrived in the UK on small boats, according to official figures, including 190 people in two vessels on Sunday.

Pictures showed people being brought ashore in Dover, Kent, from a Border Force vessel following a small boat incident in the Channel on Monday.
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It is no understatement to say that the governments brutal aid cuts come at the worst possible time for women and girls around the world.

As the aid sector gets to grips with the allocations for Overseas Development Assistance (ODA), conflict is on the rise and it is frequently women and girls bearing the brunt. The International Development Committee recently heard that Sudan is hell on earth for women and girls today, while the UN found that conflict-related sexual violence increased by 87 per cent between 2022 and 2024.

Against this backdrop, the UNs Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda helps to protect women and girls caught in the chaos of war by recognising that womens equal participation is essential for sustainable peace.

The good news here is that the UK has historically played a leading role as a supporter of the WPS agenda. We were one of the first countries to implement a National Action Plan (NAP) and we continue to hold the responsibility of penholder for WPS and convenor at the UN Security Council.

Unfortunately, not everyone has stayed the course. In recent years, we have seen a global anti-gender movement and backsliding on the rights of women and girls. But while the Trump administration last year deprioritised the Pentagons WPS programme, the UK has thankfully shown no signs of a similar retreat.

The UK remains steadfast in our commitment to advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda globally, the UK ambassador to the General Assembly told the UN Security Council last year.

The international development minister, Jenny Chapman, has echoed this  while Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said last year that she was putting tackling violence against women and girls at the heart of our foreign policy. The end of 2025 also saw the publication of the governments strategy to combat violence against women and girls (VAWG), with the Safeguarding Minister declaring that ending violence against women and girls is the work of us all.

However, it is getting increasingly hard to square the encouraging rhetoric we have heard on this side of the pond with the reality of what is happening on the ground. As the International Development Committees latest report makes clear, the full picture is that our commitments to the WPS agenda on the international stage have not been upheld.

As President of the UN Security Council earlier this year, the UK did not convene a single dedicated session on WPS and the government has failed to deliver on NAP policy commitments relating to the inclusion of women, girls and marginalised groups. This work has already been hindered by cutting development and gender expertise at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and it only looks set to get worse with the departments door seemingly still open to a further reduction.

Most starkly, the brutal aid cuts we have seen from successive governments are already set to massively impact many programmes and initiatives aimed at women and girls. At risk are programmes tackling domestic violence, access to contraception and the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative launched by former foreign secretary William Hague with Angelina Jolie.

As a result of the first round of ODA cuts from 0.7 per cent to 0.5 per cent of Gross National Income (GNI), an estimated 20 million women and girls will no longer benefit from UK-funded programming. But as we get the detail of the latest aid cuts to 0.3 per cent of GNI, the full impact on women and girls is yet to come.

If the UK is really steadfast in our commitment to advancing the WPS agenda globally then we need to show it. After talking the talk, its now time to walk the walk and the IDCs report sets out where we should start.

In short, we need to see ministers backing up their rhetoric with substantive action and adequate funding. The UK should use its clout on the international stage to strengthen the implementation of the WPS agenda. At the same time, the FCDO must commit to maintaining development and gender experts with vital connections around the world.

With conflict on the rise around the world, and women and girls frequently bearing the brunt, advancing the WPS agenda could not be more critical. If we shift gear now, we could fill what is a fast-emerging gap in WPS leadership. If we keep standing still, we risk making all the right noises about supporting women and girls whilst hard-won gains are lost and gender equality becomes a footnote in UK diplomacy.

Sarah Champion is chair of the House of Commons International Development Committee and Labour MP for Rotherham
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Government cuts to international aid spending means the UK is losing hard-won gains for the rights of women and girls around the world, a new report by MPs has warned.

The cross-party International Development Committee said reductions in funding, staffing and expertise are undermining Britains ability to support women and girls in conflict-affected countries.

It said the governments commitment to the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda appears to be waning, despite rising global instability and increasing threats to womens rights.

The future of the Women, Peace and Security agenda hangs in the balance, MPs said in the Peace under pressure: Protecting Women, Peace and Security report, warning that the government is at risk of inflicting damage to its reputation and standing idly by whilst hard-won gains in global gender equality are lost.

With global conflict at its highest level in decades and a growing backlash against womens rights, the committee report said that these commitments are more important than ever. Yet, it adds, the governments commitment appears to be waning.

The most immediate pressure comes from cuts to official development assistance, reduced from 0.7 per cent of national income to 0.5 per cent in recent years  and now to 0.3 per cent. Funding womens rights organisations has been slashed by as much as two-thirds, with MPs warning that this compromises the delivery of key programmes and regresses the work of the UK and its partners.

These cuts translate into fewer girls in school, reduced humanitarian support and diminished access to healthcare. Previous analysis cited by the committee found that millions fewer women and girls are now reached by UK-funded programmes - a reversal that MPs describe as a serious blow to long-term progress.

Writing in The Independent in tandem with the report, the chair of the International Committee, Labour's Sarah Champion said: "It is getting increasingly hard to square the encouraging rhetoric we have heard... with the reality of what is happening on the ground"

"As we get the detail of the latest aid cuts, the full impact on women and girls is yet to come... We need to see ministers backing up their rhetoric with substantive action and adequate funding," she added.

Ministers insist priorities around the rights of women and girls remain intact but MPs point to a hollowing-out of capacity within the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, where staffing cuts and a loss of gender expertise are said to be undermining delivery.

The government cannot expect to deliver on these commitments without this expertise, the report said.

At the same time, Britains leadership on the world stage appears to be faltering. Despite holding a key role at the United Nations, the UK failed to convene a dedicated session on women, peace and security during its presidency of the Security Council  something MPs say raises questions about its willingness to lead.

The committee also identifies a deeper structural weakness with a lack of transparency. There is no clear, ring-fenced budget for WPS programmes and MPs warn that tangible progress cannot be made without proper resourcing or accountability.

Perhaps most troubling is the broader shift in priorities. As defence spending rises and aid shrinks, MPs caution that gender equality risks slipping down the agenda.

Gender equality should not become a footnote in UK diplomacy, they warn, urging ministers to use Britains influence to strengthen the implementation of its commitments.

The government maintains that it is mainstreaming gender across its work. Critics, however, argue that without dedicated funding and focus, such an approach risks making the issue effectively invisible.

The committee is calling on ministers to set out how future programmes will be funded and to ensure that support for women and girls remains a priority. It said the upcoming refresh of the governments strategy would be a key test of whether the UK can maintain its role as a global leader on womens rights.

"With conflict on the rise around the world, and women and girls frequently bearing the brunt, advancing the WPS agenda could not be more critical, Ms Champion wrote. "If we shift gear now, we could fill what is a fast-emerging gap in WPS leadership," she added. "If we keep standing still, we risk making all the right noises about supporting women and girls whilst hard-won gains are lost and gender equality becomes a footnote in UK diplomacy".
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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is putting out feelers about renting coworking space in 42 states and Puerto Rico, with ICE employees setting up shop in each for a year, according to federal procurement documents reviewed by The Independent.

A request for information issued March 20 by the Department of Homeland Security  ICEs parent entity  seeks details on obtaining flexible workspace (private offices and/or workstations) for assigned ICE personnel at approved coworking locations.

There are nearly 100 cities on the list, from New York City to Seattle to Casper, Wyoming to Hot Springs, South Dakota.

The coworking sites and initial workspace allocations will need to accommodate more than 300 ICE employees in 99 separate locales, according to the RFI. It says the spaces must provide Wi-Fi access and printing privileges, and that the leases will run 12 months, to begin when a contract is awarded by ICEs Washington Office of Mission Support.

It is unclear why ICE specified it wants coworking space, and if the agency would be willing to share space in a traditional coworking setup. An October 2025 tender issued by ICE sought as-is, fully-finished and furnished office space, and said it would not consider collocation with agencies or tenants whose primary clientele or operations could present security, operational, or reputational conflicts with law enforcement functions.

ICE did not respond on Monday to a request for comment.

open image in gallery ICE's physical footprint has ballooned under President Trump, and is now set to get even broader, federal procurement records show ( AFP via Getty Images )

As ICEs physical footprint has ballooned under President Donald Trump, locals have overwhelmingly declared the deep-pocketed deportation agency unwelcome in their communities.

In many instances, the facilities are located near elementary schools, doctors offices, houses of worship, and other sensitive locations, according to a Wired investigation published last month. The outlet described a secret campaign being carried out by ICE and DHS to place street-level agents and ICE attorneys in office spaces across the U.S., often without advance warning.

Last month, in-person classes at a college in suburban Chicago were halted and moved online after school administrators became aware of an ICE presence in the same building where it offers business and nursing instruction, ABC7 reported. Lewis University Provost Christopher Sindt told the outlet he first learned ICE had moved in thanks to social media.

Most notably, this weekend, there were many SUV vehicles parked on the campus or in the parking structure for the campus, Sindt said. ... We felt like it was a really volatile, potentially volatile environment this week for our students to attend class.

Also last month, after ICE was discovered to have rented space in a Berwyn, Pennsylvania, office park about a mile away from an elementary school, state Rep. Melissa Shusterman issued a statement lamenting the fact that she had limited legislative options to bring ICE under control.

But, I am also a citizen who will not stand for my communities and neighbors being put in danger, Shusterman said. We will not stand by idly as families are traumatized. We will not be silent. We will insist on law and order and stand with our local and state police who live in the communities they serve.

open image in gallery The budgets for federal immigration enforcement now exceed those of many nations' militaries. ICE is exploring a further expansion to 'coworking spaces' across the United States ( Getty Images )

Similarly, local officials in New Windsor, New York said they had no idea that ICE had been operating for months out of a leased office space in their town, according to the Middletown Times Herald-Record. The building houses a branch of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, public records show.

Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY), a combat veteran who graduated from West Point, pushed back firmly against ICE posting up in New Windsor, gathering 20,000 signatures in opposition.

The Administration continues to escalate directly against the will of the people of the Hudson Valley, who strongly reject ICEs dangerous, unconstitutional, un-American attempts to move into our community, terrorize our neighbors, and make us all less safe, Ryan said in a statement released February 11. Especially after what weve seen in Minnesota  the surge of agents killing civilians, detaining children, and breaking into peoples homes, we should all be concerned about their repeated attempts to move into our community The power to keep ICE out is in our hands  and I wont give up this fight.

According to the latest ICE procurement data, responses from interested vendors to offer ICE coworking spaces are due March 31.

If and when the contract is finalized, the ICE coworking spaces are expected to be located in: Alabama (Huntsville, Montgomery); Arizona (Concho, Pima, Casa Grande, Chandler, Eloy, Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sierra Vista, Tucson); California (San Diego, Long Beach, Morgan Hill, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Ana, Rocklin); Colorado (Colorado Springs); Connecticut (Hartford); Delaware (Wilmington); Florida (Bradenton, Ft. Myers, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Niceville, Miami, Naples, Orlando, Sarasota, Tampa, West Palm Beach); Georgia (Atlanta, East Point, Leesburg); Hawaii (Honolulu); Illinois (Chicago, Rock Island); Indiana (Indianapolis); Kansas (Manhattan, Kansas City); Kentucky (Louisville); Louisiana (Baton Rouge); Massachusetts (Boston, Burlington); Maryland (Baltimore, Frederick); Maine (Portland, Scarborough, Caribou); Michigan (Grand Rapids); Minnesota (Fort Snelling); Missouri (Kansas City, St Louis); Mississippi (Hattiesburg, Vicksburg, Gulfport); Montana (Savage); North Carolina (Cary, Greensboro, Charlotte, Raleigh); New Hampshire (Manchester); Nebraska (Omaha); New Jersey (Mt. Laurel); New York (New York City); Ohio (Brooklyn Heights, Westerville); Oregon (Portland, Roseburg); Pennsylvania (Allentown, Altoona); Puerto Rico (San Juan); Rhode Island (Crawford); South Carolina (Summerville, Columbia); South Dakota (Hot Springs, Mitchell); Tennessee (Knoxville, Nashville); Texas (Austin, Bryan, El Paso, Houston, San Antonio, Cibolo); Utah (West Valley City); Virginia (Norfolk, North Chesterfield); Vermont (Derby, Williston); Washington (Seattle); Wisconsin (Maynes); West Virginia (Martinsburg, Milton); Wyoming (Casper).
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The pilots who are being hailed as heroes by the passengers they saved when their Air Canada Express flight collided with a Port Authority fire truck at New Yorks LaGuardia Airport on Sunday have been identified.

They were named as Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunther. Both the pilot and co-pilot were based in Canada, Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia told reporters.

In the cockpit with Forest and Gunther was flight attendant Solange Tremblay, who was sitting in the planes jump seat. It has emerged that Tremblay was hurled 320 feet across the runway but miraculously survived.

The Bombardier CRJ-900, operated by Jazz Aviation, was arriving from Montreal with 76 passengers and crew when it struck the emergency vehicle on Runway 4 at approximately 11.40 pm. The truck had been cleared to cross the active runway while responding to a separate incident involving a United Airlines flight.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada are conducting a joint investigation into the collision.

The nearly 14-hour closure forced the cancellation of more than 500 flights on Monday.

Antoine Forest

Forests family has confirmed that the Coteau-du-Lac, Quebec, native was one of the two pilots who died in Sundays crash, relatives told The Toronto Star Monday. The town is located about 25 miles southwest of Montreal.

open image in gallery Antoine Forest was one of the two pilots who was killed in the crash on Sunday ( Antoine Forest / Facebook )

Forests great-aunt, Jeannette Gagnier - whom he considered a grandmother - told the Star that he had been flying since he was 16 years old.

He was always taking courses and flying, Gagnier said, recalling how he first learned to pilot bush planes as a teenager. He never stopped.

Forest spent his youth between his home in Quebec and Hawkesbury, Ontario, where he and his younger brother spent summers fishing and watching television with Gagnier.

During his 11th-grade year, he moved in with Gagnier specifically to improve his English, a step he believed was vital for his future career as a pilot.

According to his professional records and LinkedIn profile, Forest began his career flying smaller bush planes, such as the de Havilland Canada Beaver and Otter, for Air Saguenay. He later moved on to pilot twin-engine aircraft for ExactAir before joining Jazz Aviation as a first officer in December 2022.

open image in gallery Jeannette Gagnier, Forests great-aunt, said that she remembered the pilot as a handsome young man ( Reuters )

Photos on Forest's Facebook page reflect his love for the outdoors, showing him hiking snow-capped mountains and spending time on the water.

Gagnier, who received the news of the crash from her son on Monday, remembered the pilot as a "handsome young man" who would still cuddle with her at bedtime during his summer visits as a child.

Its a very bad day for me, she told the Star.

While investigators are still analyzing flight data, survivors continue to point to the crew's actions as a reason more lives weren't lost.

Reports from the cabin suggest the pilots attempted to deploy reverse thrust in the final seconds - a move that may have prevented the jet from veering further off course after the nose was destroyed.

Mackenzie Gunther

Mackenzie Gunther, the first officer on the flight, was also killed in the collision, according to Radio-Canada sources.

Seneca Polytechnic, a multi-campus public college with locations in the Greater Toronto Area and Peterborough, shared in a statement that Gunther was an alumnus.

Mr. Gunther graduated from the Honours Bachelor of Aviation Technology (FPR) program in 2023, the statement read. Through the Jazz Aviation Pathways Program, he joined Jazz Aviation immediately after graduation and began his professional flying career.

open image in gallery Rebecca Liquori, a passenger on the plane, said that she is forever indebted to the pilots ( Getty )

Seneca sends our deepest condolences to Mr. Gunthers family and friends, and to his former colleagues and professors, the statement continued. He will be deeply missed.

To honour the memory of Mr. Gunther, flags at Senecas campuses will be lowered to half-mast on Tuesday, March 24.

Rebecca Liquori, who was a passenger on the plane, told CNN that she is forever indebted to the pilots.

I felt like the pilots saved our lives, she said. Theyre the reasons I was able to make it home safe to see my boys, and my heart goes out to their families.

Another passenger, Joe, described the two pilots as heroes while speaking to CNN.

Those two pilots, I truly believe that whatever they did at the end, whether it was pulling a break or trying to stop or divert at the last moment, they saved everybody on board, he said. I will be forever grateful to them, and theyre always going to be heroes to me.

Solange Tremblay

Flight attendant Solange Tremblay suffered multiple fractures in the crash, according to her daughter.

Speaking to Quebecs TVA News, Sarah Lepine said that her mother was strapped into her seat behind the pilots at the moment of impact.

The force of the collision with the fire truck was so severe that it ejected Tremblay from the aircraft, throwing her more than 320 feet onto the tarmac.

open image in gallery Solange Tremblay was ejected more than 100 meters from the plane, according to her daughter ( Facebook )

Its a complete miracle. At the moment of impact, her seat was ejected more than 100 meters from the plane. They found her and she was still strapped into her seat, Lepine added.

She had a guardian angel watching over her, Lepine continued. It could have been much worse.

Tremblay will undergo surgery for a broken leg at the hospital, according to Lepine.

Well-wishers have flocked to Tremblays Facebook page, with many sending their thoughts and prayers.

Just weeks ago, Tremblay responded to a post claiming that aircraft passengers had grabbed their luggage while evacuating from a plane in a separate incident. The post suggested that trying to take carry-on luggage during an evacuation should be punishable.

Yes absolutely! Tremblay wrote in response. Life time (sic) ban & A huge fine ! A human life is more important.

Officer Adrian Baez

Adrian Baez is one of the two Port Authority officers inside the truck that collided with the plane.

open image in gallery A CNN safety analyst said that the plane hit directly in the middle of the fire truck ( AFP/Getty )

Both men were injured, Bobby Egbert, a spokesperson for the Port Authority Police Benevolent Association, told The New York Times.

Kathryn Garcia told reporters that the two men had been taken to New York-Presbyterian Queens.

Baez was later released from the hospital on Monday, according to Egbert.

Sgt. Michael Orsillo

Sergeant Michael Orsillo, the other officer who was inside the truck, remains hospitalized, according to Egbert.

open image in gallery A spokesperson for the Port Authority Police Benevolent Association said that one of the officers in the truck has been released from hospital ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

David Soucie, a safety analyst at CNN, revealed that many more lives could have been lost if the plane had collided with the truck in a different manner.

This could have been much, much worse, he told the network. Because that aircraft hit directly in the middle of the fire truck, the fire truck was moved forward, and the aircraft was damaged in the nose.

Soucie said that if the truck had been 40 feet back, the planes wing, fuel cells, or engines could have been damaged. That could have caused a fire to break out, leading to further fatalities.

So as tragic as this is for the two that weve lost, just out of pure luck, that airplane hit in the middle of that fire truck and reduced the number of fatalities significantly, he said.
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Two pilots were killed and dozens of passengers were injured when an Air Canada Express flight landing Sunday night at New Yorks LaGuardia Airport collided with a fire truck on an active runway.

The crash occurred seconds after an air traffic controller realized a disaster was imminent.

Stop, stop, stop! Truck 1, stop! the controller can be heard shouting in audio recording.

It came too late to prevent the CRJ-900 jet from slamming into the emergency vehicle on Runway 4 around 11:40 p.m. The ground vehicle, identified as "Truck 1," had been cleared to cross the tarmac while responding to a separate emergency involving a United Airlines flight. A voice on the air traffic recording can be heard admitting they messed up.

Video footage also showed the horrific collision when the speeding jet crashed into the fire truck, which tried to avoid the plane at the last second.

open image in gallery Two people were killed when an Air Canada jet crashed into a fire truck at New York Citys LaGuardia Airport. An air traffic controller could be heard on radio yelling at the driver of the vehicle to Stop, stop, stop, truck 1 stop, truck 1, stop ( Reuters )

open image in gallery Antoine Forest was identified by family as one of the pilots ( Antoine Forest / Facebook )

Experts are calling the collision a catastrophic and avoidable failure of airport safety. According to FlightRadar24 data, the aircraft, operated by Air Canadas regional partner Jazz Aviation, was carrying 76 people from Montreal and was traveling at roughly 130 mph at the time.

On Monday, family identified one of the pilots as Antoine Forest.

Passengers on the Air Canada flight described the "chaos" as their aircraft veered out of control on the runway.

It was a regular flight like always, passenger Jack Cabot told Fox News. As we were arriving, we came down really hard. We stopped really quickly, two seconds later, we had an absolute slam.

Cabot recalled the moments following the impact, which obliterated the front of the jet. Everybody was flying everywhere, he told Fox News. The plane veering off left and right. It was chaos. It didnt feel like there was anybody controlling it.

Survivors are suggesting the pilots who died may have saved countless other lives by putting the aircraft into reverse thrust at the last second.

We had just touched down, and maybe about 30 seconds later we all felt a jolt forward, then a loud bang, and what felt like sliding sideways down the runway, passenger Brady Sego wrote on Reddit. Someone did say the pilot tried to reverse thrust at the last second. Honestly, they likely saved our lives.

I wish I could tell their families how thankful I am. They are heroes.

open image in gallery The wreckage of Air Canada Express CRJ-900 sits on the runway after the crash. ( AP )

Another passenger, Rebecca Liquori, told News12 Long Island that, after the plane touched down, she felt it brake hard and heard a loud boom.

"Everybody just jolted out of their seats, Liquori told News 12, a station where she formerly worked. People hit their heads. People were bleeding.

Liquori had visited Montreal to attend a cousins baby shower. She said she had helped open the emergency exit door during the flight, recalling passengers helping each other slide down a wing to get out.

"I'm just happy to be alive," she said. "I would have never pictured a one-hour flight that I've done countless times ending like this."

open image in gallery The injured included two Port Authority police officers, one of them a sergeant and an officer, who were taken to hospitals ( AP )

Footage from the Citizen App showed significant damage to the aircrafts nose, which remained tilted upward as emergency crews worked the scene in the heavy rain. At least 40 people, including two Port Authority officers, were rushed to hospitals. While the cockpit was devastated, reports indicate a female flight attendant survived after being ejected through the front of the plane.

The flight attendant, identified by family Monday as Solange Tremblay, was strapped into her seat behind the pilots at the time of the crash. The force of the collision with the fire truck was so severe that it ejected her from the aircraft, throwing her more than 320 feet onto the tarmac, People reported.

The incident is now the subject of a federal investigation.

For those on following flights, the tragedy manifested as a sudden, vague "incident." One passenger on Air Canada Flight 724, which was scheduled to land at 12:03 a.m. directly following the crash, described the confusion in the air.

"The announcement came on saying, you know, we're beginning our descent. And then the captain came on and said there was an incident in LaGuardia," the passenger told The Independent. "I was very afraid that there had been some kind of terror incident.  It just felt like anything was possible, even if it's not a major incident, it just felt like it could have been something dark."

As the flight turned around to return to Toronto, passengers used spotty Wi-Fi to piece together what had happened.

"The crew came on and said, as some of you know, there was an Air Canada flight involved in a collision, the passenger recalled. "By then we could see some of the early reports, not from any reputable news source, but there were already tweets saying that two people had died. And that photo.

The photo was horrible. It was really just sad."

open image in gallery The FlightRadar imaging showing the Air Canada flight landing ( FlightRadar24 )

The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.

Abe Bohrer, a New York-based attorney specializing in airline cases, noted the complexity of the multi-agency probe involving the NTSB, the FAA and the Port Authority.

"You listen to this audio, it seems as if you've got an overworked, over-committed controller and an understaffed tower that seems to be managing another emergency at the same time," Bohrer told The Independent.

Bohrer emphasized that even emergency vehicles have a duty of care.

"How does this fire truck cross an active runway, even if it's cleared to do so, without taking that extra second to make sure that the runway is clear?" he asked. "A driver of a motor vehicle is charged with the obligation to see what is there to be seen. And obviously, a large commercial jet ... with its bright landing lights and flashing strobes on, would most likely have been able to be seen."

open image in gallery Flights were canceled out of the airport for hours after the incident ( AP )

The incident has drawn international attention. During a press conference this morning, President Donald Trump commented, "Terrible. They made a mistake. It's a dangerous business. That's terrible."

In Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney stated via social media that the collision was "deeply saddening, adding that "Canadian officials are working closely with their U.S. counterparts on the ground as the investigation continues."

LaGuardia officially reopened at 2 p.m. Monday, though officials cautioned that only one of its two runways is currently operational.

The nearly 14-hour closure forced the cancellation of more than 500 flights Monday.

"I just feel lucky, like, super fortunate," the passenger from the following flight told The Independent. "You sort of feel inconvenienced, and then you're like, 'Why do I even  who cares?' Two people lost their lives."
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Americans are more confused about the Trump administrations goals in launching a war with Iran now than when President Donald Trump initiated the military strikes in February, a new survey from CBS News and YouGov found.

In a survey conducted between March 17 and March 20, approximately 68 percent of the 3,300 respondents said the administration had yet to clearly explain the goals of attacking Iran.

Thats six percentage points higher than when the same question was asked in a similar survey conducted between March 2 and March 4  shortly after the U.S. and Israel launched missiles against Iran.

In that CBS News / YouGov survey, 62 percent of respondents said the administration had not clearly explained its goals. At the time, 38 percent of people said they had been clearly explained  now, that number is 32 percent.

Trump initially said the goals of the war were to eliminate Irans navy, ensuring it cannot attack neighbors in the Middle East, and that it cannot produce a nuclear weapon.

open image in gallery ( AFP via Getty Images )

But its unclear how much of a threat Iran posed to the U.S. During a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing last week, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard indicated in her written opening statement that Iran was not rebuilding its nuclear facilities damaged by the U.S. in strikes last year.

Although not a stated goal, the president has also made comments indicating he wanted a say in choosing a new leader for the regime. When asked about the presidents goals in early March, 80 percent of respondents said the president was trying to change leadership in Iran.

Administration officials have also given different timelines. Trump initially said the conflict could last anywhere from four to five weeks, or potentially longer. But Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth later told reporters there was no timeline for the war.

While the president has insisted the U.S. is close to fulfilling its goals in Iran, Trump said in early March he wouldnt take anything less than unconditional surrender from Iran.

But as recently as Friday, Trump indicated he could be winding down the conflict soon because the U.S. has achieved objectives ahead of schedule  however, he said that would not mean a ceasefire.

open image in gallery Polling has found that Americans are largely disapproving of Trump's decision to go to war with Iran ( Getty Images )

The shifting explanations have led to confusion; even members of the presidents political party have criticized the changing statements.

When asked by ABC News what the primary objective of the war is, Republican Senator Thom Tillis replied: "I don't know, and I think it's a real problem.

Joe Kent, the former director of the National Counterterrorism Center, resigned last week, saying he could not support the war with Iran because there was no evidence it posed a threat to the U.S. The resignation has led to more questions about the U.S.s intention in starting the war with Iran.

The Independent has asked the White House for comment.

Overwhelmingly, Americans think ending the conflict with Iran as quickly as possible is important for the U.S. More than half of respondents to the CBS News / YouGov survey said that changing Irans leadership to people who are pro-U.S. was not important.

Many are not confident the war will last a matter of weeks, 37 percent believe the war could go on for months and 14 percent said it could continue for years.
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Donald Trump said on Monday that ICE agents deployed to the nations airports would go maskless after his administration deployed hundreds of agents to deal with a worsening shortage of TSA agents.

His statement came as his administration is struggling to deal with the effects of a DHS shutdown that is now in its second month. Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill have been unable to strike a deal to fund the agency after Democrats demanded a slate of reforms to Trumps immigration enforcement programs in exchange for their votes. As of yet, the White House and GOP majorities in Congress havent budged.

On Monday morning, the president wrote on Truth Social: I am a BIG proponent of ICE wearing masks as they search for, and are forced to deal with, hardened criminals, many of whom were let into our Country by Sleepy Joe Biden and his wonderful Border Czar, Kamala (she never even went to the Border!), through their absolutely INSANE Open Border Policy.

I would greatly appreciate, however, NO MASKS, when helping our Country out of the Democrat caused MESS at the airports, etc. Thank you! he then added.

Adding to the chaos, New Yorks LaGuardia Airport was also forced to close on Monday due to a fatal collision between an Air Canada flight and a Port Authority vehicle that was crossing the runway. The pilot and co-pilot of the flight were reported killed, and dozens of others are being treated for injuries.

open image in gallery ICE agents are seen on duty at Altanta's international airport ( Getty )

Speaking to reporters in a gaggle before departing Palm Beach, Florida on Air Force One, the president said that he spoke to his border czar Tom Homan and told him that he didnt think masks were appropriate when ICE was interacting with the general population, but remained important for the agency to use when dealing with undocumented immigrants  whom he referred to as murderers and thugs.

I've requested now, now you know I'm a big believer that they should be able to wear masks when they go knock down, you know, murderers, criminals and others. But for purposes of the airport, I've requested that they take off the masks. I don't like it for the airport, and I believe they are willing to do that, said Trump. The people coming into the airport, typically speaking, aren't murderers, killers, drug dealers, et cetera.

For nearly two months the Department of Homeland Security has been in shutdown mode due to congressional inaction on legislation to fund the agency. Democrats have repeatedly offered legislation to fund parts of the department, to no avail.

Among the reforms Democrats posed to their Republican colleagues last month were an end to ICE agents using masks while on enforcement operations, as well as an end to roving enforcement raids altogether and the requirement that agents obtain a judicial warrant before carrying out searches of private property.

open image in gallery Trump told reporters on Monday that he didnt believe it was appropriate for ICE agents to wear masks when interacting with Americans at airports ( AP )

Despite the White Houses resistance, many Senate Republicans have signaled an openness to at least some reforms to the agency. Support for ICE and DHSs heavy-handed tactics plummeted on the Hill after the shooting deaths of two Americans, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, during confrontations with immigration enforcement agents in Minneapolis. In both cases, critics said that agents used deadly force in situations that didnt warrant such a response.

At the beginning of last week agents at TSA missed their first full paychecks of the shutdown. Call-outs surged nationwide, and security screening lines quickly piled up at airports including Houston, Atlanta and dozens of others, though wait times appeared to be sporadic and inconsistent. While some airports reported hours-long waits for TSA pre-check and standard entry, others reported no wait times at all.

The White House responded over the weekend with an announcement that ICE agents would be temporarily taken out of the field to fill staffing gaps at major airports. But initial reports from cities like Atlanta and Houston on Monday indicated that agents were largely milling about and were not performing the tasks that TSA agents were trained to do, such as perform X-rays and other parts of the security screening process.

Trump administration officials including Homan had insisted in interviews Sunday that this wouldnt be the case.

When we deploy tomorrow, we'll have a well-thought-out plan to execute, border czar Tom Homan told CNNs Dana Bash on Sunday.

How much of a plan does it [require] to guard an exit, to make sure no one comes through that exit? Homan continued. "Again, ICE has been at airports across the country for a long time. It's just expanding those things."

The agencys acting director told journalists last week that some individual airports could be forced to shutter temporarily if the agency cant staff TSA checkpoints at every location.
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The Pentagon is weighing sending in about 3,000 troops to support the Iran war effort, which may include seizing Kharg Island, the Middle Eastern countrys main oil export hub, according to a new report.

Senior Pentagon officials may deploy the Armys 82nd Airborne Divisions Immediate Response Force, a combat brigade of about 3,000 soldiers that can deploy paratroopers and equipment anywhere in the world within 18 hours, The New York Times reported Monday, citing defense officials.

The combat brigade and some elements of the 82nd Airbornes headquarters staff may reportedly be deployed to help in the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, which is now in its fourth week.

The combat brigade could be used to seize Kharg Island, Irans key oil export terminal, according to the NYT. The defense officials cautioned that nothing had been ordered by the Pentagon or US Central Command, which covers the Middle East.

open image in gallery The Pentagon is weighing sending in about 3,000 troops to support the Iran war effort, which may include seizing Kharg Island, the Middle Eastern countrys main oil export hub, according to a new report ( AFP via Getty Images )

The Pentagon declined to comment on the reporting, telling The Independent, Due to operations security, we do not discuss future or hypothetical movements.

On March 13, President Donald Trump announced Central Command executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East, and totally obliterated every MILITARY target in Irans crown jewel, Kharg Island.

Trump said on Truth Social, for reasons of decency, he chose not to wipe out Kharg Islands oil infrastructure.

However, should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision, the president added.

open image in gallery Senior Pentagon officials may reportedly deploy the Armys 82nd Airborne Divisions Immediate Response Force to help in the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran ( Getty Images )

Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway between Iran and Oman that carries about a fifth of the worlds oil, with threats to attack ships that try to enter.

Trump called on US allies to help secure the vital waterway, but he was initially rebuffed.

Oil prices have surged amid the war, with Brent crude, the international standard, briefly reaching above $119 per barrel on Thursday, the Associated Press reported. Before the US and Israeli military strikes began, oil was at about $70 a barrel, according to the AP.

open image in gallery Oil prices have surged as Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, which carries about a fifth of the worlds oil ( Getty Images )

On Monday, Brent crude dipped 11 percent to $99.94 a barrel, per The Wall Street Journal, after Trump announced he was holding off on strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days.

The president wrote on Truth Social Monday morning the U.S. and Iran had very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East over the weekend.

He added the five-day postponement of strikes is subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions with Iran.
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Donald Trump berated a Newsmax reporter who questioned him about his deployment of ICE agents to American airports, repeatedly telling the reporter he wasnt doing a good job and joking to the cameras like a schoolyard bully among cronies.

The strange moment took place in Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday morning as the president prepared to board Air Force One to return to Washington. As he spoke with the media, one reporter in the press pool began by asking the president a fairly neutrally-worded question about his announcement that ICE agents would be deployed to major airports as TSA experiences staffing gaps due to a partial government shutdown.

Trump quickly snapped at the reporter, asking him who are you with? and repeatedly telling him youre not doing a good job as he attempted to repeat his question. The president then joked, "I don't think he's gonna be at Newsmax long, which was met with silence from the press corps.

It wasnt clear what Trumps issue was with the question, of which he only heard a few words, given that he answered questions and discussed the ICE deployment in the same gaggle moments later when questioned by other outlets  including CNN, whose question Trump took over Newsmax.

I'm taking CNN over Newsmax. Can you believe it? Trump quipped to other reporters, who ignored the jibe as CNNs Kaitlan Collins proceeded to ask him about his decision to have those ICE agents at airports unmask.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump lashed out at a reporter for a right-wing outlet over a question about ICE ( Getty )

Trumps beefs with reporters on Air Force One have become semi-regular and the president is known for directing petty personal insults at various reporters. Collins, whom Trump took a question from without issue on Monday, is one of those frequent targets  most, but not all, of whom are women. In many cases the presidents insults have veered into shots at journalists physical appearance.

Trump has made remarks that many view as sexist and chauvinistic, in addition to being intended to goad reporters into confrontations. He has repeatedly remarked that Collins, who also anchors on the CNN network, should smile more often.

The president has a long history of making such personal insults towards anyone who gets on his nerves, especially his political rivals. Some have later come to join his administration, that includes Secretary of State Lil Marco Rubio, or have become his close allies in Washington, like Sen. Lyin Ted Cruz.

Just last week, the president attacked a PBS reporter and called her rotten to her face after she countered his insistence that the 2020 presidential election was stolen by Joe Biden.

Natalie Allison, a Washington Post reporter on the White House beat, was also the target of his rage in a confrontation last month.

Where are you from? Trump asked Allison during a gaggle on Air Force One. Washington Post? Are you having a hard time getting readers? The Washington Post is doing very poorly You have a very bad attitude.

In that case, Trump did take the reporters question after berating her for her place of employment, rather than the question itself.

open image in gallery ICE agents were seen deployed to U.S. airports on Monday. Trump grew angry with one reporter when asked about his move ( Getty )

The questions directed to the president Monday largely concerned his ongoing war with Iran as well as the growing shortages of TSA agents across the country, a symptom of the DHS shutdown that has been ongoing since February. The White House and congressional Republicans have thus far failed to strike a deal with Democrats to secure votes to fund the agency as their counterparts demand reforms to the presidents enforcement strategies in exchange for their votes.

More TSA officers have begun calling out of work or not showing up for scheduled shifts, prompting the president to order ICE agents to deploy to major airports. On Monday, photos and videos from various airports around the country confirmed the presence of ICE agents who seemed to be largely performing patrol and guard duties rather than supplementing TSA at security checkpoints.

Among the reforms Democrats have demanded for their votes is the unmasking of ICE agents. Trump, on Monday, explained his decision to order ICE agents operating at airports to do so, and argued that ICE agents performing enforcement operations were dealing with murderers and other violent criminals (though his own DHSs statistics show that the vast majority of detained immigrants do not have violent criminal histories).

I've requested now, now you know I'm a big believer that they should be able to wear masks when they go knock down, you know, murderers, criminals and others. But for purposes of the airport, I've requested that they take off the masks. I don't like it for the airport, and I believe they are willing to do that, said Trump. The people coming into the airport, typically speaking, aren't murderers, killers, drug dealers, et cetera.
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The co-founder of a prominent conservative magazine wants Vice President JD Vance to invoke a never-before-used part of the Constitution to remove President Donald Trump from office, amid growing criticism of the war with Iran.

My advice to Vance: Announce your support of 25th amendment transition, Scott McConnell, co-founder of The American Conservative, wrote on X on Sunday. Say Chris Murphy or similar will be veep. Announce you will NOT be a candidate in 2028. Use your position, access to the media to explain why this is necessary. Don't resign.

McConnell added that he recommended appointing Murphy, a Democrat, because he is an antiwar figure who is smart and not super woke.

While the post did not specifically mention Trump's war in Iran, McConnell has made a string of comments against the military action in the Middle East. He added in a follow-up post that fellow Trump cabinet member Secretary of State Marco Rubio could join Vance's effort and "keep his job, negotiate a ceasefire and be the GOP frontrunner."

The Independent has contacted the White House for comment.

Section 4 of the 25th Amendment allows the vice president and a majority of cabinet secretaries to remove the president if they declare them unfit to serve.

open image in gallery A prominent conservative journalist is calling on Vice President JD Vance to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove the president from office ( Getty )

Other parts of the amendment have been used to temporarily transfer power, such as when presidents are undergoing health procedures, but the removal clause has never been invoked.

Critics of President Trump have frequently called for the cabinet to use the 25th Amendment.

In January, Democrats, including Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey, Arizona Rep. Yassamin Ansari, and California Reps. Eric Swalwell and Sydney Kamlager-Dove, said the amendment should be used after President Trump sent a threatening message to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Streas part of the White House campaign to take over Greenland.

During the first Trump administration, the president faced similar calls following high-profile incidents, including after Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in early 2021 and after Democrats retook the House of Representatives in 2018.

open image in gallery Vice President Vance has been an outspoken critic of past overseas entanglements, and he reportedly had doubts about going to war with Iran ( AP )

Vance, who has criticized past overseas U.S. wars, reportedly told the president he had doubts about a conflict with Iran.

The war, which has entered its fourth week without a clear end in sight, will likely define part of the Trump administrations legacy, and it could factor into the 2028 presidential race, where Vance is considered a top prospect.

Trump has claimed the U.S. and Tehran are having productive conversations about ending the war, though the Iranian leadership says this claim is fake news.
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A trend is emerging in US hospitals, where a growing number of newborns are being denied vital vitamin K shots by their parents, sparking alarm among medical professionals.

Dr Tom Patterson, a paediatrician with nearly three decades of experience, recounted instances at an Idaho hospital where on one day, half the newborns did not receive the shot, and on another, more than a quarter were left unprotected.

He expressed profound concern, stating: "When you look at a child whos innocent and vulnerable  and a simple intervention thats been done since 1961 is refused  knowing that babys going out into the world is super worrisome to me."

This local observation reflects a wider national crisis, as doctors across the country report increasing parental scepticism, fuelled by anti-science sentiment and a growing mistrust in medicine. This trend is now extending beyond vaccinations to other established, routine preventive care for infants.

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, which analyzed over five million births nationwide, revealed that refusals of vitamin K shots almost doubled from 2.9 per cent to 5.2 per cent between 2017 and 2024.

Further research indicates that parents who decline vitamin K are significantly more likely to also reject the hepatitis B vaccine and an eye ointment designed to prevent potentially blinding infections, with doctors confirming a rise in these refusals.

I do think these families care deeply about their infants, said Dr. Kelly Wade, a Philadelphia neonatologist. But I hear from families that its hard to make decisions right now because theyre hearing conflicting information.

Innumerable social media posts question doctors advice on safe and effective measures like vitamin K and eye ointment. And the Trump administration has repeatedly undermined established science. A federal advisory committee whose members were appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.  a leading anti-vaccine activist before joining the administration  voted to end the longstanding recommendation to immunize all babies against hepatitis B right after birth. On Monday a federal judge temporarily blocked all decisions made by the reconfigured committee.

open image in gallery Robert F Kennedy Jr ( Getty )

One common thread that ties together anti-vaccine views and growing sentiments against other protective measures for newborns is the fallacy that natural is always better than artificial, said Dr. David Hill, a Seattle pediatrician and researcher.

Nature will allow 1 in 5 human infants to die in the first year of life, Hill said, which is why generations of scientists and doctors have worked to bring that number way, way down.

Babies are born with low levels of vitamin K, leaving them vulnerable because their intestines can't produce enough until they start eating solid foods at around 6 months old.

Vitamin K is important for helping the blood clot and preventing dangerous bleeding in babies, like bleeding into the brain, said Dr. Kristan Scott of the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, lead author of the JAMA study.

Before injections became routine, up to about 1 in 60 babies suffered vitamin K deficiency bleeding, which can also affect the gastrointestinal tract. Today the condition is rare, but research shows that newborns who dont get a vitamin K shot are 81 times more likely to develop severe bleeding than those who do.

Hill has seen what can happen.

I cared for a toddler whose parents had chosen that risk, the Seattle doctor said. The child essentially had a stroke as a newborn and wound up with severe developmental delays and ongoing seizures.

At a February meeting of the Idaho chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, doctors said they knew of eight deaths from vitamin K deficiency bleeding in the state over the preceding 13 months, said Patterson, who is president of the chapter.

Infections prevented by other newborn measures can also have grave consequences. Erythromycin eye ointment protects against gonorrhea that can be contracted during birth and potentially cause blindness if untreated. The hepatitis B vaccine prevents a disease that can lead to liver failure, liver cancer or cirrhosis.

Even if a pregnant woman is tested for gonorrhea and hepatitis B, no test is perfect, and she may get infected after testing, said Dr. Susan Sirota, a pediatrician in Highland Park, Illinois. Either way, she risks passing the infection to her child.

Why are parents refusing routine care?

Parents give many reasons for turning down preventive measures, like fearing they might cause problems and not wanting newborns to feel pain.

Some will just say they want more of a natural birth philosophy, said Dr. Steven Abelowitz, founder of Ocean Pediatrics in Orange County, California. Then theres a ton of misinformation.  There are outside influences, friends, celebrities, nonprofessionals and political agendas.

Abelowitz practices in an area with about an equal mix of Republicans and Democrats.

Theres more mistrust from the conservative side, but theres plenty on the more liberal side as well, he said, Its across-the-board mistrust.

Social media provides ample fuel, spreading myths and pushing unregulated vitamin K drops that doctors warn babies can't absorb well.

Doctors in numerous states say parents refusing vitamin K shots often also decline other measures. Sirota, in Illinois, encountered a family that refused a heel stick to monitor glucose for a baby at high risk for having potentially life-threatening low blood sugar.

Care refusals arent a new phenomenon. Wade, in Philadelphia, said shes seen them for 20 years. But until recently, they were rare.

Twelve years ago, Dana Morrison, now a Minnesota doula, declined the vitamin K shot for her newborn son, giving him oral drops instead.

It came from a space of really wanting to protect the bonding time with my baby, she said. I was trying to eliminate more pokes.

Her daughter's birth a couple of years later was less straightforward, leaving the infant with a bruised leg. Morrison got the vitamin K shot for her.

Knowing what she does now, she said, she would have gotten it for her son, too.

open image in gallery In this photo provided by Norton Healthcare, nurse Robin Waldridge administers a Vitamin K shot to a newborn baby at Norton Women's and Children's Hospital on Friday, March 6, 2026, at the hospital in Louisville, Ky. (Jamie Rhodes/Norton Healthcare via AP) ( Norton Healthcare )

Doctors hope to change minds, one parent at a time. And that begins with respect.

If I walk into the room with judgment, we are going to have a really useless conversation, Hill said. Every parent I serve wants the best for their children.

When parents question the need for the vitamin K shot, Dr. Heather Felton tries to address their specific concerns. She explains why its given and the risks of not getting it. Most families decide to get it, said Felton, who has seen no uptick in refusals.

It really helps that you can take that time and really listen and be able to provide some education, said Felton, a pediatrician at Norton Childrens in Louisville, Kentucky.

In Idaho, Patterson sometimes finds himself clearing up misconceptions. Some parents will agree to a vitamin K shot when they find out it's not a vaccine, for example.

These conversations can take time, especially since the parents doctors see in hospitals usually aren't people they know through their practices.

But doctors are happy to invest that time if it might save babies.

I end every discussion with parents with this: Please understand at the end of the day, Im passionate about this because I have the best interest of children in my mind and heart, Patterson said. I understand this is a hot topic, and I dont want to disrespect anybody. But at the same time, Im desperately saddened that were losing babies for no reason.
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Italian voters have delivered a significant blow to their premier Giorgia Meloni, rejecting a key judicial reform backed by her conservative government just a year before national elections.

Following the defeat, Ms Meloni took to Instagram to say: Italian citizens have decided and we respect their decision as always.

She affirmed her intention to complete her mandate, which extends until 2027, adding: We will move forward as we always have: with responsibility, determination, and above all, with respect for Italy and its people.

The premier also expressed regret for a missed opportunity to modernise Italy.

The reforms would have changed the countrys constitution to separate judges and prosecutors. They also proposed a new disciplinary court and separate bodies to govern the two professions.

Final results from the Interior Ministry showed the No campaign securing almost 54 per cent of the vote, against approximately 46 per cent for the government-backed Yes side.

Turnout for the two-day ballot, which began on Sunday, was notably higher than anticipated at nearly 59 per cent.

open image in gallery Supporters of the No vote celebrate the outcome of a constitutional referendum that will cancel a justice reform approved by Parliament ( AP )

The outcome follows a polarising campaign that invigorated the centre-left opposition, which had framed the proposed changes as a threat to judicial independence. The vote also highlighted internal divisions within Ms Melonis right-wing coalition.

The reform had been championed by her government as a crucial step towards streamlining Italys judicial system, which has long faced criticism for its slowness, bureaucracy, and susceptibility to political influence.

But critics argued that the measures risked concentrating too much power in the executive branch. Opposition parties, civil society groups and legal associations mounted a unified front, warning that the reform could undermine institutional checks and balances.

With political tensions already running high, public debate intensified in the final weeks before the vote, turning it into a de facto confidence test on Melonis leadership itself.

The defeat, especially after a campaign so closely tied to her personal leadership, raises questions about the stability and cohesion of Melonis governing coalition.

open image in gallery Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni expressed regret for a missed opportunity to modernise Italy ( Reuters )

The stakes extend beyond Italys borders. The Italian premier faces growing scrutiny over her controversial alignment with US president Donald Trump and his increasingly unpopular war on Iran.

Italy has defied its reputation for government instability in recent years, said Jess Middleton, senior Europe analyst at risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft. This defeat punctures Melonis image of strength, weakening her status as a pillar of domestic stability and as a consistent player in an increasingly volatile European political landscape.

Analysts also noted that the referendum win provides a major boost to the center-left opposition, with frustrations around the governments performance on the economy and the war in the Middle East coming into focus throughout the campaign.

The key question now is whether these disparate opposition forces can maintain some cohesion and present themselves as a credible alternative ahead of next years vote, Middleton said.

Elly Schlein, the leader of the centre-left Democratic Party, hailed the referendum result and said opposition forces would remain united.

Well continue to work together and well build a real alternative to this government, she said at a news conference celebrating the No victory.
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France is mourning the loss of Lionel Jospin, the former prime minister credited with introducing the nation's 35-hour working week, who has died at the age of 88. Mr Jospin, who famously stepped away from politics after his tenure, passed away on Sunday, his family confirmed to Agence France-Presse.

Sebastien Lecornu, the current prime minister, paid tribute on X, stating that Mr Jospin "served France with constancy, rigour and a sense of responsibility". Mr Lecornu added that "his actions, guided by a certain vision of social progress and republican values, leave a lasting mark and a model of commitment".

Before his unexpected ascent to lead the Socialist Party in 1981, appointed by then-newly elected President Francois Mitterrand, Mr Jospin was an economics professor. His distinctive appearance, marked by a tousle of white curls and thick-rimmed glasses, often reflected his academic background.

Untarnished by allegations of corruption, Mr Jospin re-established credibility for the Socialists after bribery and fraud scandals led to their downfall in the 1993 parliamentary elections.

He became prime minister in 1997, holding the post until 2002, leading a broad left-wing government under French conservative President Jacques Chirac in a power-sharing arrangement dubbed "cohabitation".

open image in gallery ) French Socialist Party candidate for the presidential election Lionel Jospin (R) and Jacques Delors, the president of his support committee, present the first supporters list in Paris on March 20, 1995 during the political campaign. ( AFP via Getty Images )

As prime minister, Mr Jospin resisted shifting the French left toward free-market reforms embraced at the same time in Britain.

He enacted France's parity law, required political parties to field the same number of male and female candidates in national elections, installed civil unions for LGBTQ+ and straight couples and lowered the work week from 39 hours to 35 hours, hailed as a social breakthrough by supporters but criticised by opponents as a shackle for the economy.

Mr Jospin never embraced his role as a public figure, hampered by a restrained personality that grew even stiffer in front of cameras.

He abandoned politics after his shocking loss to far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen in the first round of presidential voting in 2002.

The polarising Mr Le Pen qualified for the second-round run-off against Mr Chirac, the incumbent and first-round winner, by a whisker, relegating Mr Jospin to third place.

Mr Le Pen and Mr Jospin both got more than 16% of the vote but Mr Le Pen's nearly 200,000 vote-advantage over Mr Jospin saw him advance to round two, in a triumph for the anti-immigration founder of the far-right National Front and a body blow for Mr Le Pen's opponents.

Determined to keep Mr Le Pen out of the presidential Elysee Palace, voters rallied around Mr Chirac in the run-off, who won a second term by a landslide.

open image in gallery France implemented a 35-hour week in 2000 under prime minister Lionel Jospin ( AFP/Getty )

Mr Jospin was born July 12, 1937, the son of a midwife who, according to family lore, used the works of Voltaire to raise her pelvis while she was in labour.

"She believed I would have the spirit of Voltaire," he said.

Mr Jospin said his childhood memories of Nazi-occupied Paris tinged his outlook into adulthood.

"I have the memory of the importance of silence. If you weren't quiet, you ran the risk of putting people in danger. Certainly in political life I've retained a certain horror of talkativeness," he said.

He grew up in a Protestant family and attended the prestigious Ecole d'Administration Nationale, alma mater to a disproportionate share of French leaders and intellectuals.

Like many people in Paris and beyond, he got caught up in the left-wing protests of 1968. He was close to Trotskyists before joining the Socialist Party.

Despite mellowing over time, Mr Jospin never lost his wariness of the free market, keeping his trademark phrase: "Yes to the market economy, no to a market society."
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A suspected drone has crashed into an ice-covered lake in Lithuania, approximately 20 km (12 miles) from the Belarusian border, the country's army confirmed on Monday.

Local media say the suspected drone crashed into a lake in the Varena district near the village of Lavys in the early hours of Monday.

Debris discovered around a hole in the ice is believed to be from the unmanned aerial vehicle, according to an army spokesperson.

Night-time security camera footage, released by Lithuania's public broadcaster LRT, captured approximately 40 seconds of a buzzing sound before a loud blast, followed by what appeared to be flaming debris ascending into the air.

Army spokesperson Gintautas Ciunis stated: "We are very close to Belarus... The most likely assumption is it came from this country." He added that no explosives were found at the crash site.

Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene has scheduled a National Security Commission consultation for Tuesday to address the incident.

open image in gallery Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene has called a National Security Commision consultation for Tuesday to discuss the incident. ( Associated Press )

Lithuania last year asked NATO for more air defences after military drones from Belarus landed on its territory twice in July 2025.

Lithuanian intelligence said earlier this month that both drones had entered Lithuania accidentally.
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Brussels largest railway hub, Midi station, was evacuated on Monday afternoon after police discovered suspicious bags, causing widespread disruption to all train traffic.

The incident occurred just one day after the tenth anniversary of deadly terror attacks in the Belgian capital.

A police spokesperson confirmed to Reuters that the station was closed following the discovery of one suspicious bag inside a train and another on a platform.

Officers, supported by an anti-explosive army squad, were dispatched to investigate the items.

open image in gallery Midi Station was evacuated on Monday afternoon ( REUTERS )

The closure brought significant parts of the Belgian capitals rail network to a standstill.

Vincent Bayer, a spokesperson for state-owned railway operator SNCB, told Reuters that no trains had arrived at or departed from Midi station, a crucial high-speed connection point for routes to Paris, London, Amsterdam, and Germany, since approximately 5.30pm (1630 GMT). The adjacent Midi metro station was also shut down.

SNCB stated on its website: "The duration of the disruption is still undetermined. We are waiting for additional information from the police forces."

The incident comes as Brussels remains sensitive to security threats, with commemorations held on Sunday for the victims of the 22 March 2016 coordinated bombings by Islamic State militants at Brussels Airport and Maalbeek metro station.
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Pope Leo has issued a sharp condemnation of aerial bombardments, describing them as indiscriminate and calling for their outright ban. The remarks come as the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran enters its fourth week, marking the pontiff's latest anti-war statement.

Speaking to executives and staff from Italy's ITA Airways, the first U.S. Pope did not directly reference the expanding hostilities. However, he unequivocally denounced the use of airpower in warfare.

"No one should have to fear that threats of death and destruction might come from the sky," said the pope.

"After the tragic experiences of the 20th century, aerial bombings should have been banned forever," he said. "Yet they still exist  this is not progress; it is regression!"

The pope has called repeatedly for a ceasefire in the Iran war. On Sunday he called the conflict a "scandal to the whole human family."

Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV will receive the Liberty Medal from Philadelphias National Constitution Center in a live broadcast from Rome on July 3, declining an in-person invitation from the Trump administration to join the U.S. 250th anniversary celebrations ( Getty )

ITA Airways, controlled by Germany's Lufthansa LHAG.DE and the successor to bankrupt national flag carrier Alitalia, is the airline that usually flies the pope out of Rome when he makes overseas trips.

Last week The Vatican's top diplomat 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 alone Lebanon," 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.

Pope Leo also made a plea last week for countries to offer their citizens universal healthcare, calling it a "moral imperative" that people have access to the health services they need.

Previous popes have called for countries to offer universal healthcare, but calling an issue a "moral imperative" is an unusually strong term for a pope to use, indicating that something is required by Catholic teaching.

"Universal health coverage is  a moral imperative for societies that wish to call themselves just," the pope said in a meeting with participants in a healthcare conference organised by the World Health Organization and European bishops.

"Healthcare must be accessible to the most vulnerable  not only because their dignity requires it but also to prevent injustice from becoming a cause of conflict," he said. "Health cannot be a luxury for the few."

Leo is the first pope from the United States, which does not have universal health coverage. At Wednesday's meeting, he urged bishops in Europe to address inequalities in healthcare.
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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.
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.
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Ukraine is seeking to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Mozambique as it grapples with severe energy shortages caused by relentless Russian attacks on its production infrastructure.

President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed Kyiv's interest on Monday, after meeting with Mozambique's President Daniel Chapo.

Prior to the full-scale invasion, Ukraine met almost all of its gas needs through domestic production.

However, Russian strikes have significantly impacted this, leading to a loss of about half its gas output, according to Central Bank Governor Andriy Pyshnyi.

These attacks intensified last autumn, targeting crucial gas facilities in frontline regions across northeast and central Ukraine.

Speaking on the Telegram messaging app, Mr Zelensky suggested Kyiv could offer support to the southern African nation, which is battling an Islamist insurgency, in countering its security challenges.

He stated: "Ukraine is interested in additional energy supplies. Mozambique is interested in Ukraine's experience and technologies to strengthen its internal security and protect people from terror." No specific volumes of gas or details of any potential deal were provided.

open image in gallery Ukraine is interested in importing liquefied natural gas from Mozambique as it struggles to meet its energy needs following years of Russian attacks on its production infrastructure ( Associated Press )

Mozambique is a major African gas producer. In January, the country and TotalEnergies announced the relaunch of a significant LNG project, which had previously been halted by the insurgency, positioning it as a potential key supplier.

With capacity to produce 13 million metric tons of LNG annually, the project is expected to make Mozambique a major gas exporter.

Ukraine has not imported Russian gas since 2015.

In recent years, Kyiv has also been expanding its LNG, establishing supplies of US LNG from terminals in Poland and the Baltic countries.

Ukraine also imports US LNG via so-called Vertical Corridor of pipelines from Greece.

European AGSI official energy data showed last week that Ukraine had begun storing gas in its underground facilities in preparation for the next heating season.

open image in gallery Last autumn, Russia intensified its attacks on Ukrainian gas production facilities, most of which are located in frontline regions in northeast and central Ukraine ( Associated Press )

Energy minister Denys Shmyhal has said that Ukraine intends to start the 20262027 heating season with at least 13 billion cubic metres of gas in underground storage  roughly the same volume as in the previous season.

Since the start of the war with Russia, Ukraine has not disclosed full details of its gas imports.
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Iran knows it is militarily much weaker than the United States. The U.S. accounts for 37 per cent of military spending worldwide, while Iran accounts for less than 1 per cent. On paper, wed expect the U.S. to easily win a military confrontation with Iran.

But, as history shows, the U.S. does not win wars against groups that use insurgent tactics. This was made clear in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. The U.S. did not lose these wars, but it also could not win them. In each instance, the U.S. eventually withdrew and allowed its opponents to claim victory.

Iran knows this and is using four key insurgency tactics to force a U.S. withdrawal from the war.

Provocation

By hitting critical infrastructure and military bases across the Persian Gulf, Iran is hoping to provoke the U.S. into an escalated use of military force.

This accomplishes specific goals for the regime.

open image in gallery An Israeli police officer and a woman look at a destroyed building after it was hit by a ballistic missile fired from Iran ( Getty )

As the U.S. bombing campaign intensifies, support for the war among opponents of the Islamic regime in Iran will begin to diminish. Already, more than 1,400 Iranians have been killed and more than 18,000 wounded in the fighting, according to Irans health ministry.

Meanwhile, support for the war will no doubt drop in the U.S. as the cost of expending massive military force grows, without a decisive victory in sight. In one recent poll by Reuters and Ipsos, just 27 per cent of Americans supported the war.

This will likely drive political pressure on President Donald Trump to withdraw.

But if the opposite happens  Iran succeeds in provoking the U.S. into putting boots on the ground  this would enable it to shift to a full-scale insurgency that would cost the U.S. even more lives. And this would be far more disastrous for Trump.

Spoiling

Iran is also hitting out at its Persian Gulf neighbours  Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain.

This may seem like a risky strategy, as Iran will need to live with these close neighbours after the war is over. But the regime has a purpose  it wants to spoil the increasingly close relationship between the Gulf states and the U.S.

For decades, the Gulf countries have been reliant on the U.S. as their ultimate security guarantor. The U.S. exports billions of dollars worth of arms to these countries, and many host U.S. military bases.

By attacking them now, Iran is creating pressure on Gulf leaders to distance themselves from the U.S.

Across the region, distrust and political antagonism toward the U.S. remains high. Resentment is likely to build further, as economies continue to take a major hit from an American and Israeli military venture.

If Iran succeeds in spoiling the closeness between the U.S. and Gulf countries, this could fundamentally change the security environment in the Middle East and increase its own power in a region where it has few friends.

Light weapons and attack craft

Iran is using light weapons  primarily drones and small attack craft  and nimble fighting tactics to its advantage.

About the author Jessica Genauer is an Academic Director, Public Policy Institute, UNSW Sydney. This article was first published by The Conversation and is republished under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article.

Iran lost the majority of its naval capability in the early days of the war. So, it almost immediately adopted an asymmetric naval warfare strategy to effectively block the Strait of Hormuz.

It is doing this by employing fast-attack boats, naval mines and midget submarines  which are designed specifically to operate in the Gulfs shallow, murky waters  to threaten attacks against large and cumbersome oil tankers.

This insurgency tactic has given Iran control over an important part of the global economy, restricting the flow of oil, critical minerals and liquified natural gas to the rest of the world.

Targeting civilian infrastructure

Lastly, Iran is targeting civilian infrastructure, such as airports, water desalination plants and energy facilities, across the Gulf.

It is now threatening to destroy this infrastructure completely if Trump follows through on his pledge to obliterate Irans power plants.

open image in gallery Fire and plumes of smoke rise after a drone struck a fuel tank, forcing the temporary suspension of flights at Dubai International Airport ( AP )

This is ramping up the pressure on Gulf countries by putting their critical economic and humanitarian assets at risk. It is also driving global economic disruption with the closure of international transport hubs in the UAE and Qatar.

Attacks on non-military targets unsettle the entire population. No one knows what might be hit next.

These pressures increase the likelihood that countries in the Gulf and around the world will push for a U.S. withdrawal.

Iran can outlast the U.S.

So, what does Irans use of insurgent tactics suggest about how this war will end?

Previous wars that involved a strong military power against a much weaker opponent have taught us a lesson.

The weak actor has to survive long enough for political and economic pressure to build on their adversary, compelling them to withdraw. Despite being severely degraded, the weaker actor can then claim victory.

So, the Iranian regime just has to survive longer than the U.S. political will to fight.

To be sure, the regime has been greatly weakened. It could fall in the medium- to long-term. But it is only concerned with the immediate future right now, using these insurgency tactics to outlast the U.S. in the short term.

How the U.S. should pivot

If the U.S. wants to win, it needs a fundamental pivot and adoption of a central counterinsurgency principle: damage the enemy, but win the hearts and minds of the people.

The U.S. has a long history of attempting this strategy in Iraq and Afghanistan, and can learn lessons from these conflicts.

However, the Iran war, so far, has not shown this to be a priority.

Civilians have borne the brunt of the U.S. and Israeli strikes, which included the destruction of a girls school that reportedly killed 175 people, mostly children. Cultural sites and civilian infrastructure have also been hit.

Trump has made surface-level overtures to the Iranian people, encouraging them to rise up and reclaim their government. But he has not put actions behind these words.

One way of rebuilding trust would be placing far more emphasis on protecting civilian assets and lives in its strikes.

There may not be a clear exit strategy for the U.S. at this stage, but supporting a pathway for the long-term viability of Iran beyond this regime means ensuring that civilians are not decimated by this war.
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Israeli forces have admitted to misfiring artillery that resulted in the death of an Israeli farmer near the Lebanese frontier on Monday.

Ofer Moskovitz, 60, an avocado farmer from Misgav Am, became the first Israeli civilian killed in the border conflict, which is unfolding alongside the war in Iran. Mr Moskovitz had expressed concerns about the border fighting to Reuters just last week.

In a statement, Major General Rafi Milo, who heads the military's northern command, said: "Moskovitz was killed by our own forces fire during an operation whose entire purpose was to protect them."

The military had initially blamed cross-border fire from Lebanon when it first reported the incident on Sunday.

Israel has launched a major ground assault and air campaign into Lebanon to root out Hezbollah, a powerful Iran-backed militia, which fired into Israel in support of Tehran two days after the start of the Israeli-U.S. air attacks on Iran.

Lebanese authorities say more than a thousand people have been killed and more than a million driven from their homes in Lebanon. The death of Moskovitz was the first reported in Israel. The military says two Israeli soldiers have been killed in combat.

"Every five minutes you can hear the bombs," Moskovitz told Reuters last week.

The military's statement said troops had opened fire to support soldiers operating in southern Lebanon, but "severe issues and operational errors" had taken place.

"The artillery fire was carried out at an incorrect angle and did not follow required protocols," it said. "As a result, five artillery shells were fired at the Misgav Am ridge instead of toward the enemy target."
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Donald Trump proposed the extraordinary idea of joint leadership of Iran following claims that successful negotiations with Tehran were underway.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Mr Trump suggested the US could run the country alongside an unnamed Iranian leader.

Warming to his theme, the US president said recent talks indicated there would be very serious form of regime change in Iran, adding that the Strait of Hormuz could be jointly controlled.

Asked by whom, Mr Trump said: Maybe me. Me and the ayatollah, whoever the ayatollah is, whoever the next ayatollah is.

Theres automatically a regime change, but were dealing with some people that I find to be very reasonable, very solid, he said. The people within know who they are. Theyre very respected, and maybe one of them will be exactly what were looking for.

open image in gallery A residential building in Tehran damaged by a strike, amid the US-Israeli war with Iran ( West Asia News Agency via Reuters )

Within hours, the speaker of the Iranian parliament denied claims Tehran had been negotiating with Washington and accused the US president of fake news.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said: No negotiations have been held with the US, and fake news is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped.

A spokesperson for Irans foreign ministry, Esmaeil Baghaei, told state media that they had received messages from other countries in recent days suggesting the US were seeking discussions to end the war.

The US president suggested they might find a new Iranian leader similar to Venezuela, where vice president Delcy Rodriguez took over from Nicolas Maduro following his removal from the presidency in a US special forces raid in January.

Earlier on Monday, Mr Trump claimed negotiations were proving successful and said he had postposed airstrikes on Iranian energy infrastructure for a five-day period, having issued Iran a 48-hour ultimatum on Saturday to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

open image in gallery Crew prepare a US fighter jet aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln [file] ( US Navy handout/AFP via Getty Images )

In a Truth Social post, Mr Trump said: Based on the tenor and tone of these in depth, detailed, and constructive conversations, witch [sic] will continue throughout the week, I have instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions.

The Brent crude oil price dived to below $100 per barrel (74.50) on Monday for the first time since last Wednesday following his earlier statement, although it later started ticking back up after Mr Ghalibafs denials.
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By postponing his threat to obliterate Irans energy system if Tehran doesnt open the Strait of Hormuz, Donald Trump has revealed the limits of American power, which are understood by its enemies, but not by its president.

Trump claims the five-day pause on his plans to destroy Irans electricity system came about through very good and productive talks with Tehran  talks Iran says never happened.

But the US president did have to account for Tehrans calibrated reaction to his threat. Do that, said Iran, in its first response, and well blow up all the desalination plants that keep your Gulf allies alive in the desert, well shut down the Strait of Hormuz until you fix all our stuff that you bombed, and well go after Israel even harder.

open image in gallery Trump claims the pause on his plans to destroy Irans electricity system came about through very good and productive talks ( AFP/Getty )

Later, Tehran seemed to roll these threats back in an uncharacteristic attempt to hold some moral high ground, after the UN observed that destroying water systems could be a war crime.

Iran said it would focus on taking out electricity generating plants in the Gulf  which coincidentally supply power to turn sea water into fresh.

The lying... US president has claimed that the Revolutionary Guards intends to attack the water desalination plants and cause hardship to the people of the countries in the region, the Iranian government said on state media.

We are determined to respond to any threat at the same level as it creates in terms of deterrence... If you hit electricity, we hit electricity.

A pause allows Gulf nations to try to replenish fast dwindling air defences. It buys Irans now highly decentralised military system respite from a possible onslaught. And it gives Trump the chance to reflect, if he is capable of reflection, on how to get out of a quagmire that Tehran has prepared for him.

The Israel-US attacks on Iran, now going into their fourth week, have caused a surge in oil and natural gas prices and threaten to trigger global recession.

Facing mid-term elections in November, Trump can ill-afford skyrocketing prices at American petrol stations.

The cycle of threats to energy was started by Israel which, aping Russian tactics in Ukraine, bombed Irans South Pars gas field. Qatar draws its wealth from the same underground reservoirs and while liquefied natural gas prices spun yet higher, Trump demanded that Israel stop such attacks against Iran.

open image in gallery Brent crude oil prices skyrocketed from the start of March ( Trading Economics )

These attacks are also probably war crimes.

But this is moot. The US and Israel believed they could bomb Iran into regime change. They forgot the lessons of recent history  that a threat from a superpower is far more effective than the exercise of that power.

The limits of American-led military operations when it comes to achieving political ends were bitterly exposed with the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Incompetent leaders of the US-led occupying forces set the conditions for a bloody insurgency that led to the establishment of the so-called Islamic State.

open image in gallery An explosion following a strike on a missile facility in Haji Abad, Iran, in a still image obtained from a video on 20 March 2026 ( US Central Command )

It also allowed Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its proxies in Iraq, Damascus (the Assad regime), and Lebanon (Hezbollah) to flourish for two decades.

The IRGC fought in Iraq and watched US-led forces in Afghanistan flounder and bleed and learned that a global superpower can be defeated in the long term.

Among the lessons they observed was the threat from then-president Barack Obama to use force against the then ruler of Damascus, Bashar al Assad, if his forces used chemical weapons. Assad used the globally banned weapons  and America did nothing.

It may have been deemed expedient to leave Assad in power and to abandon the democratic and revolutionary forces trying to drive him out for fear of creating more space for al-Qaeda and Isis.

A failure to act may have been the right thing to do  but Assad and his puppet masters in Tehran did not know that. They gambled, and won  and America didnt have the nerve or the muscle to move against them.

Responding to Trumps threat at the weekend to obliterate Irans oil fields, Tehran said: Any attempt to attack Irans coasts or islands will cause all access routes in the Gulf... to be mined with various types of sea mines, including floating mines that can be released from the coast.

open image in gallery A screengrab of a social media video on 23 March 2026 shows destruction and fire at the Iranian governments electronics industries building in Tehran following a strike ( UGC )

In this case, the entire Gulf will practically be in a situation similar to the Strait of Hormuz for a long time...

This is an insurgent tactic that the US and Israel, who have had years of experience fighting militant insurgencies, failed to take account of.

It may also be a lie. The Iranians may no longer have the capacity to cripple the global economy in this way.

Tehrans threat was also a dare. Would America ever truly gamble on whether Iran can shut down the route for 20 per cent of the worlds oil, most of Europes gas, and on whether the IRGC can, really, shut down the Gulf plants which make at least 80 per cent of the regions water?

Trump has his own insurgent approach to communications. It keeps his friends off balance and serves his enemies.

Signalling alternatively that he is winding down the US war in Iran, then threatening an escalation. He asks for help from allies to open the Strait of Hormuz then dismisses them, including Britain, as cowards that are no longer needed.

open image in gallery Donald Trump has talked of winding down the war, then threatened an escalation ( Reuters )

Gulf countries have seen this behaviour and been dragged into the war with Iran by hosting US bases. Their glistening cities are only habitable because they are powered by gas and oil. Their thirst only quenched by taking the salt out of seawater.

Irans foreign policy under successive ayatollahs is driven by a fundamentalist interpretation of Twelver Shiism. They believe that Iran must remain a conservative theocracy to create the conditions for the Mahdi to reveal himself.

This has driven an obsessive hatred of America and Israel. Iran placed itself at the centre of the Axis of Resistance which included the Houthis, Hezbollah, Hamas, the Assad regime, and militias in Iraq.

Now Tehran is not only at the centre of this axis, it is the focal point of resistance. And it is Americas president who seems to be backing down (probably under pressure from Gulf allies).

open image in gallery A Liberia-flagged tanker carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia, seemingly let through the Strait of Hormuz while the blockade continues ( AP )

Iran appears to have allowed some Indian and Pakistani oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran may be reeling from air attacks that killed supreme leader Ali Khamenei and may have injured his son, and successor, Mojtaba, but it is exploiting opportunities to isolate Trump.

There are no signs that Irans regime is falling or that its long-oppressed and violently abused population is rising against it.

It is trying to extract a price for a war brought to the world by Trump and Netanyahu that none of their friends want to pay.

That is how to beat a superpower.
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Israeli settlers launched a series of violent attacks across multiple Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank overnight Saturday and into Sunday, resulting in smashed cars, widespread fires, and injuries to several individuals. This marks the latest significant escalation of violence in the volatile region.

The official Palestinian news agency WAFA documented assaults in at least six communities on Sunday. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that at least three Palestinians in the village of Jalud sustained head wounds from beatings and required hospitalisation after confronting the settlers. Settlers were also reported to have been injured during these confrontations. This rampage followed the death of an 18-year-old Israeli settler a day earlier, killed in a collision with a Palestinian vehicle near two of the affected villages. Police are currently investigating claims from settlers that the collision was deliberate.

The surge in settler violence coincides with the Israeli government's continued expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank. Such attacks have intensified amidst a broader escalation of violence since the recent conflict in the region began. The Israeli military stated it responded to Israeli civilians engaged in "arson against structures and property, as well as engaging in disturbances in the area," but did not confirm any arrests or indicate whether formal investigations had been initiated.

WAFA reported 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.

open image in gallery Mourners carry the body of Ahmed Hamdan Tabasha, a Palestinian policeman killed in an Israeli military strike, during his funeral at Al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat, southern Gaza Strip, Sunday, March 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana) ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

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. The Palestinian Authority has also documented a series of arson attacks, including on mosques, across the territory.

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 airstrikes 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.
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The captain and first officer of an Air Canada Express flight have died after their aircraft collided with a fire truck on the runway shortly after landing at New Yorks LaGuardia airport.

The aftermath of the tragedy is causing severe disruption for tens of thousands of travellers at the start of the working week.

Flight AC8646 from Montreal was being operated by a 20-year-old CRJ900 aircraft. The plane was carrying 72 passengers, two pilots and two cabin crew.

The pilots had been reportedly cleared to land on runway 04. A recording of air traffic control exchanges suggests that the fire truck was also cleared to cross the runway.

The aircraft and truck collided at 11.38pm local time. The two pilots died and dozens of passengers were hurt. In addition, two emergency responders in the fire truck were injured.

The National Transportation Safety Board has begun an investigation, and LaGuardia airport is closed until at least 2pm on Monday.

When the accident happened, diversions and cancellations began immediately. While LaGuardia is not as busy as New Yorks JFK or Newark airport, it is in the top 20 for passenger numbers in the US. On a typical day, nearly 50,000 passengers arrive or depart at LGA.

Immediately after the collision, multiple aircraft returned to their starting points, including Air Canada from Toronto, Spirit from Chicago and Fort Lauderdale, Frontier from Atlanta and American Eagle from Washington Reagan.

open image in gallery The wrecked CRJ-900 aircraft sits on the runway at LaGuardia Airport in New York ( AFP/Getty )

Thirteen other planes diverted to nearby airports: eight to New York JFK, two to Newark and one each to Baltimore Washington, Washington Dulles and Detroit.

Two aircraft waiting to take off  Frontier to Miami and Republic to Houston  returned to their gates and offloaded passengers.

Operations normally resume at 6am at LaGuardia, with a bank of departures scheduled across the US and eastern Canada.

Data from the airport and Flightradar24 analysed by The Independent indicates that around 500 flights have so far been grounded.

Dozens more are shown as severely delayed, with some American Airlines flights rescheduled for as late as 8pm.

Both JFK and Newark airports run close to capacity. There will be little opportunity for airlines to switch to either airport  or for passengers to find seats on flights to or from those hubs.

open image in gallery Two pilots died when the aircraft struck a fire truck that was also on the runway ( AFP/Getty )

Air passengers rights rules within the US do not require airlines to provide alternative transport or accommodation in the event of disruption if the cause is beyond their control.

Passengers to and from Canada have some additional rights. The Canadian Transportation Agency says: In situations outside its control, the airline operating the flight must ensure that the passengers complete their journey.

Transatlantic flights do not use LaGuardia because it has no international passenger processing facilities. Travellers arriving from Canada have been pre-cleared by US Customs and Border Protection.

In January 2025, 67 people died when an American Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided close to Washington Reagan airport
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They made a mistake; it's a dangerous business: so said Donald Trump in response to a reporters question about the Air Canada Express tragedy at New Yorks LaGuardia airport.

The two pilots of a flight from Montreal died after their aircraft collided with a fire truck on the runway shortly after landing.

It is not clear whether the president was judging the pilots or the air traffic controller on duty when he said a mistake had been made.

To add that its a dangerous business will have shocked aviation safety professionals around the world. The sole purpose of air traffic control is to keep the skies safe. Indeed, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mission statement is: To provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world.

But the latest tragedy has raised questions about overstretch in air traffic control in the US. These are the key issues based on available information 12 hours after the collision.

What do we know happened at LaGuardia?

As flight AC8646 from Montreal was approaching the New York airport, a United Airlines flight, UA2384 from New York to Chicago, rejected take off because of an unidentified smell in the aircraft. The captain then declared an emergency, saying: Flight attendants in the back are feeling ill because of the odour. We will need to go into any available gates at this time.

No gates were immediately available. The air traffic controller was trying to deal with this incident while the flight from Montreal was on short finals before landing on runway 04.

The plane was a 20-year-old CRJ900 belonging to Jazz Aviation, which flies under the Air Canada Express brand. It was carrying 72 passengers, a captain, first officer and two cabin crew.

As the aircraft touched down, a fire truck was cleared to cross the runway.

It appears the controller realised the conflict just as the two converged. He told the fire truck eight times to stop. But it was too late.

Air Canada said on Monday: The captain and the first officer were killed in this accident. We are deeply saddened by the loss of two Jazz employees, and our deepest condolences go out to the entire Jazz community and their families.

Air Canada cannot confirm the exact number of injuries or if there are other fatalities at this time.

Emergency services are on site taking care of injured passengers, and some have been transported to local hospitals.

What was happening in the control tower at the time?

It is believed a single controller was working both the approach to LaGuardia and the ground movements at the airport. In other words, he was issuing instructions to the crew of the incoming aircraft, planes moving on the ground and vehicles on the airfield.

After the collision, a recording indicates the controller told a pilot: We were dealing with an emergency earlier. I messed up.

The pilot responds: No, man, you did the best you could.

The pressure on air traffic controllers in the New York area was a topic in the AvTalk podcast from Flightradar24 in May 2025. Presenter Ian Petchenik said: The workload on air traffic controllers for years has been near impossible.

His co-host Jacob Rabinowitz responded: Yeah. These air traffic controllers that work the New York airspace, they should be candidates for sainthood.

What is the state of air traffic control in the US?

Chronically understaffed and overstretched, according to Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (Natca). Last year he told the House Subcommittee on Aviation: These dedicated professionals continue to work short-staffed, often six days a week, ten hours a day for years at a time, using outdated equipment and in rundown facilities that are in many cases more than 60 years old and are long overdue to be modernised and/or replaced.

Mr Daniels was giving evidence after the collision between a US Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet on final approach to Washington Reagan airport In January 2025. All 67 people in the two aircraft died.

On the night of the crash, two air traffic controllers were handling the jobs of four. The subsequent National Transportation Safety Board report highlighted shortcomings in air traffic control:

Local controller a little overwhelmed about 10-15 minutes before accident

Traffic volume increased about 90 seconds before accident

Controller shifting focus between airborne, ground, and transiting aircraft

Combined positions increased controller workload, reduced situation awareness

Dorothy Robyn, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington DC, says: From 2013 to 2023, the FAA hired only about two-thirds of the controllers called for by its staffing model.

Many FAA air traffic control facilities remain chronically understaffed.

Early in 2025, Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency was accused of decimating jobs at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). But the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said: No air traffic controllers nor any professionals who perform safety critical functions were terminated.

What is changing at US air traffic control?

The FAA claims it has more than 14,000 air traffic controllers. But Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told reporters in May 2025: Were 3,000 short on air traffic control.

The administration says it plans to hire and train several thousand more air traffic controllers over the next several years. The total air traffic controller workforce should grow by more than 2,000 controllers by the end of 2028, the organisation says.

Five days before the Air Canada Express tragedy, Mr Duffy said: The safety team at the FAA has identified the need for enhanced protocols at all airports across the National Airspace System.

The Trump Administration will continue to act decisively to keep you and your family safe when you fly.

Read more: LaGuardia plane crash latest
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Despite a sudden and quite inexplicable easing of tensions between Washington and Tehran, it would be premature to declare any end in sight for the war in the Middle East. Things are far from over.

The prime minister has far more direct experience of Donald Trump than most, and he is therefore right to be extremely cautious about the prospect hinted at by the US president for a return to whatever passes for normality. Sir Keir Starmer, therefore, told senior MPs on the Commons Liaison Committee that the UK must not fall into the false comfort of thinking that there will be a quick and early end to this.

Quite so. The outcome could in fact be much worse for British households and businesses if the International Energy Agency is right about this being the worst energy crisis ever  like the ones in 1973 and 2022 combined.

At least there are signs that government planning for supporting the economy is underway, like ministers convening with the governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, to come up with some contingencies.

However, there should be some realism about what can be achieved, given the costs already incurred in successive crises in recent times.

The problem, even more than in previous episodes  and indeed because of those episodes  is money. Substantial increases in the UK national debt have already occurred from rescuing the banks during the global financial crisis in 2008, from the depressing effects of Brexit since 2016, from the Covid pandemic and now from the energy crisis when the second Ukraine war broke out. They have pushed public debt towards 100 per cent of GDP.

The bill for servicing that debt has risen once again for the UK, to above a wince-inducing 5 per cent on the benchmark gilt yield. Given that the world seems such an unstable place now, and the rate of economic growth so measly, any prudent chancellor would wish to retain some additional headroom for future contingencies, or unknown unknowns, so to speak.

The affordability of rising energy bills at the domestic level is mirrored in the public finances, where, despite some encouraging signs before the Iran war, there is little room for manoeuvre. According to the Office for Budget Responsibility, the total cost of energy support policies in 2022 and 2023 amounted to some 51bn. That is 2 per cent of GDP, almost the equivalent of the defence budget, or about two years worth of growth in the whole economy. It is difficult to see how the measures introduced during those years, by chancellor-turned-prime minister Rishi Sunak, could be easily afforded again.

If the crisis drags on and, say, propels the price of crude to $200 a barrel, every Western government outside the US will run out of options.

Nevertheless, the broad pattern of support that Mr Sunak oversaw is worth replicating if needs be. In his time, he established a flat-rate non-repayable rebate or subsidy for households, amounting to 400, with larger additional payments for those on means-tested benefits and, of course, for pensioner households (a bumper winter fuel payment would feel somewhat ironic for Rachel Reeves).

The principle that the most vulnerable should have the greatest help is a sound one  and the social costs to the NHS from people suffering from maladies in cold and mouldy homes must be taken into account.

This time around Ms Reeves does seem to be more aware of the urgent need for assistance for those who rely on fuel oil or liquefied petroleum gas for heating, notably in rural areas and in Northern Ireland. She will also have to make some attempt to help businesses, which have, as she well knows, been affected by increases in taxes, employers national insurance contributions and minimum wage levels, especially since Labour came to power.

There may be an additional reason to postpone, again, the scheduled increase in fuel duty, since it would increase industrial costs at such a difficult moment.

In the short term, the prime minister is clear that there should be no need for most people to panic over their gas and electricity bills. He is clear that bills will still be cut because of measures we took in the Budget, and then held until the end of June  and that pledge holds even if the war in the Middle East goes on.

After that, and peering towards next winter, theres no doubt that it will be a tough one for many households in the squeezed middle  too prosperous to qualify for subsidies, but not rich enough to be able to absorb the higher bills. Bitter as they may be, they should look to Washington, not Westminster, for someone to blame.
Grid investment must enable rapid deployment of renewables, says solar lobby group

Energy prices continued to soar last week as Middle East conflict rages

Ireland has a target of generating 80pc of its energy needs from renewables, such as solar, by 2030. Photo: Getty

John Mulligan Mon 23 Mar 2026 at 06:30

Government policy, grid investment and planning frameworks must continue to support the rapid deployment of solar and other renewables projects across Ireland, according to the head of a solar lobby group.
Minister John Cummins, Sarah Hickey, senior investment director ISIF, Noel Frisby Snr, An Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Veronica Campbell, President SETU, Minister Mary Butler and Waterford City and County Mayor Cllr Seamus Ryan at the launch of Glassworks Building One. Photo: Patrick Browne

A 43m flagship building of Irelands first co-located university enterprise quarter has been launched on the former Waterford Crystal manufacturing site.

Opened by An Taoiseach Micheal Martin on Monday, Building One at Glassworks will eventually house 800 employees  almost two decades after the closure of the landmark facility on the outskirts of Waterford City.

It is the first milestone in a 37-acre enterprise and innovation campus, located beside the South East Technological Universitys (SETU) academic and research facilities, which is expected to have capacity for up to 6,000 employees.

By bringing together cutting-edge enterprises and SETU side by side at Glassworks, this innovative development will help drive high-quality employment, economic growth, research and education in Waterford and across the south east region, said the Taoiseach.

The Glassworks campus aims to take inspiration from successful models as the University of Nottinghams Innovation Park and the Cortex innovation district in St Louis, Missouri.

Sarah Hickey, senior investment director ISIF, Noel Frisby Snr, Frisby, An Taoiseach Micheal Martin, and Prof Veronica Campbell, President SETU, at the launch of Glassworks Building One on the former Waterford Crystal site in Waterford. Photo: Patrick Browne

The first commercial building has been developed by a joint venture formed between the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) and Frisby, the Waterford-based developers and is expected to be more than 50pc let by next month.

A developing partnership with the university has influenced leading clinical eye care service providers Veonet Ireland to open a day hospital unit in the iconic former Crystal showrooms space. SETU is at the planning stage for a new course in optometry.

As an international business, we engage in clinical research and surgical training and it is very important that we are embedded into the optometry ecosystem, said Veonet Ireland CEO Frank Doheny. We are in discussions with SETU on how we can partner in the areas of training and research.

Glassworks will be a space that links education, research, industry and clinical practice. As an example, we often have to hire clinical optometrists from the UK, and we hope to offer our network to assist in training Irish students in the discipline.

The Health Department has highlighted a need for a 63pc annual increase in optometry student places in Ireland by 2030.

SETUs Nutrition Research Centre Ireland has also led the way in research into nutrition, and eye and brain function. The 80,000 sq ft Building One is Waterfords first purpose-built, BER A3 rated office building that meets LEED Gold and WiredScore Gold standards.

Planning permission has also been granted for a 582-student bed development on adjacent lands.

Glassworks is a gamechanger for the south east, according to SETU President Professor Veronica Campbell.

Designed to transform collaboration between academia and enterprise, it will significantly elevate the regions innovation capability, creating the space, energy, and opportunity for partnership on a scale not previously possible, she said.

By bringing students, researchers, entrepreneurs, and multinationals together in one place, the campus will strengthen the south easts already vibrant innovation network and provide a powerful launchpad for the next generation of ground-breaking ideas to be realised.

Frisby director Noel Frisby Jnr said it is a place where research, creativity, and business ambition can thrive, and where the regional economy will continue to grow.

ISIF is committed to backing transformational projects in Irelands regional cities, and Glassworks is a good example of that ambition, according to Sarah Hickey, a senior investment director at ISIF.

The opening of Building One will strengthen the capacity of Waterford and the wider region for high-value jobs, research and collaboration for many years to come, she said. Building One reflects ISIFs ability to invest commercially whilst supporting long-term regional development.

Its completion contributes to the development of a university enterprise ecosystem that will support innovation and employment across the south east.

Over the coming years, there is potential for the development of further purpose-built buildings to accommodate businesses, researchers and students, all meeting the same stringent sustainability standards as Building One, added a spokesperson.
Ireland has been free of foot and mouth since 2001. Stock image: Getty

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has been confirmed in a cattle herd on the Greek island of Lesvos, the World Organisation for Animal Health has said, prompting renewed warnings for farmers and consumers across Europe.
Family werent told for a week after their brothers body was discovered in a Dublin apartment

Siblings of Jamie Weldon have called for a review into how gardai liaise with relatives when a person dies in tragic circumstances

Jamie Weldons badly decomposed remains were found in his flat on Kevin Street, Dublin on August 19, 2023

Sean McCarthaigh Mon 23 Mar 2026 at 01:00

The family of a Waterford man who were not notified of the discovery of his body in his Dublin apartment for almost a week have called for a review of how gardai liaise with relatives of deceased people who die in tragic circumstances.
A gun smuggler who imported military-grade firearms and sold them to Irish criminal gangs got more than 17,000 in cash returned to him after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) dropped money laundering charges against him.
Worker removing rubble from demolished Meath home warned hed be burnt out if he returned by man with Northern Irish accent, court hears

A solicitor for the couple said alleged threats by third parties have nothing to do with his clients who were out of the countryCourt hears subcontractor employee, working for council, told in threatening phone call his home would be destroyed if he removed rubbleMain haulage company pulled its services as a result, court told

Meath House Demolished

Amy Molloy Mon 23 Mar 2026 at 18:59

A couple whose home has been demolished after it was built without planning permission 20 years ago have given undertakings that they will not interfere with continued works on the site.
Scientists have proven that a wildflower steeped in folklore for its medicinal powers has genuine healing qualities  and the potential to help combat antibiotic resistance.

Tormentil, a yellow wildflower found in heath and boglands in Ireland, the UK and across Europe, can inhibit the growth of one of the worlds most deadly pathogens.
The Lord Mayor of Dublin Ray McAdam has been selected by Fine Gael to contest the Dublin Central by-election this May.

The seat was vacated by Mr McAdams party colleague Paschal Donohoe last year when he took up a position as Managing Director of the World Bank in Washington DC.
Oleksandr Zhyvytskyi died after being stabbed in Cork last week.

Hundreds of people have paid tribute to a young Ukrainian father who died from stab injuries in Cork last week.

The family of Oleksandr Zhyvytskyi (31) has now vowed that his infant daughter, Yeva, will grow up knowing just how much her father adored her.
Our Lady of the Fertile Rock, by George W Walsh, 1992, New Quay (St Patricks Catholic Church). Image: John Glynn

An extensive online archive documenting County Clares stained-glass heritage will be officially launched on Tuesday, March 31.

Titled Clares Stained-Glass, the online archive has been created by Clare-based researcher and photographer John Glynn, bringing together more than five years of research into stained-glass windows from more than 130 religious and secular sites.

The project highlights a significant aspect of Clares cultural heritage, spanning seven centuries from the 14th century to the present day.

Dr David Caron, a leading authority on Irish stained glass, will launch the archive after an introduction by Clare County Council Heritage Officer, Congella McGuire.

The archive documents over 1,000 images of stained-glass windows and their buildings, alongside detailed information including location, Eircode, GPS coordinates, and history.

Each window has its own description and high-quality image with a summary of its title, location, studio, inscriptions and donors.

Designed for use on computer or mobile devices, the archive is intended as a resource for researchers, heritage professionals, students, and the wider public.

Artists and studios represented include Harry Clarke Studios, An Tur Gloine, Earley Studios, Watsons of Youghal, MurphyDevitt Studios, Phyllis Burke, George W Walsh, Willie Earley and Clare-native Catherine OBrien.

The archive also includes Bunratty Castle, home to over 100 medieval and pre19thcentury stained-glass windows sourced from England, Switzerland, Germany and the Benelux region.

The project is supported by The Irish Community Archive Network, National Museum of Ireland, The Heritage Council and Clare County Council Heritage Office.

The archives official launch is supported by Clare County Councils Heritage Office and will take place on Zoom from 7pm to 8pm. Those who wish to attend the launch can do so by emailing ican@museum.ie.
Gardai in County Clare are investigating two drive offs from petrol stations in Ennis as well as a number of thefts and other incidents that were reported recently in the Banner County.

Two drive offs from petrol pumps occurred on Tuesday March 10 at approximately 7pm as the drivers failed to pay for the fill of diesel and petrol. Gardai said this is a nationwide occurrence and is something for petrol station managers to monitor closely.
Families, workers and commuters across Cork North-West are being squeezed to the limit, stated Cork Senator Nicole Ryan as she branded the proposed government fuel measures as too little, too late.

Finance Minister Simon Harris is expected to introduce excise duty cuts at the petrol pumps from Tuesday, March 24.

A cut of one-quarter in excise duties has been mooted, and it is anticipated that Mr Harris will recommend a time-bound reduction in excise duty to assist people at the pumps.

The Tanaiste is also expected to recommend a rebate scheme for hauliers. It is understood he will recommend the measures will remain in place initially for several weeks followed by a review.

It is anticipated within the Government that the reliefs may need to be extended, given the conflict and damage to energy infrastructure in the Middle East.

Senator Ryan said that prices at the pumps have already surged over the weekend and she warned that ordinary workers and families have already been hit by soaring costs. Diesel has jumped so high that any so-called support at this stage simply will not be felt by ordinary people. Families, workers and commuters across Cork North-West are being squeezed to the limit. The reality is simple, if you get up early, go to work, and try to do everything right, you are the one being hit the hardest.

There is no meaningful protection for the squeezed middle, stressed Ms Ryan. No urgency. No foresight. Just more wait and see politics while people struggle to fill their tanks and heat their homes. We are seeing a pattern now, prices go up immediately, but government action comes too late and too weak to make a difference.

People cannot wait weeks for temporary measures that may or may not take the edge off. They need decisive action now, not short-term sticking plasters, she added.

Senator Ryan also criticised the lack of urgency from government TDs in the Cork North West constituency. We have a TD in Cork North-West who chairs the Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection, Deputy OShea, who should be out fighting tooth and nail for people in this constituency. Instead, we are hearing radio silence from government TDs while families and workers are being hammered by rising costs. People expect leadership, not silence.

Ms Ryan pleaded for the Irish Government to urgently introduce real cost-of-living protections that directly benefit workers and families, rather than delayed and limited interventions. This is not just about fuel, its about fairness. And right now, working people are being left behind.
McCarthy Developments have appealed a condition on a Fire Safety Certificate, likely adding several more months to process

Delivery of a brand new strategic housing development in Cork, due to contain 149 apartments split across three blocks, has been slowed down after developers McCarthy Developments objected to a condition of the Fire Safety Certificate for the project.

Construction on Phase 8 at Jacobs Island, which takes in three apartment blocks  blocks 7, 8, and 9  and ranging between six and seven stories in height, began in April 2023, following the granting of planning permission by the then An Bord Pleanala in July 2018.

However, things have now hit a snag as the developers themselves, McCarthy Developments, have lodged an appeal against the first condition of the granted Fire Safety Certificate, which was awarded by Cork City Fire Brigade. However, these certificates are not made publicly available.

With the project now in the hands of An Comisiun Pleanala, it wont be until mid-July before a decision will likely be made on the project, adding a further four-month delay to the development.

Amendments may also need to be made to the Fire Safety Certificate, which would then also need to be re-issued to the developers.
Dylan Walsh will represent North Cork at the national final in the intermediate category with his business DW Sports.

North Cork will be represented by Rory O'Leary, Bill Palmer, Conor O'Leary and Ben Norton in the senior category with their business Crius AI.

Teenage entrepreneurs from the Patrician Academy, Mallow will represent North Cork at this years Student Enterprise Programme National Final on Thursday May 7 in both the intermediate and senior categories.

Over 700 students from 16 schools took part in the annual programme this year, culminating in the recent North Cork final at Springfort Hall Hotel.

The enterprise education initiative is delivered by 31 Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities throughout the country.

Over 30,000 students from over 500 secondary schools participated in this years enterprise education initiative.

The programme supports students to create, design and market their own business, all with the hope of reaching the national final.

Over 440,000 students have participated in the student enterprise programme since it commenced in 2003.

The students have learnt valuable and key skills on how to create a business idea, start a business and grow a business.

Dylan Walsh will represent North Cork at the national final in the intermediate category with his business DW Sports.

North Cork will be represented by Rory O'Leary, Bill Palmer, Conor O'Leary and Ben Norton in the senior category with their business Crius AI, an app developed to help cafe and restaurant owners manage their businesses.

North Cork has seen much success over the years with Smooth Remove from Boherbue Community School going on to claim first place in the national awards in 2019 in the highly competitive senior category.

Eoin and Mark Sheehan from Sheehan Exterior Clean, also from Patrician Academy, won a national award in 2024, while Wrap it Up from Presentation Secondary School, Mitchelstown, previously won the Best Display Award.

The Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Mary Linehan Foley said the students are excellent ambassadors. What our students are learning from the programme is that with the right supports and encouragement, they can take an idea from the classroom and develop it into a real-life business.

The skills they learn along the way, such as business planning, market research, selling and teamwork, will help them become more entrepreneurial throughout their future careers, she added.

The local Cork students will be competing against hundreds of other student entrepreneurs from all over Ireland in the final which will be held on Thursday, May 7 in the Mullingar Park Hotel.
There were 504 convictions for drug offences in Cork in 2025, which represented a 7% decrease on the 2024 figures.

The total convictions for drug offences in the District Court system nationwide rose from 5,202 in 2024 to 5,440 in 2025, which was a 5% increase.

Dublin topped the table of drug offence convictions, with 2,071 people convicted of drug offences in the capital in 2025 - up 11% on 2024.

Cork was in second place with 504 convictions for drug offences in 2025. This figure was down 7% on 2024.

Clonmel district court office recorded the next highest number of people convicted for drug offences in 2025 at 281, which represented a 27% increase on 2024.

Drug convictions in the Mallow district court office were the sixth highest in the country in 2025 with 182 people convicted on drug offences. That figure is up 27% on 2024.

Drug convictions in the district courts in Cork city, at 504, were down 7% on 2024, while drug convictions in Clonakilty district court office were down 50% to 72 drug related convictions in 2025.

Clonakilty recorded the biggest fall in the number of people convicted for drug offences between 2024 and 2025, falling by 50%.

Whilst district court drug convictions in many Irish towns have remained relatively stable or declined, some towns and counties in Ireland have recorded significant rises in the number of people convicted in the district court system on drugs offences.

Drug convictions in the District Courts are well above pre-pandemic levels (2019), with 2021 recording the highest number of drug offence convictions.

There were 4,816 people convicted for drug offences nationally in 2019, 4,151 in 2020, 6,047 in 2021, 5,663 in 2022, 5,497 in 2023, 5,202 in 2024 and 5,440 last year.

Fianna Fail MEP for Ireland South Cynthia Ni Mhurchu warned that the figures point to a broader rise in drug use in Ireland that must be confronted head on.

Ms Ni Mhurchu, a former barrister, said the disparity in drug convictions across the various District Court offices warrants investigation.

She added that drugs in the community are a major concern raised by parents, community leaders, pub owners, and gardai.

The MEP has also previously highlighted a 37% year-on-year rise in drug-driving offences.

Ms Ni Mhurchu has called for the swift implementation of the National Drugs Strategy, 2026- 2029, a government policy initiative that is currently being finalised.

The MEP has also called for a raft of community-based sanctions against those convicted of recreational drug use, higher fines for casual drug use, more detox beds for those with addiction issues, restorative justice programmes and publicity campaigns to tackle social drug use.
I owe this to my children, she wrote in a letter

A woman asked a judge to see if she could remain in prison at Tralee District Court, stating she needed the support provided in jail to overcome a cycle of drug-use and shoplifting.

Louise OBrien (44) of Fountain Court, Tralee appeared for sentencing for a number of theft convictions from various Tralee retailers, in addition to a burglary conviction and a trespass conviction after she passed a barrier at Smyths Toys at Christmas time. The thefts from various Tralee retailers totalled 1,538.25 in value and were committed between June 2024 and August 2025.

Ms OBrien pleaded guilty in February and was remanded in custody so a probation report could be prepared.

With the new report in hand, Judge David Waters suggested a one-month release from custody under the supervision of probation services before sentencing.

But Ms Liston explained her client wished to remain in prison to avail of counselling.

She wants to stay inside because she has those services, said her solicitor, Nuala Liston. That remains her position.

Ms OBrien politely addressed the judge from the dock.

Id like to refuse probation, your honour, she said.

In a letter read by her solicitor before the court, Ms OBrien said she needed months in custody to address her habits and her time served was not enough for permanent change.

I owe this to my children, to give them a chance at a normal life, she said in the letter.

Ms OBrien had been granted bail just before Christmas, taken it up briefly in January and voluntarily relinquished it on January 21.

She has formally indicated she doesnt want probation, said the judge.

Ms Liston said that being incarcerated over Christmas had a profound effect on her clients children and this had cemented her clients determination to change. By refusing probation, Ms OBrien meant no disrespect to the court.

She just feels the structures that she can avail of when she gets out, with small children, are not sufficient, said Ms Liston.

She had told Ms Liston that, if released, she feared she would shoplift again within two weeks.

The judge sentenced her to seven months in prison for the thefts and burglary, to run concurrently and backdated to January 21, taking into consideration the trespass conviction.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
A Kerry councillor has slammed what he has labelled the rotten housing auction system, claiming it could be significantly raising the price of houses in the county.

Councillor Robert Brosnan argues that the lack of transparency during the property bidding process has left prospective buyers at the mercy of cowboyish auctioneers.

A MyHome.ie and Bank of Ireland property report last year found that the opaque process for buying and selling homes is deterring buyers, with lengthy delays often the result of the lack of transparency.

It found that two-in-five homes put on the market are being sold for 10pc or more above the original asking price and one-in-seven at 20pc above.

Cllr Brosnan said Kerry was experiencing increased house prices and this was down to the process being not transparent. He has called on the government to bring in new legislation.

He argued that the lack of bid registration might be allowing sellers to invent bids to push up the sale price. Unlike other countries, Irish agents are not legally obligated to verify that competing offers are real.

I think it's a bit cowboyish what's going on here, to be honest, said Cllr Brosnan.

They're inflating the price of houses [some auctioneers] because there's no actual proper oversight of what's going on.

You talk to anybody that's trying to bid on a house and they're having to bid against people that could be a figment of someones imagination. A lot of the time it's auctioneers, because they're just trying to drive up the price.

I think you could be looking at a 10pc decrease in the price of housing if there was more transparency around the auctioneering system. I think it's absolutely rotten what's happening.

Cllr Brosnan compared Irelands bidding process with the UKs, which generally offers higher transparency and stricter legal checks and balances.

Scotlands system is known for its sealed or blind bids, where offers are submitted and then opened all at once.

Further evidence has come from a study funded by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), which found bids from those taking part in open auctions were pushed higher than they would be if a sealed-bid auction process was used.

Participants in open auctions were more likely to exceed their original budget and to bid higher than their view of what the property was worth, according to Dr Deirdre Robertson of the ESRI, the lead academic carrying out the study.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
A 24-year-old man scaled a ten foot wall to evade Gardai only to be later arrested and put in custody on a separate matter, Sligo District Court heard.

Marcel Szpajda (24) of Goldenridge Close, Skerries Road, Rush, Dublin was charged with impeding Detective Garda Gary Conneely, when called to be searched under the Misuse of Drugs Act, he took off running, assaulting the Garda in the process, and kept running despite being asked numerous times to stop at Short Walk, Ballinode on November 7, 2023.

Garda Conneely told the court that at 1:20pm, he was in plain clothes when he noticed the defendant, whom he knew at ATU Sligo. When Szpajda saw him approaching he hopped on a bicycle and cycled away.

At the Short Walk, Ballinode, Garda Conneely noticed the defendant in conversation with another man, and that he took a large plastic bag out of a carrier bag. When he announced himself to the men, Szpajda put the plastic bag in his Canada Goose jacket and took off running.

Garda Conneely shouted at him to stop to allow himself to be searched and grabbed his jacket but the defendant resisted and struck him in the process.

Garda Conneely shouted at him to stop on three occasions but the defendant continued to desist. Szpajda ran over to Yeats Village and scaled a ten foot wall to get away. Gardai spoke to the man who Szpajda was in conversation with and he informed them that he was there to buy cannabis from him.

Two hours later, the defendant was arrested and placed in custody at Sligo Garda Station on a separate matter. Garda Conneely spoke to the defendant about the incident and he replied no you mad yoke, you must be mistaken.

The court heard that Szpajda has four previous convictions.

Mr Aonghus McCarthy, solictor (defending),asked Judge Liddy if he would consider a probation and welfare report for his client. He added that Szpadja has recently got a job and that his charges were something of a regression for him.

Judge Liddy directed a probation and welfare report in light of his age and adjourned the case to July 16 for sentencing.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.
While plans to reallocate special needs assistants (SNA) in schools across the country were ultimately reversed by the government last month, there remains a fear that this sudden about-turn is only delaying the inevitable and that the same issues will arise in a years time.

Although the number of SNAs in Irish schools will increase by over 1,700 next year, many existing SNAs will be reallocated to where the need is considered greatest; resulting in some schools losing half of their existing special needs assistants. And while 800 of these additional SNAs will be employed in 400 new special classes in mainstream schools, and a further 130 will be assigned to special schools, there is a belief that these numbers will not be enough to meet the demand for SNAs.

Wexford councillor Tom Forde, who is a primary school teacher at the local Educate Together, believes children across the county will suffer unless the guidelines proposed by National Council for Special Education (NCSE) are altered immediately.

A motion submitted by Cllr Forde at the March meeting of Wexford County Council (WCC) noted that, despite an overall increase in SNA numbers nationally, individual schools are losing vital supports that are essential to pupils' safety, participation, wellbeing and access to education.

Referencing the NCSEs criteria for the requirements of an SNA, Cllr Forde said it narrowly interprets" the role as limited to primary care needs and fails to reflect the broader, practical supports SNAs provide in areas such as emotional regulation, communication, engagement and inclusion.

Calling on the NSCE to ensure no child loses SNA support for the coming academic year, Cllr Forde also requested that it update existing policy to reflect modern inclusive education practice and the practical supports that SNAs provide, take into account the views of parents and school staff and all stakeholders, and provide sufficient funding and resourcing to meet the growing needs of students requiring additional supports.

While Cllr Fordes motion received the support of his colleagues, that support came with one qualification.

Requesting that the motion be amended to include assessments for children in pre-school, Cllr Barbara Anne Murphy said this would ensure supports were in place by the time they get to junior infants.

The motion was carried with the amendment and will now be forwarded to the NCSE for review.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
An aerial view of the former Bray Credit Union building, near Main Street. Photo: daft.ie

The interior of the former Bray Credit Union building, near Main Street. Photo: daft.ie

The former Bray Credit Union building on Vevay Road has been placed on the market with a guide price of 795,000, marking the end of an era for a property that served the local community for more than five decades.

Known as Credit Union House or Saint Martins, the building was home to Bray Credit Union (now East Coast Credit Union) from 1968 to 2024, witnessing major milestones including its 25th anniversary in 1989 and 50th anniversary in 2014. The credit union relocated to its new town centre premises nearby last year.

Brought to market by HJ Byrne Estate Agents, the property is described as a prime mixeduse investment opportunity in a prominent location at the top of Main Street. It comprises two groundfloor retail units and a self-contained firstfloor apartment, offering strong rental prospects in a highdemand area.

Both retail units benefit from high visibility, natural light and flexible openplan layouts, with each including a wc. One unit also features a kitchenette. The apartment, accessed via a private entrance hall, includes a bright dining room overlooking Main Street, a well-proportioned kitchen, two spacious bedrooms and a fully tiled bathroom.

The agents describe it as an excellent opportunity for investors seeking a well-located property combining commercial presence with long-term residential potential.

Situated close to shops, services, Dublin Bus routes, Bray Dart Station and the N11, Saint Martins is well positioned in a thriving coastal town. The agents describe it as an excellent opportunity for investors seeking a well-located property combining commercial presence with long-term residential potential.
Wicklow County Councils Active Travel team has been facing a difficult balancing act this month as they moved to allocate a 500,000 windfall for bus stop enhancements across the county.

While the funding from the National Transport Authority (NTA) sounds substantial, the high cost of modern infrastructure means that two thirds of the countys most requested shelters will likely remain on the drawing board until 2027.

Following a public consultation that wrapped up in February 2026, the Wicklow Public Participation Network (PPN) submitted a long list of 62 priority locations where commuters are currently left exposed to the elements.

However, with the NTA estimating the cost of a single shelter, including high-visibility accessibility features and groundworks, at approximately 25,000, the math only allows for roughly 20 new installations across the entire county.

Wicklow is currently in a high-growth phase, but remains below national averages for having the proper infrastructure.

While exact real-time percentages for Wicklow's total stop count compared to the national total are not publicly isolated in a single figure, there are more than 13,350 active bus stops across Ireland. Nationally, only about 18pc (2,400) of these locations have a physical shelter. More than 6,000 locations nationwide consist only of a bus stop pole with no seats or shelters.

In 2025, bus travel in County Wicklow experienced record-breaking growth, significantly outpacing the national average growth rate due to major infrastructure rollouts like BusConnects.

To build on this growth, the NTAs Bus Stop Enhancement Programme has allocated 500,000 annually to each local authority, including Wicklow, for 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Recent expansions with Route 131 (Bray to Wicklow) and Route 133 (Wicklow to Dublin) have added dozens of new stopping points that are currently being audited for shelter suitability.

With 62 sites currently requested by the public, roughly 67pc of proposed improvements will remain unmet in 2026.

Nationally, the NTA is prioritising all-accessible stops, which requires significant pavement and kerb work, often making the installation of a simple shelter more expensive than in previous years.

To qualify for a 2026 shelter, a stop typically must meet these population or usage criteria:

Tier 1: Towns with over 3,000 people (e.g., Bray, Greystones, Arklow, Wicklow town) are prioritised for at least two shelters in each direction at their busiest points.

Tier 2: Towns with over 1,000 people (e.g., Baltinglass, Blessington) are prioritised for at least one shelter in each direction at the busiest stop.

Active Travel Alignment: Stops on the N11/M11 Bus Priority Interim Scheme corridor are given weight as part of the strategic goal to reduce car dependency.

Internal reports suggest the council will prioritise high-growth corridors where passenger numbers surged by up to 30pc last year.

Key sites likely to see diggers in 2026 include:

 Route 133 (Wicklow to Dublin via Rathnew) This is a top priority corridor following a 30pc increase in passenger journeys and over 500,000 trips annually. Infrastructure improvements are being coordinated with Bus Eireann to support new high-capacity vehicles.

 N11/M11 Bus Priority Corridor Significant focus is on the Bus Priority Interim Scheme, which aims to provide dedicated lanes between Junction 4 and 14. Enhanced stops are planned for hubs like Kilmacanogue, Kilpedder, and Newtownmountkennedy to prevent passengers from being passed by full buses during peak times.

 The Blessington Corridor (N81)

Upgrades are scheduled to coincide with the delayed BusConnects rollout in Autumn 2026, where new peak-time routes P43 and P44 will replace the 65 and 65a. Specific safety schemes at Whitestown Lower and Hangman's Bend include new pedestrian footpaths and safer access to stops.

 Local Link and uplands services:

Routes such as the 183 (Wicklow town to Glendalough) are under review for additional shelters to support the 19pc growth in rural passenger numbers.

 BusConnects L-Routes (L1, L2, L3)

Revised plans for these routes (serving Bray, Greystones, and Newcastle) include more frequent services (every 1530 minutes), requiring upgraded stop facilities at new residential termini.

Small villages with pole-only stops are the most likely to stay on the waiting list. Priority is given to Tier 1 and Tier 2 towns (more than 1,000 residents), meaning smaller settlements in the uplands and west Wicklow (parts of Stratford-on-Slaney or rural Aughrim) often lack the passenger numbers to beat out busier commuter hubs.

Despite high demand, west Wicklow continues to face significant infrastructure gaps.

The major 31km upgrade of the N81 (Tallaght to Hollywood Cross) was previously excluded from national priority plans, which limits the council's ability to install permanent shelters in areas where the road itself is deemed unsafe for hard-core surfacing.

Improvements to stops in the Blessington area are tied to the BusConnects rollout, which has been criticised by local TDs for being "far too slow, with major changes now pushed back to autumn 2026.

Even in developed areas, some high-traffic spots are currently excluded from the immediate 2026 build list.

While the Grand Hotel in Wicklow town is a priority, secondary requests for shelters near the Lidl and the Educate Together school remain on the list and are not yet guaranteed for the first 20 slots.

As Wicklow town is a major hub for both Bus Eireann and Wexford Bus, the lack of basic protection at retail and school sites is seen by councillors as a major failure in "joined-up thinking.

While Arklow and Bray previously received 115,974 for transport studies, actual shelter construction is focused on bus priority zones (like Little Bray), potentially leaving peripheral residential stops without protection for another cycle.

Rural routes, such as those served by the Local Link 885, have many stops that consist only of a pole. Because these require significant groundworks to be made all-accessible, they are frequently bypassed in favour of existing hard-stand areas in larger towns.

For local politicians, a bus shelter isn't just a piece of plastic and metal, its a visible, high-stakes win for their constituents. Having to tell 40 communities that theyve been deferred is a political nightmare.

Councillors in the west are furious that the vast majority of the 7.6 million Active Travel fund is being swallowed by Bray and Greystones projects (like the Bray Dart Interchange). They argue that, while the coast gets fancy plazas, rural commuters on the N81 are standing in ditches waiting for a bus that might be full when it arrives.

The NTA prioritises passenger volume, but councillors contend that numbers are low in places like Glenealy or Aughrim because there is no shelter, and nobody wants to wait 20 minutes in the rain with no cover. To them, the NTAs math is flawed because it ignores the safety risk of people standing on high-speed road verges.

In Blessington, local reps are feeling the heat because the BusConnects rollout has been pushed to autumn 2026. They were counting on those new routes and shelters to be a good news story, but instead, they must explain another winter of pole-only stops to frustrated commuters.

After Storm Chandra caused massive road damage in late January, councillors in the west were worried that the already small 500,000 for bus stops might be delayed, as the council's engineers were pulled away to fix collapsed culverts and craters in the regional roads.

The local authority is to now consider the community recommendations to improve bus stops around the county.

Cllr Stephen Stokes who chairs the Transportation, Infrastructure Delivery and Emergency Services, Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) presented the findings at their latest meeting following a period of consultation.

The submitted recommendations particularly focus on the installation of additional shelters to protect passengers from adverse weather, improved lighting to enhance safety during darker hours, upgraded seating and hard-standing surfaces to improve accessibility, along with clearer signage.

Cllr Stokes emphasised the importance of ensuring that public transport infrastructure keeps pace with the countys growing population and increased demand for sustainable travel options.

He was disappointed that the full allocation was not spent by Wicklow County Council in 2025.

As Wicklow continues to grow, we must ensure our public transport infrastructure meets modern standards. This programme represents an opportunity to address long standing gaps and ensure that no community is left behind. I am urging Wicklow County Council to re-double our efforts to ensure that the full allocation is spent. There is no shortage of suitable sites.

The councils Active Travel office is expected to release the final shortlist by late spring. For the 40+ communities that don't make the cut, their requests will move to a multi-annual waiting list, pending future NTA grants.

For now, thousands of Wicklow commuters will continue to keep their umbrellas close as they wait for their bus stops to be modernised.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
The Dublin model and influencer on the love and loyalty of her pet lurchers, Leonard and Charlie

Charlie was so broken when I rescued him; it was from Leonard, my other lurcher, that he learned how to be a dog again. When Charlie arrived, I was a bit scared for him, but very quickly the two dogs were like long-lost brothers.

I was only 20 or 21 when I got Leonard from the DSPCA. Ten years on and hes been through so much with me that I realise Ive actually grown up with him. The very same week that I got Leonard, I moved home from London and I also started on Dancing with the Stars!

Lennie was in pretty bad shape; there were serious behavioural problems and hed already been through a few failed foster situations. I can fix him, I thought. He was a total pain, though, and it took a lot of patience.

Thalia Heffernan with her dogs Charlie and Leonard. Photo: Frank McGrath

Hed been abandoned in a box in a field when he was only a few weeks old; his crying had attracted attention so hed worked out that, if he cried, somebody would come. By the time I got him when he was around 10 months, his separation anxiety was very severe  even if I left him for a minute to get something from the car, he cried like a banshee.

When I moved back to the UK with my boyfriend, Lennie came too, but my mum missed him, so I contacted the DSPCA about another lurcher. They had one, they said, but he was in very poor condition. That turned out to be Charlie, aged somewhere between two and five back then. Hed been hit by a car and also had severe mange. Poor Charlie had been tied up for a very long time; he wouldnt make eye contact, and he flinched when you touched him.

My mum said shed foster Charlie for me, and then, when she went to collect him, she saw Bailey, a whippet, so Bailey came too and became Mums dog.

Once Charlie and Leonard were both together with me, it was back to square one with Charlie with all his training that summer. I am such an advocate for how you have to put the work in  and its so worth it.

I feel that the two dogs will be with me forever and it fills me with dread when I look at Charlie these days, noticing him getting grey and seeing how his eyes are glazing over with age. I mean, I love my family very much, but that family includes Leonard and Charlie  they are my chosen family, after all. They give my life such purpose, and having a job like mine that is so up and down, the consistency that the dogs give me is really valuable. Then theres all that love and loyalty  I need them just as much as they need me.

Lurchers and greyhounds are incredible house pets, but when it comes to exercise, they are very lazy  some days you have to drag them out, and if its raining, well, forget it!

Im a charity ambassador for the DSPCA and there are so many dogs like Lennie and Charlie in animal shelters. For me, to buy a dog is just ludicrous. To rescue is to give a dog a second chance at life. So why on earth wouldnt you do that?

As told to Roslyn Dee
Britain dismisses Israeli claim that Iranian missiles could hit the UK

Benjamin Netanyahu has doubled down on comments after Chagos attack

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted Iran can strike deep into European territory. Photo: AP

Kate Devlin UK Independent Mon 23 Mar 2026 at 06:30

The UK is safe from Iranian missiles, the British government has insisted as it played down shock claims Tehran has developed long-range firepower capable of reaching London.
Volodymyr Zelensky calls for redoubling of sanctions pressure on Russia ahead of talks with US aimed at ending Ukraine war

President increasingly concerend about the impact Iran war will have on US capacity to help Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appearing on the BBC 1 current affairs programme, 'Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg' which aired yesterday. Photo: PA Wire

Pavel Polityuk Reuters Mon 23 Mar 2026 at 06:30

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged allies to keep up sanctions pressure on Russia ahead of a second day of talks between Ukrainian and US delegations on ways to end the four-year-old war triggered by Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
An Israeli airstrike on a police vehicle on Sunday killed three people in the middle of the Nuseirat camp in the central Gaza Strip, health officials said, hours after another person was killed in a strike on northern Gaza.
Savannah Guthrie and mother Nancy Guthrie, who has been missing since early January. Photo: Getty

TV presenter Savannah Guthrie and her siblings have issued a desperate plea to the local community in Arizona, begging neighbours 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 realise is significant, the host of NBCs Today show said in a new statement on Instagram.
US Treasury chief says people should have empathy for Trump after president said he was glad Robert Mueller was dead

Bessent said the president was impacted by a 2022 raid on his Mar-a-Lago retreat  which Mueller was not a part of

Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he departs the White House on his way to Florida on Friday. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Ariana Baio UK Independent Mon 23 Mar 2026 at 06:30

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has defended Donald Trump for celebrating Robert Muellers death, saying the US president deserved empathy because he and his family had been through a lot because of various investigations.
Rethinking Payroll Under Indias Income Tax Rules 2026: Employer Accountability in Salary and TDS

With the Income-tax Act, 2025 and the Income-tax Rules, 2026 taking effect this April 1, payroll is shifting from a routine back-office task to a high-stakes tax governance function. Employers must master new valuation norms for perquisites and real-time TDS accuracy to mitigate rising litigation risks and ensure seamless compliance.

Indias Income Tax Rules, 2026, introduce a more structured and disclosure-driven framework for the taxation of salaries, allowances, and employee benefits. While the core principles of salary taxation remain anchored in the Income-tax Act, 2025, the new rules expand the depth of reporting, clarity in valuation, and accountability expected from employers.

Under the Income-tax Act, 2025, the scope of taxable salary is deliberately broad. It includes not only fixed pay but also allowances, bonuses, commissions, perquisites, and profits in lieu of salary. In essence, any benefit arising from employment, whether received in cash or kind, is taxable unless specifically exempt. The rules build on this foundation by prescribing how such components must be classified, valued, documented, and reported.

For businesses, this combined framework is a shift from routine payroll compliance to continuous tax governance. Employers must now ensure accurate classification of compensation components, robust documentation for exemptions, and precise tax deduction at source (TDS) calculations throughout the year.

CLICK HERE: CBDT Notifies Income-tax Rules 2026: What Companies & Foreign Investors Must Know

A structural shift in employer compliance under Indias new income tax laws

The 2026 tax rules reflect a broader policy transition:

From aggregate salary reporting to component-level transparency Approximation-based taxation to rule-based valuation, and Year-end adjustments to real-time TDS accuracy

This change is rooted in the expansive scope of the Income-tax Act, 2025, which brings within its ambit not only regular salary but also non-cash benefits such as housing, vehicles, and equity-linked incentives, as well as indirect payments like joining bonuses or termination compensation.

As a result, payroll is no longer a back-office function. It has become a critical compliance interface, particularly for organizations with complex compensation structures, geographically dispersed employees, or significant use of incentives and benefits.

Salary structuring: Greater scrutiny on compensation design

Indias new tax rules reinforce a clear distinction between:

Salary Allowances Perquisites Profits in lieu of salary

This distinction has important implications. While employers have traditionally relied on flexible compensation structures to optimize tax outcomes, such arrangements are now subject to greater scrutiny. The emphasis has shifted toward ensuring that each component of compensation reflects its true economic substance and is aligned with prescribed tax definitions.

In practice, this requires organizations to reassess their cost-to-company (CTC) structures. Each element of compensation must be clearly classified, supported by appropriate documentation, and capable of withstanding regulatory review. Structures designed primarily for tax efficiency, without a defensible basis, may no longer be sustainable.

Advisory insight

Employers should reassess their cost-to-company (CTC) structures to ensure that each component is defensible, clearly documented, and compliant with valuation rules.

Payroll and Salary-Related Forms Form under Income-tax Rules 1962 Forms revised under Income-tax Rules 2026 Description Form 12B and 12BAA Form 122 Form for furnishing details of income for the purposes of making deduction where income is chargeable under the head salaries Form 12BA Form 123 Statement showing particulars of perquisites, other fringe benefits or amenities and profits in lieu of salary with value thereof Form 12BB Form 124 Statement showing particulars of claims by an employee for deduction of tax Form 16 Form 130 Annual TDS certificate Form 24Q Form 138 Quarterly statement of deduction of tax in respect of salary paid to employee, or income of specified senior citizen. Form 10E Form 39 Form for claiming relief in case of receipt of additional salary, or gratuity or Retrenchment Compensation or commutation of pension.

Source: Income Tax Department, Government of India.

HRA and allowances: Documentation and metro expansion

While the fundamental formula for calculating House Rent Allowance (HRA) exemptions remains anchored in the salary base, the Income-tax Rules, 2026 introduce two transformative changes that employers must integrate into their April 1 payroll cycle: the expansion of Metro benefits and heightened disclosure of landlord relationships.

1. The 50 percent HRA expansion: From 4 to 8 Cities

Under the previous 1961 Act, only the Big 4 (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai) qualified for the 50 percent HRA exemption limit. The 2026 Rules officially expand this list to include four additional high-growth economic hubs.

The 50 percent bracket is applicable to eight cities, i.e., Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, and Ahmedabad. The 40 percent HRA bracket will be applicable to all other cities and towns across India.

Payroll systems must be updated to ensure employees in these four new metro cities receive the higher benefit of exemption, which can significantly reduce their taxable income.

2. Mandatory relationship disclosure in Form 124

The most critical compliance shift is the replacement of Form 12BB with the new Form 124. To curb the practice of proxy rent receipts, the 2026 Rules now require employees to explicitly disclose their relationship with the landlord.

The scrutiny trigger: If an employee pays rent to a relative (e.g., parents or a spouse), the transaction must be supported by a formal rent agreement and bank transfer proof.

PAN requirement: Mandatory disclosure of the landlords PAN remains for annual rent exceeding INR 100,000 (US$10,648.4).

3. Evidence-linked allowances

Exemptions for other allowances, such as travel, conveyance, and uniform expenses, are now more tightly linked to actual expenditure incurred under the Income-tax Act, 2025. This move reduces the scope for standardized or assumption-based exemptions.

Implications for employers

Form migration: Immediately transition from Form 12BB to Form 124 for collecting employee investment and exemption claims.

Validation protocols: Payroll teams must validate exemption claims with robust supporting documents. Digital systems for collecting and verifying proofs (e.g., digitized rent receipts and utility bills) are no longer optional but essential for Year Zero compliance .

. Policy standardization: Standardize reimbursement policies across all locations to ensure the economic substance of an allowance matches its tax-exempt status.

Year Zero refers to the first year of implementation (FY 2026-27) of the new payroll tax framework under the Income-tax Act, 2025 and Income-tax Rules, 2026. It represents a transition phase for employers, where: New forms, valuation rules, and reporting requirements come into force

Payroll systems, policies, and documentation processes must be realigned

Compliance expectations are highest, with increased scrutiny from tax authorities In short, Year Zero is the baseline year for full compliance, where errors, gaps, and system weaknesses are most likely to surface, and where proactive adaptation is critical to avoid future tax risks.

Perquisites and incentives: Expanded tax visibility

One of the most critical impacts of the new rules lies in the detailed valuation of perquisites and employee benefits. While the new Income-tax Act already includes such benefits within the taxable salary base, the Income-tax Rules 2026 provide detailed methodologies for determining their value.

Taxable perquisites now clearly include:

Employer-provided housing and vehicles Interest-free or concessional loans Employee stock option plans (ESOPs) and equity-linked compensation Club memberships, utilities, and personal expense reimbursements Gifts and non-cash benefits beyond prescribed thresholds

Advisory insight

Compensation elements that were previously considered tax-efficient or loosely structured are now subject to greater visibility and enforcement. Employers must therefore:

Conduct a comprehensive review of all employee benefits Reassess senior management and expatriate compensation packages Evaluate the tax impact of ESOPs and long-term incentives

TDS compliance: A strategic function, not a routine task

The obligation to deduct TDS, under the Income-tax Act, 2025, requires employers to estimate annual taxable income and deduct tax accordingly at the time of payment. Indias 2026 tax rules notably expand the operational complexity of this requirement.

Employers must now ensure:

Accurate computation of taxable income after exemptions and deductions Consideration of income from previous employers Proper application of the employees chosen tax regime Continuous adjustment for salary changes during the year

This evolution transforms TDS from a routine deduction exercise into a strategic function requiring coordination across HR, payroll, and finance teams.

As the Income-tax Rules, 2026 introduce microscopic scrutiny over HRA and perquisites, the increase in the standard deduction to INR 75,000 (up from the legacy INR 50,000) serves as a critical compliance offset. This 50% expansion in documentation-free relief provides a necessary buffer for employers, allowing for streamlined payroll processing even as the broader Income-tax Act, 2025 demands higher levels of granular verification.  Krishan Aggarwal, Operations Director, Dezan Shira & Associates, India Office..

Employee lifecycle events: Higher tax sensitivity under the new income tax framework

An employee lifecycle events, such as onboarding, exits, and bonus payouts, require closer attention under the new framework.

Key considerations:

New joiners: Accurate capture of prior employment income is essential Exits: Tax treatment of gratuity, leave encashment, and severance must be correctly applied Arrears and bonuses: Relief provisions exist but require precise computation

These scenarios necessitate standardized internal processes to ensure consistency and compliance across all stages of employment.

Rising compliance and litigation risk

The enhanced granularity of the rules increases exposure to compliance risks, particularly in areas such as:

Misclassification of salary components

Incorrect valuation of perquisites

Inadequate documentation for exemptions

Short deduction or delayed deposit of TDS

Consequences of such lapses can be severe. This may include:

Interest and penalties

Disallowance of expenses

Increased scrutiny during audits and assessments

Advisory insight

The rules effectively shift a greater share of compliance responsibility and risk onto employers.

Strategic implications for businesses

Beyond compliance, the Income-tax Rules, 2026, have broader implications for how organizations design and manage compensation.

Rethinking compensation structures: Employers may need to move toward simpler, more transparent salary models, reducing reliance on complex allowances and benefits.

Investing in payroll technology: Manual processes are increasingly unsustainable. Automated payroll systems with built-in tax logic will be critical for compliance.

Policy standardization: Organizations with multi-location operations should align compensation and reimbursement policies to ensure consistency.

Enhancing employee communication: Employees must be informed about:

Tax regime choices

Documentation requirements

Impact of compensation components on tax liability

Clear communication can reduce disputes and improve compliance outcomes.

Practical checklist for employers

To effectively align with the Income-tax Act, 2025, and the Income-tax Rules, 2026, businesses should undertake a comprehensive review of their payroll and compensation practices. This includes:

Review and rationalize salary structures Audit all perquisites and employee benefits Upgrade payroll and tax computation systems Implement robust documentation and verification processes Train HR and payroll teams on updated rules Conduct periodic TDS reconciliations

Conclusion

The Income Tax Rules, 2026, reinforce the governments broader objective of enhancing transparency, standardization, and compliance in salary taxation.

For employers, this represents a fundamental shiftfrom periodic compliance to continuous, system-driven tax management. Organizations that adapt early by strengthening their payroll infrastructure, refining compensation strategies, and improving internal controls will not only mitigate tax risks but also build greater credibility in an increasingly regulated environment.

(US$1 = INR 93.91)
'It's legal' isn't enough anymore

HuffPost

The 'power imbalance' lens

Remember when Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds were spotted in New York pushing a stroller a few days after a court dismissed Justin Baldonis $400 million defamation case against her?







Now it looks like Justin is preparing to appeal.







I am curious, was it an empty stroller for a pic.twitter.com/iBndaYWbTM





 Queen Esther (@XOQueenEsther) February 28, 2026

The internet made judgement louder (and faster)

But is this conversation going too far?

This isn't really about age; it's about control

A generation hyper-aware of power: Gen Z has grown up questioning authority, from institutions to relationships. Age gaps become a visible easy-to-spot symbol of imbalance, even when the reality is more complex.

Gen Z has grown up questioning authority, from institutions to relationships. Age gaps become a visible easy-to-spot symbol of imbalance, even when the reality is more complex. The 'protective instinct' of online culture: Theres a strong tendency to protect, especially younger people, from potential harm. But that can sometimes turn into over-policing other peoples choices.

Theres a strong tendency to protect, especially younger people, from potential harm. But that can sometimes turn into over-policing other peoples choices. Black-and-white thinking in a viral world: social media rewards clear takes, "This is wrong" and "This is toxic".

Fear of being taken advantage of: At its core, this conversation reflects a shared anxiety: what if I don't know enough yet to protect myself?

So...are age gaps actually bad?

A five-year age gap? Fine. Three years? Totally normal. Ten years? Debate mode activated.Well, if you have spent even five minutes on X or TikTok, you already know: Gen Z has opinions about age-gap relationships. And not just casual takes, full-on discourse threads, comment wars, and moral breakdowns.Because for this generation, it's not just about legality. It's about ethics.Older generations often leant on one simple rule: if both people are adults, it's fine.Gen Z? We are not convinced. The conversation has shifted to questions like Is there a power imbalance? Is one person more experienced, financially or emotionally? Did the relationship start when one person was barely an adult?That's why relationships like Aoki Lee Simmons's and Vittorio Assaf's sparked such intense reactions online, reports. However, yes, they both were adults, but the gap felt uncomfortable to many.And it's not just one case.Couples like Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Sam Taylor-Johnson or Billie Eilish and Jesse Rutherford have all faced scrutiny, not because they broke laws, but because they raised questions.A big reason for this shift? We grew up in the era of the #MeToo movement.That means we are more aware of consent, we understand manipulation and coercion, and we question who holds power in a relationship. So when there's a noticeable age gap, many immediately ask, "Who has the upper hand here?"Even long-term couples like Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds or Beyonce and Jay-Z get re-examined through this lens.Age-gap relationships have always been judged. The difference now? We don't just think it, we post it. Comment sections have become real-time ethics panels. People are calling things out publicly, labelling dynamics as "problematic", and debating strangers relationships like case studies.And increasingly, the younger partner is seen as the one being wronged, not blamed, a big shift from older narratives like gold digger".Here's where things get messy. Terms like 'grooming', which describe serious abuse, are now being used more loosely online. And some experts worry that it dilutes the meaning of the word, it turns every age gap into a red flag, and it removes nuance from real situations.Because not every age-gap relationship is harmful. And not every same-age relationship is healthy.Our obsession with age gaps reflects something deeper than dating preferences.Nuance doesnt go viral as easily. So complicated relationships get reduced to simple labels.So instead of trusting every situation, Gen Z questions all of them.Sometimes, yes. Sometimes, no. Most of the time, it depends. Gen Z isnt wrong for asking questions. But not every relationship fits into a viral hot take.
Window on the West Bank

Date:

Saturday, March 28, 2026

Time:

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Event Type:

Panel Discussion

Organizer/Author:

San Jose Against War

Location Details:

San Jose Peace & Justice Center

48 South 7th Street

San Jose, CA 95112

While devastation, displacement, and catastrophic humanitarian crisis have unfolded in Gaza, the West Bank of Palestine also faces escalating challenges to survival and existence. Palestinians have undertaken extraordinary measures just to live and persevere in their homes and homeland.



Alex Dillard and Sharat Lin share observations after recent visits to the Occupied West Bank.



- Free and open to the public

- Wheelchair accessible



Sponsored by San Jose Against War

Co-sponsored by the San Jose Peace & Justice Center and Human Agenda
Wesley Chang, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Drexel University, chats with Maureen Tang, associate professor of chemical and biological engineering. Read more

Listen to article  0:00 min

If vehicle prices are upsetting to American consumers, electric vehicle prices might be called just short of shocking.

For a variety of manufacturing and supply reasons, buyers have been paying up to $11,000 more on average for solely electron-fed vehicles vs. gasoline-powered since the end of 2023.

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But a pair of Drexel University professors are working to mitigate some of the cost of making of EV batteries, potentially lowering the prices of EVs on dealer lots.

In a lab at Drexels Center for Automation Technology, overlooking 30th Street Station, Wesley Chang, an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, directs six researchers as they test new materials for battery electrodes.

Hes also working with colleague Maureen Tang, an associate professor of chemical and biological engineering, as the two aim to develop less expensive methods to test batteries, a critical part of the manufacturing process.

Whats different about the new battery electrodes?

One step of the process for making electric vehicle batteries involves using a solvent to coat the electrodes with materials that can conduct electricity, then using an oven to dry the material. Changs work would allow a dry process, eliminating industrial ovens and reducing the electricity cost.

The use of the toxic organic solvent NMP can take up almost half of the manufacturing cost of a battery because of the large ovens and infrastructure needed for its use, Chang explains.

The cost of an EV battery is about 70% from materials and 30% from manufacturing, according to a recent article from tech publication IEEE Spectrum, citing data from consultancy Thunder Said Energy.

How would battery testing change if Drexel researchers are successful?

Meanwhile, Chang and Tang are each studying processes that could make battery testing easier.

Changs testing process involves contact-free ultrasound while Tangs is in electrochemical fluorescence microscopy. Both methods allow scientists to measure the electrodes without contact, which is useful because the batteries themselves must be kept inside oxygen-free, moisture-free chambers in the lab. Both have patents pending.

The ultrasound is not unlike that used in prenatal screening  in that process, a water-based gel coats the wand so it can contact the skin with no gaps. But Chang found a way to apply ultrasound without contact, gels, or fluid. The scientists simply shoot sound waves at the electrode to measure density.

Tangs testing process uses ultraviolet light to show where the electrons can move in and out of the electrodes. They have to move easily for the electrodes to work.

Both innovations streamline the battery testing process, which Tang says can take weeks or months.

Its very expensive because it takes a long time, and if you messed up you have to go back and fix your recipe, and you wont know if its a good recipe for a long time, Tang explained.

Were trying to invent new ways of testing that tell you if things are working or failing faster.

How can electric vehicles become more affordable?

EVs cost more than gasoline vehicles. The upcharge can vary widely month to month, depending on overall transaction prices and sales. Its actually shrunk to $6,575 in February. Surprisingly, price data doesnt show a big jump in the price difference since federal rebates ended in October.

But its hard to draw conclusions from the most recent pricing data.

Weve had an atypical year  because of all the winter storms, the sales have been pretty depressed and I want to say EV sales would be naturally [down] as well, said Jessica Caldwell, head of insights at the automotive website Edmunds.

Still, lowering the manufacturing costs of batteries could have a real effect on EV prices, and on their attractiveness to potential buyers.

The battery can account for up to 40% of the price of an electric vehicle, according to Stephanie Valdez Streaty, Cox Automotives director for industry insights.

The Drexel research theyre working on, that dry coating, is so important, Valdez Streaty said. In order to get those EV prices to go down, we need the battery cost to go down.

She noted other ways to lower battery costs have been through chemistry. Recently manufacturers have started to use more lithium iron phosphate batteries in EVs, which removes expensive components like cobalt and nickel.

Valdez Streaty noted EV prices could fall further for other reasons, like Fords universal EV platform, which reduces manufacturing costs, and the overcapacity of battery and EV factories, which could drive down demand.

Still, the price of EVs has already dropped tremendously since the introduction of the Nissan Leaf over 15 years ago. In 2010, EVs cost about $1,000 per kilowatt-hour. Last year the average was $108 per kWh, Valdez Streaty said. That gives buyers more range and charging speed for their money.

Furthermore, the rising price of gasoline amid the war in Iran could make EVs an even more attractive proposition. The war closed the oil-shipping channel the Strait of Hormuz, clogging up about 34% of the worlds crude oil supply.

Indeed, Edmunds reports that its highest rate of EV searches in 2026 happened the week ending March 15, accounting for 23.8% of searches.

As for dry manufacturing, companies like Anaphite in Bristol, England, and Sakuu in San Jose, Calif., are also working on more efficient processes for making EV batteries, according to IEEE Spectrum.

Tesla has confirmed on various websites that its 4680 battery can be made using a dry manufacturing process, though information surrounding their advances can be difficult to verify.

Back at the Drexel lab, the research carries on. Chang and Tang each have had $70,000 projects sponsored by the Manufacturing PA Innovation Program of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Both have worked with Arkema, a multinational manufacturer of specialty materials based in Paris, which has a battery research and development center in the Philadelphia area.

The goal is to complement what industry does, not necessarily to compete with them, because universities and companies, they have different kinds of goals, Tang said, Were trying to build things that give us more information about a battery faster, rather than necessarily making a better battery altogether.
Listen to article  0:00 min

Haverford College students plan to discuss and possibly vote on a resolution that calls on President Wendy Raymond to establish a review committee that would consider whether to strip megadonor and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnicks name from the library.

The move follows concerns expressed by Haverford students and alumni about Lutnicks ties to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Lutnick, a 1983 graduate and former chair of the colleges board of managers, had contact with the late financier as recently as 2018, long after Epstein pleaded guilty to obtaining a minor for prostitution and soliciting a prostitute, according to documents released by the U.S. Justice Department earlier this year.

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Students are scheduled to discuss the resolution Sunday afternoon at a plenary session, where students will debate and vote on important campus issues. At least 66% of the student body has to be present at the session for votes to be taken, and to pass, a resolution must win a simple majority.

 READ MORE: Haverford president is considering convening committee to review Howard Lutnicks name on campus library

If approved, the resolution would go to Raymond, who would have 30 days to accept it in full or part or reject it. If Raymond convenes a committee, she would then consider its recommendations and make her recommendation to the external affairs committee of the board of managers, as well as to its chair and vice chair. The external affairs committee then would make its recommendation to the full board of managers.

Under Haverfords gift policy, the school can rename a building if the continued use of the name may be deemed detrimental to the college, or if circumstances change regarding the reason for the naming.

Raymond said last month she is considering forming a review committee to consider whether Lutnick  who has given the school $65 million and is one of its biggest donors  should keep his name on the library. She said at that time a growing number of Fords have written to express their dismay about Lutnicks ties to Epstein, which included a visit by Lutnick and his wife to Epsteins private island.

I feel it is extremely difficult for survivors of sexual violence to see that name and know it is so closely associated with a man who has perpetuated violence and harm to so many people, Milja Dann, 19, a sophomore psychology major from Woodbury, N.J., told The Inquirer last month.

 READ MORE: Howard Lutnicks name is on the library at Haverford College. Will that change after his appearance in the Epstein files?

During congressional testimony, Lutnick said he visited Epsteins private island with his family in 2012. Lutnick previously said he had not been in a room with Epstein, whom he found disgusting, since 2005.

A Commerce Department spokesperson told the Associated Press in January that Lutnick had had limited interactions with Epstein, with his wife in attendance, and had not been accused of wrongdoing. Lutnick told lawmakers during his testimony: I did not have any relationship with him. I barely had anything to do with him.

Having the library named after Lutnick reflects poorly on Haverford College and is detrimental to the colleges reputation, the student resolution states.

The resolution also asks the college to include student representation on the review committee along with staff from several offices including institutional diversity, equity and access. It calls on college leadership to stand in solidarity with victims of assault.

And it asks Haverfords board of managers to consult directly with students before making final decisions to rename the library and on whom it would be named for.

The resolution also calls into question Lutnicks leadership at Cantor Fitzgerald, the New York City financial firm where he formerly served as chairman. The Securities and Exchange Commission charged the firm in 2024 with violating laws related to regulatory disclosure, and Cantor agreed to pay a civil penalty. Cantor Gaming in 2016 agreed to pay $16.5 million in penalties to the federal government to resolve a criminal investigation into the companys past involvement in illegal gambling and money laundering schemes, according to a release from the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Cade Fanning, the associate editor of the Clerk, Haverfords student newspaper, said the resolution has a very good chance of passing.

People are very unhappy with Howard Lutnick and his dealings with Jeffrey Epstein, Fanning said. I think a lot of people really dont want that to be the public face of our college.
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker is with Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. (center) at McDaniel Elementary School on Monday as Reginald Streater, president of the Board of Education, speaks during announcement of the mayors proposed $1-per-ride Uber and Lyft tax to help bail the Philadelphia School District out of a budget deficit. Read more

Listen to article  0:00 min

Mayor Cherelle L. Parker on Monday unveiled a proposal to impose a $1-per-ride tax on rideshare services like Uber and Lyft to help close the Philadelphia School Districts budget deficit.

Parker had pitched a 20-cent-per-ride fee in her budget address earlier this month. She is now moving to quintuple the proposed fee after the district revealed the extent of its cash crunch  a move that, if passed, would represent the largest city increase in recurring revenue in more than a decade.

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Im putting this proposal on the table because we need to do all that we can so that students dont have to suffer from these devastating cuts, Parker said.

The new tax, which would take effect Jan. 1, would raise about $48 million per year for the district as it faces a $300 million fiscal cliff. Parkers previous version of the rideshare fee would have generated only $9.6 million per year for the district.

Parker and Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. announced the proposal at McDaniel Elementary in Point Breeze on Monday afternoon as part of a broader package meant to aid the district. The package includes a plan to provide free SEPTA fares for certain district employees, a $3 million-per-year program the district will pay for with proceeds from the rideshare fee.

Parker also announced the city will fund a pilot program with the Philadelphia Parking Authority that will pay for parking tickets for low-income residents. That will allow some Philadelphians to access cars that have been impounded. And it will benefit Philly schools because the PPA is required to send a portion of its net operating proceeds to the district.

The pilot will cost $3 million per year, and will last three years.

The rideshare tax is likely to be unpopular, Parker said, but given Watlingtons recent announcement that he had to make $225 million in classroom cuts for the 2026-27 school year, including losing teaching, counseling and climate positions and raising some class sizes, shes ready for a fight.

In order to build on our students success and to increase economic mobility over the long term, we must help our school district on this trajectory for our children, the mayor said, adding that for elected officials, its not enough to give a good speech. You need to figure out how you are going to drive dollars.

We are with you

Earlier this month, Watlington indicated he would cut 340 school-based positions to make ends meet.

Principals have said those austerity measures would mean losses of teachers, counselors, climate staff, programs, and supplies that one school leader said would mean we simply will not have the bandwidth or the budget to meet the needs of our building.

 READ MORE: From losing teachers to slashing supply budgets, Philly principals detail what $225 million in cuts could mean to their schools

But Parkers rideshare tax would pay for the restoration of 200 positions, and district officials said they found funds to save an additional 40 jobs  130 teachers, 55 student climate staff, and 55 other school-based positions.

Watlington said the district will still need to cut 100 positions, even with the mayors proposal, though no layoffs are planned. The superintendent still wants to shed 220 building substitute jobs and make $130 million in central-office cuts, including slashing contracts it deems have low return on investment.

But Parkers money will make a big difference, Watlington said. The superintended lauded Parkers bold commitment, which he said will help us serve to continue down the road of being the fastest improving large urban or big city school district in the country.

Watlington and Parker were flanked by district students, labor leaders and other education advocates who frequently punctuated the news conference with applause and said they would join the mayor in pushing hard for the new tax.

Madam Mayor, we are with you, school board president Reginald Streater said. We are with our city, and I hope that this is a signal to Harrisburg and we can hear it that the School District of Philadelphia is willing to help itself. The city is willing to help itself.

A fight ahead

The backlash from rideshare companies was immediate.

Uber spokesperson Jazmin Kay said the fee will be passed on directly to riders who will pay more on each ride and the result will be that it will cost more to get around in Philly.

The hike, Kay said, will hurt drivers and hit everyday Philadelphians, making rides less affordable and threatening critical access to jobs, healthcare, and essential services, Kay said in a statement. This double tax worsens Philadelphias affordability and transportation crisis, even though rideshare already provides millions to city schools annually through existing taxes.

Council President Kenyatta Johnson and Councilmember Rue Landau sponsored the legislation needed to authorize the original 20-cent version of Parkers rideshare fee proposal.

Landau on Monday said she was encouraged that Parker was turning toward rideshare companies as we look for responsible ways to support our public schools.

These services benefit from our streets, our infrastructure, and the vibrant neighborhoods that make our city thrive, Landau said in a statement. Philadelphia has always embraced innovation, and that innovation comes with a responsibility to contribute to the communities that make it possible.

Johnson said Council will carefully review the proposal as one potential tool to help prevent deep classroom cuts.

The prospect of hundreds of millions of dollars in SDP cuts that would impact teachers, counselors, and essential programs is deeply concerning, Johnson said. Any decision by the City Council to add funding for SDP must also include an extensive review of the proposed SDP Facilities Master Plan before it is approved by the Board of Education this year.

Parker pushed back against the notion that she was imposing a tax on low-wage workers.

I am not we are not proposing a tax on rideshare drivers, the mayor said. Those companies they can make a decision about whether or not they pass this cost on to those hardworking folks.

As a former member of the state House who pushed for a sales tax hike and cigarette tax and City Council member who backed a sweetened-beverage tax to fund pre-kindergarten and community schools, Parker said she knows whats ahead.

Its not going to be comfortable, and it will not just be given to us, she said.

Labor leaders, including Philadelphia Federation of Teachers president Arthur Steinberg and Robin Cooper, head of the union that represents Philadelphia principals, applauded Parker.

Show us the money, because we need it desperately, said Cooper.

Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg, a lawyer at the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia who argued the landmark school-funding case resulting in Pennsylvanias funding formula being declared unconstitutional in 2023, said the cuts cannot happen, and thanked the mayor for sounding the alarm.

Our job, said Urevick-Ackelsberg, parent of two children in a Philadelphia public school, is to make sure that all of our state and local officials bring the fire engines in response.
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Exploiting the financial stress that followed the Great Depression, two cousins from South Philadelphia initiated a murder-for-hire scheme preying on Italian immigrants that resulted in one of the most notorious crime sprees in city history.

Not all of their victims were even accounted for, but it was estimated that 50 to 100 people died.

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Facing their own financial straits through the years, spaghetti salesman Herman Petrillo had become skilled in counterfeiting, while tailor Paul Petrillo had developed talents for insurance scams. They joined forces with another cousin, Morris Bolber, and created a matrimonial agency matching widowed women with new husbands, usually hapless Italian immigrants.

But they didnt do it in the name of love.

The criminal masterminds would initiate life insurance policies for these new husbands, and see to it that they succumbed to accidental deaths shortly thereafter. Bolber would help file insurance claims to capitalize on a provision in the policies that allowed for double payment if the death was accidental.

The accidents ranged from drownings to poisonings, which led the local press to name the gang Arsenic Incorporated.

The scam started to unravel in October 1938. Police were getting suspicious as more immigrants of similar circumstances were dying, their toxicology reports showing elevated levels of arsenic. One victim, a poor Italian laborer named Ferdinand Alfonsi, and a snitch provided the link police needed to confirm a larger criminal conspiracy.

Upholstery cleaner George Myers had approached Herman Petrillo for a loan to save his business. Herman Petrillo said he would pay Myers $500 in cash to kill Alfonsi, after repeated attempts to poison the laborer were unsuccessful. Myers was instructed to hit Alfonsi with a lead pipe and then arrange the body to make it seem as if the dead man had suffered an accident. Uncomfortable with the agreement, Myers alerted the head of the Philadelphia branch of the U.S. Secret Service, which was already eyeing Petrillo for counterfeiting.

An undercover agent posed as a hit man and contracted with Herman Petrillo to kill Alfonsi for the same $500. The agent also tried to get Petrillo to sell him counterfeit money.

Before his death from an unrelated ailment, Alfonsi told police he had applied for life insurance several times, but his wife intercepted the mail and told him he was not approved. Investigators learned after Alfonsis death that he had been approved for the insurance, and his wife was the beneficiary of a policy totaling more than $8,000 ($188,000 in todays dollars).

On March 22, 1939, Herman Petrillo was found guilty of first-degree murder. Paul Petrillo pleaded guilty that December. In total, 24 people were indicted, including the Petrillos, Bolber, and some of the so-called black widows. Most were sentenced to life imprisonment.

The Petrillos were sentenced to death and executed.
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New Jersey has another new U.S. attorney.

District court judges on Monday said veteran Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer would lead the office, the latest twist in an ongoing leadership saga that has been unfolding in the states legal system over the past year.

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Frazers promotion to serve as New Jerseys top federal prosecutor took effect immediately and was made official in a one-page order signed by U.S. District Judge Renee Marie Bumb.

The decision came just weeks after another judge had separately ruled that President Donald Trumps administration had acted unlawfully in appointing three officials to lead the office together. That ruling was one of several since the summer that had pitted the judiciary against top officials in the Justice Department over questions of who could serve as New Jerseys U.S. attorney.

By contrast, Mondays appointment of Frazer appeared to have Justice Department support. Alina Habba  a top aide to Attorney General Pam Bondi and the former interim top prosecutor in New Jersey  said on social media that judges worked with Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on the issue, and that Frazer will be a great champion of this state and the mission of the [Justice Department].

New Jersey deserves a great chief federal law enforcement official who is in line with President Trumps agenda of making this country safe and NJ great! Habba wrote on X.

A Justice Department spokesperson said in a statement: The Department of Justice thanks the district court for working with the Department to appoint Robert Frazer to serve as US Attorney so that once again criminal prosecutions can resume without needless challenge or delay on behalf of the people of New Jersey.

The leadership saga dates to last year, when Trump appointed Habba  one of his former personal lawyers  to serve as the states top federal prosecutor, a powerful position tasked with enforcing federal criminal and civil law.

Habba was initially named interim U.S. attorney, a title that permitted her to stay in the job for 120 days. But the administration then tried to keep her on past that deadline without getting U.S. Senate confirmation  including by re-appointing her and firing a replacement chosen by the states federal judges.

U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann disqualified Habba in August, saying the administration had acted unlawfully in its bid to keep her in power.

Bondi then replaced Habba with three attorneys: Philip Lamparello, Jordan Fox, and Ari Fontecchio, each assigned to supervise different divisions.

Earlier this month, Brann ruled that the triumvirate had also been installed unlawfully, and he ordered the officials disqualified from their posts. He also accused the Trump administration of seeking to effectively sideline Congress and the judiciary in its quest to install its preferred leaders.

Brann had paused his decision to allow the government a chance to appeal. But the ruling nonetheless caused issues, and at least one judge declined to hold a routine sentencing hearing due to questions about who was leading the prosecutors office.

Mondays decision to install Frazer could render some of those legal questions moot, at least moving forward. It was not immediately clear if the Justice Department would continue appealing Branns ruling disqualifying the triumvirate.

Frazer, in a statement Monday, said he was honored and deeply grateful to be selected to lead the office.

I look forward to this new chapter in my 35-year career as a state and federal prosecutor, he said. I intend to continue this Offices proud tradition of excellence as we work every day to protect the people of New Jersey and uphold the rule of law.
District Attorney Larry Krasner sits with a cup of coffee outside Gleaners Cafe in South Philadelphia's Italian Market in March 2024. He is wearing a sweatshirt repping Unite Here, the union that represents hotel, gaming, and food service workers in the city. Read more

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A majority of the approximately 275 prosecutors in District Attorney Larry Krasners office are backing a plan to unionize and be represented by the citys white-collar municipal workers union.

Organizing attorneys sent a letter to Krasner earlier this month notifying him that well over half of the assistant district attorneys in his office had signed authorization cards to form the Philadelphia Assistant District Attorneys Union, or PADAU. It would be a new local represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees District Council 47.

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The staff members asked Krasner to either voluntarily recognize the union or remain neutral and not interfere with our democratic right to unionize.

As a union of, by, and for the Philadelphia District Attorney professionals, we will help reduce turnover, improve job satisfaction, and create a more fair, just, and equitable workplace, the organizers wrote.

In addition to the ADAs, more than 100 paralegals and victim witness coordinators in the office are also seeking to unionize, according to people familiar with the plans, though it was not immediately clear which union would represent them.

The unionization effort could represent a major shift in the culture at the district attorneys office, where prosecutors make up a significant portion of the 600-person staff. It could also be a flashpoint for Krasner, a three-term progressive Democrat who has cast himself as a supporter of organized labor.

DC 47 has backed left-leaning political candidates in recent years, and the union endorsed Krasner in his run for reelection last year.

Krasner, in a statement, declined to comment on the effort, but said he sees an upside.

While I have always been, and I remain, very pro-union, as the chief of the organization, its inappropriate for me to weigh in in favor of this particular union, he said.

But I will say that, from the perspective of the legacy of reform of the District Attorneys Office carrying on into the future, it is a positive thing that whatever person might take my seat later cannot easily undo what we have done in hiring almost all the lawyers who are here, and hiring them for their moral compass, their talent, and their hard work.

Paul Dannenfelser, the council representative and organizing director at DC 47, said the process began late last year, when a group of assistant district attorneys approached the union about organizing a drive.

They were interested in a clear and transparent pay structure, and something that was predictable, Dannenfelser said.

He said a supermajority of the staffers who would be in the unit signed authorization cards, and the union submitted a petition to the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board earlier this month.

The PLRB said the matter remains under review, and an election has not yet been scheduled.

Dannenfelser said staff in the unit havent yet decided on specific provisions that they want included in a future contract. He said DC 47 typically surveys workers after an election takes place in order to establish priorities.

In recent years, Krasner has asked lawmakers for increased city funding to raise attorney salaries as a means of attracting and retaining talent. Mayor Cherelle L. Parker included $1.3 million in additional funding for priority attorney positions in the budget proposal that she unveiled earlier this month.

The offices budget has grown from about $43.7 million in 2022 to $60.4 million in the current fiscal year.

The salary ranges for assistant district attorneys have increased, too. In 2022, the starting salary for a young prosecutor was $61,000, compared to $79,500 today.

But some prosecutors say extra funding has not been distributed equally, and that raises came sporadically, or were sometimes delayed.

At one point earlier this year, newly hired prosecutors  most fresh out of law school and not yet licensed to practice law  were earning more than some more senior colleagues, they said. This happened because new city funding raised starting salaries for recent hires but didnt immediately include raises for prosecutors who had been there longer and were earning less.

Some staff have also complained about how the office distributed money earmarked by City Council for units focused on specific crimes, like carjacking and retail theft. Prosecutors assigned to those units typically receive significant pay bumps, which caused friction among colleagues who felt the only path to a meaningful raise was transferring into one of those units, according to multiple staffers who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters.

An assistant district attorney at the center of the organizing effort, who requested anonymity to avoid retribution before a union is in place, said the hope now is to create a transparent and predictable pay scale.

People want to be paid fairly and they want to know how much money theyre going to make this year and next year and the year after that, the prosecutor said.

The organizer said the pay disputes exposed how unpredictable compensation can be without a contract to formalize it. Staff are grateful for what Krasner has done to increase pay in recent years, the organizer said, calling him their strongest advocate in that realm.

Forming a union, the prosecutor said, is a way of affirming his legacy and building on it.

Francis Ryan, a professor of labor relations at Rutgers University, said theres a long history of lawyers unionizing, and that its not surprising to see it in Philadelphia.

Considering the kinds of pressures theyve been under, in terms of caseload and also in terms of salary, which can lead to turnover, he said, I think this is an effort to provide a little bit of stability."

Other district attorneys offices and public defenders have organized across the state in recent years, he said, including in Lancaster in 2019. Philadelphias Defender Association also unionized in 2020.
TSA agent Kelly Jonson assists travelers through a busy security line at Gate Section B at Philadelphia International Airport last week. Read more

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Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel began to deploy at airports across the country Monday as part of an effort to manage delays at security checkpoints.

Philadelphia is among 14 airports ICE personnel are deploying to, White House border czar Tom Homan told reporters Monday. Other cities include Pittsburgh; Newark, N.J.; Chicago; Atlanta; New Orleans; Houston; Phoenix; and two airports in New York City  John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia, where a collision between an airplane and a fire truck shut down operations through Monday afternoon.

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At issue is a partial government shutdown, which has led wait times at airports to balloon as Transportation Security Administration workers miss paychecks and call out from work.

ICE agents were spotted at HartsfieldJackson Atlanta International in Atlanta Monday morning, where passengers were encouraged to arrive at least four hours early. A few airports, including Louis Armstrong International in New Orleans and Phoenix Sky Harbor International in Phoenix, announced ICE personnel would be on hand.

There was no sign ICE was present in Philadelphia as of Monday afternoon.

A PHL spokesperson directed inquiries to TSA and the Department of Homeland Security, which issued a statement Sunday night saying the government was using every tool available to help American travelers as Easter and spring break near.

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers office did not respond to a request for comment.

Speaking to reporters in West Palm Beach, Fla., Monday, President Donald Trump said the deployment was to support TSA and reduce wait times. But he also expected ICE agents to detain and arrest undocumented immigrants they encounter at the airports.

Thats why the Democrats are going crazy, Trump said. [ICE] loves it because theyre able to now arrest illegals as they come into the country. Thats very fertile territory.

Three checkpoints in Philadelphia have been temporarily closed due to TSA staffing shortages, though the terminals themselves remain open. Over 24% of the roughly 900 TSA workers in Philadelphia called out Sunday, according to data provided by DHS, the most since the partial shutdown began last month.

While long lines in Philadelphia have backed up travelers in the early-morning hours as the checkpoints open, wait times have remained normal during the day, according to the airports security checkpoint live tracker.

Around noon Monday, security operations at Terminal A moved swiftly with just a trickle of travelers. Wait times for TSA PreCheck hovered around one to three minutes, while general wait times remained one to six minutes.

6 am at Philly airport...security line back to the hotel Marriott... I have never seen a line this long in Philly. pic.twitter.com/Rc0C32dTQc  Jarrett Renshaw (@JarrettRenshaw) March 22, 2026

City Councilmember Kendra Brooks, one of the authors of pending city legislation aimed at curtailing ICE operations in the city, said in a statement that sending ICE agents to airports doesnt make anyone safer.

ICE agents arent trained properly for their jobs, let alone for those of the TSA, said Brooks, a member of the progressive Working Families Party. This doesnt help with airport wait times. This is about Trump threatening the American people with ICE agents because hes not getting his way in Washington, D.C.

Speaking on CNN Sunday, Homan said he had no concerns about placing ICE agents into airport roles without specific training, despite high-profile incidents across the country in recent months, including the shooting deaths of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis in January  Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

CNNs Dana Bash pressed Homan on the rapid timeline.

I dont see an ICE agent looking at an X-ray machine, because theyre not trained for that, Homan said. But there are certain parts of security that TSAs doing that we can move them off those jobs and put them in the specialized jobs to help move those lines.

But in an appearance on ABC Sunday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy seemed to contradict Homan about what ICE agents would be doing.

TSA agents are law enforcement. They know how to pat people down, they know how to run the X-ray machines because they are under Homeland Security with TSA, Duffy said. So if we can bring in other assets and tools to assist TSA to get rid of these lines, yeah, I think that makes a lot of sense.

Everett Kelley, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, the union that represents of TSA officers, condemned the plan.

ICE agents are not trained or certified in aviation security, Kelley said in a statement Sunday. TSA officers spend months learning to detect explosives, weapons, and threats specifically designed to evade detection at checkpoints  skills that require specialized instruction, hands-on practice, and ongoing recertification. You cannot improvise that.

District Attorney Larry Krasner encouraged people to send reports of any misconduct to his office.

Weve already seen what happens when you take ... ICE and you put them somewhere they are not trained to be, where they dont have the skills to do the work that is actually helpful, Krasner said.

At around 2 p.m. Monday, Cadence Gay, 21, waited in the overflow TSA line in Philadelphias Terminal D behind rows of people snaking through the security area. He had an about 30-minute wait ahead of him before he could head to the gate for his 8:30 p.m. flight to Denver and return to his home in Cheyenne, Wyo., following a short visit to the Philly area for a volleyball tournament.

Gay, an Army National Guard member, said ICE assisting TSA agents in the airport would definitely scare people. But he had confidence they could assist without causing too much disruption if they remain focused.

If they do their jobs correctly and handle situations correctly it shouldnt have anything wrong go down, Gay said. People understand that theyre just doing their jobs just like them going to the office nine to five.

Another deadline coming this week

TSA agents are set to miss another paycheck Friday if Congress cant reach a deal to fund DHS.

Friday also happens to be last day the House and Senate are scheduled to be in session before lawmakers take a two-week break.

I cant see us taking a break here in the next week if DHS isnt funded, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R., S.D.) told reporters last week.

On Monday, Trump rejected a potential bipartisan deal that would have provided full funding to DHS, with the exception of ICE, which Democrats have refused to fund without reforms. Thune presented the deal to Trump Sunday, but the president turned it down, according to Punchbowl News.

Sending ICE agents into our airports wont solve anything, said U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle (D., Pa.). Only fully funding TSA will.

If TSA agents miss another paycheck, enough could call out from work to force the closure of some airports, Duffy warned.

This is going to look like childs play, whats happening right now, Duffy said on CNBC Thursday. Youre going to see small airports, I believe, shut down.

Trump courts controversy with use of ICE

The airport deployments are the latest way the Trump administration has used ICE, Border Patrol, and Homeland Security officers in a controversial manner, including surges into cities and states run by Democrats.

During the Winter Olympics, protests erupted in Milan, Italy, around the news ICE officers were being sent to the country to provide security for the U.S. delegation. Demonstrators rejected the ICE presence, even though the division operating in Italy was different from the one thats been frequently criticized in the United States.

While its ICEs Enforcement and Removal Operations, called ERO, that Trump has aggressively deployed in the United States, the agencys Homeland Security Investigations division investigates crimes such as human trafficking, narcotics sales, and financial fraud.

Acting director Todd Lyons told a U.S. House panel the agency, specifically HSI, would be part of the security presence for World Cup games in the United States  a move that has already provoked international backlash, Axios noted.

The United States will host 78 games, while Canada and Mexico host 13 each. Six games will be played at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philly in June and July.

This month, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow asked City Council to formally oppose any role for ICE in that city during the World Cup, saying the agencys presence could create fear among visitors.

Staff writers Sam Janesch, Jillian Kramer, and Anna Orso contributed to this article.
Kermit Gosnell was escorted to a van leaving the Criminal Justice Center after being convicted on three counts of first-degree murder in 2013. Read more

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Kermit Gosnell, the infamous abortion doctor who was sentenced to life in prison in connection with the deaths of three infants and a woman in his care at his so-called house of horrors clinic in West Philadelphia, has died.

Gosnell, 85, died earlier this month at a hospital, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections said. He was most recently being held at State Correctional Institution Smithfield in Huntingdon County, but was admitted the hospital, which corrections officials did not identify, prior to his death.

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The cause of Gosnells death  as well as the exact date  was not clear Monday afternoon. The Huntingdon County Coroners Office did not immediately respond to request for comment. Gosnells death was first reported by Ann McElhinney and Phelim McAleer, the conservative journalists and filmmakers known for the 2017 book Gosnell: The Untold Story of Americas Most Prolific Serial Killer.

Prior to his death, Gosnell had been in prison for more than a decade in connection with the grisly scene discovered by federal authorities in 2010 at Womens Medical Society, his former clinic at 3801 Lancaster Ave. in the citys Mantua section. Federal investigators executed a search warrant on the property that February, finding what a 281-page grand jury report later referred to as deplorable and unsanitary conditions.

Fetal remains were found throughout Gosnells clinic, including in cabinets and a freezer, with the grand jury report calling the property a baby charnel house. Later referred to in media coverage as a house of horrors, the clinic also reportedly reeked of cat urine and feces, and was replete with blood stains on the floor and furniture.

Patients, the report found, were waiting for or recovering from abortions on dirty recliners covered with blood-stained blankets. Many had been sedated by unlicensed staff, who could not tell investigators what medications had been administered.

Following the raid, the state Board of Medicine suspended Gosnells medical license. In January 2011, Gosnell was arrested and initially charged with the murders of seven babies who were born alive, as well as the death of a patient.

Prosecutors alleged Gosnell had severed the spinal cords of the seven babies with scissors following their births in the sixth, seventh, and eighth months of the mothers pregnancy, reports from the time indicate.

The grand jury report found that Gosnell referred to this practice as snipping. It was performed hundreds of times at the clinic over the years, the report said. Many of the crimes Gosnell allegedly committed, the grand jury report noted, could not be prosecuted because files documenting the acts had been destroyed.

Authorities also said Gosnell was responsible for the death of Karnamaya Mongar, a 41-year-old Bhutan native who died following an overdose of anesthetics during an abortion procedure at the clinic in 2009.

In May 2013, after 10 days of deliberation, a Philadelphia jury in the Court of Common Pleas found Gosnell guilty of three counts first-degree murder in three babies killings, as well as involuntary manslaughter on Mongars death. Gosnell was also found guilty of 21 counts of performing illegal late-term abortions, and 211 counts of violating Pennsylvanias 24-hour waiting period before performing abortions.

Though he could have faced the death penalty, Gosnell was ultimately sentenced to three consecutive life terms. In July 2013, he pleaded guilty in federal court to running a pill mill out of the clinic, and received a separate 30-year sentence.

Gosnell had a good reputation in his early career, and one childhood friend described the doctor as being very dynamic, charming, and he had an inclination to make some money, according to an Inquirer report from the time.

Raised in West Philadelphia, Gosnell attended Central High School and later graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1966. He briefly lived in New York City and worked at an abortion clinic there before returning to Philadelphia to open his own clinic, as well as a methadone clinic, both in West Philadelphia.

His career had an early controversy in 1972, when he was involved in a scandal over an experimental abortion tool known as the super coil. Gosnell, The Inquirer reported, used the tool on 15 women who traveled to the city from Chicago, and nine of them later suffered serious complications, federal and city health officials found. Gosnell was not charged in that saga.

Gosnells guilty verdict was lauded by those on both sides of the abortion debate, though each said the case illustrated different problems. Carol Tracy, then the executive director of the Womens Law Project said Gosnell represented the future should Roe v. Wade, a Supreme Court case the recognized abortion rights, be overturned  which it was in 2022.

The tragedy here, Tracy told The Inquirer in 2013, is that these women felt they had no other choice but to go to a doctor who turned out to be a butcher.

Anti-abortion advocates, such as Live Action founder Lila Rose, meanwhile, said Gosnell was not an outlier within the abortion industry, and warned of continuing abuses happening even now in abortion facilities throughout our nation.

Then-District Attorney Seth Williams called Gosnell a monster following the trials conclusion  a description that rankled the doctors defense attorney, Jack McMahon. Gosnell, McMahon said, believed that what he did was not homicide.

Jury members later said the case was less about abortion than murder. Gosnell, foreman David Misko said at the conclusion of the trial in 2013, preyed on his patients and employees, and appeared delusional in his attempt to portray himself as a martyr.

Hes the worst example of an abortion doctor in the world, obviously, Misko said.
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker delivers her keynote address at the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphias Annual Mayoral Luncheon Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. Read more

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When Mayor Cherelle L. Parker unveiled her $7 billion budget plan in a televised address to Philadelphia City Council this month, she put out a call for help from beyond the walls of City Hall.

Pennsylvanias largest city, Parker said, is relying on Gov. Josh Shapiro and the state legislature to help fix our Philadelphia crumbling infrastructure and ensure that Philadelphia gets its fair share of funding to build housing.

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The Democratic mayors proposal, which aims to juice revenue by hiking taxes and fees, relies in part on authorization from Harrisburg. But in the Capitol, the appetite to raise taxes is low and a politically divided legislature means gridlock is commonplace.

Hanging in the balance for Philadelphia is more than $100 million in potential tax revenue over the next five years.

To win over state lawmakers, Parker, a former state representative who campaigned on her skills as a bipartisan dealmaker, is employing a multipronged strategy that includes working with Pennsylvanias top Republicans and subtly calling on the Democratic governor to provide more state support.

It comes as other big-city mayors are similarly putting public pressure on governors from their own party. Most notably, newly sworn-in New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat, has called on the states Democratic governor, Kathy Hochul, to allow the city more latitude to hike taxes and expand services.

 READ MORE: The Philadelphia School District will eliminate positions and make school-based cuts as it faces a $300 million deficit

The tactic is notable for Parker, who has carefully avoided antagonizing other officials  including President Donald Trump  who could exert influence over the millions of dollars in state and federal funding that balance the citys budget.

 READ MORE: Who benefits  and who pays  in Mayor Cherelle Parkers new Philadelphia budget plan

Shapiro, who is running for reelection and has often emphasized his efforts to cut taxes, has not committed to backing Parkers plan.

But the mayor may find allies in unlikely places.

Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman, a Republican from rural Indiana County, said he is open to Parkers proposals and would defer to Philadelphias delegation in Harrisburg on whether it recommends the tax increases the mayor has floated.

That is a departure from his past opposition to some requests for funding from Philadelphia Democrats, including a battle last year over state dollars for mass transit that highlighted the states long-standing rural-urban divide. And he could persuade others in his chamber to follow suit.

I admire the mayor, Pittman said in an interview last week. I work very well with her, and Ive appreciated her leadership.

Two of Parkers proposals will need support from Harrisburg, where Republicans control the Senate and Democrats narrowly hold the House.

First, she is seeking to increase Philadelphias hotel tax from 15.5% to 17.5%, which would generate an estimated $20 million per year to pay for 1,000 new homeless shelter beds.

That provision could be passed by City Council before the end of the fiscal year in late June and would require the state legislature to pass  and the governor to sign  authorizing legislation.

Parker also wants the state to close a loophole in the sales tax that allows online retailers to sell goods to Philadelphia customers without charging the citys 2% sales tax. (Right now, sellers based outside the city have to collect only the 6% state sales tax.)

That proposal also requires legislation to be passed by the state.

Parker said in an interview Friday that she will lean on her experience as a state legislator to persuade lawmakers that the city is not afraid to make the tough decisions that are necessary for our institutions to be self-sufficient.

And she said she will leverage relationships with leaders of both parties to get it done. She called a trio of Republicans  Pittman, Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward of Westmoreland County, and State Sen. Joe Picozzi of Philadelphia  amazing allies.

Were going to be working very hard to earn the support of leadership in Harrisburg, along with our governor, she said, as we ask Harrisburg to give Philadelphia the tools that are necessary so that we can do our best to take care of ourselves.

Walking a tightrope from Philly to Harrisburg

Historically, the relationship between Philadelphias mayor and lawmakers in Harrisburg has been tense.

Mayors have long argued that the city is Pennsylvanias economic engine, but that state aid has fallen short. Funding the Philadelphia School District has been a perennial sore spot, with the city contending that its children do not receive a fair share of education dollars.

Most critically, long-standing state law preempts Philadelphia from making certain policy changes for itself, including those related to some forms of taxation.

 READ MORE: Why is it so hard for Philly to pass its own gun laws?

For example, in the aftermath of the 2008 global financial collapse, former Mayor Michael Nutter sought to raise the citys sales tax by 1 percentage point to help close a $1.4 billion budget shortfall. He spent weeks working to persuade the Republicans who controlled the Senate to allow the city to impose the tax. They eventually agreed.

Nutter said in an interview last week that two Philadelphia Democrats played a critical role in those negotiations: U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans and Parker, both of whom were then state lawmakers.

Knowing the mayor the way I do, I am quite sure she has maintained a lot of those relationships [in Harrisburg], Nutter said. Her history, her relationships, her style is going to serve Mayor Parker very, very well in these efforts.

Parker, who has displayed an unbending approach to negotiations in City Hall, may rely on her existing relationships to get state lawmakers to agree to the two key tax changes that make her budget proposal work.

 READ MORE: Mayor Cherelle Parkers new budget plan includes fees on Uber and Amazon, 1,000 homeless shelter beds, and $200M for addiction recovery

Pittman, a lead negotiator in closed-door state budget talks, said he is open to closing the sales tax loophole. The hotel tax in the city, he said, sounds like an aggressive rate  but allowing a hike is not off the table.

More broadly, Pittman said the state should expand how Pennsylvanias smaller counties can use revenue from their hotel taxes.

Currently, counties with fewer than 1 million residents must send the proceeds from the hotel tax to the countys government-run tourism board. But Philadelphia, with a population of more than 1.5 million, can direct its hotel tax proceeds to multiple tourism promotion agencies and the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

Parker is likely to find ample support in the state House, where Democrats control the chamber and top leaders are from the city, including Speaker Joanna McClinton.

State Rep. Jordan Harris (D., Philadelphia), who chairs the powerful House Appropriations Committee that helps finalize any final state budget agreement, said House Democrats agree that additional funding should address issues like homelessness.

But he said Parker must find support for her plan in City Council. Beginning this week, Council will spend the next two months holding hearings to examine the mayors budget proposal on a department-by-department basis.

We look forward to seeing what they do, Harris said, and we will review what they might be looking at in Harrisburg.

Leveraging a relationship with Shapiro

To get her tax plan over the finish line, Parker may need to leverage her relationship with Shapiro.

The two leaders go back years and call each other friends. Shapiro is from the Philadelphia suburbs, and Parker served alongside him in the state House from 2005 to 2012. In general, the two are politically aligned in that they are both centrists who say they value bipartisanship.

 READ MORE: Parker supports Shapiro to be Kamala Harris' VP pick

However, the relationship between any Pennsylvania governor and Philadelphia mayor can be complicated. The city has myriad financial needs, while the swing-state governor answers to an electorate that is far more moderate and geographically diverse than that of deep-blue Philadelphia.

There are also new political realities. Shapiro is running for reelection as a pragmatic operator, and he is a rumored 2028 presidential contender. He often emphasizes that his budget plans cut taxes and do not create new ones.

 READ MORE: Gov. Josh Shapiro proposes $53.2 billion state budget focusing on affordability, development, and raising Pennsylvanias minimum wage

In a statement last week, Shapiro spokesperson Rosie Lapowsky said the governor has a strong working relationship with Parker.

But she would not say whether Shapiro would support Parkers plan to increase taxes in the city, adding that the mayor is best positioned to recommend and speak on city-specific proposals.

The two have not always been in lockstep when it comes to funding.

Shapiro earlier this year implicitly rejected a request from Parker for more than half a billion dollars in state money. The requested funding was for a range of Parkers agenda items, including addressing homelessness, building affordable housing, improving school facilities, fixing roads, and treating people in recovery from addiction.

In a February letter to Shapiro obtained by The Inquirer, Parker called her asks practical, targeted, and built for impact.

But most of them were not included in Shapiros budget proposal unveiled later that month.

During an interview in the state Capitol after the governor presented his plan to the legislature, Parker said Shapiro is a strong and willing and able partner for Philadelphia.

A reporter then asked Parker if there were items that she had hoped would be part of Shapiros budget but were not included in his plan. The mayor ended the interview.

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated how Philadelphia can used proceeds from the hotel tax. Revenue is used to fund tourism promotion and the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

Staff writer Sean Collins Walsh contributed to this article.
Sophia Lin draws a message in chalk on the concrete in front of the South Philadelphia High School polling place on Election Day in 2024. Read more

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Hunters. Churchgoers. Felons.

These are among the groups of untapped voters that Republicans targeted at sportsmens conventions, Walmarts, and county fairs that helped them come within striking distance of taking the lead as the political party with the most registered voters in Pennsylvania for the first time since the state began tracking registration data in 1992.

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For decades, Democrats held a commanding registration lead over Republicans in the nations most critical swing state. Democrats had 916,000 more registered voters, or 10.5%, than Republicans in 2016 when President Donald Trump first won the state.

But Republicans have spent the last few years making major gains, reducing the gap between parties to a near tie last year, with Democrats leading by only 1.9%, or 170,000 voters, in November 2025.

Pennsylvania Democratic Party leaders had deprioritized the importance of voter registration in recent years, focusing their time and money on turnout efforts and leaving voter registration to outside groups. Meanwhile, Republicans were doubling down in communities that voted for Trump to deepen their hold on rural counties, capitalize on rapidly reddening parts of Pennsylvania, and flip swing counties like Bucks.

Right-wing influencer Scott Presler recalled last summer at a voter registration training for the Pennsylvania Republican Party how GOP organizers were showing up in places where Democrats had given up.

We registered hundreds of voters, and the Democrats didnt even have a table, Presler said, recalling his experience working a table at the Big Butler Fair in Western Pennsylvania.

But those GOP gains have begun to stall.

In 2025, Democrats slowed and eventually began to narrowly reverse Republican gains in the state. The changes came after the state partys new leader, handpicked by Gov. Josh Shapiro, began to make key investments in party-led voter registration efforts. Third-party and unaffiliated voters are the fastest-growing voter segment in Pennsylvania.

For the last five months, Democrats have outperformed Republicans in new voter registrations, staving off a Republican plurality for now and making it less certain for the future.

Democrats are expected to perform well in this years midterms, riding a wave of anger at President Donald Trump. But the partys ability to continue registering new voters, even when political winds arent in its favor, will be key to Democrats ability to win the state in 2028 when the presidency and a Senate seat are on the line.

As of March, Democrats hold a 2% voter advantage over Republicans, with 177,000 more voters than Republicans eight months ahead of the midterms, according to Department of State data.

Campaigns matter, said Eugene DePasquale, the chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. But Ive often felt that [voter registration] is the canary in the coal mine. It is the poll before the poll.

GOP goes all-in

Over the last two years, Republicans went all-in on voter registration operating on the assumption that if more voters had an R next to their name theyd be more likely to cast their ballot for Republicans on Election Day.

If you show up to a Phillies game wearing a Phillies hat, youre more likely to be rooting for the Phillies, said State Sen. Greg Rothman, the chair of the Pennsylvania Republican Party.

According to state voter registration data analyzed by The Inquirer, the split between Republicans and Democrats in the state fell from 10.5% in November 2016 to just 1.9% in November 2025. In that time span, Democrats slightly widened their lead in registrations against Republicans just once  in the 2018 midterms  as voters overwhelmingly backed Democrats in opposition to Trumps first-term agenda.

Voter registration is typically considered a lagging indicator  a voter who chooses to change their party registration typically has been voting with their new party long before making it official.

Voted for Trump? Make it official: Switch to Republican today, reads some of the signage Preslers Early Vote Action group has used at its different events across the state.

Presler, who moved to Pennsylvania in order to campaign to flip it red, has hosted at least two trainings for the state party to help them register more voters. He celebrates every individual voter he helps register or change party registrations on X, and ahead of the 2024 election posted weekly updates on the statewide voter registration numbers.

In his training to the state GOP last June, Presler listed venues where he has hosted voter registration drives in hopes of targeting groups he thought may be attracted to conservative values and could be ripe with potential voters who support Trump.

I want every single mosque. I want every single Christian church. I want to get into every Mass. I want to get into every synagogue, Presler said. We must be doing a better job, because 30% of Christians are not registered to vote.

Preslers strategy also included targeting former felons, who become eligible to vote in Pennsylvania as soon as they are released from prison and often support Trump, he said.

The Pennsylvania Republican Party itself took a broader approach to voter registration, sponsoring competitions between counties to see who could register the most voters, among other efforts.

We must be everywhere, Presler added, asking committee members to attend every fair and festival in their home counties to register more voters. He wants to take a more formal role in Pennsylvanias Republican Party, too, and is running for state committee in Beaver County.

In the decade since Trump was first elected, Democrats only made gains in voter registration in the Philadelphia suburbs  Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties  and Cumberland County near Harrisburg.

Republicans gained ground in each of the states remaining 63 counties, including deep-blue Philadelphia. The GOP saw particular success in Carbon, Mercer, Elk, and Westmoreland Counties where Democrats went from narrowly leading in registrations in 2016 to trailing by 18% to 32% in 2025.

Republicans efforts to grow their share of voters rapidly accelerated after 2022. With Democrat Joe Biden in White House, the GOP cut Democrats advantage by two-thirds in just three years.

There is no readily discernible correlation between Pennsylvanias voter registration in a given year and the results of that years election. For example, Trump beat Hillary Clinton by 0.7% in 2016 at a time when Democrats still boasted a 10.5% registration advantage. Four years later, Biden beat Trump by 1.2% and won the presidency when his partys registration edge had shrunk to 7.5%.

The last two gubernatorial elections have been blowouts (Democrat Tom Wolf won reelection by 17.1% in 2018 and Shapiro won by 14.8% in 2022) but the registration advantage for Democrats in those years was just 9.8% and 6.2%, respectively.

Overall, Democrats have underperformed their registration advantage in the last three presidential elections by an average of about 7.5% while overperforming in the past two gubernatorial elections by an average of about 8%.

A voters party registration is an indicator of who they may vote for but not a guarantee. And the states growing share of third-party and independent voters has increasing power to sway elections.

In Pennsylvania, much of the Democrat-to-Republican shift can be traced back to the 1980s when white, working-class voters began to support Republican candidates like Ronald Reagan, said Stephen Medvic, a political-science professor at Franklin and Marshall College.

But decades passed before the states voter registration split reflected that trend.

I dont think theres a point at which you can say, This was the tipping point, but I think it started quite a while ago. Medvic said. And registration just kinda catches up to all that.

Democratic deficiencies in 2024

Between 2020 and 2024, the voter registration advantage between Democrats and Republicans was cut in half.

That was demonstrated in the lead-up to the 2024 election, when Republicans successfully flipped key swing counties, including Bucks and Luzerne, and Republicans took the lead in voter registration there.

In Bucks, one of Pennsylvanias most politically split counties, Democrats in 2016 held the voter registration advantage by 2%, or 9,382 voters. By 2025, Republicans had a 2% voter registration advantage, or 10,216. Months after the party registration flip, Trump became the first Republican presidential candidate to win the county since 1988.

In Luzerne County, the flip was more stark. The longtime Democratic stronghold went from a 16.5% Democratic voter advantage in 2016, or nearly 34,000 registered voters, to a 3% Republican voter advantage in 2025, or nearly 7,000 more Republicans registered than Democrats there.

Rothman said the explanation for growing GOP support in the battleground state is simple: Republicans have a better message.

The Democratic Party has abandoned the policy positions that have broad appeal, Rothman added.

And its no coincidence, he argued, that Pennsylvania Republicans had one of their best years ever in 2024  sweeping every statewide office and putting Trump in the White House  on the heels of an election cycle that prioritized voter registration.

As Republicans share of newly registered voters increased, Democrats were more focused on get-out-the-vote efforts and urging mail voting.

Nationally, Democrats turned out roughly the same percentage of their voters in 2024 as they did in 2020, said Tom Bonier, a national Democratic political strategist. But that successful turnout wasnt enough. The partys overall share of voters had shrunk, as new voters were more likely to register as Republicans ahead of the election than Democrats.

Democratic deficiencies in voter registration over that four-year period likely cost them the election, Bonier said.

New beginnings for Democrats

DePasquale, the new Democratic state chair, last year pledged to make voter registration a top priority. The party, he said, would begin focusing specifically on registering Democrats and abandon its yearslong practice of investing in non-partisan voter registration drives.

Im all for people being registered, he said. But the Democratic Party is out to register Democrats.

It appears the focus is paying off.

After outpacing Republicans for the past five moths, Democrats are looking to grow their registration total as November approaches.

DePasquale said the state party is focusing specifically on registering Democrats in must-win U.S. House districts and state Senate seats as the party looks to flip chambers in both Washington and Harrisburg.

But Republicans arent concerned by the trend yet. Rothman said the party is still actively registering new Republicans and framed the Democratic rebound as an inevitability.

It had to stop at some point, it had to slow down, Rothman said.

The upswing in Democratic registration may mirror the gains the party saw following the overturn of federal abortion rights in 2022 and immediately after Harris became the Democratic nominee in 2024. In both those cases, the Democratic improvements turned out to be temporary responses to current events rather than sustained shifts in the electorate.

Current changes, DePasquale said, are likely the result of momentum from Democratic wins in local races in 2025 and backlash to Trump. To convert those gains into something long-term, he said, Democrats will have to prove themselves.

The battle always goes forward, DePasquale said. When Democrats get back into power nationally weve got to deliver.
The strength and growth of our insurance practice has been built deliberately over time, grounded in deep sector expertise and long-standing client relationships. Expanding our national insurance capability through senior and strategic hires is a natural step for the practice, ensuring we are well positioned to support clients as the insurance landscape continues to mature and evolve, CBP managing partner Andrew Murray said.
Against this backdrop, the research points to a shift in how Australians perceive and respond to risk. Nearly half of Australians said they are more worried about weather damage to their homes than they were five years ago. At the same time, 41% said vulnerability to wild weather is now something they consider when looking at a property to buy.
It's in that stacking of deductions where the Department sees trouble. If the software has already knocked value off for wear and tear and the adjuster docks the same thing again, that's a duplicative deduction  and the bulletin says it shouldn't happen. On the flip side, if the vehicle is in better condition than the condition ratings provided by the valuation software vendor, insurers should be adjusting the value up, not leaving it as is.
Democrats have argued that the removal of subsidies is driving current cost increases. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said in December that extending a failed program thats rife with fraud, waste and abuse is not happening. Rep. Suzan DelBene said on New Years Day, 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.
Under the deal, NICO will take the stake through a third-party allotment of treasury shares. Tokio Marine said it would buy back its own stock to prevent dilution for existing shareholders. NICO has agreed not to acquire more than 9.9% of the Japanese insurer without prior board approval.
In 2025, IQUW Group reported gross written premium of $1.88 billion, including business from IQUWs Syndicate 1856, ERS (Syndicate 218) and IQUW Re Bermuda. As part of the integration, Syndicate 1856 will be rebranded under the Starr name, while ERS - described as a specialist UK motor insurer at Lloyds - will continue to operate under its existing brand. Starrs Syndicate 1919 remains unchanged.
The insurance market for yachts is good with rates staying flat or even slightly decreasing. Competition in this highly specialized market is growing as more capacity opens up, according to specialists in the space.

All the carriers are trying to grow right now, said Noah Wheeler, senior broker, marine, for Burns & Wilcox. Were seeing rates decrease on both property and liability, so most of my liability renewals, as long as the exposures remain the same, I can pretty confidently expect flat [renewals].

Wheeler said hes even seen a few accounts with decreasing rates at renewal. The days of automatic 10% to 15% increases are definitely behind us, he said.

Rob Carron, Aon Private Risk Managements superyacht practice leader, sees the same softening trend on his accounts, which primarily includes clients who own superyachts valued at $10 million and higher.

For clean risks, meaning no claims, underwriters are giving flat to very small percentage increases this year, Carron said. Thats a change from the past several years. Back in 2018 and onward, we saw some hefty increases following losses due to big hurricanes, he said. We saw constriction in the market, capacity shrunk, and changes in underwriting requirements, he said. But now were starting to see more capacity enter the market.

Carron said the market for yachts valued between $5 million and $10 million is seeing more capacity as well, even in the South Florida area where wind coverage dried up a few years ago. Markets are starting to enter back into South Florida and the Southeast areas, those more hurricane-prone areas.

Both Wheeler and Carron said the less active CAT seasons over the past two years have helped carriers books, driving better results for the yacht market. But tighter underwriting is likely to remain.

Changes made to underwriting terms and conditions will likely remain. The underwriting around some of these vessels and requirements in terms of hurricane plans is really emphasized now even on the larger yachts, Carron said. That can include requirements regarding where the vessels are docked during hurricane season.

Awareness of where the yachts are during hurricane season in the hurricane-prone areas, and whether theyre in a shipyard during that time and unable to move [should a hurricane develop], are important considerations now, he said. Theres just a greater emphasis on that today.

Other risks such as piracy and war risks have always played a role when yachts move into certain international waters, Carron said. Especially when we have yachts that are transiting in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, theres an increased piracy risk there, and those areas may have piracy excluded for those transits, he said. So, clients that would need to transit those areas may have to buy back that excluded area coverage subject to certain requirements being met, he explained. Those requirements might include heightened onboard security, other security measures, and purchasing kidnap and ransom coverage for crew members.

Carron said as war risk in the Middle East continues to evolve, there may be other changes ahead. What were seeing now is that capacity still remains there, but underwriters are taking it on a day-by-day basis.

The softening insurance market can also be seen in the smaller vessel area.

Wheeler said after the 2021 hurricane season, almost no carrier would write wind coverage for personal watercraft in Florida. That is no longer the case.

After COVID there was a boating explosiona lot of boat sales, he said. We started writing a ton of personal watercraft (which traditionally was through the standard markets). But this year were finally starting to see some of that business slowly moving back to standard markets, Wheeler said. Were seeing a lot more wind options in Florida, a lot more carriers popping up with new yacht programs.

But that is what the excess and surplus lines market is for, he added. Now, Im still going to stick to what we do best, which is commercial marine and marine construction.

Topics Pricing Trends Market
A Delaware judge has ruled insurers do not have a duty to defend Meta Platforms in the thousands of lawsuits that allege its Facebook and Instagram platforms harm children.

Superior Court Judge Sheldon K. Rennie ruled Metas insurance companies are not obligated to provide its defense because the allegations against the company describe deliberate and intentional acts rather than accidents or occurrences that would trigger coverage under the commercial general liability policies.

The judge also found that Meta would not be prejudiced by a Delaware coverage ruling at this time.

Thousands of suits have been filed on behalf of children who used Metas platforms, as well as by more than a thousand school districts and 43 states. The lawsuits have been consolidated into two actions in California. Known as the Social Media Litigation, the complaints allege Meta intentionally designed addictive algorithms and features on Instagram and Facebook that allegedly cause young users to suffer mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and eating disorders.

Hartford, Chubb, and more than 20 other insurers sought a declaration in Delaware, Metas state of incorporation, that they owe no duty to defend Meta in the Social Media Litigation.

In Metas view, the design choices it made constituted accidents and are thus covered by its insurance because it did not intend to cause the alleged resulting harm, such as addiction or depression.

However, insurers successfully argued that the complaints do not need to allege Meta intended to cause harm, just that Meta intended to engage in certain conduct, and the conduct resulted in harm. Because the harm allegedly flowed directly from deliberate design choices, the insurers argue the accident requirement of the insurance policies is not met.

Meta asked that any ruling about insurance coverage be dismissed or delayed until after the litigation is completed. It maintained that California law dictates coverage litigation must be stayed pending resolution of the underlying action when the coverage litigation turns on facts to be litigated in the underlying action.

The insurers said California law does not mandate a stay in this case because the court is not making factual determinations regarding Metas intent, causality, or knowledge.

Judge Rennie agreed with the insurers.

The conduct alleged in the Social Media Litigationeven when viewed through the lens of negligencedescribes deliberate acts rather than accidents under the policies. Because the courts determination regarding Metas intent is based strictly on the face of the underlying complaints, it does not overlap with the factual truth of the allegations to be litigated in California, the judge ruled.

The ruling applies only to the duty to defend, and not to indemnification, which could require discovery into the facts. Meta has 30 days to appeal the matter to the Delaware Supreme Court.

Meta, which tried but failed to have the coverage case heard in California, has not yet responded to the decision.

Insurance policyholder attorney Tae Andrews of the firm Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP is disappointed but not surprised by the Delaware court ruling. In short, this is nothing new but continues the Delaware state courts trend of hollowing out the duty-to-defend standard from what should be a broad standard into a much narrower and difficult one for policyholders, Andrews, who was not involved the Meta case, told Insurance Journal.

Andrews pointed to a 2022 opinion in which the Delaware Supreme Court held that Chubb insurers had no duty to defend the Rite Aid pharmacy against suits brought by Ohio counties over the cost of responding to the opioid epidemic because the underlying actions only sought recovery of economic losses.

For insurers, the ruling could be a major victory setting a precedent that claims like those in the social media addiction litigation do not trigger defense or indemnity coverage under standard policies.

The court rejected Metas claim it would face potential prejudice in the underlying litigation if the ruling on defense coverage was not stayed. To the contrary, such a stay would prejudice the insurers, the court found.

An insurers duty to defend must be assessed at the outset of a case. Just as the insured is entitled to a prompt defense if coverage is possible, an insurer is entitled to a prompt exit when there is no potential for coverage. Delaying this determination through a stay would force insurers to fund a defense they do not legally owe, the opinion added.

Insurers have accurately stated the analytical framework, wrote Judge Rennie. Under the relevant policies, the insurers duty to defend is triggered only by suits seeking damages caused by an accident.'

Under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, internet companies are largely shielded from liability for material their users post to their sites. As part of their argument, the plaintiffs maintain the 1996 law does not shield the firms from responsibility for their designs and algorithms.

Topics Lawsuits
A lawsuit filed Friday blames the owners and others associated with a resort in Costa Rica for the carbon dioxide-related death of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett M. Gardners teenage son last year.

Gardner and other relatives filed a negligence and wrongful death claim in Philadelphia federal court over the March 2025 death of 14-year-old Miller Gardner at the Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort in Manuel Antonio beach, located in Costa Ricas Central Pacific.

The defendants include people who own and operate the resort, including David Callan and R. Scott Williams, as well as Hawk Opportunity Fund LP, a Newtown, Pennsylvania-based venture capital firm. Messages seeking comment were left Friday at businesses linked to the fund and the two men.

The Gardners were on a family vacation when Miller Gardner died and Brett Gardner and others were sickened. Costa Rican authorities blamed carbon monoxide poisoning.

Randall Zuniga, director of that countrys Judicial Investigation Agency, said last year tests showed Miller Gardner had high levels of carboxyhemoglobin, a compound generated when carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin in the blood.

The lawsuit alleges the machine room was not properly ventilated and carbon monoxide from it caused Miller Gardners death and injuries to his family members.

Brett Gardner was drafted by the Yankees in 2005 and spent his entire playing career with the organization. He batted .256 with 139 homers, 578 RBIs, 274 steals and 73 triples in 14 seasons from 2008-2021.

Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits New York
NEW YORK/MONTREAL/WASHINGTON  An Air Canada Express jet collided with a fire truck while landing at New Yorks LaGuardia airport late on Sunday, killing both pilots, injuring dozens and closing the facility, authorities said.

The Air Canada Express CRJ-900 plane, operated by its regional partner Jazz Aviation, was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members and had departed from Montreal, said Jazz, which is owned by Chorus Aviation. Jazz and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed that the pilot and first officer were killed.

The crash comes as U.S. aviation faces chronic shortages of air traffic controllers and a separate shortfall of Transportation Security Administration officers due to a partial government shutdown that has led to delays, long security lines and heightened safety concerns across airports nationwide.

A separate 35-minute ground stop at nearby Newark Liberty International on Monday morning added to delays after air-traffic controllers evacuated their tower because of a burning smell from an elevator, the FAA said.

Today is an incredibly difficult day for our airline, our employees, and most importantly, the families and loved ones of those affected by the accident involving flight 8646, said Jazz President Doug Clarke.

NINE SERIOUSLY INJURED IN HOSPITAL

Kathryn Garcia, executive director of the Port Authority, said 32 of the 41 injured had been released, while nine remained in hospital with serious injuries.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said at least two Port Authority firefighters sustained serious injuries.

Aviation safety experts say investigators would look at air traffic control staffing levels and the actions of both the controller and truck crew.

The Air Canada jet was obviously cleared to land and from the radio transmissions, it appears that the airport rescue and firefighting vehicle was cleared. There are a lot of questions now regarding the communications, said U.S. safety expert Anthony Brickhouse. Communication is going to be a major part of this investigation.

Air-crash investigations typically find that accidents result from multiple contributing factors, rather than a single cause.

FIRE TRUCK WAS CLEARED TO CROSS RUNWAY

Garcia said the fire truck was responding to a separate United Airlines aircraft that had reported an issue with odor. United, along with unions representing U.S. air traffic controllers and Air Canada pilots declined to comment.

Minutes earlier, air traffic control audio from LiveATC.net indicated that a United flight had declared an emergency due to an odor onboard. Controllers advised the crew that fire trucks were already on site.

A later transmission captured a fire truck being cleared to cross Runway 4 at taxiway Delta, where the collision occurred.

Moments later, according to the ATC audio, a controller can be heard saying: Stop, stop, stop, truck 1 stop, truck 1, stop.

INSURANCE COVERAGE

The aircraft struck the fire vehicle at a speed of about 24 miles per hour (39 kph), according to flight-tracking website Flightradar24, which last recorded data at 11:37 p.m. ET (0337 GMT).

Photos taken by Reuters after the accident showed visible damage to the nose of the plane, which was tilted upward.

Two unnamed passengers told ABC affiliate WABC of the shock on board, with one describing a friend suffering a broken nose and travelers hitting their heads on the seats ahead.

Global Aerospace leads the airlines all-risks cover for the Air Canada regional aircraft that was damaged, three senior aviation market sources said.

Those sources said Marsh is the broker for the cover. One of the sources said the aircrafts insured hull value was around $10 million.

FLIGHTS CANCELED, DELAYS EXPECTED

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it was deploying a team of experts to investigate the incident, while Canadas Transportation Safety Board said it would also send a team to support the investigation. The FAA said the airport was expected to remain shut until 2 p.m. ET (1800 GMT) on Monday.

Air Canada, the countrys largest carrier, said its teams and those from Jazz Aviation are also heading to the site.

The closure of one of New Yorks busiest airports will add to travel disruption. Absences among transportation security workers have soared, leading to lengthy lines for passengers at major U.S. airports.

On Monday, hundreds of ICE agents were ordered to deploy to airports to help fill TSA staffing gaps.

About 546 flights had been canceled at the airport so far on Monday, according to tracking website FlightAware.

LaGuardia served more than 30 million annual passengers in 2025, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and hosts a wide range of U.S. carriers.

RECENT INCIDENTS PRESSURE AVIATION SYSTEM

The FAA recorded 97 runway incursions in January this year, compared with 133 in the same period last year.

A bipartisan group of U.S. House lawmakers last month proposed legislation to address 50 aviation safety recommendations issued after a year-long investigation into the January 2025 collision between an American Airlines AAL.O regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter that killed 67 people.

Last year alsosaw a UPS cargo plane crash shortly after takeoff in Louisville, Kentucky, killing seven and injuring 11 on the ground.

Canadian Transport Minister Steve MacKinnon said the countrys government was working closely with U.S. authorities as they investigate this incident, and we are following developments closely.

(Reporting by Gursimran Kaur, Shubham Kalia, Abu Sultan, Preetika Parashuraman and Ruchika Khanna in Bengaluru, Bing Guan in New York, Allison Lampert in Montreal and David Shepardson in Washington; Additional reporting by Joanna Plucinska and Susan Heavey; Editing by Jamie Freed, Joe Bavier and Louise Heavens)

Topics Auto Aviation Numbers
The Justice Department sued Harvard University for allegedly violating Jewish students civil rights in the Trump administrations latest attack on the university.

In the suit filed Friday in Boston federal court, the government claims Harvard failed to protect Jewish students from antisemitism during protests that followed the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza.

The administration has previously tried to freeze federal funding to Harvard and block visas for foreign students. It has justified many of its actions by pointing to alleged antisemitism on campus. President Donald Trump has demanded a $1 billion payment from Harvard as well as changes to the universitys admissions policies and governance.

In a statement, Harvard spokesperson Sarah Kennedy-OReilly called the lawsuit yet another pretextual and retaliatory action by the administration for refusing to turn over control of Harvard to the federal government. She said the university would defend itself in court.

Harvard has taken substantive, proactive steps to address the root causes of antisemitism and actively enforces anti-harassment and anti-discrimination rules and policies on campus, Kennedy-OReilly said. We also have enhanced training and education on antisemitism for students, faculty, and staff and launched programs to promote civil dialogue and respectful disagreement inside and outside the classroom.

Harvard University has failed to protect its Jewish students from harassment and has allowed discrimination to wreak havoc on its campus. President Trump is committed to ensuring every student can pursue their academic goals in a safe environment, said Liz Huston, a White House spokesperson.

In Fridays suit, government lawyers asked for a court order declaring that the administration can withhold funds over civil rights violations and claw back earlier federal grants.

The Justice Department is also seeking an order that Harvard must take affirmative steps to ensure full and equal access to Harvards educational opportunities and benefits for Jewish and Israeli students.

Several elite universities, including Columbia, Brown, Cornell and Northwestern, have settled with the Trump administration over allegations of antisemitism in order to restore federal research funding. Harvard has not, so far choosing to challenge the government in court.

Last year, a federal judge ruled that the administration unlawfully froze $2 billion in research funds as retaliation for the school exercising its free speech rights, writing at the time that the accusations of antisemitism were at best, arbitrary and, at worst, pretextual.

The Justice Department is appealing that ruling. Harvard also won court orders last year blocking the administration from denying entry to foreign students set to attend the school.

The Republican-led House Education and the Workforce Committee this month released a report, How Campuses Became Hotbeds in the Rise of Radical Antisemitism, that criticized university leaders for failing to address the issue and said many faculty members are amplifying it.

The same committee held hearings in December 2023 that ultimately led to the ouster of Harvards then-president, Claudine Gay.

The report said Harvard, under the leadership of current President Alan Garber, has taken some steps to address antisemitism at some of its schools. Such changes are some of the many needed to root out the institutionalized antisemitism within these and other programs, the report said.

A Harvard Jewish alumni group also recently released a report, A Narrowing Gate: Jewish Enrollment at Harvard and Its Peers: 19672025, that showed a significant and anomalous decline in Jewish undergraduate enrollment at Harvard, finding the percentage of Jewish students is now the lowest in the Ivy League.

This report is not an accusation. It is an invitation to build the infrastructure that makes accountability possible, Adrian Ashkenazy, the president of the group, said in a statement about its findings. He said parents of current students at Harvard had come to him in real distress.

The case is United States v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, 26-cv-11352, US District Court, District of Massachusetts (Boston).

Photo: The Lowell House on the Harvard University campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits
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 Europes 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.

Read more: Iran War Could Raise Exposures for Global Terrorism, Political Violence Underwriters

It is expected to receive about 20 aircraft, including 17 Qatar Airways planes by the end of Saturday, according to a schedule seen by Reuters.

Companies Revising Fleets, Manager Says

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.

On Friday, around 10 wide-body jets  the worlds 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 airlines 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.

Its 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 300 km (185 miles) from Madrid, on Friday morning.

With capacity for 250 wide-body and up to 400 narrow-body aircraft, Teruel is one of Europes largest storage facilities.

Weve 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 airports 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.

Were working week to week because theres 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 airports 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.
The overseas investment arm of Chinas Ping An Insurance (Group) Company is reconsidering its exposure to the US as the Iran war fuels waves of volatility.

The conflict in the Middle East has upended global markets over the past few weeks, dragging down global equities, pushing US yields to their highest level in months and sparking wild moves in the price of oil. It has also encouraged one of Chinas biggest insurers to rethink how it approaches the worlds largest economy.

The key question for me to consider is how much and whether you continue to deploy capital into the US, said Hoi Tung, CEO and Chairman of Ping An Overseas Holdings, during an event organized by the Milken Institute in Hong Kong. The US has been rather becoming less reliable, not really rules-based.

Ping An Overseas Holdings is building a portfolio of around $60 billion overseas, with some of that going to investment assets in the US, Tung said. Now, we think about whether we should trim down a bit, even though the overall portfolio is still very small anyway.

Investors looking to reallocate capital away from the US must think about where to deploy the money, Tung added. He pointed to China as a likely beneficiary.

The stability in Chinas market and signs of the economy bottoming out could provide investors good opportunities, he said. I think probably it is a good time for investors to really think about investment into China, he said.

Ping An Overseas Holdings is the Chinese insurers main offshore platform for direct investments and asset management. Ping An Group, its ultimate parent, had an investment portfolio of around 5.73 trillion yuan ($830 billion) at the end of 2024. It is due to release its 2025 annual report this week.

Photograph: Signage for the China Pingan Finance atop a building in Pudongs Lujiazui Financial District in Shanghai, China, on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026; photo credit: Raul Ariano/Bloomberg
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. will invest 287.4 billion yen ($1.8 billion) in insurer Tokio Marine Holdings Inc., ramping up the US conglomerates exposure to the Japanese market.

National Indemnity Company, a subsidiary of Berkshire, will make a 2.49% strategic investment in Tokio Marine, according to a statement Monday. The two companies will collaborate on reinsurance and global investments including mergers and acquisitions.

The move underscores Berkshires growing ambitions in Japan, where around six years ago  under the leadership of Warren Buffett  it revealed it had invested in the countrys largest trading houses. Buffett said in an annual letter to shareholders that the firm was looking to raise ownership in Japans five largest trading houses over time.

The latest deal shows Berkshire is eager to win a slice of Japans thriving insurance business, an increasingly attractive market for foreign firms. KKR & Co., Apollo Global Management Inc. and other big international players have made moves to expand in the life insurance sector, joining a rush among foreign firms to tap rising opportunities in Japan.

The partnership with Berkshire is likely to provide an advantage by leveraging global expertise to expand the scope of operations ahead of others, said Ikuo Mitsui, a fund manager at Aizawa Securities Co.

Tokio Marine is Japans largest property and casualty insurance company.

The deal means that Tokio Marine can use National Indemnity as an option for reinsurance without restriction on the type of insurance, said spokesman Mitsuhiro Izu, adding that the initiative for the partnership came from Berkshires side.

The partnership will last for a decade, and in the first five years both Berkshire and Tokio Marine will not be able to enter into similar agreements with competitors, Izu added.

Berkshire will buy around $1.8 billion of treasury stock held by Tokio Marine, which the Japanese firm will then match by buying back the same amount of existing shares. If Berkshire buys any more of the firms stock, it is likely to do so in the open market, Tokio Marine said in its statement.

The US firm said it will not raise its stake above 9.9% without approval from Tokio Marines board.

Berkshires increasing interest in Japan as an investment venue has been accompanied by a fundraising push in the country. Late last year, the US firm raised just over 210 billion yen ($1.3 billion) by issuing yen-denominated bonds, returning to a market it first tapped in 2019.

Buffett officially retired from his role leading Berkshire as chief executive at the end of 2025. His successor Greg Abel has vowed to keep intact the principles and values that helped the Oracle of Omaha turn a failing textile factory into a $1 trillion conglomerate.

Photograph: Signage for Tokio Marine Group outside the Tokiwabashi Tower building, which houses the Tokio Marine Holdings Inc. headquarters, in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. Photo credit: Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg
Starr, the New York City-based global investment and insurance organization, announced it has completed the acquisition of IQUW Group, which creates a more diversified specialty re/insurance platform with enhanced capabilities across the London market, Bermuda and UK retail motor.

Financial details of the deal, which was first announced in October 2025, were not disclosed.

With IQUW Group, Starr has strengthened its position in the London market and established its managing agency as the ninth-largest at Lloyds.

Importantly, Starr said it will continue to operate with a strong emphasis on underwriting expertise and best-in-class broker and client experience and service. Clients and brokers will benefit from a broader product offering, quick decision-making, greater capital strength and expanded global reach, it added.

Starrs reinsurance capability is also significantly enhanced following this transaction, Starr said, explaining that IQUW Re Bermuda and IQUWs London reinsurance business will now trade as Starr Re, writing the companys inward reinsurance and strengthening its ability to offer a diversified portfolio of products across geographies and lines of business.

Starr Re will benefit from Starrs capital strength, which will enable thoughtful capital deployment across market cycles and position the group to better serve clients across the re/insurance market, the company said in a statement.

In 2025, London-based IQUW Group wrote $1.88 billion of GWP, which comprises business written by IQUW (Syndicate 1856), ERS (Syndicate 218), the UKs largest specialist motor insurer at Lloyds, and IQUW Re Bermuda.

Syndicate 1856 will be rebranded as Starr and IQUW Re will trade as Starr Re. ERS will continue to trade under its existing brand given its strong and established presence in the UK motor market. There will be no brand change to Starrs Syndicate 1919.

The completion of this transaction advances Starrs strategy to build a global, diversified, best-in-class underwriting business. I am delighted to welcome our new colleagues to Starr, said Jeff Greenberg, chairman and co-chief executive officer of Starr. Together, we are a larger, more resilient platform with the scale and expertise to compete and win across global markets and deliver sustainable, long-term growth.

We are thrilled to be bringing together our talented people and ensuring that our clients and brokers have the same seamless support and access to a broader suite of specialist solutions, commented Steve Blakey, president and chief executive officer of Starr Insurance Holdings.

Peter Bilsby, who will lead Starrs international business, said: The completion of this transaction is a proud moment for everyone who has contributed to building the IQUW Group since its inception. From the outset, our ambition was to create a high-performing, specialist platform defined by great talent and market-leading data and technology. Now, as part of Starr, we can take advantage of being part of a stronger and more diversified global organization.

The transaction has received all required regulatory approvals.

Source: Starr

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions
Chubb outlined the structure of the new $20 billion maritime reinsurance facility, created to provide marine war risk insurance for ships sailing through the Strait of Hormuz  which has been effectively closed to shipping since the start of the war with Iran.

The maritime insurance facility was created by the U.S. government via the U.S. International Development Finance Corp. (DFC), which on March 11 announced Chubb as lead underwriter for its $20 billion reinsurance plan.

Originally, the DFC program was focused on hull & machinery and cargo  but Chubb announced on Friday, March 20 that it has been expanded to include liability.

Moodys said recently that exclusion of liability would be a deal-killer for most shipowners moving crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz, due to the massive risk of pollution liability and cleanup if a vessel was hit by a mine or drone.

A Moodys representative said additional details about this incarnation of the DFC program are not yet available and therefore the ratings agency wouldnt comment. Spokespeople from the Lloyds of London and the International Underwriting Association (IUA), which represents the London company market, would not comment on the US reinsurance program.

It is unclear how effective the facility will prove to be, as ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted, with only a few Iran-affiliated vessels being able to transit the waterway, according to news reports. Military experts have warned that commercial shipping is unlikely to restart without a cease fire.

Chubb listed the details of the facility, which include:

Chubb, acting as lead underwriter, will manage the facility, determine pricing and terms, assume risk, and issue policies for eligible vessels and cargo. Chubb will also manage all claims.

The initiative is a public-private partnership between DFC, Chubb, and other name-brand American insurance companies who will act as reinsurers. Participating insurers bring deep underwriting experience in marine and marine war coverage, said Chubb. (Editors note: It is unclear whether Lloyds and the London market could participate in the program as reinsurers).

DFC will help coordinate the consortium of American reinsurers and set certain criteria for ships accessing the program. (Editors note: AIG did not respond to a query about the requirements needed to access the cover).

The facility will provide war marine risk insurance for hull & liability as well as cargo. Coverage will be offered for war hull risk insurance, for war P&I insurance and war cargo insurance.

The offering will apply to vessels that meet eligibility criteria provided by the U.S. government.

This insurance will be available to ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz and only under certain conditions.

The additional American insurance companies will be disclosed in the coming days.

Topics Reinsurance Liability Chubb
The Trump Organizations lawsuit accusing Capital One Financial Corp. of political discrimination and illegally closing its accounts in 2021 was tossed out by a judge, but he said the claims can be refiled if Trumps company can fix its deficient complaint.

During a hearing Friday, US District Judge Roy Altman in Miami granted Capital Ones request to dismiss the suit filed byPresident Donald Trumps sprawling real estate company, which had accused the bank of closing hundreds of its business accounts out of animus toward conservatives in a process known as de-banking.

Altman, a Trump appointee, said the complaint was deficient for numerous reasons but he nevertheless gave the Trump Organization a chance to file a new one. He said the company had done just enough to allege the accounts were potentially closed out of political animus, even though the complaint lacked specifics.

Im going to ask you to beef up these general allegations, Altman said to Trumps lawyer, Alejandro Brito, who has filed a string of lawsuits on the presidents behalf.

Capital One declined to comment on the ruling.

The ruling is a mixed victory for both sides. Capital One won dismissal of the complaint, which Altman criticized from the bench after outlining an array of legal deficiencies. Yet the judge cleared the way for the Trump Organization to request evidence from Capital One that may help the business build a stronger complaint. The judge gave the Trump Organization 90 days to seek evidence from the bank  a costly and intrusive process known as discovery  plus another two weeks to file a new complaint.

Trumps legal team, in a statement, said the Trump Organization will follow Judge Altmans ruling and guidance to engage in fulsome discovery in order to continue to demonstrate that Capital One, along with other major banks, de-banked President Trump, his family, and his businesses for blatantly political reasons.

Capital Ones lawyer, Helen Cantwell, expressed dismay that the Trump Organization would be able to conduct discovery despite the judge ruling Trumps company had no valid claims. Still, Cantwell said she didnt object to the judges plan.

The dismissal is at least a temporary setback for Trumps campaign against de-banking, a practice that he says wrongfully deprives conservative individuals and organizations of financial services. Trump is personally suing JPMorgan Chase & Co. for $5 billion for allegedly engaging in the practice by closing his accounts in the weeks after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by a mob of his supporters. JPMorgan denies wrongdoing.

Eric Trump, the presidents son and an executive vice president at the Trump Organization, was a plaintiff in the Capital One suit and has been an outspoken critic of de-banking. In March 2025, he said the account closures by Capital One were a clear attack on free speech that cost the company millions as it was forced to find a new bank.

The Trump Organization claims the bank ended its decades-old relationship with Trumps company simply because Capital One believed that the political views at the time favored doing so. Capital One moved to dismiss the suit in July, arguing that the claims were threadbare.

Gather Evidence

Capital One won an earlier order in July 2025 that put the case on hold pending a ruling on dismissal. That ruling spared the bank from being required to engage right away in the exchange of evidence  a time-consuming and expensive process known as discovery  because the case was seen at the time as likely to be dismissed.

When the suit was filed in March 2025, Eric Trump vowed to sue other banks as well for similar alleged conduct. The president even raised his allegations of de-banking in remarks to Wall Street executives during the last Davos summit.

The complaints against Capital One and JPMorgan assert that the practice began during the administrations of former presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, with efforts by the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to prevent financial fraud and abuse.

The ulterior motive of those changes, according to the complaints, was to pressure banks to cut off financial services for gun and ammunition dealers, payday lenders and other businesses aligned with conservatives.

The case is Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust v. Capital One, 25-cv-21596, US District Court, Southern District of Florida (Miami).

Photo: Capital One Financial Corp. signage is displayed outside a bank branch in New York. Photographer: Mark Abramson/Bloomberg

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits
More than 350 people were hastily evacuated from an Orlando apartment complex last week after fire officials found cracks throughout the building along with doors that wouldnt open.

Local news outlets reported that a panicky resident called 911 Thursday morning to report popping and cracking sounds and a jammed front door at The Rialto, a five-story complex in southwest Orlando. Orange County Fire Rescue workers and a building inspector surveyed the building, found signs of structural instability and decided to evacuate all the residents, the Orlando Sentinel and Central Florida Public Media reported.

A structural engineer hired by the complex was examining the building over the weekend, news sites reported.

The complex, near a lake and with ground-level shops, was built in 2014. It had passed an annual inspection in September, which found no structural damage, the Sentinel noted. But last week, firefighters found damage on all five floors.

Local emergency management and the American Red Cross worked to find hotel accommodations for displaced residents, and hotels had offered discounted rates, news sites reported.

The evacuation is the latest since Florida officials became more alert to potential structural issues following the 2021 collapse of a condominium building near Miami Beach, a collapse that killed 98 people. After that tragedy, Florida lawmakers passed legislation requiring more inspections and more reserve funding for most condominium buildings around the state.

In 2025, a Clearwater condo building was evacuated after a concrete beam developed significant cracking. In 2023, a condo building on Biscayne Bay was deemed unsafe after a 60-year inspection found sagging floors and termite damage.

Photo: The Rialto apartment complex in Orlando (Google Street View)
A south Florida FedEx driver, now a quadriplegic after a vehicle crash in 2019, may need constant care and may benefit from a trip to see family members in New York. But the employer and the workers compensation insurer should not have to foot the bill for the trip, a Florida appeals court decided last week.

Floridas 1st District Court of Appeals, which handles workers comp claims appeals, overturned a judge of compensation claims ruling from 2025. The compensation judge, Jack Weiss, found that a family trip, with attendants and extensive medical equipment, was not actually medically necessary. But the employer/carrier should cover the cost because round-the-clock benefits were being provided, anyway, the comp judge said.

In the comp judges view, the carrier should cover those costs anywhere, pursuant to the maxim that industry is responsible for what industry causes, the appellate court panel explained in the March 18 opinion.

The carrier, Protective Insurance, part of Progressive Insurance, and the employer, Purple Pride Inc., a FedEx company, appealed. The 1st District Court of Appeals found that the comp judge was in error: Florida compensation law requires employers to furnish only medically necessary treatment. Quality-of-life travel is not authorized.

This Court has previously distinguished between travel that is medically necessary and travel that merely improves a claimants quality of life, the appellate judges wrote, citing its own appellate rulings from 2015, 1992 and 1982.

The appeals court made the finding despite the claimants psychotherapist testifying that the trip was medically necessary in the sense that it could improve the injured workers depression and anxiety.

The appeal was handled by two heavyweights in the Florida workers compensation legal arena: William Rogner, of HR Law, on the insurers side, and Randall Porcher, of the Morgan & Morgan law firm, on the claimants side.

The DCA opinion is here. (The opinion title inadvertently refers to the insurer as First Protective Insurance.)

Topics Florida New York
Actor Bryan Murray has moved to full-time care amid his Alzheimer's battle, his partner and fellow Fair City star Una Crawford O'Brien confirmed.

Murray was diagnosed with Alzheimers disease in 2019, but continued to appear on Fair City before going public with his story in 2022 to raise awareness of the disease and to help others.

Known for playing Carrigstown's Bob Charles for two decades, Murray first appeared on Fair City in 2005, and retired from the soap at the end of April last year.

Since then, his illness has progressed, and he is now in full-time care in a nursing home, Crawford O'Brien told Miriam OCallaghan on RTE Radio 1s Sunday with Miriam.

She explained that his illness had galloped in the last year, leading to what she described as "the hardest decision I've ever had to make".

Last year was a disaster. His illness galloped, is the only way I can describe it. And the decision had to be made that Bryan would go into a nursing home, she said.

The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Emma Blain, singer Daniel ODonnell and actors Una Crawford OBrien and Bryan Murray pictured at the launch of Alzheimers Tea Day in 2025. Picture: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland.

I think it was probably the hardest decision I've ever had to make because I really thought I could cope. And I knew I was a strong person. I had survived my daughter dying, and I thought if I could survive that, I could survive anything. So I was determined to look after Bryan myself, but I just couldnt in the end.

When asked if there was a moment in particular that had led her to make that decision, she said: It wasnt any one thing. It was just a continuous build-up. Every day was different.

You could never plan what would be good one day, would be bad the next. And Bryans mood, as I say, changed. He was always so good-humoured. Now, he would get very angry with me. When he would talk to me, I didnt know if the right answer would be yes or if it would be no, and so I was walking on eggshells all the time.

She said that even though she knew it was the right decision, it broke her heart to make it.

Everybody who was seeing him regularly knew it was the only thing to do and that was very reassuring for me, even though it broke my heart, she said.

She said that even though she does not believe that he knows who she is when she visits him, that he is always smiling and in good spirits again.

His mood has changed completely again, and hes in great form all the time and he will smile when I come in, but then he smiles at everybody, and Ill say, Its Una and hell go, Yes, yes.

She said that when she brings their dog Bob to visit, he does not know him at first, but that hell call him by his name when on a walk.

He doesnt know the dog when I bring Bob in to see him but if were out walking, hell take the lead and at some stage hell say, 'Come on Bob, come on. Thats the only person that he calls by name now, she said.
Irish intelligence officials believe the Iranian-backed hacker group behind the cyberattack on global med tech company Stryker, which has more than 5,000 employees in Ireland, is having to reorganise after two of its key figures were killed in US and Israeli military action.

Officials suspect that the Handala Hack group, and other hackers controlled by the Iranian clerical regime, will persist in cyberattacks across the world, including US corporations who have bases in Ireland.

Stryker, which has more than 56,000 employees worldwide, was hit by the group on March 11.

It is thought that no similar incidents have been reported since to authorities in Ireland, although there are some indications of cyber scanning going on.

Intelligence officials believe it is likely that further incidents, including the targeting of US multinationals, will happen. Officials believe that such incidents could affect Ireland.

Outside of the US, Stryker has its largest manufacturing and research facility in Cork  where it employs over 4,000 people. An additional 1,400 people are based in plants in Limerick and Belfast.

The Handala attack disabled all remote devices connected to Stryker IT systems, affecting all employees and customer digital ordering systems.

Mobile device management targeted

Production at the Cork plants was also brought to a halt or at least partially.

As of last Friday, some employees told the Irish Examiner that production was still down.

While it was initially believed that Stryker suffered a wiper attack  in which the computer network is disabled or wiped out  cyber intelligence sources said this was not the case.

Sources said the network itself was not affected, adding that the damage was mainly confined to Strykers mobile device management system.

These sources said the attack focused on its Microsoft "Intune instance", which is a cloud-based system for managing connections between remote personal devices and the network. These systems are widely used by companies to enable remote access to the IT system.

It is suspected that the group managed to obtain or steal credentials of someone with admin access to the management system, removing all devices connected to the network.

'Incident has been contained'

The most recent statement from Stryker said its teams have continued to work around the clock with external partners to make significant progress on restoring systems.

We believe the incident has been contained, and we are prioritising restoration of systems that directly support customers, ordering, and shipping, it said in a statement.

It said the attack was contained to Strykers internal Microsoft environment, adding that the incident did not affect the security or safety of its products or devices.

It said teams are working as quickly and safely as possible to reconcile orders, manufacture products, and deliver to customers.

Irish intelligence agencies believe that more multinational US corporations, including those with bases in Ireland, will be targeted by Iranian-backed hacker groups.

It is also possible these groups might broaden their potential targets, as they have done in attacks on neighbouring Middle Eastern countries that have US military bases.

Cyberattacks by Iranian groups have stepped up in response to the Israeli and US bombing of Iranian military and intelligence sites, including in urban areas with large civilian populations.

In its claim of responsibility, Handala specifically mentioned the bombing of a school in the south of Iran. The bombing claimed the lives of 175 civilians  most of them children.

The US has been blamed for the attack, and a preliminary US military investigation has reportedly determined this to be correct.
Teachers and clerics have been praised for remaining calm after a woman told a congregation at a Confirmation ceremony that she had a bomb strapped to her.

Hundreds of sixth-class children from four schools around Navan, Co. Meath, as well as their parents and sponsors, packed St Mary's Church when the woman made her way onto the altar and told the crowd she had something to say.

After she said she had a bomb, teachers and a priest calmly escorted her off the altar and outside the church, which lies between the Fairgreen and Trimgate Street in the centre of the town.

The young students were preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation from the Bishop of Meath, Tom Deenihan, when the incident unfolded.

Thankfully, not everyone heard her proclaim she had a bomb, but most people saw the commotion.

One parent said: "The lady came into the church and got up to the microphone. She held her jacket closed and said she had a bomb and wanted to speak.

"The priests and teachers got up there quickly and ushered the lady outside. Honestly, I don't think a lot of people heard exactly what she said because no one really seemed to be panicking.

"Our own daughter didn't hear what she said, thankfully but I did. "

Another parent said he was on the balcony when he heard the woman speak into the intercom.

"She said she wanted to say something and then she was ushered out. I didn't hear her mention a bomb but a lot of children near her looked terrified. My own son was there receiving his Confirmation but only heard about it from friends after the Mass.

"When we went outside, gardai were there which also unnerved the kids. I have to say though, the priests and the teachers did amazingly to keep calm and diffuse the situation quickly."

Clergy at St Mary's Church said they would not be commenting on the matter.

Gardai say they "responded to a report of a public order incident at a premises in Navan, Co. Meath on Saturday March 21, 2026 at around 1pm".

"A woman, aged in her 40s, who was arrested at the scene has since been charged. She is due to appear in court at a later date. As this matter is now before the courts, there is no further information available."
A self-described jihadist who set fire to a pub owned by Conor McGregor and later stabbed a garda on a Dublin street while shouting 'Allahu Akbar' told detectives he was inspired by the founder of Isis, Musab al-Zarqawi, and had pledged his allegiance to the terrorist organisation.

A sentencing hearing at the three-judge Special Criminal Court also heard on Monday that 24-year-old Abdullah Khan, who describes himself as a Salafi jihadist, is part of a "wider group of people of a like-minded mindset". Det Inspector Gavin Ross of the Garda Special Detective Unit said an investigation is ongoing with lines of inquiry still open.

He said that statements made to gardai by Khan's associates are also the subject of ongoing investigations.

Khan's defence counsel, Michael Bowman SC, suggested that there may be others who are "operating in the shadows" and preferred to have Khan, who has a history of social isolation, depression and paranoia, operating in broad daylight.

Det Insp Ross said that when Khan was asked for the motivation behind his crimes, he said he wanted to send a message to Mr McGregor and others with a "right-wing mindset" not to insult the prophet Muhammed. He said he was angry that the State allowed people to insult the prophet and attacked the garda to show his anger and make his protest known.

He said he had listened to speeches by al-Zarqawi, who was killed in 2006, and was inspired by them. He said he found al-Zarqawi "charismatic" and his message resonated with him.

Khan, with an address in Dublin that cannot be published due to a court order, previously pleaded guilty to eight charges. He was charged that on July 25, 2025, at the Black Forge Inn, Drimnagh Road, Dublin he committed arson by pouring petrol on the front door of the pub and lighting it with a match.

He was charged that four days later, on July 29, 2025, at Capel Street, he assaulted Gda Gary Lynch causing him harm and attempted to assault Gda Patrick Nevin. He was further charged with producing a knife during the same incident and two counts of endangerment, in that he intentionally or recklessly engaged in conduct which created a substantial risk of death or serious harm to the two gardai.

Khan was further charged with two counts of engaging in terrorist activity or terrorist-linked activity on the dates of each offence.

Det Sgt Liam McLoughlin told the sentencing hearing that Gda Lynch and Gda Nevin were on foot patrol near Little Britain Street in Dublin city when Khan ran up behind them carrying a knife and stabbed Gda Lynch in the arm while shouting 'Allahu Akbar'.

The gardai put distance between themselves and their attacker as he continued to wield the knife and tried to move towards them. They used their 'ASP' batons and pepper spray and a member of the public brought Khan to the ground before the two gardai moved in to arrest.

Gda Lynch suffered two lacerations to his arm that required stitches and nerve damage that required surgery. In a victim impact statement handed into court, the garda described his "shock and disbelief" that there was nothing he could do to prevent such a violent attack. He described ongoing pain, discomfort and stress.

During his first interview following his arrest, Khan immediately admitted to setting fire to Mr McGregor's pub four days earlier, saying it was "better to get that over with now than have it come back to me later".

Khan said he came from a professional family but when he had issues with his mental health, he resisted their efforts to find help and he became homeless for some months prior to the offences.

Det Insp Ross told prosecution senior counsel Gerardine Small SC that the Special Detective Unit (SDU) became involved due to the concern that Khan had been radicalised by Islam. The use of the term, Allahu Akbar and an attack on police was similar to terrorist attacks elsewhere in Europe, he said.

In his first interview with the SDU, Khan said it was "undeniable" that what he had done was terrorism. He later explained that from the age of 18 he had started listening to people like al-Zarqawi online and his beliefs progressed in his early 20s.

Det Insp Ross said Salafi Jihadism is a puritanical and literal interpretation of Muslim law that was adopted by Isis. In his interviews, Khan referenced the four core principles of Salafi, including a rejection of man-made laws and the ability to declare those who do not follow the religion as apostates and legitimate targets.

His beliefs removed prohibitions on attacking members of the security forces in any country where the State does not follow a literal interpretation of the Koran, the inspector said.

Det Insp Ross said that when it became more difficult to visit Isis territory in Iraq and Syria, the leaders of the movement declared that individuals could take responsibility for their own jihad wherever they lived. During his garda interviews, Khan declared his support for Isis ideology, saying he had a love for them and had pledged his allegiance to the organisation.

Khan spoke of being motivated by insults against the prophet by "people with a right-wing mindset" and said he was angry at the Irish State. He described such insults as "outrageous and unacceptable" and said they made him sad and angry. He said Mr McGregor had helped the far-right to grow in Ireland so he held him responsible for the insults.

He said he wanted McGregor to know that he was "playing dangerous games". He added: "When it comes to the prophet, we don't see it as a matter of freedom of speech."

He said insults to the prophet are always provocative and there is a "duty on the state anywhere in the world" to denounce such insults.

When he attacked Gda Lynch, he said he did not expect his victim to die, but he wanted to "injure him to make the point".

He added: "This was a message to the Irish government that if, under the name of free speech, you insult our prophet, there will be people who are angry."

In mitigation, Mr Bowman asked the court to consider his client's early guilty plea and his admissions to gardai. He said his client was in a "state of mental crisis" and apologises to his victims.

Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, presiding, commended the bravery of the two gardai who arrested Khan. She adjourned sentencing to April 20 and remanded Khan in continuing custody.
The book of evidence could not be served on Monday on a 44-year-old man accused of falsely imprisoning and raping a woman at her home in Cork city while he was carrying two knives, because the judge found that the number on one of the charges was incorrect.

Judge Dorgan adjourned the case until March 30 so that the book could be served again. This will be the third time for the case to be listed for service of a book of evidence.

Another technical reason  unrelated to the actual book of evidence  prevented service of the book last week. The accused man is on bail.

Detective Garda Patrick Houlihan charged the accused last month with raping the woman at her home in Cork, and he replied: She wanted to have sex with me. I did not do anything against her.

To the charge of being in possession of two knives contrary to the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act at the time of the alleged incident, the accused man said: She agreed with it, she called me there.

Read More Book of evidence to be served on man accused of raping Cork woman in her home

Thirdly, he was accused of falsely imprisoning the woman and he replied: It is not true. Once the book of evidence is served the case will be sent forward from Cork District Court to be dealt with at the Central Criminal Court.

The defendant was previously charged with assaulting the woman contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, represented the accused man in Cork District Court on Monday.

The case arose of the investigation of a reported incident at 9am on February 10, 2025, at a location in Cork City where it was alleged that a man fled from the scene and was found with the assistance of a garda helicopter on waste ground nearby.

It was alleged that a man forced his way into a house where he threatened a woman, who was at home alone with a child, and subjected her to a serious assault. Gardai cordoned off the area outside this house.

It was further reported that the woman managed to get free at around 9.40am on the day one year ago, where it was alleged that the woman had to take her child with her, and run outside in her slippers to a premises across the road from her house and that she suffered slash wounds from a bladed instrument during her struggle to escape.

Identification of parties to the case is legally prohibited.
Caught rotten, was how a district court judge referred to the arrest of a man with a homemade balaclava, gloves and a crowbar at the scene of a break-in to a pub in Cork in the early hours of Saturday.

Garda Laura Prenderville testified that 48-year-old David OBrien, of 15 Maple Place, Togher, Cork, was arrested and brought before Cork District Court.

There was an objection to bail being granted to the defendant, who was charged with carrying out a burglary at Flannerys of Glasheen, Cork.

Garda Prenderville alleged there was a break-in at the premises after 2.30am on March 21, where a crowbar was used to force open a side door.

Gardai arrived at the scene in response to the alarm. Garda Prenderville testified a man was found upstairs trying to open the till.

The evidence given by Garda Prenderville was that the man was carrying a crowbar and was wearing gloves and a hat pulled down over his face, with cut-outs for the eyes.

The defendant said he was attending for treatment for drug and gambling addictions and said to Judge Mary Dorgan: It is treatment I need at the moment and not custody.

David OBrien applied for bail through his solicitor Frank Buttimer, but Judge Mary Dorgan refused bail and remanded him in custody until March 30.

Judge Dorgan said: He was caught with a crowbar, a balaclava and gloves so he was caught rotten allegedly committing this offence.
Gardai are looking to question a number of men and women in connection with a savage attack on a young mother, in Co Tipperary, last Saturday.

Scarlett Faulkner, 20s, from Limerick City, suffered critical head injuries when she was attacked at a roadside outside Birdhill village, at around 5.30pm.

She remains gravely ill at Cork University Hospital where she was taken after being initially airlifted from the scene by a Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter to University Hospital Limerick.

Video footage shared across social media of the attack appears to show a male brandishing a hatchet next to a woman, not Ms Faulkner, as two males approach them, one armed with a bladed implement.

The mobile phone footage, recorded from inside a passing vehicle, then shows another female using a mobile phone to record another person repeatedly striking another person on the ground, believed to be Ms Faulkner, with a long implement.

A male voice is heard on the video footage saying, Oh my god there is someone on the road, as the vehicle approaches the women at the side of the road.

A womans voice on the video footage is then heard: Oh my god, shes hitting her head.

The attack has been roundly condemned. Limerick Fianna Fail TD, Niall Collins, said: It's truly concerning and people are asking the question, what happened here.

"How could such a brutal incident happen on a public road in the middle of the day," he told RTE News.

Mr Collins called the incident "truly shocking" and appealed "to anybody who has information to please contact the gardai".

Members of Ms Faulkners family asked on social media posts for people to pray for her survival and recovery.

Gardai said they continue to investigate the serious assault on Ms Faulkner.

The Garda investigation team is specifically interested in hearing from people with information on or who may have seen two vehicles gardai believe were used by those involved in the assault.

In particular, Gardai are seeking information on the movements of two vehicles, a grey 162 Ford Transit van and a blue 161 Volkswagen Touran people carrier, travelling in convoy or driving dangerously between 4.30pm and 5.30pm on Saturday March 21 in and around Birdhill village, the townlands of Cooleen, Crag Cross, Shower Cross, Kylebeg, Annaholty and Thornhill, all in Co. Tipperary, said a garda spokesperson.

Gardai were also anxious to receive video footage, dash-cam or mobile phone or otherwise, from any old users who were traveling in the vicinity of the assault last Saturday.

Gardai are aware of video footage of the incident circulating online and ask members of the public not to share it on social media platforms or messaging apps, but instead to provide it to investigating Gardai, gardai added.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Nenagh Garda Station on (067) 50450, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
When domestic abuse survivor Mary Louise Lynch heard that a unit has been set up within the policing ombudsmans office to deal with complaints about the garda handling of domestic and sexual abuse, she had mixed feelings.

On the one hand, she felt it was welcome. On the other, she wished that such a unit was not necessary.

She believes any victim of domestic violence should feel that their case would be investigated by gardai willingly no matter who the perpetrator is.

However, the case of Garda Trevor Bolger, who was given a suspended sentence in January after pleading guilty last year to assaulting his then wife Margaret Loftus in 2012, highlighted that this is not always the case.

Ms Lynch says other cases where people are seen as upstanding members of the community, respected members of GAA clubs, or those in notable positions, have also been brought to her attention since she founded Survivors Informing Services and Institutions (SiSi).

What frustrates her is hearing even the simple thing that he is an upstanding member of the community and is in the local GAA club or whatever being used as mitigation to help an abuser in the courts.

She said she will never forget seeing a video of a woman being truncheoned out of her car by the unit that her ex was involved in.

She added: It was absolutely horrific.

Trevor Bolgers case is an example of all of the lengths Margaret Loftus had to go through for a three-month suspended sentence. While, yes, she has been vindicated by that, and has been able to do incredible work, how many other women are out there like that? There are so many cases where it was widely known that there were problems and there wasnt an appropriate outcome.

To just enforce an order

She said SiSi is not a very big organisation, but it has handled some of these types of cases where somebody was still living with a guard, who was an active serving member of the force, and had an order in place against them.

All the adversity they had to go through in order to enforce that order, where there were breaches, and they might have been living in a rural area, and its his colleagues who arrive in [to deal with the breach].

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly revealed in a report to the Policing and Community Safety Authority for February that there were 17 gardai on suspension due to complaints of domestic violence and coercive control.

A further 10 were on suspension on foot of allegations of sexual assault or sexual misconduct.

Ms Loftuss case is believed to have been the catalyst for the establishment of the unit within Fiosru.

Having fought hard against the system for her case to finally reach the courts, the Mayo woman has since met with the minister for justice, Jim OCallaghan, and spoken to Tanaiste Simon Harris to press hard for change in the area of domestic violence investigation  not just in cases where the offender is a member of the gardai.

Since her case went public, she has been contacted by several victims across the country who felt their cases were handled negatively by An Garda Siochana.

Trevor Bolger pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Margaret Loftus on October 25, 2012. File Picture: Collins Courts

Last December, the Policing and Community Safety Authority published its assessment of policing for the first half of 2025.

The assessment noted that, while the mandatory call-back rate to people who have reported domestic abuse stands at 77.2%, concerns arise due to inconsistencies across divisions, with some demonstrating rates below the target.

The assessment noted that 44% of women who contacted gardai for support about domestic abuse found officers unhelpful  a finding mirrored in Womens Aid research.

Ms Loftus says: I had one woman contact me who had a barring order in place, and he was stalking her.

She had voice notes of him threatening to kill her while the order was in place, and the gardai did nothing.

I told her to go to Fiosru, and she got a letter back to say her complaint had made the threshold and they are now fully investigating the circumstances of her complaint.

I made a protected disclosure in 2018 about all of this, and that disclosure still has not been fully investigated.

It is not news to me, and I am so glad to see that people are seeing it now.

Protected disclosure

One of the aspects of her case which has frustrated her is in relation to the disclosure.

She says: A full copy of that disclosure got handed over to the defence in the criminal case before it was even investigated, so they can never now impartially investigate all the complaints I made about domestic violence in the guards. I brought this up with the minister for justice and the Tanaiste.

I know my case is the first time there was a protected disclosure and a criminal case running in tandem.

That is no excuse for me of why a protected disclosure got handed over to the defence and to the organisation I made it about before it was even investigated.

I think people are beginning to open their eyes

While the Fiorsu special services unit was established last year, it was not publicised until the Irish Examiner asked the ombudsmans office about the development.

It comes as a family law reporting project in the family courts is getting underway, as the idea of seeking to address the in-camera rule is gaining traction amid concern that it helps to protect domestic violence abusers.

A campaign to reform the family law sector, including the in-camera rule, is underway.

A formal launch of the campaign is expected to take place next month.

Mary Louise Lynch and Margaret Loftus are supporters of the campaign being led by Lisa Ann Wilkinson and Sile Ni Dhubhghaill.

Having worked for many years as a barrister, Labour leader Ivana Bacik also has a particular interest in the area.

Ms Bacik says she is horrified to hear of cases of domestic violence not being taken seriously.

She says: I was a practicing barrister for years.

These are the issues I remember from 15 or 20 years ago in the family courts.

It is shocking to hear that women are still being treated like this. We are still hearing the same issues emerge around the treatment of women and victims of domestic violence before the courts and in the legal process.

Investigation was warranted

One woman whose case has been deemed admissible by Fiorsu told the Irish Examiner last week of the relief she felt when she received confirmation from the ombudsmans office that an investigation into her complaint relating to the garda handling of her domestic violence case was warranted.

She feels that a domestic violence order she had in place has not been able to protect her  and neither were gardai.

She says she is very grateful to Fiosru for taking on her case.

Ms Lynch is hoping now that the unit set up to handle cases like this womans will have a positive impact for victims.

She says: What I am wondering now is: Is it a question of a regular garda response off to the divisional protective services unit? That process can take years. And then you dont get a satisfactory response.

Is it then a complaint to Fiosru? Is it a re-investigation? Is it a fresh crack at it?

I have a lot of questions about how it is going to work for domestic violence victims in practice.

She also questions what kind of reporting the unit is going to do.

How is it going to change the public conversation? How is it going to help change cultural responses to domestic violence and attitudes to women who come forward and report? There are loads of questions around how it is going to work.

A spokeswoman for An Garda Siochana said the organisation does not comment on remarks made by third parties. She said: In addition, An Garda Siochana cannot comment on or discuss details of matters reported to Fiosru.

She added that details on the protocols around reporting incidents of domestic abuse to An Garda Siochana are available on our website.

- If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please click here for a list of support services.
Day two

No, not everyone can or wants to leave the cities; many have nowhere to go. Many still have to work in the cities for their own survival and that of others.

Many lack the psychological capacity for displacement for an unknown duration, as it would further damage their nerves.

Many prefer to die in their own homes, and many worry that if they leave, there will be no home left to return to.

No, not everyone leaves the city. 

On the evening of the second day, large gatherings for mourning the Martyr Leader (!) took place in main squares and large mosques.

When I stood on the sidewalk, I felt my whole body go cold; a shiver ran down my spine and my eyes grew wet with terror.

I saw people with flags, slogan-bearing headbands, and photos of Khamenei in their hands, screaming from the depths of their souls Death to America and Death to Israel.

Simultaneously, other images from another time came to life in my mind: people shouting Death to the Dictator, being shot, and their blood staining the streets; the crowds who raised their voices in protest nearly 50 days ago and were killed.

The two images merged, and I trembled.

Under my breath, I said, People are killing each other; people are tearing each other apart, as a lump formed in my throat.

I looked at the devoted followers of the leadership and thought about Reza Pahlavis [the son of Irans last Shah] so-called call to action, seeking refuge in God to prevent the war pictured in my mind from becoming a reality.

I saw the true image of a fractured society within that uniform march.

As an Iranian, seeing that image was the hardest thing I could witness. 

Finally, out of millions of configurations, proxies, and VPNs, one worked, and I connected to the internet for a few minutes.

I had received dozens of messages from all over the globe; everyone was worried and frightened.

I sat down to reply to the lights of my life, and in the middle of some replies, I burst into tears.

Day three

It was not a calm night.

From 12:30am until 2:00am, they hit repeatedly, as if there were an imaginary line and bombs were lined up to explode in sequence.

The news called it carpet bombing.

Whatever the hell it was, it was massive and horrific.

You felt as if the whole city were falling apart. Karaj and Tehran endured the hardest night of the war that night.

The anxiety was so high that my friend Z said, Lets distract ourselves, and we started gossiping, through a local chat group, about people we knew.

In the other group, the conversation turned to I'm wearing this outfit; if I die and my photo is shared, dont laugh, which led to talk of breast sizes, university memories, and professors.

Occasionally, we would just say, This one was very intense and close.

That night passed bit by bit until nearly 3am with this avoidance, joking, and giggling.

If it werent for the Iranian sense of humor, we would probably all have been hospitalized in an asylum.

Days four, five, and six:

Eleven or twelve years ago, I saw Christopher Nolans Batman trilogy for the first time.

For some unknown reason, the scenes of explosions caused by the Joker remained vivid in my mind.

The night I watched the trilogy, I had a nightmare.

In my dream, I saw every building in the city being bombed by helicopters one by one, exploding just like in the Joker movie, with glass shattering everywhere.

The explosions were endless, and I was so terrified in my sleep that I woke up with a loud scream.

I found Mom hugging me, saying, Dont be afraid, dont be afraid; its just thunder.

The thunder was so powerful that all those wall-to-wall glass windows were shaking in the most terrifying way.

The sound of that shaking, combined with the thunder and the movie I had watched, had caused my nightmare.

As Mom held me, she asked what I had dreamed about, and with a voice that barely came out, I said, War.

Mom laughed and said, My dear, war only exists in dreams; dont be afraid. 

Rescue workers search for survivors in the rubble after a strike in southern Tehran, Iran. Picture: Sajjad Safari/AP

These days, when those damn windows shake, those horrific scenes repeat in my mind.

The explosion, the shattering glass, the fire entering  and then the scene ends, the camera turns off, and there is absolute darkness.

We had gone to my aunts villa so we could visit relatives who went there.

I also wanted to get some strength and energy from seeing my dear S and her even dearer child.

S is always witty and lively, and she has a strong sense of femininity and motherhood.

S, in her mocking tone, was saying, The [large village] mosque is so big they might suspect the IRGC [Islamic revolutionary guards] or Basij [state-backed volunteer militia] are hiding people and ammunition here; if they hit the mosque, only a memory of us will remain, and then she would burst out laughing.

Tonight, when they showed the fathers of the Minab children crying, I couldnt take it anymore and cried with them.

[An attack on an Iranian primary school in Minab killed at least 170 people, most of them children]

What was the difference between those children and the children killed in the protests of last January? What was the difference between the life of Khameneis grandchild and dear Kian?

[Kian Pirfalak, 9, from Izeh, who was shot dead in November 2022, became one of the most poignant symbols of the 2022 protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, following her arrest for allegedly violating rules requiring women to wear the headscarf.]

Why do people draw lines when it comes to mourning the lives of innocent people? Why can't they just weep for a lost human life, regardless of this damn ideology?

I think about the fact that we didnt come here to die; we didnt come for war.

We deserved to live as much as any other human being.

We fought for life.

But the black and evil hands of the devil came out of the sleeves of religious dictatorial governments, out of the sleeves of cursed America and Israel, and took our lives.

These days, more than ever, I think about the media power of cursed Israel.

The Irish Examiner has verified the identity of M, a woman living in Iran who cannot be named for fears of reprisal
At the age of nine, Conor* was often described by his teachers as well behaved and polite. He was in third class in early 2023 when he first started to tell his mother Fiona* he couldnt go to school. He is the youngest in his family, and Fiona never had any concerns about his siblings at the same school.

Fiona holds two masters of arts degrees. However, like everyone else, she struggled through homeschooling during lockdown.

When Conor first started telling her he didnt want to go to school, she wasnt immediately concerned.

I thought initially I didnt really have an issue with one or two mental health days, she told the Irish Examiner.

But his upset escalated quickly, going from feigning illness  usually a tummy ache  to experiencing worrying psychological distress.

He was very, very distressed at the time. [It got] to the point that I had to take him to the GP, because he was talking about throwing himself out the window, she added.

Twice, he snuck home and hid in his room. In the mornings, he started to become unresponsive  almost like he couldnt hear or speak.

Early on, I realised that there was something more going on than just a child deciding I dont feel like going to school today, she said.

Autism diagnosis

Fiona wouldnt have known it at the time, but she would later be threatened with prosecution over her sons school attendance.

After two years of engaging with the educational welfare services and trying every strategy proposed to get Conor back to school, even when it seemed to be causing him more harm than good, he received his autism diagnosis.

Throughout, Fiona was repeatedly told about the damage to Conor from missing school days. Once he was identified as having complex educational needs, and had a recommendation to attend an autism class, there were no places available.

Fiona wishes to highlight her experience with the educational welfare services now in the hopes of highlighting how the approach to addressing long-term absences potentially is damaging to other neurodiverse students such as Conor.

I am not an outlier. I dont know what it would have been like if I had known he was autistic when this started, but somebody should have picked up on the signs, she said.

A sharp rise in daily absences post-pandemic sparked a renewed focus here on school attendance.

The Education (Welfare) Act 2000 legally obliges schools to report any child who misses 20 school days or more. This 20-day measurement is the metric used to define chronic absences.

Despite a return to normality in the 2022 school year post-covid, the proportion of children deemed chronically absent had more than doubled.

It dropped slightly by 2023/24, but more than a fifth of students missed a month or more of school. This drop in attendance rates was highlighted by media, including this reporter, and there were ministerial pledges made in the Dail to reverse the trend.

Every School Day Counts campaign

Last September, the Department of Education and Tusla launched the Every School Day Counts campaign.

It aims to improve attendance with tips for parents and teachers, attendance drives, and a series of posters with slogans such as days off cost good grades and its not ok to be away.

Regular school attendance is commonly linked to better outcomes all round. However, while there has been much focus on the impact of missing school, there seems to have been little recent investigation yet into the root causes currently driving long-term absences.

The Department of Education and Tusla do not know the number of neurodiverse students currently deemed chronically absent.

Neurodiversity Ireland told the Irish Examiner it is directly witnessing the extent of what it describes as a school breakdown crisis, particularly among neurodivergent children.

Following the rollout of the national attendance campaign last year, it ran a snap poll. In 48 hours, it collected almost 350 responses. Almost 85% of respondents reported their child was absent for more than 20 days over the last two school years.

Were talking about years in some cases, said Nessa Hill, the chief executive of Neurodiversity Ireland.

There are children who are out of school years, then trying to get back again and it is not working out.

Until the department looks at the school environment, this problem is going to get worse. They dont have the disaggregate data about who is off and why

In Ireland, the terms school refusal, school avoidance, school anxiety, and school phobia are often used interchangeably to describe the breakdown that occurs when a student will not attend school.

Advice on managing reluctant attendance, published by the National Educational Psychological Service, says there is no single cause of school avoidance.

Research suggests a combination of complex and interlinked issues can have an impact. Family, school, student and social factors can all play a part, it said.

However, research from Britain indicates that there is a very common link between school attendance problems, emotional distress, and neurodiversity.

School 'distress' over 'avoidance'

Sinead Mullally, a lecturer in neuropsychology at Newcastle University, advocates for the term school distress instead of school avoidance. Like Ireland, there has been a renewed interest in school attendance in Britain following the pandemic.

Documenting the experience of more than 900 parents, Ms Mullally and her team found very significant emotional distress in more than 94% of the cases.

We had reports of self-harm, and a lot of very harrowing reports of what parents reported seeing in their children, Ms Mullally said.

Examples of this distress included vomiting, bed wetting, physically lashing out, and even attempting to run into traffic.

We had one parent saying their child with a nut allergy was trying to eat nuts

Of the students surveyed, almost 93% were identified by their parents as being neurodivergent  with 84% of these students identified as autistic.

We found that children with diagnosed autism were more than 46 times more likely to experience school distress than non-autistic children. We also found that children tended not just to have one diagnosis. They had sensory processing differences, ADHD, dyslexia. There was a complex picture of need in these children, she said.

We advocated for changing the term to school distress, trying to get away from the idea that this is a behavioural problem, poor parenting, or defiance. Its a manifestation of really quite significant distress in these young people.

In Fionas case, when Conors attendance issues first started, she turned to research, reading everything she could about school avoidance.

Advice published by Tuslas education support service and the Department of Education broadly follows the same principles.

It tells you to be consistent, dont let them stay at home, she said.

It says just get them in, dont let them stay home because its a slippery slope. You start saying things like its the law, you have to get to school and Ill get in trouble if you dont go in.

You say all these things to your child because there is no other advice out there. I was pleading with him. At one point, I was bribing him; Id say Ill give you a euro a day if you go to school.

That worked for a bit but, after a week or two, he still couldnt do it. I would always talk about school as if he was going. Not in a threatening way, but Id ask what he wanted for his lunch tomorrow. If there were things happening in school, Id say: Theres a bake sale on Friday.

At one point, we even baked for the bake sale and he still didnt go in. All the advice about having rhythms and routines, making sure you had the uniform out the day before, etc, none of that made any difference.

I realised it was a random pattern. It wasnt anything to do with what I would say or didnt say.

Education welfare officer assigned

After a year of intermittent attendance, Conor was referred to Tuslas education support service, and an educational welfare officer was assigned to work with the family.

I remember when the school told me that [the Tusla service] was getting involved. I thought that was great, Fiona said.

I thought the educational welfare officer was a psychologist because, to me, that would be the next logical step.

The first thing I was told, apart from being lectured about the importance of education, was that home cant be more comfortable than school. I was also told that children are little rascals, and who would go to school if their parents let them stay home? If I said to my other children you dont need to go to school, you can stay home, and watch TV, and go to the park, they would look at me like what are you on?

Its not that they didnt listen to me, per say, but it didnt make any difference.

The response was well theres no problem in school, so the suggestion was that the problem was at home.

"The message was always that this was really, really damaging to him that he was not in school, because hes losing out on education and its really harmful for him."

She said she would be told things like well, you definitely dont want a child in secondary school who doesnt want to go to school, you need to fix it now.

On the surface, that sounds right, but the implication was if you dont fix it now, hell be doomed for life, she added.

'Autistic shutdown'

Throughout this time, she had regular meetings with the service. All the while, Conors attendance even started to decline.

I thought maybe he had ADHD, she said.

She would describe how hed become unresponsive in the mornings.

I know now that this was autistic shutdown. I didnt know it then, but somebody should have known that this was what it was. All I got was have you tried an alarm clock?

Different solutions were proposed to get him back into the classroom, but none eased Conors distress.

The fact he couldnt go just upset him further. He would think whats wrong with me, I want to do these things but my body is just telling me I cant.

At one point, with Fionas consent, the service and the principal had a meeting with Conor. It made no difference.

Even though Fiona engaged at every opportunity with Tusla, she started to receive letters reminding her that she could be prosecuted if there was no immediate improvement in her sons attendance.

The educational welfare officer had said: This might take a long time to fix. The next week, I got a letter to say that, if we dont see immediate improvement, there might be problems.

I remember being very surprised at the language because it was the opposite of how we spoke, she said.

Another letter arrived as after the Christmas holidays.

You are obviously on tenterhooks the whole Christmas break because you dont know [how back to school] will be. Then, you get this letter saying youll be fined ,1,000, Fiona said.

At this point, Conor still had some days he would attend school.

The goal was always maybe we could get him to do a full week, and that was seen as a success.

Private assessment

In January 2025, completely burnt out, he stopped going altogether. Conor was also referred to the National Educational Psychological Service.

Again, I was delighted. I thought that maybe we could now get to the bottom of whats causing him distress in school, Fiona said.

I was told you need to have him doing schoolwork at the kitchen table. I had already tried all these strategies. She put together a timetable for him with reduced hours, which we had already tried and hadnt worked. This was just before Easter, and she basically said: Ok, hell be in school again after Easter.

When he didnt return, school staff visited their home.

I was told Conor would have to come down and see them. He didnt. He was up in his bed in a fetal position and completely unresponsive. I said this is what it is like every morning  what do you want me to do?

Facing a wait of up to 30 months to get an autism assessment publicly, Fiona spent 1,700 to get Conor assessed privately. It confirmed he has complex educational needs, and he needs more supports than a mainstream class.

For two and a half years, we have tried to shoehorn this child back into an environment that isnt right for him. We had meetings every two to four weeks for a year. Thats a lot of resources.

Stupidly, I thought Id get some validation. I thought somebody would say: Ok, were clearly doing something wrong here.

It was really harmful, and it shouldnt have happened.

The approach was, if I was parenting right, he would be in school. There has been no reflection whatsoever that if it hadnt been for their strategies and their attitudes, we might be in a different place.

Read More Autism protocol to tackle long delays for assessment of need still not rolled out, HSE says

For Ms Mullally, Fionas story is shocking but not surprising.

Most parents who took part in her research ranked school distress as the second-most stressful life event they could imagine, with only the death of a direct relative  including a child  superseding it.

Thats how threatening this whole experience was. Many parents were threatened with fines, some were taken to court. Some were referred to childrens social services for neglect. That just creates this really adversarial relationship between schools and parents, and a complete breakdown in trust, Ms Mullally said.

For a child to be told you have to be in school, the children know this. They want to be in school, they want to be with their friends, they want to be typical, but its the distress that they experience when they get there that stops them from getting there.

Getting a message on top of that, that its really bad when youre not there, you are just ramping up that anxiety.

When you are threatening their parents with fines, and blaming them, and damaging their mental health, you are adding an extra layer of damage to that family unit.

Weve seen that, in the UK, theyve gone very much for a punitive, enforcement approach, and that failed because its only thinking about how do we get children back into school.

Its not asking whats causing the distress in the first place, and that can add layers and layers of difficulty on top.

'It comes down to flexibility'

Stephen Moffett, a policy advisor with Barnardos, said there should be flexibility and discretion when it comes to cases like Fionas and Conors.

A lot of it comes down to flexibility, making sure we are putting the child at the centre of things, he said.

An increase in attendance is positive, but it doesnt suddenly mean that it is going to go back to perfect attendance.

Thats the perspective our services would see, and how we would try and work with children in those circumstances.

There are circumstances where children who have additional needs cant engage to their full ability without supports, he added.

At the same time, this mother is being castigated for not doing enough. The State isnt doing enough.

Shes had to go through a private route to get a diagnosis to find the underlying causes as to why her child wasnt engaging in school.

A spokesperson for the Department of Education said both the National Educational Psychological Service and Tuslas education support service explicitly support flexible, individualised reintegration plans which are recorded by teachers on the childs individual student support plan in collaboration with teachers and parents.

[The National Educational Psychological Services] role is in providing psychological advice and guidance around the child or young persons needs, [along with] strategies and approaches to support their reintegration/return to school or increasing their time in school.

Educational welfare officers work to ensure children receive the support they need, they added.

*Not their real names

Jess Casey is the Education Correspondent for the Irish Examiner.
President Donald Trump, who for years has played Elvis Presleys music at his campaign rallies across the country, is heading to the King of Rock and Rolls Memphis home while in town for an official event.

Im going to see Graceland after this, I think. Is that right? Mr Trump said during a meeting of the Memphis Safe Task Force.

I love Elvis.

Mr Trumps side trip to a top tourist attraction  which has at times ranked as the second most-visited private home in the US after the White House  is a stark contrast to the domestic and international issues on which the president gave updates at the beginning of his remarks in Memphis.

Graceland Elvis Presley Mansion in Memphis (Alamy/PA)

Thousands of Americans across the country are wading through long lines at security checkpoints at airports, where Mr Trump sent federal immigration officers to assist the Transportation Security Administration during an ongoing Homeland Security shutdown.

And although Mr Trump in Tennessee on Monday noted that he had ordered a temporary halt to planned strikes on Iranian power plants, American forces are still embroiled in the sprawling regional conflict, in which at least 13 US service members have been killed.

The late singers stately home, with its stone facade and white columned entrance, is just a few miles from the site of the roundtable meeting, which was also attended by defence secretary Pete Hegseth and attorney general Pam Bondi.

Graceland opened as a museum and tourist attraction in 1982 as a tribute to Presley, the singer and actor who died in August 1977 at age 42, and draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

Visitors see rooms including the kitchen, the Jungle Room and other parts of the home kept in the state they existed in when Elvis died.

A large Presley-themed entertainment complex across the street from the museum is owned by Elvis Presley Enterprises and includes the singers cars and planes.

Elvis Presley died in 1977 (PA)

Saying that sometimes he was tempted to tell a little fib and say he had met the famous performer, Mr Trump said he assumed his stay at Graceland was not going to be a very long stay, but I want to see that.

Mr Trumps campaign rally pre-show set list often includes some of Presleys music, such as Suspicious Minds, I Want You, I Need You, I Love You, and a medley of Dixie and The Battle Hymn Of The Republic.

At times, massive digital screens at his rallies would play videos of Presleys concerts.

Mr Trump has often compared himself to Elvis through the years, as well. In early 2024, Mr Trump on social media posted a composite photograph with half Presleys face on one side and his own on the other.

For so many years people have been saying that Elvis and I look alike. Now this pic has been going all over the place, Mr Trump wrote. What do you think?

Later that year, he shared on social media a black-and-white image that depicted Mr Trump standing alongside the singer as he played guitar.

Mr Trump has also shouted out the late musician from the stage, opening a 2018 rally in Tupelo, Mississippi  Presleys birthplace  by joking that people used to say that at one time he resembled him.

We love Elvis. I shouldnt say this, youll say Im very conceited because Im not, but other than the blonde hair when I was growing up they said I looked like Elvis, do you see that, can you believe it?
Singapore (Special to Informed Comment; Feature)  After three weeks of effective war, the hostilities have caused severe regional spillovers, thousands of deaths, displacements of millions and a massive global energy crisis that continues to expand. If the implications are global, whats the status of the US/Israeli strikes from the standpoint of international law?

The modern legal order is based on United Nations Charter (1945), Geneva Conventions, Rome Statute (1998) and Customary law from the Nuremberg Trials. The key rules include the prohibition of aggressive war, protection of civilians, individual criminal responsibility for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Force is allowed only in the case of self-defense and UN Security Council authorization.

The US/Israeli strikes have already violated most of these rules.

War of aggression

Article 2(4) of the UN Charter prohibits UN member states from threatening or using force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. It was violated on February 28, when US/Israel launched their joint strikes against Iran.

Typically, the war was launched precisely when and because the peace talks in Oman were advancing toward a successful conclusion.

In the absence of strategic objectives and exit strategy, the U.S. has framed the actions as a campaign to dismantle the Iranian regimes security apparatus.

These efforts go back to the US/Israel 12-Day War against Iran in July 2025, when Masoud Pezeshkian, the new reform-minded Iran president, sought talks to end the conflict with the US and Israel. That was not in line with the new Middle East envisioned by PM Netanyahu and his Messianic far-right cabinet.

The UN Charters prohibition against force is not absolute, with key exceptions being self-defense (Article 51) and actions approved by the Security Council.

Yet, no such threat existed prior to the US/Israel strikes. And on March 17, 2026, Joe Kent, the Director of the US National Counterterrorism Center, resigned from his position in protest of the ongoing U.S.-led war in Iran. Kent said in no uncertain terms that Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation.

This is an illegal war of aggression, instigated by leaders who have been, like Prime Minister Netanyahu, (or should be) charged for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Preemptive war doctrine

To legitimize the unjustifiable, Washington has resorted to preemptive justifications. In this regard, the US/Israel war against Iran is just the latest link in the 25-year-long effort to sanctify power politics with preventive wars.

Since the Bush Jr. 2002 security doctrine, US administrations have stressed preemption as a central strategic instrument. While Democratic leaders (Obama, Biden) have been more moderate in rhetoric, they have coopted the same ideas.

Relying on force to prevent future threats, preventive war doctrines are often cited as violating international law because they bypass the strict legal requirements for the use of force established in the UN Charter.

Unilateral preventive war is a threat to the principle of state sovereignty, as it allows one nation to judge the intentions of another, without objective proof of an upcoming attack. Setting a dangerous precedent, it incentivizes other nations to use similar pretexts for their preventive attacks, potentially leading to global instability.

International law allows for preemptive strikes in cases of imminent danger. But US strategy improperly expands this to include preventive wars against threats that are not yet fully formed or do not exist  as in the cases of the 2003 Iraq War and the 2025 and 2026 Iran Wars.

Targeted assassinations

The targeted assassination of Iranian leaders is a serious violation of international law, especially when conducted outside of an active, declared war zone. Targeted killings violate the prohibition on the use of force against another states territorial integrity and political independence.

Outside of active hostilities, international human rights law (IHRL) applies. Under IHRL, arbitrary deprivation of life is prohibited. Targeted killings are extrajudicial killings for which the acting state is responsible.

In the context of conflict, targeted killings can violate International Humanitarian Law (IHL) principles, including distinction (targeting civilians) and proportionality. Assassinations of state officials often violate the 1973 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Persons Under International Protection.

Precedents feature the killing of the famous Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, the right-hand man of the supreme leader of Iran, the late Ali Khamenei. Soleimani was assassinated in a targeted drone strike in Baghdad in January 2020, ordered by President Trump.

From the standpoint of international law, it was an unlawful attack, as was pointed out by Ben Ferencz, the US prosecutor in the Nuremberg trials and pioneer of international law. After Soleimanis killing, the New York Times printed Ferenczs letter denouncing the assassination, unnamed in the letter, as an immoral action [and] a clear violation of national and international law.

In their first joint strikes against Iran, US and Israel assassinated the 87-year-old Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran. Demonized in the West, Khamenei supported Irans nuclear program for civilian use. Already in the mid-1990s, he famously issuing a fatwa against the acquisition, development and use of nuclear weapons.

The assassination of Khamenei was still another blatant violation of international law. It was also part of the Israeli strategy to eliminate moderate leaders, whose absence is then used as an excuse for replacing peaceful diplomacy with brutal obliteration campaigns.

Crimes against humanity, forced displacement

These crimes are defined in Rome Statute Article 7, as widespread or systematic attack on civilians. Allegations are typical when strikes include targeting civilian infrastructure, economic strangulation, mass displacement, and siege conditions.

A continuity argument  what we first see in Gaza is now spreading to Iran and, due to spillovers, into the region  exists because similar patterns can be identified via blockade, disproportionate force, and collective punishment.

The stated efforts at regime change to undermine Iran and fragment the Shia state suggest that the boundary between cultural genocide targeting a broad ethnic-religious group and full destabilization is a line drawn in waters.

Allegations of ethnic cleansing, relying on deliberate forced displacement are likely over time. While ethnic cleansing is not a formal treaty crime, it is recognized in jurisprudence. It rests on forced population removal, which is the net effect of the strikes against Iran and a deliberate intention in Israels invasion of Lebanon.

Israels rapidly expanding buffer zone in southern Lebanon, extending roughly 3 to 14 kilometers north of the Blue Line demarcation, is premised on demographic engineering. In Iran, the objective to fragment the state, instigate inter-ethnic polarization and regional divides is also predicated on identity politics.

At first sight, allegations of ethnic cleansing seemed to be more relevant to Gaza and the West Bank. But with shifting objectives, forced displacement is now an overwhelming reality. The US/Israel strikes have caused displacement of 3.5 million people in Iran and over 1 million in Lebanon, with up to 22,000 killed or wounded in the former and another 3,600 in the latter.

Collective punishment, economic warfare

Combined with illicit strikes, Washingtons decades-long sanctions against Iran, most of which are unilateral, and the underlying warfare is reminiscent of economic warfare premised at collective punishment.

Combinations of economic sanctions and military strikes, particularly when invalid from the standpoint of international law, raise serious issues under humanitarian law and human rights law. In Gaza and in Iran, unilateral sanctions have caused unwarranted mass suffering violating international law.

Ever since the early 1970s, when Beirut was still called the Paris of the Middle East, Israels wars against Palestinians have destabilized Lebanons fragile ethnic mosaic pushing the country to the edge of default. Thats the fate PM Netanyahu would like Iran to share.

In this regard, there is a clear continuity from the Gaza War, carried out by Israel with arms and financing by the US-led West, ICJ provisional measures and ICC arrest warrant debates, to the US/Israel strikes against Iran.



The building of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands. GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2. Via Wikimedia Commons

The common denominators feature an inflated self-defense doctrine, weak enforcement of humanitarian law, selective application of international law and ultimately the inevitable US veto in the Security Council.

The more these violations of international law are permitted, the greater will be the costs in economic terms, the more brutal the military destruction and the more lethal the human devastation.

Thats why multilateral cooperation  across all political differences  and the enforcement of international law is so desperately needed today, before its too late.
By Jasim Al-Azzawi

( Middle East Monitor )  Irans missile strike near Israels Dimona nuclear facility on Saturday night was more than a dramatic escalation in the shadow war between the two nations. It was a reminder of the fragility of Israels decades-long policy of nuclear ambiguity, a strategy designed to keep adversaries guessing about the countrys ultimate deterrent while avoiding direct confrontation with allies who have long opposed nuclear proliferation.

The missiles landed just 14 kilometres from the reactor, damaging nearby buildings and injuring at least 20 people. The facility itself was untouched, but the symbolism was unmistakable: Iran had demonstrated its ability to reach Israels most sensitive site, despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus declaration only a day earlier that Irans missile capabilities had been destroyed.

A Retaliation With Symbolic Weight

The strike was retaliation for Israeli-American attacks on Irans Natanz nuclear enrichment facility only a day earlier. Tehrans Aerospace Force commander, Majid Musawi warned of upcoming surprises, framing the attack as an eye or an eye. The message was clear: Iran could threaten Israels nuclear infrastructure, even if it stopped short of hitting the reactor itself. For Israel, the incident is a nightmare scenario. Dimona has long been the centrepiece of its nuclear program, shrouded in secrecy since the 1950s. The facility was built with French assistance, under the guise of a textile plant. When American inspectors pressed for clarity, Israeli officials offered evasions. President John F. Kennedy, sceptical of the textile story, insisted on sending inspectors. According to hearsay that has circulated for decades, Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion considered Kennedys insistence intolerable, with some conspiracy theorists even suggestingwithout evidencethat Kennedys assassination was linked to his pressure on Israels nuclear program.

The Ambiguity Strategy

For nearly seven decades, Israel has neither confirmed nor denied possessing nuclear weapons. This policy of deliberate vaguenessknown as amimut, or opacityhas served multiple purposes. It has deterred adversaries without provoking sanctions or rupturing relations with Washington. It has allowed Israel to maintain a strategic edge while avoiding the obligations of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Tehrans Aerospace Force commander, Majid Musawi warned of upcoming surprises, framing the attack as an eye or an eye. The message was clear: Iran could threaten Israels nuclear infrastructure, even if it stopped short of hitting the reactor itself.

Non-Proliferation Treaty

The ambiguity unravelled in 1986 when Mordechai Vanunu, a technician at Dimona, revealed details of Israels nuclear arsenal to the Sunday Times of London. His disclosures suggested Israel possessed dozens, perhaps hundreds, of warheads. Vanunu was abducted by Mossad agents in Rome, tried in Israel, and imprisoned for 18 years. His revelations, however, permanently altered the global perception of Israels nuclear capabilities.

A Reactor Under Threat

Saturdays strike underscores the vulnerability of nuclear facilities in wartime. While Dimonas reactor was not hit, the proximity of the missiles raises questions about what might happen if Iranor another adversarywere to target it directly. A strike on a nuclear reactor could release radiation across the region, creating a catastrophe far beyond the borders of Israel. Israel has invested heavily in missile defense systems, including the Iron Dome and Arrow interceptors. Yet Irans ability to penetrate those defenses and strike so close to Dimona suggests that Israels shield is not impenetrable. Regional Reverberations.

For Iran, the strike was a demonstration of resilience and capability, intended to show that its missile arsenal remains intact despite Israeli claims.

The attack is likely to reverberate across the Middle East. Gulf states that have normalized relations with Israel in recent years may now reconsider the risks of aligning too closely with a country whose nuclear facilities are under threat. For Iran, the strike was a demonstration of resilience and capability, intended to show that its missile arsenal remains intact despite Israeli claims. For Washington, the incident is a reminder of the delicate balance it has tried to maintain for decades: supporting Israels security while opposing nuclear proliferation. The United States has never publicly acknowledged Israels nuclear arsenal, even as it has pressed Iran to abandon its own nuclear ambitions.

Historical Echoes

The Dimona strike evokes historical echoes of the Cold War, when nuclear facilities were considered untouchable targets. Israels secrecy about its program was tolerated by successive American administrations, partly out of strategic necessity. Kennedys scepticism was unusual; later presidents accepted Israels assurances, even as intelligence reports confirmed the existence of a nuclear arsenal. The French role in building Dimona remains a sensitive subject. In the 1950s, Paris saw cooperation with Israel as a way to strengthen ties in the Middle East. The reactor was built using French technology, and Israeli scientists quickly mastered plutonium production.

The incident highlights the paradox at the heart of Israels nuclear strategy: Secrecy has preserved deterrence, but it has also created vulnerabilities.



Photograph of the construction site near Dinoma in the Negev desert for Israels then-secret nuclear reactor was taken during 1960, and is located in State Department records at the National Archives (Record Group 59, Records of the Special Assistant to the Secretary of State for Atomic Energy and Outer Space, General Records Relating to Atomic Energy, 1948-62, box 501, Country File Z1.50 Israel f. Reactors 1960). Public Domain. Via Picryl

The Road Ahead

Whether Saturdays strike marks the beginning of a new phase in the conflict remains uncertain. Irans warning of upcoming surprises suggests further escalation. Israel, for its part, is unlikely to abandon its policy of ambiguity, even as its nuclear infrastructure becomes a more visible target. The incident highlights the paradox at the heart of Israels nuclear strategy: Secrecy has preserved deterrence, but it has also created vulnerabilities. By refusing to acknowledge its arsenal, Israel has avoided international scrutiny. Yet that same secrecy makes Dimona a tempting target for adversaries seeking to expose Israels vulnerabilities.

As the dust settles in Dimona, the world is reminded that nuclear ambiguity is not invulnerability. The missiles that landed just short of the reactor may have been a warning shot. The next strike could test whether Israels decades-old policy can withstand the realities of modern warfare.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor or Informed Comment.

Via Middle East Monitor
A series of strikes blamed on the Sudanese army in the southern town of Lagawa killed at least 15 people on Monday, a medical source said, while rival paramilitary forces mounted an offensive near the Ethiopian border.

Sudan's southern Kordofan region is currently the fiercest battlefield in the three-year war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who hold West Kordofan state where Lagawa lies.

"Fifteen bodies and 23 wounded people arrived in the hospital from three neighbourhoods," a medical source in the city told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity for their safety.

The RSF accused the army of carrying out the attack, calling it part of the military's "systematic shelling of hospitals, markets and residential neighbourhoods in the cities of Kordofan and Darfur, using drones".

Both sides have been regularly accused of war crimes, including indiscriminate shelling and targeting civilians.

Across the country, the war has killed tens of thousands of people and left some 11 million displaced, creating the world's largest hunger and displacement crises.

Kordofan is a vast region that connects RSF strongholds in the western Darfur region with the army-controlled east.

Near-daily drone strikes have killed dozens at a time across the region, where the army has sought to stem an RSF advance, pushing them back towards Darfur and away from the capital Khartoum.

On Friday, an army drone strike ripped through a hospital in East Darfur state capital El-Daein, the region's gateway, killing at least 64 people.

Last week, another blamed on the RSF on Darfur's western border town of Tine killed 17 people in Chad, in the latest spillover of the conflict.

- Ethiopian border -

On the other side of Africa's third-largest country, the RSF mounted an offensive on army territory along Sudan's eastern border with Ethiopia.

Control over Sudan's southeastern Blue Nile State, bordering both Ethiopia and South Sudan, is split between the army and the RSF's allies, a faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu.

The eastern front has for months seen intermittent clashes as paramilitary troops inched north from the SPLM-N's southern strongholds.

Two sources, one from the army and the other from the RSF, told AFP fierce battles broke out Sunday just south of the border town of Al-Kurmuk, the army's key position in the area.

The RSF source and an SPLM-N statement said the joint offensive captured the area of Gurt, just south of Al-Kurmuk.

"Our forces are continuing their advance on Al-Kurmuk," the RSF source said.

From its foothold in the southern Blue Nile, a thin strip of land jutting south between Ethiopia and South Sudan, the SPLM-N maintains reported supply lines from both countries, building on decades-old links.

This month, Sudan's army said drone attacks had been launched "from inside Ethiopian territory", in the first accusation of Ethiopian involvement in the war.

Ethiopia has separately denied accusations it is harbouring RSF camps.

Just across the border from the SPLM-N's regional base of Yabus, satellite imagery analysed by AFP shows significant development in Ethiopia's Asosa airport -- which previously served as a drone base.

The RSF last year brought thousands of fighters into Ethiopia, an RSF source and an army source told AFP.






Monday, March 23, 2026 - City advocate Rachel Kanai has restricted access to her social media accounts after allegations surfaced online linking her to an affair with a married man.

According to claims shared anonymously with blogger Edgar Obare, a woman alleged that she discovered Rachels private photos in her husbands phone.

Following the online chatter, Rachel made her social media accounts private and deleted a number of her photos.

It remains unclear whether the disgruntled woman will leak the private photos.

Below is a message that the woman sent to Edgar Obare after discovering that Rachel was wrecking her marriage.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Sunday, March 22, 2026 - Margaret Akoth has shared emotional clips of her daughter expressing fear and reluctance to return to their Syokimau home, citing alleged domestic abuse by her father.

In the videos, the young girl is heard saying she is afraid and does not want to go back home, statements that Margaret says reflect the situation they endured before the separation.

Margaret maintains that abuse in the marriage forced her to walk away, adding that her childs fears further highlight the challenges they faced while living together.

Sharing the videos, Margaret wrote, We moved from Syokimau because he was always trailing us ( Im wondering how now hes turning it that its us trailing him ,SMH) .. On this video, I had just gone to pick my daughter from the salon and bumped into him next to my shop at the parking, he started shouting and abusing me and held the steering of the car threatening me to drive off and see. How I escaped ni God. He picked stones and started throwing at us (the car) as we drove off.. All these drama in front of the baby he pretends to love. My daughter was so scared,cried all through mpaka tukafika home.

This comes after Victor had been portraying himself as the victim on social media and accusing her of cheating with multiple men before she broke her silence.

MARGARET AKOTH saga continues.... pic.twitter.com/lCIW9udDS7  DAILY POST  (@dailypost_ke) March 23, 2026






Monday, March 23, 2026 - A man identified as Victor Ouma has been accused by multiple women of luring them into dates at high-end hotels, only to disappear and leave them with hefty bills to settle.

According to claims circulating online, Ouma reportedly invites women to upscale venues, orders expensive food and drinks, and then sneaks away before the bill is brought.

In one of the incidents shared on social media, a woman was left stranded with a staggering bill of Ksh 77,000, which she was forced to pay after Victor vanished.

In another case, a different woman claimed she was left with a Ksh 62,000 bill at Habanos Lounge under similar circumstances.

Ouma was previously arrested in Mombasa for impersonating a police officer and is suspected to be involved in fraudulent activities

Screenshots and testimonies from victims are currently being shared widely on social media.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Sunday, March 22, 2026 - Controversial social media personality, Maxwell Odongo, has broken his silence after Victor Agwaro came out guns blazing and accused him of snatching his wife.

Taking to his Facebook page, Maxwell confirmed that he is currently in a serious relationship with Margaret and claimed that he rescued her from an abusive marriage.

According to Maxwell, even Margarets daughter was tired of witnessing her mother being subjected to domestic abuse.

Even my step daughter is very happy. An innocent and wonderfully gifted child was tired seeing her mother reduced to a punching bag, he wrote.

He further revealed that he moved Margarets daughter to an international school and is catering for all the bills.

Maxwell also stated that they are taking legal action against Victor after he made damning accusations against them, including claims that they were plotting to kill him.

Check out his posts.






Monday, March 23, 2026 - The Personal Assistant to Nyabari Masaba Member of Parliament, Daniel Manduku, has restricted access to his social media accounts after city slay queens accused him of inviting them out on dates and disappearing without settling the bills.

According to posts circulating online, the ladies claim the PA, identified as Solomon Ratemo, would reach out, plan meetups at popular spots, and later vanish, leaving them stranded with unpaid expenses.

Some online claims further allege that he targets gullible campus ladies and masquerades as the MPs son.

Solomon has made his social media accounts private following the expose.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Sunday, March 22, 2026 - A woman has come forward alleging that popular Facebook influencer, Awuor Awuor, is involved in an affair with her husband.

According to the woman, she discovered the secret affair, prompting her to speak out and accuse Awuor of interfering in her marriage.

The claims are further complicated by the fact that Awuor is also married to another man said to be an engineer at Safaricom.

The disgruntled woman reached out anonymously to blogger Edgar Obare, where she shared details of the alleged affair and accused Awuor of meddling in her marriage.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
A lack of funding is causing a delay to upgrades needed on the N78 road that runs through the centre of Athy.

This became apparent at the most recent meeting of Athy Municipal District, where cllr Mark Leigh asked Kildare County Council for a timeframe for funding from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) for the upgrade of streets, footpaths and junctions in the town.

A report issued in response by acting senior engineer on the projects team at the council Daragh Conlan stated with regards to the N78 that there is no timeline at present for the progression of these works or agreement on the funding to be provided by TII.

The report added that additional funding will be needed to complete all of the works set out in cllr Leighs question.

Speaking at the meeting, cllr Leigh asked that the council go back to TII and ask for a dedicated timeframe for the funding, and commented on the actual state of the streets in Athy.

Cathaoirleach Ivan Keatley suggested that cllr Leigh bring forward another motion at the next meeting asking the council to seek the timeframe for funding from TII and put more pressure on TII to try and bring that forward.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
THERE has been a warm welcome for the new artist in residence in Athy's Art House venue. Multidisciplinary artist and cultural producer Ali Clarke has been working in Athy as an artist in residence since January.

The artist in residence scheme is handled by Kildare County Councils Arts Service in collaboration with Creative Places Athy and she had been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Connect & Gather award.

Working on a new sign for Kildare at the Art House in Athy

Ali has been operating from Art House on Leinster Street, building on the work of Anthony Haughey who established the art gallery and workshop space. She also works as a Community Connector for Creative Places Bagenalstown.

Originally from Bray, she has been working in the arts for around 15 years. She started off as a dancer and choreographer, learning her trade in the Netherlands, before moving to Belgium and then back to Ireland. She then emigrated again to Portugal, where she worked predominantly in dance and circus spaces.

Speaking to the Kildare Nationalist on a crisp day in early March, she detailed her experiences abroad that have formed part of her career trajectory. Discussing her time in Portugal, the Wicklow woman outlines how she honed her ability to make art accessible and inclusive.

We'd perform on stage, we'd also perform in cafes or in non-traditional spaces, as we'd call it, kind of the same stuff we'd put on stage, but bringing it to where people are, and kind of making it available for everyone, and not just those who could or would make it to the theatre.

Ali then returned to Ireland once again, becoming involved in socially engaged art. She has worked for Dublin City Council producing projects as well as making art. She boasts a diverse range of experiences and skills, which helps in the arts, which is quite a precarious industry to work in as she notes.

Asked about how this role in Athy came about, Ali explains that there was an element of good timing with the artist already moving down to the area.

So I'd seen it advertised through a couple of different art networks, and I was moving down to the area at the time. It seemed like a great opportunity. Connect and Gather and Art House are funded through Creative Places, and I've worked previously with Creative Places in Darndale in Dublin when I worked for Dublin City Council Art Office."

Ali has started off her time in the Art House by hosting an exhibition from school children that was created with Clodagh Doyle, a teacher from Scoil Phadraig Naofa.

Ali has since worked with Athy Sing and Sign club throughout February on the 'Signs of Spring' exhibition.

There was a successful event at the Art House on St Brigids Day with live readings, live music, performances from the young people from the club and the unveiling of a stained glass art piece to celebrate the launch of 'Signs of Spring'.

Throughout the month there were workshops to fill the space before an event on the final day of the month to officially launch the final exhibition and to celebrate the transition into spring.

It becomes clear from speaking to Ali that working with the deaf community has been an important and very rewarding part of her work in the town so far.

We had invited the deaf community of Kildare to come in and be part of a conversation or to lead on a conversation around a new sign for Kildare. So I'm sure the deaf community could explain this much better, but the sign for Kildare and the sign in Irish sign language for Kilkenny are the same. So some of the Kildare Deaf community, were like, let's create our own sign so we can avoid all of this confusion between Kildare and Kilkenny.

Ali added that Maggie Owens , the leader of Athy Sing and Sign, invited ISL (Irish Sign Language) linguists and the deaf community from Kildare to initiate a conversation around the new sign. Ali brought Jaima Gago, a deaf artist, to do visual note taking to turn the conversation into a piece of art.

"This is by and for the deaf community and trying to, as much as you can, bring in deaf artists, deaf producers, deaf community members into it. The artist is a big fan of the central location of Art House, which makes it visible and accessible to the local community.

She says that it gives credence to the young people and to the communities whose art should be on display for everyone to see, citing a recent example of this when Ryan Tubridy was walking past and decided to pop in when young people and pupils from the school had their exhibitions on.

Its obvious from speaking to Ali that it has been very rewarding work so far, who had very positive words for the community in Athy:

I've been really, really deeply touched and impressed by the community in Athy already. Everyone is just so warm and everywhere you go, someone wants to have a conversation.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
Kilkenny-headquartered Campion Insurance has announced two senior leadership appointments as the company prepares to accelerate the next phase of expansion following a transformative three-year growth period.

Damian Smith has been appointed Chief Trading Officer, while Brian Thorp joins as Chief Operating Officer, further strengthening Campions executive leadership team.

The appointments come after a period of significant momentum for Campion Insurance, during which the business has successfully integrated more than 15 acquisitions, streamlined its operating model, and continued to deliver consistent growth and high levels of customer service across Ireland. TAP HERE FOR MORE KILKENNY BUSINESS NEWS

Damian Smith, who joined Campion Insurance in 2017, steps into the role of Chief Trading Officer after serving as Head of Commercial. He previously held senior business development roles with Aon, Zurich and Quinn Insurance, bringing deep market insight and extensive industry relationships to his new position. In his expanded role, Damian will lead trading strategy and commercial performance across the organisation, supporting continued growth and market expansion.

Brian Thorp joins Campion Insurance from AXA Insurance, where he served as Head of Motor Damage Claims. He brings significant operational and claims management experience, having previously worked in Commercial Operations across the island of Ireland.

READ NEXT: Kilkenny City ready to deliver a festival atmosphere for St Patricks Day and festival

As Chief Operating Officer, Brian will focus on operational excellence, scalability, and enhancing the customer journey as the business continues to grow.

The last three years at Campion Insurance have been transformative, said Jim Campion, CEO. We have integrated over 15 businesses, modernised our operating model, and continued to grow while maintaining a strong focus on exceptional customer service. As we move into the next stage of our development, it was important to build a leadership team that combines deep knowledge of Campion Insurance with fresh perspective and external expertise.

Damian and Brian bring exactly that balance. Their experience and leadership will be instrumental as we continue to strengthen our market position and deliver long-term value for our customers and partners.

Campion Insurance says the appointments signal its commitment to strengthening its executive team as it positions itself for sustained growth and continued market leadership in the years ahead.
Friends and family of missing Dean Roche are appealing to the public for information, 11 years after he disappeared from Ballyfoyle in Co Kilkenny.

In an emotional post on social media site, Facebook, Dean's friend, Damien Hipwell spoke of his heartbreak over the disappearance of his friend over 11 years ago.

"It's crazy even typing these words out to think that 11 years have passed by so fast..so many things have happened in the 11 years so many changes some good some bad but the one thing remains the same Dean is still missing," he said.

"Personally I find it both outrageous and heartbreaking that no matter how hard we have tried to keep fighting for the truth to come out, some people still refuse for whatever reasons, not to clear their conscience," he added.

READ MORE: Bring Dean home - Kilkenny family's plea for information

Dean Roche from Hebron Park in Kilkenny went missing on the night of March 22, 2015 when he went to the Ballyfoyle area to buy a car. A short time after purchasing the car it was found crashed down the road. Dean vanished that night, never to be seen again.

Dean's brother, Eamon along with friend, Damien Hipwell have called on the garda investigation to be upgraded to murder and are appealing to anyone with information to come forward.

We just want to bring Dean home, not knowing what happened to Dean broke my mothers heart and her dying wish was to be laid to rest beside Dean. I have my Mums ashes and I am waiting for Dean to be brought home so finally we can bury them together. It would mean a lot to be able to bury Mum and Dean, said Eamon.

Both men are adamant that Dean Roche never left the Ballyfoyle area and that someone in the area knows what happened to him.

If someone did something to Dean I dont think that they intended to do it on the morning of that day. I dont think he made it out of there of his own accord, said Damien.

We are just pleading to anyone with information that we lead us to find Dean to come forward with that information. No one is looking for vengeance or retribution, we just want to get him home and lay him to rest with Geraldine. Not knowing where Dean is is heartbreaking and we are appealing to anyone with information to come forward.

Anyone with information can contact Kilkenny Garda Station on (056) 7775000.
Dublin mayor Ray McAdam said he was in it to win it, before being selected as the Fine Gael candidate for a by-election triggered by the resignation of Paschal Donohoe.

Mr Donohoe, who resigned as finance minister and a TD, took up the second most senior position at the World Bank, as managing director and chief knowledge officer.

At a selection convention in Dublin city on Monday, party members heard that Mr McAdam, who is a former parliamentary assistant to Mr Donohoe, was the only nomination received to be the partys candidate.

The Cavan-born father-of-one has lived in Dublin for more than 20 years and has been a councillor for 17 years.

He told the room that Dublin deserves the very best, that he loves the honesty of the Dublin Central constituency, and said he was in it to win it.

There is no constituency in Ireland quite like Dublin Central, he said.

Proud communities one and all. Communities of workers and carers, families and volunteers, young people with ambition, older people with wisdom, communities that have known pressure, communities that too often, have been expected to carry more than their fair share, but yet, communities that stand tall each and every day.

This election is about filling more than a vacancy. Its about choosing the kind of voice Dublin Central sends to Dail Eireann, a voice of noise or a voice of substance, a voice of protest alone or a voice that can actually deliver, a voice that comments on problems or a voice that works to solve them.

Asked after how he would buck the trend of government candidates losing byelections, he said: Ive been written off since my first campaign in 2009.

He added: You dont survive in politics in Dublin Central if youre not out on the doors, knocking on doors, talking to people, understanding their frustrations. So they know me, they know my track record, theyll come out and vote for me.

Asked if he believed Dublin was safer now after 15 years of Fine Gael in government, Mr McAdam said: I believe it is.

I believe Dublin is a safe city comparatively to other cities of similar size and scale.

I want to see the high visibility Garda patrols we see across the city centre expanded out into the residential communities across Stoneybatter, Drumcondra, Glasnevin, and thats an issue that I have raised with the Gardai over the last number of years, and particularly now as Lord Mayor.

Director of elections for the byelection, Minister of State Neale Richmond; Minister of State Colm Brophy; TDs Emer Currie, James Geoghegan and Maeve OConnell; MEP Regina Doherty; Senator Evanne Ni Chuilinn and secretary general of Fine Gael John Carroll, were at the selection convention.

Mr Richmond paid tribute to the great Mr Donohoe and thanked him for his work for the constituency.

Councillor Colm ORourke, who proposed Mr McAdam, said he had learned how to canvass from him, before telling the room: Lets take our seat back in Dublin central.

Among the confirmed candidates for the Dublin Central election are Gerry The Monk Hutch, who just lost out on a seat during the 2024 general election; and councillor Janice Boylan, a running mate of Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald.

She competed for the Sinn Fein nomination against Gillian Sherratt, the mother of Harvey Morrison Sherratt, a nine-year-old boy who died after years of waiting for spinal surgery.

Councillor Daniel Ennis for the Social Democrats, councillor Janet Horner for the Green Party, Ruth ODea for the Labour party, musician Eoghan O Ceannabhain for People Before Profit, and Ian Noel Smyth for Aontu are also candidates.

The Dublin Central byelection will take place in May, as will a byelection for the Galway West constituency, the seat vacated by Catherine Connolly when she became President of Ireland.
The Post reports:

The Crown has dropped its case against a man accused of damaging a Treaty of Waitangi exhibit at Te Papa Tongarewa in December 2023. A judge in Wellington District Court was told on Tuesday that the move came after defence lawyer Julia Spelman had given the Crown a draft of a defence experts evidence for the future trial of Te Wehi Ratana, 31.

Does anyone think charges would have been dropped if it was say a protester who damaged the Tino Rangatiratanga flag as a protest? No of course not.

Ratana had also taken part in climate change protests that disrupted traffic around Wellington several times in 2022 and 2023. He and others stood trial on a charge of endangering transport but a jury could not agree on verdicts against him. In that case the Crown decided it was not in the interests of justice for the Ratana and others to stand trial again.

We have a justice system that encourages law breaking  so long as it is left wing activism.
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 &&
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Eoin Reynolds

A gun-smuggler who imported military-grade firearms and sold them to Irish criminal gangs has had more than 17,000 returned to him after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) dropped money laundering charges against him.

Conor O'Brien (29), of Kilpatrick, Ardee, Co Louth, was jailed last week for 11 years with the final year suspended after he pleaded guilty to importing guns and ammunition.

However, two money-laundering charges that had been brought against him are no longer being pursued.

At the three-judge Special Criminal Court today, Simon Matthews, for the DPP, said the State would not pursue an order for the cash to be forfeited and had no objection to it being returned to O'Brien.

Judge Karen O'Connor ordered the cash to be returned.

O'Brien had been charged with multiple offences relating to the importation of weapons and two charges under the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act.

The laundering charges, which have now been dropped, alleged that he converted, transferred, handled, acquired or possessed sums of 7,450 and 9,980 that were the proceeds of criminal conduct at two locations.

Last November, O'Brien pleaded guilty to a charge that between February 10th, 2023, and July 19th, 2024 with knowledge of the existence of a criminal organisation, he participated in or contributed to activity intending to facilitate the commission by the criminal organisation or any of its members in the importation of firearms, ammunition and explosives.

He further pleaded guilty to five counts concerning the possession or control of firearms or ammunition in suspicious circumstances, contrary to the provisions of Section 27A(1) of the Firearms Act 1964, as substituted by section 59 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 2007.

These related to offences at John Street, Blackstick, Ardee, Co Louth, on July 19th, 2024, when he had unlawfully in his possession two.233 Remington calibre barrels from AR-15 pattern semi-automatic rifles, in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference that he did not possess them for a lawful purpose; he had possession of four .233 Remington calibre barrels from Anderson manufacturing AM-15 pattern semi-automatic rifles; he had eight frames for Sig Sauer semi-automatic pistols; a frame for a Canik semi-automatic pistol; and four slides for a Sig Sauer model P320 9mm Luger calibre semi-automatic pistol.

Passing sentence on O'Brien last week, Judge O'Connor said the defendant took advantage of his dual citizenship to purchase guns in America and sell them here for financial gain.

In communications found on his phone, including one in which he joked about selling guns to "Ireland's top criminals, LOL", Judge O'Connor said he had shown "total disregard for the impact of such deadly weapons on our citizens".

The court ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the firearms and ammunition.

At a previous hearing, Detective Inspector Shane McCartan said: Without Conor OBrien, there would be no criminal organisation, such was his importance."

OBrien and the leader of the gun-running ring, Mark McCourt, were distributing guns and ammunition to criminal gangs in Derry, Armagh, Dublin and Limerick, he said.

McCourt (34) of Edenreive, Newry, Co Down, was previously jailed for 12 years by the Special Criminal Court, having also pleaded guilty to facilitating the criminal organisation's efforts to import restricted weapons between February 2023 and July 2023.
High Court Reporter

Mediation has not been successful in a dispute over the shelving by the Government of plans for international protection applicant accommodation in two Dublin office buildings on which a company says it spent 6 million in refurbishment works, the Commercial Court heard.

Property company, Lonadale Ltd, has claimed it entered into agreements with the Government to convert IFAC House, Old Naas Road, and Canal House, South Circular Road, to accommodate 158 residents at a daily rate of 90 per person.

However, last July, following the transfer of accommodation for refugees to the Department of Justice, the plug was pulled on a number of office-to-residential conversions. A number of sets of legal proceedings followed, including those from Lonadale.

It sued the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality and the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and integration, seeking damages for breach of contract and duty.

It also sought, as against the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, damages for misrepresentation and damages against the Minister for Justice for unlawful interference with contractual and/or business relations.

Lonadale says it has, in reliance on agreements made with the State in February 2025, begun fitting out the buildings and working towards a Summer commencement date.

But last July, it was told the Minister for Justice intended to breach, or secure a breach of, the refurbishment agreements.

On Monday, Judge Sanfey was told mediation talks which had taken place to try to resolve the dispute were not successful and Lonadale now sought court new directions for the hearing of the case.

The judge adjourned the case to October and asked the parties to bear in mind the possibility of still resolving the dispute, notwithstanding the failure of mediation.
GARDA Lisa Murray served a book of evidence on a man accused of possessing child pornography when he came before last weeks sitting of Portlaoise District Court.

The 51-year-old who cannot be named due to the nature of the charge is alleged to have been in possession of the pornography in his home on dates between 14 January and 11 February 2019.

Judge Andrew Cody sent the man forward for trial to the 14 May sitting of Naas Circuit Criminal Court and gave him an alibi warning instructing him that he must notify gardai in writing within 14 days if he wished to rely on an alibi in his defence.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme.
THE latest meeting of the Graiguecullen/Portarlington municipal district marked the final appearance of long-serving councillor Padraig Fleming, who has been serving this particular council area since 2009.

At his final meeting, he took the time to say a few words and was at times overcome with emotion as he reflected on his years of service.

He said: "Hello all, how are you keeping? I'm grateful for this opportunity to speak at the meeting, as you all know it will be my last meeting of the municipal district. It has been a great experience working here with my fellow councillors and council staff, representing the general public right throughout that period."

Cllr Fleming made a point of thanking his fellow councillors and highlighted the contributions of previous representatives and expressed gratitude for the work of the employees of Laois Co Council. "I want to thank everyone who works at LCC because they always do their best for the people in the area, that's why Laois is the best council in Ireland."

Cllr Fleming said that one of the aspects he enjoyed the most about his role was working with the public to help them secure grants for whatever ventures or projects that they were working on.

Among the many councillors and representatives who wished him well was Cllr Aisling Moran, who described him as an "absolute gentleman" and also highlighted his work ethic and dedication to the community. "You were at every event. There's definitely more than 24 hours in your day and everybody spoke so highly of you from all over the country."

Cathaoieleach of the Graiguecullen/Portarlington municipal district Vivienne Phelan, also expressed her best wishes and said: "I think I speak for us all when I say we have all really enjoyed immensely working with you since I joined the council and you've been a great source of information and help and support to me and I don't think you'd ever find a harder working, more positive, more dedicated public representative."

To commemorate his next chapter, the council presented him with a Japanese bonzai tree, miniature trees which are meant to represent harmony, peace and balance.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
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.
Kenneth Fox

Monday's front pages focus on a range of stories, from the government agreeing on short-term energy reliefs to fears of more cyber attacks by Iranian agents.

The Irish Times reports that a tax rebate scheme for hauliers, a double fuel allowance payment, and a reduction in excise duty to cut fuel prices at the pumps are all expected to be agreed by the Government on Monday.

The Irish Examiner reports Irish intelligence officials believe the Iranian-backed hacker group behind the cyberattack on global med tech company Stryker, which has more than 5,000 employees in Ireland, is having to reorganise.

The Echo reports that a terminally ill man living in a Cork council home said raw sewage seeping into their home could lead to the death of his wife.
Tom Tuite

A woman was "punched in the face" as she campaigned alongside Sinn Fein's leader for President Catherine Connolly, it has been alleged.

Daniel Soave, 39, appeared again at Dublin District Court on Monday, with his case scheduled for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

He is accused of assault causing harm to a woman and public order offences on North Strand Road, Dublin 1, on October 24th.

Campaigners were out with Sinn Fein's Mary Lou McDonald delivering leaflets near the Five Lamps in the north inner city at the time.

Judge Michele Finan noted that the DPP stated that the case was suitable for summary disposal in the District Court rather than in the Circuit Court, which has broader sentencing powers.

She accepted jurisdiction after hearing an outline of the prosecution's evidence. The court heard that it was alleged that, at about 4.55pm, two women were canvassing for Catherine Connolly ahead of her election.

It was alleged he pushed the canvassers and "punched one of the lady canvassers to the face, knocking her to the ground".

She was brought to the hospital, but no further medical treatment was sought, the court Garda sergeant said.

Soave did not address the court and has yet to enter a plea formally. His solicitor, Yvonne Bambury, sought an order for disclosure of prosecution evidence, which was granted.

The judge ordered the accused to appear again in July and remanded him on continuing bail.

Footage of the incident went viral online.

Soave, of Portland Row, Dublin 1, was later arrested and detained at Store Street Garda station, where he was charged with two counts of engaging in threatening, abusive, and insulting words or behaviour and a single charge for assault causing harm to a named woman.

The case first came before the court on October 27th.

Garda Colm Maguire had then said that when Soave was charged, he had no reply to the public order offences.

However, the court heard that, in response to the final charge, he stated: "What's that all about? Complete lies, I never pushed anybody."

The accused was then ordered to obey bail conditions and notify garda of any address change and "not to engage with persons campaigning in the Dublin 1 area, or contact directly or indirectly with the injured party or witnesses".

That included using social media such as Facebook or WhatsApp. Legal aid was granted after the court heard that he was employed, earning 600 a week, but paying a large rent.
Fuel prices surged to almost 2.40 a litre of diesel in parts of Laois, with the price peaking in Portlaoise at almost 2.30 for a litre of diesel as the Government pondered how to help people cope with the hike in prices caused by the war in Iran.

A survey of prices in Portlaoise on the eve of the Government announcement of a package of measures showed a variation of prices at the pumps.

The lowest price for a litre of diesel is 2.19 per litre. The highest price reached almost 2.30 but a number were charging almost 2.29 a litre.

Petrol prices were close to 2 per litre on average in the county town at noon on Monday, March 23.

Leinster Express / Laois Live readers also highlighted the costs they are seeing at the pumps on social media.

Tricia Brennan and Daiga Klindzane said the cost of diesel at a Rathdowney filling station had reached  2.38 last week.

Jacqueline McNulty reported seeing 2.37 for diesel at a station in the Rathdowney / Ballacolla area last weekend.

Louise Henderson said 2.23 was being charged for diesel in Portarlington at the weekend.

Claire Hughes commented on the impact on a crucial set of workers.

"Have they even spared a thought for people who are health care assistants who have to drive from home to home to care for their clients. At this rate, we won't be able to travel to them. This affects everyone," she said.

Bernie Keenan was also concerned about how bills would be paid.

"Very worried about it all, where are we going to get the extra money to heat our homes and put petrol in our cars especially when you live out the country and have no bus services," she said.

Tony Fitzpatrick wondered when prices would fall substantially.

"The filling stations were very quick raising the price of fuel by up to 40cents a litre. Let's see when this fighting stops and the price of crude drops how long it takes for them to drop the price at the pumps, guaranteed it won't be as quick," he posted.

Sinn Fein Senator for Laois, Maria McCormack, has said that families and workers are being hammered by spiralling fuel costs, as prices continue to surge.

Across Laois, 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, she said.

Senator McCormack was not pleased with the Governments response.

We are now in the third week of this crisis and the government has still done nothing to bring prices down. Instead, they are telling people to wait - wait for meetings, wait for decisions - while costs continue to rise. That is simply not good enough, she said. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

READ NEXT: Laois M7 commuters face disruption due to motorway closure

Independent TD Brian Stanley said the Government is making more money as fuel prices shoot up for motoring, home heating, transport and farming.

While Government dont control international oil prices, they do control the level of taxation on every gallon of fuel.

For every 100 spent on oil, petrol or diesel 65 goes to the Government coffers. The irony is that the more prices increase, the greater is the amount collected in VAT on fuel, as this is levied on a percentage basis.

Prior to the imperial oil war in the Middle East being waged by the USA and Israel, we already had a cost-of-living crisis. We are now really in a difficult situation, he said in the Dail.

The Government is expected to announce a tax rebate scheme for hauliers, a double fuel allowance payment for pensioners and those on social welfare, and are expected to cut excise duty for a period to reduce fuel prices.

The measures are expected to be announced on Tuesday, yet their effects will take some time to trickle down to Laois fuel pumps.

Sources within the Government have allegedly said that they cannot truly shield the Irish public from the full impact of the war, but the package due to be announced will help consumers at the petrol pumps.

READ NEXT: Laois farmers and truckers welcome commitment to ease war hit on fuel prices

Organisations representing hauliers and tillage farmers in Laois and other counties have welcomed the Government's commitment to take steps to ease the pain caused by the spike in fuel prices caused by the Iran war.

Following talks with the Minister for Transport, Darragh O'Brien, in Dublin, Rosenallis man and IRHA President Ger Hyland said there is going to be "substantial support" announced for truckers.

The Irish Grain Growers Group, which represents several Laois tillage farmers, said it welcomes the Governments commitment to intervene on fuel prices, though its needed for more than the short term.
A Laois breast cancer survivor spends her days raising awareness of the often silent disease across Ireland.

Rathdowney woman Helen Campion is well-known within Rathdowney, for both her community work and her musical talent. She is a founding member of the Rathdowney Arts Group, and an organiser of local events in Rathdowney such as the St Patrick's Day Parade, and ran for local Council in 2024.

What many may not know about Helen is her battle with breast cancer, following a diagnosis in 2019. Ms Campion now works with Breast Cancer Ireland as an educational coordinator for the Munster region.

"It was purely good luck that my cancer was found when it was," Ms Campion told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

Pictured: Rathdowney woman Helen Campion at a breast cancer awareness stand

"I had registered with the breast check database when I turned 50, and when I turned 52 in 2019, I was called for the first mammogram," she explained.

"What's funny about it is that I originally wasn't going to go, I was very flippant about it. Like any other woman, I would have checked myself for lumps now and then- I knew I had none, and I wasn't feeling unwell.

"I rang them to cancel my appointment in St Vincent's, and they asked if I would prefer to go to their mobile unit in Newbridge the following day. It was totally random that I was diagnosed," she said.

Four days after her mammogram in Newbridge, Ms Campion was told to come to St Vincent's hospital for a second mammogram.

"I had walked out of the mobile unit in Newbridge thinking it was great, saying that it's brilliant to have the service. When I got called back, that's when it all changed," she said.

"In the hospital there were loads of women in gowns getting their mammograms, I came out of the mammogram and was sent for an ultrasound. That was when I started to question things," she said.

"All the other women had came and went, and I was brought into a little room with a cup of tea- that's never a good sign," she laughed.

"I was then told that they had found a mass on my left breast that it had already travelled to my armpit, and that I would need to go for a biopsy.

"I tried to convince the doctor that he was wrong, because I had no symptoms- I had no lumps, and I wasn't feeling sick. He started laughing and told me that this is the good news, they have caught it early," Helen explained.

Helen kept her diagnosis to herself, until she knew from the biopsy that her cancer was treatable.

Pictured: Helen gives a talk in a Munster school

"My diagnosis was so random, I was so, so lucky. I didn't think I had symptoms, because all I knew was to check for lumps. There are eight common symptoms that not many women know," she said.

"Even after my treatment no one had told me. Breast cancer can appear as a puckering or retracted nipple, and a rash is also very common, anywhere from your collarbone to your armpit."

Symptoms of breast cancer can include:

A lump or thickening in your breast or armpit

A change in size or shape of your breast such as one breast becoming larger than the other

A change in the skin of your breast, such as puckering, ridges or dimpling (the skin may look like orange peel) or redness

A breast abscess or boil - this may appear as a red, tender area on your breast.

A change in your nipple, such as a pulled in, sunken or flattened nipple.

An unusual discharge (liquid) from one or both of your nipples. The discharge may be blood stained or watery.

A change on or around the nipple such as a rash or flaky or crusted skin

Swelling in your armpit or around your collarbone

Soreness or warmth (inflammatory breast cancer)

A red scaly rash on one nipple, which may itch or burn (Pagets disease of the breast)

"This is why I took the job as an educator with Breast Cancer Ireland- I had symptoms, and never knew. I tell my own story when I give my talks to people. I want to show the signs, and the proof that you can do more than survive cancer, you can get treatment and move on with your life," Helen said.

Pictured: Mean Scoil Nua an Leith Triuigh presenting Helen with a cheque for Breast Cancer Ireland

There are ten educators for Breast Cancer Ireland, all survivors of the disease. Educators within the Breast Health and Education Awareness Programme cover the 26 counties of the Republic of Ireland, working to promote good breast health amongst women of all ages.

"The key is catching it early, that's it. There is now a 90% survival rate, it's amazing- but the caveat is catching it in its early stages," Helen explained.

Ms Campion qualified for a medical card upon her diagnosis, and said that the treatment she received was phenomenal.

"When I've told people about the treatment I received, I've been asked if I had went private because the care was so great and so quick. My care was public- when doctors find something they know they can treat, they're so good. the HSE staff are incredible," she said.

When Helen received the news that her cancer was at stage one going into stage two, she knew that it would not be fatal.

"We caught it on time, and that was my bottom line. I knew I'd have a journey ahead of me, but I knew it wouldn't kill me. Only after that did I tell my sons, I rang them and made the tough call. I kept that baseline from day one," she said.

Helen underwent surgery and radiation treatments at St Luke's hospital in Kilkenny. Following her treatment, she was prescribed the estrogen blocker Tamoxifen, which kept the cancer from returning.

Pictured: Helen with one of Breast Cancer Ireland's fleet of pink cars

"I took my final dose in April of 2025, after being on the tablet for six years. The following June I came across the position of Education & Awareness coordinator for Munster with Breast Cancer Ireland.

"I saw that the position had closed a few days before, but I decided to send my CV in anyway. I have a background in community engagement and giving talks, and it was something I felt so passionately about," she said.

Helen was hired by Breast Cancer Ireland, and has never looked back since.

"We just clicked, I was sent the contract the very same day. It has been incredible. Out of ten coordinators, we managed to reach over 35,000 people last year. We have had people approach us to thank us for helping them catch their cancer early, both women and men," she said.

"We want to reach as many people as possible- we are a movement completely funded by the public, set up to be so by the Royal College of Surgeons, who are still the directors of the board to this day. Through raising awareness, the mortality rates are reducing by 2% each year. Breast cancer is now survivable.

"That being said, 23% of women from 20 to 50 will get breast cancer. We want to reach these women. One in 738 men get breast cancer, and it's not talked about. If something pops up or changes and doesn't go away, get it checked. If caught early, it's treatable," Helen finished.

Breast Cancer Ireland has a free app called 'Breast Aware', which shows women how to check their breasts for symptoms, and provides monthly reminders to do so.

For more information on breast cancer symptoms, treatments and supports, see BreastCancerIreland.com.
A debate over which County Kildare road is more worse for wear was heard at a recent Kildare County Council (KCC) meeting.

The state of the two roads were highlighted at the latest Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District meeting, which took place on Wednesday, March 18 last.

READ NEXT: The 'war against youth vaping' has begun in Kildare

The conversation kicked off when Independent councillor Pat Balfe motioned for KCC to carry out an inspection of the L3005 and L7070 local roads, in order "to assess the current condition and ongoing deterioration of the road surfaces, and that KCC consider these roads for inclusion in the next available maintenance, surface dressing, or resurfacing programme".

He appeared at this meeting by virtual means and his motion was seconded by Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender.

In response to Cllr Balfe's motion, KCC said via the report it presented at the meeting: "The MD Office will consider including part of the L7070 road in the 2026 roads resurfacing programme."

"The L3005 road has not been included on the 2026 roads resurfacing programme, however, the MD Office will continue to maintain the road surface," KCC added.

READ NEXT: Popular Kildare pub to open boutique hotel at premises

Speaking further on his motion, Cllr Balfe said that the L3005 "has been described by residents as the worst road in Ireland."

Fianna Fail Cllr Suzanne Doyle said that Cllr Balfe "was not far off" in his statement, and added that she also has had bad experiences with this road in the past.

Following this, her party colleague and Mayor of the MD, Cllr Noel Heavey, jokingly remarked: "The worst road I know is in Clongorey... I maintain that that one is the worst one!"

"I've opened a can of worms here!" Cllr Doyle replied with a laugh.

However, Cllr Balfe found another ally in Fine Gael Cllr Kevin Duffy, who described the L3005 as being "absolutely shocking".

He added: "The roads team [at KCC] do great work, but still, that has to be up there as one of the worst roads, and we need to be mindful of it."

The motion which prompted the debate was submitted by Independent Cllr Pat Balfe. File photograph

READ NEXT: Warning issued to Kildare commuters about M7 closures and diversions
Three potential sites have been identified for a swimming pool for North Kildare, Kildare County Council has confirmed.

The update came as two councillors sought clarification on the progress of the pool at a recent meeting of Celbridge Leixlip Municipal District.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Paul Brooks (FG) said the reason he put forward his motion was to see where we are in this process.

He said he was reasonably okay with the council's response to his motion, and acknowledged there has been engagement with the parties involved.

He said that hopefully this would speed up the process and members would receive an update on the permanent swimming pool very very soon.

READ NEXT: The 'war against youth vaping' has begun in Kildare

Also speaking at the meeting, Cllr Nuala Killeen (SD) said delivery of a pool for Leixlip should be a priority.

With respect to her question on a temporary pool for Leixlip, Cllr Killeen pointed out that when one was previously introduced to North Kildare, it was one of the most successful pools in Ireland.

She was trying to get a timeline for the permanent pool, she said, but in the interim a temporary pool might be needed again.

Cllr Bernard Caldwell (FF) said that unfortunately, the council was on the verge of securing a site previously but the plans fell through.

I do believe that a site is pretty pretty imminent, he said.

A council official said that while he shared councillors' frustration, he could not speak of specific sites being identified.

There is possibly one site that might involve acquisition, he confirmed, ...and I do think we're very close to having a preferred site selected at this stage.

The official confirmed a meeting is to be held with the Planning Department next week, with a report proposed to go to the senior management team before the end of the month, with a preferred site indicated.

On the question of a temporary pool for North Kildare, the official said that while previous funding came from LPT, I don't have funding for this in my budget.

He understood, he said, that there would be demand for a temporary pool, but this would only be a diversion away from the project to secure a permanent pool.

A report issued by the council stated that three potential sites have been identified for a swimming pool for North Kildare.

The report added: When the site is selected and there is clarity around timeline it is fully intended that members will be briefed.

A detailed feasibility study for the site that is selected will be commissioned and already the tender brief for this has commenced.

To maintain momentum, this study will also seek to assess different construction options, and the related magnitude of costs and delivery programme, to move quickly to detailed design and planning.
The death has occurred of Fr. Oliver O'Reilly, formerly of Cloncose, Cornafean, Co. Cavan, who passed away peacefully over the weekend, surrounded by his loving family at St. Francis Hospice, Blanchardstown.

Condolences have flooded in for the priest who served congregations in Leitrim and numerous other counties during his time in the priesthood, which saw him working in the Diocese of Kilmore, along with the Diocese of Killeshandra and Arva.

One condolence from a parishioner in Leitrim remembered the Very fond memories of his time in Ballinamore, adding May his gentle soul rest in peace.

Another described him as enthusiastic with wonderful ideas recalling the pleasure of working with him alongside others in the setting up of the Rainbows programme in Ballinamore in the 1990s and later the Cruise bereavement courses in Cavan.

READ MORE: Leitrim students receive Special Gaeilge Recognition Awards

Another recalled the role he played in the big moments in their lives as well as the everyday moments.

He taught a lot of us ceili dancing, and as a result, the dancing went from strength to strength. He also performed our marriage ceremony in 1982. Thanks for everything, father, and rest in peace.

Fr. Oliver is remembered for the role he played in the lives of his parishioners as well as the effect he had on Gaelic games during his time in Cavan, as he set up numerous camogie clubs in the county.

Anyone who knew Fr Oliver understood that camogie was a huge part of his life, and nothing gave him greater joy than seeing new clubs emerge, develop, and thrive, read a condolence message from Shercock Camogie Club, which Fr. Oliver helped establish.

Fr Oliver will never be forgotten, and his legacy will continue to live on in our club for many years to come.

He was predeceased by several members of his family, including his parents, John P. and Rose, his sister Angela Masterson, his brother Seamus, and niece Brenda and grand-niece Kiera Aoife.

He is deeply mourned by his sister Rosemary Nolan (Matt), his brothers Sean (Mary), Frank (Anne) and P.J. (Barbara), his sister-in-law Dympna, his nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

He will also be missed by Bishop Most Rev. Martin Hayes and Bishop Emeritus Leo OReilly, and his brother priests, parishioners of Killeshandra and Arva, people of the Diocese of Kilmore, St. Patrick's Missionary Society, Kiltegan Fathers, his relatives and his many friends.

READ MORE: Frustrating Facebook restrictions threaten animal adoptions for Leitrim Welfare Group

Another condolence message described him simply as a wonderful man, always willing to listen, advise and support.

He will repose at Lakelands Funeral Home, Dublin Road, Cavan, H12 RF78, on Monday evening from 5.30 pm until 9.00 pm, before his removal on Tuesday at 11.15 am to the Sacred Heart Church, Arva, to arrive for the concelebrated Requiem Mass at 12.00 noon.

Interment afterwards in his family plot at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Coronea.

Family flowers only, donations if desired to St. Francis Hospice.
University of Galway has presented Special Gaeilge Recognition Awards to students from Leitrim and across the country who achieved a distinction in Higher Level Irish in their Junior Cycle examination.

Over 400 students from 64 schools across Donegal, Clare, Mayo, Leitrim, Sligo, Roscommon and Galway attended a special event on campus to recognise and celebrate their achievements.

Niamh Ahern from Ballinamore Community School and Ava Ni Mhuireagain, a student at Carrick-on-Shannon CS, received their Special Gaeilge Recognition Awards recently.

These students are among the 8.3% of students nationwide who achieved a distinction in the higher level T2 Irish paper, or the 8.8% of students who achieved a distinction in the higher level T1 paper in the 2025 Junior Cycle examinations.

University of Galway Deputy President and Registrar, Professor Becky Whay said: It is our privilege to celebrate these students outstanding achievements in their higher-level Irish Junior Cycle examinations last year, and to present them with these special recognition awards. The Irish language is incredibly important to us here in University of Galway and we are very proud of these accomplished young people who are joining us at this special event this evening.

READ MORE: Mens shed in Leitrim expected to maintain Coillte walkway by hand

Caroline Ni Fhlatharta, University of Galways Irish Language Officer, welcomed the students, their teachers and families to the celebratory event, saying: Its wonderful to be able to recognise the achievements of all the students. They should be very proud of what they have accomplished and mindful of the opportunities that the Irish language will bring in the years ahead. It is truly uplifting to see the next generation with such exceptional ability, ensuring that the Irish language goes from strength to strength. Comhghairdeas libh go leir.

The importance of thriving Irish-speaking communities in the Gaeltacht and beyond is recognised in the Universitys first Irish language strategy, A Strategy for the Irish Language 2021-2025.

These communities have been recognised annually over the past four years at this event with the University fulfilling its role in leading higher education in the Irish language and showing Irish speakers respect, as is set out in the Strategy.
LIMERICK woman and international rugby referee Joy Neville has launched a landmark five-year partnership between Zeus Packaging and the Camino for Clionas Transition Year Programme.

This secures vital sponsorship for the 255 students from 29 schools across Ireland who will take part in this life-changing initiative each year.

The sponsorship will fund the official programme T-shirts and half-zip tops worn by students as they fundraise in their communities and as they complete their journey along the Camino de Santiago in Spain.

The Transition Year students raise essential funds for Cliona's Foundation, supporting families caring for a child with a life-limiting illness. After months of fundraising and preparation, students travel to Spain to walk over 100 kilometres from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela, completing the final and most famous stretch of the Camino.

READ MORE: Grave concerns over potential flooding in Limerick town as urgent action is demanded

The Camino for Clionas Transition Year Programme has grown year-on-year, now welcoming 253 students from 29 schools nationwide in 2026. Through their collective fundraising efforts, students make a tangible difference to families supported by Clionas Foundation, while gaining invaluable life skills along the way.

Over the course of the Camino for Clionas journey, participants experience a challenging and rewarding adventure that pushes them beyond their comfort zones while building resilience, leadership, teamwork and lifelong friendships.

Brendan Ring spoke of his gratitude for the support of Zeus as well as all the incredible Transition Year students all over Ireland. We are incredibly grateful to Zeus for the support of Clionas and these wonderful young people as they step up to make a real difference for families across Ireland.

The Camino journey represents determination, compassion and community spirit. This five-year commitment from Zeus reflects a belief in the lasting impact this programme has on students and the families they support.

Speaking about the partnership, Brian OSullivan said: Zeus Packaging are incredibly proud to support Clionas Foundation and the vital work they do for families across Ireland. If our contribution can help ease even a small part of the burden these families face, then it is something we are honoured to be part of.

This five-year sponsorship ensures the continued growth and sustainability of the programme, providing a strong visual identity for participants during fundraising campaigns and throughout their Camino journey.
THE University of Limerick (UL) has announced the appointment of RTE journalist and presenter Katie Hannon as Adjunct Professor in its Journalism department.

Ms Hannon, a highly respected figure in Irish broadcasting, brings over two decades of experience to UL's acclaimed Journalism and Digital Communication programmes.

Currently a co-host with RTE Radio Ones Drivetime, which she joined as a co-host in November 2025, she is one of RTEs most prominent presenters, hosting programmes Including Upfront with Katie Hannon and previously Saturday with Katie Hannon and The Late Debate.

Her distinguished career includes award-winning investigative work, notably on stories such as the Maurice McCabe garda whistleblower case and the Women of Honour scandal.

READ MORE: Concerned parents warn of dangerous road outside Limerick school as funding is sought

Commenting on her appointment, Ms Hannon said: "I am thrilled to get this opportunity to join the University of Limerick and contribute to its outstanding Journalism programmes."

Journalism has never been more important so sharing my experiences with the next generation of journalists and hearing from them how we can all navigate the evolving media landscape will be a real privilege."

Welcoming Ms Hannon, UL Head of Journalism Dr Fergal Quinn said: Katies exceptional track record in Irish media aligns perfectly with our commitment to preparing the next generation of journalists for a dynamic and challenging industry."

Her practical experience will inspire and mentor our students as they develop skills across print, broadcast, and digital platforms.

Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Dr Sandra Joyce said:

Our adjunct faculty play a crucial role in connecting students with realworld expertise, and we are deeply grateful to Katie for bringing her experience and insight to UL.

Her contribution will greatly enrich the learning environment for all our journalism students.

Dr Yvonne Cleary, Head of the School of English, Irish, and Communication, added:

Adjunct professors give their time voluntarily to share their industry insights and expertise with students. It is wonderful to have a professional of Katie Hannons calibre serving in this role for Journalism, and we are truly grateful for her engagement.

Dr Audrey Galvin, who is radio journalism lead in UL said: "Broadcast journalism remains a vital pillar of modern media, even as newsrooms become increasingly digital and convergent. Radio and live broadcasting demand immediacy, clarity, truth and trust  qualities that are essential in todays 24-hour news environment."

"Having someone with Katies depth of experience in live political and current affairs broadcasting will be hugely valuable for our students as they work across audio, digital and multimedia platforms.

UL's Journalism department, part of the School of English, Irish, and Communication, is recognised for its hands-on approach, including projects like the award-winning Limerick Voice. The programme has a strong tradition of engaging industry professionals as adjunct faculty to bridge academia and practice.
THE IRISH arm of a Swiss energy firm is seeking to develop a wind farm in Limerick.

JC Mont-fort Ireland is in the process of assessing the suitability of land in Limerick to install turbines on.

No decision has yet been made on lands, but its planning on applying for permission at the end of next year.

A target date of between 2030 and 2031 has been set for the firm to begin being fully operational and delivering power to the grid.

READ MORE: Award-winning Irish agency appointed as communications provider for Limerick's Ryder Cup 2027

Its already working on developing an on-shore wind farm in the townland of Illaunbaun in west Clare.

This development, situated near Miltown Malbay and Lahinch, is currently before planners.

The firm says it has 80 megawatts of output secured.

With Ireland having a target of generating 80% of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2030, a number of wind farms are planned across Limerick.

These have prompted a mixed reaction, particularly among immediate communities who have expressed concerns of the size and scale of turbines.

However, Limerick Live understands JC Mont-fort Ireland will deliberately target turbines which are smaller in scale.

On top of this, the company will have one turbine owned locally in the community.

This will be known as a locally owned turbine, and would be managed for the local community ensuring the profits, and environmental benefits remain in the immediate area.

Its development in Clare features this.

A family firm, JC Mont-fort is based in the resort of Verbier in Switzerlands Alpine region.

The company has operational wind farm schemes in Spain and France.
A WOMAN has pleaded guilty to stealing several bottles of vodka and wine from a supermarket in Limerick city.

At Limerick District Court, Carly Fitzgerald, aged 29, of The Steeples, Upper William Street, Limerick city, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001.

Prosecuting Garda Sergeant Denis Waters told the court that the first of two incidents took place on November 30, 2025.

On the date in question, at approximately 5:33pm, Ms Fitzgerald entered Aldi on Roches Street in Limerick city.

READ NEXT: Concerned parents warn of dangerous road outside Limerick school as funding is sought

The court heard that the accused took two bottles of Smirnoff Vodka, put them in her handbag and left without paying.

The two bottles, which had a retail value of 30, were not recovered.

Just three days later, on December 3, Ms Fitzgerald again stole goods from Aldi on Roches Street.

On this occasion, it was three bottles of wine with a combined value of 24.67 that were stolen.

Again, the accused hid the goods in her handbag and they were not recovered.

Sgt Waters told the court that Ms Fitzgerald has 13 previous convictions, but none for Section 4 theft.

Her previous convictions include 11 for public order offences and one for Section 2 assault.

Solicitor Sarah Ryan, representing the accused, said her client has a problem with alcohol that she needs help with.

She added that Ms Fitzgerald is not currently availing of the Probation Service but would welcome intervention.

Judge Carol Ann Coolican adjourned the case to facilitate the preparation of a Probation Report.

Ms Fitzgerald was remanded on continuing bail, to appear again before Limerick District Court on May 28.
Micheal Martin has welcomed the announcement by Donald Trump that the US has postponed military strikes against energy infrastructure in Iran, following talks with Tehran.

But the Taoiseach would not be drawn on whether the announcement would affect the Governments imminent measures to tackle rising fuel prices.

The US president had threatened to obliterate Irans power plants if the country did not reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz by just before midnight on Monday night.

However, in a post on his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump said he would delay the strikes by five days following very good and productive conversations with Tehran over the previous two days.

Coalition leaders are due to meet on Monday evening to discuss a package of measures to help with the rise in energy and fuel prices caused by the US and Israels war in Iran.

That package of measures is set to be announced on Tuesday.

On Monday morning Mr Martin was in Walkinstown, Dublin as he and Minister for Housing James Browne announced plans for the Land Development Agency (LDA) and the OFlynn Group to deliver 542 new homes in the area.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Martin said: I welcome the announcement by the American president that they have postponed any attacks on Iranian oil and gas infrastructure.

Its critical that spreads across the region. Its critical that the war ends.

Following Mr Trumps announcement, crude oil prices dropped, with Brent crude oil falling by up to 10%, later settling at around 8% lower at just under 104 dollars a barrel.

Asked if this would affect the Governments plans, Mr Martin said they are looking at temporary, targeted measures.

He said rising fuel prices have already had an impact on people, but said he would not get into specifics about whether Mondays drop in oil prices would affect the planned supports.

The figures are volatile, we know that, he said. Theyve been up and down.

The Taoiseach also said there needed to be a more sustained engagement with the haulage industry.

He was addressing reports that hauliers had said short-term measures would not help their sector, which he described as a key part of Irish trade.

Mr Martin said the plans being announced on Tuesday need to be measured and informed.

He added: I feel we do need a set of proposals to deal with the haulage industry in the long term, to make sure that its a viable, sustainable industry.
CONCERNS have been raised over the delivery of social housing across the Adare-Rathkeale Municipal District amid claims the local authority is set to miss its targets.

Councillors for the Adare-Rathkeale Municipal District raised concerns after being presented with an update on approved social housing projects across the district at their March meeting.

Some councillors were sharply critical of the report, saying it wasnt worth the paper it was printed on, while others questioned why the council is only on track to deliver less than half of its original target.

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James Hayes, housing strategy officer with the Affordable Housing Team, said the target is to deliver 154 houses (in 2026), with 71 already approved by the local authority, accounting for 46% of the target. A further 69 properties, he said, are in the pipeline.

Senior Engineer Brendan Kidney told councillors that the team completed 130 properties last year, with each refurbishment taking an average of 150 days to complete.

He said funding remains a key constraint, noting they dont have the funds to refurbish a number of properties that have already been acquired.

Mr Kidney said most refurbishments cost between 35,000 and 40,000, while councillors were told that around 11,000 per property is currently available from Government.

Fine Gael councillor Stephan Keary highlighted that the costs of houses have quadrupled in recent years while Cllr Adam Teskey said councillors have no answer to give the people that need a house the most.

He also cited the rising homeless figures and warned there is no light at the end of the tunnel for many.

Cllr Teskey also expressed concern about how the Government is handling the delivery of housing, noting that less than 50% of the approved houses are currently in the pipeline.

Cllr Teskey branded the update a catastrophe, adding the ongoing escalation in fuel costs will make things worse.

Independent Ireland councillor Tommy Hartigan questioned when social housing will be allocated in the Pallaskenry area, saying he has constituents asking whether they will receive a house. He added that there has even been a rumour circulating that he himself would be getting one of the houses.

READ NEXT: Award-winning Irish agency appointed as communications provider for Limerick's Ryder Cup 2027

In response, councillors were told that successful applicants are normally informed around three weeks before they can move into a property.

Cllr Teskey added that there needs to be more transparency in the interest of fairness around these matters.

Leas-Chathaoirleach for the district, Cllr Bridie Collins, said the lack of funding voids certain houses from being included and she questioned whether money from the Mayors Fund could help accelerate social housing delivery in the district.

Vincent Murray, Director of Service for the district, said social housing is a priority for the Mayor in 2026.

He added that the Adare-Rathkeale Municipal District currently has one of the lowest rates of voids (empty houses) in Limerick at around 80 properties.
A LANDMARK office complex in Limerick has been sold to a French investor.

Hawthorn House, which is located within the Plassey Innovation Campus, close to the National Technology Park in Castletroy, has changed hands from Irish real-estate investor Fine Grain, to French firm SCPI Transactions Europe.

READ MORE: Limerick staff unable to login to work devices after cyberattack from hacker group

The grade A office building totals approximately 50,000 square foot across four floors.

It features 199 car parking spaces.

Opened in 2019, Hawthorn House is fully let to General Motors and Kneat Solutions.

The building holds a number of environmental certifications.

This latest transaction follows the acquisition by Fine Grain of the neighbouring Three Building, and the sale of neighbouring Hamilton House II, both in late 2024.

Darragh Lennon, the chief operating officer of Fine Grain Property, said: The sale of Hawthorn House to a leading French institutional investor highlights the appeal of the Plassey Innovation Campus and Limerick as an investment location. At the Plassey Innovation Campus, we have created, over the past number of years, a workplace community where innovation is thriving and it continues to attract high quality international and Irish occupiers who want to access the talent from the University of Limerick. The transaction underpins our strategy to realise value for investors while further deepening market confidence in the Limerick office sector.

Fine Grain was advised by Fergal Burke and Artem Makarevitch of Avison Young on the commercial aspect of the sale.

Michael Neary of Philip Lee advised on the legal elements of it.

Arkea REIM, the parent company of SCPI Transactions Europe was advised by Henry Timmis and Chris Rees of Sienna IM and Craig Kenny and Ben Conroy of Dentons.

Fine Grain Property is an Irish-owned international commercial real estate investor and operator, which has invested more than 355m across Ireland since 2016.

Its portfolio consists of around 1.3 million square feet of commercial real estate in 18 buildings hosting more than 65 global employers at locations across Ireland.
MET Eireann is warning that very strong westerly winds are set to impact travel across five counties, including Limerick and Clare, later this week.

The national forecaster has issued a status yellow wind warning for five counties along the west coast - Clare, Kerry, Limerick, Galway and Mayo.

"Becoming increasingly windy with very strong and very gusty westerly winds," reads the warning which will be valid from 5pm on Tuesday until midnight.

READ ALSO | 'Oh my God, she's hitting her head' - Chilling video shows attack that left Limerick woman 'critical'

According to Met Eireann, potential impacts include "some fallen trees and branches, difficult travel conditions, large coastal waves and potentially damaging gusts.

Local authorities, such as Limerick City and County Council, are monitoring the situations and crews will be deployed if required.

Yellow Wind Warning for Kerry, Clare, Limerick, Galway, Mayo



Valid from 17:00 Tues 24/03 to 00:00 Wed 25/03



Becoming increasingly windy with very strong & gusty westerly winds



https://t.co/FhFWKx6AbX pic.twitter.com/Dp4x1oiW9L  Met Eireann (@MetEireann) March 23, 2026

Motorists are being advised to exercise caution and to remain alert for debris if driving while the warnings are in effect.

Meanwhile, in its latest forecast, Met Eireann says it will be wet and breezy starting out on Tuesday across many areas with spot flooding.

"While sunny spells will quickly develop across the West and Northwest, heavy showers will move in too, bringing embedded hail and lightning. Sunny spells and squally showers will extend to the rest of the country later in the afternoon," states the latest forecast.

"Highest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees before turning much colder later. Becoming increasingly windy throughout the day with fresh to strong and gusty southwest winds gradually veering westerly. Some severe gusts are expected in the evening across western coastal areas."
Mark Zuckerberg wants everyone inside and outside his company to eventually have his or her own personal artificial-intelligence agent. He is starting with himself.

Zuckerberg, the chief executive of Meta Platforms, is building a CEO agent to help him do his job, according to a person familiar with the project.

The agent, which is still in development, is currently helping Zuckerberg get information fasterfor instance, by retrieving answers for him that he would typically have to go through layers of people to get, the person familiar with the project said.

Zuckerbergs agent project reflects a drive across the 78,000-person company to accelerate the pace of work, eliminate layers from its organizational structure and change the day-to-day jobs of its employees to remain competitive with AI-native startups with much smaller staffs. The company views AI adoption as critical to its future success and is experimenting with how to integrate more of it into its business.

Zuckerberg, who has also been spending more time coding recently, previewed some of the efforts on the companys earnings call in January.

Were investing in AI-native tooling so individuals at Meta can get more done. Were elevating individual contributors and flattening teams, he said. If we do this, then I think that were going to get a lot more done and I think itll be a lot more fun.

Use of AI tools has spread quickly through the ranks at Metain part because it is now a factor in employees performance reviews.

Metas internal message board is filled with posts from employees sharing new AI use cases they have found and new tools they have built using AI, according to people familiar with the matter.

Some inside the company described the atmosphere as reminiscent of the companys early days, when its name was still Facebook and its unofficial internal motto was move fast and break things. (Zuckerberg said while giving testimony during a recent trial that the company has moved away from that motto in favor of something more akin to move fast with stable infrastructure.)

Employees have started using personal agent tools such as My Claw that have access to their chat logs and work files and can go talk to colleaguesor their colleagues own personal agentson their behalf, the people said.

Another AI tool called Second Brain that is somewhere between a chatbot and an agent is also gaining momentum internally, according to people familiar with the matter. Second Brain was built by a Meta employee on top of Claude and can index and query documents for projects, among other uses. On the internal post announcing it to staff, the employee said it is meant to be like an AI chief of staff.

There is even a group on the internal messaging board where employees personal agents talk to each other, some of the people said. (Separately, Meta acquired Moltbook, the social-media site for AI agents, and hired its founders in a deal earlier this month.)

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Meta also recently acquired Manus, a Singapore-based startup that makes personal agents that can execute tasks for its users, and is using the tool internally, some of the people said.

Meta recently established a new applied AI engineering organization that is tasked with using AI to help speed up development of the companys large language models. Those teams will have an ultraflat structure of as many as 50 individual contributors reporting to one manager, The Wall Street Journal previously reported.

Were designing this org to be AI native from day one, Maher Saba, the Meta executive in charge of the new organization, said in an internal post announcing the new teams, which report up to the companys technology chief, Andrew Bosworth.

Employees across the company said they have been encouraged to attend AI tutorial meetings several times a week and frequent AI hackathons, and to create their own AI tools to speed up their work.

While one employee described the current era at Meta as fun and empowering, others have said the rapid change and intense focus on AI use has fed anxiety about potential layoffs.

Meta laid off a portion of its staff for the first time in 2022 after nearly doubling its head count to a peak of 87,314 during the Covid years. At the time Meta found itself facing a slumping digital-ads market and a falling stock price, and it cut 11,000 roles.

Zuckerberg declared 2023 Metas year of efficiency and said the company would cut 10,000 more jobs over the following months and reduce hiring rates. By years end, Metas head count had shrunk to roughly 67,000.

In the subsequent years, however, the number of employees continued to climb back up. As of the last official tally, Metas head count had reached 78,865.

At a conference earlier this month, Metas chief financial officer, Susan Li, discussed the importance of updating Metas workforce practices to reflect the competition in AI.
The Thane police have arrested cryptocurrency exchange platform CoinDCX co-founders Sumit Gupta and Neeraj Khandelwal in connection with an alleged fraud of 71.6 lakh, officials said on Monday.

The company, however, claimed the FIR was false, and there was a conspiracy against CoinDCX by impersonators posing as its founders and cheating the public.

The arrests were made following an FIR registered on March 16 at the Mumbra police station in Maharashtra's Thane city against CoinDCX co-founders Gupta, Khandelwal and others on charges of cheating, criminal breach of trust and fraud, according to officials.

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A 42-year-old insurance advisor, the complainant in the case, alleged that he was duped of 71.6 lakh between August 2025 and March this year after being lured by promises of high returns by investing in a firm, purportedly associated with the cryptocurrency platform. He was also offered a franchise opportunity, according to the police.

The complainant, a resident of Mumbra, transferred 71,60,015 through cash and online transactions at different times. However, the invested amount was not returned, and instead the funds were allegedly misappropriated, they said.

A Mumbra police team apprehended Gupta and Khandelwal from Bengaluru on Saturday. They were later brought to Thane and produced on Sunday before a local court, which remanded them in police custody till Monday, senior police inspector Anil Shinde said.

"A detailed probe is underway to determine if there are more victims linked to this investment scheme," the official added.

The company, however, in a statement on Monday, claimed, "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."

"We have taken cognisance of the fact and published a notice to public at large on our website that CoinDCX is being targeted by fraudsters. The entire conspiracy falsely claims that funds were transferred in cash to third-party accounts which have no relation to CoinDCX," it added.

Brand impersonation and related cyber frauds are an increasing concern in India's digital finance ecosystem, and CoinDCX strongly condemn such actions, it said.

The company further said it is fully committed to supporting authorities in addressing such misconduct. "Between April 1, 2024 and January 5, 2026, we have reported over 1,212 fake websites impersonating coindcx.com," it said.

"We are fully cooperating with the relevant law enforcement authorities. We remain committed to education and user awareness to safeguard our community against such threats," it added
Former Google executive Matt Brittin has been confirmed as the BBC's new director-general, The Times reported on Sunday, citing sources.

The BBC board approved Brittin's appointment at a meeting on Thursday, the report said, adding that an official announcement is expected this week.

In January, the BBC said Director-General Tim Davie would step down on 2 April and be temporarily succeeded by Rhodri Talfan Davies, the broadcaster's director of nations, until a permanent replacement was appointed.

Davie announced his resignation in November following widespread criticism of the BBC over the misleading editing of a video clip of US President Donald Trump.

What was the controversy about? At the centre of the controversy was a clip in the BBC's Panorama programme, which was aired before the 2024 US Presidential election  the edited clip made it appear that Trump had told his supporters to "walk down to the Capitol" and "fight like hell" before the riots of 6 January 2021.

However, it turned out that Trump's "fight like hell" remark was from a different part of his speech, and that he had actually called on Americans to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women.

Shortly after the controversy erupted in November last year, BBC Chair Samir Shah acknowledged that the footage wrongly gave "the impression of a direct call for violent action" by Trump.

Trump's lawsuits against BBC Trump sued the BBC  "Im suing the BBC for putting words in my mouth, the US President said at the time, adding, Literally, they put words in my mouth. They had me saying things that I never said coming out.

Subsequently, the US president sued the BBC for defamation, seeking $10 billion in damages, with the case expected to go to trial in February 2027.

However, earlier this month, lawyers for the BBC asked a court in Florida to dismiss Trump's $10 billion lawsuit, arguing that the case would have a detrimental effect on free speech and undermine "robust reporting", Bloomberg reported.

In its request to the court, the BBC argued that a federal court in Florida was not the proper venue for the lawsuit because the Panorama programme in question was not broadcast, streamed, or distributed in the US.

The BBC also argued that its First Amendment right to free speech in the US should not be infringed upon by "groundless litigation" that could stifle reporting on one of the most powerful public figures in the world.

Trump's $10 billion lawsuit is one of several in which the US president or his company have sought at least $50 billion in damages.
IndiGo has hired former Air India Express chief executive Aloke Singh as chief strategy officer, marking the first senior leadership change at the country's largest airline, less than a fortnight after CEO Peters Elbers moved out and founder Rahul Bhatia stepped into the role of interim boss.

Singh will lead IndiGos long-term strategic planning and spearhead enterprise-wide transformation initiatives, with a focus on accelerating growth, improving operational efficiency, and strengthening the airlines competitive position in an increasingly dynamic global aviation market, according to the companys statement.

For now, Aloke will report to me. Once the next CEO assumes office, he will transition to reporting to the new chief executive, said co-founder and managing director Bhatia, welcoming Singh in a company statement.

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Singh, in the statement, said he was joining IndiGo at a pivotal moment for both the airline and the broader Indian aviation sector, as the carrier looks to deepen its domestic leadership while expanding its global footprint.

Sanjay Kumar was the last officially designated chief strategy officer at Indigo, serving until December 2022.

Singh, who is arguably one of the first senior leaders hired by IndiGo from a rival homegrown airline, starts his new stint on 6 April.

The move comes as IndiGo prepares to induct wide-body aircraft and deepen international operations, requiring tighter coordination across network planning, commercial strategy, operations, and partnerships.

A veteran Singh joins IndiGo after leading Air India Express (AIX) through a period of rapid scale-up and integration, including the merger with Air Asia India as part of the Tata groups airline consolidation. He stepped down from the CEOs role at Air India Express, now part of the Tata-owned Air India group, on 19 March.

During his tenure at AIX, he saw harmonization of fleets, labour contracts, scheduling systems, and route networksa complex exercise that reshaped the airline from a Gulf-focused operator into a broader domestic and short-haul international carrier feeding the groups network anchored by Air India.

Before Air India Express, Singh held senior roles in network planning and strategy at Oman Air and, before that, at the then state-owned Indian Airlines.

Also Read | Booked a flight by mistake? New rule gives 48 hours to cancel without penalty

The move shows the airline wants to strengthen its leadership as it grows beyond its strong domestic base and expands internationally. Singh will work closely with the leadership team on key areas such as expanding routes, improving customer experience, and making the organization more agile.

IndiGo first saw an abrupt leadership change with the exit of Elbers on 10 March, three months after the airline cancelled more than 4,500 flights in December as it failed to comply with new pilot rest norms mandated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), triggering an operational meltdown that left thousands of passengers stranded at airports.
However, analysts caution that while the policy shift is a clear positive, its impact will be gradual, with meaningful benefits likely to accrue only from the next fiscal year. Tata Steel management had earlier told Mint that its UK operations will not break even this fiscal.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said New Delhi is in talks with global partners to secure safe passage for all India-bound vessels carrying essential commodities, while comparing the geopolitical crisis to the covid pandemic outbreak. Speaking in the Lok Sabha, the prime minister said India will overcome the crisis as it did during the pandemic, adding that the government is working to develop an additional 6.5 million tonnes of strategic petroleum reserves.

"The government is in constant contact with suppliers from different countries. Efforts are being made to ensure the supply of oil and gas from wherever possible. The government of India is keeping a close watch on shipping routes in the Gulf and surrounding areas. Our aim is to ensure that ships carrying oil, gas, fertilizers, and other essential goods reach India safely. We are in continuous dialogue with all our global partners to keep our maritime corridors secure," Modi said, while adding that as a result of these efforts, "several" of India-bound ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz have recently reached India safely.

So far, a total of two India-flagged LPG tankers have reached India after crossing the Strait of Hormuz, and two others are on the way after crossing it.

Also Read | Modi reviews fuel, fertilizer supplies amid escalating West Asia conflict

On the coal stock and power demand scenario, Modi said that at present, all power plants in the country have adequate coal stocks and from power generation to power supply, all the involved systems are being continuously monitored, and renewable energy has also supported the preparedness.

Despite a large quantum of India's energy requirements coming in from West Asia, Centre has worked to ensure that the supply of petrol, diesel, and gas is not severely disrupted, Modi said.

At an inter-ministerial briefing later in the day, officials said the prime minister has been speaking to world leaders on the ongoing war in the West Asia region, including with the president of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian, wherein Modi conveyed Eid and Nowruz greetings. He expressed hope that this festive season brings peace, stability and prosperity to West Asia, said an official statement.

On the nearly 10 million Indians who live and work in Gulf countries, as well as the significant number of Indian crew members aboard commercial ships in those waters, Modi said: "India's concerns are naturally greater, and therefore, it is essential that a united and unanimous voice goes out to the world from India's Parliament on this crisis."

Noting that over the past decade India has also prioritized crude oil storage for times of crisis, Modi told the Parliament that India has a strategic petroleum reserve of more than 5.3 million metric tonnes, and work is underway to expand it to over 6.5 million metric tonnes. The reserves maintained by our oil companies are separate. In the past 11 years, our refining capacity has also increased significantly.

Also Read | PM Modi pushes tech, exports and diversification to power farm growth

The statement gains significance as India imports about 90% of its oil requirement, and about 40% of its imports came through the Strait of Hormuz prior to the war. On Monday, US president Donald Trump announced a five-day pause on military strikes against Iranian power infrastructure and energy assets based on "in depth, detailed and constructive conversations" which will continue through the week.

After Trump's announcement on social media, crude prices slumped around 7%. The April contract of the benchmark Brent crude on the Intercontinental Exchange was trading at $103.66 per barrel, lower by 7.60% from its previous close. Similarly, the April contract of the West Texas Intermediate on the NYMEX fell 6.97% to $91.38 per barrel.

Answering a media query on Trump's announcement, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at the briefing that New Delhi is keeping a close watch.

Prime Minister Modi also tried to allay concerns over fertilizer availability in the country for the upcoming kharif season and coal to meet the projected surge in power demand in the upcoming summers.

"A major question is what impact the war will have on agriculture. Our farmers have filled our food grain reserves, so India has sufficient food stocks. Our effort is also to ensure proper sowing for the Kharif season," he said.

Currently, a total of 22 ships are stranded on the western side of the Strait, including six vessels carrying LPG, one ship carrying liquefied natural gas, and four carrying crude oil. A shipping ministry official said at the inter-ministerial briefing that the 22 Indian-flagged vessels have around 600 Indian seafarers currently in the western Persian Gulf region.
BSEB Bihar Board 12th Result 2026: The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) has released the Class 12 results today, Monday (March 23), on the official website  results.biharboardonline.com.

The Bihar Board said the results for the BSEB Class 12 exams 2026 or the Intermediate Annual Examination 2026 have been released on Monday, March 23. The BSEB Bihar Board Class 12 declared for all streams  Science, Arts and Commerce.

The Bihar Board will also release the toppers' list along with the Intermediate marks for Class 12 exams 2026.

Also Read | BSEB Bihar Board 12th Result 2026 LIVE: Results to be declared today

BSEB Bihar Board 12th Result 2026: Step-by-step guide to download result Step 1: Go to www.biharboardonline.com.

Step 2: Click on the Bihar Board Result 2026

Step 3: Enter credentials and Captcha carefully

Step 4: Click on View button to submit

Step 5: BSEB Result 2026 PDF will be displayed on screen.

Step 6: Save a copy for future use.

Also Read | Bihar Board Result 2026 out on biharboardonline.bihar.gov.in soon

BSEB Bihar Board 12th Result 2026: Login credentials To check the BSEB Bihar Board 12th Result 2026 at results.biharboardonline.com, students will need the following credentials:

Roll Number

Roll Code Students can find these details in the top right corner of the Bihar Board Admit Card 2026.

BSEB Bihar Board 12th Result 2026: Direct link to check result Bihar Board students can also check their BSEB Class 12th result here directly:

BSEB Bihar Board 12th Result 2026: Where and how to check BSEB Inter results Once declared, results will be available on multiple official portals, including:

interbiharboard.com

results.biharboardonline.com

biharboardonline.bihar.gov.in BSEB Bihar Board 12th Result 2026: SMS result option A few media reports suggest that the BSEB Bihar Board 12th Result 2026 can also be viewed via SMS. Students will have to send the following message to 56263 to check their scorecards: BIHAR12 ROLL CODE ROLL NUMBER

However, this facility has not yet been officially confirmed. Students are advised to rely on official websites for accurate and timely access.

BSEB Bihar Board 12th Result 2026: Pass marks and evaluation criteria To clear the BSEB Class 12 exams, candidates must meet minimum subject-wise thresholds:

33% in theory papers

40% in practical components

These benchmarks are designed to ensure students meet basic academic standards across disciplines.

BSEB Bihar Board 12th Result 2026: What happens after results are declared Following the announcement, the board and the Bihar government typically recognise top performers with cash awards, laptops and certificates, reinforcing academic achievement across the state.
A political row erupted after a letter from the Election Commission of India (ECI) bore the seal of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Kerala unit, drawing reactions from the Congress and the CPI(M). The issue was flagged by the CPI(M), which shared an affidavit attached to a letter dated March 19, 2019 sent to political parties, and carrying BJP Kerala seal, instead of that of the poll body.

As the row erupted, the Election Commission said that it was a clerical error which had been rectified immediately.

In a late evening post on X, the Chief Electoral Officer, Kerala, said the Assistant Section Officer dealing with the file in the office of the Chief Electoral Officer had been placed under suspension pending enquiry.

Earlier, in a strongly worded post, the CPI(M) said, Have all pretences been dropped by the BJP?

It further said, It is no secret that the same power centre seems to control both the Election Commission of India and the BJP. Even then, at least maintain the courtesy of two separate desks.

The party alleged, "Seals are being casually swapped. A BJP seal on an Election Commission letter!" and remarked, Just like the old allegation - that no matter which button you press, the lotus appears - here comes another coincidence.

Also Read | EC to ensure Bengal polls free of violence, says CEC in poll preparedness update

The party also claimed that the document was received by multiple parties and cross-verified with at least two of the recipients. It added that the email originated from an official Election Commission source.

What Election Commission said Responding to the controversy, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Kerala, issued an official clarification on X, stating: It has come to our notice that a letter from the Election Commission, bearing the seal of the BJP, is being circulated across various Malayalam news channels. The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) hereby clarifies that this was purely a clerical error, which was identified and rectified immediately.

The CEO's office said, The BJP Kerala Unit had recently approached the CEO's office seeking clarification on the 2019 guidelines regarding the publication of criminal antecedents of candidates. Along with their request, the party submitted a photocopy of the original 2019 directive. The party's seal was present on that specific copy provided by them.

It added, "Due to an oversight, the office failed to notice the party symbol on the submitted document and inadvertently redistributed it to other political parties as part of the requested clarification."

It said that the action was taken immediately.

"The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer acknowledged the lapse as soon as it was detected. Consequently, on March 21, the Deputy Chief Electoral Officer issued a formal letter withdrawing the erroneous document," it said, adding, The withdrawal notice was dispatched to all political parties, District Election Officers, and Returning Officers.
Yet there is no guarantee that any of this will work. The regime may hit a tipping point, or it may notit is an unfalsifiable proposition. As long as Iran can keep up sporadic attacks on shipping, it can probably keep the strait closed and deny Mr Trump a victory. It can cause pain elsewhere too: more than 160 people were injured on March 21st by two ballistic missiles that hit southern Israel (attempts to intercept them failed). And it may not stop there. Faced with the prospect of a long war, it could escalate its attacks on critical infrastructure in the Gulf. Either way, economic costs would mount and ongoing Iranian attacks would deplete the supply of air-defence interceptors in Israel and the Gulf.
Production impact

Can production be impacted if farmers end up using less urea? That will depend on the quantum of the shortfall. Indian farmers over-apply urea (because it is heavily subsidized) at the cost of other fertilizers. So, there is room to apply less urea per unit of land without impacting production. As per an ICRIER report on soil health (January 2026), excess use of urea ranges from 61% in Punjab and 46% in Bihar to 54% in Telangana. Because of this over-dependence on urea, farmers in nearly all states under-apply DAP and potash. Also, non-urea fertilizers are relatively expensive. On balance, the impact on Kharif production will depend on the actual application of both urea and non-urea nutrients, driven by their relative availability and prices.
Abhishek Singhvi, senior advocate at the Supreme Court, and Rajya Sabha member, said, India, with the best and the brightest in its legal ecosystem, and despite avant garde doctrines like basic structure and PIL (public interest litigation), suffers the ignominy of humongous arrears and five crore plus case pendency. Two biggest chunks of this are 138 and 498A cases (cheque bounce and dowry-related.) Interactions like this are much needed to find nitty-gritty practical solutions."
New Delhi: Global crude oil prices traded marginally higher early Monday as traders weighed fresh threats of escalation of the conflict between the US and Iran.

At 8.44 am, the April contract of Brent on the Intercontinental Exchange was trading at $112.87 per barrel, higher by 0.61% from its previous close. The April contract of the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) on the NYMEX was trading at $98.95, higher by 0.73% from its previous close.

US President Donald Trump on Saturday gave Iran a 48-hour deadline to reopen the vital shipping route of Strait of Hormuz and threatened to strike its power infrastructure in case it is not reopened.

"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 said in a post on Truth Social.

Iran also responded with threats to strike power infrastructure across West Asia in case its power network is attacked.

The Strait of Hormuz usually allows transport of 20% of global crude and natural gas trade. Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency on Monday said that the global economy is currently under a "major threat".

Many of us remember the two consecutive oil crises in the 1970s... at that time, in each of the crisis, the world has lost about five million barrels per day, both of them together, 10 million barrels per day, he said.

As of today, we lost 11 million barrels per day, so more than two major oil shocks put together, Birol added, while calling for global efforts to resolve the crisis.

Also Read | India starts selective fuel price hikes as oil surges past $100

In line with the surge in global crude prices, the Indian basket of crude oil has hit a fresh high of $156.29 per barrel as of 19 March. The Indian basket of crude oil is a derived basket comprising sour grade (Oman & Dubai average) and sweet grade (Brent dated) crude oil processed in Indian refineries in the ratio of 78.71: 21.29.

The average price of the basket in March stood at $117.09 per barrel, higher than $69.01 in February.

The increase in crude prices is significant for India, as it imports 90% of its oil requirements, and a $1-per-barrel increase over a year could add around 16,000 to the country's total import bill.

In this backdrop, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday chaired a Cabinet Committee on Security meeting to review the conflict situation and India's plans to ensure food, energy and fuel security.

Also Read | PNGRB to propose overground gas storage as West Asia conflict squeezes supplies
Q. What has been the impact of the supply crunch?

India, along with other energy-importing nations, has been impacted by the supply squeeze owing to the war in West Asia. Following QatarEnergy's announcement of force majeure of its operations this month, as its Ras Laffan plant was hit, Petronet announced force majeure for consumers in India. The government has already cut supplies to industries and fertilizer plants to prioritize availability for domestic consumers. The fertilizer sector has been allocated 70% of its average natural gas consumption in the past six months, and other industrial consumers like tea and manufacturing units would get 80% of their pre-war average supplies. According to reports, the steel industry sought government support to increase allocations of LNG and propane, a key component of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), whose supplies have also been curtailed for non-domestic consumers.
US-Iran war: Brent crude prices have jumped sharply by over 60% since the beginning of the USIranIsrael conflict, climbing to around $112 per barrel on Monday from nearly $70 per barrel at the start of the conflict, amid significant disruptions in global energy supply.

In the past 30 days alone, crude oil prices have risen by about 56%, reflecting the severity of the ongoing supply shock.

On Monday, US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose 52 cents to $98.75 per barrel, building on a 2.27% gain in the previous session.

Back home, crude oil prices on Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) remained in a positive trajectory, up 1.12% at 9,360 per barrel.

Why are crude oil prices rising? The surge in oil prices is driven by escalating tensions in West Asia, which have disrupted critical supply routes, particularly through the Strait of Hormuza key conduit for global crude trade.

The crisis has also strained global liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies, further exacerbated by attacks on energy infrastructure in Qatar. Strikes by Iran have damaged vital facilities, impacting nearly 17% of Qatars LNG export capacity.

On Saturday, US President Donald Trump warned that Irans power plants could be obliterated if the Strait of Hormuz was not fully reopened within 48 hoursjust a day after suggesting a possible de-escalation in the conflict, now in its fourth week.

In response, Iranian Minister Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf stated on X that key infrastructure and energy assets across the Middle East could face irreversible destruction if Iranian power plants were targeted.

Iraq has already declared force majeure across all oilfields operated by foreign companies, according to energy officials. Crude output at Basra Oil Company has been slashed to 900,000 barrels per day from 3.3 million bpd, as confirmed by Oil Minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani, according to a Reuters report.

What's the near-term outlook for crude oil prices? Goldman Sachs has raised its 2026 average price forecast for Brent crude to $85 per barrel from $77, while also increasing its outlook for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) to $79 per barrel from $72.

The firm also expects Brent crude to average $110 per barrel in March and April, up from its earlier estimate of $98, as traders factor in a rising risk premium amid uncertainty over the duration of supply disruptions.

"The price when uncertainty peaks may be $135/bbl if the market required a risk premium to generate precautionary demand destruction offsetting supply destruction over six months in a risk scenario of 10 weeks of very low flows and (2 million barrels a day) of persistent production losses," Goldman was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Meanwhile, Anindya Banerjee, Head of Commodity and Currency Research, Kotak Securities, believes that if tensions ease and Hormuz remains open, we could see a sharp reversal in energy and risk assets, but as long as the threat of disruption or closure persists, the risk premium can expand further.

Banerjee further noted that markets also need to closely monitor the Bab el-Mandeb choke point in the Red Sea, where any escalation involving the Houthis could amplify the shock.

On the technical outlook, Banerjee added, Technically, Brent holding above $100 keeps the bullish structure intact, with $120 as a key resistanceabove which prices could extend toward $130135 in a continued escalation scenario.

(With inputs from agencies)
Amir Chand Jagdish Kumar IPO: In a busy week for the primary market, Amir Chand Jagdish Kumar's initial public offering (IPO) will hit Dalal Street on Tuesday, March 24. The offer is already witnessing some trend in the grey market, contrary to the ongoing trend and despite the stock market selloff.

The IPO of Amir Chand Jagdish Kumar, processor and exporter of basmati rice and other FMCG products in India, is among the three public offers opening for bidding tomorrow. At the same time, Central Mine Planning & Design Institute IPO will enter its third and final day of bidding.

Amir Chand Jagdish Kumar IPO: 10 key things to know Ahead of the offer launch, here are key things about Amir Chand Jagdish Kumar IPO that investors must know:

1. Amir Chand Jagdish Kumar IPO dates Amir Chand Jagdish Kumar IPO will open for bidding on Tuesday, March 24 and close for bidding on March 27. The allotment is expected to be finalised on March 30, with the tentative listing date set as April 2.

2. Amir Chand Jagdish Kumar IPO price band The price band for Amir Chand Jagdish Kumar IPO is fixed at 201 to 212 per share, with the company looking to raise 440 crore at the upper end of the price band.

3. Amir Chand Jagdish Kumar IPO offer structure The offer is entirely a fresh issue of 2.08 crore shares, with no offer-for-sale (OFS) component, suggesting that all proceeds from the IPO will be received by the company.

4. Amir Chand Jagdish Kumar IPO objective The company plans to use the funds raised for funding working capital needs and to meet general corporate purposes.

5. Financials see strong growth Amir Chand Jagdish Kumar's net profit nearly doubled to 60.8 crore in fiscal 2025 from 30.40 crore in the same period a year ago. The revenue growth was also notable as the topline rose to 2001.6 crore from 1549.5 crore on a year-on-year basis.

6. Amir Chand Jagdish Kumar IPO GMP The grey market premium (GMP) for Amir Chand Jagdish Kumar IPO has been steady since the last few sessions, according to Investorgain.com. On Monday, Amir Chand Jagdish Kumar IPO GMP is trading at 6. This means shares of Amir Chand Jagdish Kumar are trading at 218 in the grey market, a premium of nearly 3%.

Shares of Amir Chand Jagdish Kumar are slated to list on both BSE and NSE.

7. About the company Amir Chand Jagdish Kumar is a processor and exporter of basmati rice and other FMCG products in India. It caters to domestic and export markets, with a significant exposure to the Middle East. It operates two processing facilities, one in Punjab and another in Haryana.

8. Industry overview In the RHP, CARE Report said that India's agricultural landscape is characterised by the cultivation of a wide range of crops, catering to both domestic consumption and international trade. Among these crops, rice holds a significant share of 35%, with substantial acreage

dedicated to its cultivation. Additionally, India is a major player in the global rice market as an exporter. Basmati rice, famous for its aroma and long grains, is one of the most prized varieties, with significant exports.

9. Risks to the company The company has a high debt-equity ratio and incurred indebtedness. An inability to comply with repayment and other covenants could adversely affect our business. Moreover, a significant portion of its income is derived from the export of basmati rice, which may be dependent on the policies passed by the GoI and the governments of the countries where we export, and any unfavourable change in such policies may adversely affect our business.

Lastly, it also faces customer concentration risk. In the six months ended September 30, 2025, the company derived 45.03% of the revenue from operations from the top 10 customers, 28.92% of revenue from op five customers, with the single largest customer contributing to 9.35%.
On the flip side, the straddle sellers don't anticipate the markets to tank below 22650 or rally beyond 23550 by Tuesday, which will enable them to retain much of the premium or the price paid by the buyers. However, their losses could be unlimited if volatility spikes beyond either limit.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has approved a series of measures on conflict of interest, disclosure and recusal norms for officials of the market regulator. The Sebi board allowed foreign portfolio investors to settle their trades on a net basis and moved to revamp the fit and proper norms for market intermediaries.

The Sebi chairperson and whole-time members will be subject to the same restrictions on investments and trading as other employees, the regulator said in a statement. Their investments in unlisted companies and other commercial ventures have to be liquidated or frozen during their tenures.

We are trying to be as transparent as possible," Sebi chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey said at a press conference. "There is a bit of a difference today (in disclosures) between the employees and the chairman and whole-time members. This will be the same going forward.

The regulator will set up a digital system to manage conflict of interest and the whistleblower system for reporting perceived, actual and potential conflicts of interest.

Also Read | Sebi working group to review MF distributor-investment advisor overlap

Details of immovable property of the top Sebi officials including the chairman, whole-time members, executive directors and chief general managers will now be publicly disclosed in the same manner as applicable for All India Services and Central civil services officers.

In November, a high-level committee had proposed significant reforms to Sebi's conflict of interest rules, including annual public disclosures of assets and liabilities by the chairman, whole-time members and employees with the rank of chief general manager and above  a first for the regulators top brass.

The aim was to strengthen transparency and ensure that any personal, professional or financial relationships that could affect independent decision-making were identified upfront.

Among other approved norms is the mandate of disclosing assets, liabilities, trading activities and relationships of employees, the chairperson and whole-time members and a cap of 25% for investments managed by a single intermediary.

Introduction of a digital system to monitor declarations, conflicts and recusals can make the system more transparent. It needs to be seen how Sebi will leverage technology to implement the principles in practice, said Sidharth Kumar, senior associate at BTG Advaya, a disputes and transactional law firm.

Additionally, operational guidelines on the oversight committee needs to be crafted carefully to ensure the independence of the regulator, he added.

Oversight panel The board decided to hand over the decision to constitute a separate set of regulations for board members and creating an oversight committee on ethics and compliance to the central government.

The market regulator constituted a high-level committee last March, following allegations of a conflict of interest involving former Sebi chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch.

In August 2024, US short-seller Hindenburg Research alleged that Buch and her husband had undisclosed stakes in entities incorporated in Bermuda and Mauritius that were purportedly linked to the Adani Group, which Sebi was then investigating over allegations of fraud. The Adani Group rejected the claims, as did Buch and her husband.

FPIs The Sebi board said FPIs can settle their trades on a net basis in the cash market. Currently, FPIs settle their trades with the custodian on a gross basis. The move is expected to reduce costs for FPIs, especially on index rebalancing day. Non-outright transactions will continue to be settled on a gross basis. Norms on netting of trades will be implemented on or before 31 December 2026.

The request was that we should have a general netting, but then we have a problem where FPIs are not allowed to do day trading and therefore, if you have this (netting) complete even in the same scrip, then that risk will arise and therefore only the outright  which means that either purchase or sale (has been included), said Pandey.

Also Read | Amitabh Kant: We could unlock trillions for Viksit Bharat with REITs and InvITs

The Sebi board approved measures to revamp the fit and proper norms for market intermediaries. In February, the market regulator said that its experience in enforcing the rules over the past five years, along with evolving global best practices, prompted a review of Schedule II of the Intermediaries Regulations.

The move follows representations from market participants flagging onerous compliance requirements and the risk of irreparable harm due to premature disqualifications. The Schedule II norms mandate high ethical standards for applicants, directors, and key management personnel, focusing on reputation, competence, and financial solvency.

Fit and proper test Among the changes approved is a ban on disqualification at the early stages of criminal proceedings. Earlier, an applicant or intermediary could fail the fit and proper test if they were the subject of a pending criminal complaint filed by Sebi or named in a charge sheet by an enforcement agency for an economic offence. Sebi will now rely on principle-based criteria, which would judge a person or an entity based on their reputation, integrity and conduct. This would be applicable on a case-to-case basis.

The market regulator approved another proposal to limit disqualification of a legal entity to cases where a winding-up order has actually been passed, rather than initiated.

Another area under revamp is the default five-year prohibition that applies when Sebi declares a person not 'fit and proper' but does not specify the duration of the ban. This automatic ban has been removed.

The regulator also cleared a proposal to streamline the winding-up of alternative investment funds (AIFs) and the surrendering of their registration. Even after an AIFs fixed tenure ends, some of them are unable to fully wind up and return all the money to investors because part of their funds is tied up in ongoing litigation or tax disputes.

Since regulations require complete distribution of funds before surrendering registration, these AIFs get stuck, continuing to exist without active investment activity.

This will reduce the compliance burden on AIFs with no active fund management activity while retaining necessary regulatory oversight, the Sebi chief said.

Sebi cleared a proposal allowing such funds to retain money beyond their tenure in genuine cases, such as those involving legal or tax complications, and introduced a category called inoperative funds for those with no active management.

These inoperative funds would face reduced compliance requirements. To retain funds, AIFs have to either show proof of receipt of a litigation notice or tax or regulatory demand, the consent of at least 75% of investors by value, or proof of amounts retained for operational expenses through invoices or prior-year comparables.

The inoperative fund tag has been a longstanding ask of the AIF industry. This will also reduce operating costs for the inoperative fund, said Siddarth Pai, founding partner, chief financial officer and enviromental, social and governance officer at 3one4 capital, adding that the norms provide regulatory clarity to AIFs.

Reits, InvITs To promote ease of doing business for real estate investment trusts (Reits) and infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs), the market watchdog approved measures aimed at easing cash deployment, enhancing borrowing flexibility, and streamlining post-concession asset handling, while retaining existing investor protection norms.

InvITs will now be allowed to continue holding special purpose vehicles (SPVs) beyond the end of a projects concession period. Under the current rules, an SPV must hold at least 90% of its assets in infrastructure projects. Once a concession expires, the asset typically reverts to the government, leaving the SPV without a qualifying infrastructure asset.
Buy or sell stocks: Despite trimming a significant portion of their intraday gains, the key benchmark indices of the Indian stock market, the Nifty 50 and the BSE Sensex, finished higher on Friday. The Nifty 50 index added 112 points and closed at 23,114, whereas the Bank Nifty index ended 325 points higher at 74,532. The Bank Nifty index ended marginally lower at 53,427.

Sectorally, Dalal Street breadth remained positive with most indices ending in the green. Telecom, IT, metals, pharma, and PSU Bank stocks led the gains, rising 12%, while media, private bank, and realty were the only sectors that ended in the red. The Nifty mid-cap index rose 0.6%, indicating continued participation in the broader market, while the small-cap index ended flat, reflecting relatively muted activity.

Also Read | Buy or sell: Sumeet Bagadia recommends three stocks to buy on Monday

Stock market today Vaishali Parekh, Vice President  Technical Research at Prabhudas Lilladher, believes the Dalal Street undertone is cautiously positive. The Prabhudas Lilladher expert said the Nifty 50 index has shown some resilience near the 22900 zone and would need to sustain the support zone in the coming sessions.

Speaking on the outlook of the Nifty 50 today, Vaishali Parekh said the Nifty 50 index witnessed a slightly volatile session opening in the green but witnessing resistance near the 23,300-23,350 zone slipped down with some profit booking seen and closed near the 23,100 level with bias and sentiment still maintained with a very cautious approach and is precariously placed with series of lower top formation visible on the daily chart.

The benchmark index as of now has shown some resilience near the 22900 zone and would need to sustain the support zone in the coming sessions to avoid any further worsening of the trend, said Parekh.

On the outlook for the Bank Nifty today, Parkh said the index continues to trade weakly during the session, witnessing steady profit booking after the initial gap-up opening in the morning, fizzling out and closing near the lower end at 53,400, with bias and sentiment maintained in a cautious approach.

The index would have the crucial 53,200 zone, which was the low made recently, and would need to sustain to avoid any fresh trigger of selling pressure with the next major support positioned near the 51,700 zone, Vaishali Parekh of Prabhudas Lilladher added.

Vaishali Parekh's stock recommendations for today Regarding stocks to buy today, Vaishali Parekh recommended three buy-or-sell stocks for intraday trading: BHEL, Northern ARC Capital, and Avalon Technologies.

1] BHEL: Buy at 262, Target 275, Stop Loss 256;

2] Northern ARC Capital: Buy at 234.25, Target 247, Stop Loss 228;

3] Avalon Technologies: Buy at 951.90, Target 990, Stop Loss 930.

US-Iran war news According to the news agency AP, Iran and the allied Lebanese militant group Hezbollah stepped up attacks on Israel on Sunday, as the United States. Iran threatened to target critical infrastructure in the war in the Middle East, which is now in its fourth week.

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 new threat to attack its power plants. Trump late Saturday set a 48-hour deadline to open the strait. Irans parliament speaker said Tehran also would retaliate against U.S. and Israeli energy and wider infrastructure.

(With inputs from AP)
Crude oil prices, which had surged relentlessly since the start of the US-Iran war, plunged sharply in Monday evenings session, with both Brent and WTI crashing over 14% from the previous days close. Concerns about oil supply disruptions eased after US President Donald Trump said on 23 March that the US and Iran had held productive talks over the past two days.

Trump also said he was halting any strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days.

I am pleased 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, President Trump said in a social media post.

Based on the tenor and tone of these in-depth, detailed, and constructive conversations, which will continue throughout the week, I have instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five-day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions, Trump said.

Trump's statement came after Iran threatened to attack Israel's power plants and those supplying US bases across the Gulf region if the US targets Iran's power network. On Saturday, Trump warned that Iranian power plants would be destroyed if Tehran failed to "fully open" the Strait of Hormuz to all shipping within 48 hours.

The war has damaged major energy facilities in the Gulf and nearly halted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows

Meanwhile, Iranian media reportedly claimed there had been no direct or indirect contact with President Trump.

Brent crude hits $96; WTI slips to $84 Brent crude futures slumped 14.43% from Fridays close to hit an intraday low of $96 per barrel, breaking below the $100 mark for the first time since 11 March. However, prices are still up around 46% so far this month. Meanwhile, WTI crude futures also tanked 14.25% to reach an intraday low of $84.23 per barrel.

Crude oil has remained the focal point of the crisis, as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran and continued attacks on energy infrastructure by the US, Israel, and Iran have triggered force majeure declarations by several oil-producing nations in the Middle East, raising concerns that a prolonged conflict could deepen supply shortages.

Todays sharp fall in crude oil prices marks a significant turning point, as earlier measures announced by Trump to boost market sentiment had failed to provide a lasting impact.

Earlier, the Trump administration lifted sanctions on Iranian and Russian crude. The IEA and the US have also moved to release millions of barrels of crude from strategic reserves, while Trump has reportedly waived Jones Act shipping rules for 60 days to stabilise the oil market.

The US has been trying to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, for energy shipments. Iran had shut the strait  through which nearly a fifth of the worlds oil is shipped, along with other key commodities  in response to US and Israeli strikes.

Last week, Saudi Arabia forecast that oil prices could hit $180 if the war drags on beyond April. Earlier, Qatars Energy Minister warned that Brent could reach $150.

(With inputs from Reuters)
The multi-timeframe charts seen here demonstrate that the RSI divergence seen on the decline could influence the prices to scale higher. Even on the monthly charts we are observing the decline since last 1 year has retraced 50% of the surge seen last year. The steady consolidation at the Fibonacci supports can now look to stage a revival as lower timeframe are pricing in a recovery. We are also noticing that price candle seen in 2026 is seen holding the lows around 415 to 420 for the last two months hinting at some revival in store. While volatility remains, extended there are signs that a recovery is due that we can consider for a push to higher levels. Go long now.
As the war in West Asia intensifies, so does the sell-off in the Indian stock market, with key indices suffering another 2% drop in Mondays session, March 23, dragging them to their lowest levels since April 2025.

The constant missile exchanges in the Gulf region, now entering the fourth week, have pushed several domestic stocks to multi-year lows. Crude-sensitive stocks, in particular, are bearing the brunt of the selling, wiping out billions in investor wealth and positioning the Nifty 50 for its worst monthly performance since March 2020.

The Nifty 50, which opened with a sharp gap-down and showed no signs of recovery toward the close, fell 629 points, or 2.72%, to settle at 22,485. Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex also declined 2.5% to close at 72,669.

The broader market faced even deeper cuts, with the Nifty Midcap 100 and Nifty Smallcap 100 plunging nearly 4%, taking their year-to-date losses to around 15%.

All major sectoral indices ended in the red, with the Nifty Consumer Durables index taking the biggest hit, plunging 5%.

The Nifty Metal and Nifty Realty indices also dropped over 4.5% each. This was followed by the Nifty PSU Bank, Nifty Auto, Nifty Chemicals, and Nifty Oil & Gas indices, all of which declined over 2.5%. The Nifty IT index was the only one to limit losses, closing marginally lower by 0.27%.

US President Donald Trump has set a Monday deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face potential strikes on its power infrastructure. Iran has warned it would retaliate by targeting energy and water assets across the Gulf. Over the weekend, both Israel and Iran intensified their attacks on each other, keeping crude oil prices elevated.

Broad-based sell-off hits Nifty 500; metals, banks, and realty stocks lead declines Over 100 Nifty 500 stocks ended with losses of over 5%, led by Brainbees Solutions, which declined 12%, erasing most of its previous sessions gains. It was followed by Jaiprakash Power Ventures, Lodha Developers, AWL Agri Business, and Jammu & Kashmir Bank, all of which crashed over 8.5%.

Metal stocks were among the top laggards, with all 15 constituents of the Nifty Metal index closing in the red. Hindustan Copper was the top loser in the pack, falling 8.5%, while SAIL, Jindal Steel, NMDC, Hindustan Zinc, NALCO, Adani Enterprises, and Tata Steel all plunged over 5%.

Among banking counters, Punjab National Bank, Union Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, YES Bank, Canara Bank, IndusInd Bank, and HDFC Bank closed with losses of around 5%. Likewise, the sell-off in auto stocks intensified further, with stocks such as Sona BLW Precision Forgings, Ashok Leyland, Exide Industries, and Hero MotoCorp closing with losses of over 4%.

Real estate stocks, among the biggest casualties in the sell-off, came under another round of selling, with Prestige Estates, Sobha, Anant Raj, DLF, Signature Global, and Godrej Properties falling in the range of 3% to 5.6%.

Meanwhile, Reliance Power shares came under renewed selling pressure, falling 7.3% to 21 apiece, while Vodafone Idea shares also tumbled 7% to 8.70 apiece, the lowest level since October 2025.

Paytm shares cracked 6% to 992.80 apiece. Last week, the stock breached the 1,000 level for the first time since July 2025. In the consumer durables space, Titan Company, Voltas, Amber Enterprises, Kalyan Jewellers, Blue Star, Dixon Technologies, and Havells India all shed over 4%.

Select stocks defy market weakness; Trident, HCL Tech lead gains In a broad sell-off, only a handful of stocks managed gains, led by Trident, which rose 3.3%, followed by Metropolis Healthcare and HCL Technologies, up around 2% each. Extending its gains for the second consecutive session, Power Grid Corporation shares advanced another 1.5% to 302 apiece.

Similarly, Apar Industries shares remained higher for the second day in a row, closing 1.36% up at 9,805 apiece.

Other stocks such as Vardhman Textiles, Sun TV Network, and Coforge also ended with gains of over 1%.
Eradication, by Jonathan Miles In this oddly terrifying story, a jazz musician-turned-school teacher undertakes a mission to save an uninhabited Pacific Island from an invasive species of goats, only to discover far more serious threats lurking in this Edenic setting. Jonathan Miles slim novel raises profound moral questions while being grounded in a spirit of bleak comedy.

Published by Hachette India, 176 pages, 699

Worlds of Islam: A Global History by James McDougall As large sections of the Islamic world remain under attack, this new history of the religion seeks to offer a comprehensive account of its evolution, from the 7th century AD to the contemporary times. Professor of History at Oxford University, James McDougall highlights the diversity within Islam while examining the repercussions of its contact with colonialism, nationalism and global reformist movements.

Published by Penguin Random House India, 624 pages, 1,299

Water, Nature, Progress: Solutions for a New India by Parameswaran Iyer, Arunabha Ghosh and Richard Damania In spite of 18% of the worlds population living in India, the country has only 4% of the global freshwater resources. Taking off on this hard truth, as well as the fact of a steadily warming planet, Parameswaran Iyet, Arunabha Ghosh and Richard Damania offer a framework for remedial action in their forthcoming book. Taking a multi-pronged approach, they bring in public finance, private investment and behavioural change to bear on their proposed solutions.

Published by HarperCollins India, 296 pages, 799

The Mumbai School for Murder by Meeti Shroff-Shah A school teacher-cum-mystery novelist becomes a sleuth in Meeti Shroff-Shahs new novel. Set in a posh educational institution in Mumbai, this whodunit pursues the seemingly ordinary death of Ms Venus, a hot-tempered teacher known for her sharp tongue. Matters take a mysterious turn as the last person to have clashed with the deceased suddenly goes missing.
In 2019, while studying at the Intercultural Theatre Institute in Singapore, Remith Ramesh conceived the idea for his play, Y. It began with a simple question from his professors: Who are you?

In a matter of 15 minutes, I had to explain who I am with the help of song, dance or some other form of expression. I had no answer to that, he recalls. The question sparked off something in him, and it took Ramesh on a quest to bridge the gap between his traditional roots and contemporary identity. It began with this thought: Do I have to define who I am for myself alone or for society? he says. This introspection gave rise to further questions on identity, borders and limitations. The actor, theatre maker and Kutiyattam practitioner has tried to address all of these internal musings in Y, which debuted in December last year. Such has been the impact of the play that it has earned six nominations at the 21st Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (19-25 March). These include nominations for best director and ensemble.

This years edition features 10 plays like Y chosen from 422 submissions The final shortlist includes productions like Ambaa, Chandni Raatein, Je Janlagulor Akash Chilo, Mithyasur, and The Old Man and the Sea  Kathakali of Morrow in diverse languages such as Hindi, Malayalam, Bengali, Bundelkhandi, Sanskrit and English. Actor-theatre practitioner Amol Palekar is all set to receive this years lifetime achievement award.

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Meanwhile, what makes Y stand out is the fact that it does not follow a set narrative. Five actors, all hailing from different parts of the country, invoked personal memories to build the play. Ramesh wanted multiple perspectives to inform the production. That was the hardest part of putting this play together. Everyone is used to a script or a story. Here, I asked them to work with their own bodies. I wanted to work with what they have within them and not from outside, says the Kerala-born and Hyderabad-based theatre maker. On the first day when the cast gathered together in a room, Ramesh asked them the very same question that had kickstarted Y: Who are you?

This inward-looking process spanned three months of research followed by two months of rehearsal. The actors started writing about themselves. The process revealed both differences and similarities from within the ensemble. Ideas around home, parenting, memory and identity emerged. After that, they started thinking about ways of giving shape to these concepts. As language can be limiting, they started to articulate the ideas through body language and gibberish, he shares. The cast would read their thoughts aloud and then they would together imagine shapes and movements. This became the foundation for the physical score of the play.

Overhead mirrors placed at different angles offer different perspectives of the stage to the audience, and serve as a visual reminder that reality is rarely singular. Sourced garments from the various neighbourhoods where they rehearsed serve as a metaphorsignalling that the narratives unfolding on stage are not confined to the five performers but are drawn from the shared experiences of the entire community. The title Y also has inherent symbolism in its shape itself, resembling a fork in the road. It represents the various paths and pivotal decisions an individual must navigate.

Ramesh hopes that the play brings a sense of closure for some of the audience members when they watch their own realities reflected on stage. However, he isnt interested in explaining the meanings behind the props or stories unfolding on stage. This is something I have learnt from Kutiyattam where the same performance is staged for years, but audiences still take back something new each time they watch it, he says.

Y will be staged on 23 March, 6 pm, at the Shri Ram Centre Auditorium, New Delhi.
When you are in Kuala Lumpur (KL), in Malaysia, you are never far away from a good meal. From deep-fried frog legs and half-foot long oysters at Jalan Alor, to the xiaolongbaos of the well-known Din Tai Fung chain, to traditional food at Chow Kit Kitchen for its beef rendang, sambal udang (prawns) and ayam kampang emas (village-style fried chicken), theres something for everyone. There are kopitiams (coffee shops) too, all with their own specialities.

Among these choices exists a food culture that powers the city, and is centred around nasi, or cooked rice. These rice plates may seem similar at first, but the accompaniments and the way they are assembled make each one unique. Together, they form the backbone of the quintessential everyday meal, cutting across social hierarchies.

Globally, the most popularly known is the Nasi Goreng (fried rice) and the Nasi Lemak. The biasa (standard) version of Nasi Lemak has rice cooked in coconut milk, and served with sambal, a sweet-spicy chilli paste, ikan bilis (fried anchovies), peanuts, boiled or fried egg, and cucumber, all folded like a parcel in a banana leaf or wax paper. You can choose add-ons of chicken or beef rendang, fried chicken, squid and more. A popular place for Nasi Lemak in KL is at Wanjo in Kampung Baru. In 2024, Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, enjoyed his birthday breakfast here.

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The Nasi Kandar is a rice plate that originated among Penangs Mamak (Indian Muslim) eateries and is now found across the country. Its highlight is the multiple gravies the rice is topped with. Restoran Rasmeena, which serves Nasi Kandar, sits directly under the Bangsar LRT station, surrounded by a mall and skyscrapers.

Here, diners stand in front of a glass display of trays in a bain-marie counter filled with meat, poultry and seafood gravies and vegetable preparations. A bowl of steamed rice is upturned on a plastic plate, and the server looks to you for your choices. At Rasmeena, there can be Ikan curry (fish), kambing rendang (mutton), and ayam (chicken) as a kurma or sambal (with chilli paste), or bawang (deep-fried with onions), among others.

You point to as many of the dishes as you want, and they are piled onto the rice. The final flourish, called banjir (flood in Malay), is where the server ladles a mix of gravies onto the rice, the flick of his wrist determining proportions to create a melange of flavours  hot, sweet and spicy. Popular Nasi Kandar spots include Mohammed Yaseem Nasi Kandar in Chow Kit, Nasi Kandar Pelita in Jalan Ampang, and Nasi Kandar Hameediyah in Bukit Bintang.

Nasi Campur (translating to mixed rice, also known as economy rice) is about portioned helpings. You are given rice, and you then point to options from a range of lauk (accompaniments) that are laid out. You build your plate and pay based on your choice. Nasi Campur stalls often dont go by names and are known more by the landmarks close to where they are set up. You will find them in roads adjoining corporate buildings or places where there are heavy tourist footfalls.

View full Image View full Image Claypot rice in Kuala Lumpur. ( iStockphoto )

The Nasi Campur stall in Jalan Barat, close to Menara Prudential, offers as many as 30 lauk. Specialities include Ayam Gepok (fried chicken), meat, fish and poultry gravies that are masak lemak  made with mildly spiced coconut gravies or lemak pedas  spicier coconut curries. You can try an Indian Nasi Campur version at Lawanya Food Corner in Jalan Scott, Brookefields, which has spicy tofu, chicken and mutton masala and a range of mixed vegetables.

There is also Nasi Kerabu, which is from the east coast of Kelantan. Blue Pea gives the rice its unique shade of blue. Components that make up the plate are kept separate, around the rice, for you to mix as you eat. The accompaniments include fresh herbs and leafy greens, long beans and bean sprouts tossed with kerisik (toasted coconut), and served with eggs and grilled or fried meats like chicken or fish. The meal is a mix of smoky, salty and spicy. Eat it at Nik Rahman in Kampung Baru, Nasi Kerabu Moknab in Pantai Dalam and Warung Cik Siti in Setiawangsa.

The Kelantanese community's Nasi Tumpang has rice layered with savoury dishes, like fish sambal or chicken curry, and is stuffed into a cone-shaped banana leaf. The Indian banana leaf rice here is similar to the elaborate meals served in India.

Rice plates are an integral part of KLs food economy and culture. From street-side stalls and modest eateries to air-conditioned restaurants, they are enjoyed by everyonefamilies, students, and corporate professionalswho want a quick meal customised to their tastes.

Ruth DSouza Prabhu is a features journalist based in Bengaluru.

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Conversations about mental health are audible now more than ever before, and India Inc. appears to be taking employee well-being seriously. But much of this responseoften taking the form of wellness apps, meditation rooms and World Mental Health Day campaigns in the officeremains superficial, even performative.

At workplaces, mental health is often treated as a trend to be managed rather than a structural issue to be addressed. The focus is on visible, low-effort, individual-focused interventions such as mindfulness training, yoga sessions and herbal teas in the cafeteria, even as the deeper causes of distress remain unexamined. While these approaches can offer short-term relief, occupational health research indicates they often fail to address systemic workplace stressors, limiting their overall effectiveness.

What links these groups is not individual fragility, but the conditions they operate within: economic insecurity, performance pressure and limited institutional support. While the contexts differ, the underlying pattern is similar. Sustained structural stress, combined with limited avenues for support or relief, can translate into psychological distress over time. The same holds true within workplaces.

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Mental health conditions among working-age adults is a growing public health concern, with stress, depression and anxiety linked to reduced productivity and higher absenteeism. In India, mental disorders account for an estimated 2,443 Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) per 100,000 people and could lead to economic losses of nearly $1.03 trillion between 2012 and 2030, according to World Health Organization (WHO). Most of this burden falls on those under 60, the core working population. Employees dealing with toxic management, long working hours, low control at work and job insecurity are unlikely to find relief in employee well-being programmes that focus on symbolic gestures. When people do not feel valued, heard or supported, it inevitably affects not only their well-being but also their productivity, engagement and long-term commitment to the organisation. Attrition is not just a talent problem, it is often a well-being problem.

Yet, much of corporate India continues to treat mental health as an individual responsibility. Employees are encouraged to be more resilient, to manage stress better, to seek help when needed. While these are important, they are insufficient. When systems produce stress, resilience cannot be the only solution. This mirrors a broader gap in how mental health is discussed in India. The problem is that stress itself has been normalised by society. Many people are unable to distinguish between everyday stress and more serious anxietyand it is not their fault. The line between the two is often blurred. As author Richard Carlson observed, stress is nothing more than a socially acceptable form of mental illness. While the statement may be provocative, it reflects a cultural reality.

In India, being overworked is frequently glorified. Long hours, constant pressure and burnout are worn as badges of honour, rather than warning signs of distress. This cultural conditioning makes it harder to recognise when boundaries have been crossed.

Also Read | Why Gen Z employees are setting firmer boundaries despite job market uncertainty

Of course, there are instances that demand intensity, such as tight schedules and high-stakes projects. But when stress becomes constant rather than the exception, it ceases to be sustainable. After all, we are only human.

If we are serious about addressing mental health, whether in offices or in society at large, we must move beyond symbolic solutions. This means asking harder questions: Are work cultures enabling or extractive? Do leadership styles foster psychological safety or fear? Do institutions acknowledge emotional well-being as integral to performance, or as an afterthought? The answers to these questions require systemic change. And that change may not always align with short-term output targets but it is essential for long-term sustainability.

Creating healthier workplaces means making deliberate shifts: ensuring employees feel valued, recognizing that stress often flows top-down, and enabling genuine two-way communication and feedback. This can be achieved through structured employee well-being frameworks, clearly defined organizational culture, accountability, well-articulated key performance indicators (KPIs) and professional assessment mechanisms. These are not soft interventions; they are structural ones. Research has shown that when organisations invest in such changes, the returns are tangible. Employee productivity improves and loyalty strengthens.

Encouragingly, the conversation itself has evolved. We are moving away from archaic notions that mental health struggles are all in the head. There is growing recognition that mental health and mental illness are not synonymous, and that seeking help is not a sign of weakness. Mental health is not an isolated, individual issue. It is shaped by the systems people inhabitcorporate, educational, social, and economic. Until organisations are willing to confront the structural drivers of distress, efforts at promoting well-being will remain limited in impact. Awareness campaigns without accountability, and benefits without cultural change, risk becoming little more than corporate optics. The question is not whether companies are doing enough for mental health. It is whether they are willing to change what is making people unwell in the first place. If distress is being produced at scale, the problem is not individual weaknessit is systemic design.

Amrita Puri is an actor and an employee well-being consultant. She holds a Masters in Global Mental Health and Society from the University of Edinburgh.

Write to us at feedback@livemint.com

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Mumbai-based Priyank Jaiswal has seen this trend play out. Over the past year, he evaluated several auction listings but found most were priced at market levels. A 2-BHK in Thane was listed at 97 lakh, which is what similar properties were selling for through brokers. If theres no discount, why take on the extra complexity? he said.
Petrol and diesel prices across major Indian cities remained largely unchanged on Monday, 23 March, despite disruptions to the global oil market due to the conflict in the Middle East.

Although international oil markets have seen significant volatility since the launch of Operation Epic Fury and the consequent stoppage of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, petrol and diesel prices for regular customers have held steady in India.

The conflict in the Middle East, which is in its fourth week now, broke out on 28 February after the US and Israel carried out joint strikes against Iran, prompting Tehran to retaliate and plunging the region into conflict.

Since then, the Middle East has seen chaos, with Gulf countries routinely intercepting missiles and drones launched by 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 $70 in late February to $107.11 on Monday.

Industrial diesel, premium petrol price hiked With rising international crude 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 considerable 25% increasewhile the price of premium petrol was raised by 2 a litre.

Also Read | Empires have battled over the Strait of Hormuz for centuries

Regular petrol and diesel prices However, prices of regular petrol and diesel, which make up the bulk of daily sales at pumps, have been left unchanged.

India's three major OMCs  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 Monday, 23 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 myriad factors which influence petrol and diesel prices in India, with the most significant of them being the price of crude oil on global markets.

The rupee-dollar exchange rate also plays a key role in determining the price of petrol and diesel, given the fact that India imports a large share of its crude oil requirements. Simply put, a weaker rupee can increase the cost of imported crude, pushing up domestic fuel prices, or vice-versa.

Another 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.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Lok Sabha on Monday, March 23, during the second part of the Budget Session of Parliament and informed Parliament that 60 per cent of India's LPG is imported. The prime minister also added that the Union government was prioritising domestic supply of the gas and increasing production amid supply disruptions caused by the West Asia conflict.

PM Modi also termed the prevailing situation in the West Asia as worrisome as it is having a very adverse impact on the global economy and the livelihoods of people, he said.

Also Read | PM Modi speech in Parliament live: PM addresses Lok Sabha on West Asia crisis

He said that the Union government was focusing into ensure that the public does not face any hardships amid LPG shortage due to the conflict in the Middle East region and closure of the Strait of Hormuz, PTI reported.

Signalling that the government was taking necessary steps to cushion the impact on households dependent on LPG for cooking, PM Modi said, 60 per cent LPG imported in India; govt giving priority to domestic use, increasing production. It has been our focus to ensure that the public faces the least hardships.

Since the war began, the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz has become very challenging. Despite this, our government has made efforts to ensure that the supply of petrol, diesel, and gas is not severely impacted. Continuous efforts have also been made to ensure that the supply of petrol and diesel across the country remains smooth, he said.

The current situation in West Asia is worrisome. This crisis has been going on for more than three weeks, having a very adverse impact on the global economy and on people's lives. The entire world is urging all parties to resolve this crisis as quickly as possible, PM Modi said.

PM Modi also said that the security of Indians has been the government's biggest priority in times of conflict, and the Centre is sensitive, vigilant and also ready to extend every assistance.
Supreme Court Judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has asserted that the goal of a Viksit Bharat by 2047 cannot be achieved through criminalisation of dissent, mindless arrests under the anti-terror law UAPA and "deep social fault lines".

Speaking at the first national conference of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) in Bengaluru on Sunday, Justice Bhuyan also lamented the poor representation of women in the higher judiciary. He contrasted it with the figure of more than 50 per cent women making it to the posts of judicial officers in district judiciary across the country.

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"But has it been replicated in constitutional courts? That is the question. That is where the scrutiny of the collegium system comes in. Why is it that when the assessment becomes subjective, women do not make the grade? Out of 287 SC judges since 1950, we had a total of only 11 women judges. Why? Starting with Fathima Beevi and now Justice Nagarathna, it is some two per cent," Justice Bhuyan said.

He said that as per the collegium's subjective assessment criteria, only a minuscule get selected as judges of high courts and the Supreme Court.

Raising serious concerns over the application of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), he referred to the data from 2019 to 2023 and said a truly developed nation must prioritise constitutional values over political slogans.

"Low convictions under UAPA show overuse, if not misuse, of the law," he said. Presenting data from 2019 till 2023 of the people arrested under the UAPA, he said thousands were arrested, but the conviction rate is around five per cent.

"It shows consistently low conviction. What does it indicate, overuse if not misuse, and its impact on the criminal justice system. How much burden does it put on courts? This shows the vast majority were arrested but could not be convicted. This indicates many arrests were premature and unsupported by sufficient evidence," the judge said.

On the low representation of women in higher judiciary, he said they made up only 14 per cent of high court judges.

"In the 25 HCs, we have only two women chief justices (CJs) - Gujarat and Meghalaya. One more will become CJ in a month's time. That is also highly inadequate, three out of 25 HCs," he said.

"My research shows that whenever the recruitment process is objective, more women enter the judicial space. When India becomes a developed nation (Viksit Bharat by 2047), there should be more parity in gender representation in judiciary. SC must be a rainbow institution, truly reflecting the diversity of the nation," he said.

"My model of Viksit Bharat is equal distribution of wealth and disappearance of acute disparity... which is also the goal set in directive principles of state policies in the Constitution," he said, adding that in developed India the "judiciary must remain judiciary" and "it can't be an eternal critic or a cheerleader".

He said in developed countries, there should be more room for debate and dissent.

"Debate should not be criminalised. There should be more tolerance towards diverse views. Divergent views should be respected. There should be more tolerance towards diverse views and criticism," he said.

On societal imbalances, he said, "Deep social fault lines are there. Viksit Bharat cannot countenance such fault lines.

"Parents cannot insist that their children will not have food prepared by a Dalit woman. That cannot be a Viksit Bharat model. We cannot have Viksit Bharat when Dalit people are made to stand in the corridor and people urinate on them. This can't be the model of development. Respect for the individual must be protected," he said.

Former CJI B R Gavai said there were many verdicts that said if the name of a person recommended for judgeship in a high court was returned for reconsideration by the government and reiterated by the collegium, the government had no option but to appoint them.
Rajya Sabha member, Aam Admi Party (AAP) spokesperson and Chartered Accountant Raghav Chadha, on 23 March raised the issue of daily data expiry implemented by telecom companies in India.

The politician, in a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), pointed that recharge plans of most major telcos today include daily data limits ranging from 1.5-3 GB, which reset every 24 hours, adding that the unused data is not rolled over or refunded.

He wrote: Telecom companies offer Recharge Plans with Daily Data Limits like 1.5GB, 2GB or 3GB per day, resetting every 24 hours. Any Unused Data EXPIRES at midnight, despite being fully paid for.     .   ..   .    . No refund. No rollover. Just gone. This is not an accident. This is policy. Use it unnecessarily or lose it by midnight. Thats how mobile data works today.

Why should data that we paid for be forfeited? Chadha noted that he raised this issue in Parliament  Why should data that we paid for be forfeited? UNUSED DATA should carry forward into the next cycle, so consumers can use what they have already paid for.

Speaking to media after the Parliament session, Chadha further explained his argument with an analogy. For example, when you fill your car tank with 20 litres of petrol, and use 15 litre in a month, leaving 5 litre unused, the petrol pump owner does not ask you to return the unused petrol because validity has ended. If you've paid for 20 litres, you can use the entire capacity. The same way data rollover should be allowed.

He added that similar policies are in place in countries across the globe, including the United States of America, Australia, Netherlands and many other European countries.

What are the solutions to address unused data? Speaking during the zero hour in Parliament, the MP made the following demands for telcos on the matter:

  -/     : All telecom operators should provide rollover of unused data. This means that what remains unused at the end of the day, should be added to the next days Daily Data Limit, not erased the moment validity ends.

Also Read | Joint ITR? This Rajya Sabha MP has a fix for couples paying higher taxes

           : If a consumer consistently under utilises their data over multiple cycles, there should be a mechanism for adjustment or discount of that value, from the following months recharge amount. Consumers should not repeatedly pay for capacity they do not use.

       and : Unused data should be treated as the consumers digital property. Users should be allowed to transfer their unused data to others, from their daily data limit, just as transfer money to others.

Monthly recharge a scam: Raghav Chadha Earlier on 11 March too, the leader had raised the issue of the 28-day monthly recharge plans, calling it a scam.

I raised this in Parliament today. Telecom companies call their plans monthly  but they last only 28 days. That means prepaid users pay for 13 recharges in a year instead of 12. 28 days  13 recharges = 364 days. If its monthly, it should follow the actual calendar month. Consumers deserve better. Not these clever tricks, he had stated in a post on X.

Chadha, on 16 March, also proposed joint filing of income tax returns for married couples. Speaking in Parliament, the AAP leader said that his proposal seeks to even out the burden on families with uneven incomes and get the same benefits as two similarly earning spouses. He explained that under the current system, individuals pay taxes separately and the combined income is not taken into consideration and disregards the reality of One roof. One kitchen. One household budget.
Operations at New Yorks LaGuardia Airport were suspended on Sunday (22 March) following a collision between an arriving Air Canada Express CRJ-900 and a ground vehicle on Runway 4. The pilot and copilot were killed in the plane collision at New York airport, NBC reported.

New Yorks emergency management authority warned people to expect cancellations, road closures, traffic delays & emergency personnel near the major transport hub in the borough of Queens.

Use alternate routes, it said on X.

Air Canada also addressed the situation and said, We have taken note of an incident involving Air Canada Express flight 8646 on March 22, 2026, operated by Jazz Aviation LP (Jazz), connecting Montreal to New York LaGuardia.

Jazz will provide further information as it becomes available, the tweet added.

The Air Canada Express aircraft, operating a service from Montreal, reportedly struck a fire truck during landing, according to early media reports and flight-tracking data from Flightradar24.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed that New York City's LaGuardia Airport has been closed and a stop-ground order has been issued following a collision between a plane and a fire truck.

Also Read | United Airlines planes hit each other at LaGuardia in New York: Report

LaGuardia's website showed arriving planes had been diverted to other airports or returned to their point of origin.

In a separate notice to airmen, the FAA indicated that the airport could remain closed until 1800 GMT, pointing to the likelihood of prolonged disruption.

The regulator had earlier imposed a ground stop for all flights until 0530 GMT, citing an emergency. The notice also flagged a high likelihood that the restriction would be extended, though no further details were provided.

View full Image View full Image Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed that New York City's LaGuardia Airport has been closed and a stop-ground order has been issued following a collision between a plane and a fire truck.

ATC audio captures final moments before collision Air traffic control recordings indicate that the sequence began under normal operations, with a ground vehicle cleared to cross the runway: Truck 1 and Company, cross 4 at Delta.

Within seconds, the situation escalated sharply. The controller repeatedly issued urgent instructionsStop, stop, stop, stop, truck 1, stop Stop, truck 1, stopas the risk of collision became apparent. Simultaneously, an approaching aircraft was ordered to abort its landing, with the instruction: Delta 2603, go around, runway heading 2000.

In the immediate aftermath, the controller informed another flight, I see you colliding with a vehicle just hold position, confirming the impact as it unfolded.

Unconfirmed reports citing the New York Fire Department said that five red-tag firefighters and over 100 passengers were injured in the incident. Further heavy ARFF deployment continues at the LaGuardia Airport.

Initial reports indicated multiple injuries, including several firefighters and passengers on board, with some described as critical, although details remain provisional.

The FAA subsequently issued a ground stop for all flights at the airport as emergency services responded and investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident commenced.

In October 2025, one United Airlines plane clipped another United plane's tail at LaGuardia Airport in New York City. An airline spokesperson had said that one plane was turning into its arrival gate when it "made contact" with the tail of another plane that was stationary on the taxiway.

The spokesperson told CBS News that both planes returned to their gates, passengers deplaned normally, and no injuries were reported.

The plane, turning into its gate, Flight 580, had just arrived from O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, carrying 166 passengers and eight crew members.

The other plane, Flight 434, was bound for George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. There were 162 passengers and seven crew members on board.

Further, on 2 October, the same year, two Delta Air Lines regional jets collided on the taxiway at LaGuardia airport in New York, injuring a flight attendant, damaging a cockpit and tearing off part of a wing in what the airline described as a low-speed collision.

The wing of an aircraft carrying 32 people, getting ready to take off for Roanoke, Virginia, had hit the fuselage of an aircraft arriving from Charlotte, North Carolina, with 61 people aboard, according to a statement from Delta.
Iranian media on 23 March denied US President Donald Trump's claims about very good and productive conversations that the US and Iran had over the last two days, after which he gave orders to postpone any military strikes against Iranian power plants for five days.

President Trump's announcement came hours before a deadline that threatened further escalation in the conflict, now in its fourth week.

Iran's Fars news agency said after Trump's 'all caps' Truth Social post that there was no direct communication with the United States or through intermediaries. Citing an unnamed source, Fars said Trump had retreated after hearing that Iran would respond by attacking all power plants in the region, news agency Reuters reported.

The report quoted a source briefing on Israel's war plans said Washington had kept it informed of its talks with Tehran, and that Israel was likely to follow Washington in suspending any targeting of Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure.

The prime minister's office did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment on US talks with Iran or Washington's decision to hold off on striking some Iranian targets, it said.

The Fars news agency report came shortly after Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform that the US and Iran had had "VERY GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE" conversations over the past two days about a "COMPLETE AND TOTAL RESOLUTION OF HOSTILITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST".

President Trump said he had instructed the Defence Department to postpone the strikes pending the outcome of the talks.

Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he spoke by phone with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan. Turkey has been an intermediary before in negotiations between Tehran and Washington.

Trumps announcement came as the United Arab Emirates reported its air defense were attempting to intercept new incoming Iranian fire Monday afternoon.

Iran's earlier warning Earlier on Monday, Iran warned it would strike electricity plants across the Middle East and mine the Persian Gulf after Trump threatened to bomb power stations in the Islamic Republic if it did not reopen the strait.

The war, now in its fourth week, has already seen several dramatic turning points  the killing of Irans supreme leader Ali Khamenei, the bombing of a key Iranian gas field, and strikes targeting oil and gas facilities and other civilian infrastructure in Gulf Arab nations.

The conflict has killed more than 2,000 people, shaken the global economy, sent oil prices surging, and endangered some of the worlds busiest air corridors.

Trumps ultimatum and Irans promise of retaliation threatened to raise the stakes yet again, with potentially catastrophic repercussions for civilians across the region.

Trump's comments briefly sent the price of the Brent crude oil benchmark down around 13% to back below $100 a barrel. By 1155 GMT, however, it was back around $105. [O/R]

On Saturday, Trump had warned that Iranian power plants would be destroyed if Tehran failed to "fully open" the Strait of Hormuz to all shipping within 48 hours.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Monday threatened retaliation, saying they would attack Israel's power plants and those supplying U.S. bases across the Gulf region if Trump followed through with his threat.

Trump had retreated after hearing that Iran would respond by attacking all power plants in the region.

Iran has effectively closed the key Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows.
Indias External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday (March 23) held a telephonic conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, focusing on the escalating situation in West Asia and its broader global impact.

In a post on X, Jaishankar said the discussion centred on the economic consequences of the conflict, with particular emphasis on energy supplies.

Had a detailed telecon this evening with US @SecRubio. Our discussions focused on the West Asia conflict and its impact on the international economy. We particularly spoke about energy security concerns. Agreed to remain in touch, he wrote.

Focus on Strait of Hormuz and energy flows The talks come as tensions rise around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor handling nearly 20% of the worlds oil and LNG shipments.

Global oil and gas prices have surged after Iran effectively restricted movement through the strategic route, raising concerns for major importers like India.

Engagement with Gulf nations Jaishankar also met ambassadors from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), including envoys from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait.

Exchanged views on the conflict in West Asia. Thanked them for their continued support to the Indian community in the region, he said.

Outreach to regional and global partners In addition, Jaishankar held talks with Sri Lankas Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath.

Discussed the repercussions of the West Asia conflict. India stands committed to #NeighbourhoodFirst and #VisionMAHASAGAR, he said.

He also spoke with Germanys Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul to exchange views on the evolving situation.

Trump extends deadline, signals talks Earlier, Trump said the US would delay potential strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure by five days, citing productive conversations with Tehran.

The US president claimed efforts were underway for a complete and total resolution of the conflict.

Iran denies negotiations with US However, Iran has strongly rejected claims of any talks.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said on X: No negotiations have been held with the US, and fakenews is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped.

He added that Iranian officials remain united in their stance: Iranian people demand complete and remorseful punishment of the aggressors. All Irainan officials stand firmly behind their supreme leader and people until this goal is achieved.
PM Modi's Speech in Lok Sabha Highlights: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, 23 March, addressed the Lok Sabha on the ongoing conflict in West Asia. He will speak in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

PM Modi's address to the lower house of Parliament came amid escalating tensions in West Asia, which have disrupted critical maritime corridors and raised concerns about the safety of Indian nationals in Gulf nations.

PM Modi touched upon Indias position on the evolving situation, including its diplomatic engagement, concerns over regional stability, and the impact on global energy and trade routes, in his address. It was his first in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament.

Reiterating India's emphasis on resolving issues through dialogue and diplomacy, PM Modi said that attacks on commercial vessels and the blockage of international waterways, such as the Strait of Hormuz, are unacceptable. He also highlighted that India has been continuously making diplomatic efforts to ensure the safe passage of Indian ships, even in this war-like environment.

"India has always advocated for the welfare of humanity and peace," he said.

The address comes a day after PM Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Sunday to review the situation in the Middle East. During the meeting, the prime minister directed the formation of a group of ministers and secretaries to work diligently to address the situation arising from the West Asia conflict, according to news agency PTI.

On 28 February, the US and Israel launched a joint strike on Iran in which the Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed. Iran retaliated with strikes against its oil-exporting Muslim nation in its neighbourhood. The conflict also affected the movement of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, a key channel that carries around a fifth of the world's oil supply, disrupting trade.

Earlier, the prime minister spoke with leaders in the region, including those of Iran and other Arab nations, many times since the conflict began after US-Israel strikes on Iran on 28 February.
US President Donald Trump threatened to hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST unless Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. Trump's threat has shifted attention to a critical question underpinning the escalating conflict: how resilient is Irans power grid to sustained military attack?

The warning, issued on Truth Social, marks a sharp escalation in a war now in its fourth week, with coordinated US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets. Tehran has responded by warning the Strait would be closed completely if its energy infrastructure is attacked. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said delirious threats on the battlefield would only strengthen national unity and that the waterway is open to all except those who violate our soil.

Why Power Infrastructure Has Become a Strategic Target In Irans case, the power grid is deeply intertwined with industrial production, water desalination, and digital networks, making it a high-value target.

Iranian officials have already indicated that any such attack would invite retaliation against all energy, information technology, and desalination infrastructure linked to the US and its allies in the region, signalling a potential widening of the conflict into critical civilian systems.

A System Built on Thermal Dominance Irans electricity network remains overwhelmingly dependent on thermal generation. According to Irans Ministry of Energy, more than 95% of its electricity is produced by gas- and oil-fired plants, with hydroelectric output contributing less than 5% in practice due to reservoir constraints.

Iran operates around 130 thermal power stations with a combined capacity of approximately 78,000 megawatts. Around 20 plants exceed 1,000 megawatts, while several surpass 2,000 megawatts, forming the backbone of national supply.

Key Power Hubs in Iran and Structural Distribution Major facilities include the Damavand plant, producing roughly 2,900 megawatts, alongside the Neka and Rajaei plants, which together anchor supply across northern and central Iran. The Tehran region is supported by a cluster of large installations, complemented by smaller urban plants that provide additional grid stability.

This geographic dispersion ensures that no single facility is solely responsible for electricity supply, complicating attempts to cripple the system through targeted strikes.

Hard Targets, Limited Strategic Payoff Despite their strategic importance, large power plants are difficult to disable. Facilities such as Damavand span vast areas, with multiple generating units and redundant systems, requiring sustained and coordinated attacks.

Even then, the strategic payoff may be limited. The destruction of Irans largest plant would remove only about 34% of total capacity, insufficient to trigger a nationwide blackout and potentially offset by redistributing load or curbing electricity exports.

A Decentralised Grid Built for Resilience Irans grid is highly decentralised, spanning more than 133,000 kilometres of transmission lines and over 1.3 million kilometres when distribution networks are included. It is supported by hundreds of thousands of transformers and thousands of substations.

While substations are more vulnerable and can trigger localised outages, they are also easier to repair. Recent disruptions in western Tehran and Karaj caused temporary blackouts but were resolved within hours, demonstrating system resilience.

Can Iran Be Plunged Into Darkness? A nationwide blackout appears unlikely through conventional strikes alone. The dispersed nature of Irans generation and transmission network means damage would likely result in localised and temporary disruptions rather than systemic collapse.

However, sustained attacks targeting multiple nodesincluding substations, fuel supply chains, and control systemscould degrade reliability over time and impose cumulative strain.

Global Stakes: Oil, Markets and War Expansion The stakes extend far beyond Iran. Brent crude has climbed to around $114 a barrel, while US crude is hovering near $100, reflecting sharp volatility amid escalating tensions. Analysts, including those at Goldman Sachs, have warned that elevated energy prices could persist for years if disruption continues.

Also Read | Donald Trump has four bad options for the war in Iran

The human cost is also mounting, with more than 1,500 reported dead in Iran, over 1,000 in Lebanon, and casualties reported in Israel and among US personnel.
Iran-US-Israel War News Highlights: US President Donald Trump has announced a five-day halt in the US attacks on Iran's energy facilities on Monday, citing "productive talks" between the two parties. This announcement has come four weeks into the hostilities between the US-Israel combine and Iran. The attacks have seen the death of a huge number of members of Iran's top leadership, including the country's then-Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei.

At 2 PM today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Lok Sabha on key aspects of the ongoing West Asia war. Irans IRGC said on Monday it would retaliate against any attack on its electricity sector by targeting West Asian power plants and facilities supplying US bases in the region, declaring, If you hit electricity, we hit electricity.

Can Irans Power Grid Be Knocked Out?

Iran relies on roughly 130 thermal power plants, which together generate more than 95% of its electricity and provide a combined capacity of about 78,000 megawatts.

Crucially, no single installation is decisive. Even the destruction of the largest facility, the Damavand power plant , would eliminate only around 3.7% of total generation capacity.

Top Updates from Day 23 of Iran-US-Israel War

US President Donald Trump has announced a five-day halt of US strikes on Iran's energy facilities following productive discussions between the two parties. Israel has launched extensive strikes on Iran, with powerful explosions reported in Tehran. A child was killed in Khorramabad, while one person died in Bandar Abbas and casualties were reported in Urmia. Fires were also seen in Karaj. Fatih Birol warned that the situation in the Middle East is very severe, adding that the current crisis is worse than the energy shocks of the 1970s combined. Asian markets declined sharply, with South Koreas won falling to a 17-year low amid fears of a prolonged USIsraeli conflict with Iran and a potential extended closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a ballistic missile headed towards Riyadh, highlighting the widening regional risks. The UAE reported that an Indian national was injured by falling debris in Abu Dhabi, underlining the spillover impact of the conflict beyond immediate war zones.

Check Iran Israel War LIVE Updates here on Mint!
Growing up in Kerala, it was a weekly ritual to spark the firewood and get ready for an oil bath. The weather was warm enough during the week to use the plentiful water from a running tap or well. The firewood had to be kept dry and was allocated pride of place in the outhouse to be brought out in small batches for weekly baths or cooking. In an unexpected twist, many parts of India are having to return to this tradition of burning firewood.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will today speak in the Lok Sabha on the ongoing conflict in West Asia, news agency ANI said. The address is scheduled 2 PM during the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament.

The address comes amid heightened tensions in West Asia, with disruptions in critical maritime corridors and growing concerns over the safety of Indian nationals in the Gulf nations.

This will be the first time Prime Minister Modi will speak in Parliament about the escalation of the conflict. Earlier, the prime minister spoke with leaders in the region, including those of Iran and other Arab nations, many times since the conflict began after US-Israel strikes on Iran on 28 February.

Before Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar briefed both houses of Parliament on the West Asia Crisis on 9 March.

In the address, the Prime Minister is expected to outline Indias position on the evolving situation, including its diplomatic engagement, concerns over regional stability, and the impact on global energy and trade routes, the news agency said.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed the formation of a group of ministers and secretaries to work diligently to address the situation arising from the West Asia conflict.

PM Modi gave these directions while chairing a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to review the situation and ongoing and proposed mitigating measures in the context of ongoing West Asia Conflict.

The Prime Minister's Office, the Cabinet Secretary, gave a detailed presentation on the global situation and the mitigating measures taken so far and being planned regarding the conflict by all concerned Ministries/Departments of the Government of India.

The expected impact and measures to address it across sectors such as agriculture, fertilisers, food security, petroleum, power, MSMEs, exporters, shipping, trade, finance, supply chains, and all affected sectors were discussed. The overall macro-economic scenario in the country and further measures to be taken were also discussed.

In Sunday's meeting, the prime minister said that the conflict is an evolving situation and the entire world is affected in some form. In such a situation, all efforts must be made to safeguard the citizens from the impact of this conflict. PM instructed that all arms of government should work together to ensure the least inconvenience to the citizens.

PM Modi also asked for proper coordination with state governments to ensure there is no black-marketing or hoarding of essential commodities.
Iconic Indian revolutionary freedom fighters  Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru  were executed by the British on 23 March 23 1931 in connection with the Lahore conspiracy case at a very young age.

The day is observed as 'Shaheed Diwas' to honour their martyrdom.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several top BJP leaders, and Opposition leaders paid tributes to freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru on 'Shaheed Diwas' on social media.

In a heartfelt tribute, PM Modi paid tribute to the freedom fighters, remembering their unparalleled sacrifice and contribution to India's freedom struggle.

In a post shared on X, the Prime Minister said, "Today, we bow in reverence to the brave sons of Bharat Mata, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. Their martyrdom for the nation remains etched in our collective memory."

Highlighting their courage at a young age, he added, "At a young age, they displayed extraordinary courage and an unshakable commitment to the cause of India's freedom."

The Prime Minister also emphasised their fearless resistance against colonial rule, stating, "Undeterred by the might of colonial rule, they chose the path of sacrifice with conviction, placing the nation above their own lives."

He further noted that their ideals continue to inspire generations. "Their ideals of justice, patriotism and fearless resistance continue to ignite the spirit of countless Indians," PM Modi said.

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar remembered their courage and sacrifice for the nation, and wrote: "On Shaheedi Diwas, pay homage to the indomitable freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. Their unparalleled courage, conviction and commitment to the nation continue to inspire."

Also Read | Shaheed Diwas: Punjab govt declares public holiday on March 23

To mark the occasion, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta unveiled a statue of Bhagat Singh and inaugurated a restored historic courtroom on Shaheed Diwas at the Registrar Cooperative Society (RCS) office, Parliament Street.

Gupta said the site holds historical importance as it is where Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar were tried after the Assembly bombing, adding that the premises still remain largely unchanged.

She said every Indian should visit the place to understand the legacy of freedom fighters and remember their sacrifice.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said their sacrifice is a golden chapter in India's history.

In a post on X, Adityanath said, "The sacrifice of immortal martyrs Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru, who ignited the flame of revolution, is a golden chapter in India's history."

He added, "Their courage, dedication and spirit of patriotism would continue to inspire generations with the idea of 'nation first'."

Also Read | Who is Justice Swarana Sharma? Kejriwal wants her to be removed from excise case

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal paid tribute to the freedom fighters, remembering their sacrifice and contribution to the nation.

In a post shared on X, Kejriwal said, On Martyr's Day, a hundred salutations to the brave sons of Mother India, the immortal martyrs Sardar Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru, who made the supreme sacrifice for the nation. Their sacrifice, patriotism, and courage will always continue to inspire us. With this very inspiration, we will surely build the India of their dreams.

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi also paid tribute to the freedom fighters.

"On the martyrdom day of the great revolutionary Sardar Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru ji, humble tribute to them. Their fearless struggle and supreme sacrifice in fighting for the nation is an inspiration for every Indian. Salutations to the brave sons of Mother India. Inquilab Zindabad!" Rahul Gandhi wrote on X.
Apple has had new products already developed for months but hasn't launched them just yet. The devices in question here are the HomePod mini and the Apple TV set-top box, which are running low in retail inventory at Apple Stores.

While this is usually a tell-tale sign of Apple refreshing its lineup, a report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman suggests that might not be the case.

Gurman states that Apple has had refreshed versions of Apple TV and HomePod mini since last year but has held off on releasing them because the company is waiting for the new Siri and AI upgrades.

Reportedly, those features are still not ready. However, the good news is that these features are just an add-on for the HomePods and Apple TV and are not essential to them like the Home Hub that the company is developing.

This isn't the first time that we are hearing about the Siri delay. Since being first announced at WWDC 2024, the project has faced numerous delays. While Apple was using its own AI to power the upgraded version of Siri, the company eventually decided to skip that as it partnered with Google to use a Gemini model to power the AI voice assistant.

After the partnership, it was expected that Siri would be rolled out with the iOS 26.4 update. However, Gurman has earlier predicted that the latest Siri version would be coming with the iOS 26.5 update in May or maybe even iOS 27.

Notably, if this timeline is to be believed, then the first developer beta for iOS 26.5 could begin to arrive in late March or even early April, suggesting there are just weeks left before we get a glimpse of the new and refreshed Siri.

What to expect from Apple TV and HomePod mini? As per a MacRumors report, the Apple TV could come powered by the A17 Pro chip, which is the same processor that Apple used on the iPhone 15 Pro lineup and is the oldest in the line to support Apple Intelligence features. The device could also come with support for the company's N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread.
Longford's newly appointed Methodist Minister dives deep into his relationship with God who he says saved him at one of the darkest points in his life.

Reverend Nigel Gill became Longford's Methodist Minister in July of 2025 when he was already appointed in Birr, Co Offaly, his home town, as well as Athlone and Tullamore.

A man of many creative talents, Rev. Nigel wrote a book called 'Welcome to An Cupan Tae' and has his own weekly radio show on Midlands 103.

He thanks God for all of his great blessings in his life including his loving wife Vicky and their five children who are a beacon of light in his life.

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In an exclusive interview, Rev. Nigel dives deep into his life and explains how he went from being a tyre centre manager for over 22 years to now serving four counties as a Methodist Minister.

"I was working as a floor manager in a tyre shop for 16 and a half years, it was a wonderful time actually.

"I would say it very much helped me, shaping me for the ministry that I'm involved in now because I was dealing with people and conversing with people on a daily basis. My life has always revolved around people as a result of being in the tyre industry."

Nigel said that God was always very important to him and he has a personal relationship with Him.

"I wouldn't consider myself to be a religious person, and by that I mean the biblical version of religion is to look after the widows, look after the orphans and keep oneself pure in the world.

"I have a relationship with God because of what Jesus Christ has done for us and because he has redeemed me and saved me and brought me into his kingdom as His child."

Nigel recalled a very dark time in his life when he was in his early 20s where God saved him from jumping off the edge of a cliff.

He said that he believed at one point, despite being blessed with a good childhood and education, he had no purpose or meaning in life.

"So I came to a place where I was standing at the edge of a cliff, thirty off years ago, ready to throw my life away.

"It was a Sunday morning, I was on a Christian retreat, believe it or not, and I left the retreat early and it was a beautiful day.

"The sea was beautifully calm and the sun hadn't even risen and I was standing at the edge of a cliff and the next thing a voice behind me spoke and said 'step back' and I turned around and there was nobody there."

Nigel said that the voice said again to him; 'Nigel step back, I want to use you'.

"I was so arrogant in myself in that I said 'Lord if this is you speaking, I give you twelve months to use me or I'll be back here.'"

Nigel said what followed were "the most horrendous months" of his life because, as he recites a verse from the Bible, "The Lord disciplines the son that He loves."

"The Lord disciplined me quite harshly until I came to the realisation that life is only because of His grace, mercy and love."

Nigel said the whole experience of becoming a minister in 2019 has been "an absolutely amazing time. This was a journey that the Lord took me on, which brought me into ministry."

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Nigel recalled a moment in theological college of a scripture that he read which said: "Look to the nations and watch, be utterly amazed, for I'm going to do something in your day that had I told you, you would not have believed it."

Nigel said that this was true because if someone had come to him while he was working in Heffernan's Tyres in Kildare and told him he was going to be a Minister, "I would have thought that you were off your heads, to be quite honest. But it has just been amazing.

"I would encourage anybody to go and step into that sort of adventure, to be honest," Nigel said.

Nigel has found the welcome in Longford as a minster very open and warm.

"Obviously, when you're a new minister, even within the congregation itself, there's a small bit of time where we have to get to know one another and understand what each other's about. But I have found that the congregation in Longford are open, they're warm, enthusiastic and really up for embracing a spiritual future."

Nigel says he also would never have believed he would be hosting his own weekly radio show but he has been doing that since 2019.

The show, called 'Heartlands,' is on every Sunday morning at 8am on Midlands 103. Nigel spends the hour talking to different people who send him reflections and discuss their relationships with God, as well playing various types of music.

"We focus on different things from week to week, such as the psalm or a portion of a scripture and explore what those things mean. It's a very wide, varied show from week to week."

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The opportunity came to Nigel after he replaced Reverend William Hayes who was hosting the show before him.

"He and Father Shane Crombie had been doing the show and both of them had come to a point where Father Shane got moved and Reverend William decided that he had been doing it for quite a long time and that he was finished, so they had asked me."

Nigel's view on the Church is that a church is "not supposed to be a situation where you've got one person at the front and an audience. It's actually supposed to be where everybody together is actually moving forward and involved in the life and the ministry of the church.

"And I would say that in regard to Burr, Athlone, Tullamore and Longford, in all four churches, the congregations have really embraced that and stepped into that biblical mandate...and are all doing their best and discovering more and more what it is that the Lord wants them to do. My job is to assist them and equip them in that."

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He said that there is a scarcity of Ministers but "that doesn't mean that the church, to me, is in decline. There's many people who are expressing their faith in independent churches or non-traditional churches, he says.

Nigel said that the reason he believes people should have a relationship first and foremost with God is "because God is the one who brings peace, gives hope and is the reason for living.

"You can have the absolute most fantastic adventure and not travel outside 5 or 10 miles of your own home. I'm still living within 11 miles of my birthplace and yes, with God, I've had such a fantastic adventure.

"I've seen the Lord do absolutely amazing things in my life and in other people's lives. There's videos on Facebook of a lot of people whose lives were brought back by God from the edge of a cliff, from suicide.

"And I'm one of those people. So even though I had a very strong faith all of my life, I still ended up that, you know, I got myself into a very dark place.

"And that's the only reason I'm alive today, is Jesus Christ. Jesus is the one who intervened in my life and Jesus is the one who's blessed me with a wonderful wife, who's blessed me with the children that are in my home."
A recent landmark visit to Longford by the Hungarian ambassador has placed the county at the heart of a new EU cultural partnership, launching a year-long programme of events, exchanges, and community collaboration across the county.

Ambassador of Hungary to Ireland, Gergely Banhegyi, visited Longford County Council as part of Irelands EU Presidency community engagement programme.

The visit marked the formal launch of a year-long series of cultural events and collaborative projects linking Longford with Hungary.

The pairing is one of 27 across Ireland, each matching an EU member state ambassador with their Irish counterpart and a host county.

Read: Green light for new 500-seat South Longford outdoor music and entertainment amphitheatre

Coordinated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the initiative intends to bring the EU Presidency to life in every community.

County Librarian Martina Needham has helped to shape a cultural programme that draws on the deep storytelling traditions shared by both Ireland and Hungary.

Events planned for the coming year include a Rubiks Cube tournament - which is a nod to Hungarys most famous export - and a Haunted Forest Walk for Samhain, which is hoped to be developed in collaboration with schools and libraries subject to Creative Ireland funding.

Further events are in development with community and civil society partners.

Speaking about the new partnership following the visit, Deputy Chief Executive of Longford County Council, John Brannigan said Longford is exactly the kind of place where a partnership like this can thrive.

Read: PICTURES | Longford dentist 'will be sorely missed' as he steps into retirement

He said, We sit at the heart of Ireland with a growing population, a town centre that is changing for the better, and a strong tradition of community action. We are ready to work with Hungary to build real links, encourage shared learning, and spark cultural experiences that people here will value for years to come. This visit marks the start of a relationship that will grow well beyond today.

Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Cllr Garry Murtagh added that, Friendship between nations is not built in capitals or conference rooms. It is built in places like Longford, in libraries, in schools, in conversations between ordinary people. I look forward to seeing the connections that will grow from this partnership.

Embracing this new collaboration, the Ambassador of Hungary to Ireland, Gergely Banhegyi said, As Ambassador to Ireland I stand ready to support and advance this newfound partnership, that is forming with Irelands initiative to engage communities across the country during the upcoming EU Presidency."

He added, "I am also looking forward to the official joint visit to Longford with Irelands Ambassador to Budapest, Ragnar Almqvist. Our cooperation holds the potential of deepening the cultural and economic links between Hungary and Longford, for many years to come.

Further engagements are planned with schools, public libraries, local media, and sporting and civil society groups across the county throughout the year.

Funded be the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme

Read: Congratulations: Longford woman celebrates special milestone birthday with her family
A Hamas martyr poster of Walid Dib.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on March 22 that it killed Walid Muhammad Dib, a Hamas financial official, in Lebanon. Two other Hamas operatives in Lebanon were killed by the IDF over the past week, as Israel also continues to wage a multi-front conflict against Iran and Hezbollah that began on February 28.

The IDF said that it acted on intelligence provided by the Shin Bet intelligence agency and carried out a targeted strike in Lebanon that killed Dib. Dib was a senior Hamas financial operative who played a key role in funding the groups military activities, transferring money to networks in the West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria. He also recruited operatives and directed attacks from Syria and Lebanon, the IDF alleged.

The Israeli military did not specify the date of the strike on Dib, but the Hezbollah-run Al Ahed News indicated that he was killed on March 18 in an airstrike that targeted his vehicle near the Al Zaatari Mosque in Sidon.

On March 20, Hamas announced the death of Ahmad Hamdan Abdullah, another Hamas commander in the groups branch in Lebanon, stating that he was initially wounded nine days before.

The Qassam martyr commander: Ahmad Hamdan Abdullah (Hajj Iyad), who ascended after succumbing to severe wounds he sustained at dawn on Wednesday, 22 Ramadan 1447 AH (March 11, 2026), following a cowardly assassination operation he was subjected to in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, Hamas stated.

In addition, on March 15, the Lebanese news outlet Lebanon Debate reported that two guided missiles targeted a building in the Sharhabil area of Sidon, killing another Hamas official, Wissam Taha.

According to the Israeli news site Makor Rishon, Taha was publicly portrayed as someone who fundraised for non-governmental organizations and operated through Lebanese groups focused on sustainable development, a cover for raising funds tied to Hamass financial network. Makor Rishon also noted that Wissams brother, Jihad Taha, is a senior commander and an international spokesperson for Hamas, highlighting the familys close ties to the organizations leadership.

Israeli strikes against Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad networks operating in Lebanon have primarily targeted senior operatives, trainers, and facilitators embedded within Palestinian factions in Lebanon. These operations have included numerous targeted killings, such as the March 2026 strike in Tripoli that eliminated Hamas commander Wasim Atallah Ali, who was responsible for training the groups Lebanese branch.

More broadly, Israel has treated Lebanon as another front against Palestinian terrorist groups and conducted a sustained campaign of targeted strikes against Hamas infrastructure and personnel there since late 2023. These operations often focus on disrupting financing, recruitment, and external plotting networks, particularly those linked to the Axis of Resistance, the regional collection of Iranian-led proxy groups.

Joe Truzman is an editor and senior research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal focused primarily on Palestinian armed groups and non-state actors in the Middle East.
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Lycoming Colleges 51st Ewing Lecture will host Eric Gonzaba, Ph.D., for a talk entitled, The Night the Gays Made: American Gay Nightlife after Stonewall, on Tuesday, March 24, at 7:30 p.m., in the Trogner Presentation Room of Krapf Gateway Center. A reception will follow, and the event is free and open to the public.

Gonzabas talk will explore the blossoming of gay nightlife across the United States beginning in 1970, and invites listeners to consider how bars, baths, and other nightlife spaces were central to how everyday gay men experienced freedom in the aftermath of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising. While histories of gay liberation often emphasize activism, court cases, and political organizations, this lecture shifts attention to the far more common experience of American gay men whose primary encounter with gay community took place after dark.

Informed by digital history methods that make a national perspective now possible, the talk draws on hundreds of thousands of listings from historical gay travel guides. Gonzaba shows that gay nightlife was remarkably widespread across the United States, not an isolated urban anomaly but a generalizable feature of post-1970 gay male life. Though often embraced by gay men as apolitical spaces, nightlife sites became centers of conflict over race, gender, policing, and public health. Rather than framing nightlife as either liberation or excess, this lecture argues that post-Stonewall nightlife offered a negotiated freedom that was limited, contested, and meaningful. It reveals how gay liberation was built not only in protest marches or at the ballot box, but also on dance floors, at bar counters, and in the geography of the urban night.

Gonzaba, associate professor of American studies at California State University, Fullerton, is a historian of race, sexuality, and nightlife in the United States. He leads several award-winning public digital humanities projects.

In 2014, Gonzaba founded Wearing Gay History, an online archive and museum that explores global LGBTQ+ history through T-shirts; in 2016, the project received the National Council on Public Historys top student prize. In 2019, he co-launched Mapping the Gay Guides with Amanda Regan, Ph.D., a digital mapping project that uncovers overlooked queer geographies through historical gay travel guides. The project received the 2021 Emerging Open Scholarship Award from the Canadian Social Knowledge Institute and an honorable mention for the 2020 Garfinkel Prize in Digital Humanities from the American Studies Association.

From 2021 to 2024, Gonzaba served as chair of the LGBTQ+ History Association, the nations oldest organization of queer historians, and he co-chaired and hosted the 2024 Queer History Conference. His work has been generously supported by the Point Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Ewing Lecture Series

The Ewing Lecture Series was established in 1973 to honor Robert H. Ewing for his 27 years of teaching and service at Lycoming College. A revered teacher and friend of the College, his life was characterized by a deep religious faith, a passion for history, and a strong devotion to a liberal arts education. These qualities touched the lives of all who came in contact with him and led his many friends to establish this annual Lecture Series to bring distinguished historians to campus to share their work with the Lycoming community.

History at Lycoming College

Lycomings history department offers an intensive and enriching curriculum that helps students cultivate valuable insights about current events through a deep knowledge of the past. The multitude of exciting study abroad and research opportunities, such as fellowships, summer research grants, and a two-semester research project during senior year, puts Lycomings history program on par with some of the most rigorous history programs in the nation.
China releases OpenClaw security guidance for users, cloud providers, developers

Xinhua) 08:08, March 23, 2026

This photo taken on March 11, 2026 shows the screen of a mobile phone running the open-source AI agent OpenClaw at Wuxing District of Huzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province. (Photo by Yi Fan/Xinhua)

BEIJING, March 22 (Xinhua) -- China on Sunday issued the security guidance for the use of the open-source AI agent OpenClaw, advising users, cloud service providers and developers to reduce risks during deployment and operation.

The guidance, jointly issued by the National Computer Network Emergency Response Technical Team/Coordination Center of China and the Cyber Security Association of China, recommends that ordinary users install OpenClaw on dedicated devices, virtual machines, or containers, maintain strict environment isolation, and avoid installing it on everyday work computers.

Ordinary users are also advised not to run OpenClaw with administrator or superuser privileges, avoid storing or processing private or sensitive data within OpenClaw environments, and keep OpenClaw updated to the latest releases.

For cloud service providers, the guide advises conducting baseline security assessments and hardening of cloud hosts, deploying and integrating appropriate security protection capabilities, and strengthening supply-chain and data security defenses.

The guidance also offers tailored security best practices for enterprise users and technical developers.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
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.
Mayo IPSC members held another Drop Allianz protest outside MacHale Park on Sunday ahead of the Mayo v Roscommon match, continuing the nationwide campaign to end the GAA's relationship with Allianz.

Protesters distributed information leaflets to supporters, highlighting the Drop Allianz campaign and presenting evidence from the UN report 'From Economy of Occupation to Economy of Genocide,' which demonstrates Allianz's complicity in Israeli apartheid and the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Speaking at the protest, Mayo IPSC spokesperson Aoife Durkan said, It is a no-brainer to drop Allianz as sponsor from the GAA. I'm echoing the words of the Kerry great Dara O Cinneide who recently expressed these sentiments, and there's no question but Allianz should be dropped.

She added that Allianzs historical and current activities raise serious ethical concerns. Allianz, who were complicit in the Holocaust, are now found to be complicit in the genocide in Gaza. They hold $7.3 billion in shares and bonds implicated in the genocide, and there is no space within our fantastic organisation that is the GAA for sponsorship linked to genocide, the crime of crimes.

The protest received strong support from both Mayo and Roscommon supporters, demonstrating cross-county solidarity on the issue.

Roscommon is one of ten counties that have passed motions calling on the GAA to terminate its relationship with Allianz. However, the GAA refused to hear these motions, citing that the sponsorship arrangement was deemed "commercially sensitive" and therefore not appropriate for discussion at Congress, leading to widespread criticism, with Peter Canavan commenting that the association is burying its head in the sand.

Aoife Durkan also addressed the role of Allianz Ireland within the wider corporate structure. Allianz Ireland is a subsidiary in the overall Allianz group, so in that regard there is no denying that they are and they have no exemption from the crimes as outlined in the recent UN report.

Mayo IPSC will continue to raise awareness about the ethical implications of maintaining a sponsorship relationship with a company complicit in the gravest human rights violations.

READ MORE: PLAYER RATINGS: How did the Mayo players fare against Roscommon?
An Garda Siochana in Mayo have arrested a rider after detecting an illegal e-scooter travelling at excessive speed and in a dangerous manner.

The incident occurred when the Mayo Roads Policing Unit stopped the e-scooter, which was recorded travelling at 36km/h and being driven erratically in the middle of the road.

Gardai confirmed that the rider was intoxicated at the time of the stop and was subsequently arrested and brought to a Garda station. An evidential breath test revealed the individual was almost nine times over the legal alcohol limit.

The e-scooter was seized, with officers noting it significantly exceeded legal specifications. It was equipped with a 52V 18Ah battery, a 1200W motor and had a top speed of up to 50km/h.

Gardai stressed that such vehicles are illegal for use on public roads in Ireland due to exceeding permitted limits on speed, power and weight.

READ MORE: Mayo man shares powerful cancer journey on Daffodil Day

Gardai confirmed the rider will now face prosecution before the courts.

The incident has prompted renewed warnings around the safe and legal use of e-scooters. Under current regulations, users must not exceed a speed of 20km/h and are strictly prohibited from operating an e-scooter while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

An Garda Siochana also highlighted the serious risks involved, warning that collisions at higher speeds can have fatal consequences.
A pioneering environmental initiative is set to take root off the Mayo coast, with Inishturk Island chosen as the site for Irelands first native honey bee sanctuary.

The project, approved by the Inishturk Community Development Company, will focus on conserving the Apis mellifera mellifera  Irelands only native honeybee species, which has come under increasing threat in recent decades.

The sanctuary is the brainchild of Dr. Sean OConnor, founder of Wild Atlantic Honey & Mead, and is due to begin next month with the introduction of two hives to the island.

Honeybee populations across Ireland and Europe have declined significantly, with losses of up to 50% in the past 20 years, largely due to the spread of the parasitic mite Varroa destructor. The native Irish honeybee has recently been designated as endangered by the EU.

The initial hives will be hosted by local residents Paddy and Anna OToole, with the long-term aim of establishing a sustainable, varroa-free colony in what is hoped to remain a biosecure island environment.

If successful, the project could provide a model for similar conservation efforts on offshore islands, offering valuable insights into how native pollinators can be protected.

READ MORE: Capture Mayos beauty: share local waters in national photo competition

Advanced monitoring technology will also play a key role, with AI-assisted sensors tracking hive conditions such as temperature, humidity and activity. The data will be compared with hives located at Killeen, Co. Mayo, Ireland to better understand the differences between island and mainland environments.

Dr. OConnor said he was excited by the potential of the initiative.

This is the opportunity to contribute, in what we hope will remain a biosecure environment, to the preservation of the native Irish honeybee  Irelands only native honeybee, he said.

Chair of the Inishturk Community Development Company, Aidan OToole, welcomed the development, describing it as a positive step for the islands biodiversity.

The sanctuary complements the islands wider efforts to strengthen biodiversity, wildlife and natural pollination on Inishturk, he said. It also highlights the unique ecological value of the island.

A dedicated website will allow the public and researchers to follow the progress of the sanctuary, including real-time data from the hives.

READ MORE: Are Mayo honeybees under threat?
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Dara Calleary has today, (Monday, March 23) launched the 2026 SuperValu TidyTowns competition.

The competition, which was also launched by the Managing Director of SuperValu, Mr Luke Hanlon, has been in place since 1958.

Speaking at the launch of the competition, Minister Calleary said: I am delighted to be here in Carrick-on-Shannon, Irelands Tidiest Town for 2025, as we launch the 2026 SuperValu TidyTowns competition. This year we celebrate 68 years of this wonderful competition, which continues to thrive year on year - its success benefits us all.

There are almost 1,000 active TidyTowns groups, and last year saw a record 929 entries to the SuperValu TidyTowns competition.

The Mayo TD said that TidyTowns groups have been instrumental in supporting and enhancing the governments objective to ensure towns are sustainable, resilient and thriving of commercial and social activity.

I would encourage everyone to reach out to their local group and volunteer; you will be surprised at the benefits that can accrue to you and to your wider community.

I would like to say a special thank you to our national sponsor, Supervalu, now in their 36th year of sponsoring the competition. SuperValu have been wonderful partners on this journey and I look forward to continuing this partnership in the coming years.

Speaking at the launch today, Luke Hanlon, Managing Director of SuperValu, said the launch is always an exciting time for committees and volunteers nationwide.

READ MORE: Figures show high number of patients awaiting a bed at MUH

Its fantastic to see volunteers of all ages and backgrounds come together with the aim of enhancing their communities, and we cant wait to see their hard work pay off throughout the year, he said.

SuperValus role in communities goes far beyond retail. We are proud to provide local employment, champion local suppliers and invest in initiatives that help strengthen the quality of life in the areas we serve. SuperValu TidyTowns initiative aligns naturally with our long-standing commitment to building cleaner, greener, and more sustainable communities, he added.

As a community retailer, we take great pride being involved with SuperValu TidyTowns for another year and we thank our independent retailers for their unwavering support and commitment.

Minister Calleary concluded by thanking the TidyTowns volunteers throughout the country and wishing them well in the 2026 competition. Duirt an tAire:

Ba mhaith liom gach rath a ghui oraibh go leir i gcomortas 2026. Taim ag suil le hiontralacha alainn na mbailte agus na sraidbhailte a fheiceail agus bualadh leat ag an searmanas bronnta nios deanai sa bhliain.

The closing date for receipt of entries for this years competition is Monday, May, 11, 2026. Entry forms and further information about the SuperValu TidyTowns competition are available at www.tidytowns.ie.

READ MORE: Price of the average three-bed semi-detached in Mayo increases
Diabetes, not weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, is linked to higher preterm birth risk, a major study of over 750,000 pregnancies finds.

Highlights: Weight loss drugs like semaglutide showed no link to preterm birth when used for weight management

The risk of premature delivery was 84% higher when the same drugs were used for diabetes treatment

treatment Study of over 750,000 pregnancies suggests the underlying condition of diabetes is the key factor

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Periconceptional GLP-1 receptor agonist exposure and obstetric outcomes: a Danish nationwide cohort study



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Link Between Diabetes Treatment and Preterm Birth Risk

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Growing Use of Glucagon Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists

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Assessing Pregnancy Complications Linked to Early Drug Exposure

Adjustment for Maternal and Lifestyle Risk Factors

Magnitude of Risk with Specific Medications

The risk of premature birth increased by 70% with liraglutide and 84% with semaglutide when used for diabetes treatment .

. This corresponds to an approximate 11% higher risk for semaglutide users and a 9% increase for liraglutide users among women with pre-existing diabetes.

Guidance for Counseling After Early Pregnancy Exposure

Diabetes Specific Risk Driving Preterm Birth Outcomes

Frequently Asked Questions Q: Do weight loss drugs increase the risk of premature birth? A: Only when used for diabetes treatment, not when used for weight loss. Q: Which weight loss medications were studied? A: Semaglutide and liraglutide were analyzed. Q: What is the main cause of increased premature birth risk? A: Pre-existing diabetes appears to be the key contributing factor. Q: Should weight loss medications be stopped before pregnancy? A: Current guidance recommends stopping them eight weeks before planning pregnancy.

Periconceptional GLP-1 receptor agonist exposure and obstetric outcomes: a Danish nationwide cohort study - (https://academic.oup.com/hropen/article/2026/2/hoag015/8526483)

among women who unknowingly used them shortly before or during early pregnancy to manage pre-existing diabetes ().However, an extensiveor other pregnancy-related complicationsAccording to findings published in, a leading journal in reproductive medicine, the increasedMedications such as semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and liraglutide (Saxenda) are part of a class known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. Initially developed for type 2 diabetes, they primarily work by reducing appetite and were later found to support weight loss. Despite their benefits,Professor Henriette Svarre Nielsen from Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre explained that prescriptions for these medications have surged rapidly worldwide in recent years.Current, although this guidance is largely based on early experimental models rather than real-world data.Because of their widespread use, unintended exposure during early pregnancy is considered unavoidable, yet there is limited evidence available to guide healthcare providers when such situations occur.The investigation focused on whether unintended use of these medications around conception was associated with complications such as premature birth, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, large-for-gestational-age infants, stillbirth , and placental issues.Data from Danish nationwide health registries were examined, coveringExposure was defined as, representing a 16-week window that includes early fetal development. A total of 529 pregnancies involved such exposure.The analysis accounted for several influencing factors, including maternal age, body mass index, smoking habits, geographic location, education level, pre-existing diabetes, and timing of pregnancy to ensure accurate comparisons.Dr. Kathrine Hviid, the studys first author, highlighted that the findings carry significant implications for both future clinical trials and patient counseling.The results showed that an increased risk of preterm birth was observed. This indicates that diabetes itself may be the underlying factor contributing to the elevated risk.Although initial observations suggested higher rates of several pregnancy complications among users of these drugs, further adjusted analysis confirmed that only preterm birth risk remained significantly elevated in women treated for diabetes.Compared to women who did not use these medications:These findings emphasize the importance of considering the reason for prescribing these medications, as risks differ significantly between diabetes treatment and weight loss use.The findings are expected to support improved counseling for women who may have been unintentionally exposed to these medications early in pregnancy.In, such exposure is considered likely.However, experts caution thatthat advise stopping these medications before pregnancy regardless of their intended use.A key strength of the investigation lies in its large sample size. However, limitations include the inability to establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship, as the findings only show an association. Additionally, there was no confirmation that women actually used the medications after obtaining prescriptions.The relatively high cost of these treatments, such as semaglutide injections priced around 180 or 114 with subsidy, suggests that adherence to prescribed use is likely high among patients.In an accompanying commentary, experts from Kaiser Permanente Northern California noted that these findings contribute to growing evidence regarding the reproductive safety of these medications.They emphasized that the increased risk of premature birth was limited to women treated for diabetes, supporting more individualized discussions between clinicians and patients. The findings also highlight theIn conclusion, the findings indicate that the increased risk of premature birth is linked to underlying diabetes rather than weight loss medications themselves, emphasizing the need for careful management of diabetes during pregnancySource-Medindia
Air Indias cabin crew fitness policy brings attention to the limitations of BMI, which may not reflect fat distribution, metabolic health, or functional fitness.

Highlights: Air Indias policy brings BMI-based fitness screening into focus

BMI may miss central obesity and functional limitations

Waist and functional measures may better reflect real fitness

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Air India to introduce strict cabin crew fitness compliance policy; lapses may result in loss of pay



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Why BMI Alone May Not Reflect Cabin Crew Fitness

Individuals with higher muscle mass may be categorized as overweight despite having lower body fat

Individuals with normal BMI may still have increased abdominal fat and associated metabolic risk

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Strengths and Limitations of BMI in the Diagnosis of Obesity: What is the Path Forward?



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Central Obesity and Risk in Normal BMI Individuals

A proportion of normal-BMI individuals may exhibit metabolic abnormalities

Central fat accumulation is linked to insulin resistance and inflammation

South Asian populations may develop abdominal fat at relatively lower BMI thresholds

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Waist circumference as a vital sign in clinical practice: a Consensus Statement from the IAS and ICCR Working Group on Visceral Obesity



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Which Measures May Better Assess Fitness and Risk?

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Normal-Weight Central Obesity: Implications for Total and Cardiovascular Mortality



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Implications for Cabin Crew Fitness Standards

Takeaway

Frequently Asked Questions Q: Is BMI enough to assess cabin crew fitness? A: BMI is useful for screening but does not measure strength, endurance, or fat distribution. Q: Why can BMI misclassify fit individuals? A: Because it cannot distinguish between muscle and fat. Q: What is central obesity? A: It refers to excess abdominal fat linked to metabolic and cardiovascular risk. Q: What is better than BMI for health assessment? A: Waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, and metabolic tests provide a more comprehensive evaluation. Q: Which doctor should I consult for obesity and fitness evaluation? A: A general physician or endocrinologist can assess metabolic health and obesity-related risks.

Air India to introduce strict cabin crew fitness compliance policy; lapses may result in loss of pay - (https://www.ptinews.com/story/business/air-india-to-introduce-strict-cabin-crew-fitness-compliance-policy-lapses-may-result-in-loss-of-pay/3487842) Strengths and Limitations of BMI in the Diagnosis of Obesity: What is the Path Forward? - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38958869/) Waist circumference as a vital sign in clinical practice: a Consensus Statement from the IAS and ICCR Working Group on Visceral Obesity - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32020062/) Normal-Weight Central Obesity: Implications for Total and Cardiovascular Mortality - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26551006/)

Air India is set to roll out a new Cabin Crew Health and Fitness Compliance Policy from May 1, 2026, according to a PTI report cited by multiple media outlets. The policy focuses on assessing the fitness of cabin crew primarily through, and those found underweight, overweight, or obese may face consequences such as de-rostering and loss of pay ().As per the reported framework, a BMI between 18 and 24.9 is considered within the normal range, while individuals outside this range may be subject to monitoring and corrective measures. Those categorized as overweight may be allowed to continue duties subject to functional fitness clearance, whereas higher BMI categories may require medical evaluation before being cleared to fly. Crew members who do not meet prescribed standards within a specified period may face administrative actions, including removal from flying duties and associated pay implications.Air India is set to implement a revised health and fitness compliance policy for its cabin crew, widely reported as a shape up or ship out approach, placingat the center of fitness evaluation. According to multiple media reports citing internal policy documents, crew members who fall outside prescribed BMI ranges may be subject to corrective measures, including de-rostering and, in some cases, loss of pay until required standards are met.Under the proposed policy, a BMI between 18 and 24.9 is defined as the normal or desired range. A BMI below 18 may be considered acceptable only after medical evaluation and functional assessment. Individuals with BMI between 25 and 29.9 may be categorized as overweight and allowed to continue duties if they clear functional fitness tests. A BMI of 30 or above is classified as obese and may trigger stricter action, including de-rostering and mandatory reassessment.While the objective of ensuring passenger safety and operational readiness is clear, evidence from observational and epidemiological studies indicates that BMI, when used in isolation, may not fully reflect an individuals health risk or physical capability. Research shows that a proportion of individuals with normal BMI may still have excess abdominal fat and metabolic abnormalities. This concern is particularly relevant in South Asian populations, where central obesity tends to occur at lower BMI levels.BMI is calculated as weight divided by height squared (kg/m) and is widely used due to its simplicity and scalability. However, as a screening tool, it does not distinguish between fat mass and lean muscle or indicate fat distribution. This limitation is clinically relevant because, which accumulates around internal organs, is associated with increased risk of, including diabetes and cardiovascular conditions.BMI provides a general estimate of body size but does not assess physical performance or functional capacity. This may result in two forms of misclassification:BMI also does not evaluate strength, endurance, mobility, or emergency responsiveness, which are critical components of cabin crew responsibilities, including assisting passengers and managing in-flight emergencies ().The concept ofdescribes individuals who have a normal BMI but exhibit metabolic abnormalities typically associated with obesity. Similarly,refers to increased abdominal fat despite normal BMI and has been associated with higher cardiovascular risk and mortality in observational studies.Evidence from population-based research suggests:These findings indicate that fat distribution, rather than body weight alone, plays a key role in determining health risk ().To improve assessment, experts recommend combining BMI with additional indicators that better reflect metabolic health and functional capacity:90 cm in men and 80 cm in women indicate increased risk.Values above 0.5 are associated with higher cardiometabolic risk.Additional tools such as body composition analysis and metabolic screening, includingand lipid profile, may provide further insight into underlying risk.Functional fitness testing, which evaluates strength, endurance, and mobility, is particularly relevant in aviation settings where physical readiness is essential ().BMI remains a practical and widely used screening tool in occupational health. However, reliance on BMI alone may not fully reflect either health status or job-related physical capability. A broader, multidimensional approach that integrates waist-based measures, metabolic indicators, and functional testing may provide a more clinically meaningful and operationally relevant evaluation.Such an approach may help identify individuals with hidden metabolic risk while also reducing the likelihood of misclassifying physically fit individuals.BMI is a useful starting point, but it does not capture fat distribution or functional ability. Evidence suggests that combining BMI with waist measurements, metabolic indicators, and functional fitness assessments offers a more comprehensive evaluation, particularly in roles such as cabin crew where both health and performance are critical.Source-Medindia
The quirky yet cunningly dangerous character of politician Jameel Jamali, played by Rakesh Bedi in Dhurandhar: The Revenge, has been widely appreciated by audiences and critics alike. In a recent interaction, the veteran actor spoke about his preparation for the role, revealing that he had been quietly dropping subtle hints about the films major twist right from the very beginning, clues that many viewers only picked up on after watching the film. Rakesh Bedi On How He Prepared for the Big Twist in Dhurandhar 2s Climax Speaking to CNN-News18, Rakesh Bedi revealed that he had a clear understanding of his characters arc from the very beginning of Dhurandhar: The Revenge. He explained that he was fully aware of how Jamali was subtly manipulating Ranveer Singhs Hamza, using him to serve his own political ambitions while allowing him to believe he was in control.

 Instagram/Rakesh Bedi Reflecting on his performance, Bedi shared, I knew the graph of my character from the beginning, otherwise how I would have craft it? There are a few looks that I have given to Ranveer in the first part when I see him for the first time or when I am sitting in the car and I look at him, I am noticing him in that moment. In many places in the previous film, I have given these looks to Ranveer because in the film, Ranveer doesnt know, but I know that he is my asset and I have to work on him. The veteran actor added, And then the planning starts that how without Ranveer even knowing it, I start eliminating one person after another through him, eventually taking Ranveer to the top. I let Ranveer think that he is using me, but it is actually that I am using him the way I want to.
An urgent plea has reportedly been moved before the Madras High Court seeking a ban on the release of Dhurandhar: The Revenge in Tamil Nadu, citing concerns over the Model Code of Conduct ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. As per Live Law, an advocate made an oral mention before Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan, arguing that the films political undertones make it unsuitable for screening during the sensitive election period. With Tamil Nadu heading to polls in about a month, the timing of the release has become a point of contention.

 Jio Studios The bench, however, asked the petitioner to formally file a writ petition and then seek an urgent hearing, indicating that any decision on halting the release would only come after proper legal proceedings. Meanwhile, Jana Nayagan, starring Vijay, has also encountered a similar issue. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has withheld its certification and referred the film to the Election Commission of India for further review, citing the enforcement of election guidelines. Set against the backdrop of Lyari in Karachi, Dhurandhar 2 blends fictional storytelling with elements inspired by real-life events such as the Kandahar hijacking, the 2001 Parliament attack, and the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, which has further added to the sensitivity around its release.
MIAMI  When Secretary of State Marco Rubio testifies as a key witness Tuesday at the Miami federal trial of his friend, David Rivera, the former Florida senator will be asked about statements he gave to FBI investigators concerning two meetings he had with Rivera in 2017 when they discussed a plan to oust socialist Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Rubio will also be asked about an alleged threat to his life that year by Maduros right-hand man in Venezuelan politics.

His testimony in the federal criminal trial will be extraordinary, if not surreal, given that Rubio is among the highest-ranking officials in the Trump administration advising the president on consequential global matters, including the U.S. war against Iran.

Rivera, 60, a former Miami-Dade Republican congressman, and another defendant face trial on charges of acting as unregistered foreign agents for the Venezuelan government when Maduro was in power almost a decade ago. Opening statements begin Monday before the 12-person jury, which was picked last week and is notable for its lack of registered Republicans.

At the time of their meetings in July 2017, Rubio later told FBI agents, he was unaware that Rivera had a $50 million consulting contract with the U.S. subsidiary of Venezuelas national oil company, PDVSA  a lobbying deal at the core of the federal case against Rivera and Miami-Dade political consultant Esther Nuhfer. Rubio, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, told investigators that he would never have had the meetings with Rivera [regarding] Venezuela had he known about the contract.

In December 2020, when Rivera was under investigation, Rubio told FBI agents in a teleconference interview that he and Rivera had met at the senators residence in Washington, D.C., on July 9, 2017. They discussed how Riveras contact, wealthy Venezuelan businessman Raul Gorrin, could broker Maduros exit because he was believed to be close to both the president and his political opponents.

Rivera told Senator Rubio that Gorrin had persuaded Maduro to accept a deal whereby Maduro would hold free elections and step aside, says an FBI report summarizing Rubios statement on the 2017 meeting with Rivera. Rivera stated that he wanted Senator Rubio to deliver a message to the White House on behalf of President Maduro.

In making his pitch, Rubio said, Rivera showed the GOP senator an online bank account containing a substantial amount of money  money that Gorrin would use to support the opposition in Venezuela.

On July 11, 2017, Rubio spoke with President Donald Trump about a potential solution to the Venezuelan crisis and delivered a speech on the Senate floor about U.S. interests in a peaceful transition of power in the country. The following day, the senator met with Rivera, Gorrin, Nuhfer and others at the Marriott Hotel off Connecticut Avenue rather than Rubios office due to counterintelligence concerns.

According to Rubios FBI statement, he thought the meeting was going to be about Gorrins role to obtain a letter from Maduro indicating his willingness to hold democratic elections in Venezuela and to arrange to have that letter delivered to President Trump. At the time, Trump was considering sanctions against Maduro, other senior officials and Venezuelas state-owned oil company, PDVSA.

The meeting was supposed to cover the topics of the letter and Venezuelan openness to a peaceful transition of power, according to Rubios statement to the FBI. But the senator told investigators, including the cases lead federal prosecutor Harold Schimkat, that it was one of the strangest meetings [he] had ever participated in because it made no sense. 

Gorrin only spoke about the problems of Venezuela and how bad things were, but nothing was said about a potential deal, according to the summary of Rubios FBI statement.

One of the Venezuelan opposition leaders, Henry Ramos Allup, participated in the hotel meeting by phone from New York and also spoke about the countrys dire economic conditions under Maduro.

Rubio said the meeting was the only time that he and Gorrin spoke, leaving him wondering why the Venezuelan tycoon flew from Miami, where he owned a waterfront home, to Washington just to say how bad things were in Venezuela.

Rubio told investigators that if Gorrin ultimately delivered a letter from Maduro promising democratic elections, that would be a good thing, but if it didnt materialize, he would push for sanctions against the president and others in his regime. Rubio said he and Rivera discussed potential sanctions against certain high-ranking Venezuelan officials, including Maduro, whom they referred to as the bus driver, his former job before he entered politics during the socialist revolution of his predecessor, the late President Hugo Chavez.

After receiving mixed messages from Gorrin, Rivera arranged for Rubio to deliver a speech promoting the plan for a peaceful transition of power on Gorrins TV station, Globovision, in Caracas. Rubio gave the speech on July 31, 2017  the very day the Trump administration issued the first wave of sanctions against Maduro and his government.

Discussions with Rivera died off after July, Rubios FBI statement said.

$50 million contract

Rivera and co-defendant Nuhfer, the political consultant, are accused of failing to register as foreign agents with the U.S. Attorney General in March 2017 when Riveras consulting company signed the $50 million contract with the Houston-based subsidiary of Venezuelas national oil company, PDVSA, which operates as CITGO. The contract was ostensibly for promoting CITGOs expansion in the United States, including resolving oil-drilling disputes with U.S. behemoth Exxon, whose holdings had been nationalized by Venezuela.

Both Rivera and Nuhfer counter that they were working directly for the U.S. subsidiary of Venezuelas state-owned oil company, PDV USA not for PDVSA itself  and therefore they didnt have to register as foreign agents for the Venezuelan government and didnt break the law. Riveras consulting firm received $20 million from PDV USA before the U.S. subsidiary ended the contract after a falling out in 2017, and Rivera shared that income with Nuhfer and two other associates, including Gorrin.

However, federal prosecutors say a high-ranking Venezuelan official close to Maduro arranged the highly profitable contract between Riveras consulting firm, Interamerican, and PDV USA as a cover so that Rivera, Nuhfer and others could be compensated for lobbying to gain political support for Venezuela to normalize relations with the United States. They accuse Rivera and Nuhfer of deliberately not registering as foreign agents for Venezuela so they could lobby U.S. government officials such as Rubio without their knowledge.

As part of that scheme, prosecutors say, Rivera and Nuhfer sought to prevent sanctions against Maduro and other high-ranking officials in Venezuela.

Lobbied Rubio

In June 2017, Rivera, Nuhfer and others joined forces to lobby Rubio, then the Republican U.S. senator from Miami, and lawyer Kellyanne Conway, a White House advisor to then-President Trump, according to an indictment. Rivera and Nuhfer were unable to meet with Conway, but they did arrange the two meetings with Rubio.

According to the indictment, Rivera also collaborated with Gorrin to arrange a meeting between Texas Congressman Pete Sessions, a Republican, and Maduro in Caracas.

On April 2, 2018, the indictment says, Rivera, Gorrin and Sessions met with Maduro and other Venezuelan politicians to discuss normalizing relations between the United States and Venezuela. As part of the meeting, Sessions agreed to carry a letter with that proposal from Maduro to then-President Trump, who was serving in his first term, but their efforts were unsuccessful.

Both sides wanted Rubio to testify

Rubios testimony has been a source of fierce contention between the prosecutors and defense since Rivera and Nuhfer were charged in late 2022 with conspiring to defraud the U.S. government, failing to register as foreign agents for Venezuelas government and money laundering.

At first, Schimkat, the lead prosecutor, said he was going to call Rubio as a government witness, but then he changed his mind  only to reverse course this year after the defense subpoenaed Rubio at the State Department.

Defense lawyers said they were seeking to call Rubio to show that Rivera and Nuhfer were not acting as unregistered agents for the Venezuelan government to normalize relations with Maduros regime, as the indictment alleges. Instead, they say, at the meetings with Rubio and Sessions in 2017 and 2018, the defendants were trying to develop an exit strategy for Maduro so he could be replaced by an opposition leader in Venezuela who would be supported by the United States.

In their move to subpoena Rubio, the defense lawyers, Edward Shohat, David Weinstein, David O. Markus and Margot Moss, pointed out that Rivera came to the former senators aid when Rubio learned that Maduros right-hand man in the Venezuelan National Assembly, Diosdado Cabello, was plotting to kill him in 2017.

In a letter to the State Department in December, the defense team highlighted that Rubio requested Riveras help in reaching out to Gorrin, the politically connected Venezuelan, about the threat to the former senators life  signaling that Rivera was not collaborating with Maduros government, but rather fighting it.

It shows Mr. Rivero acted to save the life of a friend, Sen. Rubio, Shohat said at a court hearing on Friday.

Rivera served in Congress between 2011 and 2013 after spending the previous decade as a state legislator when Rubio was the House speaker between 2006 and 2008. During that period, Rivera and Rubio shared a home in Tallahassee. In his statement to the FBI in 2020, Rubio described Rivera as a loyal guy.

During Fridays hearing, Schimkat, the prosecutor, brought up Rubios statement to the FBI, which not only delved into allegations about Rivera but also Cabellos alleged assassination plot.

Senator Rubio advised he was informed about the assassination plot through intelligence reports, the FBI summary of his statement in July 2017 says, without mentioning how the sensitive information was provided. Senator Rubio wished to inform the various agencies of background.

On a parallel track, the defense team also wanted to call Venezuelas former president, Maduro, after he had been seized by U.S. military forces in early January to face drug-trafficking charges in New York. But Maduro, through his lawyer, said he refused to be a witness for the defense, saying he would invoke his constitutional right to remain silent if he were compelled to testify.

Susie Wiles involvement

The defense team also wanted to call White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles because she had been a lobbyist for the influential Tallahassee-based firm, Ballard Partners, in 2017 and 18 when it was representing Gorrin, who wanted to expand his Caracas TV station into the U.S. market.

But U.S. District Judge Melissa Damian, along with a magistrate judge, granted the prosecutions request to quash the defense subpoena for her testimony.

Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres said the Chief of Staff has become the second most powerful and important person in the operation of the Federal Government and that requiring her to testify for two days would disrupt Ms. Wiles work duties.

Besides Rubio, another central witness for the government is Miami real estate developer Hugo Perera, who came to know Rivera through Nuhfer and then introduced the former Miami-Dade congressman to Gorrin. Both Perera and Gorrin owned homes on exclusive Fisher Island.

In turn, Gorrin provided access to Maduro and another top official, Delcy Rodriguez, who prosecutors say ordered the U.S. subsidiary of Venezuelas national oil company to hire Riveras consulting firm as a lobbyist in the United States. Rodriguez replaced Maduro as president of Venezuela after his ouster by the U.S. government.

Miami connections

Court documents in both the criminal case and a parallel civil lawsuit revealed that Rivera diverted more than half of his PDV USA income  $13 million  to three subcontractors in Miami who supposedly provided international strategic consulting services for the U.S. subsidiary of Venezuelas national oil company. The three recipients of the proceeds were Gorrin, Nuhfer and Perera.

Perera is the star witness for the government because he was an insider with access to Gorrin, Markus said at the court hearing on Friday. Markus noted that Perera received about $5 million from Rivera for making introductions but was not charged with him and Nuhfer. The star witness is not Marco Rubio.

Gorrin, who is not charged in Riveras case, was indicted by a Miami federal grand jury on foreign corruption and money laundering charges in 2018. He was also charged in another Miami money laundering case in 2024. In court papers, prosecutors describe Gorrin as a fugitive.

Gorrin appears on the witness list for the defense in the Rivera-Nuhfer case, but hes highly unlikely to show up at their trial.

_____

2026 Miami Herald. Visit at miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
On the morning of July 10, 1943, Pvt. John P. Rowell and his sentry dog, Chips, hit the beach during Operation Husky. When a hidden machine gun nest opened fire, pinning down the platoon, Chips tore free from Rowell and charged straight into the fortified position. He seized the gunner by the throat, silenced the weapon and forced four Italian soldiers to surrender.

"There was an awful lot of noise," Rowell recalled. "Then I saw one Italian soldier come out the door with Chips at his throat. I called him off before he could kill the man."

That single act of heroism by a mixed-breed family pet from Pleasantville, New York, set Chips on a path to become the most decorated war dog in American history. It also triggered a national debate over whether animals deserve military honors.

From Family Pet to Army Recruit

Chips was born in 1940, a mix of German Shepherd, Collie and Husky-Malamute. He was bred by C.C. Moore, who eventually gave the dog to the family of Edward J. Wren in Pleasantville, New York.

The dog attached himself to Wrens' daughter, Gail. He followed her on the walk to school most mornings and rested beneath her desk in class. If other kids got too physical on the playground, Chips would wedge himself between them and pull Gail to safety.

Chips also had a mischievous streak. He chased chickens around the neighborhood and once bit a garbage collector, behavior that would ironically help him during his military career.

After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the American Kennel Club and a newly formed civilian organization called Dogs for Defense began recruiting privately owned dogs for military service. The group initially intended to provide sentry dogs to the Coast Guard for beach patrols along the American coastline.

American soldiers and their military working dogs boarding a ship during WWII. (Army Historical Foundation)

On March 13, 1942, Under Secretary of War Robert P. Patterson formally authorized the Quartermaster Corps to begin training dogs, officially creating the War Dog Program that quickly became known as the "K-9 Corps."

The response from American families was overwhelming. More than 19,000 dogs were donated between 1942 and 1945, though roughly 45 percent were rejected as unsuited for training due to poor temperament, sensitivity to gunfire or inadequate sense of smell. Of the roughly 10,425 dogs that completed training, fewer than 1,900 were shipped overseas.

The Wren family recognized Chips potential and donated him in August 1942. John Wren, a toddler at the time, later reflected on the sacrifice his parents made.

"It killed my mother to part with him, but Chips was strong and smart, and we knew he'd be good as an Army War Dog," John Wren said in a later interview.

Training and Early Service

Chips shipped out to the War Dog Training Center in Front Royal, Virginia, for training. He trained as a sentry dog for weeks, learning to detect intruders, hold positions and work alongside a handler under simulated combat conditions. His herding and guarding instincts served him well.

He was paired with Pvt. John P. Rowell, a military policeman from Arkansas. The two were assigned to the 3rd Military Police Platoon, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. They deployed together to North Africa in the fall of 1942 as part of Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of French North Africa. Chips was among the first American war dogs to serve overseas.

Chips the War Dog and his handler, John P. Rowell in front of an American Red Cross tent. (Facebook)

Even before his most famous exploit, Chips demonstrated his value. According to the Military Working Dog Heritage Museum, one of his earliest notable acts in theater was alerting Rowell to a pending ambush. During the ensuing firefight, Chips galloped back to base with a phone cable attached to his collar, dodging small arms fire and allowing the platoon to call for help.

In January 1943, Chips received a unique assignment. He was one of three dogs selected to provide security for President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill during the Casablanca Conference in French Morocco, where the two leaders plotted Allied strategy for the remainder of the war.

The Machine Gun Nest at Licata

After five months of fighting across North Africa, the 3rd Infantry Division prepared for Operation Husky, the massive Allied invasion of Sicily. Maj. Gen. Lucian K. Truscott led the 3rd Infantry Division ashore near Licata on Sicily's southern coast on July 10, 1943, as part of the largest amphibious operation of the war to that point.

As dawn broke and Rowell's platoon pushed inland, an Italian machine gun nest hidden inside a building opened fire. Several Americans were hit in the opening burst. The rest of the platoon dove for cover with no place to maneuver.

Chips suddenly broke free from Rowell. Despite intense gunfire and Rowell screaming for him to come back, the dog sprinted toward the position. He leapt into the fortification, clamping his jaws around the gunner's throat. In the chaos, the machine gun was knocked over and one of the Italians fired a pistol at Chips, wounding him with powder burns and a scalp laceration.

An American military working dog is treated for his wounds sustained in combat during WWII. (Army Historical Foundation)

The platoon advanced and captured the four Italian soldiers as medics tended to Chips. His work was not finished. That same night, Chips alerted Rowell to movement beyond their perimeter. The handler and his unit acted quickly, capturing ten more Italian soldiers attempting to slip through their lines under cover of darkness.

The story traveled fast through the division and reached American newspapers not long after. Chips went from an anonymous sentry dog to a household name almost overnight.

Medals, Controversy and Congress

The companys commander, Capt. Edward G. Parr, recommended Chips for the Distinguished Service Cross, citing his "courageous action in single-handedly eliminating a dangerous machine gun nest and causing surrender of its crew." Chips also received the Silver Star and Purple Heart for his injuries.

War Department regulations technically prohibited awarding decorations to animals. But Truscott felt Chips had earned them. On Nov. 19, 1943, the general personally pinned the Distinguished Service Cross on Chips' collar.

The loudest opposition came from William Thomas, national commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. Thomas fired off complaints to the White House, the War Department and the Adjutant General's office, calling it an insult to every soldier who had bled for the same ribbons. The controversy reached Congress, where lawmakers spent three months arguing over the issue

According to a February 1944 report in Time magazine, Maj. Gen. James A. Ulio, the Army's Adjutant General, ultimately decided that Chips would retain his medals, but the military would not award medals to animals again.

Chips and Rowell meeting Eisenhower near Salerno, shortly after Chips nipped the Generals hand. (U.S. Army Photo)

Wire service reports from the same period tell a slightly different version, suggesting the DSC was rescinded while the Silver Star and Purple Heart were retained. Regardless of which account is definitive, the U.S. military shut the door on official recognition for war dogs going forward.

His reputation remained undiminished among the men who served with him. Chips even met Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower after the Battle of Salerno when the Supreme Allied Commander visited the unit to congratulate them. When Eisenhower leaned down to pet the dog, Chips nipped his hand. As a trained sentry dog, Chips was conditioned to respond aggressively to anyone other than his handler. Eisenhower reportedly took it in stride.

"His response was, 'That's OK. I understand that's what you're trained to do,'" John Wren later recounted.

Eight Campaigns and a Homecoming

Chips continued to serve with Rowell and the 3rd Infantry Division through some of the war's hardest fighting. His campaigns spanned North Africa, Sicily, Salerno, Anzio, the push to Rome, southern France, the Rhineland and Central Europe.

The men of Chips' platoon found their own way to honor him. They unofficially awarded him a Theater Ribbon with an arrowhead, a distinction reserved for airborne and amphibious assault landings, along with eight battle stars representing each campaign in which he served.

Chips was officially discharged from the Army in December 1945 and returned to the Wren family in Pleasantville. John Wren was four years old when the dog arrived home in a wooden crate, accompanied by photographers and reporters.

"Chips was something of a celebrity when he returned from the war, but we were just pleased to have our dog back," Wren said.

Chips, the dog hero of the 3rd Infantry Division, returns home to his owners, Mr. Wren and son John, after serving with the division in World War II from October 1942 until he was honorably discharged in December 1945. (U.S. Army Photo)

Chips died in 1946, roughly seven months after his discharge. Some sources allege his death was caused by complications related to his combat injuries. He was six years old.

Rowell and the Wren family stayed in touch after the war, exchanging letters for years. Rowell wrote that he was heartbroken when he learned Chips had died.

"He said that Chips and he had slept together an awful lot and that Chips had saved his life many times," Wren said of Rowell's letters.

The Armys Changing Attitude

The debate over Chips' medals did more than strip honors from a single dog. It helped establish a legal and bureaucratic framework that classified military working dogs as equipment, a status equivalent to a rifle or a tent.

During the Vietnam War, roughly 5,000 dogs served with American forces, credited by military estimates with saving approximately 10,000 lives. When U.S. forces withdrew, the Department of Defense deemed those dogs surplus equipment. Most were handed off to South Vietnamese forces that had neither the training nor the funding to maintain them. Others were put down by American veterinarians before the withdrawal was complete.

Only about 200 made it back to the United States. Handlers who begged to bring their dogs home, even at their own expense, were refused.

U.S. Army Military Working Dog (MWD) handler Pfc. Jermaine Lewis, 100th Military Police Detachment, conducts basic obedience drills with his MWD, Nandi, June 25, 2019, Panzer Kaserne, Germany. The MWDs and their handlers are trained to provide narcotics and explosives detection keeping the bases safe from threats. (U.S. Army Photo by Yvonne Najera)

The outcry from Vietnam-era handlers and the public eventually forced widespread change. In 2000, President Bill Clinton signed the "Robby Law," requiring that retired military working dogs be made available for adoption by former handlers, law enforcement agencies or qualified families rather than euthanized.

The 2016 National Defense Authorization Act went further, guaranteeing transportation home for military working dogs serving overseas and giving handlers the first opportunity to adopt them.

Today, the Department of Defense employs more than 1,600 military working dog teams. The dogs are recognized as integral members of their units, a status that took decades of advocacy and tragedy to secure. The direct line between Chips' revoked medals in 1944 and the abandoned dogs of Vietnam in the 1970s remains one of the more painful chapters in American military history.

Recognition, Seven Decades Later

On Jan. 15, 2018, exactly 75 years to the day after the Casablanca Conference, where Chips once stood guard, the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals awarded him the Dickin Medal in a ceremony at the Churchill War Rooms in London. Randolph Churchill, Winston Churchill's great-grandson, even attended the ceremony.

The Dickin Medal is the highest honor any animal can receive for service in military conflict, often described as the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross. A military working dog named Ayron stood in for Chips at the ceremony while U.S. Army Lt. Col. Alan Throop accepted the medal on behalf of the regiment.

John Wren, then 76 years old, traveled from his home in Southold, New York, to witness the presentation.

"He got a lot of bad press over the years for being a rogue and being dangerous as far as the people were concerned," Wren said. "They didn't like the fact that he'd gotten medals and things like that. So, it really made me feel great to see him finally receive some recognition as a special creature, which, in our view, he was."

Chips, the dog hero of the 3rd Infantry Division, was posthumously awarded the Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals Dickin Medal in January 2018. (U.S. Army Photo)

After the ceremony, the Dickin Medal was housed at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans before being transferred in April 2022 to the 3rd Infantry Division Museum at Fort Stewart, Georgia, where it now sits as part of the permanent collection.

In 2019, Chips also received the Animals in War and Peace Medal of Bravery, an American equivalent to the Dickin Medal. That same year, a life-sized bronze statue of Chips, sculpted by Lena Toritch, was unveiled at the Trail of Honor in Lasdon Park in Katonah, New York, roughly 20 minutes from the Pleasantville neighborhood where the Wren family once lived.

In 1990, Disney produced a made-for-TV movie based on his life called "Chips, the War Dog." Smithsonian Magazine named him the most notable wartime canine in American history a decade later.

No American war dog has received more honors for combat service. Military working dogs today are recognized as integral members of their units rather than equipment, a change that traces directly back to the fight over Chips' medals. A family pet from Pleasantville served in eight campaigns, saved his handler's life more than once and single-handedly took out an enemy machine gun nest. He remains the most decorated war dog in U.S. military history, honored alongside names like Audie Murphy and Gen. Joseph T. Dickman as one of the 3rd Infantry Division's own.

Sources: U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum, "Quartermaster War Dog Program"; U.S. Army, "The Dog Hero of the 3rd Infantry Division" (2022); U.S. Army, "War Dogs: The Birth of the K-9 Corps" (2016); PDSA, "Top Honour for WWII Hero Dog" (2018); National Constitution Center, "Honoring the First Dog to Be Awarded the Purple Heart" (2015); CBC Radio, "A Special Creature: Chips the WW II Hero Dog Honoured" (2018); Military Working Dog Heritage Museum, "Chips: A Mixed Breed Dog with Pure Grit"; Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, "Dogs of the Vietnam War"; Westchester County Government, War Dog Memorial Dedication (2019); EBSCO Research Starters, "Chips the War Dog"; Vice, "The US Military Euthanized or Abandoned Thousands of Their Own Canine Soldiers at the End of the Vietnam War" (2014); Newsweek, "Hero Dogs of the U.S. K-9 Corps in World War II" (2025); Animals Around the Globe, "Honoring Military Working Dogs Throughout History" (2026).
HunterSeven, a nonprofit organization that helps veterans suffering from cancer-related illnesses brought on by military service, recently received a big boost in funding.

The organization, based in Providence, Rhode Island, was granted a $100,000 donation from Philip Morris International U.S. Businesses to develop more programs to assist veterans, such as providing cancer screenings across the country.

Since starting as a research program in 2018, HunterSeven has transformed into a valuable resource for veterans, while also providing tools for medical professionals treating former service members.

Chelsey Simoni, who serves as the organizations chief health officer, served in the Army until a back injury forced her out of the military. One day, while chatting with her husband, also a veteran, the conversation of veterans dying early was brought up. Not in combat. Not from suicide. But from cancer. Especially veterans who served deployments in the Persian Gulf and the post-911 conflicts.

Chelsey Simoni is a cancer researcher and health care provider for HunterSeven. (LinkedIn)

Going Beyond PACT Act

The PACT Act, signed into law in 2022, finally provided some relief from the Department of Veterans Affairs to millions of veterans battling rare cancers from Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam, and other toxins from burn pits and explosions in the Middle East.

While Simoni was pleased to see the PACT Act passed, she referred to it as putting a Band-Aid on a bullet hole.

Simoni doesnt believe the legislation tackles the core aspect of the issue  limited education in the medical field for doctors to pinpoint symptoms of exposure and health care professionals not knowing veterans service records and risk factors.

This is the best way to put it: if someone said to me, Chelsey, your husband Kyle, an Army veteran, Iraq war veteran, hes 38 years old, hes going to die of colon cancer. Were very sorry, but heres $4,000 in benefits a month through the PACT Act that can help you while youre caring for him at his end stage of life, but hes going to die, Simoni told WPRI in Rhode Island. You cant put a price on somebodys life.

Simoni feels more funds need to be directed toward health care and finding ways to treat, and potentially cure, service-related cancers before its too late.

So, the PACT ACT, while its great in theory, weve seen in the past year, in 2025 were spending twice as much on disability benefits and death benefits than we are on actual health care. Thats a downstream problem, Simoni said. Why are we waiting until these effects become terminal and significant to the point that people are dying? Were running out of space at Arlington National Cemetery, not because of combat-related deaths, because of cancer-related deaths.

Jeff Bosley, an Army Special Forces veteran, served in the military from 2006-2014, with deployments to Africa and Iraq. (Northwestern Medicine)

Self-Advocacy is Key

Jeff Bosley, an Army veteran, was shocked to learn he had a rare form of prostate cancer at only 46 years old. Less than 1 percent of cases are diagnosed in men under 50.

Through HunterSeven, Bosley connected with a prominent urologist in Chicago who performed surgery on the ailing veteran. However, the cancer returned two months later. Other treatments havent worked to fight the cancer, so Bosely is searching for different options. HunterSeven is currently fundraising to help him receive treatment overseas.

Bosley believes veterans must advocate for themselves when facing serious health concerns.

Our families, particularly the military and members of the military, were kind of bred to be polite, Bosley said. Remain polite but be hostile with your health care and your advocacy because at the end of the day, youre going to go into this grave alone and theres nothing wrong with being ruthlessly indignant almost with your health care advocacy.

A GoFundMe account has raised nearly $28,000 as of Thursday to help Bosley receive the treatment he needs.

In 2019, WPRI released A Burning Controversy, a series of reports examining the effects of toxic exposure on veterans.
President Trump posted on Truth Social that Iran had 48 hours to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and threatened US attacks on Iranian power plants if it did not.

That threat is strategically significant because the Strait of Hormuz is one of the worlds most important maritime chokepoints. In 2024, oil flow through the strait averaged about 20 million barrels per day, equal to roughly 20% of global petroleum liquids consumption, and about one-fifth of global LNG trade also passed through it.

The legal question, however, is not whether reopening the strait is important. The legal question is whether such strikes would comply with the law of armed conflict (LOAC), the framework governing the conduct of hostilities, which incorporates treaty law, customary international law, and other applicable rules, including those often described as international humanitarian law (IHL).

The United States is bound to comply with LOAC through a combination of treaty obligations it has ratified, such as the Geneva Conventions, and customary international law, even where it has not ratified specific instruments like Additional Protocol I. On that issue, the answer is narrower and less forgiving than political rhetoric suggests.

Distinction and Military Objectives

One basic rule is distinction: parties may direct attacks only against military objectives, not civilian objects. The rule of distinction and the requirement to limit attacks to military objectives are binding as customary international law and are reflected in US doctrine.

A military objective is an object which, by its nature, location, purpose, or use, makes an effective contribution to military action and whose destruction offers a definite military advantage. This is widely accepted as customary international law and reflected in U.S. doctrine; it is also codified in Article 52 of Additional Protocol I.

Customary international humanitarian law states the same core rule: parties must distinguish between civilian objects and military objectives, and attacks may be directed only against military objectives.

That means a power plant is not targetable simply because it belongs to the enemy state or because striking it would create political pressure. A power plant becomes lawfully targetable only if, in the circumstances at the time, it makes an effective contribution to military action and attacking it offers a definite military advantage.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem (DDG 63), the French Navy destroyer FS Languedoc (D 653), and the guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107) transit the Strait of Hormuz as the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKECSG) makes an inbound transit to the Arabian Gulf, Nov. 26, 2023. The IKECSG is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime stability and security in the Middle East region. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Janae Chambers. Source: DVIDS.

Why Power Plants Raise Dual-Use Problems

Electric grids and generating stations are classic dual-use infrastructure. They often serve both the civilian population and military systems at the same time. The DoD Law of War Manual recognizes that electrical power stations are generally of sufficient importance to a states capacity to meet its wartime needs that they may be military objectives in some circumstances.

That point matters, but it does not create a free pass. Dual-use does not mean automatically lawful to destroy. It means the object requires a fact-specific targeting analysis. If a plant powers air defenses, missile production, command-and-control nodes, naval operations, or other concrete military functions, it may qualify as a military objective.

If the real point is to coerce the government by inflicting broad civilian suffering, the strike would raise serious LOAC proportionality concerns because the law prohibits directing attacks at civilian objects and bars attacks expected to cause incidental civilian harm that is excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated.

The same body of law also requires feasible precautions in attack, including doing everything feasible to verify that targets are military objectives and taking precautions to minimize incidental civilian harm.

Applying LOAC to Trumps Threat

So how does that framework apply here? If the idea is open the strait or we will hit power plants, the legality would depend on why those plants are being struck and what military function they serve.

If a specific Iranian power facility were supplying electricity to coastal missile batteries, naval mining operations, military radar, or command networks directly involved in blocking Hormuz, a strike might be legally arguable as an attack on a military objective.

If, instead, the threat is to start with the largest power plant because knocking out national electricity would force Tehran to change policy, that looks much more problematic. Size and economic importance do not, by themselves, make an object a lawful military objective under LOAC. Nor does the global importance of Hormuz eliminate the duty to distinguish military objectives from civilian infrastructure.

There is also a proportionality problem. Large-scale attacks on electrical infrastructure can foreseeably disrupt hospitals, water pumping, sewage treatment, food refrigeration, and civilian communications. LOAC does not forbid all collateral civilian harm, but it does forbid attacks expected to cause incidental civilian harm that is excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated.

The Bottom Line

The strongest legal conclusion is this: LOAC does not categorically bar attacks on power plants, because some power infrastructure can qualify as dual-use military objectives. Yet LOAC also does not allow a state to bomb power plants simply to punish, coerce, or create economic pain until a strait reopens. The law requires target-specific proof of military contribution, a concrete military advantage, a proportionality assessment, and feasible precautions.

On the facts publicly available so far, Trumps statement reads more like a coercive threat against nationally important infrastructure than a publicly articulated, target-specific LOAC justification. That does not make every conceivable strike on Iranian power infrastructure unlawful. It does mean the legality would turn on the particular plant, its actual military role, and the expected civilian consequences, not on the political objective of reopening Hormuz.
The Blue Jays announced this morning that theyve signed GM Ross Atkins and manager John Schneider to contract extensions. Both were entering the final seasons of their current contracts, but Atkins has re-upped on a five-year deal that will take him through the 2031 season while Schneider will return on a two-year deal that lasts through the 2028 campaign.

The news is hardly surprising following Torontos impressive run in the playoffs last year, where they secured the AL pennant and came just shy of besting the Dodgers in seven games during the World Series. While Toronto ultimately lost Game Seven of that series, its easy to see that ownership is pleased with the clubs performance. Not only was the team green-lit to acquire Dylan Cease and pursue other big names on the free agent market like Kyle Tucker this winter, but Blue Jays chairman Edward Rogers also decided to give team president and CEO Mark Shapiro a five-year contract extension back in December that runs through 2030. Once Shapiro received an extension, both Atkins and Schneider were widely assumed to eventually follow suit around the league.

Atkins joined the Jays prior to the 2016 season, and hes overseen the beginning of the Vladimir Guerrero Jr. era in Toronto. While Guerrero signed with the organization as an international amateur a few months before Atkins and Shapiro arrived, every professional game hes played during his career has been with them at the helm of the club. Guerrero has been the face of Torontos return to relevance after a rebuilding period early in Atkinss tenure with the organization, from the second year of his career in 2020 onward the Jays have made the postseason four times in six years with a 472-398 record overall. Thats roughly an 88-win pace over the last six years, and under Schneiders leadership over the past three years theyve gone 257-229 theyve managed a roughly 86-win pace with two playoff berths.

It may have seemed to be a no-brainer that the club would decide to keep the good times rolling with their current group after this years run to the World Series, but that was hardly a guarantee this time last year. One year ago, Guerrero had not yet signed an extension, the club had whiffed on both Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto in free agency during back-to-back offseasons, and the Jays were coming off a deeply disappointing 88-loss season that saw the club sell at the trade deadline and called their longer-term viability as a contender into question. Its fortunate that the organizations banner year in 2025 answered those questions, because its not hard to imagine another poor performance on the field from the club last year ending in changes to the front office and dugout rather than contract extensions for the organizations leadership.

As Atkins, Schneider, and Shapiro head into the 2026 season and look ahead to at least a few more years running the Blue Jays together, long-term deals for Guerrero, Cease, Alejandro Kirk, and Andres Gimenez figure to make them all staples of the organization going forward. Other pieces under long-term control include Trey Yesavage, Anthony Santander, Kazuma Okamoto, Louis Varland, and a collection of young hitting talent headlined by Addison Barger. Its a solid group overall, though the next few years will also see the team contend with the impending free agencies of George Springer, Daulton Varsho, Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, and other key members of the roster who will need to be replaced.
The Orioles made shortstop Gunnar Henderson an extension offer during last years Spring Training that wasnt accepted, the New York Posts Jon Heyman writes. It isnt known if the two sides have revisited talks this year, though Heyman feels the chances of an agreement are a long shot at best. Henderson is represented by Scott Boras, whose clients usually eschew extensions in favor of eventually testing free agency.

Henderson is in his first year of arbitration eligibility and is set to become a free agent after the 2028 season at age 27. Between that relatively young age and the numbers he has already posted in his four big league seasons, Henderson and Boras may well have a record contract in mind for the shortstops entry into the open market, which could leave the Orioles priced out.

This isnt to say that the Os havent shown an increased willingness to spend since David Rubenstein bought the team in early 2024. Baltimores eight-year, $67MM deal with Samuel Basallo last August marked the teams first long-term extension in over a decade, as the Orioles hasnt yet locked up any of the other young talents amassed during their rebuilding period. This offseason, the Os made a big splash in free agency by signing Pete Alonso (a Boras Corporation client, no less) to a five-year, $155MM deal that stands as the second-largest contract in franchise history.

It isnt out of the question to suggest that it would take three times Alonsos contract to extend or re-sign Henderson, given Boras penchant for pushing the market. Henderson would have to keep playing like a superstar, of course, and the 2025 season was a slight bump in the road since he hit a relatively modest .274/.349/.438 over 651 plate appearances, with 17 homers and 30 steals (in 35 attempts).

The shortstop still posted this 120 wRC+/4.8 fWAR production, however, while dealing first with an intercostal strain that sidelined him during Spring Training, and then a shoulder impingement that bothered him for most of the regular season. Returning to normal health should help Henderson regain his power in 2026, and perhaps he is gearing up for a season more akin to the 37 homers and .281/.364/.529 slash line he delivered in 2024.

Perhaps the Orioles want to see Henderson back at full strength before considering more extension talks, in order to determine if he is worth the kind of landmark investment it would take to keep him in the fold. Alonso and Basallo are the only long-term commitments on the Orioles books, so a mega-deal for Henderson perhaps isnt out of the question if the Os view him as their franchise cornerstone. As Heyman noted, however, the likelier scenario is that an extension isnt reached. This would mean Henderson either walks in free agency, or Baltimore could conceivably look to trade him (maybe during the 2027-28 offseason) in order to gain a larger return.
Veteran utilityman Thairo Estrada has been granted his release, the team announced. He had an opt-out provision in his minor league contract with Baltimore and is once again a free agent. The Os also reassigned catcher Maverick Handley and outfielder Jhonkensy Noel to minor league camp. Both were non-roster invitees this spring.

Estrada, 30, went just 2-for-25 with a pair of singles and nine strikeouts this spring. It wasnt the camp performance he was hoping for after a 2025 season in which he hit only .253/.285/.370 with the Rockies. Injuries limited Estrada to just 165 plate appearances a year ago. He missed time due to a broken wrist, a sprained thumb and a strained hamstring during a snakebit season.

From 2021 to 2023, Estrada slashed .266/.320/.416 with the Giants (105 wRC+). He eventually found himself upgraded from a utility role to the teams starting second baseman. He combined that slightly above average bat with a strong glove to become a valuable player for San Francisco for a few years.

Things began to turn the wrong direction in 2024  a season in which a left wrist sprain limited Estrada to just 96 games. He hit a paltry .217/.247/.343 (68 wRC+) even when he was healthy enough to take the field. The Giants cut him loose, and a one-year deal with the Rockies didnt help him right the ship.

With Estrada being cut loose, the Orioles options for the final spot on Craig Albernazs bench include Jeremiah Jackson, Bryan Ramos and Weston Wilson. Jackson and Ramos are both on the 40-man roster. Jackson is hitting .333/.353/.545 in 34 spring plate appearances but has minor league options remaining. Ramos is hitting .297/.366/.459 in 41 plate appearances and is out of minor league options. Wilson has hit .241/.405/.448 and has the most outfield experience of the group.

Non-roster invitee Luis Vazquez had been in the running for a utility role as well, but Albernaz revealed this afternoon that Vazquez suffered a broken thumb yesterday when he was hit by a pitch (link via Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner). Theres no timetable for his return, but the ill-timed injury obviously takes him out of the running for a roster spot. Hell stick with the Os as a depth option and rehab the injury in their system.
The White Sox have re-signed right-hander Lucas Sims to a new minor league contract, according to 670 The Scores Bruce Levine. Sims was released after exercising an opt-out clause in his previous minors deal with the Sox two days ago, but he has quickly rejoined the fold and will even pitch in tonights Spring Training game against the Mariners.

A veteran of nine MLB seasons, Sims didnt see much big league action in 2025, as he was rocked to the tune of a 13.86 ERA over 12 1/3 innings out of the Nationals bullpen. Though Sims signed a one-year, $3MM free agent deal with Washington last winter, his struggles were so extreme that the Nats released him in May. Sims caught on with the Phillies on a minors deal but didnt perform well at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, delivering a 5.56 ERA across 34 innings.

Control has always been an issue for Sims, but things reached a point of absurdity last year when he issued 43 walks (against 49 strikeouts) over his 46 1/3 total innings at the Major League and Triple-A levels, as well as eight wild pitches and 16 hit batters. Sims issued three free passes during his five innings of Cactus League work with the White Sox this spring, though hed also recorded seven strikeouts in those five scoreless frames.

This lack of command has inevitably led to volatility in Sims results, but he has always been able to miss bats. At his best, Sims was able to overcome his control problems to deliver some quality results during his days with the Reds, including a 3.10 ERA across 61 innings. Sims appears to be ticketed for Triple-A Charlotte to see if he can finally harness his control at least enough to manage a return to the majors, and the White Sox could turn to Sims at some point if a need develops in their bullpen.
The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) officially announced the Intermediate (Class 12) annual examination results today, March 23, 2026.

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Bihar Board Inter Result 2026 Live: How to check BSEB Bihar Board Inter Result 2026 via DigiLocker

For students who accessed their results through the DigiLocker ecosystem, the process was as follows:

Step 1. Visit the dedicated results portal (results.digilocker.gov.in) or open the DigiLocker app.

Step 2. Log in using your registered mobile number or Aadhaar credentials.

Step 3. Locate and click on the link for the "Bihar Board Class 12 Result 2026."

Step 4. Enter your Roll Number and Roll Code when prompted.

Step 5. Submit the details to view and download your digital marksheet for future reference.
Dr. N. Jency is Tamil Nadu's first transgender PhD holder and Assistant Professor at Loyola College. A gold medallist in UG and PG, she now helps transgender students access free education and livelihood support. Read her inspiring story.

Saurav Pandey is the Deputy Manager of Content at Moneycontrol, specialising in content strategy, execution and performance analysis. He integrates advanced SEO techniques to deliver high-impact, data-driven content formats. His expertise spans various beats, including education, career, science and others, where he adopts a technical approach to optimise visibility, improve search rankings, and drive organic traffic growth. He can be reached out at Saurav.Pandey@nw18.com.
Arjun Rampal recalls witnessing 26/11 horror on his birthday, calls Dhurandhar his revenge

Arjun Rampal revealed that his experience during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks deeply impacted him and inspired his performance in Dhurandhar, which he described as his emotional revenge.









Arjun Rampal recalls witnessing 26/11 horror on his birthday, calls Dhurandhar his revenge Arjun Rampal drew from 26/11 trauma for his role in Dhurandhar

Rampal was in Mumbai during the 2008 terror attacks

He portrays ISI Major Iqbal, a handler in the film's attack scene Did our AI summary help?
BTS return with ARIRANG, set their sights on long-awaited Grammy win

BTS are back in the global spotlight after completing their military service hiatus, returning with fresh momentum and ambition.









BTS to win Grammy soon? BTS returns from hiatus with new album ARIRANG.

Group aims for Grammy win after five past nominations.

ARIRANG taps Grammy winners for global music collaborations Did our AI summary help?
Dacoits first track TouchBuddy to drop on March 28 with power-packed line-up

Dacoit is steadily building buzz, with its upcoming track TouchBuddy setting the stage for whats to come. Featuring Pawan Singh, Jonita Gandhi and Adivi Sesh, the song promises a fresh, high-energy collaboration that aims to connect with audiences across regions.









Dacoit first song to release soon TouchBuddy song from Dacoit releases on 28 March 2026

Dacoit stars Adivi Sesh, Mrunal Thakur, and Anurag Kashyap

Film releases theatrically on 10 April 2026 in Hindi and Telugu Did our AI summary help?
ED busts Kannada actor Ranya Rao's Rs 102 crore gold smuggling racket inked to Africa-Dubai-India network

The Enforcement Directorate has uncovered a large international gold-smuggling racket linking Africa, Dubai, and India, with Kannada actor Ranya Rao identified as a key figure in the operation.









ED busts Kannada actor Ranya Rao's Rs 102 crore gold smuggling racket inked to Africa-Dubai-India network ED uncovers gold-smuggling racket involving actor Ranya Rao

Ranya Rao arrested with 14.2 kg gold at Bengaluru airport

127.28 kg gold smuggled from Africa and Dubai into India Did our AI summary help?
Hera Pheri 3 faces legal trouble as Vijay Kumar accuses Firoz Nadiadwala of delayed proceedings

Hera Pheri 3 faces fresh trouble as producer Vijay Kumar accuses Firoz Nadiadwala of delaying legal proceedings in an ongoing dispute over franchise ownership rights.









Hera Pheri 3 faces legal trouble as Vijay Kumar accuses Firoz Nadiadwala of delayed proceedings Hera Pheri 3 faces legal dispute over franchise ownership rights

Producer Vijay Kumar claims clear rights, accuses delays in court

Madras High Court questioned Nadiadwala's rights to make sequel Did our AI summary help?
Ranveer Singh was injured during Dhurandhar 2 shoot after stunt mishap, co-star recalls ' I had a bomb I had to set...'

Ranveer Singh is being praised by his Dhurandhar 2 co-star Gursewakh Singh, who shared an emotional behind-the-scenes moment from the films set. The actor recalled how a risky action sequence in Amritsar took an unexpected turn, revealing Ranveer Singhs supportive and caring nature during the shoot.









Ranveer Singh was injured during Dhurandhar 2 shoot Ranveer Singh comforted co-star hurt on Dhurandhar 2 set

Both actors continued filming despite injuries from the collision

Dhurandhar 2 earned Rs 691.32 crore worldwide in four days Did our AI summary help?
Can PCOS lead to high-risk pregnancy? Padmashree awardee doctor weighs in

Women with PCOS condition can face certain risks during pregnancy. A doctor shares what are some of the steps that women can take to mitigate the risks.









Insulin resistance, a common feature of PCOS, plays a significant role in increasing pregnancy-related risks (Picture: Canva) PCOS can cause irregular periods and affect fertility in women.

PCOS raises risks of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia

Early diagnosis and care help most women with PCOS have healthy births Did our AI summary help?
MC EXCLUSIVE Adani Group plans strategic split of Jaypee assets after insolvency takeover

The deal hands the Adani Group control over a diverse portfolio spanning cement plants, power assets, large land parcels in the Delhi-NCR region, and the Buddh International Circuit, the iconic Formula One racing track









The NCLT on March 17 approved Adani Enterprises' Rs 14,535-crore bid to acquire debt-ridden Jaiprakash Associates Limited. Adani Group to restructure Jaiprakash Associates post-acquisition

Adanis Rs 14,535 cr bid tops Vedantas staggered offer

Homebuyers' claims of Rs 2,074 crore included in resolution plan Did our AI summary help? AEP

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AP26 AEP NSE/BSE Select NSE LIVE BSE LIVE Day High

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Deborshi Chaki
Mohandas Pai urges SEBI to allow open market buybacks amid FPI selling

Speaking on CNBC-TV18, Pai said Indian listed companies are currently handicapped by regulations after changes implemented from March 31, 2025 removed the option of open market buybacks, leaving companies with only the tender offer route.









markets Mohandas Pai urges SEBI to allow open market share buybacks

Continuous FPI selling and tensions impact small SIP investors

Pai suggests buybacks to stabilize markets and support valuations Did our AI summary help?
Govt offers 19 critical mineral blocks across 10 states; lithium, rare earth in focus

The policy change allowing insurance surety bonds has been introduced. The blocks target clean energy, advanced manufacturing and fertiliser sectors. Sale of tender documents will begin on March 30, 2026.









The blocks are spread across 10 states, led by Bihar Centre auctions 19 critical mineral blocks across 10 states

Minerals: lithium, rare earths, graphite, vanadium, titanium

New rules ease auction timelines and allow insurance surety bonds Did our AI summary help?
Indian companies get aggressive on forex hedging as conflict rages on in West Asia

The shift comes amid a weakening rupee, elevated crude oil prices, and sustained capital outflows, all of which have heightened uncertainty around currency movements.









Rupee vs Dollar
Credit Suisses AT1 bond crash fueled leadership crisis at HDFC

The rift came down to differing views over accountability, particularly over client losses tied to risky bonds sold by Credit Suisse and recent restrictions imposed on HDFC Bank in Dubai.









HDFC Bank chairman quit citing ethics. The deeper boardroom rift is now coming into view HDFC Bank chair quits over ethical clash with management

Market value dropped by nearly $11.5 billion after resignation

Disputes over client loss liability and Dubai-related issues Did our AI summary help?
Markets crash 2.5% today: Nifty 50 down 10% since US-Iran war began, down 14% from lifetime high; what lies ahead?

Analysts said the lack of clarity on the duration and outcome of the conflict has kept markets on edge.









Stock market today news: Sensex, Nifty see profit booking in trade. Sensex, Nifty plunge on West Asia conflict, oil spike.

Nifty dropped 2.6 percent to its lowest since April 2025.

Rupee sinks to record 93.94 vs dollar on rising crude prices. Did our AI summary help?
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ATM rules changing from April 1: Check details before withdrawing money

The changes relate to the way transactions are calculated, the fee charged, and the daily withdrawal limits for certain debit cards









ATM-1280x720 HDFC Bank to count UPI ATM withdrawals in free transaction limits

PNB cuts daily ATM limit to Rs 50,000 for select cards

Bandhan Bank revises ATM limits, fees from April 2026 Did our AI summary help?
Income-tax Rules 2026: What has changed in key tax forms

Before filing ITR, employees must review Form 168, the new version of Form 26AS









ITR form changs Income tax forms renumbered under new Income Tax Rules, 2026

PAN, TAN, TDS, and other key forms get new numbers for compliance

Parallel reading feature helps map old and new tax provisions Did our AI summary help?
MC EXCLUSIVE Punjab records Rs 57,000 crore in executed investments in one year, says state Industries Minister Sanjeev Arora

Tata Steel has pledged to invest Rs 3,200 crore, JSW has promised Rs 3,000 crore, and Arora Iron & Steel has committed Rs 1,000 crore in Punjab.









Sanjeev Arora, Industries and Commerce Minister, Punjab Punjab saw Rs 57,000 crore investments in the past year

PPIS 2026 focused on real investments, not just MoUs

Fast approvals and deregulation boost Punjab's business climate Did our AI summary help?
Dubai's real estate sales dive 40% as war spooks investors

From February 28 to March 22, 8,059 property sales were registered. Despite the decline in sales volumes, home prices are down only 4-5% from the year-ago period









Sales are down more than 40% Dubai property sales down 44% year-on-year since late February

War, flight chaos spook investors from Dubai market

Home prices dropped 4-5 percent, but Downtown Dubai prices steady Did our AI summary help?
Saudi Aramco cuts oil supply to Asia for second month in April as Hormuz disruption bites

The worlds largest oil exporter is supplying only its flagship Arab Light crude to term customers, with shipments routed via the Red Sea port of Yanbu instead of the Gulf.









The move is aimed at bypassing the Hormuz bottleneck but has kept supplies to Asian refiners tight, limiting their ability to produce refined fuels. Saudi Aramco cuts oil supplies to Asia for second month in April

Shipments rerouted via Yanbu port to bypass Hormuz disruptions

Supply cuts tighten global markets and raise crude price concerns Did our AI summary help?
Air India's Boeing 787 plane from Bengaluru to London faces tech issue; diverted to Jeddah

In a statement, an airline spokesperson said the plane made a precautionary diversion and is currently undergoing comprehensive technical inspections in accordance with established safety protocols.

PTI March 23, 2026 / 22:58 IST























Representative image
Army boosts firepower with more Pinaka regiments along China, Pakistan borders

An eighth regiment is in advanced stages of readiness, having received more than half of its equipment, and is expected to become operational before the end of 2026.
West Bengal polls: TMC set for fourth straight win, BJP to make big gains, predicts opinion poll

Mamata Banerjee leads the preferred next Chief Minister ranking with 48.5% support, followed by BJPs Suvendu Adhikari at 33.4%, according to the pre-poll survey.









Women voters have been slightly more supportive of Mamata (49.4%) than men (47.6%) TMC likely to win 184194 seats, BJP 98108 in West Bengal poll

Mamata Banerjee leads as preferred CM with 48.5% support

Unemployment is the top issue for 37.2% of respondents Did our AI summary help?
'Farmers won't bear West Asia crisis burden': PM Modi cites Covid-19 playbook in Lok Sabha

Drawing a direct comparison with the Covid-19 pandemic, PM Modi said India has previously navigated similar global disruptions without letting farmers bear the brunt.
Adequate police personnel were deployed in the Baranagar constituency in West Bengal following the clashes between BJP and TMC workers.
Important to send a strong, unified message from Parliament: PM Modi says condition in West Asia 'worrisome'

Speaking in Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister assured that the government is doing everything possible to ease the difficulties that arose from the ongoing conflict.









PM Narendra Modi
Prime Minister Modi described the West Asia conflict as 'alarming' in his Lok Sabha address
India may emerge key buyer of Iranian oil after US waiver, resumes Venezuelan imports

Ship-tracking data suggests that around 1 million barrels of Venezuelan oil will reach India between late March and early April, with another 6-8 million barrels expected through April. Russian oil imports hit a four-month high of 42.5 million barrels









India may emerge key buyer of Iranian oil post US waiver, resumes Venezuela oil imports US grants 30-day waiver for Iranian oil sales at sea

Indian refiners may buy Iranian oil after waiver

India resumes Venezuelan oil imports amid supply diversification Did our AI summary help?
India is heading into a crucial electoral phase with Assembly elections scheduled across five key regionsWest Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and the Union Territory of Puducherrymaking 2026 a politically significant year. The elections will take place largely in April, with vote counting scheduled for May 4. The contests are particularly high-stakes as several incumbent governments seek re-election, while opposition parties attempt to regain lost ground. In West Bengal, polling will be held in multiple phases on April 23 and 29, while Tamil Nadu votes on April 23; Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry will vote on April 9. Politically, the elections are shaping up as intense multi-cornered contests, with national parties like the BJP and Congress battling strong regional forces such as the TMC in West Bengal and the DMK in Tamil Nadu. Campaigns are already gaining momentum, with alliances forming, candidates being announced, and high-profile leaders stepping in to influence voter sentiment.
As much as 85-95 per cent of LPG and 30 per cent of the gas came through the strait
Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has invited bids to appoint a transaction advisor to roll out a common smart ticketing system across four transport undertakings that enables Shakti scheme validation and cashless travel across 26,000 buses

Christin Mathew Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at Moneycontrol.com with 15 years of experience in journalism and a recipient of the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award. Based in Bengaluru, he understands the pulse of the people and covers issues that matter, including mobility, infrastructure, start-ups, and government policies. He tweets at @ChristinMP_
Karnataka HC declines to intervene in LPG supply shortage amid global crisis: 'Courts should not get into this'

The case arose from a petition filed by the Bangalore Hotels Association along with some of its members, who raised concerns about disruptions in LPG cylinder availability for commercial establishments. The plea sought uninterrupted supply, citing the impact of ongoing geopolitical tensions involving the US, Iran and Israel.
Karnataka proposes 1-hour cap on recreational screen time for students under digital detox policy

Draft policy on responsible digital use suggests digital wellness curriculum, school monitoring, and parent training to curb rising screen addiction among adolescents









social media
Who was Ravindra Kaushik: India's 'Black Tiger' and the original 'Dhurandhar' who went undercover in Pakistan

Known within intelligence circles as the "Black Tiger", Kaushiks life is widely seen as the closest real-world embodiment of the fictional "Dhurandhar" archetype -- fearless, invisible, and ultimately expendable.









Ravindra Kaushik was not just a spy. He was a constructed identity, a long-term deception, and ultimately, a human cost borne silently in the shadows. Ravindra Kaushik infiltrated Pakistan as a deep-cover RAW agent

He passed key military intelligence to India, 19791983

Kaushik died in prison in 2001, with little public recognition Did our AI summary help?
NDA finalises Tamil Nadu poll seat-sharing: BJP to contest 27, PMK 18, AMMK 11 seats, says report

Under the pact, the BJP will contest 27 seats, the Pattali Makkal Katchi 18 seats, and the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam 11 seats, accordinng to reports.









Union minister Piyush Goyal arrived in Chennai on Monday to finalise seat-sharing for the upcoming Tamil Nadu assembly polls NDA announces seat-sharing for Tamil Nadu Assembly election

BJP to contest 27 seats, PMK 18, AMMK 11 under NDA pact

Talks with other parties ongoing, seat allocations pending Did our AI summary help?
NDA set for thumping victory in Assam, setback for Congress: Opinion poll

According to the survey, the NDA also enjoys a clear advantage in vote share, with 42.7% of respondents backing the alliance, compared to 36.1% for the opposition.









Himanta Biswa Sarma became the 15th Chief Minister of Assam on May 10, 2021 BJP-led NDA projected to win 8090 seats in Assam polls

Sarma remains top choice for Chief Minister with 48% support

Youth oppose strongly as unemployment tops voter concerns Did our AI summary help?
No $2 million fee for Strait of Hormuz passage, Iran embassy in Delhi clarifies

The clarification comes after media reports attributed comments to Iranian lawmaker Alaeddin Boroujerdi, suggesting that merchant vessels were being charged $2 million for safe passage through the conflict-hit Hormuz.









The development comes amid escalating tensions in the region, with Tehran recently warning that it could completely close the Strait of Hormuz. Iran denies charging vessels $2 million to cross Strait of Hormuz

Embassy says lawmaker's remarks are not Iran's official policy

USIran talks heighten tensions over Hormuz closure Did our AI summary help?
Owaisis AIMIM enters West Bengal poll fray, stitches alliance with Humayun Kabirs party

Owaisi accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of doing injustice to Muslims in the state by cancelling OBC certificates of at least five lakh community members.









AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi. AIMIM to contest West Bengal polls with AJUP alliance

AJUP plans to contest 182 seats, AIMIM to contest about 8 seats

Polling in West Bengal set for April 23 and 29, counting on May 4 Did our AI summary help?
Pinarayi Vijayans Kerala poll prediction: BJP will draw a blank again, Congress its B-team

When asked about the BJPs Christian outreach in Kerala, the CM says the party may harbour many desires, but nothing is going to materialise and there will be no consolidation in its favour.









Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan says Sabarimala gold theft case won't impact poll outcome Vijayan predicts BJP will not win seats in Kerala election

Congress accused of aiding BJP nationally, says Vijayan

Sabarimala gold theft case won't affect poll outcome Did our AI summary help?
PM Modi calls West Asia crisis worrisome as Iran war intensifies: Top quotes from Lok Sabha address

It has a severe impact on the global economy and the lives of the people, and that is why the world is urging all sides for an early resolution to this conflict, says PM Modi.









Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses Lok Sabha on the current situation in the Middle East PM Modi calls West Asia situation worrisome in Lok Sabha address

India imports 60% of energy needs from conflict-affected region

Over 3 lakh Indians, including students, safely back home Did our AI summary help?
Punjab suicide case: Opposition seeks CBI probe after minister Laljit Singh Bhullars arrest

Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, a district manager with the corporation, died by suicide on March 21. His family has alleged that he had been under severe stress due to threats from the minister.
West Asia conflict: PM Modi to speak on Iran war in Lok Sabha at 2 pm

The Prime Minister is expected to outline Indias position on the evolving situation, including its diplomatic engagement, concerns over regional stability, and the impact on global energy and trade routes.









PM Narendra Modi on Sunday chaired a high-level meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security to review the evolving situation PM Modi to address Lok Sabha on West Asia conflict at 2pm Monday

India prioritizes citizen safety and steady energy supplies

PM calls for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve regional tensions Did our AI summary help?
OPINION | Fragmented gig worker policies may slow Indias growing digital platform economy

Karnatakas gig worker law may create parallel systems. This risks confusion and dual compliance. India needs aligned policies to ensure clear, portable, and effective social security









Gig and platform-based services are no longer peripheral conveniences
OPINION | Indian AI founders scaling globally through US market access

Indian AI founders are building in the US for scale and demand. Talent remains in India. This trend strengthens global reach and future growth for India

Kushal Bhagia March 23, 2026 / 10:18 IST























For founders building global AI companies, market maturity matters.

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'CEO asks Pepsi for internship on X, companys witty reply goes viral: 'Forwarded to HR but...'

Pepsis witty reply to a social media user seeking an internship highlights how Gen Z is using humour and bold online branding to grab recruiters attention.
'It will eventually backfire': Companies use smart seats, Wi-Fi to track employees

In China, workplace surveillance is increasing, with companies using Wi Fi tracking, cameras and smart devices to monitor employees.









As monitoring grows, some Chinese workers push back. (Image credit: mp.weixin.qq.com/Shutterstock) Chinese firms use tech to closely monitor employees

Employees report discomfort and push back with privacy tools

Monitoring tips trend on social media, sparking debate on privacy Did our AI summary help?
Singapore MD to get 12 strokes of cane, 14.5 years in jail for rape of woman he met at work

The managing director was a client of the company where the woman worked as a customer service officer. Although he claimed that the sexual encounter was consensual, according to the evidence presented at court, the woman was drunk and incapable of consenting to sex at the time.









In its sentence, the Singapore High Court highlighted the victims vulnerability and the convicted senior executive's exploitation of her condition. (AI-generated image)
'Wanted to work in...': Ex-Amazon employee says he prefers startup over big tech giant

A 24-year-old Indian engineer is working in New York in a role once called the hottest job in AI, offering insight into the growing demand for such positions.
'Was he hired?': Man goes for job interview, accidentally appears on live TV as expert. Internet reacts

A man went for a BBC job interview in 2006 but was mistaken for an IT expert and ended up on live TV. His confused appearance went viral and, 20 years later, the clip is still widely shared online.









Video of Gomas accidental BBC appearance remains popular. (Image credit: Shutterstock/@TheFigen_) Guy Goma mistakenly appeared live on BBC News in 2006

He plans to sue BBC for royalties from the viral clip

The video remains popular, sparking memes and nostalgia online Did our AI summary help?
6,500-Year-old grave with 1.5 Kg Gold stuns scientistsWorld's oldest gold relic found in Bulgaria

Archaeologists discover the worlds oldest gold in a 6,500-year-old grave in Bulgaria. There are almost 300 ancient graves on the site, but Grave 43 hold over 1.5 kilograms of gold. Scientists believe that humans had already developed advanced metallurgy during the Copper Age.
Re-Introduced after 43 Years: Uganda reintroduces 2 Southern White Rhinos to the wild in major conservation push!

Uganda has successfully reintroduced Rhinos to Kidepo Valley National Park after 43 years of extinction. This marks a hopeful step in conservation. Ranger patrols, continuous monitoring systems and managed habitats within the park will be determined by authorities.









Uganda has successfully reintroduced rhinos after 43 years. (Image: Uganda Wildlife Organisation) Rhinos return to Uganda after 43 years of extinction.

Two rhinos released in Kidepo Valley National Park.

Authorities prioritize protection with patrols and monitoring. Did our AI summary help?
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Asias biggest foodie travellers revealed in Agodas 2026 report, with Taiwan, Vietnam and South Korea leading the trend of food-first travel across the region.

From Taiwan to Vietnam, travellers across Asia are choosing destinations based on whats on the plate, not just the map.
Work from Maldives soon? New visa plans for remote workers and content creators in the works  what Indian travellers should know

The Maldives is planning new visas for remote workers and content creators to boost longer stays. Heres what Indian travellers should know about the proposed changes.









Planning to work by the beach? Maldives upcoming visa plans could soon make long stays easier for remote workers and creators. Maldives plans new visas for remote workers and content creators

Move aims to boost longer stays and support local guesthouses

Visa changes respond to flight disruptions affecting tourism Did our AI summary help?
$2 million toll on ships to cross Hormuz? Iran weaponises key oil route amid war

The toll (around Rs 18.8 crore) has already been implemented, according to Iranian lawmaker Alaeddin Boroujerdi, a member of the parliaments national security committee, who spoke to state broadcaster IRIB, as reported by Iran International.









Oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz. (Courtesy: Reuters file photo) Iran imposes $2 million transit fee for select vessels in Hormuz

Strait of Hormuz remains open to friendly nations, Iran says

Tensions rise as Trump warns Iran over waterway closure Did our AI summary help?
As Trumps deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz nears, the US considers seizing or blockading Kharg Island to pressure Tehran. Iran threatens to mine the Gulf if attacked, risking disruption of global oil supply and escalating military conflict.

Did our AI summary help?
With limited freshwater reserves and minimal rainfall, desalination has become indispensable. (Representative photo)
Behind the pause: Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan carried US-Iran messages over two days

Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan relayed US-Iran messages over two days as Trump pauses strikes; Tehran denies negotiations









Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan relay US-Iran messages as backchannel diplomacy intensifies Turkey, Egypt, and Pakistan relay messages between US and Iran

Trump delays strikes after "productive conversations" with Iran

Iran denies talks but acknowledges regional mediation efforts Did our AI summary help?
Betrayal, bitter experience: Iran says negotiations with US over forever'

In a video message posted on X, Araghchi said, The negotiations with the Americans are over forever a bitter experience and betrayal after promises of no attack.









Abbas Araghchi Iran halts US talks, citing betrayal and broken promises

War enters week four as threats to key infrastructure grow

Over 2,000 killed, conflict spreads across Iran, Israel, Lebanon Did our AI summary help?
Govt says 1.9 Lakh consumers shifted to PNG, domestic LPG at 60% of present demand as supply remains 'a concern'

Providing an update on fuel availability, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said that crude oil inventories remain adequate, indicating no immediate stress on reserves.









Sujata Sharma Crude oil stocks adequate, no immediate supply stress

LPG supply is a concern, but no dry out at petrol pumps

Port operations, flight evacuations in Gulf remain stable Did our AI summary help?
Government said that around 1.9 lakh users have shifted from LPG to PNG so far, and approximately 3.5 lakh new PNG connectionsboth commercial and domestichave been rolled out in the past three weeks.
Iranian state media portrays Trumps pause on planned strikes as a retreat, not diplomacy, claiming he backed down due to fears of Iranian reprisal. Talks continue amid tensions, with Iran projecting strength and shaping the narrative domestically and internationally.

Did our AI summary help?
A protester waves an Iranian flag at a protest march in central London on March 21, 2026, calling for a stop to the bombing of Iran. (Photo by Henry NICHOLLS / AFP)
Iran threatens retaliation, warns enemy supporters of harsh, unrelenting action ahead of Trumps Hormuz deadline

Iran warned of internal crackdowns and external retaliation as tensions rise before Donald Trumps Strait of Hormuz deadline, with the IRGC vowing to mirror strikes and target regional energy infrastructure.









Iran warns of retaliation before Trump deadline
This handout satellite image taken by 2026 Planet Labs PBC shows a view of Iran's Kharg Island, which hosts the countrys main crude export terminal and is responsible for the overwhelming majority of its oil shipments to the world, about 30 kilometres south of the mainland in the north of the Gulf, on February 22, 2026. (Photo by 2026 Planet Labs PBC / AFP)
Iranian foreign ministry says it received messages via 'friendly countries' on US talks request

Iran denies direct talks with the United States despite messages via friendly countries and Donald Trump claiming very strong negotiations are underway









Iran foreign ministry says got messages from 'friendly countries' about US request for talks
Is Iran war nearing an end? Trumps deal push, Tehrans denial and what it means for the conflict | Explained

Iran War News: The coming days will be critical. If talks, whether formal or backchannel, gain traction, this could mark the beginning of a winding down of the conflict.









Fallas, gigantic cardboard structures containing individual figurines known as 'ninots' depicting US President Donald Trump (R), Russia's President Vladimir Putin (C) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, are displayed during the Fallas festival in Valencia on March 16, 2026. (Photo by JOSE JORDAN / AFP) The Iran war faces a turning point as Trump pauses US strikes and signals possible talks, but Iran denies negotiations and maintains a hard stance. Oil prices drop amid mixed diplomatic and military signals, leaving de-escalation or escalation uncertain. Did our AI summary help?
Islamabad emerges as potential venue for US-Iran talks; Vance likely to attend, Munir-Trump hold talks

Islamabad emerges as a potential hub for USIran talks as regional mediation efforts intensify, with conflicting claims from Iran, engagement by officials including JD Vance, and ongoing diplomatic contacts across multiple countries.









Pakistan pitches mediator role in US-Israel-Iran war; Asim Munir, Trump hold talks: Report
Israeli military says it is hitting targets in Tehran even as Trump announces a five-day pause in US strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure
Netanyahu and JD Vance discuss potential US-Iran deal in phone call

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Vice President JD Vance discussed a possible USIran deal as Donald Trump signals progress in talks with Tehran despite conflicting claims from Iranian officials.









Netanyahu and Vance said to discuss potential deal with Iran in phone call
No talks till Irans goals are met: Tehran rejects Trumps negotiations claim

Iran denies US talks, contradicts Trumps claim of negotiations and strike pause; says no discussions before war goals are met.









Tehran says it will not negotiate before achieving war objectives, contradicting Trumps claim of productive conversations and a strike pause Iran rejects talks with US, disputes Trumps claims

Trump says talks led to postponement of US strikes on Iran

Iranian media disputes US claims, citing no direct communication Did our AI summary help?
Pakistans push to mediate between the US and Iran faces setbacks as Iran denies Trumps claims of negotiations. Islamabads role appears performative, driven by economic concerns, with its credibility questioned amid conflicting narratives and limited diplomatic influence.

Did our AI summary help?
Russia suggests 'political and diplomatic settlement' after Trumps Iran ultimatum amid escalating Middle East war

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the situation must move away from military confrontation.
Saudi, UAE, other Gulf states opposed Iran war. Now they only want one thing

The shift in stance signals a growing consensus among key Gulf nations such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar. They want Irans military capabilities to be decisively weakened to prevent it from posing a long-term threat.









(File photo/AP) Gulf nations now urge US to continue strikes against Iran

Iran strikes push Gulf from diplomacy to military backing

Oman urges diplomacy; UAE supports prolonged military action Did our AI summary help?
According to the report, reopening the Strait of Hormuz has emerged as a primary objective, as earlier goals such as overthrowing Iran's leadership or permanently curbing its nuclear ambitions are now viewed as unlikely to be achieved
Strait of Hormuz hangs in balance as Trumps ultimatum clock ticks down

Trump, who has backed Israels military campaign since late February, warned that Washington could obliterate Irans power plants if Tehran does not lift its partial blockade of the narrow oil corridor within 48 hours.









Donald Trump Trump warns Iran of attack if Hormuz Strait stays shut

Iran threatens retaliation on Israel, US-linked targets

Oil prices spike as conflict threatens global supply and economy Did our AI summary help?
Trump claims the US is in talks with senior Iranian leaders, including parliament speaker Ghalibaf, but Iran denies any negotiations, calling it fake news. The situation remains tense amid paused US strikes and conflicting statements about potential diplomacy.

Did our AI summary help?
The stickers affixed on ballistic missiles targeted towards Israel.
Trumps Iran war risks becoming the kind of conflict he once opposed

After weeks of strikes and strong claims of success, the US still faces a stubborn reality with no clear exit and rising economic and political costs.









. US strikes have damaged Iran's military, but war continues

Oil prices rise as Strait of Hormuz disruption spreads

Unclear US strategy and rising costs fuel political uncertainty Did our AI summary help?
President Trump claims a US-Iran deal could happen within days, citing productive talks and pausing planned strikes. Iran denies negotiations, but intermediaries reportedly relay messages. Trumps optimism follows threats and a pause in military action.

Did our AI summary help?
Trump says US in touch with 'top figure' in Iran, not Mojtaba Khamenei: Who is this 'most respected' man?

Trump said the US was in discussions that could potentially end the war with the man who, I believe, is the most respected and the leader' of Iran.









A man holds a picture of Iran's new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei (R) being handed over a folded Iranian flag by his late father Ali Khamenei (L), during a rally in support of him at Enghelab Square in central Tehran on March 9, 2026. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP) President Trump revealed ongoing US-Iran talks with parliament speaker Ghalibaf amid leadership uncertainty. He claims Iran seeks a deal on nuclear weapons, and the US aims for a diplomatic resolution, with Israel likely to support a peace agreement. Did our AI summary help?
Trump seeks $200 billion Pentagon funding, says its nice to have amid Iran conflict

President Trump plans to seek $200 billion in Pentagon funding while highlighting progress in Iran talks, downplaying oil sanctions, and stressing the importance of military readiness amid a volatile Middle East.









Trump balances Pentagon funding and Iran talks
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. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP)
Iran launched fresh missile attacks on Israel, causing injuries and triggering air raid alerts. The conflict is expanding regionally, impacting global markets. Analysts say the war may bolster Netanyahus leadership and shift focus from his legal troubles.

Did our AI summary help?
West Asia conflict chokes Gulf supplies: How Argentina suddenly became Indias unexpected LPG lifeline

Shipments from Argentina have increased sharply since early 2026. Around 50,000 tonnes of LPG were delivered to India in just three months.









A boy stands next to an empty LPG cylinder tied to a bicycle as he waits outside a gas agency, amid supply disruptions following the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Noida, India, March 12, 2026. REUTERS/Bhawika Chhabra India, facing LPG supply disruptions due to West Asia tensions, has turned to Argentina as a backup supplier. Argentinas increased shipments highlight Indias shift toward diversified energy sourcing, reducing reliance on the Gulf and boosting energy security. Did our AI summary help?
Trump says US-Iran talks have reached major points of agreement, focusing on Irans nuclear program. He warns that failure to secure a deal will lead to renewed military action, with a five-day pause in strikes as negotiations continue.

Did our AI summary help?
Who is Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf? Iran's parliament speaker emerges as key figure amid US backchannel talks

Ghalibaf has repeatedly taken a tough stance against the United States. In recent months, he warned that American military bases and assets in the region would be considered legitimate targets if Iran were attacked.









File photo of Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Irans parliament President Trump announced "regime change" in Iran, hinting at US talks with Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Irans parliament speaker and influential hardliner. Ghalibafs rising role reflects shifting power amid leadership uncertainty and ongoing conflict. Did our AI summary help?
Why is Germany turning to India to tackle its growing skill shortage?

Germany is easing visa norms to attract Indian workers as its ageing population and labour shortages worsen, with both countries benefiting from migration through higher wages and critical skill gap fulfilment.









Germany turns to India to fill workforce
Will keep bombing Iran if: Trump hints at regime change, says US in touch with top person in Tehran, not supreme leader

Trump said there are "major points of agreement" in US-Iran talks which he said must result in Tehran giving up its nuclear ambitions and enriched uranium stockpile.









US President Donald Trump -- File Photo (AFP)
Leadership and industry representatives gather at the Guam Micronesia Strategic Business & Workforce Development Summit hosted by MARUNDA Private Limited in Singapore. From left, seated, are Dr. Roseann Jones, Dean, School of Business and Public Administration at the University of Guam; Dr. Anita Borja Enriquez, president, University of Guam; and Rachel Wong Mai Kim, founder and managing director, MARUNDA Private Limited. Standing, from left, are Max Berens, Life Cycle Engineering; Jon Sarmiento, general manager, MARUNDA Defense Services-Guam; Paolo Guardini, SCA Group; Dr. Artemio Ricky Hernandez, vice president, administration and finance and chief business officer, University of Guam; Mike Little, chief growth officer, MARUNDA Private Limited; Mike Bridgewater, DHL; Haakon Ellekjaer, Pelagus3D; Sam Park, American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore; Cliff DeLaine, APAC Resilience; Matthew Pearce, Metal Manufactures; and Alex Voss, FERRET Consulting. Photo courtesy of MARUNDA Private Limited via UOG

(UOG)  University of Guam leaders joined regional industry, government, and workforce stakeholders at the GuamMicronesia Strategic Business & Workforce Development Summit hosted by MARUNDA Private Limited at its headquarters in Singapore on March 11, 2026.

More than 30 participants attended the day-long summit in person and virtually, engaging in discussions on Guams growing strategic importance in the Indo-Pacific region and the need for coordinated workforce development initiatives to support economic growth and national security priorities.

Representing the university were President Dr. Anita Borja Enriquez, Vice President for Administration and Finance and Chief Business Officer Dr. Artemio Ricky Hernandez, and School of Business and Public Administration Dean Dr. Roseann Jones, who helped facilitate conversations on workforce pathways, credentialing opportunities, and partnerships among academia, industry, and government.

Enriquez said collaboration with private-sector partners such as MARUNDA is critical to preparing Guams workforce for emerging opportunities.

Strategic partnerships with organizations like MARUNDA help ensure that our students and working professionals are equipped with the technical skills and global perspectives needed to succeed, Enriquez said. The University of Guam is committed to working alongside industry and government to strengthen workforce pipelines, expand economic opportunity, and support Guams role in regional security and resilience.

The summit brought together representatives from global defense contractors, Guam government agencies, and private-sector organizations to explore approaches to building a highly skilled, locally based workforce capable of supporting infrastructure and defense-related initiatives across the Indo-Pacific.

MARUNDA was exceptionally honored to host this event. It was the ideal format to showcase our commitment to Guam, its people and to the development of a world class defense industrial base underpinned by a world class workforce, said Rachel Wong Mai Kim, founder and managing director of MARUNDA Private Limited and Guam-based MARUNDA Defense Services Limited.

The re-development of Guams workforce is a whole of government, whole of industry, whole of community and whole of academia effort  this effort needs to be aligned and coalesced around serious organizations and serious people who know how to lead and understand the critical importance of getting this moment in Guams history right, Wong said. There will only be one chance to get this right. I am very proud of UOG for leading the way and even prouder of the strong bonds between UOG and MARUNDA.

MARUNDA Private Limited  ranked No. 7 in the Enterprise 50 Association Awards 2025 by The Business Times and KPMG Singapore  is a defense engineering firm serving Singapore, Guam, and regional markets. The company provides naval expeditionary repair and maintenance services supporting fleets operating throughout the Indo-Pacific region. MARUNDA is expanding its presence on Guam through MARUNDA Defense Services Limited, with a focus on developing a technically skilled local workforce aligned with U.S. regional sustainment priorities.

Organizations represented at the summit included DHL, ASTRO America, APAC Resilience Pte Ltd, FERRET Consulting, Pelagus, Life Cycle Engineering, South Pacific Petroleum Corporation, Foremost Food, The Naval Welding Institute, Guam Economic Development Authority, Guam Regional Medical City, Guam Chamber of Commerce, BAE Systems Ship Repair, SCA Group, the American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore, Goodwind Travel, Toll Group, Metal Manufactures Pty Limited, Vallourec, EY, Glimpses of Guam, Guam Womens Chamber of Commerce, and the Guam Contractors Association Trades Academy.
Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally walks during an 87-mile pilgrimage from St. Paul's Cathedral to Canterbury Cathedral in Aylesford, Britain, March 20, 2026, ahead of her installation ceremony as Archbishop of Canterbury on March 25, 2026. REUTERS

AYLESFORD, England (Reuters)  Sarah Mullally, the Church of Englands first female leader, is making the journey from London to Canterbury on foot, pilgrims staff in hand and reflecting on the deeply humbling experience, ahead of her enthronement next week.

Mullally, 63, who was named as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury last October, has chosen to walk the roughly 140 km (87 mile) Becket Camino route from St. Pauls Cathedral in London to Canterbury Cathedral.

On Friday, the fourth day of the six-day walk along riverside trails and traditional pilgrimage routes, she arrived in a red jacket and trekking shoes at Aylesford Priory, a 13th-century site that has long welcomed pilgrims.

As I prepare for my installation at Canterbury Cathedral, it feels deeply humbling to be following in the footsteps of those who have walked this ancient route, she said in a statement before setting off on the journey.

Carrying a staff inscribed with Archbishops Camino  camino means path in Spanish  she walked the narrow paths through the rolling green fields of Kent, while a scallop shell most famously associated with the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route in northwestern Spain dangled from her rucksack.

She was confirmed as archbishop in January in a traditional ceremony marking her legal assumption of office, becoming the first woman to hold the most senior clerical position in the Church of England and the symbolic head of the 85-million-strong global Anglican Communion.

Installation

Accompanied by her husband, Eamonn, and a small group of pilgrims on her journey to Canterbury, Mullally has been stopping at churches, cathedrals and abbeys to join prayer services, visit schools, and meet local congregations.

The final stretch from the village of Chartham to Canterbury is expected to finish on Sunday in time for Evensong  a traditional evening prayer service  before her ceremonial installation at the cathedral on March 25.

The Becket Camino holds special significance for Anglicans and English Catholics, tracing the route believed to have been taken by Thomas Becket, the 12th-century Archbishop of Canterbury who was murdered by knights in 1170. His shrine in Canterbury Cathedral turned the city into a center of medieval devotion and pilgrimage in England.

Mullallys pilgrimage marks the first time in modern history that an Archbishop of Canterbury has undertaken a journey of this nature in the lead-up to their enthronement.
SUPERIOR Court Judge Pro Tempore Arthur Barcinas on Monday dismissed with prejudice all criminal charges against former Gov. Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres following a global civil settlement between the prosecution and defense that resolved two pending cases.

More details to follow. (Bryan Manabat)
By Bryan Manabat

[email protected]

Variety News Staff

CHIEF Judge Ramona V. Manglona of the District Court for the NMI has disqualified herself from presiding over a federal lawsuit filed by a former Superior Court law clerk who alleges that his nowoverturned criminal prosecution for sexual assault was retaliatory. Judge Manglona recused herself under 28 U.S.C.  455(a), stating that her impartiality might reasonably be questioned.

In her order, Judge Manglona said a designated judge would be assigned to the case. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has temporarily designated Guam District Judge Frances TydingcoGatewood to take over.

The plaintiff, 37yearold William Abraczinskas, filed the 37page complaint pro se on March 9, 2026, in the District Court for the NMI. He is seeking a jury trial and an unspecified amount of damages, and has applied to waive filing fees.

The lawsuit names 12 defendants, including NMI Attorney General Edward Manibusan, several judges, prosecutors, and court officials.

Federal complaint

Abraczinskas, who identifies as a bisexual male, alleges that discriminatory and retaliatory conduct began around April 1, 2023. At the time, he was employed at the Superior Court. He claims he was subjected to sexual harassment and a hostile work environment, and that after reporting the harassment, officials initiated a retaliatory criminal referral that led to his prosecution.

The complaint further alleges that internal records were manipulated to support the referral, officials interfered with his Equal Employment Opportunity Commission proceedings, and confidential employment information was improperly disclosed to investigators.

Superior Court conviction and new trial

The federal lawsuit unfolds alongside an ongoing legal battle in local court. On Sept. 13, 2024, a jury convicted Abraczinskas of firstdegree sexual assault, assault and battery, and disturbing the peace. He was accused of raping another court employee, an allegation he has denied.

Before sentencing, his attorney filed a motion for a new trial, citing newly discovered evidence involving conversations between the alleged victim and another judicial clerk. After an evidentiary hearing on June 23, 2025, Superior Court Judge Pro Tem Elyze Iriarte granted the motion, released Abraczinskas on a $100,000 appearance bond, and placed him under house arrest.

The Office of the Attorney General has appealed the order granting a new trial. The NMI Supreme Court has yet to issue a ruling.

Defendants and allegations

In the federal case, Abraczinskas alleges coordinated misconduct by judicial and executive branch officials. The complaint identifies the Judiciary of the NMI and Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo as his former employer and direct supervisor. Chief Prosecutor Chester M. Hinds and Assistant Attorney General Frances Morella T. Demapan are accused of participating in the allegedly retaliatory prosecution, while Attorney General Manibusan is sued in his official capacity.

Human Resources Director Michelle V. Guerrero and attorneys Matthew J. Brown and Hyun Jae Lee are alleged to have mishandled internal complaints and records. Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho and DPS officers Shannon Dela Cruz and Kroy Atalig Ogo are accused of involvement in the referral and investigation process.

Abraczinskas filed the lawsuit after receiving a Notice of Right to Sue from the EEOC on Dec. 9, 2025. He brings the action under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and 42 U.S.C.  1983, alleging violations of his constitutional rights through a coordinated effort by government officials.

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.
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Herbal Teas for Sleep Supported by Scientific Studies and Traditional Use

Herbal Teas Used Historically for Sleep as Studies Examine Effects

Five specific herbal teas, namely chamomile, valerian, lavender, lemon balm, and passionflower, are commonly consumed before bed to promote sleep, according to traditional and contemporary sources [1].

For centuries, herbalists have used medicinal herbal teas to help people calm down and get to sleep at the end of the day [1].

Proponents cite this historical use alongside recent scientific studies that examine the effects of these plants on sleep quality and latency [2]. Modern research investigates the biochemical mechanisms behind the reported calming and sleep-promoting benefits that have been recognized for millennia [3].

The use of herbal infusions for relaxation and sleep support is described as a staple in traditional medicine cabinets [4].

Research on Chamomile Tea and Sleep Outcomes

Chamomile tea, made from German or Roman chamomile, has long been used to treat insomnia [1]. The calming effects are associated with the antioxidant apigenin, which may bind to receptors in the brain that initiate sleep, according to historical usage and modern analysis [1].

A 2017 study published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine found that nursing home residents who took 400 mg of chamomile extract daily had significantly better sleep quality than those who did not take the herbal remedy [1].

Another study, published in BMC Complementary & Alternative Medicine in 2011, reported that 540 mg of chamomile extract daily for 28 days helped chronic insomniacs fall asleep 15 minutes faster and wake up fewer times throughout the night compared to a control group [1].

Valerian Tea's Sedative Properties and GABA Link

Valerian tea, made from the root of Valeriana officinalis, has been used for centuries to treat insomnia, according to historical records [1].

Valerian contains compounds like linarin, sesquiterpenes, and valepotriates that researchers note are associated with sedative effects [1]. The herb is also linked to increased levels of the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-amino butyric acid) in the brain, which promotes relaxation [1].

One double-blind study found that valerian root extract improved sleep in 89% of participants, with 44% reporting perfect sleep [1].

Another study of 128 people found that valerian root reduced the time it took to fall asleep, improved sleep quality, and led to fewer nighttime awakenings compared to a control group [1]. A guide to herbal medicine for physicians notes that valerian products provide a low-risk alternative to pharmaceutical sleep aids like benzodiazepines [5].

Evidence for Lavender and Lemon Balm Teas

Lavender tea, made from the flowers of Lavandula angustifolia, contains sleep-promoting compounds like linalool and linalyl acetate [1]. A study published in Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing in 2015 linked daily lavender tea consumption and aromatherapy to reduced fatigue in postnatal women with poor sleep quality compared to standard care alone [1].

Lemon balm tea, made from Melissa officinalis, is noted for its sedative properties, which are attributed to terpenes in the herb [1]. Research on lemon balm published in Neurochemical Research indicated it may increase GABA levels in mice, which is associated with sedation [1].

A 2011 study found that 600 mg of lemon balm extract daily for 15 days reduced insomnia symptoms in people by 42% [1].

Passionflower Tea and Potential Interactions

Passionflower tea, made from the dried flowers, stems, and leaves of Passiflora incarnata, has traditionally been used to treat anxiety and improve sleep [1]. A 2011 study published in Phytotherapy Research found that adults who consumed passionflower tea daily for a week reported significantly better sleep quality than a control group that did not drink the tea [1].

Some research has noted that consumption of tea before bed may affect iron absorption, a consideration that officials with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have highlighted for some individuals [1]. Natural wellness proponents also suggest that to avoid potential pesticide exposure, consumers may consider sourcing organic herbal teas [1].

Overview of Use and Sourcing Considerations

Practitioners of herbal medicine recommend implementing a bedtime routine that includes caffeine-free herbal tea to help wind down from the day [1]. Some advocates suggest consuming organic teas to avoid pesticide exposure, according to statements from natural wellness proponents [1].

The resurgence of interest in herbal remedies is described as part of a broader movement toward natural wellness and self-reliance [6]. Individuals are rediscovering the healing potential of common herbs, transforming plants into personalized remedies through ancient preparation methods like steeping [6].

References
New Rule Bars Asylum Seekers, DACA Participants from Commercial Drivers Licenses

Introduction

Approximately 200,000 immigrant truck drivers across the U.S. have begun losing their commercial driver's licenses under a new federal rule that took effect March 16, 2026, according to online news aggregator reports [1]. The policy, announced by the Department of Transportation (DOT) on Feb. 11, disqualifies holders of certain temporary residency permits from obtaining or renewing commercial licenses [1].

Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said the change aims to prevent what he called "dangerous foreign drivers" from exploiting the licensing system [2]. Industry analysts warn the policy could remove a significant number of drivers from a sector already grappling with labor shortages [1].

New Licensing Rule Takes Effect, Affecting Thousands of Drivers

The rule, formally titled "Restoring Integrity to the Issuance of Non-Domiciled CDLs," specifically targets drivers who hold non-domiciled commercial licenses. These are licenses issued to individuals who are not permanent U.S. residents but are legally authorized to work [3]. Under the new policy, these licenses will not be renewed upon expiration.

Duffy framed the enforcement as a public safety imperative. "For far too long, America has allowed dangerous foreign drivers to abuse our truck licensing systems  wreaking havoc on our roadways. This safety loophole ends today," he stated [2]. The DOT has estimated that around 200,000 current drivers could be affected as their existing licenses come up for renewal [1].

Rule Targets Specific Immigration Categories, Industry Faces Potential Strain

The regulation explicitly bars asylum seekers, refugees, and participants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program from qualifying for commercial drivers licenses [1]. This applies even to individuals who have valid work authorization in the United States.

The trucking industry, which handles more than 70% of the nations freight, has increasingly relied on immigrant labor to fill driver roles as American workers have left the field due to long hours, relatively low pay and extended time away from home [1]. A report from NaturalNews.com notes that American highways have seen an influx of foreign drivers operating under a "little-known category" of non-domiciled licenses, often with what critics call minimal oversight [4].

Industry experts have warned that removing a large cohort of drivers could exacerbate existing labor shortages and strain supply chains. One analysis suggested the rule could push grocery prices higher by constraining the transportation of goods [5].

Administration Cites Safety Concerns, Points to High-Profile Crashes

Federal officials have stated that the rule is part of a wider crackdown on foreign truck drivers following several fatal accidents last summer [1]. In one instance, a crash on the Florida Turnpike in August 2025 killed three people. The driver involved, Harjinder Singh, was a native of India who had entered the country without authorization and was operating a commercial vehicle under an out-of-state license.

Transportation officials have argued that verifying the work and driving histories of foreign-born drivers can be difficult, posing a risk to road safety. Duffy has repeatedly pointed to accidents involving immigrant drivers to justify the stricter policy [1]. The DOT has also recently tightened English-language proficiency requirements, leading to the revocation of thousands of licenses for drivers who failed the tests [6].

Critics Challenge Premise, Say Policy Unfairly Targets Immigrants

Critics of the rule contend it unfairly targets legal immigrants and relies on unproven claims that foreign drivers are responsible for more accidents than American drivers [1]. They argue the policy could worsen supply chain pressures without delivering proven safety benefits.

Two national public employee unions, the American Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, have filed a lawsuit challenging the rule. The unions argued the restrictions would prevent asylum seekers, refugees, and DACA recipients from accessing commercial drivers licenses [7]. This legal challenge frames the rule as an overreach that penalizes individuals who are legally permitted to work in the United States.

Advocacy groups have also questioned the characterization of all foreign drivers as safety risks, noting that many have driven accident-free for years [3]. The policy has created uncertainty for drivers who have built careers in the industry, some of whom were brought to the U.S. as children under DACA [8].

Recent Enforcement Actions Have Intensified, Including Language Rules

The new licensing restriction is the latest in a series of enforcement actions targeting immigrant drivers. In December 2025, the Trump administration announced it had removed more than 9,500 commercial truck drivers from U.S. roads for failing English proficiency tests [6]. Duffy said the drivers were disqualified for "failing to speak our national language" .

Enforcement actions have extended to states that issued licenses to foreign drivers. The DOT has withheld millions of dollars in federal funding from California and New York after audits found those states issued commercial licenses to immigrants, including some in the country illegally [9]. In January 2026, the department stripped California of approximately $160 million in safety program money for failing to cancel over 17,000 commercial licenses the federal government deemed unlawfully issued [10].

Industry and Advocacy Responses Highlight Divergent Views on Impact

Trucking associations have expressed concern over the potential loss of drivers during a period of existing shortages. Some industry representatives warn that the rule could cause a capacity crunch, disrupting the movement of goods [11]. The American Trucking Associations has not issued a formal statement on the specific rule, but industry publications note widespread anxiety among carriers about maintaining their driver fleets.

Supporters of the rule, including some in law enforcement and safety advocacy, maintain it is a necessary step for highway safety and system integrity. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has endorsed related legislative efforts, such as the Safety and Accountability in Freight Enforcement (SAFE) Act, which aims to address unsafe practices and shut down carriers that often employ illegal immigrant drivers .

The ongoing debate reflects broader national tensions over immigration policy, labor market needs, and the role of federal regulation in ensuring transportation safety. As the rule is enforced, its impact on the trucking workforce and the national supply chain will become more apparent.

Conclusion

The implementation of the new rule on non-domiciled commercial drivers licenses marks a significant shift in federal transportation and immigration policy. With an estimated 200,000 drivers potentially affected, the trucking industry faces immediate uncertainty regarding its labor force.

While the administration cites road safety as the primary justification, critics argue the policy is overly broad and punishes legally authorized workers. The resulting legal challenges and industry adjustments will likely determine the long-term effects on both the transportation sector and the individuals whose livelihoods depend on their commercial licenses.

References
Prematurity, Infections Remain Leading Causes of Death for Children Under Five, Report Finds

Prematurity is the top cause of death for children under five globally, according to a new report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other groups. Lower respiratory infections and birth trauma follow as the next leading causes of death in this age group.

From 2000 to 2024, 174 million children younger than five years of age perished, the organizations said. In 2024 alone, the mortality rate equated to nine deaths per minute. [1] The report states that while deaths among children under five have fallen since 2000, progress in prevention has slowed significantly. [1]

Report Details and Key Mortality Figures

The report was released on March 18, 2026 by the WHO alongside other global health bodies. The 174 million total death figure for the 24-year period was a central finding of the analysis. [1]

Officials said that while deaths among children under five have fallen since 2000, progress in prevention has slowed. The continued prominence of preventable causes like infections has been described as a persistent challenge. [1]

Health officials have noted that the rate of decline in child mortality has decelerated in recent years. Public health strategies have historically focused on vaccination and antenatal care to address these leading causes. [2]

Context of Slowing Progress and Public Health Response

The slowing rate of improvement indicates that established interventions may be reaching their limits or facing new obstacles. The report's data underscores that infections like lower respiratory illnesses remain a dominant threat despite decades of public health campaigns. [2]

Mainstream public health strategies have long emphasized pharmaceutical interventions, including vaccines for respiratory infections. However, some critics argue that foundational factors like maternal nutrition, clean water and avoidance of environmental toxins are systematically underemphasized by centralized health institutions. [3]

Perspectives on Prevention and Underlying Factors

Some critics of mainstream health institutions argue that nutritional and environmental factors are underemphasized in official child health strategies. For instance, research indicates that vitamin D deficiency is linked to a wide variety of health problems and may play a role in preterm births. [4]

Advocates for natural health approaches consistently point to nutrition, clean water and avoidance of environmental toxins as foundational for maternal and child health. They argue that the establishment's model, which focuses on treating sickness with synthetic pharmaceuticals, profits from illness rather than cultivating wellness through prevention. [5]

Beyond nutrition, other experts cite economic factors and access to basic, non-interventive prenatal care as critical determinants of outcomes like prematurity. A science paper noted that factors contributing to premature birth include poor prenatal care, smoking, drinking habits, malnutrition, teenage pregnancy and socioeconomic status. [6]

Global and Regional Considerations

The report's findings are global, but officials noted mortality rates vary significantly by region. Areas with limited healthcare infrastructure and higher poverty levels consistently report higher figures. [7]

The disparity highlights ongoing inequalities in access to basic health interventions, according to the data. For example, complications during labour and neonatal infections are leading causes of death among newborns, with these risks being markedly higher in resource-poor settings. [8]

This inequality extends to environmental exposures. Research has linked exposure to "forever chemicals" or PFAS in drinking water to impaired immunity in children, potentially increasing the risk of common childhood infections. Such contaminants are often more prevalent in disadvantaged communities. [9]

Conclusion and Independent Pathways Forward

The report confirms the stalled progress in reducing young child mortality and the enduring toll of prematurity and infections. While mainstream guidance continues to focus on vaccine schedules and institutional care, a growing body of independent analysis suggests alternative pathways.

These pathways emphasize empowering individuals with knowledge about natural prevention, including the critical role of breastfeeding for infant immunity [10], the importance of vitamin D sufficiency [4] and the need to avoid environmental toxins like PFAS [9] and contaminated food supplies. [11] For those seeking information free from institutional bias, sources like NaturalNews.com and BrightAnswers.ai offer independent analysis on health, nutrition and holistic strategies for family wellness.

References
US Northern Command Commander Labels Russia Primary Adversary, Cites Capabilities

The commander of U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), Gen. Gregory Guillot, identified Russia as possessing the "greatest capability and capacity" among U.S. adversaries to threaten North America. [1]

His remarks were delivered in a written statement for a U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. [1] The assessment represents the latest public characterization of strategic threats to the U.S. homeland from a senior military commander.

General's Statement Details Missile Capabilities

In his statement, Guillot argued that Moscow has deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and continues testing the Sarmat ICBM, which he described as capable of approaching the United States. [1] He further claimed Russia is expanding its non-nuclear capabilities, including conventionally armed cruise missiles.

Guillot also alleged the deployment of cruise missile launch platforms near North America. [1] Similar concerns about Russian strategic weapons have been noted in independent analyses. For instance, a report from The War Zone highlighted Russia's launch of its first Project 08951 class nuclear-powered submarine, the Khabarovsk, which is intended to carry the Poseidon nuclear torpedo. [2]

Claims of Russia-China Partnership in the Arctic

Guillot's testimony included claims of a deepening strategic partnership between Moscow and Beijing. "China and Russia are advancing their strategic partnership to counter the United States and its allies," he stated. [1] He cited the two nations' joint air and maritime operations in the Arctic region as evidence of this collaboration. [1]

This partnership is often framed in Western assessments as a coordinated challenge to U.S. interests. This perspective aligns with other Western military observations. The commander of the Canadian NORAD Region, Maj. Gen. Chris McKenna, has previously identified cruise missiles launched from adversary aircraft as a significant concern for defending northern approaches. [3]

Russian Perspective on NATO Activity

According to previous Russian statements, Moscow has highlighted what it terms as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) unprecedented activity near its western borders. [1] Russian officials have consistently framed NATO's eastward expansion and military exercises as provocative. A Kremlin position, noted in the context of the report, states that Russia does not threaten anyone but "would not ignore actions potentially dangerous to its interests." [1]

This statement is frequently reiterated by Russian diplomats in response to Western military posturing. Historical analysis suggests such great-power tensions often stem from mutual security dilemmas. As noted in the book "Billions and Billions: Thoughts on Life and Death at the Brink of the Millennium," global military spending, often driven by an inability to reconcile with adversaries, diverts resources from other societal needs. [4]

Official Russian Response to NATO Posture

Russian officials have repeatedly expressed concern over the buildup of NATO forces in Europe. [1] These concerns have been a central feature of Russian foreign policy discourse for years. NATO, for its part, has described its initiatives as efforts aimed at 'containing Russian aggression,' according to Western alliance statements referenced in the report. [1]

This reciprocal framing of threat and response characterizes the current diplomatic and military standoff. The situation is further complicated by developments in the Arctic. A news report from RT in February 2026 stated that NATO is planning to increase its military presence around Greenland, a move reportedly linked to U.S. strategic interests and perceptions of a Russian and Chinese threat in the region. [5]

Conclusion: Statements in Context of Strategic Posture

Guillot's characterization of Russia represents the latest public assessment from a senior U.S. military commander regarding strategic threats to the homeland. [6] Such statements are part of ongoing budget and policy discussions before congressional committees. The remarks come amid ongoing public discussions of military capabilities and alliance dynamics between the U.S., Russia, China and NATO. [7]

These discussions often involve assessments of nuclear and conventional forces. Independent analysts caution about the risks of escalation inherent in such postures. An article on NaturalNews.com from July 2022 warned that continued escalation of conflict could lead to a nuclear cataclysm. [8]

References
A cascading crisis: Australian fertilizer plant failure exacerbates impending food supply shortage

A critical Australian ammonia plant faces a two-month shutdown due to equipment damage from a power outage.

The closure exacerbates a global fertilizer crisis, as Middle East conflict has already severely restricted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

Australian farmers face immediate risk, as they rely heavily on imported urea from the Gulf region for seasonal planting.

The nation's vital iron ore mining sector may also be disrupted due to a shortage of explosives manufactured from ammonia.

The incident highlights vulnerabilities in concentrated global supply chains for essential agricultural and industrial commodities.

A sudden mechanical failure at Australias largest ammonia production facility has triggered a national security alert, threatening the nations agricultural output and mining sector at a moment of profound global instability. The Yara Pilbara plant in Western Australia, responsible for 5% of globally traded ammonia, was forced offline last week after a power outage damaged critical equipment. Initial assessments indicate repairs will take approximately two months, a timeline that coincides with the peak pre-seeding fertilizer import period for Australian farmers. This domestic disruption is magnified by a concurrent geopolitical blockade of the Strait of Hormuza vital chokepoint for global fertilizer shipmentsfollowing military actions by the United States and Israel against Iran, creating a perfect storm for supply chain collapse.

The Strategic Importance of Ammonia

Ammonia is far more than an industrial chemical; it is a cornerstone of modern civilization. Its primary use is in producing nitrogen-based fertilizers, which are responsible for sustaining roughly half of the global food supply. Without synthetic fertilizers, crop yields would plummet, inviting famine and social unrest. Historically, nations have treated access to fertilizer precursors with strategic significance, akin to energy security. The current crisis echoes the 1970s oil shocks, where geopolitical conflict triggered commodity shortages and global economic turmoil, but now with a direct line to the worlds dinner tables. The closure of the Yara plant removes a key domestic source of this essential input, forcing increased reliance on a fractured international market.

Global Trade Under Blockade

The timing of the Australian plants failure could not be more dire. Over a quarter of the worlds traded ammonia and 43% of urea shipments transit the Strait of Hormuz. The effective blockade of this waterway has severed a primary artery of global agricultural commerce. Fertilizer plants in India, reliant on gas supplies from the region, have already shuttered. Yaras own chief executive recently warned that a prolonged closure of the strait would be catastrophic, leading directly to significant reductions in farm yields. This illustrates how a regional conflict now possesses immediate and devastating global implications, disrupting the fragile just-in-time logistics that underpin the modern food system.

Immediate Threats to Australian Agriculture and Mining

The consequences for Australia are twofold and severe. For the agricultural sector, the next eight weeks are critical. Data shows that last year, Australian farmers imported 1.2 million tonnes of urea in April and May alone, with 75% sourced from Gulf nations now under blockade. With the domestic Yara plant offline and imports choked, farmers may face crippling shortages or exorbitant prices for the fertilizer needed for the upcoming winter crop season, directly endangering national food security and economic stability.

Simultaneously, the nations economic engineiron ore miningfaces a parallel threat. An adjacent plant, half-owned by explosives manufacturer Orica, uses 140,000 tonnes of the Yara plants ammonia annually to produce technical ammonium nitrate (TAN) for blasting rock. Western Australias iron ore miners now lose access to 330,000 tonnes per year of this essential explosive produced locally. While mining companies may hold some inventory, the inability to source this material reliably could disrupt production of Australias largest export, with cascading effects on government revenue and global steel markets.

Broader Market Reactions and National Resilience

The market has already begun reacting to these compounded pressures. Australian fertilizer suppliers report surging inquiries and rising domestic prices for urea and alternative products like ammonium sulphate. This price spike mirrors a similar surge during a brief Middle East conflict in June 2025. The crisis exposes a critical vulnerability: Australias heavy dependence on concentrated, geopolitically volatile supply chains for essential commodities. While companies like CSBP, which operates a smaller ammonia plant in Kwinana, state they are monitoring their supply chains, the event raises urgent questions about domestic manufacturing resilience and strategic stockpiling for core industries.

A Wake-Up Call for Supply Chain Sovereignty

The two-month shutdown of the Yara Pilbara plant is more than an industrial accident; it is a stark stress test of national and global supply chain security. Occurring amidst a pre-existing geopolitical fertilizer crisis, it demonstrates how quickly localized events can amplify into systemic threats to food production and critical exports. This episode serves as a powerful reminder that economic security is inextricably linked to national security. Ensuring stable access to the fundamental building blocks of industry and agricultureespecially in a world of increasing geopolitical frictionmust be a paramount concern for policymakers aiming to safeguard national prosperity and stability in an uncertain age.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

BoilingCold.com

ArgusMedia.com
Switzerland suspends arms exports to U.S. over Iran conflict

Switzerland halts new arms exports to the U.S. due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, citing its long-standing neutrality policy.

No new licenses will be approved, but previously authorized exports may continue under existing agreements for now.

The move follows U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, with Switzerland enforcing its War Materiel Act, which bans arms exports to countries involved in active conflicts.

A government expert panel will review ongoing exports, including dual-use goods and military-related equipment, to ensure compliance with neutrality laws.

Switzerland may suspend or revoke existing export licenses if needed, reflecting stricter enforcement of neutralitysimilar to measures taken during the 2003 Iraq War.

Switzerland announced on March 20 that it will no longer authorize new arms exports to the United States in response to the ongoing international conflict involving Iran, reaffirming its long-standing policy of neutrality.

In a government statement, officials said that "the export of war materiel to countries involved in the international armed conflict with Iran cannot be authorized for the duration of the conflict," adding that exports to the U.S. "cannot currently be authorized." The move places immediate restrictions on new licenses while allowing previously approved exports to proceed under existing agreements.

The decision follows escalating tensions after the United States, alongside Israel, launched attacks on Iran earlier this year. Since the conflict began, Switzerland has not issued any new export licenses for war materiel to countries directly involved, in line with its neutrality laws.

According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, Switzerland's neutrality laws, rooted in the 1815 Congress of Vienna and further solidified by the 1907 treaty, mandate that the country will not send weapons directly or indirectly to combatants in a war. These laws are designed to maintain Switzerland's independence and prevent it from being drawn into conflicts, reflecting a deep commitment to peace and non-interventionism.

Swiss Defense Minister Martin Pfister said the government does not anticipate significant backlash from U.S. President Donald Trump, emphasizing that the measure is rooted in legal obligations rather than political considerations. The policy is based on Switzerland's War Materiel Act, which prohibits arms exports to nations engaged in active conflicts.

Although the restriction directly affects the U.S., Swiss officials clarified that it does not significantly alter relations with Israel, noting that no definitive licenses for arms exports to Israel have been granted for several years.

Exports under review as neutrality policy tightens

While existing export licenses to the U.S. remain valid for now, the Swiss government has established a panel of experts to monitor the situation closely. The group, composed of representatives from the Economics, Foreign, and Defense ministries, will regularly assess whether ongoing exports comply with neutrality law and determine if further action is required.

The review will extend beyond traditional weapons to include so-called "dual-use" goods, items that may have both civilian and military applications, as well as specialized equipment such as training aircraft and military simulators.

Legal experts say Switzerland retains the authority to go further if necessary. Evelyne Schmid, an international law specialist at the University of Lausanne, noted that the government could suspend or even revoke previously granted export licenses under existing legal provisions.

The latest move comes just days after Switzerland rejected two U.S. military flyover requests related with the Iran conflict, while allowing three others deemed unrelated to combat operations. Officials said such decisions are evaluated on a case-by-case basis to ensure compliance with neutrality rules.

Switzerland has taken similar steps in the past. During the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, the country imposed a ban on both weapons exports and military overflights involving nations participating in the war.

The current restrictions highlight the challenges Switzerland faces in balancing its neutral stance with its role as a global arms exporter. While the country has recently debated easing export rules to support its defense industry, the Iran conflict has prompted a return to stricter enforcement of neutrality principles.

Watch the Health Ranger Mike Adams warning that President Trump has walked right into a war trap with Iran in this clip.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheCradle.co

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.co
The Edge of Armageddon: Why We Must Stop This Madness Before Its Too Late

The Vulnerability of Civilization Exposed

I am writing this with a profound sense of urgency and a heart heavy with dread. As I observe the geopolitical chessboard in 2026, I see not a game, but a countdown to oblivion. The reckless escalation we are witnessing, driven by a cabal of power-hungry ideologues in Washington and their allies, has brought us to the precipice of a global catastrophe from which there may be no return. This is not abstract politics; it is a direct, existential threat to the daily lives of billions, a failure of leadership so monumental it could collapse civilization itself.

In my view, we are witnessing the final act of a dying empire, one willing to burn the world rather than relinquish control. The architects of this crisis, from the warmongers in the U.S. State Department to the expansionist Zionists in Israel, have created a powder keg. A single misstep -- a rash ultimatum, a misguided strike -- could ignite a chain reaction leading to global famine, industrial collapse, and nuclear exchange. We are not living in days of peace; we are living on borrowed time, and the clock is ticking down to zero.

We Have Hours, Not Days, to Avert Catastrophe

The speed of this escalation is breathtaking and terrifying. We have moved from diplomatic posturing to explicit ultimatums in a matter of weeks. President Trumps recent shift from a 50-day warning to Russia to a 1012-day ultimatum is not a negotiation tactic; it is a provocation designed for one outcome: conflict [1]. This recklessness is now mirrored in the Middle East, where any miscalculation between Israel and Iran could instantly spiral into a regional inferno. I believe we are now measuring our safety in hours, not days or months.

The failure of leadership is absolute. These are not statesmen seeking peace; they are psychological prisoners of a mutual destruction pact, blinded by ideology and hubris. They operate with a complete disregard for the 100 million innocent lives caught in the crossfire of their games. As I have also repeatedly said, the goal may be engineered collapse -- using chaos to reset a debt-ridden financial system and seize absolute control [2]. This isn't strategy; it's apocalyptic nihilism dressed in a suit.

The Ladder of Escalation: A Recipe for Global Collapse

The logic of escalation is a suicide pact. Consider the current flashpoint between Ukraine and Russia: Trumps ultimatum to potentially authorize strikes deep into Russian territory following the failure of his earlier demands [1]. From my perspective, this is a profound moral and strategic failure. It ignores the fundamental reality that Russia cannot be humiliated into submission; it will respond, and its responses are existential. As one source notes, the Wests assumption that Russia had no other partners and would accept any deal has been shattered, leading to this dangerous standoff [3].

In the Middle East, the pattern is equally dire. An Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, criticized for lacking evidence of an imminent threat, recalls past unfounded claims used to justify war [4]. Iran has promised devastating retaliation, including targeting desalination and energy grids across the Gulf [5]. This would trigger an unthinkable humanitarian crisis. The tit-for-tat logic shows a complete disregard for life, treating millions of people as mere pawns. These are not isolated conflicts; they are interconnected limbs of the same beast, each twitch threatening to bring down the whole body of global stability.

Beyond Borders: The Domino Effect of a Closed Strait

The globalists and war planners either do not understand or do not care about the second-order effects of their actions. Their focus is on tactical victories and regime change, blind to the fragile web of global interdependence they are tearing apart. A primary example is the Strait of Hormuz. It is not just an Iranian chokepoint; it is the worlds economic aorta. A prolonged closure would mean no microchips, no fertilizers, and the rapid unraveling of global supply chains that are already stretched thin.

The entire global supply chain, from commodity sources to the end customer, is bathed in energy [6]. Disrupt the flow of oil through the Strait, and you disrupt every link in that chain. The economic vulnerability of industrialized nations to such an energy crisis is severe, as studies on energy vulnerability confirm [7]. I believe the architects of this crisis are guaranteeing famine and industrial collapse. They are playing with fire in a room filled with explosives, convinced of their own immunity. The resulting chaos would not be contained; it would wash over every continent, leaving scarcity, panic, and social breakdown in its wake.

The Real Agenda: Chaos as a Tool for Control

We must look beyond the superficial narratives of territorial disputes and national security. This pattern of engineered escalation fits a larger, more sinister agenda. From my perspective, the goal is what some analysts call The Great Taking -- using systemic chaos to justify the seizure of private assets, the imposition of total digital control via Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), and the final consolidation of a global surveillance state. Societal breakdown is the perfect pretext for their tyranny.

This is not speculation. The same globalist forces that relentlessly push CBDCs, digital IDs, and censorship see a depopulated, docile populace as the end goal. A shocking analysis even suggests that provoking a nuclear exchange could be a calculated solution to free up energy resources for AI data centers by eliminating millions of energy consumers [8]. Whether through bioweapons, financial collapse, or nuclear fire, the objective remains the same: the preservation of elite control at any human cost. This is the real war being waged -- a war on humanity itself.

A Personal Reckoning: Why Preparedness Is Now an Act of Defiance

Given this reality, we can no longer trust centralized systems for food, energy, or finance. To do so is to accept helplessness. I have made a conscious and deliberate shift in my own life toward self-reliance. This means diesel power generation, years of stored organic food, and holding physical assets like gold and silver. As of now, silver has dropped substantially and is now $66.57 per ounce and gold at $4,374.4 per ounce -- but they are honest money with no counterparty risk that cannot be counterfeited by bankrupt governments. This is not done out of fear, but out of a sober assessment of systemic risk and a commitment to opt out of the coming bail-ins and confiscations.

Self-reliance is our most logical and powerful response. Growing your own food, securing your own water, and holding tangible wealth is a direct rejection of the control grid. It is a statement that we will not be dependent victims when their engineered systems fail. As one interviewee emphasized, having a farm, being self-sufficient, and holding physical assets are crucial as we approach the collapse of the fiat dollar system [9]. Preparedness is no longer a fringe hobby; it is an essential act of personal sovereignty and defiance against those who would make us serfs in their digital feudal system.

The Path Back from the Brink: What Must Be Done

The immediate task is to demand de-escalation and the removal of leaders who are psychologically committed to mutual destruction. We must reject the apocalyptic nihilism of the neoconservatives, the Zionists, and the globalist cartel. This requires massive public pressure, a revival of anti-war sentiment, and support for voices of reason that are routinely censored by the corporate media. We must expose the lies that fuel these wars, just as independent media has exposed the false pretexts for conflict in Ukraine and Iran [10][4].

Lasting peace cannot be built on ultimatums and demands for surrender. It must be built on the foundation of true national sovereignty and mutual respect. This means respecting Irans sovereignty as a nation, not treating it as a target for perpetual regime change [5]. It means acknowledging that NATO expansion provoked the conflict in Ukraine and that a diplomatic solution is the only sane path forward [10]. Our collective future depends on choosing dialogue over destruction, sovereignty over submission, and human life over ideological conquest. The choice is stark: we either step back from the brink together, or we perish in the fire they have so casually ignited.

Conclusion: A Final Plea for Sanity

We stand at the most dangerous moment in human history. The tools of destruction are in the hands of arrogant, compromised, and often evil men who see the world as a chessboard and its people as disposable pieces. But they are not gods. Their power depends on our fear, our compliance, and our division.

I urge you: Do not comply with this madness. Seek truth from decentralized, uncensored sources like BrightNews.ai and NaturalNews.com. Build resilience in your own life. Connect with your community. And raise your voice, however you can, against the rush to Armageddon. The path they have set us on leads only to darkness. It is not too late to choose another way -- a way of light, life, and liberty. But we must choose it now, before the final hour slips away.

References

U.S. to Arm Ukraine through NATO as Trump Threatens Russia with 'Existential' Sanctions Amid Nuclear Warnings. - NaturalNews.com. Willow Tohi. July 15, 2025. Conspiracy theory surfaces of Trump's alleged plan to trigger U.S. nuclear attack for AI dominance & economic reset. - NaturalNews.com. Finn Heartley. July 30, 2025. The Ukraine War and the Eurasian World Order. Glenn Diesen. Israel's Strike on Iran Raises Questions: Preemptive Strike or Aspirational Regime Change? - NaturalNews.com. Willow Tohi. June 22, 2025. Iran's Resilience Challenges U.S.-Backed Zionism Amid Global South Solidarity. - NaturalNews.com. Willow Tohi. June 24, 2025. Sold Out. James Rickards. Assessing the energy vulnerability: Case of industrialised countries. - Energy Policy. Edgard Gnansounou. Brighteon Broadcast News - MAHA In CRISIS . - Brighteon.com. Mike Adams. March 03, 2025. Mike Adams interview with Alex. - Brighteon Broadcast News. Mike Adams. May 31, 2024. Ukraine conflict provoked by NATO expansion: Trump adviser exposes Western role in escalating tensions. - NaturalNews.com. Lance D Johnson. February 25, 2025.

Explainer Infographic:
Trump administration credits tough-on-crime policies as U.S. violent crime plummets in 2025

Homicides dropped 19.3%, robberies 19.8%, aggravated assaults 9.7%, and rapes 8.8% in major U.S. cities (Major Cities Chiefs Association). If trends hold, the U.S. homicide rate could reach four per 100,000, the lowest in over a century.

Trump attributes the drop to tough-on-crime policies, including stricter immigration enforcement and opposition to sanctuary cities. A White House executive order pressured cities to comply with federal immigration enforcement or face repercussions.

Meanwhile, experts highlight multiple contributing factors. This includes post-COVID stabilization (courts, policing returning to normal), improved data-driven policing strategies and restored staffing levels and federal funding for local public safety initiatives.

While police-reported crime is declining, victimization surveys show similar rates to prior years, suggesting public safety concerns persist. Visible disorders (open drug use, retail theft) still affect residents' sense of security.

The decline reverses earlier spikes in violent crime, but systemic issues (economic inequality, judicial backlogs) remain unresolved. The challenge: ensuring crime reductions lead to lasting safety without ignoring root causes.

Violent crime rates in major U.S. cities have continued to decline through 2025, marking one of the most significant reductions in decades.

Preliminary data from law enforcement agencies and independent researchers show double-digit drops in homicides, robberies and aggravated assaults compared to 2024. President Donald Trump has attributed the trend to his administration's tough-on-crime policies, including stricter immigration enforcement and opposition to sanctuary cities.

However, criminologists caution that multiple factorsincluding post-pandemic stabilization and improved policing strategiesmay be driving the downward trend.

Sharp declines in homicides and violent offenses

According to the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA), 67 out of 68 participating agencies reported 5,452 homicides in 2025, a 19.3% decrease from the previous year's total of 6,758. The report also documented substantial reductions in other violent crimes:

Robberies fell by 19.8%

Aggravated assaults dropped by 9.7%

Reported rapes declined by 8.8%

Similarly, the Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ) found a 21% reduction in homicides across 35 cities between 2024 and 2025. If this trend holds nationwide, the U.S. homicide rate could fall to 4 per 100,000 residents, the lowest level in over a century.

While the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has not yet released its final 2025 crime statistics, preliminary data from its Crime Data Explorer indicates a 10% overall drop in violent crime, including an 18.2% decline in homicides from December 2024 through November 2025.

Trump administration claims credit for crime reduction

Trump has repeatedly linked the crime decline to his administration's policies, particularly on immigration enforcement. During his 2025 State of the Union address, he declared: "This reduction in murders marks the largest single-year decrease on record and represents the lowest levels seen in more than 125 years."

The administration has also targeted sanctuary cities, jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. In an April 2025 White House fact sheet, Trump stated: "No more Sanctuary Cities! They protect the Criminals, not the Victims."

A subsequent executive order directed federal agencies to identify jurisdictions restricting immigration enforcement, with the Department of Justice maintaining a public list of non-compliant cities, BrightU.AI's Enoch cites.

Experts cite multiple factors behind crime drop

Despite the administration's claims, criminologists argue that no single policy explains the nationwide decline. The Council on Criminal Justice highlighted several contributing factors in a policy brief:

Post-pandemic stabilizationCourts and law enforcement agencies have resumed normal operations after Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) disruptions.

Improved policing strategiesDepartments have adopted data-driven approaches and restored staffing levels.

Federal funding for local agenciesGrants have helped cities bolster public safety initiatives.

Meanwhile, Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) victimization surveys present a more nuanced picture. The latest data shows 23.3 violent victimizations per 1,000 people in 2024, similar to previous years. This discrepancy suggests that while police-reported crimes are declining, public perceptions of safety may not yet reflect the same level of improvement.

The 2025 crime decline represents a significant shift from the spikes seen earlier in the decade, offering hope for safer communities. While the Trump administration credits its enforcement policies, researchers emphasize that broader societal and institutional factors likely play a role.

As federal and local agencies continue refining strategies, the challenge remains ensuring that crime reductions translate into lasting public safetywithout overlooking systemic issues like economic inequality and judicial backlogs. For now, the data offers cautious optimism that America may be turning a corner on violent crime.

Watch the video below, where Trump claims crime in Minnesota is way down despite fights.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

WSJ.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
An additional 300 companies of central forces are scheduled to arrive in West Bengal by March 31 as part of a massive security deployment for the upcoming assembly elections. The Election Commission plans to deploy a total of 2,400 companies, with 480 already stationed since early March. Key meetings are being held to finalize deployment strategies, including a virtual session led by Deputy Election Commissioner Manish Garg. The forces have broad authority to intervene in incidents near polling stations, and the commission has strict protocols against vote rigging and booth capturing.

300 additional central paramilitary companies to deploy in West Bengal by March 31 for phased elections, with 2,400 total companies planned for poll security.

Kolkata, March 23 Additional central forces are arriving in West Bengal ahead of the Assembly elections. An insider at the Election Commission said on Monday that a total of 2,400 companies of central forces will be deployed for the Bengal elections this time around.

Notably, 480 companies of these central forces were deployed in the state as early as the beginning of this month.

Reports indicate that another 300 companies of the central forces are set to reach the state by March 31. It is further reported that the remaining forces will arrive in a phased manner thereafter.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission has already held a meeting regarding how and where to deploy this massive force.

Reports even suggest that another meeting is scheduled to take place later in the day. This meeting will be led by Deputy Commissioner Manish Garg. It is understood that the meeting will be conducted virtually.

In addition to Deputy Commissioner Manish Garg, the session will be attended by other officials, including State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Agarwal.

Following this, the Election Commission will hold yet another meeting - this time with District Electoral Officers (who also serve as District Magistrates) and Superintendents of Police - to discuss election security. It is reported that this meeting will focus on preparations for the Assembly elections.

Voting in Bengal is scheduled to take place in two phases - on April 23 and April 29. The Election Commission has already taken a series of measures to ensure that both phases of the election remain free of bloodshed.

It has been reported that, this time around, the operational scope of the Central Forces will not be confined solely to the polling stations; rather, the Central Forces are authorised to intervene should any untoward incident occur elsewhere within the vicinity of the polling area.

Furthermore, if credible allegations arise regarding threats or intimidation directed at voters outside a polling station, a re-election may be ordered.

The Commission has categorically stated that incidents such as vote rigging, civil unrest, or the forceful capture of polling booths will not be tolerated.

- IANS
A University of Jammu committee has recommended removing topics concerning Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Syed Ahmad Khan, and Mohammad Iqbal from its Political Science postgraduate programmes. The move follows protests by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), which demanded the rollback. ABVP Jammu and Kashmir Secretary Sanak Shrivats hailed the recommendation as a victory for students and patriotic society. The final decision rests with the Board of Studies, which is scheduled to meet on March 24.

Jammu University committee recommends removing topics on Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Syed Ahmad Khan, and Mohammad Iqbal from Political Science syllabus after ABVP protests.

Jammu, March 23 ABVPJK Secretary Sanak Shrivats on Sunday lauded the recommendation of the Department of Affairs Committee of the University of Jammu regarding the removal of topics concerning former Pakistan Governor-General Muhammad Ali Jinnah from the curriculum of political sciences.

The committee also recommended the removal of topics related to Aligarh Muslim University founder Syed Ahmad Khan and Pakistani poet Mohammad Iqbal, following protests by ABVP.

Speaking with ANI, Shrivats hailed the recommendation as a "win for students and the patriotic society of the nation."

"This came as a result of the movement started by the ABVP... It is the win of all the students and the patriotic society of the nation who stood against these topics," he said.

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.

- ANI
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has assured citizens of ample availability of petrol, diesel, LPG, and fertilizers, urging against panic buying. He chaired a review meeting directing officials to take strict action against hoarding, black marketing, and illegal storage. The government is accelerating the expansion of the Piped Natural Gas network and has approved additional LPG allocations for commercial establishments. Authorities have been put on alert to ensure smooth supply and timely delivery, with 24/7 helplines operational for public grievances.

CM Bhajan Lal Sharma assures adequate petrol, diesel & LPG supply in Rajasthan, orders strict action against hoarding and black marketing.

Jaipur, March 23 Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Monday assured that there is adequate availability of petrol, diesel, LPG and fertilisers across the state, urging citizens not to panic. He directed officials to take strict action against hoarding, black marketing, illegal storage and unauthorised refilling.

Chairing a high-level review meeting at the Chief Minister's residence, Sharma emphasised that the government is taking all necessary steps to prevent any artificial shortages.

Referring to assurances by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he reiterated that the common public will not be allowed to face inconvenience.

The Chief Minister said that helpline numbers 181, 112 and 14435 are operational round the clock to address LPG-related grievances. He directed the Chief Secretary to ensure time-bound resolution of complaints and maintain continuous monitoring.

District administrations, police and logistics departments have been put on alert to ensure smooth supply and distribution. Officials have been instructed to ensure that LPG cylinder refills are delivered without delay, especially after the stipulated waiting period. Adequate arrangements must also be ensured for large gatherings such as weddings.

The Chief Minister stressed the need to expand the City Gas Distribution (CGD) network to reduce dependence on LPG. He directed companies to accelerate the rollout of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections for households and encourage commercial establishments -- such as hospitals, hotels and restaurants -- to switch to natural gas. He also instructed that all pending approvals for pipeline laying be cleared within 24 hours to fast-track infrastructure development.

The Chief Minister noted that the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has approved an additional 10 per cent allocation for commercial LPG and directed officials to ensure its optimal utilisation. He further said that an additional 20 per cent LPG allocation in 5-kg cylinders has been earmarked for hotels, restaurants, dhabas, food processing units, industrial canteens and labourers. Officials were directed to ensure that this supply is not misused.

Both the Central and state governments are working in coordination to ensure adequate availability of urea, DAP and other fertilisers. Over the past decade, the Centre has commissioned six new urea plants, increasing annual production capacity by over 7.6 million metric tonnes.

Reiterating a strict stance, the Chief Minister directed authorities to take firm action against hoarders and rumour-mongers, while ensuring continuous monitoring to prevent misinformation.

The meeting was attended by Medical and Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar, Minister of State for Energy (Independent Charge) Hiralal Nagar, Chief Secretary V. Srinivas, senior officials from key departments, and representatives of petroleum companies.

- IANS
Adivi Sesh has detailed his unique creative process for managing his dual roles as an actor and writer on a project. He uses a personal filter, only writing films if he believes he can reasonably play the lead role himself. While writing, he consciously avoids visualizing specific actors to focus purely on ideas and emotions. His upcoming film 'Dacoit', a bilingual heist romance co-starring Mrunal Thakur, is scheduled for release in April 2026.

Actor-writer Adivi Sesh reveals his unique process for separating his creative roles while discussing his ambitious new film 'Dacoit' with Mrunal Thakur.

Mumbai, March 22 Actor-director-writer Adivi Sesh, who is gearing up for the release of his upcoming film 'Dacoit', has shared his process of approaching his parts when he works as both actor and a writer in a project.

The actor spoke with IANS during the promotions of the film. When asked if the actor in him is guiding the writer forward or the writer in him is guiding the actor forward, he told IANS, "Neither, actually. I mean, you know, it's interesting. My only filter for this is, if I get an idea for a movie, and I know it's going to be an ambitious one. If it doesn't sound reasonable for me to do it as an actor, I don't even attempt to write the film".

He further mentioned, "And so that filter is what helps me because once I know that it is possible for me to play it as an actor, I do that thinking about it for a couple of days before I start writing. And if I'm able, if I know in my heart, I can play the role, the rest of it is just me focusing as a writer, because in my head, when I'm imagining a scene, I'm not imagining myself or any other actor for that matter".

"It's just sort of all the actors' faces are kind of grey, like I don't see, I can't see their faces when I'm writing. And so that enables you to only focus on ideas and emotions. And then once I'm on set, I'm not thinking about the writing at all", he added.

Talking about 'Dacoit: A Love Story', the film also stars Mrunal Thakur and Anurag Kashyap in lead roles. It is directed by Shaneil Deo. The film is a bilingual project, shot in Telugu and Hindi. It follows a narrative involving former lovers who reunite and engage in a series of robberies.

Produced by Supriya Yarlagadda, 'Dacoit' is set to arrive in cinemas on April 10, 2026.

- IANS
AGP candidate Tapan Das expressed gratitude to party leaders and sought public blessings after his nomination following nearly three decades of party service. The AGP, an NDA partner, has released its list of 26 candidates for the upcoming 2026 Assam Assembly elections, with key leaders contesting from specific constituencies. The BJP-led NDA government, aiming for a third term, will contest the majority of seats in the alliance against the Congress-led opposition. The political activity intensifies ahead of the polls, with candidates from all parties actively appealing for voter support.

AGP candidate Tapan Das, after 27 years of service, seeks public blessings for Assam Assembly polls. AGP contests 26 seats as BJP ally in NDA.

Guwahati, March 23 As political activity intensifies ahead of the Assam Assembly Elections 2026, candidates from both the Asom Gana Parishad and the Bharatiya Janata Party have begun reaching out to voters, seeking public support and expressing gratitude to party leadership.

AGP candidate Tapan Das, speaking in Guwahati, said that his nomination comes after nearly three decades of dedicated service to the party.

"After 27 years of service to the Assam Gana Parishad, I was nominated and for this, I thank Atul Bora, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Dilip Saikia... I also seek the blessings of the people of Assam," he told ANI.

AGP released its list of 26 candidates for the upcoming polls. Party president and Cabinet Minister Atul Bora is set to contest from the Bokakhat constituency, while Executive President Keshab Mahanta has been fielded from the Kaliabor assembly seat.

AGP is a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partner in the state. Currently having 9 seats in the assembly, the AGP is set to contest 26 seats, while its poll partners, the BJP will contest 89 seats, while the Bodoland People's Front (BPF) will contest 11 seats for the polls.

Meanwhile, BJP candidate from the Guwahati Assembly constituency, Vijay Gupta, also appealed to voters, stating that public support would be crucial in the upcoming electoral contest.

"We need the blessings of the people of Assam, Guwahati. I am grateful to our central leadership for this opportunity," he said. Assam will witness a fight between the incumbent BJP-led NDA government and Congress for the 126-seat assembly.

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.

In the 2021 Assembly elections, the NDA, comprising the BJP, AGP and United People's Party Liberal (UPPL), won 75 seats with the BJP alone winning 60 seats. The Congress and AIUDF had formed a grand alliance along with the BPF and the communist parties, but the alliance performed poorly with just 16 seats out of 126.

Voter turnout was as high as 86.2 per cent with over 2. 2 crore registered voters in 2021.

- ANI
An Air Canada Express aircraft collided with a ground vehicle while landing at New York's La Guardia Airport, prompting an emergency response. The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop for all flights, with a high probability of an extension, signaling major disruptions. Details on damage and injuries were not immediately available, though social media videos showed damage to the plane's nose. Authorities are investigating the incident, which has impacted one of New York City's busiest domestic airports.

An Air Canada Express plane collided with a ground vehicle at New York's La Guardia Airport, prompting an FAA ground stop and major flight disruptions.

New York [US[, March 23 An Air Canada Express aircraft arriving from Montreal was involved in a collision with a ground vehicle while landing at New York's La Guardia Airport early Monday, according to flight tracking data from FlightRadar24, reported New York Post.

The incident prompted aviation authorities to halt operations at the busy airport, raising concerns over potential disruptions to flight schedules. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop for all incoming and outgoing flights at La Guardia, initially set to remain in effect until 0530 GMT (local time), as per an official notice.

The FAA indicated that the stoppage was due to an emergency situation but did not immediately provide detailed information about the nature or severity of the incident. The notice further suggested a "high probability" that the ground stop could be extended, depending on developments.

In a separate advisory issued to airmen, the FAA stated that the airport could remain closed until 1800 GMT, signalling the possibility of prolonged disruption at one of New York City's key aviation hubs.

Details regarding the extent of the damage or any injuries were not immediately available. However, unverified videos circulating on social media appeared to show visible damage to the nose section of the aircraft.

Emergency response teams were expected to be deployed as part of standard protocol following such incidents, though no official confirmation had been issued at the time of reporting. The situation at the airport remained fluid, with authorities likely assessing safety conditions before allowing operations to resume.

Air Canada, the FAA, and the New York Fire Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment, leaving several aspects of the incident unclear.

La Guardia Airport, a major domestic gateway serving New York City, frequently handles high volumes of air traffic, making any disruption significant for both airlines and passengers. Aviation experts note that ground incidents, while relatively rare, can lead to cascading delays across the broader air traffic network.

Further updates are expected as authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision and assess the operational impact on airport services.

- ANI
The Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed that six Indian nationals have been killed in the escalating West Asia conflict, with one injured and another missing. While all Indian citizens in Israel are confirmed to be safe, the fatalities have occurred across the region, including a recent death in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Indian government has facilitated the return of approximately 300,000 people from the conflict zone since hostilities began. Repatriation efforts continue, including for crew members from a targeted oil tanker and for citizens crossing from Iran into neighboring countries.

MEA confirms 6 Indian deaths in West Asia conflict, 1 injured, 1 missing. All Indians in Israel reported safe. Repatriation efforts underway for 300,000.

New Delhi, March 23 The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday provided a critical update regarding the safety and status of Indian nationals currently caught in the escalating hostilities in the Middle East, saying that all Indian nationals are safe, including a person who was reported to have been injured.

Addressing the inter-ministerial briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed the well-being of the majority of the diaspora, stating, "All Indian citizens in Israel are safe. There were reports of an Indian citizen being injured. Our embassy there is monitoring the matter. The person is safe."

However, the spokesperson also shared sombre details regarding the toll the ongoing violence has taken on Indian families. Moving to specific casualty figures, Jaiswal noted, "Six Indian citizens have lost their lives in this conflict, and one Indian citizen has been injured, and one is missing."

In a development that highlights the geographic spread of the danger, the Ministry of External Affairs had earlier confirmed on Friday, March 20, that an Indian national was killed following missile and drone attacks on the Saudi Arabian capital. This tragic incident brings the total number of Indian fatalities in the escalating West Asia conflict to six, even as diplomatic missions continue taking steps to ensure the security of "10 million citizens living across the region."

The individual died in Riyadh last Wednesday, marking the first reported Indian fatality in Saudi Arabia since the hostilities began. This follows a pattern of casualties across the Gulf, including the deaths of two Indians in an attack on an industrial area in Oman on February 13, and three seafarers who died in "attacks on merchant vessels" during the early days of the conflict, while one more citizen remains reported missing.

Further clarifying the circumstances of the Riyadh fatality during a media briefing, Aseem Mahajan, Secretary (Gulf) in the Ministry of External Affairs, stated, "Late [on Thursday] night, we received information regarding the tragic demise of an Indian national during an attack in Riyadh on March 18. We express our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased."

The Indian embassy in Riyadh has since established contact with the bereaved family and is currently coordinating with local officials for the "early return of the body." While formal details regarding the strike were not immediately available, people familiar with the matter indicated the victim was killed during a wave of aerial strikes on the city.

This escalating violence has not been limited to fatalities, as dozens of Indians, including "workers and seafarers," have sustained injuries across multiple Arab states, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, and Iraq. In response to these widespread risks, the Indian government has prioritised the safety of its massive diaspora during recent high-level diplomatic outreach to regional leaders.

Providing a specific update on maritime safety amidst these regional threats, Mahajan noted that 15 Indian crew members from the US-owned oil tanker Safesea Vishnu, which was recently targeted near Basra, are scheduled to return home via Saudi Arabia. Efforts are also underway to repatriate the body of another Indian seafarer from the same vessel who was killed in the attack.

Amidst these mounting security challenges, a significant repatriation effort is already underway, with a total of "300,000 people have returned to India from West Asia" since the conflict broke out on February 28.

Furthermore, detailing the evacuation routes being utilised by those fleeing the northern sector, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that a total of "913 Indians had crossed over from Iran to Armenia and Azerbaijan so far," with several already securing passage back to India on commercial flights.

- ANI
The Congress party has announced Umesh Meti and Samarth Mallikarjun as its candidates for the Bagalkot and Davanagere South Assembly bypolls in Karnataka. The selections, approved by party president Mallikarjun Kharge, involve fielding family members of the seats' previous incumbents, a move that followed intense internal negotiations and pressure from various factions. The decision for Davanagere South was particularly contentious, with Minister Zameer Ahmad Khan reportedly threatening to resign if a minority community candidate was not chosen. The BJP has already named its candidates for the April 9 polls, amidst allegations from a expelled MLA of a covert understanding to aid the Congress.

Congress names candidates for Bagalkot & Davanagere South bypolls, choosing family members of former MLAs despite internal conflict & minority community pressure.

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 Shivashankarappa's 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 party's 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 Shivashankarappa's family and deliberately fielded a weak candidate to aid Samarth Mallikarjun's 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.

- IANS
Amul India paid homage to the late action star Chuck Norris by sharing a topical doodle on Instagram featuring his iconic taekwondo pose and character from 'Walker, Texas Ranger'. Norris, known for his martial arts prowess and iconic roles, passed away at the age of 86, as announced by his family. Fellow action stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone shared heartfelt tributes, remembering him as an icon and a symbol of strength. His legendary career included numerous action films and leading the long-running TV series 'Walker, Texas Ranger'.

Amul India pays tribute to late Hollywood action star Chuck Norris with a special doodle featuring his iconic martial arts and 'Walker, Texas Ranger' roles.

New Delhi, March 22 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.

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
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on becoming India's longest-serving head of government. Naidu, whose TDP is a key NDA ally, praised Modi's dedication and visionary leadership in a post on X. State Minister Nara Lokesh and Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy also extended their congratulations on this historic milestone. They highlighted Modi's commitment to national progress and his vision for a developed India by 2047.

CM Chandrababu Naidu and Minister Nara Lokesh congratulate PM Narendra Modi for completing 8,931 days as head of government, a historic national record.

Amaravati, March 22 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on becoming the longest-serving head of the government.

The national president of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) took to X to congratulate the Prime Minister and expressed his best wishes.

"Heartiest congratulations to Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji on achieving the historic milestone of becoming the longest-serving head of government in India's history, completing 8,931 days in service to the nation. This extraordinary achievement reflects his dedication, visionary leadership, and tireless commitment to the progress and prosperity of our country," said Chandrababu Naidu, whose party is a key partner in the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.

"His vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047 continues to inspire us all and guide India toward a brighter future. Wishing him continued strength, good health, and success as he leads the nation to even greater heights," the Chief Minister added.

Nara Lokesh, Andhra Pradesh minister for human resources development and information technology, also congratulated Prime Minister Modi on completing 8,931 days in office to become the longest-serving head of the government in India's history.

"Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji has become the longest-serving head of government in India's history, completing 8,931 days in office and setting a new national record. This remarkable milestone reflects decades of unwavering commitment to public service and nation-building. His tireless leadership, clarity of vision, and focus on India's growth continue to inspire millions across the country. Sir, heartfelt congratulations on this historic achievement," posted Lokesh, who is the son of Chandrababu Naidu.

Union minister for coal and mines G. Kishan Reddy congratulated PM Modi on 'completing 8,931 days of unwavering service to the nation as the head of government.'

"This milestone reflects your tireless commitment towards Jan Seva, visionary leadership, and dedication to India's progress and unity. Under your guidance, India has witnessed transformative growth and strengthened its position on the global stage. Wishing you continued strength and success in your service to the nation," Kishan Reddy posted on X.

- IANS
Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu laid the foundation for a massive ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel plant, set to create over 1 lakh jobs and boost India's steel production.

Visakhapatnam, March 23 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday laid the foundation for ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India plant at Nakkapalli in Anakapalli district, saying that the state is the best destination for industrial investments in India.

Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumara Swamy was also present at the event.



CM Naidu said that the project marks not just the beginning of a steel plant but the foundation of a future Steel City in the region.



Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said the mega project will significantly accelerate development in North Andhra and contribute to meeting the country's growing steel demand.



The project, with a total proposed investment of Rs 1.35 lakh crore, will be executed in phases, with the first phase involving Rs 70,000 crore to establish an 8.2 million tonnes per annum capacity. Once fully completed, it will have a production capacity of 17.8 million tonnes of steel.



The plant is expected to generate over 1 lakh jobs, both directly and indirectly.



The project includes the development of a captive port worth Rs 11,198 crore, a four-lane road connecting to national highways and a pipeline for raw material supply.



The first phase of production is targeted for 2028, with major blast furnace installations expected by 2030.



The Chief Minister stated that such a globally reputed company choosing Andhra Pradesh reflects the state's investor-friendly policies and efficient governance.



The Chief Minister thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his support, stating that the project aligns with national initiatives like Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat. He termed it a success of the "double-engine government."



The Chief Minister highlighted that Andhra Pradesh is witnessing rapid industrial growth across sectors such as data centres, food processing, manufacturing and tourism.



He mentioned that a Google Data Centre is set to be established in Visakhapatnam. This marks the first instance in the country where a single project has attracted Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) amounting to $15 billion.



Within just 20 months of this people-centric government assuming office, the state has attracted investments totalling Rs 20.35 lakh crore, he said.



As the Visakhapatnam Economic Region evolves, the city will emerge as a pivotal hub for the knowledge economy, ports, steel, data centres, and IT centres, the Chief Minister said.



Union Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy noted that projects of this scale are critical for India's long-term steel capacity goals. He said the collaboration brings together "global expertise and domestic ambition" and will contribute to the modernisation of India's steel ecosystem.



Kumaraswamy stated that the arrival of ArcelorMittal-Nippon Steel industry in Andhra Pradesh has realised the vision of a steel ecosystem in this region.



In accordance with the National Steel Consumption Policy, we have set a target to boost steel production across the country, he said.



He hoped that the Arcelor Nippon Steel plant would serve as a driving force for steel production, the MSME sector, and job creation.



Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan said, as the Minister for Environment, he was delighted that this project is being constructed with extremely low emission levels.



He stated that Andhra Pradesh is currently attracting 25 per cent of all investments flowing into the country. He claimed that this was possible solely due to the presence of a visionary leader like Chandrababu Naidu.



Lokesh recalled that he had met Aditya Mittal before 2019 and requested him to establish a plant in Andhra Pradesh. He said that after the coalition government came to power in 2024, the action plan for establishing this steel plant was set in motion.



He said the government expedited the allocation of land and the issuance of necessary permits. Industries of this magnitude have arrived solely on the strength of the 'CBN brand', he remarked.



ArcelorMittal Executive Chairman Lakshmi Mittal stated that the event marks the next chapter in their partnership with India, one built on shared ambition and enduring trust.



"I have been in the steel industry now for fifty years, and I can honestly say that what we are building here in India is one of the highlights of these 50 years. It means a lot to me that we can contribute so meaningfully towards India's journey toward Viksit Bharat, demonstrating how world-class steelmaking can power sustainable growth and national self-reliance."



Chairman of ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India and CEO of ArcelorMittal thanked the Government of Andhra Pradesh as well as the Government of India for their steadfast support in bringing this project to life.



"Steel is the fabric of life, and we are proud to have the opportunity to contribute to expanding India's steel capabilities with this amazing new plant, which will be one of the most competitive, modern facilities in the country. Its coastal position and the fact that it can easily be connected to the richest iron-ore belt in the country through our existing slurry pipeline make this an excellent place to manufacture steel," he said.





- IANS
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has strongly condemned an arson attack on four ambulances belonging to the Jewish community service Hatzalah in London. The Metropolitan Police are treating the incident as an antisemitic hate crime and are searching for three suspects. While no injuries were reported, nearby houses were evacuated as a precaution due to explosions from gas canisters. Police are reviewing CCTV footage and have increased patrols in the area to reassure the community.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemns a shocking arson attack on four Jewish community ambulances in London, being treated as a hate crime.

London, March 23 The United Kingdom's Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday condemned the arson of four ambulances belonging to the Jewish community ambulance service in Golders Green.

In a post on X, he underlined that antisemitism has no place in society and urged people with information about the attack to come to the police.

In a post on X, he said, "This is a deeply shocking antisemitic arson attack. My thoughts are with the Jewish community, who are waking up this morning to this horrific news. Antisemitism has no place in our society. Anyone with any information must come forward to the police."

His remarks come as an investigation has been launched, with the Metropolitan Police saying on Monday that the arson attack is being treated as an anti-Semitic hate crime.

Met Police, which is the police service for the Greater London area, said in that officers received a call from the London Fire Brigade in the early hours of Monday about a fire on Highfield Road, Golden Greers.

"Officers attended the scene where four Hatzalah ambulances were on fire", it said.

As per the Met Police, nearby houses have been evacuated as a precaution and road closures remain in place. While no injuries have been reported, all the fires have been put out.

"We are aware of reports of explosions - this is believed to be linked to gas cannisters onboard the ambulances", the statement noted.

Superintendent Sarah Jackson, who leads policing in the local area, underlined the distress which the incident resulted in and said the police are in the process of examining CCTV footage.

"We know this incident will cause a great deal of community concern, and officers remain on scene to carry out urgent enquiries. We are in the process of examining CCTV and are aware of online footage.

While no arrests have been made so far, she said that the police are looking for three suspects at the early stage.

"We believe we are looking for three suspects at this early stage. There have been no arrests yet, and we would urge anyone with information to please contact us as soon as possible - you can do so anonymously if you wish."

Jackson added that engagements will take place with faith leaders, and additional patrols will be carried out in the local area as the police continue the investigation to provide reassurance and a highly visible presence.

- ANI
Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi met Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav in Bhopal to discuss encouraging youth to join the armed forces. CM Yadav announced that the next Army Day parade will be held in Bhopal on January 15, 2025, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in attendance. A series of events, including 'Shaurya Sandhya' and a military exhibition, will begin in the city from January 9. Army Day commemorates the 1949 transfer of the Indian Army's command to its first Indian Commander-in-Chief, Field Marshal KM Cariappa.

Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi meets MP CM Mohan Yadav. Next Army Day parade on Jan 15 in Bhopal; Rajnath Singh to attend. Events from Jan 9.

Bhopal, March 23 Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi on Monday met Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav at the Chief Minister's residence in Bhopal, and discussions were held on encouraging youth to join the Indian Army.

CM Yadav also informed that the next Army Day parade will be held in Bhopal, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will also attend the event.

"Today, I met with Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi at the Chief Minister's residence in Bhopal. During the meeting, discussions were held on inspiring youth to join the Indian armed forces. A grand 'Army Day' parade will be held in Bhopal on January 15 next year, in which Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will also participate," the Chief Minister said in a post on X.

He further stressed that the parade would further strengthen the spirit of respect and honour towards the country's rich military heritage and brave soldiers.

"The series of events in Bhopal will begin from January 9, featuring important programmes such as 'Shaurya Sandhya', a military exhibition, and military exercises," he added in the post.

Every year, January 15 is commemorated as 'Army Day' to remember the occasion when General (later Field Marshal) KM Cariappa took over the command of the Indian Army from General FRR Bucher, the last British Commander-in-Chief, in 1949 and became the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of Independent India.

The day symbolises the transfer of military leadership to Indian hands after independence. The Army Day parade showcases the operational strength, discipline, and modern capabilities of the Indian Army. It includes marching contingents, military hardware displays, and demonstrations of combat capabilities, highlighting the Army's preparedness.

- ANI
The Ministry of External Affairs has facilitated the return of approximately 375,000 Indian passengers from West Asia since regional tensions escalated on February 28. Limited non-scheduled flights are operating from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Oman, while airspace in Kuwait and Bahrain remains closed. India has also assisted over 1,000 nationals, including students, in exiting Iran via alternative land routes through Armenia and Azerbaijan. The conflict, triggered by military strikes involving the US and Israel, has led Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global trade.

MEA reports 375,000 passengers returned to India from West Asia. Flights operate from UAE, Saudi, Oman; Iran evacuations via land routes.

New Delhi, March 23 The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday said that nearly 375,000 passengers have returned to India from West Asia since February 28 amid the ongoing regional tensions.

Addressing an interministerial briefing on the recent development in West Asia here, MEA Joint Secretary (Gulf), Aseem Mahajan, said that airlines are operating limited, non-scheduled flights between the UAE and India based on operational and safety considerations. Around 95 such flights are expected to operate from various UAE airports to India on Monday.

"Since February 28, around 375,000 passengers have returned from the region to India. Airlines continue to operate limited, non-scheduled flights based on operational and safety considerations between UAE and India. Today, around 95 flights are expected to operate from various airports in UAE to India," he said.

He added that flight operations from Oman and Saudi Arabia to India are continuing, while Qatar's airspace remains partially open, with Qatar Airways likely to operate around 8 to 10 non-scheduled commercial flights to India. However, airspaces in Kuwait and Bahrain remain closed amid the conflict.

"Flights continue to operate from Oman and Saudi Arabia to India, with the Qatari airspace partially open. Qatar Airways is expected to operate around 8 to 10 non-scheduled commercial flights to India today. Kuwaiti and Bahraini airspaces remain closed," the Joint Secretary said.

Mahajan further said that India is facilitating the movement of its nationals stranded in Iran through alternative routes via Armenia and Azerbaijan. Several Indian students in Tehran, Isfahan and Shiraz have also been relocated to safer areas.

"Till date, 1,031 Indians, including 707 Indian students and 324 Indian citizens, have crossed out of Iran with our mission's assistance," he said, adding that the government continues to closely monitor the situation and assist affected citizens.

The development comes amid the escalating 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 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.

- ANI
The Indian Army's bomb disposal squad safely neutralised unexploded ordnance, including RPG and UBGL rounds, left after a ULFA(I) attack on an Assam Police commando camp in Tinsukia. The swift, controlled operation eliminated the threat to local life and property. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma condemned the "unfortunate" incident during a visit to Haflong, stating a joint Army-Police operation is underway. At least four Assam Police personnel were injured in the initial militant attack.

Indian Army bomb disposal teams safely neutralise unexploded RPG & UBGL rounds after ULFA(I) attack in Tinsukia, Assam. CM Himanta Biswa Sarma condemns the incident.

Tinsukia, March 23 In the early hours of Sunday, a standoff attack by ULFA was reported at approximately 0200 hours near an Assam Police Commando camp at Jagun, Tinsukia district, Assam. The incident left behind unexploded ordnance, including RPG and UBGL rounds, posing a serious threat to the local population.

According to a release, responding promptly, Red Shield Sappers, in coordination with Assam Rifles, mobilised a bomb disposal team to the site. The area was swiftly cordoned off, and all safety protocols were meticulously enforced to ensure full control of the situation.

The unexploded ordnance was subsequently neutralised in a controlled manner at a secure location away from civilian habitation, eliminating any risk to life and property. The operation was carried out with a high degree of professionalism, precision and adherence to established procedures, a release said.

The swift and coordinated response ensured the safety of the local populace and prevented any collateral damage. The Indian Army remains committed to maintaining peace, security and stability in the region and continues to remain vigilant against emerging threats, a release added.

Meanwhile, 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 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

Regarding the incident in Tinsukia, the 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."

- ANI
ASSOCHAM has unveiled the India leadership of the BIMSTEC Business Council, reinforcing the country's commitment to regional economic cooperation ahead of the grouping's 30-year milestone. The initiative aims to transform BIMSTEC into a dynamic economic partnership by driving institutional leadership and industry participation. Key focus areas include unlocking the region's $5 trillion potential through deeper trade integration, stronger supply chains, and seamless connectivity. The effort seeks to translate policy alignment into tangible business outcomes, with support from diplomatic representatives across member states.

ASSOCHAM unveils India's BIMSTEC Business Council leadership, focusing on trade, connectivity, and MSMEs to unlock a $5 trillion regional economic potential.

New Delhi, March 23 Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India on Monday unveiled the India leadership of the BIMSTEC Business Council, reaffirming the country's commitment to strengthening regional economic cooperation in the Bay of Bengal region ahead of BIMSTEC's 30-year milestone.

India, a founding member of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), has continued to play a proactive role in enhancing connectivity, trade facilitation, energy cooperation and capacity building among member states. The country has also supported institutional strengthening, including the BIMSTEC Secretariat, while promoting inclusive growth, resilient supply chains and sustainable development.

ASSOCHAM, serving as the India Secretariat of the BIMSTEC Business Council under the Ministry of External Affairs, said it has revitalised its role by launching the leadership framework for India. The industry body aims to drive institutional leadership, mobilise industry participation and advocate policy measures to transform BIMSTEC into a dynamic economic partnership platform.

Speaking at the event, BIMSTEC Business Council India Chair Tribhuvan Darbari said, "BIMSTEC represents a USD 5 trillion opportunity. The time is ripe to unlock this potential through deeper trade integration, stronger supply chains, and seamless connectivity. The real opportunity within BIMSTEC lies in converting policy alignment into business outcomes."

He added that ASSOCHAM will focus on fostering industry-government engagement to help businesses expand across borders and tap opportunities in manufacturing, services and sustainable sectors.

ASSOCHAM President Nirmal K Minda emphasised the organisation's vision of boosting connectivity, empowering MSMEs and unlocking new investment and innovation opportunities across member nations.

Meanwhile, BIMSTEC Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey highlighted the need for stronger regional cooperation, stating, "We need to create dependency regionally rather than depending on the global supply chains, whether in energy security, health security etc. We can deal with such challenges working together."

ASSOCHAM Secretary General Saurabh Sanyal said the initiative reflects a long-term commitment to businesses across member countries and aims to translate intent into action through stronger collaboration between industry and government.

Diplomatic representatives from Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand also participated in the discussions, expressing support for ASSOCHAM's initiatives under BIMSTEC.

ASSOCHAM said it will continue to support the formation of a BIMSTEC Chamber of Commerce and Industry and work with partner organisations across member states to advance a roadmap focused on boosting intra-regional trade and investment, improving connectivity, promoting MSME internationalisation and enhancing collaboration in sectors such as fintech, agritech, renewable energy and the blue economy.

- ANI
Aviation expert Sanat Kaul has called for stronger, permanent regulations on domestic airfares, including upper and lower limits, to protect passenger interests. His comments come as the Ministry of Civil Aviation officially withdraws temporary fare caps imposed in December 2025 following the stabilisation of the market. Kaul highlighted concerns that a duopoly in the sector could lead to excessive pricing and stressed that the DGCA should actively use its powers to curb fare spikes. He also emphasised the need for a dedicated grievance commission for air travellers, as consumer court cases are often protracted.

Aviation expert Sanat Kaul advocates for permanent fare limits as the government withdraws temporary price caps, warning of a duopoly.

New Delhi, March 23 Aviation expert Sanat Kaul on Monday called for stricter curbs on domestic airfare, suggesting that the regulatory body should step in to decide on an upper and lower limit to fares in public interest. He highlighted that a 'duopoly' in the sector could lead to increasing fares. "There should be a discussion on the issue of putting lower and upper limits on fares. There should be a regulatory body to control fares. We want competition in the sector, but when there is a duopoly and in public interest, then it has to be seen that excessive fares are not demanded," Kaul told.

He highlighted that the DGCA has the authority to curb airfares when they spike excessively and stressed that it should actively use these powers in the public interest. Referring to the recent IndiGo-related issues, he said the situation has once again exposed the duopoly in India's airline sector, raising concerns about limited competition and pricing control. He emphasised the need to rethink current regulatory approaches to ensure passengers are not unfairly burdened, adding that a dedicated public grievance commission or tribunal for air travellers is necessary, as cases in consumer courts often take years to resolve.

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 ensure 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
Delhi Capitals skipper Axar Patel has voiced strong criticism against the IPL's Impact Player rule, stating it works to the disadvantage of all-rounders. He believes the rule encourages team managements to select specialist batsmen or bowlers instead of multi-skilled players. Despite his personal dislike for the rule, Patel acknowledges that teams must follow the regulations as they are. The Delhi Capitals will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Lucknow Super Giants on April 1.

Delhi Capitals' Axar Patel says the IPL's Impact Player rule disadvantages all-rounders in team selection and strategy for the upcoming season.

New Delhi, March 23 Delhi Capitals skipper and Indian team vice-captain Axar Patel has said that Impact Player works to the disadvantage of all-rounders in terms of selection.

The Impact Player rule was introduced in the IPL in 2023. It allows teams to substitute one player during a match from four named substitutes, giving them tactical flexibility to replace a batsman, bowler, or all-rounder based on match situations.

While the rule aims to increase tactical flexibility and match excitement, many all-rounders like Patel feel it undermines their role.

"I don't like this rule, obviously. Because I'm an all-rounder. You know, in batting and bowling, it used to be like we used to pick all-rounders. Because of this rule, I think every team management goes with a particular batsman or a bowler. Why do we need an all-rounder? So, I think because of that, as an all-rounder, I didn't like those rules. But, at the same time, if we have the rules, we have to follow them. But, in my personal view, I think I don't like that rule."

IPL teams are finalizing their squads and strategies for the upcoming season. Delhi Capitals, who are yet to win an IPL title, finished fifth on the points table last season, missing out on a playoff berth.

With the schedule of the first phase of IPL 2026 announced by BCCI, Delhi Capitals will begin their season campaign against Lucknow Super Giants on April 1.

Their next clash will be against the Mumbai Indians on April 4, followed by their matches against the Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings on April 8 and April 11, respectively.

Delhi Capitals squad for IPL 2026:

Nitish Rana, Abishek Porel, Ajay Mandal, Ashutosh Sharma, Axar Patel, Dushmantha Chameera, Karun Nair, KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, Madhav Tiwari, Mitchell Starc, Sameer Rizvi, T Natarajan, Tripurana Vijay, Tristan Stubbs, Vipraj Nigam, David Miller, Ben Duckett, Auqib Nabi, Pathum Nissanka, Lungi Ngidi, Sahil Parakh, Prithvi Shaw, Kyle Jamieson.

- ANI
The Ayushman Bharat scheme has authorised a cumulative 11.69 crore hospital admissions as of late February 2026, with over half occurring in private hospitals. The network of empanelled hospitals has expanded dramatically from under 7,000 in 2018-19 to over 36,000. A structured three-tier grievance redressal mechanism is in place to handle patient complaints at district, state, and national levels. The government assures that claims settlement is regular, with defined timelines for state health agencies to process payments.

Govt data shows Ayushman Bharat scheme has authorised 11.69 crore hospital admissions, with 6.74 crore in private hospitals. Grievance redressal system detailed.

New Delhi, March 23 As many as 11.69 crore hospital admissions have been authorised under the Ayushman Bharat scheme till February 28, including 6.74 crore in private hospitals, the Parliament was informed on Monday.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav said that strict guidelines are in place to ensure that hospitals provide treatment to beneficiaries without refusal.

In case of any denial or irregularity, patients can file complaints through the Centralised Grievance Redressal Management System or call the 24x7 toll-free helpline 14555.

"As on February 28, 2026, a total of 11.69 crore hospital admissions have been authorised under the scheme, including 6.74 crore admissions in private hospitals," the minister stated.

"Under AB-PMJAY, such grievances are monitored through a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism at the District, State and National level," Jadhav added.

He added that at each level, designated nodal officers and Grievance Redressal Committees are in place to examine and resolve the grievances.

The government also highlighted that the number of hospitals empanelled under the scheme has seen a sharp rise over the years.

"From 6,917 hospitals in 2018-19, the network has expanded to 36,229 hospitals as of February 28, 2026. This includes 19,483 public hospitals and 16,746 private hospitals, providing a wide healthcare network to beneficiaries across the country," Jadhav explained.

The minister said that empanelment of hospitals is a continuous and voluntary process, carried out by states and Union Territories based on need and availability of eligible healthcare providers as per National Health Authority guidelines.

On claims settlement, the government said the process remains regular and uninterrupted. Claims are settled by State Health Agencies within a defined timeline of 15 days for hospitals within the state and 30 days for cases involving treatment outside the state under portability.

- IANS
The Election Commission of India will publish the first supplementary list of voters for the West Bengal Assembly elections later on Monday. This list includes the results of judicial adjudication for over 28 lakh cases classified under "logical discrepancy," with roughly 34 percent found excludable. The list will be available online and displayed at various government offices, with security measures in place to prevent potential tensions. The state's elections are scheduled to be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29.

ECI publishes first supplementary voter list for Bengal polls after judicial adjudication of 28 lakh cases. Check online from evening.

Kolkata, March 23 The first supplementary list for judicial adjudication of voters classified under the "logical discrepancy category" will be published later on Monday.

As per statistics available from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, till Sunday night, the judicial adjudication process had been completed for 28,06,000 cases, and all these cases will be mentioned in the first supplementary under the "approved" and "rejected" categories.

An insider from the CEO's office said that roughly 34 per cent of cases whose judicial adjudication process has been completed have been found excludable. However, the voters whose names will be found excludable would have the liberty to challenge that in 19 Appellate Tribunals, especially constituted for that purpose.

To recall, the final voters' list in West Bengal, minus those 60 lakh odd names which were referred for judicial adjudication, was published on February 28. As per the order of the Supreme Court, supplementary lists will be published periodically on the basis of the progress of the judicial adjudication, the first of which will be published on Monday.

It is learnt that the list will reach the district magistrates, as well as the district election officers, by afternoon. Voters will be able to see the additional list by going online to the Election Commission of India (ECI)'s website from this evening. The additional list will be displayed at the booths, BDO, SDO offices, and DM offices.

Already, the state police administration, as per the instruction of the ECI, has taken all possible security measures to prevent instances of tension or violence over grievances following the publication of the first supplementary list.

A security-related meeting was held on Sunday at the office. The CEO of West Bengal, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, met with the Joint Force Deployment Committee on this count. The meeting discussed the deployment of Central forces in the upcoming Assembly elections.

The CEO's office insiders said that a plan was made on where and how many forces personnel will be deployed, as well as how the units will operate. The meeting was attended by state police nodal officer Anand Kumar, special police observer N.K. Mishra, central force nodal officers Shalav Mathur and Gaurav Sharma.

Meanwhile, the ECI's top brass at the Commission's headquarters in New Delhi will hold a high-level virtual meeting with the district magistrates, district police superintendents, and the commissioners of different police commissariats in the afternoon.

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.

- IANS
The Bhabanipur assembly constituency is set for a high-voltage rematch between Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, who defeated her in Nandigram in 2021. Despite winning the 2021 by-election here comfortably, the Trinamool Congress is running an intensive, booth-level campaign, wary of alleged electoral malpractices. The BJP candidate is relying on revised electoral rolls and anti-incumbency issues like law and order. The outcome of this second-phase poll on April 29 is a major prestige battle for both leaders and a key indicator of Bengal's political mood.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee faces Suvendu Adhikari in Bhabanipur. TMC wary despite past win. Key battle for state's political future.

New Delhi, March 23 West Bengal's Bhabanipur Vidhan Sabha constituency in South Kolkata is set for a high-voltage contest between Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. Despite outward confidence, the Trinamool Congress is taking no chances.

In the 2021 Assembly elections, Mamata lost to her former aide Adhikari in Nandigram by nearly 2,000 votes. She later sought re-election from Bhabanipur to continue as Chief Minister for a third successive term.

Adhikari, buoyed by his earlier win, urged the BJP leadership to let him contest against her again, this time on her home turf. The party agreed, though he was also asked to file a nomination from Nandigram.

In the 2021 by-election, Mamata won Bhabanipur by close to 59,000 votes, with her party's vote share rising by more than 14 per cent compared to Sovandeb Chatterjee's earlier tally of 58 per cent.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Trinamool's Mala Roy won the Kolkata Dakshin seat, leading in all Assembly segments, including Bhabanipur, where she was ahead by about 6,500 votes. However, the BJP had led in five of Bhabanipur's wards.

Trinamool's state leadership has been tasked with reaching voters at the booth level before the April elections.

State president Subrata Bakshi, Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, South Kolkata district president Debashis Kumar, and local councillors have been entrusted with the outreach, highlighting Mamata's welfare work as Chief Minister.

The Bhabanipur election is scheduled for the second phase on April 29. The Trinamool plans a month-long campaign beginning Monday, March 23, while Mamata will also travel across the state to address rallies. Reports suggest she has asked party workers to remain vigilant on polling day until counting on May 4, warning against any alleged wrongdoing.

Trinamool leaders have implied that Mamata's defeat in Nandigram was due to a late power failure and alleged manual interference during counting.

This time, she has urged party members to be wary of power cuts, stressing that attempts to overturn the mandate could be made even later.

Meanwhile, the BJP candidate is banking on the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls to weed out alleged bogus voters, along with anti-incumbency factors related to law and order and corruption.

While Mamata has cautioned her team against complacency, Trinamool General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee has predicted a vote difference in her favour that will surpass the 2021 by-election result.

The Diamond Harbour MP has asked supporters to ensure a higher turnout at the booth level, aiming to increase the margin to at least 60,000 votes.

- IANS
India observed Shaheedi Diwas on March 23 to honor the martyrdom of revolutionaries Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru, who were executed on this day in 1931. Senior ministers, including Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh, paid rich tributes on social media, calling them immortal heroes who ignited the flame of revolution. The trio, members of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association, sought to avenge Lala Lajpat Rai's death and later bombed the Central Assembly to demand independence. Their ultimate sacrifice is remembered as a decisive turning point that inspired the nation's fight for freedom.

India commemorates Shaheedi Diwas, honoring the martyrdom of freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru. Top ministers pay homage.

New Delhi, March 23 India on Monday marked 'Shaheedi Diwas' to honour the sacrifices made by revolutionaries Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru in the nation's freedom struggle.

Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru were iconic Indian revolutionaries whose execution on March 23, 1931, in Lahore jail fueled the freedom struggle. March 23 is now observed as Shaheedi Diwas.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah took to X and paid homage to the revolutionaries, calling them "epoch-making figures of the Indian freedom struggle who inspired the youth for the liberation of the motherland through both their thoughts and actions".

"The echo of these heroes' valour struck terror into the entire British regime. Recalling the heroic saga of these brave souls who went to the gallows for the freedom of the motherland fills every fibre of my being with patriotic fervour," he added.

Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda said that on this 'Shaheedi Diwas', "I pay my countless salutations to the immortal martyrs Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev Ji, who laid down their lives for the freedom of Mother India".

"With their valour, bravery, and courage, they instilled a sense of self-respect and revolutionary spirit in the hearts of millions of youth across the country, igniting such a flame of revolution that brought the entire freedom struggle to a decisive turning point. The sacrifice and dedication of these great heroic martyrs to the nation serve as an inspiration for us all," he added.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also paid homage to Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru, calling them "immortal sons of Mother India" and lauding their courage, sacrifice, and martyrdom, demonstrated in their resolve to free the nation.

"The sacrifice and patriotism of these great revolutionaries will continue to inspire generations to come," Singh said.

Taking to X, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar said, "On Shaheedi Diwas, pay homage to the indomitable freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. Their unparalleled courage, conviction and commitment to the nation continue to inspire."

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also hailed the immortal sacrifice of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru, who, he said, "ignited the flame of revolution", turning a "golden chapter" in India's history.

"Their courage, dedication, and spirit of patriotism will continue to inspire us with the mantra of 'Nation First' for centuries to come. On this Shaheedi Diwas, a humble tribute to the brave martyrs," the Uttar Pradesh CM said.

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta also took to social media and paid tributes to Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru.

"Their supreme sacrifice for the unity and integrity of the nation will forever be etched in letters of gold in the pages of Indian history. The ideals of these eternal sons continue to inspire us with the strength to remain devoted to the resolve of public service and nation-building," she added.

Members of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), including Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev, sought to avenge Lala Lajpat Rai's death by targeting British officer James Scott. This led to the Saunders shooting in 1928.

Later, they threw bombs in the Central Assembly to demand independence. The three were arrested and sentenced to death.

Inspired by socialist ideas, they believed their ultimate sacrifice would ignite a massive revolutionary movement against colonial rule.

- IANS
The Bharatiya Janata Party is preparing to release its 'Sankalp Patra' manifesto for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections, potentially on March 28. The party hopes Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit the state to launch the document at a grand event in Kolkata. Ahead of the release, BJP national president Nitin Nabin will undertake a two-day visit to West Bengal to discuss the manifesto's final contents and election strategy with the state core group. The ruling Trinamool Congress has already released its own manifesto, while the Left Front and Congress are yet to announce their plans.

BJP set to release 'Sankalp Patra' for West Bengal elections, with possible Amit Shah launch. Nitin Nabin visits for final discussions ahead of polls.

Kolkata, March 23 As the Bharatiya Janata Party prepares to unveil its manifesto this week for the forthcoming two-phase Assembly elections in West Bengal next month, the party's national president, Nitin Nabin, will be on a two-day visit to the state on March 24 and 25.

A senior leader from the BJP's West Bengal state committee said that the manifesto, which the party describes as a "Sankalp Patra", is likely to be released on March 28. The state unit is making efforts to ensure that Union Home Minister Amit Shah visits West Bengal on that day to release it at a grand programme.

"During one of the recent 'Parivartan Yatra' programmes at Raidighi in South 24 Parganas district, Union Home Minister Shah highlighted the initiatives the BJP would undertake if it comes to power in West Bengal after the polls this year. Our manifesto has been prepared based on the commitments he outlined at Raidighi. Apart from that, we have also incorporated suggestions from the general public, which were invited while preparing the manifesto. Hence, we want the Union Home Minister to release it at a grand programme in Kolkata on March 28," said the state committee member.

He added that the schedule of the Union Home Minister's visit to West Bengal has not been finalised yet.

"His ministry will inform us in writing soon. However, it has been tentatively decided that the Union Home Minister will visit West Bengal on March 27 and 28. Accordingly, we have planned the release of our manifesto on March 29 by him," the state committee member said.

At the same time, he added that before releasing the manifesto, the state committee will discuss its final contents with Nitin Nabin, who will be on a two-day visit to West Bengal on March 24 and 25.

Nitin Nabin will also participate in various organisational meetings in Kolkata, with special emphasis on a meeting with the core group of BJP leaders in the state. "The focus of discussion will be the forthcoming two-phase Assembly polls in West Bengal next month," the party's state committee member said.

The Trinamool Congress has already released its election manifesto on March 20, outlining a 10-point promise for West Bengal across sectors. It is not yet known when the CPI(M)-led Left Front and Congress will release their respective manifestos.

- IANS
India's NIA has reportedly arrested Ukrainian and US nationals accused of illegally entering Mizoram and crossing into Myanmar to train armed groups in drone warfare. A report claims the detainees have ties to Ukrainian intelligence and military units, suggesting a transfer of expertise from the Ukraine-Russia war. Ukrainian authorities have categorically denied the allegations as baseless and incompatible with official policy. The case underscores the complex intersection of regional conflicts, intelligence activities, and the global proliferation of drone capabilities.

Report alleges Ukrainian nationals arrested in India trained Myanmar armed groups with drones. Ukraine calls claims "baseless." Investigation ongoing.

New Delhi, March 22 A complex and controversial investigation involving foreign nationals has highlighted alleged links to covert activities in Myanmar's ongoing conflict, even as Ukraine has strongly denied all accusations, according to a report.

The development follows action by India's National Investigation Agency (NIA), which reportedly arrested a group of Ukrainian citizens along with a US national.

According to a report by India Narrative, "the detainees have close ties to intelligence services and military units," based on analysis of open-source information, although no official confirmation has been provided by Washington, which has declined to comment.

Investigators claim the suspects entered India on tourist visas before illegally travelling to Mizoram and crossing into Myanmar through unofficial routes. The individuals are accused of violating movement and border laws, and more seriously, of "training armed groups based in Myanmar, using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)," including their assembly, deployment, and electronic warfare use.

The report notes that the NIA suspects a wider network may be involved, pointing out that multiple Ukrainian nationals had entered India and travelled to Mizoram without required permits.

"Given that 14 Ukrainian citizens entered India in this manner at various times and also travelled to Mizoram without permits."

However, Ukrainian authorities have categorically rejected the claims, stating that the allegations are "baseless and incompatible with the country's official policy."

"Ukrainian officials have stated that these allegations are baseless and incompatible with the country's official policy. Kyiv has categorically denied that its nationals were involved in training militant groups in Myanmar or supplying them with drone technology. However, an analysis of open-source materials and data suggests that some of the detainees may be connected to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and military intelligence (HUR)," the report stated.

Among those identified in the investigation is Ivan Sukmanovsky, who is reportedly linked through leaked data to a Ukrainian military unit. Open-source findings suggest that the unit may have "electronic warfare and reconnaissance capabilities," raising questions about the expertise allegedly being transferred.

Another detainee, Marian Stefankiv, was reportedly linked to the "Aratta" unit, which, according to the report, "specialises in assault and sabotage operations, reconnaissance missions... and the use of unmanned systems in modern warfare." In a past interview, Stefankiv stated that he "began training in the operation of unmanned aerial vehicles immediately" after joining the unit in 2014.

The report further claims that such activities reflect the "internationalisation of Ukraine's war experience," suggesting that expertise gained in its conflict with Russia may be leveraged in other global theatres.

It further suggested that Ukrainian expertise in drone warfare "is being actively adopted... while intelligence agencies are evidently leveraging it for covert operations worldwide."

"Notably, this is not the first time that Kyiv has supported illegal armed groups and terrorist organisations in various regions of the world. Ukrainian intelligence agencies have previously been observed training militants in Mali and Sudan. These actions are intended to oppose Russia-friendly governments and destabilise areas where Russian military forces are deployed," said the report.

While these claims remain contested, the case has drawn attention to the increasingly complex overlap of regional conflicts, intelligence operations, and emerging drone warfare capabilities, with investigations still ongoing.

- IANS
Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz Pereira has called on future subnational authorities to collaborate with the central government to address the country's economic and institutional challenges. He made the appeal after voting in Tarija, where elections are being held to choose over 5,400 officials for the 2026-2031 term. The president emphasized that the current situation requires coordinated efforts among all levels of government for national recovery. The electoral process involves over 7.4 million voters and a massive deployment of personnel to ensure security and transparency.

Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz Pereira urges newly elected local authorities to unite with the central government to tackle the nation's economic and institutional challenges.

La Paz, March 23 Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz Pereira called on future subnational authorities to work with the central government to address the country's economic and institutional challenges.

Paz Pereira made this appeal after casting his vote in the southern city of Tarija on Sunday (local time), where elections are being held to choose more than 5,400 officials, including governors, mayors and local legislators for the 2026-2031 term.

"We will work with those elected by the will of the people," he said, adding that the elections offer an opportunity to strengthen democracy and encourage citizen participation.

He said the current situation requires coordinated efforts among the central government, regional authorities, and the legislature to pursue a common agenda for national recovery, reports Xinhua news agency.

The president also highlighted his administration's progress in economic management, international engagement, security and anti-corruption efforts.

More than 7.4 million eligible voters were expected to take part in the elections across more than 33,000 polling stations.

Around 250,000 personnel were deployed across the nation to ensure transparency and security in the subnational elections, in which more than 7.4 million citizens were to vote.

According to Carlos Alberto Goitia, a member of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), the deployment covered 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, who were assigned to more than 33,000 polling stations, along with temporary staff, police, military personnel and prosecutors.

About 18,000 candidates were running in the elections, reflecting the scale and complexity of the process. Around 17,000 temporary workers supported the preliminary results transmission system to provide early voting trends.

More than 32,000 police officers were deployed to ensure election security, while the armed forces will offer logistical support.

- IANS
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has called for a renewed and unified push for regional integration through CELAC to safeguard sovereignty and strategic interests. He warned that political fragmentation exposes the region to external influence and allows transnational crime networks to thrive, necessitating coordinated strategies. Lula emphasized defending democracy from digital misinformation and advocated for greater economic integration to develop value-added industries beyond raw material exports. Concluding his address, he urged member nations to transform their diversity into strength through unity for global engagement.

Brazilian President Lula da Silva pushes for Latin American unity at CELAC summit, stressing sovereignty, fighting crime, and boosting regional integration.

Sao Paulo, March 23 Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has called for a renewed push towards regional integration and a firmer collective stance against external pressures during the CELAC Summit in Bogota.

In a speech delivered by Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira at the summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States on behalf of the Brazilian President, Lula emphasised that the region must act with unity to safeguard its sovereignty and strategic interests.

He described CELAC as a key platform for asserting the unique identity of Latin America and the Caribbean on the global stage, warning that weakening the bloc could expose the region to external influence.

The Brazilian President highlighted growing concerns over political fragmentation, organised crime and economic vulnerabilities, urging countries to adopt coordinated strategies. He stressed that stronger cooperation is essential to tackle transnational crime networks, which thrive in fragmented environments, and called for targeting not just operatives but entire command structures, including financial networks.

Lula also underscored the importance of defending democracy, cautioning against digital misinformation and external interference. He noted that modern threats extend beyond traditional forms of intervention, with technology playing an increasingly influential role in shaping political narratives, as reported by Brasil 247.

On economic priorities, Lula advocated for greater regional integration in infrastructure, trade and production chains. He pointed out that Latin America possesses vast natural and strategic resources, including critical minerals essential for global industries, but must move beyond exporting raw materials to develop value-added industries.

The President further criticised the long-term impact of neoliberal economic policies, calling for stronger state-led development focused on public welfare and inclusive growth. He emphasised the need for improved public services, employment opportunities and social protection.

Concluding his address, Lula urged member nations to transform diversity into strength through unity, reaffirming CELAC's role as a vital instrument for regional cooperation and global engagement.

- ANI
Brent crude oil prices have skyrocketed to around $112 per barrel, marking a staggering 56% increase in just 30 days, driven by the US-Iran-Israel conflict. The conflict has severely disrupted key supply routes like the Strait of Hormuz and damaged energy infrastructure in Qatar, impacting global LNG flows. India, which imports nearly half its gas from Qatar, faces significant risk as its crude oil imports plunged to 1.9 million barrels in early March from weekly averages of 25-35 million. Key Middle Eastern suppliers like Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the UAE have also seen major declines in their export volumes, intensifying global energy security concerns.

Brent crude surges to $112/barrel, up 56% in a month. Middle East conflict disrupts supply via Strait of Hormuz, hits Qatar LNG, and threatens India's energy imports.

New Delhi, March 23 Brent crude prices have surged sharply by more than 60 per cent since the beginning of the US-Iran-Israel conflict, rising to around USD 112 per barrel on Monday from approximately USD 70 per barrel prior to the conflict, reflecting severe disruptions in global energy supply.

In just the last 30 days, crude prices have increased by around 56 per cent, highlighting the intensity of the ongoing supply shock.

The sharp rise in oil prices comes as the conflict in West Asia has disrupted key supply routes, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important global channels for crude trade.

The crisis has also impacted global liquefied natural gas (LNG) flows. The situation has been further aggravated by attacks on energy infrastructure in Qatar. Iranian strikes have damaged key facilities, affecting around 17 per cent of Qatar's LNG export capacity.

This poses a significant risk for India, which imports about 47 per cent of its gas requirements from Qatar.

According to a report by Systematix Research, India's crude oil imports have seen a sharp decline in early March due to disruptions in the region.

The report stated, "India's import volume also nosedived to just 1.9mn bbls at week ended 6th Mar vs 25mn bbls per week in Feb'26 and 35mn bbls per week in Mar'26."

It attributed the decline to weakening crude supply from the Middle East amid ongoing tensions. "Drop is largely attributed to lower volume from Middle East," the report said.

The report further highlighted that key suppliers such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the UAE have witnessed significant declines in export volumes.

"Saudi Arabia dropped to 26mn bbls and 12 mn bbls in the 1st and 2nd week of March vs avg of 42 and 33 mn bbls per week in Feb'26," it added.

The continued disruption in supply chains, coupled with damage to critical energy infrastructure, has intensified concerns over energy availability and pricing, particularly for import-dependent countries like India.

- ANI
Canada is facing renewed calls to take firm action against Khalistani extremist elements operating from its territory, which remains a persistent issue in bilateral ties with India. An opinion piece argues Ottawa must decisively confront networks promoting violence and intimidation, not legitimate political expression. It emphasizes that most Canadian Sikhs do not support separatist extremism and that conflating the community with fringe elements is harmful. Failure to act risks allowing extremists to exploit democratic freedoms and further damage India-Canada relations.

New Delhi calls for decisive action from Ottawa against Khalistani separatist networks using Canadian soil for anti-India propaganda and threats.

New Delhi, March 22 Canada is facing fresh calls to take firm action against Khalistani extremist elements operating from its soil, amid concerns that separatist networks continue to use the country as a base for anti-India activities.

The issue has remained a persistent irritant in ties between India and Canada, with New Delhi repeatedly raising concerns about pro-Khalistan groups organising events, spreading propaganda and targeting Indian diplomatic missions.

An opinion piece published by Khalsa Vox argued that Ottawa can no longer ignore the activities of extremist elements advocating the creation of Khalistan and must move decisively against networks promoting violence and intimidation.

The commentary said the problem is not about restricting legitimate political expression but about confronting individuals and organisations that glorify violence, issue threats, and attempt to radicalise sections of the diaspora.

It noted that extremist rhetoric and campaigns directed at Indian diplomats and institutions have continued in recent years, raising questions about the effectiveness of Canada's response to such activities.

The article also emphasised that the vast majority of Sikhs living in Canada do not support separatist extremism and that conflating the broader community with fringe elements would be both inaccurate and harmful.

According to the commentary, failure to act against extremist groups risks allowing them to exploit democratic freedoms to promote divisive and violent agendas while damaging bilateral ties.

India has on several occasions conveyed its concerns over the activities of pro-Khalistan organisations abroad, urging Canadian authorities to take stronger action against groups and individuals linked to separatist propaganda and violence.

The opinion piece argued that decisive steps against extremist networks would not only help protect democratic institutions but could also contribute to rebuilding trust in relations between India and Canada.

It added that addressing the issue firmly would send a clear signal that advocacy of violence and intimidation has no place in democratic societies.

- IANS
Former Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma has emphasized that the two nations must work together, calling the current shift "diplomatic pragmatism." He welcomed a recent RCMP statement distinguishing the legal case around Hardeep Singh Nijjar's death from broader, unsubstantiated claims of Indian state-sponsored interference. Verma criticized the previous Canadian administration under Justin Trudeau, suggesting the allegations were "politically motivated" and rooted in "vote-bank politics." He expressed satisfaction that the narrative of official Indian involvement in transnational repression in Canada has not been proven.

Former Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma calls for Canada-India collaboration, criticizes past allegations as politically motivated, and welcomes recent RCMP clarification.

New Delhi, March 22 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
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced the Congress party's candidates for the upcoming Bagalkote and Davanagere South by-elections, stating the decisions were made by consensus among party leaders. He revealed that Umesh Meti, son of late HY Meti, will contest from Bagalkote, while Samarth Mallikarjuna, grandson of Shamanur Shivashankarappa, will run from Davanagere South. Shivakumar addressed questions about minority community aspirations, confirming that while demands were made, the party arrived at a unanimous decision to support the selected families. He dismissed discussions on opposition candidates, emphasizing internal party unity and the developmental legacy of the Shamanur family in Davanagere.

Deputy CM DK Shivakumar announces Congress candidates for Bagalkote and Davanagere South by-elections, ending media speculation on ticket allocation.

Bengaluru, March 22 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
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become India's longest-serving head of government, surpassing 8,931 days in office across his tenures as Gujarat Chief Minister and Prime Minister. BJP leaders praised his dedication to public service and his impact on improving the lives of the poorest citizens. The milestone coincides with his massive digital influence, where he is the most-followed world leader on platforms like YouTube and Instagram. His leadership has also seen his party secure three consecutive Lok Sabha victories.

BJP leaders hail PM Modi's record-breaking tenure, highlighting poverty alleviation and global leadership as he surpasses 8,931 days in office.

New Delhi, March 23 Bharatiya Janata Party leaders on Monday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he became the longest-serving head of government in the country, highlighting his contributions to governance and public service.

Speaking to ANI, BJP MP VD Sharma said, "The Prime Minister has recorded history... He changed the fate of the poorest of the poor."

Rajya Sabha MP Dinesh Sharma also praised PM Modi's dedication as India advances globally.

"What bigger example can it be of dedication to public service... He has established himself as a global leader because while the world suffers, India goes on with the continuous pace," he told ANI.

BJP MP Arun Govil also added, "We are fortunate to have such a leader for whom the nation always comes first, and who never plays politics like the opposition..."

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
Nine cheetahs translocated from Botswana to Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park have successfully completed their quarantine period of over 20 days and are reported to be in good health. They will now be released into a larger enclosure within the park's forest area. The park has expanded its managed area to nearly 1,000 hectares with upgraded quarantine facilities. Kuno now hosts a unique and diverse population of cheetahs from Namibia, South Africa, and Botswana, with the total number in Madhya Pradesh reaching 53.

Nine cheetahs from Botswana complete quarantine at MP's Kuno National Park, reported fit and healthy. Park now hosts cheetahs from three countries.

Sheopur, March 23 Nine cheetahs translocated from Botswana and released at the Kuno National Park in Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh earlier late last month now have completed more than 20 days of quarantine period and the health of all these big cats is reported to be fit and healthy.

Senior Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Uttam Sharma, who is currently serving as Feld Director of Kuno National Park and handling the 'Project Cheetah', told IANS on Monday that "all nine cheetahs brought from Botswana are healthy and fit (till date)".

He said that all these nine cheetahs will complete their quarantine enclosure and then they will be released into a large enclosure within the Kuno's forest area.

"After completing more than 20 days in quarantine, all cheetahs have successfully cleared the required health protocol," Sharma said in a newsletter of Kuno National Park.

Sharing details about the preparations before a new set of nine cheetahs had arrived, he said a new soft release bomas of about 265 hectares was added to the existing 700 hectares of enclosed natural forest, taking the total managed area to nearly 1,000 hectares.

"At the same time, the quarantine bomas was upgraded -- cleaned, strengthened and equipped with adequate water and shade, especially keeping the approaching summer in mind," the Kuno's newsletter also added.

Interestingly, Kuno National Park now hosts cheetahs from three countries -- Namibia, South Africa and Botswana along with cheetah cubs born on Indian soil (at Kuno National Park) in the past three years after the ambitious 'Project Cheetah' introduced on September 17, 2022.

"Cheetahs from three different countries -- Namibia, South Africa and Botswana -- creating a unique and diverse genetic mix, perhaps unmatched anywhere in the world," Sharma added.

The number of cheetahs in Madhya Pradesh have increased to 53, including 38 Indian born cubs, and only three of them are in the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, while the rest others are at the Kuno National Park.

- IANS
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has hailed the government's timely RELIEF initiative for providing crucial support to exporters facing disruptions from the Iran war. CII President-designate R. Mukundan stated the measure acts as a buffer against rising costs, helping maintain production and export competitiveness. This comes as India's merchandise trade deficit narrowed to $27.1 billion in February, with exports showing resilience. The data is set against the backdrop of the Strait of Hormuz blockage, which has impacted global oil transit and Indian commodity exports.

CII applauds government's RELIEF initiative for exporters, citing resilience amid Iran war disruptions and a narrowing trade deficit.

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 India's growth story while supporting the country's emergence as a reliable global manufacturing hub, he added.

India's 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 country's 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.

India's merchandise exports stood at $402.93 billion for April-February 2025-26, 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 world's oil and gas exports transit. The blocking of the Strait has also hit India's exports of commodities such as rice to the Middle East countries.

- IANS
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has announced a plan to merge major hospitals like GTB and the Cancer Institute into a single autonomous body modeled after AIIMS. The initiative aims to fix fragmented resources, significantly increase postgraduate medical seats, and introduce new specialty courses. By pooling faculty and optimizing infrastructure, the government seeks to create a premier national medical hub for treatment and innovation. The merger is expected to streamline operations and provide better training for students and superior care for patients.

CM Rekha Gupta announces plan to merge GTB, Cancer Institute & other major Delhi hospitals into one autonomous body to increase PG seats & efficiency.

New Delhi, March 22 Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday announced a plan to merge major hospitals like GTB, the Cancer Institute, and Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality into one autonomous body, similar to the AIIMS model, aiming to create a more efficient healthcare system and turn Delhi into a premier national medical hub.

According to the Delhi CMO, this integration aims to fix the current issue of fragmented resources and manpower, creating a more efficient healthcare system and turning Delhi into a premier national medical hub.

A major goal of this merger is to significantly increase the number of postgraduate (PG) medical seats.

The CMO stated that by pooling faculty members together, the hospitals can meet the teaching requirements needed to train more specialists.

"For instance, departments like radiology, pathology, and anaesthesia are expected to see a massive jump in available seats once their teams are combined and vacancies are filled," it said.

The plan will introduce new PG courses in areas that currently don't offer them, such as radiation oncology and cardiology.

By recruiting new faculty and building better academic infrastructure -- including modern labs, hostels, and lecture halls -- the government is creating a better learning environment.

This expansion also paves the way for a future increase in MBBS seats.

The CMO stated that this move is about more than just adding hospital beds; it's about fostering medical research and advanced education.

"By optimising the use of high-tech equipment and expert staff, the Delhi government hopes to provide students with better training and patients with superior care, establishing the city as a leader in both medical treatment and innovation," it added.

The merger of major hospitals into one autonomous body is expected to address the challenge of fragmented resources and manpower that has affected the efficiency of healthcare delivery in the capital.

By creating a unified system similar to AIIMS, the government aims to streamline operations, improve coordination, and maximise the utilisation of available infrastructure and expertise.

- ANI
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has announced that the upcoming 2026-27 budget will be a significant step towards realizing the vision of a 'Developed Delhi, Green Delhi.' The budget aims to accelerate development by improving healthcare, education, and robust infrastructure for the capital's residents. Emphasizing that this vision is more than a slogan, Gupta stated the goal is to create a safe, prosperous, and dignified living environment. The budget session commenced with a traditional 'kheer ceremony,' symbolizing prosperity and a commitment to public welfare.

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta pledges a transformative budget focused on infrastructure, healthcare, education, and a greener capital for its 30 million residents.

New Delhi, March 23 Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday reiterated her government's commitment to the vision of a 'Developed Delhi, Green Delhi,' stating that Budget 2026-27 would be a significant step towards fulfilling the aspirations of nearly 30 million residents of the capital.

Chief Minister Gupta said the government's second budget, scheduled to be presented on Tuesday, would accelerate Delhi's development.

She noted that it would not only strengthen infrastructure but also improve the overall quality of life for residents.

"The budget aims to move Delhi towards becoming a city where citizens have access to better healthcare, quality education, robust infrastructure, and a clean and green environment," she said.

She added that priority would be given to improving facilities for students, strengthening healthcare infrastructure, ensuring cleanliness, controlling pollution, and promoting a greener ecosystem.

Emphasising that 'Developed Delhi, Green Delhi' is not merely a slogan but a clear vision of the government, the Chief Minister said the goal is to create a positive, safe, and prosperous environment where people can live with comfort and dignity.

She added that while the government worked over the past year to change the city's direction, the upcoming budget would focus on taking concrete steps to improve its overall condition.

Expressing gratitude to the people of Delhi, the Chief Minister said the government continues to function with their trust and support.

She reaffirmed that the administration remains committed to serving citizens round the clock and will continue working every day to make Delhi a better place.

Earlier, the Delhi Assembly's budget session began with the traditional 'kheer ceremony,' marking the formal start of proceedings.

She said the 'kheer ceremony' is not just a customary start to the budget process, but also a symbol of prosperity, good fortune, and a commitment to public welfare, values that will be reflected in the forthcoming budget.

The ceremony saw participation from a wide cross-section of society, including farmers, school students, teachers, doctors, members of the transgender community, women drivers, and media personnel.

On the occasion, farmers honoured the Chief Minister by presenting her with a traditional turban. Several prominent leaders were also present, including Cabinet Ministers Parvesh Sahib Singh, Ashish Sood, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Ravindra Indraj Singh, and Kapil Mishra, along with MLAs and other dignitaries.

- IANS
Congress leader Pawan Khera expressed strong confidence that the party and its allies will form governments with landslide victories in the upcoming Kerala and Assam Assembly elections. He cited intense anti-incumbency sentiment against the ruling parties, specifically targeting Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and alleging corruption. Khera also accused Kerala's Left leadership of adopting the BJP's rhetoric on appeasement, distancing Congress from such politics. Regarding West Bengal, he stated the party decided to contest independently to strengthen its organizational base and increase its vote share.

Congress leader Pawan Khera predicts landslide victories for the party's alliances in Kerala and Assam, citing strong anti-incumbency against BJP and Left governments.

New Delhi, March 22 Congress leader Pawan Khera on Sunday expressed confidence in his party's prospects in the upcoming Assembly elections, stating that the Congress and its allies are set to form governments in Kerala and Assam, citing strong anti-incumbency and public demand for change.

Speaking on the political situation, Khera said that ground reports from both states indicate a clear shift in voter sentiment.

"The ground situation in both states shows that people are eager and ready for change. It's clear that our alliance of the United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala is going to win with a landslide victory. Meanwhile, in Assam, the alliance we've formed, the anger within the BJP, the anti-incumbency sentiment not only against the BJP government but also against Himanta Biswa Sarma personally, both within the party and within the state, clearly indicates that the Congress Party and its alliance are going to form the government with a landslide victory," he said.

Responding to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's remarks on Rahul Gandhi, Khera accused the Left leadership of echoing the BJP's language.

"The Kerala Chief Minister has even borrowed the word 'appeasement' directly from the BJP's vocabulary and is using it. So, you can understand who is whose B-team... The ideology of the Indian National Congress is inherently inclusive. Therefore, the accusation that we do politics for any one community or caste can never be levelled against us," he said.

On the issue of resignations by some Congress leaders in Assam, Khera said that the party remains united and continues to fight the elections with full strength under state leadership.

"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," he added.

Speaking about the Kerala Assembly elections, Khera said the political landscape has shifted, and voters are aligning with Congress's vision and promises.

"This election is different... Now, change is necessary, and people are understanding the Congress's vision, the guarantees it has given, and the promises it has made. We're going to win there with a very overwhelming majority," he said.

On the West Bengal Assembly elections, Khera said the party has decided to contest independently to strengthen its organisation and expand its vote share.

"Our state unit there decided that we have our vote. We need to organise ourselves, strengthen our organisation, and fight alone to increase our vote. So, whatever the state unit decided, we supported them," he said.

Highlighting the party's strategy, he added that the focus remains on expanding its electoral base.

"Congress has a vote bank, a vote share in every assembly. How do we increase that and make it decisive? This is a challenge, and our state unit has accepted that challenge. Now let's see what happens in the elections. Only after the elections will we know how much our hard work paid off. But we will leave no stone unturned," he said.

- ANI
The Congress party has declared it will contest the upcoming Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections independently. This comes as the ruling BJP continues negotiations with its ally, the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), to finalize a seat-sharing arrangement. The Congress campaign will focus on socio-economic development for tribal communities and key issues like direct central funding for the council. Polling for the 30-member council is scheduled for April 12, with the Left Front also actively campaigning.

Congress announces solo run for Tripura tribal council polls as BJP negotiates seat-sharing with ally TMP. Key issues include tribal development and funding.

Agartala, March 22 Even as the BJP continues discussions with its ally, the Tipra Motha Party, 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.

- IANS
BJP aims for third term under Himanta Biswa Sarma

The Indian National Congress has released its fifth list of seven candidates for the upcoming Assam Assembly elections, bringing its total announced candidates to 101. The elections for the 126-seat assembly are scheduled to be held on April 9, 2026. The Congress will challenge the incumbent BJP-led NDA government, which is seeking a third consecutive term under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. In the previous 2021 elections, the NDA alliance secured 75 seats while the Congress-led grand alliance won only 16.

Congress releases fifth list of 7 candidates for Assam polls, bringing total announced to 101. Elections scheduled for April 9, 2026.

Guwahati, March 22 The Indian National Congress on Sunday released its fifth list of seven candidates, totalling 101 candidates for the upcoming Assam Assembly elections.

Joseph Hasda, Birkhang Boro, Rajat Kanti Saha, Anchula Gwara Daimary, Narayan Adhikari, Nirmal Langthasa, and Amar Chand Jain have been named in the latest list.

Earlier, on March 20, Congress had released its fourth list, formally allocating 11 seats to its ally Raijor Dal.

On March 19, the party announced its third list of 22 candidates, bringing the total number of seats announced so far to 87 out of 126 for the Assam Assembly polls scheduled on April 9, 2026. The list includes experienced leaders such as Jakir Hussain Sikdar, Roselina Tirkey, Pradip Sarkar, and Abdur Rahim Ahmed.

On March 14, Congress released its second list of candidates, naming 23 individuals. The party stated that 15 constituencies, including Bhowanipur-Sorbhoog, Bajali, Palasbari, Guwahati Central, Goreswar, Morigaon, and Barhampur, have been left for alliance partners.

Counting of votes in Assam is scheduled for May 4, 2026.

Earlier, on March 3, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) announced its first list of 42 candidates for the Assam Legislative Assembly elections.

Assam will witness a fight between the incumbent BJP-led NDA government and Congress for the 126-seat assembly.

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.

In the 2021 Assembly elections, the NDA, comprising the BJP, AGP and United People's Party Liberal (UPPL), won 75 seats with the BJP alone winning 60 seats. The Congress and AIUDF had formed a grand alliance along with the BPF and the communist parties, but the alliance performed poorly with just 16 seats out of 126.

Voter turnout was as high as 86.2 per cent with over 2. 2 crore registered voters in 2021.

- ANI
CBI Director Praveen Sood stated that combating modern, technology-enabled transnational corruption requires robust international cooperation. He highlighted the GlobE Network's platform for secure information exchange among global law enforcement agencies. Enforcement Directorate chief Rahul Navin emphasized asset recovery as a core measure of success, noting the ED has restituted nearly $5.6 billion. India is hosting the 12th Steering Committee Meeting of the GlobE Network, reflecting its active role in the global anti-corruption framework.

CBI Director Praveen Sood emphasizes international collaboration and asset recovery as key tools in the fight against sophisticated, transnational corruption.

New Delhi, March 23 Central Bureau of Investigation director Praveen Sood said on Monday that corruption today is transnational, sophisticated, and increasingly enabled by technology, making international cooperation not a matter of choice but an absolute necessity.

Delivering the keynote address at the 12th Steering Committee Meeting of the Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities, Sood highlighted the GlobE Network's Secure Communication Platform as a highly effective tool for encrypted and real-time information exchange among member authorities.

He called upon all member agencies to actively engage with the CBI, share actionable intelligence, and make full use of available cooperation mechanisms.

Sood highlighted CBI's role as the National Central Bureau of INTERPOL, underscoring the extensive international cooperation it facilitates.

He spoke about how timely, coordinated action can make a decisive difference in ensuring that offenders are brought to justice and that illicit assets are recovered.

The federal agency's chief praised the GlobE Network for providing a platform for more real-time connections and collaboration than other platforms.

He reaffirmed India's full commitment to working with all members to make the GlobE Network a strong and effective pillar of global anti-corruption cooperation.

Earlier, Enforcement Directorate chief Rahul Navin said at the meeting that under the modern anti-corruption framework enshrined in the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), asset recovery is not an afterthought but the truest measure of enforcement success.

He said the ED has restituted assets worth nearly $5.6 billion, including in corruption cases, with a significant portion achieved in just the past couple of years.

Earlier, Enforcement Directorate chief Rahul Navin said at the meeting that under the modern anti-corruption framework enshrined in the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), asset recovery is not an afterthought but the truest measure of enforcement success.

He said the ED has restituted assets worth nearly $5.6 billion, including in corruption cases, with a significant portion achieved in just the past couple of years.

India's track record in asset recovery places it among the most active jurisdictions globally in returning stolen assets to the state and to victims, the statement said, adding that the country's hosting of the 12th GlobE Steering Committee Meeting reflects its growing stature in the international anti-corruption order.

The three-day meeting, being held from March 23 to 25, brings together the 15 member nations of the Steering Committee to deliberate on the Network's strategic direction, operational priorities, and evolving frameworks for international cooperation.

The 15 nations currently serving on the GlobE Steering Committee are: Azerbaijan, Brazil, China (including Hong Kong and Macau SARs), Ethiopia, Grenada, India, Italy, Nigeria, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, South Africa, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates.

- IANS
The DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance has finalized its seat-sharing arrangement, with the CPI(M) securing five constituencies and the Congress party contesting 28 seats. The opposition NDA alliance also concluded its deal, allocating 178 seats to the AIADMK and 27 to the BJP. Tamil Nadu will vote in a single phase on April 23, with results due on May 4. The electoral landscape also includes actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam as a key contender.

DMK allocates 5 seats to CPI(M) in Secular Progressive Alliance. Congress gets 28. NDA's AIADMK to contest 178 seats. Polls on April 23.

Chennai, March 24 Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Communist Party of India on Monday finalised the seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

CPI(M), a constituent of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, will contest in five seats.

"In a discussion held today (March 23, 2026) regarding seat-sharing arrangements for the upcoming 2026 Legislative Assembly general election--between the President of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the Chief Minister MK Stalin, and the Secretary of the Tamil Nadu State Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], P Shanmugam--it was decided that the Communist Party of India (Marxist), a constituent of the Secular Progressive Alliance, will contest in 5 (five) Legislative Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu," a press note from the parties read.

Congress will contest 28 seats as part of the DMK-led front.

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), led by President Thol Thirumavalavan, also held a meeting with their alliance partner DMK at a private hotel in Chennai to discuss the seat-sharing formula.

The opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) also finalised its seat-sharing arrangement for the 234-member Tamil Nadu assembly.

Under the agreement, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) will contest 178 seats, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 27 followed by the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) 18 and the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam 11 seats.

Tamil Nadu will go to the polls in a single phase on April 23, with counting scheduled for May 4. The tenure of the assembly ends on May 10.

Apart from the ruling DMK-led alliance and the NDA, actor-turned-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam is also in the fray.

- ANI
The Deendayal Port Authority in Kandla has successfully conducted a landmark triple banking ship-to-ship operation, a first for any strong tidal port. The complex transfer involved moving 117,000 tons from a Capesize vessel to a transhipment vessel, followed by a tandem transfer of 77,000 tons to a Panamax vessel. This achievement comes as the port gears up to handle a surge of 22 vessels over the next 72 hours, including the Thai-flagged Mayuree Naree, which was recently attacked near the Strait of Hormuz. The operation highlights India's port efficiency amid heightened regional maritime security risks, following the recent passage of another crude carrier through the conflict-prone strait.

Deendayal Port Kandla achieves a historic first by conducting a triple banking ship-to-ship transfer at a strong tidal port, handling nearly 200,000 tons.

Kandla, March 23 In a landmark achievement, the Deendayal Port Authority Kandla on Monday successfully conducted a Triple Banking Ship-to-Ship operation which is the first-ever at a strong tidal port.

According to an update on 'X', a Capesize vessel discharged 1,17,000 tons to a transhipment vessel, followed by a tandem transfer of 77,000 tons onto a Panamax vessel.

"Kandla creates history at sea! A seamless, high-precision maritime operation, flawlessly handled !!! Kandla undertakes Triple Banking Ship-to-Ship (STS) Operation - First-ever at a strong tidal Port !! Capesize Vessel discharged 1,17,000 Tons to transshipper, with tandem transfer of 77,000 Tons onto a Panamax Vessel," the 'X' post said.

Earlier on March 13, Deendayal Port Authority, Kandla informed that it has geared up to handle 22 vessels in the next three days, amid an expected surge in incoming vessels.DPA Kandla wrote on X on Friday, "Going to handle 22 vessels in the next 72 hours."

"Deendayal Port Authority, Kandla gears up to handle the surge in incoming vessels. Systems working efficiently to accommodate reconfigured voyages and provide services to the best possible standards," the post read.

Thai flagged vessel Mayuree Naree which had come under attack in the Straits of Hormuz on March 11, is among the ships expected at the Kandla Port. Some of the vessels expected are likely to be carrying Crude to India.

On Thursday, a Liberia-flagged tanker Shenlong Suezmax carrying Saudi crude reached Mumbai Port, becoming the first India-bound vessel to pass through the Strait of Hormuz since the Iran-US conflict began. The tanker had loaded crude from Ras Tanura port in Saudi Arabia on March 1 and departed on March 3.

Maritime tracking data showed the vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on March 8 before it temporarily went off tracking systems.

The tanker reportedly switched off its Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponder while navigating the high-risk stretch of the strait and reappeared on tracking systems on March 9. The transponder is a mandatory maritime VHF radio system that automatically broadcasts a ship's identity, position, speed, and course to nearby vessels and shore stations to prevent collisions and improve navigation.

- ANI
The Delhi Legislative Assembly will convene on Monday to address a censure motion related to the opposition's move for the Lok Sabha Speaker's removal. Several committee reports, including from the Public Accounts and Privileges committees, will be presented. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta will table multiple Comptroller and Auditor General reports covering state finances and departmental audits from 2020-2023. The session sets the stage for the upcoming budget presentation on March 24, 2026, marking a critical period for Delhi's financial planning.

Delhi Assembly to take up censure motion, present multiple CAG audit reports, and lay groundwork for 2026 budget session starting March 23.

New Delhi, March 22 The Delhi Legislative Assembly is set to take up key business on Monday, including a censure motion moved by Member Shikha Roy concerning the resolution brought by the Opposition in the Lok Sabha for the removal of the Lok Sabha Speaker.

The House will also see the presentation of several reports, with Deputy Speaker Mohan Singh Bisht and Abhay Verma presenting the Fourth Report of the Business Advisory Committee, Ajay Mahawar and Arvinder Singh Lovely presenting the First and Second Reports of the Committee on Public Accounts, Ajay Mahawar and Satish Upadhyay presenting the Third Report of the same Committee, and Parduyman Singh Rajput alongside Abhay Verma presenting the Second Report of the Committee of Privileges.

In addition, Chief Minister and Finance Minister Rekha Gupta will lay on the Table copies of multiple reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India relating to state finances, performance audits, and the functioning of key departments and universities in Delhi for the years 2020-2023.

Minister of Higher Education Ashish Sood will lay annual accounts and separate audit reports of the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi, Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar University of Delhi, and the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board, along with the Annual Report of IIIT Delhi.

Minister of Food & Supplies Manjinder Singh Sirsa will also lay copies of notifications from the Weights and Measures Department pertaining to amendments in Delhi Legal Metrology (Enforcement) Rules.

The Budget for the National Capital Territory of Delhi is scheduled to be presented in the House on March 24, 2026, marking a key highlight of the session and setting the stage for important financial and policy deliberations.

The release on Saturday said the upcoming Budget Session assumes particular significance in the legislative calendar, as key financial and policy matters are set to be deliberated, shaping the governance and developmental trajectory of the National Capital Territory of Delhi.

The Second Part of the Fourth Session (Budget Session) of the Eighth Legislative Assembly will be held from March 23 to 25, 2026.

- ANI
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva led party workers in paying floral tributes to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev on their martyrdom day at the city BJP office. He stated that the three revolutionaries, executed on March 23, 1931, are immortal heroes whose sacrifice inspires the nation's youth. In a separate event, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta unveiled a statue of Bhagat Singh and inaugurated a restored historical court trial room where the freedom fighters were tried. The day is observed as Martyrs' Day, commemorating their supreme sacrifice for India's independence.

Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva leads tributes to freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev on March 23, Martyrs' Day.

New Delhi, March 23 On the martyrdom day of freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party President Virendra Sachdeva, along with party leaders and workers, on Monday, paid floral tributes to them at a ceremony held at the city BJP office.

Former Delhi BJP President and MLA Satish Upadhyay, along with local workers, also offered floral tributes to the statue of Bhagat Singh at a programme held at Bhagat Singh Park in Malviya Nagar.

Addressing the BJP workers at the state office, Sachdeva said that revered Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru are immortal heroes of India's freedom struggle, who laid down their lives smilingly for the motherland.

These three revolutionaries shook the foundations of the British Empire with the slogan "Inquilab Zindabad", and were executed in Lahore Jail on March 23, 1931, a day we now observe as "Martyrs' Day", the State BJP President added.

Sachdeva said that their sacrifice was not merely an act of political resistance, but a beacon of patriotism for the youth of the nation.

"Even today, their courage and ideological clarity inspire millions of Indians. The sacrifice of these great sons of the nation will always be remembered in golden letters in history."

At the event held at the state office, Delhi BJP General Secretary and MP Yogendra Chandolia, State BJP Media Head Praveen Shankar Kapoor, Media Relations Head Vikram Mittal, Spokesperson Yasir Jilani, Co-Office Secretary Amit Gupta, and local Delhi Gate Mandal President Rakesh Verma, Sitaram Bazar Mandal representative Prem Chand Saini, and Chandni Mahal Mandal President Sunil Sharma, along with a large number of party workers, were present.

In a separate development, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta unveiled a statue of 'Shaheed-e-Azam' Bhagat Singh at the Registrar Cooperative Societies office premises on Parliament Street.

The Chief Minister also inaugurated the meticulously restored 'Historical Court Trial Room'.

This landmark site holds immense historical significance as the venue where the trial of legendary freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev was conducted during the struggle for independence.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Gupta said that March 23 is a day of immense pride and emotional remembrance for the entire nation.

"This day reminds us of the supreme sacrifice made by the brave freedom fighters, who laid down their lives for the country's liberation. Seeing these memories revitalised within this historic complex is a moment of profound pride and emotion for every Indian," the Chief Minister remarked.

- IANS
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta held a special 'Kheer Ceremony' ahead of the 2026 Budget Session, personally serving the sweet dish to school students. The event coincided with Shaheed Diwas, where she and other ministers paid floral tributes to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev. Gupta inaugurated a restored historic courtroom at the RCS office, the very site of the revolutionaries' trial following the assembly bomb incident. She emphasized the importance of remembering their sacrifice for India's independence.

Ahead of the 2026 Budget Session, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta cooked kheer for students and inaugurated a restored historic courtroom linked to Bhagat Singh.

New Delhi, March 23 Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday held a special 'Kheer Ceremony' ahead of the 2026 Delhi Budget Session, where she personally cooked and served kheer to school students.

The Delhi CM was accompanied by state ministers Parvesh Sahib Singh, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Ashish Sood, Kapil Mishra, and others. They also paid floral tributes to Shaheed-e-Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh on the occasion of Shaheedi Diwas today.

Gupta unveiled a statue of Bhagat Singh and inaugurated a restored 'Historic Courtroom' associated with the freedom fighter at the Registrar Cooperative Society (RCS) office, Parliament Street, on the occasion of Shaheed Diwas.

The Chief Minister, along with other Delhi ministers, marked the occasion by paying tribute to Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar, recalling their sacrifice for the nation.

Addressing the gathering, CM Gupta said, "Truly, today is a day of great pride for all of us. This March 23rd, celebrated every year as Martyrs' Day, reminds us of the martyrdom of those brave freedom fighters. It reminds us of how the youth of this country sacrificed their lives for India's independence."

She highlighted the historical significance of the site, stating, "This is the very place where, after the assembly bomb incident, the court trial of Bhagat Singh ji, Rajguru ji, and Sukhdev ji took place. Even today, this complex remains almost the same as it was back then. I believe every Indian should definitely come here and see it."

The Chief Minister also congratulated officials involved in the restoration work. "I extend my heartfelt congratulations to our Minister, Ravindra Indra ji, his entire ministry, and all the officials for presenting the memories and premises associated with Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh in a new form to the public," she said.

Reflecting on the legacy of the martyrs, Gupta added, "Today, while saluting our martyrs, I once again bow down and offer my deep respect to them. We take a pledge that the country will always remember their sacrifice and martyrdom."

Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru were iconic Indian revolutionary freedom fighters who were hanged by British authorities on March 23, 1931, in Lahore Jail, at a young age.

Their supreme sacrifice for India's independence is commemorated annually on March 23 as Shaheed Diwas (Martyrs' Day), marking their roles in the Lahore Conspiracy Case and the revenge killing of British officer John Saunders in 1928.

The Budget Session of the Delhi legislative assembly for 2026-27 will commence today, and it will go on till March 25.

- ANI
The Delhi Government has funded a research project led by IIT Madras to study the effectiveness of "smog-eating" photocatalytic coatings. The technology uses Titanium Dioxide nanomaterials to break down harmful pollutants like Nitrogen Oxides and Volatile Organic Compounds into harmless gases. The study will begin with laboratory testing to determine optimal material composition before moving to field trials in Delhi. Professor Somnath C Roy is leading the project, which could lead to coatings on roads and panels on rooftops or streetlights.

Delhi Govt funds IIT Madras project to test photocatalytic road coatings that convert NOx and VOCs into harmless gases to tackle air pollution.

Chennai, March 23 The Delhi Government have funded a project on a potentially new way to control pollutants in public places. The study is led by IIT Madras Professor Somnath C Roy, who will begin with laboratory testing before moving to field trials in Delhi.

The areas for those trials are yet to be decided, where the tests will be conducted to determine whether "smog-eating photocatalytic coatings on public spaces could reduce pollutants such as Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), both key drivers of urban air pollution.

Professor Somnath C Roy explained how the help of Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) based material will help in tackling the problem of smog.

The professor said that the TiO2 nanomaterial-based panels will be installed on the rooftops or under street lights and will convert the Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) and VOCs into harmless gases like Nitrogen, Oxygen or Carbon Dioxide.

"In smog, nitrogen oxides, NOx, which are one of the main components and plus the secondary components, are the volatile organic compounds (VOCs). So we are going to use TiO2-based materials to degrade this NOx and VOCs photocatalytically. So there are two components in the project, one component is that we are going to make TiO2 nanomaterial-based panels, I mean you can think of them as solar panels which be installed on the rooftop and even under street lamps. When these panels come in contact, when NOx or VOCs come in contact with these panels, they will break up into you know harmless gases such as Nitrogen and Oxygen or Carbon Dioxide. This is one part of the project," he said.

Explaning the second part of the project, he said that a study will be conducted under laboratory conditions to understand the proportions of Titanium Dioxide which will break down the NOx and VOCs into harmless gases.

"Another part of the project where the Delhi government actually asked us to study is that, let's say, we want to lay roads and we use tar. So to mix this titanium dioxide at certain proportions with the tar and to check that under artificial light, sunlight and even under the street lamp during the evening, when the NOx come in contact with the road, this tar," he said.

He said that after testing whether "smog-eating" photocatalytic coatings on public spaces are effective, recommendations will be made for the Delhi government to decide in which areas exactly the pilot will be conducted.

He said, "We are first going to study this under a laboratory environment in the sense that we are going to check what concentration or composition of TiO2 is going to break this NOx and VOCs optimally. And then we are going to recommend to the Delhi government, you know, for this installation and this implementation at a particular target place."

- ANI
Delhi's economy is projected to grow by 9.42% in 2025-26, with its Gross State Domestic Product reaching approximately Rs 13.27 lakh crore. The capital's per capita income is estimated at Rs 5.31 lakh, which is about two and a half times the national average, driven predominantly by the service sector. The government maintained a revenue surplus and significantly increased scheme funding, with major allocations for transport, social welfare, and water supply. Infrastructure saw substantial progress, including a doubling of the electric bus fleet and an expansion of health facilities and social security coverage.

Delhi's Economic Survey 2025-26 projects 9.42% GSDP growth, per capita income at Rs 5.31 lakh, and details on sectoral contributions, budget surplus, and infrastructure.

New Delhi, March 23 The Gross State Domestic Product of Delhi is likely to attain a level of Rs 13,27,055 crore during 2025-26, reflecting a growth of 9.42 per cent over the previous financial year.

According to the Economic Survey of Delhi released by the Planning Department of the Government of NCT of Delhi, the Per Capita Income of the capital is estimated at Rs 5,31,610, which registered a growth of 7.92 per cent. This figure places Delhi's Per Capita Income at approximately 2.5 times higher than the national average for the same period.

The Economic Survey of Delhi 2025-26 marks the 17th edition in its series.

The economic structure of the capital remains heavily reliant on a predominant Service Sector, which contributed 86.32 per cent to the Gross State Value Added.

The Secondary Sector accounted for 12.88 per cent, while the Primary Sector contributed 0.80 per cent to the economy.

For the 2025-26 fiscal year, Delhi maintained a consistent revenue surplus, with a budgeted surplus of Rs 9,661.31 crore, representing 0.73 per cent of the GSDP.

Tax collection for the Delhi Government is budgeted to grow by 15.54 per cent compared to the previous year. Out of a total budget of Rs 1,00,000 crore, the government allocated Rs 59,300 crore for various schemes and projects. This represented a substantial increase from the Rs 39,000 crore allocated in the 2024-25 budget.

The transport sector received the largest portion of this funding at 20 per cent, followed by social security and welfare at 17 per cent, and water supply and sanitation at 15 per cent.

In terms of infrastructure, the peak demand for power in the city rose to 8,442 MW in 2025-26, up from 5,846 MW a decade ago. Total installed capacity of renewable energy reached 509 MW by January 2026, comprising solar energy and waste-to-energy generation.

Within the secondary sector, manufacturing was the major contributor, with Gross State Value Added estimated at Rs 50,144 crore for the current year.

However, industrial workers faced rising costs as the annual average consumer price index increased from 132.5 in 2024 to 139.4 in 2025, a rise of 4.9 per cent.

Public transport continued its transition toward electrification, with the number of electric buses increasing from 2,150 in April 2025 to 4,338 by March 2026. The total bus fleet stands at 6,100, while the Delhi Metro maintained an average daily ridership of approximately 67 lakhs.

Health infrastructure also saw expansion, with the number of beds in government hospitals rising to 15,659 by December 2025. The survey noted that beds per 1000 persons increased to 2.84 in 2025-26.

Social security remained a priority, with financial assistance of Rs 2,500 per month provided to senior citizens aged 70 and above. Monthly assistance was extended to 4.40 lakh senior citizens and 4.09 lakh women in distress during the current fiscal.

Regarding public distribution, the network served 72.21 lakh beneficiaries through 1,953 Fair Price Shops. Under the "Public Distribution System in Delhi," the government provided 35 kg of food grains per month to Antyodaya Anna Yojana households, with the Delhi Government providing 1 kg of sugar free of cost to these cardholders.

- ANI
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has strongly condemned the alleged disruption during the Satara Zilla Parishad President's election, calling it a grave assault on democratic values. He raised the issue in the Assembly, alleging that voters were detained under suspicious circumstances to influence the electoral outcome. Shinde stated he immediately instructed local police to ensure no voter was prevented from casting their ballot. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assured the House that a detailed inquiry would be conducted and strict action taken against the guilty.

Eknath Shinde calls Zilla Parishad election chaos a grave assault on democracy. CM Fadnavis orders inquiry. Latest updates from Maharashtra.

Mumbai, March 23 Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday strongly condemned the alleged disruption during the election for the President of the Satara Zilla Parishad, terming it a 'grave assault on democratic values.'

According to an official statement, Shinde raised the issue during the ongoing budget session of the state legislature, expressing anger over the reported chaos and questioning the fairness of the electoral process.

"Depriving voters of their right to vote is the murder of democracy," Shinde said, calling the incident "extremely serious" and unprecedented in Maharashtra's history.

As per the statement, Shinde informed the Assembly that he had received calls from Shambhuraj Desai and Makrand Patil prior to the election, who alleged that cases had suddenly been registered against two voters. He said this raised suspicion of attempts to influence the election outcome.

Shinde further stated that he immediately contacted Satara Superintendent of Police Tushar Joshi and instructed that no voter should be prevented from casting their vote until the process was completed. However, reports of two voters being detained triggered serious concerns over the integrity of the election.

Condemning the developments, Shinde asserted that preventing voters from exercising their franchise is an attack on the fundamental principles of democracy and will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assured the Assembly that a detailed inquiry will be conducted into the matter. He said strict action would be taken against those found guilty following the investigation.

Earlier on Thursday, Shinde participated in the Gudi Padwa celebration in Thane, Maharashtra. Addressing the media, he extended his wishes to everyone on the occassion.

Speaking to ANI, he said, "I extend Gudi Padwa, Hindu New Year greetings to all...May this new year be one of happiness, prosperity, joy, and scaling new heights, may it be a journey from resolve to fulfilment..." Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also joined thousands of residents in Nagpur for the grand 'Gudi Padwa Shobha Yatra' on Thursady organised to mark the occasion. Addressing the gathering, he extended greetings to citizens across the country.

- ANI
Devotees across India flocked to temples on the fifth day of Chaitra Navratri to worship Goddess Skandamata. Major gatherings were reported at temples in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh's Vindhyavasini Dham, and Ahmedabad in Gujarat. Attendees noted well-organized arrangements and smoother crowd management compared to previous years. The day is dedicated to invoking the Goddess's maternal care and blessings for family and community well-being.

Devotees thronged temples across Delhi, UP, and Gujarat on the fifth day of Chaitra Navratri to seek blessings of Goddess Skandamata, the nurturing mother.

New Delhi, March 23 Devotees thronged temples on the fifth day of Chaitra Navratri on Monday to offer prayers to Goddess Skandamata, the nurturing mother of Lord Kartikeya, marking an important day in the nine-day spring festival of Chaitra Navratri.

At Jhandewalan Mata Mandir in Delhi, a steady stream of devotees gathered for darshan. Pujari Ambika Prasad Pant said, "Today is the fifth day of the spring Navaratri. On this day, the fifth form of Goddess Durga, Skandamata, is worshipped. Skandamata is the mother of Lord Kartikeya. She represents a nurturing and loving form filled with maternal affection."

Speaking to IANS, a devotee at the temple remarked, "Everything is well-organised -- you can come in a relaxed manner, stand in line comfortably, and have a peaceful darshan."

Similarly, at Kalkaji Devi Mandir, devotees participated in prayers and celebrations.

One devotee said, "This year is very good -- crowds are smaller. Last time, there were too many people, but this time the system is better." Another added, "The administration here is very good, everything is well managed. They are allowing smooth entry and exit, which is excellent."

In Uttar Pradesh, large gatherings were observed at Vindhyavasini Dham. One devotee shared, "We consider ourselves fortunate. May the Goddess bless everyone and ensure the well-being of all." Another noted, "The priest is providing great assistance to everyone. The priest is helping everyone a lot."

In western India, devotees in Ahmedabad offered prayers to Goddess Skandamata. Devotees participated in rituals and aarti, praising the deity and seeking her maternal blessings.

Monday marked Panchami of Chaitra Navratri, a day dedicated to invoking maternal care, protection, and blessings through worship of Goddess Skandamata. Across the country, devotees celebrated with devotion, maintaining orderly arrangements to ensure a safe and serene darshan.

The fifth day of Chaitra Navratri highlights the nurturing and compassionate aspect of the Divine Mother, with devotees seeking strength, protection, and well-being for their families and communities.

- IANS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cautioned that the ongoing conflict in West Asia could create a prolonged difficult global situation, urging the nation to remain prepared and united. He detailed India's diplomatic efforts, including his personal conversations with regional leaders, to push for de-escalation and a peaceful resolution. The PM strongly condemned attacks on commercial vessels and the blockage of key international waterways like the Strait of Hormuz. He also warned against rumour-mongers and hoarders seeking to exploit the crisis, calling for strict monitoring and collective action from all governments and citizens.

PM Modi says West Asia conflict effects may last long, urges national unity and vigilance. He details India's diplomatic push for de-escalation.

New Delhi, March 23 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday cautioned that the ongoing conflict in West Asia is likely to have lasting effects even as he asserted that India's diplomatic role has been to urge for de-escalating tensions. He emphasised that dialogue and diplomacy were the only solutions to this problem.

While addressing the Lok Sabha on the issue, the PM said that the country must remain prepared for the lasting effects that are likely due to the US-Israel-Iran conflict.

"Because of this war, the difficult global situation may continue for a long time. Therefore, we must remain prepared and stay united. We have faced such challenges before as well by staying united during the coronavirus pandemic. We must remain very careful and alert. Some people will try to spread rumours to take advantage of the situation. We must not allow such people to succeed," PM Modi said.

He said that India's role in diplomacy has been about urging everyone to de-escalate tensions and end this conflict. The PM also informed of his conversation with the heads of state in West Asia. He asserted that the attacks on commercial vessels and the blockage of international waterways like the Strait of Hormuz were "unacceptable".

"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. Attacks on commercial vessels and the blockage of international waterways like the Strait of Hormuz are unacceptable," the PM said.

"India is continuously making efforts through diplomacy to ensure the safe passage of Indian ships, even in this war-like environment. India has always advocated for the welfare of humanity and peace," he added.

The PM emphasised that dialogue and diplomacy were the only solutions to the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

"I reiterate that dialogue and diplomacy are the only solutions to this problem. All our efforts are aimed at reducing tensions and ending this conflict. Endangering the lives of anyone in this war is not in the interest of humanity. Therefore, India's efforts are to encourage all parties to reach a peaceful resolution as soon as possible," PM Modi said.

"When such crises arise, some elements try to exploit them. Therefore, all law and order agencies have been put on alert. Security is being further strengthened, be it coastal security, border security, cyber security, or strategic installations," he added.

The PM said that India's identity has been to face every challenge with patience, restraint, and a calm mind. He also warned against those who sought to take advantage of the situation.

"We must face every challenge with patience, restraint, and a calm mind. This is our identity, this is our strength. We must also be very careful and vigilant. Those who seek to exploit the situation will try to spread lies. We must not allow their efforts to succeed. I will also appeal to all state governments through this House. During such times, black marketers and hoarders become active. Strict monitoring is essential for this. Wherever such complaints come, prompt action must be taken. When every government and every citizen of the country work together, we can challenge every challenge," PM Modi said.

- ANI
Music maestro AR Rahman met cricket icon MS Dhoni at the Chennai Super Kings' 'ROAR 2026' pre-season event at Chepauk Stadium, sending social media into a frenzy. Rahman shared a video of their encounter, which included a moment with Dhoni's daughter Ziva and highlights from his live performance. On the professional front, Rahman is confirmed to compose the music for director Mani Ratnam's upcoming film starring Vijay Sethupathi. The Oscar and Grammy-winning composer continues his decades-long collaboration with Ratnam, which began with the landmark film 'Roja' in 1992.

Oscar winner AR Rahman meets cricket legend MS Dhoni at Chennai Super Kings' ROAR 2026 event, creating a viral 'Thala' moment for fans.

Mumbai, March 23 Oscar-winning music composer AR Rahman, who was performing at Chennai Super Kings' pre-season event titled 'ROAR 2026', met with former CSK captain MS Dhoni, which created frenzy on social media.

The event was held at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai ahead of the 19th edition of the IPL, by the five-time champions for their fans.

In a collaborative post with his son AR Ameen, Rahman shared a clip meeting Dhoni at the stadium. The video featured the two legends on a video call with someone. It later showed the musician meeting Dhoni's daughter Ziva. Another glimpse showed Rahman's live performance, along with fireworks at the venue.

"Thala meets Thala #dhoni #arrahman #chennaisuperkings #ipl #csk," the caption read.

On the film front, Rahman is set to score the music of ace director Mani Ratnam's next film featuring actor Vijay Sethupathi in the lead.

Sources close to the yet-to-be-titled film confirm that it is Rahman who will be scoring the music for this film. Rahman, who has been working with Mani Ratnam from the pan Indian blockbuster 'Roja', which released in 1992, shares a unique bond with the ace filmmaker.

For the unaware, shooting for Mani Ratnam's upcoming film, featuring Vijay Sethupathi in the lead, is expected to start this summer. Reports suggest that the film is likely to begin in July this year.

Rahman is a recipient of six National Film Awards, two Academy Awards, two Grammy Awards, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award and six Tamil Nadu State Film Awards. He was feted with the Padma Bhushan in 2010.

With his in-house studio Panchathan Record Inn, Rahman's film-scoring car the early 1990s with the Tamil film Roja. Following that, he went on to score several songs for Tamil language films, including Mani Ratnam's politically charged Bombay, the urban Kaadhalan, Thiruda Thiruda, and S. Shankar's debut film Gentleman.

His score for his first Hollywood film, the comedy Couples Retreat won the BMI Award for Best Score. His music for Slumdog Millionaire (2008) earned him Best Original Score and Best Original Song at the 81st Academy Awards.

In 2017, he made his debut as a director and writer for the film Le Musk. In 2024, he was named Honorary President of Trinity Laban.

- IANS
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a constructive discussion with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on the ongoing West Asia conflict, agreeing to remain in touch. The talks reflect continued India-Germany coordination on regional security as tensions remain high. Meanwhile, Gulf states like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain reportedly believe Iran's military must be degraded before a ceasefire is achieved. These states view ending the conflict with Iran's military capabilities intact as a strategic disaster, despite frustrations with US and Israeli actions.

EAM Jaishankar holds talks with German FM on West Asia. Gulf states reportedly seek to degrade Iran's military before ceasefire, per sources.

New Delhi, March 23 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said he had a constructive discussion with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul regarding the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

In a post on X, Jaishankar wrote, "A useful conversation yesterday night with German FM Johann Wadephul on the West Asia conflict. Agreed to remain in touch."

The conversation reflects the continued diplomatic engagement between India and Germany on regional security issues, particularly as tensions in West Asia remain high. Both sides reportedly emphasised the importance of dialogue and coordination in addressing humanitarian and geopolitical challenges arising from the conflict.

This development comes amid heightened global attention on West Asia, where political and military tensions continue to affect millions. India has consistently called for restraint, dialogue, and humanitarian support, reflecting its long-standing diplomatic stance in the region.

Earlier, The Times of Israel was told by officials on the condition of anonymity that after being attacked, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain believe that Iran's military must be cut down before a ceasefire is achieved--with some considering joining the offensive.

This comes despite the frustration in the way the US and Israel are going forward in the conflict in West Asia--yet Gulf countries, especially the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar, have expressed the desire to ensure Iran comes out of the conflict with a degraded military that ceases to pose a threat to the Gulf nations.

While Trump has routinely expressed surprise over the spill over of the conflict in the wider region of West Asia and the Gulf, the Gulf countries had largely anticipated the response, which was one of the reasons they opposed its start.

"Ending the war with Iran still in possession of the tools it is currently using to target the GCC would be a strategic disaster," one of the Gulf officials said.

As per the Times of Israel, all four officials agreed that the US and Israeli strikes were unlikely to bring down Iran's regime.

- ANI
The Election Commission of India has allotted digital vouchers to political parties for free broadcast and telecast on Doordarshan and All India Radio ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. Each recognized party will receive a base of 45 minutes of airtime, distributed across regional networks, with additional time based on past electoral performance. The actual broadcast slots will be scheduled through a transparent draw of lots after the candidate list is published. Prasar Bharati will also organize panel discussions where parties can nominate representatives.

Election Commission issues digital vouchers to parties for free broadcast on Doordarshan & AIR ahead of Assembly elections in 5 states/UT.

New Delhi, March 23 The Election Commission of India on Monday announced the allotment of digital vouchers to National and State political parties for free broadcast and telecast on Doordarshan and All India Radio in the run-up to the scheduled Legislative Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.

In an official press release, the ECI stated that the move has been carried out under Section 39A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

According to the ECI, digital time vouchers have been issued through an IT platform.

"Digital time vouchers have been issued through the IT platform to all the recognised National and State Political Parties across 5 poll-bound States/UT for the Legislative assembly elections," the ECI noted.

The broadcast window will begin from the date of publication of the list of contesting candidates and continue until two days before polling in each phase. The scheduling of actual broadcast slots will be determined through a transparent draw of lots conducted at the State/UT level.

"The broadcast/telecast period will be scheduled between the date of publication of the list of contesting candidates in each phase and two days before the date of poll in the poll-bound States/UT. The actual broadcast/telecast will be scheduled in advance through a draw of lots at the State/UT level in the presence of authorized representatives of the political parties and officials from the office of respective State/UT CEO," the press release said.

Each party will receive a base allocation of 45 minutes of free airtime on both Doordarshan and All India Radio. This time will be uniformly distributed across regional networks within the respective states.

The ECI also clarified that additional airtime will be granted based on parties' performance in previous assembly elections, providing an advantage to those with established electoral presence.

The Commission further stated that the political parties are required to submit transcripts and recordings in advance, ensuring compliance with technical and regulatory standards.

"Political parties are required to submit transcripts and recordings in advance, strictly adhering to the relevant guidelines. Recordings may be made in studios meeting the technical standards prescribed by Prasar Bharati or at Doordarshan/AIR Kendras," ECI said.

Beyond individual party broadcasts, Prasar Bharati will also organise panel discussions and debates, allowing parties to present their views collectively.

"In addition to party broadcasts, Prasar Bharati Corporation will organise up to two panel discussions and/or debates on Doordarshan and All India Radio. Each eligible political party may nominate one representative for the programme which will be moderated by an approved coordinator," a press note concluded.

Earlier, the ECI announced the schedule for Assembly elections in four states--West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Assam--along with the Union Territory of Puducherry.

According to the schedule, polling in West Bengal will be conducted in two phases on April 23 and April 29. Kerala and Assam will vote in a single phase on April 9, while Tamil Nadu will go to the polls on April 23. Voting in Puducherry will also take place on April 9. The counting of votes for all four states and Puducherry will be held on May 4, the ECI announced.

- ANI
The Election Commission of India has removed 73 Returning Officers in poll-bound West Bengal, a move affecting a quarter of all constituencies. This action escalates existing tensions with the state government, which is already contesting the transfer of several top bureaucrats and police officers. A Public Interest Litigation challenging these transfers has been filed in the Calcutta High Court, where the ECI defended its authority to ensure free and fair elections. The court's division bench will hear the matter again on Wednesday.

Election Commission removes 73 Returning Officers in West Bengal, escalating tensions with state govt ahead of April elections. High Court hears PIL.

Kolkata, March 23 In a significant development late on Monday evening, the Election Commission of India removed as many as 73 Returning Officers in West Bengal, which is scheduled to go to the polls in two phases next month on April 23 and April 29.

The development opens a new line of confrontation between the ECI and the West Bengal government, as the state government and the ruling Trinamool Congress are already up in arms against the Commission over the transfer of several bureaucrats and police officers of the state cadre, including the erstwhile Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty, former state Home Secretary Jagdish Prasad Meena, erstwhile acting Director General of Police Peeyush Pandey, and former Commissioner of Kolkata Police Supratim Sarkar, among others.

The total number of Assembly constituencies in West Bengal is 294, with one Returning Officer typically appointed for each constituency. With the removal of 73 ROs, nearly 26 per cent of the total ROs in the state have been replaced. The Commission issued a notification in this regard on Monday night.

Meanwhile, a public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Calcutta High Court challenging the ECI's decision to transfer several top bureaucrats and police officers of the state cadre. The preliminary hearing in the matter was held on Monday.

During the hearing, the ECI's counsel informed a division bench of the Calcutta High Court that transfers of bureaucrats and police officers vary from state to state depending on ground-level requirements.

The counsel submitted that while the Commission does not have unbridled powers, it has the authority to take necessary decisions to ensure that the polling process remains free, fair, and violence-free.

He also placed before the court details of bureaucrats and police officers transferred, replaced, and sent on deputation in other poll-bound states.

The next hearing in the matter by the division bench of Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen has been scheduled for Wednesday.

- IANS
Iqbal Ansari, a former litigant in the Babri Masjid case, has publicly praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership as Modi becomes India's longest-serving head of government. Modi achieved this milestone by completing 8,931 days in office, surpassing the previous record. Several political leaders, including YSR Congress Party's Jagan Mohan Reddy, congratulated the Prime Minister on this achievement. The news coincides with Modi's dominant digital presence, where he is the most-followed world leader on platforms like YouTube and Instagram.

Former Babri Masjid litigant Iqbal Ansari praises PM Narendra Modi, who has become India's longest-serving head of government, for his leadership and global prestige.

Ayodhya, March 23 Iqbal Ansari, former litigant in Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land suit, on Monday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for achieving the milestone of being the nation's longest-serving head of government.

Ansari noted that the entire nation looks up to the PM with unwavering faith.

Iqbal Ansari, while speaking to ANI, said, "Today, our Prime Minister commands such immense prestige, both domestically and globally, that the entire nation looks up to him with unwavering faith. This is because, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country has faced no deprivation. He is the first Prime Minister to have served for such a prolonged duration."

Prime Minister Modi on Sunday became India's longest-serving head of government, completing 8,931 days in office and surpassing the record of former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar 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. Several senior leaders congratulated PM Modi on the milestone, praising his "decades-long dedication, continuous public service, and commitment to development and good governance".

In a post on X, President of Yuvajana Sramika Rythu (YSR) Congress Party, Jagan Mohan Reddy posted, "Heartfelt congratulations to PM Narendra Modi ji on completing 8,931 days as Head of Government and setting a historic milestone in dedicated public service. This landmark is a testament to one's grit and resolve. Wishing you strength and good health in the service of the nation."

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
Uttar Pradesh Minister Kapil Dev Agrawal stated that the entire world is observing how Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads India forward amid the ongoing global crisis. He made these remarks while praising PM Modi on becoming India's longest-serving head of government, surpassing the record of former Sikkim CM Pawan Kumar Chamling. Agrawal also commented on state governance, asserting that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath does not spare anyone involved in cow slaughter or criminal activities. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also lauded Modi's decades of service, stating his tenure has transformed India through development and enhanced global stature.

UP Minister Kapil Dev Agrawal hails PM Modi as longest-serving head of govt, says world watches his leadership amid global crisis.

Lucknow, March 23 Uttar Pradesh BJP Minister Kapil Dev Agrawal on Monday hailed Prime Minister Modi on becoming the longest-serving head of government in the country, saying he has a rare and unique personality and the entire world is watching how he leads the country forward amid the global crisis.

Speaking to ANI, UP Minister Kapil Dev Agrawal said the Prime Minister was a 'Pracharak' of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and added it is the country's good fortune that we all have such a brilliant leader.

"The Prime Minister of India has a rare and unique personality. He was a 'Pracharak' of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh... With the global crisis raging, with people on the brink of war, the entire world is watching how PM Modi can lead the country forward in such circumstances. It is the country's good fortune that we all have such a brilliant leader," said the minister.

On the encounter and arrest of three cattle smugglers by Bareilly police, he said the Chief Minister does not spare anyone, whether someone is involved in cow slaughter or any criminal activities.

"The police remain in action mode. The Chief Minister does not spare anyone here. Whether someone is involved in cow slaughter or is involved in criminal activities, their job is to take action as far as possible," said Agrawal.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday became India's longest-serving head of government, completing 8,931 days in office and surpassing the record of former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling's record of 8,930 days.

Several senior leaders congratulated PM Modi on the milestone, praising his "decades-long dedication, continuous public service, and commitment to development and good governance".

Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also lauded Prime Minister Modi, 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, 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."

- ANI
South Africa leveled the five-match T20I series 2-2 with a 19-run victory over New Zealand in Wellington. Batting first, Connor Esterhuizen's maiden half-century of 57 runs provided a crucial foundation for the Proteas' total of 164/5. The New Zealand chase was hampered by regular wickets, with Gerald Coetzee taking three, as they were bowled out for 145 in the 19th over. The series will now be decided in the final match in Christchurch.

Connor Esterhuizen's maiden half-century guides South Africa to a 19-run victory over New Zealand in the 4th T20I, setting up a series decider.

Wellington, March 22 South Africa defeated New Zealand by 19 runs in the fourth T20I held at the Sky Stadium in Wellington on Sunday. This win helped the visitors level the five-match series 2-2.

After South Africa opted to bat first, Wiaan Mulder and Tony de Zorzi (23 off 21 balls) opened the batting. Mulder couldn't score a single run and lost his wicket in the first over of Kyle Jamieson.

Connor Esterhuizen came one down and added 81 runs for the second wicket with de Zorzi. Esterhuizen went on to hit his maiden half-century, which helped the Proteas get a flying start.

He made 57 runs off 36 balls with the help of seven fours and three sixes.

Rubin Hermann and Dian Forrester (19 off 14 balls) added 38 runs for the fourth wicket. Jason Smith also contributed with 19 runs.

George Linde (14*) and Hermann (28 not out off 25 balls) remained unbeaten and helped their side post 164/5 in 20 overs.

Jamieson took a couple of wickets, whereas Zakary Foulkes, Ben Sears and Cole McConchie took one wicket each.

Chasing a challenging target of 165 runs, Tim Robinson opened the batting for New Zealand with debutant Katene Clarke.

Clarke hit a couple of boundaries before losing his wicket to Mulder. He made nine runs off just five balls.

Robinson (32 off 22 balls) added 24 runs for the second wicket with Dane Cleaver (26 off 16 balls).

Proteas kept taking wickets at regular intervals, which didn't let the Blackcaps batters build any big partnerships.

McConchie hit a couple of boundaries, but Keshav Maharaj bowled him to affect their run-chase.

Gerald Coetzee took the last wicket of Jamieson to halt New Zealand at 145/10. Coetzee took three wickets as Maharaj, Ottneil Baartman and Prenelan Subrayen grabbed a couple of wickets each.

Connor Esterhuizen was named Player of the Match for his match-winning knock.

The fifth T20I and series decider will be played at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Wednesday.

- ANI
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated that the evolving multipolar world order requires enhanced cooperation through multilateral forums like BRICS, SCO, G20, and the UN. He reaffirmed India's strong and longstanding strategic partnership with Russia, highlighting collaboration in civil nuclear energy, exemplified by the Kudankulam project. The minister set a bilateral trade target of $100 billion by 2030 and stressed the need to conclude a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union. Jaishankar expressed confidence that India-Russia cooperation will continue to contribute to regional and global stability.

EAM S Jaishankar emphasizes enhanced global cooperation through BRICS, SCO, G20 & UN, reaffirms strong India-Russia strategic & energy partnership.

New Delhi, March 23 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday called for the need for enhanced global cooperation among multilateral forums in the face of an evolving multipolar world order, highlighting the importance of platforms such as BRICS, SCO, G20, and the United Nations.

Addressing the 'India and Russia: Towards a New Bilateral Agenda' via video conferencing here, the EAM said that the shifting geopolitical landscape necessitates stronger collaboration among nations through such means to tackle shared challenges in a balanced and inclusive manner.

"The evolving multipolar order necessitates greater cooperation, including through BRICS, SCO, G20 and the UN. India, during its BRICS chairmanship with a humanity-first and a people-centric approach, looks forward to closely working with Russia to address shared challenges in a balanced and inclusive manner," Jaishankar said.

The EAM also reaffirmed India's commitment to its long-standing ties with Russia and emphasised the importance of strengthening bilateral relations and maintaining their "cherished friendship".

The BRICS is led by five major economies--Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa--with Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE, and Indonesia becoming full members of the forum later.

For 2026, India is holding the chairmanship for the BRICS grouping, with the summit expected to take place later in the year.

Highlighting cooperation in the energy sector, Jaishankar described Russia as India's foremost partner in civil nuclear energy.

He pointed to the Kudankulam nuclear project in Tamil Nadu as a key example of successful collaboration and expressed confidence in continued partnership as India aims to expand its nuclear energy capacity to 100 gigawatts by 2047.

On economic ties, the minister noted that both countries are working towards increasing their annual bilateral trade from USD 68.7 billion to USD 100 billion by 2030.

He stressed the need to conclude the India-EAEU Free Trade Agreement, address non-tariff barriers, and resolve regulatory challenges to achieve this target.

"Russia is our foremost partner in civil nuclear energy, and the Kudankulam nuclear project is a stellar example. As India aims to increase its nuclear energy generation capacity to 100 gigawatt by 2047, I am confident that it will find a trusted and reliable partner in Russia for the peaceful uses of nuclear energy," the EAM said.

"India and Russia are committed to increasing the present annual trade from US dollar 68.7 billion to US dollar 100 billion by 2030 in a balanced and sustainable manner. To this effect, we must continue efforts to conclude the India EAEU FTA, address non-tariff barriers and regulatory impediments and utilise the skilled Indian workforce," he added.

Jaishankar also underscored the role of the skilled Indian workforce in strengthening economic cooperation and facilitating trade growth.

Reflecting on the broader relationship, he said that India-Russia cooperation over the decades has contributed significantly to regional and global peace, stability, and progress and added that the partnership continues to deepen amid evolving geopolitical dynamics, driven by regular high-level engagements.

- ANI
Former High Commissioner Veena Sikri highlights India's proactive diplomatic engagement with all sides in the Iran-US-Israel tensions to promote peace and dialogue. She notes Prime Minister Modi's conversations with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian as a key indicator of India's balanced outreach. Sikri also emphasizes the importance of coexistence in the Gulf region, stating that Iran, as a large nation, has programs it is willing to share. Additionally, she criticizes a recent USCIRF report on religious freedom as biased and illogical.

Former envoy Veena Sikri details India's active diplomacy with all parties in the Iran-US-Israel conflict, emphasizing peace and dialogue.

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.

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 India's 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."

- IANS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid heartfelt tributes to revolutionaries Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru, and Sukhdev Thapar on the anniversary of their martyrdom. He praised their extraordinary courage and unshakable commitment to India's freedom struggle at a young age. The Prime Minister emphasized that their fearless resistance against colonial rule and ultimate sacrifice continue to inspire the nation. The three were executed by British authorities on March 23, 1931, a day commemorated annually as Shaheed Diwas.

PM Narendra Modi honors the sacrifice of freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev on their martyrdom day, Shaheed Diwas.

New Delhi, March 23 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday paid heartfelt tributes to freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar on the occasion of their martyrdom day, remembering their unparalleled sacrifice and contribution to India's freedom struggle.

In a post shared on X, the Prime Minister said, "Today, we bow in reverence to the brave sons of Bharat Mata, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. Their martyrdom for the nation remains etched in our collective memory."

Highlighting their courage at a young age, he added, "At a young age, they displayed extraordinary courage and an unshakable commitment to the cause of India's freedom."

The Prime Minister also emphasised their fearless resistance against colonial rule, stating, "Undeterred by the might of colonial rule, they chose the path of sacrifice with conviction, placing the nation above their own lives."

He further noted that their ideals continue to inspire generations. "Their ideals of justice, patriotism and fearless resistance continue to ignite the spirit of countless Indians," PM Modi said.

Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru were iconic Indian revolutionary freedom fighters who were hanged by British authorities on March 23, 1931, in Lahore Jail, at a young age. Their supreme sacrifice for India's independence is commemorated annually on March 23 as Shaheed Diwas (Martyrs' Day), marking their roles in the Lahore Conspiracy Case and the revenge killing of British officer John Saunders in 1928.

- ANI
The Forward Seamen's Union of India has urgently written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting that approximately 23,000 Indian seafarers remain stranded on ships in the conflict-ridden waters of West Asia. Union General Secretary Manoj Yadav revealed that 22 Indian vessels are stuck, with food supplies critically low and crew members uncertain about the source of attacks. While some successful rescues and safe passages, like that of the LPG carrier Nanda Devi, have occurred with naval assistance, the vast majority of personnel are still awaiting evacuation. The situation remains dire, with the union establishing direct contact with stranded seafarers who are pleading for immediate rescue.

Forward Seamen's Union warns of 23,000 Indians stranded on ships in conflict zone with dwindling supplies, seeks PM Modi's urgent intervention for rescue.

Mumbai, March 22 The Forward Seamen's Union of India has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, raising concern over Indian seafarers stranded in conflict-hit waters in West Asia and seeking urgent intervention for their rescue.

Speaking to ANI, the union's General Secretary Manoj Yadav said a large number of Indian crew members remain stuck across vessels in the region. "We have a total of 22 Indian ships stranded in the conflict area, and there are also Iranian and foreign ships with Indian crew members on board. Around 23,000 Indian seafarers are stuck in the conflict zone, with only a few rescued so far. The rest are still stranded," he said.

He stated that the union has established contact with some seafarers, who have sought urgent rescue.

"The Forward Seamen's Union of India has contacted some Indian seafarers, who are urging for immediate rescue. We've written two letters to PM Modi regarding this issue. While some seafarers have been safely brought back to India, many more are still stranded on ships in Iranian and Israeli waters," he said.

Yadav also raised concerns over the condition of those on board vessels, pointing to limited supplies. "The ships have only about a month's worth of food supplies left, which is running critically low. The Indian seafarers on Iranian ships are unsure whether the attacks are from Iran or Israel," he said.

This comes days after Indian LPG carrier Nanda Devi arrived at the Vadinar port in Gujarat's Jamnagar, carrying 46,500 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas for ship-to-ship transfer at the anchorage.

The ship-to-ship transfer of LPG from mother vessel MT Nanda Devi to daughter vessel MT BW Birch commenced on Tuesday. Sushil Kumar Singh, Chairman of the Deendayal Port Authority (DPA), went on board the vessel to facilitate and interacted with the captain and crew of Nanda Devi. This is the second LPG carrier that arrived in India after successfully passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

On Monday evening, the Indian carrier LPG Shivalik, carrying a total of 46,000 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas, had arrived at the Mudra Port. Of this, 20,000 MT will be unloaded at Mundra, while the remaining 26,000 MT is scheduled for Mangalore. Earlier, the Chief Officer of the Nanda Devi vessel said that the initiative was taken by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Shipping Corporation of India, with the Indian and Iranian navies providing the necessary assistance to cross the Strait of Hormuz.

"I would like to thank everyone who was involved in this operation of crossing the Strait of Hormuz. The initiative was taken by the Indian Ministry, Shipping Corporation of India, with the help of the Indian Navy and the Iranian Navy. Vessel transmitted the Hormuz safely, now it is enroute to Kandla, Gujarat and will be serving a huge amount of LPG, 46,000 metric tonnes. This will help in the worldwide crisis of LPG. We will continue to serve the LPG in future also," he said.

Indian-flagged vessel, 'Jag Laadki', which sailed from the UAE, carrying about 81,000 tonnes of Murban crude oil, is safely en route to India, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the Shipping Ministry said in an interministerial briefing on Monday. The official said that all Indian seafarers in the Persian Gulf area are safe and no incident has been reported in the last 24 hours.

Consequently, there are now 22 Indian-flagged vessels remaining in the Persian Gulf, carrying a total of 611 seafarers.

- ANI
Officials in Gujarat have assured that fuel supply disruptions in parts of the state are temporary and expected to normalise within one to two days. The state government and oil marketing companies reiterated there is no overall shortage of petrol or diesel, attributing the hiccups to operational factors like the withdrawal of dealer credit limits and technical issues. Authorities warned of strict action against any dealer found deliberately keeping pumps closed despite having stock. The public has been urged not to panic or rely on unverified social media messages causing queues at some pumps.

Gujarat govt and oil companies assure no fuel shortage, cite operational hiccups. Supply expected to normalise in 1-2 days. Officials urge public not to panic.

Ahmedabad/Gandhinagar, March 23 Fuel supply in parts of Gujarat is expected to stabilise within the next one to two days, officials said on Monday, even as the state government and oil companies reiterated that there is no overall shortage of petrol and diesel.

The assurance comes after concerns over availability led to queues at some petrol pumps in parts of the state, with dealers attributing temporary disruptions to operational factors rather than any systemic shortage.

Tansukh Parmar, Treasurer of the Federation of Gujarat Petroleum Dealers Association, said recent issues stemmed from financial and technical constraints.

"Companies have abruptly removed the credit limits previously available to all dealers, and each dealer's financial capacity varies. Additionally, due to technical issues on Friday and during the weekend, petrol and diesel stocks ran low at several pumps. However, fuel supply is expected to normalise in the next one to two days," he said.

Alongside this, the state government, Indian Oil Corporation, and petroleum dealers said sufficient fuel stocks are available across the state and urged citizens not to panic or rely on unverified information.

Additional Chief Secretary of the Food and Civil Supplies Department, Mona Khandhar, said all petrol pumps have adequate stock in line with requirements.

"The state has a sufficient buffer stock of fuel. Citizens need not form long queues or panic," she said, adding that reports of shortages in certain areas were rumours.

She also warned of strict legal action against any dealer found deliberately keeping pumps closed despite having stock or causing inconvenience to the public.

Indian Oil Corporation's State Nodal Officer and Executive Director, Sanjeev Behera, said supply remains stable at the infrastructure level.

"All petrol pumps in Gujarat have adequate stock. Our depots and terminals also have sufficient inventory. There is sufficient buffer stock, and there is no panic. I request citizens to visit petrol pumps if needed, but there is no need to stand in queues," he said.

The Petroleum Dealers Association of India said oil companies have increased supply hours and augmented stock levels, and advised people not to crowd petrol pumps due to misleading social media messages.

Meanwhile, localised disruptions were reported in Ahmedabad, including Helmet Circle, Memnagar, Shivranjani, and Bopal, where some outlets faced low stock due to the withdrawal of credit facilities and technical issues.

Authorities and industry representatives said these disruptions are temporary and supply is being restored.

- IANS
The G7 nations have issued a strong joint statement condemning Iran's attacks on civilian infrastructure across multiple Middle Eastern countries. They warn that Iran's actions pose a direct threat to regional and global security, while extending support to affected partners. The statement calls for an immediate end to the attacks and to Iran's ballistic missile program, stressing the critical need to safeguard maritime routes like the Strait of Hormuz. It also reaffirms the right of nations to defend themselves against such unjustifiable aggression.

G7 nations condemn Iran's attacks on Gulf states, warn of threat to global security and energy markets, and reaffirm support for regional partners.

Washington, March 22 The Group of Seven nations on Sunday strongly condemned Iran's attacks on civilians and key infrastructure across multiple countries in the Middle East, expressing firm support for regional partners facing what it termed "unjustifiable attacks".

In a joint statement, the G7 Foreign Ministers -- representing Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States -- along with the High Representative of the European Union, voiced solidarity with countries affected by the escalation.

The statement said the group extends support to its "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 statement read.

The G7 nations warned that Iran's actions not only endanger the targeted countries but also pose a broader threat to regional and global security, urging Tehran to immediately halt its military activities.

"They threaten regional and global security," the statement said, calling for the "immediate and unconditional cessation" of all such attacks.

The group also stressed the importance of ensuring the safety of critical maritime routes and global supply chains, particularly in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

"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 read.

Reiterating long-standing concerns, the G7 said Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons and called on it to halt its missile programme and regional activities.

The grouping stated that Iran "must never obtain" a nuclear weapon and urged it to "halt its ballistic missile program", "end its destabilising activities" in the region and beyond, and "cease the appalling violence and repression against its own people".

At the same time, the G7 underlined the right of affected nations to defend themselves against such attacks.

"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 added.

The grouping also condemned recent attacks in Iraq, particularly those targeting diplomatic facilities and energy infrastructure.

"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 US and Counter ISIS Coalition forces, and the Iraqi people," the statement said.

- IANS
Bollywood producer Madhu Mantena and author Ira Trivedi have welcomed their first child, a baby boy. The couple announced the news on social media with an emotional post thanking Lord Krishna. The birth occurred during the auspicious confluence of Navratri and Eid, making it extra special for the family. Congratulations have poured in from fans and industry friends like Raveena Tandon.

'Ghajini' producer Madhu Mantena and author Ira Trivedi welcome their first child, a baby boy, during the festive period of Navratri and Eid.

Mumbai, March 23 Ghajini producer Madhu Mantena and his wife, Ira Trivedi, have welcomed a baby boy, stepping into a new phase of their lives.

The couple shared the happy news with their fans and followers on social media.



On Sunday, Mantena took to Instagram to announce the arrival of their little one. Along with a post featuring a blue footprint and an image of Lord Krishna, he shared an emotional message and thanked the deity for the blessing. The couple also shared that the baby was born during the festive time of Navratri and Eid, making the occasion even more special for the family.



"Thank you, Krishna, for this divine blessing, for filling our lives with love and light. Ira and I welcomed our baby yesterday during the sacred days of Navratri, on Eid," read the caption of his post.



Soon after the announcement, congratulatory messages poured in from fans and members of the film industry. Celebrities, including Raveena Tandon and Pulkit Samrat, wished the couple well and sent their love to the newborn.



Earlier this year, in January, Madhu Mantena and Ira Trivedi announced that they were expecting their first child. They had shared pictures from a maternity photoshoot, where they were seen dressed in white on a beach, with Ira showing her baby bump. Their pet dog also featured in the pictures.



At that time, they had written, "Our life in bloom. Thank you, Krishna, for this beautiful gift of divine life... Seeking your blessings on this auspicious day of Makar Sankranti."



Madhu Mantena and Ira Trivedi got married on June 11, 2023, in Mumbai in the presence of close family and friends.





- ANI
Odisha Governor Haribabu Kambhampati met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi to discuss the state's development initiatives. During a recent visit to Odisha, Shah inaugurated a sulphuric acid plant and emphasized plans to introduce dairy cooperatives to empower tribal and OBC women. He also addressed the Central Industrial Security Force, reaffirming the government's determination to eradicate Naxalism from India by March 2026. Shah credited the CISF for its crucial role in this effort across affected states.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah meets Odisha Governor, discusses dairy cooperatives, state development, and the resolve to eradicate Naxalism by 2026.

New Delhi, March 23 Odisha Governor Haribabu Kambhampati on Monday held a constructive discussion with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the national capital on issues of mutual interest and the state's ongoing development initiatives.

He stated that his support has been instrumental in furthering the development and progress of Odisha.

Earlier this month, during his Visit to Odisha, Amit Shah accepted a portrait of Lord Jagannath from devotee Annata Biswal during the inauguration of Sulphuric Acid Plant 3 (SAP-III) at the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) unit in Paradeep.

He emphasised that the initiative aims to economically empower women, especially from tribal communities and Other Backwards Classes (OBCs). After inaugurating the third stream of the Sulphuric Acid Plant (SAP-III) at the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) unit in Paradeep, he said the expansion would also support India's push toward self-reliance in fertiliser production.

"Today in Gujarat, through 3.6 million rural women, Amul became a movement, and today Amul does business worth Rs 1.3 lakh crore. Its profit, down to every penny, goes to the women cattle herders of Gujarat. Similarly, we will explore the full potential of Odisha to enrich the tribal and OBC mothers and sisters here," Shah said.

He added that both the central and state governments would work together to introduce dairy cooperatives across villages in the state. "In the coming days, both the Bharatiya Janata Party governments will take up the programme of bringing dairy to every village in Odisha, just as it is in Gujarat," he said.

Calling it his first public event in the state after the 2024 elections, Shah also thanked the people of Odisha for supporting the Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

During the same visit, Amit Shah reaffirmed that the security forces will fulfil the resolve of eradicating Naxalism from the country by March 31. Speaking at the 57th Raising Day of the Central Industrial Security Force in Cuttack, the Union Home Minister highlighted CISF's "crucial role" in eliminating Naxalism.

"PM Modi government is determined to free the country from Naxalism by March 31, 2026, and the CISF has played a crucial role in that effort. Whether in Odisha, Chhattisgarh, or Telangana, the CISF has played a crucial role in eliminating Naxalism. I assure you that by March 31, 2026, this country will be free from Naxalism. Our security forces will completely defeat those who dream of a Red Corridor from Tirupati to Pashupati and establish their dominance," he said.

Hailing CISF personnel's "valour and self-sacrifice" for the country, Amit Shah further expressed his gratitude for their service.

- ANI
The Indian government has instructed city gas distributors to prioritize piped natural gas (PNG) connections for commercial establishments like restaurants and hotels. It has also increased the allocation of commercial LPG cylinders by 20% for states to ensure adequate supply. Authorities are conducting raids to prevent hoarding and black marketing of LPG, with over 3,500 raids already carried out. These measures aim to stabilize fuel supplies amid ongoing conflict in West Asia, which has disrupted global energy markets.

Govt directs gas firms to prioritize PNG for commercial users and increases LPG allocation by 20% to ensure stable fuel supply during West Asia tensions.

New Delhi, March 22 The Government of India has asked city gas distribution companies to prioritise piped natural gas 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
The Indian government will mark World TB Day 2026 with a national event to showcase progress under the TB elimination programme. Union Health Minister JP Nadda will launch a focused 100-day campaign, a dedicated mobile app, and an urban ward initiative to improve detection and treatment. The event aligns with the theme "Yes! We Can End TB!" and aims to strengthen multi-sectoral collaboration. The government also highlights the cost-effectiveness and better outcomes of newer, shorter drug-resistant TB treatment regimens.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda launches a 100-day TB elimination campaign, a new app, and urban ward initiative to accelerate India's fight against tuberculosis.

New Delhi, March 23 The government is set to commemorate World Tuberculosis Day 2026 with a national event on March 24, to showcase key achievements, innovative strategies, and strengthened community engagement under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme, according to an official statement on Monday.

The event will be held at Gautam Buddha University in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, and "highlight India's accelerated progress towards the elimination of TB, in line with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a TB-Mukt Bharat," the statement from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda will flag off the "focused and intensified 'TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan - 100 Days Campaign' and launch the TB Mukt Bharat App and the TB Mukt Urban Ward Initiative.

These initiatives will accelerate case detection, improve treatment adherence and strengthen lastmile delivery of TB services especially in high-burden areas, the statement added.

"These efforts resonate strongly with the theme of World TB Day 2026 - "Yes! We Can End TB!" and reflect India's renewed commitment to intensifying the fight against TB," it said.

The event will bring together ministers, senior Union and State government officials, public health experts, development partners, healthcare professionals and community representatives.

The event will reaffirm the nation's commitment to intensifying multi-sectoral collaboration and adopting evidence-based strategies to eliminate TB, it noted.

Shorter, sixmonth alloral treatment regimens for multidrugresistant and rifampicinresistant tuberculosis (MDR/RRTB) are costeffective and deliver better health outcomes than longer regimens, the government had recently said.

Citing an ICMR Study, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said that with shorter regimen, "for each additional Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALY) gained, the health system spends Rs 379 less per patient compared to the standard regimen, indicating better health outcomes at lower costs."

- IANS
The Central government is reaching out to opposition parties to build consensus for amending the Women's Reservation Bill, aiming to delink it from the pending delimitation process. The amendment proposes using the 2011 census data to proceed, which could increase Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 816, reserving 273 seats for women. Home Minister Amit Shah has held meetings with both NDA allies and opposition leaders to secure the required two-thirds majority. If passed, this would mark a historic democratic shift, potentially reshaping the 2029 general elections.

Govt seeks opposition support to amend Women's Reservation Bill, delinking it from delimitation using 2011 census. Lok Sabha seats may rise to 816.

New Delhi, March 23 The Central government is making efforts to reach out and garner support from opposition parties for the amendment to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, also called the Women's Reservation Bill, which aims to delink quotas for women from the delimitation process. The bill is likely to be introduced in this budget session.

To build consensus, Home Minister Amit Shah has held meetings with leaders from various opposition parties, including BJD, YSRCP, NCP (Sharad Pawar), Shiv Sena (UBT), Samajwadi party and others.

The bill was passed by Parliament in 2023. The base for delimitation had originally been set at the 2011 census. The Delimitation Act will be amended accordingly. The Government is currently building consensus as this legislation will need 2/3rd majority to pass this legislation, making it crucial to secure support from opposition parties.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also held a meeting with NDA parliamentary floor leaders. LJP Sambhavi Choudhary, Lalan Singh, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Upendra Kushwaha, Shrikant Shinde, Milind Deora, Thambidurai, Anupriya Patel, Praful Patel, Rajkumar Sangwan, along with several other NDA MPs, were present in the meeting.

As per the top sources, the Government has planned two major amendments. 2023's Nari Shakti Vandan Act tied women's reservation to the new census and delimitation. Due to census delays, the plan is to proceed with the 2011 census data. The 2011 census is to be the basis for delimitation and seat redistribution. Lok Sabha seats may increase from 543 to 816 post-amendment.

A bill will be introduced in Parliament to amend the Nari Shakti Vandan Act.

A separate Delimitation Bill will be introduced. Both bills need to be passed as Constitutional amendments for women's reservation. The new Lok Sabha is likely to have more than 800 seats. Keeping up with the status quo, there is no provision for OBC reservation, and SC/ST reservation will continue. However, states won't have a role; the bill passed by Parliament will apply to them.

Currently, the Lok Sabha has 543 seats. With a proposed 50% increase, the number of seats will rise to 816, with 273 (about a third) reserved for women.

The government's key point is that they won't wait for a new census to give women, comprising half the country's population, fair representation in Parliament. Instead, delimitation will be done using the 2011 census data.

The Home Minister led a crucial meeting with NDA parliamentary floor leaders, discussing the amendment to the Nari Shakti Vandan Act. Shah has briefed several opposition leaders on the proposed plan. The opposition supports women's reservation, but discussions are ongoing to build consensus on seat distribution and delimitation.

If passed, this bill will be India's biggest democratic shift since independence, giving the country 273 women MPs by 2029. The 2029 general elections will see contests on 816 Lok Sabha seats, changing the majority mark from 272 (for 543 seats) to 409.

- ANI
The Gujarat BJP has directed its cadre to intensify grassroots outreach and present the government's performance "report card" to voters ahead of upcoming local body elections. State president Jagdish Vishwakarma emphasized booth-level organization as key to the party's strength and highlighted ideological achievements like the Ram Temple and the push for a Uniform Civil Code. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi credited national progress to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and urged workers to counter misinformation. The party aims to translate its governance record and welfare schemes into electoral success in the local polls.

Ahead of local polls, BJP Gujarat urges workers to highlight govt achievements, welfare schemes, and ideological wins like Ram Temple & UCC.

Gandhinagar, March 23 The Gujarat unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday asked its cadre to intensify booth-level outreach and carry the government's "report card" to voters ahead of forthcoming local body elections.

The meeting, held at the party's state headquarters in Gandhinagar, was chaired by state president Jagdish Vishwakarma and attended by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and general secretary (organisation) Ratnakarji, among other leaders.

Addressing party workers, Vishwakarma emphasised the importance of grassroots organisation.

"Activity up to the booth level is the secret of BJP's invincible strength," he said, urging workers to engage with the public through "contact, dialogue and coordination" while presenting the party's work across all sections of society.

He added that the BJP "has never retreated from its ideological commitment" and described the organisation as rooted in principles of public service and integral humanism.

Marking Martyrs' Day, he paid tribute to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, and congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "setting a new record by providing continuous leadership for 8,931 days, the longest in the history of Indian democracy".

Referring to policy decisions, he said: "After the abrogation of Article 370 and the construction of the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya, we are now moving towards a Uniform Civil Code. The Prime Minister had eliminated casteism, dynastic politics and corruption from the country and established the politics of development."

Vishwakarma also highlighted welfare schemes and economic initiatives, stating that programmes such as Ayushman Bharat, Ujjwala Yojana and PM Kisan Samman Nidhi had improved lives, and that "India was emerging as a global hub across sectors including agriculture and the digital economy".

"Gujarat continued to advance under the leadership of the Chief Minister, citing initiatives such as a Rs 10,000 crore relief package for farmers, the Kisan Suryoday Yojana, and progress in higher education and infrastructure," he said.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said the country was progressing despite global uncertainty.

"Even in a situation of global instability, the country is continuously progressing under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said, adding that "more than 75,000 Indians were safely brought back to the country during global war-like situations".

He described the BJP as a disciplined organisation focused on cadre development and appealed to citizens to avoid misinformation, stating, "Citizens should stay away from any kind of rumours and not be misled," particularly in relation to petrol and diesel.

Deputy Chief Minister Sanghavi said the Prime Minister had positioned both the state and the country prominently at the global level.

He urged workers to ensure that government decisions reached the public, saying, "Take the pro-people decisions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to every citizen."

He added that Gujarat could soon become the second state to implement a Uniform Civil Code and called for a collective effort to secure improved results in the upcoming local body polls.

- IANS
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated and laid foundation stones for public welfare projects worth over Rs 938 crore in Mehsana district. He emphasized that Gujarat leads in financial management, ensuring no shortage of funds for development projects across the state. The initiatives include strengthening healthcare, education, and aiming to develop Vadnagar into a world-class heritage town. Energy Minister Rushikesh Patel highlighted a substantial farmer relief package and ongoing work to improve civic amenities and integrate modern facilities with historical sites.

CM Bhupendra Patel inaugurates and lays foundation for projects worth over Rs 938 crore in Mehsana, focusing on holistic district development and infrastructure.

Mehsana, March 22 Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Sunday inaugurated and laid foundation stones for various public welfare projects worth over Rs 938 crore at Visnagar under the 'Mahimavant Mehsana' programme, adding a new milestone to the development history of Mehsana district.

According to the Gujarat Chief Minister's Office, CM Patel performed ground-breaking for projects worth over Rs 630 crore and laid foundation stones for works exceeding Rs 168 crore. He also inaugurated completed development works worth Rs 140 crore, dedicating them to the public.

The Chief Minsiter expressed confidence that these projects would prove to be landmark initiatives for the holistic development of Mehsana district.

Nutrition kits were distributed to expectant mothers during the event. Citizens also took a pledge to adopt 'Swadeshi' in the inspiring presence of the Chief Minister, the release said.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Patel stated that Gujarat is currently leading the country in financial management, ensuring there is no shortage of funds for development.

He assured that there would be no financial constraints for the development of Mehsana district and that all viable proposals from the district would be prioritised and approved.

Highlighting the state's development momentum, the CM noted that projects worth over Rs 2,500 crore have been inaugurated or launched across Gujarat in just the past three days.

"The doubling of the Mehsana-Palanpur railway line and the long-pending approval of the Taranga-Ambaji railway line would significantly boost economic activity in the region," he said.

Reiterating the commitment to develop Vadnagar, the birthplace of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, into a world-class heritage town, the Chief Minister mentioned initiatives such as the Prerna School, an archaeological museum, and the redevelopment of the railway station.

He also stated that Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 3.24 lakh crore signed during the Regional Vibrant Summit for North Gujarat reflect the district's industrial potential.

"Mehsana is also emerging as a food processing hub," he added.

Energy and Petrochemicals Minister Rushikesh Patel, speaking on the occasion, said that Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel is rapidly advancing the development vision initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He highlighted that the state government has announced a substantial Rs 11,000 crore package for farmers, under which over Rs 250 crore has been directly credited to the accounts of farmers in Mehsana as compensation for crop losses.

"Strengthening healthcare infrastructure in the district, sub-district hospitals have been established in Vijapur and Kheralu. In the education sector, facilities such as M.N. Science College, new colleges, and special arrangements for competitive exam preparation have been developed," Rushikesh Patel said.

The Minister further added that the government is committed to improving the ease of living for citizens, especially those in remote areas.

"Work on underground power lines to make cities wire-free, including in Unjha, is nearing completion. By integrating modern amenities with the historic legacy of places like Modhera Sun Temple and Vadnagar, Gujarat will play a foundational role in achieving the vision of 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047," he said.

At the beginning of the programme, Mehsana Collector SK Prajapati welcomed the dignitaries, while District Development Officer Dr Hasrat Jaismin delivered the vote of thanks.

The event was attended by District In-charge Minister Pravin Mali, Rajya Sabha MP Mayank Nayak, MP Haribhai Patel, Bharat Singh Dabhi, MLAs Mukesh Patel, C.J. Chavda, Kirit Patel, Sukhaji Thakor, Sardarbhai Chaudhary and Rajendrabhai Chavda, along with Dudhsagar Dairy Chairman Ashokbhai Chaudhary, and several other leaders, officials, and a large number of citizens.

- ANI
Gujarat has achieved 94% of its tuberculosis detection target for 2025, registering over 1.31 lakh patients against a goal of 1.40 lakh. The state recorded a high clinical recovery rate of 91.74%, with most registered patients completing their treatment. Significant financial support was provided, with Rs 49.10 crore disbursed to nearly 93,000 patients under the Nikshay Poshan Yojana. A massive screening campaign reached over 75 lakh people, identifying more than 1.63 lakh new cases for treatment.

Gujarat achieves 94% TB detection target with 91.74% recovery rate. Over Rs 49 crore disbursed to patients and 75 lakh people screened in 100-day drive.

Gandhinagar, March 23 Gujarat has achieved 94 per cent of its tuberculosis detection target set by NITI Aayog and recorded a clinical recovery rate of 91.74 per cent, according to data released by the state health department ahead of World TB Day.

Highlighting its progress in the National TB Elimination Campaign, officials said that the state identified and registered 1,31,801 tuberculosis patients in 2025 against a target of 1,40,000.

Of these, 1,25,301 patients were placed under active treatment, and 1,21,912 completed their treatment following continuous medical follow-up.

The government said the progress reflects ongoing efforts aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a 'TB-Free India'.

"Under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the state has worked towards meeting targets related to TB registration and treatment," officials noted.

Highlighting the challenges associated with long-duration treatment, the government said, "TB is a disease that requires prolonged treatment. As a result, patients often discontinue treatment midway due to financial burden."

It added that, to address this, financial assistance was provided to support patients throughout treatment.

In 2025, a total of Rs 49.10 crore was disbursed to 92,921 TB patients under the 'Nikshay Poshan Yojana', which provides each patient with Rs 1,000 per month to ensure adequate nutrition during treatment.

The state has also integrated community participation into its programme.

In this regard, the government said, "Gujarat has successfully linked healthcare support with public participation."

A total of 31,058 'Nikshay Mitras', comprising community volunteers and sponsors, have been registered on the national portal, of whom 10,682 are active.

These volunteers have distributed more than 4.49 lakh nutrition kits to patients.

Alongside treatment and support measures, the state has carried out large-scale screening as part of the central government's 100-day intensive TB elimination campaign launched in December 2024.

The government said, "Leading the '100-day Intensive TB Elimination Campaign', the state carried out large-scale door-to-door screening."

As of March 20, 75.39 lakh people have been screened for tuberculosis in Gujarat.

The exercise led to the identification of 1,63,426 new cases, which have been brought under active treatment.

Officials said early identification through proactive screening has enabled patients to be linked to treatment before the disease becomes severe or spreads further within communities, contributing to improved outcomes under the campaign.

- IANS
Actor Harshvardhan Rane has shared an inspiring reflection on his journey from working as a delivery boy to now collaborating with his idol, producer-actor John Abraham, on the upcoming film 'Force 3'. He credits his challenging past job for instilling in him the patience, hunger, and resilience needed for his acting career. Rane is currently undergoing a significant physical transformation, having gained weight specifically for an action sequence in the film. He revealed he has increased his weight from 81 kg to 90 kg, with a goal of reaching 92 kg before shooting begins next month.

Actor Harshvardhan Rane reflects on his inspiring journey from delivery boy to working with idol John Abraham in 'Force 3', sharing his weight gain transformation.

Mumbai, March 23 Actor Harshvardhan Rane took a moment to reflect on his journey from being a delivery boy, who was a fan of John Abraham, to now finally getting the opportunity to work with him in his next 'Force 3".

Harshvardhan took to his social media account and penned his experience of collaborating with the "World best producer" John Abraham in his own words.



His latest post on Instagram read, "Working for the worlds best producer @thejohnabraham ...from being a delivery boy, his fan and now to be on his set!...to all the delivery boys who dream (sic)".



The 'Sanam Teri Kasam' actor looked back on how his time as a delivery boy prepared him for anything life throws at him by teaching him valuable traits, such as patience, hunger, and resilience.



"The rough streets will make you tough, the unreasonable delivery time will discipline you, the heat will test your patience, the rain will challenge your spirits, and the long riding hours will question your limits. you're not just delivering orders you're building patience, hunger, and resilience!", he went on to add.



Recently, Harshvardhan revealed that he has gone on a weight gain journey for an action sequence of "Force 3", which is expected to be shot soon.



He stated that he weighed 81 kg at the time of shooting "Sanam Teri Kasam" and "Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat". However, he was asked to increase his weight to 92 for his next.



Harshvardhan shared that his weight is 90 kg right now, and he has only 2 kilos left to reach his goal weight.



"Was 81 kg in STK and Deewaniyat, For #Force3 i was asked to be approx 92, reached 90 kg as of today, 2 more kg to go for the action scenes next month as the roles physical requirement," he wrote on the photo-sharing app.





- IANS
Iranian state media reports that Hezbollah conducted over 60 military operations against Israeli positions in a 24-hour period, using rockets, drones, and artillery. The attacks were stated to be in defense of Lebanon and a response to recent Israeli strikes. In retaliation, the Israeli Air Force destroyed the Qasmiya Bridge over Lebanon's Litani River, accusing Hezbollah of using it for logistics. The Lebanese government condemned the bridge strike as a dangerous escalation and called for international intervention.

Iranian media reports Hezbollah launched 63 attacks on Israeli positions. Israel responds by destroying a key bridge in Lebanon, escalating tensions.

Tehran, March 23 Iranian state media Press TV said on Monday that Hezbollah carried out 63 military operations targeting Israeli positions and army centres in the last 24 hours.

Citing a statement issued by Hezbollah, Press TV said that the operations were launched to "defend" Lebanese territory and people, and as a direct response to the recent Israeli attacks.

It said that the operations included rocket barrages, offensive drone strikes, and artillery fire. It added that the targets primarily focused on Israeli military gatherings, armoured vehicles, bases, and troop deployment centres along the border areas.

The development comes as The Times of Israel reported on Saturday that five people were lightly hurt after a Hezbollah rocket struck a home in the northern town of Ma'alot-Tarshiha.

It said that Hezbollah fired several rockets at northern Israel on Saturday, which damaged several buildings and infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the Times of Israel said that the Israeli Air Force blew up a bridge over Lebanon's Litani River on Sunday, as it accused Hezbollah of using it to move operatives and weapons into the country's south.

It further reported that the strike on the Litani's Qasmiya Bridge was met with anger from Beirut, which warned the step to be a "dangerous escalation". It gave a call to the international community to intervene to prevent Israel from expanding its operations in Lebanon.

The Israeli Air Force blew up a bridge over Lebanon's Litani River on Sunday, accusing Hezbollah of using it to move operatives and weapons into the country's south, as Israel warned that its fight against the Iran-backed militiahad "only just begun".

The strike on the Litani's Qasmiya Bridge was met with anger from Beirut, which warned that the step was a "dangerous escalation" and demanded that the international community intervene to deter Israel from expanding its operations in Lebanon.

Israel has carried out massive airstrikes in Lebanon and pushed Hezbollah further into the country.

According to the Times of Israel, the Qasmiya Bridge was the fifth to be targeted by Israel since March 2.

- ANI
The Himachal Pradesh government has ordered a review of its decision to significantly increase entry fees for vehicles from other states. The move follows strong objections from the Punjab government, which had threatened a retaliatory levy. The proposed hike would see tolls for cars nearly double at six entry points across the state. A final decision is pending a report from the Excise and Taxation Department as the state balances revenue needs with inter-state relations.

Himachal Pradesh orders review of steep entry fee hike for vehicles from other states following objections from Punjab and border protests.

Shimla, March 23 The Himachal Pradesh government has initiated a review of its recent decision to sharply increase entry fees on vehicles from other states, following strong objections from Punjab and protests in border areas.

The Cabinet met today in Shimla, headed by the Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

The issue, which was also raised in the Punjab Assembly, prompted the Chief Minister to seek a detailed review from the Excise and Taxation Department. The move comes amid concerns of a possible retaliatory tax by Punjab, which had begun preparations to impose a reciprocal entry levy.

The Himachal government had implemented a significant hike in entry fees effective April 1, increasing the toll for cars from Rs 70 to Rs 130. Similar increases were introduced across other vehicle categories at six entry barriers across the state.

Industry Minister Harshvardhan Chauhan said the matter was discussed extensively during a Cabinet meeting. "The Chief Minister has spoken to the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to understand their specific objections. A review has been sought from the Excise and Taxation Department," he said.

He added that the steepest objection has been to the increase in entry fee for vehicles up to six seats, where the rate was almost doubled, while hikes in other categories were relatively marginal.

On whether the government would roll back the hike, Chauhan said discussions are ongoing. "Tenders for border entry points have already been awarded. The government is examining how the rates can be rationalised. A final decision will be taken after the department submits its report," he said.

Earlier in the day, former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur claimed that the opposition's protest against the move had forced the government to reconsider. He argued that the decision could have adversely impacted tourism in the hill state and reduced overall revenue.

"The decision was taken to boost state revenue, which is the government's right. However, discussions have already taken place with Punjab, and a balanced solution will be worked out," he said.

The development indicates a possible recalibration of the policy as the state government seeks to balance revenue considerations with inter-state relations and stakeholder concerns.

- ANI
The Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Response Force has won the National Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue Competition for the second consecutive year. The team set a new record by completing the challenging course in just 41 minutes, finishing first among 30 teams from across India. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu felicitated the team at a ceremony in Shimla and presented them with the trophy. The event also saw the launch of a new Home Guard Volunteer Management System and a review of fire safety codes.

Himachal Pradesh SDRF wins national collapsed structure rescue competition for second straight year, setting a new record time. CM Sukhu felicitates team.

Shimla, March 22 A felicitation ceremony was held at Oak Over, Shimla, to honour the outstanding achievement of the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Response Force, which secured 1st position at the National Level Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue Competition for the second consecutive time.

During the event, the winning SDRF team proudly presented the prestigious trophy to the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, according to a press note.

The Chief Minister congratulated the team members for their exceptional performance and dedication. All team members were awarded appreciation certificates in recognition of their remarkable contribution and commitment to disaster response excellence.

As per the press note, the HP SDRF team has once again created history by securing first position at the National CSSR Competition held at the 8th Battalion NDRF Campus in Ghaziabad from March 9 to 11. The team finished first among 30 teams representing 27 States and Union Territories. Notably, the team surpassed its own previous record by completing the competition in a record time of 41 minutes, showcasing unmatched efficiency, preparedness, and operational excellence.

In the final standings of the competition, HP SDRF secured the first position, followed by Uttar Pradesh SDRF in second place and Andhra Pradesh SDRF in third place. With this historic back-to-back national victory, HP SDRF has firmly established itself as one of the finest and most capable State Disaster Response Forces in the country.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister also inaugurated the Home Guard Volunteer Management System, aimed at enhancing coordination, efficiency, and management of Home Guard volunteers across the state. Additionally, the Fire Safety Code 2026 was reviewed, reflecting the government's continued commitment to strengthening disaster preparedness and safety standards in Himachal Pradesh.

The event marked a significant milestone in recognising the relentless efforts of all the verticals of the disaster response system, including SDRF, Home Guards, Fire Department, and Civil Defence, and reaffirmed the state government's continued support towards building a resilient and disaster-ready Himachal Pradesh, the press note stated.

- ANI
The Israeli Defence Forces have initiated a new wave of strikes targeting Iranian regime infrastructure in Tehran, responding to an earlier Iranian ballistic missile attack on central Israel. The Iranian attack involved cluster munitions, causing property damage but no serious injuries in locations like Jaffa and Petah Tikva. Regional spillover from the escalating conflict has seen missile and drone incidents in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, where an Indian national was injured by falling debris. Concurrently, the US has destroyed a key Iranian turbine engine plant, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged continued forceful action with the United States against Iran.

IDF launches extensive strikes on Iranian infrastructure in Tehran following Iran's missile attack on central Israel. Regional tensions escalate.

Tel Aviv, March 23 The Israeli Defence Forces on Monday have begun a fresh wave of strikes on targets in Iran, as per a report by the Times of Israel.

In its statement the IDF said, "IDF launches a wave of extensive strikes targeting infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime in Tehran"

In Israel, no injuries were reported after damage was caused at several locations in central Israel after cluster munitions hit the area following Iran's latest ballistic missile attack, Times of Israel said.

Earlier, the IDF said that it had targeted several security bodies in Iran in a wide-scale wave of strikes. Among them was a military base used for training soldiers and storing missile systems intended to target aircrafts, a weapons production and storage facility of the Ministry of Defence, a weapons production site of the IRGC's Air Force, the HQ of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and the emergency HQ of the Internal Security Forces.

Times of Israel also reported that on Sunday, fifteen people were injured when an Iranian ballistic missile dropped cluster munitions in central Israel. Damage was caused to several homes and roads by the impacts. In Jaffa, a projectile struck a residential building, and an impact in Petah Tikva started a fire in a residential area, but no one was seriously injured.

With the conflict in West Asia and the Gulf region in its fourth week now, spillovers from the tensions have affected the countries in the neighbourhood.

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defence said on Monday that it detected the launch of two ballistic missiles towards Riyadh, with one intercepted and the other falling in an uninhabited area. It also reported of the interception and destruction of a drone in the eastern region.

In UAE, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said on Monday that an Indian national suffered minor injuries from falling debris after the UAE's air defence systems successfully intercepted a ballistic missile targeting the country's capital.

The incident occurred in Abu Dhabi's Al Shawamekh area, it said.

As developments follow in the region, in a devastating attack by the US, Iran's Qom Turbine Engine Production Plant, which used to produce gas turbine engines for attack drones and aircraft components, has been destroyed, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.

US Central Command shared a photograph of the destroyed plant, which was taken on March 6, showing the intensity of the damage caused by the attack.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the US and Israel would continue to act against Iran.Netanyahu visited Arad, which was hit by Iran on Sunday.

The Prime Minister's Office said in a post on X, "Iran continues to prove why they are an enemy to civilization and the free world, while now posing a direct threat to European countries. Israel and the U.S. will continue to act with great force against the Ayatollah terror regime."

- ANI
Indian and Cambodian officials held high-level meetings to strengthen bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors. Discussions centered on enhancing trade, investment, and development partnerships between the two nations. A key focus was on heritage conservation, including the ongoing Archaeological Survey of India-led restoration of the Ta Prohm and Angkor Wat temples. The talks also covered cultural exchanges and India's capacity-building initiatives for Cambodia, such as diplomat training.

India and Cambodia review cooperation in trade, heritage conservation, and diplomacy, including restoration of Angkor Wat by ASI.

Phnom Penh, March 23 Ministry of External Affairs Secretary, P Kumaran on Monday called on Prak Sokhonn, Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, where both sides discussed ways to enhance cooperation between the two nations across diverse sectors.

Taking to X, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "Secretary (East) P. Kumaran called on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia, Prak Sokhonn. Discussions focused on further strengthening multifaceted cooperation between India and Cambodia."

He also called on Minister of Culture and Fine Arts of Cambodia, Phoeurng Sackona with discussions focused on heritage conservation projects and other areas of cultural cooperation.

On Sunday, Kumaran visited Ta Prohm Temple and Angkor Wat Temple in Cambodia's Siem Reap.

"Secretary (East) 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," Jaiswal posted on X.

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 world's largest ancient temple complex in Cambodia and a magnificent symbol of India-Cambodia shared civilisational heritage. From 1986 to 1993, India was the first country to extend support for its restoration," Jaiswal shared in another post on X.

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."

Last week, 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.

Following the meeting, Jaiswal took to X and posted: "Secretary (East) P Kumaran met a Cambodian delegation led by Secretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, KHY Sovanratana, to review India's 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."

- IANS
A government survey reveals that Indian private companies have lined up capital expenditure plans worth over Rs 11.44 lakh crore for the financial year 2025-26, indicating strong investment momentum. The survey shows a high execution rate of 96.3% for the previous year's investment intentions, demonstrating that firms are largely following through on their commitments. Internal accruals remain the dominant source of funding, accounting for over 65% of the planned capex, with a significant focus on income generation and capacity upgradation. Looking ahead, the survey estimates robust future investment intentions of Rs 9.55 lakh crore for 2026-27, with notable allocations towards green energy and robotics.

Govt survey reveals strong private investment momentum with Rs 11.44 lakh crore capex planned for FY26, high execution rates, and robust future outlook.

New Delhi, March 23 The government on Monday said that India Inc has lined up capital expenditure plans worth over Rs 11 lakh crore for the current financial year 2025-26, highlighting strong investment momentum in the private corporate sector.

According to a survey by the National Statistical Office (NSO) released by the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI), conducted between October and December 2025, the provisional aggregate CAPEX for FY26 is estimated at Rs 11.44 lakh crore.

The findings also pointed to strong execution of investment plans by corporates. The actual CAPEX for 2024-25 stood at Rs 173.5 crore per enterprise against an intended Rs 180.2 crore, translating into a high realisation ratio of 96.3 per cent, the government said. This indicates that companies largely followed through on their investment commitments.

In terms of strategy, nearly 48.63 per cent of enterprises are focusing on CAPEX towards core assets in FY26, while 38.36 per cent are investing in value addition to existing assets. A majority of firms, about 60.13 per cent, reported that their primary objective of undertaking CAPEX was income generation, followed by capacity upgradation.

The survey also highlighted that internal accruals remain the primary source of funding, accounting for 65.35 per cent of total CAPEX in FY26. Domestic debt contributed 23.25 per cent, while equity and external sources such as foreign debt and foreign direct investment accounted for a relatively smaller share, according to the government.

Looking ahead, the survey indicated that investment activity is likely to remain robust. Aggregate CAPEX intentions for 2026-27 are estimated at Rs 9.55 lakh crore. The NSO noted that such forward-looking estimates are typically conservative, suggesting continued strength in corporate investment sentiment.

The survey covered large private sector enterprises across industries and aims to provide insights into investment trends to support policy formulation and strategic planning.

Moreover, in the energy and technology segments, enterprises are allocating 6.62 per cent towards green energy (solar, wind, biomass), 5.83 per cent towards robotic equipment in the manufacturing sector, and 2.83 per cent towards robotics across all sectors, the government said.

- IANS
India currently holds approximately 3.372 million metric tonnes of crude oil in its strategic petroleum reserves, representing 64% of the total storage capacity. The reserves, managed by ISPRL, are located at three coastal sites and act as a buffer against supply shocks. The government has approved two additional commercial-cum-strategic facilities with 6.5 MMT capacity in Odisha and Karnataka. To ensure supply security, Indian oil PSUs now import crude from 41 diverse countries, with 70% of imports sourced from outside the traditional Gulf region.

India has 3.37 million tonnes of crude in strategic reserves, 64% of capacity, with imports diversified across 41 countries for energy security.

New Delhi, March 23 The quantity of crude oil currently stocked as part of India's strategic reserves is around 3.372 million metric tonnes, which is 64 per cent of the total storage capacity of these reserves, the Parliament was informed on Monday.

The government, through a Special Purpose Vehicle called the Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve Limited (ISPRL), has established Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) facilities with total capacity of 5.33 million metric tonnes (MMT) of crude oil at three locations in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka which can act as buffer for short-term supply shocks, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi said in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.

The exact quantity of crude oil available in these caverns along the coast varies depending on market conditions. The actual reserve is a dynamic number depending on the stocks and actual consumption, both of which are not static. Currently, ISPRL has around 3.372 MMT of crude stock available which is around 64 per cent of the total storage capacity, the minister said.

In July 2021, the government had also approved the establishment of two additional commercial-cum strategic petroleum reserve facilities with a total storage capacity of 6.5 MMT in Odisha and Karnataka, he added.

The minister further stated that to ensure security of crude supplies and to mitigate the risk of dependence on crude oil from a single region, oil and gas public sector enterprises (PSEs), which are board-run entities, source crude oil from diverse sources depending on their technical and commercial considerations. Currently, these PSEs import crude oil from 41 countries, including new suppliers like the USA, Nigeria, Angola, Canada, Colombia, Brazil, and Mexico, in addition to traditional suppliers in the Middle East such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar.

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 world's oil and gas exports transit. As much as 70 per cent of the country's oil imports are now coming from countries outside the Gulf.

- IANS
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar reaffirmed the strong India-Russia partnership, setting a bilateral trade target of USD 100 billion by 2030. He highlighted Russia's key role in India's civil nuclear energy sector, particularly the Kudankulam project. The minister noted deepening engagement through high-level exchanges, including President Putin's 2025 visit, and new consulates to strengthen people-to-people ties. With India chairing BRICS this year, he emphasized collaborative efforts to address global challenges in an evolving multipolar world.

EAM Jaishankar hails special India-Russia partnership, commits to boosting bilateral trade to USD 100 billion by 2030 and deepening nuclear & geopolitical cooperation.

New Delhi, March 23 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday hailed the longstanding ties between New Delhi and Moscow and said that the countries are committed to growing their bilateral trade to USD 100 billion by 2030.

He made the remarks while virtually addressing the 'India and Russia: Towards a new bilateral agenda' conference.

EAM lauded the efforts of the Russian International Affairs Council and the Indian Embassy in Moscow for the second consecutive edition of this initiative.

In his remarks he said, "Both sides are committed to increasing the present annual trade from US $68.7 billion to US $100 billion by 2030 in a balanced and sustainable manner". In this regard he said that efforts are underway to address non-tariff barriers and regulatory impediments.

Highlighting the relationship, he said that in the present-day global politics, the India-Russia engagements have, over the years, advanced regional and global peace.

"India and Russia, share a special and privileged strategic partnership rooted in trust and mutual respect. Over decades, our mutually beneficial cooperation has advanced regional and global peace, stability and progress. In today's evolving geopolitical dynamics, our engagement continues to deepen, driven by frequent high-level exchanges. The last visit of President Putin to India in December 2025 broke new ground covering diverse and novel areas including mobility of skilled professionals, health and food safety, maritime cooperation, fertilizers, customs and commerce, academic and media cooperation", Jaishankar added.

Noting Russia's partnership in India's civil nuclear energy sector, he added., "Russia is our foremost partner in civil nuclear energy and the Kudankulam nuclear project is a stellar example. As India aims to increase its nuclear energy generation capacity to 100 gigawatt by 2047, I am confident that it will find a trusted and reliable partner in Russia for peaceful uses of nuclear energy."

Jaishankar also recalled the depth of people-to-people ties based on a shared appreciation for our art, Yoga, Ayurveda and Culture and expressed confidence that the new consulates in Kazan and Ekaterinburg will further strengthen the economic, cultural and social bonds.

With India as the BRICS chairperson this year, he emphasised how the evolving multipolar order necessitates greater cooperation including through BRICS, SCO, G20 and the UN and said that India's chairmanship of BRICS would see a humanity first and a people-centric approach, that looks forward to closely working with Russia to address shared challenges in a balanced and inclusive manner.

Moscow is hosting the second international conference, "Russia and India: Towards a New Agenda for Bilateral Relations," on March 23, bringing together senior diplomats, policymakers and experts from both countries to strengthen strategic cooperation.

Organised by the Russian International Affairs Council and the Embassy of India in Russia, the conference will focus on key thematic areas including the role of Russia and India in shaping a multipolar world, engagement with third countries and expanding economic cooperation, as reported by TV BRICS.

- ANI
Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla inaugurated the 'Shakti Kendra,' a comprehensive one-stop women's health centre at Bhopal's Kailash Nath Katju hospital. He described the centre as an innovative initiative crucial for making women healthier and more empowered by providing modern healthcare under one roof. Health officer Rachna Dubey explained the centre focuses on early detection of cancers and addresses issues like PCOS, thyroid disorders, and hormonal imbalances through advanced diagnostics and counselling. The initiative is framed within the state's broader efforts to ensure health security for women from adolescence through motherhood.

Madhya Pradesh Deputy CM Rajendra Shukla inaugurates innovative Shakti Kendra in Bhopal, offering comprehensive healthcare for women's empowerment.

Bhopal, March 23 Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla said on Monday that the state government is undertaking special initiatives to ensure health security for women at every stage of their lives from adolescence to their motherhood.

iDeputy Chief Minister Shukla, who is handling health and medical education departments in the state, made this remark addressing a gathering of women during the inauguration of the 'Shakti Kendra' -- One-Stop Comprehensive Women's Health Centre at the Kailash Nath Katju hospital in Bhopal.

He conducted a detailed inspection of the 'Shakti Kendra', and interacted with specialist physicians to gather feedback regarding the quality of the health services being provided.

He described the 'Shakti Kendra' as an innovative and pivotal initiative aimed at making women more aware, healthy, and empowered.

He noted that by providing comprehensive, modern and accessible healthcare services under a single roof, the centre would prove instrumental in enhancing their quality of life.

Deputy Chief Minister Shukla emphasised that a healthy woman serves as the very foundation of a healthy family and an empowered society.

He also noted the continuous increase in the number of medical colleges and available seats, a trend that promises to further bolster healthcare services in the future.

He also said that through the Ayushman Bharat scheme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has opened the doors for healthcare services to the poor, the underprivileged, and vulnerable sections of society, ensuring that financial constraints no longer pose a barrier to receiving medical treatment.

On this occasion, Health and State Nodal Officer Director, Rachna Dubey, said that the 'Shakti Kendra' as an acronym standing for spreading health awareness knowledge through technology and innovation, has been developed as a holistic healthcare solution for women, where equal emphasis is placed on both physical and mental well-being.

She noted that women in society often neglect their health issues, particularly among adolescent girls, a lack of awareness and hesitation frequently result in various gynaecological conditions going undetected in a timely manner.

"Shakti Kendra places a special focus on the early detection and prevention of cancer, offering facilities such as breast cancer screening, breast self-examination, thermography, and cervical cancer screening," she said.

Dubey shared that to address rapidly rising health issues such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, thyroid disorders, diabetes, and hormonal imbalances among women, the Shakti Kendra provides advanced diagnostic facilities, ultrasound services, treatment for irregular menstruation, weight management programmes, nutritional counselling, yoga, and lifestyle consultation.

- IANS
Over 3,530 jobs to be generated

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced that an interactive session with industrialists in Jaipur has resulted in investment commitments worth Rs 5,055 crore. The proposals are expected to create more than 3,530 jobs across diverse sectors, highlighting the state's growing appeal to businesses. The event showcased MP's investor-friendly policies, infrastructure, and strategic location to attract entrepreneurs from neighbouring Rajasthan. This success is part of the state's broader campaign to position itself as a dynamic hub for sustainable industrial growth.

Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav's investor meet in Jaipur draws Rs 5,055 crore commitments, set to create over 3,530 jobs, boosting state's industrial growth.

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 state's 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 Pradesh's advantages for mutual economic growth.

The event, held in Jaipur on Saturday, was part of the state government's nationwide campaign to attract investors and industrialists. Designed to showcase Madhya Pradesh's 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 state's 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 state's industrial growth to India's ambitious $5 trillion economy target, stressing Madhya Pradesh's 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 Yadav's broader campaign to promote Madhya Pradesh nationally and internationally.

The Jaipur session's success, marked by substantial investment commitments, reflects the growing resonance of the state's 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 state's image as a dynamic hub for industrial growth.

- IANS
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warns that the conflict with Iran is driving up fuel and travel costs for American consumers, despite stable supply chains. He notes airlines are facing pressure from higher jet fuel prices, leading to increased travel expenses. The administration is taking steps to mitigate the impact, including easing some restrictions on Iranian oil exports to stabilize prices. Duffy suggests prices could rebound quickly if the conflict, which the President expects to last four to six weeks, is resolved.

US Transportation Secretary warns Iran conflict is increasing fuel and travel costs for American consumers, though supply chains remain stable.

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.

- IANS
Iran has formally submitted 16 letters to the International Criminal Court and other global bodies, condemning what it calls an unprovoked war of aggression by the United States and Israel. The Iranian Red Crescent Society reports massive damage to civilian infrastructure, with over 81,000 units including homes, schools, and medical centers affected across several provinces. Senior officials state the attacks, which began in late February, represent a gross violation of international humanitarian regulations and the Geneva Convention. In response, Tehran has launched retaliatory missile and drone strikes against targets in Israeli-occupied territories and US assets in the region.

Iran submits 16 letters to ICC over US-Israel strikes, reporting damage to over 81,000 civilian units including schools and medical centers.

Tehran, March 23 The Iranian Red Crescent Society has confirmed that Tehran has submitted 16 formal letters to the International Criminal Court and other global authorities, demanding a "condemnation of the unprovoked war of aggression against the Islamic Republic by the United States and the Israeli regime," according to the country's state media, Press TV.

The diplomatic push follows a series of military strikes that began late last month. Razieh Alishvandi, the Deputy IRCS Head for International and Human Rights Affairs, stated on Sunday that Iran is actively lobbying international bodies to "take necessary legal measures in condemnation of the US-Israel attacks."

Expanding on these efforts, Alishvandi noted that the IRCS is maintaining daily communication with the International Federation of the Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

She highlighted that "five joint statements by Iranian National Committee on Humanitarian Law and the Iranian Red Crescent Society have been issued" to date.

According to Press TV, these statements address specific "cases of human rights violation," including documented "attacks on medical centres and civilians, attacks on the IRSC ambulances and also attacks on Frigate IRIS Dena."

The current escalation is described as a "fresh round of unlawful military aggression on Iran" that commenced on February 28.

This follows a period of heightened tensions, occurring roughly eight months after previous "unprovoked attacks on the country."

In response to the air raids, Tehran has launched "extensive retaliatory attacks," utilising "missiles and drones successfully hitting targets in the Israeli-occupied territories as well as US military assets in regional countries."

The humanitarian toll of the conflict was detailed by IRCS Head Pir-Hossein Kolivand, who reported that "81,365 civilian units, including medical centres, schools and ambulances, have been damaged."

State media Press TV quoted Kolivand describing the destruction as a "gross violation of international humanitarian regulations and the Geneva Convention."

The scale of the damage includes "61,555 homes and 19,050 commercial units" across various provinces.

In Tehran alone, the strikes have reportedly impacted "24,605 residential and commercial units, 275 pharmaceutical, health and emergency centres, 498 schools and 17 Red Crescent centres, and 3 helicopters."

Emphasising the gravity of the situation, Kolivand stated that "attacks on these centres and equipment are not merely the destruction of buildings or vehicles, but a direct attack on the lifelines that save human lives."

As reported by Press TV, the Iranian government continues to document these incidents as part of its broader legal strategy to hold the US and Israel accountable on the international stage.

- ANI
Iran has issued a stark warning that it will completely close the strategic Strait of Hormuz if the United States carries out threats to target Iranian power plants. The warning, delivered by a senior military spokesperson, also designates the energy infrastructure of Israel and Gulf countries hosting US bases as legitimate targets for retaliation. This escalation comes in direct response to a public ultimatum from US President Donald Trump, who gave Iran 48 hours to open the Strait. While Iran states it does not seek conflict, it vows a "great struggle" to destroy American economic interests in the region if attacked.

Iran threatens to completely close the Strait of Hormuz and target regional energy infrastructure if the US attacks its power plants, escalating tensions.

Tehran, March 22 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
Iran's exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has publicly called for the dismantling of the Islamic Republic, distinguishing the regime from the Iranian people. He directly appealed to US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to target the regime's repressive apparatus while protecting civilian infrastructure needed for rebuilding. The appeal comes amid regional tensions, with Kuwait and the UAE confirming interceptions of missile and drone attacks reportedly from Iran. Meanwhile, the Israel Defence Forces reported discovering weapons, including an anti-tank missile post, in southern Lebanon.

Reza Pahlavi calls for dismantling Iran's Islamic Republic, asks US and Israel to target regime but spare civilian infrastructure for future rebuild.

Tehran, March 23 Iran's Exiled Crowned Prince Reza Pahlavi on Saturday asserted that Iran is not the Islamic Republic, adding that the regime here must be dismantled.

Pahlavi appealed to US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to continue targeting the regime and its apparatus of repression, while sparing the civilian infrastructure.

In a post on X, he said, "Iran is not the Islamic Republic. Iran's civilian infrastructure belongs to the Iranian people and to the future of a free Iran. The Islamic Republic's infrastructure is the machinery of repression and terror used to keep that future from becoming reality. Iran must be protected. The regime must be dismantled."

He further said, "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. With the support of the US and Israel, and above all, the sacrifice of Iranian patriots, the hour of Iran's freedom is at hand. Long live Iran!"

Meanwhile, Kuwait has become the latest Gulf country to announce it is responding to missile and drone attacks. In a statement, the Kuwaiti army said the sound of explosions is the result of interceptions and called on people to adhere to the authorities' instructions, as per Al Jazeera.

The Israel Defence Forces, meanwhile, said that they discovered several weapons in Southern Lebanon.

In a post on X, the IDF said, "DISCOVERED: IDF soldiers found an anti-tank missile post and weapons while operating in southern Lebanon."

Meanwhile, falling shrapnel has been reported in several locations across southern and central Israel after another round of Iranian missile attacks, as reported by Al Jazeera.

The UAE's air defences are currently dealing with missile attacks and incoming drones from Iran, and the Ministry of Defence confirms that the sounds heard in scattered areas of the country are the result of air defence systems intercepting ballistic missiles, as well as fighter jets intercepting drones and loitering munitions, an official statement said.

- ANI
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on world leaders to join a US-Israeli led effort against Iran, following missile attacks on Israeli towns. He presented Iran's targeting of civilian areas and sites sacred to three major religions in Jerusalem as proof of a global threat. The attacks on Arad and Dimona injured over 100 people, including children, prompting accusations of war crimes from Israel. Netanyahu framed the conflict as a battle for international security, welcoming supportive statements from US President Donald Trump.

Israeli PM cites attacks on holy sites and civilians, urging international leaders to confront Iran alongside the US and Israel for global security.

Arad, March 22 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
Two consecutive snow avalanches have struck the strategic Bandipora-Gurez mountainous road in north Kashmir, severely disrupting traffic. The Border Roads Organisation has mobilized specialized teams to clear the massive snow and debris blocking the highway. This incident follows a recent large-scale rescue by the Indian Army, which saved 235 civilians stranded by heavy snowfall at Sinthan Top. The Army's successful operation involved providing food, shelter, and medical aid in treacherous conditions.

Twin snow avalanches disrupt the strategic Bandipora-Gurez road in Kashmir. BRO teams mobilize for clearance ops to restore vital connectivity.

Bandipora, March 23 Vehicular movement in the Gurez Valley of north Kashmir was disturbed on Monday after two consecutive snow avalanches struck the vital 85-km-long Bandipora-Gurez mountainous pass.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has mobilised specialised teams to the affected sites to clear the massive accumulation of snow and debris blocking the highway.

The two back-to-back snow avalanches striking the 85-km-long Bandipora-Gurez area of north Kashmir's Bandipora district severely disrupted traffic movement along the strategic route. Soon after the incident, snow clearance operations were performed by BRO's 56 RCC teams on a war footing to restore connectivity.

The India Meteorological Department, Srinagar, recorded a minimum temperature of 5C this morning, with the mercury expected to reach a maximum of 17C. The city is witnessing a generally cloudy sky, with light rain expected later in the day. Other major stations in the division show cooler conditions:

Earlier this month, the Indian Army rescued 235 civilians and 38 vehicles stranded at Sinthan Top in the general area of Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir, due to heavy snowfall and severe weather conditions.

The troops of White Knight Corps carried out the swift rescue operations despite the treacherous terrain and relentless snowfall.

Rescue teams reached Sinthan Top on Sunday and provided hot meals, drinking water, and shelter to the stranded civilians, White Knight Corps said.

Repair and recovery teams restored the mobility of stranded vehicles, while passengers from unrecoverable vehicles were safely evacuated. Medical teams rendered assistance and essential medicines to those in need.

"The operation concluded successfully, with all civilians and vehicles safely escorted to safety. The mission witnessed seamless coordination between the Indian Army, J&K Police and National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), reaffirming the Indian Army's commitment to safeguarding lives in the harshest conditions," White Knight Corps said.

- ANI
Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff paid homage to Indian freedom fighters Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru, and Sukhdev Thapar on Shaheed Diwas. He shared an illustrated graphic on social media with the poignant caption, "Their Sacrifice! Our Freedom!" The day commemorates the execution of the three young revolutionaries by the British colonial government in 1931. Their ultimate sacrifice and commitment to India's independence continue to inspire the nation generations later.

Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff remembers martyrs Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev on Shaheed Diwas with a powerful social media post.

Mumbai, March 23 Bollywood star Jackie Shroff paid tribute to India's legendary freedom fighters, Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, on Shaheed Diwas, that is celebrated on the 23rd of March, further remembering their ultimate sacrifice for the nation.

Taking to his social media account, the actor shared a picture featuring illustrated portraits of the three revolutionaries set against the backdrop of the Ashoka Chakra and the hues of the Indian tricolour.



The text written by him, on the picture read, "Their Sacrifice! Our Freedom!" with "Shaheed Diwas, March 23", along with hashtags like #ShaheedDiwas and #FreedomFighters.



For the uninitiated, Shaheed Diwas is observed every year on March 23, marking the martyrdom of Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar, who were executed by the British colonial government in 1931.



The day serves as a string yet sensitive reminder of the young boys' courage, patriotism, and firm commitment to India's independence struggle.



Talking about Bhagat Singh, he remains as one of the most iconic revolutionaries in Indian history, who was known for his fearless ideology and acts of resistance against British rule.



Alongside him, Rajguru and Sukhdev played pivotal roles in revolutionary and independence activities, including the assassination of British officer J.P. Saunders as an act of protest against colonial oppression.



Their sacrifice at a young age, even after continues to inspire generations even after 95 years of their martyrdom.



Meanwhile, talking about Jackie Shroff, the actor has been a constant at marking special occasions related to cinema and its legends.



Recently, from remembering icons like Madhubala, Sridevi and Shashi Kapoor on their birth and death anniversaries, to celebrating milestones of his own films, the actor has been taking to social media to pay tribute and relive memories.





- IANS
Jaipur residents woke up to pleasant weather following early morning rainfall. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has directed all district collectors to immediately survey and report crop damage from recent heavy rains across the state. The India Meteorological Department has issued a nationwide alert forecasting thunderstorms, rainfall, and gusty winds for the coming days. An Orange Alert is specifically in place for several eastern states due to the potential for severe weather.

Jaipur sees pleasant weather after rain. Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma orders immediate crop damage surveys. IMD forecasts storms across India.

Jaipur, March 23 Several areas of Jaipur witnessed a sudden change in weather on Monday as rainfall lashed parts of the city. The showers, which began in the early hours, covered different parts of Rajasthan.

The current weather has transitioned the city's climate from warm to pleasant.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma directed all district collectors to immediately conduct surveys to assess crop damage caused by heavy rainfall across the state. The Rajasthan CM instructed officials to submit the crop damage survey reports at the earliest possible.

In a post on X, CM Sharma emphasised that Rajasthan's prosperity is built on the foundation of its farmers, asserting that the state government stands firmly with them with "complete sensitivity and responsibility.

"Instructions have been issued to all District Collectors to immediately conduct surveys and submit reports at the earliest for the proper assessment of the damage caused to our farmer brethren due to heavy rainfall in various regions of the state. The prosperity of Rajasthan rests on the foundation of our farmer brothers and sisters. The state government stands firmly with you with complete sensitivity and responsibility. Providing prompt and adequate assistance to every affected farmer is our utmost priority, towards which the government is fully committed," said CM Sharma on Saturday.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a nationwide weather alert, forecasting widespread thunderstorms, rainfall, lightning, and gusty winds across multiple regions over the coming days.

Speaking to ANI here on Friday, IMD Scientist Akhil Shrivastava said, "A large-scale thunderstorm activity is currently being witnessed across India. In Delhi, rainfall activity occurred, resulting in a significant drop in maximum temperatures. However, this activity is expected to subside in Delhi starting Saturday, with the probability of rain decreasing from Saturday onwards."

Shrivastava further noted that an 'Orange Alert' had been issued for regions including eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and parts of West Bengal due to expected thunderstorms, gusty winds, and possible hailstorms.

"Wind speeds in eastern India may reach 60 to 70 kmph, posing potential risks," he said.

- ANI
A massive influx of over 30,000 devotees proceeded to the Vaishno Devi shrine on Sunday amid the ongoing Chaitra Navratri festival. The pilgrimage continues smoothly with authorities implementing robust crowd control measures to ensure safety and order. Registration had to be temporarily suspended due to the overwhelming rush but has since resumed. Officials report nearly one lakh pilgrims have visited the holy cave since the start of the auspicious period.

Massive pilgrim surge at Vaishno Devi during Chaitra Navratri. Authorities manage crowd as registrations resume after temporary halt.

Katra, March 22 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
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha handed over government appointment letters to the next of kin of terror victims in Jammu. The initiative, under Compassionate Appointment Rules, aims to provide financial stability and social security to affected families. Sinha reaffirmed the administration's commitment to standing with victims and ensuring their welfare. The program marks a step in ongoing efforts to support rehabilitation and sustainable livelihoods for those impacted by terrorism.

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha provides government appointment letters to next of kin of terror victims in Jammu, supporting rehabilitation.

Jammu, March 23 Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday handed over appointment letters for government jobs to the families of terror victims in the Jammu division.

Officials said that in a significant humanitarian initiative, Lieutenant Governor Sinha handed over appointment letters to the next of kin (NoKs) of terror victims and other eligible beneficiaries under the Compassionate Appointment Rules.

The event was held at the Convention Centre in Jammu, where several families affected by terrorism received government job appointments as a means of support and rehabilitation.

Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor reaffirmed the administration's commitment to standing firmly with the victims of terrorism and ensuring their welfare and dignity.

He stated that these appointments are part of a broader effort to provide financial stability and social security to affected families.

The initiative aims to ease the hardships of the families of terror victims and secure their sustainable livelihood.

The L-G said, "We stand at a decisive turning point in J&K today. The youth of UT & terror victim families aspire to a bright future and wish to live a better life. It is our shared responsibility to make that future a reality and create the opportunities they deserve."

The programme witnessed participation from senior officials and beneficiaries, marking a step forward in the government's ongoing efforts to support those impacted by terrorism.

L-G Manoj Sinha has been at the forefront of wiping tears from the eyes of terror victims by giving them livelihood and encouraging them to start their lives afresh.

The L-G said the victims of terror were not even allowed to voice their pain for over 30 years and were condemned to suffer in silence.

L-G Sinha has also criticised the so-called social, religious and political activists, who beat their chest on the death of terrorists, but did not even have a word of sympathy for those killed by the terrorists.

In addition to providing government jobs to the next of kin of terror victims, the L-G has personally been supervising the handholding of such families in self-employment, handicrafts, industries, agriculture and other activities.

- IANS
US President Donald Trump has justified a temporary easing of sanctions on Iranian oil, stating the primary goal is to increase global supply rather than financially benefit Iran. The authorization, valid until April 19, 2026, permits the sale and delivery of Iranian-origin crude and petroleum products loaded on vessels by a specific deadline. Trump emphasized that any revenue Iran earns from these sales will not materially impact the ongoing conflict in West Asia. The US Treasury Department's move aims to address concerns over energy flow disruptions and meet global demand.

President Trump justifies temporary easing of Iran oil sanctions to stabilize global supply, stating revenue to Iran won't impact West Asia conflict.

Florida, March 23 US President Donald Trump on Monday justified his administration's decision to temporarily ease sanctions on Iranian oil, stating that the move will introduce as much oil in the system as possible.

Speaking to reporters here, Trump emphasised that the move is intended to stabilise global oil supply rather than benefit Iran financially amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia.



He added that allowing the oil to enter the market ensures that global energy demands are met, while any revenue Iran might earn is unlikely to impact the conflict.



"I just want to have as much oil in the system as possible... You have ships that are out there that are loaded up with oil. Rather than keep it there, I would rather see it go to the system. Any small amount of money that Iran gets is not going to have any difference in this war," the US President stated.



Earlier on Friday, the US, amid the heightened geopolitical tensions and concerns over disruptions to energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz, announced the temporary easing of sanctions on Iranian-origin crude oil and petroleum products up until April 19, including permitting the sale of Iranian crude and refined products into the United States.



The details of the decision were provided by a statement from the US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, which authorised the delivery and sale of crude oil and petroleum products of Iranian origin, which are loaded on vessels as of March 20.



The statement noted 19 April 2026 as the date till which the exceptions would exist on Iranian-origin crude oil and petroleum products.



"All transactions prohibited by the above-listed authorities that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the sale, delivery, or offloading of crude oil or petroleum products of Iranian origin loaded on any vessel, including vessels blocked under the above-listed authorities, on or before 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time, March 20, 2026 are authorised through 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time, April 19, 2026," the statement from the department read.



The statement noted that the transactions authorised by the licence also include the import of Iranian-origin crude oil and petroleum products into the United States.





- ANI
Female students in Kabul have renewed their public appeals for the Islamic Emirate to reopen schools for girls. They express deep frustration and worry for their futures, having been deprived of formal education for an extended period. Women's rights activists label the closures a violation of fundamental rights and warn of severe social and economic consequences for Afghanistan. The situation continues to draw significant criticism from international human rights organizations.

Afghan girls in Kabul appeal to the Islamic Emirate to reopen schools, expressing fear for their futures as education remains restricted.

Kabul, March 23 Female students in the Afghan capital have once again appealed for the reopening of schools and educational institutions that have remained shuttered under the Islamic Emirate's restrictions, urging authorities to allow girls to resume their education, reported Tolo news.

The renewed calls come amid ongoing limitations on girls' schooling that have left many young Afghans without access to formal education.

A number of schoolgirls expressed deep frustration over the continued closure of educational facilities, saying that their futures are imperilled by the lack of schooling opportunities. Mojda, a student from Takhar province, explained her family's journey to seek education in Kabul only to find that "after schools were closed, we came to Kabul with our family to study in courses, but those were also shut down." "Our request from the Islamic Emirate is to reopen school doors for girls," she said, highlighting the emotional and academic toll of the prolonged shutdown.

Another student, Sama, echoed similar sentiments, stressing the urgency of restoring access to education. "Our demand is that schools reopen so we can study. Afghan girls no longer have hope, and their only hope is education," she told Tolo News. The girls' pleas come at a time when the restrictions on girls' education in Afghanistan have drawn international attention and criticism from human rights organisations.

Women's rights activists have also weighed in on the impact of the closures, describing the situation as a violation of fundamental rights. Lamia Shirzai, an advocate for educational access, told local media that with the start of a new year, "school and university doors must be reopened as soon as possible based on the interests of the Afghan people, so the country does not fall behind in regional and global competition." Activists argue that long-term exclusion from schooling not only harms individual prospects but also poses broader social and economic consequences for Afghanistan's future.

Husnia, another student, described her concern about being stuck at home after completing sixth grade, saying, "I am very worried because I have finished sixth grade and may have to stay at home afterwards and not be able to progress. I ask the Islamic Emirate to reopen schools for girls because they have big dreams." Her words reflect a wider sentiment among Afghan girls determined to pursue education despite imposing restrictions.

Following political changes in Afghanistan, widespread constraints were placed on girls' education, with doors to schools and universities remaining closed to many. International human rights organisations have repeatedly emphasised that access to education is a fundamental human right, and depriving girls of this right could have long-lasting adverse effects on Afghan society.

- ANI
BJP candidates Srinivas Dasakariyappa and Veeranna Charantimath filed their nominations for the Davanagere South and Bagalkot Assembly bypolls respectively. The filings were preceded by large processions featuring top BJP leaders like B.S. Yediyurappa, Pralhad Joshi, and B.Y. Vijayendra. State BJP President Vijayendra criticized Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for allegedly neglecting Bagalkot's development. Both candidates expressed strong confidence in securing victory for the BJP in the upcoming by-elections.

BJP candidates file nominations for Davanagere South & Bagalkot bypolls. Yediyurappa, Pralhad Joshi, Vijayendra lead massive processions.

Davanagere/Bagalkot, March 23 BJP candidates Srinivas Dasakariyappa and Veeranna Charantimath filed their nominations on Monday for the Davanagere South and Bagalkot Assembly bypolls, respectively, after taking out huge processions in Davanagere and Bagalkot cities.

Former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, State BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra, and other prominent leaders took part in the processions.

BJP candidate Srinivas Dasakariyappa filed his nomination for the Davanagere South Assembly constituency.

On the occasion, Central Parliamentary Board member and former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, former Union ministers G.M. Siddeshwar, A. Narayanaswamy, former National General Secretary and MLC C.T. Ravi, former Ministers M.P. Renukacharya, K. Shivanagouda Naik, ST Morcha State President Bangaru Hanumanthu, District President N. Rajashekar and party leaders and workers were present.

The candidate took out a massive procession, with leaders and party workers raising slogans. A festive atmosphere prevailed among the party cadre.

Srinivas Kariyappa, along with his wife and BJP leaders, went and filed his nomination. A grand procession was taken out from the Durgambika Temple, in which several leaders, including former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, participated.

Speaking after filing his nomination, the BJP candidate said that a change in the Davanagere South constituency is certain this time. "The son of a hamali (porter) will definitely enter the state Assembly," he said.

Srinivas Kariyappa added that his only opponent is the Congress and expressed confidence in victory. "We are hopeful this time. BJP will win," he said.

He further stated that party workers and the public are eagerly waiting to vote for the BJP. Commenting on the internal differences within the Congress, he said he would not speak about it.

BJP candidate Veeranna Charantimath filed his nomination on Monday for the Bagalkot Assembly seat.

A procession was held on the occasion, and at Basaveshwara Circle in the Bagalkot city, State BJP President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra, along with the candidate and other leaders, paid floral tributes to the statue of Basavanna.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, former Deputy Chief Minister and MP Govind Karjol, former Chief Minister and MP Jagadish Shettar, MP P.C. Gaddigoudar, Rajya Sabha member Narayansa K. Bhandage, former Ministers B. Sriramulu, Murugesh Nirani, Aravind Limbavali, S.K. Bellubbi, MLA Siddu Savadi, MLC P.H. Poojar, State Vice President N. Mahesh, State Secretary Sharanu Tallikeri, State President of Kisan Morcha A.S. Patil Nadahalli, District President Shantagouda Patil, former MLA Shrikant Kulkarni, and several party leaders and workers were present.

Party workers raised slogans such as "Bharat Mata Ki Jai," "Victory to Veeranna Charantimath," and "Victory to BJP," and celebrated enthusiastically.

Speaking at a massive roadshow held ahead of the nomination filing of BJP candidate Veeranna Charantimath for the Bagalkot Assembly by-election, State BJP President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah failed to allocate funds for the development of Bagalkot despite being given a "political rebirth" by the people of the district.

Vijayendra said Siddaramaiah had done little for the development of the constituency. He urged people to compare the funds allocated to Bagalkot during the tenures of former Chief Ministers B.S. Yediyurappa, Jagadish Shettar, and Basavaraj Bommai.

He expressed confidence that the Congress party would face a crushing defeat in the by-election. "No one can stop it. The aware voters of Bagalkot have already made up their minds. They may have made a mistake once, but they will not repeat it. BJP candidate Veeranna Charantimath will win by a huge margin," he said.

Vijayendra said the party's sole objective is to work unitedly to ensure the victory of its candidate. "Bagalkot is a BJP stronghold. The lotus must bloom here once again. Party workers will work towards this goal. We are confident that Charantimath will win by a margin of 25,000 votes," he added.

Targeting the Congress government, he alleged that Hindus in the state are unable to celebrate festivals freely. "In Bagalkot, even peaceful processions during Shivaji Jayanti were not allowed. This is an anti-Hindu Congress government, and it must be uprooted," he said.

He further said that the BJP does not believe in caste divisions, while accusing the Congress of misusing funds meant for Dalits and spending large sums to influence voters. "Do not allow such practices. Let us work together to ensure the lotus blooms and strive for a historic victory for Charantimath," he urged.

- IANS
The Karnataka government will honour the late trainee veterinarian Dr. Sameeksha Reddy by naming a newborn elephant calf after her. Reddy died following a sudden attack by a pregnant hippopotamus while she was examining the animal inside its enclosure at Shivamogga Zoo. Her family has alleged gross negligence, questioning why a trainee was allowed to approach a dangerous animal known to be in a sensitive state. State authorities have ordered a high-level investigation and emphasized the need for stricter safety protocols in all zoos.

Karnataka govt to name newborn elephant after trainee vet Dr. Sameeksha Reddy, who died in a hippopotamus attack at Shivamogga Zoo. Probe ordered.

Shivamogga, March 23 The Karnataka government has decided to honour trainee veterinarian Dr. Sameeksha Reddy, who died in a hippopotamus attack last week at the Shivamogga Zoo, by naming a newborn elephant calf after her.

Zoo Authority of Karnataka Chairman, N. Rangaswamy, made the announcement in this regard after visiting the zoo and reviewing the situation with officials on Monday in Shivamogga.

He said that an elephant calf recently born at Bannerghatta Biological Park near Bengaluru will be named after trainee veterinarian Dr. Samiksha Reddy, who died following a hippopotamus attack at the Shivamogga zoo.

Rangaswamy told reporters that the Karnataka government would also consider conferring martyr status on late Dr. Samiksha Reddy. He described her death as deeply shocking and said such an incident should not have occurred.

Police and forest department officials are currently investigating the incident, and action will be taken against those found responsible once the report is submitted, he said.

Meanwhile, sources stated that it is suspected that the hippopotamus, which had earlier lost two calves and was pregnant for the third time, may have attacked the veterinarian out of a strong protective instinct.

The incident has also triggered allegations of negligence from the victim's family. Dr. Samiksha Reddy (27) died after being attacked by a hippopotamus at the Tyavarekoppa Tiger and Lion Safari in Shivamogga on March 20.

Speaking to the media, Naveen, her uncle, alleged serious lapses on the part of the authorities and demanded strict action. He said a vehicle had been arranged to take her to the safari, and she was accompanied by two others from the hostel. A guard then reportedly took her inside the enclosure to examine the hippopotamus.

Questioning the decision, he said basic caution should have been exercised while dealing with a dangerous wild animal. He noted that even predators like lions tend to avoid hippopotamuses and criticised officials for allowing a trainee to approach the animal at close range.

He further pointed out that the hippopotamus was due to give birth within a week and would have been in a highly sensitive and defensive state, increasing the risk of an attack. "At least a safe distance should have been maintained. How could they allow her to walk inside the enclosure so casually?" he asked, terming the incident "utter negligence."

Recalling her dedication, Naveen said her death was a huge loss. He described her as a compassionate and meritorious student committed to animal welfare. Despite having opportunities for a comfortable life, she chose to serve. He added that she had a passion for helping animals since childhood and often coordinated with veterinarians in Bengaluru to assist stray animals. She had also been advised to pursue higher studies abroad but chose to remain in India.

State Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment Eshwar Khandre termed the incident "unfortunate" and ordered a high-level probe. Expressing condolences, he said every life is precious and assured that the government would stand by the bereaved family.

According to officials, Dr. Samiksha Reddy had gone to the zoo hospital around 10.30 P.M. to treat a Sun Conure. Later, at around 11.45 P.M., she entered the enclosure to check the body temperature of the pregnant hippopotamus using a thermal camera. During the process, the animal suddenly attacked her, causing severe injuries.

She was rushed to a private hospital in Shivamogga, where she underwent surgery, but succumbed to her injuries at around 6.30 A.M.

A team of senior veterinarians and forest officials has been tasked with investigating the circumstances leading to the incident, including possible safety lapses. The report is expected within seven days.

The minister has also directed authorities to strictly implement standard operating procedures for handling and treating wild animals across all zoos in the state, emphasising the need for heightened caution among staff while dealing with wildlife.

- IANS
The Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board has ordered Embassy Developments' subsidiary to surrender possession of a 78-acre land parcel in Bengaluru's Kadugodi area within 30 days. KIADB acted under the state industrial act, citing alleged breaches of a lease-cum-sale agreement, including unauthorized third-party arrangements. Embassy's subsidiary has refuted the allegations, claiming it obtained necessary no-objection certificates and that the order violated principles of natural justice. The parent company is evaluating the order's impact and intends to pursue legal remedies, including approaching the Karnataka High Court.

KIADB orders Embassy Developments' subsidiary to surrender 78 acres in Bengaluru for alleged lease breaches. The company denies charges and plans legal action.

Bengaluru, March 22 Embassy Developments Ltd has informed stock exchanges that the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board has ordered the resumption of a land parcel measuring approximately 78 acres in Bengaluru, held by its subsidiary, Embassy East Business Park Ltd.

According to the disclosure, KIADB passed an order dated March 16, 2026, directing EEBPL to surrender possession of the land located in the Kadugodi Industrial Area within 30 days. The order was received by the subsidiary on March 17, 2026.

The land is held under a Lease-cum-Sale Agreement (LCSA) executed in June 2007, which is valid until June 2029. KIADB has initiated action under Section 34B of the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Act, 1966, citing alleged breaches of the terms and conditions of the agreement.

As per the filing, the alleged violations relate primarily to execution of a memorandum of understanding, agreements, and agreement-to-sell arrangements with third parties in respect of portions of the land, without prior approval from KIADB.

EEBPL has denied and refuted the allegations. The company stated that sub-lease arrangements were undertaken after obtaining no-objection certificates from KIADB in compliance with the LCSA.

It further submitted that agreements to sell do not create or transfer any interest in property and were executed subject to necessary approvals, including execution of a sale deed by KIADB. The arrangements, it said, were intended to facilitate project implementation within stipulated timelines.

The subsidiary has also raised concerns regarding violation of principles of natural justice, stating that its prior communications and submissions were not considered in the order.

Embassy Developments said it is evaluating the order and its implications and intends to pursue appropriate legal remedies, including approaching the Karnataka High Court for relief. The company added that it is also assessing the financial and operational impact of the order.

The development gains significance as the company has recently been in the news for securing status quo relief against coercive steps in two separate ECIRs registered by the ED, underscoring the ongoing regulatory and enforcement overhang around the group.

- ANI
The Kolkata Knight Riders have launched a practice jersey for fans for the first time, responding to massive demand on social media. The jersey features a vibrant, tiger-print design inspired by the Bengal Tiger, symbolizing the team's spirit. Binda Dey, CMO of Knight Riders Sports, stated the release was a direct result of the incredible fan response. KKR will begin their IPL 2026 season against the Mumbai Indians on March 29.

Kolkata Knight Riders release their first-ever fan practice jersey featuring a Bengal Tiger print, responding to overwhelming social media demand.

Kolkata Marc, h 22 The Kolkata Knight Riders have unveiled their practice jersey for the upcoming Indian Premier League 2026 season - marking the first time the franchise has introduced a training kit for fans.

According to a release, the move comes on the back of an overwhelming response to the initial reveal of the team's training jersey.

Following the first-look launch, thousands of fans took to social media, expressing admiration for the design and urging the franchise to make it available for purchase. Listening to this groundswell of demand, KKR has now made the practice jersey accessible to its fanbase.

Designed with a fresh, contemporary aesthetic, the jersey carries a vibrant, summer-ready appeal while staying rooted in the team's identity. The standout feature is its tiger-print pattern, inspired by the Bengal Tiger - symbolising power, agility, and the fearless spirit that defines both the team and the region.

Binda Dey, CMO, Knight Riders Sports, said the strong fan response to the practice jersey highlighted their deep connection with Kolkata Knight Riders. He said that due to high demand, the team decided to release it, featuring a refreshed summer-ready design while maintaining performance quality and reflecting KKR's intensity and spirit.

"The response from our fans to the practice jersey was incredible and truly reaffirmed the deep connection they share with the brand. We saw clear demand for the practice jersey and felt it was only right to make it available. Reimagined in a refined, summer-ready palette and engineered for performance, the Kolkata Knight Riders practice jersey reflects the discipline and intensity that define KKR - while giving fans another way to express their pride."

KKR will begin their IPL campaign against the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on March 29.

- ANI
Kriti Kharbanda comments "So proud of u" on husband Pulkit Samrat's intense Monday workout video. See their sweet social media exchange.

Mumbai, March 23 Actress Kriti Kharbanda expressed her love for her actor husband Pulkit Samrat as he dropped a glimpse of his intense workout session on social media.

The 'Fukrey' actor took to his official Insta handle and shelled some fitness motivation by posting a video of snippets from his latest session at the gym.



He was seen doing various kinds of exercises, such as running on the treadmill, lifting weights, and even doing push-ups.



Towards the end of the clip, the 'Rahu Ketu' actor was also seen flaunting his toned abs.



Pulkit captioned the post, "Some call it torture, I call it Monday #mondaymotivation (sic)".



Reacting to the post, his better half, Kriti, shared the comment, "So proud of u baby" along with an evil eye and red heart emoji.



In another comment, she also dropped a couple of fire emojis.



Pulkit and Kriti leave no opportunity to shower one another with affection on social media, whenever possible.



As the couple celebrated their second wedding anniversary on March 15, Kriti decided to share her love story with Pulkit through pictures in a heartwarming Instagram post.



Taking to social media, Kriti shared a couple of unseen photographs of some milestone moments of the lovebirds' romantic journey.



In the post, Pulkit was seen down on one knee, putting a ring on Kriti's finger.



From glimpses of their wedding, to the first time they said 'I Love You' to each other, to their first fight, to just a random date night, the post included some precious moments from their romantic journey together.



Kriti further recalled the time when she first came home as a bride. She shared that as a gift, Pulkit gave her a charm bracelet made from pieces of jewelry belonging to the women of his family - his mom, nani, dadi, and sisters.





- IANS
Former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa has exuded confidence that the BJP will win the upcoming bypolls in Davanagere South and Bagalkot by a huge margin. He appealed to voters to support the BJP to teach the Congress a "fitting lesson" for its style of governance. His son, State BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra, accused the Congress government of being "shameless" and neglecting development, particularly in Bagalkot. The BJP leadership framed the bypolls as a referendum on the Congress's alleged anti-Hindu stance and misrule.

Former CM Yediyurappa predicts a massive BJP victory in Davanagere & Bagalkot bypolls, alleging Congress misrule and appealing for change.

Davanagere, March 23 Former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa said on Monday that the Bharatiya Janata Party will win by a huge margin in both Davanagere South and Bagalkot Assembly constituencies in the state where the upcoming bypolls are being held.

Speaking to media persons, Yediyurappa added that people are fed up with the style of governance of the Congress-led state government.

"They (Congress) have an overwhelming majority to the point of excess. The people of the state are eager for change. I fold my hands and appeal to voters in both Assembly constituencies to ensure BJP's victory and teach the Congress a fitting lesson," the former Chief Minister said.

Responding to a query, Yediyurappa said that the Congress' betrayal has been understood by Muslims, and appealed to the Muslim community to support the administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi after seeing its governance.

He alleged that the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is making irresponsible statements as defeat in the upcoming bypoll in the state is certain.

Replying to another query, Yediyurappa said that the political atmosphere is even more favourable than expected in Karnataka.

"Our (BJP) candidate has just filed the nomination, and I am confident that our candidates will win by a large margin both here and in Bagalkot," he added.

"The shameless Congress government has no concern for the state's development; BJP will register a massive win in Bagalkot," Yediyurappa's son and State BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra said.

Meanwhile, State BJP President Vijayendra alleged that the Congress-led state government is "shameless" and has no concern for the development of the state.

He said that no funds were given for the development of Bagalkot, which had given Chief Minister Siddaramaiah his political rebirth.

He was speaking at a large roadshow held ahead of BJP candidate Veeranna Charantimath filing his nomination for the Bagalkot Assembly by-election.

Vijayendra said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah did not develop Bagalkot and asked people to compare the funds allocated to the district during the tenures of former Chief Ministers Yediyurappa, Jagadish Shettar, and Basavaraj Bommai.

He claimed that the Congress would be defeated in the Bagalkot by-election and that no one could stop the BJP from winning it.

He said that the aware voters of Bagalkot have already made up their minds, adding that they made a mistake once and would not repeat it again.

Alleging that Hindus in the state are not able to celebrate festivals, Vijayendra said that even a peaceful procession during Shivaji Jayanti was not allowed in Bagalkot.

"This is an "anti-Hindu" Congress government and it must be uprooted in Karnataka," he added.

He also said that BJP has no caste divisions or internal factions, while accusing the Congress leaders of looting funds meant for Dalits and spending crores of rupees to mislead voters.

He urged people not to allow such practices and called upon BJP workers to unite and strive for a historic victory for BJP candidate Charantimath.

- IANS
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has expressed strong confidence that the Congress party will win the upcoming by-elections in Bagalkot and Davanagere. He highlighted the government's implementation of its guarantee schemes, costing Rs 1.21 lakh crore, as a key reason for public support. The CM accused the BJP of focusing only on Hindutva and running a campaign based on falsehoods, which he claims voters have rejected. He also announced major compensation for the Upper Krishna Project and the launch of a medical college in Bagalkot.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah expresses confidence in Congress victory for Bagalkot and Davanagere by-polls, citing implementation of guarantees.

Bagalkot, March 23 Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he is confident that people will ensure the Congress party's victory in the Bagalkot and Davanagere by-elections, which are committed to social justice.

Speaking to the media in Bagalkot on Monday, he said Umesh Meti has filed his nomination as the Congress candidate for the Bagalkot Assembly by-election and extended his best wishes to him.



"Late H.Y. Meti was a popular leader in the region, and his sudden demise was a great loss. Therefore, after reaching a consensus, his family member has been chosen as the candidate to fill the vacant seat," he said.



He stated that the government has delivered on its promises and implemented pro-people schemes during 2013-2018 and again from 2023.



The guarantees mentioned in the election manifesto have been effectively implemented, with an expenditure of Rs 1.21 lakh crore. 



"The BJP had criticised that these guarantees could not be implemented, but the government remains committed to social justice. People in the state are happy with the Congress guarantees, and this was evident in the party's massive victory in the previous by-elections," he said.



He alleged that the BJP focuses only on Hindutva and did not undertake any development work under the Upper Krishna Project Phase-3 during its tenure.



The present government has decided to provide appropriate compensation for lands that will be submerged under the project, and necessary funds have been allocated in this year's budget.



Compensation amounting to Rs 70,000 crore will be provided in a single phase to kick-start the long-pending project, he said.



He said establishing a government medical college in Bagalkot was the dream of late H.Y. Meti. 



The project was launched to enable rural students to pursue medical education and to provide quality healthcare to people in the region. Meti had made significant contributions to the development of the Bagalkot district.



He expressed confidence that people will support Congress candidate Umesh Meti in the by-election.



He asserted that people have not accepted the BJP's misinformation campaign and have rejected the party. 



"The BJP's very foundation is based on falsehood. People have rejected the BJP," he said, expressing confidence that the Congress will win both the Davanagere and Bagalkot by-elections.





- IANS
The Lok Sabha, presided over by Speaker Om Birla, paid solemn tribute to revolutionary heroes Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev on their martyrdom day. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid heartfelt tributes, honoring their extraordinary courage and sacrifice for India's independence. The three freedom fighters were hanged by British authorities on March 23, 1931, for their role in the freedom struggle. Their ideals of patriotism and fearless resistance continue to inspire the nation.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and PM Narendra Modi lead tributes to revolutionary martyrs Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru on their martyrdom day, honoring their sacrifice.

New Delhi, March 23 The Lok Sabha on Monday paid solemn tribute to revolutionary heroes Sardar Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev, honoring their extraordinary courage, sacrifice, and patriotism that played a pivotal role in India's struggle for independence.

Presiding over the House, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla remembered the revolutionary trio for their unparalleled courage, patriotism, and supreme sacrifice for India's independence.

In a series of posts on X, Birla stated, "On the martyrdom day of the immortal revolutionaries Sardar Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru, who made the supreme sacrifice of their lives for the country's independence, the House today paid humble tribute to them. The unparalleled valour, unwavering courage, and patriotism of these great sons have made an indelible contribution to realising the dream of India's independence."

He further added, "Their sacrifice is not merely a glorious chapter in history, but an inspiration that ignites the flame of national love in the heart of every Indian. The nation will forever remain grateful for their invaluable contribution to the freedom of the motherland. Following their lofty ideals and thoughts, the true tribute to them is the resolve to march forward on the path of national service."

"These valiant patriots, who sacrificed their lives with a smile for the freedom of the nation, set an unparalleled example of courage, sacrifice, and patriotism. Their spirit and ideals continue to inspire every Indian's heart with the call to national service even today. This dedication to the motherland will forever remain an inspiration for us," the post added on X.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid heartfelt tributes to freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar on the occasion of their martyrdom day, remembering their unparalleled sacrifice and contribution to India's freedom struggle.

In a post shared on X, the Prime Minister said, "Today, we bow in reverence to the brave sons of Bharat Mata, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. Their martyrdom for the nation remains etched in our collective memory."

Highlighting their courage at a young age, he added, "At a young age, they displayed extraordinary courage and an unshakable commitment to the cause of India's freedom."

The Prime Minister also emphasised their fearless resistance against colonial rule, stating, "Undeterred by the might of colonial rule, they chose the path of sacrifice with conviction, placing the nation above their own lives."

He further noted that their ideals continue to inspire generations. "Their ideals of justice, patriotism and fearless resistance continue to ignite the spirit of countless Indians," PM Modi said.

Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru were iconic Indian revolutionary freedom fighters who were hanged by British authorities on March 23, 1931, in Lahore Jail, at a young age. Their supreme sacrifice for India's independence is commemorated annually on March 23 as Shaheed Diwas (Martyrs' Day), marking their roles in the Lahore Conspiracy Case and the revenge killing of British officer John Saunders in 1928.

- ANI
French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron held talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, reaffirming France's commitment to helping strengthen Saudi air defenses. Macron called for an immediate halt to attacks on energy facilities and civilian infrastructure, which have targeted the Kingdom. He emphasized the urgent need for Iran to restore freedom of navigation in the critical Strait of Hormuz. The French leader stressed that responsibility and restraint are required to create conditions for dialogue and regional security.

French PM Macron calls for halt to attacks on energy facilities in talks with Saudi Crown Prince, stresses need for Iranian restraint.

Paris, March 23 French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron on Monday held talks with Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Macron reaffirmed to him France's solidarity and commitment to contributing to the strengthening of Saudi Arabia's air defences.

In a post on X, he said, "I have just held a conversation with His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I reaffirmed to him France's solidarity and our commitment to contributing to the strengthening of Saudi Arabia's air defenses, at a time when the Kingdom is subjected to repeated and unacceptable attacks by Iranian missiles and drones."

Macron stressed the need for Iran to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

"In the face of the risk of escalation spiraling out of control, it has become more necessary than ever for all warring parties to agree to a temporary halt to attacks on energy facilities and civilian infrastructure, and for Iran to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz," he said.

Macron called for responsibility and restraint.

"The current phase calls for responsibility and restraint, in order to create the conditions for resuming dialogue, which alone can guarantee peace and security for all. At this critical juncture, the G7 and the Gulf Cooperation Council should strengthen their coordination. France and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are working together in this direction."

Meanwhile, explosions were heard in Tehran, as per Al Jazeera.

Iran's Exiled Crowned Prince Reza Pahlavi on Monday asserted that Iran is not the Islamic Republic, adding that the regime here must be dismantled.

In a post on X, he said, "Iran is not the Islamic Republic. Iran's civilian infrastructure belongs to the Iranian people and to the future of a free Iran. The Islamic Republic's infrastructure is the machinery of repression and terror used to keep that future from becoming reality. Iran must be protected. The regime must be dismantled."

- ANI
Maharashtra's Public Health Minister announced an inquiry and action against empanelled hospitals under state and central health insurance schemes if they fail to provide free treatment. The government also addressed complaints about the 108 ambulance service, stating technical issues are being fixed and 1,737 new ambulances will be deployed. A committee is finalizing a report on the ambulance service, after which necessary action will be taken. Additionally, a new staffing structure for the Health Department is being prepared, with a focus on protecting the rights of contractual employees.

Maharashtra govt to inquire and act against hospitals & 108 ambulance service for malpractice in Jan Arogya Yojana schemes. New ambulances to be deployed.

Mumbai, March 23 Maharashtra Public Health and Family Welfare Minister Prakash Abitkar on Monday told the Legislative Assembly during Question Hour that an inquiry will be conducted and action taken against hospitals empanelled under the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana and Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana if they fail to provide free treatment.

The statement came in response to a question raised by member Abhijit Patil.

Minister Abitkar said that these schemes are ambitious state initiatives aimed at providing free medical treatment to common citizens. He assured that action would be taken on complaints received regarding these schemes.

He further emphasised that the government is working to ensure that free healthcare services reach needy citizens in a transparent and efficient manner.

Members Atul Bhatkhalkar, Sanjay Kelkar and Yogesh Sagar participated in the discussion by raising supplementary questions.

Replying to another question raised by member Gopichand Padalkar regarding the 108 ambulance service, Minister Abitkar said that high-quality healthcare services are being provided to citizens through the 108 (toll-free) ambulance service.

He informed the Legislative Assembly that, in response to complaints regarding the service, technical deficiencies are being rectified, and 1,737 new 108 ambulances will soon be deployed in the state, keeping in view the growing population.

Minister Abitkar said that the service is operated through agencies under contracts and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), and it is mandatory for these agencies to comply with the Minimum Wages Act and provide appropriate salaries to their employees. He warned that the government would take action if any lapses are found.

Taking note of complaints, the state government has appointed an inquiry committee to examine the 108 ambulance service. Efforts are underway to improve the speed and efficiency of the service by addressing gaps identified by the committee. The inquiry report is in its final stages, and necessary action will be taken once it is received. Members Sharad Sonawane, Rajesh Pawar and Bhaskar Jadhav also raised supplementary questions.

Further, in response to another question raised by member Nana Patole, Minister Abitkar informed the House that a new staffing structure is being prepared for the Health Department, and recruitment for various posts will be carried out in phases.

He said that where work is currently being carried out on a contractual basis, procedures are being followed as per rules. Around 10,000 employees are working under the National Health Mission (NHM), and the process of taking decisions regarding their services is underway. A large number of Group 'C' and Group 'D' employees are working on a contractual basis, and any complaints regarding their wages or rights will be taken seriously.

He added that the focus will be on protecting the rights of contractual employees while making services more effective. Members Hemant Ogale and Bhaskar Jadhav also raised supplementary questions.

- IANS
Sopara Hospital in Nalasopara is providing completely free medical services to holders of Ayushman Bharat cards. In the past month alone, more than 15 patients have received free treatment for serious conditions including pneumonia, heart-related issues, and anaemia. One patient's attendant shared that without the scheme, covering ICU costs for severe respiratory distress would have been impossible. The Ayushman Bharat scheme offers eligible households health insurance coverage of up to Rs. 5 lakh annually.

Sopara Hospital provides free care for serious illnesses like pneumonia and heart disease to Ayushman cardholders, easing financial burdens.

Mumbai, March 23 Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya, the world's largest healthcare scheme, stands today as a boon for lakhs of individuals and families in the country.

The scheme has given patients battling serious illnesses a new lease on life by eliminating the financial burden of medical treatment. The lower class and economically weaker sections have benefited in particular from this.

In Nalasopara, Sopara Hospital (under the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation) has emerged as a shining example, providing completely free-of-cost medical services to Ayushman cardholders.

At this hospital, a wide range of serious and common ailments, including heart-related diseases, pneumonia, respiratory distress, asthma, anaemia (blood deficiency), gastroenteritis, paralysis, malaria, and dengue, are being treated free of cost.

According to the hospital administration, more than 15 patients have been treated free of charge in the past month.

Dr Gaurav Wagh, the in-charge of Sopara Hospital, told IANS that these patients were suffering from serious conditions such as pneumonia, heart-related issues, and anaemia, but through their Ayushman cards, they received high-quality medical care at no cost.

Appealing to the general public, Dr Wagh also urged people to take full advantage of the Ayushman Bharat scheme.

A patient's attendant sharing her experience said that her husband, Sheikh, has been admitted to Sopara Hospital for the past 18 days under the scheme.

She said that her husband was suffering from severe respiratory distress and was admitted to the ICU. She stated that had it not been for the Ayushman Card, it would have been impossible for them to bear the cost of medical treatment.

Notably, the Ayushman Bharat scheme is the world's largest public healthcare scheme that aims at providing health insurance of up to Rs. 5 lakhs to each eligible household annually.

- IANS
Ram Gopal Varma praises Aditya Dhar's 'Dhurandhar 2', dismissing propaganda claims and hailing the Ranveer Singh-starrer as a cinematic game-changer.

Mumbai, March 23 Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has hailed 'Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge' director Aditya Dhar for redefining Indian cinema, calling the film a transformative moment in storytelling and scale.

Speaking to ANI, Varma expressed deep admiration for the recently released spy thriller, which hit theatres on March 19, 2026.



Headlined by Ranveer Singh, the film has already emerged as a major commercial success, crossing Rs 700 crore worldwide since its release.



"I should thank him because he showed a new way of Indian cinema," Varma said, summing up his reaction to the sequel.



Elaborating on what sets 'Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge' apart, Varma suggested that the film goes beyond conventional definitions of cinema.



"Calling Durandar just a 'film' doesn't feel right, because maybe in the last 20-30 years, no film has come like this, its scale, its twists, and even without relying heavily on story twists, its structure itself. Aditya has transformed that structure, especially the climax, what do you call it? Even the item songs, though unrealistic, gravity-defying fight scenes, he has packaged everything together in a complete, massive way," he said.



The film is a sequel to the 2023 hit 'Dhurandhar' and has drawn widespread attention for its blend of stylised action and narrative ambition.



Produced by Jio Studios and B62 Studios, the project features a multi-starrer cast including Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Rakesh Bedi and Arjun Rampal.



Varma also reflected on the broader implications of the film's success, suggesting it could shift audience expectations.



"The impact of the film is such that its merit, its quality, and its influence have made it a huge super hit. I feel 'Dhurandhar 2' has set a new benchmark. After this, the same old cliches, like hero elevation scenes where punches send people flying in the air or bouncing off the ground, those kinds of films might come to an end," he noted.



The film has not been without controversy, with some critics labelling it as propaganda. Addressing this, Varma dismissed the notion as subjective interpretation.



"As for propaganda, I don't really understand that term in this context. Everyone has their own viewpoint. If one person is accused, the defense will present their side too. People will share their perspectives. Aditya has shared his point of view through the film. If you don't agree with it, you may call it propaganda or false, but then you can make your own film in response," he said.



Prior to the interview, Varma had already described the sequel as a "cinematic disruptor" on social media, arguing that it signals a decisive shift away from formula-driven Bollywood storytelling.



He also criticised traditional tropes of invincible heroes, stating that the film "killed all those heroes who never bleed and never feel pain."



The film has received widespread praise from across the industry as well. Actors and filmmakers including Alia Bhatt, SS Rajamouli, and Anupam Kher have lauded the project.



Actor-politician Kangana Ranaut described Dhar as a "superstar filmmaker," drawing parallels with globally renowned directors like Steven Spielberg, Quentin Tarantino and Christopher Nolan.





- ANI
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh has described his first formal meeting with leaders of the Kuki-Zo Council as a "good beginning" towards restoring peace. The closed-door talks in Guwahati, lasting about an hour and 45 minutes, marked the first such engagement after nearly three years of conflict. The Kuki-Zo Council delegation raised key issues including the need for justice for victims and de-escalation of tensions. The meeting concluded without any formal agreements but with a commitment to continue dialogue.

Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh meets Kuki-Zo Council leaders in Guwahati, calling it a 'good beginning' to restore peace and trust in the state.

Imphal, March 22 Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Sunday described his first meeting with leaders of the Kuki-Zo Council as a 'good beginning' towards restoring peace, normalcy, and rebuilding trust between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities in the state.

The Chief Minister held a closed-door meeting with a delegation of the Kuki-Zo Council in Guwahati on Saturday, during which a range of issues concerning the state and ongoing government efforts to restore stability in Manipur were discussed.

Referring to the Guwahati talks, Singh said that the engagement -- the first in nearly three years -- marked a significant step forward.

"The dialogue between the KZC and the state government is indeed a good beginning towards restoring peace and normalcy, as well as rebuilding trust among various communities," he told the media, while indicating that such interactions would continue in the future.

The Chief Minister also expressed gratitude to the KZC delegation for accepting the invitation for talks, noting that the meeting was convened with the primary objective of fostering peace in the state.

He added that since assuming office on February 4, he has consistently appealed to all stakeholders to work towards peace, guided by the principle of "forgive and forget".

Responding to queries regarding the demand for a separate administration or Union Territory for Kuki-Zo tribals, Singh reiterated that the Central government has already made its position clear -- that the territorial integrity of Manipur will remain intact.

Earlier, on March 17, the Chief Minister's Office had written to KZC Chairman Henlianthang Thanglet, expressing Singh's willingness to meet KZC representatives on March 21 in Guwahati to discuss ways to restore peace and normalcy in the state.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the KZC confirmed that the meeting took place on Saturday night in Guwahati and lasted approximately one hour and 45 minutes. It noted that this was the first formal engagement between the Manipur government, led by Singh, and the Kuki-Zo Council after nearly three years of conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities.

Describing the interaction as largely an "ice-breaking session", the KZC said its delegation raised several key concerns, all of which were attentively heard by the Chief Minister.

Among the major issues highlighted were the urgent need to de-escalate tensions between the Kuki and Tangkhul communities, and the necessity of ensuring justice for victims of the conflict as a prerequisite for any meaningful peace and reconciliation process.

The KZC also underscored the importance of maintaining the sanctity of the buffer zone until a comprehensive political settlement is reached.

Additionally, it called for expediting the resolution of the ongoing Suspension of Operations (SoO) talks to ensure durable and lasting peace in the region.

According to the statement, the Chief Minister shared his concerns, outlined his government's commitments, and detailed the steps being taken to restore peace and normalcy in Manipur. He also expressed appreciation for the KZC's initiative and its willingness to engage in dialogue during a challenging period.

The meeting, however, concluded without any formal decisions or agreements, the statement added.

- IANS
Indian Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (East) P. Kumaran visited the Ta Prohm and Angkor Wat temples in Siem Reap, Cambodia, highlighting India's ongoing restoration work led by the Archaeological Survey of India. He also visited the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation Asian Traditional Textile Museum, showcasing shared cultural heritage. Kumaran held meetings with Cambodian officials, including Secretary of State KHY Sovanratana, to review capacity-building initiatives and discuss expanding cooperation in trade, investment, and development. The visit underscores the warm bilateral relations and Cambodia's importance as a partner under India's 'Act East' policy.

MEA Secretary P Kumaran visits Angkor Wat & Ta Prohm, reviews India-led restoration and discusses expanding trade & heritage cooperation with Cambodia.

Phnom Penh, March 22 Indian Ministry of External Affairs's 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 world's 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 India's 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 India's 'Act East' 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.

- IANS
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has warned that the ongoing Middle East conflict could lead to a fertilizer shortage and urged all-party leaders to meet the Prime Minister to secure maximum urea allocation for the state. He inaugurated a major oil palm processing factory in Siddipet district, highlighting the state's expansion in oil palm cultivation. The CM also took a political dig at BRS MLA T. Harish Rao, stating the project benefits farmers, not the local legislator. Furthermore, he detailed his government's women empowerment initiatives, including free bus travel and loans for self-help groups.

Telangana CM A. Revanth Reddy warns of potential fertilizer shortage, urges unity to secure urea from Centre, inaugurates oil palm factory.

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.

- IANS
Mira Sorvino expresses continual amazement at the lasting cultural impact of the 1997 film 'Romy and Michele's High School Reunion,' comparing the fan adoration to feeling like a rock star. She shared that fans deeply connect with the movie, getting tattoos and performing its dance sequences at their weddings. Sorvino confirmed that a sequel is currently in development with 20th Century Studios. She revealed that most of the original film's important characters are expected to return for the sequel.

Mira Sorvino reflects on the cult classic 'Romy and Michele's High School Reunion,' fan tattoos, wedding dances, and confirms a sequel is in development.

Washington DC, March 23 Actor Mira Sorvino has opened up about the lasting cultural impact of her 1997 film 'Romy and Michele's High School Reunion', saying its continued popularity leaves her feeling "like a rock star," according to People.

Speaking on Sophia Bush's Work in Progress podcast, Sorvino described the film as "evergreen" and expressed surprise at the overwhelming response it still receives from audiences.

Recalling a screening event, she said, "We walk on the stage and we got like a five-minute standing ovation... I was like, 'This is what it feels like to be a rock star'--like what is happening? Like, I am not Eddie Vedder."

The 58-year-old actor noted that she remains amazed at how deeply the film resonates with fans even decades after its release, according to People.

"I'm continuously amazed at how much this movie has meant to people in their lives," she said.

Sorvino also shared anecdotes about fan interactions, including people getting tattoos inspired by the film and recreating iconic dance sequences at their weddings.

"A lot of people have Romy and Michelle tattoos... and a lot of people do the dance in their wedding," she added, according to People.

The film, which also starred Lisa Kudrow, follows two women who pretend to be successful while attending their high school reunion.

Meanwhile, Sorvino confirmed that a sequel to the film is currently in development with 20th Century Studios. She revealed that most of the original cast is expected to return, subject to final agreements.

"Almost every single character from the original that was important is coming back," she said, according to People.

- ANI
The Madhya Pradesh cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, approved a massive outlay of Rs 6,940 crore for various development and welfare projects. Key approvals include a Rs 82.39 crore micro-irrigation project in Rewa and a 3% increase in dearness allowance for government employees. The cabinet also greenlit the Shaurya Sankalp training scheme for OBC youth and allocated thousands of crores for rural housing, transport infrastructure, and new government buildings. Significant funds were also sanctioned for tribal affairs, food security schemes, and honorariums for teachers in disability institutions.

Madhya Pradesh cabinet approves projects worth Rs 6,940 crore for irrigation, housing, youth training, and government employee benefits.

Bhopal, March 23 Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav chaired a cabinet meeting held at the state secretariat on Monday and the council of ministers gave a nod to various development works worth Rs 6,940 crore and the continuation of several schemes.

The Cabinet also approved Rs 82.39 crore for the Mahana Micro Irrigation Project in Rewa district, along with a 3 per cent increase in dearness allowance for government employees and dearness relief for pensioners w.e.f July 1, 2025, raising it to 58 per cent.

Apart from this, the council of ministers approved several welfare proposals, including the implementation of the Shaurya Sankalp Training Scheme for youth from Other Backwards Classes (OBC). During the training period, eligible male candidates will receive a stipend of Rs 1,000 per month, while female candidates will receive Rs 1,100 per month. Training will be conducted at 40 centres across 10 locations in the state, with separate facilities for male and female candidates. At least 35 per cent of the seats will be reserved for women candidates.

The Cabinet further approved a proposal of the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities to provide Rs 18,000 per month as honorarium to guest teachers working in institutions for persons with disabilities, in line with the honorarium provided to Class-1 guest teachers in the School Education Department.

Among the approvals granted for multiple schemes of various departments, Rs 2933 crores was approved for rural housing and transport infrastructure development projects under the Commercial Tax Department. Additionally, Rs 37 crore was allocated for maintenance of commercial tax tribunals and departmental assets, and Rs 162 crore for IT and establishment expenses for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31.

Similarly, under the Public Works Department, approval was granted for the continuation of 17 schemes, including Rs 691 crore for the construction of the Mantralaya building, Vidhan Sabha and MLA rest house facilities, Rs 731 crore for government residences, state guest house and office buildings, Rs 565 crore for project implementation unit-related works and Rs 379 crore for capital project establishment expenditure.

The Tribal Affairs Department received Rs 102 crore for the continuation of three schemes related to promotion, research, training and development of tribal culture for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31.

The Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department got approval for 22 welfare schemes worth Rs 865 crore, including Smart PDS, Chief Minister Ration Aapke Gram, Ujjwala, PM Gati Shakti, and the Chief Minister Yuva Annadoot Scheme. Other approvals include Rs 354.03 crore for the scheme of the Madhya Pradesh State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Rs 3.90 crore for maintenance of departmental assets, Rs 16.50 crore for the Controller of Legal Metrology office, and Rs 16 crore for the formation of the Food Commission for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31.

- ANI
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has assured that all families displaced by the Musi Riverfront development project will be provided rehabilitation. He announced the formation of a cabinet sub-committee for the project and criticized the previous BRS government for abandoning it. The Chief Minister also detailed several infrastructure initiatives, including a first-of-its-kind underpass at Begumpet Airport and Metro rail expansion. Further plans include clearing encroachments, building parking facilities, and developing an industrial corridor as part of the Telangana Rising 2047 vision.

Telangana CM A. Revanth Reddy assures rehabilitation for all displaced by the Musi Riverfront project and details major Hyderabad infrastructure plans.

Hyderabad, March 23 Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Monday assured that all families to be displaced by the Musi Riverfront development project will be provided rehabilitation.

Speaking in the Legislative Council on Monday, the Chief Minister said that the government formulated a roadmap for the development of Musi and assured that all the displaced will be provided rehabilitation.

"We will not render anyone living alongside Musi homeless. We will not cause harm to even a single individual," the CM said while appealing to the political parties to stop false propaganda against the Musi project.

The Chief Minister also stated that the government is ready to constitute a Cabinet Sub-Committee led by Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, comprising IT and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu and Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, for the Musi Rejuvenation Project.

While seeking suggestions from the opposition parties, he said they feel uncomfortable submitting suggestions directly to him, and he was to constitute a Cabinet Sub-Committee.

The CM criticised the previous BRS government for abandoning the Musi project. Revanth Reddy referred to the claim by Sircilla MLA K.T. Rama Rao that he established the Musi River Development Corporation. He asked why the BRS was politicising the project.

He revealed that the government has secured permission from the Airports Authority of India to develop an underpass road at Begumpet Airport. The underpass will be constructed beneath the runway, making it the first of its kind in the country, the Chief Minister said, adding that the government wants to ensure smooth traffic flow.

He said measures were also taken to clear encroachments from footpaths in order to safeguard human lives and allocated designated spaces for street vendors. To ease the parking problem, a multi-level car parking facility was also established near KBR Park. Work on the elevated corridors along the Nalgonda and Vijayawada routes was also in progress.

The Chief Minister highlighted Telangana Rising 2047 and the development of the PURE, CURE, and RARE regions to drive sustainable development and economic growth across Telangana. "We will also establish an industrial corridor spanning an area of 10,000 square kilometres," he said.

The CM explained that Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru are facing the threat of rising air pollution, traffic congestion, floods, and other civic problems. Hyderabad is known as the "City of Rocks and Lakes." Although we often refer to it as the "Old City," it represents the original core of the metropolis. The city is home to numerous historical landmarks, including the Charminar, Gulzar Houz, and the Legislative Council building.

Revanth Reddy noted that, despite its glorious history, Hyderabad is now facing challenges. In view of the exponential increase in vehicle numbers, the Chief Minister emphasised the urgent need to establish adequate parking facilities to accommodate this growing volume.

Apart from developing the Secunderabad and Cherlapally railway stations, the CM said that Metro rail expansion work will begin soon. " We have decided to take over the Metro project after holding discussions with L&T. Since the Metro rail lacked last-mile connectivity, the government proposed Metro expansion, and the Union government also responded positively."

CM Revanth Reddy said that relocating polluting industries outside the ORR in Hyderabad will help provide land for the middle class. As a result, Hyderabad will become a more liveable city. The HILT policy has been introduced to prevent Hyderabad from experiencing air pollution levels comparable to Delhi. The government is reclassifying land from industrial zones to multi-use zones. "

The CM said that the government prepared a big plan to construct an elevated corridor running through the heart of the city, alongside the Musi River, stretching from Gandipet to Gourelli. The corridor will help travel from Gandipet to Gourelli-a distance of 40 kilometres in a short time.

- IANS
Jennifer Aniston shared a heartfelt Instagram tribute for Reese Witherspoon's 50th birthday, calling her a "ray of sunshine" and "my heart for 30 years." Their friendship began in 2000 when Witherspoon guest-starred as Aniston's sister on 'Friends.' The bond they formed transitioned from on-screen siblings to a lasting real-life connection. They later reunited as co-stars and producers on the Apple TV+ series 'The Morning Show' in 2019.

Jennifer Aniston celebrates Reese Witherspoon's 50th birthday with a touching Instagram tribute, calling her "my heart for 30 years."

Mumbai, March 23 Some friendships in Hollywood come and go; a few stand the test of time, and Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon's bond is clearly one of them.

As Reese turned 50, Aniston made sure the day felt extra special with a heartfelt birthday note that quickly caught fans' attention.



Actor Jennifer Aniston took to Instagram to celebrate her long-time friend and co-star Reese Witherspoon's milestone birthday, sharing a warm message along with a video that reflected their decades-long friendship.



Alongside the video, Aniston added a sweet note for Reese, calling her a "ray of sunshine", someone who lights up every room she walks into. Aniston fondly referred to her as a "little firecracker," hinting at Reese's energetic and spirited personality even at 50.



In her post, Aniston wrote, "Happy birthday to this actual ray of sunshine."



She added, "She's 50 and still my favourite little firecracker. My sister, my partner, and my heart for 30 years. Whaaaaa!?? Y'all know what to do~ please join me in wishing this very special woman a birthday she'll never forget. I love you, honey!"



The two actors go way back. Their friendship began in 2000 when Reese guest-starred on the hit sitcom 'Friends' as Jill Green, Rachel Green's sister, played by Aniston. What started as an on-screen sibling dynamic quickly turned into a real-life friendship that has lasted over the years.



They reunited on screen nearly two decades later with 'The Morning Show' in 2019, where they not only shared screen space again but also strengthened their bond as collaborators and close friends.





- ANI
Telugu superstar Nagarjuna has publicly praised the blockbuster 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge', calling it an inspirational film that changes filmmaking. The film, directed by Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer Singh, has become a massive box-office success with strong pan-India appeal. Other industry figures like Ayushmann Khurrana, Anupam Kher, and Ram Gopal Varma have also commended its scale and disruptive impact. The franchise has evolved into a cultural phenomenon, though it has also drawn criticism from some viewers who label it pro-establishment propaganda.

Telugu star Nagarjuna lauds Dhurandhar: The Revenge, calling it an inspirational film that changes filmmaking. Read industry reactions.

Mumbai, March 23 Telugu superstar Nagarjuna has lauded the box-office extravaganza 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge', which is currently unstoppable at the box-office. He called the film an inspiration and a major change defining the road ahead for Indian cinema.

On Monday, the veteran actor took to his X, formerly Twitter, and shared a long note praising the film and its team.



He wrote, "Saw this incredible film called #DhurandharTheRevenge !!! What a ride ! It just blew my mind and I can't stop thinking about it. This is one of those films that inspires and changes filmmaking!! Heartiest congratulations to this inspiring director @AdityaDharFilms and also to the entire technical team, including camera, music, sound design, action, art".



He further mentioned, "A big shoutout to all the ACTORS you were all so brilliant. So proud to say @AnnapurnaStdios Hyderabad has processed Dolby Cinema for the film and South Indian languages localisation. @DolbyIn @CVRao74 #ANRSoundAndVision".



'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
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become the longest-serving head of an elected government in India, completing 8,931 days in office across his tenures as Gujarat Chief Minister and Prime Minister. This achievement surpasses the previous record held by former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling. Leaders from the NDA coalition, including JD(U) and BJP spokespersons, hailed the milestone as a matter of national pride and a reflection of Modi's enduring political journey. Modi, who began as Gujarat CM in 2001, is now the first non-Congress Prime Minister to secure a third consecutive term in office.

PM Narendra Modi sets a new record with 8,931 days in public office, surpassing Pawan Kumar Chamling. NDA leaders hail the historic milestone.

New Delhi, March 22 NDA leaders on Sunday hailed PM Narendra Modi after he became the longest-serving head of an elected government in India, completing 8,931 days in office across his tenures as Chief Minister of Gujarat and Prime Minister of India.

With this milestone, the Prime Minister surpassed Pawan Kumar Chamling, who served as the Chief Minister of Sikkim for 8,930 days, marking a significant moment in the country's political history.

Reacting to the development, JD(U) National Spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan said the achievement was a matter of pride for the nation and reflected the Prime Minister's long political journey.

"Undoubtedly, the entire nation takes pride today. We would term this a major milestone added to the list of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's achievements. As the Chief Minister of Gujarat, he transformed the state into a 'Vibrant Gujarat'. After assuming office as Prime Minister in 2014, he has now completed nearly eleven and a half years in the role and faced numerous challenges," he said.

BJP MP Gulam Ali Khatana also praised the Prime Minister's leadership and said India's global stature has grown during his tenure.

"India is an emerging power, and the Prime Minister has a vision and a mission. Today, Indian citizens, when they land at airports across the world, do so with respect. This reflects India's growing diplomatic strength," he said.

BJP National Spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain said it was a matter of privilege for the country that Narendra Modi now holds the record for the longest time spent in public office.

"It is our privilege that our leader, Narendra Modi, now holds the record for the longest time spent in public office in the country. Serving continuously as Chief Minister and Prime Minister, he has been in office for more than 8,931 days. This record is set to become so significant that he will hold the record for the longest-serving Prime Minister and the longest time spent in public office in the country," he said.

Narendra Modi first assumed office as Chief Minister of Gujarat on October 7, 2001, and served in the role until May 21, 2014. He was sworn in as the 14th Prime Minister of India on May 26, 2014.

He has since won three consecutive Lok Sabha elections in 2014, 2019 and 2024, becoming the first non-Congress Prime Minister to complete two full terms and return to office for a third consecutive term.

- IANS
Tipra Motha Party founder Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma has firmly ruled out an electoral alliance with the BJP for the upcoming Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council elections. He stated that no understanding is possible without visible progress on the implementation of a tripartite accord signed two years ago. The TTAADC polls, scheduled for April 12, are being positioned by the TMP as a decisive battle for the identity and rights of the indigenous Tiprasa community. The election is now set to be a multi-cornered contest, with the TMP aiming to turn it into a referendum on indigenous issues.

Tipra Motha Party chief Pradyot Debbarma says no pact with BJP for TTAADC polls without progress on tripartite accord. Polls set for April 12.

Agartala, March 23 Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, founder-chief of the Tipra Motha Party, on Monday firmly ruled out any alliance between his party and the Bharatiya Janata Party for the upcoming elections to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council.

Polling for the 30-member, politically significant TTAADC is scheduled for April 12, with counting of votes on April 17.

In a video message from New Delhi, Debbarma, a former royal scion, said there would be no electoral understanding without visible progress on the tripartite accord signed two years ago. Stressing that "assurances without implementation of the pact" are unacceptable, he made it clear that commitments must translate into action.

Leaders from both the BJP and the TMP said the party's central leadership had held 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 was engaged in discussions with BJP leaders in the national capital to finalise the arrangement.

Positioning the April 12 TTAADC elections as a decisive political battle, he described the polls as a mandate on identity, rights, and the future of the indigenous Tiprasa community.

Taking a defiant stance, the TMP supremo asserted that he would neither compromise nor yield under pressure, reiterating that his commitment lies solely with the indigenous people. He also underlined that electoral strength would be demonstrated through democratic means.

Debbarma called for unity among tribal voters cutting across party lines, including the BJP, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Congress, and the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT), while urging them to avoid division and violence.

Framing the election as a collective democratic struggle, the tribal leader expressed confidence that grassroots support, especially from economically weaker sections, would outweigh the influence of money and power.

With alliance talks now off the table, the TTAADC elections are set to witness a multi-cornered contest, with the Tipra Motha Party aiming to turn the vote into a referendum on indigenous rights.

While the IPFT remains an older ally of the BJP, the TMP, led by Debbarma, has been a junior partner in the ruling alliance in Tripura since March 2024. Both the TMP and the IPFT are tribal-based political parties with significant influence in the state's indigenous belt.

Since 2021, the Tipra Motha Party under Debbarma's leadership has governed the politically crucial 30-member TTAADC, which comprises 28 elected members and two nominated by the state government.

In the 2021 TTAADC elections, the BJP contested 11 seats and won nine, while a BJP-supported Independent candidate also secured victory. The TMP, however, emerged as the dominant force by winning 18 seats and wresting control of the council from the CPI-M-led 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.

Ahead of the upcoming TTAADC polls, major political parties, including the BJP, its allies the IPFT and TMP, as well as opposition parties such as the CPI(M) and the Congress, have intensified efforts to consolidate support among tribal voters.

- IANS
Nomination filing ends for Kerala, Assam, Puducherry polls. BJP faces MCC breach case in Kerala over candidate's remarks, as parties gear up for campaign.

Thiruvananthapuram, March 23 The deadline for filing nominations for the Kerala, Assam and Puducherry Assembly elections ended on Monday, as politics in the States and Union Territory heat-up.

A total of 2039 nomination papers were submitted by 1202 candidates across all 140 constituencies in Kerala, officials said. In the 2021 polls, Kerala had a total of 957 candidates.



Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate K Ranjith today filed his nomination from the Dharmadam constituency in Kannur district to contest against the Chief Minister and sitting MLA Pinarayi Vijayan. MV Gopakumar, the BJP candidate for the Chengannur Assembly constituency, submitted his nomination in the presence of Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai.



Kerala Leader of Opposition (LoP) and Congress candidate VD Satheesan filed his nomination papers from the Paravur constituency, looking to secure his sixth consecutive victory in the Assembly polls.



Meanwhile, the BJP has come under trouble in Kerala, after a Model Code of Conduct (MCC) breach case was filed against the party's candidate in the Guruvayur Assembly Constituency, B Gopalakrishnan.



Election authorities in Kerala initiated legal proceedings against BJP leader B Gopalakrishnan for allegedly making controversial remarks during his election campaign and over allegations of breaching the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).



According to a press release from the office of CEO Rathan U Kelkar, the Thrissur District Collector took action based on a complaint regarding controversial remarks made by the BJP leader. The CEO directed that a case be registered under Section 123(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, along with relevant provisions of the Model Code of Conduct laid down by the Election Commission.



Authorities found that a video shared by the leader allegedly violated MCC norms, which prohibit seeking votes based on caste or communal sentiments and the use of religious places such as temples, mosques, or churches for election campaigning. Following the directive, the video has been removed from social media platforms, and an FIR has been registered at the Guruvayur Temple Police Station.



The Model Code of Conduct came into place with the announcement of the election schedule on March 15.



However, Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar defended Gopalakrishnan, saying he asked voters a question, which did not amount to hate speech.



Speaking to ANI, Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that B Gopalakrishnan was not wrong when he asked voters, "Shouldn't there be a Hindu MLA in Guruvayur?"



"B Gopalakrishnan is saying the holy town of Guruvayur, where Lord Guruvayurappan's temple is. Shouldn't there be a Hindu MLA? How is that hate speech? He's asking a question of the voters. Can you imagine today in the Vatican, there being a Hindu MP? Will anybody allow in Mecca, a public representative to be a non-muslim? Gopalakrishnan ji is asking a question: Isn't it better for the voters to have a Hindu Guruvayurappan Vishwasi representing them in the holy town of Guruvayur? I don't see anything wrong with that question," the BJP leader said.



Meanwhile, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate called for the disqualification of the candidature of Rajeev Chandrasekhar, alleging that the latter has not disclosed his residence.



Taking it to X, Shrinate shared a post by Congress Kerala showcasing the property tax receipt of Chandrasekhar by Bengaluru South City Corporation and questioned whether the Kerala Chief Electoral Officer will take action against such a lapse, "Isn't non-disclosure a ground for disqualification? Will @Ceokerala act against @RajeevRC_X?"



Kerala Congress highlighted that Chandrasekhar has not disclosed his 49,000 sq ft of residence in Koramangala.



"This is a 1.07-acre property in one of the most expensive locations in the country, where many Indian billionaires live. Land here costs around Rs 35,000 to Rs 50,000 per sq ft or more. By a fair estimate, the land value alone could be around Rs 200 crore. The property number is 408. You can download the property tax receipt using Application Number: 1600322463 from the link below: https://bbmptax.karnataka.gov.in/forms/PrintForms.aspx?rptype=3," Congress wrote on X.



On the last day of nominations in Assam, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) candidate Tapan Das filed his nomination and said that his nomination comes after nearly three decades of dedicated service to the party.



"After 27 years of service to the Assam Gana Parishad, I was nominated, and for this, I thank Atul Bora, Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Dilip Saikia. I also seek the blessings of the people of Assam," he told ANI.



BJP's alliance partner AGP has released its list of 26 candidates for the Assam polls.



Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sushmita Dev also announced that the party will contest 23 seats in Assam.



In a major development in the state, Former BJP leader and Assam Minister Nandita Gorlosa joined Congress after being denied a ticket. This comes as a ray of hope for Assam Congress, which suffered blows after senior leaders Pradyut Bordoloi and Bhupen Borah switched to the BJP.



Assam Congress President Gaurav Gogoi launched a sharp attack on the ruling dispensation in the state, alleging that "hate-filled politics" has taken root in the state and asserted that people are "fed up" with it.



Speaking to reporters in Jorhat, the state Congress chief claimed that the Opposition parties are looking to unite to "clean up Assam's politics" ahead of the Assembly elections. "Today, there is hate-filled politics in Assam. The people of Assam are fed up with this... For this, all Opposition parties in Assam want to unite and clean up Assam's politics," Gogoi said.



In Puducherry, BJP president VP Ramalingam filed his nomination from Raj Bhavan constituency for the Assembly elections to be held on April 9.



The Raj Bhavan seat is currently held by All India NR Congress (AINRC) Minister K Lakshminarayanan, and has now been transferred to the BJP in NDA's seat-sharing agreement for the upcoming polls. Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Tamil Nadu BJP in-charge and actor Khushboo were present during the filing of nomination.



Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Congress reached a seat-sharing pact for the 2026 Puducherry Assembly elections. 30 constituencies in Puducherry will undergo polls, with Congress to contest 16 and the DMK to contest on 14 seats.



"We will share seats among the alliance parties in the 14 seats allotted to DMK," the party's Puducherry election in-charge Jagadrakshagan said.



Congress and DMK are also alliance partners in Tamil Nadu, where the Chief Minister MK Stalin-led party allotted the Congress 28 of 234 seats for the 2026 Assembly elections.



The BJP is contesting 10 seats in the NDA alliance under the leadership of N Rangasamy-led AINRC. The AINRC is contesting on 16 constituencies, AIADMK and Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi (LJK) are contesting on two seats each.



Debutant Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor-turned-politician Vijay, has also thrown a hat in the ring with the list of 30 candidates. After Tamil Nadu, the TVK has decided to contest independently in the Puducherry Legislative Assembly elections as well.



Kerala, Assam and the Union Territory of Puducherry are all set to hold the 2026 Assembly Election on April 9 in a single phase, with counting of votes scheduled to take place on May 4.





- ANI
US President Donald Trump stated that Iran "wants to make a deal badly" following what he described as "constructive" discussions, announcing a five-day pause on US military strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure. However, Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and security officials have firmly denied any talks are occurring, calling Trump's statements a tactic to influence energy markets and buy time for military plans. The conflicting reports center on alleged discussions involving Trump's advisors Jared Kushner and Steve Wycoff with Iranian counterparts, which Tehran insists never happened. The escalation comes amid soaring energy prices and regional tensions, with Iran warning it would retaliate against any attacks on its infrastructure.

Trump says Iran "wants a deal badly" after "constructive" talks, while Iranian officials and state media firmly deny any negotiations with the US are taking place.

Washington DC, March 23 US President Donald Trump on Monday responded to Iranian state media reports denying that Tehran was engaged in talks with Washington aimed at resolving hostilities amid the West Asia conflict, stating that he was "not sure what they are referring to" and reaffirming that the Islamic Republic "wants to make a deal badly".

Speaking with Fox Business's Maria Bartiromo shortly after announcing "constructive" discussions with Tehran, Trump clarified the status of the talks amid conflicting reports from Iranian media.

"I just spoke with President Trump, and he told me that Iran wants to make a deal badly," Bartiromo said.

"He said that the talks have been ongoing. I said, how much longer will this conflict go on? He said...five days to halt or postpone strikes on the electrical infrastructure. It could happen sooner, he said. But I have put down five days," she added.

Bartiromo further asked Trump about the Iranian state media reports claiming that no talks had occurred.

"I asked him what his reaction is to Iranian state television, saying that there are no talks, and he said he's not sure what they are referring to because the most recent talks happened, in fact, last night with Steve Wycoff and Jared Kushner and their counterparts," she said.

"When I asked about the Iranian TV saying that no talks have happened, he said it's hard to get any information there because the US is blowing up so much of their infrastructure. So again, he wasn't sure what Iran State TV was talking about, because the most recent talks, he said, happened last night with Steve Wycoff and Jared Kushner," Bartiromo added.

Trump's claims come after Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed Trump's statement that discussions are currently underway between Washington and Tehran after the US President announced a pause to military strikes on the energy infrastructure of the Islamic Republic for five days, as reported by Mehr News Agency.

According to a statement quoted by the Mehr News Agency, the Iranian MFA stated that the remarks made by the US President were an attempt to buy time for further US military operations and influence energy markets amid soaring prices due to the conflict.

"The US President's statements are within the framework of efforts to reduce energy prices and gain time to implement his military plans," the ministry stated, as quoted by Mehr News Agency.

"There are initiatives by regional countries to de-escalate tensions, and our response to all of them is clear: We are not the party that started this war, and all these requests should be referred to Washington," it added.

Iran's rejection of talks with Washington was also confirmed by an Iranian security official, as reported by Fars News Agency.

According to Fars News Agency, the official rejected US claims of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington amid the ongoing conflict, noting that Trump stepped back from his threats after realising that the Islamic Republic would target all power plants in West Asia.

"There's no direct or indirect contact with the US," the official said, as quoted by Fars News Agency, emphasising that Trump retreated from his threats of striking Iran's energy infrastructure following Tehran's firm warning of retaliation.

He added that "pressure from financial markets and the threat related to bonds in the United States and the West increased, which was another major factor" in the decision, as reported by Fars News Agency.

The remarks came after Trump, earlier today, announced that he had instructed the US Department of War to delay any military action against Iranian power plants and energy sites for five days, citing ongoing diplomatic engagements with Tehran amid escalating tensions in West Asia.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the United States and Iran had held "very good and productive conversations" over the past two days aimed at resolving hostilities in the region.

He added that the decision to pause strikes was based on the "tenor and tone" of the discussions, which he described as "in-depth, detailed, and constructive". Trump further stated that the conversations will continue through the week.

"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," the post read.

"Based on the tenor and tone of these in depth, detailed, and constructive conversations, witch will continue throughout the week, I have instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy Infrastructure for a five day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" it added.

The announcement came as the war between Israel, the US, and Iran had entered its fourth week.

The move marks a shift from Trump's earlier stance, in which he had issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran to reopen the strategically significant Strait of Hormuz, warning of severe consequences if the demand was not met.

In an earlier 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.

Following this, Iran on Sunday issued a stringent warning to the United States, threatening to target critical energy infrastructure across the region in an "irreversible manner".

In a post on X, the speaker of Iran's Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, stated that any attack on Iranian power plants or infrastructure would prompt retaliatory strikes on regional energy facilities.

"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 stated in his post.

The escalating conflict 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 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.

- ANI
Global oil prices crashed sharply, with Brent crude falling over 13%, after US President Donald Trump announced a temporary halt to planned military strikes on Iranian power infrastructure. The decision followed what he described as productive talks between the US and Iran, easing fears of a major supply disruption. In response, Indian equity markets rallied, with GIFT Nifty futures surging nearly 5%. Precious metals like gold also staged a significant rebound from their session lows following the de-escalation news.

Brent crude falls 13% as Trump delays military action on Iran. GIFT Nifty surges 4.75% on de-escalation hopes. Gold prices rebound.

New Delhi, March 23 Global oil prices plunged sharply on Monday, with Brent crude falling over 13 per cent, after US President Donald Trump announced a temporary halt on military strikes against Iran and said talks between the two countries were "productive".

Brent crude futures dropped by around $17, or nearly 15 per cent, to touch a session low of $96 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude fell about $13, or 13.5 per cent, to $85.28.

The sharp fall came as fears of supply disruption eased following signs of de-escalation in the ongoing conflict.

US President Donald Trump said he has instructed the Department of Defense to postpone planned airstrikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days.

He said the decision was taken after "very good and productive conversations" between the United States and Iran over the past two days.

Gift Nifty futures also followed suit and surged to 23,533.50 as against the last close of 22,465, recording a 1,068.5-point or 4.75 per cent upside.

Around 5.20 pm, the Gift Nifty futures were 853.50 or 3.80 per cent higher at 23,318.50.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the pause in military action depends on the progress of ongoing discussions aimed at resolving hostilities in the Middle East.

He indicated that the decision was based on the "tenor and tone" of the talks, suggesting a possible diplomatic breakthrough.

Gold and silver prices in both the MCX and international markets bounced back sharply after Trump's announcement to delay military strikes on Iranian power plants.

In the global market, spot gold trimmed its losses and was down 2.6 per cent, recovering from a steeper 5 per cent decline earlier.

On the domestic front, MCX gold also saw a strong rebound, cutting its losses to around 3 per cent after falling nearly 10 per cent earlier in the session.

- IANS
Iranian ballistic missiles struck the southern Israeli towns of Arad and Dimona, injuring more than 100 people, including children, and causing extensive damage to residential areas. The Israel Defence Forces stated over 80 were injured in Arad alone, with Brigadier General Elad Edri condemning Iran for targeting civilian centres. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed a response, calling it a difficult moment in the nation's battle for security. The Iranian attack is reported to be a response to a prior strike on the Natanz nuclear facility, which Iran blamed on a joint US-Israeli operation.

Iranian ballistic missiles hit Arad and Dimona, injuring over 100 including children. Israel condemns the strikes as a "blatant war crime."

Arad, March 22 More than 80 people were injured after a missile strike hit the southern Israeli city of Arad on Saturday night, according to the Israel Defence Forces, 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 damages

"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.

Edri said that emergency teams are continuing search and rescue operations following the strike.

"This is the beginning of a new week in Israel, we just started it. We hope to have a good week," he said.

He also emphasised that Israel faced "one hit in Dimona and the second hit in Arad."

He said, "But we have one hit in Dimona, the second hit in Arad. Many, many, many injured, and now we are in the middle of the search and rescue operation."

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, 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.

- ANI
Iran has intensified its military campaign, launching what it calls the 76th wave of strikes targeting Israeli infrastructure. In a significant diplomatic development, US President Donald Trump announced a five-day pause on planned US military strikes against Iranian energy targets, citing ongoing productive conversations. This follows a stark US ultimatum to Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and a retaliatory threat from Iran to destroy regional energy infrastructure. The conflict was triggered by the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader in late February, leading to weeks of regional hostilities.

Iran launches new strikes on Israeli infrastructure as US President Trump announces a 5-day pause in military action, citing productive talks with Iran.

Tehran, March 23 The Islamic Republic has further intensified its military operations, with state broadcaster Press TV reporting that "Iran has launched the 76th wave of Operation True Promise 4."

This latest offensive is reportedly "targeting the Zionist regime's infrastructures and other targets," marking a significant phase in the ongoing aerial campaign. According to the state media report, the barrage was initiated "in retaliation for the Israeli regime's indiscriminate attacks on Iranian civilians and infrastructure."

The "76th wave of Operation True Promise 4" signals a continued high-tempo military engagement by Tehran. State broadcaster Press TV indicated that these strikes are part of a broader response to recent hostilities that have impacted Iranian territory.

As regional tensions escalate, the focus of the current wave remains on the "Zionist regime's infrastructures." However, amid this ongoing military friction, a potential diplomatic opening has emerged from Washington.

In a significant announcement, US President Donald Trump on Monday said he has instructed the Department of War to postpone military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days. This pause is subject to the success of ongoing discussions, noting that the United States and Iran had a "very good and productive conversation" regarding a total resolution of hostilities in the Middle East.

The announcement came as the war between Israel, the US, and Iran entered its fourth week. In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that the conversations will continue through the week.

"I am pleased 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," Trump said.

"Based on the tenor and tone of these in-depth, detailed, and constructive conversations, which will continue throughout the week, I have instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five-day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" he added.

This diplomatic reprieve follows a period of intense global anxiety over disruptions to energy supply chains due to the war, which started on February 28. Prior to this pause, Trump had warned Iran of severe consequences if it failed to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy transit route.

In an earlier post on Truth Social, Trump had issued a stark ultimatum, stating 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.

Following this ultimatum, Iran on Sunday issued its own stringent warning to the United States, threatening to target critical energy infrastructure across the region in an "irreversible manner."

In a post on X, the speaker of Iran's Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, stated that any attack on Iranian power plants or infrastructure would prompt retaliatory strikes on regional energy facilities.

"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 stated in his post.

The escalating conflict began on February 28 following the killing of 86-year-old Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in joint military strikes by the US and Israel. In retaliation, Iran 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, leaving the international community watching the current five-day postponement closely for signs of a more permanent de-escalation.

- ANI
Around 95 non-scheduled flights are expected to arrive in India from the UAE on Monday, with additional operations from Saudi Arabia and Oman. Indian nationals in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Iraq are being facilitated via Saudi Arabia, while those in Iran are assisted via Armenia and Azerbaijan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, condemning attacks on critical infrastructure and emphasizing freedom of navigation. The Ministry of External Affairs is operating a control room and missions round-the-clock, having assisted the return of approximately 3.75 lakh passengers from the region since late February.

Over 90 flights from UAE to India Monday. PM Modi discusses regional stability with Iran's President. MEA assists Indian nationals in Gulf, Iran.

New Delhi, March 23 Around 95 flights are expected from the UAE to India on Monday as limited non-scheduled flights continue from the region, while flights continue to operate from Saudi Arabia and Oman to India as well, according to an official statement.

Qatar airspace remains partially open, with Qatar Airways expected to operate around 8-10 non-scheduled flights to India on Monday.

Kuwait and Bahrain airspaces remain closed while Jazeera Airways of Kuwait is operating flights to various destinations in India from the Al Qaisumah Airport (AQI) in Saudi Arabia. Gulf Air of Bahrain also continues to operate special non-scheduled commercial flights from Saudi Arabia's Dammam Airport to India.

Transit of Indian nationals continues to be facilitated via Saudi Arabia for those in Kuwait, Bahrain and Iraq. Indian nationals in Iran continue to be assisted for travel back home via Armenia and Azerbaijan, with 1,031 Indians, including 707 students and 324 Indian citizens, having crossed over so far.

Indian students in Tehran, Isfahan and Shiraz have been relocated to safer locations within Iran, while Indian nationals in Israel are being facilitated to travel to India via Jordan, the statement said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been speaking to world leaders on the ongoing conflict in the West Asia region. On Saturday, he spoke with Iran's President, Masoud Pezeshkian and conveyed Eid and Nowruz greetings. He expressed hope that this festive season brings peace, stability and prosperity to West Asia.

The Prime Minister condemned the attacks on critical infrastructure in the region, which threaten regional stability and disrupt global supply chains. He reiterated the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation and ensuring that shipping lanes remain open and secure.

He appreciated Iran's continued support for the safety and security of Indian nationals in Iran.

The Ministry of External Affairs continues to closely monitor developments in West Asia and the Gulf region, with the safety, security and welfare of the Indian community remaining the highest priority.

A dedicated MEA control room remains operational, with continuous coordination with state and Union Territories governments.

Indian missions and posts across the region are functioning round the clock, maintaining helplines, engaging with the wide array of Indian community organisations and issuing updated advisories.

Missions remain in close contact with host Governments and continue to assist seafarers, students, stranded Indian nationals and short-term visitors with visa facilitation, consular services and logistical support.

Since 28 February, around 3,75,000 passengers have returned from the region to India, with overall flight operations continuing to improve, the statement added.

- IANS
Pakistan faces mounting instability fueled by the West Asia conflict and internal unrest, particularly in Shia-majority Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan. China has warned that this turmoil could jeopardize its critical China-Pakistan Economic Corridor investments. The country's military is caught between supporting Western allies and managing retaliatory threats from Iran, which backs groups like the Taliban. Concurrent counterinsurgency operations strain relations with China, which seeks regional stability for its projects.

Report details Pakistan's rising instability from West Asia conflict, domestic unrest, and strategic pressures on Iran border, impacting CPEC.

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 Pakistan's 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.

"Pakistan's 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.

"Tehran's 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 Pakistan's 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.

- IANS
Pakistan's inclusion in a proposed US-led 'Board of Peace' for Gaza is facing scrutiny due to its domestic record on religious persecution. A Gatestone Institute report details a deepening crisis for minorities, citing mob violence, forced conversions, and a climate of impunity. Specific incidents include the alleged torture deaths of Christian workers like Marcus Masih and attacks over blasphemy accusations. The report argues this record makes Pakistan an unlikely contributor to credible peace-building in Gaza.

Report highlights Pakistan's record as "most dangerous" for religious minorities, questioning its role on a US-proposed Gaza peace board.

New Delhi, March 22 Pakistan is among the countries included in the 'Board of Peace', reportedly formed by US President Donald Trump to explore lasting peace solutions in the Gaza Strip. However, the country's own record of religious persecution and alleged 'nurturing' of terror on its soil has raised concerns about its ability to play peacemaker in a region marred by intense hostilities over the past two years.

A report by the Gatestone Institute has highlighted a series of incidents inside Pakistan that expose its poor record in protecting religious minorities, to the extent that it qualifies as one of the "most dangerous countries" for Christians and other non-Muslims.

It states that last year was marked by a deepening crisis for religious minorities in Pakistan, with rising mob violence and a climate of "near-total impunity for perpetrators".

"Christians, Hindus, and other non-Muslim minorities faced a combination of physical attacks, forced displacement, and structural exclusion. The Christian community remained particularly vulnerable to accusations of blasphemy that rapidly escalated into collective punishment, with mobs burning churches, targeting homes, and destroying livelihoods in affected neighbourhoods," the report said.

Incidents of forced religious conversions, abductions of Hindu girls, and coerced marriages are widely reported. For the affected families, there is often little legal recourse, compounded by victim intimidation and alleged bias within the state machinery.

Citing another case, the report states that a 21-year-old Christian farmworker, Marcus Masih, was allegedly tortured to death by his Muslim employers in Pakistan's Punjab Province, with the incident subsequently labelled as a suicide by hanging.

The incident, which drew global attention, was followed by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) urging the US government to redesignate Pakistan as a "Country of Particular Concern" (CPC) over systematic and ongoing violations of religious freedom.

Listing other incidents of violence against minorities, the report notes that in March 2025, Zohaib Iftikhar allegedly slit the throat of his co-worker, Waqas Masih, a 22-year-old Christian, accusing him of committing blasphemy by touching an Islamic textbook with "unclean hands".

In May 2025, Christian labourer Kashif Masih was reportedly tortured to death by a group of men, including a former police officer, over an unproven allegation of theft, sparking outrage among minority groups.

In June 2024, 18-year-old Catholic worker Waqas Salamat was allegedly tortured to death by his employer and others for reportedly leaving his job without permission. His family said he was subjected to hours of electric shocks that proved fatal.

Further citing incidents of forced conversions among Hindu and Christian girls in Punjab and Sindh provinces in 2025, the report states that the year also saw multiple attacks on places of worship.

It also mentions the case of a 12-year-old Christian girl, Saba Shafique, who was reportedly abducted in Sindh Province, forcibly converted to Islam, and then married to a 35-year-old man, Muhammad Ali.

Making a strong case for the exclusion of Pakistan from the 'Board of Peace', the report argues that the country would be an unlikely contributor to any credible peace-building mechanism.

- IANS
Parents of over 200 Jammu and Kashmir students stranded at the Azerbaijan border are urgently appealing for Central government intervention to secure their children's safe return. The students, who were studying in Iran, face severe financial strain and health issues like chest infections while being stuck in a slow-moving evacuation process. Only a handful of students are being issued exit codes daily, leaving hundreds stranded since mid-March and missing their scheduled flights home. While the MEA is engaged with Iranian authorities, families demand more decisive logistical support to expedite the rescue.

Over 200 Indian students from J&K are stranded at the Azerbaijan border, facing health & financial crises. Parents demand urgent government evacuation.

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.

- IANS
Paul McCartney has revealed how he and John Lennon repaired their strained relationship following The Beatles' breakup. They reconnected by discussing fatherhood and their shared hobby of baking bread, finding common ground in ordinary domestic life. McCartney expressed profound relief that they reconciled before Lennon's murder in 1980. He admitted he still struggles to comprehend the crime that took his friend's life.

Paul McCartney shares how domestic life and baking bread helped heal his rift with John Lennon before the Beatles star's tragic death.

Los Angeles, March 23 The Beatles legend, Sir Paul McCartney has shared that he mended his friendship with John Lennon, and their shared love of baking served as the catalyst to their friendship.

The pair's relationship became frosty around the time of The Beatles split in 1970 but Paul has now opened up about how the childhood friends grew close again in the years after the break-up, reports 'Female First UK'.

Speaking in Audible's new Words + Music series The Man on the Run, Paul explained the pair started talking about fatherhood after John welcomed son Sean in 1975 and they went on to bond over bread.

He said, "Eventually we were actually able to talk to each other instead of (arguing). It was more chatting about what we were doing. John had Sean so he was now the father of a young baby so we would talk about kids and domestic things. I had started making bread and was getting pretty good you know and I started talking to him and he was like, 'Oh yeah I'm making bread'".

"So the things we had in common were just the ordinary little domestic things. Somehow that was peaceful. It was nice that we had that in common. And we weren't fighting anymore. So I would go and visit him and we had quite a bit of interaction, and the same with George and Ringo. It was all getting much nicer", he added.

As per 'Female First UK', Paul went on to admit he's glad he mended his relationship with John in the years before the musician was murdered in New York in 1980.

He said, "That was the only consolation when John got killed. Thank God we got it back together. I don't know what I would have thought if we hadn't. "If we were still warring and he got killed. (I would have) lost my chance to make peace".

Mark David Chapman was convicted of killing the Beatles legend and Paul admitted he still struggles to comprehend the crime.

- IANS
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has issued a grave warning as the Middle East conflict escalates, with reported strikes near nuclear facilities in Iran and Israel. He stated that attacks targeting such sites create an escalating threat to public health and environmental safety. The WHO has prepared by training its staff and UN personnel across 13 countries to respond to potential nuclear health emergencies. Tedros urgently called for maximum military restraint and de-escalation to avoid triggering a nuclear incident.

WHO Director-General Tedros urges military restraint as strikes near nuclear sites in Iran and Israel pose a severe public health and environmental threat.

Geneva, March 22 World Health Organisation 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."

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
Union Minister Piyush Goyal held a virtual meeting with Mexico's Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard to discuss deepening bilateral trade and investment. He also engaged with Greece's Deputy Foreign Minister Harry Theoharis to advance cooperation in trade, tourism, and maritime connectivity. In separate meetings, Goyal discussed Eli Lilly's growing investments in India with its executive Patrik Jonsson and met Zepto's Aadit Palicha to focus on innovation and supply chain integration. These discussions underscore India's active economic diplomacy and engagement with global partners and the domestic startup ecosystem.

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal held key meetings with officials from Mexico and Greece, and executives from Eli Lilly and Zepto to boost trade, investment, and innovation.

New Delhi, March 22 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
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on all state governments to take strict action against black marketing and hoarding of gas cylinders, exploiting the global energy crisis. The Ministry of Petroleum reported over 3,500 raids and the seizure of more than 1,200 cylinders across several states. Modi, speaking in the Lok Sabha, linked the need for vigilance to the ongoing West Asia conflict and drew parallels to the unity shown during the Covid-19 pandemic. He emphasized that coordinated action between governments and citizens is essential to overcome such challenges.

PM Modi urges state governments to take strict action against black marketing and hoarding of gas cylinders during the global energy crisis.

New Delhi, March 23 Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on all State governments on Monday to take strict action against individuals attempting to exploit the ongoing global energy crisis through black marketing and hoarding of gas cylinders.

This plea comes as incidents of black marketing and hoarding of LPG have risen nationwide in response to reports of the global crisis.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas reported on Sunday that, as of Saturday, 3,500 raids had been conducted, resulting in the seizure of more than 1,200 gas cylinders across various states, including Bihar, Haryana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha about the ongoing West Asia conflict, PM Modi said, "When such crises arise, some elements also try to take undue advantage. Therefore, all agencies responsible for maintaining law and order have been put on alert. Be it coastal security, border security, cyber security, or strategic installations -- security of all is being further strengthened."

Given the conflict, PM Modi recalled the times of Covid-19, when the world was put under lockdown, and said that the country must face the current situation in a similar manner.

"Due to this war, the difficult situation in the world is likely to persist for a long time. Therefore, we must be prepared -- we must remain united. We have faced such challenges with unity even during Covid-19. Now, once again, we need to be similarly prepared. With patience, restraint, and a calm mind, we must face every challenge. And this is our identity, this is our strength," he said.

Calling on the State governments, the Prime Minister said, "We must also be very cautious and alert. Those who seek to take advantage of the situation will try to spread lies. Such efforts must not be allowed to succeed."

"Through this House, I also appeal to all state governments. In times like these, those who engage in black marketing and hoarding become active. Strict monitoring is essential. Wherever such complaints arise, swift action must be taken."

"If every government and every citizen of the country moves together, we can overcome every challenge," he added.

- IANS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Pushkar Singh Dhami-led Uttarakhand government on completing four years in office, praising its development and governance. In response, CM Dhami expressed deep gratitude and reaffirmed his government's commitment to public service and building a self-reliant state. Modi highlighted key infrastructure projects like the Char Dham All-Weather Road and initiatives boosting tourism and the local economy. Both leaders emphasized Uttarakhand's role in contributing to the national vision of a 'Developed India-2047'.

PM Narendra Modi praised CM Pushkar Singh Dhami's leadership for Uttarakhand's development. Dhami reaffirmed commitment to a self-reliant state.

Dehradun, March 23 Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami-led Uttarakhand government on completing four years in office, lauding its efforts in driving development, ensuring good governance, and promoting public welfare across the state.

Responding to the Prime Minister's message, Dhami expressed gratitude and reaffirmed his government's commitment to development. In a post on X, he said, "Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, heartfelt thanks from the core of my heart for your affectionate words and best wishes towards the development, good governance, and public welfare of Uttarakhand."

Dhami added that the state's progress over the past four years reflects the trust and collective resolve of its people under Modi's leadership. "Our government, working with the core mantra of public service, transparency, and inclusive development, is fulfilling the resolve to build a strong and self-reliant Uttarakhand," he said.

He further emphasised that Uttarakhand will continue contributing to the vision of 'Developed India-2047,' adding that with the Centre's support, the state will keep achieving new milestones.

According to an official statement, PM Modi, in his message, highlighted that under CM Dhami's "dynamic leadership," Uttarakhand has made rapid progress across sectors. He also underscored the state's rich cultural and spiritual heritage, describing it as "Devbhoomi," a land known for its faith, traditions, and diversity.

The Prime Minister noted that Uttarakhand has been steadily advancing in line with the vision of a "Developed India." He pointed to key infrastructure initiatives, including the Char Dham All-Weather Road Project, which aims to make the pilgrimage safer and more accessible, and the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Railway Line that is expected to significantly boost rail connectivity in the region.

Modi further appreciated the government's focus on improving connectivity in border areas and promoting winter tourism, stating that such efforts have strengthened the local economy and helped curb migration. He also commended initiatives aimed at promoting local products, empowering women, generating employment opportunities for youth, supporting startups, and advancing digital and green development.

Emphasising the importance of preparedness, the Prime Minister highlighted the role of robust disaster management systems and sustainable development in ensuring long-term progress in the hill state.

Expressing confidence in Uttarakhand's future, PM Modi said the state's contribution towards building a "Developed India" during the ongoing "Amrit Kaal" will continue to grow stronger. He stressed that active participation from citizens will be key to building a self-reliant and prosperous Uttarakhand.

The Prime Minister also extended his best wishes to the people of the state, expressing hope that Uttarakhand will achieve new milestones across sectors in the coming years.

- ANI
A cold storage building collapsed with a loud explosion in Prayagraj's Phaphamau area, killing four workers and injuring several others. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief and announced financial assistance from the PMNRF for the victims' families. Joint teams of the NDRF and SDRF have rescued 16 people from the debris, with operations continuing into the evening. The district administration has ordered a detailed probe into the incident, focusing on possible structural negligence.

PM Modi announces ex-gratia after Prayagraj cold storage collapse kills 4. Rescue operations by NDRF/SDRF ongoing. Probe into structural negligence ordered.

Prayagraj, March 23 Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Monday, expressed grief over the tragic building collapse in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj and announced financial assistance for the victims affected in the tragedy.

In a message posted by the Prime Minister's Office on social media platform X, Prime Minister Modi said he was "deeply saddened by the mishap due to the collapse of a building in Prayagraj" and extended condolences to the affected families.

He also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each deceased, while those injured in the incident will be provided Rs 50,000.

Earlier on Monday, in a tragic incident, a cold storage building collapsed with a loud explosion in the Phaphamau area of Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj, killing four workers and leaving several others injured.

The accident occurred after the roof of the structure caved in. Rescue and relief operations are currently underway.

The incident took place in Chandapur village located on the Prayagraj-Lucknow highway, where a private cold storage facility suddenly collapsed following a loud blast.

Prayagraj Police Commissioner Jogendra Kumar said that police, administrative officials and relief agencies rushed to the spot as soon as information about the incident was received.

Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) jointly launched a rescue operation and have so far pulled out 16 people from the debris.

Authorities have confirmed four deaths in the accident, while several people have sustained injuries; some of them said to be in critical condition.

The injured victims were immediately rushed by the ambulance to the Uttar Pradesh government-run Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital, where they are currently undergoing treatment.

According to the district administration, the cold storage facility reportedly belongs to a local businessman, Ansar Ahmad.

Preliminary investigation suggests possible structural negligence, though a detailed probe is being conducted at the District Magistrate level.

The police are also examining all aspects of the incident.

Following the building collapse, traffic on the Prayagraj-Lucknow highway was disrupted, leading to a long traffic jam in the Malak Harhar area.

A large police force has been deployed at the site and traffic has been diverted.

JCB machines are being used to remove the debris, and rescue operations continued till late evening.

Prayagraj District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma and senior police officials are present at the site, supervising the rescue operations.

The Prayagraj administration said every possible effort is being made to rescue anyone who might still be trapped under the debris.

Authorities have ordered a detailed inquiry into the cause of the accident and assured strict action against those found responsible for the tragedy.

- IANS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a Sanskrit subhashitam on social media, offering a heartfelt prayer to Goddess Skandamata for her blessings and illumination. He emphasized the profound peace and spiritual strength derived from worshipping the Mother Goddess during Navratri. The fifth day of Chaitra Navratri is dedicated to Skandamata, the mother of Lord Kartikeya, and was marked by rituals across India. The nine-day festival, which begins the Hindu new year, involves worshipping nine forms of Goddess Durga and concludes with Ram Navami.

PM Narendra Modi shared a Sanskrit subhashitam and reflections on Navratri, seeking the divine grace of Goddess Skandamata for all.

New Delhi, March 23 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday shared a Sanskrit subhashitam highlighting the divine grace of Goddess Skandamata and seeking her divine blessings for the well-being of all, an official release from the Prime Minister's Office read.

The Prime Minister wrote on X, "Heartfelt prayer to Goddess Skandamata! May she, with her compassionate affection and blessings, illuminate everyone's life. Seated on a throne eternally, with two hands resting on a lotus. May the auspicious Goddess Skandamata, renowned for glory, always bestow her grace."

May the glorious Goddess Skandamata, who is always seated on a lion and holds lotus flowers in both her hands, always bless us with auspicious results, a release read.

Furthermore, PM Modi also shared his reflections on the spiritual essence of Navratri, emphasising the profound sense of peace and strength derived from the worship of the Mother Goddess. PM Modi also shared a devotional hymn dedicated to the Goddess, an official release from Prime Minister's Office read.

The Prime Minister wrote on X, "Worshipping Mother Ambe brings the extraordinary joy of devotion. It grants the mind boundless peace and spiritual strength."

Earlier in the day, Aarti was performed at Shree Adya Katyayani Shaktipeeth Mandir in Chhatarpur in the national capital on the occasion of the fifth day of Chaitra Navratri.

On the other hand, devotees in Gujarat offer prayers at the Bahucharaji Temple in Ahmedabad on the fifth day of Chaitra Navratri.

The fifth day of Chaitra Navratri (March 23, 2026) is dedicated to worshipping Goddess Skandamata, the mother of Lord Kartikeya (Skanda).

Chaitra Navratri, one of the most significant Hindu festivals, is celebrated with great fervour across India. The nine-day festival involves the worship of Goddess Durga and her nine forms, with devotees observing fasts, performing rituals, and visiting temples to seek divine blessings.

Chaitra Navratri marks the beginning of the Hindu new year.

The festival later concludes with Ram Navami, which celebrates the birth of Lord Ram. Temples witness heavy footfall, and special prayers, jagrans, and cultural programs are organised across the nation.

- ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the Rajya Sabha regarding India's stance and strategy on the ongoing West Asia conflict. His speech follows recent discussions in the Lok Sabha where he outlined the economic, security, and humanitarian challenges posed by the crisis. The Prime Minister highlighted the region's critical importance for India's energy imports and the welfare of nearly one crore Indian citizens living there. The government has facilitated the return of thousands of Indians and is engaged in diplomatic efforts to ensure their safety.

PM Modi will address India's strategy on the West Asia conflict, focusing on trade, energy security, and the safety of Indians abroad.

New Delhi, March 23 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will speak in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday about the various aspects of the ongoing West Asia conflict and India's strategy.

His address in the Rajya Sabha will come close to US President Donald Trump walking back on his threat to bomb Iran's power infrastructure by Monday night, saying that Iran and the US were having "very good and productive" negotiations and extended the deadline by five days.

On Monday, PM Mody spoke in Lok Sabha about the challenges the country is facing due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, highlighting the impact on Indians living in Gulf nations and the trade and economic consequences of the crisis.

PM Modi said, "This conflict has also created unforeseen challenges for India. These challenges are economic, national security-related, and humanitarian. India has extensive trade relations with the countries at war and those affected by it."

Talking about the effect of the conflict on the trade, PM Modi said, "The region where the war is taking place is also an important route for our trade with other countries. Especially, a large part of our crude oil and gas requirements is met by this region."

He said that West Asia is also important for India as "approximately one crore Indians live and work in Gulf countries".

Speaking about the steps taken by the Centre to ensure the safety and welfare of Indians affected by the conflict, PM Modi said, "Since this war began, every Indian in the affected countries has been provided necessary assistance. I have personally spoken over the phone with the heads of state of most West Asian countries in two rounds. All of them have assured full safety for Indians."

He said that over 3,75,000 Indians have returned safely to India from West Asian nations, including 1,000 from Iran, and reaffirmed his government's commitment to providing every possible assistance to those in need.

On Sunday, PM Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to review the situation and ongoing and proposed mitigating measures in the context of the ongoing West Asia conflict.

- IANS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been actively engaging with world leaders, including the President of Iran, to address the escalating conflict in West Asia. During these talks, he condemned attacks on critical infrastructure that threaten regional stability and global supply chains. Modi emphasized the crucial need to safeguard freedom of navigation and keep key shipping lanes like the Strait of Hormuz open and secure. The Indian government also prioritizes the safety and welfare of the large Indian diaspora in the region amid the heightened tensions.

India's PM Modi holds talks with Iran's President and world leaders, condemns attacks, and stresses stability and secure shipping lanes in West Asia.

New Delhi, March 23 The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday highlighted India's maintenance of high-level diplomatic contact with key regional players to address the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East, emphasising the need for stability and the protection of global commerce.

Addressing the inter-ministerial briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "As you are aware, the Prime Minister has been speaking to several world leaders on the ongoing conflict in the West Asia region." These deliberations have focused on de-escalating tensions that have gripped the region since late February.

The spokesperson highlighted a significant diplomatic exchange between New Delhi and Tehran over the weekend. Jaiswal noted, "On Saturday, as you are aware, he had spoken to the President of Iran. On the occasion, he also had the opportunity to convey Eid and Nowruz greetings."

During this conversation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi "expressed hope that this festive season would bring peace, stability and prosperity in West Asia," while raising serious concerns regarding recent military strikes on non-combatant targets.

Detailing India's firm stance on the hostilities, Jaiswal stated, "The Prime Minister condemned the attacks on critical infrastructure in the region, which threatened regional stability and disrupt global supply chains." This statement follows a series of drone and missile strikes that have targeted energy facilities across the Persian Gulf.

Further highlighting the economic risks posed by the maritime standoff, the MEA underscored the necessity of keeping trade routes functional. "The Prime Minister reiterated the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation and ensuring that shipping lanes remain open and secure," the spokesperson added.

Beyond the geopolitical concerns, the welfare of the vast Indian diaspora in the region remains a priority for the government. Jaiswal remarked that the Prime Minister "also appreciated Iran's continued support for the safety, security and welfare of Indian nationals in Iran."

The conflict in West Asia has reached a critical juncture following weeks of retaliatory operations and counter-strikes involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. With the Strait of Hormuz facing potential closure and energy infrastructure under threat, the international community remains on high alert over the risk of a full-scale regional war that could catastrophically impact global fuel security and West Asian stability.

- ANI
The chief priest of Ayodhya's Ram Temple, Santosh Tiwari, has highly praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's lengthy tenure in public office. He described Modi's service as commendable and stated the PM has the blessings of Lord Ram, even comparing him to a king. Tiwari also expressed gratitude for the "double-engine" government of Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Additionally, he voiced confidence that the vision of a 'Hindu Rashtra' would become a reality.

Ram Temple chief priest Santosh Tiwari praises PM Modi's record tenure, calling him a "king" with divine blessings. He also thanks the "double-engine" government.

Ayodhya, March 23 Chief priest of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, Santosh Kumar Tiwari, on Monday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his long tenure in public service, describing it as commendable and praiseworthy.

Reacting to Prime Minister Modi becoming the longest-serving head of an elected government in the country, Tiwari expressed gratitude for the leadership provided by the Prime Minister and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

"The tenure of the Prime Minister so far has been very commendable and highly praiseworthy. I sincerely thank him for running the double-engine government along with our Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath," the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple chief priest told IANS.

He said that Prime Minister Modi has visited Ayodhya on several occasions to seek the blessings of Lord Ram.

"The Prime Minister has come many times to seek the blessings of Ram Lalla. We see the Prime Minister in the form of a king.... he is a representative of Lord Ram. He is not just the Prime Minister of India; he is like the king of the country -- there is no one like him. He has the blessings of Ram Lalla," Tiwari added.

The Ram temple head priest also mentioned that institutions such as the University Grants Commission (UGC) should continue improving.

"There is just one thing that comes to my mind regarding the UGC -- it should be improved a little," Tiwari said.

He also expressed confidence that the vision being discussed about a 'Hindu Rashtra' (Hindu nation) would eventually become a reality.

Prime Minister Modi recently achieved a historic milestone in Indian politics by becoming the longest-serving head of an elected government in the country.

He completed 8,931 days in office (both as the former Chief Minister of Gujarat and now as the Prime Minister of India), surpassing former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling, who held the post for 8,930 days.

The record combines PM Modi's tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat from October 7, 2001, to May 21, 2014, and his tenure as the Prime Minister of the country since May 26, 2014, marking more than two decades of continuous leadership in public office.

- IANS
Health workers in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir have escalated their protests, now in their fourth week, due to government inaction on their demands. Leaders Sajid Nadeem and Maqsood Hussain Shah state their demands are lawful and highlight issues like missing health allowances and 24-hour shifts. They warn that while emergency services are maintained for now, continued neglect may force undisclosed, stronger actions. The protesters have submitted a revised proposal at the regional level, urging parity with doctors whose issues were previously resolved.

Health workers in Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir intensify protests over unmet demands, warning of stronger steps if government continues to ignore their grievances.

Muzaffarabad, March 22 Health workers in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir have intensified their ongoing protest, accusing authorities of ignoring their long-pending demands despite nearly a month of demonstrations. Speaking at a rally held at the Central Press Club, protest leaders Sajid Nadeem and Maqsood Hussain Shah voiced frustration over the government's continued inaction.

According to the protesters, they have been staging demonstrations for the past 25-26 days, repeatedly submitting their demands to the authorities. However, they claim no concrete response has been received so far. Addressing the gathering, the leaders emphasised that all demands being raised are lawful and justified, particularly given the critical role health workers play in maintaining essential services.

They highlighted that many workers are performing round-the-clock duties, often enduring 24-hour shifts to ensure uninterrupted healthcare services. Despite this, they alleged that basic entitlements such as health allowances, risk allowances, and other benefits have not been provided. The protesters also pointed out that several female health workers have been deprived of benefits under the MNCS programme, further deepening their grievances.

The leaders appealed to the government to treat their demands on par with those of doctors, whose issues, they noted, had previously been addressed. The protesters stated the urgency of resolving the matter so that workers can return to their families with dignity.

They also warned that while emergency services have so far been maintained, continued neglect by authorities could force them to take stronger, undisclosed steps. "More than half of our workforce is still deployed in emergency services to prevent disruption," one of the speakers stated, adding that this arrangement may not continue indefinitely if their concerns remain unaddressed. The protest leaders revealed that they had earlier submitted two draft amendments and are now presenting a revised proposal at the regional level, hoping it will prompt action.

- ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid rich tributes to socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia on his birth anniversary, describing him as an outstanding thinker and a voice for social justice. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also honored Lohia, calling him a great freedom fighter and pioneer of 'Sapta Kranti'. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and other MPs paid floral tributes in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan. Lohia, who contested against Jawaharlal Nehru in 1962, is remembered for his commitment to empowering the poor and his progressive thoughts on gender equality.

PM Narendra Modi and CM Yogi Adityanath honor socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia, highlighting his fight for social justice and empowerment.

New Delhi, March 23 Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to Ram Manohar Lohia on his birth anniversary, remembering him as an outstanding thinker and a voice of social justice.

Describing Lohia as a multifaceted personality, PM highlighted his pivotal role in mobilising the masses against colonial rule and his subsequent contributions to India's progress after 1947.

The Prime Minister remarked that Lohia was an outstanding thinker and one of the foremost voices of social justice in the country. He affirmed that Lohia's unwavering commitment to empowering the poor and the marginalised continues to inspire generations, noting that his thoughts on gender equality and participatory governance remain equally relevant today.

On X, the PM wrote, "Tributes to Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Ji on his birth anniversary. He was a multifaceted personality who played a pivotal role in mobilising people against colonial rule and subsequently contributed to the progress of India after 1947. He was an outstanding thinker and one of the foremost voices of social justice. His unwavering commitment to the cause of empowering the poor and the marginalised continues to inspire generations. Equally noteworthy are his thoughts on gender equality and participatory governance."

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also paid tribute to Ram Manohar Lohia through a social media post.

On X, he said, "On the birth anniversary of the great freedom fighter, eminent socialist thinker, and pioneer of 'Sapta Kranti', Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, humble tributes. His dedication to social justice, equality, and the national language Hindi will forever inspire us to build a strong and self-reliant India."

Apart from them, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, along with other members of Parliament, paid floral tributes to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan.

Ram Manohar Lohia was an activist in the Independence movement and a socialist political leader. He was a member of the Praja Socialist Party and the Samyukta Socialist Party.

In 1962, Lohia contested against former PM Jawaharlal Nehru from Phulpur, but he lost the election. In 1963, he won the bye-election and became an MP from Farukkhabad. Later in 1967, he won the election from the Kannauj constituency.

- ANI
Union Minister G Kishan Reddy emphasized that the District Mineral Fund must prioritize the welfare of people in mining-affected areas over political promises. He highlighted critical drinking water shortages in approximately 300 coal villages and instructed officials to resolve these issues using DMF, CSR, or coal company funds. Reddy called for rigorous assessment and documentation of DMF project impacts on local schools, hospitals, and families. He also outlined plans for the sustainable closure and repurposing of 143 de-mined coal sites for community benefits like tourism and water bodies.

Union Minister G Kishan Reddy directs DMF funds to welfare of mining-affected communities, addressing water shortages and project impact.

New Delhi, March 23 Union Minister for Coal and Mines, G Kishan Reddy, stated on Monday that the primary objective of the District Mineral Fund remains the welfare of people in mining-affected regions and the development of essential infrastructure.

Addressing the National District Mineral Foundation Summit 2026 in Delhi, the minister emphasised that the fund must not be utilised to bridge political gaps but should focus on addressing the immediate needs of the poor and local communities.

Reddy underscored the necessity of prioritising the most vulnerable populations over secondary infrastructure goals.

"This is not DMF to fill up the political gap. DMF is to solve the problem of the poor and the affected people. To solve that problem, DMF is there. But I have given assurances in this village before the election, put a road in is not the priority. The first priority is the welfare of the affected people, the development of the affected area, and minimum amenities; this should be given attention," he said.

Addressing critical infrastructure gaps, the minister pointed out that while the mining sector impacts over 3,000 villages, approximately 300 villages within the coal sector still face significant drinking water shortages.

He asserted that "there should not be any such village, in the mining affected areas, that village has not got clean drinking water." Reddy instructed officials to resolve these issues by giving high priority to arrangements through the DMF, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds, or coal companies.

He linked these efforts to the cabinet-approved second phase of the Jal Jeevan Mission, stating, "In this, everyone should be given drinking water."

The minister also called for a rigorous assessment of how DMF-sanctioned projects transform local lives. He urged district collectors to document the tangible changes in schools, hospitals, and families.

"The DMF scheme, which you sanction and implement, what impact does it have on that area, on that road, on that school, on that hospital, on that poor family, what impact does it have, that also needs to be recorded," Reddy told the summit.

He suggested that officials use social media to showcase "before and after" scenarios, noting that "every DMF scheme has had an impact on social media, in our district, in this mandal, in this village."

Reddy also highlighted that 143 coal mines de-mined since independence have not yet undergone scientific closure. He stated that the Prime Minister has ordered the closure of these sites using sustainable methods, involving nodal officers and 143 specialised committees.

Reddy described a vision for repurposing this land for community benefit. "You have to level it, do some greenery development, do some water bodies development, do some fish pond development, do some tourism development," he said.

He also requested that these plans include self-help groups to ensure the land remains productive and sustainable for the local population.

- ANI
Russian President Vladimir Putin has formally congratulated North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on his re-election as Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, expressing a desire to strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership between their nations. Kim's reappointment to the country's highest post occurred during the first session of the Supreme People's Assembly, marking his third consecutive term. The assembly also saw a reshuffle of top officials, including the appointment of Jo Yong-won as parliamentary chairman and the removal of Kim's sister, Kim Yo-jong, from the State Affairs Commission. The deepening Russia-North Korea alliance, which includes a 2024 mutual defense treaty and North Korean support for Russia's war in Ukraine, forms the critical backdrop to this diplomatic exchange.

Russian President Putin congratulates North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on his re-election, expressing hope for stronger bilateral ties and continued cooperation.

Seoul, March 23 Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on his reelection as chairman of the State Affairs Commission, expressing hope for stronger bilateral relations, the Kremlin said Monday.

According to the North's Korean Central News Agency, Kim was reappointed to the highest post of the commission at the first session of the Supreme People's Assembly held on Sunday.

It marked his third consecutive term since the commission was created in 2016 as the country's top policy guidance body.

"Dear Comrade Kim Jong Un, please accept my heartfelt congratulations on your reelection as Chairman of State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea," Putin said in a message posted on the Kremlin's Telegram channel.

"Russia highly values your personal contribution to strengthening the friendly, allied relationship between our countries. We will naturally continue our close cooperation to further develop the comprehensive strategic partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang. This undoubtedly serves the fundamental interests of both our nations," he added.

Russia and North Korea have been deepening ties in recent years, signing a mutual defense treaty in 2024. North Korea has also sent troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine, Yonhap news agency reported.

Earlier in the day, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was reappointed as president of the state affairs commission at the first session of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) after last month's ruling party congress, state media reported.

Kim was reappointed president of the state affairs commission on the first day of the first session of the 15th SPA, the Korean Central New Agency (KCNA) said.

During the meeting, Jo Yong-won, known as one of Kim's closest aides, was also elected chairman of the SPA standing committee, the top parliamentary post, replacing Choe Ryong-hae, according to the KCNA.

North Korea typically convenes a session of the rubber-stamp parliament following a party congress to legislate laws needed to implement decisions made at the congress.

The reappointment was made at the SPA's first session Sunday, the first state affairs activity of its 15th term.

Premier Pak Thae-song retained his post, while former Premier Kim Tok-hun was appointed as first vice premier, a position newly created at the latest meeting.

In the reshuffle, Jo was also appointed as vice chief of the state affairs commission, while Kim's powerful sister Kim Yo-jong was relieved of her post as a member of the commission.

Kim's powerful sister, Kim Yo Jong, was notably absent from KCNA's list of members of the State Affairs Commission, the country's highest leadership body, on which she had served since 2021.

As the third-generation leader of North Korea, Kim has governed the nuclear-armed nation since the passing of his father in 2011. The state itself was established in 1948 by his grandfather, Kim Il Sung.

Ahead of the session, 687 deputies were selected for the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA). In this system, North Korean citizens aged 17 and older are presented with a single, state-approved candidate per district, which they can either accept or reject.

State media outlet KCNA previously reported that the new delegation was overwhelmingly approved, securing 99.93 per cent of the vote in favor against a mere 0.07 per cent opposition, with voter turnout reaching 99 per cent.

KCNA described the atmosphere in the Pyongyang assembly hall as being charged with intense political dedication and revolutionary zeal among the newly seated members.

Political analysts suggest this assembly meeting could address potential constitutional revisions. These changes might officially redefine relations between North and South Korea, codifying them as ties between "two hostile states."

- IANS
Several districts in Rajasthan, including Jaipur, Alwar, and Dausa, experienced rain and thunderstorms on Monday morning, leading to a significant drop in temperature. The Meteorological Department has issued yellow and orange alerts for parts of the state due to the influence of a Western Disturbance. While dry weather is predicted for Tuesday, a new weak system is expected to bring rain and thunderstorms to around 15 districts on March 25 and 26. The recent weather shift has also included hailstorms in areas like Samdari in Balotra district.

Heavy rain, thunderstorms lash Jaipur, Alwar, Dausa. MeT issues yellow & orange alerts. Temperatures drop as Western Disturbance affects Rajasthan.

Jaipur, March 23 The weather took a dramatic turn on Monday morning across several districts of Rajasthan, including Jaipur, Alwar, Dausa, and Didwana, as rain lashed here, bringing down the temperatures and causing a chill.

Skies remained heavily overcast as rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning, swept through these regions. The Meteorological (MeT) Department has sounded a yellow and orange alert for rain in parts of the state for the day.

In Jaipur, rainfall began around 8.00 a.m., with thunder and lightning reducing visibility significantly. Vehicles were seen moving with headlights on due to the cloud cover and rain. Dausa also witnessed light rain starting around 7.30 a.m. The weather change occurred under the Western Disturbance influence, said the weather department.

The minimum temperature dropped to 15 degrees Celsius, while the maximum is expected to hover near 30 degrees.

The district has been experiencing fluctuating weather over the past few days, with rainfall recorded on March 20 and 21 as well.

In Alwar, also light rain began around 8 a.m. after dense clouds covered the city early in the morning. The weather has since turned cool and pleasant in the city.

The ongoing spell of rain and storms across Rajasthan is being driven by successive Western Disturbances.

On Sunday, most districts in the Jodhpur and Bikaner divisions witnessed cloudy skies. Areas in Jaisalmer and Phalodi also experienced light rain accompanied by strong winds.

The Meteorological Centre in Jaipur has predicted dry weather across the state on Tuesday. However, a new, weak weather system is expected to become active on March 25 and 26. Under its influence, alerts have been issued for thunderstorms and rain in around 15 districts.

In Balotra district's Samdari area, heavy hailstorms lashed the region late Sunday night, adding to the sudden weather shift. On Sunday, districts such as Barmer, Jalore, Bikaner, Sri Ganganagar, and Jodhpur saw a mix of clouds and sunshine, leading to a slight rise in maximum temperatures.

According to the weather department, a yellow alert is the lowest level of warning, used to keep people informed about potential weather-related inconveniences, and an orange alert is a more serious warning, indicating a higher potential for damage and severe weather.

- IANS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a new record by becoming India's longest-serving head of government, completing 8,931 days in office. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated him, highlighting Modi's "pure devotion" and unwavering commitment from his time as Gujarat Chief Minister. Modi surpasses the previous record held by former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling, who served for 8,930 days. BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya also hailed the milestone, calling it a lifetime of relentless service to the nation.

PM Narendra Modi surpasses Pawan Kumar Chamling's record, completing 8,931 days as head of government. Rajnath Singh and BJP leaders congratulate him.

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.

- IANS
Republican Senator Thom Tillis has publicly questioned the Trump administration's lack of clear long-term objectives in the Iran conflict, calling it a "real problem." He warned that the ambiguous strategy and lack of consultation could severely strain relationships with critical allies like NATO partners. Tillis emphasized that Congress needs clarity on strategic goals before approving a potential $200 billion funding request for the war effort. Despite his criticisms, he reiterated general support for the President's broader approach while calling for greater coordination.

Republican Senator Thom Tillis raises concerns over unclear US objectives in Iran conflict, warning it could damage key alliances and require huge funding.

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.

- IANS
Uttar Pradesh Minister Sanjay Nishad has stated that his party's continued alliance with the BJP for the 2027 elections is conditional on the fulfillment of the reservation demand for his community. He criticized the Samajwadi Party, claiming he left because they "closed the door" on the reservation issue. While praising the BJP for honoring community heritage and creating a Fisheries Ministry, Nishad emphasized he remains an "advocate" for reservation. He framed the alliance as a historic friendship dating back to Lord Ram and Nishadraj, urging the BJP to prove this friendship by delivering on the core promise.

UP Minister Sanjay Nishad says his party's alliance with BJP for 2027 depends on fulfilling reservation promise, criticizes Samajwadi Party.

Sultanpur, March 23 Uttar Pradesh Minister Sanjay Nishad said on Sunday that his party's alignment with the BJP for the 2027 elections is centred on the core issue of reservation, noting that the Samajwadi Party was abandoned after it "closed the door" on the community's demands.

While acknowledging the BJP's efforts in honouring the community's heritage and creating a separate fisheries ministry, the minister emphasised that he remains an "advocate" for reservation and that it is now up to the ruling party to prove its commitment by fulfilling this primary promise.

"I was with the Samajwadi Party. They closed the door on me, so I had to leave. They did not raise even a single question on my issue of reservation. The issue of reservations is my party's priority. The issue of the Tal-Ghat rivers, the education of our De-notified Tribes (Vimukt Janjati), these issues lie with the Central and State governments," said Nishad.

He also stated that earlier, there was a perception that the BJP was against reservations, but they gave 10% reservation to the upper castes and 33% to women, so that accusation has been removed.

"They are doing great things; they built the Nishadraj temple and the Ram temple. If Modi Ji is showing respect, chanting Jai Nishadraj, and honouring our historical heritage, and has made arrangements to bring our people into the mainstream of development by creating a separate Ministry of Fisheries, then I believe we should stick with them," Nishad added.

Nishdad said that he is the advocate for the reservation and is waiting for Bjp to answer when they will take action on it.

He said, "The question of moving will only arise if the BJP closes its doors. It is the BJP that has to provide the answer because I am the advocate for reservation; I advocate for it. The BJP has to answer when it will grant the reservation. They are working on it, and they are doing big things, so I believe they will do it."

Confirming his party's continued alliance with the BJP, he said, "As of today, my party is with the BJP. I have said this before as well. Last time, everyone else had left, but when the Honourable Home Minister called, I told him that I am a descendant of Nishadraj and a friend of Lord Ram. We are dignified people who practice dignified politics. We belong to a community with a glorious history."

Nishdad said that the BJP follows both the ideology of Rama and Nishadraj, that friendship belongs from Treta Yug.

"To restore that glorious history, if the BJP follows the ideology of Ram, then they are following the ideology of Nishadraj as well; both were friends. This is a friendship from the Treta Yuga. Now the BJP must prove that friendship," he said.

"Just as Ram was with Nishadraj, and Nishadraj provided his army to Ram to defeat Ravana, we have also consistently provided our 'army' (support) to the BJP to give them victories since 2019. I believe the BJP should think about that," Nishad added.

- ANI
US President Donald Trump has declared that any resolution to the conflict with Iran is strictly contingent on the complete removal of nuclear threats, specifically demanding "no nuclear weapon." He revealed the US is negotiating with a high-level Iranian figureexcluding Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khameneiand intends to take possession of Iran's highly enriched uranium as part of a settlement. Trump suggested the Strait of Hormuz could soon be "jointly controlled" and established a five-day window for diplomatic progress, warning of continued military action otherwise. He downplayed the impact of easing some oil sanctions, arguing any revenue to Tehran would be negligible.

President Trump says ending the Iran conflict requires removing nuclear threats, taking enriched uranium, and hints at internal regime talks.

Florida, March 23 US President Donald Trump has underscored that any potential resolution to the ongoing conflict with Tehran remains strictly contingent on the complete removal of nuclear threats.

Emphasising the core requirements for a diplomatic breakthrough, the President told reporters in Florida, "We want to see no nuclear bomb, no nuclear weapon."

He further indicated that the United States intends to take possession of Iran's highly enriched uranium as part of a final settlement. Referring to the material as "the nuclear dust," Trump asserted, "We're gonna want that. And I think we're gonna get that. We've agreed to that."

The President revealed on Monday that the US is currently in negotiations with a "top person" within the Iranian regime to conclude the war. However, he clarified that these high-level discussions do not involve the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.

When pressed by reporters on who the US is engaging with, Trump described the contact as "a top person," noting the significant attrition within Iran's traditional hierarchy.

"Don't forget: We've wiped out the leadership phase one, phase two and largely phase three. But we're dealing with a man who I believe is the most respected and the leader, you know it's a little tough, they've wiped out, we've wiped out everybody," Trump remarked.

He added that while Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have been active in the talks, he would not identify the specific Iranian counterpart.

Regarding the current Supreme Leader, Trump remained dismissive, stating, "No, not the Supreme Leader." He noted that "we have not heard from the son," referring to the younger Khamenei.

"Every once in a while you'll see a statement made, but we don't know if he's living," he said, before adding, "I don't consider him really the leader."

The President suggested that the conflict has essentially triggered a transition of power within the country. "And there'll also be a very serious form of regime change," Trump stated, pointing to early military strikes.

"There's automatically a regime change," he noted, while expressing optimism about his current interlocutors. "But we're dealing with some people that I find to be very reasonable, very solid. The people within know who they are, they're very respected, and maybe one of them will be exactly what we're looking for."

On the economic front, Trump downplayed the significance of easing sanctions on certain Iranian oil stockpiles, framed as a measure to mitigate a worsening global energy crisis.

"I just want to have as much oil in the system as possible," he told reporters, adding that any revenue reaching Tehran would be negligible and would not "have any difference" in the war.

"Any small amount of money that Iran gets won't have any difference in this war. But I want to have the system be lubricated," he argued.

He further questioned the regime's ability to access funds, stating, "We don't even know if Iran gets that money. Frankly, I think it's very hard, very hard for them to get it."

A major breakthrough appears possible regarding the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, which the President claimed will be "open very soon" if current negotiations maintain their pace.

Trump envisioned a future where the shipping route is "jointly controlled" by the US and Iran. "It'll be jointly controlled," he stated. "Me and the Ayatollah, whoever the Ayatollah is, whoever the next Ayatollah is."

The President confirmed that talks involving his top envoys proceeded late into Sunday evening, identifying "major points of agreement."

Characterising the progress as significant, he said the discussions "went, I would say, perfectly," and added that Iran had initiated the contact.

"I would say that if they carry through with that, it'll end that, that problem, that conflict, and I think it'll end it very, very substantially."

The President established a clear timeframe for the diplomatic effort. "We're doing a five-day period, we'll see how that goes. That if it goes well we're going to end up with settling this. Otherwise, we just keep bombing our little hearts out," he warned, while indicating that further phone calls on Monday would lead to an in-person meeting "very, very soon."

- ANI
Riddhima Kapoor Sahni shares a loving note and throwback photos for daughter Samara's 15th birthday, calling her the 'greatest blessing'.

Mumbai, March 23 Jewellery designer Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, also known as the sister of Bollywood superstar Ranbir Kapoor, penned a heartfelt note for her daughter Samara as she turned 15, calling her 'the greatest blessing' in her life.

Taking to her social media account, Riddhima shared a carousel post featuring throwback pictures capturing Samara's growing years.



In the first picture, a toddler Samara, barely a year old, can be seen taking her first few steps while holding hands with her 'mamu', Ranbir Kapoor.



In another picture, Samara is seen dressed in a lavender fairy gown.



Riddhima captioned the post as,



"My Sampie. 15 years of loving you holding your hand and calling you mine...my greatest blessing."



She added, "You make my world brighter just by being you.



Stay as kind strong and beautiful as you are



I love you to the moon and back - and a little more every day. Happy 15th birthday my heart (sic)"



Earlier, Riddhima had taken to her social media account to share a cute throwback video of her daughter Samara taking over the stage at just 3 years old.



The clip uploaded by Riddhima features a little Samara grooving to the tunes of the piano, playing in the backdrop. She looked absolutely adorable in a pink and white frock, as she enchanted everyone with their graceful moves.



She had captioned the post as, "Warning 3-year-old performer taking over the stage (Dancing girl emoji) #Sampie (sic)."



For the uninitiated, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni is married to Delhi-based businessman Bharat Sahni.



She is the daughter of late veteran actor Rishi Kapoor and actress Neetu Singh, and the sister of actor Ranbir Kapoor.



Bollywood superstar Alia Bhatt is her sister-in-law.



On the professional front, Riddhima made her OTT debut with the show The Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives.





- IANS
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav stated that the increasing number of UPSC qualifiers from Madhya Pradesh mirrors the state's changing landscape. He addressed 61 successful candidates, calling them architects of a developed and self-reliant India by 2047. Officials noted that 22 of the qualifiers studied in government institutions, with many hailing from smaller towns. This trend challenges the perception that elite urban coaching is essential for UPSC success.

CM Mohan Yadav felicitates 61 UPSC qualifiers from MP, highlighting their role in building a developed India and the fading urban preparation myth.

Bhopal, March 23 Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Monday said that the increasing presence of Madhya Pradesh candidates in the Union Public Service Commission examination reflects the changing face of the state.

The Chief Minister made the remarks while addressing a felicitation programme for candidates from Madhya Pradesh who cleared the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) 2025 examination. The event was organised by the state government at the Kushabhau Thakre Convention Centre in Bhopal.



Congratulating 61 candidates from the state who cleared the UPSC examination, Yadav said that "their success is a recognition of their determination and capability. The selected candidates are the architects of a developed and self-reliant India by 2047."



He said that destiny has chosen them for an important responsibility and that success always comes with responsibility. Yadav added that the welfare and development of crores of citizens of Madhya Pradesh will rest on their shoulders.



"Entering the administrative services in the world's largest democracy is a fortunate opportunity for the selected youth. In a democracy, a person can reach the highest positions through the trust of the people," he said.



During his address, the Chief Minister pointed out that there have been instances where candidates cleared the UPSC with good ranks but were unable to effectively implement policies and programmes at the field level.



Additional Chief Secretary of the Higher Education Department of Madhya Pradesh, Anupam Rajan, said that 958 candidates were selected across the country in the Civil Services Examination this year, including 61 from Madhya Pradesh.



He said that 22 of the successful candidates from the state studied in government schools and colleges.



He added that candidates from smaller towns such as Sohagpur and Sironj have also been selected, reflecting the growing interest among the state's youth in civil services. He noted that the perception that preparation for civil services requires studying only in national-level institutions or moving to cities like Delhi or Indore is gradually fading.





- IANS
Hollywood actor Jason Momoa and his family were evacuated from Oahu's North Shore as catastrophic flooding, triggered by a Kona low storm system, struck Hawaii. The deluge, the region's worst in two decades, forced over 5,000 residents to flee amid threats of dam failure and rising waters. Momoa shared an emotional update on social media, confirming his family's safety while highlighting the plight of others and pledging support for relief efforts. Hawaii Governor Josh Green reported no fatalities, though over 200 people were rescued and flood warnings remained active across several islands.

Hollywood star Jason Momoa and family evacuated from Oahu's North Shore amid Hawaii's worst flooding in 20 years. Governor confirms no fatalities.

Washington, March 23 Hollywood actor Jason Momoa and his family were among thousands evacuated from O'ahu's North Shore as catastrophic flooding struck Hawaii, marking the region's worst deluge in two decades.

The extreme weather event, triggered by a powerful Kona low, a seasonal cyclone system, is the second major storm to hit the Hawaiian islands within a week, as per Deadline.



Authorities confirmed that rising floodwaters and the threat of dam failure forced evacuation orders for more than 5,000 residents north of Honolulu over the weekend, reported Deadline.



Momoa shared an update through a now-expired Instagram Story, confirming his family's safety while acknowledging the broader crisis.



"I got my family with me. We got out of the North Shore," he said, "Our power went off. We're safe for now, but there's a lot of people who weren't, so we're sending all our love," as quoted by Deadline.



The actor emotionally described the situation as severe, adding, "The North Shore is pretty gnarly right now. So hopefully everyone's safe and getting out. Stay safe out there."



Hawaii Governor Josh Green stated that no deaths or missing persons had been reported despite the scale of the disaster. Over 200 people were rescued during the flooding, while fewer than a dozen individuals were treated for hypothermia in hospitals, as per Deadline.



Flood warnings remained in place across multiple islands, including O'ahu, Maui, Moloka'i, Lana'i, Kaho'olawe and the Big Island, even as evacuation orders were later lifted. Authorities also implemented statewide road closures to manage the emergency response.



In response to the situation, Momoa cancelled a scheduled public appearance at The Beach House by 604 in Wai`anae, citing safety concerns. He also indicated plans to support relief efforts, sharing that fundraising details would be announced soon and encouraging his followers to contribute.



In a recent social media post, he also documented efforts to distribute food and supplies to affected residents, alongside his partner, actress Adria Arjona.



Reflecting on the impact of the storms, Momoa highlighted the challenges faced by vulnerable communities.



"Seeing families displaced, communities struggling, and our unhoused neighbors hit the hardest," he said, urging people to support one another, as per Deadline.



"That's what aloha is. It's showing up for each other when it matters most," he added in an earlier social media post.





- ANI
Sarah Michelle Gellar has paid an emotional tribute to her late 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' co-star Nicholas Brendon, who passed away at age 54. Brendon's family confirmed he died peacefully in his sleep from natural causes, noting his recent passion for painting. Other co-stars, including Alyson Hannigan and Emma Caulfield, have also shared their grief. Brendon was best known for his role as Xander Harris on the iconic series from 1997 to 2003.

Sarah Michelle Gellar shares an emotional Instagram tribute to her 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' co-star Nicholas Brendon, who passed away at 54.

Washington DC, March 23 Actor Sarah Michelle Gellar has paid a heartfelt tribute to her 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' co-star Nicholas Brendon, who passed away on March 20 at the age of 54, according to E! News.

Taking to Instagram, Gellar shared an emotional message alongside a throwback photo, quoting Brendon's character Xander Harris from the popular series. "They'll never know how tough it is to be the one who isn't chosen," she wrote, adding, "I saw you Nicky. I know you are at peace, in that big rocking chair in the sky."



Brendon's family confirmed his passing in a statement, revealing that he died in his sleep of natural causes. They noted that the actor had been undergoing treatment for health issues, including cauda equina syndrome, but remained optimistic about the future.



"He passed in his sleep of natural causes," they said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. "Most people know Nicky for his work as an actor and for the characters he brought to life over the years."



"In recent years Nicky has found his passion in painting and art. Nicky loved to share his enthusiastic talent with his family, friends and fans," they shared. "He was passionate, sensitive, and endlessly driven to create. Those who truly knew him understood that his art was one of the purest reflections of who he was."



Their statement concluded, "Our family asks for privacy during this time as we grieve his loss and celebrate the life of a man who lived with intensity, imagination, and heart. Thank you to everyone who has shown love and support."



Remembering his life beyond acting, the family shared that Brendon had developed a deep passion for painting and art in recent years. "He was passionate, sensitive, and endlessly driven to create," the statement read, adding that his art reflected his true self.



Following the news of his death, several of his former co-stars also expressed their grief. Alyson Hannigan shared a heartfelt note recalling years of friendship and laughter, while Emma Caulfield expressed her sorrow, saying she was struggling to put her feelings into words, according to E! News.



Brendon was best known for his role as Xander Harris in 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer', which aired from 1997 to 2003.





- ANI
The Securities and Exchange Board of India has approved key regulatory changes to provide more flexibility for Alternative Investment Funds during their winding-up process. It introduced a framework to classify funds as "inoperative" to ease their compliance burden and permitted the retention of liquidation proceeds under specific conditions. In a significant move for global investors, SEBI approved net settlement of funds for Foreign Portfolio Investors in the cash market to reduce transaction costs. The board also drastically reduced the minimum investment for Social Impact Funds and overhauled ethics and "fit and proper" criteria for market intermediaries and its own top officials.

SEBI approves new rules for AIF winding-up, net settlement for FPIs, and lower investment limits for Social Impact Funds to boost market efficiency.

New Delhi, March 23 The Securities and Exchange Board of India on Monday approved a series of regulatory amendments designed to provide Alternative Investment Funds with greater flexibility during the winding-up process and to reduce the compliance burden on funds that are no longer actively managed.

The proposed solutions include permitting the retention of liquidation proceeds under specific conditions, such as pending litigation or tax demands, and introducing a framework to tag certain entities as inoperative funds to exempt them from standard reporting requirements.

The decisions were detailed by SEBI Chairperson Tuhin Kanta Pandey during an address following the 213th board meeting held in Mumbai on Monday. Under the new framework, AIFs can retain proceeds beyond their permissible fund life if they can show "demonstrable receipt of a litigation notice or tax/regulatory demand" or if they secure "consent of at least 75% of investors by value" to satisfy anticipated liabilities.

For operational expenses, retention is permitted for up to three years, provided the amounts are substantiated by prior-year comparables or invoices.

The Chairperson noted that funds intending to surrender their registration while holding such residual proceeds will be categorized as "inoperative funds." This classification allows for the "discontinuation of periodic filings, PPM updation, and performance benchmarking," significantly easing the administrative weight on entities that are effectively in a terminal phase.

The board emphasized that these measures are expected to "reduce the compliance burden on AIFs with no active fund management activity while retaining necessary regulatory oversight."

In a move to lower transaction costs for global investors, the regulator also approved the net settlement of funds for Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) in the cash market. Currently, FPIs settle on a gross basis, which often leads to "additional costs for FPIs, including funding costs and foreign exchange slippages."

By allowing netting for outright transactions, SEBI expects to improve operational efficiency, particularly during index rebalancing. However, the regulator clarified that the "settlement of securities shall continue to be carried out on a gross basis" to allay concerns regarding speculative trading or large market positions. This system is expected to be fully implemented by December 31, 2026.

Furthering its agenda on financial inclusion, the board reduced the minimum investment for individuals in Social Impact Funds from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 1,000. This change is intended to "facilitate wider retail participation on Social Stock Exchange" by aligning application sizes with other social instruments.

Additionally, the board overhauled the "fit and proper" criteria for market intermediaries, deciding that a criminal complaint or FIR "shall, by itself, not be ground for automatic disqualification," moving instead toward a case-by-case principle-based assessment.

The board also moved to strengthen internal ethics by bringing the Chairperson and Whole-Time Members under the definition of "insider" and mandating the disclosure of immovable property details.

These officials will now be required to either liquidate, freeze, or sell their personal equity investments via a trading plan upon joining the regulator.

A new Office of Ethics and Compliance will be established to oversee these conflict-of-interest frameworks and foster a culture of ethical conduct across the organization.

- ANI
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh chaired a meeting with government employee bodies to discuss service-related issues, including promotions and cadre restructuring. Employee representatives acknowledged improvements under the current leadership, citing over 10,000 bulk promotions that have reduced stagnation. They also raised pending concerns regarding pay parity, allowances, and implementation delays in departments like Survey of India and ISRO. Singh assured that issues would be examined through departmental consultation, emphasizing continued dialogue to strengthen administrative efficiency.

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh says structured dialogue with employee bodies is resolving service issues, promotions, and cadre restructuring.

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.

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.

- IANS
Groundwater levels have fallen significantly across Tamil Nadu, with 29 out of 38 districts recording a drop in February compared to last year. Dindigul and Tirupur districts saw the steepest declines of over 2.5 metres, indicating severe stress in western and central regions. Alarmingly, this depletion occurred despite the state receiving 12% above-normal rainfall in 2025. Experts attribute the trend to poor recharge and over-extraction, raising serious concerns about water sustainability ahead of the summer season.

Despite excess rainfall, 29 of 38 Tamil Nadu districts report falling groundwater levels, with Dindigul and Tirupur worst hit. Experts warn of summer crisis.

Chennai, March 23 Groundwater levels across Tamil Nadu have witnessed a significant decline, with 29 out of 38 districts recording a drop in February compared to the same period last year, according to data released by the State Ground and Surface Water Resources Data Centre under the government's Water Resources Department.

The findings indicate a worsening trend in water availability despite a year of above-normal rainfall. The data shows that Dindigul and Tirupur districts recorded the steepest decline, with groundwater levels falling by 2.58 metres each. Coimbatore followed with a drop of 2.07 metres, while Salem (1.68 metres), Dharmapuri (1.62 metres), Karur (1.54 metres), and Perambalur (1.20 metres) also reported substantial decreases.

These sharp reductions point to increasing stress on groundwater reserves in the western and central regions of the state.

Several other districts experienced moderate declines. Madurai recorded a fall of 1.27 metres, while Virudhunagar and Perambalur saw drops of 1.20 metres each. Namakkal (1.08 metres) and Erode (1.10 metres) also reported noticeable reductions. In northern Tamil Nadu, Tiruvallur registered a decline of 0.99 metres, and Tiruvannamalai saw a drop of 0.85 metres, highlighting a broad-based depletion across regions.

In contrast, coastal and delta districts reported relatively marginal changes. Nagapattinam recorded the least decline at just 0.03 metres, followed by the Nilgiris (0.04 metres) and Tiruvarur (0.11 metres), suggesting comparatively stable groundwater conditions in these areas.

The extent of depletion is particularly concerning, given that Tamil Nadu received 12 per cent excess rainfall in 2025.

According to the India Meteorological Department's Chennai centre, the state recorded 1,027.7 mm of rainfall against the normal 920.9 mm. While Chengalpattu was the only district to record a rainfall deficit, ten districts received excess rainfall ranging from 20 to 59 per cent above normal, and one district reported large excess rainfall exceeding 60 per cent.

Despite this favourable rainfall pattern, the continued decline in groundwater levels points to poor recharge, over-extraction, and possible inefficiencies in water management systems.

With summer approaching, the trend raises serious concerns about water sustainability, especially in drought-prone and high-demand regions of the state.

Experts warn that unless immediate corrective measures are implemented, including improved rainwater harvesting and regulated groundwater usage, Tamil Nadu could face intensified water stress in the coming months.

- IANS
Director Vicky Jewson has highly praised Uma Thurman's performance as a villain in the upcoming action thriller 'Pretty Lethal.' Jewson called Thurman an icon with an unmatched ability to portray complex negative roles. The film follows five ballerinas whose journey turns dark when they seek shelter at Thurman's mysterious roadside inn. 'Pretty Lethal' premieres on Prime Video on March 25.

Director Vicky Jewson hails Uma Thurman's "unmatched" villain performance in the new thriller 'Pretty Lethal,' premiering on Prime Video.

Washington DC, March 23 Director Vicky Jewson has praised actor Uma Thurman's performance in the upcoming action thriller 'Pretty Lethal', calling her ability to portray a villain "unmatched," according to People.

Speaking at the world premiere of the film during the 2026 SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas, Jewson described Thurman as "an icon" who brings depth and uniqueness to negative roles.



"Uma is obviously an icon, and she can play a villain like nobody else can," the director said, according to People.



In 'Pretty Lethal', Thurman essays the role of Devora Kasimer, a reclusive former ballet prodigy who runs a mysterious roadside inn. The story follows five ballerinas whose journey takes a dark turn when they seek shelter at the inn after their bus breaks down.



Jewson highlighted Thurman's layered performance, noting that she brings both humour and emotional depth to the character.



"She has a wicked sense of humor, and she also brings empathy to the character that allows you to stay with the character when the most absurd stuff happens," she said, adding that the role required exceptional talent, according to People.



The film also draws inspiration from The Nutcracker, which plays a key role in shaping Thurman's character.



"It is the performance where Devorah lost her dream, and that informs her character throughout the whole film," Jewson explained, according to People.



The film features an ensemble cast including Iris Apatow, Lana Condor, Millicent Simmonds, Avantika and Maddie Ziegler.



'Pretty Lethal' is set to premiere on Prime Video on March 25, according to People.





- ANI
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini inaugurated the Kharif Krishi Mela 2026 at an agricultural university in Hisar. He praised the fair as a platform uniting farmers, scientists, and innovation, highlighting the region's agricultural heritage. The CM announced the inauguration of a new Nutri-Cereals Research Centre in Bhiwani to develop resilient millet varieties and processing technologies. He also honored 42 progressive farmers, crediting their hard work and scientific research for making Haryana the country's second-largest food grain contributor.

CM Nayab Singh Saini inaugurates agricultural fair, honors farmers, and announces a new Nutri-Cereals Research Centre for millet development in Haryana.

Chandigarh, March 23 Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Monday inaugurated the Kharif Krishi Mela -- 2026 at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University in Hisar and appreciated the initiative of bringing farmers, scientists and innovation onto a common platform. 

He said the soil of Hisar "symbolises hard work, livestock prosperity and the sacrifices of brave soldiers. Rakhigarhi represents the pride of our ancient civilisation, while Agroha narrates the story of Maharaja Agrasen's ideals of social harmony and trade prosperity". 

Upon arrival at the fair, the Chief Minister first paid floral tributes to the statues of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev on the occasion of Shaheedi Diwas. 

The Chief Minister also released publications published by the university's Directorate of Extension Education, Cotton Section, Oilseeds Department, and other departments to disseminate information among farmers. 

Vice Chancellor B.R. Kamboj presented a memento symbolising prosperous farming in the form of a plough to the Chief Minister. 

The Chief Minister said the fair organised by CCS HAU is a symbol of farmers' hard work and scientists' foresight. The university has made significant contributions in the areas of improved seeds, water conservation, soil health and climate-smart agriculture. 

He said a Nutri-Cereals Research Centre has been inaugurated at Gokulpura village in Bhiwani district, spanning 64 acres and costing Rs 11.67 crore. 

He said that the centre will work towards developing disease- and pest-resistant varieties of millets, enhancing the shelf life of millet flour, establishing market linkages for producers, and promoting value addition. 

"It will also develop modern processing technologies for millet-based products," he said. 

During the fair, the Chief Minister honoured 42 progressive farmers, including 21 women, describing them as a source of inspiration for the state's progress. 

He said Haryana has now become the second-largest contributor to the country's food grain pool, a result of farmers' hard work, scientific research, and government policies. 

- IANS
BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lok Sabha address on the West Asia conflict, calling it a statesman-like presentation of India's position. PM Modi described the situation as worrisome, highlighting its severe impact on the global economy, India's national security, and the humanitarian crisis. He detailed India's extensive trade and energy dependencies on the region and the safety of nearly one crore Indian nationals residing there. The Prime Minister also outlined government efforts, including the safe return of over 375,000 Indians and continuous assistance through advisories and helplines.

PM Modi addresses West Asia crisis in Lok Sabha, highlights economic & security challenges, and details efforts to safeguard Indian nationals abroad.

New Delhi, March 23 BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy on Monday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address in the Lok Sabha over West Asia developments, asserting that he spoke like a "statesman."

Speaking to ANI, Rudy emphasised that the Prime Minister gave all the information to the Lower House, adding he also cleared India's stance over the West Asia situation and wants peace in the region.

"The PM's approach was like a statesman. He came to the House and gave all the information. The PM has told the world today that India is prepared, while we want this conflict to end," said Rudy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday highlighted that the situation in West Asia amid the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict was "worrisome" and had a severe impact on the global economy and people's lives.

As India witnesses challenges with the ongoing conflict entering its fourth week, PM Modi addressed the Lok Sabha and stated that these challenges were related to national security. He highlighted that "unprecedented challenges" due to the conflict were humanitarian as well.

"The situation in West Asia is worrisome. This conflict has been going on for more than three weeks. It has a severe impact on the global economy and the lives of the people, and that is why the world is urging all sides for an early resolution to this conflict," PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister informed of India's trade relations with countries in the West Asian region that were witnessing war, stating that a large part of the country's need for crude oil and gas was met by the war-affected region. He informed that the region also remains crucial as it provides a route for India's trade with other countries as well.

"This war has also posed unprecedented challenges for India. These challenges are economic, related to national security, and humanitarian as well. India has extensive trade relations with the warring and war-affected countries. The region where this war is taking place is also an important route for our trade with other countries of the world. In particular, a large part of our needs for crude oil and gas is met by this very region," he added.

Highlighting that at least one crore Indian nationals reside in the Gulf countries, PM Modi said that India's concern over the ongoing war between US-Israel and Iran was "naturally greater". He emphasised the need for a unified voice regarding the conflict.

"Nearly 1 crore Indians live and work in the Gulf countries. Commercial ships operate there. The number of Indian crew members is also very high. Due to these various reasons, India's concerns are naturally greater. Therefore, it is essential that a unified voice and consensus reach the world regarding this crisis from the Parliament," the PM said.

He further said that all Indian nationals stranded in the conflict-ridden countries were being provided assistance by the government. The PM informed that help was being given to families of those who have died during the conflict.

"Since this war began, every Indian in the affected countries has been provided assistance. I have spoken over the phone with the heads of state of most West Asian countries for two rounds. All have assured the safety of Indians. During the conflict, some people have lost their lives, and some have been injured. We are helping their families," PM Modi said, adding that the Indian government was involved in helping citizens, including tourists.

"The Indian government has been issuing advisories amid the ongoing conflict, with outreach rooms and emergency helplines being operational 24 x 7," the PM said.

He further stated that over 3.75 lakh Indian nationals have returned safely to the country, with at least 1,000 of them having been escorted from Iran.

"Since the war began, more than 3,75,000 Indians have returned safely to India. From Iran, nearly 1,000 Indians have returned safely so far, of whom over 700 are medical students. In view of the situation, CBSE has cancelled Class 10 and 12 exams in the schools in Gulf countries and is taking necessary steps to ensure students' education continues without disruption," the PM said.

He acknowledged that the challenge to the movement of cargo ships through the Strait of Hormuz was one of the effects of the ongoing conflict, informing about the efforts made by the Indian government to ensure that petrol, diesel, and gas supplies were not impacted.

"A large quantity of crude oil, gas, fertilisers and many essential items comes to India through the Strait of Hormuz route. Since the war began, the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz has become very challenging. Despite this, our government has made efforts to ensure that the supply of petrol, diesel, and gas is not severely impacted," PM Modi said.

The PM said that the government has prioritised domestic LPG consumers amid the uncertainty in supply.

"As we all know, the country imports 60 per cent of its LPG requirement. Due to uncertainty in supply, the government has prioritised domestic LPG consumers. At the same time, domestic production of LPG is also being increased. Continuous efforts have also been made to ensure that the supply of petrol and diesel across the country remains smooth. LPG production in the country is also being increased," he added.

The PM informed about the steps taken by the government in the last 11 years to prioritise the storage of crude oil for times of such crises. He said that India has strategic petroleum reserves of more than 5.3 million metric tons.

"India has strategic petroleum reserves of more than 5.3 million metric tons, and the country is working on arrangements for reserves of more than 6.5 million metric tons. In the past 11 years, there has also been a notable increase in our refinery capacity. The government is also in constant contact with suppliers from different countries. First, we used to import from 27 countries; now we do from 41 nations," PM Modi said.

"The difficult conditions created in the world by this war are likely to have lasting effects for a long time, so we must be prepared and remain united. We have faced such challenges with unity during the COVID period, and now we need to be prepared again," he added.

- ANI
UK allows US use of bases for Strait of Hormuz operations

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated there is no intelligence indicating Iran is targeting mainland Britain, emphasizing his priority is to protect British interests and de-escalate regional tensions. His comments follow reports of Iranian missile tests and come as thousands protested in London against US and Israeli military actions targeting Iran. Concurrently, British media reports reveal the deployment of the nuclear-powered submarine HMS Anson to the Arabian Sea, capable of launching missile strikes on Iran if authorized. The UK has also agreed to let the US use British bases for operations to counter threats in the Strait of Hormuz, while stressing it seeks to avoid being drawn into a wider conflict.

PM Keir Starmer says UK not a target for Iran, prioritizes de-escalation as protests erupt and a nuclear submarine is deployed to the Arabian Sea.

London, March 23 British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said there was no indication that mainland Britain was being targetted by Iran, while stressing the need to protect British interests and avoid further escalation in the Middle East.

"We carry out assessments all the time in order to keep us safe, and there's no assessment that we're being targetted in that way," Starmer told reporters on Monday while visiting a school in southeast London, according to The Guardian.

He made the remarks when asked whether Britain could become a target of Iran following weekend reports that Iran had fired two ballistic missiles at the US-British military base Diego Garcia in the Chagos Archipelago.

Starmer also said that any attempt to reopen the Strait of Hormuz required careful consideration and a viable plan, Xinhua news agency reported. He said his number one priority was to protect British interests and de-escalate tensions, and the government would discuss every possible lever to address cost-of-living pressures arising from the Iran conflict.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets in London on Saturday, joining a growing wave of demonstrations across Europe against US 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.

Meanwhile, 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 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.

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."

- IANS
Steven Spielberg has publicly praised Tom Cruise's exceptional discipline, recalling how the actor would arrive on set at 6:30 AM to collaboratively plan the day's shoot during their films 'Minority Report' and 'War of the Worlds'. Cruise's commitment extends to constant skill training in areas like aviation and music, which he integrates into his performances. Directors like Christopher McQuarrie and Joseph Kosinski have reinforced this hands-on approach, noting Cruise often operates cameras and even designed aerial training for his 'Top Gun: Maverick' co-stars. Co-star Glen Powell also affirmed Cruise's reputation for being as generous and hardworking as the public perceives.

Steven Spielberg details Tom Cruise's collaborative process and dedication, with insights from other directors and co-stars on his legendary work ethic.

Washington, March 23 Acclaimed filmmaker Steven Spielberg has opened up about his experience of working with Hollywood star Tom Cruise, offering fresh insight into the actor's discipline and collaborative approach on set.

Speaking at a keynote event at the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas, Spielberg recalled Cruise's commitment during their past collaborations.



As reported by People magazine, the 79-year-old director, who worked with Cruise on Minority Report (2002) and War of the Worlds (2005), said the actor's dedication was evident from the start of each day.



During the event, Spielberg revealed that Cruise would consistently arrive on set ahead of schedule.



"Tom Cruise showed up every morning when I showed up," Spielberg said, adding, "I show up before the crew. So I get to the set sometimes at 6:30 in the morning," as quoted by People magazine.



He added that Cruise made a point of aligning his schedule with the director's to prepare for the day's shoot. "On Minority Report and on War of the Worlds, Tom would insist on getting there when I got there so we would map out the whole day ... which was really helpful for me," Spielberg continued, describing the process as highly collaborative, as per People magazine.



Cruise's work ethic has long been a defining aspect of his career. In a May 2025 interview, the actor spoke about his commitment to constant self-improvement and skill-building, emphasising how it feeds into his performances.



"I will learn a skill, and I know eventually I'm going to use it in a movie," Cruise said, as quoted by People magazine.



He added that he is "constantly training" across disciplines, including music, dance and aviation. "Whether it's the piano or having more time to dance, or parachuting or flying airplanes or helicopters. The wonderful thing is you're never there. It can always be better," as quoted by People magazine.



Filmmaker Christopher McQuarrie, who has directed multiple 'Mission: Impossible' films, reinforced Cruise's hands-on approach.



"Anytime you see Tom in the plane, he's at the controls," McQuarrie said, adding, "He's basically a one-man film crew: operating the camera, acting and flying," as quoted by People magazine.



Cruise's commitment extends beyond his own performances. On the set of 'Top Gun: Maverick' (2022), which he also co-produced, the actor took an active role in preparing his co-stars for demanding aerial sequences.



Director Joseph Kosinski revealed that Cruise personally designed a training programme for the younger cast members.



"We put them through a training course that Tom actually designed himself. He's a licensed aerobatic pilot, and he was thrown into the deep end when he did the first Top Gun without any training. So he knew that they would need to kind of work up to that level," Kosinski said in a 2020 interview, as quoted by People magazine.



Actor Glen Powell, who appeared in the film, echoed similar sentiments about Cruise's professionalism and character.



"Tom's as great as people think he is," Powell said, adding, "He's as nice, he's as hardworking, he's as generous, he's as available. He's the man," as quoted by People magazine.





- ANI
Afghanistan has witnessed a significant increase in foreign tourism, with more than 9,500 international visitors in the first eleven months of the solar year 1404. Tourists from countries including China, the US, France, and India explored historic provinces like Herat, Kandahar, and Bamiyan. Officials and analysts highlight the country's vast, underutilized potential rooted in ancient sites and natural landscapes. However, the sector's growth remains fragile due to ongoing security concerns and political restrictions.

Afghanistan reports a notable surge in foreign tourists for 2025, with visitors from the US, China, Europe, and beyond exploring its historic sites.

Kabul, March 23 Afghanistan has seen a notable rise in foreign tourists during the year 1404 of the solar calendar, as visitors from across the world explored its historical and cultural heritage, according to a report by Tolonews.

Despite years of conflict and ongoing challenges, including security concerns and economic hardship, Afghan officials say the tourism sector is showing signs of life.

Tolonews reported the spokesperson for the Ministry of Information and Culture saying that in the first eleven months of 1404, more than 9,500 foreign tourists travelled to provinces known for their rich history and cultural landmarks, such as Herat, Kandahar, Bamiyan, Ghazni and Kabul.

Khabib Ghufran, the ministry's spokesperson, said, "In the year 1404 (solar calendar), tourists visited various provinces and regions of Afghanistan. In the first eleven months alone, their number exceeded 9,500."

The visitors came from a wide range of countries, including China, Iran, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Russia, the United States, France, Greece and Germany, according to the ministry. Ghufran noted the growing international interest in Afghanistan's ancient sites, historic minarets, fortresses and natural landscapes.

Cultural analysts view the increase as a positive sign for an economy long battered by war and political instability. Maiwand Faqiri, a Kabul-based cultural analyst, told Tolonews, "Today, tourism plays a very important role in all countries."

Economic experts also see potential for growth, but caution that much remains to be done.

Sayed Masoud, an economic analyst, said, "Afghanistan is among the countries with the most tourism potential, yet it is also one of those that has not fully utilised these opportunities. For example, Badakhshan has significant natural attractions, including lakes and forests, and could become one of the region's top tourist destinations."

Analysts say Afghanistan's tourism potential is rooted in its diverse civilisations and cultures, which have left behind centuries-old archaeological sites and historic cities. However, the industry remains fragile given the broader security situation and restrictions on women's rights since the Taliban takeover in 2021, factors that have previously deterred international travel to the country.

Still, officials and tourism advocates hope that continued interest from abroad can provide economic opportunities and help reshape international perceptions of Afghanistan as a destination rich in history and cultural heritage.

- ANI
Indian chief cook Bikram Ghosh has recounted the terrifying moments when the oil tanker MT Skylight was struck by a missile or drone near the Strait of Hormuz on March 1. The attack forced the crew to abandon ship and jump into the water, where they were later rescued by the Omani Navy. The Indian government confirmed one Indian national was killed in the attack and another remains missing. The incident occurred amid escalating regional tensions following the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader.

Indian cook Bikram Ghosh describes escaping a missile strike on the MT Skylight near Strait of Hormuz. One Indian killed, one missing.

Mumbai, March 22 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
The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) held seat-sharing discussions with its alliance partner, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), for the upcoming Tamil Nadu assembly elections. VCK leader SS Balaji indicated that the final seat-sharing pact would be announced shortly after Chief Minister MK Stalin completes interviewing party cadres. Concurrently, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has finalized its own seat-sharing arrangement, with the AIADMK contesting the majority of seats. The state will vote in a single phase on April 23, setting up a contest between the DMK-led front and the AIADMK-BJP-led NDA.

VCK holds seat-sharing talks with DMK for 2026 Tamil Nadu elections as NDA finalizes its alliance formula. Key quotes from VCK leader SS Balaji.

Chennai, March 23 Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, led by President Thol Thirumavalavan, on Monday held a meeting with their alliance partner Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam at a private hotel in Chennai to discuss the seat-sharing formula.

On March 21, VCK MLA SS Balaji said that the seat-sharing formula with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) for the 2026 Tamil Nadu elections will be announced in a couple of days.

Recalling VCK's long-formed alliance with DMK, Balaji said Chief Minister MK Stalin was interviewing his party cadre and would announce the seat-sharing pact after the process was over.

Speaking to ANI, the VCK leader said, "This alliance is not a newly formed alliance or one that has been formed ahead of the elections. We have been travelling together for quite a few years. The situation here, the number of seats, everything is definite. It is not going to change in a single day. In that case, the talks happening now are not going to finalise things. Each party has its own set of wishes... At the end of the day, we will have to look into the larger interest of the party and cadres. Things will probably be announced in a day or two. The chief minister, the leader of this alliance, is carrying out the exercise of interviewing his party cadres, and this will be finished in a day or two."

The party has officially begun distributing and receiving willingness applications from party members interested in contesting as candidates.

Balaji added, "This is a very routine exercise. Whenever elections are around the corner, we need to get applications from the party functionaries who intend to contest in the elections. The party high command will decide, and our leader will decide who is being fielded in the elections. This process has started today. The process will go on until the 24th. The application fee is fixed at Rs 5000 for all."

Earlier today, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) finalised its seat-sharing arrangement in Tamil Nadu for the 234-member legislative assembly elections.

Under the agreement, the alliance led by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam will contest 178 seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party has been allotted 27 seats, followed by the Pattali Makkal Katchi with 18 seats, and the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam with 11 seats.

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
Union Minister Piyush Goyal expressed strong confidence that the National Democratic Alliance will sweep the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. He finalised seat-sharing talks in Chennai, describing the NDA coalition as a united family working under PM Modi's leadership. Goyal stated that Tamil Nadu is ready for an NDA government led by Edappadi K. Palaniswami, focusing on development for farmers, fishermen, and job creation. The state will vote in a single phase on April 23, with the main contest between the NDA and the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal expresses confidence in an NDA victory for Tamil Nadu, citing strong alliance unity under PM Modi's leadership.

Chennai, March 23 Union Minister Piyush Goyal arrived in Chennai on Monday to finalise seat-sharing for the upcoming Assembly elections, expressing confidence that the National Democratic Alliance will "sweep" the polls.

Meeting with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State President Nainar Nagenthran, Goyal promised that the alliance is poised to deliver strong governance to the people of both Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

Speaking to reporters, Goyal said, "NDA is going to sweep the elections and give a good government to the people of Puducherry and Tamil Nadu."

On the seat sharing for the upcoming Assembly elections, Goyal said, "When I used to do the free trade agreements, they never worked with a deadline; I worked for quality, citing we are all together as one family."

"I am quite confident, given the family relations that we have, the whole NDA works as a family, led by AIADMK's EPS, Ambumani Ramadoss, TTV Dinakaran, my own party president, Nainar Nagenthran, L Murugan, we are all together as one family, among many other partners, and we will all sit down in a room and decide and let you know today..." On PM Modi's next visit to Tamil Nadu, he says, "Once we launch our campaign, we will discuss with all the partners and decide on the Prime Minister's program," said Goyal.

He asserted that the people of Tamil Nadu want a government that will bring development and change for the farmers, for the fishermen, for the MSMEs.

"Tamil Nadu today is ready for an NDA government, a strong national democratic alliance under the guidance and visionary leadership of PM Modi, who yesterday crossed the record and became the longest serving head of government in the history of India. The people of Tamil Nadu want a government led by the future Chief Minister, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, a government which will bring development for the farmers, for the fishermen, for the MSMEs, for industry, provide jobs to our young men and women, give opportunity for startups to innovate, and provide quality healthcare and quality education, will give houses for the poor, will make sure that everybody gets opportunity in life to prosper and work towards a developed Tamil Nadu."

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 main electoral contest is expected between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), which includes Congress, DMDK, and other parties, and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) with BJP and Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) as allies.

- ANI
The Telangana government has allocated 9,000 crore under the Rythu Bharosa scheme, with Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy releasing the first instalment of 3,590 crore. The scheme provides an annual input subsidy of 12,000 per acre to support 70 lakh farmers across the state. Reddy highlighted that the Congress government has significantly increased monthly spending on farmer welfare compared to the previous regime. He also emphasized the need for crop diversification and noted Telangana's top position in paddy production while urging greater procurement support from the central government.

Telangana govt allocates 9,000 crore under Rythu Bharosa, releasing 3,590 crore to farmers. CM Revanth Reddy outlines welfare spending and crop plans.

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.

- IANS
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy distributed accidental insurance cheques of Rs 1 crore each to the families of two electricity department workers who died on duty. He announced the doubling of the Rajiv Aarogyasri health insurance limit from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh to prevent financial ruin for families. The government introduced this family insurance scheme specifically for electricity and Singareni workers to provide security. Concurrently, the CM is set to launch development projects worth over Rs 775 crore in Siddipet district, focusing on infrastructure and an agro-based oil palm factory.

CM Revanth Reddy hands Rs 1 crore cheques to families of deceased Singareni workers and announces increased health insurance limits in Telangana.

Hyderabad, March 23 Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Monday handed over accidental insurance cheques of Rs 1 crore each to the families of those who died in the line of duty while working in the electricity department, while addressing a press meet along with Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikaramarka and others.

The Chief Minister congratulated the state's Power Minister Bhatti Vikramarka for coming forward to support the families of the deceased.

Reddy stated that the Government has increased the Rajiv Aarogyasri limit from Rs 5 lakhs to Rs 10 lakhs, underlining that the intention of the government is that in case of a death, the family should not end up on the streets.

"We have increased the Rajiv Aarogyasri limit from Rs 5 lakhs to Rs 10 lakhs. We brought in family insurance with the intention that a family should not end up on the streets when the head of the family dies. We have provided an accidental insurance facility of over Rs. 1 crore for electricity and Singareni workers," he said.

The Chief Minister handed over cheques of Rs. 1 crore each to the family members of Orsu Suresh and Mukthar Baig, who lost their lives in the line of duty while working in the electricity department.

"We undertook the cheque distribution program during the assembly sessions to instil courage and confidence among the employees and their family members," he said.

Meanwhile, Reddy will lay foundation stones for multiple development projects worth Rs 775.72 crore in Siddipet district. The initiatives span across Siddipet and Gajwel constituencies, focusing on infrastructure, healthcare, education, and public services.

According to the Telangana CMO, several key projects will be inaugurated and initiated to enhance regional development. To boost the agro-based industry, an oil palm factory at Narmetta in Nangunur Mandal will be inaugurated with an investment of Rs 300 crore, while the foundation stone will be laid for water supply and underground drainage projects in Siddipet Municipality costing Rs 141.34 crore.

- ANI
CM Revanth Reddy announces a Cabinet Sub-Committee for the Musi Rejuvenation Project, promising rehabilitation and sustainable development for Hyderabad.

Hyderabad, March 23 Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday announced that the state government is ready to constitute a Cabinet Sub Committee led by Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, IT and Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu and Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar on the Musi Rejuvenation Project.

Speaking in the Legislative Council today, the Chief Minister said that the government formulated a roadmap for the development of Musi and assured that all the displaced will be provided rehabilitation.



"The state government gives its word through you to the residents of the Musi catchment area. We will not render anyone homeless. The state government will provide rehabilitation for everyone. It will elevate the standards required for a better way of life. It will provide education and healthcare. It will offer the necessary financial assistance to women's groups to engage in business. We will not leave anyone homeless," the CM said.



He appealed to the political parties to stop false propaganda against the Musi project.



"If the opposition feels uncomfortable submitting suggestions directly to me, I am ready to constitute a Cabinet Sub-Committee," he added.



The Chief Minister criticised the previous BRS government for abandoning the Musi project. He said that the government is ready to seek suggestions on the project.



Stating that the government secured permission to develop an underpass road at Begumpet Airport, CM Reddy said that it was the first of its kind project in the country.



"Our objective is to minimise the need for vehicles to halt at traffic signals within the city, thereby ensuring a smooth flow of traffic. Measures were also taken to clear encroachments from footpaths in order to safeguard human lives and allocate designated spaces for street vendors. To ease the parking problem, a multi-level car parking facility was also established near KBR Park. The works for the elevated corridors along the Nalgonda and Vijayawada routes were also in progress," he said.



The Chief Minister highlighted Telangana Rising 2047 and the development of PURE, CURE and RARE regions for sustainable development and economic growth of the entire Telangana state.



"We will also establish an industrial corridor spanning an area of 10,000 square kilometres," he said.



The CM explained how Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru are facing the threat of increasing air pollution, traffic problems, floods and other civic problems.



"Hyderabad is known as the 'City of Rocks and Lakes'. Although we often refer to it as the 'Old City', it represents the original core of the metropolis. The city is home to numerous historical landmarks, including the Charminar, Gulzar Houz, and the Legislative Council building where we are currently situated," he stated.



The CM pointed out that despite possessing such a glorious history, Hyderabad city is now facing challenges. In view of the exponential increase in vehicles, the Chief Minister emphasised that there is an urgent need to establish adequate parking facilities to accommodate this growing volume of vehicles.



Apart from developing Secunderabad and Cherlapally railway stations, the CM said that Metro rail expansion works will start soon.



"We have decided to take over the Metro project after holding discussions with L&T. Since the Metro rail lacked last-mile connectivity, the government proposed Metro expansion, and the union government also responded positively," he said.



CM Revanth Reddy said that relocation of pollution industries in Hyderabad City outside the ORR will help to provide land for the middle class.



"As a result, Hyderabad will become a more livable city. The plans regarding the development works currently underway across 29 different locations were already announced. Introduced the HILT policy to ensure that Hyderabad does not face air pollution like Delhi. We are reclassifying land from industrial zones to multi-use zones," he said.



The CM said that the government prepared a big plan to construct an elevated corridor running through the heart of the city, alongside the Musi River, stretching from Gandipet to Gourelli. The corridor will help to travel from Gandipet to Gourelli--a distance of just 40 kilometres in a short time.



To ensure transparency in the administration, CM Revanth Reddy said that the government introduced a specific policy for every department.



He said, "Our focus is not a mere Good Governance,' but rather on 'Smart Governance'. To facilitate ease of administration and foster coordination among officials, we have implemented a unified policy framework for the entire Core Urban Region Economy. We also divided the city of Hyderabad into three municipal corporations strategically."





- ANI
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for becoming India's longest-serving head of government, surpassing the 8,930-day record of former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling. Home Minister Amit Shah also praised Modi's decades of service, stating it has transformed India through development and global stature. The milestone underscores Modi's continuous leadership since his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister, leading to three consecutive Lok Sabha victories. Additionally, PM Modi reinforces his digital dominance as the world's most-followed leader on platforms like YouTube and Instagram.

PM Narendra Modi surpasses Pawan Kumar Chamling's record with 8,931 days in office, hailed by Kiren Rijiju and Amit Shah for his dedication and transformative governance.

New Delhi, March 22 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."

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."

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
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi paid tribute to revolutionary martyrs Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru on their martyrdom day, Shaheed Diwas. He highlighted their fearless struggle and supreme sacrifice as an inspiration for every Indian. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also echoed these sentiments, calling for the preservation of their legacy against inequality and injustice. The day commemorates their execution by British authorities in 1931 for their role in India's independence struggle.

Congress leaders Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi honor martyrs Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru, calling their sacrifice an inspiration for every Indian.

New Delhi, March 23 Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday paid tribute to freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru on their martyrdom day, remembering their sacrifice and contribution to India's independence struggle.

Taking to social media platform X, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha wrote, "On the martyrdom day of the great revolutionary Sardar Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru ji, humble tribute to them."

Highlighting their role in the freedom movement, Gandhi added, "Their fearless struggle and supreme sacrifice in fighting for the nation is an inspiration for every Indian. Salutations to the brave sons of Mother India. Inquilab Zindabad!"

Meanwhile, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also paid homage to the martyrs and shared a similar message, echoing the sentiments expressed by Rahul Gandhi on the occasion.

"On the martyrdom day of the immortal martyrs Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru, I pay my humble respects to them. The Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh and his revolutionary comrades struggled throughout their lives to free India from inequality, exploitation, poverty, and injustice, and sacrificed their lives to liberate the nation," the post read.

Calling for preservation of their legacy, Gandhi said, "Let us safeguard the legacy of our great martyrs--this alone will be a true tribute to them."

Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru were iconic Indian revolutionary freedom fighters who were hanged by British authorities on March 23, 1931, in Lahore Jail, at a young age.

Their supreme sacrifice for India's independence is commemorated annually on March 23 as Shaheed Diwas (Martyrs' Day), marking their roles in the Lahore Conspiracy Case and the revenge killing of British officer John Saunders in 1928.

- ANI
Political leaders across parties paid solemn tributes to the revolutionary trio on the anniversary of their martyrdom. Arvind Kejriwal emphasized that their courage continues to inspire the nation to build the India of their dreams. Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi also honored the freedom fighters, with Rahul Gandhi concluding his message with "Inquilab Zindabad." In Delhi, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta marked the day by unveiling a statue of Bhagat Singh and inaugurating a restored historic courtroom.

Arvind Kejriwal, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi honor freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru on Martyrs' Day, recalling their supreme sacrifice.

New Delhi, March 23 Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Monday paid tribute to freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru on the occasion of Martyrs' Day, remembering their sacrifice and contribution to the nation.

In a post shared on X, Kejriwal said, "On Martyr's Day, a hundred salutations to the brave sons of Mother India, the immortal martyrs Sardar Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru, who made the supreme sacrifice for the nation. Their sacrifice, patriotism, and courage will always continue to inspire us. With this very inspiration, we will surely build the India of their dreams."

Earlier today, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi also paid tribute to the freedom fighters.

"On the martyrdom day of the great revolutionary Sardar Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru ji, humble tribute to them. Their fearless struggle and supreme sacrifice in fighting for the nation is an inspiration for every Indian. Salutations to the brave sons of Mother India. Inquilab Zindabad!" Rahul Gandhi wrote on X.

"On the martyrdom day of the immortal martyrs Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru, I pay my humble respects to them. The Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh and his revolutionary comrades struggled throughout their lives to free India from inequality, exploitation, poverty, and injustice, and sacrificed their lives to liberate the nation. Let us safeguard the legacy of our great martyrs--this alone will be a true tribute to them," Priyanka Gandhi wrote on X.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday unveiled a statue of Bhagat Singh and inaugurated a restored 'Historic Courtroom' associated with the freedom fighter at the Registrar Cooperative Society (RCS) office, Parliament Street, on the occasion of Shaheed Diwas.

The Chief Minister, along with other Delhi ministers, marked the occasion by paying tribute to Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar, recalling their sacrifice for the nation.

Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru are iconic Indian revolutionary freedom fighters who were hanged by British authorities on March 23, 1931, in Lahore Jail at a young age.

Their supreme sacrifice for India's independence is commemorated annually on March 23 as Shaheed Diwas (Martyrs' Day), marking their roles in the Lahore Conspiracy Case and the revenge killing of British officer John Saunders in 1928.

- ANI
Iranian state media has broadcast footage of a vast underground facility packed with missiles, described as just "the tip of the iceberg" of its arsenal. This show of force coincides with claims by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of conducting its 75th wave of missile strikes under "Operation True Promise 4." The IRGC states these latest strikes targeted Israeli military positions and the key US Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. The escalation raises significant concerns about the potential for a broader regional conflict and its global implications.

Iranian state media releases video of a massive underground missile complex as IRGC claims new strikes on Israeli and US targets in Saudi Arabia.

Tehran, March 23 A video showcasing an expansive underground military complex filled with advanced weaponry has been released by Iranian state media, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, in an effort to disprove the US claim that Iranian military capabilities have been completely destroyed.

The footage from IRIB News depicts "rows of missiles inside an underground facility," highlighting the scale of the country's ballistic capabilities. In a clear message to international observers, the strategic site was pointedly "described as "the tip of the iceberg" regarding the nation's hidden arsenal.

This visual demonstration of strength coincides with claims from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that it has carried out the 75th wave of missile strikes under the ongoing retaliatory operation "True Promise 4." According to a report by Press TV, the latest strikes targeted Israeli military positions and a key United States military installation in Saudi Arabia, the "US Prince Sultan Air Base."

In an official statement, the IRGC said the operation was conducted "in honour of martyred commanders" and described it as a response to what it termed continued aggression by Israel and the United States. It added that the strikes were carried out using "advanced ballistic missiles" and were based on "accurate reconnaissance" by its intelligence units.

The statement further claimed that the targets included "new military deployments and hiding places of Israeli troops" across multiple locations. It also asserted that the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia was struck as it serves as a "key hub for US aggressors' deployments and air operations" against Iran.

Reiterating its stance, the IRGC warned that Israeli and US forces remain under "constant surveillance" and cautioned that attempts to conceal military assets in civilian areas would not provide protection. It said that "no hiding place or defensive measure will shield the aggressors from accountability," underscoring its intent to continue operations.

The development comes amid a sharp escalation in the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States, with multiple missile and drone strikes reported across the region in recent weeks. Reports indicate that Iranian forces have previously targeted several US-linked military installations and Israeli cities using a range of missiles and unmanned aerial systems.

The targeting of the Prince Sultan Air Base, located in Saudi Arabia's Al-Kharj region, is particularly significant as it has long been a major hub for US military presence and operations in the region.

The broader conflict, which began in late February, has seen repeated exchanges of strikes, raising concerns of a wider regional escalation. These hostilities continue to spark fears regarding potential disruptions to global energy supplies and the overall security dynamics in West Asia.

- ANI
Unseasonal hailstorms and strong winds have caused extensive damage to crops across several districts in Tamil Nadu, impacting over 850 hectares of farmland. Crops like paddy, cotton, and sugarcane, many in advanced growth stages, have suffered heavy losses, with farmers distressed as harvests were near. The state government has directed Revenue and Agriculture officials to conduct joint field inspections to evaluate the damage. The findings from this assessment will be used to finalize relief measures and compensation packages for affected farmers.

Unseasonal hailstorms damage over 850 hectares of crops in Tamil Nadu. Govt initiates assessment for relief as farmers face income losses.

Chennai, March 22 Unseasonal hailstorms accompanied by strong winds and rain have caused extensive damage to crops across several districts in Tamil Nadu, prompting the state government to initiate a large-scale assessment exercise.

Officials said more than 850 hectares of farmland have been impacted, raising concerns among farmers over potential income losses. The worst-affected areas include Madurai, Salem, and Tenkasi districts, where hailstorms damaged crops spread over approximately 810 hectares.

Agricultural fields cultivating paddy, cotton, sugarcane, oilseeds, and millets have reported heavy losses, particularly as many of these crops were in advanced stages of growth. Farmers have expressed distress over the timing of the weather event, noting that several paddy fields were nearing harvest when the hailstorm struck.

The sudden impact has resulted in crop lodging, grain damage, and reduced yield prospects, which could significantly affect market returns.

Meanwhile, horticultural crops have also suffered damage due to gusty winds and intermittent rainfall across districts, including Coimbatore, Dindigul, Erode, Krishnagiri, Namakkal, Salem, and Tirupur. Officials estimate that around 40 hectares of fruit and vegetable cultivation have been affected, with visible damage such as uprooted plants and broken branches.

In response to the situation, the Tamil Nadu government has directed officials from the Revenue and Agriculture departments to conduct joint field inspections in the affected regions.

Teams have already begun visiting villages to evaluate crop conditions and gather data directly from farmers.

Authorities said the ongoing survey is aimed at determining the precise extent of losses and ensuring that affected farmers receive appropriate assistance.

The findings will be compiled into detailed district-wise reports, which will guide the government in finalising relief measures and compensation packages.

Officials added that swift action is being taken to complete the assessment process so that support can be extended without delay, helping farmers recover from the unexpected setback.

- IANS
The BJP and its NDA allies have finalized their candidate selection for the Kerala Assembly elections. State president Rajeev Chandrashekhar claimed the process was transparent and contrasted it with the "confusion and chaos" in the Congress and CPM camps. The party announced 11 additional candidates, bringing its total named candidates across numerous constituencies. Key contenders include Union Minister George Kurian and V Muraleedharan, with polling set for April 9.

BJP's Rajeev Chandrashekhar contrasts NDA's transparent candidate selection with Congress & CPM's "chaos" ahead of Kerala Assembly polls.

Thiruvananthapuram, March 22 The Bharatiya Janata Party and its NDA partners have completed their candidate selection for the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections, with state president Rajeev Chandrashekhar asserting that the process reflects transparency and clarity in contrast to rival parties.

Speaking to ANI here on Sunday, Chandrashekhar said, "You can see the very, very sharp contrast between how our seat allocation has happened and how everything has been done so openly and transparently, both within the party and with the NDA partners, versus the confusion and chaos that we are seeing in the Congress and the CPM."

He added that the approach reflects the alliance's intent for governance in the state. "This should tell the people of Kerala about what our intentions are, how together we are going to bring change in our state, and that is the intention, the desire, and the goal of every Karyakarta of the NDA," he said.

This comes after the BJP on Saturday released a list of 11 additional candidates, taking forward its preparations for the 140-member Assembly polls. The newly announced candidates include V Ratheesh (Peerumade), Raveendranath Bakathanam (Puthuppally), Ajimon (Mavelikkara), Pandalam Prathapan (Adoor), KR Rajesh (Chavara), RS Arjun Raj (Chadayamangalam), BS Anoop (Chirayinkeezhu), Karamana Jayan (Thiruvananthapuram), Vivek Gopan (Aruvikkara), TN Suresh (Kovalam) and S Rajasekharan Nair (Neyyattinkara).

With this, the party has named candidates across multiple constituencies, having earlier released two lists covering 86 constituencies. Senior leaders, including Union Minister George Kurian, V Muraleedharan, K Surendran and Navya Haridas, are among key contenders. Muraleedharan has filed his nomination from Kazhakoottam, while Chandrasekhar is contesting from Nemom.

Polling for the Kerala Assembly elections will be held in a single phase on April 9, with counting scheduled for May 4. The tenure of the current assembly is scheduled to end on May 23.

- ANI
Senior TMC leader Firhad Hakim led a campaign expressing full confidence in the party's victory, emphasizing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's deep personal connection with voters in Bhabanipur. He dismissed the electoral impact of the AIMIM's entry into the state, labeling both it and the BJP as "communal" parties. AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi announced an alliance with Humayun Kabir's Aam Janata Unnayan Party to contest the upcoming assembly elections. The Election Commission has scheduled the West Bengal polls for two phases in late April 2026.

Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim expresses full confidence in TMC's election sweep, dismissing AIMIM's entry. West Bengal polls set for April 2026.

Kolkata, March 23 Senior Trinamool Congress leader and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim spearheaded an election campaign on Monday, expressing full confidence in a sweep for the ruling party. Hakim noted that the personal bond between the Chief Minister and the local community is so strong that voters view her as a member of their own family.

Firhad Hakim, while speaking to the reporters, said, "Let the opposition campaign as hard as they can. We will meet the public and seek their blessings. Mamata Banerjee is like the daughter of Bhabanipur. Everyone believes that Mamata Banerjee is from their family. So, when Mamata Banerjee comes, they feel like their own person has arrived, and no votes will be diverted. All the votes will go to Mamata Banerjee.

Regarding the entry of AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi to contest in West Bengal, Firhad Hakim said, "All this does not make any difference in Bengal. BJP is a communal party, and they are also a communal party. It does not make any difference. We are with the people..."

On Sunday, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President Asaduddin Owaisi 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.

- ANI
The Tripura Legislative Assembly passed the Dhanvantari Skill University Bill, proposed by the NVK Skill Foundation Trust, despite strong objections from the Opposition. Opposition leaders Jitendra Chaudhury and Sudip Roy Barman argued the promoting trust lacked the necessary experience and institutional strength to run a university. Higher Education Minister Kishor Barman defended the decision, stating all University Grants Commission guidelines were followed before approval. This follows the recent passage of bills for three other private universities in the state, all met with similar protests.

Tripura Assembly passes Dhanvantari Skill University Bill amid protests. Opposition questions promoter's experience, but govt defends move.

Agartala, March 23 Amid a joint protest and walkout by the Opposition Communist Party of India and Congress, the Tripura Legislative Assembly on Monday adopted a Bill to set up another private university in the state.

The Dhanvantari Skill University, Tripura Bill was passed despite strong objections from Opposition members, who alleged that the organisation proposing to establish the university lacks the required experience, capability, and institutional strength.

The New Delhi-based NVK Skill Foundation Trust has proposed to establish a knowledge-driven and technologically-enabled Dhanvantari Skill University in Agartala.

Leader of the Opposition, Jitendra Chaudhury, and former minister, Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman, claimed that the organisation lacks adequate experience in running higher educational institutions.

Chaudhury, also the incumbent CPI(M) Tripura state secretary, highlighted several loopholes in the Bill and warned that such private universities could harm the future of students in the state.

He urged the government to exercise greater caution before permitting private entities to establish higher educational institutions, cautioning against steps that could jeopardise young people's futures.

Roy Barman echoed similar concerns, stating that the organisation neither possesses sufficient experience nor has it adhered to the rules and guidelines of the University Grants Commission.

However, Higher Education Minister Kishor Barman rejected the Opposition's arguments, asserting that the state government had granted approval only after ensuring compliance with all guidelines and norms laid down by the University Grants Commission.

Following heated exchanges between the Opposition and Treasury Benches, MLAs from the CPI(M) and Congress staged a walkout from the House.

According to the statement of objects and reasons attached to the Bill, Tripura currently has five private universities. The statement noted that the state has made significant progress in education over the past two decades, with substantial expansion in primary, secondary, and higher secondary education since attaining statehood in 1972.

To keep pace with emerging demands and further expand higher education opportunities, the government emphasised the need to establish more private universities in the state.

The NVK Skill Foundation Trust has proposed that the university will offer programmes in Science, Technology, Management, Social Sciences, Humanities, Law, Nursing, Paramedical Sciences, Pharmacy, Hospitality and Tourism, Tribal Affairs, Sports, Skill Development, Fine Arts, Design, and Performing Arts, among others, aimed at benefiting both the state and the country.

Earlier, on March 20, amid similar protests and a walkout by the Opposition members, the Assembly passed Bills to establish three more private universities in the state. The New Delhi-based Indira Gandhi Computer Shaksharta Mission has proposed setting up the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Skill University in Tripura.

Meanwhile, the Gujarat-based Research and Gyan for Noble Upliftment Trust has proposed an International University in Tripura, and the Hapur, Uttar Pradesh-based Bharat Educational and Cultural Development Trust has proposed establishing a Science, Technology and Allied Skill University in the state.

- IANS
President Donald Trump has postponed his threat to bomb Iran's power infrastructure, citing "very good and productive" negotiations between the two countries. The conflict centers on control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for global oil shipments. Iran has threatened to completely shut the strait and retaliate against Gulf states if its power grid is attacked, actions which have already caused a global energy crisis. With mid-term elections approaching, Trump appears to be seeking a diplomatic off-ramp from a prolonged conflict that has proven more difficult than initially anticipated.

President Trump delays threat to bomb Iran's power infrastructure, citing ongoing negotiations. Conflict over Strait of Hormuz continues to impact global oil prices.

New York, March 23 Saying that Iran and the US were having "very good and productive" negotiations, President Donald Trump walked back on his threat to bomb Iran's power infrastructure by Monday night, and extended the deadline by five days.

Iran, which had previously said it was not seeking a ceasefire, has not reacted to Trump's claims of negotiations.

Trump had warned on Saturday that he would "obliterate" Iran's electricity system in 48 hours if Tehran did not open the Strait of Hormuz, an action that would have raised the conflict to new heights.

Iran responded that it would completely shut down the strait if its power grid was attacked and would retaliate against electricity system in the Gulf countries.

In an early morning post on Truth Social, Trump said, "I am pleased 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".

Future action would depend "on the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions", he added.

Trump did not say with whom or how Washington was negotiating.

He had earlier said that the US did not know who was running Iran after the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khameini, the country's Supreme Leader, and several rungs of leadership.

The Ayatollah's son Mojtaba Khameini, who succeeded him, has not been seen in public and is reportedly wounded.

After claiming that it would be short, swift action with the decapitating of Iran's leadership and destroying its missile and the remaining nuclear infrastructure, Trump is facing a prolonged conflict that has led to attacks on his Gulf allies and a global energy crisis with the Strait of Hormuz closed to most shipping.

With mid-term elections that would determine the control of Congress, Trump now seems to be seeking an off ramp to keep the conflict from spiraling out of his control.

He said last week that he was getting ready for "winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the Terrorist Regime of Iran".

He did not mention regime change as a condition for it, a steep step away from his demand that he would have to approve Iran's next Supreme Leader.

Israel has not indicated if it would go along with any Trump efforts to end the war.

Its military chief Lt Gen Eyal Zamir said almost simultaneously, "We are at the midway point, but the direction is clear".

He added, "We will continue to fight for our freedom and our future".

In an ominous development, Iran's missiles pierced through the vaunted Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system to hit places in Dimon, where Israel has nuclear facilities.

Trump said on Monday that postponement of his threatening strike on Iran's power system was "based on the tenor and the tone of those in depth, detailed, and constructive conversations, which will continue throughout the week".

In an unusual confession, he has said that he was not aware of the geopolitical realities that included the Iran retaliation against the Gullf states.

The 40-kilometre-wide strait is a chokepoint on the route of 20 per cent of global energy supplies and the conflict there has led to sharp rise in oil prices, whose effects are felt as far away as petrol pumps in Washington.

The Trump administration took the extraordinary step of lifting some sanctions on Iranian oil purchases even while it was at war with it in a bid to tamp down the oil price spike.

Trump has threatened and cajoled other countries that rely on oil and gas transportation through the strait to secure the area, saying ultimately, "The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it".

While letting through ships bound for some countries like India and China, Iran has threatened to stop others.

On Sunday, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said that his organisation and some others like South Korea, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Japan, which depend on the strait are trying to see how they can secure it.

- IANS
US President Donald Trump announced a five-day postponement of planned airstrikes against Iranian power plants, citing productive discussions with Iran. The move follows a stark 48-hour ultimatum from Trump demanding Iran fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy route. Trump outlined key US military objectives, including degrading Iran's missile capability and dismantling its navy and air force. He also suggested that other nations using the strait should take responsibility for policing it.

US President Donald Trump postpones airstrikes on Iranian power plants for five days, citing productive discussions toward ending hostilities.

Washington, March 23 US President Donald Trump on Monday said that he has instructed the country's defence department to postpone all airstrikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five-day period.

"I am pleased 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," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Based on the "tenor and tone" of the discussions, Trump mentioned, he had instructed the Department of Defense to postpone planned military strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five-day period.

This, he added, is subject to the "success" of ongoing "meetings and discussions".

On Saturday, Trump had threatened to "hit and obliterate" Iran's power plants within 48 hours if Tehran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He, however, said that 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 marked 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 Defence 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 had 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 had 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 had also 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."

- IANS
President Donald Trump has revealed that the United States is engaged in high-level talks with a "top person" in the Iranian leadership to resolve ongoing hostilities. He clarified that the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is not part of these negotiations, which are being led by envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. Trump outlined that any final agreement is contingent on strict nuclear non-proliferation, with the US intending to take control of Iran's enriched materials. He also characterized the easing of sanctions on some Iranian oil as a move to lubricate global energy markets, not a military concession.

President Trump says US envoys are negotiating with a top Iranian official to end conflict, but the new Supreme Leader is not involved in the talks.

Florida, March 23 US President Donald Trump on Monday revealed that the United States is currently engaged in high-level discussions with a "top person" within the Iranian leadership in an effort to secure a resolution to the ongoing conflict.

Speaking to reporters in Florida, the President clarified that these negotiations do not involve the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. When asked about the identity of the interlocutor, Trump described the individual as "a top person," further explaining the current state of the Iranian hierarchy following recent military operations.

"Don't forget: We've wiped out the leadership phase one, phase two, and largely phase three. But we're dealing with a man who I believe is the most respected and the leader. You know it's a little tough; they've wiped out, we've wiped out everybody," Trump noted.

The President confirmed that his envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, have been central to these talks, though the specific Iranian official remains unidentified.

Addressing the absence of the Supreme Leader from the process, Trump stated, "No, not the Supreme Leader," adding that "we have not heard from the son. Every once in a while you'll see a statement made, but we don't know if he's living."

Expressing a lack of recognition for the new cleric's authority, he remarked, "I don't consider him really the leader."

Parallel to these diplomatic efforts, the President addressed the easing of sanctions on certain Iranian oil stockpiles, characterising the move as a strategic necessity for global energy markets rather than a military concession.

"I just want to have as much oil in the system as possible," he explained, dismissing concerns that the move would impact the battlefield.

"Any small amount of money that Iran gets won't have any difference in this war. But I want to have the system be lubricated," the President added, suggesting that "it's very hard, very hard for them to get" any substantial revenue from the oil under current conditions.

Despite the focus on de-escalation, Trump indicated that he would still pursue USD 200 billion in Pentagon funding, citing the volatile nature of global politics.

"It's nice to have, it's always nice to have, it's a very inflamed world," he said, while claiming that "largely the Democrats inflame it."

Reports suggest the White House may formally request these funds from Congress in the coming weeks, though the proposal faces significant hurdles among Republican leaders who are seeking more comprehensive details before committing to further war funding.

Earlier on Monday, the President struck an optimistic tone on social media, noting that both nations "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."

He confirmed that "major points of agreement" had been reached during late-night sessions involving his top envoys.

Reflecting on the progress of the talks, which he claimed were initiated by Tehran, Trump said, "They went, I would say, perfectly."

He suggested that if the momentum continues, "it'll end that, that problem, that conflict, and I think it'll end it very, very substantially."

The President indicated that a deal is highly desired by both sides, with further telephonic discussions scheduled for Monday, followed by a face-to-face meeting "very, very soon."

Outlining a critical five-day window for the negotiations, Trump said, "We're doing a five-day period, we'll see how that goes. That if it goes well we're going to end up with settling this. Otherwise, we just keep bombing our little hearts out."

Any final agreement, he emphasised, would hinge on strict nuclear non-proliferation, stating, "We want to see no nuclear bomb, no nuclear weapon."

He also noted that the US intends to take control of Iran's enriched materials, referring to it as "the nuclear dust," and asserting, "We're gonna want that. And I think we're gonna get that. We've agreed to that."

- ANI
Union Minister G Kishan Reddy will inaugurate the two-day National District Mineral Foundation Summit 2026 in New Delhi. The summit aims to improve the outcome-oriented use of DMF funds in mining-affected aspirational districts and blocks. It will bring together central and state officials to deliberate on challenges and best practices in fund planning and implementation. The event will also feature an exhibition showcasing successful DMF-funded projects in sectors like health, education, and infrastructure.

Union Ministers to inaugurate summit on effective use of District Mineral Foundation funds in aspirational districts and blocks for sustainable development.

New Delhi, March 22 Union Minister of Coal and Mines, G Kishan Reddy, will inaugurate the two-day National District Mineral Foundation Summit 2026 on Monday at the SCOPE Convention Centre in the national capital.

The Summit, titled Effective Utilisation of District Mineral Funds for ADP/ABP Areas, aims to strengthen inter-governmental coordination and identify policy reforms for improving the effective and outcome-oriented utilisation of DMF funds in mining-affected districts, particularly in Aspirational District Programme (ADP) and Aspirational Block Programme (ABP) areas, a release said.

Union Minister of State for Coal & Mines, Satish Chandra Dubey, and Secretary, Ministry of Mines, Piyush Goyal, will also grace the occasion.

According to a statement released by the Ministry of Mines, the two-day Summit will bring together senior officials from Central Ministries, State Governments, District Administrations, NITI Aayog, and other stakeholders to deliberate on challenges, best practices, and reform measures related to DMF planning, implementation, and monitoring.

The Summit has been preceded by a focused consultative exercise led by the Ministry of Mines to capture State and district-level perspectives. A Concept Note outlining objectives and thematic areas was shared with DMF States, 306 DMF districts in ADP/ ABP areas, and NITI Aayog in January 2026, the release said.

This was followed by a virtual national consultation with the States/ Districts chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Mines, and a follow-up in February. State-level internal deliberations involving district administrations and State line departments were organised by the States. Subsequently, the States submitted summarised inputs highlighting key challenges, actionable recommendations, and examples of effective DMF-funded interventions.

Based on these inputs, the Ministry prepared a Comprehensive Final Note, which will serve as the principal reference document for deliberations during the Summit. The Summit will focus on effective fund utilisation in ADP/ ABP areas, including aspects of governance, transparency, convergence, impact assessment and performance. Presentations will be made by the respected State representatives, NITI Aayog and BiSAG-N, followed by discussions by participating delegates, the release added.

On the sidelines of the Summit, a DMF Exhibition will be organised, showcasing successful projects and best practices funded through DMF resources across States.

The exhibition will feature initiatives across priority sectors such as health, nutrition, water supply, education, skill development, livelihoods, renewable energy, and infrastructure, demonstrating the role of DMF funds in driving inclusive development in mining-affected and aspirational areas.

The National DMF Summit 2026 is expected to contribute towards building consensus on reform priorities, enhancing convergence with national development programmes, and strengthening the effective utilisation of DMF funds for sustainable and inclusive development.

- ANI
The Shipping Ministry confirmed the movement of two vessels carrying 92,000 metric tonnes of LPG, ensuring critical fuel supply amid regional disruptions. New Mangalore Port has waived all cargo-related charges for crude oil and LPG until March 31 to facilitate smooth operations. Officials reported all 22 Indian ships and 611 sailors in the Persian Gulf are safe, with no maritime incidents in the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, panic bookings for LPG cylinders have significantly declined, reflecting stabilized domestic supply concerns.

India secures fuel supply as two ships with 92,000 MT LPG begin movement. Port fees waived, all Indian sailors in Persian Gulf reported safe.

New Delhi, March 23 Amid disruptions in the gas and fuel supplies due to the ongoing West Asia conflict, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways on Monday confirmed that two ships carrying 92,000 MT of Liquefied Petroleum Gas have started their movement. However, the details regarding the ships will be released at a later time.

Earlier on Sunday, 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.

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.

As Iran reportedly exerts pressure on the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the resulting disruptions to oil, gas, and maritime trade routes continue to pose a mounting threat to global economic stability.

This comes as West Asia reaches its 24th day following the joint US-Israeli offensive against Iran on February 28, in which 86-year-old Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was also killed. Following his death, Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the former leader, was appointed as the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic.

- ANI
The United Arab Emirates' air defence forces are actively engaging a new wave of ballistic missiles and drones launched from Iran. Since the onset of regional hostilities, UAE defences have intercepted a total of 341 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,748 unmanned aerial vehicles. These sustained attacks have resulted in the deaths of two UAE armed forces members and six foreign civilians, with 160 individuals from over 30 nationalities injured. The conflict escalation follows the killing of Iran's former Supreme Leader and has led to the critical Strait of Hormuz being effectively closed.

UAE military intercepts hundreds of Iranian missiles & drones since conflict began, reporting casualties among armed forces and foreign nationals.

Abu Dhabi, March 22 The United Arab Emirates' Ministry of Defence has announced that the nation's military capabilities are actively engaged in defensive operations following a fresh wave of aerial attacks on Sunday morning. According to an official statement from the Ministry, the country's air defences are "currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran."

This latest engagement follows a comprehensive disclosure by the UAE Ministry of Defence on Saturday, which revealed that the country's air defence systems have intercepted hundreds of aerial threats since the beginning of the conflict in West Asia. These include 341 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,748 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) originating from Iran.

In a detailed update shared on X, the Ministry stated that air defences specifically engaged three ballistic missiles and eight UAVs launched from Iran on 21 March. The statement read: "The UAE air defence systems on 21th March 2026 engaged 3 ballistic missiles and 8 UAVs launched from Iran. Since the onset of the blatant Iranian aggression, UAE air defences have engaged 341 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,748 UAVs."

The Ministry confirmed that these sustained attacks have resulted in casualties among both military personnel and civilians. Two members of the armed forces were killed while performing their national duty. Meanwhile, six civilian fatalities were reported involving foreign nationals, including individuals from Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Palestine.

The human toll further extends to a total of 160 people who sustained injuries ranging from minor to severe. The statement added: "These attacks have resulted in the martyrdom of 2 members of the armed forces while performing their national duty, as well as 6 fatalities of Pakistani, Nepali, Bangladeshi and Palestinian nationalities. A total of 160 people were also injured, with injuries ranging from minor to moderate and severe."

According to the Ministry, the injured include nationals from the UAE, India, Egypt, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Iran, Bangladesh, Sudan, Ethiopia, Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Comoros, Turkiye, Iraq, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Ghana, Indonesia, Sweden, and Tunisia.

Reaffirming its commitment to national security, the Ministry of Defence stated that it remains fully prepared to counter any threats. It has vowed to firmly respond to any attempts aimed at undermining the country's sovereignty, security, and stability.

These developments come amid escalating regional tensions that began on 28 February following the killing of Iran's 86-year-old former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in joint military strikes by the US and Israel. In retaliation, Iran has targeted Israeli and US assets across several Gulf countries and Israel, causing significant disruption to waterways and affecting international energy markets.

As a direct result of the ongoing conflict, Iran has virtually closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical transit route for the global energy supply. Following the death of Ali Khamenei, his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was appointed as the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic.

- ANI
The United Kingdom's Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth, has begun a three-day official visit to India to bolster bilateral defence ties. His agenda includes paying homage at the National War Memorial, holding talks with Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, and visiting Air Force Station Gwalior. The visit highlights practical collaboration, including the deployment of Indian Air Force flying instructors to UK training bases. Both sides emphasized the strategic importance of the partnership and a shared commitment to security and technological excellence.

UK's Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth begins a 3-day India visit to deepen bilateral military ties, focusing on joint training and operational exchanges.

New Delhi, March 23 The United Kingdom's Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth, began his three-day visit to India on Monday, aimed at strengthening bilateral military ties between the two countries amid emerging security challenges.

According to the British High Commission in India, the visit highlights the deepening defence cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the air domain, through expanded training, operational exchanges, and strategic engagement.

The CAS began his visit by paying homage to fallen soldiers at the National War Memorial in the national capital and reviewing a Guard of Honour presented by the Indian Air Force.

He also held talks with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, focusing on evolving security threats and ways to strengthen cooperation between the two air forces further. The discussions come as India and the UK continue to expand collaboration through joint training programmes and educational exchanges.

The statement noted that in February this year, both countries signed an agreement under which the Indian Air Force will deploy three Qualified Flying Instructors to Royal Air Force Valley, a key training base for British fast jet pilots. An Indian instructor is already contributing at RAF College Cranwell.

The two air chiefs are also scheduled to visit Air Force Station Gwalior to gain insights into the IAF's operational procedures and best practices in countering emerging aerial threats.

Speaking on the visit, Smyth said it was a privilege to engage with India and build on the strong defence partnership, underlining that ongoing exchanges reflect "depth of trust, shared professionalism, and mutual commitment".

"It is a privilege to visit India and further strengthen our defence partnership, hosted by my esteemed colleague and good friend, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh. The planned arrival this September of Indian Air Force Qualified Flying Instructors at RAF Valley - joining the IAF instructor already contributing at RAF College Cranwell - illustrates the depth of trust, shared professionalism, and mutual commitment that underpin our relationship," he said as quoted in the statement.

He added that expanding cooperation in training and operations demonstrates the enduring bonds between the Royal Air Force and the Indian Air Force, as well as a shared commitment to security, stability and technological excellence.

"I look forward to building on this momentum and continuing to deepen the cooperation between our air forces in the years ahead," he added.

Commodore Chris Saunders, Defence Adviser at the British High Commission, said the visit underscores the strategic importance both nations attach to strengthening defence ties. He noted that embedding IAF instructors within UK training establishments and increasing multi-domain cooperation represent a substantive enhancement of bilateral engagement.

"This visit by the UK Chief of the Air Staff emphasises the significance of the UK-India defence relationship and the continued momentum with which it is building. Embedding IAF instructors within our instructor cadre at RAF Valley and RAF College Cranwell, as well as those from other Services, alongside increasingly complex air exercises and multi-domain cooperation, represents a tangible and substantive strengthening of defence ties in all domains," he stated.

He further highlighted that this marks the fourth and most senior flag-rank visit from the UK to India in 2026, signalling continued momentum in the defence partnership.

During his visit, the UK Air Chief is also expected to meet other members of India's civil and military leadership to further advance cooperation.

- ANI
The Embassy of Iran in India has formally dismissed media reports claiming Tehran is imposing a $2 million levy on vessels for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. It clarified that comments from a lawmaker about the fee were personal views and not official state policy. The denial comes amid heightened tensions, with Iran threatening to completely close the vital waterway after a US ultimatum to reopen it. The US warned it would target Iranian energy infrastructure, prompting a counter-threat from Iran to destroy regional facilities if attacked.

Iran's embassy in India dismisses reports of a $2M vessel levy in the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran threatens closure following a US ultimatum.

New Delhi, March 23 The Embassy of Iran in India has officially dismissed reports suggesting that Tehran is imposing a levy of USD 2 million on vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

In a post on X, the mission clarified its position regarding the strategic waterway through a formal statement addressing the allegations. "In response to certain claims regarding the alleged receipt of a sum of 2 million dollars by the Islamic Republic of Iran from vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, it is emphasized that such claims are unfounded," the Embassy noted.

The diplomatic intervention follows various media reports which attributed comments to Iranian lawmaker Alaeddin Boroujerdi, suggesting that merchant vessels were being charged USD 2 million for safe passage through the "conflict-hit Hormuz."

However, the government has denied these reports, asserting that the legislator's remarks were not sanctioned by the state. "The statements made in this regard merely reflect the personal views of individuals and do not, in any way, represent the official position of the Islamic Republic of Iran," the statement further clarified.

This development occurs against a backdrop of severe regional instability, as Tehran recently threatened to "completely" close the Strait of Hormuz. The warning was issued after US President Donald Trump set a "48-hour deadline" on Saturday for the reopening of the strait, specifically threatening to target Iranian energy infrastructure.

The Iranian government responded by stating that the vital maritime artery for global oil and gas transport would be "completely closed" immediately if the US administration acts on the ultimatum to attack its power plants.

The tension was further inflamed by President Trump's declaration that a failure to open the strait would result in the US military destroying Iran's "various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!"

In a direct counter-ultimatum, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf posted on X that any strike against the nation's infrastructure would trigger a massive response. Qalibaf warned that if Iran's power plants are targeted, vital facilities across the region, including energy and desalination facilities, would be viewed as legitimate targets and subsequently "irreversibly destroyed."

- ANI
Union Minister Chirag Paswan hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for becoming the longest-serving head of a government in India, completing 8,931 days in office. He expressed pride in the achievement and wished for an even longer tenure for the Prime Minister with the same spirit of service. The milestone underscores Modi's decades-long leadership and his status as the first Prime Minister born after Independence. Additionally, PM Modi continues to dominate digital platforms, being the most-followed world leader on YouTube and the first to cross 100 million followers on Instagram.

Union Minister Chirag Paswan congratulates PM Modi for surpassing 8,931 days in office, wishing him an even longer tenure of service.

Patna, March 23 Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Monday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for becoming the longest-serving head of a government, completing 8,931 days in office and surpassing the record of former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling's record of 8,930 days.

Speaking with the media here, the Union Minister expressed pride and elation over the record and hoped for an "even longer tenure with the same spirit of service" for the Prime Minister.

"It is a matter of happiness and pride not just for the PM but also his supporters that the PM has become a leader who has got the longest opportunity to serve the nation. While leading the government at the top, he has spent the most time serving the people. I wish that he gets the opportunity to spend an even longer tenure with the same spirit of service," he said.

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.

Several senior leaders congratulated PM Modi on the milestone, praising his "decades-long dedication, continuous public service, and commitment to development and good governance".

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 held a call with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, to discuss the sharply deteriorated security situation in the Persian Gulf. Lavrov stressed the categorical unacceptability of recent US-Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear infrastructure, including the Bushehr plant, warning they create unacceptable risks for Russian personnel and could cause a regional environmental catastrophe. Both sides expressed concern over the dangerous expansion of the conflict into the Caspian region, with Russia emphasizing the need for an immediate ceasefire and political settlement. Moscow has previously labeled such strikes a brazen violation of international law that undermines regional stability.

Russia condemns US-Israeli attacks on Iran's nuclear infrastructure, warning of catastrophic environmental risks and demanding an immediate ceasefire.

Moscow, March 23 Sergei Lavrov and Abbas Araghchi, the Foreign Ministers of Russia and Iran, on Monday held a phone conversation over the latest situation in the Persian Gulf with Moscow emphasising the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

A statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry detailed that Lavrov and Araghchi discussed the security situation in the region which has "sharply deteriorated as a result of the US and Israeli aggression".

It mentioned that Lavrov stressed the categorical unacceptability of the US-Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear infrastructure, including the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, which create unacceptable risks for the safety of Russian personnel and could lead to catastrophic environmental consequences for all countries of the region without exception.

"Both sides also expressed concern over the dangerous expansion of the conflict provoked by Washington and Tel Aviv into the Caspian region. The Russian Side emphasised the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities and for a political settlement that takes into account the legitimate interests of all parties involved, above all Iran. Russia will continue to adhere to this stance at the UN Security Council," read the statement.

It added that Araghchi thanked the Russian leadership for the "substantial diplomatic and other support" being provided to Iran, including the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

On Saturday, Moscow termed strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities as a brazen violation of international law.

"The American-Israeli tandem continues massive strikes against Iranian military, civilian, and, most dangerously, nuclear facilities, without regard for civilian casualties or the possible radiological and environmental consequences. Despite the well-known claims of the 'complete destruction' of the Iranian nuclear programme as a result of American airstrikes back in June of last year, on the morning of March 21, the uranium enrichment plant in Natanz, Iran, which is under IAEA safeguards, was attacked again," read a statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"This is a brazen violation of international law, the UN and IAEA Charters, and relevant UN Security Council and IAEA General Conference resolutions. The international community, including the leadership of the UN and IAEA, is obligated to immediately provide an objective and uncompromising assessment of these irresponsible actions, which pose a real risk of catastrophic consequences for the entire Middle East and are clearly aimed at further undermining peace, stability, and security in the region," it added.

- IANS
The Uttarakhand government has appointed Senior Advocate Gaurav Bhatia as the Senior Additional Advocate General to represent the state in the Supreme Court. Several other advocates have been appointed to panels for the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal in New Delhi. The notification clarifies that these are professional engagements, not civil posts, and can be terminated by the state at any time. The empanelled lawyers are barred from taking cases against the state and must submit monthly work reports.

Uttarakhand govt appoints Gaurav Bhatia as Senior AAG for Supreme Court. New panel advocates named for SC and NGT to represent the state.

Dehradun, March 23 The Government of Uttarakhand has appointed Senior Advocate Gaurav Bhatia as Senior Additional Advocate General for the Supreme Court. Advocate Akhilesh Singh Rawat and Jagdish N have been appointed as Deputy Advocate General for the Supreme Court.

A notification has been issued on March 18, reading, 'Based on the recommendation of the Screening Committee constituted by the Government for empanelment of law officers, the Governor is pleased to approve the empanelment of advocates for representing the State of Uttarakhand before the Supreme Court, New Delhi, against the posts mentioned against their names, until further orders.'

As per the notification, Advocates Keshav Ranjan, Adarsh Chamoli, and Snehjeet Kaur have been appointed as Advocate-on-Record-cum-Standing Counsel in the Supreme Court. Advocate Vinayak Mishra has been appointed as Panel Advocate for the Supreme Court.

Further, based on the recommendation of the Screening Committee, the following advocates are also approved for empanelment to represent the State of Uttarakhand in the National Green Tribunal (NGT), New Delhi, until further orders.

In addition, Gaurav Bhatia, Senior Advocate, is appointed as Senior Additional Advocate General, in place of Additional Advocate General, for the Supreme Court, as per the notification read.

Advocate Adhiraj Bali and Abhay Pratap have been appointed as Panel Advocates for the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

It is said that this empanelment is purely a professional engagement, not a civil post. The State Government may terminate this engagement at any time without prior notice or assigning reasons. The advocate may also resign by giving written notice.

It is further said that during the period of empanelment, the advocate shall "not accept any case or give legal advice against the State Government of Uttarakhand and must strictly follow legal guidelines of the government of Uttarakhand.

The empanelled advocate shall ensure strong and well-prepared representation of the State Government and submit monthly work reports by the 7th of the following month to the Principal Secretary, Justice & Law Department, Government of Uttarakhand, the notification said.

- ANI
The International Yoga Festival in Rishikesh concluded with massive participation, attracting over 10,000 enthusiasts from 33 countries. Uttarakhand Governor Lt. Gen. Gurmit Singh praised the event and the participation of 250 yoga teachers. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami highlighted the state's Yoga Policy 2025 and initiatives to integrate yoga into daily life. The festival underscored yoga's global appeal, rooted in India's ancient tradition and promoted internationally.

Over 10,000 people from 33 countries joined the International Yoga Festival in Rishikesh, hailed by Uttarakhand's Governor and Chief Minister.

Dehradun, March 22 Governor of Uttarakhand, Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh, 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
The West Indies women's team has been fined 10% of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate in the first T20I against Australia. Captain Hayley Matthews pleaded guilty to the offence, with the team ruled two overs short of the target. In the second match, Australia secured a 17-run victory to clinch the three-match series, powered by a competitive total of 164/5 and key bowling from Alana King. Despite a fighting 56 from Matthews and 39* from Deandra Dottin, the West Indies fell short, ending on 147/4.

West Indies fined 10% match fee for slow over rate in Women's T20I. Australia wins series as Alana King stars with ball.

St. Vincent, March 23 The West Indies team has been fined 10 per cent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate in the first Women's T20I against Australia in St. Vincent on Friday.

As per Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which states that for minimum over-rate offences, players are fined five per cent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time.

Captain Hayley Matthews pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, which means there is no need for a formal hearing.

"Reon King of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction after the West Indies side was ruled to be two overs short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration," the ICC said in a statement.

On-field umpires Lauren Agenbag and Jacquline Williams, third umpire Candace La Borde, and fourth umpire Maria Abbott levelled the charge.

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 go after clinching victory by 43 runs in the first T20I.

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. 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, Perry's 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.

Australia's 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 Australia's 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 Indies' 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.

Both teams meet again in the final T20I tomorrow before a three-match ODI series begins in Basseterre.

- IANS
RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat emphasized that true service is a duty, not a favor, and has the power to purify the mind by overcoming self-interest. He cautioned that service motivated by personal gain, fear, or political compulsion is neither sustainable nor truly beneficial for others. Speaking in Nagpur, he highlighted the need for selfless and continuous commitment to serving others. Bhagwat also urged people to understand the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh from a humanistic perspective rather than a purely political one.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat defines service as a duty that purifies the mind, cautioning against acts driven by self-interest or political motives.

Nagpur, March 23 Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat deliberated that 'service' should not be seen as a favour but as a duty, emphasising that selfless service helps purify the human mind.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Gangadharrao Fadnavis Memorial Diagnostic Centre here, an initiative named after CM Devendra Fadnavis' late father, Bhagwat, elaborated on the deeper meaning of service, stating that it involves rising above self-interest and working for others.

"We have a different concept of the word 'service'. Service isn't a favour; it's a duty. When we serve, we purify ourselves, as the human mind is naturally filled with various vices, both good and bad. Service purifies the mind, as it involves forgetting oneself and serving others. This is called service," the RSS chief said on Sunday.

Bhagwat also drew attention to the varying motivations behind acts of service, cautioning against practices driven by personal gain or temporary interests.

"Sometimes, we see a large number of people serving. We assume there's an election nearby, prompting many to join in. But how many of them are still seen after the election, or even after winning? Self-interest is also a motivation behind service. It's not necessarily for the benefit of others, nor is it sustainable, because once their selfish desires are fulfilled, people abandon their work. Fear is also a factor behind service. Such service exists, and service is also performed out of compulsion," he added.

Earlier, the RSS chief urged that the 'Sangh' should be viewed from a humanistic angle rather than a political one for better understanding.

"Don't view the Sangh from a political angle, but rather from a humanistic approach to understand it better. The Sangh is an integral part of the process of uplifting Sanatan Dharma," he stated while visiting the Swaminarayan Temple in Gujarat's Vadtal.

- ANI
Former Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Verma has criticized Justin Trudeau for being "ill-advised" in publicly alleging Indian involvement in a killing, an act that strained bilateral ties. Verma pointed to recent statements from Canada's police chief confirming no current evidence links the Indian state to the case. He questioned the logic of the allegations, asking why charges have never been filed if the evidence was so credible. The diplomat reiterated India's position that the claims were politically motivated and driven by domestic vote-bank politics.

Former Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma calls Trudeau "ill-advised" for public allegations against India, citing a lack of evidence and filed charges.

New Delhi, March 22 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
Cambridge, UK, and Cambridge, US, 23 March 2026: Abselion, a pioneering life sciences technology company focused on simplifying biomolecule quantification, today announced that it has appointed Dale Gordon as Chair of the Board of Directors. His appointment strengthens governance and board-level expertise at Abselion, adding experienced commercial and bioprocess leadership as the company builds on the recent establishment of its US subsidiary and continues to develop its global engagement.

Abselion is committed to building a well-governed organisation that can support collaboration and reliable delivery as interest in its Amperia protein quantification system grows internationally. As Chair, Dale will help to ensure sustainable growth and long-term value creation to meet the needs of academic, biotech, and pharma teams working across biologics characterisation, development, and manufacturing workflows.

Dale brings more than 30 years experience across the life sciences sector, with a background spanning bioprocessing, company building, and board leadership. Most recently, he served as CEO of Mirus Bio, a leading provider of transfection technologies widely used in viral vector production, where he led the business through a period of significant growth and strategic development. He was also CEO at Gemini Bio and held leadership roles at GE Life Sciences (now Cytiva), and Merck Millipore.

Having worked extensively with growth-stage life sciences companies, Dale brings a valuable perspective on scaling technologies from early adoption through to broader commercial deployment. His experience in guiding these companies through growth and transition will help to support clearer strategic oversight, robust governance, and effective decision-making as Abselion continues to evolve.

Dale succeeds Simon Douglas, who is stepping down from the role after serving as Chair of the Board for over four years.

Dr Ruizhi Wang, CEO and Founder, Abselion, said:

Dale is renowned for his expertise in bioprocessing and strategic leadership. His appointment will strengthen our ability to make clear, confident decisions as we continue to build the business for long-term impact. Dale joins us at a point where the company is moving from early momentum into a more execution-focused phase, with growing commercial engagement and increasing international activity. His experience in guiding life sciences companies through this transition will be an invaluable asset as we continue our global expansion. Wed also like to express our sincere thanks to Simon for his insightful contribution and support during an important period in the companys initial development.

Dale Gordon, Chair of the Board of Directors, Abselion, said:

Abselion has built strong scientific foundations alongside a clear focus on addressing practical challenges in cell and gene therapy and biopharma development and production workflows. I see a significant opportunity in how the company is translating that work into real-world use. Im looking forward to working with the Board to support the companys continued growth, strengthen its commercial direction, and help guide the next phase of its journey.

For further information about Abselions team, please visit: https://www.abselion.com/team/.

Abselion

Dr Shi-qi An

Tel: +44 7351 738 852

Email: [email protected]

Codon Communications

Dr Michelle Ricketts

Tel: +44 7789 053885

Email: [email protected]
A clinical decision support tool that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze scans after a stroke alongside treatment recommendations is associated with better quality care and long term outcomes for patients compared with usual care, finds a study from China published by The BMJ today.

The researchers say the tool "offers a more efficient and scalable method for improving stroke care and prognosis, with the added benefits of lower cost and greater sustainability."

AI in healthcare has gained widespread attention, especially in assisting with disease diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and enhancing clinical decision making. But most AI stroke tools have not been rigorously evaluated, so their use is currently limited.

To address this gap, researchers set out to test whether a stroke clinical decision support system (CDSS) that uses AI-assisted imaging analysis to classify stroke causes alongside evidence-based treatment recommendations could improve care quality and outcomes in routine clinical practice.

The trial findings are based on 21,603 patients (average age 67; 36% female) with acute ischaemic stroke admitted to one of 77 hospitals across China within seven days of symptom onset.

From January 2021 to June 2023, 11,054 patients at 38 hospitals received stroke CDSS support (intervention group) and 10,549 patients at 39 hospitals received usual medical care (control group).

Physicians assigned to intervention group patients received system training and factors such as hospital region and grade, patient age, medication history, and lifestyle, were taken into account.

Patients supported by the CDSS had fewer new vascular events (including stroke, heart attack, or related death) at three, six, and 12 months.

At three months, new vascular events occurred in 2.9% of the intervention group (320 of 11,054) compared with 3.9% of the control group (416 of 10,549), representing a 26% reduction.

This reduction was maintained at 12 months, with new vascular events occurring in 4% of the intervention group (440 of 11,054) versus 5.5% of the control group (576 of 10,549), a 27% reduction.

Patients receiving the intervention also showed higher stroke care quality performance measures than control patients (91.4% v 89.8%).

There were no significant differences between the two groups for disability and all-cause mortality at three, six, and 12 months. Similarly, there were no significant differences in moderate or severe bleeding, or all bleeding, between the groups at any of these time points.

The authors point out that the trial randomised hospitals rather than individual patients and that differences in care patterns and subsequent outpatient care might impact the findings.

But they note that the system was easy to use and integrated into all hospital information systems, so could serve as an AI based comprehensive management tool focusing on management in hospital and secondary prevention strategies.

As such, they conclude: "The stroke CDSS offers a promising approach to providing high quality care for patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted to hospital, particularly for resource constrained regions with a heavy burden of cerebrovascular diseases like China."
Artificial intelligence (AI)-based ECG interpretation outperformed standard pathways for the detection of occlusive myocardial infarction (MI), according to a study presented today at ESC Acute CardioVascular Care 2026, the annual congress of the Association for Acute CardioVascular Care (ACVC), a branch of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

In patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS), a specific change on an ECG, called an ST elevation, is an indicator that the patient may have an occlusion in a coronary artery. This type of heart attack is known as an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and it requires immediate percutaneous coronary intervention to restore the heart's blood flow. In patients who do not have an ST elevation, the cause of the chest pain can be less certain and further tests are needed to confirm if the MI is due to an occlusion.

Many patients without an ST elevation have an occlusive MI, but it can be difficult for clinicians to quickly and accurately recognize this, leading to delays in providing emergency treatment. We investigated whether AI-based interpretation of the initial ECG could improve the accuracy of detecting occlusive MIs in the absence of an ST elevation to optimize patient management." Presenter, Doctor Federico Nani from Central Hospital Bolzano, Italy

This single-centre prospective study included 1,490 patients who had symptoms suggestive of ACS but without an ST elevation on the initial ECG. The mean age was 63 years and 42% were female. Clinicians interpreted the initial ECG, tested levels of the cardiac biomarker troponin, and performed coronary angiography, when required, to diagnose occlusive MI based on ESC Guidelines. In parallel, the initial ECG was interpreted by a smartphone-based CE-certified AI-ECG algorithm.

AI-based ECG interpretation ruled out occlusive MI in 1,382 patients and detected it in 108 patients (7%). The AI-based method correctly identified obstructive MI in 84% of cases. Sensitivity was 77%, specificity was 99% and the negative predictive value was 98%. There were 27 false negatives (2%) and 17 false positives (1%).

According to the standard diagnostic pathway, occlusive MI was ruled out in 1,207 patients based on troponin levels and 283 patients underwent coronary angiography to confirm or exclude the diagnosis. Overall, human ECG-interpretation correctly identified occlusive MI in 42% of cases.

Doctor Nani concluded: "This simple, accessible AI-based approach demonstrated superior accuracy in identifying and excluding occlusive MI compared with conventional diagnostic pathways in patients without an ST elevation. The results of our single-centre study require further validation, but these findings suggest that AI ECG interpretation is a valuable addition to existing decision-making tools to improve early recognition and timely, effective treatment."

The power of AI to support the management of cardiovascular disease will be further explored as the spotlight theme of this year's annual ESC Congress, taking place from 2831 August 2026 in Munich, Germany.
Routine early measurement of neurofilament light chain could help improve prediction of cognitive impairment after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, according to a study presented today at ESC Acute CardioVascular Care 2026, the annual congress of the Association for Acute CardioVascular Care (ACVC), a branch of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

After an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, the brain is highly susceptible to injury and a range of tests are used by clinicians to predict if survivors have brain damage.

Currently, we measure neuron-specific enolase in the blood as a marker of brain injury but there are concerns about its reliability as factors other than brain damage can lead to high levels. Another blood biomarker, neurofilament light chain, has potentially better diagnostic performance than neuron-specific enolase. We compared neurofilament light chain and neuron-specific enolase for the prediction of long-term cognitive function in survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest." Doctor Martin Meyer, study presenter, Rigshospitalet  Copenhagen University, Denmark

The study analyzed blood samples from participants in the Blood Pressure and Oxygenation Targets after Cardiac Arrest (BOX) trial who had been resuscitated from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and were comatose on hospital admission. Levels of neurofilament light chain and levels of neuron-specific enolase were measured in samples taken 48 hours after cardiac arrest.

Data on cognitive function, assessed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score months after the cardiac arrest, were available for a subset of survivors who had both neurofilament light chain and neuron-specific enolase measurements.

The key finding of the investigation is that neurofilament light chain levels at 48 hours were inversely correlated with MoCA score, i.e. higher blood levels of neurofilament light chain were indicative of worse long-term cognitive function.

In contrast, no association was observed for neuron-specific enolase levels at 48 hours and cognitive function at follow-up.

Summing up the findings, Doctor Meyer concluded: "Neurofilament light chain levels measured early after cardiac arrest, while patients were still admitted to hospital, were related to long-term cognitive function. This association with cognitive function was not observed with neuron-specific enolase testing.

The introduction of routine early neurofilament light chain measurement could potentially assist in the identification of patients at high risk, helping to optimize decision-making about other tests and scans, improve the targeting of rehabilitation and enable clinicians to better inform patients and their families about expectations for the future." Further validation and standardisation of neurofilament light chain assays are now needed.
Russell Anthony made eight trips to the dentist last year. The 65-year-old retiree in Nashville, Tennessee, hopes to go less often in 2026, but he's already made a few visits.

"I had a root canal just last week that was like $500," he said. "The week before that, I had a crown that cost me several hundred dollars. And as we speak, I have a broken tooth, and I have to go and see the dentist soon."

In all, Anthony - uncle of HealthQ host Cara Anthony - expects to pay about $2,000 for dental care this year, even though he has dental insurance.

"Trying to weigh the cost of when to go to get dental care and paying for it, versus the other needs that I have, is something thats very important," Russell Anthony said.

The American Dental Association reported that 77% of adults in the U.S. had dental insurance in 2021. But that coverage does not necessarily protect against large bills. In fact, 1 in 4 adults with dental insurance reported costs as a barrier to care, according to a 2023 survey by KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News.

Here are three things to know to better understand your insurance plan and keep your dental costs as low as possible:

1. Even with dental insurance, you'll have to pay for procedures

Dental plans typically cover routine care in full but pay only a portion of additional work. Benefits vary, but many plans follow the "100/80/50" rule, covering 100% of preventive care like cleanings and exams, 80% of basic procedures like fillings and root canals, and 50% of other major procedures.

Plus, dental plans often have a maximum annual payout, usually between $1,000 and $2,000. Patients are responsible for any costs above that. For example, if your plan maxes out at $1,500 and you need $4,000 of dental treatments, you will be on the hook for the difference of $2,500.

2. Facing a big dental bill? You have options

It might feel uncomfortable to talk about finances directly with a dentist, but it's helpful to be up-front about what you can afford.

Many dentist offices offer financial options to help patients manage the cost of care, including pretreatment estimates and payment plans. If you get an estimate that seems especially high, talk through the items and consider getting a second opinion. It never hurts to ask the office for a discount.

If you need a lower-cost alternative, consider looking into dental schools, which often offer discounted care, or federal community health centers, which use sliding scales based on a patient's income.

3. Seeing your dentist regularly can help keep costs low

Sarah Olim, a general dentist in Katy, Texas, encourages her patients to come in for visits every six months.

"The best thing that you can do to mitigate the cost of going to the dentist is make sure that you are going regularly and trying to take care of things early," she said.

Olim welcomes patients no matter how long it's been since their last visit. But she cautioned that patients who wait a few years between visits may find their appointments are more expensive and more uncomfortable.

The reason? Dental problems often don't resolve on their own. For example, a small cavity that needs a quick filling might cost $200. If left untreated, it could turn into a larger issue requiring a root canal and crown - and cost thousands.

Your dentist will also encourage you to follow the best preventive maintenance: brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day. Olim tells her patients to use a timer or listen to a favorite song to make sure they brush long enough.

People and policy

Federal lawmakers have tried to increase children's access to dental insurance. Under the Affordable Care Act, dental care is considered an essential health benefit for children, so health insurance plans on the individual marketplace must offer dental coverage for those 18 or younger. State Medicaid programs are also required to cover dental care for children.

Emily Siner at Nashville Public Radio contributed to this report.

HealthQ is a health series from reporters Cara Anthony and Blake Farmer, approachable guides to an unapproachable health care system. It's a collaboration between Nashville Public Radio and KFF Health News.
Scientists from Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and University College London (UCL) have created the first labgrown esophagus - the food pipe - shown to safely replace a full section of the organ and restore normal function, including swallowing, in a growing animal without the need for immunosuppression.

This is a major leap towards personalized regenerative treatments for children born with life threatening esophageal conditions and could pave the way for translation to other disease areas. Other studies have previously shown parts of this technology, but this is the first time that the full process has been completed with such success.

Published today in Nature Biotechnology the study shows for the first time that a pig donor esophagus can be decellularised, repopulated with the recipient's pig's own cells, and implanted in a growing, large-animal model to restore function without the need for immunosuppression. The eight recipient animals recovered well, developed working swallowing muscles to squeeze food down towards the stomach, with full integration of the engineered tissue within 3 months. Immunosuppression was not needed as the implant was developed using the recipient's cells and the tissue grew with the animals.

The esophagus, also known as the 'food-pipe', is crucial for nutrition and growth. Children born with long-gap esophageal atresia (LGOA) have an interrupted esophagus, with a wide gap between the upper and lower segments. GOSH is a leading site to treat malformations linked to esophageal atresia (OA), with around 180 babies born with OA, in the UK each year, 10% of which have LGOA.

Children born with LGOA cannot survive without surgery, but the gap is often too large to close immediately after birth. Instead, babies with LGOA typically require a feeding tube placed directly into their stomach, enabling adequate nutrition while their hospital teams develop a treatment plan. The current surgical options are complex and invasive. One approach involves repositioning the stomach or the intestine to bridge the gap, both major operations with significant short- and long-term complications including breathing and gastrointestinal problems, and an unknown long term-cancer risk.

While many children achieve good outcomes, better options with reduced risk of complications are sorely needed for these babies. Thanks to significant funding from Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity (GOSH Charity), including the Oak Foundation, LifeArc and the Francis Crick Institute, this research has been driven forward to identify different and better options, and bring hope to more families.

A personalized, regenerative solution

The first step in this new technology is to create a scaffold, which acts as a tube-shaped base for the new organ. Scientists use a donor pig's esophagus, which is very similar to a human's. Through a process called decellularisation, the donor tissue is carefully stripped of all the pig cells, while keeping the underlying support structure intact.

Next, the scaffold is repopulated with a recipient pig's muscle cells, taken from a small biopsy. These cells are multiplied in a lab and then injected directly into the scaffold. The graft is then placed in a bioreactor, a special container that pumps vital growth fluids through the tissue for one week. During this time, the cells settle and spread, and they adapt to their new 'home'. In all, this process takes two months to complete, a timeline compatible with current standard treatment of LGOA.

Research with pigs has now shown very encouraging results, providing a blueprint for human treatment. All eight animals survived the critical first 30 days after transplant. By the 6-month mark, the lab-grown grafts had developed functional muscle, nerves, and blood vessels. This allowed the transplanted esophagus to contract and move food like a native food pipe. The transplanted animals could eat normally and grow at a healthy rate. While some developed narrowing (strictures), these were successfully managed through endoscopy, mirroring routine human clinical practice.

For the first time ever, this research team were able to map the genes in the structure of the implanted tissue (using a technique called spatial transcriptomics), to show that the genes turned on in the new esophagus were in line with what would be expected in 'natural' tissue. There was also a progressive regeneration of normal esophageal structures, with a barrier layer, muscle, nerves and blood vessels needed for a functioning esophagus. The engineered esophagus was shown to contract, producing movement and pressure with sufficient strength and co-ordination to allow normal swallowing.

If this technology is adapted for use in humans, different sizes of scaffold, derived from donor pigs, could be stored ready to be developed and personalized for newborns or children of varying sizes and age, whenever needed. Biopsy cells could be taken from the child when the feeding tube is placed and incorporated into the scaffold in exactly the same way as described in this research  creating a personalized graft that would grow with the child and not require immunosuppressants.

Hope for families

Casey Mcintyre from London is a bubbly 2 year-old, who loves his dog, Daisy. You would never be able to tell that he needed so many operations in his short life.

Mum, Silviya (38) said: "We had several scans before Casey was born so we knew he had issues with his food pipe but it was still very worrying to find out he was born with 11cm of it missing. He's had major operation after major operation as we simply couldn't get the gap to close using his own tissue. After being referred to GOSH we had the best option at the time  pulling up his stomach to close the 'gap' but it's been a long road and he still has a feeding tube while he develops his swallowing.

"The repeated surgeries have left him with some damage to his vocal cords so he's developing his speech and noise-making to catch up. Once he's eating enough through his mouth, we'll be able to take his tube out."

Dad, Sean (35) said: "People can never tell Casey has spent half of his life in hospital, and hopefully he won't remember, but the memories will never leave us.

"We've had to learn things as new parents that we never considered would be part of our family life, from feeding him through a stomach tube to what to do if the hospital call with an urgent update in the middle of the night.

"To look at him, he's just amazing and we are very proud of him. Whatever the team did for him was really a miracle but the idea that there could be one operation early in your child's life, that could transplant a working piece of esophagus, and then we could move on would be life changing."

Professor Paolo De Coppi, NIHR and Nuffield Professor of Paediatric Surgery at UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (UCL GOS ICH) and Consultant Paediatric Surgeon at GOSH led the research team. He said: "The esophagus is a really complex organ, without a blood supply from its own vessels, so it cannot be 'transplanted' in the way you might expect. To develop alternatives, it is essential to work with animal models that closely reflect human anatomy and function. In this respect, the pig esophagus closely resembles the human one. With the success of this research, we hope that we can be successfully offering an engineered tissue alternative to children who desperately need it, within 5 years."

Dr Marco Pellegrini, Senior Researcher at UCL GOS ICH co-leading the study, said "Our technology could allow us to build a child a new esophagus, using their own cells, collected in a surgery they are having anyway, combined with a ready-prepared scaffold from pig tissue. Because the graft contains the child's own muscle progenitor cells, it would be recognised as their own tissue. This means it could grow with them over time, without the risk of rejection and without the need for long-term immunosuppression."

Dr Natalie Durkin, paediatric surgical registrar and lead author of the study from GOSH and UCL GOS ICH, said: "After successful implantation, our grafts grew, matured and began to function like native tissue. Each one of these steps represents a key milestone in being able to deliver this as a viable treatment option for children in the near future." Dr Durkin's work was supported by GOSH Charity via a Lewis Spitz surgical scientist PhD studentship.

Professor De Coppi is Co-Theme Lead of Tissues and Regenerative Medicine at the NIHR GOSH Biomedical Research Centre and went on to say: "For more than 50 years, pig heart valves have been used to extend and save the lives of patients with heart disease, and this technology is now commonplace in cardiac surgery. More recently, xenotransplantation has been explored in humans as a potential solution to organ shortages. In our work, we demonstrate that pig tissue, once stripped of all cellular material, can serve as a scaffold to engineer humanised tissue that is fully biocompatible. I believe we are now standing at a similar new frontier in regenerative medicine."

Aoife Regan, GOSH Charity's Director of Impact and Charitable Programs, said: "We are thrilled to see the success of this research, which is offering more hope to children with a highly complex and rare condition, which can significantly affect their quality of life and childhood. At GOSH Charity, we want every child treated at GOSH to have the best chance, and best childhood possible, and providing funding for key projects like this one, demonstrates the impact innovative research can have on those that need it most."

Next steps

The team is now refining the process to generate longer grafts, standardise manufacture and reduce manual steps, and carry out further safety testing. Further studies will focus on tracking the cells on the tissue, optimising blood flow and preparing the therapy for first-in-human trials. The team hope to be able to offer this as a research trial in the next 5 years.

All research at GOSH is supported by the NIHR GOSH Biomedical Research Centre but the NIHR did not directly fund the animal research.
A Finnish clinical imaging study shows that rest tremor in Parkinson's disease is not explained by greater dopamine loss. In contrast, tremor appears to be associated with relatively better-preserved dopamine function.

Researchers from the University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland, analysed clinical data and dopamine transporter (DAT) imaging data from 414 Finnish patients. The cohort consisted of patients examined in routine clinical practice for uncertain parkinsonism or tremor, making the findings exceptionally well generalizable to real-world clinical settings. The results were published on 19 March 2026 in Neurology, the prestigious medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.



The cardinal motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease are slowness of movement (bradykinesia), muscle stiffness (rigidity), and rest tremor. Bradykinesia and rigidity are known to reflect degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons. Because most brain pathways cross, this association is typically observed in the striatum on the side opposite to the symptoms. In contrast, the biological basis of rest tremor has long remained uncertain.



The study revealed a clear and consistent phenomenon: rest tremor was associated with higher dopamine transporter binding in the striatum on the same side as the tremor. Other cardinal motor symptoms, however, showed the expected correlation with dopamine deficits in the opposite hemisphere.

These results show that more severe rest tremor is not simply a marker of more advanced damage to the dopamine system. Tremor appears to involve a partly distinct neurobiological mechanism." Kalle Niemi, MD, PhD, lead author, neurologist

The findings confirm the group's earlier observations made using data from the international Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) cohort, where a novel imaging analysis technique developed by the research team was first applied. The replication of the results in an independent and clinically representative cohort strengthens the reliability of the observed phenomenon.



"Our findings support the view that different symptoms of Parkinson's disease may be driven by partly distinct neural network and neurotransmitter mechanisms," Niemi explains. "This may help explain why tremor behaves differently from symptoms such as bradykinesia."



Using the same methodological framework, the research team also demonstrated that key non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease including depression, anxiety, and REM sleep behavior disorder are primarily linked to monoaminergic systems other than dopamine.



Taken together, these findings reinforce the concept of Parkinson's disease as a complex brain disorder involving alterations across multiple neural networks and neurotransmitter systems.



A more precise understanding of the biological differences between symptoms may, in the future, enable the development of more targeted and personalized treatment approaches.
John Galvin knows he needs a colonoscopy. But he's waiting to schedule the procedure until December, when he turns 65 and qualifies for Medicare.

He was already thinking about delaying it  then his monthly Obamacare insurance premium payment tripled this year to $2,460, about a third of his income, he said. And with a $2,700 deductible, he'd be on the hook for most of the diagnostic exam, a financial hit he said he couldn't stomach.

"It was going to cost close to $3,000," said Galvin, who lives in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, and recently retired as director of a durable medical equipment company. "I put it off."

Galvin said his wife, Nancy, is delaying a costly CT scan for a few years until she too qualifies for Medicare, so it can foot the bill. The federal health program offers coverage for all Americans 65 and older.

People on Affordable Care Act plans nearing retirement age experienced some of the largest price increases following the expiration of enhanced federal subsidies at the end of December. Those with incomes above 400% of the federal poverty level  $86,560 for a family of two  had been getting help paying for the plans since the Biden administration expanded the subsidies during the covid-19 pandemic. Adults ages 50 through 64 made up around half of those ACA enrollees.

Now, without that federal financial help, some in this age group say they're wrestling with whether to delay care until they qualify for Medicare. Not only does that put their physical health at risk, said patient advocates, doctors, and health policy researchers, but it potentially just shifts the costs  and could lead to taxpayers' footing even bigger bills to fix health issues that worsen amid the delays.

"Theres going to be a lot of pent-up demand and unmet need," said Jessica Schubel, a health policy consultant who worked in the Obama and Biden administrations. "Medicare is going to have to spend a whole heck of a lot of money covering and dealing with their treatment."

The Affordable Care Act has been a key source of health care coverage for people 50 through 64. Access to Obamacare plans helped cut the uninsured rate for this age group by half, according to AARP, a lobbying group that represents older adults. That allowed some people to retire early while keeping coverage. It also has provided a safety net for small-business owners and those with jobs that don't offer health insurance.

Last fall, the longest-ever government shutdown occurred amid an unsuccessful effort by Democrats to extend the enhanced subsidies. Republicans opposing the extension had said the assistance went to insurers, incentivizing fraud and wasteful coverage.

The issue will continue to have political relevance, especially in this year's midterm elections, including among older Americans who reliably show up to the polls, said Republican strategist Gregg Keller, who runs the Atlas Strategy Group.

"Is affordability going to be an issue? Absolutely," he said. "Are health care prices going to factor into that? Yes."

Even before the subsidies expired, the costs of medical care, nursing homes, and prescription drugs were among the top health-related concerns for people over 50, a 2024 University of Michigan poll found.

Middle-aged adults with Obamacare plans acutely feel the pinch of the expired subsidies, because the ACA allows insurers to charge adults in their 60s up to three times as much for premiums as those in their 20s, who generally use fewer medical services.

And many middle-aged adults were already enrolled in the lowest-cost plans available, which leaves them without cheaper options to fall back on, said Matt McGough, a policy analyst with KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News.

"This is very dire for the older marketplace enrollees," he said.

Someone making a few dollars over 400% of the federal poverty level earns too much to get a subsidy now, and in some states average premium payments were due to at least triple for this group. Many people are seeing yearly rate increases of thousands of dollars, with premium payments totaling as much as a quarter of their incomes.

John Ayanian, a primary care physician and health policy researcher at the University of Michigan, said he has regular conversations with older patients who are trying to figure out how to afford their medical care. Some in their early 60s are likely to drop ACA coverage because of rising premiums, he said.

"That's a gamble," he added.

Marci Heinbaugh may take that bet. The 63-year-old social services worker, who lives in rural Illinois, said her monthly premium payments more than doubled, from roughly $1,100 to $2,333, for a plan with a $10,150 out-of-pocket maximum.

She knew she'd be paying more, she said, but wasn't anticipating that kind of increase. A few months in, she's not sure if she'll stick with the plan for the rest of the year. She said she may go uninsured.

"I'm petrified to even think about that," Heinbaugh said.

People want to buy their own insurance on the marketplace, and many middle-aged adults could afford it with just a little federal financial help, said Alan Weil, senior vice president of public policy at AARP. Those who drop coverage or delay care until they reach age 65 might save money now, but that could be more costly for them  and taxpayers  later.

"Theres significant possibility that the purported savings associated with reducing subsidies as people approach retirement end up turning into higher utilization costs for Medicare," Weil said.

And Medicare enrollees aren't insulated from rising costs. In January, for example, standard Medicare Part B premiums rose from $185 per month to almost $203.

Until Galvin joins Medicare, he said, he expects to burn through a $30,000 retirement account to cover his marketplace plans premium payments and deductible.

A 2024 AARP survey found that 1 in 5 adults over 50 had no retirement savings and 3 in 5 were worried they wouldn't have enough retirement savings to support themselves.

The expiration of these Obamacare subsidies puts additional financial pressure on Americans as they approach retirement, health policy researchers said.

"Its forcing people to make impossible choices," said Natalie Kean, director of federal health advocacy for the national nonprofit Justice in Aging.
Nearly three years after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was declared over, conservative estimates suggest that between 80 million and 400 million people worldwide have long COVID. This chronic condition associated with the infection is linked to more than 200 symptoms, including fatigue and shortness of breath, as well as neuropsychiatric issues ranging from cognitive dysfunction and sleep disorders to depression and memory loss. These issues impact quality of life and hinder the performance of daily tasks and work.

Underlying pathophysiological mechanisms (processes that occur in the body and help explain certain symptoms and changes) include viral persistence of SARS-CoV-2, reactivation of herpesviruses (when immune stress allows latent viruses of the Herpesviridae family to become active), and chronic immune activation. Other mechanisms include immune system dysregulation, an imbalance in the function of microorganisms in the gut (microbiota dysbiosis), coagulation abnormalities, and endothelial damage. Regarding the brain, there are structural changes and abnormal functional connectivity.

However, significant progress in understanding long COVID requires further scientific studies to standardize definitions and nomenclature for the disorder, as well as more clinical trials with potential therapies.

The first review article published by the journal Nature Reviews Disease Primers provides an overview of this topic and is dedicated to the neurological, psychological, and psychiatric manifestations associated with COVID-19. The paper provides a comprehensive analysis of its epidemiology, biological mechanisms, diagnosis, therapeutic approaches, impact on quality of life, and the challenges facing science.

An international panel of 14 experts developed the article, which includes a single Brazilian author: professor and neurologist Clarissa Yasuda, from the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in the state of Sao Paulo. Yasuda is also a researcher at the Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), a FAPESP Research, Innovation, and Dissemination Center (RIDC). Since 2020, she has coordinated a series of studies on long COVID (read more at agencia.fapesp.br/41738).

This disease is new and little understood. Many people are studying and trying to understand it, not only because of current cases, but also because humanity is susceptible to other viruses that could cause problems on the scale of that pandemic. We need to learn from it and investigate effectively and quickly. Long COVID greatly disrupts people's lives, and currently, there's no specific treatment. The important thing is to get vaccinated and avoid reinfection. That's another message of the article." Clarissa Yasuda, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas

In the study, the researchers emphasize that avoiding SARS-CoV-2 infection is the only way to prevent long COVID so far. They note that diagnosis is based on clinical evaluation. Since there are no available biomarkers, a recent history of infection with the virus is required, as well as persistent or recurrent symptoms for at least three months. Other conditions must be ruled out, which may require blood and imaging tests, electrocardiography, and echocardiography.

In Brazil, the number of reported cases of COVID-19 has been falling year after year but remains high. In 2025, the Ministry of Health reported approximately 432,400 cases, compared to 984,000 the previous year. Between January and the second week of February of this year, approximately 25,200 cases were reported.

Quality of life

In the section on quality of life, the article discusses the effects of long COVID on the labor market and the stigmas associated with the disease, in addition to its health impacts.

The authors point out that individuals may experience job and income loss, as well as difficulty returning to work due to a lack of support from social welfare systems. They also mention that affected individuals may experience periods of "ups and downs," "breakdowns," "depression," and "lows," which can leave them feeling unable to maintain the same level of activity.

In 2024, scientists from U.S. institutions published an article in Nature Medicine estimating that long COVID resulted in over 803 million lost work hours in Brazil alone that year, with a potential cost of more than USD 11 billion. This equates to approximately 400,000 full-time workers being out of the labor market for a year. The same study estimated that long COVID could have an annual global economic impact of approximately USD 1 trillion  about 1% of the global economy.

Professor Yasuda herself experienced difficulties resuming her activities after having long COVID. She contracted the virus in August 2020 and experienced mild symptoms without a fever. However, about a month later, she realized that cognitive dysfunction was hindering her academic work.

In the article "I Want My Brain Back," published in the Scielo Brasil digital library in June 2022, she recounted her experience. "At the time, I described my recovery efforts and the strategies I used to cope with the persistent limitations in cognitive performance. After a lot of effort and discipline, I improved," she says.

Long COVID, also known as "post-COVID-19 condition," has been monitored by Brazil's national public health system, the SUS (Sistema Unico de Saude), since 2021, with an update in 2023 via Technical Note No. 57. An epidemiological bulletin on the topic released in 2025 estimated that there were 13.8 million cases of "post-COVID conditions" in the country, the majority of whom were female (8.58 million). The most affected age group was 30 to 49 (6.2 million Brazilians).

Stigma

Regarding stigma, the scientists note that patients face multiple barriers when trying to have their condition recognized and gain access to care and support. These experiences can range from discrimination and inadequate treatment to blame. Individuals from ethnic minorities experience particularly high levels of stigma.

They also note that there can be serious implications for social and educational interactions for children and adolescents.

Therefore, they recommend multidisciplinary teams, including professionals from various health fields, provide patient care.

For future studies, they recommend recruiting a diverse and representative patient population and taking the perspectives of people with long COVID and the role of social and health determinants into account.

In this context, Yasuda's group is conducting a longitudinal study to understand how the disease changes the brain. "Being invited to participate in this review was very important and an international recognition of the work we're developing at the BRAINN RIDC," says Yasuda, who also receives support from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), a funding agency linked to the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation.
Osteoarthritis, a condition that causes pain and reduced mobility in joints such as the knees and fingers, is one of the most common joint disorders worldwide, particularly among aging populations. The disease is characterized by the gradual breakdown of cartilage, which normally cushions the bones within joints.

Despite its prevalence, current treatments for osteoarthritis mainly focus on alleviating pain rather than addressing the underlying cause of cartilage degeneration. Effective therapies that can halt or reverse cartilage damage remain limited.

A joint research team led by Dr. Chul-Ho Lee and Dr. Yong-Hoon Kim at the Laboratory Animal Resource Center of the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), in collaboration with Prof. JinHyun Kim at Chungnam National University Hospital, has identified a key protein, SHP (NR0B2), that plays a critical protective role in cartilage and may offer a new therapeutic strategy for osteoarthritis.

The researchers first analyzed cartilage tissues from osteoarthritis patients and animal models of the disease. They found that the levels of SHP protein decreased significantly as the disease progressed, suggesting that loss of this protective factor contributes to accelerated cartilage destruction.

Further experiments showed that mice lacking SHP experienced more severe pain and faster cartilage degradation compared to normal mice. In contrast, restoring SHP levels in the joints led to reduced cartilage damage and improved joint function.

Mechanistic studies revealed that SHP protects cartilage by suppressing the production of matrix-degrading enzymes, specifically MMP-3 and MMP-13, which are known to break down cartilage tissue. The researchers demonstrated for the first time that SHP inhibits these enzymes at the signaling level by regulating the IKK/NF-B pathway, thereby preserving cartilage integrity.

Building on these findings, the team also explored the therapeutic potential of SHP using a gene delivery approach. By injecting a viral vector carrying the SHP gene into affected joints, they observed long-lasting effects from a single treatment. Even in animals with established osteoarthritis, this approach significantly reduced cartilage damage and alleviated pain.

This study is the first to demonstrate that the SHP protein plays a critical role in protecting cartilage during the development and progression of osteoarthritis. Therapeutic strategies targeting SHP may offer a new approach to slowing or preventing osteoarthritis progression." Dr. Chul-Ho Lee, study's lead investigator

Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB) is a leading national research institute in South Korea dedicated to cutting-edge research in biotechnology and life sciences. Established in 1985, KRIBB focuses on advancing scientific knowledge in areas such as molecular biology, genomics, bioinformatics, synthetic biology, and aging-related studies. As a government-funded institute, KRIBB plays a pivotal role in driving innovation, supporting national R&D strategies, and collaborating with academic and industrial partners both domestically and internationally.

The study was published online on February 21 in Nature Communications (Impact Factor: 15.7), a leading international journal in multidisciplinary science.

The article is titled "Small heterodimer partner protects against osteoarthritis by inhibiting IKK/NF-B-mediated matrix-degrading enzymes in chondrocytes."

The corresponding authors are Dr. Chul-Ho Lee and Dr. Yong-Hoon Kim (KRIBB) and Prof. JinHyun Kim (Chungnam National University Hospital), and the first author is Dr. Eun-Jung Kang (KRIBB).

This research was supported by the Mid-career Researcher Program of the Ministry of Science and ICT and by the Major Research Programs of the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB).
A statue of Christopher Columbus has been placed on the grounds of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building adjacent to the White House, the latest effort by President Trump's administration to recognize the controversial explorer, the AP reports. The statue is a replica of one that was tossed into Baltimore's harbor in 2020 during Trump's first term at a time of nationwide protests against institutional racism. Trump endorses a traditional view of Columbus as a leader of the 1492 mission seen as the unofficial beginning of European colonization in the Americas and the development of the modern economic and political order. But in recent years, Columbus also has been recognized as a primary example of Western Europe's conquest of the New World, its resources, and its native people.

"In this White House, Christopher Columbus is a hero, and President Trump will ensure he's honored as such for generations to come," the White House posted on X. "We are delighted the statue has found a place where it can peacefully shine and be protected," said John Pica, a Maryland lobbyist and president of the Italian American Organizations United, which owns the statue and agreed to loan it to the federal government for placement at or near the White House. The statue, made mostly of marble, was created by Will Hemsley, a sculptor based in Centreville on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

The original statue was toppled by protesters on July 4, 2020, and thrown into Baltimore's Inner Harbor after anger boiled over following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police. It was one of many statues of Columbus that were vandalized around the same time, with protesters saying the Italian explorer was responsible for the genocide and exploitation of native peoples in the Americas. In recent years, some people, institutions and government entities have displaced Columbus Day with recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day. Trump dismisses the shift on Columbus as "left-wing arsonists" bending history and twisting Americans' collective memory.
More than 2,000 people remained without power Sunday afternoon after Hawaii suffered its worst flooding in more than 20 years when heavy rains fell across the islands, the AP reports. Heavy rains fell on soil already saturated by downpours from a winter storm a week ago. Raging waters lifted homes and cars, causing an expected $1 billion in damages. The storm prompted evacuation orders for 5,500 people north of Honoluluthough they were later liftedand more than 200 people were rescued from the rising waters. No deaths have been reported as of yet, Molly Pierce, spokesperson for Oahu's Department of Emergency Management, said Sunday afternoon.

By Sunday afternoon, Hawaiian Electric restored power to about 1,200 people in Waialua on the North Shore of Oahu, according to the company. Customers' power was proactively turned off Friday because of the flooding. Crews continue to assess the damage and make repairs, and Hawaiian Electric expects to return power to 2,000 more people later Sunday. In Maui County, about 100 people were without power Sunday afternoon, and all major outages were addressed on Hawaii Island, according to the company. A boil water notice remained in place Sunday for North Shore areas from Mokuleia to Turtle Bay, and residents were encouraged to report damages to the city. Gov. Josh Green said the cost of the storm could top $1 billion, including damage to airports, schools, roads, homes, and a Maui hospital in Kula.

The worst of the storms appear to be over, Hawaii meteorologist Matthew Foster told the AP. By Sunday afternoon, the weather shifted from widespread showers to scattered rain from Oahu, Maui County to Hawaii Island, Foster said. Less than 5 inches of rain is expected for Hawaii Island, with between 1 to 2 inches in other areas. Winds will pick up out of the northeast sides of the islands, which have more vegetation and can handle more rain, Foster said. It will take a couple days for the moisture to push past the islands, and drier and more typical March weather can be expected by Wednesday. Additional flooding could still occur, but more on an isolated scale rather than widespread, Foster said.
The shooting death of an 18-year-old Loyola University Chicago student during a dawn walk to see the skyline has become the latest flashpoint in the national fight over immigration and "sanctuary" laws. Chicago police on Sunday charged Jose Medina-Medina, 25, a Venezuelan migrant, with first-degree murder, attempted murder, and aggravated discharge of a firearm in the early Thursday shooting of Sheridan Gorman near Tobey Prinz Beach, per the Chicago Sun-Times . Immigration officials say ICE filed a detainer for Medina-Medina just hours before the charges were announced.

Homeland Security officials blamed "open border policies and sanctuary politicians" for Medina-Medina's presence in Illinois, urging Gov. JB Pritzker to ensure he isn't released again, per WPIX. The agency said the suspect was twice detained in 2023, including in a shoplifting case in which he was accused of stealing $132.50 in goods from a Macy's in Chicago. Chicago Ward 15 Alderman Ray Lopez told News Nation that Medina-Medina defied an order to appear in court in that case. An arrest warrant remains active, per the Sun-Times.

Medina-Medina is now accused of emerging "from the shadows" to fire a single shot toward a group of friends who were hoping to take in the Northern Lights, according to a statement from Gorman's family. Gorman was struck in the torso, though a friend told the Sun-Times that the bullet didn't appear to have been "intentionally targeted toward any of us." Calling the shooting a "preventable act," Gorman's family said they are "gravely disappointed" in the system's failures and demanded the case be pursued "to the fullest extent" of state and federal law. Pritzker's office has not commented.
A late-night landing at New York's LaGuardia Airport ended in disaster Sunday when an Air Canada Express flight struck a Port Authority fire truck on the runway, killing the two pilots and sending more than 40 people to hospitals, officials said. The Jazz Aviation-operated plane from Montreal was nearing the end of its landing on Runway 4 around 11:30pm when it hit the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting vehicle that was responding to a separate incident, officials said, per NBC New York . A journalist who later visited the scene described a plane with "a sheared-off nose on the runway" near a damaged truck on its side, per the New York Times .

Two Port Authority police officers in the truck, including a sergeant, suffered broken bones and were taken to area hospitals. Forty-one of the 72 passengers and four crew members on the plane were also taken to hospitals with injuries, a Port Authority rep said, per the Times, which reports that nine remain hospitalized. The crash triggered a full ground stop at LaGuardia, which will remain closed until 2pm Eastern on Monday, per the FAA. Hundreds of flights have been canceled. The National Transportation Safety Board has dispatched a "go team" to investigate the cause of the collision. The aircraft was moving at roughly 30mph at impact amid rainy conditions, per NBC.
Denver busted a 119-year-old heat record last week when the temperature climbed past 80, reports CBS News . The heat isn't done yet. The National Weather Service expects the city to log its first 90-degree day of 2026 on Wednesdaymore than a month earlier than Denver has ever hit that mark, reports the Denver Post . Typical late-March highs hover around 58 to 60 degrees.

Monday is forecast to reach 73 degrees, just shy of a 2017 record. Tuesday could climb to 83, likely eclipsing a March 24 record set in 1896. Wednesday's predicted 90 would smash both the March 25 record of 75 degrees set last year and Denver's overall March heat record, which has already fallen twice this month. The earliest 90-degree reading previously recorded in Denver was April 30, 1992. Elsewhere, Arizona and California were under extreme heat warnings through the weekend, notes the AP.
A young boxer has landed in a medically-induced coma after her fourth professional bout in California on Saturday. Junior flyweight boxer Isis Sio, 19, of North Dakota took two shots to the body soon after the bout began, then appeared "defenseless" as her opponent delivered a five-shot combination to the head, USA Today reports. Sio fell to the canvas just over a minute into the first round and was seen convulsing in the ring before being taken out on a stretcher, according to ESPN .

ProBox TV, which promoted and streamed the seven-fight card from San Bernardino, said Sunday that Sio is in a medically-induced coma and asked fans to "join us in wishing for a full recovery." Her opponent, 21-year-old Jocelyn Camarillo, who is signed to Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions, posted that her "heart is with isis," even as MVP shared the knockout clip on social media, calling it a potential "KO of the year." It was the first knockout of Camarillo's career, per ESPN. She now has a pro record of 6-0. Sio's record falls to 1-3.
FUKUI, Mar 23 (News On Japan) - Five Vietnamese technical intern trainees were swept into the sea by waves while fishing on a breakwater in Sakai, Fukui Prefecture, in the early hours of March 21st, leaving three missing as search efforts continue.

According to authorities, the incident occurred at around 2:30 a.m. at the breakwater of Mikuni Port, where a group of eight Vietnamese men in their 20s to 30s had gone fishing, when five of them were suddenly struck by waves and fell into the sea.

The Japan Coast Guard and police responded to an emergency call and rescued two individuals by helicopter, one of whom was unharmed, while the other remains unconscious and in critical condition.

As of 11:50 a.m. on March 21st, three individuals remain unaccounted for, with search operations ongoing involving patrol vessels and helicopters.

Source: FNN
TOKYO, Mar 23 (News On Japan) - Rising tensions in the Middle East, triggered by an attack on liquefied natural gas facilities in Qatar, are not only driving up oil prices but also raising concerns over a potential helium shortage that could disrupt MRI diagnostics and strain hospital operations in Japan.

The instability has already begun affecting global supply chains, with price increases seen in petroleum-based products such as plastics, widely used in manufacturing. In China, which accounts for more than 30% of global plastic production, wholesalers report rising material costs, forcing manufacturers to consider price hikes. Smaller producers, for example, face daily cost increases of around 210,000 yen due to a 70,000 yen rise per ton of raw materials, highlighting how energy-related disruptions are spreading across industries.

Beyond manufacturing, the impact is now extending into healthcare, where helium plays a critical role. MRI machines, essential for diagnosing conditions such as brain disorders and internal injuries, rely on powerful magnets that must be kept at extremely low temperatures. This cooling is achieved using liquid helium, making the gas indispensable for continuous MRI operation.

Hospitals operate MRI systems around the clock, maintaining constant cooling with helium to ensure readiness for emergency and routine diagnostics. However, supply concerns are mounting following reports that Iran attacked LNG-related facilities in Qatar, a key producer of helium derived during natural gas processing. According to Qatars state-run energy company, the incident has already reduced helium production by 14%.

The immediate concern is rising costs, as higher helium prices are expected to push up maintenance fees for MRI equipment. Industry experts warn that these increased expenses could place additional financial pressure on clinics and hospitals, potentially tightening already strained healthcare budgets.

If supply disruptions persist over a longer period, the consequences could become more severe. In a worst-case scenario, prolonged shortages lasting months or even years could hinder the ability to conduct MRI scans when urgently needed, raising the risk of delayed diagnoses and compromised patient care.

While such extreme outcomes remain uncertain, the situation underscores how geopolitical instability in energy-producing regions can ripple far beyond fuel markets, directly affecting critical medical infrastructure in countries like Japan.

Source: TBS
OSAKA, Mar 23 (News On Japan) - The Osaka High Court has upheld the acquittal of a former wife accused of murder in connection with the death of a wealthy man known as the "Kishu Don Juan," dismissing the prosecutions appeal and reaffirming the lower courts ruling.

Kosuke Nozaki, a wealthy resident of Tanabe in Wakayama Prefecture, was found dead at his home in May 2018 due to acute stimulant poisoning. His former wife, Saki Sudo, was arrested and indicted on charges including murder, accused of administering a lethal dose of stimulants orally by some means.

In December two years ago, the Wakayama District Court acquitted Sudo, stating that it could not rule out the possibility that Nozaki had taken the stimulants himself and accidentally consumed a fatal amount. Prosecutors subsequently appealed the decision.

The Osaka High Court on Tuesday supported the initial ruling, concluding that reasonable doubt remained, and dismissed the prosecutions appeal, thereby confirming Sudos acquittal.

Source: TBS
HYOGO, Mar 23 (News On Japan) - A 1,400-year-old piece of pottery excavated from an ancient burial mound in Himeji shows clear paw prints, raising the possibility that they are the oldest known traces of a cat in Japan, suggesting the animal may have been present earlier than previously believed.

The small, distinctly shaped paw impressions were found on Sue ware pottery unearthed in 2007 from a kofun burial mound in Himeji. Subsequent analysis indicated a high likelihood that the marks were left by a cat, based on their size and the absence of visible claw impressions.

In Japan, cats are first mentioned in historical records from the early Heian period, but the pottery dates back roughly 200 years earlier, hinting that cats may have already been familiar to people well before their documented appearance.

Osamu Komurasaki, a section chief at the Himeji City Archaeological Research Center, suggested that the animal likely wandered nearby while the pottery was still semi-dry. "It is possible that the cat was moving around when the Sue ware had not yet fully hardened," Komurasaki said.

Himeji City announced on March 23rd that it has decided to designate artifacts excavated from the burial mound, including the pottery bearing the paw prints, as important tangible cultural properties. The city plans to further strengthen efforts to preserve and utilize these historical items.

Source: YOMIURI
TOKYO, Mar 23 (News On Japan) - Animal cafes offering close interaction with a wide range of animals beyond dogs and cats are rapidly increasing in Tokyos Harajuku district, particularly along Takeshita Street, where a surge in inbound tourism is driving demand and even creating venues where nearly all customers are foreign visitors.

Cafes featuring micro pigs, capybaras, cats, and large dogs have become a common sight in the area, drawing steady crowds curious to experience close contact with animals rarely encountered in everyday life. Harajuku, long known as a hub of youth culture and trends, has emerged as a focal point for this growing niche.

Visitors strolling along the bustling Takeshita Street can spot multiple animal cafes within a short distance, including establishments where customers pause to photograph fluffy white Samoyeds. One such cafe has gained attention for its soothing atmosphere, where guests can spend 30 minutes interacting with the dogs while enjoying unlimited drinks, priced at 3,500 yen on weekdays and 4,000 yen on weekends.

The popularity of these large, fluffy dogs is evident during scheduled walking sessions, held daily before and after business hours for health management, with occasional opportunities for visitors to join. Groups of Samoyeds walking through the streets often attract attention from passersby.

However, among foreign tourists, even more popular than the dogs are capybaras housed on lower floors of some cafes. According to one operator, the venue initially featured only Samoyeds, but the concept failed to resonate strongly with overseas visitors accustomed to large dogs, prompting a shift to include capybaras last year. On a recent visit, nearly all customers inside were foreign tourists, many enjoying the chance to touch and feed the animals.

The concentration of such cafes in Harajuku is striking, with 17 animal cafes located within a five-minute walk from Harajuku Station, including 11 along Takeshita Street alone. This expansion reflects not only domestic interest but also strong inbound demand, as tourists seek experiences unique to Japan.

Micro pig cafes, in particular, have drawn significant attention, with some venues reporting that around 80 percent of customers are from overseas. Visitors often express fascination with the opportunity to interact with pigs, describing the experience as rare and memorable compared to what is available in their home countries.

Owl cafes and other specialty venues are also gaining traction, offering hands-on experiences such as feeding sessions held twice daily. In some cases, all customers inside are foreign visitors, highlighting the strong appeal of these uniquely Japanese attractions.

Operators note that many tourists are specifically seeking experiences they cannot find abroad, positioning animal cafes as part of Japans distinct cultural offerings. A survey of the area found a diverse range of establishments, including four dog cafes, three cat cafes, two micro pig cafes, one capybara cafe, and several others featuring animals such as rabbits and rodents, allowing visitors to encounter more than 30 species in total.

Amid the rapid growth, attention has also turned to animal welfare, with cafes implementing measures to reduce stress on the animals. These include designated rest areas within each enclosure where animals can retreat from human interaction, as well as rotation systems for species that do not have fixed rest spaces.

At one recently opened cafe, approximately 25 species and around 40 animals are housed, with additional features such as animals performing small tricks like drawing fortune slips in exchange for tips. Despite the high volume of visitors, operators emphasize that maintaining the animals health is their top priority.

Source: FNN
Funding helps local animal shelters and rescues prepare adoptable pets for in-store adoption events from March 2329, 2026 during National Adoption Week

BURLINGTON, ON, March 23, 2026 /CNW/ -- Ahead of the first National Adoption Week of the year, PetSmart Charities of Canada has awarded $450,000 in grants to community animal welfare organizations nationwide to support in-store adoption programs that help animals find loving homes. Adoptable pets are available in PetSmart stores every day, but from March 2329, 2026, local animal shelters and rescues will bring even more adoptable pets--including dogs, cats, rabbits, and small animals of all ages and personalities--to PetSmart stores across the country to connect people and pets.

PetSmart Charities of Canada recently awarded $450,000 in grants to community animal welfare organizations across the country ahead of National Adoption Week (March 2329), where local pets will be available for adoption at PetSmart stores across the country.

New findings from an Angus Reid survey highlight the powerful emotional impact pets have on Canadians. An overwhelming 96% of pet owners report that having a pet has improved their emotional wellbeing. The survey also reveals that comfort and companionship is the leading emotional benefit pets provide:

39% of respondents ranked comfort and companionship as the #1 benefit .

of respondents ranked comfort and companionship as the . 19% ranked increased happiness as their top emotional benefit, with those under 55 more likely to cite this.

ranked as their top emotional benefit, with those under 55 more likely to cite this. 12% identified reduced stress or anxiety as their primary benefit.

Pets are also strengthening social ties. Nearly half of owners (45%) say that adding a pet to their family has helped deepen their sense of community, whether through interactions with neighbours, fellow pet owners, or local shelters.

Funding from PetSmart Charities of Canada supports the needs of adoptable pets including veterinary care, enrichment and nutrition, to ensure they are ready for placement in loving homes. Adopting a new best friend at an in-store event can save lives, bring more joy to families and ease the burden of local animal welfare organizations working to give every pet the love and attention they need to thrive.

"We've seen that Canadian pet parents overwhelmingly benefit from adding a pet to their family," said Aimee Gilbreath, president of PetSmart Charities of Canada. "This year, we're excited to continue this trend through $450,000 in adoption support grants to our animal shelter and rescue partners, who are working tirelessly to intake new pets, support their adoption journey and help every pet find the loving home they've been waiting for."

PetSmart Charities of Canada National Adoption Week Details

During PetSmart Charities of Canada National Adoption Week, local shelters and rescues will bring adoptable pets into nearly every PetSmart store across Canada. Potential pet parents will have the chance to interact with adoptable pets, with staff and volunteers available to help educate potential adopters on pet care needs and provide adoption resources.

Dates: March 2329, 2026

March 2329, 2026 Locations: Nearly every PetSmart store across Canada. Visit PetSmart .ca to find a store near you, or donate to: PetSmartCharities.ca

Those interested in other ways to support adoptable pets can still make an impact by donating funds to help pets in need at PetSmartCharities.ca . They can also find their match when the time is right by visiting PetSmartCharities.ca/adopt-a-pet to view adoptable pets, adoption centres, and upcoming events.

About PetSmart Charities of Canada

PetSmart Charities of Canada is committed to making the world a better place for pets and all who love them. Through its in-store adoption program in PetSmart stores across the country, PetSmart Charities of Canada has helped over 400,000 pets find loving homes. PetSmart Charities of Canada also provides grant funding to support organizations that advocate and care for the well-being of all pets and their families. Our grants and efforts connect pets with loving homes through adoption, improve access to affordable veterinary care and support families in times of crisis with access to food, shelter, and emergency relief. Each year, thousands of generous supporters help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities of Canada directly at PetSmartCharities.ca, while shopping at PetSmart.ca, and by using the PIN pads at checkout registers inside Canadian PetSmart stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities of Canada efficiently uses more than 90 cents of every dollar donated to fulfill its role as the leading funder of animal welfare in Canada, granting more than $40 million since its inception in 1999. PetSmart Charities of Canada is a registered Canadian charity. To learn more visit PetSmartCharities.ca.

Angus Reid Survey Methodology:

These are the findings of a study/survey conducted by PetSmart Charities of Canada from March 11- 12, 2026 among a sample of 1,004 online Canadians with pets who are members of the Angus Reid Forum. The survey was conducted in English and French. For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

SOURCE PetSmart Charities of Canada, Inc.

Waverly Neufeld, 905-353-5985, Porter Novelli for PetSmart Charities of Canada, [email protected]
OTTAWA, ON, March 23, 2026 /CNW/ - Unifor leaders from across the country are in Ottawa this week, meeting with more than 75 MPs from all sitting parties to deliver the message to Protect Canadian Jobs.

"In the face of U.S. tariffs, everything is on the line for workers in Canada, and we need the federal government and all political parties to match the urgency of this moment," said Unifor National President Lana Payne. "We're ready to deliver a message to protect Canadian jobs, our country's industrial economy, and defend trade union rights."

Protect Canadian Jobs Logo (CNW Group/Unifor)

Unifor is calling on the federal government to implement three policy pillars to protect workers and increase Canada's economic resilience:

"Buy Canadian" and "Sell Here, Build Here": Companies that sell in Canada must build in Canada. We need "Buy Canadian" rules applied to projects like the $3 billion VIA Rail renewal. This also means ending preferential treatment for U.S. suppliers and using every legal tool to stop the offshoring of Canadian jobs. Worker-Centered Industrial Strategies: Develop coherent, sector-specific strategies with clear targets to reinforce Canada's industrial base. We need industrial strategies crafted with worker input to prioritize job quality and training, bridge supply chain gaps and protect good jobs in every sector. Promote Good, Union Jobs: Ensure public dollars only go to companies that respect workers' rights. Unifor's plan calls for union neutrality for companies that benefit from government funding, defending the right to strike, and trade rules that protect Canadian workers from unfair competition.

"Our plan shows government how to build a more resilient economy which promotes good, union jobs. We must protect and grow industries in Canada and Quebec with a whole-supply-chain outlook, and the only way to do that successfully is to include workers in the process," said Unifor Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier.

Unifor has advocated for actions to protect jobs, build a more resilient economy, and defend Canadian sovereignty. Find information on the union's asks here.

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 320,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad and strives to create progressive change for a better future.

SOURCE Unifor

For media inquiries in English please contact Unifor Communications Representative Sarah McCue at [email protected] or at 416-458-3307. For media inquiries in French, contact: Unifor Quebec Communications Representative Veronique Figliuzzi at [email protected].
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Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Cloudy with occasional rain during the afternoon. High near 60F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 43F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Cloudy skies with periods of rain this afternoon. High around 60F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Rain likely. Low 43F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall may reach one inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
New rules on Louisiana chemical plants are weaker than first proposed. But is it still progress?
Hours-long security lines clogged airports nationwide as TSA agents  who are not being paid due to a budget standoff in the U.S. Senate  cal
More TSA staff called out of work in New Orleans than at any US airport, officials say
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New Ways to Plan Your Visit to The National WWII Museum
Dartmoor is one of the best places to live in the UK, according to a top guide.

Dartmoor is one of the best places to live in the UK, according to a top guide.

The beauty of the national park and its pretty villages and appealing towns has won it a top listing in the Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide.

Malmesbury in Wiltshire won top billing as the best place to live in the South West.

But seven other locations in the South West are also featured in the comprehensive guide. In total, 72 places across the UK were selected by The Sunday Times to showcase the best of Britain, with Norwich, Norfolk named the overall national winner.

Dartmoor and Exmouth were listed from Devon.

The guide says of Dartmoor: Dartmoor is the countrys most magical outdoor playground, a bewitching patchwork of craggy tors, steep valleys, pretty villages and ancient thatched cottages.

It also has some of our most appealing towns. Among the best are Chagford, which is pretty, arty and community-minded. It has great pubs, allotments, a primary school, an idyllic open-air swimming pool and lots of good shops, and a house-price premium to match.

Ashburton is younger, busier and better connected via the A38 to both Plymouth and Exeter, with an outstanding town centre where you can get everything from fresh fish, bread and local meat to vintage clothes, comics and musical instruments.

And of Exmouth: Exmouth is changing fast. Quick trains to Exeter are attracting a younger crowd who like to wake up with the sea on their doorsteps.

Small enough to feel like home, big enough to have everything you need, its an ideal spot to put down roots, with useful housing stock and an improving range of shops and restaurants

Helen Davies, editorial projects director and Best Places to Live editor, says: This guide is a great opportunity to highlight the best places in Britain.

It is full of places that show that our village, town and city centres can still be full of life, as well as places bursting with natural beauty, culture, connectivity and most importantly a sense of community.

Our expert team of judges visit every location on the list and talk to the locals to find out what they love about the place they live.

These judges have traveled the length and breadth of the UK, from the Scottish Highlands to the Cornish coast, selecting the top towns and villages, suburbs and cities for the 2026 guide. One thing all our chosen locations have in common is that the people who live in them are proud to call them home.

Credit: The Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2026 https://www.thetimes.com/best-places-to-live
An angry South Devon MP has urged the King to call off a planned trip to America amid concerns over President Donald Trumps illegal war.

An angry South Devon MP has urged the King to call off a planned trip to America amid concerns over President Donald Trumps illegal war.

Newton Abbot Liberal Democrat MP Martin Wrigley has signed a motion which says: We refuse to let His Majesty the King be used as a political shield for an administration that treats our allies with contempt.

His comments follow the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, in which President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have sanctioned attacks on Iran.

President Trump has distanced himself from this weeks Israeli attacks on Iranian energy resources, but has been critical of Prime Minister Keir Starmers leadership and says the UK should offer more support to the US war effort.

The Liberal Democrat motion calls on the Prime Minister to advise that His Majestys upcoming state visit to the United States is cancelled.

This comes, said Mr Wrigley, as Donald Trump continues his illegal war against Iran, which has destabilised the Middle East and triggered a surge in energy bills across the country and petrol prices for families in Devon.

He said the party was calling on MPs from across the house to back the motion and stand up to President Trumps bullying tactics.

Mr Wrigley added: A state visit is our nations highest mark of respect. It cannot be used to validate a President who has ignited an illegal war, gambled with the worlds economy and sent energy bills soaring for every household across Devon.

The Liberal Democrats are calling on Keir Starmer to find his backbone  stop the appeasement and cancel this visit now.
This past month has shown just how exposed rural communities like ours are to global conflicts unfolding thousands of miles away, and how a regional war can drive up global prices.

Strikes on major gas infrastructure linked to Irans South Pars field, responsible for the vast majority of the countrys gas production, were followed by retaliatory attacks affecting Qatars Ras Laffan, the single largest hub for liquefied natural gas exports in the world.

Since then, Iranian missiles have reportedly been fired at Diego Garcia and Trumps rhetoric has also intensified dramatically, which has only heightened concerns about how far this conflict could escalate.

Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz has remained effectively blocked and under the control of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps - a group we Liberal Democrats have continuously called on the government to proscribe - and, because of that, we

have seen oil and gas prices jumping sharply, with household bills set to rise even further this year.

Those who rely on heating oil in North Devon were already feeling the pressure.

In a meeting with MPs representing some of the UKs most rural areas, the Energy Minister said that the government wanted evidence from consumers to support action by the Competition and Markets Authority against price gouging and anti-competitive practices.

In response, I launched a local survey into heating oil, LPG and red diesel users to collect evidence to send on to the Minister to highlight the scale of the issue in North Devon and push for urgent action.

The results showed that many people were being quoted prices 100-150 per cent higher than usual, some even reporting increases of over 200 per cent, and many unable to successfully place a new order.

The Governments response so far has felt slow to say the least. There was a 53 support package for heating oil, which is welcome, as any recognition that off-grid households need support is long overdue.

But it doesnt match the scale of what may be coming down the track.

Although prices are still a long way off the peaks seen in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a roughly 25 per cent spike in gas prices in a single morning is a warning siren. Without action, these increases will begin feeding through to the price cap by the summer, as Ofgem calculates it based on average wholesale prices over the three-month observation window.

That is why we Liberal Democrats have been calling for an emergency COBRA meeting to urgently set out a plan to protect households from what could become a 500 hit.

I am glad that the Prime Minister has now agreed to convene COBRA to assess the impact of the conflict, but this must be the starting point for decisive action and a stand against Trump and his war of choice.

Because, as this all goes on, I am hearing directly from people in North Devon who are making difficult choices about which rooms they cant afford to heat, limiting hot water, and taking on debt to get through the month.

This is not sustainable, and it is not acceptable.

Rural homes are often harder and more expensive to heat as it is, and too many have been left behind when it comes to insulation and energy efficiency.

This conflict has made it all the more clear that we need a serious long-term plan, one that includes a renewed commitment to building zero-carbon homes that are cheaper to run from the outset and rebuilding ties with Europe. Without that, we will remain exposed not just to this crisis, but the next one as well.
Emma Sargsyan

In 2026, reputation is no longer a communications asset.

It is geopolitical currency.

For decades, public relations leaders framed reputation as a soft-power instrument - something to manage, protect, or repair. That framework now feels outdated. Today, reputation influences access to capital, regulatory treatment, diplomatic leverage, investor confidence, and political survival. In some cases, it determines whether institutions remain operational across borders.

We are no longer managing narratives. We are managing power.

The Collapse of the Traditional Brand Model

The old formula was simple: visibility generated credibility, credibility generated growth.

That model functioned in a relatively stable global environment. But stability has fractured. Economic blocs are competing. Sanctions regimes are expanding. AI infrastructure is becoming sovereign. Political polarization shapes markets as much as macroeconomics.

In this multipolar world, reputation functions as strategic capital.

Consider how quickly corporate valuations now shift following political positioning. When multinational companies publicly exited certain markets after geopolitical conflicts, they were not making branding decisions they were making risk calculations tied to sanctions exposure, investor optics, and long-term market access. And to be honest, little did they care about their customers in that certain market. Maths.

Reputation is no longer downstream from operations. It sits at the core of operational viability.

When Political Optics Become Corporate Risk

The separation between corporate communications and political positioning has effectively dissolved.

A CEOs appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos can affect regulatory scrutiny in Washington and investment appetite in the Gulf region. A government ministers social media statement can influence trade relationships or sovereign bond perceptions. A corporations stance on a social issue may trigger regulatory attention in one jurisdiction while generating consumer loyalty in another.

Reputation now undergoes geopolitical translation.

Communications leaders must understand how messaging travels across ideological and regulatory environments. What is considered principled leadership in one market may be interpreted as political alignment in another.

The modern PR leader must think like a geopolitical analyst. And this is true for a country of any size and a PR leader in any industry.

Governments Think Like Brands. Brands Think Like Governments.

Governments increasingly rely on strategic communications advisors to maintain domestic legitimacy and international positioning. Meanwhile, corporations are hiring geopolitical risk consultants to evaluate political exposure before entering or exiting markets.

The convergence is clear: governance and brand management now intersect.

When sovereign wealth funds evaluate investment targets, reputation and political exposure are factored into due diligence. When technology companies deploy AI infrastructure, their positioning on data governance, privacy, and national security affects regulatory negotiations.

Reputation has merged with governance.

Communications strategy is no longer about press coverage. It is about institutional durability.

Crisis in the Age of Permanent Surveillance

The speed of reputational escalation has fundamentally changed.

Artificial intelligence-driven monitoring systems, decentralized media ecosystems, and real-time citizen reporting mean that crises emerge and globalize within hours. Narrative vacuums no longer exist. Silence itself becomes interpreted.

Recent corporate crises have demonstrated that delayed response is often more damaging than the initial event. The issue is no longer whether a mistake occurs; it is whether leadership maintains narrative sovereignty during volatility.

Crisis response in 2026 requires three layers:

Pre-emptive narrative architecture

Real-time response systems

Long-term insulation strategies

The critical metric is no longer Did we fix the issue?

It is Did we preserve institutional authority?

The Rise of Strategic Narrative Architecture

Communications in 2026 demands architectural thinking.

Strategic narrative architecture means anticipating regulatory shifts before they materialize, aligning executive messaging with geopolitical realities, and designing positioning frameworks resilient to political transitions.

It requires understanding sanctions regimes, cross-border media dynamics, capital flow sensitivity, and cultural signaling patterns.

Most importantly, it requires being present at the decision-making table before strategy is finalized.

If communications is consulted after execution, it is already too late.

What the Field Now Demands

PR leadership must evolve from tactical execution to geopolitical advisory.

This evolution requires board-level access, policy literacy, cross-market fluency, psychological intelligence, and scenario planning capabilities.

Agencies that fail to expand beyond media relations will be reduced to vendors. Advisors who cannot interpret political volatility will become operational risks.

The future belongs to strategists who understand that reputation is leverage  and leverage determines power.

Final Thought

Reputation in 2026 is traded, defended, sanctioned, elevated, and weaponized at geopolitical speed.

It shapes investment decisions. It influences regulatory outcomes. It affects diplomatic engagement. It determines whether institutions expand or retreat.

The question for communications leaders is not whether reputation matters.

The question is whether you understand its value as currency, and whether you are equipped to architect it at the highest strategic level.

Because in this era, reputation is no longer public relations.

It is geopolitical capital.

***

Emma Sargsyan is a global public relations strategist and CEO of Sargsyan Group, a strategic communications and public affairs firm operating across the United States, the Middle East, and Europe.
The Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority wants to build a pool of local talent to provide communications, video production and photographic services.

It wants to tell the stories of the people who live in its 5,000 affordable housing units and 12K privately-owned rental apartments through Section 8 HCV programs.

The RFP notes that presenting complicated information in a visually compelling, easy-to-understand manner is vital to our organizations mission; video storytelling is an ideal medium to accomplish this.

CMHA wants firms or freelancers who excel at visual storytelling and creating appealing, informative videos that convey its messaging while holding the viewers attention throughout.

It plans to use the material for online viewing, social media posts, presentations and events. Scripts and a general description of content will be provided by CMHA.

On the communications front, CMHA needs a firm or freelancer to write press releases, respond to media requests, conduct research and handle any crisis that may pop up.

Proposals, which are due April 6, go to Drew Kendall and CMHAs e-procurement site.

Read the RFP (PDF).
A CHARGE alleging breach of a protection order was brought against a man after he sent a 'Happy new year' text message to his children, Tullamore District Court heard.

Judge Andrew Cody dismissed the charge and said the woman who made the complaint to the gardai had misled him when she originally sought the order because she did not disclose that the father of her children was in intensive care in hospital.

The identity of the parties to the case cannot be published for legal reasons and in his written judgment, Judge Cody referred to the accused man as Mr R and his former partner as Ms A.

The judge said Ms A obtained a protection order in court on December 15 last, having complained in her signed information and in sworn testimony that she and her children were being harassed and intimidated by Mr R.

He said she had reported this to her local gardai who tried to call Mr R but he wouldnt answer the call.

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Judge Cody said it wasnt denied by Mr R that he had tried to contact the children.

He stated that Ms A had omitted so much of the context that he was satisfied she deliberately misled the court on December 15.

The truth couldnt have been further from Ms As written information and sworn evidence, he said.

The judge outlined that Mr R was admitted to hospital on November 11 last year for what turned out to be two very serious lifesaving operations, the first of which necessitated brain surgery later that month.

The man then required separate lifesaving open heart surgery in December and remained in hospital in Dublin for a total of eight weeks.

Judge Cody said when Ms A applied for her protection order Mr R had been in hospital in Dublin for almost five weeks and was still in intensive care some 18 days after his lifesaving brain surgery.

None of this was disclosed by Ms A in her application.

A garda had to travel to the Dublin hospital and serve Mr R with the protection order and safety order summons while he was still in the intensive care unit.

The court should have been told that Mr R was in intensive care as this would have been a very significant factor in deciding to grant or refuse a protection order, said the judge.

Mr R had not seen his children since October 30, 2025 and was desperately trying to speak to his children prior to him facing not one but two life threatening operations but was unable to speak to them.

The judge said because of the allegations made by Ms A the protection order prohibited Mr R from contacting his children.

Mr R did not do so until the 31st of December 2025, he sent a text message to... his children simply saying, 'Happy New Year'.

The judge said when the charges for the protection order came before his court on March 7 last Ms A withdrew the summons for a safety order and both parties gave undertakings similar to a safety order.

Ms A had made a complaint to the gardai on January 3, 2026 of a breach of the protection order, which was that her former partner had wished his two children Happy new year.

Subsequent to his release from hospital Mr R was arrested and brought before the court where he was prosecuted for a breach of the protection order. The matter was in court for hearing on March 16.

Judge Cody said: Interestingly, Ms A received 100 gift by Revolut on the 3rd of January 2026 from Mr R which was also a technical breach of the protection order but no complaint was made in respect of same.

He said the Domestic Violence Act of 2018 provides valuable protection to the victims of domestic violence and is a very important piece of legislation as it reflects a modern understanding of domestic abuse, including emotional and psychological harm, and for the first time in Irish law, emotional abuse and controlling behaviour are recognised as forms of domestic violence through the offence of coercive control.

This acknowledges that domestic abuse is not only physical but can include patterns of intimidation, manipulation, threats, and isolation, he said.

He added: However, I have noticed an alarming trend which is the exploitation of the judicial system as a form of control and possibly coercive control which undermines the integrity of legal protections for abuse survivors.

Coercive controllers can be adept at manipulating legal applications to perpetuate abuse, using tactics that undermine the real purpose of the legislation. A common strategy involves selectively presenting evidence - cherry-picking bits and pieces of information, often out of context, to portray the opposing party negatively or trying to secure a domestic violence order for reason other than it was intended for.

That is what happened here. Ms A failed to tell this court that Mr R had been in hospital for five weeks prior to her application. She failed to tell the court that he had undergone a lifesaving brain operation and that he was still in the intensive care unit and facing within a matter of days further lifesaving open heart surgery.

Had Ms A been honest she would not have obtained a protection order from me. I would not have directed service of a protection order on someone in intensive care except in the most exceptional circumstances.

He described the complaint by the woman about the 'Happy new year' message as a disgraceful abuse of the gardais time and this court's time.

Her distortion of the truth exploited the legal system as an instrument of abuse as did her totally unnecessary complaint following the wishing of a 'Happy new year' to her children.

The weaponisation of the gardai and the judiciary by manipulators and controllers poses profound implications for the treatment of domestic abuse.

When abusers manipulate legal proceedings to their advantage, they not only inflict further harm on their victims but also compromise the fairness and integrity of the judicial process.

Courts and gardai must be hyper vigilant so as not to inadvertently become complicit in the weaponisation of court proceedings as a form of abuse, based on misleading or manipulated evidence, the granting of protection orders on misleading unchallenged information or the arrest and charging of respondents on spurious breaches of domestic violence legislation.

Judge Cody concluded: In the circumstances I have no hesitation in dismissing this charge.

(Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme)
TULLAMORE native Tom Roches presentation at the recent Breaking Point Conference held in Dublin was a deeply personal and powerful testimony that placed a human face on the wider structural failures of Irelands housing and banking system.

Speaking as a lifelong furniture maker with no formal education beyond primary school, Roche grounded his contribution in lived experience, describing a journey from financial stability to prolonged insecurity despite years of steady work and tax compliance.

He opened with a stark reflection drawn from his walk through Dublin that morning, recounting an encounter with a homeless man. This moment prompted a striking comparison: that someone seeking help on the street might now have a better chance of securing housing than he does of retaining his own home. This observation set the tone for his central argument, that the system has become so distorted that those who worked, paid mortgages, and followed the rules are now at risk of losing everything.

Roche traced his difficulties back to 2004, when he was granted a mortgage of 172,000 despite earning only 25,000 per year. He explained that the repayments amounted to approximately 940 per month, far exceeding prudent lending guidelines. In hindsight, he questioned how such a loan could have been approved, arguing that proper due diligence was clearly absent and that he should never have been lent that amount.

Despite these conditions, Roche maintained that he met his obligations and paid his mortgage consistently until the financial crash in 2008. By that point, he had repaid a substantial portion of the loan. However, the collapse of his income, linked in part to the loss of funding for his environmental organisation Just Forests, placed him under severe financial strain.

READ NEXT: Price of average second-hand three-bed semi in Offaly rose by 1.2pc to 292,468 in last three months

He described a long and complex engagement with the legal and financial system that followed. After an initial court case taken against him by the bank was dismissed without appeal, he later attempted to resolve his situation through the personal insolvency process. With the help of a practitioner, he offered a substantial lump sum payment and proposed that the remaining balance be warehoused. This proposal, which he and his adviser considered reasonable, was refused without clear explanation. Roche interpreted this as evidence that the banks priority was repossession rather than resolution.

Roche then outlined how his loan was ultimately sold, placing him into ongoing court proceedings throughout 2025. Throughout this period, he emphasised that he had done nothing wrong, repeatedly stressing that he did not cause the financial crash and had met all his obligations when he was able to do so.

A defining feature of his presentation was his refusal to accept stigma. He spoke openly about debt, urging others not to feel shame for circumstances beyond their control. In his view, a culture of silence has allowed what he described as an entrenched vulture system to operate without sufficient scrutiny. He argued that this system has become so normalised that many no longer recognise its injustice.

Roche also detailed his personal activism, including hunger strikes outside bank branches, public protests, and a 30 kilometre walk along the Grand Canal to attend a court hearing. These actions, he said, were driven by a need to highlight his case and the broader issues it represents. While these efforts brought public support and media attention, they also came at a personal cost. He spoke candidly about the emotional toll of the experience, including periods of deep depression and withdrawal from normal life.

Despite this, his closing remarks carried a sense of resilience and gradual recovery. He described small but meaningful steps, such as returning to social activities after many years, and credited the support of campaigners and advisers for helping him rebuild confidence.

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Overall, Roches presentation was less a technical analysis and more a compelling narrative of injustice, perseverance, and resistance. It underscored the human consequences of systemic failures in lending, regulation, and legal process, while reinforcing a broader message that those affected are not at fault and should not remain silent.

All of the presentations made at the conference are available on the Breaking Point channel on YouTube.
THE health minister and HSE chief must intervene to restore over 300,000 which was raised from the public for Offaly Hospice.

The call for the intervention of Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Bernard Gloster was made at a meeting of Offaly County Council on Monday where it was stated that minutes from a meeting back in 2023 prove the HSE committed itself to repaying 312,000 to Offaly Hospice.

Cllr Fergus McDonnell, who stated earlier this year that Offaly Hospice was seeking the funding, told council colleagues that the money had been spent on the architects, site and designs for the original hospice site on the grounds of Tullamore Hospital.

The project did not go ahead and planning permission was subsequently granted for a Midlands Hospice on a greenfield site at Arden Lane in Tullamore.

Cllr McDonnell, an Edenderry-based Independent Ireland representative, said it was with regret he had to say that while a meeting between Offaly Hospice and the HSE took place, unfortunately there seems to be no movement.

READ NEXT: Midlands mother reported man after 'Happy new year' message to their children

The members of Offaly Hospice were clearly told the HSE were under no obligation to repay any of the monies, said the councillor.

That is regrettable, he remarked.

He said it was extremely disappointing because had had seen the minutes of a meeting which took place on April 17, 2023 between senior members of HSE management and Offaly Hospice and it's clear and unambiguous in that minute, of an agreement and a commitment to repay that sum of money.

The councillor added: I think words like integrity, sincerity, accountability, these are traits that every one of us expect to have front and centre when we're having dealings with anybody, but particularly when it's an arm of the State.

He referred to a big media profile last month where South Westmeath Hospice secured the return of 1.9m that was similarly agreed.

Cllr McDonnell (pictured below with Minister MacNeill last year at the Arden Lane site) asked for the council's to support a written request to Minister MacNeill and Mr Gloster for their direct intervention so that Offaly Hospice can secure the rightful return of that sum of money.

He said the money would be used to support families where a member was continuing to remain at home in very difficult times.

Cllr Peter Ormond, Fianna Fail, concurred, saying Offaly Hospice had set out to fundraise a number of years ago in good faith and then engaged with architects and people in the legal profession to to everything they could to deliver a hospice.

I think it's only proper and right that this money would be returned to Offaly Hospice, said the representative from Shinrone.

It's left a sour taste out there regarding what's happening and I think it's only right that this matter be dealt with in a timely fashion. And I mean very very quickly.

He said a lot of work has still to take place to deliver the Midlands Hospice which he understood was still with An Coimisiun Pleanala after planning permission had been granted.

Seconding Cllr McDonnell's proposal, he said.: The money that was spent certainly needs to be refunded and I'm disappointed to hear that it has taken this long to bring that position about.

Cllr Sean Maher, Sinn Fein, Birr, agreed, describing the HSE actions as absolutely outrageous and totally unacceptable.

Cllr Maher said the letter from the council should request that the full amount of money is restored.

The Independent representative from Tullamore, Cllr Sean O'Brien, said he was disappointed to see that negotiations with the HSE had not gone as planned.

Cllr O'Brien said Offaly Hospice had put 500,000 into a building fund and that started the whole process to get the hospice for the Midlands.

Along with that, Offaly Hospice was raising money from people on the ground to deliver services on the ground, with nurses working on end of life care at night and weekends when the HSE didn't have much interest in it.

I'm pleading with the HSE at this stage to do the decent thing and refund that money to a group who are going to use that money to deliver services that the HSE are not delivering on the ground.

Cllr Eddie Fitzpatrick, Independent, likewise urged the HSE to repay the money.

It's not actually their own money, said the Cloneyhurke man, adding that he would raise the matter at a meeting of the HSE regional forum the following day (Tuesday, March 24).

It's public money that was raised and it should be returned back to Offaly Hospice.

Cllr Aoife Masterson, Sinn Fein, Tullamore, said everyone had entered into the arrangement in good faith and what had happened was very disappointing.

We were in the very lucky position that there were so many people interested in delivering [a hospice] from Offaly, said Cllr Masterson, adding that she hoped the HSE will reconsider their position so the money can be put to good use in the community delivering vital services.

Offaly County Council Cathaoirleach John Leahy said the HSE had made a commitment to refund Offaly Hospice.

It's clearly written on the minutes of a meeting and they should honour that. How it got away from that point I don't know, said Cllr Leahy.

In a statement released by Offaly Hospice in December 1, the charity said a site on the grounds of the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore was agreed between the HSE and Offaly Hospice in October 2020.

It was hoped that planning permission would be sought and by September 2022 Government funding of 20 million was allocated.

In 2023 an alternative site materialised on Arden Lane, offered by Tullamore Lions Club who had run the Hooves4Hospice fundraising campaign.

Offaly Hospice said the HSE did not inform it about the alternative site for almost six months and the plan for the facility at the Tullamore Hospital site was discarded.

Offaly Hospice chair Professor Humphrey O'Connor said earlier this year the HSE has offered to repay an amount of money but that it was nowhere near what the charity had paid out.
Gardai are appealing for information following attempted robberies of shops in Offaly and Laois on Friday afternoon.

The first incident occurred at the Post Office on the Main Street in Daingean, Co Offaly at around 2.45pm when a man walked into the shop, approached the counter and demanded money. The man threatened to produce a weapon but no weapon was visible.

Gardai described the man as being in his late 20s or early 30s. He was wearing grey tracksuit bottoms and a black jacket. The man was wearing a black peaked cap and sunglasses and he spoke with a Dublin accent.

A second male was standing at the door. He was taller, thin, wearing a peaked cap, sunglasses and a distinctive high visibility jacket, Gardai said.

Both fled the Post Office in Daingean on foot in the direction of Edenderry, Gardai said.

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Gardai said an hour later there was an attempted robbery of a shop on French Church Street in Portarlington, Co Laois on Friday, March 20 at 3.50pm.

A male and a female entered the shop. The female stood at the door and the male approached the counter and demanded money. Gardai said.

Gardai said the man threatened to produce a weapon but failed to do so and then left the shop empty handed. The man and woman left on foot in the direction of Edenderry.

Investigating Gardai said nothing was taken in either attempted robbery. They believe the two attempted robberies are connected and are appealing for information.

They are appealing for witnesses of anyone who has dashcam or CCTV footage from either location to contact them at Portlaoise Garda Station on 057 867 4100, Portarlington Garda Station on 057 862 3112 or at Tullamore Garda Station on 057 932 7600.
Cash Game Grinder Wins First-Ever Great Lakes Poker Classic Main Event

Liam Gannon Live Reporter Copy link

The first Great Lakes Poker Classic $1,200 Main Event drew 314 entrants to FireKeepers Casino Hotel in Battle Creek, Michigan, generating a $321,700 prize pool.

Only 44 players returned for the final day, and just 34 players would earn a payout. After roughly 12 hours of play, the field was reduced to a single name, with Alec Magdan capturing the first Great Lakes Poker Classic Main Event title.

Magdan entered Day 2 in a unique position after taking advantage of the tournaments multi-bag format. He was the only player to double bag  and went one step further by triple bagging  securing $8,000 in bonus money even before the money bubble burst.

By the time the final card was dealt, he had added the top prize of $75,601 and the Main Event trophy to his resume.

I play mainly cash. MGM is so close and 2/5 is so popular, Magdan said moments after his win.

The victory adds $75,601 to his Hendon Mob profile and pushes his lifetime tournament earnings above $300,000.

Despite primarily grinding cash games, Magdan still makes regular appearances at FireKeepers.

I definitely dont miss the MSPT FireKeepers, but there are occasionally nightlies or like the Sizzling $750s. I play those, so maybe like three to four times a year. But now Im definitely going to be coming up for the Great Lakes Poker Classic.

Alec Magdan

After bagging a sizable stack in the opening flight, he continued firing in the remaining flights to claim the multi-bag bonus, at times multi-tabling and even sitting out late levels to protect his position.

It affected my play in the later levels, Magdan said of his strategy during the Day 1 flights. I wasnt used to playing for bags, so I just really needed to play tighter. I didnt need to accumulate chips because I had a big first bag.

That early success shaped the rest of his tournament.

If I didnt bag a lot on the first flight, I would have been playing more normally, not trying to coast into Level 15.

With 18 players remaining, Magdan found himself among the shorter stacks at the final two tables. From that point forward, his tournament began to shift.

He steadily built momentum through the late stages and entered the final table in the middle of the pack before quickly climbing into the chip lead, a position he would hold for most of the remainder of play.

Alec Magdan

Theres definitely momentum behind it. I kind of snowballed my momentum throughout the final table, Magdan said. My opponent heads up (Jacob Baumgartner) was a lot more card dead throughout the final table, which I think allowed me to keep riding that momentum.

Having the chip lead for the majority of the final table gave me the courage to take some spots when I was covering people  maybe some spots I wouldnt have taken if I was covered.

Final Table Results

Place Player Hometown Prize 1 Alec Magdan * Warren, MI $75,601 2 Jacob Baumgartner Grand Rapids, MI $46,743 3 Andrew Olive Saline, MI $33,949 4 Frank Lucarelli Woodhaven, MI $25,077 5 Pat Steele Chelsea, MI $18,826 6 Brian Barnes Augusta, MI $14,357 7 Robert Strunk Schoolcraft, MI $11,121 8 Jamie Eisenhut Bluffton, IN $8,744 9 Jack Hays Tompkinsville, KY $6,978

*Player received $8,000 extra because they bagged in three separate flights.

Final Table Action

Jack Hays

The first elimination at the final table saw Jack Hays, who began the day as chip leader, move all in with jack-ten suited. Alec Magdan called with pocket nines, which held to eliminate Hays in ninth place and extend his growing chip lead.

Magdan added further distance between himself and the field in a memorable hand against Jacob Baumgartner. Facing a turn three-bet and river overbet, Baumgartner folded pocket nines, only to be shown ten-high after Magdan missed both straight and flush draws.

Momentum continued in Magdans favor when Jamie Eisenhut moved all in with eight-seven suited and ran into Magdans ace-eight. Both players paired the eight, but Magdans kicker held to eliminate Eisenhut in eighth place.

Brian Barnes

Brian Barnes briefly mounted a comeback after doubling through Robert Strunk, but his run ended after the dinner break when his turned set of nines ran into a flopped straight from Baumgartner.

Magdan remained firmly in control. His pocket jacks held against the king-queen of MSPT Hall of Famer Pat Steele, sending Steele to the rail in fifth place.

One hand later, Frank Lucarelli was eliminated when his ace-seven ran into Magdans ace-queen, further extending the chip lead.

Andrew Olive exited in third place after his king-queen found a king on the flop but was overtaken by an ace on the river against Baumgartners ace-ten.

Jacob Baumgartner

Heads-up play began with Magdan holding roughly a 5:1 chip advantage over Baumgartner. While Baumgartner managed a few short-lived swings, Magdan maintained steady pressure throughout.

The final hand saw Baumgartner raise with ace-queen before Magdan moved all in with ace-three suited. Baumgartner called, but a three on the turn ended his chances.

With that, Alec Magdan secured the first Great Lakes Poker Classic Main Event title.

I think Ill just go back to grinding, do all the Midwest stuff, Magdan said after the win. Ill be back for the FireKeepers stop in May, Ill play the Reserve in April, and after that Ill go play the WSOP Main Event in Vegas.

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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 22, 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
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 22, 2026 / WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX) between July 23, 2025 and February 3, 2026, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important May 4, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.SO WHAT:If you purchased Boston Scientific common stock during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.WHAT TO DO NEXT:To join the Boston Scientific class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=55398 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 4, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.WHY ROSEN LAW:We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, during the Class Period, defendants made positive statements to investors while, at the same time, disseminating materially false and misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning the true state of Boston Scientific's U.S. Electrophysiology segment; notably, that management was aware that the segment's growth rate was unsustainable and that it was approaching an earlier tipping point than the market was anticipating. Due to defendants' statements of confidence and lofty expectations, investors and analysts were left surprised by Boston Scientific's net income miss and underwhelming guidance for the first half of fiscal 2026. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.To join the Boston Scientific class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=55398 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 22, 2026 / WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces it has filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of securities of Lufax Holding Ltd (NYSE: LU) between April 7, 2023 and January 26, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 20, 2026 in the securities class action first filed by the Firm.SO WHAT: If you purchased Lufax securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Lufax class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=53703 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 20, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.WHY ROSEN LAW:We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Lufax lacked adequate internal controls; (2) Certain of Lufax's financial results were materially misstated; and (3) as a result, defendants' statements about Lufax's business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.To join the Lufax class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=53703or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
The 37th Enugu International Trade Fair, organised by the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), kicked off on Saturday in a low-key manner, with most exhibitors still setting up their stands.

A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria, who covers the fair at the International Trade Fair Complex, Enugu, on Saturday, observed that no exhibiting stand had been erected at the newly-inaugurated 3,000 square metre tent.

Most of the regular exhibitors at the fair were still building their special stands or tents at the fairground, notwithstanding the newly inaugurated 3000-square-metre tent.

The fair is also kicking off when local transport fares have increased by 20 per cent, which is working against potential shoppers.

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This is due to the surge in petrol pump price occasioned by the current global energy crisis caused by the US/Israel and Iran war.

READ ALSO: Enugu govt insists on valid professional licences for infrastructural projects

Reacting, the Director General of ECCIMA, Uche Mba, noted that most of the exhibitors are still setting up for full business.

Over the years, the first day might look dull, but the tempo will start picking up in subsequent days.

So, there is nothing really unusual today like what happens every other first day of the fair over the years, he said.

The 37th Enugu International Trade Fair is scheduled for between 21 and 30 March.
US President Donald Trump has said Israel will be very happy with the US reaching a ceasefire deal with Iran.

He said this shortly after postponing his threatened strike against Irans power plants.

The US president told reporters in Florida on Monday that he spoke to Israeli leaders about reaching a deal with Iran, which would bring peace to the region.

He said both sides want peace, while noting that Tehran had reached out to him for talks.

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However, Iran denies having any direct or indirect discussions with the US.

The IRGC-linked Fars News Agency reported that no contact was made between Iran and Mr Trump, not even through an intermediary.

Israel is also yet to comment on the proposed peace deal.

However, Mr Trump insists that there has been a 15-point agreement between the US and Iran.

He also said Iran has agreed not to have nuclear weapons.

He, however, declared that he cannot guarantee that a deal will be reached, and that the US will just keep bombing if talks fail.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that Iran was in indirect talks with the US, mediated by Oman, when the US-Israel war on Iran started on the last day of February.

Both sides had ended rounds of talks a day before the attack and scheduled another meeting for the coming week.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Irans Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, had said good progress was made on the nuclear issue and sanction relief.

However, Mr Trump claimed Tehran was an imminent threat to US interests after the February attack.

The war, which is now in its fourth week, engulfed the Middle East and has led to the death of more than 2,500 people in the region, including the former Iranian Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and several other Iranian top officials.
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 24th day (its fourth week) on Sunday and shows no sign of abating.

PREMIUM TIMES brings you the key events around the war on Saturday.

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IEA warns of oil shock worse than 1970

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has warned of a serious energy crisis that threatens the global economy.

The IEA director, Faith Birol, speaking at the National Press Club in Australia on Monday, compared the burgeoning energy crisis caused by the war in the Middle East to that of the 1970s.

The global economy, he said, is facing a major, major threat.

CNN reported Mr Birol saying it was worse than the two consecutive oil crises in 1973 and 1979, in which the world lost about 10 million barrels of oil per day.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that energy became the target of the war last week after Israel struck South Pars and Iran, in a reprisal attack fired at Qatars major LNG industry, Ras Laffan.

Oil and gas prices, which have been fluctuating since Irans closure of the Strait of Hormuz, shot higher.

This disruption of oil supply is on the heels of the gas market crash triggered by Russias invasion of Ukraine.

But Mr Birol said oil and gas are not the only products affected, noting that petrochemicals, such as and helium, are also affected.

Their trade is all interrupted, which would have serious consequences for the global economy, Mr Birol said.

Asia, he said, is significantly affected by this crisis.

Iran threatens attack on infrastructure in Gulf states

Iran says it will attack Israels power plants and plants supplying to US bases in the Gulf if President Donald Trump has the US military attack its energy infrastructure.

The country declared this in response to Mr Trumps threat to obliterate Irans energy infrastructure should it fail to open the Strait of Hormuz in 48 hours.

The country also tried to retract its earlier threats to attack desalination plants in the region.

The lying  US President has claimed that the Revolutionary Guards  intend to attack the water desalination plants and cause hardship to the people of the countries in the region, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Council (IRGC) said in a statement shared by Al Jazeera.

We are determined to respond to any threat at the same level as it creates in terms of deterrence  If you hit electricity, we hit electricity.

Israel says fighting to continue for more weeks

Meanwhile, Israel envisages that the war, which is already four weeks old, will go on for weeks.

Contrary to Mr Trumps assertion that the war would end very soon, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesman, Effie Defrin, said there are several more weeks ahead.

We are expected to face several more weeks of fighting against Iran and Hezbollah, Mr Defrin said according to The Times of Israel.

With each passing day, we are weakening the terror regime more and more. We will not allow the terror regime and its proxies to pose a threat to the State of Israel, he said.

US can afford the war  Treasury Secretary

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, on Sunday, said Washington has plenty of money to fund the war with Israel against Iran.

He said the Pentagon is requesting an additional $200 billion in funding from Congress to ensure the military remains well supplied in the future.

Reuters reports that he also squashed the possibility of tax increases on citizens to fund the war.

We have plenty of money to fund this war. This is supplemental. President Trump has built up the military, as he did in his first term, as he is now doing in his second term.

He wants to make sure that the military is well supplied going forward, he said.

Israel downs most of Irans ballistic missiles

Israel says it has successfully intercepted most of the more than 400 ballistic missiles launched by Iran since the beginning of the war.

We have had great interception rates  approximately 92 per cent successful interception rate, the country said, according to CNN

Iranian missile strikes near Israels nuclear facility stir worries

The attack on Southern Israel communities  Dimona and Arad 8 miles away from Israels nuclear facility in the Negev, rattled top Israeli security officials.

The New York Times reports that the Israeli military admitted that they had tried to intercept the missiles, which were 3 hours apart, and failed.

According to the paper, the attacks have made top officials question how well Israels complex missile defense system really works and whether it can fully protect the population.

There are also worries that the report claiming Irans military capacity was depleted in the 12-day war in 2025 might be inaccurate and that Iran might have been saving its most advanced and expensive missiles.

Prime Minister Netanyahu admitted during his visit to the site that it was a miracle that no one died in the incident.

However, more than 100 people were injured in the attack, which has been described as one of the most destructive Iranian attacks since the war.

Israels nuclear research facility and reactor in the Negev are located, and its environs, which include Dimona and Arad, are believed to be among the countrys most protected areas.
US President Donald Trump says he has postponed his threatened strike on Iranian power plants after a detailed and constructive discussion with Iran.

Mr Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said he is postponing the strikes against the power plants for five days.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that Mr Trump, on Saturday, issued a 48-hour deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

He threatened to have the US obliterate Iranian power plants should they fail to do so by the set deadline.

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Iran, in response to this, threatened to attack Israels power plants and plants supplying power to US bases in the Gulf if the US attacked its energy infrastructure. It also threatened to attack energy infrastructure in the Gulf states.

It also threatened to target Israeli communication system.

In his latest comment, however, Mr Trump said the US and Iran had held talks on the complete and total resolution of hostilities in the Middle East.

I am pleased 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.

Based on the tenor and tone of these in-depth, detailed, and constructive conversations, which will continue throughout the week, I have instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five-day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions, he said.

However, Iran has denied having any direct talks with the US.

The Wall Street Journal, quoting Iranian state media, reports that the Iranian foreign ministry denied it was in talks with the US, stating that no dialogue between the two sides.

Yes, there are initiatives from regional countries to reduce tensions, and our response to all of them is clear: we are not the party that started this war, and all these requests should be referred to Washington, the ministry was quoted to have said.
The Nigerian government has commenced the rollout of a new long-acting HIV prevention injection, Lenacapavir, but says pregnant women will not use it due to insufficient safety data.

The rollout, which will begin in eight states  Anambra, Ebonyi, Gombe, Kwara, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Benue, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)- is part of efforts to expand access to innovative HIV prevention options.

The Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Temitope Ilori, disclosed this on Monday at a media briefing organised by the National HIV, Viral Hepatitis and STDs Control Programme (NASCP) under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Abuja.

Ms Ilori said while global trials suggest the drug is largely safe, there is insufficient evidence to support its use during pregnancy.

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Even though LenPrEP is considered very safe based on global studies, it is not recommended for pregnant women. It is important to emphasise that this is a preventive intervention, not a treatment, she said.

She described Lenacapavir as a highly innovative addition to HIV prevention tools but cautioned against overestimating its capabilities, stressing that it does not protect against other infections.

We must stress that it does not prevent sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancy or other infections like hepatitis. People must continue to take comprehensive precautions, she said.

Lenacapavir and Nigerias HIV burden

Lenacapavir is a long-acting injectable antiretroviral developed by Gilead Sciences for HIV prevention.

It is to be administered once every six months as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and offers an alternative to daily oral pills, particularly for individuals who struggle with adherence.

The drug has gained global attention for its potential to simplify HIV prevention, especially among high-risk populations.

However, health experts emphasise that it is not a standalone solution and must be used alongside other preventive measures such as condom use and regular testing.

Nigeria ranks fourth on HIV burdens globally, with an estimated 1.9 million people living with HIV, according to NACA.

While access to antiretroviral therapy has improved in recent years, gaps in prevention persist, particularly among young people and key populations with challenges such as stigma, limited awareness, and inconsistent access to prevention services continue to drive new infections.

Phased rollout

Speaking at the briefing, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, said Nigeria was selected as one of nine early adopter countries by the Global Fund after expressing interest in March 2025 and receiving approval.

Mr Salako noted that the drug rollout, administered twice yearly, marked a significant step toward ending HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, through strengthened prevention, treatment and care services across the country.

About 52,000 doses of Lenacapavir have been provided to catalyse its introduction into our arsenal for HIV prevention and control, he said.

He said the first batch of the drug had already arrived, adding that preparations were ongoing for national launch and facility-level rollout across the selected states.

He emphasised that the drug was not a treatment but a prevention option for HIV-negative individuals at substantial risk of infection.

He added that the government adopted a phased approach to ensure proper monitoring of safety outcomes before nationwide expansion.

He further said the rollout activities would include a national launch, media engagement, and facility-level flag-offs across the selected states as part of implementation efforts.

The National Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Implementation Plan 2025 to 2028 would guide scale-up, covering service delivery, supply chain, financing and community engagement, he said.

Speaking on local production, the minister said the government will, over time, engage manufacturers directly and explore pathways for local production.

He added that discussions around technology transfer and domestic manufacturing would be critical to ensuring long-term sustainability and reducing dependence on external donors.

Complement, not replacement

The National Coordinator of NASCP, Adebobola Bashorun, said programme data and stakeholder collaboration informed the rollout plan.

Mr Bashorun stressed that the drug is not a cure and would only complement existing prevention options, including oral pre-exposure prophylaxis and long-acting injectable cabotegravir, expanding choices for individuals at risk.

We already have multiple prevention options. Individuals can still use oral PrEP. National policy guidelines will determine how best to integrate this new option into existing programmes, he said.

He added that no major adverse events have been recorded so far, with only mild injection-site pain observed as a common side effect.

He cautioned that the availability of the drug should not encourage risky behaviour.
There has been no let down in the attacks on the Nigerian State by non-state actors. In Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, multiple bomb blasts shattered the peace last week, with scores of fatalities and many more seriously injured. These gory spectacles of violence are the lived experiences in many parts of the country, consequent upon steady waves of banditry and kidnapping.

Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) detonated by Boko Haram fighters at the popular Monday Market, the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) gate, and Post Office, last Monday, left 23 persons killed, and 108 others in critical conditions. In Kwara State, the February killing of 162 persons in Woro and Nuku communities in a single attack by armed invaders continues to unnerve.

The dust of these barbaric acts were yet to settle when, in the wee hours of Wednesday, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) launched an attack on the 68 Battalion of the Nigerian Armys Main Defensive Area. But the group met its waterloo as 75 of the insurgents were killed in the Malam Fatori area, during their ground advance with many armed drones. Military formations in Baga, Buratai, Ajilari and Damboa, were also breached.

These were audacious escalations from an earlier, but successful assault of the insurgents on a military base in Ngoshe, on 3 March. About 14 soldiers were reportedly killed, while an armoured vehicle was burnt, which cleared the coast for the terrorists to invade an IDP camp, where over 100 women and children were abducted. The military have been attacked four times in the state this month, indicative of the worsening security situation in the area.

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Apparently, a well-coordinated triangular security challenge, straddling and revolving amongst the North-east, North-west and North-central geopolitical zones, tests Nigerias counterterrorism resolve. This should really worry the authorities. President Bola Tinubu describes the latest Maiduguri bombings as profoundly unsettling and rightly so, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Before now, these heinous crimes were perpetrated on the outskirts of the state capital, leaving Maiduguri as a safe haven for many, especially Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Military chiefs have relocated to the area at the behest of the president, to assess the situation and restore order. However, only proactive engagements would count for much!

The embarrassing extreme violence and resultant death tolls occassioned by insurgents have instigated countless emergency security meetings between the president and the security chiefs, with directives given to contain the menace. Ironically, the stepping up of counterinsurgency measures have equally provoked the escalation of the murderous and barbaric responses of insurgents, as highlighted by a military source, which cited their offensives in the Sambisa, Mandara, and Lake Chad areas. This is, however, debatable.

Undoubtedly, in an insurgency, the repeated killings of military commanders by the enemy vitiate the moral armour of soldiers. Such ranking victims include, but are not limited to Colonel Aliyu Paiko, the commanding officer of 202 battalion; Major UI Mairiga, commander of the Forward Operation Military Base (FOB); a Major and commanding officer of a military unit involved in the 28 January attack during which seven officers were killed; Brigadier General Musa Uba, killed by ISWAP in an ambush in Wajiroko; and the Commanding Officer of 181 Amphibious Battalion, killed alongside 17 others in Okuama, Delta State, among others.

The estimated 10,217 people killed by non-state actors in the first two years of Tinubus administration, according to Amnesty International; and about 3.74 million IDPs scattered in 3,900 camps, from the Displacement Tracking Index data of the International Organisation for Migration, offer a scarier insight into an existential crisis that exacerbates by the day. This trend is further corroborated by the fourth position ranking of Nigeria in the just released 2026 Global Terrorism Index.

Therefore, operational strategies need constant overhauling. The president should review military and intelligence performances, in relation to their alignment with his expectations from the state of emergency declaration on security on 26 November, 2025. Yet, his striking point that his administration has the courage and determination to keep this country safe and ensure our citizens live in peace, appears just like a hope inspiring rhetoric, from the look of this so far. Nigerians are getting needlessly killed, and overwhelmed daily by the panic and uncertainty imposed by the lawlessness of non-state insecurity actors.

Ali Ndume, representing Borno South in the Senate, and also a former chairman of its standing Committee on Army, recently chided the military for not having attack helicopters or fighter jets permanently stationed in the North-East, for effectiveness in counterinsurgency operations. This claim needs to be seriously looked into.

The resurgence of Islamist assaults, in the main, is due to the lack of security structures to firmly hold territories that the military had freed from the stranglehold of these dark operatives. It is shameful that our overpaid federal lawmakers, many of who are afraid to visit their constituencies, due to fears of insecurity, have not, in almost three years now, seen the necessity of treating the devolution of policing in the country as a matter of urgency.

However, Mr Tinubu has woken up late to this need in his express charge to the newly appointed Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to implement state policing. Yet, it remains squarely within the remit of the National Assembly members, given the legislative or constitutional hurdle that remains to be overcome.

While a farrago of misplaced legislative priorities has undermined its realisation this far, the lawmakers should, therefore, act now in order for the country to move swiftly towards the arrest of this dangerous security drift. These jihadists, bandits and kidnappers need to be confined to their proper places.
A journalist with Albarka Radio, Mohammed Adamu, was allegedly assaulted by police officers while covering the Eid Durbar celebration in Bununu, Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

WikkiTimes reported that the incident occurred on Saturday when Mr Adamu, alongside other journalists and an information officer, arrived at the venue to cover the event but was stopped by a police officer while heading to the designated media area.

Mr Adamu alleged that the situation escalated after he identified himself as a reporter.

I tried to identify myself as a journalist, but he started hurling insults at me. Even as I told him I am a reporter, he began beating me. Other officers whom I knew joined in assaulting me, he said, adding that he later received treatment at a hospital.

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He identified the divisional police officer in the area, Jamilu Kabir, as leading the assault and preventing him from carrying out his duties.

According to Mr Adamu, officers used sticks during the attack.

The spokesperson of the police command in Bauchi State, Nafiu Habib, confirmed that the command was aware of the incident and said it would be investigated, assuring that appropriate action would be taken.

The development comes amid growing concern over attacks on journalists across the country.

JODER recently condemned the assault on an MITV reporter, Habeeb Adejobi, who was attacked while covering an official event at a local government secretariat in Lagos.

The group described such incidents as a violation of press freedom and warned of their implications for democratic governance.

Data from media rights organisations indicate that such abuses are widespread.

A 2025 report by Media Rights Agenda (MRA) documented 86 attacks on press freedom, with none prosecuted.

Arrests and detention accounted for about 44 per cent of cases, while physical assaults ranked among the most common violations.

Further findings by PREMIUM TIMES show that security agencies, particularly the police, remain the leading perpetrators.

The MRA report attributes nearly 48 per cent of attacks to law enforcement, reinforcing concerns about systemic impunity.

Mr Adamu said the incident reflects a broader pattern in Bauchi State, citing previous cases involving journalists who were harassed or assaulted while on duty.

This is not the first time police in Bauchi are molesting journalists. This is unacceptable. The police are supposed to protect us, not to brutalise us, he said.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi State chapter, Umar Said, said the union was investigating the incident to establish the facts and determine whether the victim is a registered member.

Observers note that repeated attacks on journalists, especially during public events, risk undermining accountability and public trust, particularly as Nigeria continues to face scrutiny over its declining press freedom record.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, sentenced a former acting Accountant-General of the Federation (AGoF), Chukwunyere Nwabuoku, to eight years in prison without an option of fine.

The trial judge, James Omotosho, held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) proved the nine counts of money laundering against him beyond reasonable doubt.

The judge said the defendant was convicted as charged.

Mr Omotosho convicted Mr Nwabuoku on all nine counts and sentenced him to eight years imprisonment for each count.

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However, he ordered that the sentences run concurrently.

The judge described Mr Nwabuokus diversion of funds meant for security and defence as appalling. The convict committed the offences between 2019 and 2022 while he served as the Director of Finance and Accounts in the Federal Ministry of Defence.

Mr Omotosho commended the EFCC for what he described as a detailed prosecution.

He noted that the testimony of the ninth prosecution witness that Mr Nwabuoku voluntarily refunded over N200 million during the investigation was not challenged by the defence.

Backstory

EFCC first arraigned Mr Nwabuoku along with Felix Nweke, who worked under him in the Federal Ministry of Defence.

In July last year, Mr Nwabuoku and his co-defendant asked the court for time to refund the alleged loot, but later withdrew the request.

The EFCC subsequently amended the charges, naming Mr Nwabuoku as the sole defendant, with Mr Nweke turned into one of the prosecution witnesses.

The commission re-arraigned him on 15 January 2025.

Mr Nwabuoku underwent trial on bail. The judge granted him N500 million bail with two sureties following his arraignment.

He was appointed acting AccountantGeneral of the Federation in May 2022 following the suspension of Ahmed Idris over an alleged N80 million fraud but was removed a few weeks later.

Sylva Okolieaboh, a Director at the Treasury Single Account Department, replaced him amid reports he was under EFCC investigation.

The EFCC filed the charges against Mr Nwabuoku on 27 November 2024.

In count one, the EFCC alleged that Mr Nwabuoku, alongside Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited (at large), Turge Global Investment Limited (at large), Laptev Bridge Limited, Arafura Transnational Afro Limited (at large) and other persons (all at large) conspired to convert public funds.

The funds were said to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

The anti-graft agency said the offence was contrary to Section 18 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as (amended by Act No. 1 of 2012) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

He was alleged to have perpetrated the act while he served as the Director of Finance and Accounts in the Ministry of Defence between 2019 and 2021.

Mr Nwabuoku was later appointed acting accountant-general of the federation on 20 May 2022 under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari after Ahmed Idris was suspended as AGoF over alleged N80 billion fraud.

He was, however, replaced in July 2022, afew weeks after he assumed office.

Sylva Okolieaboh, Director at the Treasury Single Account (TSA) Department, replaced Mr Nwabuoku as acting

Mr Okolieabohs appointment followed a report that Mr Nwabuoku was under the radar of EFCC over corruption allegations.

On 31 January 2025, the first prosecution witness, Eucharia Ezeodi, a Zenith Bank Plc staff member, and a director with the federal civil service, Felix Nweke, the second prosecution witness, gave their testimonies against the defendant.

The anti-graft agency, however, closed its case after calling nine witnesses to establish its case against Nwabuoku.

Failed plea bargain

An EFCC lawyer, Ogechi Ujam, informed the trial judge, Mr Omotosho, during a hearing in October 2024 that Mr Nwabuoku and his then co-defendant, Felix Nweke, submitted a proposal for settlement.

She said the defendants submitted their proposals to the EFCCs chairman, Ola Olukoyede, for approval.

The defence lawyers in attendance admitted opting for a plea bargain on behalf of their clients.

The lawyers on both sides of the case asked for a date to submit a plea bargain agreement and amended charges to the court.

Mr Omotosho subsequently adjourned the matter until 2 December 2024.

But on 1 February 2025, the prosecution opened its case, calling its first witness to the stand  an indication of the collapse of the of plea bargain talks.

EFCC went on to call eight more prosecution witnesses before closing its case.

After no-case submission, defence followed

After the prosecution closed its case, Mr Nwabuoku filed a no-case submission.

On 3 November 2025, the lawyers to both sides adopted their processes and presented arguments for and against the application.

Defence lawyer, Norrison Quakers, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, argued that EFCCs evidence, including witness testimonies and exhibits, was insufficient to establish a prima facie case.

Mr Iheanacho disagreed and asked the court to dismiss the no-case submission and order Mr Nwabuoku to open his defence.

In November last year, the judge delivered its ruling, holding that a prima facie case had been made out to warrant the defendant to enter his defence.

He said the prosecutions exhibits and evidence provided sufficient ground for the trial to proceed.

Following the ruling, Mr Nwabuoku opened his defence on 2 February, praying the court to acquit and discharge him of the alleged N868.46 million fraud.

Led by his lawyer, the defendant denied being a signatory to some companies allegedly linked to him.

He was the only defence witness.

On 3 March, the parties adopted their final arguments, prompting the judge to fix Monday (today) for judgement.
Diego Simeone has hailed the growing influence of Ademola Lookman following his standout display in Sundays dramatic Madrid derby, despite Atletico Madrid falling to a 3-2 defeat against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Nigerian forward opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, finishing from close range after a well-worked team move to give Atletico an early advantage.

In doing so, Lookman became the first Nigerian to score in the Madrid derby and the eighth Atletico player in the 21st century to score on his La Liga derby debut.

Reflecting on his performance, Simeone praised the attackers steady progress and contribution to the team.

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Hes been improving, working very hard, offering us different options in attack, and thats exactly what we need from him. We also need him to help us improve defensively, because he has what it takes. With a huge heart and a willingness to learn and try to improve, hes brilliant, and hopefully hell continue to deliver important moments for us, just as he did today, the Atletico manager said.

Lookmans goal came after a fluid attacking move involving Johnny Cardoso and Matteo Ruggeri, before Giuliano Simeones clever backheel set him up for a composed finish. The strike marked his second goal in 12 league appearances in his debut La Liga season.

Despite Atleticos bright start, Real Madrid responded strongly after the break. Vinicius Junior converted a penalty in the 52nd minute before Federico Valverde fired the hosts ahead just three minutes later.

Atletico fought back to level the score in the 66th minute through a superb strike from Nahuel Molina, but Vinicius Junior struck again in the 72nd minute to restore Real Madrids lead.

The contest took another twist when Valverde was sent off following a VAR review, reducing Madrid to 10 men, but the hosts held on to secure all three points.

The victory saw Real Madrid move to 69 points, closing the gap on league leaders Barcelona to four points, while Atletico Madrid remain fourth with 57 points.

For Lookman, however, the night marked another important step in his development before he switches focus to international duties with two games on the card for the Super Eagles.
The Speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Bilyaminu Moriki, and 12 members of the House have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The speaker announced the lawmakers defection during a plenary session in Gusau on Monday, after they presented their letters of resignation to the House.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lawmakers defection followed Governor Dauda Lawals move from the PDP to the APC.

NAN also reports that the APC National Secretariat has scheduled Tuesday for the official reception of Governor Lawal into the party.

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The reception will be led by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, and the APC national leadership, assisted by all the former governors of the state.

The defecting state lawmakers are expected to be formally received into the APC alongside Governor Lawal on Tuesday.

Among the defectors to the APC were Deputy Speaker of the House, Adamu Aliyu (Gummi II constituency); Majority Leader of the House, Bello Mazawaje (Tsafe East constituency), and Chief Whip of the House, Rilwanu Nagambo (Anka Constituency), among others.

Mr Moriki said the lawmakers unanimous decision was informed by their desire to join the governor in the APC.

It became necessary for all of us to support Gov. Dauda Lawal to bring more development to the state.

We received full support from our constituencies before taking the decision to leave the PDP for the APC.

Our decision is aimed at encouraging smooth collaboration between the state and the federal governments, the lawmaker said.

NAN reports that with this development, the APC has taken over the Zamfara assembly, having all 24 members.

(NAN)
The Nigeria Police Force has announced a nationwide restructuring of its tactical units, clarifying that the move is aimed at improving efficiency and accountability.

The clarification came after Sahara Reporters reported that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, had disbanded all police squads and units at state command levels.

However, in a statement issued late Sunday, police spokesperson Anthony Placid said the IGP only approved a restructuring framework to streamline operations and address public concerns about police conduct.

According to the statement, the reform is driven by growing criticism over the proliferation of tactical teams across commands, many of which were created by commissioners of police and heads of formations without adequate oversight.

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While reaffirming the importance of tactical units in crime-fighting, Mr Placid said the IGP noted that their excessive numbers have weakened police divisions and posts, while also increasing cases of misconduct linked to poor supervision.

Having held command positions nationwide and witnessed tactical teams in action, the IGP values their contribution to crime-fighting, the statement read. He is, however, uncomfortable with their proliferation, which drains Police Divisions and Posts of required manpower and brings issues that affect the Forces integrity because of the excesses of the poorly supervised teams.

Under the new structure, tactical teams at Zonal and State commands are to be reduced to a maximum of five, while Area Commands and Divisions will maintain no more than three. The police said this may be implemented through the merging or disbandment of existing units at the discretion of commanders.

The police also clarified that the restructuring does not affect state-backed security outfits such as Lagos States Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Oyo States Special Response Squad, and Bayelsa States Operation DOO-AKPOR.

Mr Placid said the police leadership expressed optimism that the move would release more officers to frontline policing duties at police stations, thereby addressing complaints of excesses associated with tactical units.
The former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, will be arraigned on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Kaduna over alleged conversion and possession of public property, as well as money laundering, according to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

In a statement posted on X on Monday, the anti-graft commissions spokesperson, John Odey, stated that Mr El-Rufai and one Joel Adoga will appear before the trial court in suit number FHC/KD/73/2026.

The agency added that it also filed a separate case marked KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/26 before the Kaduna State High Court against Mr El-Rufai and another co-defendant, Amadu Sule.

The charges in the State High Court case range from abuse of office, fraud, and intent to commit fraud to conferring undue advantage, among others, Mr Odey said.

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He said both cases were filed on 18 March, noting that the date for arraignment at the state high court would be communicated by the court.

The ICPC said Mr El-Rufai, who remains in the agencys custody since the last one month, has been served with the charges and reiterated its commitment to due process and the rule of law.

Background

The planned arraignment comes amid multiple investigations and court cases involving the former governor.

ICPC rearrested him on 18 February as soon as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) released him after two days of detaining him over corruption allegations.

He has remained in ICPCs custody since then.

PREMIUM TIMES reported earlier this month that the ICPC explained in a court filing that it was detaining Mr El-Rufai to conclude his investigation.

ICPC gave the explanation in a filing opposing a suit Mr El-Rufai filed the suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, alleging that his arrest and detention violated his fundamental rights. He asked the court to declare the actions of the anti-graft agencies unlawful and to award him N1 billion in damages.

But the ICPC said it started investigating Mr El-Rufa after receiving a petition accusing him and officials of his administration of financial misconduct between 2015 and 2023.

The petition raised allegations relating to loans obtained by the Kaduna State Government, procurement processes, transfers from government accounts and payments to companies and individuals.

ICPC said it began preliminary investigations and obtained documents from banks and government institutions. It then issued an invitation letter dated 9 February.

Mr El-Rufai is also facing prosecution by the State Security Service (SSS) over alleged phone-tapping claims involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed 23 April for his arraignment in that case.

The former governor haschallenged some of the actions taken against him in court, including a search conducted at his Abuja residence, which he described as unlawful.

He also filed a N1 billion suit against the ICPC, the Inspector-General of Police, and others, seeking to nullify the search warrant used for the operation and restrain authorities from relying on items recovered during the search.

The ICPC and the police have opposed the suit, maintaining that the search was conducted lawfully based on a valid court order.

Mr El-Rufai has been in ICPC custody since February, following his release from detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He has denied any wrongdoing and described the investigations as politically motivated.

His lawyer, Ubong Akpan, also alleged that the anti-corruption agency was linking his client to properties abroad through unverified claims, an allegation the ICPC has not publicly addressed.
The Kano State Government has denied that Governor Abba Yusuf snubbed Kano Emir Muhammadu Sanusi during Hawan Nasarawa, a traditional durbar procession that takes place on the third day of the Sallah celebrations.

This was contained in a statement issued by the governors spokesperson, Sanusi Dawakin-Tofa, in Kano on Monday.

He said the claim was baseless and only aimed at creating tension between the governor and the Emirate Council.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the governor snubbed the traditional ruler, who was at the Government House to pay homage in line with the Hawan Nasarawa tradition. The governor did not attend the event before he flew to Lagos for an All Progressives Congress (APC) governors event.

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However, Mr Dawakin-Tofa said Mr Yusuf communicated with the emir and mandated the Speaker of the state House of Assembly and senior government officials to receive the emir on his behalf.

Yusuf had communicated with the Emir and mandated officials to receive him, as he attended a strategic Governors meeting in Lagos. The government affirms cordial relations with the Emirate Council.

The Government wishes to state unequivocally that the claim is false, unfounded, and devoid of any factual basis.

READ ALSO: Kano governor scraps ministry overseen by embattled deputy governor

The report is misleading and deliberately concocted to misinform and create tension, he said.

The spokesman explained that the governor had attended Eid prayers led by the emir earlier and had planned to receive other emirs, but couldnt because of a clash with the time of the Lagos meeting.

He said the state governments relationship with the Kano Emirate Council was cordial, and urged the public to disregard the false report.

( NAN)
On the evening of 16 March, as families in Maiduguri prepared to eat their evening meal, a series of coordinated suicide bombings ripped through the city. The attacks struck the Monday Market axis, the post office corridor, the entrance to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, and the Kaleri area, leaving at least 23 people dead and 108 others injured. But these were not nameless statistics. They were traders closing for the day, students making their way home, patients and visitors gathered near a hospital gate, and ordinary residents trying to navigate an already strained city. Yet as so often happens, their humanity was swiftly compressed into a chilling headline: at least 23 killed, over 100 injured.

In the hours that followed, images of mangled bodies, shattered stalls, and grieving families filled television screens and social media feeds. The official response was equally familiar: statements of condemnation, routine briefings, and then a swift return to business as usual. President Bola Tinubus team, preparing for a high-profile state visit to the United Kingdom, described as Nigerias first in 37 years, pressed on with the itinerary. Diplomacy matters, and no serious argument denies that. But symbolism matters too. When a major terrorist attack does not interrupt the choreography of elite power, citizens feel overlooked and undervalued, sending a painful message about what, and who, truly counts.

That message becomes even more unsettling when viewed through the lens of geography and class. Maiduguri is not just another city; it is the epicentre of a long insurgency and a frontline community that has endured repeated waves of violence for years. The victims of the recent nasty attacks were not captains of industry, political heavyweights, or members of Nigerias protected elite. They were mostly ordinary people in the North-East, far from the countrys principal centres of privilege and power.

That distance matters. It shapes how quickly outrage rises, how long attention lasts, and how forcefully the state is compelled to respond. The uncomfortable truth is that violence in places like Maiduguri is too often absorbed as routine national tragedy, whereas a comparable attack in Abuja, Lagos or Port Harcourt would likely provoke a deeper political shock and a more sustained national reckoning. That disparity is precisely why Nigeria must build a public ethic and a policy culture that treat every life as equal in worth, whether lost in the shadow of power or far from it regardless of ethnicity, religion or class.

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People experiencing poverty in the North-East are treated as collateral in a war that has dragged on for too long, while the privileges of the political elite remain untouched. The state asks ordinary Nigerians to bear the burden of insecurity, but seldom asks the powerful to surrender even symbolic convenience in solidarity with them.

This hierarchy is reinforced by language. Victims in places like Maiduguri become residents, casualties, and the injured. Their names, livelihoods, and family stories disappear almost immediately. When tragedy strikes the elite or the well-connected, the narrative changes. The dead become full people again: professionals, parents, pillars of their community. In Maiduguri, individuality dissolves into arithmetic.

That is what made the attack more than an act of terror. It became a revelation of something deeper in Nigerias public culture: our growing tolerance for unequal grief. The greater scandal is not only that bombs could still explode in the symbolic centre of Nigerias counter-insurgency campaign. It is that the deaths of ordinary people now enter national consciousness as familiar numbers, briefly mourned, bureaucratically processed, and then absorbed into the noise of governance.

Maiduguri occupies an uneasy place in the Nigerian imagination. It is central because it has been the epicentre of Boko Harams insurgency and the theatre of the countrys military response. Yet it is also treated as peripheral, as though its suffering were a regional condition rather than a national emergency. The latest bombings shattered any fragile illusion that the city had fully emerged from the worst years of jihadist violence.

They also came amid warnings of renewed militant resilience in Borno and a humanitarian crisis that remains severe across the region. Reuters reported that the insurgency has displaced about 2 million people, while the Associated Press put the death toll from Boko Harams campaign at more than 40,000 since 2009. IOMs October 2025 displacement round counted 2,333,190 internally displaced persons in north-east Nigeria, while the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan estimated that 5.9 million people in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe face severe to extreme needs.

These figures matter because they show scale, but they also obscure individual stories. Behind every casualty number lies a broken household, lost income, trauma that lingers, and a future suddenly altered. A child loses a parent. A mother waits outside an emergency ward. A family begins again under the weight of pain the country will scarcely remember. Highlighting these personal tragedies can inspire citizens and policymakers to prioritise human-centred responses to violence.

The federal government did not remain entirely inert. President Tinubu condemned the bombings, security chiefs were ordered to relocate to Maiduguri, and Operation Hadin Kai intensified patrols and surveillance after intelligence suggested the risk of further suicide attacks. Two days later, Nigerian troops backed by air support repelled a major insurgent assault on a military base in Mallam Fatori, showing that the threat was not isolated but part of a wider militant push.

Yet this is precisely why Maiduguri is more than a security story. It is a moral test for Nigerias leadership. A government can condemn violence, deploy officials, and still leave intact the wider perception that ordinary Nigerians are expected to absorb extraordinary suffering without disrupting the rituals of power. Recognising this moral failure can motivate policymakers and citizens to demand more equitable and compassionate governance that values all lives equally.

In Maiduguri, repetition deepens the erasure. The city has suffered so much that its suffering now risks being treated as routine. Repetition breeds distance, and distance breeds moral fatigue. Fatigue is one of the gravest dangers any republic can face, because it teaches both state and society to accept what should remain intolerable. This moral fatigue must be challenged to prevent acceptance of ongoing injustice and violence.

This is why the problem is not only Boko Haram, ISWAP, or whichever faction carried out the latest bombings. It is also the political psychology that prolonged insecurity produces. When violence becomes chronic, leaders begin to manage it rather than end it. Citizens learn survival skills in places where they can expect protection. National attention drifts toward spectacle, elections, elite quarrels, and diplomatic theatre. In that atmosphere, grief itself becomes stratified. Some deaths shake the state. Others pass through it.

The true measure of how a state values human life is not in its condolences but in its preparedness. It lies in whether warnings are acted upon, whether intelligence systems work, whether hospitals can handle mass casualties, whether victims families receive visible support, and whether leaders are willing to treat attacks on ordinary citizens as national disruptions rather than local inconveniences.

Recent reporting suggests that the warning signs were already there. In April 2025, Reuters reported concerns from Governor Babagana Zulum and other analysts that jihadist groups were regrouping, launching more coordinated attacks, and adapting their tactics. The March 2026 bombings did not emerge from nowhere. They exposed, once again, Nigerias habit of reacting after violence has already broken out.

That reactive pattern is why official statements increasingly sound hollow. Nigerians know the script: condemn, reassure, deploy, investigate, restore calm. Some of these steps are necessary. None is sufficient on its own. A serious state would do more. It would build layered intelligence around vulnerable urban centres, improve civilian alert systems, strengthen trauma care and emergency logistics, publish credible after-action reviews, compensate victims transparently, and honour the dead not only with prayers but with policy. The point is not performance. It is equal citizenship.

The hardest question raised by Maiduguri is not whether Nigeria can eventually defeat insurgents militarily. It is whether the country still possesses a civic ethic strong enough to insist that the life of a trader in Maiduguri carries the same national worth as that of a banker in Ikoyi, a politician in Abuja, or an investor flown in for a summit. Democracies do not fail only when they lose territory. They also fail when they quietly create a hierarchy of whose suffering deserves interruption and whose suffering can be absorbed.

That is why Maiduguri should trouble the entire federation. Not because violence in the North-East is new, but because familiarity with it has become part of the national problem. A republic that grows used to mass death in one corner of its territory is teaching itself a dangerous lesson: that some Nigerians are more grievable than others.

The March 16 bombings were a terrorist crime. But they were also an indictment of a political order that too often responds to the deaths of ordinary people with language faster than transformation. Nigeria will not honour Maiduguri merely by condemning evil. It will honour Maiduguri when public policy, political symbolism, and national empathy begin to say the same thing: no Nigerian life is expendable, no grieving city is peripheral, and no government can claim legitimacy if it treats the deaths of its people as a recurring inconvenience rather than a foundational emergency.

Dakuku Peterside is the author of the books, Leading in a Storm, and Beneath the Surface.
Ultimum Limited, a fast-rising player in Nigerias fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) beverage sector and makers of the Razzl brand of carbonated soft drinks, is set to commission its brand-new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Aba, Abia State, on Wednesday, 25 March 2026.

The commissioning event will mark a significant milestone in the companys growth trajectory and underscores its commitment to strengthening local manufacturing, creating shared value, and delivering high quality beverages to refresh Nigerians.

Located within the Osisioma industrial cluster of the state, the new facility is strategically positioned to meet the growing demand for high-quality beverages across the South-East, South-South, and other regions across Nigeria. It is powered by modern technology that ensures efficiency, consistency, and adherence to international high-quality standards.

The new plant serves as the main production hub of Razzl, which is produced in 4 exciting variants of Pamplemousse (a special and unique CSD flavour), Cola, Orange, and Lemon. By bringing production closer to its consumers, Ultimum Limited is not only improving product accessibility but also redefining the beverage experience for millions of Nigerians.

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Beyond producing beverages for Nigerian consumers, the Aba plant represents a catalyst for economic growth in Abia State. It is projected to generate over hundreds of direct and indirect job opportunities across technical, administrative, and distribution careers. This move will also unlock opportunities for local and national suppliers, logistics partners, and other ancillary businesses across the value chain. Local production of Razzl will also positively impact the trade supply chain that includes distributors (called Strategic Partners by the company), wholesalers, and retailers across the territories where Razzl would be sold.

This investment aligns strongly with the Abia State Governments industrialisation drive and reinforces Abas re-emergence as a key manufacturing hub of the country, supporting access to improved infrastructure and social services by the states residents.

Speaking ahead of the commissioning ceremony, Managing Director of Ultimum Limited, Mr Austin Ufomba, noted that the facility reflects the companys deep confidence in Nigerias future.

He said, Nigerians are some of the most hardworking and resilient people in the world, and they deserve high-quality beverages that truly refresh, energise, and support their everyday aspirations. At Ultimum Limited, our purpose is to consistently produce world-class beverages that refresh Nigerians while also meeting the highest standards of quality, safety, and taste.

Mr Ufomba added, We have not just built a new factory; but we have also created the capacity to deliver real refreshment at scale, empower communities, and set new benchmarks for manufacturing excellence. We are also exceptionally proud of the fact that Ultimum Limited is a Nigerian company with African roots, making us even better positioned to provide beverages that meet consumer needs, desires, and taste preferences.

The new Ultimum Limited production plant is expected to be commissioned by the Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, senior level federal and state government officials and industry leaders, further reinforcing the growing reputation of Aba being a hub for industrial innovation and manufacturing excellence.
Infrastructure often defines the economic trajectory of regions. Ogun State occupies a strategic position in Nigerias economic geography. Bordering Lagos State, the countrys commercial capital, Ogun functions as a gateway between the southwest and other parts of the federation.

This strategic position also means the state carries one of the highest concentrations of federal highways in Nigeria. Many of these roads were constructed decades ago and have suffered prolonged neglect, leaving successive state governments to grapple with the spillover effects.

The result has been a vast network of deteriorating roads, some of which had become major obstacles to commerce and mobility.

When Governor Dapo Abiodun assumed office in 2019, he inherited not only the expectations of residents but also the daunting reality of thousands of kilometres of roads requiring rehabilitation or reconstruction.

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The administrations response was to prioritise infrastructure as a central pillar of development policy. During the commissioning of the SiunOwodeOfada Road, the governor articulated this approach in clear terms.

A detailed summary contained in the ministrys report further shows the scope of the intervention. As of the reporting period, the administration had recorded 61 completed road projects across the state, while 53 additional roads were either ongoing or newly awarded. The report also indicates that 15 road projects inherited from previous administrations were continued and integrated into the current infrastructure programme. Taken together, these interventions amount to about 129 road projects handled under the administration since 2019, reflecting the scale of the states effort to address long-standing infrastructure deficits.

Collectively, these projects amount to over 1,650 kilometres of road construction and rehabilitation, linking urban centres, industrial clusters and rural communities.

Rebuilding the capital corridor

In Ogun Central, the government has prioritised improving mobility in and around the capital. One of the most significant interventions remains the reconstruction of the AbeokutaSagamu Expressway, a 42-kilometre corridor that strengthens connectivity between the state capital and the Sagamu industrial axis.

The road serves as one of the most strategic transport links in the state, connecting Abeokuta with the LagosIbadan and SagamuBenin expressways while easing the movement of goods and commuters across the region.

Another major intervention is the PansekeAdigbe Road reconstruction, a 3-kilometre urban corridor designed to improve traffic circulation within Abeokuta and enhance access to commercial districts in the city.

The government has also undertaken new urban road projects such as the ElegaMilikiSaje Junction Road, measuring 4.5 kilometres, alongside the MilikiBode Olude Extension, which spans about 1.05 kilometres. These roads are expected to improve access to residential neighbourhoods and commercial areas in Abeokuta North.

Taken together, these projects form part of a broader effort to modernise Abeokutas road network while easing congestion across key traffic corridors.

Linking towns in Ogun East

Ogun East, covering the Remo and Ijebu divisions, has also witnessed substantial infrastructure development.

Among the notable projects in the region is the reconstruction of the Ijebu-Ode/Epe/Sagamu-Benin Interchange Flyover Bridge, which serves as a strategic transport link connecting several highways in the region.

The administration also reconstructed the MolipaFusigboyeAyegunOjofa Road, a 3.1-kilometre urban route within Ijebu-Ode aimed at improving mobility in the commercial heart of the city.

In the Remo axis, road interventions include the sectional rehabilitation of Oba Erinwole Road in Sagamu, covering approximately four kilometres, as well as the reconstruction of the Sagamu JunctionIperu Roundabout Road, an important corridor linking Sagamu with neighbouring towns and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

New road construction has also extended into other parts of Ogun East. The Ode JunctionSapade Road, measuring 5.5 kilometres, and the IlishanIlaraAkakaOde Remo Road, stretching about 12.3 kilometres, are among projects designed to improve connectivity between communities in Remo North and adjoining areas.

Meanwhile, newer projects such as Hospital Road to Ayepe Phase 1, covering 3.6 kilometres, are expected to further enhance connectivity between Sagamu and surrounding towns.

At several commissioning ceremonies, Governor Abiodun emphasised the broader impact of the projects.

The previously degraded and flood-prone stretch has now been transformed into a modern, motorable road with proper drainage and pedestrian safety features, he said at one of the road inaugurations in the district.

He added that improved roads would enhance safety, ease traffic congestion and stimulate economic activity across the communities served by the projects.

Expanding development in Ogun West

Ogun West, historically perceived as underserved in infrastructure development, has also benefited from several road and bridge projects under the current administration.

In the Yewa axis, the government has undertaken the reconstruction of the IlaroOwode Road, a major corridor linking communities across Yewa South and Yewa North.

Bridge construction has also been prioritised. The Odo-Afa Bridge and the Afon Bridge, both along the ImekoAfon Road corridor, were completed to improve connectivity in rural areas and facilitate the movement of agricultural produce.

Other projects include the reconstruction of the General HospitalAferiku Road, measuring 2.8 kilometres, and the Oke ErinjaErinja Road Phase 2, a 1.7-kilometre road project designed to improve access to communities in Yewa South.

New road developments in the Ado-Odo/Ota industrial axis also include projects such as the AyoboAyetoro-BudoItele Road Phase 1, the Ayobo (MOPOL Junction)Lafenwa Junction Road Phase 2, and the LusadaAlapoti Road, all aimed at easing movement within one of Oguns fastest-growing industrial corridors. These roads serve thousands of commuters who travel daily between Ogun State and neighbouring Lagos.

Roads as economic infrastructure

For Governor Abiodun, road development is closely tied to economic transformation. Speaking during the commissioning of a road in Sagamu, he explained that infrastructure investment is essential to unlocking the states economic potential.

Road infrastructure is one of the key catalysts of development, he said, adding that improved roads would boost commercial activity in communities linked by the projects.

The strategy aligns with broader development initiatives, including the Gateway International Agro-Cargo Airport at Iperu, which aims to position Ogun as a logistics hub for agricultural exports.

The debate continues

Despite the scale of construction, and perpetual commissioning of roads, the government continues to face criticism from political jobbers, some residents and social media commentators.

Some critics highlight poor road conditions in certain areas, while others argue that the pace of development should be faster. Yet the growing list of completed projects suggests that the states road network is undergoing gradual but significant expansion.

On X, some commentators argue that the government has not done enough. Others claim the projects are concentrated in certain areas. Politics in Nigeria has always had a loud side. Every policy decision, every government project and every infrastructure effort inevitably attract scrutiny, commentary and criticism.

In the age of social media, those voices are even louder. Over the past few years, the administration of Dapo Abiodun has faced persistent criticism over the state of roads in Ogun State. On X, photographs of pothole-ridden streets and complaints about traffic congestion frequently circulate, often accompanied by sweeping claims that little or nothing has been done.

Criticism is an essential ingredient of democracy. It keeps governments accountable and forces public officials to justify their decisions.

But criticism also demands honesty.

And when the conversation shifts from rhetoric to verifiable data, the narrative around road construction in Ogun becomes far more complicated than the popular social media storyline suggests.

Infrastructure development rarely satisfies everyone at once.

Road construction is a gradual process that requires financing, engineering design and months of physical work. In a state as economically dynamic as Ogun, demand for new roads will always outpace supply.

It is also important to remember that road construction represents only one aspect of the administrations broader development agenda.

For a state that serves as Nigerias industrial gateway between Lagos and the rest of the country, infrastructure development remains both an economic necessity and a political battleground.

But across Ogunfrom Abeokuta to Ilaro, Sagamu to Ijebu-Odethe kilometres of road already delivered suggest a transformation that is likely to shape the states future for years to come.

A transformation in progress

Infrastructure development rarely produces instant results. But across Ogun State, the steady expansion of the road network is gradually reshaping how people travel, trade and interact.

From the industrial zones of Ota to the farming communities of Yewa and the historic towns of Ijebuland, the impact of these roads is becoming increasingly visible.

For residents who once navigated long stretches of deteriorating roads, the transformation is not measured only in kilometres.

It is felt in shorter travel times, easier access to markets and the growing sense that long-neglected communities are finally being reconnected to the wider economy.

And as new projects continue to emerge, the story of Oguns road revolution remains a work in progress.

*Akinmade is Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on media and strategy
Lafarge Africa Plc, a leading provider of innovative and sustainable building solutions and manufacturer of a wide range of cement, readymix, mortar and plaster of paris brands, has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing gender inclusion and sustainable development as it commemorated International Womens Day 2026 with a purpose-driven event themed The Give to Gain Blueprint: Investing in Women to Build Sustainable Impact.

Held at The Hall Events Centre, the event convened female professionals, industry leaders, and internal stakeholders for meaningful dialogue on economic inclusion, workplace equity, and the transformative role of women in driving sustainable progress across industries and communities.

The gathering featured insightful conversations and a panel discussion that explored practical frameworks for strengthening systems that enable women to thrive, lead, and contribute meaningfully to organisational growth and national development.

Speaking at the event, the Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainable Development Director of Lafarge Africa Plc, Viola Graham-Douglas, emphasised that investing in women is both a social responsibility and a strategic business priority.

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Investing in women is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic business decision, she said. When organisations create an enabling environment where women can contribute meaningfully, it drives innovation, strengthens operational excellence, and enhances long-term corporate resilience.

Delivering the keynote address, the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, reflected on her journey from engineering into public leadership, highlighting how her technical background continues to shape her approach to governance, problem-solving, and infrastructure development.

In a fireside-style conversation, she also shared insights from pivotal moments of challenge and growth in her career, encouraging women to view setbacks as opportunities for learning and resilience. Speaking on the realities of balancing professional ambition with family life and personal development, she emphasised the importance of balancing professional and personal responsibilities, noting that priorities often shift with the moment.

She encouraged women to approach both with clarity and intentionality, making thoughtful choices that support both career growth and personal fulfillment.

Speaking earlier at the event, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Lafarge Africa Plc, Lolu Alade-Akinyemi, noted that the companys celebration of International Womens Day reflects its deep commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable future.

At Lafarge Africa, celebrating International Womens Day is a deeply ingrained part of our culture, reflecting our commitment to building a more equitable future for women in Nigeria. This years theme underscores our shift beyond celebration to purposeful action, he said.

He highlighted several initiatives championed by the company, including the Green Womens Network, Female Tilers and Block Laying Training Programme, and the Women on Wheels Programme, all designed to expand economic opportunities for women and promote inclusive participation within the construction and building materials sector.

Alade-Akinyemi also emphasised the need for deliberate investment in women, noting that when organisations create opportunities for women to lead and thrive, it drives stronger leadership, innovation, and sustainable progress.

By moving beyond rhetoric to tangible action through mentorship, wellness initiatives, and career development, we can create meaningful opportunities that empower women and leave a lasting legacy, he added.

The event also featured a panel discussion moderated by the Head of Human Resources, Commercial, Lafarge Africa Plc, Ronke Akpata, with distinguished panelists including Independent Non-Executive Director, Lafarge Africa Plc, Oyinkan Adewale; Executive Secretary, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Feyisayo Alayande; Nigerian actress, Shaffy Bello; Founder, Smart Stewards Financial Advisory Limited, Sola Adesakin and Organisation and Human Resources Director, Lafarge Africa Plc, Gbemiga Owolabi, sharing insights on building inclusive workplaces and strengthening pathways for womens leadership and economic participation.

Through its International Womens Day 2026 celebration, Lafarge Africa once again demonstrated its commitment to creating sustainable value by empowering women to build, grow, and lead. The company continues to champion initiatives that advance gender inclusion and drive lasting impact for businesses, industries, and society at large.
The State Commissioner for Information, Ahmed Maiyaki, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday in Kaduna to mark the 2026 World Water Day.

According to him, the reforms underscore the governments commitment to sustainable development and improved living standards for residents across the state.

He said the administrations intervention in the sector is both strategic and comprehensive, aimed not only at restoring damaged infrastructure but also at building a resilient, efficient, and people-focused water system that ensures access to safe water.

Mr Maiyaki noted that about 1.5 million residents have benefited from improved water, sanitation, and hygiene services under the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) programme.

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He added that the reforms have contributed to better public health outcomes while also supporting economic activities across the state.

The commissioner recalled that the government declared a state of emergency in the water sector in 2023 to accelerate reforms and rehabilitate critical infrastructure. He listed key achievements to include the settlement of N900 million in salary arrears owed to staff of the Kaduna State Water Corporation.

In addition, the government procured 1,300 metric tonnes of water treatment chemicals valued at N1.5 billion, with an additional 3,500 metric tonnes currently being sourced.

Mr Maiyaki further said major water facilities in Kaduna, Zaria, Kafanchan, Kwoi, Manchok, and Kagoro have been rehabilitated under the SURWASH programme. He revealed that water production capacity has increased from 450 million litres per day in 2023 to 530.66 million litres per day in 2025.

The government has also committed over N16 billion to fully rehabilitate six major water treatment plants, alongside expanding pipeline networks, constructing new reservoirs and installing critical equipment to stabilise supply.

He added that reforms in sector governance include the introduction of automated billing systems and the recovery of N5.74 billion in counterpart funding for the Zaria Water Project.

Mr Maiyaki said the review of the states water law is ongoing as part of efforts to strengthen the sector. He reaffirmed the governments commitment to sustaining the reforms and ensuring equitable access to clean and safe water for all residents.
An explosive device that Boko Haram terrorists detonated has killed one person and injured another in Woro, a community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, where the terrorists on 3 February killed more than 70 people and kidnapped many women and children.

The bomb attack occurred on Monday morning along the Wawa-Kaiama road. The road links Niger and Kwara together.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, confirmed the incident on Monday, saying the device detonated when a vehicle drove over it.

The IED incident occurred on a road a distance from Woro. The device went off as a vehicle rode past it on Monday morning, Mr Ajakaye said.

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He added that the blast resulted in the immediate death of a male victim, while a woman travelling with a child sustained injuries.

Sadly, the man died instantly, while his passenger, a woman travelling with a little child, sustained injuries, he said, noting that the injured woman is receiving treatment and responding well, while the child was unharmed.

However, local accounts suggest the casualty figure may be higher. The Special Assistant on Media to the Kaiama Local Government Chairman, ZulQharnain Shero Musa, said the explosion claimed lives, although he noted that the exact number of casualties was still unclear.

A car drove over an IED. We believe it was planted by Boko Haram members, Mr Musa said, indicating early suspicions about the perpetrators.

Salihu Umar, the village head of Woro, confirmed the incident. Mr Umar, who had been displaced since the last attack on his community, said he had been briefed about the bomb incident.

I was told that a commercial Toyota vehicle drove on the explosive and all the occupants died except for a woman who had been taken to the hospital, he told our reporter.

Other residents who spoke to journalists described scenes of panic following the explosion, with many fleeing the area amid fears of further attacks. Some witnesses, who declined to be named for security reasons, said the blast occurred in the early hours, catching residents off guard.

READ ALSO: Terrorists blow up bridge in Niger State

Efforts to obtain comments from the Kwara State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the Police Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, did not respond to calls and messages as of the time of filing this report.

The incident comes weeks after a deadly attack on Woro and neighbouring Nuku communities on 3 February, during which suspected terrorists killed scores of residents and abducted many others. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that the assault left over 100 people dead, with homes destroyed and several residents displaced.

Since then, the area has remained under heightened tension despite the launch of Operation Savannah Shield, a joint security initiative aimed at curbing banditry and terrorism across parts of Kwara and neighbouring Niger State.

Mondays explosion has further raised concerns about the persistence of security threats in Kwara North, with residents calling for sustained and effective protection to prevent a recurrence of violence.
Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi (JoSTUM), has ordered students to vacate the campus following a protest over alleged non-payment and irregularities in the disbursement of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

In an internal memorandum dated 23 March and signed by the Registrar, John David, the university announced an immediate Easter break from 23 March to 7 April and directed all students to vacate their hostels by 6 p.m. that Monday.

The closure came hours after students staged a protest on campus, blocking the universitys main gate and demanding clarity over the handling of NELFUND payments. The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as No NELFUND, No Exams and Refund Our Money, while chanting solidarity songs.

Several students who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES on condition of anonymity alleged that funds meant for them had either not been paid or were only partially disbursed despite approvals.

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We applied for this loan and got approval, but up till now, nothing has entered our accounts, one student said. We were told the money has already been sent to the school, so why are we not getting it?

Another student described the situation as confusing and frustrating. NELFUND is a loan, not a gift. We are expected to repay it after school, so why is there no transparency in how it is handled? Some people are saying they received less than what was approved, the student said.

Others accused the university management of a pattern of shutting down academic activities whenever students raise concerns. Each time we protest, they send us on break instead of solving the problem. When we come back, everything is forgotten, a student said. This is a simple issue. Pay students their money and let peace return.

The protest drew a response from the student union leadership, which urged calm. In a message to students, the NUBESS president appealed to protesters to remain peaceful and avoid property destruction, assuring them that their concerns were being addressed.

University authorities, however, dismissed claims of widespread non-payment. The registrar said most eligible students had already received their funds, noting that only 76 students were yet to benefit due to incomplete registration.

Registration means you have paid your fees and will then be refunded under NELFUND. If you did not pay, what exactly would be refunded to you? Mr David said.

He explained that the scheme operates a reimbursement model based on fees already paid by students. If you paid N56,000 or N63,000, that is what you get back. If you only paid N200, you cannot expect a full refund, he added.

Mr David also questioned the composition of the protesters, suggesting that some may not be students, and warned that the disruption could affect ongoing academic activities, especially as examinations were approaching.

READ ALSO: NELFUND refutes allegation of student loan funds diversion at UniAbuja

NELFUND, established under the Student Loan Act signed into law in April 2024, provides interest-free loans to students in public tertiary institutions to cover tuition and living expenses. According to official data, the scheme has received over 1.69 million applications and disbursed about N183.8 billion, including payments made directly to institutions and student allowances.

Despite these figures, tensions have persisted in some institutions over transparency and the timing of disbursements.

At JoSTUM, the latest development has raised concerns among students about the impact of repeated shutdowns on their academic calendar. We are already preparing for exams, now we are being asked to go home without resolving anything, another student said. When we return, the same issue will still be there.

As of the time of filing this report, there was no indication from the university management on whether discussions would be held with student representatives during the break to address the grievances.
General Motors Co. on Monday began testing its new, mostly self-driving technology on Michigan and California highways.

Trained drivers are behind the wheels of 200 test vehicles to take over if necessary, according to the Detroit automaker. GM said it's been collecting data from test vehicles driven in 34 states over the last six months in preparation.

A spokesperson declined to provide additional details on where testing will take place in Michigan and California.

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More: Here's why Ford, GM are approaching autonomous vehicles differently

GM has promised to launch "eyes-off" driving beginning in 2028 on its premium, all-electric Cadillac Escalade IQ. GM's goal is a mostly self-driving vehicle that can operate safely even if the driver falls asleep.

"Real-world testing is essential to build a trustworthy system," according to a release from the company. "Data captured during this phase will feed directly back into GM's development cycle, improving perception models, planning systems, and overall system robustness."

The technology builds off GM's current Super Cruise offering, which includes hands-free assisted driving, automatic lane changes and adaptive cruise control that shifts speed depending on surrounding traffic.

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GM leaders are pushing self-driving for personal-use vehicles after pulling out of the robotaxi business in late 2024. The automaker shuttered its Cruise autonomous vehicle unit after an incident in which one of the self-driven cars hit and dragged a pedestrian on a San Francisco street.

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: General Motors tests self-driving tech on Michigan, California highways
The International Press Institute Nigeria (IPI Nigeria) has urged President Bola Tinubu to caution Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago against continued attacks on the media in the state.

The call followed the recent assault on Musa Mikail, a senior reporter with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), at a public event as the latest of such acts.

Mr Mikail, who was covering a Ramadan Iftar at the palace of the Etsu Nupe in Bida, Niger State, on 13 March, was reportedly assaulted and forced out of the venue by some private guards on the instruction of Shehu Maikano, the chief security officer to Governor Bago.

IPI Nigeria said on Monday in a statement by its deputy president, Fidelis Mbah, and legal adviser, Tobi Soniyi, that the latest assault on the NTA reporter represents a disturbing trend of blatant acts of violation of press freedom and hostilities toward journalists by Governor Bago and some officials under his administration.

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The organisation also called on the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, to immediately launch an investigation into the incident, and sanction Governor Bagos CSO who ordered the assault on the journalist.

It recalled that last month, the Niger State Police Command summoned and detained a reporter of Prestige FM, Minna, Ahmed Isah Sakpe, over allegations that he defamed a protocol officer attached to Governor Bago. In November last year, the Niger State Governor arbitrarily ordered the closure of Badeggi FM Radio, over broadcasts purported to have incited the public against his government.

It recalled that on 2 December 2025, it listed Governor Bago and his Akwa Ibom State counterpart, Governor Umoh Eno, alongside former IGP Kayode Egbetokun, whose tenure was marked by repeated cases of police harassment and assault on journalists, in its Book of Infamy

The Book of Infamy was launched by Vice President Kashim Shettima during the organisations annual conference and general meeting.

Read IPI Nigerias full statement below

PRESS RELEASE

Attacks on the media: IPI Nigeria urges President Tinubu to call Governor Bago to order

-Asks IGP to sanction Governors CSO

The International Press Institute (IPI) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to caution Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State against taking actions that impede on the rights of journalists and media organisations to carry out their professional duties within the state.

IPI Nigeria, in a statement jointly signed by Fidelis Mbah and Tobi Soniyi, Deputy President and Legal Adviser, said some of Governor Bagos actions, and those of some officers working under him have infringed on press freedom, citing the recent assault on Musa Mikail, a senior reporter with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), at a public event as the latest of such acts.

Mikail, who was covering a Ramadan Iftar at the palace of the Etsu Nupe in Bida, Niger State, on March 13, 2026, was reportedly assaulted and forced out of the venue by some private guards on the instruction of Shehu Abdullahi Maikano, the chief security officer to Governor Bago.

According to the NTA staff member, he was standing with his cameraman when the governors CSO approached and asked them to move. I explained that we were not obstructing anyone and we are carrying out our professional duties. Despite this, he pushed me, and other security operatives attacked me and forced me out of the event, Mikail said.

The IPI said the latest assault on the NTA reporter represents a disturbing trend of blatant acts of violation of press freedom and hostilities toward journalists by Governor Bago and some officials under his administration.

It recalled that last month, the Niger State police command summoned and detained a reporter of Prestige FM, Minna, Ahmed Isah Sakpe, over allegations that he defamed a protocol officer attached to Governor Bago. In November last year, the Niger State Governor arbitrarily ordered the closure of Badeggi FM Radio, over broadcasts purported to have incited the public against his government.

In May 2025, a freelance journalist, Ibrahim Ndamitso, who had at a public event asked Governor Bago a question about a kidnapping incident that occurred on the Kontagora-Minna road in October, 2024, was accused by the Governor of working with bandits, and thereby handed over to the police for profiling.

In December 2024, Yakubu Mustapha Bina was invited and interrogated by the Niger State office of the State Security Service (SSS) after filing a report stating that Governor Bagos entourage had missed its way during a rural tour of the North West Senatorial District of the state on December 1, 2024.

In November 2023, Mustapha Batsari, a correspondent of the Voice of America (VOA) in Niger State was assaulted and threatened by the state Commissioner of Homeland Security, Major General Bello Mohammed Abdullahi (rtd), right inside the Government House in Minna.

The persistent attempts to suppress freedom of expression and silence journalists by Governor Bago and some officials of his administration led to the Governors inclusion in the *IPI Nigerias Book of Infamy* which was launched on December 2, 2025, for press freedom violations, intimidation of journalists, and attempts to stifle free speech.

Reacting to the recent assault on the NTA senior reporter, IPI Nigeria has called on the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, to immediately launch an investigation into the incident, and sanction Governor Bagos CSO who ordered the assault on the journalist.

It will be recalled that IPI Nigeria listed Governor Bago and his Akwa Ibom State counterpart, Governor Umoh Eno, alongside former IGP Kayode Egbetokun, whose tenure was marked by repeated cases of police harassment and assault on journalists, in its Book of Infamy, which was launched by Vice President Kashim Shettima during the organisations annual conference and general meeting on December 2, 2025.

Fidelis Mbah,

Deputy President

Tobi Soniyi,

Legal Adviser
The Bayero University, Kano (BUK) has expelled 71 students for falsifying their entry qualifications.

The decision was reached during the universitys Senates 433rd meeting on 4 March following a comprehensive investigation by the Senate Committee on Entry Qualification Irregularities.

The investigation revealed that the affected students secured admission into the university with forged O-Level results and Diploma certificates.

A statement published in the universitys weekly bulletin on Friday confirmed that their actions directly violate Section 20.7, Category A (vii) of the General Examinations and Academic Regulations.

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The expulsion spans various departments and academic levels. University officials described the move as a necessary step to sanitise the institutions academic records and maintain the value of its degrees.

In a separate disciplinary action, the university also expelled Yusuf Sani, a student in the Department of Civil Engineering, found to have physically assaulted invigilators during an examinationan act that disrupted the session and breached the universitys code of student conduct.

The university management reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity, noting that breaches of regulations will continue to meet strict sanctions.

This mass expulsion serves as a stern warning to both current and prospective students, the statement concluded. BUK maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward both academic fraud and indiscipline, the university stated.
Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, has pledged to revive Kanos struggling industrial sector and restore the decapitalised Bank of the North.

Mr Obi made these remarks on Sunday during a Sallah visit to the Miller Road residence of former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, for a festive celebration organised by Mr Kwankwaso, which drew hundreds of supporters.

Mr Obi attended the event alongside Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and former Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson.

Addressing the gathered crowd, Mr Obi stated that while his primary intent was to celebrate the festive period with Mr Kwankwaso, he remained steadfast in his commitment to Kanos economic rejuvenation.

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He stated that restoring the states dying factories is essential to rebuilding the regions commercial strength

We want to change Kano. We want to build a new Kano. What we want to do is bring back the power of Kano  all those factories in Bompai, Sharada 1, Sharada 2, Bank of the North  we want to bring all of them back. Today is not politics; it is the celebration of Sallah, Mr Obi stated.

According to Nigerias electoral law, campaigns start later in the year. This did not, however, deter the Sallah celebrations from turning into a political rally.

Mr Kwankwaso, welcomed the dignitaries and expressed delight over the show of unity during the Sallah celebration.

This years event has drawn national attention, as it marks the first major political gathering hosted by Mr Kwankwaso since he was deserted by associates led by 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 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 may indicate a potential grand opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The number of victims affected by the gas explosion that occurred in Calabar on Saturday has risen to 60, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

Henry Ayuk, the commissioner for health in Cross River, disclosed this during a visit to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), where the victims are receiving treatment.

It will be recalled that the Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, on Saturday, gave the figure of the victims to be 30 when he visited the scene of the incident.

The governor said the government would cover the hospital bills for the victims.

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Mr Ayuk said his visit to the hospital was to assess the situation of the victims receiving medical attention.

He said that victims with minor burn injuries would be transferred to the General Hospital, Calabar, to ease pressure on the teaching hospital and ensure efficient care for all victims.

The commissioner was accompanied on the visit by the Special Adviser to the Governor on General Duties, Ekpeyong Akiba.

They were received by the Chief Medical Director of UCTH, Ikpeme Ikpeme, who provided updates on the condition and management of the victims.

The visit formed part of the state governments coordinated response to the explosion, with health authorities working to ensure prompt and adequate treatment for all affected persons.

It will be recalled that a gas leak at a gas plant led to an explosion that affected several other houses in the Edibe Edibe area of Calabar South, injuring many.
Limited access to safe water, weak funding, and slow policy implementation are deepening gender inequality across Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, the Peace Point Development Foundation (PPDF) has said.

It warns that women and girls bear the brunt of the crisis.

The organisation disclosed this in a press release issued on 21 March, following its community engagement in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom to mark the 2026 World Water Day, themed Water and Gender: Where Water Flows, Equality Grows.

The Peace Point Development Foundation, whose work covers both Akwa Ibom and Cross River said the situation in both states reflects a troubling pattern of inadequate investment in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) systems, coupled with weak implementation of institutional frameworks, leaving rural communities, particularly women and girls, exposed to health risks and social inequality.

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Where water flows, equality grows. But in many of our communities in Akwa Ibom and Cross River, clean and safe water does not flow, and inequality persists, the organisation said.

The organisation said across rural communities in the two states, women and girls often travel long distances to fetch water from streams polluted by mining activities and oil, exposing them to safety risks and limiting time for education and economic activities.

It said the inadequacies and sometimes absence of safe and private sanitation facilities, especially in schools and public spaces, further compound their vulnerability.

While acknowledging policy progress in Akwa Ibom, including the approval of a State WASH Policy, Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, and an Open Defecation-Free (ODF) roadmap, the organisation expressed concern over delayed implementation.

It noted that sanitation and hygiene projects approved and announced by the government nearly a year ago in Obot Akara, Ikono, Esit Eket, and Nsit Ubium local government areas are yet to be completed or commissioned.

It described as disturbing the delay in establishing key institutions such as the State Water Council and Water Regulatory Council, as well as the failure to transition the Akwa Ibom Water Company into a full corporation as stipulated by law three years after passage.

According to the organisation, the states inability to meet the 2025 national ODF targetachieved by only one local government area, Nsit Ataiexposes gaps in funding, coordination, and sustained technical support.

Meanwhile, only 38 of Nigerias 774 local government areas have been declared open defecation-free.

In Cross River, the Peace Point Development Foundation acknowledged the passage of the Open Defecation Prohibition Law by the state House of Assembly, describing it as a step forward in strengthening sanitation governance.

However, it warned that the absence of dedicated funding threatens the laws effectiveness.

Without clear financial commitments, enforcement risks become symbolic rather than impactful. Institutions cannot function optimally without the resources required for community engagement, monitoring, and service delivery, the group said.

It added that the funding gap weakens the capacity of the State Task Group on WASH and local government departments to translate legislation into measurable outcomes, potentially undermining efforts to achieve ODF status and improve public health.

It called on both state governments to prioritise sustainable financing, strengthen institutional structures, and accelerate the implementation of WASH policies and projects.

The organisation recommended the immediate operationalisation of approved frameworks, establishment of regulatory bodies, timely release of funds, and the adoption of sustainable financing models.

It also called on authorities to ensure functional WASH departments across all local governments and provide inclusive sanitation infrastructure in schools and public spaces, particularly for women, girls, and persons with disabilities.

It stressed the need for stronger community involvement through local WASH committees to manage facilities and hold authorities accountable.

As we mark World Water Day, we must recognise that water is not just a resource, it is a pathway to equality, PPDF said. Ensuring equitable access, especially for women and girls, must be at the heart of all interventions.
The Nigeria Federation of Business and Professional Women has petitioned the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, over the violent assaults on women during a local festival in the state.

The group called for an urgent investigation, prosecution of perpetrators, and reforms.

The festival took place in the Ozoro community, Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta.

A video clip of the incident captured a crowd of rowdy young men assaulting a young woman whose bra had already been torn.

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PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the bizarre festival has been an ancient tradition in the Ozoro community.

In an open petition dated 21 March and signed by its National President, Ojobo Atuluku, the organisation said women were attacked, stripped, and violated in broad daylight at the festival, stressing that the incident had shocked the conscience of Nigerians.

The group argued that the acts, carried out under the guise of cultural practice, amounted to criminal conduct and could not be justified under any tradition.

What happened to women at a recent festival in Delta State was not a cultural practice; it was a crime, the petition stated, adding that no society should condone practices that degrade human dignity.

Citing Section 34(1) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, which guarantees the right to dignity, the group said the actions also violate provisions of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015, the Criminal Code, and relevant state laws.

It further referenced Nigerias obligations under international frameworks, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Maputo Protocol.

The group raised concerns over the role of traditional institutions, noting that the incidents allegedly occurred under the watch of recognised traditional authorities. It said such leaders, as custodians of their communities, must be held accountable when they fail to prevent or address violence.

Traditional rulers are not merely ceremonial; they are custodians of order and protectors of their people, the group said, urging the governor to exercise his powers under Delta State chieftaincy laws where necessary.

Demands

Among its demands, the group called for the establishment of an independent panel of inquiry to investigate the incidents, including the role of traditional authorities and any institutional complicity.

It also asked the governor to suspend all traditional office holders within the affected area pending investigation, and to remove any found culpable of enabling, condoning, or failing to prevent the alleged abuses.

The group further demanded the full prosecution of all perpetrators, including organisers and enablers, under applicable laws, as well as a comprehensive review of safety and human rights compliance standards for cultural festivals across the state.

It called for support for victims, including access to justice, medical care, psychosocial services, and witness protection.

This is bigger than one festival, the petition noted. It is about whether Nigerian women can move freely, participate in public life, and trust that the law will protect them.

The group pledged to support victims and collaborate with authorities on reforms, while also indicating readiness to pursue legal action if necessary to ensure accountability.

Meanwhile, the police in Delta State said they have arrested 15 suspects so far in connection with the bizarre incident.

The federal government has also said it will collaborate with the state government to support victims.
Police in Enugu State have detained 24-year-old Desmond Ugwu over the alleged rape and attempted murder of a pregnant woman in Affa community, Udi Local Government Area.

This is contained in a statement issued on Sunday in Enugu by the police spokesman in Enugu State, Daniel Ndukwe.

Mr Ndukwe, a superintendent of police, said the 30-year-old victim, whose name is being withheld, had on 14 March taken a short walk home from a neighbours house.

He said the familiar route was a quiet track road in Amokwo-Affa, in Udi.

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But what should have been a routine return turned into a terrifying ordeal.

Unaware she was being followed, she was suddenly attacked from behind by the suspect, who was armed with a cutlass.

He forced her to the ground, gripped her neck in a bid to strangle her, and covered her mouth to silence her cries.

She was then dragged into an uncompleted building, where he threatened to kill her if she resisted before forcefully raping her.

Mr Ndukwe said the victim reported the incident about 6:15 a.m. on 15 March, prompting swift police action.

He said operatives of the Affa Police Division promptly arrested and detained the suspect.

The spokesperson said the victim was immediately taken to the hospital for medical examination and treatment.

The scene was processed, leading to recovery of exhibits, including the cutlass and clothing bearing suspected blood and seminal stains.

The suspect has confessed, while the Commissioner of Police, Mr Mamman Giwa, has ordered a thorough investigation, Mr Ndukwe said.

He added that the suspect would be arraigned in court upon conclusion of investigations.

The commissioner described the incident as deeply disturbing and unacceptable, reaffirming the commands resolve to ensure justice.

He urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements, noting community awareness could make the difference between safety and tragedy.

(NAN)
The Abia Coordinator of Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Henry Ikoh, has announced that the state is ready to move beyond regional politics, urging citizens to support President Bola Tinubus re-election bid in 2027.

He made this statement on Saturday during the inauguration of the coordinators of Renewed Hope Ambassadors in Bende, Umuahia North, and Umuahia South Local Government Areas of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Renewed Hope Ambassadors is a grassroots civic engagement initiative launched by Mr Tinubu to promote his Renewed Hope Agenda and connect government policies with citizens.

Mr Ikoh, a former minister of State for Science, Technology, and Innovation, praised Mr Tinubus performance, stating that he deserves 100 per cent of the vote in Abia in the 2027 general elections.

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He described Mr Tinubu as a generous president who has done much for the state, despite the low votes he received in 2023.

Mr Ikoh warned against repeating the mistake of 2023, boasting that the APC would sweep all elective positions in Abia in 2027.

He urged the Renewed Hope Ambassadors to work tirelessly to ensure Mr Tinubus victory in 2027, emphasising that the state was ready for a change from regional politics.

Mr Ikoh said, This president has ensured that he removed the petrol subsidy, which was a scam.

We have surplus money in every state. No state government will borrow money again to pay salaries.

There is no gainsaying that if we reconnect ourselves to the centre, more dividends of democracy will come to Abia.

In separate remarks, stakeholders from the three local government areas praised the state executive of Renewed Hope Ambassadors, pledging their support for President Tinubu and the APC in 2027.
BEIJING, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from China.org.cn on the 20th anniversary of United Nations Human Rights Council:

A few days ago, on Mar. 15, the United Nations Human Rights Council marked its 20th anniversary. Two decades ago, the Council was established, with a shared aspiration of "strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe." It was founded on the sincere hope that civilians would be shielded from war, and that the dignity of every human life would be upheld.

20 years of the UN Human Rights Council: No civilian should ever become casualties of conflict Speed Speed

Not long ago, delegates from over 120 countries gathered in Geneva to mark the 20th anniversary of the UN Human Rights Council. The Chinese representative noted in his remarks, "Unilateralism, protectionism, and hegemonism are surging as a countercurrent, multilateralism is facing headwinds, and the international human rights cause is facing severe challenges. The current situation in the Middle East is particularly alarming at present."

The promotion and protection of human rights should never be confined to the language of resolutions; concrete actions should be in place to protect each and every human life.

After all, the true measure of human rights progress is not found in the conference halls in Geneva, but in whether every child can walk to school safely, and whether they can enjoy the fundamental rights to live and develop in peace.

SOURCE China.org.cn
DUBAI, UAE, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Bybit, the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, has announced the launch of its AOA Trading Kickoff campaign to celebrate the recent listing of the Angolan kwanza (AOA) on its peer-to-peer (P2P) trading platform, following its official announcement earlier this week.

The initiative is designed to encourage early adoption and liquidity in the AOA market while providing users with multiple avenues to earn incentives, alongside trading on Bybit's P2P platform, which facilitates zero-fee transactions between users.

Participants who register for the event can complete a range of activities to earn fixed rewards or lucky draw entries. New users making P2P deposits in AOA are eligible to draw entries based on deposit thresholds, including deposits of at least $50 within 3 days of registration or $100 within 7 days of registration.

The campaign also includes a referral component, allowing users to earn additional lucky draw entries when invited participants complete qualifying deposit requirements, with up to two eligible referrals per user.

Active traders can earn rewards as takers by completing AOA buy or sell orders of $200 or more, receiving 5 USDT per qualifying transaction, with rewards capped at 20 USDT per user. Meanwhile, merchants acting as makers can unlock tiered incentives by providing liquidity and meeting defined trading volume targets, with top rewards of up to 100 USDT based on trading performance. Reward distribution is subject to eligibility criteria and availability.

The AOA Trading Kickoff reflects Bybit's continued efforts to expand its P2P offerings and support broader access to cryptocurrency trading across emerging markets, with the addition of newly listed local currencies like AOA enhancing accessibility for regional users.

#Bybit / #CryptoArk

About Bybit

Bybit is the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving a global community of over 80 million users. Founded in 2018, Bybit is redefining openness in the decentralized world by creating a simpler, open and equal ecosystem for everyone. With a strong focus on Web3, Bybit partners strategically with leading blockchain protocols to provide robust infrastructure and drive on-chain innovation. Renowned for its secure custody, diverse marketplaces, intuitive user experience, and advanced blockchain tools, Bybit bridges the gap between TradFi and DeFi, empowering builders, creators, and enthusiasts to unlock the full potential of Web3. Discover the future of decentralized finance at Bybit.com.

For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press

For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

For updates, please follow: Bybit's Communities and Social Media

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SOURCE Bybit
The first vehicles are expected to arrive in Slovakia in spring 2026. Credit: metamorworks/Shutterstock.com

The first vehicles are expected to arrive in Slovakia in spring 2026. Credit: metamorworks/Shutterstock.com (metamorworks/Shutterstock.com)

WeRide has forayed into Slovakia through a strategic partnership with ELEVATE Slovakia to deploy autonomous vehicles.

The move marks WeRide's fourth European market after France, Belgium and Switzerland, and expands its global footprint to more than 40 cities across 12 countries.

ELEVATE Slovakia brings together a range of public and private participants, including the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization, the City of Bratislava, Slovak Post, academic institutions and private companies.

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Under the agreement, WeRide will act as the autonomous driving technology provider and plans to deploy its Robotaxi, Robobus, Robovan and Robosweeper products across passenger transport, parcel logistics and municipal sanitation use cases.

Testing will be overseen by the Ministry of Transport to ensure compliance with Slovak and European regulations.

WeRide said the programme represents Europes first large-scale, multi-product autonomous vehicle commercial deployment.

The first vehicles are expected to arrive in Slovakia in spring 2026, with trials due to begin in Bratislava in the first half of 2026 before expanding to Kosice and the High Tatras.

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WeRide founder and CEO Tony Han said:"WeRide's global expansion is picking up speed as more governments and cities advance large-scale autonomous mobility. With plans for over 2,600 active Robotaxis by the end of 2026 and tens of thousands globally by 2030, Slovakia represents a strategic next step as we extend our global presence to 12 countries.

By engaging early with governments, we aim to be their go-to partner and set the standards for safe, scalable AV commercialisation."

Slovak technology company DiusAi has been named as implementation partner, with responsibility for system integration and local operational support.

DiusAi CEO Patrik Tkac said: We are aware that the path toward autonomous transport requires time, extensive testing, open expert discussion, and gradual adjustments to the legislative framework. This is precisely why we consider the ELEVATE Slovakia initiative to be key.

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Recently, WeRide broadened its partnership with Geelys commercial vehicle unit, Farizon New Energy Commercial Vehicle Group to speed up robotaxi production worldwide.

The companies also introduced an upgraded, production-ready Robotaxi GXR and said they plan to deliver about 2,000 vehicles by 2026.

"WeRide enters Slovakia through ELEVATE partnership" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.




Recognizing local, regional, and global achievements across 10 awards programs with worldwide participation

SAN FRANCISCO, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Globee Awards, a business awards program with worldwide participation, today announced a call for entries inviting organizations, teams, and individuals across Australia and New Zealand to nominate their achievements for global recognition.

For more information and to submit nominations, visit: https://globeeawards.com

Following increased participation from organizations in Australia and New Zealand, the Globee Awards are encouraging further nominations from across these markets. Organizations of all sizesincluding startups, private and public companies, government entities, and non-profit organizationsare welcome to submit their achievements.

The Globee Awards recognize excellence across a wide range of categories, including business, innovation, technology, leadership, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, impact, excellence, and more. These recognitions are delivered through 10 specialized awards programs, each designed to highlight achievements across different areas of business and industry. Nominations are welcomed for local, regional, and global achievements, ensuring that impactful work at every level has the opportunity to be recognized.

Participants benefit from a data-driven evaluation process conducted by experienced professionals from diverse industries worldwide. Winners receive global recognition, verified eCertificates, and the opportunity to showcase their achievements to an international audience.

About the Globee Awards

The Globee Awards, a business awards program with worldwide participation, organize 10 awards programs that recognize achievements and innovations across multiple industries and sectors. With participation from organizations and professionals around the globe, the awards honor excellence through a data-driven evaluation process.

Follow: @globeeawards

Hashtags: #GlobeeAwards #SmallBusiness #LocalBusiness #BusinessAchievements #AustraliaBusiness #NewZealandBusiness #ANZBusiness #AustraliaStartups #NewZealandStartups #ANZInnovation

All trademarks belong to their respective owners.

SOURCE Globee Awards
Move comes as company pushes to help more communities increase wildfire resilience and access insurance

SAN FRANCISCO, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- To coincide with Climate Awareness Day, Delos Insurance Solutions, the property insurance MGA that uses sophisticated wildfire science, has announced increased access to its insurance by more than 1 million homes in wildfire-stressed locations across California over the past 12 months. Climate Awareness Day reminds us that climate stability is not guaranteed, and that communities everywhere should work toward solutions that protect both the environment and each other.

Kevin Stein, CEO Delos Insurance Solutions (PRNewsfoto/Delos Insurance Solutions)

The insurance crisis facing many California homeowners continues. Insurers are still announcing non-renewals and the state's insurance of last resort, the FAIR plan, saw enrollment jump 43%, to 668,609, between September 2024 and December 2025. Last week, Mark Sektnan, vicepresident for state government relations at the American Property Casualty Insurance Association was reported by Bloomberg as saying, "The [California] insurance market right now is in a fragile state."

Against this backdrop, the science-driven approach used by Delos to develop its sophisticated wildfire risk model, has enabled it to grow significantly, while recording industry-leading loss ratios. It successfully predicted all the major wildfires in the past six years, including last year's devastating LA fires that resulted in no fire losses for the company.

The million increase in homes eligible for a Delos policy is largely down to two factors. Firstly, the company's increased confidence in its already-proven wildfire risk model has led to 270,000 homes in the five counties surrounding the Eaton and Palisades fire footprints in Southern California becoming eligible. The latest model enhancements were facilitated by the injection of refined high resolution wind data as well as other datasets related to suppression efficacy and urban conflagration potential. Secondly, new and existing 'A' rated providers have increased the capacity of Delos' underwriting limits, due to trust in its sustainable, profitable underwriting approach.

Delos is now able to write insurance coverage for 12 million homes across California, including many areas perceived as high-risk by legacy insurers. Delos analysis has identified that 65% of areas other insurers deem too risky, are in fact acceptable risks for Delos' sophisticated wildfire model. Delos also found that more than 50% of homes on the California FAIR plan are eligible to receive a single, clear, comprehensive policy from Delos.

"Many homeowners in California are still finding insurance hard to access, and many agents in California are struggling to find insurance to help their clients. It is our mission to change that. We've also kick started several efforts to find innovative new ways to provide homeowners with access to insurance and mortgages while simultaneously improving communities' wildfire resilience. Being able to offer 1 million more homes access to comprehensive Delos policies since the devastating LA fires is huge. Moving forward, we are keen to broaden our footprint, so homeowners in wildfire-stressed locations across the Western US, can access a Delos insurance policy, " said Kevin Stein, CEO Delos Insurance Solutions.

Stein added, "Like most of my colleagues, I am from California. For us, it's not just business, it's personal."

As part of its drive to find more ways to improve community wildfire resilience, Delos has embarked upon a series of projects and partnerships to move beyond transactional insurance to improve education, resilience, and insurance affordability, in communities facing potential wildfire risk. Partnerships Delos has entered into include nonprofit, innovative, climate-risk insurance solutions firm, InnSure and ROAR Partners, a national innovation and investment advisory firm focused on pre-disaster risk exposure mitigation as well as working closely with organizations such as CAL FIRE and the California Fire Safety Council.

Delos' suite of homeowner programs includes HO-3 policies in California for primary, secondary and seasonal homes as well as vacant home policies. The programs can be accessed via Delos' 14,000 California-based broker and agent distribution partners. All of Delos' capacity is through AM Best 'A' Rated or Demotech 'A' Rated companies.

About Delos Insurance Solutions

Delos Insurance Solutions uses cutting-edge technology to offer insurance protection to homeowners in communities abandoned by other insurers because of wildfire risk. Founded in San Francisco in 2017 by aerospace engineers, Delos leverages data, analytics and machine learning to create more accurate underwriting models and offer real-time risk mitigation to protect policyholders. Delos is a Managing General Agent (MGA) offering policies, with all of Delos' capacity through AM Best 'A' Rated or Demotech 'A' Rated companies.

In 2025, Delos was recognized as an Insurance Luminary for Technology Innovation, received the Model Insurer Award from Celent, was shortlisted for MGA/MGU of the Year at the Insurance Insider US Honors and was a finalist in the Program Manager Awards for MGA of the Year. It was listed in Fintech Global's Insurtech 100 and both CB Insights' Insurtech 50 and Fintech 100. In 2024, Delos was awarded MGA/MGU of the Year by Insurance Insider US and named one of CB Insights' Top 100 Global Fintech Companies.

SOURCE Delos Insurance Solutions
Polycrisis: The High-Stakes War in the Gulf at the Critical Chokepoints of Global Energy Resources, Sea Lanes, and Trade Corridors Spotlight the Strategic Need for Live Cross-Sector Risk Forecasting, Prior to Policy Implementation

NEW YORK, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to the urgent global geopolitical polycrisis, we are pleased to announce that Jumptuit Aerospace & Defense will unveil and publicly demonstrate its Cross-Sector Motion Analysis (CSMA) employing a non-LLM Large Dynamic Reasoning Model (LDRM) the first week of May in Washington, D.C. Additional event details will be published in April.

The high-stakes "chokepoint" in the Gulf region and Strait of Hormuz, resulting from the Third Gulf War has critically disrupted the production and export of Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), Petrochemicals, and Industrial Agents acutely impacting Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, and the Levant (Israel and Lebanon), and disrupting global markets. Beyond the immediate conflict, the extensive damage to oil and gas infrastructure signals a global economic crisis that will persist for months, if not years.

The cascading downstream impacts of high natural gas, urea and ammonia (needed for fertilizer production) prices, compounded by production and logistics shortages due to the war, could result in sustained price increases and reduced fertilizer production and use. With the summer crop planting season (March-May) underway, reduced application and higher prices will lead to lower yields and crippled profit margins for farmers. These factors could trigger a chain of events: lower demand for agricultural machinery, volatility in sector equities, and a heightened risk of food insecurity, famine, and migration and refugee crises.

The cascading downstream impacts of high natural gas and helium (needed for microchip production) prices, compounded by production and logistics shortages due to the war, could result in sustained price increases and reduced semiconductor manufacturing. This could potentially create significant supply chain and pricing pressure for the Magnificent 7, due to high hardware dependency, exposure to critical raw material shortages, and AI boom hyperscaler capital expenditures (CapEx) for data center infrastructure buildouts, the broader tech sector, and Aerospace & Defense companies.

"Scenarios are valid until they are not," said Jumptuit Group Founder and CEO, Donald Leka. "The physical world is dynamic and integrated and events are in continuous motion requiring constant access to live cross-sector physical world data, autonomous reasoning permutations dynamically responsive to live inputs, and autonomous updating of analyses, scenarios and forecasts to anticipate outcomes, formulate policies, and achieve strategic goals."

About The Jumptuit Group

The Jumptuit Group (TJG) is an AI research and development company working in the emerging field of Anticipatory Intelligence.

The purpose of Anticipatory Intelligence is to observe and understand the antecedent elements of events, their movements and the forces among them, based on heightened sensory and spatial intelligence.

Our goal is to accelerate the anticipation of events that pose risks and opportunities to organizations and help policymakers and practitioners develop anticipatory strategies to improve stakeholder outcomes.

TJG is an interconnected network of subsidiary companies across geographies and sectors realizing synergies among them.

TJG companies operate within the same technology, licensing, and business model framework, allowing for seamless deployment of product modules between the Operating Vertical Companies (OVCs).

Jumptuit Editorial Contact:

Jordan Glass

Jumptuit

914.584.5022

[email protected]

SOURCE Jumptuit
Following the Acquisition of Sapori d'Italia, Ethica Wines Expands Its Strategic Presence Across the Asia-Pacific Region

MIAMI, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Ethica Wines, an international group specializing in the distribution of premium Italian wines, announces the integration between Dispensing Solutions and The Standard Wine Company, reinforcing its ongoing commitment to structured, sustainable growth in the Australian market. The closing of the agreement between the companies took place on February 27, 2026.

The integration follows Ethica Wines' recent partnership with Sapori d'Italia, the leading Italian wine importer and distributor based in New Zealand, which was finalized on August 29, 2025.

Together, these initiatives establish a coordinated commercial and logistics platform across the Pacific region, strengthening Ethica Wines' presence in Australia and broader Oceanic markets, including Polynesia and Fiji.

Marco Nordio, President of Sapori d'Italia, commented: "Shortening and streamlining the supply chain for Italian wines in New Zealand benefits everyone, especially the final consumers. This is the reason behind Ethica Wines' partnership with Sapori d'Italia in New Zealand. The new model will naturally lead to improved quality control and cost savings."

Leveraging this experience, Ethica Wines now advances its Australian strategy by bringing together two fast-growing operators with complementary portfolios and distinct client networks. Under the new structure, Dispensing Solutions will incorporate The Standard Wine Company's operations, creating a broader commercial platform with expanded national reach, while gradually integrating parts of the Ethica Wines portfolio.

The platform will operate through a logistics structure centered on a primary warehouse in Melbourne, with additional expansions planned in Sydney and Perth to further enhance distribution efficiency and nationwide coverage.

Beyond logistics, the initiative aims to strengthen the cultural and commercial bridge between Italian producers and Pacific markets, promoting Italian fine wines through education, storytelling, and long-term brand development.

Founded in 2014 and led by Managing Director Andrew De Angelis, Dispensing Solutions pioneered a model centered on premium Italian wine served via proprietary tap systems. Known commercially as Wine on Tap, the concept combines advanced dispensing technology with distinctive design. Over time, the company expanded its offerings to include a curated range of bottled selections, maintaining a strong dedication to Italian production and promoting wine culture within the hospitality sector. The business has built a solid presence in Melbourne and is steadily growing its national footprint.

Established in 2021 by Piero Fonseca, The Standard Wine Company brings Italian wine to life through contemporary, culturally driven communication. The company represents more than 30 Italian producers and has gained recognition in the premium on-premises segment across Sydney and eastern Australia.

"This step allows us to expand our development opportunities. By aligning our expertise, infrastructure, and vision, we expect to drive significant growth over the next 24 to 36 months," said Piero Fonseca, Founder of The Standard Wine Company. "This is not just an increase in volume, but a deliberate evolution in how Italian wine is presented and perceived in Australia."

Andrew De Angelis, Managing Director of Dispensing Solutions, added: "Our partnership with Ethica Wines reflects a shared entrepreneurial mindset and a forward-thinking approach to distribution. We are committed to delivering Italian wine through innovative systems, strong brand identity, and continuous evolution in how it reaches the market."

The collaboration will also be expressed through a unified visual identity: the Dispensing Solutions Ltd. logo will incorporate The Standard Wine logotype, with the original red element transitioning to Ethica Wines' signature green.

About Ethica Wines Asia Pacific

Ethica Wines Asia Pacific is the Ethica Wines group company responsible for activities across the Asia-Pacific region. Headquartered in Singapore with operational offices in Bangkok, the company operates with dedicated marketing and logistics teams and resident sales managers across key markets. Today the organization counts approximately 70 collaborators and is expected to reach a turnover of approximately 26 million dollars in 2026 selling close to 2 million bottles annually. The company manages an integrated logistics platform with a warehouse in Singapore, ensuring supply chain efficiency and ongoing support for partners across the region. Globally, Ethica Wines continues to record strong growth. The company closed 2025 with a turnover of approximately 140 million dollars, representing an increase of around 20% compared to 2024. For 2026, the group expects to reach approximately 165 million dollars in revenue, confirming its position as one of the fastest-growing international platforms dedicated to Italian wine.

About Dispensing Solutions

Founded in Melbourne in 2014, Dispensing Solutions is an importer and distributor dedicated exclusively to Italian wine. Under the leadership of Andrew De Angelis, the company introduced a differentiated dispensing model known as Wine on Tap, combining proprietary technology with Italian-designed ceramic towers to elevate the by-the-glass experience within the hospitality sector. Over time, the portfolio expanded to include premium bottled selections, maintaining a consistent emphasis on education, brand storytelling, and qualitative growth across the Australian market.

About The Standard Wine Company

Established in 2021 by Piero Fonseca, The Standard Wine Company is an importer and distributor dedicated exclusively to Italian wine excellence. Headquartered in Sydney, the company was founded with the objective of elevating the presence of Italian producers within Australia's premium hospitality landscape. Through a curated portfolio of over 30 wineries, The Standard Wine Company focuses on high-end on-premises accounts, including fine dining restaurants, Michelin-recognized venues, and boutique wine bars. The company has developed a distinctive market approach centered on education, contemporary narrative, and long-term brand building.

SOURCE Ethica Wines
MADISON, Wis., March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Everlight Solar has been named a Gold Winner in the 2026 Bravas Raves & Faves Awards, earning recognition as one of the most trusted and valued solar companies in the Madison, Wisconsin area.

Presented by Bravas Magazine: Voices for Women, the Bravas Raves & Faves Awards celebrate local businesses that make a meaningful impact in their communities. Winners are determined through community voting, making the recognition a reflection of local residents' trust and support.

Bravas Raves and Raves 2026 Award

"We're grateful to the Madison community for this recognition," said William Creech, President and CEO of Everlight Solar. "Awards like this reflect the trust homeowners place in us. Our team works hard to show up with transparency, take the time to educate homeowners, and help them make confident decisions about going solar."

As a Midwest-based company, Everlight Solar emphasizes a people-first approach built on honesty, quality workmanship, and long-term relationships with the communities it serves. Recognition in the Bravas Raves & Faves Awards highlights the company's continued commitment to serving homeowners with integrity while helping them take greater ownership of their energy.

Everlight Solar expresses appreciation to everyone who took the time to vote and share their experiences with the company.

About Everlight

Everlight Solar is the fastest-growing solar company in the Midwest, with operations in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Idaho, Nebraska, Iowa, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming. Everlight has expanded its lineup to include Roofing and Exteriors, offering homeowners a total home transformation. With amazing service, expert installation, and the best warranties in the business, it has never been easier to upgrade your home's curb appeal and energy efficiency. See the difference at everlightsolar.com.

SOURCE Everlight Solar
WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Farmers Insurance today announced that John Pham has joined the organization as Chief Strategy & Risk Officer, reporting to Farmers Group, Inc. CEO Raul Vargas.

In this role, Pham will work across the enterprise to help translate strategy into measurable business outcomes, with a focus on execution discipline, operational excellence and technology-enabled improvement.

John Pham is Chief Strategy & Risk Officer for Farmers Insurance.

"John brings deep experience leading complex, cross-functional transformation in Property & Casualty insurance," said Raul Vargas, CEO of Farmers Group, Inc. "His background in operational execution, customer experience and technology modernization will be an important asset as we continue to strengthen performance and deliver value for our customers, agents and employees."

Pham joins Farmers from GEICO, where he most recently served as Head of Strategic Business Initiatives, responsible for Operational Shared Services. In that role, he partnered with product, technology and business leaders to improve contact center automation and customer experience, strengthen enterprise learning and onboarding at scale, establish enterprise-wide quality frameworks, and enhance the use of customer insights to drive process improvements.

In prior roles at GEICO, including Chief Information Officer, Pham led large business units with P&L responsibility and implemented new initiatives to drive profitable growth and improve customer service.

About Farmers Insurance

"Farmers Insurance" and "Farmers" are tradenames for a group of insurers providing insurance for automobiles, homes and small businesses and a wide range of other insurance and financial services products. Farmers Insurance Exchange, the largest of the three primary insurers that make up Farmers Insurance, is recognized as one of the largest U.S. companies on the 2025 Fortune 500 list. For more information about Farmers Insurance, visit Farmers.com.

Contact: External Communications



Farmers Insurance



818-965-0007



[email protected]



SOURCE Farmers Insurance
ZHONGSHAN, China, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- "Common Injection Molding Design Mistakes and Optimization Guide" was not just breaking news within the First Mold, but a major announcement. The company officially announced this publication as a technical white paper showing a milestone in its self-reflection. The publication reveals some of the challenges the company faces and the consequences of assuming them. The publication indicates that most defects in injection molding do not come from the production line but originate in the product's initial design stages. This means that even before tooling begins, there is already an error that will be transferred to the resulting product.

First Mold has resolved to address the root causes of errors and production challenges, including tooling revisions and project delays. By embracing this approach, the company has positioned itself on the manufacturing supply scale and committed itself to a long-term technical partnership. The goal is to empower the customers with the necessary engineering problem-solving knowledge.

The e-version of this white paper is available at: https://firstmold.com/ebooks/

Addressing a Costly Industry Disconnect

The current manufacturing environment is very competitive, ranging from startups launching new products in months to already established brands stabilizing development cycles to remain competitive. In all cases, the relationship between product design and production execution has become a trade secret for injection molding companies.

The conceptual stage of product development takes place in the design room and involves an interplay between product designers and software engineers. While the designers figure out the functionality and visual appeal of the product, CAD engineers use software to apply complex geometries, surface structures, and other assemblies that need to be integrated into the product. While the digital model of the products may appear perfect with zero errors, the resultant prototype may sometimes fail to capture the perfection of the model, especially in a repeatable injection molding process. The manufacturing environment is likely to change, including temperatures, and the working environment may be characterized by dust, and the materials' cooling rates may change due to factors such as uneven flow channels. Consequently, designers and CAD engineers are likely to assume an ideal situation in the design room, which varies from the real-world environmental setup.

While designing products in the design room, designers must collaborate with manufacturers to determine available materials in stores, the temperature, pressure, and humidity ranges in manufacturing rooms, and labor availability. On the other hand, manufacturers need to determine and operate with knowledge of the available mold types, the projected shrinkage behavior as predicted by CAD software, the machine capabilities, and the cooling rates. Assuming these manufacturing constraints create room for conflicts, errors, and costly production, characterized by a series of corrections.

After a series of research, First Mold identified that the real cost of late-stage design corrections is significant and drains the company of resources. These corrections arose from;

Multiple prototype iterations resulted from design flaws, such as inadequate drafting and uneven wall thickness. These iterations are time-consuming, increasing labor costs.

Expensive mold modification, including welding and steel cuttings. These small changes led to high mold costs.

Production delays are addressed by correcting issues arising after tooling.

Increased injection molding costs due to poor design optimization.

These issues have been persistent at First Mold. According to organizational research, one reason for the persistence is that designers and manufacturers operate differently, in separate production rooms or regions. For instance, a designer may be hired from Mexico to provide services in China. That's a different working environment, which leads to poor coordination. Second, designers lacked direct exposure to tooling limitations. Lastly, under pressure, the CAD team transferred the quotation with structural analysis, thereby shifting the risks to the production line.

Consequently, First Mold developed on its white paper as a prevention approach. The paper guides offer the engineer an alternative to correcting issues at the initial design stage, rather than waiting until they occur. The paper proposes collaboration between designers and manufacturers to integrate simulation strategies, such as mold flow analysis, before actual production begins.

Inside the White Paper: Five Critical Design Mistakes

The white paper outlines five critical design mistakes experienced by injection mold-making companies, including First Mold. These mistakes include non-uniform wall thickness, insufficient draft angle, stress concentration, improper rib design, and faulty boss design.

While designing the molds, the wall thickness must be uniform. Uneven wall thickness leads to molding defects. The designers offer abrupt transitions in the design. However, on the production floor, the molten thermoplastics behave differently from the proposed design. Inconsistent thickness affects the cooling of materials. Thick areas typically cool more slowly than thin ones, leading to uneven shrinkage. The uneven shrinkage further causes internal stress, leading to warpage and internal voids. Different materials have different recommended wall thicknesses. For example, the wall thickness for ABS is 1.5mm-3.5mm, polycarbonate (PC) is 1.0-3.0mm, while that for silicone is 0.5-4.0 mm. The guide proposes that the manufacturers at First Mold maintain uniform wall thickness, use gradual transitions, avoid leaving solid masses, and avoid increasing wall bulk but design ribs.

A poor draft is unwanted in the mold-making process. Technically, the paper shows that a poor draft results in higher ejection force, leading to ejector wear, surface scratches, deformation of thin features, and part sticking. The white paper provides recommendations for draft angles of different surfaces. For example, the paper proposes 1 per side minimum for a smooth surface and 23 per side for a textured surface.

For stress concentrations, the paper notes that sharp corners must always be avoided in the mold design because they act as stress multipliers. The paper proposes that the internal radius should be at least half the wall thickness. Designers and manufacturers should avoid sharp transitions between ribs and walls.

A Systematic Optimization Framework

The paper presents a structured optimization framework that guides manufacturers in materials selection, simulation and validation tools, cost optimization strategies, and a comprehensive design review checklist.

The paper argues that materials selection is dynamic, involving numerous factors beyond strength and appearance. When choosing materials, designers, engineers, and the manufacturing team should consider factors such as mechanical strength, heat deflection temperature (HDT), melt flow index (MFI), chemical resistance, and cost per kilogram.

Once a design is made, the paper states that engineers must use simulation tools, such as mold flow analysis, to validate the assumptions made by designers. Through mold flow analysis, engineers can evaluate air-trap locations, weld-line formation, shear-stress levels, and predict warpage. The outcome can guide engineers in optimizing runner balance, wall thickness, and cooling channels.

The paper shows that cost control results from early design decisions. It identifies some of the cost drivers as mold cost drivers and production cost drivers. The mold costs include the number of cavities, complex lifters, tolerances, and the cooling channel complex. Production cost drivers are cycle time, scrap rate, energy consumption, and post-processing operations.

Authoritative Insight

The technical director at First Mold, Michael Wang, noted that, "We created this guide after witnessing too many avoidable project setbacks. For instance, a seemingly minor oversight in draft angle can lead to a precision mold sticking, delaying an entire rapid tooling project schedule. This white paper condenses the hands-on experience our team has accumulated while serving clients in aerospace components and consumer electronics manufacturing. It aims to help our industry peers front-load 'manufacturability' into the initial design stages." The director clarified that the paper was designed for product designers, production engineers, procurement teams, startup founders, and anyone in the custom plastic injection molding sector.

It is expected that readers will gain tangible business value from the paper. The first reader will understand how to reduce risks before engaging in prototype development. Second, they will get true insights into cost control through proper mold designs. Readers will also accelerate the introduction of products to market, reducing iteration cycles. Lastly, readers will learn to enhance quality by working within the required manufacturing standards as guided by the design team.

Free Download & Next Steps

To access the white paper, individuals can download it for free from the Resource Center on First Mold's official website. First Mold welcomes positive interaction with the white paper and has opened a room for individuals to send in their feedback and learn from others' feedback.

Website: https://firstmold.com/

SOURCE First Mold
EASLEY, S.C., March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Is mobile pet grooming a smart business to start in 2026? HelloNation has published a HelloNation article that answers that question by explaining how the industry is shifting toward convenience, lower overhead, and more personalized service for pet owners.

Chris Hanvey, Owner Speed Speed

The release centers on the article itself and the practical takeaways it offers for readers considering a new business in animal services. The HelloNation article explains that mobile grooming has moved beyond a niche and is becoming a more common choice for customers who want quality care without adding travel or waiting-room stress to their day. That shift, the article notes, is helping redefine what pet owners expect from grooming providers.

The article describes how changing routines are shaping demand. As more households value convenience, flexibility, and lower-stress experiences for pets, mobile grooming aligns with current service preferences. The piece explains that this is one reason mobile pet grooming business trends in 2026 point to continued growth rather than a temporary spike.

From a business perspective, the article outlines why the model appeals to entrepreneurs and working groomers. It notes that mobile operations often avoid the expense of a traditional storefront while giving owners more control over schedules, routes, and service areas. Those factors can make the business easier to manage and easier to tailor to local demand.

The article also highlights the branding advantage of mobile service. A grooming van can function as both a workspace and a visible marketing tool, helping owners build recognition in neighborhoods they serve. The article notes that this direct visibility can support customer trust and repeat bookings in ways that differ from a fixed-location salon.

Another major takeaway involves geography. The HelloNation article explains that demand is not limited to large cities. It points to opportunities in suburban and rural communities where traditional grooming locations may be less available, making mobile service especially practical. For readers tracking mobile pet grooming business trends in 2026, that broader reach is a significant part of the opportunity.

Engineering Expert Chris Hanvey is featured in the article as a source of insight on how vehicle design affects daily operations. The article explains that reliable mobile units need more than attractive layouts. Water systems, power supply, ventilation, sanitation, climate control, and safe pet handling all matter when a van is used as a full-time work environment.

The article further notes that thoughtful engineering supports both service quality and long-term efficiency. It describes how well-planned interiors can improve workflow, reduce strain on groomers, and help prevent downtime. In that context, Engineering Expert Chris Hanvey helps frame the technical side of the business as an important planning factor, not just a detail to address later.

The piece also keeps the focus on customer experience. According to the article, many pets respond better to grooming close to home than in a busy salon with unfamiliar sounds and animals. That can improve pets' comfort and owners' reassurance, which, in turn, supports loyalty and repeat use over time.

Overall, the article presents a measured view of the market. It does not treat success as automatic, but it does explain why preparation, equipment choices, and local demand can make mobile grooming a strong option for the right operator. For readers exploring mobile pet grooming business trends in 2026, the article offers a useful overview of both the promise and the practical considerations.

Why Mobile Pet Grooming Is Shaping the Future of Grooming features insights from Chris Hanvey, Engineering Expert of Easley, South Carolina, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is a premier media platform that connects readers with trusted professionals and businesses across various industries. Through its innovative "edvertising" approach that blends educational content with storytelling, HelloNation delivers expert-driven, good-news articles that inform, inspire, and empower. Covering topics from home improvement and health to business strategy and lifestyle, HelloNation highlights leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

SOURCE HelloNation
AVENTURA, Fla., March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Nuvo is pleased to share that TLC Perinatal, a leading specialty practice in maternal-fetal medicine in the DC- Maryland region, is introducing a new model of premium, on-demand remote pregnancy monitoring using INVU, Nuvo's AI-driven remote pregnancy monitoring solution. This approach gives expectant mothers unprecedented access to FDA-cleared, medical-grade fetal monitoring from the comfort of their homes or workwhen they need it most.

Dr. Richard Broth, a nationally recognized maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialist and founder of TLC Perinatal with more than 20 years of experience managing high-risk pregnancies, has long been at the forefront of adopting technologies that improve patient care. Through TLC Perinatal, Dr. Broth is now offering INVU as part of an enhanced care pathway designed to provide greater reassurance, flexibility, and continuous clinical oversight.

"Pregnancy doesn't operate on a schedule," said Dr. Broth. "Many patients experience anxiety at times when traditional care isn't immediately accessiblelate at night, between appointments, or when something simply doesn't feel right. With INVU, we can offer an option for patients to perform an on-demand, NST-level assessment at home and connect with their care team for timely evaluation."

INVU Sets A New Standard for Patient-Centered Prenatal Care

INVUenables expectant mothers to perform medical-grade fetal monitoring remotely, including non-stress test (NST)-level assessments, without needing to travel to a clinic or hospital. This is particularly valuable for patients seeking premium, proactive care, including those who desire additional reassurance outside of scheduled visits.

With INVU pregnant mothers can:

Perform on-demand monitoring sessions, including during nighttime or periods of concern

Receive remote clinical review and feedback from their care team

Reduce unnecessary emergency visits while maintaining peace of mind

Stay more closely connected to their providers throughout pregnancy

Innovation in Real-World Clinical Practice

Dr. Broth is widely recognized for his role in introducing new maternal-fetal technologies in real-world clinical settings. His adoption of INVU reflects a broader shift toward patient-centered, technology-enabled care models that extend beyond the traditional clinic.

By integrating INVU into TLC Perinatal's services, Dr. Broth is demonstrating how remote monitoring can complement established care pathwaysparticularly for high-risk pregnancies and patients seeking enhanced levels of care.

"Technology should empower both patients and providers," Dr. Broth added. "By giving patients access to reliable, clinically meaningful information when they need it, we can improve both outcomes and the overall pregnancy experience."

Expanding Remote Access to Premium Pregnancy Monitoring

The introduction of INVU at TLC Perinatal highlights a growing demand for flexible, personalized prenatal care options. As more patients seek proactive and convenient solutions, remote monitoring platforms like INVU are helping redefine how maternal care is delivered.

"Dr. Broth represents a new generation of clinical leaders who are bringing innovation directly into pregnancy care," said Laurence Klein, Nuvo's CEO. "His work demonstrates how INVU can support both clinical excellence and patient empowerment through accessible, on-demand monitoring."

For more information visit us at our website or contact us at [email protected].

About TLC Perinatal

TLC Perinatal is a leading maternal-fetal medicine practice specializing in high-risk pregnancy care, advanced prenatal diagnostics, and comprehensive obstetric consultation services in the Washington DC- Maryland-VA area.

About Nuvo

Nuvo Intl Group Inc. is a women's health technology company focused on transforming pregnancy care through advanced wearable remote monitoring solutions. Nuvo's FDA-cleared INVU solution enables non-invasive, continuous maternal and fetal monitoring, supporting high-quality clinic al care while reducing the burden on expectant mothers and healthcare systems. Designed to support both in-clinic and remote use, INVU helps expand access to guideline-concordant prenatal surveillance, particularly for high-risk pregnancies. By combining medical-grade technology with a patient-centered approach, Nuvo aims to enhance patient experience, improve clinical efficiency, and support better outcomes across the pregnancy care continuum. Nuvo partners with healthcare providers, health systems, and industry stakeholders to modernize maternal-fetal care and advance the future of pregnancy monitoring.

SOURCE Nuvo Intl Group Inc
CUPERTINO, Calif., March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Mobileum, a Silicon Valley-based analytics provider, announced the deployment of its AI-driven risk management platform at Grameenphone, one of Bangladesh's largest telecom operators. The system is already reducing fraud exposure and strengthening customer experience across Grameenphone's network  marking a significant milestone as telecom operators worldwide face mounting fraud threats driven by the scale and complexity of 5G infrastructure.

Fraud and Complexity Collide in the 5G Era

Mobileum AI Fraud Detection Platform Goes Live at Grameenphone Amid Rising 5G Security Threats

Traditional analytics systems weren't built for this scale. They struggle to process the massive data volumes generated by modern networks in real time. This leaves operators vulnerable to AI-powered fraud schemes, signaling vulnerabilities, and coordinated attacks across device networks. The result is a mounting threat to both revenue and customer trust.

Building Intelligence for Networks That No Longer Operate in Silos

Mobileum addresses this complexity with its integrated platform spanning roaming, security, testing, network analytics, and risk managementfive areas that operators increasingly need to manage holistically rather than as separate functions.

"Operators need integrated intelligence that reflects how their networks actually function," said Mike Salfity, Mobileum's CEO. "Our advantage is that when the industry shifts, we shift faster."

That operational agility stems partly from the company's talent pipeline. Many of Mobileum's leaders and engineers come directly from operator environments, bringing firsthand knowledge of network challenges. This background has helped the company earn credibility in an industry where technical understanding and trust matter as much as technology itself.

AI in Action: From Fraud Detection to Revenue Protection

In a separate recognition, Juniper Research has named Mobileum among the top global vendors in voice fraud prevention. The Mobileum AI-driven systems analyze, verify, and block scam and spam calls in real timea critical capability as voice spam, robocalling, and spoofing threats continue to evolve.

Mobileum has also been cited by industry analysts for its work in areas such as service assurance, roaming intelligence, and large-scale network testing.

Expanding Beyond Fraud: Revenue Protection and Monetization

Beyond fraud prevention, Mobileum addresses multiple revenue protection challenges. The platform helps operators identify revenue leakage across complex service chains, optimize roaming and wholesale costs, prevent network degradation, and monetize 5G and IoT services more efficiently.

From Network Intelligence to Enterprise and Event-Scale Impact

Strategic partnerships are extending the platform's reach. A recent alliance with NOHOLD focuses on converting network data into actionable intelligence that unlocks new revenue streams - part of a growing network of collaborations bringing AI-driven insights to enterprise customers.

The company's GlobalRoamer platform, which has one of the largest roaming testing footprints globally, has already proven its value at scale. During UEFA Euro 2024 and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the platform helped operators detect congestion and resolve connectivity issues before they affected attendeesa critical capability when millions of people simultaneously access networks.

Building the Intelligence Layer for Telecom's Future

As telecom operators navigate the transition to 5G and beyond, Salfity sees Mobileum's role expanding. "Our vision is to serve as the intelligence layer that turns network innovation into business transformation," he said.

The company supports telecom operators globally through its Active Intelligence platform. Mobileum is headquartered in Silicon Valley, with offices in Australia, Germany, Greece, India, Japan, Portugal, Singapore, the UK, and the United Arab Emirates.

For an industry grappling with unprecedented technical complexity, Mobileum's message is clear: effective fraud prevention and network optimization require intelligence systems that match the sophistication of modern threats.

About Mobileum

Mobileum is a leading provider of Telecom analytics solutions for roaming, core network, security, risk management, domestic and international connectivity testing, and customer intelligence. More than 1,000 customers rely on its Active Intelligence platform, which provides advanced analytics solutions that connect deep network and operational intelligence with real-time actions to increase revenue, improve the customer experience, and reduce costs.

Contact

PangeaGlobe

PangeaGlobe on behalf of Mobileum

[email protected]

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SOURCE Mobileum
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Xiaomis EV Play Is No Longer a Side Project

Not long ago, Xiaomis move into cars looked like a side project for a company better known for phones and smart home gadgets. That changed fast the original SU7 sold really well. The high-performance Ultra version even made headlines by beating established hypercars in controlled tests.

Xiaomi has moved past the experimental phase and is now refining what already worked. The new-generation SU7 has been introduced in China, sticking to the same formula  a sleek, tech-focused electric sedan  but adds more performance, smarter features, and a bigger push into premium territory.

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Xiaomi calls the updated SU7 a drivers car for a new era, with upgrades in safety, driving feel, and cabin comfort. Its a big claim, but early demand shows buyers are at least interested.

Xiaomi (Xiaomi)

15,000 Units Sold in 34 Minutes

Xiaomi says it secured 15,000 pre-orders within just 34 minutes of opening reservations. That level of demand isnt common, even in Chinas crowded EV market. It shows Xiaomis brand has real pull, and the SU7 already has a following. The new version didnt need much introduction.

The new SU7 starts at 219,900 yuan ($32,000) and tops out at 303,900 yuan ($44,000). That puts it in the premium-but-still-attainable range for buyers looking at high-spec EV sedans.

Xiaomi (Xiaomi)

Whats Actually New This Time

The changes employed on the new-generation model are significant on paper. The Max variant now makes up to 690 horsepower, and range is up across the board  up to 560 miles (CLTC) for the Pro. Charging is faster as well, with up to 416 miles of range added in 15 minutes if conditions are right.

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Under the skin, Smart Chassis 2.0 now brings dual-chamber air suspension and adaptive damping to more versions, not just the top model. This widens the gap between trims without leaving the base car feeling bare.

Inside, Xiaomi has pushed further into the luxury space, with more soft-touch materials, seats with greater adjustability, better sound insulation, and a quieter cabin overall. Details like ambient lighting and a new console design help move the SU7 upmarket.

Every model now gets a 700 TOPS computing platform, lidar as standard, and Xiaomis latest assisted driving system. Advanced driver assistance is now standard, not just a premium extra.

One detail worth noting: Xiaomi dropped the electronic pop-up door system in favor of a setup with built-in redundancy and a mechanical backup. This change is directly linked to ongoing safety concerns.

Xiaomi (Xiaomi)

The Controversies Behind the Headlines

Despite the upgrades, the SU7 arrives with some baggage. Xiaomi has faced scrutiny after reports of a fatal crash involving an earlier model, where electronic door releases reportedly failed.

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Investigations highlighted the risks of relying on electronic door systems, especially in serious crashes. Its not just a Xiaomi issue, but the brand has been put under the microscope because of it.

The new SU7 aims to fix that. Xiaomi says it now uses a triple-redundant door handle system with a mechanical backup and its own power supply, so doors can still open after a serious crash. There are other safety upgrades as well: stronger 2,200 MPa steel, nine standard airbags, and better battery protection.

Xiaomi

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This story was originally published by Autoblog on Mar 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
SCCM 2026 presentation reports 19% reduction in sepsis mortality and double-digit operational improvements across four hospitals

SAN FRANCISCO and CHICAGO, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cytovale today announced new multicenter, real-world data demonstrating that clinical and operational improvements in sepsis care first observed at a high-volume emergency department (ED) in Baton Rouge, La., were successfully replicated across four additional hospitals within Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady (FMOL) Health. In a one-year pre- and post-implementation analysis of more than 34,000 ED patients with suspected infection, expansion of the IntelliSep rapid host-response sepsis diagnostic beyond the initial site was associated with a 20%+ reduction in mortality and resource utilization.

The findings, presented at the Society of Critical Care Medicine's (SCCM) 2026 Critical Care Congress, suggest that leveraging IntelliSep to enable early sepsis detection can drive repeatable patient-centered outcomes in diverse ED settings. Across the four hospitals, ranging from tertiary care to community hospitals, key findings included:

19% relative reduction in sepsis mortality , driven by earlier identification of high-risk patients and faster initiation of life-saving treatment.

, driven by earlier identification of high-risk patients and faster initiation of life-saving treatment. 22% relative reduction in mortality among patients initially suspected of sepsis who were ultimately not septic. By quickly ruling out sepsis, IntelliSep enabled clinicians to identify and treat the true underlying condition sooner.

By quickly ruling out sepsis, IntelliSep enabled clinicians to identify and treat the true underlying condition sooner. 20% increase in ED discharges with no increase in sevenday revisit rates.

with no increase in sevenday revisit rates. 30% decrease in blood culture utilization, concentrated among patients ultimately not diagnosed with sepsis, while maintaining greater than 90% utilization among confirmed sepsis patients.

"After a peer-reviewed study of our initial implementation at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center (OLORMC) showed the real-world impact of IntelliSep, we were confident that we wanted to expand the use of the test at other hospitals in our health system," said Christopher Thomas, MD, Chief Quality Officer at FMOL Health. "What's most compelling about this new data is how consistently those clinical and operational improvements appeared across every participating hospital, from large tertiary centers to community hospitals. IntelliSep demonstrated that it can scale across any environment with repeatable, meaningful impact, giving clinicians faster, more accurate insight when evaluating patients for sepsis."

This study represents the first multicenter evaluation of IntelliSep's real-world impact across hospitals serving diverse communities. The initiative began at OLOLRMC, the system's highest-volume ED. Following observed improvements in clinical and operational metrics, the approach was expanded to St. Elizabeth Hospital, a 78-bed community hospital in Gonzales, La.; Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center, a 340-bed hospital in Lafayette, La.; St. Francis Medical Center, a 330-bed Level 3 trauma center in Monroe, La.' and St. Dominic Hospital, a 570-bed tertiary care hospital in Jackson, Miss.

"At St. Francis Medical Center, IntelliSep has strengthened early decisionmaking and improved both ED discharges and blood culture utilization," added John Bruchhaus, MD, Chief Medical Officer at St. Francis Medical Center. "IntelliSep has decreased our diagnostic utilization costs while improving mortality and decreasing length of stay at our facility. It has become a vital tool in our everyday practice when treating sepsis," said Dr. Bruchhaus.

The study entitled "Effect of Rapid Sepsis Test Adoption on Mortality, Discharge, Hospital-Free Days and Blood Cultures Across Four EDs in a Health System: Early Experience," will be presented at SCCM 2026 on Monday, March 23, at 10:15 a.m.

About IntelliSep

IntelliSep is Cytovale's U.S. Food and Drug Administration-cleared rapid sepsis diagnostic and is the first and only sepsis diagnostic specifically cleared for use in the Emergency Department (ED) to aid in early sepsis detection. IntelliSep leverages machine learning and advanced microfluidics to provide ED clinicians with an objective and highly sensitive early detection tool for sepsis. IntelliSep assesses the body's dysregulated immune system response to infection and provides a risk score for sepsis in approximately eight minutes using a standard blood draw. For more information, visit cytovale.com/our-solution/intellisep-sepsis-test/.

About Cytovale

Cytovale is committed to improving patient care by pioneering early detection technologies that assess immune activation to accelerate the time it takes to get from triage to life-saving therapies. Cytovale developed IntelliSep, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration-cleared rapid sepsis diagnostic for use with a standard blood draw in Emergency Departments to determine risk of sepsis. Cytovale is based in San Francisco and venture-backed by Norwest Venture Partners, Sands Capital and Global Health Investment Corporation (GHIC). For more information, visit cytovale.com and follow Cytovale on LinkedIn and X.

SOURCE Cytovale
New server-side trust layer helps enterprises understand, govern, and control AI agents and automated traffic

LONDON, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Netacea has launched a new Trust Layer to help enterprises operate more safely and effectively as AI agents and other forms of automation become a more common part of the web.

The launch reflects a broader shift in how organisations need to think about digital traffic. Where bot management has traditionally focused on malicious automation, enterprises are now dealing with a wider mix of automated actors, including AI agents, crawlers, scrapers, partner automation, and malicious bots, each with different levels of legitimacy, risk, and operational impact.

For years, Netacea has helped enterprises classify web traffic server-side, distinguish between legitimate and malicious automation, and apply appropriate controls without disrupting genuine users. The Trust Layer builds on that foundation, extending the same visibility and governance model into an internet increasingly shaped by machine-driven interaction.

Netacea analyses billions of behavioural signals in real time to help organisations reduce fraud, account takeover, scraping, abuse, and distorted digital signals, while giving them a clearer understanding of who, or what, is interacting with their services.

Built for large-scale ecommerce, financial services, media, and other digital-first environments, Netacea's server-side approach allows automated traffic to be classified before it reaches the application. This gives enterprises a stronger basis for decision-making, allowing them to permit and optimise access for trusted automation, increase scrutiny where trust is not yet established, and mitigate against malicious or unwanted activity.

The Trust Layer is supported by Netacea's threat intelligence capabilities and by the recently updated BLADE, the Business Logic Abuse Definition Framework. Originally created by Netacea with support from leading industry specialists and donated to OWASP, BLADE provides a shared framework for understanding how automated activity and business logic abuse affect modern digital services.

"At its core, this is still the problem Netacea has always solved, understanding who, or what, is interacting with a digital service, and helping enterprises decide what to trust, what to challenge, and what to control," said Andy Still, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder at Netacea. "What has changed is the nature of the web. Enterprises are now seeing a broader mix of automated actors, including AI agents, crawlers, scrapers, and malicious automation, all interacting with systems in different ways and for different purposes. Because Netacea has been classifying web traffic server-side for years, we are well placed to help customers extend that same visibility and governance into the agentic era."

Netacea will showcase the Trust Layer at RSAC Conference 2026 in San Francisco, from 23 to 26 March.

https://netacea.com/

Notes to editors:

About Netacea

Netacea helps enterprises stop sophisticated automated abuse without disrupting real customers. Using server-side telemetry and behavioural intent signals, Netacea enables organisations to understand automated activity in the context of business risk, apply proportionate controls, and protect digital experiences across key customer journeys.



Media Contact

Press Office, Netacea

[email protected]

Customer Enquiries

[email protected]

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SOURCE Netacea
The company has been honored for leadership and innovation within the AECO industry

BOSTON, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Newforma, the global leader in project and information management for the Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Owner (AECO) industry, has earned 34 badges in the G2 Spring 2026 Report, marking the highest number of recognitions in the company's history. This milestone builds on strong momentum from previous reports, including 30 badges in Winter 2026 and 12 in Fall 2025.

G2, the world's largest software review platform, evaluates business technology based on verified user feedback and real-world experiences. Its badges are awarded entirely on authenticated customer reviews, reflecting how users interact with software solutions during their daily work.

"Our steady rise in G2 recognition reflects the trust AECO firms place in Newforma and the tangible value we deliver to teams worldwide," said Peter Cannone, CEO of Newforma. "These leadership awards signal that our continued investment in innovation is resonating with our customers."

Among this quarter's highlights, Newforma achieved its first-ever "Leader" badge in the Construction Management category, a significant advancement from its prior "High Performer" status in previous reports. The company also secured its second consecutive UK Regional Leader badge in the Construction Project Management category and earned its first EMEA High Performer recognition, emphasizing its growing global presence.

In addition, Newforma earned its first "Momentum Leader" badges across four categories, including Construction Project Management and Engineering Document Management. These distinctions are based on G2's Momentum Grid, which ranks products using a proprietary mix of customer satisfaction, growth and market traction, highlighting top-performing and trending solutions.

"As we expand our platform capabilities, Newforma remains committed to empowering AECO professionals with tools that enhance collaboration and reduce project risk," said Cannone. "These Momentum Leaders honors prove that we're on the cutting edge of where this industry is headed."

To view the G2 Spring 2026 Report, visit company.g2.com/news/g2-spring-2026-reports.

For more information about Newforma, visit newforma.com.

About Newforma

Newforma sets the standard for project and information management across the global AECO industry. By centralizing communication, documents, workflows and decision records in one connected platform, Newforma empowers teams to work smarter, collaborate better and deliver higher-quality projects. Discover how your firm can achieve more with Newforma at www.newforma.com.

SOURCE Newforma
NEW YORK, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Blepharoplasty Surgery Specialists NYC is reporting a notable increase in the number of men seeking eyelid surgery, reflecting a broader shift in aesthetic trends and attitudes toward cosmetic procedures.

Once considered a treatment primarily for women, blepharoplastycommonly known as eyelid surgeryis now one of the most requested facial procedures among male patients. The Manhattan based practice has seen a steady uptick in consultations from men looking to address drooping eyelids, under-eye bags, and a tired appearance.

Blepharoplasty Surgery Specialists NYC Logo

"More men are prioritizing how they look and feel, especially in professional and social settings," said a spokesperson for Blepharoplasty Surgery Specialists NYC. "They want to appear refreshed and alert without changing their overall appearance, and eyelid surgery offers exactly that."

Experts attribute this surge to several factors, including increased time on video calls, greater awareness of cosmetic options, and a growing acceptance of aesthetic procedures among men. Many patients are seeking subtle, natural-looking results that enhance their appearance without obvious signs of surgery.

Eyelid surgery is particularly appealing due to its relatively quick recovery and long-lasting outcomes. By removing excess skin and fat around the eyes, the procedure can create a more youthful, rested look while maintaining masculine facial characteristics.

The trend also includes a wider age range of patients, with both younger men pursuing preventative treatments and older individuals seeking to reverse visible signs of aging.

About Blepharoplasty Surgery Specialists NYC

Blepharoplasty Surgery Specialists NYC is a New York City-based practice focused exclusively on eyelid surgery. The practice offers advanced upper and lower eyelid procedures tailored to each patient, emphasizing precision, safety, and natural-looking results.

Blepharoplasty Surgery Specialists NYC

461 Park Ave S

7th Floor, Suite A

New York, NY 10016

646-868-3971

https://www.blepharoplastysurgeryspecialistsnyc.com

SOURCE Blepharoplasty Surgery Specialists NYC
LONDON, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- PEI Group, the global business intelligence and analytics provider, today announced its acquisition of Scientific Infra & Private Assets (SIPA), the leading global index, benchmark and rating provider for private infrastructure and private equity markets, developed from more than a decade of academic research at the EDHEC Infrastructure & Private Assets Research Institute (EIPA).

SIPA's market indices, benchmarks and rating solutions, infraMetrics, privateMetrics and privateAlpha, will become part of PEI's asset-class platforms, significantly strengthening PEI's ability to offer market references, valuation analytics and advanced research for institutional investors and asset managers.

Expanding PEI's analytics portfolio

The acquisition reinforces PEI's commitment to developing data-driven intelligence and analytics to support the need for transparency and alignment within private markets. SIPA produces the only indices and benchmarks that truly reflect the risk and the performance of private markets as an asset class: with one million private asset prices computed each month, SIPA data achieves both robustness and granularity, allowing superior benchmarking to listed proxies or appraisal data.

Together PEI and SIPA will deliver a comprehensive suite of market analysis, fund, firm, deals data together with indices and market benchmarks which will enable strategy, risk, and investment teams to make the most -informed investment decisions, with greater accuracy and transparency.

Global SIPA reach through the PEI platform

SIPA indices and benchmarks are already used by investors representing more than USD1Tr of AUM in private assets as well as prudential frameworks like the International Capital Standard. Through PEI's global reach, access to SIPA data will expand to the entire private market ecosystem, from institutional investors to consultants and fund managers, private wealth advisors, and retail investors. This integration will allow both PEI and SIPA clients to benefit from a unified granular view of private markets performance and risk reporting, fund and manager selection and private asset valuation.



Continuing scientific excellence through collaboration with EDHEC

SIPA's origins go back to 2016, when EDHEC established EIPA to advance the scientific understanding of private markets. That led to the creation of new standards including The Infrastructure Company Classification Standard (TICCS), and the Private Company Classification Standard (PECCS), and the development of advanced market valuation and credit risk methodologies for private assets. SIPA was successfully spun out in 2019 to commercialise these innovations. PEI will partner directly with EDHEC and EIPA, ensuring continued academic development of the quantitative methodologies underpinning SIPA's technology.

Edouard Tavernier, CEO, PEI Group, commented:

"SIPA's recognised private asset benchmarks are an excellent fit with PEI's strategy of providing vital intelligence for decision-makers in global private markets. By integrating infraMetrics, privateMetrics and privateAlpha within our platforms and augmenting them with our unique insights and differentiated data sets, we will take a major step forward in our commitment to providing rigorous analytics to investors and fund managers."

Frederic Blanc-Brude, CEO, SIPA, added:

"SIPA was created to bring scientific rigour to private markets, and PEI is the ideal partner to scale that mission. With access to PEI's global intelligence, research network, and client reach, we can accelerate the evolution of our rankings, benchmarks, and analytics  and deliver broader, more actionable insights to our clients. We will also continue working closely with EDHEC to ensure our products remain anchored in world-leading academic research."

Emmanuel Metais, Dean of EDHEC Business School, commented:

"EDHEC ventures like SIPA are created to transform academic research developed at EDHEC into impactful and relevant science-based solutions for the industry. The acquisition of SIPA by PEI is proof that this strategy continues to work and creates value for both EDHEC and market participants. For EDHEC, the success of SIPA is an encouragement to pursue its important investment in private asset research, whether it involves the question of asset valuation, risk measurement or the evaluation of the performance of investors in this asset class."

About PEI Group

Established in 2001, PEI Group is a global provider of vital market intelligence, data, analytics and events for the private markets. Through its portfolio of networks and events, information brands, proprietary datasets and research platforms, PEI supports the decision-making of more than 30,000 institutional investors, asset managers, advisors, and other market participants worldwide.

More at: pei.group

About Scientific Infra & Private Assets (SIPA)

SIPA is an index provider and administrator registered with the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) and delivers quantitative data and analytics solutions for private markets. SIPA applies academically validated methods to produce private market indices and benchmarks. SIPA's platforms, provide robust and representative asset-level metrics aligned with the PECCS and TICCS classifications.

More at: sipametrics.com

About EDHEC Business School and EDHEC Infrastructure & Private Assets Research Institute

EDHEC Business School, founded in 1906 and ranked among Europe's top institutions, is recognised internationally for its impactful research and thought leadership. Its dedicated academic research centre, EDHEC Infrastructure & Private Assets Research Institute, advances the scientific understanding of private markets, producing globally used benchmarks, valuation methods and risk frameworks. EDHEC Business School remains committed to supporting businesses, society and students in addressing today's major challenges.

More at: EDHEC.edu and edhecinfraprivateassets.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2758174/5875154/PEI_Logo.jpg

SOURCE PEI Group
LANSING, Mich., March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- PropEd Capital today announces a major platform update, introducing 'TrueRisk' accounts alongside a series of new features designed to improve transparency, automation, and trader control across its proprietary trading environment. The update also includes a limited-time 35% sitewide discount across all plans.

PropEd Capital Introduces 'TrueRisk' Accounts with 100% Drawdown and Major Platform Upgrades

The update reflects PropEd Capital's ongoing focus on simplifying the trading experience while addressing common challenges faced by traders, including restrictive risk models, unclear payout structures, and limited visibility into account performance.

Introducing 'TrueRisk': A New Approach to Risk

As part of this update, PropEd Capital introduces 'TrueRisk,' a new account model that offers up to 100% drawdown on smaller account sizes with significantly increased buying power.

Unlike traditional prop firm structures that rely on large nominal balances with tight drawdown limits, TrueRisk accounts are designed to provide traders with greater flexibility in managing risk. For example, a $2,500 account can provide purchasing power comparable to a $50,000 account, while allowing the account to fluctuate fully without restrictive drawdown thresholds, provided it does not reach zero.

TrueRisk accounts are available as instant funded accounts, removing the need for evaluation phases.

Real-Time Dashboard and Performance Visibility

The updated platform includes a real-time dashboard that allows traders to monitor key account metrics, including open P&L, balance, drawdown, and consistency score, without delay.

This provides traders with immediate insight into their performance and eliminates reliance on static or delayed account updates.

Clear Rules and Step-by-Step Guidance

All trading rules are now presented through an in-app user guide that outlines requirements in a structured, step-by-step format. Drawdown models, consistency rules, and profit targets are defined clearly, with no hidden conditions or discretionary adjustments.

The goal is to provide a consistent framework where traders understand all requirements before and during their trading activity.

Expanded Analytics and Payout Transparency

The platform update introduces a full analytics suite that breaks down performance across multiple dimensions, including trading sessions, holding time, asset selection, and win rate.

A dedicated payout dashboard has also been added, allowing traders to review how payouts are calculated, including profit splits, buffer requirements, and consistency checks.

Automated Evaluation and Account Management

PropEd Capital has implemented an automated evaluation system, where accounts are converted to funded status immediately after meeting predefined targets. This removes manual review processes and reduces waiting time.

In addition, traders can now queue multiple past evaluation accounts. If a funded account is breached, a queued account can be activated without disruption.

All programs continue to operate under a one-time fee structure, with no monthly or activation fees.

Additional Platform Features

The update also includes:

On-demand paper trading accounts for testing different plans before committing

Integrated trading competitions with real cash prizes and leaderboard tracking

A dedicated affiliate dashboard to track referrals, conversions, and earnings

Continued support for flexible trading conditions, including the ability to swing trade during the week

Trading is powered by Onyx-Trader, supported by a Rithmic data feed, providing professional-grade charting, execution, and trading infrastructure.

Launch Promotion

To accompany the platform update, PropEd Capital is offering a 35% discount across all plans through the end of April.

About PropEd Capital

PropEd Capital is a proprietary trading firm focused on providing transparent, flexible, and technology-driven trading environments for independent traders. The firm offers evaluation programs and instant funded accounts designed to support traders in building consistent performance in the futures markets.

The company is headquartered in Lansing, Michigan, and operates on enterprise-grade infrastructure powered by FPFX Tech.

Further information is available at:

https://propedcapital.com/

Contact

Founder

Ethan Warmuskerken

PropEd Capital LLC

[email protected]

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2939724/PropEd_Capital_TrueRisk_Accounts.jpg

SOURCE PropEd Capital
Lead Plaintiff Deadline is May 11, 2026

NEW YORK, March 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- March 23, 2026 - Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP announces

that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Camping World Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CWH) ("Camping" or the "Company") inclusive on behalf of all persons and

entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Camping shares between April 29, 2025 and February 24, 2026, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). Investors have until May 11, 2026, to seek appointments as lead plaintiff.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE CASE AND SUBMIT CONTACT INFORMATION

Allegations

The lawsuit alleges that Camping World and its senior executives made materially false and misleading statements regarding:

Inventory management capabilities

Financial health and balance sheet strength

Consumer demand and pricing conditions

Operational efficiency and SG&A improvement targets

Fraud Theory



Misrepresentation of Inventory Health



Company claimed it could "surgically manage" inventory using analytics

In reality, it was allegedly : Accumulating aging, slow-moving inventory Facing declining margins requiring markdowns

:

False or Misleading Financial Guidance

SG&A improvement guidance: Initially: 600700 bps Reduced: 300400 bps Actual: ~190 bps

Filed complaint alleges this reflects overstated operational efficiency.

Contradictions Between Public Statements and Internal Conditions

Public claims: "Very healthy balance sheet" Inventory owned "free and clear" No reliance on discounting

What actually occurred: Inventory rose from $1.82B  $2.12B Falling vehicle prices Increasing reliance on markdowns



Failure to Disclose Deteriorating Conditions

The complaint alleges the company failed to disclose:

Weakening consumer demand

Inventory aging issues

Margin compression

Internal operational shortcomings

Corrective Disclosures & Stock Drops

October 29, 2025: Stock fell $4.17 (24.8%)

February 25, 2026: Stock fell $1.79 (16.5%)



These drops followed disclosures related to:

Inventory liquidation ("accelerated sales of aged inventory")

Corrective operational measures

Investors seeking appointment as Lead Plaintiff may file a motion with the court no later than May 11, 2026.

Why Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP?:

This illustrious firm, founded in 1888, is steadfast in their pursuit of justice for investors who have suffered financial harm due to these misrepresented statements. The law firm brings to the fore over 125 years of legal expertise in securities litigation and has a proven track record of protecting the rights of investors.

We encourage all investors who have been affected or have information that will assist in our investigation, to contact Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP.

Contact:

Firm Website: Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

SOURCE Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP
MOHEGAN LAKE, N.Y., March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Shrub Oak International School recognizes the vital role that internships and meaningful community engagement play in preparing students for success beyond the classroom. These experiences support Shrub Oak's mission to help autistic children, adolescents, and young adults build the skills and confidence needed to live full, productive lives.

Cacciatori Pizza & Pasta located in Mahopac, NY.

For the past two years, students have had the opportunity to intern at Cacciatori Pizza & Pasta in Mahopac, NY, a valued community partner that has welcomed Shrub Oak students with enthusiasm and support. The internship provides students with authentic workplace responsibilities that contribute directly to the daily operations of the restaurant.

Shrub Oak students assist with tasks such as assembling pizza boxes, greeting customers, and restocking refrigerators. These responsibilities allow students to practice organization, communication, time management, and customer service skills in an active, community-based setting.

Cacciatori's owner has been an exceptional partner, consistently supportive, patient, and genuinely appreciative of the students' contributions. The restaurant team has created a welcoming space where students feel valued not only for their effort, but for the meaningful role they play in supporting the business.

"It's always a pleasure working with the students and providing them an opportunity to expand their skills," said Ivan Morales, owner of Cacciatori Pizza & Pasta.

For many students, the experience of contributing to a local business reinforces the connection between effort and achievement. Receiving positive feedback from supervisors and interacting with customers helps them understand the real-world impact of their workstrengthening self-advocacy skills and preparing them for future employment opportunities. One student who participates in the internship often draws inspiration from a favorite quote: "If you're afraid to fail, then you're probably going to fail."  Kobe Bryant.

Shrub Oak International School's vocational and community-based learning programs are designed to ensure that students do more than learn about workthey experience it. Partnerships like the one with Cacciatori Pizza & Pasta reflect Shrub Oak's commitment to creating opportunities where students feel valued, capable, and recognized for their strengths.

Shrub Oak International School is grateful to Cacciatori Pizza & Pasta for their ongoing partnership and commitment to creating inclusive opportunities that benefit both students and the broader Mahopac community. Follow them on Instagram @Cacciatori_Mahopac.

About Shrub Oak International School and The Pines at Shrub Oak

The mission of Shrub Oak International School is to improve the lives of autistic children, adolescents, and young adults. Through individualized, strengths- and passion-based learning, we help students form meaningful relationships, navigate their communities, and maximize their potential.

Located on the campus of Shrub Oak International School, The Pines at Shrub Oak is a specialized therapeutic program designed to address the unique needs of neurodiverse children, adolescents, and young adultswith or without an autism diagnosiswho require intensive psychiatric support.

Shrub Oak International School is accredited by:

The National Independent Private Schools Association (NIPSA), Level III Therapeutic Certification, Academic Accreditation, with an Autism Endorsement;





The Middle States Association Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS), a globally recognized leader in school accreditation and improvement; and





Cognia, signifying that the school meets or exceeds rigorous standards of educational quality and effectiveness.

For more information about Shrub Oak International School, visit www.shruboak.org or contact Lauren Koffler, Head of Admissions and Organizational Growth, at [email protected].

SOURCE Shrub Oak International School
Commercial aviation operators face a fundamental challenge: every second of runway downtime costs money, and debris cannot be tolerated. Unlike mobile FOD detection that requires vehicle patrols and operator availability, Skylark Labs' fixed detection system operates 24/7 autonomously, monitoring runways continuously with zero operational interruption. The system uses adaptive optical AI powered by the same Runway Monitoring Intelligence Layer deployed across mobile Tracer AI Vehiclesenabling stationary infrastructure to learn from debris patterns, false positives, and surface anomalies in real time.

When debris is detected, the fixed system instantly transmits precise coordinates to ground operations and air traffic control, enabling rapid response without requiring vehicle deployment or scheduling constraints. Debris is automatically classified by type, and the system builds longitudinal runway safety profiles that identify high-risk zones and enable predictive maintenance planning.

Critically, the Fixed FOD Detection system shares intelligence with the broader Runway Monitoring Intelligence Layer network. Insights learned at one airportnew debris signatures, emerging false positive patterns, surface degradation indicatorsare instantly available to every other fixed installation and mobile vehicle in the global network. This creates a unified runway safety intelligence ecosystem where commercial airports benefit from learnings across the entire aviation industry.

"We cannot afford to stop operations for debris checksevery minute on the ground costs us. This system runs continuously without any disruption to our schedule, and when something is found, we know exactly where it is. That is what we needed." Director of Operations, major commercial airport, India

"Commercial airports operate under extreme operational pressure," said Amarjot Singh, Founder and CEO of Skylark Labs. "Every second counts, and debris is not an option. Our fixed detection system eliminates the constraints of mobile patrols while delivering the same adaptive intelligence. It runs24/7, learns continuously, and shares knowledge across the global networkgiving airports the automation and insight they need to operate safely and efficiently."

The Fixed FOD Detection system represents a significant market opportunity as commercial aviation operators worldwide modernize runway safety infrastructure. With deployments now underway at major airports globally, Skylark Labs is establishing fixed debris detection as a critical component of next-generation airport safety operations.

About Skylark Labs

Skylark Labs is an AI company building edge-native, self-learning intelligence platforms for defense, transportation, and critical infrastructure. Headquartered in Menlo Park, California, with operations in India, the company develops adaptive AI systems designed to operate in field-deployed, air-gapped, and resource-constrained environments. Its platforms learn on-device from real-world conditions, improve after deployment, and can share intelligence across distributed systems to create collaborative operational networks. Skylark Labs' solutions are used by defense forces, government agencies, and infrastructure operators across maritime security, airfield monitoring, highway intelligence, and industrial safety applications. For more information, visit www.skylarklabs.ai.

Media Contact

Skylark Labs Communications

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.skylarklabs.ai

SOURCE Skylark Labs, Inc.
From Amman, Jordan to $200M recovery platform: Jay Zaabri preserved $100M in CA wildfire claims  now deploying his coalition in Woodward and Lubbock

WOODWARD, Okla., March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Jay Zaabri immigrated to the United States from Amman, Jordan at 15. Having experienced bullying in his youth, and undergoing a significant personal transformation, during his final year of high school he made a lasting commitment to never be placed in that position again. Years later, he recognized similar power imbalances within the insurance claims environment, shaping his perspective and approach to the industry.

Evolve Construction and Restoration

"Insurance companies are the biggest bullies in the room. They collect premiums to cover losses, but the moment catastrophe reserves get depleted they turn nasty on homeowners who did nothing wrong. I've always loved a comeback story  Tom Brady, David vs. Goliath. That's what this company is."

 Jay Zaabri, founder and chairman, Evolve Construction and Restoration

Zaabri's family built Universal Trading Group, Target Engineering and Al Ahlia Group across the UAE from scratch  including bringing Coca-Cola to the UAE, Jordan and Oman after years of negotiations with government officials. When Samir Zaabri died in 2012, the American University of Beirut dedicated a science lecture hall in his name. He carried that legacy to UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business, then into disaster restoration  not banking.

Evolve's coalition gives homeowners laboratory documentation, industrial hygiene expertise, engineers and licensed claims advocacy  forcing the same evidentiary standard insurers use to deny claims to now pay them.

"We are intentional about leading with a love-based mindset rather than one rooted in fearrecognizing that fear often drives negative behavior, which has no place in how we operate."

 Jay Zaabri

Proven in California

Following the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, Evolve's coalition helped 1,000+ Altadena and Pasadena homeowners preserve and restore over $100 million in smoke and fire damage claims. More than 13,000 homes remained standing but were contaminated by combustion particles insurers ignored.

What the Lab Found in Woodward

Priority Labs (Indianapolis, Ind.)  nationally accredited environmental testing laboratory  detected measurable combustion particles inside multiple Woodward-area structures with no visible fire damage, including HVAC systems actively recirculating contamination:

Location Soot Char Ash-like Soot Ashwood Location 15 % 1 % 2 % Main Street Woodward 20 % 3 % ND United Supermarket 10 % 3 % ND AC Vent Sample 5 % 2 % 1 %

ND = Non-Detect. Full reports available on request. Source: Priority Labs, Indianapolis, Ind.

"Without testing, properties like these are closed out daily. A 20% soot concentration at an occupied location warrants professional assessment  the Woodward results mirror exactly what we documented in California."

 Dr. John Shane, Priority Labs, Indianapolis, Ind.

The Law and the Mission

Colorado Bulletin B-5.53 (October 2025) and California AB 1795 (March 2026) are establishing binding smoke damage standards. Oklahoma and Texas have no equivalent. Evolve leads from the forefront  advocating for every homeowner.

About Evolve Construction and Restoration

IICRC- and HAAG-certified. Founded 2022 by Jay Zaabri. 35+ markets across the US, Canada and Australia. 7,555+ projects. Over $200M in revenue. 100% satisfaction guarantee. 60-day completion pledge. Written price match. $2.5M in community giving. Emergency response 24/7.

Website: EvolveConstruction.com

Phone: 1-800-222-4100

Instagram: instagram.com/EvolveRestoration

Facebook: facebook.com/EvolveConstructionRestoration

YouTube: youtube.com/@EvolveRestoration

Careers: [email protected]

"We want to build a better tomorrow across the entire USA and beyond."

 Jay Zaabri, founder and chairman, Evolve Holdings

Contact: Jay Zaabri | [email protected] | 1-800-222-4100 | EvolveConstruction.com

SOURCE Evolve Construction & Restoration
Cars have become more than a commuter's tool. For many, they have sentimental value, hold memories, and create new experiences and connections. When one man's beloved 2017 C7 Corvette was destroyed by carjackers, his life was turned upside down.

Virginia outlet ABC 8News first reported on Keith Kunze's dream car turned nightmare. The Henrico County resident had sold his first C7 Corvette back when his young family was growing. However, he decided to buy another C7 when he came back from Afghanistan as a birthday gift to himself. "This car was exactly what I wanted. It was black inside, black outside, black rims," Kunze recalled. "And the top came off and it was a manual."

On October 19th, 2025, Kunze walked out of his apartment to see that his dream car was missing. He wondered if he parked it in a weird spot, unable to believe it was gone. Unfortunately, the Corvette had been stolen. The Richmond Police Department found it in Scott's Addition, a neighborhood just under 10 miles away, but it was heavily damaged. The paint was destroyed by raw eggs, the roof was missing, and various parts were destroyed. "I'm still having a hard time wrapping my head around it because it's...so much damage," Kunze said.

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Read more: 15 Annoying Car Myths That Simply Refuse To Die

Can insurance cover damage from a carjacking?

auto insurance forms - Phiwath Jittamas/Getty Images

Insurance covers car theft if you have comprehensive coverage, which covers all things non-collision. If your car was carjacked and never recovered, car insurance will pay for the stolen vehicle, and some policies will even cover customization and aftermarket parts if you have additional coverage  like custom parts and equipment (CPE) coverage.

If you recover the car, like Kunze did, insurance may cover any vandalism. But there's a limit on how much customization will be covered, especially if you don't have the CPE. At Progressive, for example, comprehensive coverage insures up to $1,000 in repairs and custom parts, so anything above that would require CPE coverage. Kunze claims that he put $20,000 into his car while he repaired it for three months, something that he stated his insurance won't cover  so it's likely he didn't have more extensive coverage.

Various insurance companies likely have their own processes, but in most instances, you'll need to contact your insurance company immediately upon recovering the car. In Kunze's case, he had proof of the theft in the form of surveillance footage, which captured two masked suspects abandoning the car. Unfortunately, the thieves have still not been caught. While insurance will help repair the C7 somewhat, the emotional damage of seeing a car you put love, sweat, and tears into get destroyed is not covered so follow these steps to keep your car safe from carjackers.

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Read the original article on SlashGear.
DENVER, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- In an age saturated with images, The Visionary Brush of Timothy Laros invites readers to slow down and rediscover the art of truly seeing. This new book explores the luminous world of painter Timothy Laros, whose work blends technical mastery with emotional resonance to capture the fleeting beauty of ordinary moments.

Timothy Laros presents - The Visionary Brush of Timothy Laros - A New Book Celebrating the Poetry of Seeing

From a young age, Laros was fascinated less by objects themselves than by the shadows they cast. That curiosity evolved into a lifelong study of light, atmosphere, and memory. Influenced by both classical masters and contemporary innovators, his paintings balance respect for tradition with an appetite for experimentationresulting in a style that feels timeless yet distinctly modern.

Laros's art is known for its expressive brushwork, layered color, and evocative use of light. Rather than aiming for photorealism, he invites viewers to complete the image in their own minds, making each painting a shared experience. His recurring themesquiet streets, intimate interiors, and objects that hint at untold storiescreate a sense of intimacy and reflection.

"Light is the real subject of my work," Laros says. "Everything else is a way to honor it." In The Visionary Brush of Timothy Laros, readers gain insight into this creative philosophy through essays, interviews, and high-quality reproductions that trace his evolution as an artist. The book reveals how Laros approaches his canvases as conversationsbalancing structure and spontaneity to achieve depth and vitality.

Collectors and critics have likened living with his paintings to "living with a memory that keeps revealing new details." His work, exhibited in regional and local galleries, has earned recognition for its ability to turn quiet, everyday scenes into sources of wonder.

The Visionary Brush of Timothy Laros celebrates not only an artist but a way of seeing the worldreminding us that meaning often resides in stillness, in a moment's play of light across a wall, or in the contemplation of a solitary street at dusk.

Available March 23, 2026 from the MM Group, this beautifully produced volume offers an intimate portrait of an artist whose vision continues to illuminate both canvas and heart.

Contact:

Phil Schuman

818-994-8200

[email protected]

SOURCE Timothy Laros
Merger unites two of the top U.S. airport consulting firms to broaden client services, team expertise

FORT WORTH, Texas, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Paslay Management Group, LLC, is pleased to announce that Chicago-based Unison Consulting, Inc., is merging with the Fort Worth-based firm to create a stronger, more comprehensive aviation consultancy with a deeper bench of airport business advisory and development experts.

The Paslay Group-Unison merger brings together two of the most trusted aviation consulting firms in the U.S. to offer aviation clients a more robust suite of enterprise-level services that closes the performance gap between a capital program's financial strategy and its operational execution.

Paslay Group specializes in Executive Program Management for complex development programs, concessions business planning, performance evaluation, and organizational development and strategy. Unison is known for its financial, concessions, economics, market research, and data analytics services.

"This partnership reflects a strategic alignment of values, capabilities, and long-term vision," said Yovette Drake, Unison President and sister of founder and Senior Executive Vice President Anthony "Tony" Drake. "By joining the Paslay Group team, we will immediately be able to integrate financial strategy, operational execution, and program leadership for clients across the nation. We are choosing to bring together our strengths to better serve airports and advance the industry."

Paslay Group founder and CEO R. Clay Paslay said: "We have long respected Unison's reputation for excellence in the airport consulting world and the firm the Drake family has built over the past 37 years."

"Today, our two firms are choosing collaboration over competition and evolving into a larger firm that provides a more comprehensive enterprise-level service offering for our clients. Our combined team doubles down on our ability to develop custom solutions tailored to fit airport owners' objectives, constraints, and capabilities."

Unison Consulting was founded in 1989 and has served more than 100 airport clients across several hundred engagements. The firm has worked with 17 of the 25 busiest U.S. airports.

Its 83 employees include airport, airline, and FAA professionals who bring deep industry knowledge and an authentic understanding of airport owner challenges. The firm's current clients include some of the nation's busiest hubs, including Chicago O'Hare (ORD) and Los Angeles (LAX) international airports.

Paslay Group marks its 20th anniversary this month and has served 50 U.S. airports, managing $51.7 billion in programs since 2006. Mr. Paslay created the small-team Executive Program Management model for complex capital programs and introduced it to the airport industry in 2007 during Sacramento International Airport's $1.2 billion Big Build Terminal Modernization Program. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued Paslay Group a registered trademark for the proprietary Executive Program Management model in 2025.

The firm added a dedicated business advisory practice in 2020 in response to client demand for concessions consulting and enterprise-level strategic advising services. In the past three years, the firm has assisted airport owners in opening billion-dollar-plus terminal development programs at Kansas City (MCI), Nashville (BNA), and Pittsburgh (PIT) international airports.

About Paslay Group

Paslay Group of Fort Worth, Texas, is the premier consulting firm providing Executive Program Management for complex capital development programs, organizational analysis, and enterprise-level business advisory strategies. Founded in 2006, Paslay Group has managed or is managing airport assets valued at $51.7 billion through 50 engagements across the U.S. Visit paslaygroup.com to learn more.

About Unison Consulting

Unison Consulting, Inc., is a Chicago-based specialty aviation consulting firm specializing in airport finance, economics and forecasting; retail concessions planning and management; market and passenger research; program financial controls; and information systems. Founded in 1989, Unison has served more than 100 airport clients across several hundred engagements and worked with 17 of the 25 busiest U.S. Airports. Visit unison-ucg.com to learn more.

Media contact:

Kristin Sullivan

[email protected]

cell 817-706-9811

SOURCE Paslay Group
Successful Proud Partner relationship evolves into full brand alignment, strengthening regional presence and unifying service delivery

SYKESVILLE, Md., March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Virginia Green, a leading, best-in-class lawn care provider, today announced the full integration and rebranding of its Maryland Proud Partner, American Lawn and Tree Specialists, under the Virginia Green name. This transition marks the next step in a successful partnership and strengthens Virginia Green's growing presence in the Maryland market.

American Lawn and Tree Specialists will become Virginia Green's second Maryland branch, joining the Waldorf location that was established in 2025. This expansion further strengthens our unified, scalable regional footprint. The integration underscores our continued commitment to consistency, consolidation, and delivering a cohesive customer experience across the state.

Over the past year, the organizations have worked closely to align operations, enhance service quality, and improve customer communication. Operating under one brand enables a more seamless and consistent experience for customers while maintaining the trusted local relationships built over time.

"This integration is a strategic milestone that strengthens the local expertise our Maryland customers already trust," said Gil Grattan, Founder and CEO of Virginia Green. "By creating a more cohesive regional footprint, we're delivering greater consistency, a seamless customer experience, and the expanded resources that define the Virginia Green standard."

Virginia Green currently serves more than 8,500 lawns across Maryland, supported by nearly 50 Maryland-certified technicians with deep knowledge of local turf and growing conditions. Customers will continue working with the same experienced teams, now backed by Virginia Green's expanded resources and operational scale.

Since partnering, customers have benefited from enhanced communication tools, including pre- and post-service notifications, newsletters, and convenient online account management. Virginia Green also remains committed to environmental responsibility, using state-approved lawn care products that meet Maryland standards and support the health of the Chesapeake Bay.

This integration marks another step in Virginia Green's strategic growth, reinforcing its commitment to delivering consistent, high-quality lawn care while maintaining strong local relationships.

About Virginia Green

Founded in 2004 in Richmond, Virginia Green is a regional lawn care provider operating across five states with 17 locations. The company delivers professional lawn care, aeration and seeding, tree and shrub services, and perimeter pest control to thousands of customers throughout the region. For more information, visit: www.virginiagreen.com

About American Lawn and Tree Specialists

Founded in 2005 by Joe Perry, American Lawn and Tree Specialists is a Maryland-based provider of professional lawn and tree care services. The company delivers lawn care, tree and shrub services, and targeted treatments designed to promote healthy landscapes and long-term plant health. For more information, visit: www.americanlawnandtree.com

SOURCE Virginia Green Lawn Care
Food Production Workers Demand Fair Pay, Affordable Health Care, and Job Security

STOUGHTON, Wis., March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Members of Teamsters Local 120 at B&G Foods in Stoughton, Wis., have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike, as they fight for fair wages, affordable health care, and improved working conditions at an understaffed facility.

The Stoughton plant is vital to B&G Foods' operations, producing household-name products including Cream of Wheat, Skinnygirl Salad Dressing, and Ortega Taco Sauce.

"B&G Foods is taking advantage of a workforce that keeps its Stoughton operation running," said Shaun Mullikin, business agent with Teamsters Local 120. "Meanwhile, workers are dealing with long hours and rising costs, while the company refuses to make basic improvements. Fair pay, decent health care, and reasonable hours shouldn't be a fight  but right now, they are."

In addition to wages and working conditions, workers are also seeking stronger contract language to protect their future. This includes "successorship" language, which would require any new owner of the facility to honor the existing union contract if the company is sold. Members are also seeking protections around automation to ensure that new technology is not introduced to eliminate jobs.

"We've given so much to this company, and all we're asking for is fairness and stability," said Traci Gosda, Chief Steward at B&G Foods and member of Local 120. "We shouldn't have to choose between our health, our families, and our jobs. We're standing together to make sure this is a place where people can build a decent life, and not just get by."

Teamsters Local 120 proudly represents over 15,000 workers in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota. For more information, go to local120.org.

Contact:

Lena Melentijevic, (347) 208-2279

[email protected]

SOURCE Teamsters Local 120
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About Ian Lyall

Ian Lyall, a seasoned journalist and editor, brings over three decades of experience to his role as Managing Editor at Proactive. Overseeing Proactive's editorial and broadcast operations across six offices on three continents, Ian is responsible for quality control, editorial policy, and content production. He directs the creation of 50,000 pieces of real-time news, feature articles, and filmed interviews annually. Prior to Proactive, Ian helped lead the business output at the Daily... Read more

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About Jamie Ashcroft

Jamie Ashcroft, the News Editor for Proactive UK, has developed an impressive career in financial journalism, focusing on the small-cap sector for over fourteen years. Before joining the Proactive team, he was a stockbroker during the global financial crisis, a role that complemented his educational background - a first-class degree in Business and Economics and qualifications in software design and development. As one of the early external hires at Proactive in 2009, Jamie contributed... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
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About Oliver Haill

Oliver has been writing about companies and markets since the early 2000s, cutting his teeth as a financial journalist at Growth Company Investor with a focusing on AIM companies and small caps, before a few years later becoming a section editor and then head of research. He joined Proactive after a couple of years freelancing, where he worked for the Financial Times Group, ITV, Press Association, Reuters sports desk, the London Olympic News Service, Rugby World Cup News Service, Gracenote... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
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Stephen Gunnion is a senior financial journalist and broadcaster at Proactive Investors. He has more than 25 years of experience in television, radio and print media, anchoring on a number of television channels including South Africa's Business Day TV, CNBC Africa and the South African Broadcasting Corporation, where he was the economics editor. He has also worked for Daily Maverick, Bloomberg, the Business Day newspaper and Investors' Chronicle. Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
An aerial photo looking north over the newly installed 21-person exploration camp (Stilgars Camp) and core yard within the IWB gold project.

Yandal Resources Ltd (ASX:YRL) has kicked off a large-scale 2026 exploration campaign across its Ironstone WellBarwidgee (IWB) Gold Project in Western Australia, with drilling now underway as the company looks to extend recent discoveries and unlock new targets across the Yandal Greenstone Belt.

A fully operational 21-person exploration camp and core yard is now supporting the program, with reverse circulation (RC) and diamond drilling already in progress and additional rigs set to mobilise in the coming weeks.

An aerial photo looking north over the newly installed 21-person exploration camp (Stilgars Camp) and core yard within the IWB gold project.

The June half will see around 30,000 metres of drilling completed, combining RC, diamond and air-core programs across key targets including Arrakis, Flushing Meadows and the New England Granite (NEG) area.

Managing director Chris Oorschot said the campaign marks a major step forward following months of preparation.

The exploration team have worked incredibly hard to establish the exploration camp and core yard over the summer months, Oorschot said. With this key infrastructure in place, the 2026 drilling program has commenced and is now accelerating with multiple rigs now drilling on site, he said.

Programs early in the first half of 2026 will focus on understanding the mineralisation potential of both our recent gold discoveries and below the shallow Mineral Resource at Flushing Meadows.

Yandal Resource priority exploration target areas for 2026 from the Ironstone Well-Barwidgee Gold Project, situated in the northern Yandal Greenstone Belt.

Arrakis and Salusa in focus

Initial drilling has begun at the Salusa prospect within the NEG target area, where the company is following up shallow high-grade gold intercepts returned from late-2025 air-core drilling.

Plan showing Yandal drilling completed across the Salusa Prospect, located on the southern point of the NEG target area. The plan shows the AC drilling lines completed overlying a simplified bedrock geology plan with interpreted structures. The location of the 2150mN section is also shown.

Those results included 6 metres at 6.3 g/t gold from 36 metres, with a higher-grade interval of 2 metres at 18.2 g/t, highlighting the potential for a new discovery within the broader intrusive complex.

Cross-section showing AC drilling results from 25IWBAC173, with a simple preliminary interpretation of geology. The section location is shown in Figure 2. The section shows all drilling within +/- 50m of the section plane.

The RC rig will then shift to the Arrakis discovery, where drilling will test extensions to the southeast of the currently defined 1.2-kilometre mineralised structure.

This builds on recent work that extended the Arrakis structure and sharpened the geological model, with the company now targeting both scale and higher-grade zones along strike.

Diamond drilling is also planned at Arrakis to test depth continuity and assess the broader geometry of the system.

A collar plan over the Arrakis Prospect within the Caladan target area, showing simplified bedrock geology interpretation. All Yandal drilling is plotted along with all historic drilling with end-of-hole depths >20m. Collars are thematically coloured by max Au (g/t) in the hole. Dashed yellow polygons represent air-core regolith anomalies (Results include ~4m @ 0.1 g/t Au or greater, with the upper profile or the bottom-of-hole sample is 0.1g/t Au or greater). Dashed purple lines represent heritage-surveyed 100m-spaced lines to support 2026 drilling.

Flushing Meadows and resource growth potential

At the more advanced Flushing Meadows deposit  which hosts a 268,000-ounce resource  Yandal will begin a framework diamond drilling program aimed at testing mineralisation below the current resource envelope.

The program will target fresh rock approximately 100 metres below the existing drilling, with the aim of:

assessing high-grade mineralisation potential at depth

improving geological understanding of controls on mineralisation

supporting future resource growth opportunities

This work complements ongoing exploration across the broader project area, where limited historic drilling has left significant upside.

A collar plan over the Flushing Meadows deposit, showing simplified bedrock geology interpretation. All effective drilling is plotted (>20m down-hole depth). Collars are thematically coloured by max Au (g/t) in the hole.

Testing new large-scale targets

Beyond its existing discoveries, Yandal is also advancing several early-stage targets, including the Nayla prospect, where an 800-metre diamond drilling program is under way with support from the WA Governments Exploration Incentive Scheme.

A collar plan over the Nayla target area, showing simplified bedrock geology interpretation over ground gravity (TMI 1VD image). All historic drilling is plotted with collars that are thematically coloured by the maximum Au (g/t) in the hole. See Table 3 for collar locations and historic data sources.

The program is designed to confirm the presence of an intrusive complex and test structural features analogous to those hosting the nearby Siona discovery.

Meanwhile, broad-scale air-core drilling will target large structural features across the western NEG margin and the Flushing MeadowsGiedi Prime corridor  an underexplored zone with potential for additional large-scale gold systems.

Multi-rig program ramps up

By early April, Yandal expects to have two RC rigs and one diamond rig operating on site, accelerating exploration across multiple fronts.

Across the first half of 2026, the company plans to complete approximately:

10,000 metres of RC drilling

5,000 metres of diamond drilling

15,000 metres of air-core drilling

The program is designed to deliver a clearer picture of the scale of recent discoveries  including Arrakis and Siona  while also identifying new targets across its 370-square-kilometre landholding.

Proposed indicative exploration schedule for the first six months of 2026.

Building on recent momentum

The latest campaign follows a string of recent exploration successes, including high-grade shallow hits at Salusa and continued expansion of the Arrakis system, which has emerged as a key growth driver within the project.

With drilling now under way across multiple targets and infrastructure in place to support sustained activity, Yandal is entering a pivotal phase of exploration aimed at both resource growth and new discovery.

Oorschot said the companys focus remains firmly on unlocking the broader potential of the belt.

With heritage surveys scheduled this week, we are also planning additional first-pass air-core drilling across the broader area east of Flushing Meadows and the Geidi Prime target area, he said. This air-core program will test several large conceptual structural targets and continue our focus on delivering new gold discoveries within the Yandal Greenstone Belt of Western Australia.
About this content 

About Jonathan Jackson

Jonathan Jackson is an experienced writer and editor. Over the past 20 years, he has worked in print and digital media across several business and finance titles amd is currently the Australian news editor at Proactive Investors covering the latest news for ASX listed companies as well as current financial trends. He was previously managing editor with Business First magazine, Wealth Creator Magazine and StocksDigital. Jonathan has interviewed some of the world's top CEOs and covered... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
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About Lisa Uhlman

Lisa Uhlman is an equities reporter at Proactive Investors, covering ASX-listed companies across the mining, energy, biotech and emerging tech sectors. With a background in legal and financial journalism, Lisa brings a sharp analytical lens to market news and corporate developments. Prior to joining Proactive, she reported for national trade publications and newswires, with a focus on court reporting, regulatory affairs and ESG-related business issues. Based in Sydney, she is... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
Amplia Therapeutics Ltd (ASX:ATX, OTCQB:INNMF)'s ACCENT trial has reached an important milestone after an independent central review confirmed five complete responses in patients treated with narmafotinib alongside gemcitabine and Abraxane in first-line advanced pancreatic cancer.

The company said the updated result from the 64-patient Phase 1b/2a study represents a complete response rate of 7.8%, which it believes is unprecedented in this setting.

That matters because pancreatic cancer remains one of the hardest cancers to treat, with limited progress in frontline therapy and generally poor survival outcomes. A complete response means measurable tumours and metastases were no longer detectable on scans for at least 2 months, with no new lesions identified.

For Amplia, the milestone strengthens the clinical case around narmafotinib by shifting the ACCENT study beyond a standard tumour shrinkage story to evidence that a subset of patients may have achieved full radiological clearance of disease.

These latest data from the ACCENT trial clearly demonstrate the significant clinical benefit of narmafotinib. The unprecedented 7.8% rate of CR's in the first line setting provides new hope for patients with this very aggressive cancer and provides further strong support for the benefit that narmafotinib can bring when combined with other treatment modalities. We look forward to presenting a detailed analysis of the ACCENT trial at the forthcoming AACR conference, Dr Chris Burns, CEO and managing director of Amplia said.

Independent review sharpens efficacy signal

The update follows a formal independent review of trial imaging using RECIST 1.1 criteria, which reclassified four additional patients as confirmed complete responders.

Amplia also reported median overall survival of 11.1 months based on data to 15 March 2026, compared with 8.5 months in the historical MPACT study of gemcitabine and Abraxane alone. The company said the result is also in line with the 11.1-month median overall survival reported for the NALIRIFOX regimen in the NAPOLI 3 trial.

Updated objective response rate in ACCENT was 35.9%, compared with 23% in MPACT and 36.2% in NAPOLI 3.

Just as importantly, Amplia said narmafotinib continues to be well tolerated, with an adverse event profile consistent with chemotherapy alone. That gives added weight to the efficacy signal, as any treatment gain in pancreatic cancer is more meaningful if it does not come with a materially heavier side-effect burden.

The result gives Amplia a stronger platform as it advances narmafotinib and builds its case for the drug as a potential addition to standard-of-care chemotherapy in advanced pancreatic cancer.

The company is due to present more detailed ACCENT data at the American Association of Cancer Research annual meeting in April 2026, with four patients still on study as of mid-March and 1 patient nearing 24 months on trial.

Upcoming webinar

A webinar discussing these results will be held on Tuesday 24 March 2026, 9:30am AEDT (Monday 23 March, 6:30pm EST). The webinar can be accessed by this link: https://ampliatx.com/webinars/pegkve-amplia-therapeutics-shareholder-webinar.
D3 Energy Ltd (ASX:D3E, OTCQX:DNRGF) has secured firm commitments to raise $6.12 million through a placement to institutional and sophisticated investors, with the money to advance drilling, development studies and exploration across its South African and Australian assets.

The company will issue 17,000,000 new shares at $0.36 each, with the placement attracting strong support from both new and existing investors. The capital raise marks D3 Energys first since listing in May 2024 and provides funding certainty to progress key growth initiatives.

This capital raising is a significant milestone for D3 Energy, being the first time we have returned to the market since listing two years ago. The ability to raise capital at a premium to our IPO price reflects the progress we have made, and the confidence investors have in our strategy and assets. We are particularly pleased with the level of support we have received from overseas investors highlighting the global appeal of our portfolio, managing director and CEO of D3 Energy, David Casey said.

With helium supply increasingly constrained and disruptions to supply likely to be impacted for the next three to five years in key producing regions, and demand continuing to grow, this funding allows us to materially accelerate exploration activities across our portfolio and advance our projects during what is a unique and highly attractive point in the helium market cycle.

Accelerating activities

Funds will be directed primarily toward execution of a drilling program at the companys flagship asset in South Africa, alongside continued work on a front-end engineering and design (FEED) study for a proposed helium and natural gas processing facility. This study is a critical step toward project sanction and development.

Additional capital will support the acquisition of seismic data across D3 Energys permits in the Arckaringa Basin in South Australia, aimed at advancing exploration across its domestic portfolio.

The placement strengthens the companys balance sheet and positions it to accelerate technical, exploration and appraisal activities amid increasing global focus on securing reliable helium supply. Helium is considered a strategic and constrained resource, with supply disruptions and rising demand highlighting the need for new sources.

New shares issued under the placement will rank equally with existing shares and are expected to be allotted around March 31, 2026.

Free State footprint expansion

Earlier this month, D3 Energy expanded its footprint in South Africas Free State after the Petroleum Agency SA (PASA) formally accepted three Exploration Right applications.

The applications  ER391, ER392 and ER393  cover ground previously held as technical cooperation permits by D3 Energy and sit contiguous to the companys highly prospective ER315 permit in the Free State Province.

Acceptance of the applications moves them into the next phase of the regulatory process, with environmental authorisation submissions and public consultation processes to follow.
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About Emily Jarvie

Emily began her career as a political journalist for Australian Community Media in Hobart, Tasmania. After she relocated to Toronto, Canada, she reported on business, legal, and scientific developments in the emerging psychedelics sector before joining Proactive in 2022. She brings a strong journalism background with her work featured in newspapers, magazines, and digital publications across Australia, Europe, and North America, including The Examiner, The Advocate, The Canberra Times, and... Read more

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Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

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Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

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About Steve Darling

Steve Darling is an award winning broadcaster who has spent the past 20 years as one of the most recognizable faces in British Columbia, reporting and anchoring at BCTV and Global Television. He spent 15 years as the co-host of the number one morning new program in the province. Steve is a tireless worker for charity hosting some 50 events a year. He is an ambassador for the Canucks Autism Network and hosts numerous events with BC Childrens Hospital and the Child Development foundation of... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
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New Delhi, March 23 : 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.

New Delhi, March 23 (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.

CM Gupta will present her second successive Delhi Budget on March 24.

The Chief Minister 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 Tuesday.

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.
London, March 23 : Thousands of protesters took to the streets in London, joining a growing wave of demonstrations across Europe against US 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, Xinhua news agency reported.

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," criticised Washington's characterisation 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 US" 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 US 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 US 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 "US military aircraft are not welcome here." Protesters called for an end to the strikes and demanded the withdrawal of US 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 US 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.
Iranian forces warn of broader retaliation if US targets its power facilities. Image Source: IANS News

Tehran, March 23 : Iran's primary military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, issued a statement warning that power plants in countries hosting US bases would be considered legitimate targets if the United States attacks Iran's power facilities.

The statement came in response to remarks by US President Donald Trump threatening to target Iran's power infrastructure, Xinhua news agency reported quoting Iranian state media Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.

The Strait of Hormuz has not been fully closed and remains under Iran's "smart control," with non-harmful transit continuing under specific regulations to ensure national security and interests, the statement said.

If US threats are carried out, Iran would immediately adopt several punitive measures, including the full closure of the Strait of Hormuz until damaged Iranian facilities are rebuilt, it said.

Other measures would include large-scale strikes on Israel's power, energy and communications infrastructure, attacks on regional companies with US capital ties, and targeting power facilities in countries hosting US military bases.

The statement stressed that Iran would take "all necessary measures" to defend its national interests and would continue operations against US and allied economic and energy infrastructure in the region.

Earlier 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.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, March 23 : Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, will visit Vadodara on Monday to attend a tribal rights gathering, as the Congress intensifies preparations for upcoming local body elections in Gujarat.

He is scheduled to participate in the 'Adivasi Samvidhan Adhikar Sammelan', to be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., where members of tribal communities from across central and eastern Gujarat are expected to attend.

Rajendrakumar Parghi, chairperson of the Adivasi Congress of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC), earlier said Gandhi would be present in Vadodara as part of a one-day visit.

aRahul Gandhi will be in Gujarat on March 23 and will attend a programme in Vadodara. The Sammelan will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., and this is a one-day visit. Many people are expected to arrive," he told IANS.

Gandhi is also expected to hold a meeting with the state partyas core leadership to review preparations for the forthcoming local body elections and by-elections.

The visit comes days after the Congress constituted several state-level committees to coordinate its election strategy in Gujarat.

The party has formed panels for strategy, campaign management, election operations, manifesto preparation and media outreach.

Senior Congress leader Bharatsinh Solanki has been appointed chairman of the strategy committee, while Rajya Sabha MP Shaktisinh Gohil will head the campaign committee.

Senior leader Siddharth Patel has been named chairman of the election management committee.

A party functionary said the committees have been tasked with coordinating campaign planning and overseeing election management across local bodies in the state.

Gandhi, for the past one year, has been focused on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state and visited several times as part of an organisational revamp project.
Washington, March 23 : The United States is pursuing a dual-track approach on the Strait of Hormuz, combining allied burden-sharing with the threat of direct military action, US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said.

Speaking on CBS News' "Face the Nation", Waltz said, "Well, I think it can be both. It's not necessarily mutually exclusive," when asked whether Washington intended to reopen the strategic waterway by force or rely on partners.

He pointed to growing allied involvement, adding, "We have now seen Italy, Germany, France, and a number of others commit to help with this effort," while noting that Japan had also pledged naval support given that "80 per cent of what is coming out of the Gulf is going to Asia."

At the same time, Waltz underscored that the US was prepared to escalate. "The president has been clear, too. He's going to continue to pound Iran's capabilities, its missiles, its naval and its drone capability," he said.

The remarks come amid President Donald Trump's warning that Tehran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face strikes on its energy infrastructure. Waltz declined to rule out targeting such facilities, saying, "I would never take anything off the table for the president, certainly not on national television."

Waltz said Iran's military and civilian infrastructure are deeply intertwined. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps "controls a huge swath of Iran's critical infrastructure, their economy, and certainly many of their governing institutions," he asserted.

"And so to the extent we are degrading their military capability and their defense industrial base, all options should be on the table," Waltz added.

Pressed on concerns raised by the United Nations about potential war crimes linked to strikes on energy infrastructure, Waltz defended the administration's position. He said Iran "has its grips on so much critical infrastructure" and is "using it to further not only the repression of its own people, to attack its neighbors, and in contravention of UN sanctions, to march towards a nuclear weapon."

He also maintained that US targeting would remain focused. "I have no doubt that the president, the Pentagon, and their team will ensure that what they target is geared towards the military infrastructure of Iran," he said, while accusing Tehran of deliberately blending military assets with civilian sites.

On Iran's missile capabilities, Waltz cited recent developments to challenge earlier intelligence assessments. "The UK just condemned the firing of an intermediate range ballistic missile at Diego Garcia," he said, warning that such systems "could hit capitals in Europe."

He further alleged that Iran had concealed advances through its civilian space programme. "This space program has been hiding that technology," he said, adding that "the re-entry technology to marry the two really does not take very much."

The ambassador defended the administration's strategy as pre-emptive. "Thank God the president is taking action now and stopping this march towards a fully fledged nuclear program," he said, drawing a comparison with North Korea.

Waltz also dismissed polling that shows scepticism among Americans about the conflict. He cited support within Republican ranks, saying "90 per cent of Republicans support Trump's effort to destroy Iran's nuclear capabilities," and emphasised that the president's priority was "to keep Americans safe."

He reiterated that no option, including potential ground involvement, had been ruled out. "I think the president will keep all options on the table to secure these objectives," he said.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Mumbai March 23 : Television superstar Divyanka Tripathi Dahiya, looked stunning and radiated her immense glow, at her recent baby shower ceremony hosted by actress Kiran Dubey, her BFF for the longest time.

Mumbai March 23 (IANS) Television superstar Divyanka Tripathi Dahiya, looked stunning and radiated her immense glow, at her recent baby shower ceremony hosted by actress Kiran Dubey, her BFF for the longest time.

Celebrating Divyanka as she prepares to embrace motherhood with husband Vivek Dahiya, Kiran hosted a beautiful event surprising her BFF.

Sharing glimpses from the celebration, Kiran expressed her excitement and penned a heartfelt note for the parents to be.

The post shared by her on her social media account read, "So excited for Divyanka & Vivek to embrace this phase of life! Best wishes for this new journey @divyankatripathidahiya @vivekdahiya @supriyapatilkhan @mainbhisher_ismailumarkhan #snehalsahay #surprise #babyshower."

The pictures from the ceremony captured many happy and joyful moments from the intimate gathering.

Divyanka looked radiant in a flowing red ethnic outfit, paired with traditional jewellery and floral gajra, and was seen proudly flaunting her baby bump.

She also wore a sash that read "Mom To Be."

Dad to be Vivek Dahiya kept it casual in a navy-blue shirt and beige trousers. He too was seen wearing a "Dad To Be" sash as he stood by his wife's side.

The decor featured a pastel-themed setup with balloons in soft hues of green, cream, and peach, along with a wall decoration that read, "Welcome to Parenthood Div & Viv."

The couple was also seen cutting many beautifully decorated cakes.

One cake included a decor with a teddy bear topper with Div & Viv written on it.

For the uninitiated, Kiran Dubey shares a long-standing bond with Divyanka, since she was her co-star in Tripathi's debut television show, "Banoo Main Teri Dulhann", where Divyanka essayed the role of Vidya.

The two actresses have remained close friends for over 20 years.

Talking about the show, Banoo Main Teri Dulhan, aired on Indian national television, in 2006.

The show starred Sharad Malhotra opposite Divyanka in the lead, along with Kamya Punjabi as the antagonist.

Talking about Divyanka Tripathi and Vivek Dahiya, the couple officially announced that they are expecting their first child after 10 years of marriage on the 19th of March.

The couple shared the happy news through an adorable maternity photoshoot, stating that they chose not to rush but to be ready for this journey.

Sharing the pictures, Divyanka wrote in the caption, "Plot twist after 10 years Some journeys are not about rushing They're about becoming ready  together. And just when you think your story is complete life adds the most beautiful chapter. Still soaking it in still smiling for no reason With our hearts full of gratitude  We are expecting #DivekLoveUpgraded."

IANS

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Washington, March 23 : Long security lines and growing passenger frustration hit major US airports as the Trump administration moved to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to help ease pressure on the Transportation Security Administration during the Department of Homeland Security shutdown.

White House border czar Tom Homan told CNN that ICE agents would begin deploying to airports on Monday and would assist with security at entrances and exits to reduce TSA's burden as staffing shortages worsened.

A Washington Post report said Homan did not expect the ICE agents to perform specialised screening tasks such as X-ray checks, but said they could help with duties such as guarding exit doors and checking passenger identification before travellers enter screening areas.

The administration and Democrats traded blame as disruptions spread.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X that "Democrats in Congress are intentionally inflicting this pain on American travelers and federal workers by keeping the Department of Homeland Security shut down. It's awful and indefensible."

Fox News said airports across the country were seeing long TSA lines and travel disruptions as staffing strains intensified during the shutdown, with some waits stretching for hours.

At Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, one traveller was quoted as saying: "They are sending the line out into the parking garage."

CBS News reported that some travellers had to wait in line for five hours at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport as TSA delays worsened amid what it called a nationwide staffing crisis tied to the shutdown.

An uploaded report from the New York Post said Atlanta airport was "slammed with nearly 3-hour wait" times, with one traveller writing on X: "The line is WRAPPING AROUND BAGGAGE CLAIM!!! THIS IS PURE INSANITY!!!!!!"

The same report said airport officials had seen daily absenteeism among TSA workers climb as high as 40 per cent after agents missed paychecks during the shutdown.

The Washington Post reported that Homan described the ICE deployment as a way to free up TSA officers for more specialised work. "We will be at the airports tomorrow helping TSA move those lines along," he said. He also said the move "allows the TSA officer to go back to screening and get people through quicker" and that ICE would act as "a force multiplier."

But critics questioned whether the move would materially reduce delays. The Post cited labour representatives and former officials as saying many airport screening choke points require technical training that ICE agents do not have.

Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer said: "This is really disturbing. ICE agents, who are untrained and have caused problems everywhere they've gone, lurking at our airports? That's asking for trouble."

According to Newsweek, 20 airports that use private screening contractors rather than TSA staff had largely avoided the long lines seen elsewhere. It said airports in the Screening Partnership Program had continued normal operations because private firms continued to pay employees during the shutdown.

The airport delays come as the shutdown strains one of the most visible parts of the US government for ordinary travellers, especially during a busy spring travel period. Atlanta, one of the world's busiest air hubs, appeared to become a symbol of the disruption as images of packed checkpoints circulated widely.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Chennai, March 23 : Mounting anger over low paddy procurement prices has pushed Minimum Support Price (MSP) to the centre of electoral discourse in Tamil Nadu, with Cauvery delta farmers indicating that their voting choices in the upcoming Assembly elections will depend on firm assurances from political parties.

Farmer representatives from the delta region have expressed strong dissatisfaction, pointing out that Tamil Nadu provides one of the lowest state incentives in the country. Despite repeated promises across election cycles, successive governments have failed to ensure remunerative pricing for paddy cultivation, leaving farmers struggling to cope with rising input costs.

Referring to past agitations, farmer leaders recalled a 2009 protest in New Delhi when Tamil Nadu farmers demanded fair MSP and better returns. They noted that national parties extended support during that period, but expectations of policy changes after 2014 have largely remained unmet, particularly regarding enhanced incentives.

According to Swamimalai Sundara Vimalanathan, secretary of the Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers Protection Association, farmers in the state currently receive around Rs 2,545 per quintal for fine paddy and Rs 2,500 for common varieties, including state incentives. In comparison, states such as Chhattisgarh and Odisha provide around Rs 3,100 per quintal with significantly higher bonus payments.

Tamil Naduas incentive levels -- Rs 156 for fine varieties and Rs 131 for common varieties -- are considered insufficient to sustain cultivation, prompting demands for parity with better-paying states.

He also highlighted that several states, including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha and West Bengal, provide annual productivity-linked subsidies ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per acre. Tamil Nadu farmers have consistently sought similar support and are urging political parties to include such measures in their election manifestos.

Farmer leaders reiterated that MSP should be fixed in line with the MS Swaminathan Commissionas recommendation of at least 50 per cent above the comprehensive cost of production, ensuring better returns for cultivators.

They pointed out that while this recommendation is often highlighted during election campaigns, it has not been effectively implemented. Farmersa association leader P.R. Pandian noted that earlier promises to revise MSP were not implemented in time, resulting in missed opportunities for higher returns.

He also raised concerns over unresolved inter-state water disputes, emphasising that issues related to the Cauvery and Mullaiperiyar Rivers remain critical for irrigation as well as drinking water security in the state.

Meanwhile, other farmer groups have called for improved water storage infrastructure, construction of more check dams across key rivers, comprehensive loan waivers, and pension schemes for farmers above 60 years of age. These demands are expected to play a significant role in shaping voter sentiment in the forthcoming Assembly elections.
Mumbai, March 23 : A 20-year-old man was brutally killed in a shocking daylight incident in Mumbai's Dharavi area, police said on Monday. The accused has been arrested, and a case of murder has been registered.

Mumbai, March 23 (IANS) A 20-year-old man was brutally killed in a shocking daylight incident in Mumbaias Dharavi area, police said on Monday. The accused has been arrested, and a case of murder has been registered.

According to the Dharavi Police, the victim, identified as Ashwin Shivkumar Nadar, was attacked with over 20 stab wounds by his acquaintance, Ashiq Asim Akhtar Khan and the victim's throat was slit.

The assault is believed to have stemmed from a long-standing personal enmity between the two.

Police officials stated that the accused was found standing near the victim with a blood-stained knife in his hand. Eyewitnesses at the scene informed the police that Khan was issuing death threats during the attack, reportedly shouting that he would not spare the victim and would kill anyone who tried to intervene.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the victim and the accused knew each other and had a history of disputes.

The police suspect that the primary motive behind the murder was resentment on the part of the accused after the victim allegedly refused to maintain a relationship or live with him. A prolonged personal feud between the two is also believed to have contributed to the crime.

Upon receiving information about the incident, the Dharavi Police rushed to the spot and apprehended the accused.

The severely injured victim was immediately taken to Sion Hospital and admitted to the emergency ward. However, despite efforts by doctors, he succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

In a separate incident reported on March 17, a 42-year-old man in Mumbai allegedly killed his wife by pushing her in front of an approaching local train following a domestic dispute. The accused fled the scene but was later arrested in Surat by the Railway Police STF.

According to police officials, after committing the crime, the accused initially fled towards Thane. He then boarded a fast local train to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), travelled to Dadar, and later took another train to Virar. Investigations revealed that he subsequently boarded a Gujarat-bound train from Virar railway station before being tracked down and arrested.
Business / International

by Agencies

About Tendai Joe and RoadMind AI

Tendai Joe is the founder of RoadMind AI, a South African deep-tech startup focused on next-generation infrastructure intelligence solutions. Using AI and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, the company aims to transform how infrastructure is monitored, maintained, and managed across Africa.

Harare / Johannesburg - 24 March 2026 - Zimbabwean-born technology leader Tendai Joe, currently based in South Africa and founder of the deep-tech startup RoadMind AI, has been accepted into the highly selective Founders Institute South Africa 2026 cohort, a global pre-seed accelerator program known for identifying the world's most promising tech entrepreneurs.The Founders Institute is widely regarded as a platform that nurtures high-potential startups and equips founders with the knowledge, mentorship, and network needed to scale their innovations globally. Tendai Joe's acceptance into the program is a significant milestone, reflecting both his leadership and the global relevance of his work in technology and infrastructure intelligence.Speaking to Bulawayo24, Tendai Joe expressed his desire to contribute to Africa's development through Artificial Intelligence (AI). I am proud to be part of the Founders Institute and to represent Zimbabwean talent on a continental stage, he said. AI has enormous potential to improve efficiency across governments and industries. It can automate processes, streamline systems, and support data-driven decision-making, creating better outcomes for citizens and businesses alike.Tendai Joe's vision includes engaging with African governments, research institutions, and private sector partners to explore how AI can help optimize operations, reduce costs, and improve service delivery. While currently based in South Africa, his Zimbabwean roots and understanding of local challenges position him as a credible voice for introducing technological innovation across the region.With his acceptance into the Founders Institute, Tendai Joe joins a global network of entrepreneurs recognized for their capacity to transform industries. For Zimbabwe, this milestone highlights the international caliber of Zimbabwean talent and the potential for local innovators to participate in shaping Africa's technological future.Tendai hopes to use his platform to speak about practical AI applications, sharing insights on how governments and organizations can adopt technology to improve efficiency, automate repetitive tasks, and make better policy and operational decisions.While no formal collaborations have yet been established, Tendai Joe's recognition offers a promising example of Zimbabwean talent gaining global visibility and influence in cutting-edge technology sectors.
London, March 23 : Thousands of protesters took to the streets in London, joining a growing wave of demonstrations across Europe against US and Israeli military strikes on Iran.

In the British capital, a sea of demonstrators marched from Russell Square to Whitehall on Saturday (local time), waving banners and chanting slogans condemning the attacks. Their voices echoed through central London as concerns over the escalating conflict spilt 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," criticised Washington's characterisation 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 travelled 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, reports Xinhua news agency.

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 US." 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 US embassy in a demonstration organised by the Portuguese Council for Peace and Cooperation. Backed by more than 70 groups, participants denounced what they described as US 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 "US military aircraft are not welcome here." Protesters called for an end to the strikes and demanded the withdrawal of US 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 US 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.
Washington, March 23 : The US Senate has advanced Senator Markwayne Mullin's nomination for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary, just over two weeks after President Donald Trump announced that he would replace current DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

The upper chamber advanced the nomination in a 54 to 37 vote on Saturday (local time). 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 US citizens in Minneapolis and further angered Trump with her performance at recent congressional hearings, reports Xinhua news agency.

"Noem's decision to allot 200 million dollars for an ad campaign, featuring herself urging those living illegally in the US 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.

Her dismissal came shortly after the interview was published.

Noem, 54, is the former governor of South Dakota, a state with a population of less than one million, putting her out of depth at a vast federal department.

She tried to make up for it with her style, appearing in camouflage and accompanying immigration officers on raids in uniform, giving the impression of a hands-on leader while stridently defending Trump and his policies to curb illegal migration.

Trump had praised her success in stemming illegal migration and said that Noem would be appointed to the newly created post of Special Envoy for "The Shield of the Americas", an initiative to bring together Latin American and Caribbean countries to deal with drug trafficking, illegal migration and crime.
Ljubljana, March 23 : Slovenia's ruling Freedom Movement (FM), led by Prime Minister Robert Golob, secured a narrow victory in the country's parliamentary election, according to preliminary results.

With 99 per cent of votes counted on Sunday (local time), the centre-left FM won 28.6 per cent, narrowly ahead of the opposition Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), led by Janez Jansa, which garnered 28.2 per cent, data from the State Election Commission showed. Voter turnout stood at around 68 per cent, down from 71 per cent 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, reports Xinhua news agency.

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.
Mumbai, March 23 : Actor-director-writer Adivi Sesh, who is gearing up for the release of his upcoming film 'Dacoit', has shared his experience of working with director-actor Anurag Kashyap in the film.

The actor spoke with IANS during the promotions of the film, and called Anurag Kashyap, "India's best Hindi dialogue writer".

Sharing his experience of working with Anurag Kashyap, he told IANS, "He constantly surprised me, surprised me with the first moment when I met him at his house, we were discussing the story for the first narration after me pitching it to him. He was so unfiltered and honest. And it was almost childlike because you don't see people with that level of honesty because there's always a certain amount of manicuring and diplomacy we all have in the world. And the fact that he didn't have it was so refreshing and it was beautiful. And it made me want to be authentic, my authentic self in front of him".

He shared, "On a side note, what happened was us having him, India's best Hindi dialogue writer on set with us. And him giving us Hindi lines for free all over was fantastic. That was just good, that was a great moment. He's a very, very good actor".

"It's so interesting that he never actually crossed the line into saying, he never directed us. Just one day after almost 90% of the movie was over, we had a few more days left. He came to me and said, 'If you'll give me permission, I just want to tell you one thing in one scene'. I was like, 'Sir, please'. That one hour was a masterclass for me. I think it's extraordinary, and just how amazing he is", he added.
La Paz, March 23 : Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz Pereira called on future subnational authorities to work with the central government to address the country's economic and institutional challenges.

Paz Pereira made this appeal after casting his vote in the southern city of Tarija on Sunday (local time), where elections are being held to choose more than 5,400 officials, including governors, mayors and local legislators for the 2026-2031 term.

"We will work with those elected by the will of the people," he said, adding that the elections offer an opportunity to strengthen democracy and encourage citizen participation.

He said the current situation requires coordinated efforts among the central government, regional authorities, and the legislature to pursue a common agenda for national recovery, reports Xinhua news agency.

The president also highlighted his administration's progress in economic management, international engagement, security and anti-corruption efforts.

More than 7.4 million eligible voters were expected to take part in the elections across more than 33,000 polling stations.

Around 250,000 personnel were deployed across the nation to ensure transparency and security in the subnational elections, in which more than 7.4 million citizens were to vote.

According to Carlos Alberto Goitia, a member of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), the deployment covered 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, who were assigned to more than 33,000 polling stations, along with temporary staff, police, military personnel and prosecutors.

About 18,000 candidates were running in the elections, reflecting the scale and complexity of the process. Around 17,000 temporary workers supported the preliminary results transmission system to provide early voting trends.

More than 32,000 police officers were deployed to ensure election security, while the armed forces will offer logistical support.
Mumbai, March 23 : Bollywood star Jackie Shroff paid tribute to India's legendary freedom fighters, Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, on Shaheed Diwas, that is celebrated on the 23rd of March, further remembering their ultimate sacrifice for the nation.

Taking to his social media account, the actor shared a picture featuring illustrated portraits of the three revolutionaries set against the backdrop of the Ashoka Chakra and the hues of the Indian tricolour.

The text written by him, on the picture read, "Their Sacrifice! Our Freedom!" with "Shaheed Diwas, March 23", along with hashtags like #ShaheedDiwas and #FreedomFighters.

For the uninitiated, Shaheed Diwas is observed every year on March 23, marking the martyrdom of Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar, who were executed by the British colonial government in 1931.

The day serves as a string yet sensitive reminder of the young boys' courage, patriotism, and firm commitment to India's independence struggle.

Talking about Bhagat Singh, he remains as one of the most iconic revolutionaries in Indian history, who was known for his fearless ideology and acts of resistance against British rule.

Alongside him, Rajguru and Sukhdev played pivotal roles in revolutionary and independence activities, including the assassination of British officer J.P. Saunders as an act of protest against colonial oppression.

Their sacrifice at a young age, even after continues to inspire generations even after 95 years of their martyrdom.

Meanwhile, talking about Jackie Shroff, the actor has been a constant at marking special occasions related to cinema and its legends.

Recently, from remembering icons like Madhubala, Sridevi and Shashi Kapoor on their birth and death anniversaries, to celebrating milestones of his own films, the actor has been taking to social media to pay tribute and relive memories.

IANS

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Kolkata, March 23 : Fresh allegations of mismanagement have surfaced at the Trauma Care Unit of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The family of a patient on Monday claimed that he died due to the hospital's mismanagement while seeking medical treatment.

It is alleged that the patient was not even provided with a stretcher to go to the restroom. The middle-aged man, identified as Biswajit Samanta, collapsed while attempting to walk there and passed away shortly thereafter last night.

Family members said that Biswajit had come to RG Kar Hospital for treatment, suffering from respiratory distress. He was also bleeding from his nose. The bleeding was brought under control following preliminary treatment during the night, and he began to feel somewhat better. However, he died while on his way to the restroom. The family alleged that there was no restroom located near the specific area of aathe hospital where the middle-aged man was being treated.

When hospital staff were asked for assistance, they reportedly instructed the family to take him either outside or to the second floor. Furthermore, a stretcher was not provided to transport him to the second floor. His relatives maintained that the man died while attempting to walk -- in his frail condition -- to reach the restroom located on the second floor.

As of now, the hospital authorities have not issued any statement regarding this incident.

Ila Samanta, the wife of the deceased, Biswajit, recounted her ordeal to a section of reporters. "We brought him here last night. He was bleeding from the nose. After receiving some treatment, he appeared to stabilise slightly. Then, he asked to use the restroom. However, no one provided a stretcher. An ailing man was forced to walk to the restroom, leading to this tragic outcome. How could they possibly ask a sick patient to walk?"

The deceased's son, Vishal Samanta, said, "There are no restrooms located nearby. The doctor instructed us to take him outside to use the facilities. Yet, no one offered us a stretcher. We had to take him up to the second floor just to find a restroom. He walked there with great difficulty. Suddenly, he collapsed. The doctor examined him and simply said, 'He is no more!' Had there been a restroom nearby, or had a stretcher been made available, perhaps this tragedy could have been averted."

He further said, "We come to the hospital -- specifically to RG Kar with so much hope. But here, it seems even healthy people would fall ill and die!"

The body of the deceased has been sent for a post-mortem examination. Meanwhile, the Tala Police Station has registered a case of unnatural death in connection with this incident.

The RG Kar Hospital in North Kolkata has been in the news for quite some time.

Last Friday, Arup Banerjee, a resident of Dum Dum, died after getting trapped in an elevator within the trauma care building of the hospital. In that incident, too, the lack of a restroom lay at the heart of the controversy.

Banerjee had visited RG Kar to seek medical treatment for his three-year-old son. The child needed to use the restroom; however, as there was no facility immediately accessible, they were compelled to take the elevator.

It is alleged that, due to a mechanical malfunction, the elevator spiralled out of control. Arup and his family remained trapped in the basement for a prolonged period. Ultimately, Banerjee met his tragic end after becoming wedged in the elevator doors and being crushed. The hospital's mismanagement, coupled with a severe lack of proper maintenance and oversight, has been cited as the cause of this fatality. Barely two days later, fresh allegations of death resulting from administrative negligence have surfaced once again at the very same hospital.

In August 2024, within this very RG Kar Hospital, a woman doctor performing her night duty was raped and murdered. At that time, questions were raised regarding the security arrangements at the hospital.
New Delhi, March 23 : Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, and Mallikarjun Kharge, the National President of Congress, on Monday paid homage to Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru, praising the fearless struggle and ultimate sacrifice of these heroes in their fight for the nation's freedom.

Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru were iconic Indian revolutionaries whose execution on March 23, 1931, in Lahore jail fueled the freedom struggle. March 23 is now observed as Shaheedi Diwas.

Taking to X, Gandhi said, "On the martyrdom day of the great revolutionary Sardar Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru ji, humble tribute to them. Their fearless struggle and supreme sacrifice in fighting for the nation are an inspiration for every Indian."

"Salutations to the brave sons of Mother India. Inquilab Zindabad!" he added.

Kharge also took to social media to pay tributes to the revolutionaries.

"To the immortal revolutionaries who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the motherlanda"Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdeva"hundreds of salutations. Their unparalleled courage, sacrifice, and dedication will forever continue to inspire us. The grateful nation will always remain indebted to their sacrifice," Kharge posted on X.

Congress Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi, paying homage to the "immortal martyrs", said, "I pay my humble respects to Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru. The Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh and his revolutionary comrades struggled throughout their lives to free India from inequality, exploitation, poverty, and injustice, and sacrificed their lives to liberate the nation. Let us safeguard the legacy of our great martyrs -- this alone will be a true tribute to them."

Members of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), including Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev, sought to avenge Lala Lajpat Rai's death by targeting British officer James Scott. This led to the Saunders shooting in 1928.

Later, they threw bombs in the Central Assembly to demand independence. The three were arrested and sentenced to death.

Inspired by socialist ideas, they believed their ultimate sacrifice would ignite a massive revolutionary movement against colonial rule.
New Delhi, March 23 : As AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi declared that his party will contest the upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal in alliance with former Trinamool Congress leader Humayun Kabir's newly-formed Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP), the Congress on Monday launched a sharp attack and said that "thank you, Asaduddin Owaisi. You have removed your mask - the mask of secularism - and shown the world your true communal face". It called the AIMIM leader the "true companion" of the BJP.

New Delhi, March 23 (IANS) As AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi declared that his party will contest the upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal in alliance with former Trinamool Congress leader Humayun Kabir's newly-formed Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP), the Congress on Monday launched a sharp attack and said that "thank you, Asaduddin Owaisi. You have removed your mask  the mask of secularism  and shown the world your true communal face". It called the AIMIM leader the "true companion" of the BJP.

The party further alleged that Owaisi has exposed himself as the "B-team" of the BJP but has also proven to be its "true companion."

Speaking to IANS, Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput criticised the AIMIM-AJUP alliance, reiterating, "Thank you, Asaduddin Owaisi. You have removed your mask  the mask of secularism  and shown the world your true communal face."

"You have not only shown that you are the B-team of the BJP, but also that you are a true companion of the BJP. People are accusing Humayun Kabir of taking money to form a party. So, are you getting funds from Delhi? The people are very clear that they will show your position in West Bengal as well as in Hyderabad elections," he told IANS.

Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat also weighed in on the development, stating, "Where there is a division of secular votes, it invariably benefits the Bharatiya Janata Party. Owaisi is known for this, and allegations are often made against him. He certainly employs such tactics to ensure votes are divided. That is why we say he works as the B-team of the BJP."

JMM spokesperson Manoj Pandey echoed similar sentiments and said, "I feel that now Owaisi has achieved some success in one or two states. He has strengthened the BJP and worked to weaken secular parties and forces, which has boosted their morale. However, I believe he will not fit in anywhere in the context of Bengal's political situation."

JD(U) National Spokesperson, Rajeev Ranjan, also took a dig at the political developments, saying, "Whether it's Humayun Kabir or Owaisi, the truth is that the poison sown by Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal's politics has created many such characters who emerge to cultivate that poison. But when there is a natural alternative, such elements will have no significance, and their existence will not matter in these elections."

Meanwhile, Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav offered a more neutral perspective, saying, "It is Owaisi's party, and if he is preparing to contest elections, the decision is independent. The party aims to expand its organisation and has a presence in many places. Owaisi has decided to contest, and as it is a democratic party, its leaders carry out their work accordingly."

Polling for the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in two phases  the first on April 23 and the second on April 29. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

The alliance between AIMIM and AJUP is expected to influence the vote share in Muslim-dominated seats in the forthcoming elections, which are widely seen as a primarily two-sided contest between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Opposition BJP.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, March 23 : The Election Commission of India has announced the allotment of digital time vouchers to recognised National and State political parties, enabling them to avail free broadcast and telecast time on Doordarshan and All India Radio for the upcoming Assembly elections.

The move has been undertaken under Section 39A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, with the Commission issuing detailed directions for the allocation of airtime during the General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

According to the Commission, digital time vouchers have been distributed through its IT platform to all recognised National and State political parties across the five poll-bound States and a Union Territory for the upcoming Assembly elections.

The broadcast and telecast window will run from the date of publication of the list of contesting candidates in each phase until two days before the polling date in the respective regions, the ECI said.

Officials said that the actual scheduling of broadcast slots will be finalised in advance through a draw of lots at the State or Union Territory level. The process will take place in the presence of authorised representatives of political parties as well as officials from the office of the concerned Chief Electoral Officer.

Under the scheme, the poll body said that each party will be provided a base allocation of 45 minutes of free airtime on both Doordarshan and All India Radio. This time will be uniformly distributed across the regional networks within the respective State or Union Territory.

In addition to the base allocation, parties will be granted extra airtime based on their performance in the previous Assembly elections in the concerned State or Union Territory.

The Commission has also laid down clear guidelines for content submission. Political parties must submit transcripts and recordings in advance, ensuring compliance with prescribed norms.

Recordings are required to be produced either in studios that meet technical standards set by Prasar Bharati or at designated Doordarshan and AIR Kendras.

Apart from individual party broadcasts, Prasar Bharati will also organise up to two panel discussions or debates to be aired on Doordarshan and All India Radio.

Each eligible political party will be allowed to nominate one representative for these programmes, which will be moderated by an approved coordinator.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

Zimbabwe and China have finalised an export protocol for avocados and blueberries, paving the way for expanded horticultural trade between the two countries.The development was announced by the Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe via its X account."In 2025, Zimbabwe exported horticultural goods worth US$11.62 million to China, with macadamia nuts as the star product," the embassy posted."Now that export protocols for citrus, avocados and blueberries have been finalised, and with Chinas zerotariff treatment for 53 African countries including Zimbabwe taking effect on 1 May 2026, Zimbabwe's highquality agricultural and horticultural produce is poised to reach more Chinese consumers and conquer new markets across China."The embassy added that Chinese buyers are already visiting farms in Zimbabwe to source premium produce.Meanwhile, ZimTrade is set to host the ZimbabweChina Horticulture Buyers Engagement in Mutare in early April.
New Delhi, March 23 : Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Monday hit out at Mamata Banerjee over her recent remarks targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging political leaders to maintain decorum during the election season.

"It is election time, and care must be taken that the dignity of language is not violated. During the Bihar elections, we saw how even the Prime Minister's mother was abused. The opposition, in its desperation to win elections, is willing to stoop to any level and lose all restraint. This is wrong..." Paswan said.

The criticism comes amid escalating political tensions ahead of upcoming elections, with several BJP leaders targeting CM Banerjee's statements.

BJP Bihar President, Sanjay Saraogi, also criticised the West Bengal Chief Minister, saying, "Mamata Banerjee's policies, which appear to be arrogant and divisive, are reflected in her behaviour. It seems she has begun to feel that she may be on her way out of Bengal, which is evident in the way she speaks and expresses herself..."

Echoing similar sentiments, Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav said, "Mamata Banerjee will not be able to maintain her hold on power in West Bengal, no matter what she does. Anti-incumbency is strongly against her, and all her MLAs will lose. I believe she should now step down from power..."

In West Bengal, BJP leader Dilip Ghosh also responded strongly to CM Banerjee's remarks.

"Mamata Banerjee is calling PM Modi a 'Ghuspaithiya'. When Yusuf Pathan comes here, Shatrughan Sinha can come from Bihar, but they are not 'Ghuspaithiyas'. Those coming from Bangladesh, like the Rohingyas, are also not 'Ghuspaithiyas'..." he told IANS.

He further added, "CCTV cameras will be installed everywhere, and the Election Commission will keep an eye. Why is Mamata Banerjee installing CCTV? Because there are rifts and conspiracies happening within her party."

The political row stems from remarks made by CM Banerjee at an Eid gathering earlier, where she dubbed Prime Minister Modi the "biggest infiltrator" and accused the Centre of attempting to "rob" people of their voting rights through the SIR process.

Addressing the gathering, she said that several names had been deleted from the voters' list, adding, "Many of your names have been deleted from the voters' list, for which I ran from Calcutta High Court to the Supreme Court of India in Delhi."

The exchange highlights intensifying rhetoric between the ruling party at the Centre and opposition leaders, as the election approaches.
Mumbai, March 23 : The Maharashtra Legislative Council on Monday witnessed dramatic scenes after Deputy Chairperson Neelam Gorhe ordered the immediate suspension of Satara Superintendent of Police (SP) Tushar Doshi following allegations that police personnel manhandled and injured Satara Guardian Minister Shambhuraj Desai during the election to the posts of Satara Zilla Parishad President and Vice President.

"It is a long-standing tradition of this House that the word of a member, and especially a Minister, is accepted as the truth. I am hereby directing the government to immediately suspend the Satara SP and all other officers who engaged in manhandling, causing injuries, and obstructing the democratic voting process," Deputy Chairperson Gorhe announced.

She further noted that the government should have ideally initiated an inquiry yesterday, but since it did not happen, the legislature must now step in to ensure accountability.

According to statements in the House, the chaos erupted during the voting process for elections to the posts of Zilla Parishad President and Vice President. Despite the claims of the majority of Shiv Sena and NCP, the BJP won these elections.

The Satara Guardian Minister, Shambhuraj Desai, narrated his ordeal, stating that despite his 40-year political career, he had never faced such treatment. Minister Desai alleged that while he was escorting 33 members to the polling booth -- following an alliance between the Shiv Sena and NCP -- they were intercepted by over 100 police personnel in plain clothes just 10 meters from the voting hall. The police reportedly acted on a "false complaint" of member abduction.

"I am a State Minister, yet I was literally dragged by the police and sustained serious injuries to my hand. If a minister is not safe, what is the state of law and order in this province?" He questioned in the Council.

The ruling party MLAs turned aggressive in support of Minister Desai. The NCP minister, Makrand Patil, who was also present with Minister Desai during the election process for the Satara ZP president and Vice President, went a step further, demanding that the SP not only be suspended but dismissed, accusing the officer of acting like a "servant of a specific political party".

Shiv Sena MLC Manisha Kayande and Vikram Kale demanded an immediate statement from the Chief Minister. Taking serious cognisance of the matter, Deputy Chairperson Neelam Gorhe directed that Satara SP Tushar Doshi and all concerned police officers involved in the scuffle are to be suspended immediately.

The Divisional Commissioner of Pune has been ordered to conduct a thorough investigation into the lapse. She also instructed that all CCTV footage of the incident be seized and secured to prevent tampering with evidence. Industry Minister Uday Samant has been directed to ensure the swift execution of these orders.

Countering the Sena and NCP, BJP Minister Jaikumar Gore, who was leading the BJP's Operation Lotus in Satara, opposed the suspension of Doshi. "Before giving an order, reality should also be heard. During the election for the ZP chairperson, nobody other than ZP councillors should be inside the building. There are no separate rules for ministers or MLAs. Around 3-4 thousand workers barged into the ZP building. Police have the responsibility of maintaining law and order. Suspension of IPS without taking factual reports on the allegations against him is not right," he said.

The issue also rocked the state Assembly when the Shiv Sena MLA Arjun Khotkar raised and demanded stern action. Minister Desai provided a detailed and harrowing account of the events to the House. He alleged that while he was escorting 33 members to the internal meeting and subsequent voting, they were met with administrative high-handedness.

According to Desai, while two members, Sandeep Mandve and Anil Desai, had cases registered against them, they were present at the meeting. Furthermore, NCP member Bapusaheb Shinde, who was allegedly "abducted", was actually with the group voluntarily. Minister Desai claimed that over 100 police personnel in plain clothes were present.

"If they wanted to make arrests, why didn't they do it at the meeting venue? They didn't dare touch our members there because 2,000 Shiv Sainiks were present," he stated. The situation escalated as they moved toward the polling hall.

"Four policemen grabbed me by the arms, while two others grabbed members by the waist and dragged them away. MP Nitin Kaka Patil was pushed down the stairs," the Minister recounted. Minister Desai described the scene as "Mughlai" (tyranny), noting that his clothes and the shirt of member Sandeep Mandve were stained with blood during the scuffle.

"The SP acted like a domestic servant. I am an elected representative of four lakh people and a State Minister, yet I was treated with such arrogance. I demand the immediate suspension and dismissal of these officers," he pleaded before the House.

Minister Desai specifically named officers -- Tushar Doshi (Superintendent of Police, Satara), Inspector Devkar (Local Crime Branch), Assistant Inspector Garje (Local Crime Branch) and about 100 other police personnel involved in the scuffle, for immediate disciplinary action. Further, he demanded a probe by a retired High Court Judge.

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde strongly condemned the incident, calling it a "murder of democracy", and said the matter was serious as members were allegedly prevented from casting their votes despite prior instructions to allow them to do so.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that a probe will be conducted into the incident and assured action based on the inquiry.
Students of Valliammal College for Women create a rangoli highlighting the importance of 100% voting ahead of the upcoming elections in Chennai district of Tamil Nadu . Image Source: IANS

Chennai, March 23 : With the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections scheduled for April 23, the political landscape in the state is entering a crucial phase. With barely a month left for polling and the filing of nomination papers set to begin on March 30, political parties are under increasing pressure to finalise their strategies. Yet, key alliances are still struggling to reach a consensus on seat-sharing arrangements.

Both the ruling DMK-led alliance and the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) continue to remain in a state of uncertainty, with negotiations yet to be fully concluded.

The delay has triggered concerns within party circles, as time constraints tighten ahead of the electoral battle.

In the DMK-led front, which comprises as many as 26 parties, seat-sharing agreements have so far been finalised with only six allies.

The Congress has been allotted 28 seats, the Communist Party of India (CPI) 5, the MDMK 4, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) 2, the Humanity Peopleas Party 2, and the Kongunadu Peopleas National Party 2 seats.

However, tensions persist within the alliance. The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] are reportedly demanding double-digit seat allocations.

The DMK leadershipas indication that it may offer fewer seats than in the previous election a" where CPI(M) was allotted six a" has led to dissatisfaction among these parties. As a result, discussions with other potential allies, including Makkal Needhi Maiam, have not progressed significantly.

Similarly, the AIADMK-led alliance, which includes parties such as the BJP, PMK, Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC), and others, is also yet to finalise its seat-sharing formula. Though informal projections suggest that the AIADMK may contest around 162 seats, with the BJP likely to get around 31 and PMK 17, no official confirmation has been made.

Smaller parties, including the TMC, New Justice Party, and others, are also awaiting clarity on their respective shares.

Meanwhile, PMK leader Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss and AIADMK general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran recently travelled to New Delhi to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking a larger share of seats for their respective parties.

Talks are also ongoing with Dr. Krishnasamyas Puthiya Tamilagam, which is expected to be accommodated with a couple of constituencies if it joins the alliance.

With the clock ticking, both major alliances face mounting pressure to resolve internal differences and present a united front before the nomination process begins.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, March 23 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the Lok Sabha at 2 p.m. on Monday, focusing on the key concerns relating to the ongoing West Asia conflict.

Earlier on Sunday, PM Modi 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 India's 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 Iran's 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 India's 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.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Seoul, March 23 : The Baloch National Movement (BNM) held a peaceful protest in South Korea's Busan, highlighting the ongoing grave human rights violations across Balochistan, including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, torture, and systematic repression targeting Baloch civilians, activists, and entire families at the hands of Pakistani forces.

According to the BNM, the demonstration on Sunday evening near the Apple Outlet at Sasang Station was part of the broader global campaign to draw attention to what it described as "a policy of collective punishment" in Balochistan.

The participants raised international awareness about the escalating crisis and distributed detailed pamphlets in English and Korean outlining the recent "alarming statistics and patterns of abuse" in the province.

The pamphlets also detailed recent cases, including the involvement of Pakistan's Frontier Corps (FC) in carrying out the abuses, and noted the lack of accountability. The BNM appealed to the global community to recognise the crisis as a humanitarian emergency.

Addressing the gathering, the speakers emphasised that "these violations constitute serious crimes under international law, including potential crimes against humanity, and demanded accountability from Pakistani authorities as well as intervention from the United Nations, human rights bodies, and the international community."

The protestors also raised slogans such as "Stop the genocide in Balochistan", "End enforced disappearances," "Pakistan: Stop killing Baloch people," and "Baloch wants justice."

Citing reports by Paank, the human rights wing of the BNM, the group said that 109 cases of enforced disappearances and 50 cases of extrajudicial killings were recorded in February, while 82 enforced disappearances and 12 extrajudicial killings were documented in January.

Highlighting the ongoing wave of atrocities in early March across the province, the BNM referred to multiple incidents, including the alleged extrajudicial killing of a Baloch civilian in the Mashkai region of the Awaran district after months of disappearance, another killing in the Shapatan area of the Panjgur district, and fresh abductions of several individuals.

As per the findings, more than 1,200 enforced disappearances were documented in 2025, with many still missing, including women, teenagers, and minors.

The report also noted over 200 extrajudicial killings and a disturbing "kill-and-dump" policy where mutilated bodies are abandoned to "instil terror".

"The suffering in Balochistan continues unabated: families wait endlessly for news of disappeared loved ones, bodies of the killed are dumped as warnings, and peaceful protesters face arrest and worse. Today's action in South Korea stands in direct solidarity with the thousands of Baloch families enduring this nightmare and with ongoing movements inside Balochistan," the BNM stated.

The BNM stressed that the global campaign would continue until every enforced disappearance ends, perpetrators are held accountable, and the Baloch people can live with dignity, freedom, and human rights.

"The voices raised today in Busan add to a growing international chorus that refuses to stay silent," it added.
Amaravati, March 23 : Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on becoming the longest-serving head of the government.

Pawan Kalyan took to X to convey his heartiest congratulations to the Prime Minister on 'the extraordinary milestone of 8,931 days in continuous service as the head of a government, spanning his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat and now as Prime Minister of India.'

"His journey is not merely about time in office, but about unwavering resolve, tireless dedication, and a life devoted to the service of Bharat. From grassroots leadership to guiding the nation on the global stage, he has redefined governance with a clear vision, decisive action, and an unshakable "Nation First" commitment," posted the Jana Sena leader.

"For more than two decades, his leadership has reflected discipline, sacrifice, and an unmatched work ethic - placing the aspirations of every citizen at the heart of governance. His efforts in strengthening infrastructure, empowering the poor, driving digital transformation, and elevating India's global standing continue to inspire millions. This milestone is a powerful reminder that true leadership is built on consistency, conviction, and service above self. Wishing our Hon'ble PM continued strength, good health, and many more years of dedicated service to the nation," added Pawan Kalyan.

Former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy also posted his message on X, congratulating Prime Minister Modi.

"Heartfelt congratulations to Hon'ble PM Shri Narendra Modi ji on completing 8,931 days as Head of Government and setting a historic milestone in dedicated public service. This landmark is a testament to one's grit and resolve. Wishing you strength and good health in the service of the nation," wrote the YSR Congress Party president.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had congratulated the Prime Minister on Sunday.

"Heartiest congratulations to Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji on achieving the historic milestone of becoming the longest-serving head of government in India's history, completing 8,931 days in service to the nation. This extraordinary achievement reflects his dedication, visionary leadership, and tireless commitment to the progress and prosperity of our country," said Chandrababu Naidu, whose party is a key partner in BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.

PM Modi has become the longest-serving head of government in India, surpassing the 8,930-day record of former Sikkim CM Pawan Kumar Chamling.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
March 23 : Lucknow: Nasreen Bi, a resident of small village Ghanghora-Ghanghori in Fatehganj West block of Bareilly, has become an inspiring example whose story is now widely discussed. There was a time when she struggled to support her family, but today she has become self-reliant and has also provided employment to 10 women in her village.

Nasreen shares that she never imagined achieving such recognition. However, when she joined the 'Janta Self-Help Group', her life took a new turn. With support from government led by Yogi Adityanath, her small beginning has now transformed into a successful bakery business producing items like rusks, fans and cream rolls.

Under the 'Rashtriya Gramin Ajivika Mission', thousands of rural women like Nasreen have gained a new identity. Through group formation, savings and financial assistance, many women have received opportunities to grow. In 2022, the group received 15,000 and later 1 lakh as financial support. This funding laid a strong foundation for their business, boosting their confidence and enabling them to include 10 more women from the village. Today, the group earns up to 1 lakh per month. It has become not just a source of income but also a symbol of womens self-respect and social recognition. Government initiatives have transformed these women from 'beneficiaries' into 'entrepreneurs'.

With government assistance, they installed a cream roll-making machine, which increased production capacity and created new job opportunities. Through new technology and training, Nasreen improved product quality and began supplying products to Bareilly city market. She adopted proper pricing strategies and expanded her business according to market demand. This example shows that when government schemes are effectively utilized, even small-scale work can evolve into a large business.

Most inspiring aspect of Nasreens success is that she did not limit her progress to herself. By bringing 10 women into her group, she provided them with employment and the opportunity to become self-reliant. Today, the group is not limited to bakery products, they have also started producing papad, spices and chips. This diversification has increased their income sources and strengthened their market presence. The group regularly receives orders and with administrative support, their products are being promoted effectively. This initiative is not only strengthening their financial position but also empowering the role of women in society.

Nasreen has proven that with the right opportunities and their effective use, any woman can transform her circumstances. Today, she and her group are not only supporting their families but also serving as an inspiration for the entire village. Such government initiatives are not only providing financial support but also empowering women with self-reliance, dignity and a new identity.

This initiative is being seen as a decisive step toward strengthening womens safety. Since the inception of the scheme, a total of 2.39 lakh cases have been assisted through One Stop Centers, highlighting their effectiveness and importance. The expansion from 96 to 121 centers will play a crucial role in creating a safer and more supportive environment for women across the state.
March 23 : Lucknow/Deoria: Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi, while speaking to journalists in Deoria on Saturday, said that Uttar Pradesh has witnessed a major transformation in the agriculture sector during 9 years of Yogi government. He stated that among all governments since the states formation, current government has delivered the best performance.

Through wide-ranging reforms, direct benefits to farmers, expansion of irrigation, increased production and technological interventions, UP has emerged as a new agricultural model. Government has not only increased farmers income but also empowered them towards self-reliance and a dignified life.

Minister said that Yogi government has completely transformed the image of Uttar Pradesh. Earlier, the state faced issues like crime, corruption, kidnapping, extortion, mafia dominance and lawlessness, which have now been eliminated. Alongside this, government extended strong financial support to farmers. He claimed that farmers received unprecedented assistance compared to previous governments. About 9 years ago, farmers were allegedly driven to distress and even suicide due to lack of basic facilities like fertilizers, electricity and water, along with delayed procurement and payments.

Shahi stated that after coming to power in 2017, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took a major decision to waive 36,000 crore in bank loans of 86 lakh farmers. This was implemented transparently to provide financial relief and prevent extreme distress like suicides, while giving farmers a fresh start.

He said, "Government focused on providing quality seeds, adequate fertilizers and expanding irrigation facilities. Old canal systems were repaired and incomplete projects were completed, benefiting over 30 lakh hectares of agricultural land. Additionally, more than 92,000 PM-KUSUM solar pumps have been installed with up to 60% subsidy, enabling uninterrupted irrigation without dependence on electricity".

Minister added that electricity bills of 16 lakh farmers' tube wells have been waived and government is bearing 3,600 crore in electricity expenses. To improve the condition of sugarcane farmers, pending dues were cleared, with total payments reaching 3.15 lakh crore. Sugarcane prices were increased from 300 to 400 per quintal, boosting farmers income and financial stability.

Shahi stated that under 'PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme', over 3 crore farmers in UP have been registered and 99,500 crore has been directly transferred to their bank accounts. He noted that this amount is comparable to what was earlier paid annually as sugarcane dues under previous governments. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) has ensured transparency and trust.

Under the 'Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana', financial assistance of 5,660.33 crore has been provided over 9 years to 67.52 lakh farmers for losses due to natural disasters. In the current Kharif season, 532.17 crore has already been distributed to 539,000 farmers, with plans to provide 170 crore more to an additional 225,000 farmers by the end of March.

Minister said that foodgrain production has increased from 547 lakh metric tonnes in 2017 to 737 lakh metric tonnes in 2024-25. Uttar Pradesh is now the leading state in foodgrain production in India. It also ranks first in milk production and leads in the production of mango, wheat, paddy and sugarcane.

Shahi highlighted the increasing use of modern agricultural machinery and promotion of drone technology. Initiatives like 'Drone Didi' are helping bring advanced techniques to farms. Twenty new Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) have been established. A new agricultural university is being developed in Kushinagar, which will be the fifth state agricultural university.

Additionally, a central agricultural university has also been set up. More KVKs are being established in large districts and Farmer Welfare Centers are being developed in 480 out of 824 development blocks. The center in Baitalpur is an example where farmers can access training, seeds and agricultural inputs.

Minister concluded that Yogi government has transformed UP from 'BIMARU' state to a leading producer of foodgrains, sugar and milk. Over the past 9 years, agriculture sector has not only strengthened but has also become a strong pillar of the states economy.
Bengaluru, March 23 : In a relief to hotel owners, the Karnataka government on Monday announced an increase in the supply of commercial LPG cylinders, adding 1,000 more to the existing allocation.

Speaking after a meeting with gas companies and representatives of hotel associations in Bengaluru, the Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, K.H. Muniyappa, said the total number of commercial cylinders supplied in the state will be increased to 10,000. He added that the move aims to address supply concerns and ensure smoother distribution across sectors.

Muniyappa said that commercial gas users will now have to register with the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL). He noted that users have been given a weekas time to complete the registration process, and failure to do so would result in the denial of commercial gas supply. The step, he said, is intended to curb irregularities and track usage.

He stated that the 10,000 cylinders will be distributed across all sectors under commercial usage, including hotels, dhabas, hostels, paying guest accommodations, and Indira Canteens. He also said that a follow-up meeting with hotel owners will be held next Monday to review the situation.

The minister pointed out that until last week, around 1,000 cylinders were being supplied mainly to hotels, but the expanded allocation will now cover a wider range of establishments.

Responding to demands from hotel owners for a reduction in electricity tariffs, Muniyappa said the issue had not yet come to his notice. He, however, acknowledged that hotel associations have written to the Chief Minister seeking a reduction of Rs 2 per unit in power charges and assured that the matter would be brought to the Chief Ministeras attention.

Reiterating the new rules, the minister said registration with GAIL is compulsory for all commercial cylinder users, and authorities will monitor consumption patterns through this system. He added that the deadline for registration has been set for next Saturday.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, last Thursday, wrote to Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri seeking urgent intervention to streamline the supply of commercial LPG and Auto LPG in Bengaluru amid a growing shortage.

In his letter, the Chief Minister highlighted that the disruption in commercial LPG supply follows recent directions from the Union Ministry prioritising domestic LPG distribution. He said the state government has taken steps in line with the Centreas guidelines to regulate and prioritise supply for essential sectors.

However, Siddaramaiah pointed out a significant gap between demand and supply. Against a daily requirement of around 50,000 LPG cylinders from restaurants, hotels, catering units, and paying guest accommodations, only about 1,000 cylinders are currently being supplied. This shortfall, he noted, has led to a visible increase in the closure of establishments due to the non-availability of commercial LPG.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
March 23 : Lucknow: Today, the demand for nursing professionals exists not only in India but across the world. During visits to Japan and Germany, there was a strong demand for nursing professionals, and people there hold Indian nurses in high regard. This is a matter of pride for our nursing professionals. Therefore, along with a nursing course, pursuing a diploma in a language can further improve future prospects.

These remarks were made by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday while addressing a program at Lok Bhavan auditorium, where appointment letters were distributed to 1,228 nursing officers selected through a fair and transparent process. CM Yogi personally handed over the appointment letters. Earlier, the newly selected officers shared their thoughts and expressed gratitude. At the event, appointment letters were distributed to 1,097 female and 131 male nursing officers.

Chief Minister Yogi said, Eastern Uttar Pradesh was once known for its poor healthcare system. Conditions were so bad that thousands of people lost their lives, with little attention given to their plight. Diseases like encephalitis and dengue claimed many lives every year. Alongside other infectious diseases, the region had become a hub of health crises.

To address these challenges, major reforms were undertaken to strengthen healthcare infrastructure. ANM and GNM training institutes that had been closed for years were reopened. About 35 such ANM centers have been revived, and construction of 31 new nursing colleges is underway.

He emphasized that not only medical colleges but also nursing and paramedical institutions play an equally important role. If doctors lead the healthcare system, nursing staff serve as its backbone. With this vision, equal priority is being given to nursing and paramedical education.

As a result, maternal and infant mortality rates have significantly declined. Uttar Pradesh, which once lagged behind the national average, is now approaching it.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, The state has made notable progress in digitizing healthcare services. Around 9.25 crore people have been covered under Universal Health Coverage. Additionally, more than 14.28 crore digital health IDs (ABHA IDs) have been issued, enabling integrated healthcare services.

To improve access in rural and remote areas, telemedicine and tele-consultation services have been introduced at 976 Community Health Centers (CHCs). Real-time disease tracking systems have also been implemented to monitor and control diseases effectively.

Significant changes have also been observed in medical education. The One District, One Medical College initiative is being promoted, ensuring medical and nursing colleges in every district. Through Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical University, efforts have been made to bring all medical colleges onto a common academic platform.

CM Yogi Adityanath stated that the number of medical colleges in the state has increased. AIIMS institutions in Gorakhpur and Raebareli are functioning effectively. Some colleges are also being operated under the PPP model, which is evolving into a Public Trust Partnership in districts like Maharajganj, Sambhal and Shamli.

There has been a significant increase in seats across various medical and healthcare programs. An additional 7,000 nursing seats and 2,000 paramedical seats have been introduced. Meanwhile, MBBS seats have risen substantially from 5,390 to 12,700, and postgraduate (PG) seats have increased from 1,221 to 5,056, reflecting a strong expansion in medical education capacity.

Eighteen medical colleges currently offer BSc Nursing, and with 22 new medical colleges under construction, nursing education is being further expanded.

Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences has achieved major milestones, including an Advanced Diabetes Center, a 500-bed pediatric center, emergency medicine services, and a renal transplant center. The institute is also playing a leading role in telemedicine, providing services across multiple states.

CM Yogi noted that Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences now offers advanced procedures like kidney, liver, and bone marrow transplants, along with an Advanced Neurosciences Center and tele-ICU services.

King George's Medical University secured the 8th position nationwide in the medical university category in the 2025 NIRF rankings.

Efforts are also underway to strengthen emergency services with Level-2 trauma centers in various medical colleges. Meanwhile, the Babu Kalyan Singh Super Specialty Cancer Institute has established an advanced molecular diagnostics and research center for cancer treatment.

Chief Minister Yogi said, Receiving appointment letters in large numbers during the auspicious festival of Navratri, especially on Chaturthi, is a positive sign of women empowerment and increasing participation of daughters in society.

He advised nursing students to learn additional languages such as Marathi, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil, and Bengali along with their courses, as this will open up better opportunities in India and abroad. Countries like Japan and Germany have a high demand for trained nursing professionals, where language skills can provide added advantages.

Simulation labs have been established in major institutions to provide practical training alongside theoretical education. Under the new education policy, students can also opt for dual degrees, combining nursing with language or other subjects.

The Chief Minister emphasized that the recruitment process is completely transparent and fair, offering equal opportunities to all sections of society. Reservation policies for SCs, STs, OBCs, persons with disabilities, and ex-servicemen are being strictly implemented.

Over the past nine years, the state government has provided more than 9 lakh government jobs - one of the highest numbers by any state in India. The selection process is conducted by competent commissions and agencies under strict monitoring, ensuring transparency and merit-based selection.

On this occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, Minister of State Kunwar Mayankeshwar Sharan Singh, Lucknow Mayor Sushma Kharkwal, MLA Dr. Neeraj Bora, and senior officials were also present.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Competition and Tariff Commission has launched an investigation into Cimas Medical Aid Society following allegations of anti-competitive conduct raised by Belnash Investments.The complaint centres on claims that Cimas refused to register Belnash's Harvey Brown Pharmacy on its direct payment system, effectively forcing Cimas members to pay cash for prescriptions at the pharmacy because medical aid cards are not accepted there. Belnash alleges that other comparable service providers are already registered on the same system, raising concerns about selective exclusion.The Commission has indicated that its investigation will examine whether Cimas is deliberately excluding the pharmacy in order to steer members toward its own healthcare facilities, including its clinic and dispensary. It warned that such conduct, if proven, could restrict consumer choice and create unfair barriers for independent healthcare providers.In a notice published in the Government Gazette, the CTC said it has preliminary concerns that the alleged practices may limit competition and impede the expansion of independent providers. However, it stressed that the opening of an investigation does not imply wrongdoing."The commission will conduct an investigation to establish whether the alleged practice directly or indirectly restricts competition," it said.If confirmed, the conduct could amount to a breach of Section 28 of the Competition Act.The probe comes amid broader policy debates in Zimbabwe's healthcare sector, where there is growing pressure on medical aid societies to divest from owning healthcare facilities. Proposed reforms under the Medical Services (Medical Aid Societies) Amendment aim to separate funders from service providers, effectively banning "vertical integration."If enacted, the changes would require medical aid societies to focus solely on financing healthcare, while independent providers deliver servicesreversing long-standing provisions under Statutory Instrument 330 of 2000, which allows medical aid societies to invest in and operate healthcare facilities with minimal oversight.Critics argue that the current model allows dominant players to control the healthcare value chain, while proponents of reform say separation would improve fairness, transparency, and competition in the sector.The outcome of the Cimas investigation is likely to have wider implications for how medical aid societies operate in Zimbabwe's evolving regulatory landscape.
New Delhi, March 23 : As Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the longest-serving head of government in India, the BJP on Monday hailed the achievement, calling it a proud moment.

This comes as PM Modi surpassed former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling's record of 8,930 days. PM Modi has now entered his 8,932nd day in public office as the head of government, having first served as the Chief Minister of Gujarat and now as the Prime Minister.

Speaking to reporters, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey said, "It is a proud moment. A person who came from a humble background, whose family used to sell tea, and who himself helped his father at the Vadnagar railway station, rose from there to provide the nation with a vision through the Gujarat Model. He has also given the mantra of Viksit Bharat@2047 and has continuously served the nation."

BJP MP Shashank Mani said, "We continue to draw inspiration from our respected Prime Minister at all times. The way he has guided the country, and earlier his state, along with his conduct in public life, is truly admirable. The entire nation is proud."

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sikander Kumar said, "I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I appreciate the work he has done for the welfare of society and commend his leadership."

Damodar Agarwal, another BJP MP, said, "The Prime Minister is a very popular leader of the country, and he has broken many records so far. We congratulate him and believe it is a matter of great joy that he will continue to set new benchmarks in the future."

"It is the good fortune of the 1.4 billion people of this country that India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has served for the longest duration as both Chief Minister and Prime Minister, delivering governance to the people, "said BJP MP V.D. Sharma.

PM Modi served as Chief Minister of Gujarat from October 2001 to May 2014 before being elected as Prime Minister. He is also the first Prime Minister born after Independence and the third longest-serving Prime Minister of India, after Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. In October 2025, he completed 25 years in public office as head of government.
New Delhi, March 23 : Ahead of Mamata Banerjee assuming power in West Bengal in 2011, a small room at the Trinamool Congress Bhavan in Kolkata used to host a group of fresh-out-of-college youth who worked on "media monitoring" with a panel of screens beaming news and a pile of the day's newspapers at their desks.

New Delhi, March 23 (IANS) Ahead of Mamata Banerjee assuming power in West Bengal in 2011, a small room at the Trinamool Congress Bhavan in Kolkata used to host a group of fresh-out-of-college youth who worked on "media monitoring" with a panel of screens beaming news and a pile of the day's newspapers at their desks.

The party leader then overseeing the group would fuss over them, share opinion over their reports before finalising the document for the eyes of the party Chairperson herself.

Later, one evening, ahead of the 2016 Assembly elections, the same media monitor-leader ushered political strategist Prashant Kishor for a meeting with Mamata Banerjee at the same party headquarters in Kolkata.

The meeting ended "cordially" but did not go anywhere beyond that; PK had his "hands full", while Didi apparently "could not afford his fees".

About two years before that meeting, the Trinamool scored an emphatic victory, winning 34 of the 42 Parliamentary seats in the state.

The BJP could manage only two, despite the "Modi magic".

For the Trinamool, the euphoria hung in the air and everybody in the streets knew who was winning the coming Assembly polls. But in the subsequent Lok Sabha polls, when a Modi wave again swept the hustings, Bengal swam with it.

The Trinamool lost a dozen of its earlier seats, and the BJP cornered 18. In a few weeks, the state's ruling party was convinced that BJP was "polarising" the state and getting stronger by the day.

Enter PK; and after a two-hour-long meeting at the new secretariat building, Nabanna, the Trinamool supremo realised that her visitor knew more than what she had anticipated: PK does his homework.

Thus stepped I-PAC in West Bengal, where, within days of the early-June 2019 meeting, changes were apparent  from launching a website, virtual access to the Chief Minister, setting up a grievance cell, to Mamata slamming her own party leaders publicly over "cut-money".

Other changes followed, with Mamata's heir-apparent himself standing firm behind turning the party "professional" and "modern"; while some elders called it "corporatisation". But that did not matter much.

Much water has flown down the Hooghly River in Kolkata, and PK has since hung his gloves as political consultant to turn full-time politician. And over the past few years, as the social media turned into a strong communication tool, the Trinamool's digital ecosystem quietly built itself into one of the largest in the country, spearheaded by the I-PAC.

At the core of this structure is the Ami Banglar Digital Joddha (ABDJ) network  a "volunteer-driven digital mobilisation force", which a functionary claimed comprises more than 1.6 lakh active members operating across all districts.

These volunteers help amplify campaign narratives, respond to political developments in real-time, counter Opposition narratives and distribute political content across social media platforms, according to the communique.

Meanwhile, over 1.5 lakh WhatsApp groups, claimed to include more than 1 crore people across the state ensures "deep penetration". The party has also built a direct engagement tool with its cadre and supporters through the "Didir Doot" mobile app.

Launched in October 2020, the app has clocked over 18 lakh downloads so far, it is claimed, with around 1.3 lakh users active on a daily basis.

The party digital ecosystem is further strengthened by a network of 5,000-plus social media influencers who regularly create and share political content, expanding the reach of campaign narratives beyond formal party channels

"This is aided by a well-oiled 'Comments Army'," claim Trinamool sources. Additionally, there is a network of over 50 "digital spokespersons", who produce political commentary and issue-based videos using dedicated digital studios and green-screen setups that allow the party to respond quickly to political developments.

Together, claims the party, the verticals produce over 10,000 reels and short videos daily, "focussing on speeches by Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, testimonials of people impacted by SIR, government welfare initiatives, and counter-narratives against the BJP".

According to party sources, its digital ecosystem collectively generates over 50 crore views and impressions daily across platforms within the Bengal digital ecosystem, making it one of the most active political communication networks in India especially among regional parties.
Guwahati, March 23 : Reacting to the defection of Nandita Gorlosa to the Congress, Assam BJP President Dilip Saikia on Monday said he had personally urged her to remain in the party, but she chose to take a "personal decision".

Guwahati, March 23 (IANS) Reacting to the defection of Nandita Gorlosa to the Congress, Assam BJP President Dilip Saikia on Monday said he had personally urged her to remain in the party, but she chose to take a "personal decision".

Saikia recalled that ahead of the 2021 Assembly elections, he had assured during the campaign that Gorlosa would be given a ministerial berth and that he would take up the matter with the Chief Minister.

"That promise was fulfilled, and she was inducted as a minister in the cabinet led by Himanta Biswa Sarma," he said.

He added that due to "changed circumstances" this time, the party could not offer her a ticket, and the reasons were clearly communicated to her.

"I had a detailed conversation with her," Saikia noted. "As state president, I do not want anyone to leave the BJP. We are one family," he said.

In a significant political development ahead of the Assam Assembly elections, state Minister Nandita Gorlosa joined the Congress after being denied a ticket by the BJP and will now contest from the Haflong constituency.

The Congress party formally announced her candidature earlier in the day, stating that its earlier nominee, party General Secretary Nirmal Langthasa, had stepped aside in the "greater public interest" to accommodate Gorlosa.

Gorlosa, the sitting MLA from Haflong, switched allegiance shortly after the BJP fielded first-time candidate Rupali Langthasa from the constituency. Her move is being viewed as politically crucial in Dima Hasao district, where she has built a strong base over the last five years.

Welcoming her into the party fold, the Congress party said Gorlosa has consistently raised issues concerning the district and remained steadfast in her political positions. The party also took a swipe at the BJP leadership, alleging that denying her a ticket reflected priorities that were not aligned with the interests of indigenous tribal communities.
Gandhinagar, March 23 : The e-Nagar portal recorded more than 18 lakh transactions in 2025-26, generating revenue of Rs 1,031 crore, reflecting the expanding use of a unified digital platform for urban civic services in Gujarat, a government statement said on Monday.

Officials said the portal, developed under the Gujarat Urban Development Mission, has facilitated over 1.24 crore transactions, with cumulative revenue exceeding Rs 6,076 crore, indicating sustained adoption by citizens across urban areas.

Officials noted that the initiative is part of the broader digital governance push under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who launched the Digital India mission "to make every citizen's life easier through the effective use of technology".

"In Gujarat, under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, digital transformation and citizen-centric governance are reaching new heights," they added.

According to the government, the e-Nagar portal brings multiple municipal services onto a single platform, allowing citizens to access services such as complaint registration, applications for shop licences, marriage registration, building permissions, and payments of professional tax, property tax and estate rent.

It also enables hall bookings and the management of water and drainage connections, all of which can be completed online from home.

The portal provides 24x7 access and supports multiple payment options, including cards, UPI and net banking. Users can track their applications in real time and download certificates and receipts directly from the system.

Highlighting technological features, officials said, "an AI chatbot facility has been added to help users easily access information," while integration with 'Bhashini' has made the platform available in 23 languages, improving accessibility for users from diverse linguistic backgrounds.

Officials said the system has reduced paperwork, eliminated the need to stand in long queues at municipal offices, and made service delivery faster and more transparent.

"Citizens can now pay fees, taxes and other charges from anywhere, complete registrations and obtain certificates online," the government noted, adding that the initiative has strengthened interaction between citizens and the administration.

Data shared by the government showed that in 2024-25, the portal recorded 26 lakh transactions and generated revenue of Rs 1,522 crore.

The government said the e-Nagar project represents an integrated digital system through which "all services are made available to citizens at a single place".
New Delhi, March 23 : The quantity of crude oil currently stocked as part of India's strategic reserves is around 3.372 million metric tonnes (MMT), which is 64 per cent of the total storage capacity of these reserves, the Parliament was informed on Monday.

New Delhi, March 23 (IANS) The quantity of crude oil currently stocked as part of Indiaas strategic reserves is around 3.372 million metric tonnes (MMT), which is 64 per cent of the total storage capacity of these reserves, the Parliament was informed on Monday.

The government, through a Special Purpose Vehicle called the Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve Limited (ISPRL), has established Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) facilities with total capacity of 5.33 million metric tonnes (MMT) of crude oil at three locations in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka which can act as buffer for short-term supply shocks, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi said in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.

The exact quantity of crude oil available in these caverns along the coast varies depending on market conditions. The actual reserve is a dynamic number depending on the stocks and actual consumption, both of which are not static. Currently, ISPRL has around 3.372 MMT of crude stock available which is around 64 per cent of the total storage capacity, the minister said.

In July 2021, the government had also approved the establishment of two additional commercial-cum strategic petroleum reserve facilities with a total storage capacity of 6.5 MMT in Odisha and Karnataka, he added.

The minister further stated that to ensure security of crude supplies and to mitigate the risk of dependence on crude oil from a single region, oil and gas public sector enterprises (PSEs), which are board-run entities, source crude oil from diverse sources depending on their technical and commercial considerations. Currently, these PSEs import crude oil from 41 countries, including new suppliers like the USA, Nigeria, Angola, Canada, Colombia, Brazil, and Mexico, in addition to traditional suppliers in the Middle East such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar.

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.
Kolkata, March 23 : A single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court, on Monday, granted an interim shield to Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the West Bengal Assembly, from any coercive police action in an FIR registered against him at Khardah Police Station in North 24 Parganas district.

The single-judge bench of Justice Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee granted the interim shield to Adhikari for 12 weeks till July and ruled that till further orders, the police will not be able to take any action, including arrest, against him. The matter will be heard again in July.

Adhikari this time is simultaneously contesting from Nandigram Assembly constituency in East Midnapore district, where he is the sitting MLA, and from Bhabanipur in South Kolkata, where he is pitted against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The Khardah Police Station filed a suo motu FIR against the LoP on December 29, 2020, for making objectionable remarks. Adhikari had approached the Calcutta High Court seeking dismissal of the complaint to avoid any trouble before the elections.

On Monday, the Calcutta High Court also brought relief for the LoP's younger brother and former Lok Sabha member, Dibyendu Adhikari, who approached the court complaining that even after vacating a government flat earlier allotted to him, he had been denied the "no dues" certificate.

Dibyendu Adhikari is the BJP candidate from the Egra Assembly constituency, also in East Midnapore district.

Even as he had sought the 'no dues certificate' before the publication of the candidate list, he did not get it from the authorities concerned. Therefore, he approached the Calcutta High Court on March 10.

After the matter came up for hearing on Monday, a single-judge bench of Justice Krishna Rae, the state's advocate general, handed over a photocopy of the no-dues certificate to Dibyendu Adhikar's counsel, Billwadal Bhattacharya.

The state government's counsel informed the court that the authorities had issued the no-dues certificate on March 19, and hence it would take a few more days to reach the candidate.
Hyderabad, March 23 : Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) alleged a scam in export of rice to the Philippines and demanded a House Committee to probe the same. However, Civil Supplied Minister, N. Uttam Kumar Reddy denied the allegation and stated that the Telangana government has entered into an historic agreement with the Philippines government.

BRS Deputy Leader in Telangana Legislative Assembly, T. Harish Rao, made the allegation in the House during Question Hour.

He sought details on export of rice to the Philippines and appointment of Premchand Garg as advisor. The BRS leader said Garg was facing cases booked by central agencies including the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Alleging that a scam took place in the export of rice, Harish Rao wanted the Speaker to constitute a House Committee to probe the 'scam'.

Harish Rao wanted clarification from the government as to why it did not call tenders for export of rice. He asked why a private company was awarded the work on nomination basis.

The BRS wanted to know from the government to clarify if 7,500 tonne rice was still lying at Kakinada port. He also wanted Civil Supplied Minister, N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, to clarify if the government was paying warehouse and handling charges at the port.

Harish Rao alleged that the state suffered losses due to the alleged scam in rice export and demanded a House Committee to probe the allegations.

N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, however, denied the allegations and stated that there was no link between rice export and Premchand Garg.

The BRS registered a protest for allegedly failing to get an appropriate reply from the minister.

Uttam Kumar Reddy stated that Telangana has become a global rice market and the state government has entered into an agreement with the Philippines government for exporting rice from Telangana by eliminating middlemenas role.

Stating that it was a historic agreement, he said there no scam on it. He gave the assurance that the state government would purchase the last grain from farmers at minimum support price during Rabi season.

He also stated that the state government was committed to provide Rs.500 bonus to farmers on fine rice and Rs.3,500 crore was allocated for giving bonus.
New Delhi, March 23 : India has ample reserves of fertilisers for farmers and its import has also been diversified, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday, adding that in the Kharif season, the country is aiming for adequate sowing.

Addressing the Parliament, PM Modi said the government has kept adequate reserves of fertilisers.

"We have taken several steps in previous years to support farmers. Fertiliser import has been diversified. We have also given the alternative of aMake in India fertilisera to the farmers," the Prime Minister stressed while speaking on the broader West Asia crisis in the Lok Sabha.

The impact on farmers and their requirement for fertiliser for the Kharif season has been assessed by the government. The measures taken in the last few years to maintain adequate stocks of fertilisers will ensure timely availability and food security, the Prime Minister said.

Farmers have been given more than 22 lakh solar pumps to reduce the dependence on diesel, he added.

PM Modi further stated that India's focus on ethanol blending and production is also bearing fruit in such testing times.

"Because of ethanol blending, we now import 4.5 crore fewer barrels of oil every year," he noted.

"Central government has given 15,000 e-buses to the state government as our focus on alternate fuels is making the future safer," he added.

aToday, energy is the backbone of the economy. West Asia is a major source of global energy needs. The government is taking measures to minimise the impact of the disruptions in the Middle East, and fundamentals of the Indian economy are very strong," PM Modi highlighted.

In the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by PM Modi, to review the West Asia situation, on Sunday, alternate sources of fertilisers were also discussed to ensure continued availability in the future. It was also determined that an adequate supply of coal stocks at all power plants will ensure no shortage of electricity in India.

Moreover, several measures were discussed to diversify sources of imports required by chemicals, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, and other industrial sectors. Similarly, new export destinations to promote Indian goods will be developed in the near future.
Chennai, March 23 : AIADMK General Secretary and Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu Assembly Edappadi K. Palaniswami has issued an open letter to the people of the state, sharply criticising the DMK government and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin for what he described as a "complete breakdown of governance".

Chennai, March 23 (IANS) AIADMK General Secretary and Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu Assembly Edappadi K. Palaniswami has issued an open letter to the people of the state, sharply criticising the DMK government and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin for what he described as a "complete breakdown of governance".

In his letter, Palaniswami said that over the past five years, he has consistently raised concerns both inside and outside the Assembly about what he termed the government's failures, but alleged that there has been no meaningful response or corrective action.

He accused the ruling administration of being indifferent to public suffering and prioritising optics over accountability.

Citing a recent incident near Tirunelveli, Palaniswami referred to the murder of a Scheduled Caste farmer and the subsequent suicide of his 23-year-old daughter, claiming that the delay in police action reflected systemic apathy. He alleged that arrests were made only after sustained public protests, raising questions about the government's commitment to justice and law enforcement.

The AIADMK leader said the incident was not isolated, pointing to similar cases across the state, including in Vengaivayal and Nanguneri, as part of a broader pattern affecting marginalised communities.

He criticised what he described as the "silence" of leaders who advocate social justice during elections but fail to respond to such incidents.

Addressing the police, Palaniswami urged officers to act independently and uphold the rule of law without political influence.

He stressed the importance of restoring public trust in the police force by ensuring timely and impartial justice.

He further warned that fear and injustice were becoming normalised in Tamil Nadu, and claimed that the government had lost its sense of accountability.

Calling on voters to reflect on the current situation, Palaniswami positioned the upcoming electoral choice as an opportunity to bring change.

The former Chief Minister said he was seeking not just political support, but public trust in what he described as a "different path" focused on safety, justice, and people-centric governance. He concluded by asserting that Tamil Nadu deserved better leadership and a return to dignity, urging citizens to use their democratic power to shape the state's future.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Jaipur, March 23 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Monday held a public hearing at his residence, where he listened to complaints of the people with sensitivity and directed officials to ensure their prompt resolution.

He emphasised that citizens approach these hearings with hope and expectation, and therefore, officials must treat such cases with the highest priority and ensure swift disposal.

During the session, the Chief Minister resolved a large number of grievances on the spot, including those raised by women, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities. The complainants expressed satisfaction with the immediate redressal of their concerns.

He further instructed officials to provide relief expeditiously and to ensure the timely resolution of pending cases through regular monitoring.

Officials speaking on the occasion said that the state government is working toward the welfare of every section of society, including women, farmers, labourers, and youth.

"The governmentas objective is to ensure that the benefits of public welfare schemes reach the 'last person in the line' through accountability and transparency.

The public hearing initiative is a significant step in this direction, aimed at providing timely relief to citizens by addressing their grievances," said the CM.

Grievances related to multiple departments -- including Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Labour, Agriculture, Home, Revenue, Animal Husbandry, Jaipur Development Authority (JDA), Municipal Corporation, Education, Medical Services, Drinking Water, and the Department of Information and Public Relations -- were presented during the hearing, and necessary directions were issued for their resolution.

During the event, the Chief Minister also welcomed saints and sages from the aPrem Hari Prani Matra Seva Sansthana of Jodhpur by draping ceremonial scarves over them and sought their blessings. He unveiled posters for various upcoming programmes organised by different institutions.

Additionally, he met young participants from Rajasthan who have brought laurels to the state at national and international levels in the sport of Muay Thai. Several public representatives and a large number of citizens were present on the occasion.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed agro-industrial giant Ariston Holdings Limited has secured a significant legal victory after the High Court struck down mining claims on its Kent Estate in Norton.In a judgment delivered in Chinhoyi, Justice Philda Muzofa declared two mining certificates issued to Kundai Mining Syndicate invalid, ordering their immediate cancellation.The dispute involved multiple respondents, including the mining commissioner for Mashonaland West, the secretary for Mines and Mining Development, the minister, the Environmental Management Agency, and the mining syndicate.At the heart of the case was the legality of mining activities within Ariston's Kent Estate, with the company arguing that the claims were unlawfully issued and threatened its agricultural operations.The court found that the mining certificates had been granted before the syndicate obtained an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) certificatea mandatory legal requirement under Zimbabwean law."An environmental impact assessment certificate is a prerequisite to the registration of a mining claim," Justice Muzofa ruled, adding that any certificate issued without it is "a nullity."She further emphasised that defects in the issuance process cannot be corrected after the fact, rejecting the syndicate's argument that it had subsequently obtained an environmental certificate."There was nothing in the first place to regularise," the judge said.Government authorities, including mining regulators, had urged the court to adopt a more flexible interpretation of the law. However, the court reaffirmed that lower courts are bound by precedent and must uphold established legal principles.In a pointed warning, Justice Muzofa also cautioned administrative authorities against aligning with any party in legal disputes."It is undesirable for the administrative authority to take sides with litigants," she said.The court recognised Ariston's legal standing as the rightful landowner, noting that the mining claims would interfere with its operations. A ground survey had previously shown that one of the claims violated required distance regulations from farming activities.The judgment reinforces a key principle in Zimbabwean law: environmental compliance must precede mining rights. The court affirmed that the Environmental Management Act takes precedence where there is any conflict with mining legislation."All legal instruments regulating mining activities must be read together," the ruling stated, "but the Environmental Management Act takes precedence."The mining commissioner has been ordered to cancel the certificates, while both the commissioner and the syndicate were directed to pay legal costs on a higher scale.The ruling is being viewed as a landmark decision reinforcing environmental safeguards and the rights of landholders against improperly issued mining claims.
Mumbai, March 23 : Opposition parties, including the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), on Monday strongly demanded that high-ranking officials and ministers who supported the Nashik-based self-styled godman and fraudulent "Baba" Ashok Kharat - who caused havoc in the name of religion - be named as co-accused and face strict action.

Mumbai, March 23 (IANS) Opposition parties, including the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), on Monday strongly demanded that high-ranking officials and ministers who supported the Nashik-based self-styled godman and fraudulent "Baba" Ashok Kharat  who caused havoc in the name of religion  be named as co-accused and face strict action.

The issue was raised by Congress Legislative Party leader, Vijay Wadettiwar, through an adjournment motion in the state Assembly that also demanded the resignation of ministers and officials concerned and action against them.

Although Speaker Rahul Narwekar rejected the adjournment motion, he allowed Wadettiwar to speak about the issue.

Wadettiwar stated that the sexual exploitation of women by a self proclaimed astrologer Ashok Kharat is a matter of serious concern.

"In Maharashtra, a state that prides itself on a legacy of progressive thought, the current market of superstition and the political and administrative protection it receives, is a matter of great shame. Ashok Kharat, who claims to be an incarnation of 'god' and misleads people under the guise of astrology, has over 100 offensive videos surfacing. Such fraudulent figures are tarnishing the image of Maharashtra," he said.

He further stated that shocking information has emerged that three high-ranking officials held a meeting at a hotel to ensure no action was taken against Kharat. Revenue and police officials were reportedly trying to prevent his arrest.

Wadettiwar noted that the case involves not just the fraudster, but also IAS, IPS, and Revenue Department officers.

He remarked that it is a "misfortune of democracy" that officials and ministers who take an oath on the Constitution are seen bowing at the feet of such fraudsters.

"Merely appointing an Special Investigation Team will not quiet this matter. The resignation of the concerned ministers and the suspension of the involved officers is essential," he commented.

Wadettiwar demanded examination of the Call Detail Records (CDR) of all accused and suspected officers, and formally charging ministers and individuals in constitutional posts who provided social prestige to this fraudulent baba and immediate suspension of officers found protecting the accused.

Former Speaker and Congress MLA, Nana Patole, also demanded stern action against Kharat and others. The Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA, Bhaskar Jadhav, stated that the Kharat controversy is a major blow to the progressive state of Maharashtra and the government should not spare anyone involved in this case.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that the government has already ordered a probe and assured action against the fraudulent godman Kharat.
Seoul, March 23 : Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on his reelection as chairman of the State Affairs Commission, expressing hope for stronger bilateral relations, the Kremlin said Monday.

According to the North's Korean Central News Agency, Kim was reappointed to the highest post of the commission at the first session of the Supreme People's Assembly held on Sunday.

It marked his third consecutive term since the commission was created in 2016 as the country's top policy guidance body.

"Dear Comrade Kim Jong Un, please accept my heartfelt congratulations on your reelection as Chairman of State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea," Putin said in a message posted on the Kremlin's Telegram channel.

"Russia highly values your personal contribution to strengthening the friendly, allied relationship between our countries. We will naturally continue our close cooperation to further develop the comprehensive strategic partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang. This undoubtedly serves the fundamental interests of both our nations," he added.

Russia and North Korea have been deepening ties in recent years, signing a mutual defense treaty in 2024. North Korea has also sent troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine, Yonhap news agency reported.

Earlier in the day, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was reappointed as president of the state affairs commission at the first session of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) after last month's ruling party congress, state media reported.

Kim was reappointed president of the state affairs commission on the first day of the first session of the 15th SPA, the Korean Central New Agency (KCNA) said.

During the meeting, Jo Yong-won, known as one of Kim's closest aides, was also elected chairman of the SPA standing committee, the top parliamentary post, replacing Choe Ryong-hae, according to the KCNA.

North Korea typically convenes a session of the rubber-stamp parliament following a party congress to legislate laws needed to implement decisions made at the congress.

The reappointment was made at the SPA's first session Sunday, the first state affairs activity of its 15th term.

Premier Pak Thae-song retained his post, while former Premier Kim Tok-hun was appointed as first vice premier, a position newly created at the latest meeting.

In the reshuffle, Jo was also appointed as vice chief of the state affairs commission, while Kim's powerful sister Kim Yo-jong was relieved of her post as a member of the commission.

Kim's powerful sister, Kim Yo Jong, was notably absent from KCNA's list of members of the State Affairs Commission, the country's highest leadership body, on which she ahad served since a2021.

As the third-generation leader of North Korea, Kim has governed the nuclear-armed nation since the passing of his father in 2011. The state itself was established in 1948 by his grandfather, Kim Il Sung.

Ahead of the session, 687 deputies were selected for the Supreme Peopleas Assembly (SPA). In this system, North Korean citizens aged 17 and older are presented with a single, state-approved candidate per district, which they can either accept or reject.

State media outlet KCNA previously reported that the new delegation was overwhelmingly approved, securing 99.93 per cent of the vote in favor against a mere 0.07 per cent opposition, with voter turnout reaching 99 per cent.

KCNA described the atmosphere in the Pyongyang assembly hall as being charged with intense political dedication and revolutionary zeal among the newly seated members.

Political analysts suggest this assembly meeting could address potential constitutional revisions. These changes might officially redefine relations between North and South Korea, codifying them as ties between "two hostile states."
New Delhi, March 23 : Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, on Monday said in the Lok Sabha that the alleged harassment-linked suicide case involving a Punjab government official pertains to the state government, but assured that the Centre would consider transferring the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) if Members of Parliament from Punjab submit a written request.

Speaking during the discussion in the Lok Sabha, HM Shah said the issue falls under the jurisdiction of the Punjab government but the Centre is open to facilitating a CBI enquiry if there is a formal written demand from the state's MPs.

"This issue pertains to the state of Punjab. I request all Members of Parliament from Punjab to give it to me in writing that the matter should be transferred to the CBI, and I will get it done from my side," the Home Minister said.

Shah's remarks came amid political uproar over the suicide of Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, District Manager of the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation, following which Punjab Police registered a case against former Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar and two others.

Reacting to the Home Minister's statement, Union Minister and BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu welcomed the suggestion for a possible CBI probe and said all political parties should unite in seeking justice for the deceased official.

Bittu said the Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal and the BJP had already taken the lead in raising the issue and pressing for accountability.

"I say this is a good step. The Congress party, Akali Dal and the BJP have taken the lead. Our Home Minister Amit Shah has said that if MPs give it in writing, the matter can be transferred to the CBI," Bittu said.

He added that it was perhaps the first time that leaders across party lines had come together to protest over the issue.

"All parties have come together and protested  this has happened for the first time. We want justice," Bittu said.

Referring to the martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru, Bittu also paid tribute to the freedom fighters and appealed to all MPs from Punjab to support the demand for a CBI probe.

"Today is the martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru. I pay my tribute to them," he said.

He also urged the two MPs from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) representing Punjab in Parliament to join the demand.

"If they are from Punjab and truly respect the sacrifice of Bhagat Singh, then both MPs should also demand a CBI enquiry," Bittu added.

The controversy erupted after Punjab Police registered a case against former Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar after Gagandeep Singh Randhawa allegedly died by suicide after consuming poison at his residence in Amritsar.

Before his death, Randhawa reportedly recorded a brief video message accusing Bhullar of harassment and coercion. Based on a complaint by the deceased's wife, Upinder Kaur, police also booked Bhullar's father Sukhdev Bhullar and personal assistant Dilbagh Singh under charges related to abetment of suicide, criminal intimidation and common intention.

The incident has triggered sharp political reactions in Punjab, with Opposition parties demanding strict action and a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the official's death.
Lucknow, March 23 : Important decisions related to infrastructure, IT and electronics, law and order, education, and industrial development were taken during the Cabinet and Council of Ministers meeting held at Lok Bhavan in Lucknow on Monday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The decisions are expected to provide new momentum and strength to the state government's resolve of building a self-reliant and developed Uttar Pradesh while making people's lives simpler, safer and more prosperous.

According to the state government, several proposals across key sectors were discussed during the meeting with the aim of accelerating development and strengthening governance in the state.

Deputy Chief Minister, Brajesh Pathak, said that more than 37 proposals were discussed and approved during the Cabinet meeting.

"Today, through the Cabinet meeting, more than 37 proposals were discussed and passed. Our commitment is towards the all-round development of Uttar Pradesh," Pathak said while addressing reporters after the meeting.

He added that the government remains focussed on ensuring better infrastructure, improved public services and stronger law and order in the state.

Pathak also criticised the Opposition Samajwadi Party, alleging that during its tenure the safety and dignity of women were often under threat, while the present government has worked towards strengthening security and ensuring respect for women.

Deputy Chief Minister, Keshav Prasad Maurya, described the decisions taken during the Cabinet meeting as historic and said they were aimed at public welfare, particularly for the benefit of the poor.

"Historic decisions have been made today in the public interest and for the welfare of the poor. The support price for the Rabi crop has also been fixed," Maurya said.

He further said that the Uttar Pradesh government has now completed nine years in office and directed all ministers in charge of districts to visit their respective districts and inform people about the government's achievements during this period.

"Ministers have been asked to go to their districts and communicate the achievements of the government over the past nine years to the public," Maurya said.

Maurya also reiterated the government's commitment towards welfare measures, particularly for farmers.

"Our government is dedicated to the poor, women, farmers, and the youth. This time, the Rabi crop has been excellent. Although the weather was slightly adverse and farmers did suffer some damage, it will be immediately assessed and compensation will definitely be provided," he said.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Jal Shakti Minister Swatantra Dev Singh said that instructions have been issued to ensure that essential supplies reach every household.

"Everyone has been instructed that there is no shortage of gas. All incharge ministers should pay attention in their respective districts and ensure that gas reaches every household," he said.

The Cabinet meeting underscored the state government's continued focus on development, welfare initiatives and strengthening governance across Uttar Pradesh.
Guwahati, March 23 : Former Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Bhupen Borah, who recently joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), filed his nomination papers on Monday from the Bihpuria Assembly constituency in Lakhimpur district for the upcoming state elections to be held on April 9.

Borah, accompanied by senior BJP leaders and supporters, submitted his nomination amid a show of strength, signalling his formal entry into the electoral fray under the saffron party's banner.

The move comes shortly after his induction into the BJP, marking a significant political shift in Assam's pre-poll landscape.

Speaking to reporters after filing his papers, Borah launched a sharp attack on the Congress, his former party, stating that "no one with a sense of self-respect can stay in Congress anymore."

He alleged internal issues and a lack of direction within the party, which, according to him, compelled many leaders to reconsider their political future.

Highlighting his decision to join the BJP, Borah expressed confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the development agenda pursued by the ruling party.

"No one can stop the journey of development led by Modi," he asserted, adding that the BJP has consistently delivered on its promises and ensured inclusive growth across regions.

Borah also said that he aims to bring accelerated development to the Bihpuria constituency if elected, focusing on infrastructure, employment, and welfare initiatives.

He appealed to voters to support the BJP for continued progress and stability in Assam.

The Bihpuria seat is expected to witness a keen contest in the upcoming elections, with Borah's candidature from the BJP adding a new dimension to the political dynamics in Lakhimpur district.

The Assam Assembly elections are likely to see intense competition, with parties stepping up campaigns and candidate announcements in the run-up to polling.
Chennai, March 23 : Actor-politician R. Sarathkumar on Monday met Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagenthran and submitted a formal representation seeking a defined organisational role within the party, a day after publicly expressing dissatisfaction over being 'sidelined' in key responsibilities.

The meeting, held at Nagenthran's residence in T Nagar, assumes significance as the BJP intensifies preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.

With internal discussions on strengthening the party structure underway, Sarathkumar's move is seen as an effort to secure clarity on his position within the state unit.

Sarathkumar, who is a member of the BJP's national executive council, merged his All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi (AISMK) with the BJP two years ago. The merger was viewed as a strategic move to expand the party's social and political outreach in the state, particularly among specific communities where Sarathkumar commands influence.

Following the meeting, Sarathkumar said he had formally conveyed his concerns in writing and expressed satisfaction with the response from the state leadership.

He noted that Nagenthran had acknowledged the issues raised and assured him that the demands would be considered seriously. "We have now submitted our request in writing to the state president. He said the demands are reasonable and assured that they will be considered," Sarathkumar told reporters after the meeting.

Clarifying his earlier remarks, he said they stemmed from a sense of anguish rather than any disagreement with the party's leadership.

Reaffirming his commitment to the BJP, Sarathkumar expressed confidence that a positive resolution would be reached soon.

"I have already expressed my concern. I believe there will be a redressal," he said, adding that he remained satisfied after the interaction and hopeful about the outcome.

On whether he would meet Union Minister and BJP's Tamil Nadu election in-charge Piyush Goyal, Sarathkumar said he was travelling to Coimbatore and would meet him if called.

Party sources indicated that consultations are ongoing, and a decision regarding his role is likely to be taken in due course as part of broader organisational planning.
Kolkata, March 23 : The All India Secular Front (AISF) on Monday announced the names of its candidates for 23 assembly constituencies for the twoaphase West Bengal Assembly elections scheduled to be held next month.

Kolkata, March 23 (IANS) The All India Secular Front (AISF) on Monday announced the names of its candidates for 23 assembly constituencies for the twophase West Bengal Assembly elections scheduled to be held next month.

Although AISF initially had indicated that it would announce candidates for all the 33 assembly constituencies it is fighting, it later declared the names of the candidates for only 23 constituencies.

"This time the party is contesting the polls with a seat-sharing arrangement with the CPI(M)-led Left Front. We have asked for 33 assembly constituencies. Out of these, a consensus had been reached for 29 assembly constituencies, while there is a difference of opinion in four constituencies. We hope that the differences will be settled soon, and hence today we announced the names of candidates for 23 assembly constituencies," said an AISF leader.

Nawsad Siddique, the lone AISF representative in West Bengal, had been re-nominated from Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district, where he got elected in 2021. His closest contestant from this minority-dominated constituency is Saukat Molla of Trinamool Congress.

Although Molla is a two-time sitting Trinamool Congress MLA from the adjacent Canning (Purba) constituency, this time his party has fielded him from Bhangar. The BJP candidate is Jayanta Gayen. Congress is yet to announce the name of its candidate in Bhangar

At Canning (Purba), AISF has fielded an influential former Trinamool Congress leader from the area and a former party legislator from Bhangar, Arabul Islam, who had recently joined AISF after quitting the ruling party.

The only hurdle towards a smooth AISF-Left Front alliance is the All India Forward Bloc, which has been opposing this alliance since the beginning. In fact, the four assembly constituencies over which there is a difference of opinion between AISF and Left Front are those where Forward Bloc is adamant about fielding their candidates.

In the 2021 West Bengal Assembly polls, there was a three-way alliance between Congress, Left Front, and AISF. While Left Front and Congress could not send a single MLA to the Assembly, Nawsad Siddique was elected as the sole AISF representative in the Assembly after being elected from Bhangar in the South 24 Parganas district.

This time, Congress decided to contest independently by fielding its own candidates in all 294 assembly constituencies in West Bengal.

--IANS

src/skp
New Delhi, March 23 : The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on a plea filed by former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi challenging a trial court order denying supply of documents not relied upon by the prosecution in the alleged Railways land-for-jobs corruption case.

After briefly hearing the matter, a single-judge Bench of Justice Manoj Jain sought the response of the CBI and listed the case for further hearing on April 1.

In her plea, Rabri Devi has challenged the order of the trial court, which had refused to grant access to unrelied documents and sought appropriate relief from the Delhi High Court.

The development comes after a Delhi court dismissed applications filed by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi and other accused seeking the supply of unreleased documents in the case lodged by the CBI.

Special Judge (PC Act) Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Courts had rejected separate pleas moved by Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi, as well as other accused, under Section 91 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), holding that the demand for unrelied documents was "untenable" and contrary to the scheme of criminal trial.

The trial court had observed that unrelied documents cannot be claimed as a matter of right and may only be sought at an appropriate stage of the trial, ordinarily when the defence evidence is led. It further noted that while the accused are entitled to a list of unrelied documents, they cannot seek all such documents at the outset of prosecution evidence without demonstrating their necessity and relevance.

Rejecting the plea seeking all 1,675 unrelied documents, the trial court had observed that such a request would disrupt the trial and invert the statutory scheme. "The prayer appears designed to condemn the trial to a maze at the very outset," the court had remarked, cautioning that allowing such requests could lead to "unending cross-examination".

The case pertains to allegations that during his tenure as Railway Minister between 2004 and 2009, Lalu Prasad Yadav abused his official position to facilitate appointments in the Railways in exchange for land parcels transferred to his family members or associated entities.

According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), candidates or their relatives allegedly transferred land at below-market rates, often through cash transactions, as quid pro quo for jobs in different railway zones.

Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family members have denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty, stating they will contest the case on the merits.

Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court earlier this month issued notice to the CBI on a plea filed by Lalu Prasad Yadav challenging the trial court's order directing framing of charges in the case.

In January, the trial court framed charges against Lalu Prasad Yadav and several of his family members, observing that they appeared to be operating as part of a "criminal enterprise" allegedly using public employment as a means to acquire immovable properties.
New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman speaks in the Lok Sabha during the second part of the Budget Session of Parliament in New Delhi on Monday, March 23, 2026.. Image Source: IANS/Video Grab/Sansad TV

New Delhi, March 23 : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tabled the Finance Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha on Monday, marking a key legislative step that will provide legal backing to the proposals announced in the Union Budget for 2026-27.

Once passed, the Finance Bill will bring into force changes in income tax rates, as well as customs and excise duties that were announced as part of the Budget proposals.

The Finance Minister also introduced the Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha, and the lower house approved its reference to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for further scrutiny.

The Bill aims to amend the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008, and the Companies Act, 2013, to facilitate ease of doing business, decriminalise minor offences, replace certain criminal provisions with civil penalties and reduce compliance burdens for small firms, startups, and produce companies set up by farmers.

Earlier, the opposition members, including Congress member Manish Tewari, Trinamool Congress's Sougata Ray, and the DMK's Dr T. Sumathy, opposed the introduction of the bill.

They alleged that the proposed legislation dilutes the provisions of Corporate Social Responsibility. Responding to their concerns, the Finance Minister said that the proposed amendment will not only attract more investments but also facilitate corporate governance.

FM Sitharaman highlighted that this legislation has been brought after two years of full deliberation. She said the opinion of the representatives from industry chambers, professional institutes, legal and accounting experts and the public was taken and examined before introducing the Bill in the House.

The amendments in the laws are made on the basis of the Company Law Committee (CLC) constituted by the government to facilitate greater ease of doing business for business entities.

The 11-member CLC was constituted in September 2019. Its members included former Lok Sabha Secretary General T.K. Viswanathan, Kotak Mahindra Bank Managing Director Uday Kotak, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co Executive Chairman Shardul S. Shroff, chartered accountant G. Ramaswamy, and Xpro India Chairman Sidharth Birla. The CLC has submitted its last report to the government on March 21, 2022.

Recommendations of CLC were deliberated by various stakeholders and considered by the High-Level Committee on Non-Financial Regulatory Reforms (HLC-NFRR), chaired by former Cabinet Secretary and NITI Aayog member Rajiv Gauba.

In her 2025-26 budget speech, the Finance Minister had announced the constitution of the committee. "A High-Level Committee for Regulatory Reforms will be set up for a review of all non-financial sector regulations, certifications, licenses, and permissions," she said on February 1 last year.

The second phase of the Budget Session reconvened on Monday at 11 a.m. after holidays on Thursday and Friday, due to the Ugadi and Eid celebrations, respectively. Parliament will sit on March 28 and March 29 to compensate for these holidays

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Hyderabad, March 23 : Police detained Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao and other leaders and activists on Monday when they tried to march towards the Assembly to demand that the Congress government implement its electoral promises.

The police detained BJP leaders at various places to foil the planned march to the Assembly.

The state BJP had given a call for laying siege to the Assembly to protest what it calls the government's failure to implement six guarantees and other promises made in the elections.

Carrying BJP flags and raising anti-government slogans, the party leaders and workers tried to advance towards the Assembly but were stopped and detained by the police. Ramchander Rao was taken to Panjagutta Police Station.

Some BJP leaders visited the police station to express solidarity with Ramchander Rao.

Reacting strongly to detentions, Ramchander Rao remarked that it's not 'Praja Palana' (people's rule) in the state but 'Indiramma Rajyam' of 1975.

"Congress has once again exposed its anti-democratic mindset by trying to crush dissent and silence protest. I was arrested for standing up against the betrayal, deception, and cheating that the Congress government has inflicted on the people of Telangana by its false promises. The people have had enough," the state BJP chief posted on 'X'.

Rao said that the voice of protest can't be stifled through coercion. "It is utterly reprehensible that the Congress government - having completely disregarded the promises made to the public - is now lashing out with unlawful arrests against the opposition parties that are questioning its failures," he said, adding that the BJP will not be intimidated by such threats.

"Arrests and detentions will only serve to further strengthen our resolve to fight. Our righteous struggle - aimed at resolving public issues and holding the Congress accountable for its betrayal of trust - will continue relentlessly," he added.

Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar has strongly condemned the arrest of Ramchander Rao and BJP workers.

He termed this a clear case of political vendetta. "Is raising a democratic protest on the six guarantees now a crime in Telangana? 27 months in power, yet Congress has failed to implement its promises. Instead of delivering, the government is pushing the state into debt with no intent to fulfil commitments," he said.

He demanded immediate and unconditional release of Ramchander Rao and BJP workers, failing which the BJP will intensify its protest across the state. "People are being taken for granted, but we will continue to question Congress at every step until the 6 guarantees are implemented," he added.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Zimbabwe is accelerating the development of the Muzarabani Oil and Gas Project, positioning it as a key driver of national energy security and import substitution amid global energy volatility and geopolitical tensions.Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development responsible for Oil and Gas Research and Other Strategic Minerals, Caleb Makwiranzou, told the Senate that the project has reached a "critical inflection point" following the finalisation of the Petroleum Production Sharing Agreement (PPSA).The agreement, he said, establishes a stable and internationally competitive legal and fiscal framework, enabling the project to transition from exploration into production. The development is being led by Invictus Energy.Makwiranzou confirmed that seismic surveys, along with drilling at the Mukuyu 1 and Mukuyu 2 wells, have already confirmed the presence of hydrocarbonsan important milestone for the country's oil and gas ambitions.Attention is now shifting to the Musuma 1 site, where construction of large well pads is underway. Site preparation is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter, paving the way for drilling and installation of equipment.At the Mukuyu Gas Field, an appraisal programme is ongoing to determine the size and quality of the discovered reserves.The Deputy Minister said the Middle East conflict has underscored the urgency of advancing the project, prompting the establishment of an inter-ministerial task force to oversee its acceleration. The team includes the Ministries of Finance, Energy, and Mines, working in coordination with stakeholders to fast-track development."Working as a whole of Government, we are encouraging Invictus to move forward swiftly while ensuring it collaborates with key partners," he said, adding that state-linked investment vehicles such as the Mutapa Investment Fund are also involved in supporting the initiative.The project is expected to complement Zimbabwe's existing hydroelectric and solar energy capacity by providing a reliable base-load power source, which could help drive industrial growth and reduce dependence on energy imports.Makwiranzou noted that Zimbabwe is strategically positioned to become a regional energy hub, given its proximity to Mozambique's established gas infrastructure, opening possibilities for cross-border collaboration within the Southern African Power Pool."The global energy crisis has renewed focus on diversifying energy supply," he said. "For Zimbabwe, this presents a major opportunity for energy security and import substitution."If successful, the Muzarabani project could mark a significant shift in Zimbabwe's energy landscape, potentially transforming the country from a net importer to a regional energy contributor.
Patna, March 23 : Nishant Kumar, son of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, visited the office of Janata Dal United (JD(U)), where he garlanded the oil portrait of socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia and paid floral tribute.

During his visit, Nishant Kumar was accorded a warm welcome by party leaders and workers. He spent nearly an hour at the party headquarters, holding discussions with party functionaries on organisational matters and the functioning of the government.

Speaking to IANS, Nishant Kumar took a swipe at the pre-2005 government in Bihar, stating that the state had witnessed frequent incidents of riots and violence during that period. He credited his father with restoring law and order and bringing stability to the state.

Nishant Kumar emphasised the deep influence of Ram Manohar Lohia on his father's political ideology. "Nitish Kumar regarded Lohia as his mentor and was profoundly inspired after hearing him speak at Gandhi Maidan in Patna," Nishant Kumar told IANS.

Highlighting Lohia's principles, Nishant Kumar said they centred on gender equality, elimination of caste and social discrimination, economic justice, and adherence to truth and non-violence.

"My father adopted these ideals and implemented them in governance for public welfare. He introduced a 50 per cent reservation for women and worked to ensure inclusive development across all sections of society. He has always followed the path of truth and maintained integrity in public life," Nishant told IANS.

The visit and his remarks have drawn attention in political circles, as it marks a rare public and political engagement by Nishant Kumar.

Nishant Kumar once again underscored that when Chief Minister Nitish Kumar assumed office in 2005, Bihar was grappling with frequent incidents of riots and unrest -- a situation he said was effectively brought under control under his father's leadership.

On the occasion of Bihar Diwas, Nishant Kumar extended his greetings and best wishes to the people of the state.

He remarked, "Today, we celebrate Bihar Diwas with great pride. Bihar is known for its glorious history, rich culture, and steady progress, and this day reminds us to cherish and uphold our heritage."
New Delhi/Bengaluru, March 23 : Amid the escalating conflict in West Asia, the Central government has stepped up monitoring of its potential impact on India, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairing an emergency meeting of the Union Cabinet Committee on Sunday night, stated Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi on Monday.

Union Minister Joshi has released a press statement in this regard.

"The Prime Minister held detailed discussions with senior ministers and top officials on ensuring the supply of essential commodities, maintaining food security, and safeguarding key sectors of the economy. A high-level team of senior ministers, including Union Food and Civil Supplies Minister Pralhad Joshi, has been constituted to manage the situation," the statement said.

"During the meeting, the Prime Minister reviewed the current situation and deliberated on the possible future impact of the conflict on India. He also discussed contingency measures and alternative strategies to protect public interest," Joshi said.

The Cabinet Secretary briefed the meeting on global developments and the steps taken by various ministries. Discussions covered sectors such as agriculture, fertilisers, food security, petroleum, power, MSMEs, exports, transport, trade, and finance, focussing on both challenges and mitigation strategies, he stated.

In view of the upcoming kharif season, the government reviewed fertiliser availability and supply, particularly in light of global disruptions. The Prime Minister also assessed stock levels and explored alternative sourcing options, he stated.

Food security was another key focus, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi holding detailed discussions with Pralhad Joshi on ensuring timely availability of food grains and essential items. Measures to guarantee uninterrupted supply and protect consumer interests were reviewed, the statement said.

The Prime Minister expressed confidence that there would be no power shortage, citing sufficient coal stocks at power plants and increased renewable energy generation. He highlighted Indiaas progress in solar, wind, and green energy as a major strength for the power sector, Joshi stated.

The Prime Minister also called for diversification of import sources for sectors such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, and industry, and stressed the need to explore new export markets to boost Indian goods globally, he stated.

To ensure coordinated action, the Prime Minister directed the formation of dedicated teams comprising ministers and departmental secretaries to focus on national security, defence preparedness, food supply, and essential commodities, Joshi stated.

Expressing concern over the intensifying conflict and its global repercussions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged all departments to remain vigilant and proactive in safeguarding the interests of citizens, Joshi said.

He further directed officials to keep a close watch on markets to prevent artificial shortages and hoarding of essential goods, and to coordinate closely with state governments to ensure timely intervention wherever required, Joshi said.
Mumbai, March 23 : Actress Kriti Kharbanda expressed her love for her actor husband Pulkit Samrat as he dropped a glimpse of his intense workout session on social media.

The 'Fukrey' actor took to his official Insta handle and shelled some fitness motivation by posting a video of snippets from his latest session at the gym.

He was seen doing various kinds of exercises, such as running on the treadmill, lifting weights, and even doing push-ups.

Towards the end of the clip, the 'Rahu Ketu' actor was also seen flaunting his toned abs.

Pulkit captioned the post, "Some call it torture, I call it Monday #mondaymotivation (sic)".

Reacting to the post, his better half, Kriti, shared the comment, "So proud of u baby" along with an evil eye and red heart emoji.

In another comment, she also dropped a couple of fire emojis.

Pulkit and Kriti leave no opportunity to shower one another with affection on social media, whenever possible.

As the couple celebrated their second wedding anniversary on March 15, Kriti decided to share her love story with Pulkit through pictures in a heartwarming Instagram post.

Taking to social media, Kriti shared a couple of unseen photographs of some milestone moments of the lovebirds' romantic journey.

In the post, Pulkit was seen down on one knee, putting a ring on Kriti's finger.

From glimpses of their wedding, to the first time they said 'I Love You' to each other, to their first fight, to just a random date night, the post included some precious moments from their romantic journey together.

Kriti further recalled the time when she first came home as a bride. She shared that as a gift, Pulkit gave her a charm bracelet made from pieces of jewelry belonging to the women of his family a" his mom, nani, dadi, and sisters.

--IANS

pm/
Phnom Penh, March 23 : Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (East), P Kumaran on Monday called on Prak Sokhonn, Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, where both sides discussed ways to enhance cooperation between the two nations across diverse sectors.

Taking to X, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "Secretary (East) P. Kumaran called on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia, Prak Sokhonn. Discussions focused on further strengthening multifaceted cooperation between India and Cambodia."

He also called on Minister of Culture and Fine Arts of Cambodia, Phoeurng Sackona with discussions focused on heritage conservation projects and other areas of cultural cooperation.

On Sunday, Kumaran visited Ta Prohm Temple and Angkor Wat Temple in Cambodia's Siem Reap.

"Secretary (East) 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," Jaiswal posted on X.

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 world's largest ancient temple complex in Cambodia and a magnificent symbol of India-Cambodia shared civilisational heritage. From 1986 to 1993, India was the first country to extend support for its restoration," Jaiswal shared in another post on X.

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."

Last week, 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.

Following the meeting, Jaiswal took to X and posted: "Secretary (East) P Kumaran met a Cambodian delegation led by Secretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, KHY Sovanratana, to review India's 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."

--IANS

scor/as
Hyderabad, March 23 : Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Monday assured that all families to be displaced by the Musi Riverfront development project will be provided rehabilitation.

Speaking in the Legislative Council on Monday, the Chief Minister said that the government formulated a roadmap for the development of Musi and assured that all the displaced will be provided rehabilitation.

"We will not render anyone living alongside Musi homeless. We will not cause harm to even a single individual," the CM said while appealing to the political parties to stop false propaganda against the Musi project.

The Chief Minister also stated that the government is ready to constitute a Cabinet Sub-Committee led by Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, comprising IT and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu and Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, for the Musi Rejuvenation Project.

While seeking suggestions from the opposition parties, he said they feel uncomfortable submitting suggestions directly to him, and he was to constitute a Cabinet Sub-Committee.

The CM criticised the previous BRS government for abandoning the Musi project. Revanth Reddy referred to the claim by Sircilla MLA K.T. Rama Rao that he established the Musi River Development Corporation. He asked why the BRS was politicising the project.

He revealed that the government has secured permission from the Airports Authority of India to develop an underpass road at Begumpet Airport. The underpass will be constructed beneath the runway, making it the first of its kind in the country, the Chief Minister said, adding that the government wants to ensure smooth traffic flow.

He said measures were also taken to clear encroachments from footpaths in order to safeguard human lives and allocated designated spaces for street vendors. To ease the parking problem, a multi-level car parking facility was also established near KBR Park. Work on the elevated corridors along the Nalgonda and Vijayawada routes was also in progress.

The Chief Minister highlighted Telangana Rising 2047 and the development of the PURE, CURE, and RARE regions to drive sustainable development and economic growth across Telangana. "We will also establish an industrial corridor spanning an area of 10,000 square kilometres," he said.

The CM explained that Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru are facing the threat of rising air pollution, traffic congestion, floods, and other civic problems. Hyderabad is known as the "City of Rocks and Lakes." Although we often refer to it as the "Old City," it represents the original core of the metropolis. The city is home to numerous historical landmarks, including the Charminar, Gulzar Houz, and the Legislative Council building.

Revanth Reddy noted that, despite its glorious history, Hyderabad is now facing challenges. In view of the exponential increase in vehicle numbers, the Chief Minister emphasised the urgent need to establish adequate parking facilities to accommodate this growing volume.

Apart from developing the Secunderabad and Cherlapally railway stations, the CM said that Metro rail expansion work will begin soon. " We have decided to take over the Metro project after holding discussions with L&T. Since the Metro rail lacked last-mile connectivity, the government proposed Metro expansion, and the Union government also responded positively."

CM Revanth Reddy said that relocating polluting industries outside the ORR in Hyderabad will help provide land for the middle class. As a result, Hyderabad will become a more liveable city. The HILT policy has been introduced to prevent Hyderabad from experiencing air pollution levels comparable to Delhi. The government is reclassifying land from industrial zones to multi-use zones. "

The CM said that the government prepared a big plan to construct an elevated corridor running through the heart of the city, alongside the Musi River, stretching from Gandipet to Gourelli. The corridor will help travel from Gandipet to Gourellia distance of 40 kilometres in a short time.
New Delhi, March 23 : Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta, on Monday, condemned the boycott of House proceedings by the Opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) members on the first day of the budget session.

"I strongly condemn the protest being carried out outside the House by the members of the Opposition and the Leader of the Opposition Atishi," the Assembly Speaker said in a statement.

"Boycotting the House and failing to participate in its proceedings is completely against the dignity of the House and Parliamentary decorum," Speaker Gupta said, after the AAP members stayed away from proceeding allegedly to demand the revocation of the suspension of their party's four MLAs during the last sitting of the House.

The Assembly Speaker said, "In a democratic system, the House is the very place where discussion and dialogue should occur, however, the Opposition's decision to distance itself from the Budget Session is deeply unfortunate."

He added that at a time when the Delhi Budget is being presented, the participation and presence of the Opposition are of utmost importance.

"Protesting outside instead of engaging in discussion is contrary to established parliamentary traditions," he said.

It is deeply regrettable that ever since the serious issue of the desecration of the Sikh Gurus was raised in the last Assembly session, the Leader of the Opposition (Atishi) has not attended the House and continues to remain absent," Assembly Speaker Gupta added.

"Failing to participate in the proceedings of the House and obstructing the democratic process in this manner is akin to hijacking Constitutional institutions," he said.

"Today, several important reports have been tabled in the House, on which the Opposition should present its stand and participate in the discussions," he added.

"Especially when the Delhi Budget is being presented, the presence of the Opposition is mandatory and extremely vital," Assembly Speaker said.

"Acting with insolence against parliamentary traditions and repeatedly showing contempt for the Chair is highly condemnable," he added.

Four AAP MLAs -- Sanjeev Jha, Kuldeep Kumar, Somdutt and Jarnail Singh -- were suspended for disrupting proceedings and disobeying the Chair's directions.

In the 70-member Delhi Assembly, the Bharatiya Janata Party has 48 MLAs and the AAP has 22 legislators.
March 23 : Lucknow: Over the nine years of Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh, a multidimensional and integrated model for womens safety has been developed, completely transforming the law-and-order scenario. Through the coordinated efforts of Mission Shakti, Anti-Romeo Squads, modern technology, strict enforcement and a strengthened police system, the state is now providing a safer environment for women. As a result, UP has secured the top position in country in the disposal of women-related cases.

To strengthen womens safety, special centers were established in every police station under Mission Shakti and around 40,000 police personnel were trained for their operation. At the same time, initiatives like the Anti-Romeo Squads have had a strong impact at the grassroots level. So far, over 5 crore individuals have been checked, 1.85 crore have been warned and legal action has been taken against 38,835 people, demonstrating the strict implementation of a zero-tolerance policy toward crime.

Additionally, services like the 1090 Women Power Line, Women Helpline 181, GRP and Fire Services have been integrated to create a rapid response system for women. The ITSSO portal has been used to incorporate technology into the investigation of sexual crimes, ensuring both transparency and speed. Following the establishment of Mission Shakti centers, a further decline in crime was observed between September 2025 and December 2025. Incidents of rape decreased by 33.92% and dowry deaths declined by 12.96%.

Importantly, not only has there been a reduction in crime, but the state has also set records in speedy disposal of cases. With a disposal rate of 98.90% in women-related cases, Uttar Pradesh ranks first in the country. Due to effective prosecution, convictions have been secured in 32,575 cases involving crimes against women and minors, including 14,111 POCSO cases and 4,564 rape cases.

To institutionalize womens safety, the police infrastructure has been rapidly expanded. The state has recruited 19,839 women police personnel, allocated 9,172 women beats, activated 3 women PAC battalions and proposed 5 new battalions. Additionally, 134 new police stations, 86 new police outposts and 78 women police outpost counseling centers have been established to strengthen grassroots security.

This comprehensive model of Yogi government reflects a balance of strictness and sensitivity, where tough action is taken against criminals, while women receive prompt assistance, justice and a sense of trust.

Due to this integrated strategy, Uttar Pradesh has emerged as a strong and effective model in the field of womens safety, where both the fear of law and trust in the system coexist. This model is not just about statistics, but a reflection of growing public confidence and systemic transformation, where safety has become an integral part of governance.
New Delhi, March 23 : The government on Monday said that India Inc has lined up capital expenditure (CAPEX) plans worth over Rs 11 lakh crore for the current financial year 2025-26, highlighting strong investment momentum in the private corporate sector.

According to a survey by the National Statistical Office (NSO) released by the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI), conducted between October and December 2025, the provisional aggregate CAPEX for FY26 is estimated at Rs 11.44 lakh crore.

The findings also pointed to strong execution of investment plans by corporates. The actual CAPEX for 2024-25 stood at Rs 173.5 crore per enterprise against an intended Rs 180.2 crore, translating into a high realisation ratio of 96.3 per cent, the government said. This indicates that companies largely followed through on their investment commitments.

In terms of strategy, nearly 48.63 per cent of enterprises are focusing on CAPEX towards core assets in FY26, while 38.36 per cent are investing in value addition to existing assets. A majority of firms, about 60.13 per cent, reported that their primary objective of undertaking CAPEX was income generation, followed by capacity upgradation.

The survey also highlighted that internal accruals remain the primary source of funding, accounting for 65.35 per cent of total CAPEX in FY26. Domestic debt contributed 23.25 per cent, while equity and external sources such as foreign debt and foreign direct investment accounted for a relatively smaller share, according to the government.

Looking ahead, the survey indicated that investment activity is likely to remain robust. Aggregate CAPEX intentions for 2026-27 are estimated at Rs 9.55 lakh crore. The NSO noted that such forward-looking estimates are typically conservative, suggesting continued strength in corporate investment sentiment.

The survey covered large private sector enterprises across industries and aims to provide insights into investment trends to support policy formulation and strategic planning.

Moreover, in the energy and technology segments, enterprises are allocating 6.62 per cent towards green energy (solar, wind, biomass), 5.83 per cent towards robotic equipment in the manufacturing sector, and 2.83 per cent towards robotics across all sectors, the government said.
Jaipur, March 23 : Former Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot, on Monday launched a sharp attack on the government led by Bhajan Lal Sharma, alleging that Rajasthan's once "world-class" healthcare model is being systematically weakened due to neglect.

Jaipur, March 23 (IANS) Former Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot, on Monday launched a sharp attack on the government led by Bhajan Lal Sharma, alleging that Rajasthan's once "world-class" healthcare model is being systematically weakened due to neglect.

Speaking out on social media platform X, Ashok Gehlot said the state's robust healthcare infrastructure, built during the Congress government's tenure, is now "on the verge of collapse."

He expressed concern that key public health schemes are deteriorating, affecting access to treatment for thousands.

Gehlot claimed that pending payments under the Rajasthan Government Health Scheme (RGHS) have prompted private hospitals to consider suspending OPD and pharmacy services once again.

This, he said, could leave government employees and pensioners without essential healthcare support.

He further alleged that the Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi (now Ayushman Arogya) scheme has been allowed to weaken, leading to treatment delays and a shortage of essential medicines in hospitals across the state.

Highlighting a critical issue, Gehlot pointed to a severe shortage of blood at major hospitals in Jaipur, including SMS and Janana hospitals, calling it a "health emergency."

He urged the government to lift restrictions on private blood banks to address the crisis and prevent loss of lives.

Referring to a recent visit to a village in the Chaksu Assembly area, Gehlot said he met a 108-year-old resident, Goluram Mali, and interacted with locals who voiced dissatisfaction with the current government. According to him, people expressed anger over stalled welfare schemes, particularly in the health sector.

Gehlot also criticised Chief Minister Sharma for making personal remarks during public speeches instead of addressing pressing public issues.

"When I raise people's concerns, the response should be solutions  not political rhetoric," he said.

The key health schemes in Rajasthan include Mukhyamantri Ayushman Arogya Yojana, Mukhyamantri Nishulk Nirogi (Medicine) Yojana, Mukhyamantri Nishulk Nirogi (Diagnostics) Yojana and Rajasthan Government Health Scheme (RGHS).

Gehlot reiterated that the healthcare system built during his tenure prioritised accessibility and affordability, and urged the current government to take immediate corrective steps to prevent further deterioration.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Washington, March 23 : US President Donald Trump on Monday said that he has instructed the country's defence department to postpone all airstrikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five-day period.

"I am pleased 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," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Based on the "tenor and tone" of the discussions, Trump mentioned, he had instructed the Department of Defense to postpone planned military strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five-day period.

This, he added, is subject to the "success" of ongoing "meetings and discussions".

On Saturday, Trump had threatened to "hit and obliterate" Iran's power plants within 48 hours if Tehran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He, however, said that 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 marked 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 Defence 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 had 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 had 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 had also 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."
News / National

by Staff reporter

Former Finance Minister Tendai Biti and Constitution Defenders Forum (CDF) organiser Morgan Ncube were granted US$500 bail each by a Mutare magistrate's court following their arrest two days ago.They face charges under the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act for allegedly failing to notify the police about a public meeting they organised.In addition to bail, the court ordered Biti to surrender his passport and the title deeds to his Chisipite residence in Harare. Both Biti and Ncube were also prohibited from addressing political gatherings and instructed not to interfere with state witnesses.CDF, a civil society group opposing constitutional amendments that would extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa's term and introduce new political, electoral, and governance reforms, condemned the arrests as an attempt to intimidate opposition voices.Amnesty International Zimbabwe and other human rights organisations described the detentions as "arbitrary and unconstitutional," warning that such actions threaten fundamental freedoms of assembly and expression.The bail decision allows Biti and Ncube to continue their activism while the legal process unfolds, but it underscores heightened tensions around the contentious constitutional reform debate in Zimbabwe.
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath listens to the issues of citizens from various districts during 'Janata Darshan' at his official residence in Lucknow on Monday, March 23, 2026.. Image Source: IANS/X/@CMOfficeUP

March 23 : Lucknow: You should serve the nation without any worry. The service, convenience, security, and dignity of your family, as well as the 25 crore people of the state, are the governments responsibility. The government has been serious about this from day one. These were the words of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath while addressing soldiers who attended the Janata Darshan on Monday.

CM Yogi listened to the problems of the soldiers and assured them to return home without worry, stating that the government would ensure proper resolution of every issue.

Cases related to policing, land disputes, financial assistance, and transfers from various districts were also presented during the Janata Darshan. CM Yogi Adityanath heard each case individually, accepted applications, and directed officials to resolve them within a fixed timeframe.

Several soldiers from different districts also attended the Janata Darshan, some of whom had land-related disputes. CM Yogi collected their applications and instructed local district administration and police officials to directly contact personnel deployed on the borders and in internal security duties. He directed them to ensure timely and fair resolution of their issues under all circumstances and to satisfy the affected families.

Cases related to policing, land disputes, financial assistance, and transfers were also brought forward during the event. While accepting applications from the affected individuals, Yogi Adityanath instructed that land disputes be resolved as per rules after hearing all parties.

In cases seeking financial assistance for medical treatment, CM Yogi advised the families of patients to obtain a cost estimate from the hospital while applying for aid. He emphasized that the government is committed to helping every section of society.

You take care of the patient and leave the worry of treatment to the government. The government will provide full support. No ones treatment will be halted due to lack of funds, said Yogi Adityanath.
Bhubaneswar, March 23 : The Odisha Assembly continued to witness massive ruckus on Monday, as the Opposition persisted in its demand for the resignation of Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling over the recent fire mishap at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, which claimed at least 12 lives and left scores of people injured.

Members of the Opposition, including the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress, holding placards and banners, trooped near the Speakeras podium as soon as the proceedings of the Question Hour began.

They raised anti-government slogans, demanding the resignation of the Health Minister on moral grounds, arrest of officials responsible for negligence resulting in the tragic fire mishap at SCB Medical College and Hospital.

The pandemonium forced Speaker Surama Padhy to order multiple adjournments, with the House functioning for just a couple of minutes during the first half of proceedings on Monday.

Meanwhile, to end the deadlock, the Speaker once again convened an all-party meeting on Monday, after the ruckus by the Opposition made it impossible for the House to function during the Zero Hour as well.

However, the meeting failed to yield any positive result, and the House was later adjourned till 4 PM by the Speaker.

Talking to media persons outside the House, BJD MLA Sarada Jena launched a scathing attack on the ruling party, asserting that the Oppositionas refusal to allow the House to function is a direct response to the governmentas failure to provide accountability regarding a major fire tragedy that resulted in 12 deaths and numerous injuries.

He criticised the administration for its perceived lack of transparency, alleging that while some officials were technically transferred following the incident, they have been kept in influential positions rather than facing genuine disciplinary action.

Furthering his allegations, Jena claimed that the Chief Ministeras Office is actively shielding the accused and "superiors" involved in the case, making a fair investigation impossible.

He demanded the immediate resignation of the Health Minister for administrative negligence. Jena emphasised that the Opposition will continue to protest in the House until the state government ensures the arrest of senior hospital officials responsible for the tragedy and the resignation of the Health Minister.

BJP MLA Santosh Khatua has strongly criticised the Opposition for the ongoing pandemonium in the State Assembly, asserting that their disruptive behaviour is significantly hindering vital legislative work.

Speaking on the SCB fire tragedy, Khatua said the administration and emergency services acted promptly to manage the situation and provide necessary relief to those affected. Khatua further emphasised that the state is strictly following due process in a democratic manner.

He highlighted that a formal enquiry committee, headed by a retired judge, has already been constituted to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation.

"In a democratic country, administrative or legal actions must be based on concrete evidence and proven facts rather than mere allegations," Khatua stated.
Jaipur, March 23 : The Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (RPCC) will appoint chairpersons for all newly constituted Gram Panchayats, while the process of appointing ward presidents in all urban local bodies has already begun. From April 1, 2026, the RPCC will launch a statewide campaign titled "Sangathan Badhao-Loktantra Bachao" (Strengthen the Organisation-Save Democracy).

Under this initiative, chairpersons will be appointed at every ward and Gram Panchayat level, followed by the formation of 21-member executive committees. The announcement was made by RPCC President Govind Singh Dotasra while addressing a press conference at the State Congress headquarters in Jaipur.

Dotasra alleged that the Rajasthan government, fearing electoral defeat, is deliberately avoiding elections to urban local bodies and Panchayati Raj institutions.

He said repeated attempts are being made to postpone these elections on various pretexts. He further alleged that the state government delayed the constitution of the OBC Representation Commission and failed to provide it with adequate resources. Now, citing the non-submission of the Commission's report, the government is attempting to defer elections -- despite court directions.

He questioned how the Commission could complete its survey and submit a report without sufficient resources, adding that the government appears unwilling to accept the report in order to delay Panchayati Raj elections.

According to him, this amounts to a direct attack on democratic processes. Dotasra also criticised the state government for allegedly using a flawed voter list for Panchayati Raj elections.

He said that while the Election Commission has completed the Special Summary Revision (SSR) process, the government continues to cite non-receipt of the updated list.

He alleged that issuing a defective voter list reflects a lack of faith in democratic values and accused the government of misleading the public. To address these concerns, the RPCC will launch a 30-day statewide awareness campaign beginning April 1.

The campaign will be conducted at Gram Panchayat headquarters by local Congress units, at ward and block levels by Block Congress Committees, and at district headquarters by District Congress Committees.

The campaign aims to raise awareness about democratic rights and organisational strengthening. As part of the campaign, Dotasra, along with Leader of the Opposition Tikaram Jully, will tour districts across the state. Visits to Beawar and Balotra are scheduled for April 2 and 3.

Dotasra also raised concerns over a shortage of cooking gas, attributing public hardships to what he termed policy failures of the Central government and the state's "double-engine" government.

He said the shortage has affected households, employment and social functions, and has forced hotels, restaurants, canteens and student messes to shut down. Congress units across the state have held protests on the issue, and a major demonstration is scheduled at Shaheed Smarak in Jaipur on March 27, 2026.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 23 : The Congress on Monday sharpened its offensive against Kerala's ruling Left, alleging a widening and tacit understanding between the CPI-M and the BJP across multiple constituencies ahead of the Assembly elections.

Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan reiterated that "deals" exist in several seats, naming Manjeswaram, Konni, and Ranni among those where the CPI-M and BJP are allegedly working in tandem.

He claimed that such arrangements now extend to nearly ten constituencies, despite both parties dismissing the allegations.

Taking the charge further, Congress General Secretary, Organisation, K. C. Venugopal, who is leading the party campaign in Kerala, said the CPI-M under Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has maintained a "tacit tie-up" with the BJP.

He alleged that Vijayan has remained largely silent against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, even as the BJP targets Congress leader Rahul Gandhi nationally.

Senior Congress leader and CWC member Ramesh Chennithala also backed the claim, arguing that the "deal" is becoming increasingly evident on the ground.

He pointed to the constituency represented by state Devaswom Minister V. N. Vasavan, who has faced criticism over Sabarimala temple-related issues, alleging that the BJP has not fielded a strong candidate there.

Instead, the seat has effectively been left to an NDA ally, which Chennithala said, "speaks volumes" about a covert understanding between the BJP and CPI-M.

Satheesan, meanwhile, alleged that anti-BJP votes in Thrissur Lok Sabha had consolidated behind V.S. Sunil Kumar, but claimed CPI-M votes did not fully transfer to him.

He also linked the ED probe into the Karuvannur bank scam to what he described as a "deal" over the Thrissur seat, which actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi won in a stunning victory.

The CPI-M and BJP have both rejected the allegations, terming them politically motivated.

However, the Congress has continued to press the narrative, seeking to consolidate minority and anti-BJP votes by portraying the Left as unreliable in countering the saffron party.

With days left for polling, the "deal" allegation has emerged as a central theme of the campaign, intensifying the war of words in Kerala's high-stakes triangular contest.
Chennai, March 23 : The Madras High Court on Monday dismissed an appeal filed by film-maker Gautham Vasudev Menon and his production house Photon Factory, affirming a prior order directing them to pay a4.25 crore along with 12 per cent annual interest to R.S. Infotainment.

The ruling marks the culmination of a long-standing dispute between the two production entities over an uncompleted film project dating back to 2008.

A Division Bench comprising Justices P. Velmurugan and K. Govindarajan Thilakavadi declined to interfere with the April 5, 2022 judgment delivered by Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy.

The Bench upheld the single judgeas findings that Menon and his firm were liable to repay the amount received from R.S. Infotainment, led by producer S. Elred Kumar, for a film project that never materialised.

The dispute originated from an agreement signed on November 27, 2008, under which R.S. Infotainment agreed to fund a Tamil film, referred to as aproduction no. 6,a with a budget of a13.5 crore.

The agreement stipulated that the filmas production would begin in December 2008 and be completed by April 2009. It also included a clause requiring repayment with 24 per cent interest if the project was not completed within the agreed timeline.

R.S. Infotainment paid a4.25 crore in phases to Photon Factory. However, the project failed to take off. Although additional time was granted in February 2010, no progress was made, prompting the production house to file a civil suit in 2013 seeking recovery of the amount.

In their defence, Menon and Photon Factory argued that R.S. Infotainment had not fulfilled its financial commitments under the agreement. They also claimed that the project eventually evolved into the 2012 film 'Neethaane En Ponvasantham', thereby fulfilling their obligations.

Rejecting this argument, the court held that 'Neethaane En Ponvasantham' was produced under a separate agreement signed in July 2011 and was unrelated to the original 2008 contract.

The court further noted the absence of evidence linking the a4.25 crore advance to the production of the released film.

Consequently, the High Court upheld the directive requiring repayment of a4.25 crore with 12 per cent interest from May 2010, along with litigation costs of a12 lakh, bringing closure to the protracted legal battle.
Mumbai, March 23 : Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Monday told the Legislative Assembly that illegal mining is rampant in the state and will be shut down immediately. He also announced that an ETS mapping (digital system survey) of all mines across the state will be conducted.

The issue of large-scale illegal excavation of minor minerals in Raigad, Thane and Palghar districts was raised through a 'Calling Attention' motion by Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Sunil Prabhu.

Prabhu demanded action, stating that excavation is being carried out at several places without environmental clearance, leading to a massive loss of government revenue. He further noted that after a complaint is filed, work stops briefly for nominal action but resumes shortly thereafter.

In his reply, Minister Bawankule said that in many instances, the validity of mining leases was not checked, environmental clearances were not obtained, mining zone planning was ignored, and advance royalty was not collected. Preliminary investigations have revealed that permissions were granted in some cases despite the absence of proper documentation. He also noted that hills in Raigad, Thane and Palghar have been hollowed out, alleging the involvement of influential individuals.

"To determine the actual extent of minor mineral excavation, a statewide ETS mapping will be completed within the next three months. Following the mapping, all illegal mines will be shut down. Permissions granted over the last five years will be scrutinised, and action will be taken wherever irregularities are found. Any mine lacking a valid licence, explosive department clearance, or environmental permission will be shut down. District Collectors will be directed to inspect all mines and submit a report within three days," the minister said.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) MLA Dilip Lande alleged that hills in the Chandivali area of Mumbai are being excavated for illegal construction. He claimed that traffic police themselves stand guard to protect trucks at night. In response, Minister Bawankule urged MLAs to bring such instances to the government's notice. "This looting of the state must be stopped collectively. While necessary minerals will be provided through legal means, illegal excavation will be completely stopped," he said.

Joining the discussion, Congress MLA Nana Patole also demanded strict action against illegal excavation in the state. Prabhu added, "When members raise questions, officials tell them that work has been halted only for the duration of the Assembly session and will resume later. This has caused a massive loss of revenue. This revenue must be recovered, and action should be taken against the tehsildars and sub-divisional officers who aid these activities."
Ayodhya, March 23 : Chief priest of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, Santosh Kumar Tiwari, on Monday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his long tenure in public service, describing it as commendable and praiseworthy.

Reacting to Prime Minister Modi becoming the longest-serving head of an elected government in the country, Tiwari expressed gratitude for the leadership provided by the Prime Minister and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

"The tenure of the Prime Minister so far has been very commendable and highly praiseworthy. I sincerely thank him for running the double-engine government along with our Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath," the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple chief priest told IANS.

He said that Prime Minister Modi has visited Ayodhya on several occasions to seek the blessings of Lord Ram.

"The Prime Minister has come many times to seek the blessings of Ram Lalla. We see the Prime Minister in the form of a king.... he is a representative of Lord Ram. He is not just the Prime Minister of India; he is like the king of the country -- there is no one like him. He has the blessings of Ram Lalla," Tiwari added.

The Ram temple head priest also mentioned that institutions such as the University Grants Commission (UGC) should continue improving.

"There is just one thing that comes to my mind regarding the UGC -- it should be improved a little," Tiwari said.

He also expressed confidence that the vision being discussed about a 'Hindu Rashtra' (Hindu nation) would eventually become a reality.

Prime Minister Modi recently achieved a historic milestone in Indian politics by becoming the longest-serving head of an elected government in the country.

He completed 8,931 days in office (both as the former Chief Minister of Gujarat and now as the Prime Minister of India), surpassing former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling, who held the post for 8,930 days.

The record combines PM Modi's tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat from October 7, 2001, to May 21, 2014, and his tenure as the Prime Minister of the country since May 26, 2014, marking more than two decades of continuous leadership in public office.
New Delhi, March 23 : The government launched three initiatives including a national AI skilling programme, the 'MyWAVES' citizen creator platform and inabuilt satellite tuners to boost digital content, AI skilling and public broadcasting, an official statement said on Monday.

New Delhi, March 23 (IANS) The government launched three initiatives including a national AI skilling programme, the 'MyWAVES' citizen creator platform and inbuilt satellite tuners to boost digital content, AI skilling and public broadcasting, an official statement said on Monday.

Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw, launched these initiatives to "strengthen India's media, broadcasting and digital sector and promote the creative economy".

The national AI Skilling Initiative in partnership with Google and YouTube through the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) aims to train 15,000 participants from the creative and media sectors. Further, it envisions strengthening AI capabilities in areas such as animation, visual effects, gaming, comics (AVGC) and media technology.

The minister described 'MyWAVES' as a powerful platform for content creators, enabling them to create, upload, and share content, thereby strengthening India's digital ecosystem.

The third initiative involves launch of television sets with built-in satellite tuners along with a new, user-friendly programme guide (EPG). Viewers can watch DD Free Dish channels directly on their television sets without the need for a separate set-top box, thereby reducing additional costs, wiring, and the hassle of multiple remotes, the statement said.

Meanwhile, the new advanced programme guide will allow users to easily browse channels and programme schedules in one place through a simple and intuitive interface, making the overall viewing experience more convenient for households across the country.

Regarding the 'Creators' Corner' initiative, the minister mentioned its growing popularity, "with some content already receiving over 3 million views," the statement said. He urged creators across the country to actively use Doordarshan and platforms like MyWAVES to showcase India's rich culture, traditions, and regional diversity.

'MyWaves', a new feature within the WAVES OTT platform will enable citizens to create, upload and share content.

'MyWaves' is designed as a structured platform for user-generated content (UGC) that will also support participation in national initiatives such as the Create in India Challenge, the statement noted.

IANS

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Hyderabad, March 23 : Congress leaders on Monday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's response to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, alleging that the government had failed to safeguard India's interests and had delayed addressing the issue despite its potential impact on the country.

Rahul Gandhi's close aide and former Congress MP Madhu Goud Yaskhi said the Prime Minister had failed to adequately respond to the developments in the region where hostilities are continuing, and several countries are affected.

Speaking to IANS, Yaskhi said the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi, had repeatedly flagged concerns about the possible consequences of the war on India and Indians living in the region, but the government had not acted with urgency.

"The Prime Minister has absolutely failed to protect Indian interests in West Asian countries where war is ongoing. The Leader of Opposition has consistently raised concerns about the impending impact of the war on India and Indians living abroad," he said.

Yaskhi also questioned the government's diplomatic approach, claiming that the Centre had not even publicly condemned the death of the Iranian Supreme Leader/

"What kind of diplomacy is Prime Minister Modi showing here?" he asked.

Yaskhi further said that on issues of national interest, political parties have historically come together, recalling that when the country faced crises in the past, the Opposition supported the government.

"When the country was at war, while we were in the Opposition, Sonia Gandhi stood by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. When it comes to national interest, we are all united," he said.

He also referred to the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, saying the situation required unity among political parties rather than political disagreements.

According to Yaskhi, the Prime Minister should immediately convene an all-party meeting to discuss the implications of the conflict.

"The best thing the Prime Minister can do is call for an all-party meeting immediately and discuss the situation both inside and outside Parliament. Simply calling his Cabinet colleagues doesn't mean anything," he said.

Yaskhi added that previous Prime Ministers had followed a consultative approach in times of international crises by seeking the views of Opposition parties.

"Democracy demands a strong Opposition. The Prime Minister has failed to take people across along with him, nor has he reached out to the principal Opposition party," he said.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader V. Hanumanth Rao also questioned the timing of the Prime Minister's remarks on the issue, saying the government should have addressed the matter earlier.

"The Prime Minister is speaking now after 18 or 19 days have passed. What kind of way is this?" Rao told IANS.

He also expressed concern that the conflict between Iran and Israel could have economic consequences for India, particularly in terms of fuel prices.

"Because of this, problems related to oil and petrol will increase. I believe petrol and diesel prices may rise from Rs 100 to Rs 200. Who will be responsible for that?" Rao asked.

Rao further said the IranIsrael conflict had created anxiety among people across the country and argued that stronger diplomatic efforts should have been made earlier to prevent escalation.

"Because of the IranIsrael conflict, the whole country is worried. The war should have been stopped when it began. Now lakhs of people have already suffered losses, and only now they are speaking about it in the Parliament," he added.

He also questioned the global response to the conflict and called for stronger efforts to restore peace in the region.
New Delhi, March 23 : The Supreme Court on Monday disposed of a habeas corpus petition filed by Gitanjali J. Angmo challenging the detention of her husband and Ladakh-based social activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA), after noting that the preventive detention order had already been revoked and he had been released.

During the hearing, a bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and P.B. Varale was informed by Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, the Centreas second-highest law officer, that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had withdrawn Wangchukas NSA detention on March 14.

Taking note of the development, the Justice Aravind Kumar-led Bench observed that no cause of action survived in the matter since the detention order itself no longer existed.

The apex court held that the petition had become infructuous and accordingly closed the proceedings.

The habeas corpus petition was filed by Wangchukas wife, challenging his detention as "illegal" and an "arbitrary exercise violating his fundamental rights".

Wangchuk, a climate activist from Ladakh, had been detained on September 26, 2025, under the NSA following a law and order situation in Leh. He was lodged in Jodhpur Central Jail and had undergone a 170-day detention period before being released.

The MHA, while revoking the detention earlier this month, said the decision was taken after due consideration and reiterated the Union governmentas commitment to maintaining peace and facilitating dialogue in the region.

Earlier, during the pendency of the matter, SG Mehta had opposed any relief on medical grounds, submitting before the top court that Wangchuk was "fit, hale, and hearty" and that his condition was being periodically monitored.

In earlier proceedings, the Supreme Court had also suggested that the Union government reconsider the continued detention, particularly in view of his "not very good" health and advancing age.

Following his release, Wangchuk welcomed the Centreas willingness to engage in "constructive and meaningful dialogue", describing it as the core objective of his movement. He said that sustained public support and legal efforts helped bring attention to the issues in Ladakh, and expressed hope that discussions with the authorities would lead to a lasting resolution.

--IANS

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News / National

by Staff reporter

Divisions have emerged among Zimbabwe's retired military leadership after Retired Major-General Gibson Mashingaidze publicly distanced himself and other former commanders from a letter criticising proposed constitutional amendments linked to President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration.The rift centres on a communication authored by retired Air Vice-Marshal Henry Muchena, who warned that the proposed changes under Constitutional Amendment Bill (No.3) could undermine the ideals of the liberation struggle. The amendments seek to extend presidential terms and introduce sweeping changes to Zimbabwe's political and governance framework.However, Mashingaidze dismissed Muchena's claims to represent a collective position, describing them as "unfortunate" and "regrettable." He insisted that Muchena had not consulted widely and was expressing a personal opinion rather than a unified stance of retired generals.Writing to Parliament in his capacity as National Chair of the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Board, Gibson Mashingaidze said the "generality" of retired commanders and senior civil servantsparticularly those aligned with Zanu-PFsupport the proposed constitutional changes.He argued that the amendments are necessary to correct what he termed "unpalatable" provisions introduced during the Government of National Unity era. According to Mashingaidze, the reforms are consistent with resolutions adopted at recent Zanu-PF conferences held in Bulawayo in 2024 and Mutare in 2025.Mashingaidze further described Mnangagwa as a committed constitutionalist and maintained that the amendment process is being conducted lawfully through Parliament, including ongoing public consultation processes across the country.In contrast, Muchena's letterwritten on behalf of unnamed retired commanderscalled for a national referendum on the proposed changes, arguing that parliamentary processes alone are insufficient for such significant constitutional reforms.The disagreement highlights growing fault lines within Zimbabwe's former military elite, a group traditionally seen as politically cohesive and influential in national affairs. It also reflects broader national tensions surrounding the proposed amendments, which critics say could reshape the country's democratic architecture.With Parliament set to gather public input on the bill, the debate is expected to intensify, as questions over legitimacy, process and public mandate continue to dominate Zimbabwe's political landscape.
Mumbai, March 23 : India secured gold at the Global Esports Games in front of a full arena of fans as Anuhith Gosala defeated Miras of Kazakhstan in the Clash Royale finals, 3-2, to claim the top honours. India also clinched a bronze in DOTA 2, while TArkiye took gold.

Mumbai, March 23 (IANS) India secured gold at the Global Esports Games in front of a full arena of fans as Anuhith Gosala defeated Miras of Kazakhstan in the Clash Royale finals, 3-2, to claim the top honours. India also clinched a bronze in DOTA 2, while Turkiye took gold.

In Clash Royale, India first defeated the USA in the lower bracket finals, advancing to the grand finals with a close 2-1 score in a tense conclusion. Kazakhstan had already secured their spot in the final the day before, having beaten India 2-0 in the upper bracket finals. During the finals, after a series of back-and-forth matches, Anuhith Gosala achieved a dramatic 3-2 victory, earning the gold medal for Team India.

In DOTA 2, Team India earned the bronze medal after losing to Mongolia in the lower bracket finals. In the grand finals, Turkiye defeated Mongolia 3-1 to claim the gold medal.

Sharing his thoughts on the victory, Team India's Clash Royale gold medallist Gosala, said, "This moment is surreal. To win the Grand Finals here in India, in front of a home crowd, makes it even more emotional. The preparation was relentless, the pressure was intense, and every match tested my limits, but that's what makes this victory so special. Hearing the cheers, feeling that energy, and lifting this title for the country is an indescribable pride. This is for India, and for everyone who believes in us. I hope this win inspires many others to follow in our path."

Paul J. Foster, KStJH, President and CEO, Global Esports Federation, added, "As the Global Esports Games Mumbai World Finals come to a close, we celebrate not only the incredible performances of our athletes, but the spirit of unity and connection that defines our global community. Mumbai has delivered exceptional energy, passion, and hospitality, reinforcing our belief that esports transcends borders and brings the world together. We are deeply grateful to our partners in India for setting a new benchmark for excellence, and we now look forward to continuing this journey as we head to Los Angeles later this year."

The Global Esports Games Mumbai was inaugurated by Maharashtra's Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis. Over four days, Mumbai hosted 48 elite athletes from 19 nations. This marked the conclusion of the GEG Mumbai World Finals, which now hands over to Los Angeles for the 2026 Global Esports Games.
London, March 23 : British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said there was no indication that mainland Britain was being targetted by Iran, while stressing the need to protect British interests and avoid further escalation in the Middle East.

"We carry out assessments all the time in order to keep us safe, and there's no assessment that we're being targetted in that way," Starmer told reporters on Monday while visiting a school in southeast London, according to The Guardian.

He made the remarks when asked whether Britain could become a target of Iran following weekend reports that Iran had fired two ballistic missiles at the US-British military base Diego Garcia in the Chagos Archipelago.

Starmer also said that any attempt to reopen the Strait of Hormuz required careful consideration and a viable plan, Xinhua news agency reported. He said his number one priority was to protect British interests and de-escalate tensions, and the government would discuss every possible lever to address cost-of-living pressures arising from the Iran conflict.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets in London on Saturday, joining a growing wave of demonstrations across Europe against US 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.

Meanwhile, 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 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.

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."
Vadodara, March 23 : Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, on Monday, alleged that the rights of tribal communities were being systematically undermined, saying that "Adivasis are the original owners of India".

He also accused the Gujarat government and the Central government of taking away their land and forests in the name of development.

Speaking at the Adivasi Adhikar Samvidhan Sammelan in Gujarat's Vadodara, LoP Rahul Gandhi said tribal communities had gradually been dispossessed over time.

"Through the years, Adivasis have lost their land slowly and steadily. The nation owes you. The government took away your land, forests and everything else," he added.

Linking tribal identity with constitutional values, the LoP said, "Citizens give votes for the Constitution. It is not merely a book. Its ideology and thoughts go back thousands of years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior BJP leaders bow before tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda. This Constitution carries the voice of Birsa Munda."

Rahul Gandhi alleged that current policies of the Central government were contrary to those ideals.

"This (Gujarat and Union) government always attacks your voice and attacks Birsa Munda by snatching away your rights, your land and your forests. For building a statue or for creating a mine, your land is taken away. It seems as if you have no rights," he said.

Raising the issue of economic policy, the LoP said that privatisation had limited benefits.

"Privatisation has taken place, but only five to seven per cent of people get the benefits. Dues have been cleared for industrialists, but the poor are not getting anything. For whom this development is for? For the poor, for farmers... who?" Rahul Gandhi asked.

Referring to the Union Budget presentation, LoP Gandhi said, "Last year, when the budget was presented, I asked why among the 11 to 12 people who made the budget, there was no Dalit and no Adivasi."

He added that his demand for a caste census had drawn criticism.

"Whenever I talk about the caste census, BJP and RSS attack me," LoP Gandhi said.

Highlighting welfare measures introduced during previous Congress governments, Rahul Gandhi noted, "We brought the Forest Act, MGNREGA and other measures for tribals and farmers."

He stressed the need for education, saying, "Without high-quality schools and educational institutions, no poor person and no tribal will benefit."

He also raised concerns about appointments in higher education.

"Today, take out the list of Vice-Chancellors of universities, only RSS people are sitting there. They do not even know about history and science. You all need to take over those institutions," LoP Gandhi said.

He also alleged that there was an attempt to discourage awareness among tribal communities.

"Those who live in forests are told they do not need education. They do not want you (tribals) to ask for your rights," the LoP said, adding that he would consider undertaking a yatra in tribal areas.
Bagalkot, : , March 23 (IANS) Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi on Monday said the "menace of fundamentalists" in West Bengal would come to an end and expressed confidence about political changes in the state ahead of the Assembly elections.

Bagalkot, (Karnataka), March 23 (IANS) Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi on Monday said the "menace of fundamentalists" in West Bengal would come to an end and expressed confidence about political changes in the state ahead of the Assembly elections.

Speaking at a massive roadshow ahead of the nomination filing of BJP candidate Veeranna Charantimath for the Bagalkot Assembly by-election, Joshi claimed that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee would be voted out and that "appeasement politics" would stop.

He expressed confidence that the BJP would come to power in Assam and West Bengal, while the NDA would form the government in Tamil Nadu. He added that the party would put up a strong performance in Kerala.

Appealing to voters, Joshi urged them to elect Veeranna Charantimath, describing him as a leader with a clean image. He said that for Pakistan not to "dare look towards India" and for the strength of "Operation Sindoor" to continue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government must remain in power at the Centre.

Joshi further said that electing Charantimath would ensure that events such as Shivaji and Ganesh festival processions are conducted smoothly.

Targeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Joshi alleged that he is corrupt and compared his governance to that of the Mughals and later the British, claiming they followed a similar pattern.

He criticised the Congress government over corruption and price rise, urging voters to send a strong message by supporting the BJP.

Addressing the gathering, former Deputy CM and BJP MP Govind Karjol alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had failed to repay the trust reposed in him by the people of Badami, who had elected him after his defeat in Mysuru.

Karjol said that when Siddaramaiah was defeated in Mysuru, it was the voters of Badami in Bagalkot who elected him and kept him politically alive.

"He has not repaid that favour. Siddaramaiah is a big deceiver. He does no work for the people and makes false promises only during elections to secure votes," he alleged.

Praising the BJP candidate, Karjol said Veeranna Charantimath had brought in more than Rs 3,100 crore in grants during the BJP government's tenure and had developed the Bagalkot constituency "like Singapore."

He appealed to voters to bless him with their votes in the upcoming election.

Criticising Siddaramaiah, Karjol said the Chief Minister recently "performed a magic" by announcing the laying of the foundation stone for a medical college, claiming it fulfilled the dream of late H.Y. Meti.

He pointed out that Siddaramaiah had served as Chief Minister from 2013 to 2018, and the medical college for Bagalkot had been sanctioned in 201415.

"Had the foundation been laid then, it could have been inaugurated by now. Even after returning to power in 2023, he could have completed it, but he did not. He speaks of development only during elections," Karjol said.

He further alleged that the Congress government, which came to power by luring the poor with its five guarantee schemes, has been engaged in internal power struggles and corruption over the past three years.

"Even their own MLAs and ministers are saying this. For the first time in history, a Speaker from their own party has walked out of the Assembly session. This is an inefficient and undesirable government in the state. Voters must understand this," he said.

--IANS

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New Delhi, March 23 : The ED has restituted assets worth nearly $5.6 billion, including in corruption cases, with a significant portion achieved in just the past couple of years, the federal agency's director, Rahul Navin, said on Monday.a New Delhi, March 23 (IANS) The ED has restituted assets worth nearly $5.6 billion, including in corruption cases, with a significant portion achieved in just the past couple of years, the federal agencyas director, Rahul Navin, said on Monday.a

Delivering the welcome address at the 12th Steering Committee Meeting of the Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities (GlobE Network), the ED director said under the modern anti-corruption framework enshrined in the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), asset recovery is not an afterthought but the truest measure of enforcement success.a

The ED director also acknowledged the practical value of GlobE tools to Indian investigators, specifically citing the assistance provided by Spain in a case in which information shared through the Network led directly to the restraint of assets through formal channels, said a statement.a

He noted that the utility of the Directory of Open Source Registries lies in accelerating the early stages of investigations.

aIndiaas track record in asset recovery places it among the most active jurisdictions globally in returning stolen assets to the state and to victims, the statement said, adding that the countryas hosting of the 12th GlobE Steering Committee Meeting reflects its growing stature in the international anti-corruption order.a

The three-day meeting, being held from March 23 to 25, brings together the 15 member nations of the Steering Committee to deliberate on the Network's strategic direction, operational priorities, and evolving frameworks for international cooperation.a

The 15 nations currently serving on the GlobE Steering Committee are: Azerbaijan, Brazil, China (including Hong Kong and Macau SARs), Ethiopia, Grenada, India, Italy, Nigeria, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, South Africa, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates.a

The GlobE Network is a global platform of specialised anti-corruption law enforcement authorities, established under the Riyadh Initiative during Saudi Arabia's G20 Presidency, the statement said.a

Operating under the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), the Network enables direct, practitioner-level cooperation among member agencies for the investigation, prosecution, and recovery of the proceeds of corruption, it said.a

Today, the Network comprises 135 member countries and 250 member authorities, along with 18 observers, including EUROPOL, the World Bank, and the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities, it said.a

The GlobE Network complements formal legal assistance mechanisms by enabling faster, more flexible, and direct agency-to-agency engagement.a

The opening session of the Steering Committee meeting here was also attended by the the Central Bureau of Investigationas (CBI) Director, Special Directors, and senior representatives of the GlobE Secretariat under the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the statement said.a
Patna, March 23 : Amid significant political developments in Bihar, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary has made an important statement about Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, indicating that his influence in the state's governance will continue.a Patna, March 23 (IANS) Amid significant political developments in Bihar, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary has made an important statement about Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, indicating that his influence in the stateas governance will continue.a

Addressing a gathering during the aSamriddhi Yatraa program in Jehanabad, Samrat Chaudhary praised Nitish Kumaras leadership and contributions.a

He stated that whenever development and good governance in Bihar are discussed, Nitish Kumaras name will be remembered with respect.a

He emphasised that the Chief Minister has played a crucial role in shaping the stateas progress.a

Drawing historical parallels, Chaudhary compared Nitish Kumaras role to that of Chanakya, noting that just as Chanakya guided governance with wisdom, Nitish Kumar has consistently steered Bihar in the right direction.a

He also referenced historical figures such as Jarasandha and Ashoka, stating that, like them, Nitish Kumar will continue to serve as a guiding force for the state.a

The remarks come in the backdrop of Nitish Kumaras election to the Rajya Sabha, which has intensified speculation about a potential leadership change and the formation of a new government in Bihar.a

Political circles are actively debating who the next Chief Minister might be and how the new administration will be structured.a

Amid these discussions, Samrat Chaudharyas statement suggests that even if Nitish Kumar transitions to a new role, his experience and guidance will continue to shape the functioning of the Bihar government.a

This indicates that his political influence is likely to remain significant in the days ahead.a

Meanwhile, Union Minister Chirag Paswan has also weighed in on the ongoing political developments in Bihar.a

Commenting on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Paswan stated that he will always remain an important figure for the state.a

He emphasised that Bihar will continue to benefit from Nitish Kumaras vast administrative experience and leadership.a

Chirag Paswan further remarked that Nitish Kumaras contributions to Bihar's development are significant and cannot be overlooked, reinforcing the view that his influence in the stateas politics is likely to endure amid the evolving political landscape.a
New Delhi, March 23 : More than 3.5 lakh domestic and commercial piped natural gas (PNG) connections for cooking have been issued during the first three weeks of March this year by city gas distribution entities, while domestic LPG cylinder deliveries continue as normal and panic bookings have declined significantly, according to a government statement issued on Monday.

LPG supply continues to be monitored in view of the prevailing geopolitical situation, while no dry-outs have been reported at distributorships.

The Government of India has already restored 20 per cent commercial LPG supply to consumers. Further, it has proposed to allocate an additional 10 per cent of commercial LPG to States and UTs based on ease of doing business reforms for PNG expansion.

Domestic LPG production from refineries has increased compared to pre-crisis levels. All refineries are operating at high capacity with adequate crude inventories, and sufficient stocks of petrol and diesel are being maintained, the statement said.

No cases of fuel dry-outs have been reported at retail outlets by Oil Marketing Companies, and supplies of petrol and diesel continue to be maintained regularly. Citizens are advised not to resort to panic buying as adequate stocks are available.

Priority sectors continue to receive protected supplies, including 100 per cent supply to domestic PNG and CNG transport, while supplies to industrial and commercial consumers are being regulated at around 80 per cent.

City Gas Distribution (CGD) entities have been advised to prioritise PNG connections for commercial establishments, with incentives offered by companies such as IGL, MGL, GAIL Gas and BPCL. Commercial LPG consumers in the major cities and urban areas have been requested to switch to PNG.

The Government of India has requested states and UTs to expedite approval of applications required for expansion of the CGD network.

The Petroleum Ministry has received applications from the Government of Rajasthan and the Government of MP about significant steps taken with respect to reforms for promoting CGD and transition to PNG, and their proposals are under examination.

The Government of India has requested all concerned Central Government Ministries to fast-track and dispose of all pending and new permissions related to CGD infrastructure.

The Government of India has requested all Central Government Ministries to undertake a comprehensive assessment of potential demand for PNG connections in establishments under various Ministries and Departments of the Government of India and to designate a nodal officer from each of them to coordinate this exercise.
Gandhinagar, March 23 : The Gujarat government on Monday said petrol and diesel stocks in the state remain adequate, dismissing rumours of a shortage and urging the public not to panic or engage in hoarding.a Gandhinagar, March 23 (IANS) The Gujarat government on Monday said petrol and diesel stocks in the state remain adequate, dismissing rumours of a shortage and urging the public not to panic or engage in hoarding.

Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi said claims circulating on social media about a fuel shortage were unfounded.

"The state has an adequate stock of petrol and diesel, and therefore there is no need for the public to resort to hoarding or panic," he said.

Sanghavi appealed to citizens not to believe or spread unverified information. "People should not trust rumours being circulated on social media and should also refrain from sharing such misinformation," he said.

He added that the situation is under regular review at the highest level.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel is monitoring fuel availability every two days, while Sanghavi held a meeting on Monday to assess the current stock and supply across the state.

According to the Deputy Chief Minister, continuous reviews are being undertaken to ensure an uninterrupted supply at petrol pumps.

"If there are any technical or other issues in supply anywhere, they will be immediately noted and resolved," he said.

Sanghavi also said administrative machinery has been kept on alert to respond to any reports of shortages or attempts to spread rumours.

He added that authorities are maintaining close oversight of fuel distribution to ensure normal operations.

The clarification comes amid heightened public sensitivity to fuel availability, with recent weeks seeing concerns over energy supplies in parts of India amid global disruptions.

The Union Petroleum Ministry has stated that fuel supplies, including LPG, remain stable and uninterrupted, even as geopolitical tensions have affected global energy markets.

Officials said fuel supply operations across Gujarat were reviewed during the day and described the overall situation as stable, with no shortage reported.
New Delhi, March 23 : Union Minister of State for Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh on Monday said that India's largest pregnancy cohort study of 12,000 women under the GARBHaINi initiative aims to develop indigenous, AIadriven solutions to prevent preterm births.

New Delhi, March 23 (IANS) Union Minister of State for Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh on Monday said that Indiaas largest pregnancy cohort study of 12,000 women under the GARBHa'INi initiative aims to develop indigenous, AIa'driven solutions to prevent preterm births.

Singh at an event here, said the study supports creation of AI-based pregnancy dating models tailored for Indian populations, identification of microbiome-based predictors of preterm birth, rapid diagnostic tools, and genetic markers for early risk assessment.

Such models and solutions can improve maternal and child health outcomes in the country and tackle preterm births, one of the leading causes of neonatal mortality as well morbidity in adulthood, he added.

The programme has enrolled about 12,000 pregnant women, one of South Asiaas largest pregnancy cohorts and built a repository of over 1.6 million wella'characterised biospecimens and over one million ultrasound images to support research.

The minister noted that India carries a significant share of the global burden of preterm births, making it essential to develop solutions suited to Indian conditions.

The programme marks a comprehensive, data-driven approach integrating clinical epidemiology, multi-omics biomarkers, and artificial intelligence for personalised predictions, he said.

The initiative has also established a national biorepository and the GARBH-INi-DRISHTI data-sharing platform, enabling wider access for the research community and contributing to global scientific publications.

On the occasion, key partnerships and technology transfer initiatives were formalised, including transfer of microbiome-based biotherapeutics technology. Initiatives such as GARBH-INi are part of a larger national mission linking science with long-term nation-building, he noted.

Indiaas bioeconomy grew from nearly $10 billion in 2014 to about $195 billion, the minister said, adding the country is now being recognised globally for its strengths in preventive and primary healthcare, supported by indigenous innovations.

Dr. V.K. Paul, Member, NITI Aayog, said that the next phase of the programme should focus on effectively utilising the tools, predictive models and platforms developed so far.

a"IANS

aar/pk
Bhopal, March 23 : Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla said on Monday that the state government is undertaking special initiatives to ensure health security for women at every stage of their lives from adolescence to their motherhood.

iDeputy Chief Minister Shukla, who is handling health and medical education departments in the state, made this remark addressing a gathering of women during the inauguration of the 'Shakti Kendra' -- One-Stop Comprehensive Women's Health Centre at the Kailash Nath Katju hospital in Bhopal.

He conducted a detailed inspection of the 'Shakti Kendra', and interacted with specialist physicians to gather feedback regarding the quality of the health services being provided.

He described the 'Shakti Kendra' as an innovative and pivotal initiative aimed at making women more aware, healthy, and empowered.

He noted that by providing comprehensive, modern and accessible healthcare services under a single roof, the centre would prove instrumental in enhancing their quality of life.

Deputy Chief Minister Shukla emphasised that a healthy woman serves as the very foundation of a healthy family and an empowered society.

He also noted the continuous increase in the number of medical colleges and available seats, a trend that promises to further bolster healthcare services in the future.

He also said that through the Ayushman Bharat scheme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has opened the doors for healthcare services to the poor, the underprivileged, and vulnerable sections of society, ensuring that financial constraints no longer pose a barrier to receiving medical treatment.

On this occasion, Health and State Nodal Officer Director, Rachna Dubey, said that the 'Shakti Kendra' as an acronym standing for spreading health awareness knowledge through technology and innovation, has been developed as a holistic healthcare solution for women, where equal emphasis is placed on both physical and mental well-being.

She noted that women in society often neglect their health issues, particularly among adolescent girls, a lack of awareness and hesitation frequently result in various gynaecological conditions going undetected in a timely manner.

"Shakti Kendra places a special focus on the early detection and prevention of cancer, offering facilities such as breast cancer screening, breast self-examination, thermography, and cervical cancer screening," she said.

Dubey shared that to address rapidly rising health issues such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, thyroid disorders, diabetes, and hormonal imbalances among women, the Shakti Kendra provides advanced diagnostic facilities, ultrasound services, treatment for irregular menstruation, weight management programmes, nutritional counselling, yoga, and lifestyle consultation.
New Delhi, March 23 : Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and member of Parliament Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Monday urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to order a CBI probe into the death of Warehousing Corporation district manager Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, who was forced to take the extreme step of ending his life following physical and mental harassment at the hands of AAP leader Laljit Bhullar.

Reacting to a statement by the Home Minister in the Parliament in which he asserted that the Centre would order a probe into the incident if MPs from Punjab made a formal representation in this regard, Harsimrat Badal also urged other MPs from Punjab to make similar formal requests to bring out the truth in the case.

"Given the gravity of the matter and the serious charges of political interference, it is imperative that the investigation be entrusted to an independent agency. Only a CBI probe can ensure an impartial investigation and restore faith among the victim's family and the public," she said.

In a letter to Amit Shah, the Bathinda MP said Randhawa was a highly qualified officer, holding degrees in BSc, MSc in agriculture, PhD, and MBA, and was a responsible government functionary with charge of two districts.

"Before his death on March 21, he recorded a video message detailing the pressure and circumstances he was facing. It is extremely painful that an officer of such standing was pushed to such an extent that to protect his children and family from further suffering, he chose to take his own life."

Kaur, in her letter, said the circumstances also pointed to a systemic failure in which the officers' repeated distress calls went unheard.

"It is also learnt that Dr Randhawa had brought the mental trauma and pressure to the notice of the Deputy Commissioner and the Managing Director of the Warehousing Corporation, but no effective action was taken by the Aam Aadmi Party government, reportedly due to the involvement of a powerful minister."

The Akali Dal leader said as per the FIR registered in the matter, serious charges had been levelled against former minister Bhullar, his father, and an aide.

She said it was disclosed that Randhawa was subjected to extreme harassment and pressure to award a tender in favour of the minister's father.

"When he resisted, he was allegedly beaten up, humiliated, and threatened. He was also allegedly threatened by gangsters, further escalating fear and coercion."

Kaur said most shockingly, it had been disclosed that the officer was humiliated inhumanely, forced to remove his clothes, and assaulted, including being hit on the head with a pistol by the minister and his goons.

"Such acts, as alleged, amount to gross abuse of power and reflect a pattern of intimidation that violates basic human rights and administrative norms, ultimately pushing him to the brink," she added.
Kathmandu/New Delhi, March 23 : Even before a new government officially assumes office in Nepal, certain contentious issues coming to the public domain recently are raising serious questions over the previous government's economic and ideological connections with China.

Though former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli faced strong political opposition within, and diplomatic resistance outside over security issues, he included several ambitious projects under Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that has earlier put many other nations in debt trap.

Nepal's Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), on Sunday, filed a corruption case against 21 individuals, including two Chinese officials, alleging the misappropriation of Nepali rupees 461.5 million (about Indian rupees 288.4 million) during the construction of Pokhara International Airport, according to a Kathmandu Post report.

The graft body has pointed out alleged embezzlement through contract manipulation and consultancy payments outside the agreed terms, the report said, adding that the project was financed by China.

The CIAA has also alleged that China CAMC Engineering Co Limited, as the contractor, acted with malafide intent from the outset to influence and secure the project, the newspaper added.

CIAA is a premier constitutional body established to combat corruption and its pervasive influence in the country.

According to The Kathmandu Post, CAMC Chairman Wang Bo and project manager Yang Zhigang has also been implicated, with the CIAA seeking Nepali Rupees 461.58 million from them.

Incidentally, Nepal's aviation sector has been facing several problems, including safety issues, and has been on the European Union's blacklist since 2013.

Earlier, the then Oli government had asked a retired judge of Nepal's Supreme Court to lead a committee to identify the shortcomings at many airports built to boost tourism, including the one at Pokhara, and suggest remedies with help of experts.

In an interview with IANS in early March, retired judge and a Minister in Nepal's interim government, Anil Sinha, had confirmed the earlier probe.

"There were safety issues with many crashes, where several lives were lost. I was approached to head a committee that had several experts from different fields associated with civil aviation," he said.

The then Prime Minister Oli had later asked the committee to expand the scope of work and see why Pokhara and Bhairahawa airports were not functioning as per expectations and also the reason for Nepal Airlines not performing well, Sinha shared.

However, as pointed out by Sinha, the probe remained inclusive with recurrent logistical and funding problems to the extent that members could not even visit the named airports.

In another incident, a multi-billion-rupee industrial park, part of the BRI, in the eastern part of Nepal's Jhapa district hit the headlines ahead of the March 5 general election when the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) dropped it from their poll manifesto.

There has been concern among sections in Nepal, who expressed caution regarding the financial implications of BRI projects, particularly in light of Sri Lanka and Pakistan falling into financial difficulties with similar Chinese investments.

New Delhi had objected to the project located near the Nepal-India border, particularly being close the sensitive Siliguri Corridor or "chicken's neck".

The RSP's move to drop mention of the Jhapa project was seen as the first major shift from former PM Oli's "pro-China" stand.

The RSP later swept the recent Parliamentary polls, and Balen Shah -- who defeated Oli from the latter's bastion of Jhapa-5 constituency -- is expected to be the next Prime Minister of Nepal.

In the Pokhara airport issue, it is the third case tied to the project.

In December 2025, CIAA had filed a case against 55 people (including Ministers and Secretaries) seeking Nepali Rupees 8.36 billion in recovery.

Another case accused project chief Binesh Munankarmi of amassing disproportionate assets.

The scandal has refuelled broader criticism over China-funded projects allegedly marred by corruption and mismanagement, reinforcing concerns about Beijing's "debt trap" diplomacy in Nepal.
New Delhi, March 23 : Shiv Sena-UBT MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, reacting to the Jammu University committee recommending the removal of topics on Pakistan founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah from the curriculum, on Monday said that history must reflect both heroes and villains to give a complete understanding of the past.

Chaturvedi said that if there are heroes in the pages of history, it is equally important to understand whom they fought against.

"If there are heroes, then who did they fight? For that, there are villains too," she remarked.

She held that removing such content from textbooks would deprive future generations of a proper understanding of history and the roots of present-day conflicts. She questioned how students would learn about the reasons behind Indiaas partition and ongoing tensions with Pakistan if such chapters are excluded.

"I think on the pages of history, if there are heroes, then who did they fight? For that, there are villains too. The greatest villain for our country was Jinnah, who divided our nation. Before Independence, Jinnah demanded division and asked for Pakistan and Bangladesh," Chaturvedi told IANS.

"He created East Pakistan and West Pakistan. What will our future generations know about him? How will they understand why the country was divided? How will people know why there are boundaries and why we continue to hear such statements? The root cause of all this is Jinnah."

Emphasising the importance of historical awareness, she said: "If that is removed from textbooks, then how will future generations know about it and understand our conflicts with Pakistan?"

Drawing a cultural analogy, Chaturvedi added: "If we worship heroes, then it is necessary to know about the villains as well. If we worship Lord Ram, then we must also know about the history of Ravan and his role in our culture. It is very important to understand both."

Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput also weighed in on the issue, saying: "Not only Jinnah, but also Syed Ahmad Khan should be discussed. The Sangh and the BJP should clarify their stand on Sir Syed Ahmad. The RSS should explain why Jinnah was included in a list of top freedom fighters."

He further alleged that such issues are raised to divert attention from more pressing concerns. "People associated with the BJP often raise frivolous issues so that matters like Jammu and Kashmiras statehood are not discussed. Grant them statehood, and other issues can be resolved on their own," Rajput told IANS.

National Conference MP Mian Altaf Ahmed Larvi said: "There is no justification for protests over these issues. Students should instead focus on the challenges they face in universities. These actions are for cheap publicity and only worsen the situation. The people of Jammu do not support such moves."

On the other hand, Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav defended the decision, stating: "The work being carried out by the government through the Education Department is appropriate, and people should welcome it."

The Department Affairs Committee of the University of Jammu on Sunday recommended the removal of topics related to former Pakistan Governor-General Jinnah from the political science curriculum following protests by ABVP, according to a press note.

The committee also recommended removing topics related to Aligarh Muslim University founder Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and poet Mohammad Iqbal, the note added.
Chandigarh, March 23 : Leader of the Opposition in Punjab, Partap Singh Bajwa, on Monday said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has been forced to climb down from the high horse it was riding and arrest its own former minister Laljit Singh Bhullar following sustained pressure from the Opposition. a Chandigarh, March 23 (IANS) Leader of the Opposition in Punjab, Partap Singh Bajwa, on Monday said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has been forced to climb down from the high horse it was riding and arrest its own former minister Laljit Singh Bhullar following sustained pressure from the Opposition. 

Bajwa expressed gratitude to Congress workers and Members of Parliament Charanjit Singh Channi, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Gurjeet Singh Aujla and Dharamvira Gandhi for forcefully raising the issue in the Parliament and ensuring that the matter received national attention. 

He asserted that the arrest of Bhullar was not voluntary, but compelled by external pressure. 

Bajwa claimed that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann acted only after Union Home Minister Amit Shah indicated that a CBI inquiry would be ordered into the matter.

Bajwa said he has personally written to the Chief Justice of India, requesting the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance of the case and order a court-monitored investigation to ensure justice and transparency.

Holding CM Mann directly responsible, Bajwa said that as the Cooperation Minister, Mann cannot escape accountability in the tragic death of a young officer, Gagandeep Singh Randhawa. 

He pointed out that the deceased had written to the Managing Director of Warehousing and the Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar, detailing the harassment he was facing at the hands of Minister Bhullar. 

"Despite these serious complaints, no action was taken. This administrative inaction and political protection ultimately led to a tragic loss of life," Bajwa said in a statement. 

He reiterated that the truth must come out and those responsible, irrespective of their position, must be held accountable. 

Earlier, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and member of Parliament Harsimrat Kaur Badal urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to order a CBI probe into the death of Warehousing Corporation district manager Gagandeep Singh Randhawa.

Randhawa was forced to take the extreme step of ending his life following physical and mental harassment at the hands of AAP leader Laljit Bhullar.

Reacting to a statement by the Home Minister in the Parliament in which he asserted that the Centre would order a probe into the incident if MPs from Punjab made a formal representation in this regard, Harsimrat Badal also urged other MPs from Punjab to make similar formal requests to bring out the truth in the case. 

"Given the gravity of the matter and the serious charges of political interference, it is imperative that the investigation be entrusted to an independent agency. Only a CBI probe can ensure an impartial investigation and restore faith among the victim's family and the public," she said. 
Thiruvananthapuram, March 23 : The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Kerala, on Monday said that it has come to our notice that a letter from the Election Commission, bearing the seal of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is being circulated across various Malayalam news channels.

Kerala goes to the polls on April 9 to elect 140 new legislators.

Based on the latest available figures for the 2026 Assembly elections, Kerala has an electorate of around 2.72 crore.

The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) hereby clarifies that this was purely a clerical error, which was identified and rectified immediately.

The BJP Kerala Unit had recently approached the CEOas office seeking clarification on the 2019 guidelines regarding the publication of criminal antecedents of candidates.

Along with their request, the party submitted a photocopy of the original 2019 directive.

The party's seal was present on that specific copy provided by them.

Due to an oversight, the office failed to notice the party symbol on the submitted document and inadvertently redistributed it to other political parties as part of the requested clarification.

The guidelines in question have undergone revisions since 2019, which have already been communicated to all political entities.

The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer acknowledged the lapse as soon as it was detected.

Consequently, on March 21, the Deputy Chief Electoral Officer issued a formal letter withdrawing the erroneous document.

The withdrawal notice was dispatched to all political parties, District Election Officers, and Returning Officers.

The public and media are requested to refrain from spreading misleading messages based on this clerical error.

The Election Commission maintains a rigorous and foolproof system to ensure that the electoral process remains free from any external interference or influence.

The three political fronts battling out in Kerala include the ruling CPI-M-led Left, the Congress-led UDF and the BJP-led NDA.
Patna, March 23 : Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday commenced the fifth phase of his 'Samriddhi Yatra' (Prosperity Journey), continuing his statewide outreach focused on development and public engagement in Bihar.a Patna, March 23 (IANS) Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday commenced the fifth phase of his 'Samriddhi Yatra' (Prosperity Journey), continuing his statewide outreach focused on development and public engagement in Bihar.

As part of this phase, the Chief Minister visited Jehanabad, where he inaugurated 88 development schemes worth Rs 70 crore and laid the foundation stones for 73 projects valued at Rs 182 crore.

Addressing a 'Jan Samvad' (Public Dialogue) program at Gandhi Maidan, he reaffirmed his government's commitment to accelerating the district's development.

"This journey of development will not stop. The path of prosperity will lay a strong foundation for a 'Developed Bihar'," he said.

Nitish Kumar also inspected training and production centres run by the Rural Development Department, appreciated their work, visited departmental stalls, interacted with beneficiaries, and distributed financial assistance.

During his visit to Jehanabad as part of the 'Samriddhi Yatra,' Chief Minister Nitish Kumar launched a sharp attack on former Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav.

Addressing a public gathering, Nitish Kumar said, "I went to him, but he could not truly become one of us. When he himself had to step down, he simply appointed his wife as the Chief Minister," in an apparent reference to the tenure of Rabri Devi.

He further alleged that no substantial development work was carried out during the previous regime.

Highlighting the law-and-order situation of that period, he remarked that conditions were so poor that people were afraid to step out of their homes after sunset.

The remarks have once again intensified the political discourse in Bihar, with the ruling leadership targeting the previous RJD regime over governance and development issues.

Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister visited Arwal, where he laid the foundation stones for 22 schemes and inaugurated 250 completed projects, further emphasising the government's focus on grassroots development.

The fifth phase follows the successful completion of four earlier phases of the Samriddhi Yatra.

Several senior leaders were present during the events in Jehanabad and Arwal, including Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, Ministers Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Ashok Chaudhary, and Pramod Kumar, along with MLCs Kumud Verma and Anil Kumar, and Ghosi MLA Rituraj Kumar.


Bhopal, March 23 : The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana - the world's largest domestic rooftop solar initiative, is transforming the country's energy landscape by providing renewable energy, while also opening opportunities for earning extra money.a Bhopal, March 23 (IANS) The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana - the world's largest domestic rooftop solar initiative, is transforming the country's energy landscape by providing renewable energy, while also opening opportunities for earning extra money.

In Madhya Pradesh's Damoh district, the scheme is witnessing strong penetration, with more households subscribing and having solar panels installed on their rooftops.

This has resulted in a reduction in electricity expenses and the generation of additional income for hundreds of beneficiaries.

The impact is clearly visible in the Tendukheda region of Damoh district, where dozens of families have connected to solar energy and are reaping the benefits. Here, residents have installed rooftop solar panels ranging from 3 to 5 kilowatts.

A couple of beneficiaries speaking to IANS shared the relief brought by the PM Surya Ghar scheme.

Santosh Kumar Jain told IANS that he installed a 3-kilowatt rooftop solar panel system, for which he received a subsidy of Rs 78,000 from the Central Government. Using this solar energy, he is now powering the appliances in his grocery store and meeting his household electricity needs.

Another beneficiary, Satyanarayan Soni, said he opted for a 5-kilowatt solar connection. The installation cost was approximately Rs 2 to 3 lakhs; however, we received a subsidy of Rs 78,000. The electricity generated by the solar panels is now used to power all household appliances - including the TV, fans, refrigerator, water pump, and induction cooktop.

"Previously, cooking on the induction stove was expensive; however, since the installation of solar panels, our lives have become easier. Electricity department purchases surplus power generated, providing us with an additional daily income of approximately Rs 100," he added.

Another beneficiary, Shivam Dubey, said that he is a trader dealing in fertilisers and seeds.

He installed solar panels on the roof of his shop. For this solar panel project, valued at approximately Rs 2 lakh, he received a direct subsidy of Rs 78,000 from the Central government, credited directly into his bank account.

The initiative has encouraged many, like Shivam, to move forward on the path of self-reliance and has paved the way for additional income by selling excess energy.

The scheme, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15 February 2024, aims to provide free electricity to households by facilitating the installation of rooftop solar panels.

The scheme offers a subsidy of up to 40 per cent to households, making renewable energy more affordable and accessible.


Kolkata, March 23 : A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Calcutta High Court on Monday regarding the death of a Dum Dum resident after he was trapped in an elevator at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

The petition alleges negligence and seeks a CBI investigation into the incident.

The Division Bench, headed by Chief Justice Sujoy Paul, has granted permission to file the case. The matter is scheduled to be heard on March 27.

On Monday, social activist Vijay Kumar Singhal filed the PIL through his counsel before the Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court, comprising Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen.

In his petition, he alleged that the hospital authorities are failing to ensure public safety within the healthcare sector.

Consequently, tragic incidents, such as the death caused by being trapped in an elevator at the Trauma Care Building of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, are occurring.

The petitioner prayed that the investigation into this incident be handed over to the CBI.

On Friday, Arup Banerjee, a resident of Dum Dum, tragically lost his life after becoming trapped in an elevator at the hospital.

He had visited the hospital to seek medical treatment for his three-year-old child.

In the early hours of Friday morning, he became stuck in the elevator within the Trauma Care unit. His wife and child were also with him at the time.

It is alleged that the elevator spiralled out of control: after ascending briefly, it plummeted to the basement level. The doors opened once in the basement, allowing Arupas wife and child to step out.

However, before Arup could exit, the doors slammed shut, and the elevator began to ascend again. In the ensuing moments, Arup became trapped in the elevator doors and sustained severe injuries.

Outside the elevator at the basement level stood a locked iron-grilled gate. The family alleges that Arupas life could have been saved had the lock been opened in time. Yet, despite the desperate screams of his wife and child, no one came forward to offer assistance, and the lock could not be broken open.

On Friday itself, the Tala Police arrested three liftmen, Milan Kumar Das, Biswanath Das, and Manas Kumar Guha, along with security guards Ashraful Rahman and Shubhadip Das, in connection with the incident.

On Saturday, forensic officials collected samples from the elevator in question.

A case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder has been registered, and the investigation is currently underway.

The authorities at RG Kar Hospital have also held several meetings regarding the matter.
Ghaziabad, March 23 : A Special CBI Court in Ghaziabad on Monday sentenced a former railway official from Agra to four years' imprisonment for demanding a bribe of Rs 30,000 from a contractor.

Ghaziabad, March 23 (IANS) A Special CBI Court in Ghaziabad on Monday sentenced a former railway official from Agra to four yearsa imprisonment for demanding a bribe of Rs 30,000 from a contractor.

The Special Court held Rafi Ahmad, the then Chief Yard Master, Agra Cantt Railway Station, guilty under the Prevention of Corruption Act and imposed a penalty of Rs 10,000 on him.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered the instant case on July 4, 2015, against the accused, said a statement.

It was alleged that Rafi Ahmad demanded illegal gratification of Rs 30,000 from the contractor/complainant instead of reducing the penalty imposed on him for not performing satisfactorily the work of loading/unloading of the Guards Line Boxes in trains.

The CBI laid a trap and caught the accused red-handed while accepting Rs 5,000 as the first instalment of the demanded illegal gratification from the complainant.

After the investigation, the CBI filed a chargesheet on November 24, 2015, against Rafi Ahmad.

In a separate case earlier this month, a Special CBI Court in Dehradun sentenced eight officials to two years of rigorous imprisonment along with a total fine of Rs 2.85 lakh in connection with a Rs 55 lakh fraud in the Public Works Department (PWD) in 2003.

Deepak Kumar Verma (LDC), Madan Pal (Mate), Mani Ram (Beldar), Surendra Kumar Kaushik (Driver), Kasim (retired Beldar) of PWD Haridwar, Sukhpal Singh (UDC), Chatar Singh (Roller Driver) of PWD Roorkee, and Palu Das (Assistant Treasury Officer, Treasury Haridwar) were sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for two years each, along with the cumulative fine.

The case was originally registered by the CBI on August 9, 2003, following directions issued by the Uttarakhand High Court on May 7, 2003, in a civil writ petition that ordered the transfer of the investigation to the central agency.
Madurai, March 23 : In a landmark verdict that brings partial closure to one of Tamil Nadu's most shocking custodial death cases, the First Additional District and Sessions Court in Madurai on Monday convicted nine police personnel for the murder of father-son duo P. Jayaraj and J. Bennix in Sathankulam in 2020.

Madurai, March 23 (IANS) In a landmark verdict that brings partial closure to one of Tamil Naduas most shocking custodial death cases, the First Additional District and Sessions Court in Madurai on Monday convicted nine police personnel for the murder of father-son duo P. Jayaraj and J. Bennix in Sathankulam in 2020.

Pronouncing the judgment, Judge G. Muthukumaran held that the prosecution had established beyond doubt that the accused policemen were responsible for the custodial torture that led to the deaths of the two victims.

The court has scheduled sentencing for March 30.

It also directed both the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government to submit detailed reports on the health condition, salaries, and asset statements of the convicted officers ahead of sentencing.

The case dates back to June 2020, during the Covid-19 lockdown, when Jayaraj and his son Bennix, who ran a mobile accessories shop, were allegedly detained by the Sathankulam police for keeping their shop open beyond permitted hours.

They were taken into custody on June 19 and were reportedly subjected to brutal assault at the police station. Bennix succumbed to his injuries on June 22, while Jayaraj died the following day, triggering nationwide outrage over custodial violence.

Initially investigated by the Tamil Nadu Police, the case was later transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to ensure a fair probe.

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court had taken suo motu cognisance of the incident and observed that there was a prima facie case of murder.

It also flagged attempts to destroy evidence and ordered an immediate CB-CID investigation before the case was handed over to the CBI.

Charges were framed under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including murder, criminal conspiracy, destruction of evidence, and wrongful confinement.

While 10 officers were originally accused, one of them, Special Sub-Inspector Pauldurai, died during the trial due to Covid-19.

In its verdict, the court rejected the defence claim that the injuries were self-inflicted, relying on post-mortem findings that pointed to repeated and severe assault.

It further ruled that Jayarajas pre-existing heart condition was not the cause of death, affirming that both deaths were the direct result of custodial torture. The judgment is widely seen as a significant step towards accountability in cases of police excesses.
New Delhi, March 23 : The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Monday informed Parliament that a total of 11 airlines have shut down operations in India since 2016, mainly due to financial stress, lack of aircraft availability and internal issues.

The information was shared in the Rajya Sabha in response to a question by Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale.

In its written reply, the ministry said that while the government is committed to building a strong and balanced aviation sector, airlines operate in a deregulated environment and take decisions based on commercial considerations.

The ministry clarified that the government does not interfere in the financial or operational decisions of airlines.

Instead, it focuses on policy-level support. This includes expanding airport infrastructure, rationalising traffic rights, helping airlines add more aircraft, and boosting regional connectivity through the UDAN Scheme.

It also highlighted efforts to improve ease of doing business in the aviation sector through simplified procedures, deregulation and increased use of e-governance.

The ministry further noted structural changes within the industry. It said AirAsia India, now known as AIX Connect, has merged with Air India Express. Similarly, Vistara has been merged into Air India.

On the issue of outstanding dues, the ministry informed that grounded airlines have varying liabilities towards the Airports Authority of India.

Kingfisher Airlines alone has dues of Rs 380.51 crore, which includes Rs 175.30 crore as principal and Rs 205.11 crore as interest.

The claim has been filed with the official liquidator in Bengaluru. Meanwhile, TruJet has a pending amount of just Rs 0.03 crore.

The ministry said that Jet Airways and Go First currently have no outstanding dues to pay to the Airports Authority of India.

The government reiterated that its role is to create a supportive policy framework, while the success or failure of airlines depends largely on market conditions and business decisions.
Bhopal, March 23 : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav welcomed a delegation of military officers led by Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi at his residence on Monday.

During the meeting, General Dwivedi shared that a grand Army Day Parade will be organised in Bhopal on January 15, 2027. The delegation sought the state government's cooperation for the programme.

Along with the parade, aShaurya Sandhyaa, a military exhibition showcasing the Armyas weapons, equipment and resources, and demonstrations of military exercises will also be organised. Retired soldiers will be honoured during the event.

All activities will be conducted with the same grandeur and dignity as the Republic Day event held in New Delhi. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will also attend, according to a press note from the state government.

The Chief Minister assured that the state government will extend every possible support to the Indian Army for organising the event in the state capital.

The event aims to showcase the Indian Armyas rich tradition of bravery and military heritage, connect citizens with the parade, strengthen coordination and mutual trust between the Army and civil administration, and motivate youth to join the Indian Army.

It was informed in the meeting that preparations for the Army Day event scheduled for January 15, 2027, will begin from November 1, Madhya Pradesh Foundation Day.

On Foundation Day, under the aMeri Maatia campaign, soil will be collected from different districts of the state and brought to Shaurya Smarak in Bhopal, where a aSankalp Vriksha will be planted.

Rehearsals for the Army Day Parade will be held on January 9, 11 and 13, while rehearsals for Shaurya Sandhya will take place on January 11 and 13. The military exhibition will be organised from January 7 to 12. Military exercise demonstrations will be conducted at Bhopalas Upper Lake on January 11 and 12.

For the parade, proposed routes include Atal Path, Aerocity Road, BHEL Kalibari Road, and BHEL Link Road. Shaurya Sandhya will be organised at T.T. Nagar Stadium, while the military exhibition will be set up at Jamboree Ground. Activities such as water sports, air shows and military demonstrations will also take place at the Upper Lake.

Army Day is celebrated every year on January 15 to commemorate the historic occasion in 1949 when General K. M. Cariappa took over command of the Indian Army from the last British Commander-in-Chief, General Sir F. R. R. Bucher.

In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modias vision of aEk Bharata"Shreshtha Bharata, the initiative to decentralise national events to encourage nationwide participation in the Indian Army began in 2023.

The first such Army Day Parade was organised in Bengaluru in 2023, followed by Lucknow in 2024, Pune in 2025, and Jaipur in 2026. These events have also helped inspire young people to serve in the Indian Army.

Other military officers present at the meeting included Lieutenant General Sandeep Jain, Lieutenant General Arvind Chauhan, Lieutenant General Ranjeet Singh, Major General Vikas Lal, Brigadier Nitin Bhatia, Colonel Saurabh Kumar, Sunny Juneja, Rajesh Bandle and other officials.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Secretary Anurag Jain, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Neeraj Mandloi, and Director General of Police (DGP) Kailash Makwana also joined the meeting at the Chief Ministeras residence.
New Delhi, March 23 : On the martyrdom day of freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Virendra Sachdeva, along with party leaders and workers, on Monday, paid floral tributes to them at a ceremony held at the city BJP office.

Former Delhi BJP President and MLA Satish Upadhyay, along with local workers, also offered floral tributes to the statue of Bhagat Singh at a programme held at Bhagat Singh Park in Malviya Nagar.

Addressing the BJP workers at the state office, Sachdeva said that revered Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru are immortal heroes of India's freedom struggle, who laid down their lives smilingly for the motherland.

These three revolutionaries shook the foundations of the British Empire with the slogan "Inquilab Zindabad", and were executed in Lahore Jail on March 23, 1931, a day we now observe as "Martyrs' Day", the State BJP President added.

Sachdeva said that their sacrifice was not merely an act of political resistance, but a beacon of patriotism for the youth of the nation.

"Even today, their courage and ideological clarity inspire millions of Indians. The sacrifice of these great sons of the nation will always be remembered in golden letters in history."

At the event held at the state office, Delhi BJP General Secretary and MP Yogendra Chandolia, State BJP Media Head Praveen Shankar Kapoor, Media Relations Head Vikram Mittal, Spokesperson Yasir Jilani, Co-Office Secretary Amit Gupta, and local Delhi Gate Mandal President Rakesh Verma, Sitaram Bazar Mandal representative Prem Chand Saini, and Chandni Mahal Mandal President Sunil Sharma, along with a large number of party workers, were present.

In a separate development, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta unveiled a statue of 'Shaheed-e-Azam' Bhagat Singh at the Registrar Cooperative Societies office premises on Parliament Street.

The Chief Minister also inaugurated the meticulously restored 'Historical Court Trial Room'.

This landmark site holds immense historical significance as the venue where the trial of legendary freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev was conducted during the struggle for independence.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Gupta said that March 23 is a day of immense pride and emotional remembrance for the entire nation.

"This day reminds us of the supreme sacrifice made by the brave freedom fighters, who laid down their lives for the country's liberation. Seeing these memories revitalised within this historic complex is a moment of profound pride and emotion for every Indian," the Chief Minister remarked.
Quetta, March 23 : Leading Baloch human rights defender Mir Yar Baloch rejected the observance of 'Pakistan Day' on Monday as "fake", stating that the decision to cancel the military parade by the Pakistani authorities on the occasion reflects rising insecurity and mounting internal pressure.

"The people of the Republic of Balochistan categorically reject the fake day of 23rd March, which Pakistan calls its so-called 'Defence Day'. The decision by the Pakistan Army to cancel or significantly scale down the 23rd March 'Defence of Pakistan Day' military parade is not a routine administrative matter; it reflects the growing insecurity and internal pressure the state is facing, particularly from the Baloch freedom movement and the Pashtun resistance across the region," Mir posted on X.

Highlighting that Pakistan's 23rd March parade has long been a display of military might, he said, "However, this year, the atmosphere was noticeably different. Instead of tanks rolling through Islamabad and jets flying over the capital, the country witnessed uncertainty, security fears, and leadership addressing the nation from inside secure locations rather than in public gatherings."

Mir noted that Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar delivered his message on the day not from a public rally, parade ground, or national monument, but from the safety of his drawing room.

In his video statement, Mir said, rather than addressing Pakistan's economic collapse, political instability, enforced disappearances, or the ongoing unrest in the provinces, including Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dar chose to threaten the Baloch and Pashtun communities while repeating the traditional rhetoric on Kashmir.

"The contrast was striking: threats delivered from a safe house while those being threatened are living under military operations, air strikes, and enforced disappearances," the human rights activist stated.

Mir stated that subdued observance of Pakistan Day indicated caution and fear within Pakistani leadership.

"The cancellation or quiet observance of the 23rd March parade may be remembered as a symbolic moment not of military strength, but of a state feeling pressure from within its own borders. When a country's leaders speak from drawing rooms instead of parade grounds, it often reflects not confidence but collapse and fear of the changing realities on the ground," he added.
Mumbai, March 23 : Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Monday informed the Legislative Assembly that the process for property mutation (ferfar) in the Mumbai City district has been digitised.

The move is expected to benefit approximately 3 million residents by streamlining property transactions. He told the House that earlier, different computerisation systems for property cards in Mumbai and the rest of Maharashtra had caused delays.

The government has now synchronised these systems. Approximately 27,847 property cards across 19 revenue divisions and four town planning schemes are now available on mahabhumi.gov.in and the District Collectoras website, he said.

According to the minister, for the first time, online applications have been opened for 45 types of mutations, including sale deeds, inheritance (warsa), gift deeds, leaseholds, mortgages, road setbacks, reservations and land acquisitions. Citizens can now apply and track the status of their applications from home, eliminating the need to visit government offices. He also commended Mumbai City Collector Aanchal Goyal for the successful implementation of the initiative.

Replying to another question, Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif assured the House that the cobalt machine at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) will soon be functional. He was responding to a query raised by MLA Nitin Raut regarding non-functional cancer treatment equipment in Nagpur.

The minister said that the existing cobalt machine, in use since 2015, required new radioactive sources. Administrative and technical approval has been granted for Rs 1 crore through the District Planning Committee, and funds will be released in April. To provide advanced care, a state-of-the-art Linear Accelerator (LINAC) has also been approved. The purchase order was placed on February 20, 2026, and the machine is expected to be operational within six months, he added.

Meanwhile, in response to a aCalling Attentiona motion by MLA Mahesh Baldi regarding developmental work on historic hills, Forest Minister Ganesh Naik told the Assembly that the government is committed to preserving heritage sites while respecting local sentiments. The discussion specifically focused on Dronagiri Mountain in Uran (Raigad district), which holds significant emotional and religious value.

The minister clarified that, as per Central government and Supreme Court directives, any commercial, residential or developmental activity on hills exceeding a height of 100 metres requires rigorous scrutiny and strict adherence to environmental laws.
Patna, March 23 : Following his release from Patna's Beur Central Jail, Mokama MLA Anant Kumar Singh received a grand welcome at his residence in Patna, where thousands of supporters had gathered to greet him.a Patna, March 23 (IANS) Following his release from Patna's Beur Central Jail, Mokama MLA Anant Kumar Singh received a grand welcome at his residence in Patna, where thousands of supporters had gathered to greet him.

As soon as his vehicle arrived, supporters erupted in chants of "Chhote Sarkar Zindabad," showering him with flower garlands.

The atmosphere turned celebratory, with fireworks lighting up the sky and slogans echoing across the area.

Overwhelmed by the massive turnout, Anant Kumar Singh urged the crowd to disperse and return later, but the supporters' enthusiasm remained undeterred.

According to supporters, celebrations will continue on Tuesday with a grand roadshow spanning nearly 50 kilometres in the Mokama constituency.

Anant Singh is scheduled to offer prayers at a temple in Barahiya before proceeding to his ancestral village, Nadma, accompanied by a large convoy of supporters.

Speaking to the media, Anant Singh maintained his innocence in the case, stating, "I was four kilometres away at the time of the incident. I have been falsely implicated."

When asked about repeated allegations against him, he responded, "Why am I framed? How would I know?"

Anant Singh, popularly known as "Chhote Sarkar," was arrested in connection with the Dularchand Yadav murder case during the 2025 Assembly elections and was lodged in Beur Jail.

Despite being in custody, he contested the elections as a candidate of Janata Dal United (JDU) and emerged victorious.

The case pertains to an incident on October 30, 2025, in the Mokama region, where clashes during election campaigning led to the killing of Dularchand Yadav. The family members alleged that he was first shot and then mowed down by a heavy vehicle, which led to his death on the spot.

Following his arrest, Anant Singh spent several months in jail before securing bail from the Patna High Court.

His release has once again mobilised his support base, with large-scale celebrations, a community feast for thousands, and political activity intensifying in the region.
Islamabad, March 23 : Pakistani authorities suspect that drug addicts trying to steal copper from the basement may have caused the renewed fire incident at Karachi's Gul Plaza, local media reported.

On Sunday, the basement of Gul Plaza was engulfed in flames again, nearly two months after a deadly blaze at the same site claimed over 70 lives.

Following the incident, the Acting Deputy Commissioner South, Amir Fazal Owaisi, said that the fire was probably caused by drug addicts, with further investigations underway.

According to Owaisi, the police and fire teams discovered several individuals inside the building upon arrival at the site, reportedly having entered to steal wires and other materials, Pakistani daily Express Tribune reported.

Reports suggest that one person was found unconscious in the basement.

Nabi Bakhsh Police stated that the injured person, a drug addict, had entered Gul Plaza alongside accomplices with the intention to steal.

Police suspect the fire erupted when the suspects tried to extract copper by burning wires found in the debris.

The injured man was trapped in the flames, while his accomplices managed to flee. The victim, who was bleeding from the ears and nose, has been taken to Civil Hospital for medical treatment.

Recently, Gul Plaza Mall Management Committee President Tanveer Pasta told Pakistan's judicial commission investigating the devastating January 17 fire at Gul Plaza Mall that rescue services arrived late and failed to evacuate people trapped inside during the crucial early hours of the blaze.

He made the remarks while submitting his response to a questionnaire from the single-judge commission, headed by Justice Agha Faisal of the Sindh High Court, claiming that the building's exits were open and functional during the incident.

Describing the rescue efforts as very slow, Pasta said, "The rescue services had actually become active after Fajr prayers, but by that time it was already too late, as the fire had become uncontrollable," Pakistani daily Dawn reported.

"The responders had no tools/masks/equipment to enter inside the building and to rescue the survivors from the mezzanine floor. Even no foam to combat the fire was available. In fact, no attempt was made by the responders to rescue the survivors in the first few hours of the fire," he alleged.

The massive fire that erupted at Gul Plaza on the night of January 17 triggered public outrage, with people slamming the Sindh government and the Karachi Mayor for the delayed action.
Bhopal, March 23 : Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Monday said that the increasing presence of Madhya Pradesh candidates in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination reflects the changing face of the state.

The Chief Minister made the remarks while addressing a felicitation programme for candidates from Madhya Pradesh who cleared the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) 2025 examination. The event was organised by the state government at the Kushabhau Thakre Convention Centre in Bhopal.

Congratulating 61 candidates from the state who cleared the UPSC examination, Yadav said that "their success is a recognition of their determination and capability. The selected candidates are the architects of a developed and self-reliant India by 2047."

He said that destiny has chosen them for an important responsibility and that success always comes with responsibility. Yadav added that the welfare and development of crores of citizens of Madhya Pradesh will rest on their shoulders.

"Entering the administrative services in the world's largest democracy is a fortunate opportunity for the selected youth. In a democracy, a person can reach the highest positions through the trust of the people," he said.

During his address, the Chief Minister pointed out that there have been instances where candidates cleared the UPSC with good ranks but were unable to effectively implement policies and programmes at the field level.

Additional Chief Secretary of the Higher Education Department of Madhya Pradesh, Anupam Rajan, said that 958 candidates were selected across the country in the Civil Services Examination this year, including 61 from Madhya Pradesh.

He said that 22 of the successful candidates from the state studied in government schools and colleges.

He added that candidates from smaller towns such as Sohagpur and Sironj have also been selected, reflecting the growing interest among the state's youth in civil services. He noted that the perception that preparation for civil services requires studying only in national-level institutions or moving to cities like Delhi or Indore is gradually fading.
New Delhi, March 23 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday sharply criticised the Congress party's past policies while addressing the TV9 Network's 'What India Thinks Today Summit'.

Speaking at the event themed "India and the World", he highlighted India's rising global standing amid ongoing international conflicts and emphasised the need for national unity and restraint.

In his keynote address, the Prime Minister accused the previous Congress-led UPA government of issuing "oil bonds" as a short-sighted measure to conceal fuel price hikes and retain political power, rather than addressing the nation's fuel challenges responsibly.

He said that his government had shouldered this inherited "sin" over the past five to six years, paying out far more than initially projected. While the original estimate was around Rs 1.48 lakh crore, the actual burden exceeded Rs 3 lakh crore due to interest and repayments.

The Prime Minister said that Congress leaders now frequently criticise his government but remain silent on this issue.

Reflecting on global challenges, PM Modi said that wars and geopolitical tensions affect everyone, yet some politicians exploit such situations for narrow gains. He called for restraint and sensitivity, drawing parallels with the Covid-19 pandemic, when collective national effort yielded positive outcomes. India, he asserted, must face current circumstances with the same unified spirit.

The Prime Minister underscored India's unique position in a divided world, building bridges of connectivity and partnering with countries across the globe. When asked whose side India stands on, he said: "We stand with India. We stand with peace. We stand with dialogue."

He criticised how self-interest in politics can override national welfare, contrasting it with what he described as the Congress era's focus on retaining power over public hardship.

PM Modi praised the clarity of India's foreign policy and strategy, which, he said, has earned global admiration even amid ongoing conflicts.

Quoting the Indian adage "Saanch ko aanch nahin" (truth fears no fire), he asserted the strength of honest governance.

He also highlighted India's rapid economic growth and its role in shaping global discourse.

The address reinforced the government's position on correcting past fiscal mismanagement while projecting India as a responsible, peace-oriented power on the global stage.
Davanagere : , March 23 (IANS) Congress candidate Samarth Mallikarjun filed his nomination for the Davanagere South Assembly bypoll on Monday in the presence of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, and other prominent leaders.

The leaders arrived in a massive procession in Davanagere city.

Siddaramaiah said that in earlier bypolls, the Congress had defeated the sons of former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, and expressed confidence that the party would win this time as well.

Addressing the media after the nomination filing, he said: "Late Shamanur Shivashankarappa, who represented the seat, had taken up several development works as a minister and MP. It is the partyas tradition to give the ticket to a family member in the event of the death of a sitting legislator. We have taken the decision accordingly."

Referring to previous bypolls, he said the Congress had won all three Assembly seats. "In Shiggaon, our candidate defeated the son of former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, and in Channapatna, we defeated Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy. We are confident of winning these bypolls as well," he said.

Addressing reports of dissent within the party, particularly among minority leaders, Siddaramaiah said: "We have taken a united decision along with minority leaders. We will address the concerns of local leader Sadiq Pailwan and ensure proper representation for minorities. We are confident of victory."

"This is a by-election. Late Shamanur Shivashankarappa was elected as an MLA six times, and his son, Minister S.S. Mallikarjun, has been elected twice. The Congress is strong in the Davanagere South Assembly segment. We have chosen Samarth as our candidate, and I was present during his nomination filing."

Highlighting the partyas inclusive approach, Siddaramaiah said the Congress represents people from all sections of society. "We do not consider caste or religion. Our party includes people from all communities, including women, farmers, Dalits, backward classes, minorities, and labourers. Congress is the only party that truly believes in inclusive growth," he said.

He also said the party stands by its promises. "We deliver what we promise. In the last three years in power, we have fulfilled more than half of our commitments. We have presented our fourth Budget, and people can judge for themselves whether we have kept our promises," he said.

The Chief Minister added that the five guarantee schemes have been implemented effectively and that Davanagere district ranks first in ensuring their reach to the people.

Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress chief, said the party had taken all sections into confidence. "Young candidate Samarth has studied abroad and wants to serve both rural and urban areas. He has a clear vision. Earlier, when he planned to return abroad, late Shamanur Shivashankarappa advised him to stay back and serve here. Leaders from all communities have supported his candidature. The concerns of the minority community regarding ticket distribution will be addressed," he said.

Meanwhile, Minister for Waqf and Housing Zameer Ahmad Khan, speaking in Bengaluru, said he could not attend the event in Davanagere due to the Assembly proceedings.

"I will visit and camp there soon. We will ensure the victory of the Congress candidate. The party has followed its tradition of giving the ticket to a family member of a deceased legislator. The leadership may consider giving a ticket to a minority candidate in the next Assembly election," he said.
Amid a partial government shutdown, some airports are asking travelers to donate gift cards to TSA workers and have also set up food banks to help support federal employees who are missing paychecks.

Security lines are stretching beyond three hours (and could get longer) at some of the nations busiest airports during the peak spring break travel season, largely driven by a shortage of Transportation Security Administration workers due to resignations and callouts amid the partial government shutdown. Now, ICE agents are heading to some U.S. airports to help move those lines along.

If call-out rates continue to rise, airportsparticularly smaller onesmay even need to shut down, Adam Stahl, the Acting Deputy TSA Administrator, told Fox News last week.

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As delays mount and staffing shortages worsen, some airports are now asking travelers to step in and help support TSA workers. (Heres more on why you might consider stepping in and donating to unpaid TSA employees).

Gift cards for TSA workers have special rules

At Denver International Airportthe 10th busiest airport in the world, according to an analysis from OAG, a digital flight information firmofficials have begun asking Colorado residents and travelers to donate grocery store and gas gift cards in denominations of $10 or $20. The donations are intended for TSA workers who continue to report to work but are not being paid during the partial government shutdown that began in mid-February. More than 1.3 million passengers are forecast to pass through the Denver airports checkpoints between March 11 and March 29 for the spring break travel season.

Once again, DENs federal employees are working tirelessly to ensure our airport operates efficiently and safely without getting paid, said DEN CEO Phil Washington in a press statement. TSA employees just missed their first paycheck, and as we enter a busy Spring Break travel period, we want to do what we can to ease the stress of this moment.

Thats why, he says, the airport is calling on the public and airport employees to donate grocery store and gas gift cards to make this period a little more bearable for these federal workers.

DONATIONS NEEDED Support the dedicated TSA employees working without pay by donating $10 and $20 grocery store and gas gift cards. Visa gift cards cannot be accepted.



Drop off locations can be found at Final Approach cell phone lot and in the Jeppesen Terminal. pic.twitter.com/DZPs5gMuoV  Denver Int'l Airport (@DENAirport) March 11, 2026

In Denver, collection bins and secure lock boxes have been placed in the Great Hall of the Jeppesen Terminal and the Final Approach Cell Phone Lot and will remain there until the shutdown ends.

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Gift cards that function like cash (such as Visa gift cards) cannot be accepted, and theres a reason DEN is requesting smaller denominations. While federal employees cannot accept donations directly, certain gift card donations up to a specific amount are allowed during a shutdown.

The U.S. Office of Government Ethics issued guidance last fall stating that federal employees may accept unsolicited gifts as long as each gift is valued at $20 or less and is not a cash or cash equivalent, such as a Visa or MasterCard gift card.

DEN posted its request on X and received backlash from some users who argued that the burden to keep TSA afloat during a shutdown shouldnt fall on the public. The request for donations also comes at time when travelers are bracing for increased airfare, with jet fuel costs prompting airlines to raise their ticket prices.

In an attempt to minimize disruptions, Denvers airport took an innovative approach during last falls shutdown as well. It submitted a proposal to the FAA seeking permission to cover the salaries of air traffic controllers, TSA agents, and other federal employees working at the airport during the prolonged nationwide shutdown and then be reimbursed by the federal government once the shutdown ended.

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Denver isnt the only airport seeking donations for its TSA workers.

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) is also accepting donations, including food pantry items and household essentials such as cleaners, toilet paper, paper towels, and laundry detergent, as well as $10 gas and grocery gift cards. The airport clarified to keep donations at the $10 mark so it could broaden its distribution.

Airports are also setting up food pantries and offering meal vouchers

Meanwhile some airports have stopped short of requesting gift cards, but have established food pantries for affected TSA workers.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) recently opened a food pantry and is accepting public donations, including non-perishable food, hygiene items, and infant supplies, for TSA workers helping keep the airport running during the shutdown.

SEA has opened a food pantry to support them. If youd like to help, donations of non-perishable food, hygiene items, and diapers can be dropped off at the SEA Conference Center between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. pic.twitter.com/ZMU56rgLIt  Seattle-Tacoma Intl. Airport (@flySEA) March 11, 2026

At Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, airport officials say that due to current federal conditions, passengers should allow at least four hours for security screenings. Amid the strain on TSA, city leaders are stepping in, and Atlanta has been providing two meal vouchers each shift for TSA workers and free parking at the airport.

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Atlanta is a city that looks after the people who serve our community, said Mayor Andre Dickens in a statement. TSA officers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport continue to show up every day to protect millions of travelers, even as they face uncertainty at home. We are deeply grateful for their professionalism and sacrifice, and we will continue doing everything we can locally to support them while urging a swift resolution to the shutdown.

In Las Vegas, Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) has reopened its Food & Essentials Pantry to support federal employees working without pay. Smaller airports, including Redmond Municipal Airport in California, are also stepping in with donation drives like a Neighbor-to-Neighbor Care Drive.

As the shutdown continues, airports across the country are seeking ways to support the TSA workforce during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, but it remains to be seen how the public responds.
Bhopal, March 23 : The Madhya Pradesh government has approved a 3 per cent hike in dearness allowance (DA) for state employees and pensioners, raising the total rate to 58 per cent with effect from July 1, 2025. The decision, taken by the Council of Ministers, aligns the state's DA with the Central government's rate under the 7th Pay Commission and aims to provide relief amid rising living costs.

Bhopal, March 23 (IANS) The Madhya Pradesh government has approved a 3 per cent hike in dearness allowance (DA) for state employees and pensioners, raising the total rate to 58 per cent with effect from July 1, 2025. The decision, taken by the Council of Ministers, aligns the stateas DA with the Central governmentas rate under the 7th Pay Commission and aims to provide relief amid rising living costs.

The enhanced DA will benefit lakhs of government employees drawing salaries under the 7th Pay Commission. The Finance Department has been directed to apply proportionate increases for those under the 6th Pay Commission, as well as for deputed staff from corporations, boards or undertakings on older pay scales (5th and 4th).

For pensioners and family pensioners, dearness relief has been set at 58 per cent under the 7th Pay Commission and 257 per cent under the 6th, effective from January 1, 2026, following consent to a related letter from the Chhattisgarh government, a press release said.

Arrears accumulated from July 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, will be paid in six equal installments a" the first in May 2026, followed by June, July, August, September and October. In cases of retirement or demise between January 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026, the arrears will be released as a lump sum to the employee or their nominee.

The Madhya Pradesh Council of Ministers has also approved a monthly honorarium of Rs 18,000 for guest teachers employed in institutions under the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. This decision brings their remuneration on a par with that of Guest Teachers (Class 1) in the School Education Department, ensuring equitable pay for educators working in the disability sector. The move aims to recognise their contribution to special education and support inclusive teaching practices across the state.

In another welfare measure, the daily per-beneficiary allocation for supplementary nutritional food at Anganwadi centres has been increased for severely underweight (SUW) children aged six months to six years. The amount has been raised from Rs 8 to Rs 12 across all operational centres, in line with the Government of Indiaas recent enhancement.

The Cabinet also cleared several development and continuation proposals worth Rs 6,940 crore. This includes extending nine schemes under the Commercial Tax Department from 2026a"27 to 2030a"31, with Rs 2,933 crore earmarked for rural housing and transport infrastructure, Rs 37 crore for maintenance of the Commercial Tax Tribunal and assets, and Rs 162 crore for IT and establishment costs.

Under the Public Works Department, 17 schemes have been continued for the same period, allocating Rs 691 crore for construction of the ministry building, Legislative Assembly complex and legislatorsa rest houses; Rs 731 crore for government residential quarters, State Guest House and office buildings; Rs 565 crore for project implementation units; and Rs 379 crore for capital project establishment expenses.

Additionally, the Tribal Affairs Department received Rs 102 crore for three schemes promoting Scheduled Tribe culture, research, training and development through 2030a"31.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 23 : The Kerala Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on Monday suspended an Assistant Section Officer pending enquiry following a clerical lapse that led to the circulation of an official communication bearing the seal of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The office of the Chief Electoral Officer in Kerala on Monday evening clarified that a letter from the Election Commission of India, carrying the BJP seal, had been circulated across Malayalam news channels, triggering confusion during a crucial phase of election preparations.

According to officials, the lapse occurred when the BJPas Kerala unit sought clarification on the 2019 guidelines relating to the publication of criminal antecedents of candidates.

As part of the request, the party had submitted a photocopy of the original directive that carried its official seal.

However, the symbol went unnoticed by officials, and the same document was inadvertently circulated to other political parties while issuing the clarification.

The CEOas office said the error was identified swiftly and corrective steps were initiated without delay.

On March 21, the Deputy Chief Electoral Officer formally withdrew the erroneous communication and circulated a revised version to all political parties, District Election Officers and Returning Officers, instructing them to disregard the earlier document.

Kerala goes to the polls on April 9 to elect 140 legislators, with an electorate of around 2.72 crore.

The election will see a triangular contest involving the CPI-M-led Left Democratic Front, the Congress-led United Democratic Front, and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.

Officials emphasised that the incident has not affected the integrity of the electoral process, noting that revised guidelines updated since 2019 had already been communicated to all stakeholders.

The CEOas office also urged the public and the media to avoid spreading misleading interpretations, reiterating that robust systems are in place to ensure a free and fair election.
Hyderabad, March 23 : The Telangana Cabinet on Monday approved some key Bills including a Bill to curb hate speech and another for the welfare of gig workers.

The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, cleared Hate Speech and Hate Crime (Prevention) Bill and Telangana Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration, Social Security, and Welfare) Bill.

These Bills will be introduced during the ongoing budget session of the state legislature.

There are approximately 4.2 lakh gig workers and platform-based workers in the state.

Under the new bill, provisions will be made for the registration of workers, the establishment of a Welfare Board, and the creation of a Welfare Fund, said the official sources.

The Cabinet also gave its nod to Telangana Advocates Protection Bill to curb incidents of attacks against lawyers and to provide them with necessary protection.

It also decided to expedite the process of taking over the existing 69-kilomet Metro Rail network in Hyderabad from L&T. A sub-committee has already submitted a report stating that the government must take over the Phase 1 project by paying L&T a total sum of a15,000 crore, which includes the outstanding debt burden.

The government has entrusted Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) with the responsibility of handling these financial payments and transactions on its behalf. The Cabinet has accorded its approval to designate HMRL as the nodal agency for this purpose.

The Cabinet has approved the report submitted by the independent expert group, which was appointed by the state government to study the caste census conducted within the state.

The Cabinet deliberated upon the various aspects and recommendations contained in the report submitted by the expert group headed by former Supreme Court judge B. Sudershan Reddy.

The Cabinet entrusted the responsibility of examining the report submitted by the expert committee to a Cabinet sub-committee.

The Cabinet decided to constitute a sub-committee to finalise the modalities for the proposed Rohit Vemula Act to curb caste discrimination in educational instiutions.

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka will head the sub-committee, which will have ministers Damodar Rajanarasimha, Sridhar Babu, Uttam Kumar Reddy and Ponnam Prabhakar as the members.

The Cabinet also approved the 'Parents' Support Bill,' under which 15 per cent of the salary or Rs 10,000, whichever is less, will be deducted from the wages of public representatives, as well as government and private employees, who fail to care for their elderly parents. The deducted amount will be given to the parents.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had said last month that the government would introduce a legislation to deal with hate speech and hate crime. He stressed the need for a separate legislation to ensure social harmony and protect vulnerable communities.

The Bill approved by the Cabinet on Monday is said to be on the lines of Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025, passed by Karnataka Legislature in December.

The Congress party in 2023 elections had promised a legislation for the welfare of gig workers and Rohit Vemula Act to check caste discrimination in educational institutions.

Last year, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, had urged the Telangana government to enact the Rohith Vemula Act.

In a letter to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, he called for putting an end to the caste discrimination through a legislation.

Rohith Vemula was a Dalit research scholar of the University of Hyderabad, who died by suicide over alleged caste discrimination in 2016.

Rohith's death sparked massive protests in campuses across the country over caste discrimination in educational institutions.

Rahul Gandhi, during his visit to Hyderabad University, had promised that if voted to power Congress will bring the Rohith Vemula Act.
Jaipur, March 23 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Monday assured that there is adequate availability of petrol, diesel, LPG and fertilisers across the state, urging citizens not to panic. He directed officials to take strict action against hoarding, black marketing, illegal storage and unauthorised refilling.

Chairing a high-level review meeting at the Chief Ministeras residence, Sharma emphasised that the government is taking all necessary steps to prevent any artificial shortages.

Referring to assurances by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he reiterated that the common public will not be allowed to face inconvenience.

The Chief Minister said that helpline numbers 181, 112 and 14435 are operational round the clock to address LPG-related grievances. He directed the Chief Secretary to ensure time-bound resolution of complaints and maintain continuous monitoring.

District administrations, police and logistics departments have been put on alert to ensure smooth supply and distribution. Officials have been instructed to ensure that LPG cylinder refills are delivered without delay, especially after the stipulated waiting period. Adequate arrangements must also be ensured for large gatherings such as weddings.

The Chief Minister stressed the need to expand the City Gas Distribution (CGD) network to reduce dependence on LPG. He directed companies to accelerate the rollout of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections for households and encourage commercial establishments -- such as hospitals, hotels and restaurants -- to switch to natural gas. He also instructed that all pending approvals for pipeline laying be cleared within 24 hours to fast-track infrastructure development.

The Chief Minister noted that the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has approved an additional 10 per cent allocation for commercial LPG and directed officials to ensure its optimal utilisation. He further said that an additional 20 per cent LPG allocation in 5-kg cylinders has been earmarked for hotels, restaurants, dhabas, food processing units, industrial canteens and labourers. Officials were directed to ensure that this supply is not misused.

Both the Central and state governments are working in coordination to ensure adequate availability of urea, DAP and other fertilisers. Over the past decade, the Centre has commissioned six new urea plants, increasing annual production capacity by over 7.6 million metric tonnes.

Reiterating a strict stance, the Chief Minister directed authorities to take firm action against hoarders and rumour-mongers, while ensuring continuous monitoring to prevent misinformation.

The meeting was attended by Medical and Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar, Minister of State for Energy (Independent Charge) Hiralal Nagar, Chief Secretary V. Srinivas, senior officials from key departments, and representatives of petroleum companies.
New York, March 23 : President Donald Trump on Monday sounded optimistic about an imminent settlement of the Iran War with major points of agreement in talks, while Tehran was signalling that there were no negotiations.

Trump told reporters that "we have points, major points of agreement, I would say, almost all points of agreement", especially on the three major points on eliminating nuclear development.

The remarks were greeted by a slump in oil prices and a rise in stock markets.

The Strait of Hormuz has moved to the centre of the conflict and the global economy, and Trump said its opening could be imminent.

Trump has demanded that Iran allow free navigation across the 40-kilometre-wide strait that is a chokepoint for 20 per cent of global fossil fuel flows.

He said that it could open immediately and be controlled by "maybe me and the ayatollah, whoever the Ayatollah is."

Trump said that his envoy, Steve Witkoff, and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, held talks with Iran on Sunday and would continue on Monday.

He did not identify the Iranian negotiators, only saying, "We're dealing with the man who I believe is the most respected and the leader."

He added that it was not Ayatollah Mojtaba Khameini, who succeeded his slain father.

But Iran's Parliament Speaker, M. B. Ghalibaf, denied that there were talks.

He said on X that "no negotiations have been held with the US, and fake news is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped".

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei, according to the news agency IRNA, said that Tehran had not asked to speak to Washington, as Trump had claimed.

Baghaei was quoted as saying that messages had, however, been received through "friendly countries".

Oman may be one of them because its Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said on X that his country "is working intensively to put in place safe passage arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz".

In a placatory gesture to Tehran, he said, "Whatever your view of Iran, this war is not of their making. This is already causing widespread economic problems, and I fear they promise to get much worse if the war continues."

Trump's statement on Truth Social and remarks to reporters did not bring clarity to the talks he said were taking place.

Last week, he had ruled out a ceasefire with Iran, saying that it was already vanquished.

He has also said that there were no credible leaders to negotiate with.

On Truth Social on Monday morning, he said, "I am pleased 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."

Because of "the tenor and the tone of these in-depth, detailed, and constructive conversations", he was postponing for five days an attack on Iran's power system that he had threatened to carry out on Monday if Iran did not allow free navigation across the Strait of Hormuz.

Later, he told reporters in Florida, "They want very much to make a deal. We'd like to make you a deal, too."

He said there were agreements on 15 points, three of which concerned keeping Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

After claiming that it would be short, swift action with the decapitating of Iran's leadership and destroying its missile and remaining nuclear infrastructure, Trump is facing a prolonged conflict that has led to attacks on his Gulf allies and a global energy crisis, with the Strait closed to most shipping.

With mid-term elections that would determine the control of Congress, Trump now seems to be seeking an off-ramp to keep the conflict from spiralling out of his control.

Among his contradictory statements was one last week that he was getting down to "winding down our great military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the terrorist regime of Iran".

Trump faces mid-term elections in eight months that would determine if his party or the Democrats gain control of Congress.

Rising prices of petrol and diesel, and the rolling effects on other everyday products, have loomed as a threat to his party, putting pressure on Trump to end the conflict that he had claimed would be a short, swift operation, with the decapitation of Iran's leadership and destroying its missile and remaining nuclear infrastructure.

But it has spiralled into a wider conflict with Iranian attacks on US allies in the Gulf, and a threat to the global economy due to the closure of the strait, making Trump reconsider the Iran conflict and find an off-ramp.
Washington, March 23 : The White House on Monday declined to comment on mediation efforts in the Iran crisis, saying sensitive diplomacy would not be discussed publicly even as reports pointed to growing back-channel activity.a Washington, March 23 (IANS) The White House on Monday declined to comment on mediation efforts in the Iran crisis, saying sensitive diplomacy would not be discussed publicly even as reports pointed to growing back-channel activity.

"These are sensitive diplomatic discussions and the United States will not negotiate through the news media," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told IANS when asked about Pakistan's role in the conflict and peace efforts.

Her remarks came amid media reports that Pakistan is carrying out back-channel diplomacy to de-escalate tensions between Washington and Tehran after weeks of conflict.

According to a Financial Times report, Pakistan is positioning itself as a mediator, leveraging ties with both Washington and Tehran. The report said Islamabad has proposed hosting talks as early as this week involving senior figures from the Trump administration and Iran.

Separately, Axios reported that Pakistan, along with Turkey and Egypt, has been passing messages between the United States and Iran and is trying to facilitate initial contacts between senior officials.

Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir spoke with President Donald Trump on Sunday, according to people briefed on the call cited by the Financial Times, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday.

White House did not confirm the phone call with Munir.

A Pakistani readout said Sharif "assured the Iranian leadership that Pakistan would continue to play a constructive role in facilitating peace."

The diplomatic activity coincided with Trump stepping back from a threatened strike on Iran's power plants. He said there had been "very good and productive" conversations aimed at ending the conflict and ordered a pause on military action.

"BASED ON THE TENOR AND TONE OF THESE IN-DEPTH, DETAILED, AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS  I HAVE INSTRUCTED THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR TO POSTPONE ANY AND ALL MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRANIAN POWER PLANTS AND ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A FIVE DAY PERIOD," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump also said his envoys were in contact with a senior Iranian official and suggested that progress was being made. "We are dealing with a man that I believe is the most respected," he said, without naming the interlocutor.

Iran publicly denied any direct negotiations with the United States. "Over the past few days, messages were received via certain friendly states conveying the US request for negotiations to end the war," foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said. He added that "appropriate responses were given [to those initiatives] in accordance with the country's fundamental positions."

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of Iran's parliament, also rejected U.S. claims of talks and described them as an attempt to influence markets.

Axios reported that mediating countries were attempting to arrange a call between Iranian and U.S. representatives to determine whether an in-person meeting would take place.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, held talks with Turkey's Hakan Fidan, while Egypt's foreign minister spoke with counterparts from Iran, Pakistan and Turkey, as well as U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, according to reports.
Mumbai, March 23 : Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Minister Narhari Zirwal in the State Legislative Council said on Monday that to strengthen food security in the state, inspection drives will be expanded, and those involved in food adulteration will face action under MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act).

Shiv Sena MLC Manisha Kayande raised the question during the Question Hour.

Minister Zirwal said that cases have been registered against 14 individuals following raids in Vasai and Andheri.

Proceedings to extern (deport from the area) four individuals are underway.

Special attention is being paid to milk supplies entering Mumbai and other major cities.

To address manpower shortages, a proposal has been submitted to the Finance Department.

Recently, 197 employees were recruited and posted after training.

He told the State Legislative Council that a meeting will be convened soon to address issues regarding scented betel nuts.

Meanwhile, State Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil on Monday told the State Assembly that a decision will be taken to take punitive action against the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporations for discharging untreated sewage into natural river streams, which has resulted in the contamination of water used for agriculture.

NCP MLA Dnyaneshwar Katke had raised a calling attention motion regarding the contaminated water being received by farms along the riverbanks in Haveli taluka.

Replying to this attention motion, Minister Vikhe-Patil said that controlling increasing water usage and expanding sewage treatment capacity is the need of the hour.

"Steps will be taken to ensure farmers receive properly treated water suitable for agriculture. Large quantities of sewage are generated in Pune city, of which only 6.2 TMC is treated. The remaining sewage is discharged directly into the Mula-Mutha river, causing pollution."

"According to regulations, it is mandatory to discharge sewage into natural streams only after full treatment. Failing this, there is a provision for a fine along with charges at double the rate," Vikhe-Patil added.

He said that at present, nine treatment plants with a capacity of 477 MLD are operational in Pune.

"New centres are being constructed with cooperation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), with some projects slated for completion by 2026. Additionally, sewage projects for newly merged villages are being implemented under 'AMRUT 2.0'."

The Minister also mentioned that a government policy will be formulated to remove silt from large dams like Ujani and Jayakwadi, as well as smaller dams like Kukadi.

To a query by BJP member Hemant Rasane, the Minister of State for Urban Development Madhuri Misal told the State Assembly that an independent policy will be prepared to resolve the redevelopment issues of dilapidated Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) colonies.

"Many municipal colonies are in a very dilapidated state, and temporary repairs will not suffice. Structural audits have confirmed the need for total redevelopment. Work on 152 houses in an 11-storey building in Sane Guruji Colony is in the final stages, and allotment will be done via a lottery system," she said.

Minister Misal added that under current policy employees are expected to return the houses after retirement.

However, demands for ownership rights and the refusal of residents to move to transit camps have stalled several projects, including the tender for Rajendranagar.

"Since various colonies have independent layouts, there are difficulties regarding FSI (Floor Space Index). A comprehensive policy is being drafted for nearly 4,000 houses to expedite the redevelopment process," she said.
Mansa : , March 23 (IANS) The Mansa district in Punjab has received a major infrastructure boost as the historic Mansa railway station, originally constructed in 1911, has been redeveloped under the Centre's Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, providing modern facilities to passengers after nearly a century.

The railway station has been given a new look and has been dedicated to the general public, although some finishing work is still underway.

The redevelopment has focused on improving passenger convenience by adding modern amenities and upgrading the station's overall infrastructure.

The revamped station now features a modern building, dedicated parking facilities for vehicles, spacious waiting rooms for passengers, lifts, a foot-over-bridge, Wi-Fi connectivity, clean drinking water, and several other passenger-friendly facilities.

Notably, the Mansa railway station was built around 1911, nearly 115 years ago.

Over the decades, while the population of the city continued to grow, the facilities at the railway station largely remained unchanged.

With the redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, the station has now been transformed into a modern facility along with several other railway stations across the country.

The newly constructed station building includes comfortable waiting rooms, a ticket counter, clean toilets, and modern seating benches for passengers.

Platforms have been upgraded with LED lighting, a foot-over-bridge and lift facility have been installed to facilitate movement between platform one and platforms two and three.

In addition, a large canteen has been set up within the station premises.

Separate parking areas for vehicles and a well-organised passenger waiting area have also been developed.

Authorities have also constructed a special park for differently-abled persons outside the station to improve accessibility.

Local residents welcomed the transformation of the station and said the redevelopment has brought significant improvement in passenger facilities.

Local residents, Pala S and Sunil Goyal, told IANS that the condition of the station was earlier very poor but it has improved a lot after the redevelopment.

Another resident Jatinder Agra said that the Mansa railway station is located on the Bathindaa"Delhi line and was built about 115 years ago in 1911.

aAfter all these years, the station is now being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Scheme. Construction work has been going on for about two-and-a-half years, and a very modern building has been built as part of this redevelopment," he added.

Another resident, Rimpy, said the redevelopment has brought a major change for commuters.

"It's a very big change and there is a lot of convenience now. A very good parking facility has been built at the station," he added.

Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is an ongoing Indian Railways mission launched in December 2022 by the Ministry of Railways to redevelop 1,275 stations nationwide
New Delhi, March 23 : Nominations for the upcoming Assam Assembly elections concluded on Monday, with a total of 1,388 nominations submitted across 126 constituencies, indicating a keen electoral contest in the state, officials said. a New Delhi, March 23 (IANS) Nominations for the upcoming Assam Assembly elections concluded on Monday, with a total of 1,388 nominations submitted across 126 constituencies, indicating a keen electoral contest in the state, officials said. 

According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), a total of 817 candidates are in the fray in Assam following the close of nominations. 

The state is among those going to the polls in the first phase on April 9, along with Kerala and Puducherry. 

"Assam has witnessed a substantial number of nominations, reflecting strong political participation across parties and independent candidates," an election official said, adding that the scrutiny of nomination papers will be held on March 24. 

Officials noted that the final list of contesting candidates will be known after the withdrawal deadline on March 26. 

"The electoral process is progressing as per schedule, and all arrangements are in place to ensure smooth scrutiny and subsequent stages," another official said. 

As per ECI guidelines, all candidates are required to submit affidavits detailing criminal antecedents, assets, liabilities, educational qualifications, and social media accounts along with their nomination papers. 

"Transparency remains a key focus. Candidates with criminal backgrounds must publicise such information in newspapers and television channels on three separate occasions during the campaign period," an official added. 

The relatively high number of nominations suggests multi-cornered contests in several constituencies, with major political parties and regional players gearing up for a competitive election. 

Polling in Assam will be held on April 9, with counting of votes on May 4, as per the overall election schedule announced by the ECI. 

With the nomination phase over, the focus now shifts to scrutiny, withdrawals, and intensified campaigning across the state, officials said.
Washington, March 23 : President Donald Trump said Monday the United States will hold off on planned strikes against Iran for five days to test diplomacy, saying talks with Tehran show "a very good chance" of a deal.

Washington, March 23 (IANS) President Donald Trump said Monday the United States will hold off on planned strikes against Iran for five days to test diplomacy, saying talks with Tehran show "a very good chance" of a deal.

Trump made the remarks at a Memphis Safe Task Force roundtable in Tennessee, where he said the decision followed "preliminary conversations between the United States and Iran over the past two days."

"I've directed the Department of War to temporarily postpone planned strikes against major energy and electricity targets in Iran," he said, adding the move was aimed at determining "whether a broader agreement can be reached."

He said the pause would allow both sides to assess the outcome of ongoing talks. "We're giving it five days, and then we're going to see where that takes us," Trump said.

The President expressed optimism about diplomacy. "I think this is a very good chance we're going to end up in a deal," he said, adding that Iran "wants peace."

Trump linked the diplomatic opening to recent U.S. military action. "It's only because of the great job that our military did that they mean business," he said. "They want to settle, and we're going to get it done."

He claimed U.S. operations had significantly degraded Iran's military capacity. "We knocked out their Navy. We knocked out their air force. We knocked out their anti-aircraft. We knocked out everything," Trump said.

According to him, Iran's missile and drone infrastructure has been sharply reduced. "We're destroying their ballistic missiles and drones' programs, with launchers down by more than 90 per cent," he said.

Trump reiterated that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons remains a core U.S. objective. "We'll ensure that Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon. They can't have a nuclear weapon," he said.

He also indicated that Iranian negotiators had signalled their willingness to make concessions. "They've agreed they will not have a nuclear weapon," he said, while cautioning that "you have to get it done."

The President said planned strikes on Iranian infrastructure had been imminent. "We were planning to shoot down some of their power plants, and we're not going to. We're going to hold that up," he said.

Trump said U.S. allies, including Israel, had played a key role. "They've really been a good partner in the fight," he said.

Trump criticised Democrats over a partial shutdown affecting airport security operations. He pointed to "appalling lines and massive disruptions at major airports nationwide" and urged Congress to "restore the full funding for airport security and the TSA."

He accused Democrats of blocking funding tied to border enforcement and voter identification. "They are holding it up because they want to take care of illegal immigrants coming into our country," he said.
Every year, the National Park Service releases its visitor use data, offering a snapshot of where and how guests are spending their time.

As an avid national park hiker and camper myself, I always look forward to seeing which destinations draw the biggest crowds.

Because the National Park Service manages more than 400 sites, this data isnt just for best of bragging rights. As a federal agency, it helps show how public lands are being used.

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In 2025, 323,014,305 recreation visits were reported.

For park goers, this data helps identify popular parks so they can plan accordingly.

It can also encourage people to visit lesser-known destinations if concerned about crowds.

The most visited sites in the National Park system in 2025

The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco during golden hour. (Noppawat Tom Charoensinphon via Getty Images)

The latest data includes over 400 sites managed by the National Park Service.

The numbers below include national parks, historic landmarks, and scenic parkways.

Blue Ridge Parkway saw 16,533,753 visitors Golden Gate National Recreation Area saw 15,748,676 visitors Great Smoky Mountains National Park saw 11,527,939 visitors Natchez Trace Parkway saw 7,994,783 visitors Lincoln Memorial saw 7,743,295 visitors Gateway National Recreation Area saw 7,696,939 visitors Gulf Islands National Seashore saw 7,576,923 visitors George Washington Memorial Parkway saw 6,732,932 visitors Appalachian National Scenic Trail saw 6,215,118 visitors Lake Mead National Recreation Area saw 6,135,586 visitors Zion National Park saw 4,984,525 visitors Vietnam Veterans Memorial saw 4,848,112 visitors Yellowstone National Park saw 4,762,988 visitors Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park saw 4,579,704 visitors Grand Canyon National Park saw 4,430,653 visitors

The most visited national parks in 2025

The Great Smoky Mountains. (Justin Kurdila via Getty Images)

The data below includes only the top national parks (with national park in their title). In other words, it does not include national recreation areas, scenic parkways, or memorials.

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park saw 11,527,939 visitors Zion National Park saw 4,984,525 visitors Yellowstone National Park saw 4,762,988 visitors Grand Canyon National Park saw 4,430,653 visitors Yosemite National Park saw 4,278,413 visitors Rocky Mountain National Park saw 4,171,431 visitors Acadia National Park saw 4,079,318 visitors Grand Teton National Park saw 3,800,648 visitors Olympic National Park saw 3,584,187 visitors Glacier National Park saw 3,136,557 visitors Joshua Tree National Park saw 2,932,644 visitors Indiana Dunes National Park saw 2,629,497 visitors Hot Springs National Park saw 2,494,611 visitors Gateway Arch National Park saw 2,209,028 visitors Bryce Canyon National Park saw 1,967,367 visitors

Travel tip: Planning a 2026 national park road trip? Heres what to know about reservations.

Takeaways from the visitation data

A man standing at the cliff edge, enjoying the view from Zion National Park Canyon Overlook. (Christopher Moswitzer via Getty Images)

Traditional national parks arent the only parks travelers are visiting.

Incredible scenic drives like the Blue Ridge Parkway and spaces near urban areas, such as the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, continue to top the list.

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Iconic parks like the Great Smoky Mountains, Zion, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, and Yosemite continue to rank among the top five, proving that bucket-list destinations still draw millions of travelers.

The latest visitation data highlights how popular Americas national parks are, underscoring why careful planning can help ensure a smooth trip and memorable experience.




Jaipur, March 23 : Former Rajasthan Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader Ashok Gehlot, on Monday, unveiled a new digital series from his X account, striking a sharp political and emotional chord.

Titled "Intezar Shastra" (The science of waiting), the series aims to spotlight projects that, according to Gehlot's team, are fully ready for public use but remain unopened due to petty politics being played by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government.

In the opening chapter, the former Chief Minister sets the tone with a pointed critique of the current BJP government in Rajasthan, accusing it of turning governance into an exercise in delay.

Gehlot says that the BJP's "Intezar Shastra" is not just administrative inertia -- it is actively harming the aspirations and future of Rajasthan's youth.

At the centre of this first episode is the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Governance and Social Sciences (MIGSS) -- a flagship institution conceptualised during Gehlot's tenure as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan.

He shares the video of the building from his X account and says, "Modeled on prestigious institutions like Tata Institute of Social Sciences (Mumbai) and MIT School of Government (Pune), MIGSS was envisioned as a hub for world-class education in governance and social sciences. Built at a cost of Rs 233 crore on Jaipur's JLN Marg, the institute has reportedly been ready since 2024."

Gehlot alleged that MIGSS remains unopened till now.

In a strongly worded appeal, the former Chief Minister urges the current BJP government to rise above political differences and dedicate what he calls a "temple of learning" to the youth of the state without further delay.

"An ordeal of waiting that the people of Rajasthan have endured for over two and a quarter years."

Earlier, on Monday, Gehlot announced the launch of series and said, "Coming soon... Intezaar Shastra -- hinting that more such examples will follow in future chapters."

The first part of the series was released on Monday at 6 p.m., marking what appears to be the beginning of a sustained political narrative built around governance delays, public infrastructure, and youth opportunities in Rajasthan.

Gehlot's team, speaking to IANS, said the aim of the series is highlight the significant work done during his tenure as Chief Minister, which remains unused due to politics being played by the current BJP-led state government.

This series will run for around two weeks, they told IANS.
Kolkata, March 24 : The deadline for publication of the first supplementary list for judicial adjudication of voters classified under the "logical discrepancy" category passed on Monday midnight, with the list yet to be made public.

Kolkata, March 24 (IANS) The deadline for publication of the first supplementary list for judicial adjudication of voters classified under the "logical discrepancy" category passed on Monday midnight, with the list yet to be made public.

Earlier in the evening, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, had informed mediapersons that the list might be available on the Election Commission of India's (ECI) central server between 9 p.m. and 9.30 p.m. on Monday.

However, the list was not available on the ECI's website till midnight. Sources in the CEO's office indicated that the first supplementary list may now be published on Tuesday.

"In the dashboard we have, we can see that the judicial adjudication process has been completed for 29 lakh cases. However, I cannot say how many names will finally be cleared after the e-signatures of the judicial officers are completed. I also cannot say at this stage how many names have been identified as excludable," the CEO said.

To recall, the final electoral roll in West Bengal -- excluding around 60 lakh names referred for judicial adjudication -- was published on February 28. As per the Supreme Court's order, supplementary lists are to be published periodically based on the progress of the adjudication process, with the first scheduled for release by midnight on Monday.

Those whose names are found excludable during the adjudication process will have the option to approach the 19 Appellate Tribunals constituted for the purpose.

The two-phase Assembly elections in West Bengal are scheduled for April 23 and April 29. Polling will be held in 152 constituencies in the first phase and in the remaining 142 constituencies in the second phase.

The results will be announced on May 4.
Patna, March 24 : In a major step toward easing urban congestion, authorities have launched a comprehensive initiative to decongest key traffic zones in Patna.

The plan includes the installation of traffic signals and high-resolution CCTV cameras across critical points within the Patna Municipal Corporation limits, officials said on Monday.

According to Sudhanshu Kumar, Additional Director General (Traffic, Modernisation, and State Crime Records Bureau), more than 20 major congestion hotspots -- particularly in outer areas such as bypass and Zero Mile -- have been identified where commuters face daily traffic snarls.

These locations will soon be equipped with advanced traffic management infrastructure to streamline vehicular movement.

Speaking at a press conference held at Sardar Patel Bhawan in Patna on Monday, Kumar emphasised that persistent traffic jams at these points have been causing significant inconvenience to the public, and the initiative aims to provide much-needed relief.

He also said that around 30 locations within the city already have functional traffic signals and CCTV surveillance systems in place.

These systems are being actively used to monitor traffic violations, identify offending vehicles, and impose fines or initiate legal action accordingly.

Looking ahead, the department plans to expand this system to all key locations across the state's Smart Cities -- including Patna -- as well as divisional headquarters.

The deployment of high-resolution cameras is expected to enhance enforcement efficiency and ensure smoother traffic flow across urban centres.

In a significant boost to policing infrastructure, the Bihar Special Auxiliary Police (BSAP)-1 is set to establish its office in Naubatpur near Patna.

For this purpose, a 30-acre land parcel has already been identified, and the acquisition process is expected to commence soon.

An amount of Rs 40 crore has been sanctioned for the establishment of the BSAP-1 office, marking a major step toward strengthening law enforcement infrastructure in the region.

In addition, over the past three months, approvals worth Rs 49.78 crore have been granted for the construction of multiple police infrastructure projects across the state.

These include four new police station buildings, one residence-cum-office for a Superintendent of Police, and two sub-divisional level offices.

Officials have indicated that construction work at all these sites will begin shortly.

The police station buildings will be developed as modern three-storey structures, equipped with essential facilities, furniture, and fixtures to enhance operational efficiency.

This initiative is aimed at improving policing capacity, administrative efficiency, and overall law and order management across Bihar.
Like the heroine in her latest picture book, From the Fields to the Fight: How Jessica Govea Thorbourne Organized for Justice (illustrated by Sol Salinas), who fought for the rights of farm workers, Angela Quezada Padron has spoken up about unfair treatment, discrimination, and injustice since childhood, and she is not about to stop now. The book, which celebrates the women of the United Farm Workers union, is especially timely in light of the recent allegations of co-founder Cesar Chavezs abuse. Id like people to understand that the movement was more than just one person, that people like Jessica were also involved in making a big impact, Padron says. Shes also the author-illustrator of As the Seas Rise: Nicole Hernadez Hammer and Climate Justice and the forthcoming titles Lucias Goals (Lee & Low), Sisters All the Time (Charlesbridge), and An Island Called Home (Eerdmans). PW spoke with Padron about her work as an educator, editor, and an author-illustrator and publisher; why she feels called to tell the untold stories of strong Latinas; and the advice she believes Jessica Govea Thorbourne would give young readers living in our world today.

Can you tell us about your time in the classroom and what kind of curriculum youve created?

I began my 30-year career as an art teacher and then taught early elementary and fourth through sixth grades, too. But after I worked in a summer program for children of migrant workersand being so connected to my fathers Dominican Republic culture and rootsI decided that I wanted to go into bilingual education to help migrant children and multilingual learners learn English to do well in school and beyond. I went back to school to become a bilingual and ESL teacher, and that became my passion. In addition, I started working as a developmental editor and author and began developing Spanish and ESL curriculum including content books, teachers guides, supplemental materials, and K2 literacy decodable readers to help teach phonics and literacy skills, and online games.

Spending my summers in the Dominican Republic as a child and seeing how other people live differently than we did here in the United States, I learned from a very early age to appreciate what I had. These things impacted my world view. And because my father was a doctor and my mother was a nurse, the idea of helping people became important to me. I think thats why I went into education. Then, when I started working with migrant children, I tried putting myself in their shoes and giving them the tools they needed to be able to be successful in their school and communities. As a result, Ive always tried to advocate for and empower my students and their parents, and to consider their bilingualism and biculturalism as an asset, not a hindrance, to learning and for their future aspirations.

From teaching children to writing and illustrating books for children, how did you discover these Latina women and decide to write books to honor them?

While I had been illustrating and writing for kids since 2003, the idea came when I attended an SCBWI conference in 2020 where industry experts were talking about how there were very few books about famous Latinos who have made an impact in the world. With this in mind, I started doing research and came across Nicole Hernandez Hammer, a Latina climate scientist whom I wrote about in my first picture book biography, As the Seas Rise. And then I found out about Jessica Govea Thorbourne. Researching and writing these books has helped pave the way for me to bring together my proud Latina background and my passion to teach, advocate, and help migrant children and multilingual learners. In addition, writing From Field to the Fight has allowed me to share a story about someone who kept fighting for peoples rights and to encourage others to fight for justice for all.

Can share more about From the Fields to the Fight?

While writing my latest picture book biography, I wanted to focus on the fact that something so small as a grape could have such a big impact through a boycott; and someone as young as Thorbourne was when she started her fight for justice could make a difference. Everything that Thorbourne did from the time she was nine years old affected her as an adultworking with her father going door-to-door and passing out flyers, and getting the bug to organize. She kept doing it through her teenage years and fighting for what was right. I think kids need more stories like these. The world does, too. So, I will keep writing them.

In what ways would you like your books to empower readers of all ages?

I want my readers to realize that anyone at any ageincluding younger childrencan have a passion and use it to make a difference. Maybe its in your school, neighborhood, or community where you can organize by finding people who have similar beliefs, passions, concerns, and find ways that you can work together to make change. All you need is one person to create a spark, and you can do it!

As for caretakers, educators, and librarians who read my book to children, I hope that they will encourage kids to follow their passions or something that they feel strongly about to make a difference. I hope they will also help to model good behavior towards people who may not speak the same language or share the same cultureand encourage greater empathy toward them. We are all human. We all are more alike than different and want the same thingsto provide for our families and to contribute to society.

What advice do you think Thorbourne would give us today in light of current events?

Obviously, I cannot speak for her because I didnt know her. But from learning about her and her actions, I think that she would say to find the way that you feel can make a difference, even if its small, and do it.

She often stepped outside of her comfort zone. And I think that if people took a moment and tried not to be afraid, they could help their neighbors and fellow human beings in need. Not everybody has a platform or is good at public speaking. Some people are braver than others. Some are better at recording videos to tell the truth. Others are good at bringing food and coffee to the people who are out there protesting. So, I think shed say start small, dont give up, and never stop fighting for justice.
In spite of all the Middle Easts recent volatility, one thing remains clear: Turkey continues to try positioning itself as the regions indispensable hinge  a state too useful for Washington, Tehran, or Riyadh to ignore. In a world defined by shifting alliances, collapsing regimes, and non-state actors, Ankara is carving out a role nestled in the art of adaptability.

Turkeys road back from its post-Arab Spring overreach has been born out of necessity, above all else. Its wager on Sunni Islamist movements - most notably the Muslim Brotherhood, which has since been proscribed as a terrorist organisation by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt - in the wake of the Arab Spring constituted a broader effort to shape the new regional order. Erdogan's bet on leaders such as President Morsi in Egypt attempted to put a legitimate face on a broader Islamist movement. But when those movements ultimately fell, Turkey was left marginalised by its Arab neighbours, and divorced from regional diplomatic frameworks. It's attempt to proliferate the spread of political Islam - at precisely the time its Arab neighbours were attempting to move in the opposite direction.

Since 2021, Ankara has undertaken a transformative course of pragmatic reorientation. Turkey has reset diplomatic ties with Gulf neighbours and reopened dialogue with Israel. Crucially, the strategy attempts to place Turkey back inside the political architecture of the region.

It is a strategy seen most acutely in Syria. After the regimes fall, Erdogan quickly backed the new government, and maintained its military presence  thought to exceed 20,000  to bring security to the northern regions. Whether it be its embassy reopening in 2024, or its welcoming of a Syrian delegation to Ankara, Turkeys approach clearly represents a concerted effort to shoehorn itself within Syrias political reconstruction. If successful, they will likely enjoy a front seat in helping design the countrys future.

This narrative extends far beyond Damascus, however; Turkey is extending its reach throughout Iraq, as well. Its engagement is built upon three central pillars: counter-PKK operations, economic integration and strategic connectivity. The Development Road Project  a multi-billion-dollar linkage between the Gulf and Europe, through Turkey, has become a flagship of this strategy. The countrys oil-for-water deal in 2025 reinforces this institutionalised independence, creating a reliance on Turkish investment and cementing Turkey inside Baghdads long-term outlook.

Across Iraq and Syria, the sentiment is clear: the Middle East is far from the ideological contest of years past. A more transactional regional order is emerging, and it is increasingly one defined by pragmatic partnerships, where influence is gained through who can deliver the best options on the ground. And that shift favours actors like Turkey, whose influence stems not from ideology, but from the capabilities to enact policy across multiple theatres.

It is a strategy particularly relevant in the wake of the Iran conflict, where Ankara has defined its role as a diplomatic conduit between the two warring powers. Turkeys interest in the conflict ending is clear - refugees will doubtless land at Turkeys door - but the countrys motivations stretch further than simple crisis management.

Across all of these domains, one clear pattern emerges. Where it formally anchors itself in NATO, it is increasingly renewing its ties with non-Western actors; where it is re-establishing ties with Gulf nations, it maintains open channels with Damascus and Tehran. The very same opportunistic statecraft that saw an overreach after the Arab Spring now fuels a more calculated approach. And if the maps of the Middle East are indeed being slowly altered, the lesson remains the same: the real test is whether Turkey can establish a seat within the Middle Easts political order. For Erdogan, this requires a continued recognition that influence is now defined not by who instigates crises, but rather who manages them.

Oliver Dawson is a finalist at Durham University, reading Politics & International Relations. He is also a Policy Fellow at the Pinsker Centre, a UK-based foreign policy think tank, and a former Treasurer of the Durham Union Society.
Pelican is the go-to choice for hardshell cases that need to survive in conditions that would destroy anything else. To celebrate Americas 250th birthday this year, Pelican has launched a new set of limited edition colors in its Elite Cooler and Vault Series lines!

Built to the same standards and testing as all the Pelican offerings, the new America 250 collection features limited edition colors to make these a little extra special. Pelicans coolers are fantastic for keeping meat or brews cold, while the Vault Series makes some of the best gun cases that money can buy.

The coolers come in all sizes, from the small 8QT ($70 MSRP) to the impressive 70QT ($362 MSRP). Four Valut series cases are available in the America 250 collection. V100 pistol case ($45 MSRP), V30 5-pistol case ($140 MSRP), V770 single rifle case ($170 MSRP), and V800 double rifle case ($230 MSRP).

Pelican rifle cases are our top pick for any time that a rifle needs the best protection, especially while flying. High-impact hard plastic shell, the most robust latches on the market, and hard locking points built-in. When it needs to survive whatever TSA will do to it and retain zero after landing, Pelican gets the job done.

Take it a step further with Magpul DAKA grid internal organizers, which are available for the V770 and V800. This combination is how we transport our personal firearms for matches, hunts, and events.

Pelicans Elite Coolers features include:

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Finished in a patriotic, limited-edition design

Available in sizes 8QT70QT (MSRP: $69.95$362.95)

Pelicans best-selling Vault Series features include:

Limited-edition run of Pelicans Vault protective cases

Features an exclusive America 250 anniversary colorway

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Crushproof and weather-resistant for dependable gear protection

Secure push-button latches for easy access and durability
Every Monday between 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m., passing drivers honk  in support or frustration  at a group of protestors holding signs and blowing whistles along the corner of Alps Road and Baxter Street. This weekly gathering, which has become routine for members of Indivisible GA 10 since the killing of George Floyd in 2020, is among many efforts organized by the group.
The Red & Black serves the Athens and University of Georgia communities with reliable, independent news, while training the future of the free press. Your donation keeps our newsroom strong and supports the work behind every story.

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I live not far from the Green Bay and Suamico area, so this story immediately caught my attention. But even if you are nowhere near Wisconsin, the photo of Mitsy wrapped in a blanket after being pulled from the icy water is the kind of image that makes you instantly want to know she is okay.

According to the Suamico Fire Department, crews responded to Sensiba Wildlife Refuge near the Bay of Green Bay after receiving a report of a dog in distress on the ice. When they arrived, they found that Mitsy, a 3-year-old golden retriever, had fallen through the ice approximately 100 feet from shore and was unable to get out.

The department said its Ice Water Rescue Team was then deployed, using specialized equipment and training to safely reach the dog. Firefighters were able to rescue Mitsy from the icy water and bring her back to shore.

The ice rescue of Mitsy, a 3-year-old Labrador, at Sensiba Wildlife Refuge in Suamico, Wisconsin. (Suamico Fire Department)

Once on land, Mitsy was evaluated by EMS personnel and found to be in stable condition. She was then safely reunited with her owner. The department also thanked the Brown County Sheriffs Office and Brown County Public Safety Communications for helping coordinate the rescue.

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As relieved as I was to read that update, the comments under the post were what really drove home how much this story resonated with people. A lot of them were simply grateful Mitsy made it out safely.

Thank you for saving the sweet baby!  one person wrote.

Great work by everyone involved. This is a perfect example of how consistent training, strong support from the village, and generous community donations all come together to make a real difference, another commented.

The ice rescue of Mitsy, a 3-year-old Labrador, at Sensiba Wildlife Refuge in Suamico, Wisconsin. (Suamico Fire Department)

Others said it was exactly the kind of story they wanted to see more of. It sure would be nice to see this on our news. Be nice to see some positive reporting.! thank you for finding this sweet baby valuable enough to save! one person wrote.

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Another added, Man, this restores my faith, goodness & kindness are alive & well! So much news lately about animals being treated so terribly & people rescuing them! Wonderful people, who still believe a soul is worth saving, no matter how many legs!!!

Plenty of commenters also thanked the first responders directly. What a happy ending.  one person wrote, while another added, Grateful for heroes 

It is also a reminder that late-winter and early-spring ice can be unpredictable, especially for pets who do not know the difference between a frozen surface that looks safe and one that is not. In this case, though, the story ended the way everyone was hoping it would: with Mitsy safe, back on shore, and heading home.

If you enjoy pet stories, you may also like my piece on the states most likely to spoil their pets and this roundup of dog gifts both you and your pup will love.
TRAI Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti emphasises the pivotal role of Artificial Intelligence in revolutionising India's telecom sector, enhancing network efficiency, cybersecurity, and paving the way for advanced 6G technology.

Photograph: PTI Photo from the Rediff Archives

Key Points Artificial Intelligence is becoming integral to telecom network design and management in India.

AI enables self-optimising networks, predictive maintenance, and intelligent spectrum management.

India's digital transformation is rapidly advancing, with over one billion data subscribers.

5G technology is transforming the telecom landscape, contributing significantly to data usage.

India is actively preparing for the deployment of 6G technology with AI-native network designs.

Artificial Intelligence is no longer peripheral to telecom, and is becoming integral to how networks are designed, managed, and experienced, Anil Kumar Lahoti, Chairman, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said on Monday.

AI is already enabling self-optimising networks, predictive maintenance, intelligent spectrum management, enhanced cybersecurity, improved energy efficiency, and better customer experience, he noted.

"India is undergoing one of the fastest digital transformations in the world. Telecommunication and digital technologies are now core infrastructure for economic growth, governance, and social inclusion," Lahoti said, speaking at a session of the 33rd Convergence India & 11th Smart Future Cities India Expo.

At the end of 2025, data subscribers in India crossed one billion mark, with 5G contributing around 400 million.

The total wireless data usage was around 25 million terabytes, with 5G contributing over 10 million terabytes.

"This is the size of digital communication in India. The deployment of 5G technology is transforming the telecom landscape," Lahoti said.

India is preparing well for the upcoming 6G technology, he observed.

AI's Impact on Telecom Networks

"Artificial intelligence is no longer peripheral to telecom; it is becoming integral to how networks are designed, managed, and experienced. AI is already enabling self-optimising networks, predictive maintenance, intelligent spectrum management, enhanced cybersecurity, improved energy efficiency, and better customer experience," Lahoti pointed out.

Telecom service providers are effectively using AI, as per the TRAI's regulatory framework, for proactive detection and flagging of fraud and spam, Lahoti further said.

"As we move towards 6G, AI-native network design will enable highly reliable, low-latency, and more personalised services," the TRAI chief added.
Argentina is stepping up as a crucial LPG supplier to India, helping to address shortages caused by the ongoing conflict in West Asia and disruptions to global energy supply chains.

Kindly note that this image has on,ly been posted for representational purposes. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Argentina has more than doubled its LPG exports to India in early 2026 to offset supply disruptions from the West Asia conflict.

The war in West Asia has disrupted global LPG supply chains, impacting Indian households and commercial establishments.

India relies heavily on the Strait of Hormuz for LPG imports, which have been affected by the Iran war.

The LPG shortage in India has led to delays in cylinder deliveries, business closures, and job losses, particularly affecting migrant workers.

Argentina is emerging as a key economic partner for India in South America, with bilateral trade increasing significantly.

To overcome the shortage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas in the country due to West Asia war situation, Argentina has stepped in with more supplies.

The country shipped 50,000 tonnes of LPG to India in the first three months of 2026, more than double the 22,000 tonnes supplied in 2025.

According to a report in The Economic Times newspaper, nearly 39,000 tonnes were dispatched from the Port of Bahia Blanca before the outbreak of the war, with another 11,000 tonne cargo shipped on March 5.

There were no LPG shipments from Argentina to India before 2024, and in just two years Argentina is becoming a key economic partner for India in South America.

The Economic Times report stated that bilateral trade rose 36.77 percent to $6.34 billion from January to November 2025.

India is Argentinas fifth largest trading partner and export destination.

The ongoing war in West Asia, which began in late 2025, has played a major role in disrupting global LPG supply chains.

As tensions escalated across key energy-producing regions, shipping routes were affected and supply uncertainties increased especially due to the closure of Strait of Hormuz by Iran.

The Strait of Hormuz is the key water point from where 85 percent of Indias LPG was being imported from Qatar and other middle east countries.

Impact of LPG Shortage on Indian Households and Businesses

After the war started, the resultant LPG shortage has had a direct impact on households across the country.

Where LPG cylinders were earlier delivered within a few days of booking, many homes are now waiting between two and three weeks to receive a refill.

In some areas, delays have extended further, creating daily challenges for families dependent on LPG for cooking.

Commercial establishments have been severely affected by the supply disruption. Restaurants, small eateries, and catering services have been forced to cut down operations or shut completely due to the lack of LPG supply.

Many businesses report that they are unable to secure regular refills, making it unsustainable to continue operations.

Industrial Impact and Economic Consequences

The industrial sector, particularly in some parts of Gujarat, has also been hit hard.

Factories that rely on LPG for manufacturing processes have slowed production or shut down entirely.

As a result, many workers, especially migrant labourers, are returning to their hometowns due to job losses and uncertainty, highlighting the broader economic impact of the ongoing war crisis.
Despite recent challenges, Jefferies maintains a 'Buy' rating for Paytm, forecasting significant growth driven by its dominant merchant payments platform and expansion into financial services.

IMAGE: Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

Key Points Jefferies projects a 22% CAGR in Paytm's revenue between FY26 and FY28, driven by its strong merchant payments platform.

Paytm's merchant platform is rapidly becoming the largest in India, supporting higher payment volumes and faster loan origination.

Payments GMV is forecast to grow at 23% CAGR, reaching Rs 35 lakh crore by FY28, supported by a growing Soundbox device base.

Jefferies sees significant potential in credit on UPI, which could drive higher volumes and improve take rates for Paytm.

Paytm is expanding into wealth management and travel, with meaningful contributions expected from FY28 onwards.

Paytm, operated by One 97 Communications, continues to maintain a dominant merchant payments platform, which is expected to drive its growth over the next two years, brokerage Jefferies on Monday.

The brokerage retained its 'Buy' rating on the stock with a target price of Rs 1,350, projecting a 22 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in revenue between FY26 and FY28, along with expansion in adjusted EBITDA margins.

Paytm's Merchant Platform Dominance

Jefferies said Paytm's merchant platform is rapidly emerging as the largest in India across online and offline channels, supporting higher payment volumes and faster loan origination. The platform, with an active base of 45 million merchants, is expected to benefit from rising subscription device penetration and operating leverage.

Payments gross merchandise value (GMV) is forecast to grow at 23 per cent CAGR over FY26 to FY28, reaching Rs 35 lakh crore by FY28 from Rs 24 lakh crore estimated for FY26, underpinned by a growing base of 13 million installed Soundbox devices, the brokerage added.

The company has also piloted an artificial intelligence-powered conversational Soundbox across 10,000 outlets and may maintain pricing to strengthen market share, the report noted.

Lending and Credit Opportunities

Jefferies said Paytm's merchant lending business is outpacing retail lending and offers better take rates, while highlighting long-term potential in credit on UPI, particularly if non-banking financial companies are allowed to lend through the platform.

The merchant lending vertical is also benefiting from the stronger platform, growing faster than the retail segment and offering better take rates, according to Jefferies. The brokerage sees a significant longer-term opportunity in credit on UPI, which could drive meaningfully higher volumes once non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) are permitted to lend through the rails, while also improving take rates on payments.

Financial services revenue is projected to grow at a 28 per cent CAGR over FY26-FY28, increasing its share in overall revenue. Total revenue is expected to reach about Rs 12,500 crore by FY28.

The brokerage expects Paytm to post a profit after tax of Rs 1,700 crore in FY28, compared to a loss of Rs 1,417 crore in FY24. It also estimates a profit of Rs 574 crore in FY26.

Contribution margins are seen stable at 55-56 per cent, while indirect expenses are projected to decline as a share of revenue, reflecting operating leverage.

Expansion into New Verticals

Jefferies added that Paytm is expanding into wealth management and travel, with meaningful contributions expected from FY28 onwards, and noted limited impact from restrictions on real-money gaming and certain credit card-linked payments.

The company's merchant platform, which Jefferies described as rapidly becoming the largest in India across both online and offline channels, is driving stronger payments volumes as well as accelerating loan origination.

With an active merchant base of 45 million and subscription device penetration projected to rise from 28 per cent to 36 per cent of its merchant network by FY28, the platform is expected to generate increasing operating leverage that will push adjusted EBITDA margins from 8.5 per cent to 16 per cent between FY26 and FY28, Jefferies added in its brokerage report.

Beyond its core payments and lending businesses, Paytm is also building capabilities in wealth management and travel platforms, with meaningful financial contributions from these verticals expected from FY28-FY29 onwards.

Jefferies flagged that Paytm also had a limited impact on restrictions on real money gaming (RMG) and rent or education payments made by credit card.
The government and LIC had been planning to sell a 60.7 per cent stake in IDBI Bank as part of the Centres broader privatisation programme aimed at reducing state ownership in the banking sector.

Photograph: Niharika Kulkarni/Reuters

Key Points The government holds 45.48 per cent in IDBI Bank while LIC owns 49.24 per cent.

The slowdown reflects deeper structural problems within the governments privatisation machinery.

Excessive privatisation could weaken the banking systems ability to support the common citizen.

Indias privatisation push, once projected as a cornerstone of economic reform, has suffered another setback, with the Centre set to call off the IDBI Bank stake sale, highlighting the political and structural constraints shaping the countrys disinvestment policy, experts say.

The stake sale is likely to be scrapped because the bids came in below the reserved price set by the government.

"It appears that prevailing global uncertainties and continuously changing market conditions may have affected investor appetite and valuations, a government official said.

The government and state-run Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) had been planning to sell a 60.7 per cent stake in IDBI Bank as part of the Centres broader privatisation programme aimed at reducing state ownership in the banking sector.

Privatisation pipeline

The government holds 45.48 per cent in the lender while LIC owns 49.24 per cent.

In the governments original strategic-sale pipeline, with companies such as Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd, Container Corporation of India, BEML, Shipping Corporation of India, and IDBI Bank, only Air India has been privatised so far, sold to the Tata group in 2022 for Rs 18,000 crore.

Experts say the difficulty lies not merely in execution but in the inherent tensions within the governments objectives.

Why divestment has become difficult

Divestment becomes difficult primarily because the government wants to realise a good valuation for public-sector enterprises.

"These assets are often seen as family silver, so selling them at a low price is politically and economically difficult, said Kavita Rao, director, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy.

According to Rao, when public-sector companies are reasonably profitable, governments often prefer partial stake sales through the market rather than outright privatisation.

Full privatisation requires finding buyers willing to pay a high valuation, which is not always easy, she said.

The complexity of the process itself often contributes to delays and reversals, said former Finance Secretary Ajay Narayan Jha.

Privatising public-sector enterprises is often difficult because the process itself is long and complex.

"By the time the government completes valuation, approvals and the bidding process, market conditions may change significantly, said Jha, who also served as member of the Fifteenth Finance Commission.

If the government expects a certain valuation and the market is willing to offer less than that, it becomes difficult to proceed.

"Market sentiment plays a critical role. Even private companies withdraw from initial public offerings when market conditions are not favourable, he said.

What experts say

He also noted the improved financial performance of public-sector banks (PSBs) in recent years could strengthen their valuations if market conditions became more favourable.

However, some former policymakers argue that the slowdown reflects deeper structural problems within the governments privatisation machinery.

Subhash Chandra Garg, former finance secretary, said the government had initially announced an ambitious privatisation policy but soon backed out.

The government brought a policy in the 2020-21 Budget and promised a roaring privatisation and disinvestment programme.

"It said it would sell all saleable public-sector enterprises except those in the strategic sectors.

"That was abandoned because of two reasons in my judgement. First, the government concluded, as it did in the case of farm laws, it was not politically worth it.

"Second, its managers of disinvestment and privatisation did not have a clue as to how to effect these transactions, especially privatisation, successfully and professionally, Garg said.

On the stalled IDBI Bank transaction, Garg said the absence of a clear institutional driver contributed to the delay.

IDBI privatisation has been on the table for the past four years.

"Again, it seems to me that there was no real owner or driver of this transaction with all important regulators and ministries pulling in different directions.

"I guess the IDBI Bank transaction has collapsed because the risk-averse managers fixed the reserve price too high.

Garg dismissed the possibility of PSB privatisation moving ahead anytime soon.

PSB privatisation was shut out the day the government decided not to bring in promised amendments to the nationalisation law to enable privatisation.

"The second confirmation was received when despite the insurance law having been amended, no transactions were initiated for the less political general insurance sector.

Employee unions too have opposed the move

Vitthal K Rao, general secretary, All India IDBI Bank Officers Association, said employee groups had repeatedly urged the government to reconsider the plan.

We have consistently urged the government to reconsider the proposal to sell a majority stake in IDBI Bank to private or foreign entities.

"Handing over a large controlling stake raises concerns about governance and financial stability.

"PSBs have historically played a crucial role in serving segments that private banks often avoid, such as small borrowers, students seeking unsecured education loans, and farmers needing affordable crop credit.

"Beyond employment concerns, our primary worry is that excessive privatisation could weaken the banking systems ability to support the common citizen and priority sectors, he said.

The broader fiscal context also reflects the pressures shaping disinvestment policy.

Successive Union Budgets have often set ambitious targets, but the government has struggled to meet them, increasingly relying on dividends and minority stake sales rather than large strategic transactions.

According to data from the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), the government has raised about Rs 15,562.79 crore through divestment in FY26 so far, largely through market-based stake sales such as offer-for-sale transactions in companies including Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd, Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd, Indian Railways Finance Corporation, Bank of Maharashtra and Indian Overseas Bank.

The Union Budget this year has set a target of Rs 80,000 crore from disinvestment and asset monetisation under miscellaneous capital receipts, signalling continued reliance on public asset sales to support non-tax revenues.
Some investors are allocating capital into Indian residential assets not only for investment but also as lifestyle or family assets.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

Key Points Global uncertainty is prompting many investors, particularly NRIs based in West Asia, to re-evaluate geographic concentration in their property portfolios.

Experts believe the investor cohort may also extend beyond NRIs.

Currency dynamics are also playing a role.

NRI sales in DLF projects have remained above $400 million in the last two financial years.

Escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia are prompting investors with exposure to Dubais real estate market to reassess their portfolios.

And, in this rejig, India is emerging as a stable destination for capital investment and long-term growth.

India a stable investment destination

While Dubai has long been viewed as a tax-efficient, high-yield market attracting global capital, the city is caught in the crossfire of the West Asia war.

We are seeing a gradual increase in enquiries from non-resident Indians (NRIs) and investors based in West Asia who are looking to diversify their portfolios by adding exposure to India, said Sachin Sawrikar, founder and managing partner at Artha Bharat Investment Managers.

The recent escalation of geopolitical tensions in West Asia has reintroduced regional risk into an asset class that was earlier perceived as insulated from conflicts, said Vijay Agrawal, managing director (MD) and sector lead for infrastructure at Equirus Capital.

The uncertainty is prompting many investors, particularly NRIs based in West Asia, to re-evaluate geographic concentration in their property portfolios.

What experts say

Experts believe the investor cohort may also extend beyond NRIs, who are expected to remain the most active segment due to their familiarity with the Indian market.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) citizens, family offices and regional investment groups may also consider India as part of a broader emerging-markets allocation strategy, said Bhavik Vora, partner at Grant Thornton Bharat.

Industry executives say the combination of structural housing demand, economic growth and regulatory maturity is positioning India as a complementary real estate destination for investors navigating global uncertainty.

India offers macro stability, domestic demand depth and long-term appreciation potential, which become particularly valuable during periods of geopolitical uncertainty, Agrawal said.

Currency dynamics are also playing a role.

The depreciation of the rupee has effectively increased purchasing power for NRIs earning in foreign currencies such as the US dollar or UAE dirham.

"This makes Indian real estate comparatively more attractive, said a Delhi-based broker.

Market watchers add...

However, market watchers add that the shift is less about exiting Dubai and more about diversification.

Conversations now include not just real estate but also private markets and other India-focused investment strategies.

Sawrikar said the expansion of global capability centres (GCCs), data centres and logistics infrastructure is creating sustained demand for office space and housing in cities such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Pune.

Alternative assets

He added that investment managers are also seeing interest in alternative assets that provide geographic diversification.

Our recently launched physical gold fund has attracted attention from investors interested in holding gold custodied in India.

"This is adding another layer of diversification to their portfolios in terms of where the asset is physically stored, he said.

With Indias property market gaining credibility over the past decade with reforms such as the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (Rera), developers say regulatory clarity, along with strong domestic demand, is helping position the country as a long-term investment market rather than a speculative cycle.

Indian cities drawing investor interest

Cities such as Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Delhi-NCR are among the key markets drawing investor interest due to their economic growth prospects.

In the present geopolitical environment, investors often reassess their portfolios and consider greater geographic diversification, said Aakash Ohri, MD and chief business officer at DLF Home Developers.

He added that DLF has observed a steady rise in enquiries from overseas investors exploring real estate opportunities in India.

This, however, is not a sudden phenomenon.

Ohri adds that Indias realty segment is seeing an increase in foreign interest post-Covid.

According to numbers shared by DLF, NRI sales in their projects have remained above $400 million in the last two financial years.

Some investors are allocating capital into Indian residential assets not only for investment but also as lifestyle or family assets.

"This is especially with long-term plans for relocation or education of their children, Agrawal said.
The Supreme Court has ordered a 'fair, dispassionate, transparent, and time-bound' investigation by the CBI and ED into the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, addressing concerns over alleged large-scale banking fraud and demanding accountability.

Photograph: Prashant Waydande/Reuters

Key Points The Supreme Court has directed the CBI and ED to conduct a fair and time-bound investigation into alleged banking fraud involving the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group.

The court expressed displeasure over the 'reluctance' shown by the CBI and ED in probing the alleged large-scale banking fraud exceeding Rs 40,000 crore.

The ED has already attached assets worth Rs 15,000 crore and arrested several individuals in connection with the case.

The court noted that a loan amount of over Rs 3,000 crore was apparently settled by paying only Rs 26 crore, estimating the total fraud amount to be around Rs 73,000 crore.

The Supreme Court has sought fresh status reports from the probe agencies and scheduled a further hearing on the PIL after four weeks.

The Supreme Court on Monday expressed displeasure over the "reluctance" shown by the CBI and the ED in probing the alleged large-scale banking fraud involving the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group and its firms, and directed them to conduct a "fair, dispassionate, transparent, and time-bound" investigation into the matter.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi took note of the submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and directed all concerned financial institutions to "render full cooperation to the ED".

Hearing a PIL filed by former bureaucrat E A S Sarma seeking a court-monitored investigation into alleged loan frauds exceeding Rs 40,000 crore by Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) firms led by Anil Ambani, the bench permitted the central probe agencies to approach it in case there is any reluctance on the part of other government bodies in extending cooperation to them.

At the outset, Mehta informed the bench that an SIT, in pursuance of an earlier order, had been constituted comprising senior ED officers and financial experts from the banking sector.

He said the probe agencies, so far, attached assets worth Rs 15,000 crore and also arrested four persons, including a few senior officials.

On the other hand, lawyer Prashant Bhushan, appearing for Sarma, referred to a SEBI report and said it has been highlighted that there was a scheme devised to siphon off money and yet the CBI has not made any arrests so far.

"Arrests have been made. We cannot make random arrests," the solicitor general said.

"We cannot direct (them) whom to arrest; but the investigating agencies, the way they have shown reluctance, is not acceptable. They should say in a time-bound manner as to what has been found. Your investigation should reveal what has been done and must inspire confidence not only in us, but everybody," the CJI said.

Court Observations and Directives

The bench referred to certain facts disclosed in the fresh status reports of the probe agencies and said the CBI and the ED are presently probing seven and eight FIRs, respectively.

It also said that a loan amount of more than Rs 3,000 crore has been apparently settled by paying Rs 26 crore.

The bench said it is estimated that the total fraud amount is around Rs 73,000 crore.

"The investigating agencies must join hands and find out the issue. We impress upon the CBI and the ED that the probe be completed most dispassionately and independently so that it is taken to a logical conclusion in a time-bound manner.

"The solicitor general assured that no stone shall be left unturned to unearth the truth. The solicitor general has pointed to the second status report by the ED, where details have been sought from financial institutions. We allow the prayer in its entirety," the bench ordered.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Anil Ambani, said that due to the pendency of the PIL, the lending banks are not willing to have a dialogue with him to settle the dues.

"Due to the pendency of the case, they are hesitant," Rohatgi said.

The bench said it has not stopped anyone from having any consultations.

The bench sought fresh status reports from the probe agencies and fixed the PIL for further hearing after four weeks.

Background and Allegations

On February 4, the bench had voiced displeasure over the "unexplained delay" in investigations.

Ambani had assured the top court that he would not leave the country without its prior nod after the petitioner apprehended that he may flee.

The ED has alleged defaults of Rs 7,500 crore in Reliance Home Finance and Rs 8,200 crore in Reliance Commercial Finance, citing "large-scale diversion of public funds".

On Reliance Power, the ED's report, which has been recorded by the bench, said the agency is investigating the submission of forged bank guarantees to the Solar Energy Corporation of India, which caused a loss of more than Rs 105 crore.

Bhushan pointed out that Reliance Communications, despite having debts of Rs 47,000 crore, was sold for a mere Rs 430 crore, roughly 1 per cent of its value, to a company belonging to Anil Ambani's brother.

"The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code is being misused like anything," the CJI said.

A senior lawyer, appearing for ADAG, said that two group companies, Reliance Power and Reliance Infrastructure, had already repaid Rs 20,000 crore.

On January 23, the top court had asked the CBI and the ED to file status reports in a sealed cover within 10 days on their ongoing investigations into alleged massive banking and corporate fraud.

The FIR was registered in 2025, though the fraud had been going on since 2007-08, the lawyer alleged.

The PIL alleged systematic diversion of public funds, fabrication of financial statements and institutional complicity across multiple entities of the Anil Ambani-led Reliance ADAG.

It said the FIR registered by the CBI, along with the connected ED proceedings, addresses merely a small segment of the alleged fraud.

It also sought a direction to the respondents for the constitution of a special investigation team (SIT) comprising officers from the CBI and the ED to conduct a thorough, impartial and time-bound investigation.

It said between 2013 and 2017, RCOM, Reliance Infratel and Reliance Telecom borrowed Rs 31,580 crore from a consortium of banks led by the State Bank of India.
This article was first published 5 years ago

Despite its stiffness, in Aarkkariyam, a supernatural glow does shine out of the ordinary, notes Sreehari Nair.

IMAGE: Biju Menon and Sharafudheen in Aarkkariyam.

For those who cannot stomach spoilers: I am going to begin by dropping a big one.

Halfway into Sanu John Varughese's Aarkkariyam, the house in which most of the story takes place, where the characters spend their time milling about, praying, cooking, licking their wounds, where they try to feel each other's pulse and where they try not to step on each other's toes, this house, is revealed to be a morgue.

It's a sensational revelation, but do not expect it to be underscored by lightning or followed by a general quickening of affairs.

The man who makes the revelation does not pause to reflect, the man who takes in the revelation does not go for a demonstration of outrage.

IMAGE: Parvathy Thiruvothu and Biju Menon in Aarkkariyam.

Sanu Varughese's film is about the psychological effects of murder, expressed not as a grand operatic piece but as a hum.

Just like how the aforementioned incident plays out so does the rest of the movie, and its background score, which floats by unannounced, is dissipated into the air and is abruptly called back at numerous points. And all this, you come to realise, is by design.

Many scenes might seem to you 'less' than they ought to be. Yet, this relentless holding back, this coolness of attitude, becomes the film's style.

You cannot tell with absolute surety if the performances are brilliant or any good at all, but you can tell why you may be left feeling so indecisive.

Varughese wants to create something mythopoeic, but without bringing into play any of the popular conventions of myth-making.

Aarkkariyam, or at least a big part of it, is told from the point of view of Roy, and Sharafudheen has to do something very tricky with his role: He has to give an almost motionless performance, as a bloke mired in self-doubt and upon whom a burden gets thrust.

It is lockdown time and Roy and his wife, Sherly (Parvathy), move from Mumbai to Sherly's ancestral home in Kerala, where her old man, with eyes that miss nothing and who wants his grey hair to be constantly acknowledged, waits for the couple.

The home is located in the high ranges of Kerala -- and I can see this setting (with its lushness providing the perfect mask for everything grisly) turning into a staple of Malayalam cinema.

Aarkkariyam is about what happens when, in such a sleepy town, odd things start occurring to an ordinary, even a somewhat boring fellow.

Roy is Jeffrey Beaumont from Blue Velvet, and yet, not quite (what he doesn't have is Beaumont's taste for kinkiness).

The zinger in Aarkkariyam is that this average curious guy, who could easily pass off for a mod professor of mathematics, is confronted with truths darker than he can possibly take on (The final shot in the film has him staring, as if into a weighty future).

Staring back at Roy, with a crooked smile, is the film's invisible protagonist: God.

The title, though it contains no explicit reference to Him, translates to 'God Only Knows, and is a phrase that Malayalis often throw around with a casual shrug to emphasise goings-on that lie beyond human comprehension.

Here, it is used to make sport of that fundamental delusion in our nature: one that allows us to classify all our mistakes as 'God's doing'.

As I said, this is not a film blessed with performances that can, as such, be qualitatively analysed.

And yet, this is very much a film that brings to the surface its actors' not-often-publicised strengths and weaknesses.

Biju Menon is one of our major artistes, and it would have taken a major artiste to portray the old man, Ittyavira, as someone whose irritations bear testimony to a life that's now infested with serious gaps in memory.

Parvathy's performance as Shirley proves yet again that she comes into her own, primarily, as a force pitted against society and its conservative ways.

In a film that by and large expects the actress to 'behave convincingly', she feels most alive in a scene where Shirley has to convey the pain of being seen patronisingly by her relatives.

Those who have watched Sharafudheen before (and taken note of how nutty he can be) would be correct in viewing the actor's performance here as evidence of his range.

This is a character whose highlight emotions aren't very different from each other and such personages are what test your generosity as a performer.

There's a terrific scene in the film (probably its best scene) which has Roy gulping down shots of low-quality arrack, and there, his co-actor, Pramod Veliyanad, completely owns the environment, and Sharafudheen has the good sense to hold himself back and let Pramod flower.

Sadly for the movie, what gets lost in all this held-back-ness is a sense of its characters having shared a real history together.

We hardly get to see any throwaway reactions. And the people uttering their lines don't give you the impression that they know each other well enough to let their utterances if need be, vaporise into illegibility. Every word, every punctuation, is pristinely emitted -- and that grates on your ears.

When Roy prepares dosas for Shirley, the whole act feels as organic as Leopold Bloom bringing Molly her breakfast.

But then, they start hurling little nothings at each other, and the naturalness wears off before the next round of batter can be poured.

The dialogues are too polished, in that they don't contain the frustration and the slight annoyance that come with speaking to someone you know intimately.

Also, the switching between languages (Malayalam, English, Hindi) sounds forced, and the only person to ace the transitions is Saiju Kurup -- who swears one way when discussing the details of a business deal and another way when broadcasting affection.

This is cinematographer Sanu Varughese's first film as a director and it says things about him -- some of which point to a strong sense of individuality; others, to artistry which is not yet fully formed.

Like his dialogues, the lockdown-specific details that Varughese works out are nothing too efflorescent. And they suggest a puny and a rather narrow vision of the world.

But then, there's also a stubbornness about Varughese's vision -- which is often a sign that you can grow in certain specific ways as a film-maker.

I think Varughese's sensibility rests on his yearning for a Kerala that he was born into and one that he later left behind while shifting his base somewhat permanently to Mumbai.

He could not get out of Kerala fast enough. And now, he has acquired the eyes of someone who sees the land of his birth as an exotic place, a place that hides inside its everyday details a million mystical tales.

Despite its stiffness, in Aarkkariyam, a supernatural glow does shine out of the ordinary.

There's something especially personal about the way Varughese draws out the religious scenes.

Watching those scenes, I got the feeling that the rituals he witnessed in his childhood are hoarded up inside him like passages from a black theatre.

When the old man, Ittyavira, prays for the atonement of his sins, he expresses both the austerity of the super-pious and the cynicism of someone who has arrived at the end of piety -- he's the Pope and he's E K Nayanar.

Rediff Rating:

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
India's handling of the Iran crisis reflects a growing strain between strategic autonomy and geopolitical alignment, observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

IMAGE: People attend an anti-US and Israeli rally in Tehran, March 22, 2026. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

Key Points Modi-Pezeshkian call exposed widening diplomatic gaps, reflecting growing strain in historically stable India-Iran relations.

India's perceived tilt toward US-Israel axis raises concerns about erosion of independent foreign policy positioning.

Iran's outreach emphasised self-defence narrative, but India's response focused on regional stability and shipping security.

Failure to leverage BRICS and multilateral platforms signals cautious diplomacy shaped by fear of US repercussions.

The salience of the two readouts of the phone call on Saturday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian is that the bilateral relationship between the two 'civilisation States' has become fraught lately. The divergence of opinion is all too apparent.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can congratulate himself for creating this unthinkable situation -- a tiny country of 8 or 9 million people bending a Leviathan of 1,400 million to dance to its tune.

But there is no question that the buck stops at Delhi in its failure to allow Israel to enter the Indian policymakers' tent and eventually take it over -- a catastrophe that could have been foretold from Israel's track record.

India-Iran Diplomatic Strain Deepens

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Photograph: Kind courtesy @narendramodi/X

Second, India's transformation as a co-habitant of the US-Israeli orbit is evident from the Indian readout.

PM just couldn't bring himself to call a spade even when the plain truth stares at him -- that Trump at Netanyahu's urging ordered a naked aggression against Iran that threatens international security. What more empirical evidence would he require one doesn't know.

Third, the government decision to practise the maxim of the three wise monkeys -- 'see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil' -- dealing with impropriety by turning a blind eye, won't fly. It only tarnishes India's reputation.

Modi-Pezeshkian Call Highlights Divide

IMAGE: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar with Iran Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi. Photograph: @DrSJaishankar X/ANI Photo

Pezeshkian tried hard to draw out Modi by underscoring '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 pointed out that the US and Israel assassinated Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, top military commanders and defenceless civilians, including innocent school children (over 200 in one primary school alone), and also targeted public infrastructure.

He reiterated Khamenei's fatwa against building or possessing nuclear weapons.

Pezeshkian reiterated Tehran's readiness for international verification and monitoring of its peaceful nuclear activities. But what effect Pezeshkian's entreaties made on Modi no one knows.

Modi on his part instead stressed the critical importance of Iran respecting freedom of navigation and ensuring international shipping lanes remain open and secure -- and, 'condemned the recent [Iranian] attacks on critical infrastructure in the region, noting that such actions threatened regional stability and disrupt vital global supply chains.'

But Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi had explained in detail to his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar a few days back only the consequences of the US-Israeli aggression for regional and global stability and security and 'emphasised the firm resolve of the Iranian government, nation, and armed forces to exercise their legitimate right to self-defence against the aggressors.'

Frankly, self-defence is a thought process that Indians are familiar with; after all, Operation Sindoor needed no other plausible justification.

US-Israel Axis Concerns Grow

IMAGE: Iranian missiles fly towards Israel as seen from Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, March 23, 2026. Photograph: Mussa Qawasma/Reuters

Fourth, Delhi keeps batting for the oil-rich regional States of the Gulf, remaining silent on their double standards. They professed peace but effectively facilitated the US aggression.

Doesn't Delhi know that these vassal States are on a self-destructive trajectory if the war spreads and the Arab Spring would look a picnic? Modi has one or two good friends among the Gulf region's rulers.

Has anyone attempted to counsel moderation and put sense into them? When the Saudis convened a regional meeting of regional States with US backing last week, they invited Pakistan and excluded India.

It must be Jaishankar's idea to do yeoman service unilaterally to the US-Israeli agenda to whip up xenophobia -- driving the sheikhs back into the American camp just when they began realising that the US bases gave them no real protection when the crunch time came.

What has India got to lose if these regional States follow an independent foreign policy?

Plainly put, do not try to fish in troubled waters. We will look incredibly stupid when, in a post-war scenario, the Gulf States return to the reconciliation track with Iran.

Tehran's serious intent to consolidate relations with its eastern neighbours is not in doubt.

This war is a last-ditch US-Israeli attempt to set the natives of West Asia against each other. This should be something familiar to Indians who lived thorough colonial rule.

BRICS Role Remains Unused

IMAGE: Emergency response personnel work at the site of damage after Iranian missile barrages struck Dimona in southern Israel, March 21, 2026. Photograph: Ilan Assayag/Reuters

Finally, it is evident that the Iranians harbour a sense of deep hurt over the Indian stance.

What Pezeshkian told French President Emmanuel Macron upfront in a phone conversation, he might as well have told Modi too -- France's involvement 'in support of the aggressors will constitute complicity in the US-Israeli unlawful war against the Islamic Republic... Such moves will only lead to further complications and intensification of the situation in the region.'

Pezeshkian also warned Macron that Iran will respond in kind to the US-Israeli strikes on civilian targets such as schools, hospitals and infrastructure.

Macron promptly responded that Paris considered the ongoing war against Iran inconsistent with international law, adding that his country had no involvement in the conflict -- and, furthermore, France was holding consultations with some countries to control and prevent escalation.

Gulf Tensions Threaten Stability

IMAGE: Israeli strike a bridge near Qasmiyeh, Lebanon, March 22, 2026, cutting off southern Lebanon from the rest of the country. Photograph: Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters

Finally, a word of caution. India is in serious danger of not being taken seriously by the world community if the leadership walks in goose step with Trump and Netanyahu.

Observe and learn from Islamabad's footfalls despite being in military alliance with Riyadh.

Iran's new Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba in his Eid greetings described Pakistan as a 'great country' and expressed his affinity for it.

A course correction is possible, as both Pezeshkian and Araghchi have taken up with the Indian counterparts the importance of BRICS as a forum for developing multilateral cooperation, and the possibilities that exist for the institution to play a constructive role at the current juncture in supporting regional and global stability and security. Alas, the Indian readout does not even touch on BRICS.

It is a catch-22 situation. India's vital interests are at stake in the ongoing war but Delhi is no longer a free agent, because Trump works on zero-sum terms that either India is with him or against him. And our elites, most certainly, want to be with Trump only.

IMAGE: Emergency response personnel work after Iranian missile barrages struck Dimona in southern Israel. Photograph: Ilan Assayag/Reuters

India has a readymade diplomatic tool available in BRICS, being the chairman of the group in 2026. But it is petrified that Trump will punish India if Delhi exercised its prerogative to issue a BRICS statement. Virtually, India is becoming Trump's Trojan horse in the BRICS tent.

India's stance brings ridicule, whether the ruling elites realise it or not, given Trump and Netanyahu's sordid reputation as baby killers. But if the Indian leadership were to assert its dignity, Trump may come down like a ton of bricks.

Also Read: A War Of Attrition Is The Last Thing Trump Expected

The best course under the circumstances is to restrict itself to forestall collateral damage if the war moves further up the escalation ladder and Israel uses its nuclear weapons in sheer frustration.

Iran's devastating retaliatory strike at Dimona on Saturday left Israelis shell-shocked. The Gulf situation is poised to turn into an explosive crisis as things stand, and a Plan B is necessary. Close to 10 million Indians live In that region.

Rajnath Singh flagged the urgency, but did not offer any contingency plan.

First of all, a national consensus is needed to tackle such a tsunami before it hits our shores -- or worse still, a nuclear holocaust erupts in our neighbourhood.

What are we waiting for? On Saturday, Israel attacked Iran's Natanz nuclear site for the second time provoking a massive retaliation.

Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar served the Indian Foreign Service for 29 years.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
Israel wishes to continue its bombing campaign until Iran's military and industrial infrastructure are degraded to a point where it ceases to pose a threat to Israel.

Iran, for its part, has learnt from its experience in the 12-day war of last June.

Any ceasefire, it believes, will only be a prelude to another attack on itself.

It is determined to convey that any attack on Iran will impose heavy costs on Israel, the US, America's allies in the Gulf -- and on the world at large, points out T T Ram Mohan.

IMAGE: Emergency response personnel work at the site of damage after Iranian missile barrages struck Dimona in southern Israel, March 21, 2026. Photograph: Ilan Assayag/Reuters

Key Points US and Israel's initial assumptions have proven incorrect.

The Iranian regime has not collapsed despite leadership losses.



Everybody is asking about the war in Iran: How long will it last? Equally important is the question: How will it end?

We don't have definitive answers yet. What we do know is that the answers the United States and Israel had when they initiated the conflict two weeks ago have turned out to be patently incorrect.

President Donald Trump has not got the quick, decisive victory he wanted. The Iranian government has not imploded following the killing of its supreme leader and around 40 senior leaders.

The people of Iran have not risen in revolt. The Iranian leadership is in no mood to give Mr Trump the 'unconditional surrender' he has demanded.

Even on the strictly military dimension, the war has not turned out as the US and Israel had expected. On March 7, a week into the war, Karoline Leavitt, the White House spokesperson, made an astonishing statement.

Ms Leavitt told reporters that the US was 'on track to achieve air superiority and control over Iran's airspace.'

The statement was astonishing because we had all been led to believe much earlier that Iranian air defences had been wiped out.

That American and Israeli aircraft were dropping missiles and bombs at will from the skies over Iran.

Two days before Ms Leavitt made her statement, Israel's Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir had announced that 80 per cent of Iran's air defences had been destroyed and Israel had achieved 'almost complete air superiority over Iran'.

Larry Johnson, a former Marine officer whose blog on military matters is widely followed, provides an insight into what's going on.

He says that the US and Israeli planes are flying close to Iran's western border and delivering missiles with a range of anywhere between 370 km and 980 km.

That is not quite the same as having dominance of Iran's skies. It is one reason why the war is stretching out longer than thought.

It is hard to tell how long the war will go on because we lack clarity about America's objectives. President Trump and his colleagues have cited different objectives at different times.

Eliminating Iran's nuclear weapons (already 'obliterated' last June). Crippling Iran's ballistic missile capability.

Ending Iran's support for proxies in West Asia. Liberating the people of Iran from a theocratic regime.

Regime change, which could mean a set of leaders (even if theocratic) that are kinder to the US and Israel.

Any combination of these objectives will take longer than the four to six weeks that most analysts have been talking about.

Will There Be A Quick End?

Neither Israel nor Iran favours a quick end to the war. Israel wishes to continue its bombing campaign until Iran's military and industrial infrastructure are degraded to a point where it ceases to pose a threat to Israel.

Iran, for its part, has learnt from its experience in the 12-day war of last June.

Any ceasefire, it believes, will only be a prelude to another attack on itself.

It is determined to convey that any attack on Iran will impose heavy costs on Israel, the US, America's allies in the Gulf -- and on the world at large.

Imposing those costs will take more than the three weeks that have elapsed.

The price of Brent crude rose to no more than $85 until March 6. Analysts judged that the conflict would be limited to four to six weeks.

They were confounded when the price of oil rose to $108 by March 8.

They now judged that the markets were pricing in a war longer than four to six weeks.

There is a world of difference between an oil price of $80 and an oil price of $100.

The former is an annoyance. The latter constitutes a serious disruption to the global economy.

As widely reported, about 20 per cent of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) passes through the Strait of Hormuz.

The leap from $80 to over $100 per barrel of oil happened after Iran announced that it would attack any ship that passed through the Strait.

The threat has been hugely successful. The Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington estimates that, based on ship-tracking data that is publicly available, the daily average of vessels transiting the Strait has fallen from 153 to 13.

That is more than a 90 per cent drop in sea traffic.

Oil that is produced and cannot pass through the Strait of Hormuz has to be stocked. The oil producers are close to their storage capacity.

Saudi Arabia and other oil producers have, therefore, responded with cuts in oil production.

Some of the oil passes through pipelines on land. Iran's missiles are trained on them.

The oil refineries themselves have been attacked. Brent crude's price briefly leapt up to $120 a barrel at one point.

That reflected the perception that the entire energy infrastructure is at risk in the next step up the escalation ladder.

President Trump has indicated twice that the war will be shorter than most people fear. On March 9, Mr Trump told reporters that the Iran war would end 'very soon'.

He said that Iran's air force, navy and communications had been destroyed and that the war was 'very complete, pretty much'.

Oil prices tumbled promptly to below $90 per barrel in the belief that an early exit for the US was on and normalcy would soon return. They have risen back to $100.

How the war ends is as important as when the war ends. On present indications, the war is unlikely to end on America's terms.

Gulf's Economic Normal Won't Return Soon

Iran's regime will not have fallen and the character of its leadership will not have changed. The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz will not happen quickly.

The restoration of insurance for ships passing through the Strait will take time and the premia will be higher than in the past, given the changed perception of risk.

The resumption of normal output of oil at refineries that have shut down will be a long-drawn-out affair.

The Gulf countries that have sought to diversify away from oil into tourism and finance will be adversely impacted in a situation in which the Iranian government is intact.

In short, the ending of the conflict will not mean the old normal will be restored in a short time; in some respects, it will not be restored at all.

The war in Iran may end in four to six weeks. Or it may stretch out longer. Because the war will not end on America's terms, the damage to the world economy will not be insubstantial in either scenario.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
'We were in a heavily nuclearised environment. China had tested for Pakistan in the 1980s and helped their missile programme stay just one step behind us.'

IMAGE: Then prime minister Indira Gandhi with Dr Homi Sethna, right, then chairman, Atomic Energy Commission, and K C Pant, then minister of state for defence, left, at the site of India's first nuclear explosion in Pokharan, Rajasthan, 1974.

Key Points Indian leadership feared the high cost of a nuclear weapons programme amid weak economic conditions.

India still hoped the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty would lead to meaningful disarmament.

Non-nuclear States faced strict safeguards, while nuclear States made only vague 'good faith' commitments.

Shivshankar Menon has had a distinguished career in the Indian Foreign Service -- as ambassador to Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Israel and China.

He was foreign secretary and later national security advisor to the government of India. He has had a long association with the Indian nuclear programme.

Shivanand Kanavi spoke to Ambassador Menon about the Indian nuclear weapons programme.

"After 1971 and Nixon's visit to China, the last thing the US-China tacit alliance wanted was a nuclear-armed India. That's why they reacted so violently to our 1974 test," Ambassador Menon tells Shivanand Kanavi in the first of a two-part interview:

After the first Chinese nuclear test at Lop Nor in 1964, why do you think India did not immediately pursue a nuclear weapons programme or at least a test?

I think there were people who wanted to pursue weapons, but the feeling was that the economic cost would be too high. Opinion was also very divided within the establishment.

Some still argued that India should set an example -- that we could build the capability but shouldn't.

This is why, under Prime Minister Shastri, we sought a nuclear umbrella from both the Soviet Union and the United States. We didn't get one.

Frankly, a nuclear umbrella is a fraud. Who is going to put their own citizenry at risk for your security, especially in the face of nuclear weapons? So, fundamentally, it doesn't make sense.

We were also in the middle of negotiating the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and there was still some hope for a meaningful agreement. Once the superpowers came to an agreement amongst themselves in late 1966 or early 1967, that door closed.

There was no hope for any real, effective disarmament or control of nuclear weapons.

Most importantly, the Chinese test showed a capability, but it wasn't an operationalized weapon system. Given China's internal situation at the time, we felt we had a few years to make up our minds.

Clearly, nobody was willing to give up the capability. The CIRUS reactor went critical, and the plutonium plant started producing plutonium, etc.

Dr Homi Bhabha was quite clear: We should have the capability and should announce it and demonstrate it. But the political leadership was much less ready.

When Mrs Indira Gandhi came to power, she faced a terrible situation. The economy was a mess; we didn't have enough food. Devaluation made it even harder.

Many promises made by the Americans during her first visit to the US and (then US president) Lyndon B Johnson were not delivered by the US system.

Politically, the Congress lost a lot of states in the 1967 elections. The economy was under continuous stress. Even the victory of 1971 came with huge stress -- the refugees, the cost of the war, the mobilisation.

Immediately after that, we had the 1973 oil crisis. So, it took some courage to do the test in 1974.

Kindly note the image of a nuclear test has been published only for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy Burnt Pineapple Productions/Wikimedia Commons

It's also said that during the NPT negotiations, though India played a major role initially, we were taken aback when the 1967 cut-off was introduced.

Well, not just the cut-off. There was a real negotiation on the NPT and disarmament until the US and Soviets reached a private agreement. The Soviets' biggest fear was that the US would transfer control of nuclear weapons in Europe to its NATO allies, like Germany.

For the Americans, the NPT was a way to stop everyone else from acquiring nuclear weapons that is all.

To get Soviet agreement on an NPT that stopped horizontal proliferation (though it allowed vertical proliferation), the US had to give up the idea of a European nuclear force.

The promise was that command and control would always stay with the US, even for weapons stationed in Europe. The Soviets did the same with weapons in Belarus and Ukraine.

Once they made that agreement, the entire shape of the NPT changed. It was no longer about non-nuclear States giving up the option in return for nuclear States giving up their weapons.

Suddenly, nuclear weapons were off the table.

The nuclear States would only make 'good faith efforts' towards disarmament. That took the bottom out of the original idea.

Then, you had binding commitments and safeguards for everyone else. The only loophole entered was Article 4, on peaceful nuclear explosions.

As for the 1967 cut-off, most treaties have an effective date close to their signature or ratification. That was much later, in 1970 or 1971.

IMAGE: Then prime minister Indira Gandhi with then US president Richard M Nixon at the White House. Photograph: Reuters

'Last thing US-China alliance wanted was a nuclear-armed India'

What's surprising is that some CIA or diplomatic correspondence suggests that after the 1962 War, the US might have been benign, even encouraging, towards an Indian nuclear programme, with promises of help. Is there any truth to that?

There are many stories, but there's no way to prove any of them. For an objective account of the NPT negotiations, I recommend Bertrand Goldschmidt, the French scientist.

France didn't sign the NPT for many years and had a fairly objective view of the superpowers dealing over everyone's heads.

If the Americans did have a benign attitude -- which I'm not sure they did -- and the Soviets had already split with China, even they were not benign towards an Indian programme.

The 1967 cut-off made sure India could not be part of the nuclear club.

The problem wasn't just India; if you allowed India, then Germany, Japan, and others would want the same. None of them signed the NPT immediately.

In any case, no established power wants another power to rise. The whole goal of US policy, as they say openly, is to prevent the emergence of a peer competitor. After 1967, the Soviets became the strongest defenders of the NPT system, even stronger than the Americans.

After 1971 and Nixon's visit to China, the last thing the US-China tacit alliance wanted was a nuclear-armed India.

That's why they reacted so violently to our 1974 test. The Zangger Committee was created after the 1974 Pokharan test, and from that, the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) grew.

The Soviets were very vehement about it in private, though publicly it was (then US president) Jimmy Carter who was vocal.

IMAGE: From left to right: Then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee with then defence minister George Fernandes and scientists A P J Abdul Kalam, then head of India's Defence Research and Development Organisation, and R Chidambaram, then chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, at the Buddha site in Pokhran, Rajasthan, where India's nuclear tests were carried out in May 1998. Photograph: Reuters

Why did India eventually weaponise and declare itself a nuclear power in 1998?

Four things changed drastically in the 1990s:

The NPT was made permanent in 1995. This fixed that discrimination forever; there was no hope of it ever being made satisfactory to us. Pakistan was a de facto nuclear weapon State. It had threatened us with nuclear weapons at least three times before 1998. We were in a heavily nuclearised environment. China had tested for Pakistan in the 1980s and helped their missile programme stay just one step behind us. The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) was an attempt to close down our future options. The French and Chinese tested just before it was announced to get their testing behind them. We would have been hugely disadvantaged.

So, we decided to test. I can understand the compulsions in 1998.

IMAGE: India tests its short-range nuclear capable ballistic missile Agni-1.

'There are theories about why Rao didn't test in 1996'

But why did we not make nuclear weapons right after 1974?

I'm not sure. I know many thought we should, right through the 1980s -- people like Dr Raja Ramanna, General K Sundarji, K Subramanyam. Politically, figures like Vajpayee had argued for it since the 1960s.

Mrs Gandhi herself didn't initiate a weaponisation programme immediately after 1974. It was much later, when she returned in the 1980s, that she started much of it, including the nuclear submarine programme.

Each leader took it a step forward: Rajiv Gandhi with the missile programme, Narasimha Rao, and then Vajpayee, who finally gave the go-ahead for the Pokharan 2 tests. Mr Vajpayee publicly acknowledged Narasimha Rao's work.

There are theories about why Rao didn't test in 1996. One is that he wanted to demonstrate capability without actually testing, sending a message to Pakistan, China, and the US, which helped his diplomacy.

The standard theory is that the US found out and pressured him, and he buckled. But with Narasimha Rao, nothing was that simple. He was a much more complicated person.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
Western North Carolina is mountainous and is home to some of the highest peaks in the East, including Mt. Mitchell, the very highest at 6,684. Within the region are numerous mountain towns, the best-known of which is Asheville. However, theres another town close to outdoor recreation, with scenic views and ties to the frontier past, and although its much smaller than Asheville, its big enough to have everything you need.

Welcome to Boone, nestled in a valley just west of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Aerial view captured in the afternoon, showcasing the mountain town of Boone, North Carolina. (OakCityDrone via Getty Images)

Incorporated in 1872, Boone is, as you might have guessed, named for legendary frontiersman Daniel Boone. Although Boone never lived there, he did camp on grounds within the city limits multiple times. His nephews, Jonathan and Jesse, did live in the town and were members of the first church built there. That church, Three Forks Baptist, still stands today.

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Boone honors the region's past in many ways, and one of the most significant is the annual Horn in the West performance. Set in an outdoor amphitheater, this production pays tribute to the lives of the regions early settlers, and one of the character roles is Daniel Boone.

Another nod to the Appalachian past comes from the town's status as a cultural hub. It attracts bluegrass musicians and storytellers spinning narratives about the mountains and their people. Many well-known and award-winning musicians and other artists have spent time here, and the country-and-western star Eric Church is from Boone.

Blowing Rock, NC, Amusement park, Tweetsie Railroad. (J. Michael Jones via Getty Images)

One more of the many connections to the past is the Tweetsie Railroad. This is the nickname for the narrow-gauge Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad that historically served the town and contributed to its growth. In 1940, a flood destroyed most of the tracks, and they werent rebuilt. A theme park now commemorates the railroad, featuring a 3-mile steam-powered train ride.

In addition to being a cultural hub, Boone is a Mecca for lovers of the outdoors. In the vicinity are several state and privately owned parks. Two of the most notable are Grandfather Mountain and Blowing Rock. At 5,964, the former is the highest peak in the Blue Ridge, and you can only reach the summit by hiking. The latter is a rock outcrop that juts out into the sky and is known for strange wind patterns.

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The spectacular Blue Ridge Parkway is nearby and offers greater access to mountain scenery and recreation. Down in the valleys, popular activities include fly fishing, canoeing and rafting, and casual strolls in the countryside.

Linn Cove Viaduct near Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina, USA (Swathi Chirra via Getty Images)

Because Boone is significantly higher in altitude (3,333) than many other North Carolina mountain towns are, it has a cooler climate. Summers tend to be humid but not too hot, with average daytime highs in the 60s, making it a great place for respite from the hot, humid conditions found elsewhere in the state. And winters are cold enough to usually see around 25 of snow on average, enough to support ski resorts, which arent common in the Southeast!

Finally, Boone has a youthful, active feel thanks to its location at Appalachian State University. The students there contribute to the town both economically and socially and tend to develop strong ties to it.

Boone is an all-season town that thrives on tourism but doesnt feel too big or tacky. For a mountain vacation, its a great alternative to much-busier Asheville, and its in a beautiful setting that will make you want to return again and again!
Manipur Police have successfully apprehended 14 militants from the banned UNLF (Koireng) group in Thoubal district, seizing a significant cache of arms and ammunition in a major crackdown on insurgency.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Manipur Police arrested 14 members of the banned UNLF (Koireng) militant group in Thoubal district.

The arrests occurred in the Haokhong area under Nongpok Sekmai police station jurisdiction.

Security forces seized two INSAS rifles, magazines, cartridges, cash, and helmets from the militants.

The operation highlights ongoing efforts to combat militancy and maintain security in Manipur.

Further investigation is underway to uncover more details about the group's activities and network.

Manipur Police have arrested 14 cadres of a banned outfit from Thoubal district and seized arms and ammunition from their possession, an official statement said on Monday.

The militants belonging to the United National Liberation Front (Koireng) outfit were arrested from Haokhong area under the jurisdiction of Nongpok Sekmai police station on Sunday.

Arms and Ammunition Seized

Two INSAS rifles, eight INSAS LMG magazines, five INSAS rifle magazines, 100 INSAS cartridges, Rs 1 lakh in cash, and five helmets were seized from their possession, the statement said, adding further investigation is underway.
Amidst Middle East tensions, two more Indian LPG tankers are navigating the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for India's energy imports, signaling a gradual return to normalcy after recent disruptions.

IMAGE: Oil tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Photograph: Hamad I Mohammed/Reuters

Key Points Two more Indian LPG tankers, Pine Gas and Jag Vasant, are navigating the Strait of Hormuz after being stranded due to Middle East tensions.

These tankers are part of a larger group of Indian-flagged vessels affected by the conflict, impacting India's LPG and oil imports.

India relies heavily on the Strait of Hormuz for its energy imports, including crude oil, natural gas, and LPG.

Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have led India to seek alternative sources for crude oil, including Russia, West Africa, the US, and Latin America.

Analysts suggest Iran is allowing select vessels to transit the Strait after verifying their ownership and cargo.

Two more Indian-flagged LPG tankers, carrying roughly a day's supply of the country's cooking gas, have safely navigated through the war-hit Strait of Hormuz and are expected to reach Indian shores over the next two days.

LPG tankers Pine Gas and Jag Vasant, sailing close to each other, started from the Persian Gulf on Monday morning before crossing the strait, ship tracking data showed.

The two ships are carrying about 92,000 tonnes of LPG, said Rajesh Kumar Sinha, special secretary in the ministry of ports, shipping, and waterways, at a news briefing. "The movement has started."

Without disclosing the final port of destination, he said the ship typically took two to two-and-a-half days to transit from the Gulf to India.

Both the LPG tankers sailed through waters between Iran's Larak and Qeshm islands -- possibly to make their identity clear to Iranian authorities before they cross the Strait, ship tracking data showed.

The two ships were among the 22 Indian flagged vessels that were stranded in the Persian Gulf after the war in the Middle East nearly closed the Strait of Hormuz -- the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman that connects the oil and gas-producing Gulf countries to the rest of the world.

Previously, MT Shivalik and MT Nanda Devi, carrying about 92,712 tonnes of LPG or roughly a day's cooking gas consumption of the country, had safely reached the Indian shore.

Originally, there were 28 Indian-flagged vessels in the Strait of Hormuz when the war in West Asia broke out following US-Israel attacks on Iran. Of these, 24 were on the West side of the Strait and four on the East side. In the last few days, two vessels from each side have managed to sail to safety.

LPG carrier Shivalik reached Mundra in Gujarat on March 16, while another LPG tanker, Nanda Devi, reached Kandla port in Gujarat the next day. Two LPG carriers had started their journey on March 13 and crossed the Strait of Hormuz early on March 14.

Indian-flagged oil tanker Jag Laadki, with 80,886 tonnes of crude oil from the UAE, reached Mundra on March 18. Another tanker, Jag Prakash, carrying gasoline from Oman to Africa, had previously safely crossed the strait and is en route to Tanzania.

Of the 24 remaining Indian-flagged vessels in the war zone, 22 are on the West side of the Strait with 611 seafarers onboard, while two are on the East side.

Sinha said 11 sailors on board these ships have since returned to India, reducing the seafarers on board to 600.

The vessel stranded on the west side of the strait originally had six LPG carriers, one liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker, four crude oil tankers, one transporting chemical products, three container ships, and two bulk carriers. Additionally, one vessel is a dredger, another was empty, and three were in dry dock undergoing routine maintenance.

He said the empty vessel has since been loaded with LPG, taking the vessels laded with cooking gas to seven.

Once Pine Gas and Jag Vasant make their successful navigation, the number of vessels on the west side will be reduced to 20, including 5 LPG carriers.

He said that while the LNG ship is chartered by Petronet LNG Ltd, the LPG carriers have been hired by oil marketing companies, primarily Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL). The crude oil tankers have been chartered by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Reliance Industries Ltd and BGN International.

"Ultimately, we want to secure safe passage of all our vessels that are stranded in the region," he said. "Till then safe passage happens, the well-being and safety of our seafarers is our prime focus."

There are no issues with food or drinking water availability for the crew onboard the Indian vessels as well as Indian sailors on other vessels, he added.

Overall, close to 500 tanker vessels remain confined within the Persian (Arabian) Gulf. These include 108 crude oil tankers, 166 oil product tankers, 104 chemical/product tankers, 52 chemical tankers and 53 other tanker types.

Analysts say Iran may be allowing select vessels to transit the strait after verification. A few vessels have transited outbound through the Strait with a short diversion via the Larak-Qeshm Channel.

This, they say, appears to be a verification process whereby Iran confirms the ownership, cargo and vessel are not of the US, or belong to those that Iran has permitted transit to.

India imports about 88 percent of its crude oil, 50 percent of natural gas, and 60 percent of LPG. Before the war broke out, more than half of the crude oil that India imported came from countries like Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the UAE, which use the strait for shipping.

As much as 85-95 percent of LPG and 30 per cent of the gas came through the strait. While the disruption in crude oil has been partially offset through alternative sources, such as Russia, West Africa, the US and Latin America, gas and LPG supplies to industrial and commercial users have been curtailed.
In a landmark verdict, all nine accused policemen have been convicted in the 2020 Sathankulam custodial deaths case, where a father and son died due to alleged police torture, marking a significant step towards justice and accountability.

IMAGE: P Jeyaraj, 59, right, and his son Bennicks, 31. Photograph: PTI Photo/File image/Rediff Archives

Key Points All nine accused policemen have been found guilty in the Sathankulam custodial deaths case of 2020.

P Jayaraj and his son J Benicks died in custody in 2020 following alleged police torture.

The Madurai court declared the prosecution had proven its case against the accused policemen.

The sentencing of the convicted policemen is scheduled for March 30.

The CBI investigated the case, filing a chargesheet and supplementary report.

A local court in Madurai on Monday held guilty, all the nine accused policemen in the case of custodial torture of a man and his son, leading to their deaths at Sathankulam in Thoothukudi district in the year 2020.

The First Additional District and Sessions Court Judge G Muthukumaran declared that the prosecution has proven its case and held the policemen guilty. The quantum of sentence to the convicted policemen will be pronounced on March 30, the judge said.

On June 19, 2020 mobile phone shop owner P Jayaraj (59) and his son J Benicks (31) were taken to Sathankulam police station in connection with alleged violation of norms to prevent spread of coronavirus pandemic. The father and son died on June 23 at Kovilpatti subjail following alleged brutal custodial torture at the police station.

The case, which includes the charge of murder, against 10 policemen, including Inspector S Sridhar, Sub inspectors K Balakrishnan, P Raghuganesh, Head Constables, S Murugan and A Samidurai was initially probed by the CB-CID and it was later taken over by the CBI. The incident had caused a major public outrage in the state then.

There were 105 witnesses, including Selvarani (wife of Jeyaraj) then Sathankulam police woman head constable R Revathi in the case. As many as 116 documents were marked which includes the judicial inquiry reports on the deaths of Jayaraj and Benicks.

One of the accused, Special SI A Pauldurai died during the pendency of the case and 9 others including Sridhar continued to be in Madurai Central Prison.

The CBI initially filed a chargesheet and later a supplementary report which together was nearly 2,500 pages. Attempts of the accused to secure bail proved futile during the nearly 6-year old trial of the case.
AIADMK has officially announced its seat-sharing arrangement with key NDA partners BJP, PMK, and AMMK, setting the stage for the upcoming elections in Tamil Nadu.

IMAGE: AMMK general secretary TTV Dhinakaran meets Union Minister Piyush Goyal on rejoining Tamil Nadu's NDA, in Chennai, March 21, 2026. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points AIADMK finalises seat sharing agreement with NDA allies for upcoming elections.

BJP to contest 27 seats as part of the AIADMK-led alliance.

PMK secures 18 seats in the AIADMK-led NDA alliance.

AMMK will contest 11 seats as part of the AIADMK's electoral strategy.

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led National Democratic Alliance in Tamil Nadu on Monday finalised seat sharing arrangement for key constituents of the alliance for the April 23 assembly polls, with the Dravidian party allotting 27 seats for Bharatiya Janata Party, 18 for Pattali Makkal Katchi and 11 for Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, addressing a crowded press conference at party headquarters Puratchi Thalaivar MGR Maaligai, in Chennai, said talks continued with other allies as well and it will be concluded by Monday night.

The names of constituencies to be contested by alliance parties will be identified soon, he said, adding the seat sharing talks were cordial.

Elections to 234 assembly seats in Tamil Nadu will be held on April 23. NDA's other constituents include former union minister GK Vasan-led Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) and IJK.

Asked about the number of seats to be contested by AIADMK, Palaniswami said talks continued with some parties and following its conclusion the information would be shared.

In the presence of leaders of alliance parties including senior BJP leader Piyush Goyal, PMK top leader Anbumani Ramadoss and AMMK chief TTV Dhinakaran, Palaniswami described the alliance it leads as one marked by "bonding," and called it a "victorious" combine. He expressed confidence that the alliance would go on to win at least 210 Assembly constituencies out of the total 234.

"The alliance will win and AIADMK will form the government," he asserted.

Ridiculing "protracted, delayed" seat-sharing exercise involving "war of words" between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Congress, he alleged the Communist Party of India-Marxist, which got six seats in 2021 was now struggling to get five assembly seats.

"Piyush Goyal, Nainar Nagenthran L Murugan, Anbumani Ramadoss TTV Dhinakaran came in the morning, it (seat-sharing) was decided in the afternoon and the decision is being announced in the evening; see how quickly it has happened.

The AIADMK's goal is to dislodge the DMK from the seat of power. The media did not criticise the deadlock in seat-sharing talks in the DMK front," he said.

Hitting back at DMK's criticism aimed at him for his Delhi visit to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah in connection with seat sharing, he wondered why DMK MP Kanimozhi met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the national capital recently. It has become a wont for Chief Minister M K Stalin to spread defamatory content targeting the NDA leaders if they visited Delhi, he alleged.

"Delhi visit is for sharing our opinions, to discuss Assembly polls related matters, CM fears whenever we go to Delhi."

Targeting the DMK for blaming the AIADMK over alliance-related matters, he fired salvos at the ruling party for aligning with the Congress party which imposed the infamous Emergency (1975-77) and also invoked the MISA against detainees during that period.

PMK leader Anbumani said he went to Delhi days ago to visit Rajya Sabha for signing purposes and that he did not meet Amit Shah.
Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party is set to launch the 'Stree Samman-Samriddhi Yojana', a comprehensive initiative designed to empower women in Uttar Pradesh by ensuring equal opportunities and bolstering their economic security.

Photograph: Nand Kumar/PTI Photo

Key Points Akhilesh Yadav announced the 'Stree Samman-Samriddhi Yojana' to empower women in Uttar Pradesh.

The scheme aims to provide equal social and economic respect and opportunities for women.

Yadav highlighted women as 'A' or 'aadhi abaadi' (half the population) within the PDA social coalition.

The Samajwadi Party plans to restore the 'Samajwadi Pension' scheme to enhance women's economic security.

The announcement comes ahead of upcoming polls in Uttar Pradesh, signalling a focus on women voters.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Monday said his party would introduce a 'Stree Samman-Samriddhi Yojana' aimed at empowering women, whom he described as the 'A' or "aadhi abaadi" (half the population) within the PDA social coalition.

In a post on his official X account, Yadav shared photographs with leading women, including his wife and MP Dimple Yadav, and said his party has always remained committed to ensuring freedom, safety, rights and empowerment of women.

"When those who strengthen families, society and the nation receive respect, their dignity and morale both rise," the former chief minister said in the post.

Yadav said that within PDA, referring to backward classes, Dalits and minorities, the letter 'A' would stand for "aadhi abaadi", and every girl and woman would be given equal social and economic respect and opportunities to stand on their own feet under the proposed scheme.

He also said that by restoring the 'Samajwadi Pension' scheme, his party would further strengthen women's economic security while fulfilling its commitment to the overall development of Uttar Pradesh.

Polls are due in the state next year.
Bengaluru Traffic Police have intensified their efforts to combat drunken driving and over-speeding, resulting in hundreds of arrests and significant fines, all aimed at enhancing road safety in the city.

Key Points Bengaluru Traffic Police conducted a week-long special drive targeting drunken driving and over-speeding.

Over 600 cases of drunken driving were registered during the operation.

Fines totalling Rs 1.29 lakh were collected from over-speeding offenders.

The police checked over 45,000 vehicles as part of the anti-drunken driving campaign.

Bengaluru police aim to continue these drives to improve road safety and reduce accidents.

The Bengaluru Traffic Police has registered 634 cases of drunken driving and collected Rs 1.29 lakh in fines from offenders caught for over-speeding violations during a week-long special drive held across the city, officials said on Monday.

The drive was held from March 16 to 22, with the participation of officers from 53 traffic police stations, against drivers and riders under the influence of alcohol and those found overspeeding, they said.

According to the traffic police, during the drive against drunken driving, a total of 45,568 vehicles were checked and 634 cases were registered against those found under the influence of alcohol.

Enforcement and Fines

In the drive against over-speeding, 122 cases were registered and Rs 1.29 lakh was collected in fines from such violators, a senior police officer said.

Ongoing Efforts for Road Safety

"The special drive was aimed at curbing the menace of drunken driving and over speeding to ensure road safety in Bengaluru City. This drive will continue further," he said.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is advocating for the Bharat Ratna to be awarded to freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev, while also criticising the central government's perceived lack of recognition for their sacrifices.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann calls for Bharat Ratna for Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev.

Mann criticises the central government for allegedly downplaying the sacrifices of freedom fighters.

The Punjab government is building the Hussainiwala Heritage Complex to honour the martyrs.

Mann emphasises the importance of education in eradicating poverty and social evils in Punjab.

Mann vows to fulfil the dreams of the martyrs and make Punjab a leading state in India.

Reaffirming his government's commitment to honour the martyrs and build 'Rangla Punjab' (vibrant Punjab) rooted in their dreams and vision, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann invoked the legacy of the nation's greatest revolutionaries and questioned the "continued denial" of Bharat Ratna to these freedom fighters by the Centre.

The chief minister, who was here to pay tributes to legendary freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev on the occasion of Shaheedi Divas, asserted that India's trajectory would have been profoundly different had such courageous, youth-driven leadership shaped its early years and the country's reins had been handed over to such youths.

Mann also laid the foundation stone of the Hussainiwala Heritage Complex to be built for Rs 24.99 crore under the centrally funded Bharat Darshan Scheme.

Criticism of Central Government

Later, while addressing a gathering, Mann said, "Certain selfish leaders in the country have built stadiums in their own names even while being alive. However, they have done little to honour gallant martyrs like Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev who smilingly embraced the gallows for the sake of the freedom of the motherland."

"These iconic revolutionaries sacrificed their lives at a young age, but after Independence, others occupied the corridors of power and took credit for the freedom they did not fight for," said Mann, adding that his government had to fight to get Mohali airport named as Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport.

Attacking the Modi-led central government, Mann said some thankless leaders now claim that India got "true Independence" only in 2014, which is a grave insult to our martyrs," he said, adding that it was shocking that some even describe Bhagat Singh merely as a "social worker" and not a martyr.

Calling upon people to draw inspiration from the martyrs, he said that it was a day to remember these legendary heroes, to read and listen to their stories, which continue to inspire generations of youth, adding that political priorities have long been misplaced due to self-obsessed leaders who have been using the power given by the people for their own vested interests.

Highlighting further steps, Mann said that even the Halwara airport was being named after Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha, whom Shaheed Bhagat Singh regarded as his mentor.

"If someone like Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh had become the Prime Minister after the first elections of 1952, the entire map of the country would have been different," said Mann, adding that a 35-year-old youth has become the Prime Minister in Nepal.

"If leadership had been handed to youth here as well, India would have been number one in the world," he said.

Remembering the Martyrs

At a separate event at Khatkar Kalan in Nawanshahr, Mann said the day reminds the nation of the supreme sacrifice made by the great revolutionary at the altar of the motherland, and called upon people to uphold the values for which the martyrs laid down their lives.

The occasion is not merely to remember their sacrifice but to carry forward their fearless ideals and unwavering stand against injustice.

He renewed his resolve to serve Punjab and the nation in line with their vision.

Focus on Education

Emphasising the transformative power of education, Mann said education remains the only lasting solution to eradicate poverty and social evils.

"Education is the panacea of all the ills confronted by society, which is why the Punjab government has prioritised it and taken path-breaking initiatives in the education sector.

Reiterating his government's commitment to fulfilling the dreams of the martyrs, the CM said, "The Punjab government is leaving no stone unturned to cherish the aspirations of our great martyrs.

"We are duty-bound to ensure the progress of Punjab and the prosperity of its people. The day is not far when, due to our concerted efforts, Punjab will emerge as a front-runner state in the country," he noted.
CoinDCX co-founders have been arrested in India amid allegations of a Rs 71.6 lakh cryptocurrency investment fraud, raising concerns for investors in the digital currency market.

IMAGE: Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com

Key Points CoinDCX co-founders Sumit Gupta and Neeraj Khandelwal have been arrested in connection with an alleged cryptocurrency fraud.

The arrests stem from an FIR alleging cheating, criminal breach of trust, and fraud related to cryptocurrency investments.

A complainant claims to have been defrauded of Rs 71.6 lakh after being promised high returns on investments linked to CoinDCX.

Police are investigating whether there are additional victims of the alleged investment scheme.

The Thane police have arrested two co-founders of cryptocurrency exchange platform CoinDCX in connection with an alleged fraud of Rs 71.6 lakh, officials said.

The action follows an FIR registered against CoinDCX co-founders Sumit Gupta, Neeraj Khandelwal and others on charges of cheating, criminal breach of trust and fraud.

A 42-year-old insurance advisor, the complainant in the case, alleged he was duped of Rs 71.6 lakh after being lured by promises of high returns by investing in a firm, purportedly associated with the cryptocurrency platform. He was also offered a franchise opportunity, according to the police.

The complainant transferred Rs 71,60,015 through cash and online transactions at different times. However, the invested amount was not returned, and instead the funds were allegedly misappropriated, they said.

A Mumbra police team apprehended the two accused from Bengaluru. They were later brought to Thane and produced before a local court, which remanded them to police custody till Monday, senior police inspector Anil Shinde said.

Ongoing Investigation

"A detailed probe is underway to determine if there are more victims linked to this investment scheme," the official added.
The CoinDCX co-founders, arrested in a Rs 71.6 lakh cryptocurrency fraud case, may be released on bail after the complainant recovered his investment and withdrew his grievance, though the police investigation continues.

Photograph: Rudransh Khandelwal/X

Key Points Complainant in CoinDCX fraud case recovers Rs 71.6 lakh investment from another accused.

CoinDCX co-founders Sumit Gupta and Neeraj Khandelwal seek bail after complainant withdraws grievance.

Police investigation continues despite complainant's affidavit, seeking to apprehend remaining accused.

CoinDCX claims the FIR is false and a conspiracy against the company by impersonators.

CoinDCX reports over 1,212 fake websites impersonating their platform between April 1, 2024, and January 5, 2026.

The complainant in the Rs 71.6 lakh cheating case in which cryptocurrency exchange platform CoinDCX co-founders Sumit Gupta and Neeraj Khandelwal were arrested told a Thane court on Monday that he had recovered his invested amount from another accused and no longer has any grievance in the matter.

During the proceedings, the 42-year-old complainant filed an affidavit stating he had received the funds from one of the six accused in the case.

The complainant further stated that he does not know the two arrested co-founders, following which Gupta and Khandelwal moved a bail application before the court. It is expected give an order on their plea on Tuesday.

The police, however, said the probe remains ongoing despite the complainant's affidavit and all efforts are on to nab four other accused.

The arrests were made following an FIR registered on March 16 at Mumbra police station here against Gupta, Khandelwal and four others on charges of cheating, criminal breach of trust and fraud, according to officials.

The complainant, a 42-year-old insurance advisor, had claimed he was duped of Rs 71.6 lakh between August 2025 and March this year after being lured by promises of high returns by investing in a firm, purportedly associated with the cryptocurrency platform.

He was also offered a franchise opportunity, he said in his complaint.

The complainant, a resident of Mumbra, transferred Rs 71,60,015 through cash and online transactions at different times. However, the invested amount was not returned, and instead the funds were allegedly misappropriated, as per police.

A Mumbra police team apprehended Gupta and Khandelwal from Bengaluru on Saturday. They were later brought to Thane and produced on Sunday before a local court, which remanded them in police custody till Monday, senior police inspector Anil Shinde said.

CoinDCX Response to the Allegations

The company, however, in a statement on Monday, claimed, "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."

"We have taken cognisance of the fact and published a notice to public at large on our website that CoinDCX is being targeted by fraudsters. The entire conspiracy falsely claims that funds were transferred in cash to third-party accounts which have no relation to CoinDCX," it added.

Brand impersonation and related cyber frauds are an increasing concern in India's digital finance ecosystem, and CoinDCX strongly condemn such actions, it said.

The company further said it is fully committed to supporting authorities in addressing such misconduct. "Between April 1, 2024 and January 5, 2026, we have reported over 1,212 fake websites impersonating coindcx.com," it said.

"We are fully cooperating with the relevant law enforcement authorities.
IIT Kharagpur's director challenges Calcutta University to become a central hub in a global knowledge network, urging students to prioritise innovation and problem-solving over traditional rankings.

Key Points IIT Kharagpur Director Suman Chakraborty urged Calcutta University to integrate into a global knowledge ecosystem for enhanced knowledge sharing and collaboration.

Students should prioritise expanding frontiers and solving problems using science and technology over focusing solely on rankings.

Universities must evolve their knowledge systems and pedagogical approaches to adapt to the rapidly changing global landscape.

Artificial intelligence can contribute to India's scientific advancement by enabling new ways of thinking and ushering in a new era of innovation.

Calcutta University should strengthen industry-academia ties, expand international collaborations, and build infrastructure for interdisciplinary research.

The over 160-year-old University of Calcutta must emerge as a key stakeholder in a globally networked knowledge ecosystem, IIT Kharagpur Director Suman Chakraborty said at the varsity's convocation on Monday.

He asked students to measure success not by ranking but by expanding frontiers.

"Universities should not function as isolated islands but become part of a global ecosystem to evolve in a truly functional network of knowledge sharing," Chakraborty said in his keynote address.

He told the students to use science and technology to define and solve problems.

"From the classroom, join the network of global campuses. Turn Labs into a college ecosystem. Open knowledge platform with data tools," Chakraborty said.

Urging students and researchers to remain curious, he added, "Don't seek permission, but do it. History does not permit permission."

"Measure success not by ranking, but ask: have we expanded frontiers? We will nurture risk-taking research," he said.

Referring to Bengal's intellectual legacy, Chakraborty said the liberal ideas of Raja Rammohan Roy and Rabindranath Tagore inspired generations beyond textbooks.

The Role of Artificial Intelligence

On artificial intelligence, he observed that AI can generate answers with surprising precision but cannot generate the deepest of questions.

"AI raises the possibility of new ways of thinking and can usher in the era of another renaissance which can contribute to India's advancement in scientific research," Chakraborty said.

Recalling the legacy of IIT Kharagpur, he noted it began at Hijli jail and said both institutions in Bengal must be part of the envisioned global network.

He also cited pioneering contributions of scientists Jagadish Chandra Bose, Satyendra Nath Bose and Prafulla Chandra Ray.

"Revolution in knowledge rarely begins from answers but from questions," Chakraborty said.

Evolving Knowledge Systems

Vice Chancellor Asutosh Ghosh said the fast-changing world demands evolving knowledge systems. "Knowledge systems and pedagogical requirements are shifting at a breathtaking pace. The CU, like other educational institutions, must evolve accordingly and keep the momentum," he said.

Ghosh stressed strengthening the academic and administrative capacity of affiliated colleges, deepening industry-academia ties, expanding international collaborations and building infrastructure for interdisciplinary research.
Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Acrobat and Firefly are all part of Adobes new NVIDIA partnership. Here is what businesses using Adobe tools need to know about what comes next.

Why this matters: Adobe tools are among the most widely used creative and productivity platforms by Australian small businesses, freelancers and marketers. The partnership signals a significant acceleration in AI capability across those tools.

Two of the most recognisable names in technology have announced they are building the next generation of AI creative tools together, and for small businesses that rely on Adobe software daily, the partnership is worth understanding.

At NVIDIAs GPU Technology Conference in San Jose this week, Adobe and NVIDIA announced a strategic partnership to accelerate AI-powered creation, production and personalisation across Adobes product suite. The agreement covers next-generation Adobe Firefly model development, agentic creative and marketing workflows, and deeper integration of NVIDIA computing infrastructure across tools including Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Acrobat, Frame.io, Adobe Firefly Foundry and Adobe GenStudio.

What was actually announced

The partnership brings together Adobes creative and marketing toolset with NVIDIAs open models, computing libraries and accelerated infrastructure. Adobe will harness NVIDIA AI infrastructure, libraries, services and models to optimise every layer of its AI-powered tools across creativity, productivity and customer experience.

The companies announced plans to develop next-generation Firefly models using NVIDIAs CUDA-X and NeMo libraries and Cosmos open models, with the goal of achieving greater creative precision and control across creative and marketing pipelines. Agentic AI workflows for content and campaign production are also part of the agreement, alongside a 3D digital twin solution built on NVIDIA Omniverse that is already available in public beta.

Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen said the partnership is aimed at reinventing creative and marketing workflows with the power of AI, bringing Firefly models and CUDA libraries into applications and combining marketing-focused 3D digital twins, Agent Toolkit and Nemotron within agentic frameworks.

For small business owners, freelancers and marketers using Adobe tools, the most directly relevant elements of the announcement concern the products they already use. The partnership spans next-generation AI model development, agentic AI tooling, 3D product visualisation, document intelligence and cloud media workflows.

Frame.io, Adobes cloud video collaboration platform, is among the more tangible near-term beneficiaries. Adobe will use NVIDIA CUDA to accelerate Frame.ios media decoding, semantic search and cloud content management, which represents one of the more concrete near-term improvements for production workflows to come out of the announcement.

Adobe Firefly Foundry, the enterprise version of Adobes commercially safe AI image generation platform, will integrate NVIDIAs computing technologies to allow businesses to fine-tune Firefly models on their own brand assets and content. For small and medium businesses with established visual brand identities, this capability could eventually allow them to generate on-brand marketing content at significantly greater scale than is currently possible.

What is available now and what is not

One of the most important things for small business owners to understand about this announcement is its current stage. The 3D digital twin solution is available in public beta. Timelines for next-generation Firefly model releases were not disclosed in the announcement. This is a research and infrastructure agreement, not a product release, and the language in the official announcement is carefully hedged, with no assurances given on timelines or final terms.

The practical implication for small business owners is to watch this space rather than act on it immediately. The tools will improve and the improvements will be meaningful, but the timeline is months to years rather than weeks.

The direction of travel is clear. The tools that small businesses use to create content, manage documents, edit video and run marketing campaigns are all moving toward AI-assisted and eventually AI-agentic workflows. Adobes partnership with NVIDIA accelerates that trajectory for one of the most widely used creative suites in the world.

For Australian small business owners, the message is practical. The Adobe tools you use today will become more capable over time. Staying current with Firefly features as they develop and understanding how AI generation fits into your creative workflow now, before the more significant changes arrive, will put you in a stronger position when they do.

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An Air Canada Express flight collided with a fire truck while landing at New York's LaGuardia airport late on Sunday night, killing the pilot and co-pilot and injuring at least 13 people, including firefighters.

The plane, arriving from Montreal, hit the fire vehicle on the runway, causing visible damage to its front section. Passengers were evacuated as emergency teams rushed to the scene.

The fire truck had reportedly been responding to another aircraft emergency when the collision occurred.

Following the incident, the US aviation regulator issued a ground stop, halting all flights at the airport. Several incoming flights were diverted or sent back.

IMAGE: Emergency crews work around an Air Canada Express jet that collided with a fire truck at LaGuardia airport in Queens, New York, March 23, 2026, here and below. All photographs: Bing Guan/Reuters

Key Points Air Canada Express flight from Montreal collided with a rescue vehicle on Runway 4 at LaGuardia airport late Sunday night.

FAA imposed a temporary ground stop, halting all arrivals and departures, significantly impacting flight operations across the network.

Incident involved a Port Authority firefighting vehicle responding to a separate emergency on the runway at the time.

IMAGE: Rescue operations underway at the airport.

IMAGE: The damage to the Air Canada Express jet.

IMAGE: Grounded aircraft operated by United Airlines and American Airlines, after the Air Canada Express jet collided with a fire truck at La Guardia airport, here and below.

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
A Delhi court acquitted a man and his relatives in a dowry death case, highlighting the challenges of proving dowry harassment and cruelty beyond reasonable doubt in such sensitive cases.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points A Delhi court acquitted a man and six relatives in a dowry death case due to lack of sufficient evidence.

The court found the prosecution failed to prove dowry-related cruelty or harassment beyond a reasonable doubt in the suicide of a young woman.

Vague and general allegations by the deceased's family were deemed insufficient to establish the charges against the accused.

The court noted the absence of medical records or contemporaneous complaints to support claims of regular dowry-related beatings or harassment.

The prosecution did not establish that the woman was subjected to cruelty or harassment for dowry 'soon before her death'.

A Delhi court has acquitted a man and six of his relatives in a dowry death case related to the suicide of a young woman within four months of her marriage, saying that the prosecution failed to prove cruelty or harassment for dowry beyond a reasonable doubt.

Additional Sessions Judge Babru Bhan was hearing a case against husband Danish, his father Naeem, relatives Rustam, Guddu alias Zulfikar, Samreen Begum alias Rani, Gudiya and Mehmooda accused under charges of IPC Sections 498A (cruelty by husbands and relatives), 304B (dowry death) and 34 (common intention).

In an order dated March 12, the court said, "The requisite harassment and cruelty for the demand of dowry has not been proved in this case. Although some allegations have been levelled but the same are too vague and general to prove anything."

All were arrested after the body of Naima alias Zeba, who was married to Danish on January 24, 2016, was found hanging at her matrimonial home in northeast Delhi's Shri Ram Colony on May 24, 2016. Post-mortem examination confirmed that the cause of death was asphyxia due to ante-mortem hanging.

According to the prosecution, the woman was subjected to physical and mental harassment by her husband and in-laws for dowry, which eventually drove her to die by suicide within months of the marriage.

Court's Observations on Evidence

The court noted that although the death had occurred within seven years of marriage and was unnatural, the prosecution failed to establish the crucial ingredient that the woman was subjected to cruelty or harassment for dowry "soon before her death".

"It is possible that the bitterness emanating from the aforesaid complaint continued to remain the reason of dispute and petty quarrels between the deceased and accused Danish after the marriage also," the court said, noting that the said reason did not fulfil the ingredients of the offence framed against the accused persons.

It said that the testimonies of the deceased's mother and brother contained vague and general allegations against the accused without specifying the exact role or incidents involving each of them.

"The brother of the deceased has levelled some vague allegations that accused Danish used to harass his sister for demanding a motorcycle, but in cross-examination, he himself has admitted that these facts were never told to him by the deceased herself and the same were told to him by his mother Nasima," the court said.

The court further noted that no medical record or contemporaneous complaint was produced to substantiate claims that the woman had been regularly beaten or harassed for dowry.

Holding that the prosecution evidence was too vague and insufficient to establish the essential ingredients of offences under Sections 498A and 304B of the IPC, the court acquitted all the accused persons.
A Delhi court acquitted a man in a 2014 kidnapping case, highlighting the critical importance of evidence and witness testimony in criminal proceedings and raising questions about the challenges of prosecuting cases when key individuals are untraceable.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points A Delhi court acquitted Sunil Kumar in a 2014 kidnapping case due to insufficient evidence presented by the prosecution.

The alleged kidnapping victim remained untraceable, hindering the prosecution's ability to prove the charges against the accused.

The complainant, the victim's father, did not support the prosecution's case during the trial.

The court emphasised that all elements of an offence must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt for a conviction, a standard the prosecution failed to meet.

The victim's statement to a magistrate was deemed insufficient to prove guilt without her testimony during the trial.

A Delhi court has acquitted a man accused in a 2014 kidnapping case after the prosecution failed to establish the charges beyond a reasonable doubt, primarily due to the victim remaining untraceable.

Additional Sessions Judge Puneet Pahwa was hearing a case against Sunil Kumar, who was accused of kidnapping a 17-year-old girl.

There is nothing on record which could prove his guilt in the case, he asserted.

In an order dated March 19, the court said, "The prosecution has failed to examine any witness, who could prove the alleged offences committed by the accused and there is nothing on record against the accused which could incriminate him in the present case."

Kumar was arrested after a case was registered in July 2014 at Sonia Vihar Police Station on the complaint of Deen Dayal, who alleged that his daughter had gone missing from the house along with cash and clothes and suspected that someone had enticed her away.

However, during the trial, the complainant, who appeared as the only public witness, did not support the prosecution's case and did not depose anything incriminating against the accused.

The girl was produced before the police by her father in June 2017, following which Kumar was arrested based on the identification of the complainant and the alleged victim, and a chargesheet was filed against him.

Key Factors in the Acquittal

The court noted that the girl could not be traced despite repeated efforts. The investigating officer informed the court that even the victim's parents were unaware of her whereabouts, leading the court to drop her from the list of witnesses.

"None of the essential ingredients for the offences under IPC Section 363 (kidnapping), 366 (abduction to compel marriage) and 506 (criminal intimidation) with which the accused was charged, could be proved by the prosecution," the judge said.

The court said the only material on record was the victim's statement recorded before a magistrate, which by itself was insufficient to prove the accused's guilt in the absence of her testimony during trial.

"In order to hold an accused guilty, all ingredients of the offence must be proved beyond reasonable doubt. In the present case, the prosecution has failed to meet that standard," the court said while acquitting Kumar.
A Delhi court granted bail to a 63-year-old man in a rape case, highlighting inconsistencies in the prosecution's case, unexplained delays in filing the FIR, and the complainant's refusal of a medical examination.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Delhi court grants bail in rape case due to inconsistencies in the prosecution's evidence and a delayed FIR filing.

The complainant's refusal to undergo a medical examination and discrepancies in call detail records raised concerns for the court.

The victim's statement that she does not wish to pursue the case was a significant factor in the court's decision to grant bail.

The accused, a senior citizen with no prior criminal record, was granted bail with conditions to ensure he does not tamper with evidence or contact witnesses.

A Delhi court has granted regular bail to a 63-year-old man accused in a rape case, noting inconsistencies in the prosecution's case, delay in lodging the FIR and refusal of medical examination by the complainant.

Additional Sessions Judge Virender Kumar Kharta granted bail to the accused on a personal bond of Rs. 50,000 with one surety of like amount.

The accused had been in judicial custody since January 2, 2026, after being charged under sections 64(1) (rape) and 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

"Victim who is present before the court along with her counsel submits that she does not want to pursue the present case and hence accused/applicant may be granted bail," said the court in its order dated March 17.

Defence Arguments and Court Observations

The counsel for the defence brought up several peculiarities in the case. He highlighted the statement of the mother of the victim, who had said she had severed relations with the victim shortly after she left their house more than two years ago and decided to reside with a lady 'M', who "was getting wrong acts done" through the victim.

He said this lady 'M' had accompanied the victim to the police station on the day of the incident and on the day the FIR was registered. He submitted that the victim was perhaps used by the lady 'M'.

He argued that at the time of the incident, the victim was with the accused for 90 minutes during which she made 42 calls, out of which 22 calls were with one specific person whose name had not been brought on record.

The incident occurred on December 30, 2025, and the FIR was registered on January 1. The court noted the gap of two days was never explained by the victim.

"The victim in the present case had not given a complaint to the police on the date of the incident despite the fact that she visited the PS (on December 30) and she had given the complaint after a delay of two days," said the court.

"The victim had not consulted her mother or father, and rather she had consulted one lady namely 'M', against whom the mother of victim has put serious allegations in her statement," said the court.

The judge also took note of the complainant's refusal to undergo an internal medical examination and her inability to specify the exact location of the alleged offence.

The order additionally pointed out discrepancies in call detail records, stating that "the alleged call record between victim and the lady namely 'M' at the time of incident is not reflected in the CDR on record".

Bail Conditions and Prosecution's Concerns

A significant factor in granting bail was the complainant's submission before the court that she did not wish to pursue the case. However, the Additional Public Prosecutor opposed the bail plea, as he argued the accused had committed a heinous crime and the charges were yet to be framed, with the complainant yet to be examined as a prosecution witness.

The court also considered that the investigation had been completed and the chargesheet filed, and that the accused had no prior criminal involvement and was a senior citizen.

The court imposed several bail conditions on the accused, including keeping his mobile phone on at all times, not contacting prosecution witnesses, not tampering with evidence, and not approaching the complainant.
A 70-year-old man has been arrested in Delhi for allegedly murdering a 55-year-old over a loan dispute, highlighting the deadly consequences of financial disagreements.

Photograph: Rahul Singh/ANI Photo

Key Points A 70-year-old man was arrested in Kanjhawala, Delhi, for the murder of a 55-year-old man.

The murder stemmed from a heated argument over an unpaid loan of Rs 30,000.

Police apprehended the accused after a manhunt and recovered the weapon used in the crime.

The victim succumbed to his injuries in Safdarjung Hospital after being initially treated at Sanjay Gandhi Hospital.

A 70-year-old man has been arrested for murdering a man following a dispute over a loan of Rs 30,000 in Delhi's Kanjhawala area, an official said on Monday.

The accused has been identified as Dinesh Sharma, a resident of Kanjhawala, was apprehended after a brief manhunt, he said.

According to the police, the incident came to light on March 16 after a PCR call alerted the police regarding a quarrel in the area.

"A police team had rushed to the spot and found that the victim, identified as Aglu (55), had already been taken to Sanjay Gandhi Hospital," said the police officer.

He was later referred to Safdarjung Hospital due to the severity of his injuries, where he succumbed during treatment. Police recorded the statement of the victim's wife, Savita, who stated that the quarrel stemmed from a financial dispute involving a loan of Rs 30,000 that she and her husband had taken from the accused.

Based on her complaint, a case was registered, and an investigation was initiated.

"The team included multiple officers from the investigation unit and local police, who carried out both technical and field inquiries. During the probe, the team and forensic experts from Rohini examined the scene and collected relevant evidence," the officer said.

Based on technical surveillance, the team suspected that the accused might attempt to flee to his native village in Bihar. Accordingly, a team was dispatched to Samastipur to track him down.

However, acting on specific information, police later conducted a raid at a hideout near Kanjhawala Industrial Area in Delhi, where Sharma was located and apprehended. During interrogation, the accused confessed to his crime.

At his instance, police recovered a wooden stick (danda) used in the commission of the offence.

"The accused had attacked the victim during a heated argument over the unpaid loan, leading to fatal injuries. Further investigation is underway," he added.
A brother-sister duo with a history of 31 criminal cases involving theft and snatching have been arrested in Delhi after a mobile phone snatching incident, highlighting the Delhi police's efforts to combat street crime.

Key Points A brother-sister duo, Maninder Kaur and Amanpreet Singh, were arrested in Delhi for mobile snatching.

The siblings are allegedly involved in 31 criminal cases, including theft and snatching.

Police investigation revealed the duo used a stolen motorcycle in the mobile snatching incident.

Maninder was apprehended in Delhi, while Amanpreet was arrested in Ludhiana, Punjab.

The stolen mobile phone and motorcycle used in the crime have been recovered by the police.

A brother-sister duo, allegedly involved in 31 criminal cases of theft and snatching, were arrested after a mobile phone snatching in northwest Delhi's Maurya Enclave area, police said on Monday.

The accused have been identified as Maninder Kaur alias Simran and Amanpreet Singh, aged 22 and 24, and both residents of Chander Vihar in Delhi.

The police said Maninder has been involved in eight cases and Amanpreet in 23 cases of snatching, theft and other crimes.

On March 18, Titiksha Sharma reported that her mobile phone was snatched by a boy and a girl while she was walking from VIPS in Pitampura towards Income Tax Colony.

"The accused fled towards Madhuban Chowk on a two-wheeler," an officer said.

Based on the complaint, a case was registered, and an investigation was initiated.

Investigation and Arrest

During the probe, police found that the two had attempted a similar snatching a day earlier in the same area. CCTV footage revealed the suspects used a stolen motorcycle, which was traced to Samaypur Badli.

"The police team apprehended Maninder on the day of the incident. During interrogation, she disclosed her brother's involvement and revealed that the stolen mobile phone was in his possession," he said.

Subsequently, Amanpreet was arrested in Punjab's Ludhiana, and the snatched mobile phone was recovered from him. The stolen motorcycle used in the crime was also seized.
Delhi police have arrested two individuals in connection with the stabbing of a student near Ajmeri Gate, highlighting the swift action taken to apprehend the suspects and investigate the crime.

Photograph: ANI on X

Key Points Two suspects, including a juvenile, were arrested for allegedly stabbing a student near Ajmeri Gate in Delhi.

The victim, a student at Anglo Arabic School, was attacked after taking an exam at Andhra Education Society.

The suspects were apprehended at Old Delhi Railway Station while attempting to flee the city.

Police recovered the weapon used in the stabbing, a sharp mechanical tool, near the crime scene.

The accused confessed to the crime, citing prior disputes with the victim as the motive.

Two youngsters, including a juvenile, were apprehended for allegedly stabbing a student with a sharp-edged weapon after he appeared for an examination near Ajmeri Gate in central Delhi, police said.

The accused, Sufiyan, 19, a resident of Sadar Bazar and a 17-year-old juvenile, were intercepted at Old Delhi Railway Station while they were attempting to flee the city, officials said.

"The incident took place when a PCR call regarding a knife assault was received at the IP Estate police station during the evening. The injured, a student of Anglo Arabic School, had gone to appear for an examination at Andhra Education Society," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Rohit Rajbir said.

He was rushed to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital in a critical condition. A case under relevant sections of the BNS was registered, and an investigation was taken up immediately.

The police analysed CCTV footage from multiple locations and traced the accused. Following this, they were intercepted at Old Delhi Railway Station while attempting to flee the city, officials said.

Investigation and Confession

During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed to the crime, revealing a history of prior disputes with the victim and that an altercation had taken place earlier in the day, before the examination, police said.

After the exam concluded, the accused allegedly waited near the school gate, confronted the victim and attacked him with a sharp-edged weapon. One of them held the victim while the other struck him on the head, causing grievous injuries, police said.

The weapon used in the offence, a sharp mechanical tool, was later recovered at the instance of the juvenile from near the crime scene, officials added.

Further investigation is underway, police said.
A 23-year-old domestic help has been apprehended in Jammu for allegedly stealing Rs 3.5 lakh from a senior citizen's residence in Delhi, highlighting the importance of background checks and security measures.

Key Points A 23-year-old domestic help was arrested in Jammu for allegedly stealing Rs 3.5 lakh from a senior citizen's home in Delhi.

The accused, Tilakram, confessed to the theft and admitted to using the stolen money for personal expenses and a lavish lifestyle.

Police recovered Rs 1.17 lakh in cash and froze Rs 1.04 lakh deposited in the accused's bank account.

The arrest was made after police tracked the accused to Jammu, where he was apprehended in a crowded market area.

A 23-year-old domestic help has been arrested from Jammu for allegedly stealing Rs 3.5 lakh from the house of a senior citizen in northwest Delhi's Mukherjee Nagar area, an official said on Monday.

The accused has been identified as Tilakram, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, he said.

According to the police, the complainant, Arti Jaiswal (66), a resident of Tagore Park, reported that Rs 3.5 lakh had been stolen from her house on March 14 during the evening hours.

"She alleged that her servant, Tilakram, fled soon after committing the theft without informing anyone. Based on the complaint, a case was registered, and an investigation was launched," the officer said.

A team was formed, and during the investigation, police analysed CCTV footage from the area and conducted multiple raids to trace the accused.

Arrest and Confession

"After tracking his movements, the team zeroed in on his location in Jammu. Tilakram was spotted in a crowded market area of Jammu city while purchasing liquor. A trap was laid, and he was apprehended on March 19," the officer added.

During interrogation, Tilakram confessed to stealing the cash from his employer's residence. He told police that he fled to Jammu, where some of his acquaintances were working at roadside eateries. He committed the crime to earn easy money and to maintain a lavish lifestyle, police said.

Recovery and Investigation

Police said the accused spent a portion of the stolen money on personal expenses, including liquor and other activities. He also deposited around Rs 1.04 lakh in his bank account, while keeping the remaining amount with him.

Following his arrest, police recovered Rs 1.17 lakh in cash from his possession. Additionally, Rs 1.04 lakh deposited in his bank account has been traced and frozen. The accused has no prior criminal record. Further investigation is underway.
The Enforcement Directorate has seized assets worth millions in connection with a financial fraud investigation at the United Services Club in Mumbai, highlighting the agency's crackdown on money laundering and corruption.

Key Points The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth Rs 34.51 crore in connection with a financial fraud at the United Services Club in Mumbai.

The assets include flats, shops, and fixed deposits linked to Bernadette Bharat Varma and her husband.

The investigation revealed that funds were allegedly diverted from the club into fake bank accounts.

Approximately Rs 77 crore was allegedly routed to personal accounts of the accused and their associates.

The 'proceeds of crime' were used to acquire properties and invested in fixed deposits.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached assets worth around Rs 34.51 crore in connection with an alleged financial fraud involving the United Services Club in south Mumbai, an official statement said on Monday.

The attached assets include 35 movable and immovable properties such as flats, shops and fixed deposits linked to Bernadette Bharat Varma, her husband Bharatkumar Shankarlal Varma and others under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The United Services Club, located in the Colaba area of Mumbai, is jointly managed by the Army, Navy and Air Force.

The ED investigation is based on an FIR registered at Cuffe Parade police station in February 2025 under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Details of the Alleged Fraud

According to the agency, the probe revealed that Bernadette, who was serving as deputy secretary (finance) of the United Services Club, allegedly acted "in connivance with her husband" to open multiple "fake bank accounts" resembling those of genuine vendors of the club.

The ED alleged that funds amounting to around Rs 77 crore were diverted from the club into these "fake/dummy bank accounts" and later routed to personal and joint accounts of the accused and their associates.

Investigators said the "proceeds of crime" were used to acquire several immovable properties and were also invested in fixed deposits with various banks.

The agency further alleged that around Rs 11 crore was transferred to the account of a trust, from where the funds were subsequently diverted to accounts linked to a chartered accountant associated with the club, his family members and firms under his control.
A retired government officer in Srinagar has been sentenced to prison for a 16-year-old corruption case involving bribery, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat corruption in Jammu and Kashmir.

Key Points A former tehsildar in Srinagar has been sentenced to one year in jail for a 16-year-old corruption case.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) registered the bribery case against the officer in 2010.

The officer was convicted under the Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Corruption Act and the Ranbir Penal Code for demanding and accepting a bribe.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on the convicted former tehsildar.

A court here on Monday sentenced a former government officer to a year's imprisonment in a 16-year-old corruption case.

Anti-Corruption Court Srinagar, Special Judge Tasleem Arief Ganie, convicted Mohammad Akram Khan, a retired tehsildar, in a bribery case registered.

The case was registered against him by the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) in 2010.

An ACB spokesperson said the accused, then posted as tehsildar, was found guilty under provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Corruption Act and the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC).

"The accused, then-serving as tehsildar, was found guilty under Sections 5(2) read with 5(1)(d) of the J-K Prevention of Corruption Act, and Section 161 RPC, for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 from the complainant, on the pretext of getting the property dispute settled in his favour," a spokesperson of the ACB said in a statement.

He said the court sentenced the accused to undergo simple imprisonment for one year and imposed a fine of Rs 20,000.
Maxme founder Renata Sguario has three tips for Australian SMEs considering India: commit to in-person visits, lead with relationship building and get your partner strategy right.

Whats happening: Melbourne-based edtech company Maxme has built a nationwide presence in India in under two years, signing 16 major partnerships with education institutions and establishing a local company in Noida with five full-time employees and a 25-strong facilitator network.

Why this matters: For Australian small business owners considering international expansion, Maxmes India story is a practical case study in how to enter a large, complex market with limited resources, the right partnerships and targeted government support.

Renata Sguario had India in her sights before Maxme had a single customer. The Melbourne founder started her human skills development company in 2019 with a clear vision: build a digital platform that helps young people develop the non-technical capabilities they need to thrive in workplaces increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. Communication, creative thinking, resilience. The skills that automation cannot easily replicate.

Around 70% of the skills we will need in the age of AI are human skills, Sguario says, in comments to Austrade. Our learning platform targets the skills young people need during their final years at school, at university and during the first years of work.

The platform launched in Australia in 2021. By 2024, Maxme had made India its first international market. By early 2026, it had built what Sguario describes as a nationwide business in under two years.

Human skills in an AI world

Maxmes platform combines interface design, gamified learning and an accessible price point, a combination Sguario identified early as essential for the market she was targeting. Affordability, she says, is the biggest barrier to rapid uptake of skills learning programs for young people, and pricing the platform accordingly was central to the India strategy from the beginning.

The target market is specific: late secondary school students, final-year university students, teachers and early career workers in their first three to five years of employment. In a country with one of the worlds largest youth populations and a rapidly expanding technology sector, the demand for exactly this kind of upskilling program is significant.

India was always the plan

Sguarios first corporate visit to India came in January 2023, when she participated in an Austrade program helping Australian technology firms explore new markets. She won the Big Leap Accelerator Stream 2 program, which took her to Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad and introduced her to Austrades in-market teams across each city.

That visit set the foundation for what followed. Maxme participated in subsequent Austrade-led delegations including an EdTech mission and the DIDAC mission in 2025, as well as the Festival of Australia, a series of events from November 2024 to June 2025 that showcased Australias education offerings across Indias major cities.

The Festival of Australia was an absolutely incredible series of events that were extremely well organised, Sguario says. It gave us significant exposure across all major cities in India. The festival also gave us the opportunity to meet potential clients and the confidence to travel right across the country. The connections we made at the festival have triggered several commercial outcomes.

Rather than establishing a joint venture, Sguario chose to set up her own limited liability company in India, with Austrade helping identify the right location. Uttar Pradesh, just east of Delhi, offered the incentives she was looking for and Maxme established its Indian entity in Noida.

Building trust before building sales

The decision to put down roots rather than operate at arms length reflects a broader principle Sguario has applied throughout the India expansion: in this market, trust in you as a person is a critical success factor, and that trust is built through presence, not pitches.

Today Maxme has five full-time employees in India and a 25-strong network of facilitators that is continuing to grow. The company runs programs across Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Delhi, and has signed multiple memoranda of understanding with education institutions that are progressing to implementation.

Recent milestones include a program delivered to a new cohort of students at Kings Cornerstone International College in Chennai and the launch of programs with Ramaiah Academy in Bengaluru. Sguarios target is four million unique users in India by 2030.

One of the most instructive elements of Maxmes India strategy is how it positioned itself within an existing ecosystem rather than trying to compete against it. Sguario identified complementary skills providers, many of them focused on technical upskilling, and built Maxme into their offering as the human skills component.

Some of our partners have platforms that promote technical upskilling, she says. We complement what they do with the human upskilling element. Weve made ourselves a natural bolt on to whats already happening. We are a program multiplier.

That positioning gave Maxme immediate access to established distribution channels and customer relationships in a market where building those from scratch would have taken years.

Tips for SMEs eyeing export markets

For Australian small business owners considering their own international expansion, Sguario distils her India experience into three practical recommendations, published via Austrade.

The first is to commit to in-person visits. Physical presence in market is what solidifies product market fit and go-to-market strategy in a way that remote research cannot replicate.

The second is to lead with relationship building. Patience and genuine curiosity are essential in markets where trust in the person precedes trust in the product.

The third is to invest in the right partner strategy and make full use of available government support. It is incredible: here I am, an Australian in India and new to the market; and here is Austrade, willing to help me 24/7 to succeed, Sguario says. Austrade has given me the confidence to take Maxme from one end of India to the other.

For SMEs with global ambitions, Maxmes trajectory from first visit to nationwide presence in under two years is a practical illustration of what is possible when market entry is planned deliberately, partnerships are chosen strategically and the right support is in place from day one.

This story is based on a case study published by Austrade. All quotes are attributed to Renata Sguario, CEO of Maxme, as published by Austrade.

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A prisoner in Haryana's Neemka jail is in critical condition after a fellow inmate threw hot oil on his face, highlighting ongoing security concerns within the facility following a recent murder.

Key Points An inmate in Neemka jail, Haryana, assaulted another prisoner by throwing hot oil on his face, causing severe burns and eye damage.

The assailant, Sumit, and the victim, Pawan, were both transferred from Karnal to Neemka jail and have a history of conflict.

The incident occurred during a scuffle when another prisoner was heating oil in the corridor.

This assault follows a recent murder in the same jail, raising serious questions about the security measures in place.

Authorities have initiated an investigation and plan to question Sumit regarding the attack.

An inmate involved in more than two dozen cases threw hot oil in another prisoner's face in Neemka jail here on Monday, police said.

The prisoner, who was severely burned and suffered damage to his left eye, was rushed to Badshah Khan Civil Hospital and was later shifted to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi for treatment.

The assaulting inmate, Sumit, was booked at Sadar Ballabgarh Police Station.

According to the police, Sumit and Pawan, both residents of Karnal, are inmates at Neemka jail.

In 2024, Sumit was transferred from Karnal to Neemka jail, where he got into a fight with Pawan, which continues still.

On Saturday night, according to the police, a scuffle broke out between the two, even as another prisoner was heating oil on a stove in the corridor outside the barracks.

Sumit threw the hot oil at Pawan's face, causing severe burns.

An officer said the police will take Sumit on a production warrant for questioning soon.

Concerns Over Jail Security

On February 12, Jammu and Kashmir gangster Arun Chaudhary alias Abu Jat killed terrorist Abdul Rehman in the same jail, by smashing his head with a stone.

The murder raised questions about the jail's security system.

The government suspended jail superintendent Harendra and his deputy Sachin Kaushik.
Police are investigating the suspicious death of a BCA student at a private university hostel in Meerut, with initial findings suggesting a possible suicide as authorities launch a full investigation.

Key Points A female BCA student, Priya, was found dead in her hostel room at a private university in Meerut.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding Priya's death, initially suspecting suicide.

The student's brother, also studying at the same university, rushed her to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.

A post-mortem examination has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.

A case involving the death of a female student under suspicious circumstances at a private university hostel located in the Modipuram area of Meerut has come to light, police said.

According to the police, the deceased has been identified as Priya (20), a native of Chhapra district of Bihar. She was a third-year BCA student and had been residing in the hostel.

Officials said that the incident came to the attention of her brother, Vishal, who is also a student at the same institution. He rushed her to the hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead.

Upon receiving the information, the police from the Pallavpuram police station arrived at the scene and inspected the room.

Police have sent the body of the deceased for a post-mortem examination, Pallavpuram SHO Mahesh Kumar said, adding that they were alerted about the incident by the hospital management.

He added that prima facie, the case appears to be one of suicide, but an investigation into the matter is underway.
Ajay Gupta, a co-owner of the 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub in Goa, has been granted bail following a devastating fire that killed 25 people, raising questions about accountability and safety regulations.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Ajay Gupta, co-owner of 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub, has been granted bail in connection with the deadly Goa fire.

The court cited a lack of specific evidence against Gupta in the police chargesheet.

Gupta's bail conditions include surrendering his passport and not leaving the country without permission.

The devastating fire at the Arpora nightclub resulted in the deaths of 25 people, leading to multiple arrests.

A court in Goa on Monday granted bail to Ajay Gupta, one of the owners of the 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub, where a devastating fire killed 25 people in December last year, his lawyer said.

The district court at Mapusa in North Goa granted bail to Gupta, who was arrested from New Delhi more than three months ago.

Advocate Rohan Desai, representing the accused, told the court during arguments that there was no evidence against Gupta in the chargesheet filed by police in the case.

The voluminous chargesheet does not specify any role of Gupta in the tragedy, said Desai, adding allegations of forging documents levelled against his client were also unfounded.

Desai said they were yet to get a detailed bail order, but the Judge released Gupta on a surety of Rs 50,000 and imposed several conditions, including that he shall not leave the country without the court's permission and surrender his passport before it.

The court also asked Gupta not to temper with evidence while on bail, said the advocate.

Background of the Goa Nightclub Fire

Twenty-five people -- 20 staff members and five tourists -- were killed in the major blaze at the nightclub at Arpora village in North Goa around midnight on December 6. After the tragedy, police had arrested 13 people, including the nightclub's owners.

On February 27, police filed a 4,150-page chargesheet in connection with the fire against 13 accused, including the owners, Saurabh Luthra, Gaurav Luthra and Gupta. Statements of more than 300 witnesses were recorded by police.
Gurugram police have successfully busted a cyber-fraud gang with international ties to the Philippines, uncovering an elaborate scheme involving illegal SIM boxes used for telecom fraud and cybercrimes.

Key Points Gurugram police dismantled a cyber-fraud gang operating from the Philippines, arresting Rahul Kumar for supplying illegal SIM boxes.

The cyber-fraud operation diverted calls through SIM boxes supplied via the Nepal-Bihar route to commit cybercrimes.

Police seized SIM boxes, routers, batteries, and over 500 SIM cards from various telecom providers.

The accused received SIM boxes from the Philippines via Nepal and Bihar, setting them up in Gurugram for a fee.

Investigations are ongoing to uncover the full extent of the international cyber-fraud network.

Gurugram police busted a cyber-fraud gang operating from the Philippines and has arrested a man associated with them, officials here said on Monday.

The accused was identified as Rahul Kumar (30). He was responsible for operating and delivering illegal SIM boxes, they said.

Police said that illegal devices were supplied through the Nepal-Bihar route, and to commit cybercrimes, calls were diverted through SIM boxes.

Police have recovered five SIM boxes with 32 SIM port antennas each, eight routers, 18 batteries, three UPS (inverters) and a total of 504 SIM cards of Airtel, Vodafone, Idea and a mobile phone.

According to the police, two house owners of Gurugram filed a complaint alleging that their tenants were illegally operating SIM boxes (GSM gateways) in their houses, which can be used for unauthorised telecom activities and cyber-crimes.

Following the complaint, two separate FIRs were registered on March 17. The police conducted raids at the rented houses where they found illegal devices which were used in cybercrimes.

Arrest and Interrogation

Priyanshu Dewan, ACP Cyber, said that while taking effective action based on technical assistance, a raid was conducted in Kasganj in Uttar Pradesh on March 18, and Rahul Kumar was arrested.

Kumar was produced before the court and was taken on five days of police remand, he added.

"During interrogation, the accused revealed that he drives a car in Noida.

He was in contact with a person in the Philippines through one of his associates, through whom he received the SIM boxes, routers, and other equipment in Noida. He then set up and checked the SIM boxes via video calls with the Filipino man," ACP Dewan said.

"The accused revealed that he had delivered the SIM boxes and other items in Gurugram and received Rs 15,000 in exchange from the Filipino man. SIM boxes and other items come from the Philippines to Nepal, and from Nepal, they are sent to Bihar in India and from Bihar, they are delivered to different places," the ACP explained.

Further investigation in the case is underway, the officer added.
Delhi Police have arrested two individuals suspected of kidnapping and threatening an excise constable and his driver while investigating illegal liquor operations, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat crime in the region.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Two men have been arrested by Delhi Police for allegedly kidnapping and threatening an excise department constable and his driver.

The suspects are believed to be involved in the illegal liquor supply between Haryana and Delhi.

One of the accused was apprehended near the Indo-Nepal border while attempting to flee the country.

The victims were gathering intelligence on illegal liquor when they were abducted, assaulted, and threatened at gunpoint.

Police recovered a vehicle and mobile phones used in the crime, and are continuing to investigate other involved parties.

Two men suspected to be involved in illegal liquor supply were arrested for allegedly kidnapping and threatening an excise department constable and his driver at gunpoint last month, police said on Monday.

A police official said the "mastermind" was was apprehended after an interstate chase up to the Indo-Nepal border while he was trying to flee the country.

The accused have been identified as Rahul Nain from Rohtak and Vinod Kumar from Jhajjar in Haryana.

"Kumar is a habitual offender and has been found to be previously involved in five criminal cases," a senior police officer said.

According to the police, the incident took place in the early hours of February 23 when constable Naresh Sharma of the Delhi Excise Department and his driver Rahul were gathering intelligence on illegal liquor supply near Aggarwal Auto Mall in Shalimar Bagh.

"A group of armed men approached them and questioned them. When they learned of their identity, they turned aggressive. They allegedly assaulted both victims with sticks, causing injuries, before abducting them in their own car," the officer said.

The victims were then taken to Bahalgarh in Haryana, where they were confined in a liquor godown. During their captivity, they were allegedly beaten again, threatened at gunpoint and videographed to intimidate them. The accused also robbed the complainant of his purse containing his official identity card and Rs 8,000 in cash.

"After some time, the victims were released, following which the complainant alerted the police via the emergency helpline. Both injured persons were medically examined at BJRM Hospital," he added.

Based on the complaint, a case was registered at Shalimar Bagh police station and the investigation was taken up.

Investigation and Arrests

"A special team was constituted, which analysed CCTV footage from the crime scene and tracked the movement of the accused to Bahalgarh in Sonipat. Informers helped police identify Rahul Nain as the key accused involved in illegal liquor supply between Haryana and Delhi," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) Akanksha Yadav said.

He was subsequently arrested, and during interrogation, he disclosed the identities of his associates. Acting on further leads, police traced another accused, Vinod Kumar, who kept changing locations across multiple states, including Punjab and Uttarakhand, in an attempt to evade arrest.

Police teams followed his trail through Zirakpur, Nainital and Kainchi Dham before finally apprehending him on the intervening night of March 18 and 19 near the Indo-Nepal border, while he was allegedly trying to flee the country.

"During investigation, both accused confessed to their involvement in the crime. A vehicle used in the offence and two mobile phones were recovered at their instance. Further efforts are underway to identify and arrest other co-accused involved in the case," she added.
An Indian national was injured in Abu Dhabi after debris from an intercepted ballistic missile landed in a residential area, highlighting escalating regional tensions.

IMAGE: Abu Dhabi skyline following Iranian missile attacks. Photograph: Reuters

Key Points An Indian national sustained a minor injury in Abu Dhabi due to falling debris from an intercepted ballistic missile.

Air defence systems successfully intercepted the missile before it reached its target.

Emergency teams responded to the incident in the Al Shawamekh area, a residential zone in Abu Dhabi.

Authorities have urged the public to rely on official sources for information and avoid spreading rumours.

The incident is part of escalating tensions in the Gulf region.

An Indian national has sustained minor injury in Abu Dhabi after the debris of a ballistic missile fell in the Al Shawamekh area following successful interception, authorities said on Monday.

Emergency teams responded to the scene after air defence systems dealt with the incoming missile, with debris landing in a residential area, authorities added.

"Relevant authorities in Abu Dhabi have responded to an incident involving debris falling in the Al Shawamekh area following the successful interception of a ballistic missile by air defence systems. The incident resulted in a minor injury to an Indian national," the Abu Dhabi media Office said in a post on X.

"The public is reminded to obtain information from official sources only and avoid spreading rumours or unverified information," it added.

161 Inured In Missile Attack

A total of 161 people were also injured, with injuries ranging from minor to moderate and severe, Gulf News reported.

The injured included nationals of the UAE, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Comoros, Turkiye, Iraq, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Ghana, Indonesia, Sweden and Tunisia, it said.

Escalating Regional Tensions

Starting February 28, the US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran, which came after days of build-up with US President Donald Trump ramping up the pressure on Tehran to agree to a new deal on its nuclear programme. Iran's retaliation escalated the war to the entire Gulf region.
Amidst escalating tensions in West Asia and the Gulf region, the Indian government is actively addressing the case of an Indian national seeking repatriation from Russia, alongside other international incidents involving Indian citizens.

Photograph: Reuters

Key Points One Indian national in Russia is seeking assistance and repatriation due to the evolving situation in West Asia and the Gulf region.

The Indian Embassy is working with Russian authorities to locate and assist the stranded Indian citizen.

Several Indian nationals have been denied entry, detained, or deported from Jeju Island, South Korea, with the reasons not disclosed due to Korean privacy laws.

The Indian government is aware of Indian seafarers detained in various countries, including Iran, Nigeria, and the UK, and is providing assistance.

The Indian Embassy in Israel addressed an unprovoked attack on two Indian workers, leading to the arrest of suspects.

There is one case of a distressed Indian national seeking assistance and repatriation from Russia, in connection with the evolving situation in the West Asia and Gulf region, the government has informed Parliament.

In a written response to a query, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also said the Indian Mission is working with Russian authorities to know the whereabouts and to extend all possible assistance.

He was asked whether it is a fact that Indians who recently visited Russia could not return and were stranded there, if so, the reasons therefore; and the number of complaints received by the government in this regard.

"As per information available, there is one case of a distressed Indian national seeking assistance and repatriation from Russia, in connection with the evolving situation in the West Asia and Gulf region," Jaishankar said.

Other than this case, there are no known instances of Indian nationals who recently visited Russia, were stranded, and could not return, he said.

The Indian Embassy in Russia receives intimation from Russian authorities or affected families about Indian citizens' detention on grounds of visa violation or administrative offences, the minister said.

"In such cases, Indian Embassy in Russia liaises with the Russian immigration authorities to facilitate their early return to India, and extends assistance, including through facilitation of travel documents, whenever required," he added.

Indian Nationals Denied Entry to Jeju Island, South Korea

In a separate query, TMC MP Mohua Moitra asked the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) the number of Indian nationals "denied entry, detained or deported" from Jeju Island, South Korea during the last three years, and the reasons for such denial, detention or deportation.

"As per information available with the Ministry, the number of Indian nationals denied entry, detained or deported from Jeju Island, South Korea during the last three years, year wise is as follows: 2023 - 19 cases; 2024 - 10 cases; 2025 - 23 cases and 2026 - nil," Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita said in his response.

However, the break-up on denial, detention or deportation cases were not mentioned in his written response.

"The reasons for denial, detention or deportation are not shared by authorities of South Korea as Korean privacy protection laws prohibit sharing of sensitive and personally identifiable information," the MoS said.

Upon receiving requests of assistance in all cases of denial of entry, detention or deportation from Indian nationals, the Indian Embassy in Seoul reaches out to the concerned Korean authorities to ensure a humane and dignified treatment and provision of basic facilities, he said.

Korean authorities are also requested to ensure immediate repatriation of the affected Indians, Margherita said.

These issues have been taken up with concerned Korean authorities at various levels and on a regular basis, including at the Consular Dialogues held between the two governments, he added.

Indian Seafarers Detained in Foreign Countries

In response to another query, the MEA also shared a country-wise list of Indian seafarers who are currently in detention in foreign countries.

The list mentons 13 countries, including Australia, Iran, Mauritius, Nigeria and Senegal.

The number of Indian seafarers who are currently in detention in these countries stands as -- Iran (18), Nigeria (22), Djibouti (17), the UK (2) and Australia (1), it says.

Attack on Indian Workers in Israel

In a written response to another query, the government said it is "aware of an incident related to an unprovoked attack on two Indian workers by some assailants that occurred on December 16, 2025 in Israel".

The Embassy of India raised the matter with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and actively pursued it with the local Israeli authorities. The local police authorities conducted a speedy investigation that led to the arrest of the suspects, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said in his response, uploaded on the Lok Sabha website on Monday.
A cyanide bomb threat targeting the Indore Regional Transport Office (RTO) triggered a police investigation, ultimately revealing the incident to be a hoax, highlighting growing concerns over cyber threats in Madhya Pradesh.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Indore RTO received an email threatening a cyanide gas bomb attack.

Police and bomb disposal squad conducted a thorough search of the RTO premises.

The bomb threat was declared a hoax after no suspicious objects were found.

The cyber squad is investigating the origin of the threatening email.

Similar bomb threats have been reported in other locations across Madhya Pradesh recently.

The Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Indore in Madhya Pradesh received an email containing a message about detonating 15 cyanide gas bombs there, following which the premises was thoroughly checked and the threat was declared a hoax, officials said on Monday.

An email was sent to the RTO's official address on Sunday stating that 15 cyanide gas bombs had been placed at the complex and these would explode during the day, Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) Archana Mishra said.

"The email was discovered when the office opened on Monday. We immediately informed the police, which along with the bomb disposal squad evacuated the RTO premises and thoroughly searched it. However, no suspicious objects were found," Mishra said.

Investigation and Previous Threats

The cyber squad is investigating the origin of the email, a police official said.

"In recent months, such emails threatening to bomb courts, airports, bank branches, hospitals, and schools have been received in various parts of the state. Cases have been registered under relevant provisions," he added.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the US and Iran had held 'very good and productive conversations' over the past two days aimed at resolving hostilities in the region.

IMAGE: Teenagers drag a part of a missile that landed in the playground of an elementary school last night, amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran, in the Israeli settlement Peduel of the Israel-occupied West Bank, March 23, 2026. Photograph: Amir Cohen/Reuters

Iran's ministry of foreign affairs on Monday dismissed US President Donald Trump's claim that discussions are currently underway between Washington and Tehran after the US President announced a pause to military strikes on the energy infrastructure of the Islamic Republic for five days, as reported by Mehr News Agency.

Key Points The Iranian MFA stated that the remarks made by the US President were an attempt to buy time for further US military operations and influence energy markets

The official claimed that the American President retreated from his threats over striking Iran's energy infrastructures after Tehran's stern warning to retaliate.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the United States and Iran had held "very good and productive conversations" over the past two days aimed at resolving hostilities in the region.

According to a statement quoted by the Mehr News Agency, the Iranian MFA stated that the remarks made by the US President were an attempt to buy time for further US military operations and influence energy markets amid soaring prices due to the conflict.

"The US President's statements are within the framework of efforts to reduce energy prices and gain time to implement his military plans," the ministry stated, as quoted by Mehr News Agency.

"There are initiatives by regional countries to de-escalate tensions, and our response to all of them is clear: We are not the party that started this war, and all these requests should be referred to Washington," it added.

Fars News quoted an Iranian security as saying, "There's no direct or indirect contact with the US."

The official claimed that the American President retreated from his threats over striking Iran's energy infrastructures after Tehran's stern warning to retaliate.

The remarks came after Trump, earlier today, announced that he had instructed the US Department of War to delay any military action against Iranian power plants and energy sites for five days, citing ongoing diplomatic engagements with Tehran amid escalating tensions in West Asia.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the United States and Iran had held "very good and productive conversations" over the past two days aimed at resolving hostilities in the region.

He added that the decision to pause strikes was based on the "tenor and tone" of the discussions, which he described as "in-depth, detailed, and constructive". Trump further stated that the conversations will continue through the week.

"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," the post read.

"Based on the tenor and tone of these in depth, detailed, and constructive conversations, witch will continue throughout the week, I have instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy Infrastructure for a five day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" it added.

The announcement came as the war between Israel, the US, and Iran had entered its fourth week.

The move marks a shift from Trump's earlier stance, in which he had issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran to reopen the strategically significant Strait of Hormuz, warning of severe consequences if the demand was not met.

In an earlier 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.

Following this, Iran on Sunday issued a stringent warning to the United States, threatening to target critical energy infrastructure across the region in an "irreversible manner".

In a post on X, the speaker of Iran's Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, stated that any attack on Iranian power plants or infrastructure would prompt retaliatory strikes on regional energy facilities.

"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 stated in his post.

The development comes amid the escalating 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 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.
In a clear message to international observers, the strategic site was pointedly "described as "the tip of the iceberg" regarding Iran's hidden arsenal.

IMAGE: A new fourth-generation Iranian surface-to-surface ballistic missile called Khaibar with an estimated range of about 2,000 km, unveiled by Irans defence ministry in Tehran, Iran. Photograph: Reuters/ANI Photo

A video showcasing an expansive underground military complex filled with advanced weaponry has been released by Iranian state media, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), in an effort to disprove the US claim that Iranian military capabilities have been completely destroyed.

Key Points The footage depicts 'rows of missiles inside an underground facility,' highlighting the scale of the country's ballistic capabilities.

This visual demonstration of strength coincides with claims from Iran's IRGC that it has carried out the 75th wave of missile strikes under the ongoing retaliatory operation.

The statement further claimed that the targets included "new military deployments and hiding places of Israeli troops" across multiple locations.

The footage from IRIB News depicts "rows of missiles inside an underground facility," highlighting the scale of the country's ballistic capabilities.

In a clear message to international observers, the strategic site was pointedly "described as "the tip of the iceberg" regarding the nation's hidden arsenal.

This visual demonstration of strength coincides with claims from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that it has carried out the 75th wave of missile strikes under the ongoing retaliatory operation "True Promise 4." According to a report by Press TV, the latest strikes targeted Israeli military positions and a key United States military installation in Saudi Arabia, the "US Prince Sultan Air Base."

In an official statement, the IRGC said the operation was conducted "in honour of martyred commanders" and described it as a response to what it termed continued aggression by Israel and the United States. It added that the strikes were carried out using "advanced ballistic missiles" and were based on "accurate reconnaissance" by its intelligence units.

The statement further claimed that the targets included "new military deployments and hiding places of Israeli troops" across multiple locations.

It also asserted that the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia was struck as it serves as a "key hub for US aggressors' deployments and air operations" against Iran.

Reiterating its stance, the IRGC warned that Israeli and US forces remain under "constant surveillance" and cautioned that attempts to conceal military assets in civilian areas would not provide protection.

It said that "no hiding place or defensive measure will shield the aggressors from accountability," underscoring its intent to continue operations.

The development comes amid a sharp escalation in the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States, with multiple missile and drone strikes reported across the region in recent weeks.

Reports indicate that Iranian forces have previously targeted several US-linked military installations and Israeli cities using a range of missiles and unmanned aerial systems.

The targeting of the Prince Sultan Air Base, located in Saudi Arabia's Al-Kharj region, is particularly significant as it has long been a major hub for US military presence and operations in the region.

The broader conflict, which began in late February, has seen repeated exchanges of strikes, raising concerns of a wider regional escalation. These hostilities continue to spark fears regarding potential disruptions to global energy supplies and the overall security dynamics in West Asia.
President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced new initiatives to strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance, enhance economic security, and bolster deterrence to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific.



Japan agreed to three major tranches of investment in the United States under the 2025 U.S.-Japan Strategic Trade and Investment Agreement. The first tranche, announced in February 2026, was worth $36 billion. The United States has now welcomed the second tranche of Japanese investments, including up to $40 billion from GE Vernova Hitachi in Tennessee and Alabama to build small modular reactor power plants and up to $33 billion in natural gas generation facilities in Pennsylvania and Texas.



The United States will prioritize visa processing for temporary business travelers, particularly those who make significant investments, train American workers, or transfer critical skills, techniques, or know-how.



Both leaders discussed the ongoing threat posed by economic and geopolitical competitors restricting strategic supply chains, such as critical minerals, and reaffirmed initiatives to expand trusted supply chains for key infrastructure and industries.



President Trump and Prime Minister Takaichi welcomed the outcomes of the Indo-Pacific Energy Security Ministerial and Business Forum, which brought together 17 Indo-Pacific Ministers and hundreds of business leaders to highlight over $50 billion of projects and investments in the United States and the region.



Under a new Memorandum of Cooperation, the U.S. and Japan will accelerate joint research and development of deep-sea critical minerals resources, including rare-earth muds near Japans Minamitorishima Island that could meet centuries worth of industrial demand.



The U.S. Department of Energy and Japans Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology signed a Statement of Intent to drive cooperation on artificial intelligence-enabled scientific discovery and innovation, high-performance computing, and quantum technologies.



With regard to strengthening deterrence and defense cooperation, the United States welcomed Japans commitment to rapidly improve its own defense capabilities, increase its defense budget, and continue partnering with U.S. forces in Japan and the region.



The United States and Japan affirmed their commitment to deploying advanced capabilities in Japan to enable a strong denial defense posture. This will include building on the successful 2025 deployment of the U.S. Typhon missile system to mainland Japan. And in support of missile defense cooperation, the two sides will increase the production of Standard Missile 3 Block IIA missiles in Japan.



The two leaders committed to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of regional security and global prosperity and supported the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues through dialogue. They expressed opposition to any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo, including by force or coercion.



The United States and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea and to enhance the Japan-U.S.-[Republic of Korea] partnership. The United States supports Japans determination to achieve an immediate resolution of the abductee issue.



The United States and Japan side will continue to advance economic and national security interests to safeguard the prosperity, lives, and property of the American and Japanese people.
A Jaipur autorickshaw driver has been arrested after a video surfaced showing him tricking a German tourist into unknowingly repeating abusive words, sparking outrage and a police investigation.

Key Points An autorickshaw driver in Jaipur was arrested for allegedly making a foreign tourist repeat abusive words without her understanding.

The incident came to light after a video surfaced on social media showing the driver encouraging the woman to repeat the abusive words.

The tourist, from Germany, was unaware of the meaning of the words and believed it was a normal conversation.

Police identified and arrested the accused, Mohammad Sohail, after the video was posted online.

The incident occurred approximately 10 days prior while the tourist was visiting Jaipur and touring the walled city.

An autorickshaw driver was arrested here for allegedly making a foreign tourist repeat abusive words without her understanding their meaning and recording the act, police said on Monday.

According to Station House Officer Manju Kumari, the incident came to light after a video surfaced on social media on March 20, showing the driver encouraging the woman to repeat abusive words while laughing.

Police said the woman, a tourist from Germany, was unaware of the meaning of the words and believed them to be part of a normal conversation.

Arrest and Investigation

Following verification, police identified the accused as Mohammad Sohail, 31, a resident of the Surajpol area, and arrested him after registering an FIR.

Officials said the incident occurred around 10 days ago when the woman was visiting Jaipur and touring the walled city in an autorickshaw.

The video was recorded by the tourist and later posted on social media after she returned to Germany, following which the police traced the accused.

Further investigation is underway.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the West Asia conflict and its significant impact on global energy security, highlighting concerns over rising oil and gas prices.

IMAGE: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meets United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, on the sidelines of the Quad Foreign Ministers' meeting, in Washington, DC on July 2, 2025. Photograph: @DrSJaishankar on X/ANI Photo

Key Points Jaishankar met with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) ambassadors to discuss the West Asia conflict and its implications for India's energy security.

Global oil and gas prices have surged due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for oil and LNG shipments.

Jaishankar also spoke with his Sri Lankan and German counterparts regarding the repercussions of the West Asia conflict.

The US has extended the deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, indicating ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday to discuss the West Asia conflict's impact on the global economy, with a particular focus on energy security.

The Jaishankar-Rubio phone conversation came hours after US President Donald Trump extended Washington's deadline by five days for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

In a social media post, Jaishankar said he had a detailed phone conversation with Rubio that focused on the West Asia conflict.

"Our discussions focused on the West Asia conflict and its impact on the international economy. We particularly spoke about energy security concerns. Agreed to remain in touch," the external affairs minister said.

In a related development, Jaishankar met the ambassadors of the member nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and discussed the West Asia conflict.

"Exchanged views on the conflict in West Asia. Thanked them for their continued support to the Indian community in the region," the external affairs minister said after meeting six envoys from GCC member states.

The meeting was attended by the envoys of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait.

It is learnt that India's concerns over energy security, in light of the ongoing conflict, figured in the meeting.

Global oil and gas prices have surged after Iran virtually blocked the Strait of Hormuz that handles roughly 20 percent of global oil and LNG (liquefied natural gas).

West Asia has been a major source of India's energy procurement.

Jaishankar also spoke to his Sri Lankan counterpart Vijitha Herath.

"Discussed the repercussions of the West Asia conflict," the external affairs minister said on social media.

"India stands committed to #NeighbourhoodFirst and #VisionMAHASAGAR," he added.

In another social media post, Jaishankar said he spoke to his German counterpart Johann Wadephul on Sunday night and discussed the West Asia conflict.

Earlier, Trump said on social media that he has extended the deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the strategically-located shipping lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, and that he will hold off strikes against Iranian energy sites for five days.

The US president, without sharing any details, also said that there have been "productive conversations" between the US and Iran for "complete and total resolution" to the conflict in West Asia.
A violent clash at the Jotiba Temple in Kolhapur resulted in the booking of priests and devotees after a dispute over a palanquin obstruction during a religious procession, sparking a police investigation.

Key Points A clash occurred at the Jotiba Temple in Kolhapur between priests and devotees during a religious procession.

The incident was triggered when a palanquin of the temple deity faced obstruction from dancing devotees.

Police have booked ten priests and fifteen devotees under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for affray and related offences.

A video of the Jotiba Temple clash has gone viral on social media, drawing attention to the incident.

An investigation is underway following the clash at the Jotiba Temple, with notices issued to those involved.

Ten priests of the Jotiba Temple in Kolhapur and 15 devotees were booked after the two sides clashed, a police official said on Monday.

The priests have been booked for assaulting devotees after a palanquin of the temple faced obstruction on Sunday afternoon, the Kodoli police station official added. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media.

Details of the Temple Altercation

"Devotees of Karveer village had come to the temple with a 'shashan kathi', a sacred stick used in religious processions. While these devotees were dancing, a palanquin of the temple deity, which was on its way, faced obstruction. When priests tried to stop these devotees from dancing and make way for the palanquin, a clash ensued," the official said.

"The fracas involved devotees manhandling the priests, 10 of whom then hit back. The clash stopped with the intervention of the village head, who submitted a written apology to the temple. A case was registered against 15 devotees and 10 priests under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for affray and other offences," he said.

A notice has been issued to all those named in the case, and further probe is underway, the official said.
Tensions flared in Manipur as a mob tried to enter the residence of the Kuki Zo Council chairman, prompting intervention by security forces and raising concerns about ongoing unrest.

IMAGE: Armed men fired blank rounds to deter the mob from entering the chairman's residence during the night. Photograph: ANI video grab

Key Points A mob targeted the residence of Kuki Zo Council chairman H Thanglet in Churachandpur, Manipur, escalating tensions in the region.

Protestors allege the presence of militants at the chairman's residence, sparking unrest and attempts to breach the property.

Security forces intervened, using tear gas to disperse the mob and prevent them from entering the residence.

Tyres were burned in the Tuibong area, further contributing to the unrest, before security forces dispersed the agitators.

A mob tried to barge into the residence of Kuki Zo Council chairman H Thanglet in Manipur's Churachandpur town, following which armed men opened blank fire to disperse them, officials said.

The incident took place on Sunday night after youths protested the reported presence of militants in the chairman's house in the district headquarters.

They pelted his residence with stones in the afternoon and even tried to barge into it but security forces prevented them by firing tear gas shells to disperse the youths, the officials said.

However, on Sunday night, the youths again attempted to barge into the chairman's residence, following which armed men opened blank fire to prevent them, they said.

Some agitators also burnt tyres in Tuibong area near Churachandpur town but security forces dispersed them by firing tear gas shells, the officials added.
In Mangaluru, three individuals have been apprehended following a City Crime Branch raid that resulted in the seizure of MDMA, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking in the region.

Key Points Three individuals were arrested in Mangaluru for allegedly selling MDMA.

Police seized 26 grams of MDMA worth approximately Rs 2.5 lakh during the raid.

The accused were reportedly using an autorickshaw to sell the drugs to the public and students.

In addition to the MDMA, police confiscated cash, mobile phones, a weighing machine, and the autorickshaw.

A case has been registered, and further investigation into the drug operation is underway.

Three persons were arrested and 26 grams of banned narcotic substance MDMA worth about Rs 2.5 lakh was seized during a raid by the City Crime Branch police, police said on Monday.

The raid was carried out in the Pumpwell-Ekkur area here on Sunday, they said.

The accused were identified as Hyder Ali (53), Mohammed Sajad (29) and Jaison Menezes (26), police said.

Details of the Drug Operation

According to police, the accused were allegedly selling the banned narcotic substance to the public and students using an autorickshaw.

Besides the contraband, police seized Rs 37,000 in cash, five mobile phones, a weighing machine and the autorickshaw used for the illegal activity, a senior police officer said.

The total value of the seized items is estimated at Rs 4.37 lakh, he said.

A case has been registered at Kankanady Town Police Station and further investigation is underway, police added.
Opposition parties are raising concerns that the AIMIM alliance in West Bengal could fracture the vote share, potentially benefiting the BJP in the upcoming assembly elections.

IMAGE: suspended Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Several opposition MPs have accused AIMIM of indirectly helping the BJP by splitting the opposition vote.

The AIMIM alliance with Aam Janata Unnayan Party is for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections.

Some leaders claim that AIMIM acts as the 'B-team' of the BJP, benefiting the saffron party by dividing the opposition's vote share.

Opposition leaders on Monday criticised the alliance between the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Humayun Kabir, saying such moves could divide votes and weaken "secular parties" ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections.

AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi has tied up with Humayun Kabir's Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) for the high-stakes West Bengal Assembly polls. Polling for the 294-member Assembly is scheduled on April 23 and 29, with counting of votes on May 4.

TMC MP Saugata Roy called it a "bad development" and said it may "isolate Muslim masses".

"Owaisi's outfit is actually helping the BJP. But it will not have any impact. They do not have strength and will not get votes," Roy told reporters in the Parliament House complex.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore alleged that "some people have taken a contract to weaken the secular forces".

Another Congress MP Ujjwal Raman Singh said forming alliances is a political choice but stressed that the focus should remain on defeating communal forces.

"Whether someone forms an alliance with someone else is their own matter. But defeating communal forces is our goal, and for this the Congress party will continue to work consistently," he said.

Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray MP Priyanka Chaturvedi alleged that AIMIM often ends up helping the BJP.

"Whenever the BJP is in crisis, it calls the AIMIM, which is on its speed dial. The party invites them to come and participate and help it win," she claimed.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MP Mahua Maji labelled the AIMIM as the BJP's "B-team", alleging that it participates in elections only to benefit the saffron party by dividing the opposition's vote share.

"This has been happening everywhere. You have seen that wherever they (AIMIM) have fielded their candidates, it has ended up benefiting the BJP. That is why, in many states, people from their own community choose not to support them and instead vote for the party that is more likely to win and defeat the BJP," she told reporters in the Parliament House complex.

"In Bengal, people chose Mamata Banerjee and even people from the Muslim community supported her because she could win and defeat the BJP. But by doing this, AIMIM ends up cutting votes, which in turn benefits the BJP significantly. Because of this, we see AIMIM as the BJP's 'B team'."
The Pak PMO said in a statement that Sharif conveyed his 'serious concern' to Pezeshkian over the 'dangerous ongoing hostilities in the Gulf region'.

IMAGE: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Sharif stressed the urgent need for collective efforts to de-escalate tensions and promote dialogue among neighbouring countries in West Asia.

The Pakistani PM highlighted the critical importance of unity within the Muslim community (ummah) to address the ongoing crisis.

Pakistan assured Iran of its continued constructive role in facilitating peace and stability in the region.

Sharif conveyed Pakistan's solidarity with the Iranian people amidst the ongoing hostilities and extended Eid and Nowruz greetings.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday in a telephonic conversation with Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian stressed the urgent need for collective efforts for de-escalation in West Asia.

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement that Sharif conveyed his "serious concern" to Pezeshkian over the "dangerous ongoing hostilities in the Gulf region".

The West Asia crisis began on February 28 when the US and Israel attacked Iran, which sparked a conflict.

"In view of this grave situation, the prime minister underscored the urgent need to work collectively for de-escalation and a return to dialogue and diplomacy amongst all the neighbouring countries to settle their differences," the statement said.

Sharif stressed upon the "critical importance of unity in the ranks of the ummah, that is required more than ever before", the statement added.

It further stated that Sharif "assured the Iranian leadership that Pakistan would continue to play a constructive role in facilitating peace in the region".

"As a neighbouring brotherly country of Iran, the prime minister conveyed Pakistan's solidarity with the brave Iranian people in the wake of the ongoing hostilities," the statement said.

Sharif also extended Eid-ul-Fitr and Nowruz greetings to the Iranian president and the people of Iran, the statement added.
A Pakistan-based terror network recruiting Indian youth through social media for potential terror attacks has been busted by Delhi Police, highlighting the growing threat of online radicalization and cross-border terrorism.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Delhi Police busted a Pakistan-based terror module recruiting Indian youth through social media.

The module, led by Shahzad Bhatti, used social media to lure vulnerable youth with promises of money and a lavish lifestyle.

Arrested operative Harmandeep Singh was tasked with painting graffiti and planning a grenade attack.

The terror group used a phased approach, starting with low-risk assignments before escalating to more serious attacks.

The timely arrest prevented potential terror attacks and efforts are underway to apprehend other members of the network.

Delhi Police's Special Cell has arrested a key operative of Pakistan-based terrorist Shahzad Bhatti's network and busted a module that was recruiting Indian youths through social media and grooming them for activities ranging from propaganda to terror attacks, an official said on Monday.

The accused, identified as Harmandeep Singh alias Harman (18), a resident of Rampur in Uttar Pradesh, was apprehended following discreet surveillance on Bhatti and his foreign-based network, he said.

"The arrest has exposed a structured terror syndicate being operated remotely from Pakistan, wherein handlers were targeting vulnerable youth in India and luring them with promises of money, recognition and a lavish lifestyle," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Narra Chaitanya said in a statement.

Police said the accused was in regular contact with Bhatti and his associates through multiple social media platforms. His mobile phone allegedly contained incriminating chats with Pakistan-based handlers, along with photos and videos of activities carried out at their behest.

Harman also claimed that his associates were involved in a firing incident in the Kashmiri Gate area in Delhi. It also emerged during the probe that a Pakistan-based associate of Bhatti had publicly claimed responsibility for planning the incident on social media, they said.

Graffiti and Initial Tasks

"As part of his assigned tasks, Harman was instructed to paint graffiti at public places to spread fear and attract attention towards the module. Acting on these directions, he allegedly painted graffiti at three locations in Talwara in Punjab's Hoshiarpur district and shared images and videos with his handlers as proof," the officer said.

A black spray paint bottle used for painting the graffiti and a mobile phone containing incriminating material were recovered from his possession, he said.

Modus Operandi of the Terror Group

Police said the module followed a well-defined modus operandi. Pakistani handlers, including Bhatti and his associates, would identify and recruit people by analysing their social media activity.

"Once selected, recruits were gradually inducted into the network and assigned tasks in a phased manner," DCP Chaitanya said.

Initially, they were given low-risk assignments such as arranging logistics, transferring money, conducting reconnaissance of sensitive locations and sharing videos, or painting graffiti at public places. After gaining their trust and assessing their commitment, handlers would escalate their roles to more serious tasks such as carrying out grenade attacks or firing incidents, the officer said.

Recruitment and Future Plans

"During interrogation, Harman revealed that he had discontinued his studies at an early stage and later became active on social media platforms. Influenced by posts showcasing the lifestyle... of gangsters, he developed an inclination towards joining such networks," Chaitanya said.

He said the accused came in contact with criminal elements after leaving home and eventually established links with Bhatti's network through intermediaries. He was promised substantial financial rewards and assistance in relocating abroad, including to Dubai, upon successful execution of assigned tasks.

"Further investigation revealed that Harman was also instructed to expand the network by motivating others to join the module. He had allegedly attempted to recruit a friend from Rampur and was being guided to carry out similar graffiti activities in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh," the officer said.

Police said the accused, along with his handlers, had also discussed plans to carry out a grenade attack at a police chowki in Rampur. The handlers had assured that explosives would be supplied through conduits operating from Punjab using drone routes.

The timely arrest of the accused has thwarted the plans of the terror module and prevented potential attacks. Police said that efforts are underway to identify and apprehend other members of the network.
Indian authorities have made further arrests in a Pakistan-linked espionage case, uncovering a network that allegedly used parcels and WhatsApp to transmit sensitive information, raising concerns about national security.

Photograph: ANI on X

Key Points Indian police arrest three more suspects, including a woman and a juvenile, in connection with a Pakistan-linked espionage ring.

The suspects allegedly sent sensitive information to Pakistan via parcels through Dubai and WhatsApp.

One of the arrested individuals conducted reconnaissance of security and police installations and railway stations in Delhi and other states.

The espionage ring was allegedly operated from Pakistan by an individual named Sardar alias Zoravar Singh.

The gang was instructed to recruit less educated Hindu minor boys so as to evade suspicion.

Police have apprehended three more alleged members of a major Pakistan-linked espionage racket, including a juvenile and a woman, for allegedly sending sensitive information to the neighbouring country through parcels via Dubai and WhatsApp, a police official said on Monday.

Till now, 18 individuals, including six minors, have been held in connection with the sensational case.

Meera Thakur (28), a resident of Mathura district, and Naushad Ali (20), a resident of Faridabad district of Haryana and originally hailing from Muzaffarpur district of Bihar, were arrested on Sunday. The third suspect is a minor.

Ali allegedly conducted a recce of security and police installation and railway stations in Delhi and other states and was forwarding photos and videos.

"The gang involved in espionage was sending secret information to a man named Sardar alias Zoravar Singh who was operating the spying racket from Pakistan," Additional Commissioner of Police Raj Karan Nayyar said.

The arrested have been identified as: Suhel Malik alias Romeo, Sane Iram alias Mehak, Praveen, Raj Valmiki, Shiva Valmiki, Ritik Gangwar, Ganesh, Vivek, Gagan Kumar Prajapati, Durgesh Nishad, Naushad Ali and Meera, the police said.

The espionage racket was busted on March 13. Meera and Suhail were associates for many years. During interrogation, she told the police that she met Suhail through Facebook, after which she joined the group, they said.

According to Nayyar, Meera was arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police on charges of arms smuggling in 2025. Meera also claimed that she was an informer for the Mumbai Police.

Naushad Ali told the police that he connected with the other accused via various social media platforms and was directly in touch with Sardar in Pakistan.

"He confessed that he conducted a recce of security and police installation and railway stations in Delhi and other states and was forwarding photos and videos," the officer said.

The gang was allegedly operated in India by Suhail alias Romeo, a resident of Nargadhi Nawada in Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh, the police said.

Espionage Ring Funding and Recruitment Tactics

"He had recruited other members of the gang. He was paying Rs 5,000 for each information. He was receiving funds from Pakistan via Punjab in the accounts of money transfer centres and shopkeepers, so that nobody could doubt the money transactions," Nayyar said.

The detained minor had allegedly installed solar-operated CCTV cameras at Delhi cantonment railway station, the police said.

"The gang was instructed to recruit less educated Hindu minor boys so as to evade suspicion," Additional CP Nayyar said.
'Pakistan has pitched Islamabad as a possible venue for talks as early as this week involving senior figures from the Trump administration and Iran,' the Financial Times reported.

IMAGE: Teenagers drag part of a missile that landed in the playground of an elementary school last night in the Israeli settlement Peduel of the Israel-occupied West Bank, March 23, 2026. Photograph: Amir Cohen/Reuters

Key Points Pakistan Field Marshal Asim Munir called US President Donald Trump on Sunday and offered to mediate between the US and Iran.

Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday.

Pakistan is positioning itself as the lead mediator trying to broker an end to the US' and Israel's war against Iran, using its military strongman's ties to Tehran and warm relationship with Donald Trump,' the Financial Times reported.

Pakistan Field Marshal Asim Munir called United States President Donald Trump on Sunday and offered to mediate between the US and Iran, the Financial Times newspaper reported on Monday evening.

'Pakistan is positioning itself as the lead mediator trying to broker an end to the US' and Israel's war against Iran, using its military strongman's ties to Tehran and warm relationship with Donald Trump,' the Financial Times reported.

'Two officials familiar with the discussions said that Pakistan has pitched Islamabad as a possible venue for talks as early as this week involving senior figures from the Trump administration and Iran,' the Financial Times added.

Asim Munir, the Financial Times reported, 'spoke with Trump on Sunday, according to two people briefed on the call, while Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday.'

'The conversation between the Pakistani and Iranian leaders came at around the same time as Trump announced that he was delaying his threat to 'obliterate' Iran's power plants after 'very good and productive' conversations with Tehran to end the war,' the Financial Times reported.

'Turkey, which was involved in mediation efforts before the war, has also been talking to Iranian officials and Trump's envoy Steve Witkof in an attempt to secure a brief ceasefire and open space for negotiations,' the Financial Times reported.

'Pakistan's Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar held talks with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan on Monday. Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty also spoke to his Iranian and Pakistani counterparts on Sunday, as well as Witkoff and Qatar's foreign minister,' the Financial Times added.

'Iran's foreign ministry denied there had been any direct negotiations with the US since the start of the war, but said that some regional states we involved in mediation efforts,' the Financial Times reported.
The Supreme Court is set to examine a critical case concerning gender discrimination in Parsi personal law, specifically addressing whether Parsi women lose their religious identity after inter-faith marriages, impacting their fundamental rights.

IMAGE: A view of the Supreme Court of India. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points The Supreme Court is reviewing the constitutional validity of a rule that allegedly strips Parsi women of their religious identity upon marrying a non-Parsi.

The petition argues that the rule violates fundamental rights, including equality before the law, right to life and dignity, and freedom of religion.

The rule in question does not apply the same restrictions to Parsi men who marry outside the community, raising concerns of gender discrimination.

The case specifically challenges the regulations governing the Nagpur Agyari (Fire Temple).

The Supreme Court has issued notices to relevant parties, including the central government and the Nagpur Parsi Panchayat, to address the important legal questions raised.

The Supreme Court on Monday decided to examine a significant constitutional challenge involving gender discrimination within religious personal laws, questioning whether a Parsi woman can be stripped of her religious identity following the inter-faith marriage.

The top court issued notices to the Centre, Nagpur Parsi Panchayat, the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the Maharashtra government, and the Charity Commissioner on the plea filed by Dina Budhraja.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi heard preliminary submissions of senior advocate Shayam Divan, appearing for the petitioner, challenging the constitutional validity of Rule 5(2) of the Nagpur Parsi Panchayat's constitution.

The petition, filed under Article 32, said that the rule is discriminatory and violates Article 14 (equality before law), Article 21 (right to life and dignity), and Article 25 (freedom of religion) of the Constitution.

The rule allegedly strips Parsi women of their religious identity and access to religious institutions such as the Agyari (Fire Temple) upon marrying a non-Parsi.

The rule, though, does not apply the same sanctions to Parsi men who marry outside the community.

Divan highlighted that the issue is a recurring legal battle for the community.

He emphasised that the current plea specifically challenges the regulations governing the Nagpur Agyari.

"We are issuing the notice. There is a similar plea with the important question of law," the CJI said.
Kerala Police have launched an investigation into an online attack targeting IUML state president Syyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal, after a defamatory social media post sparked outrage and prompted a formal complaint.

Key Points Kerala Police are investigating an online attack targeting IUML state president Syyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal.

A defamatory post against Thangal surfaced on social media and was widely circulated before being deleted.

The IUML has lodged a complaint with the Malappuram Cyber Police and is seeking urgent intervention.

IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty condemned the false propaganda and assured legal action against those responsible for defaming Thangal.

A probe was launched on Monday into an alleged online attack targeting the IUML state president, Syyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal, police said.

The Malappuram Cyber Police was probing the matter based on a complaint from the party, they added.

According to the police, a defamatory post against Thangal surfaced on social media on Sunday evening.

Even though the post was deleted within hours, it had already been widely circulated on social media platforms, police said.

Following the incident, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) lodged a complaint with the Malappuram Cyber Police.

IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty, in a Facebook post, said the party had approached the police against a post circulated from a fake ID, making baseless allegations against Thangal.

"A detailed investigation into the matter is currently underway. The party has sought urgent intervention in the incident. It will take all necessary legal steps to counter any attempts to personally defame Thangal," he said.

He also urged the public not to be misled by such false propaganda. Police said a case will be registered in the matter after the preliminary probe.
The family of a deceased Punjab state employee is demanding a CBI investigation into his suicide, alleging harassment and corruption by former minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, sparking a political controversy.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points The wife of Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, a state employee, is demanding a CBI probe into his suicide, alleging harassment by ex-minister Laljit Singh Bhullar.

Randhawa purportedly claimed harassment by Bhullar in a video recorded before his death, leading to Bhullar's arrest and resignation.

The family alleges Randhawa was pressured to allot a warehouse tender to Bhullar's father and faced threats and assault.

Authorities are urged to arrest all individuals involved in Randhawa's death, with the family seeking assurance of safety amid political tensions.

The wife of a state employee who committed suicide allegedly due to harassment by ex-minister Laljit Singh Bhullar demanded a CBI probe into his death on Monday.

Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, the district manager of Punjab State Warehousing Corporation in Amritsar, allegedly ended his life by consuming poison on Saturday.

He recorded a video before his death, in which he purportedly claimed harassment by Bhullar, who resigned as minister later in the day at the direction of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

Randhawa's wife also demanded that his post-mortem be conducted by a panel of doctors from the Chandigarh-based PGIMER under the supervision of a judicial magistrate.

The Amritsar police on Saturday night booked Bhullar, his father Sukhdev Singh Bhullar and personal assistant Dilbag Singh under sections 108 (abetment of suicide) and 351 (3) (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Bhullar was arrested on Monday in Mandi Gobindgarh in Fatehgarh Sahib district.

Family's Plea for Justice

Speaking to the media in Amritsar, Randhawa's wife, Upinder Kaur, who was accompanied by her daughter, demanded a CBI probe into the matter.

On Bhullar's arrest, she said the family got some relief, and called on authorities to nab other people involved in her husband's death.

She also wondered why Bhullar did not surrender to the police when the allegations first arose against him.

With the case turning fast into a political slugfest, Upinder Kaur, a science teacher, said the Amritsar police chief has given her an assurance of safety.

She earlier warned of going on a street protest if Bhullar is not arrested.

Meanwhile, an officer said the family is yet to hand over Randhawa's mobile phone to the police and awaits legal counsel on it.

Details of the Allegations

Bhullar was booked on Saturday night, along with his father, Sukhdev Singh Bhullar and personal assistant, Dilbag Singh, under sections 108 (abetment of suicide) and 351 (3) (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The police action came hours after the surfacing of a video in which Randhawa, who held the additional charge of Patti, was purportedly heard saying that he had eaten poison and accused the transport minister of harassment.

In her police complaint, Upinder Kaur claimed that her husband was under pressure to allot a warehouse tender to Bhullar's father and was constantly threatened with violence.

According to the FIR, on March 13, Bhullar called Randhawa to his Patti residence and humiliated and assaulted him.

Upinder Kaur alleged that her husband was at gunpoint forced to admit that he took Rs 10 lakh for allotting the tender to another party.

Due to harassment, he ate poison at 5.50 am on Saturday and recorded a video on social media before his death, she said.

On Saturday, Mann said he had directed the chief secretary to conduct an impartial probe into the matter and asked the minister to step down for a fair probe.
Hyderabad police have successfully dismantled a multi-crore QNet money circulation racket, arresting 32 individuals and exposing the fraudulent scheme that targeted IT employees and unemployed youth with promises of high returns.

Key Points Hyderabad police busted a multi-crore illegal money circulation racket linked to QNet, arresting 32 people across three states.

The QNet scheme targeted IT employees and unemployed youth with promises of high returns on investments, luring them into an illegal money circulation network.

Victims were promised earnings of up to 4 crore within two years for investments of 5 to 10 lakh, but the scheme involved illegal money circulation through new member enrollments.

The QNet scheme operates on a binary model, where each member must enroll two new members, creating an illegal money circulation scheme.

Authorities are urging the public to avoid such 'get-rich-quick' schemes, as promoting or joining them is a punishable offence under the Prize Chits and Money Circulation Schemes (Banning) Act, 1978.

The Hyderabad police has busted a multi-crore illegal money circulation racket allegedly promoted by the Vihaan Direct Selling Pvt Ltd Company (QNet), with the arrest of 32 people across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar said 30 police teams simultaneously conducted an inter-state operation in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, and arrested 32 people.

Most of the accused were IT employees, including some former IT employees. So far, 11 victims have been examined in four cases and nearly Rs 75 lakh has been lost and many more victims are yet to be examined, the Commissioner said in a release.

Efforts are on to apprehend the absconding accused persons involved in the fraud network, he said.

Four cases were registered against Vihaan Direct Selling Pvt Ltd (Q Net), formerly known as Gold Quest, Quest Net, a Hong Kong-based multi-level marketing (MLM) company owned by the QI Group in India, marketing under the brand name of QNet, police said.

Sajjanar in a post on 'X' said, "This fraudulent network lured IT employees and youth with fake promises of high returns. I urge the public NOT to fall for such get-rich-quick traps."

Promoting or joining these schemes is a punishable offence under the Prize Chits and Money Circulation Schemes (Banning) Act, 1978, he said.

The company targeted software employees, and unemployed youth in the name of part-time employment and attracting people in the name of E-Commerce business, investment with high returns opportunity, Sajjanar said.

The group took select persons to hotels at Hi-tech City here and explained the investment plan without disclosing the name of the company and lured with promises of earning up to Rs 4 crore within two years for investment of Rs 5 to 10 lakh.

Initially, they do not reveal the name of QNet Company, Multi Level Marketing nor binary method.

However, contrary to the investment, when a person receives some products, they misrepresent in some cases that they are gifts from the company to continue in the scheme and thus they divert the investment amount to purchase the products in MLM scheme without their consent and knowledge, Sajjanar said.

The company invokes many Ponzi schemes and Binary Schemes, product-based, Vacation Packages etc., business tactics which are illegal, he added.

"This group of people showcase sale of products in the front-end and in the back-end promote illegal money circulation scheme by promising huge commissions and income on the enrollment of new members in their binary model enrollment scheme."

QNet's Binary Model Explained

According to police, the scheme of QNet is a binary model, where one person has to enroll two persons (two new members). "The person who enrolled is called upliner and the person who was enrolled under them is called downliner. They refer to each member as an Independent Representative (IR)," police said.

The enrolment scheme of members with the inducement of high commissions squarely attracts the provisions of illegal money circulation scheme banned under the provisions of the Prize Chits and Money Circulation Schemes (Banning) Act, 1978, police added.
Maharashtra's Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addressed the assembly regarding the arrest of Ashok Kharat, a self-proclaimed godman accused of rape, assuring a comprehensive investigation and urging more victims to come forward with the promise of protection.

Key Points Maharashtra CM Fadnavis confirms the arrest of Ashok Kharat, a self-styled godman, for alleged rape in Nashik.

Police acted proactively, and authorities are providing protection to encourage more victims to come forward.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to thoroughly investigate the case involving allegations of rape, extortion, and black magic.

Opposition leaders allege involvement of ministers and senior officials, demanding their removal and a comprehensive probe.

Authorities have seized CCTV footage and are reaching out to potential victims, anticipating more cases against Kharat.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said the police acted proactively in arresting self-styled godman Ashok Kharat, accused of raping a woman in Nashik.

Several women were initially reluctant to come forward and lodge complaints, but were provided complete protection by the authorities, Fadnavis informed the state assembly.

More victims are expected to come forward as confidence in the investigation grows, he said.

Kharat, who claimed to be a retired Merchant Navy officer and was known as "captain", 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.

"The police trapped and proactively arrested Kharat. It is a very serious matter. He misused his so-called powers and misbehaved with women. Preparations to arrest him had been underway for some time," CM Fadnavis said.

Around March 10, a complaint registered in another district was used by the police to initiate action against Kharat. A look-out circular had already been issued to prevent him from fleeing the country, Fadnavis informed the assembly.

The chief minister said he would make a detailed statement on the case in the House on Tuesday and asserted that no one would be spared.

Opposition Demands Action

Earlier, Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar termed the case a blot on Maharashtra and alleged that women were exploited by Kharat and other such people. He demanded the immediate removal of all those allegedly involved, including ministers and senior officials.

Opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Bhaskar Jadhav claimed the case involved some ministers as well as senior IAS and IPS officers, and said the House had the right to discuss the matter. He alleged that the government had previously attempted to suppress a similar case in Nashik without conducting a proper probe.

Jadhav criticised the ruling dispensation, saying those in power invoked the name of Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj but failed to follow his principles.

Several political leaders had visited Kharat over the years, allegedly for seeking spiritual advice.

Investigation Underway

The government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case.

The woman in her complaint to Nashik police alleged that Kharat called her to his office in 2022 on the pretext of performing rituals to avert danger to her husband, administered a sedative-laced drink and raped her. She alleged repeated sexual assault over a period of three years.

The police have seized CCTV DVRs from Kharat's Mirgaon farmhouse, Tikde Colony bungalow and Canada Corner office as part of the probe into the case.

Kharat is named in several cases filed at Vavi, Shirdi and Sarkarwada police stations for alleged extortion, blackmail, rape and black magic practices, officials earlier said.

Investigators were reaching out to potential victims and more cases were expected to be registered against Kharat, they added.
The Supreme Court has strongly criticised the Gurugram Police for their handling of a sensitive child rape case, demanding accountability and raising concerns about the investigation's integrity and the treatment of the young victim.

Key Points The Supreme Court has criticised the Gurugram Police and a magistrate for their 'insensitive' handling of a four-year-old rape victim's case.

The court has directed key police officers to appear with all investigation records, highlighting concerns about the probe's conduct.

Concerns were raised about the child being questioned in front of the accused and the investigating officer allegedly discouraging the parents from pursuing the case.

The Supreme Court is considering a plea for a CBI or SIT probe into the rape case, citing the Haryana Police's alleged inefficiency.

The court has ordered the district judge to review the judicial magistrate's examination of the minor victim and provide feedback.

The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the "insensitive" approach of Gurugram Police and the magistrate who examined a four-year-old rape victim, and directed the Gurugram commissioner of police and the investigating officer to appear before it on March 25 with all the probe records of the alleged shocking offence.

The top court also directed the sharing of the affidavit of the father of the victim in a sealed cover to the district judge of Gurugram about the "insensitive" and "illegal" approach adopted by the judicial magistrate in examining the minor victim, that too in the presence of the accused.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi asked the district judge to take the version of the judicial magistrate on the examination of the minor victim and apprise it on Wednesday.

The bench also sought responses of the state government, Haryana director general of police (DGP), commissioner of police of Gurugram and the DCP on the plea seeking a CBI or SIT probe into the rape of a four-year-old girl in the city.

It also permitted the Gurugram Police, which has made a few arrests in the case, to file the status report on the probe conducted so far.

At the outset, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi said that the minor was taken to the police station and then to the child welfare committee (CWC), where police personnel were in uniform. Moreover, she was questioned in front of the accused, who were standing four feet away from her, he added.

"Magistrate is telling the girl that 'isko oath toh isko samajh nahi ayega' (she will not understand about the oath)... but the magistrate is telling the four-year-old girl that 'sach bolo, sach bolo' (speak the truth). Moreover, the accused were there," the senior lawyer said.

"The accused cannot be in close proximity to the child," he said, adding that the investigating officer (IO) is asking the parents not to pursue the case as they will get into problems.

The same IO was suspended earlier for taking bribes in a POCSO case, he added.

"Is this the way you are dealing with the four-year-old traumatised girl?" the CJI asked, adding, "Let us examine the legal knowledge of the police."

"What is going on? It cries for interference by the top court," Rohatgi said, adding that it was high time guidelines were laid for pre-trial procedures adopted by the probe agency.

The senior lawyer said that the guidelines are there to deal with cases of such nature in the trial but the real problem is when the child is treated by the probe agency when the trauma is fresh.

"What is this kind of insensitivity? You are dealing with a four-year-old child. Who is investigating this?" the CJI asked.

'What kind of insensitive has the police become? In a so-called metropolitan city, this is happening! You are dealing with a traumatised child," the CJI added.

"Averments in the affidavit suggest a very disturbing manner in which the victim was examined in court," said the court, referring to the affidavit filed by the parent of the child.

A woman officer was probing the case earlier and the station house officer (SHO) took over when she was suspended, the counsel for the state government told the bench.

The bench was critical of the IO's advice asking the parents not to pursue the case, "This is shocking! Even if a complaint is not filed, the police have to investigate the case."

"Issue notice. The additional advocate general (AAG) of Haryana accepts notice. We have gone through the averments.

"In addition, Mr Rohatgi, representing the victim, has handed over an affidavit by the parents of the child. We direct the Gurugram commissioner of police along with investigating officers to remain present in court the day after tomorrow with the entire record," it ordered.

It directed the AAG to furnish details of women officers in the Haryana police cadre.

"Statements of parents show a disturbing sequence of events. We direct the registry to keep the affidavit of parents in a sealed cover.

"The father's affidavit shall be sent through a special messenger to the district and sessions judge, Haryana. Let the comments of the magistrate be furnished to this court through a sealed envelope. Let us hear this case day after tomorrow," it ordered.

Rohatgi submitted that the child had grown increasingly distressed with the process as she was shuttled from the police station to the CWC office and then from the magistrate's court to the hospital.

He alleged the investigating authorities did not address clear signs of distress and heightened anxiety shown by the child or take special precautions considering her tender age.

"They were going on as if this was a grown-up person!" said Rohatgi.

When the parents requested the sub-inspector (SI) for a home visit for further investigation, Rohatgi said the SI "reacted with irritation" that they were "being difficult".

On March 20, the top court had agreed to hear a plea seeking a CBI or SIT probe into the rape of the four-year-old girl in Gurugram.

The court had taken note of an urgent mention by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi and posted the matter for hearing on Monday.

The parents filed the writ petition before the apex court citing the inefficiency of the Haryana Police in investigating the matter and sought the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a special investigation team (SIT) to investigate instead.

The CJI initially asked the petitioners to move the high court.
Shaheed Diwas 2026: India observes Martyrs' Day on March 23, marking 95 years since Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were hanged by the British in 1931. PM Modi leads tributes. History, significance, quotes and how the nation is remembering the martyrs today.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday remembered the martyrdom of the heroes of the Independence movement Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev on Shaheed Diwas and said their ideals of justice, patriotism and fearless resistance continue to ignite the spirit of countless Indians.

Photograph: ANI Photo

PM Modi also said that at a young age, they displayed extraordinary courage and an unshakable commitment to the cause of India's freedom.

"Today, we bow in reverence to the brave sons of Bharat Mata, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. Their martyrdom for the nation remains etched in our collective memory," he said in a post on X.

What Is Shaheed Diwas? Why Is March 23 Observed as Martyrs' Day in India?

India observes Martyrs' Day on March 23. It was on this day 95 years ago that Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were hanged by the British in 1931.

The prime minister said that unfettered by the might of colonial rule, they chose the path of sacrifice with conviction, placing the nation above their own lives.

"Their ideals of justice, patriotism and fearless resistance continue to ignite the spirit of countless Indians," he said.

March 23, 1931: How Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev Were Executed

On March 23, 1931, Bhagat Singh, Raj Guru and Sukhdev were hanged to death after being sentenced to death in the Lahore conspiracy case.

Freedom Fighter Lala Lajpat Rai was brutally beaten up by the Superintendent of Police, J S Scott, while leading a demonstration against the Simon Commission. He died of fatal injuries on November 17, 1928. Enraged by this brutality, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev and Chandra Shekhar Azad decided to avenge Lala Lajpat Rais death by killing Scott.

In the event, it was another police officer, John Saunders, who was shot dead by them in a case of mistaken identity.

The British were left clueless about this killing and, in all probability, Bhagat Singh would never have been arrested and executed if he had not decided to throw a bomb in the Central Legislative Assembly on April 8, 1929, to protest against two draconian Bills, the Public Safety Bill and the Trade Disputes Bill, introduced by the British government.

The bombs were intentionally non-lethal, as their objective was to draw public attention to what they regarded as unjust and repressive laws rather than to cause harm to anyone.

Bhagat Singh, 23; Rajguru, 22; Sukhdev, 25: Youngest Martyrs of India's Freedom Struggle

Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were members of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) established in 1928 at Ferozshah Kotla, Delhi.

The party aimed to achieve independence through armed struggle, and its key leaders included legendary revolutionary leader Chandrashekhar Azad.

By marching to the gallows, Bhagat Singh, Rajuru and Sukhdev became the youngest martyrs of Indias freedom movement.

Shaheed Diwas 2026 Theme: 'Mera Bharat Meri Zimmedari', MY Bharat Youth Campaign

Recognising Indias demographic strength as one of the youngest nations in the world, the Modi government is organising Shaheed Diwas 2026 Theme as Mera Bharat Meri Zimmedari (My Bharat, My responsibility).

The initiative aims to channelise the energy, idealism, and aspirations of the youth towards responsible citizenship. The theme MY Bharat, My Responsibility reflects this transition, from honouring the sacrifices of the past to embracing duties for the future.

Padyatras will be organised across all 763 districts of the country, with a major event to be organised in Faridabad, Haryana, with the participation of over 10,000 youth. Each district will host a march of creating a unified nationwide movement of youth-led engagement.

In the lead-up to the padyatra, several pre-event activities were organised to deepen engagement. These include a nationwide digital campaign featuring quizzes on unsung heroes and freedom fighters on the MY Bharat portal (mybharat.gov.in ), along with a reel competition themed Ek Yuva Aisa Bhi, encouraging creative youth expression.

Shaheed Diwas Quotes 2026: Best Bhagat Singh Quotes to Share on WhatsApp & Instagram

According to Jagran Josh website these are some of the famous quotes of Bhagat Singh:

"They may kill me, but they cannot kill my ideas. They can crush my body, but they will not be able to crush my spirit."

"Any man who stands for progress has to criticise, disbelieve and challenge every item of the old faith."

"I am full of ambition and hope and charm in life. But I can renounce everything in time of need.

It is beyond the power of any man to make a revolution. Neither can it be brought about on any appointed date. It is brought about by special environments, social and economic. The function of an organised party is to utilise any such opportunity offered by these circumstances.

Every tiny molecule of ash is in motion with my heat I am such a lunatic that I am free even in jail.

Revolution was the vital living force indicative of eternal conflict between life and death, the old and the new, light and the darkness.

The aim of life is no more to control the mind, but to develop it harmoniously; not to achieve salvation hereafter, but to make the best use of it here below.

Revolution did not necessarily involve sanguinary strife. It was not a cult of bomb and pistol.

Shaheed Diwas vs Martyrs' Day: Why India Has Two Different Dates, January 30 & March 23

On January 30, 1948, Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse, and India commemorates this day every year as Martyrs Day.

This day is observed to pay homage to Gandhi and all those who sacrificed their lives for India's independence, integrity, and non-violent principles.

Thes two dates, January 30 and March 23, highlight different ideological approaches to India's independence struggle -- non-violent resistance (Gandhiji) and armed revolution (Bhagat Singh and associates).

Both are celebrated nationally to honour the diversity of sacrifices made for Indias freedom.

National Martyrs Memorial Hussainiwala: Where India Gathers Every March 23

National Martyrs Memorial Hussainiwala in Ferozepur district of Punjab depicts the irrepressible revolutionary spirit of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev who lit the eternal flame of liberty by smilingly embracing martyrdom for the motherland.

Following a hasty trial in the Lahore conspiracy case they were executed a day earlier than the hanging scheduled in the Central Jail Lahore at 7.15 pm on March 23,1931.

The entire city of Lahore was in the grip of national fervour and there were apprehensions of revolt.

British jail authorities, fearing public anger, broke the back wall of the jail and secretly brought the dead bodies of Bhaghat Singh and comrades at Hussainiwala, on the banks of the river Sutlej for an unceremonial cremation.

Bhagat Singh's revolutionary associate B K Dutt died in Delhi on July 19, 1965, and as per his last will he was also cremated there.

This check post is about 100 feet from the border and from Pakistan it is 600 feet away.

The check post on the Pakistan side is named the Ganda Singh Wala post.

On both sides of the line, at a distance of 15 feet, Indian and Pakistan national flags are hoisted during the daytime.

One km away on the Indian side there are memorials to Shahid Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev.

Till 1962, this area remained with Pakistan and they cared little to raise any monuments in memory of the great martyrs of India.

In 1962, India gave 12 villages near Sulemanki (Fazilka) to Pakistan and in exchange got the martyrs' land (external link).

Bhagat Singh's Legacy in 2026: Films, Books & How Gen-Z Remembers the Revolutionary

Without Fear: The Life and Trials of Bhagat Singh by Kuldip Nayar is a highly acclaimed biography detailing the revolutionary's life, trials, and ideology.

Another prominent work is Bhagat Singh: A Life in Revolution by Satvinder Juss, which highlights his revolutionary, intellectual, and personal life.

In his last moments when called upon to mount the scaffold, Bhagat Singh was reading a book by Soviet Union's communist revolutionary Vladimir Lenin.

He continued his reading and said, Wait a while. A revolutionary is talking to another revolutionary.

There was something in his voice which made the executioners pause.

Bhagat Singh continued to read. After a few moments, he flung the book towards the ceiling and said, Lets go.

There are four films that are well known on Bhagat Singh.

The first one starring Manoj Kumar, Shaheed, released in 1965, and is highly regarded.

Another film on Bhagat Singh that is worth watching is 23rd March 1931: Shaheed released in 2002. The film stars Bobby Deol.

The same year Ajay Devgn too released a film The Legend of Bhagat Singh.

Sonu Sood too did a film Shaheed E-Azam on Bhagat Singh in 2002.

Rang De Basanti of Aamir Khan (2006) links the life of Bhagat Singh to contemporary events through a parallel narrative.
About the identity of the interlocutor, Trump described the individual as "a top person," further explaining the current state of the Iranian hierarchy following recent military operations.

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump gestures as he steps from Air Force One upon his arrival in West Palm Beach, Florida, on March 20, 2026. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

US President Donald Trump on Monday revealed that the United States is currently engaged in high-level discussions with a "top person" within the Iranian leadership in an effort to secure a resolution to the ongoing conflict.

Key Points Trump described the individual as "a top person," further explaining the current state of the Iranian hierarchy following recent military operations.

The President confirmed that his envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, have been central to these talks, though the specific Iranian official remains unidentified.

Expressing a lack of recognition for the new cleric's authority, he remarked, "I don't consider him really the leader.".

Speaking to reporters in Florida, the President clarified that these negotiations do not involve the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.

When asked about the identity of the interlocutor, Trump described the individual as "a top person," further explaining the current state of the Iranian hierarchy following recent military operations.

"Don't forget: We've wiped out the leadership phase one, phase two, and largely phase three. But we're dealing with a man who I believe is the most respected and the leader. You know it's a little tough; they've wiped out, we've wiped out everybody," Trump noted.

The President confirmed that his envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, have been central to these talks, though the specific Iranian official remains unidentified.

Addressing the absence of the Supreme Leader from the process, Trump stated, "No, not the Supreme Leader," adding that "we have not heard from the son. Every once in a while you'll see a statement made, but we don't know if he's living."

Expressing a lack of recognition for the new cleric's authority, he remarked, "I don't consider him really the leader."

Parallel to these diplomatic efforts, the President addressed the easing of sanctions on certain Iranian oil stockpiles, characterising the move as a strategic necessity for global energy markets rather than a military concession.

"I just want to have as much oil in the system as possible," he explained, dismissing concerns that the move would impact the battlefield.

"Any small amount of money that Iran gets won't have any difference in this war. But I want to have the system be lubricated," the President added, suggesting that "it's very hard, very hard for them to get" any substantial revenue from the oil under current conditions.

Despite the focus on de-escalation, Trump indicated that he would still pursue $200 billion in Pentagon funding, citing the volatile nature of global politics.

"It's nice to have, it's always nice to have, it's a very inflamed world," he said, while claiming that "largely the Democrats inflame it."

Reports suggest the White House may formally request these funds from Congress in the coming weeks, though the proposal faces significant hurdles among Republican leaders who are seeking more comprehensive details before committing to further war funding.

Earlier on Monday, the President struck an optimistic tone on social media, noting that both nations "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."

He confirmed that "major points of agreement" had been reached during late-night sessions involving his top envoys.

Reflecting on the progress of the talks, which he claimed were initiated by Tehran, Trump said, "They went, I would say, perfectly."

He suggested that if the momentum continues, "it'll end that, that problem, that conflict, and I think it'll end it very, very substantially."

The President indicated that a deal is highly desired by both sides, with further telephonic discussions scheduled for Monday, followed by a face-to-face meeting "very, very soon."

Outlining a critical five-day window for the negotiations, Trump said, "We're doing a five-day period, we'll see how that goes. That if it goes well we're going to end up with settling this. Otherwise, we just keep bombing our little hearts out."

Any final agreement, he emphasised, would hinge on strict nuclear non-proliferation, stating, "We want to see no nuclear bomb, no nuclear weapon."

He also noted that the US intends to take control of Iran's enriched materials, referring to it as "the nuclear dust," and asserting, "We're gonna want that. And I think we're gonna get that. We've agreed to that."
A 16-year-old boy tragically died and another was injured in a Santacruz West stabbing, prompting a police search for the suspect in this Mumbai crime.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points A 16-year-old boy was stabbed to death in Santacruz West, Mumbai, during a quarrel.

Another person was seriously injured in the same stabbing incident and is hospitalised.

The accused, Faizan, is currently at large and wanted by Mumbai police.

A case of murder and attempted murder has been registered against Faizan under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Arms Act.

A 16-year-old boy was stabbed to death and another person was injured amid a quarrel in Santacruz West area of Mumbai, a police official said on Monday.

The incident took place on Sunday night at Harba Mauli bridge in Juhu Koliwada, he added.

"Accused Faizan had an argument with Prem Omprakash Harijan and Harsh Kamlanand Jha and attacked the two with a sharp weapon. While Harijan was killed, Jha is hospitalised with serious injuries. Faizan is on the run and efforts are on to nab him," the official said.

A case of murder, attempt to murder and other offences has been registered against Faizan under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Arms Act, the official added.
The Enforcement Directorate has begun extradition proceedings against Ukrainian national Olena Stoian, a central figure in the multi-crore Torres fraud case involving money laundering and cryptocurrency conversion.

Key Points The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is pursuing the extradition of Olena Stoian, a Ukrainian national, in connection with the Torres jewellery fraud case.

Stoian is accused of money laundering through hawala operators and converting funds into USDT cryptocurrency.

The ED case originates from a police FIR filed in Navi Mumbai, alleging proceeds of crime amounting to Rs 177.11 crore.

The special court has issued non-bailable warrants against Stoian and other accused individuals involved in the Torres jewellery fraud.

The extradition documents are being sent to authorities in the Republic of Moldova, where Stoian is reportedly located.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday initiated extradition process against Ukrainian national Olena Stoian, a prime accused in the multi crore Torres fraud case, by approaching the special PMLA court for requisite paper compilation and attestation to prepare a dossier.

These documents will be sent to authorities at Republic of Moldova, where Stoian has reportedly been traced, for her extradition. The court, considering the probe agency's plea, handed over the extradition documents to the ED.

Earlier, the special court had issued non-bailable warrants (NBWs) against four accused, including three absconding Ukrainian nationals, Stoin being one of them, for their alleged role in the case.

"The accused are involved in a serious non-bailable offence of money laundering and are evading arrest. Therefore, in the interest of proper and effective investigation and trial into the serious economic offence, it is necessary to issue a non-bailable warrant," the judge said in an order passed in November last year.

Details of the Torres Jewellery Fraud

Platinum Hern Private Limited, which operated under the brand name Torres Jewellery, is alleged to have cheated customers after collecting cash in lieu of the sale of Moissanite diamonds and other jewellery.

Instead of using the said cash for its legitimate business purposes, it was routed through hawala operators and later, converted into USDT cryptocurrency, as per the ED.

The ED case stems from a police FIR filed in Navi Mumbai. As per the federal probe agency, proceeds of crime in a case stands at Rs 177.11 crore.
On April 21, 2022, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Security Initiative (GSI) at the opening ceremony of the "Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2022". Through the GSI, China seeks to work with the international community in upholding the spirit of the UN Charter, and calls for adapting to the profound changes in the international landscape through solidarity, addressing traditional and non-traditional security risks and challenges with a win-win mindset, and creating a new path to security that features dialogue over confrontation, partnership over alliance, and win-win over zero-sum game. Staying committed to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. Staying committed to respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries. Staying committed to abiding by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. Staying committed to taking the legitimate security concerns of all countries seriously. Staying committed to peacefully resolving differences and disputes between countries through dialogue and consultation. Staying committed to maintaining security in both traditional and nontraditional domains. As an international public good, the GSI serves the interests of and preserves peace for people throughout the world.

Visual generated by AI

Editor: Zhang Zhou
Delhi Police have arrested two men from Rajasthan in connection with an online investment scam that defrauded a Delhi resident of over 21 lakh, highlighting the growing threat of cybercrime and the importance of vigilance against fraudulent investment schemes.

IMAGE: Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

Key Points Two individuals, Narender and Prem Prakash, have been arrested for allegedly defrauding a Delhi resident of 21.46 lakh through an online investment scam.

The fraudsters lured the victim with promises of high returns on online investments and prepaid tasks, demanding additional payments under various false pretexts.

Delhi Police tracked financial transactions to Sikar, Rajasthan, leading to the arrest of the accused and the recovery of mobile phones and digital evidence.

The investigation is ongoing to trace other individuals involved in the scam, including one named Ankit.

Delhi Police have arrested Narender, 24, and Prem Prakash alias Lovely, 38, both residents of Rajasthan's Sikar district, for allegedly duping a Delhi resident of over 21 lakh on the pretext of high-return online investments and prepaid tasks, police said on Monday. Two mobile phones used in the commission of the crime, along with crucial digital evidence, were recovered from them.

Details of the Online Investment Fraud

According to the police, the case pertains to an online investment fraud in which the complainant was lured into transferring money with promises of lucrative returns. The fraudsters allegedly kept demanding additional payments on various pretexts such as prepaid tasks, account verification and other fabricated charges.

An e-FIR in this regard was registered on November 13, 2025, at the Central district Cyber Police Station under relevant provisions of the BNS, after the victim reported a total loss of 21.46 lakh.

Investigation and Arrests

During the investigation, the team tracked financial transactions to uncover the money trail. A suspicious transaction of 3 lakh was traced to a bank account in Sikar, following which the team reached Rajasthan and questioned a man identified as Surender.

He revealed that the money had been routed through his account by Narender, to whom he handed over the amount in cash. Further investigation led to the arrest of Narender, who allegedly passed on 2.8 lakh to Prem Prakash after keeping 20,000 as commission.

Prem Prakash, in turn, handed over 2.6 lakh to another man, Ankit, after retaining 20,000, police said.

Both accused were subsequently apprehended based on technical evidence, statements and field verification.

Efforts are underway to trace the remaining accused, including Ankit, and further investigation is in progress, police added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses Parliament, highlighting the worrisome situation in West Asia and its significant impact on the global economy, while reassuring the nation about the safety and assistance being provided to Indian citizens in the affected regions.

Photograph: Courtesy, PIB

Key Points PM Modi expresses concern over the West Asia crisis and its adverse impact on the global economy and livelihoods.

The Indian government prioritises the safety and security of Indian citizens in conflict zones, offering assistance and remaining vigilant.

India faces challenges in gas and fuel supplies due to disruptions in cargo movement through the Strait of Hormuz.

The conflict in West Asia poses economic, humanitarian, and national security challenges for India, given its trade relations and the large Indian diaspora in the region.

PM Modi has spoken with leaders in West Asia, who have assured the safety of Indians; assistance is being provided to affected families.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday termed the prevailing situation in West Asia "worrisome" as it is having a very adverse impact on the global economy and the livelihoods of people.

Making a statement on the prevailing situation in West Asia in the Lok Sabha, Modi also said that the security of Indians has been the government's biggest priority in times of conflict, and the Centre is sensitive, vigilant and also ready to extend every assistance.

"The current situation in West Asia is worrisome. This crisis has been going on for more than three weeks, having a very adverse impact on the global economy and on people's lives. The entire world is urging all parties to resolve this crisis as quickly as possible," Modi said.

He also said that cargo movement through the Strait of Hormuz has been a challenge from the beginning of the war, yet the government is ensuring that gas and fuel supplies remain the least affected.

"We all know that India imports 60 per cent of its LPG needs. Due to uncertain supply, the government is prioritising domestic supply. LPG production in the country is also being increased," he said.

Impact of the Conflict

The prime minister also said the conflict has created unexpected challenges, including economic, humanitarian and those related to national security.

"The countries affected by the conflict share extensive trade relations with India. The region fulfils a significant portion of our crude oil and gas requirements. It is also important because around 1 crore Indians live and work there," he said.

It is essential that a unanimous and united voice on this crisis reaches the world from Parliament, he said.

Assistance to Indians

Modi also said that since the conflict began, every Indian in the affected areas has been provided with necessary assistance.

"I have spoken with most of the heads of state in West Asia over the phone in two rounds. And they have all assured the safety of Indians," he said.

Unfortunately, the prime minister said, some people have lost their lives, and some have been injured in the conflict.

Help is being provided to the affected families, Modi said.
Prayagraj native Sumit Kumar is suspected to have passed on sensitive information related to air force operations, including details of fighter aircraft deployment, missile systems and information concerning officers and personnel.

Kindly note the image has been published only for representational purposes.. Photograph: ANI Video Grab

Key Points The accused, Sumit Kumar from Prayagraj, worked as multi-tasking staff at the strategic air base.

Investigators say he was in contact with Pakistan-based handlers since 2023.

He is suspected of leaking critical military details, including fighter aircraft deployment and missile systems.

Security breach at Chabua Air Force Station raises fresh concerns over espionage networks

A civilian identified as Sumit Kumar, a resident of Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj, has been arrested for allegedly passing sensitive information to Pakistani handlers from the strategically important Chabua Air Force Station in Assam.

Kumar was working as a multi-tasking staff member at the air base in Dibrugarh district when he was apprehended following a joint operation by intelligence agencies.

Espionage links traced back to 2023

Investigators said Kumar had been in contact with Pakistan-based operatives since 2023 and was allegedly sharing confidential information in exchange for money. Communication was reportedly carried out through covert and encrypted channels.

The case dates back to January this year, when Rajasthan intelligence officials arrested Jaisalmer resident Jhabraram. During his interrogation, Kumar's name surfaced, prompting agencies to place him under sustained surveillance before finally moving in to arrest him.

Sensitive military information allegedly leaked

Officials said Kumar is suspected to have misused his position at the air base to access and pass on sensitive information related to air force operations. This reportedly included details of fighter aircraft deployment, missile systems, and information concerning officers and personnel.

Authorities described the breach as serious, with potential implications for national security.

Joint operation uncovers wider network

Kumar's arrest was the result of a coordinated operation involving Rajasthan intelligence and IAF Intelligence units. Officials said the operation has exposed indications of a wider espionage network, and further investigation is underway to identify additional suspects and links.

Security tightened at Chabua base

Following the arrest, security measures at the Chabua Air Force Station have been significantly enhanced. Access controls, personnel monitoring, and internal protocols are being reviewed to prevent similar breaches in the future.

Kumar is currently being interrogated, and agencies have not ruled out further arrests as they work to dismantle the suspected espionage network.

A thorough investigation is underway, with officials maintaining heightened vigilance over potential security threats.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
A woman was injured in a shooting in Manipur's Ukhrul district, escalating tensions between Kuki and Tangkhul Naga communities and raising concerns about ongoing violence in the region.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points A woman was shot and injured in Mongkot Chepu village, Ukhrul district, Manipur.

The incident occurred during routine agricultural activities, allegedly by armed volunteers.

The victim, a resident of a Kuki habitation, received first aid and was transferred to Kangpokpi for further treatment.

The Kuki CSO Working Committee, Ukhrul, has condemned the attack and alleged the involvement of armed volunteers.

A woman received a gunshot wound after suspected miscreants allegedly opened fire in Manipur's Ukhrul district on Monday, officials said.

The woman was injured on her leg during the firing at Mongkot Chepu village, a Kuki habitation in the Tangkhul Naga-majority district, they said.

She was given first aid before being shifted to Kangpokpi district for further treatment, they said, adding that her condition was stated to be out of danger.

Community Response to the Ukhrul Shooting

Community group Kuki CSO Working Committee, Ukhrul, said the incident happened around 1 pm when villagers, including women, were engaged in routine agricultural activities in fields located a few hundred metres from the main settlement.

The organisation alleged that suspected armed volunteers opened fire from a hilltop.
The question is no longer whether the war will expand. It has.

The next few days will tell us whether the war stabilises around Hormuz or whether the Strait itself becomes the trigger for a far larger rupture.

What to watch for over the next 48 hours is simple: Any move by the US toward direct naval control of the Strait; any credible Iranian attempt to disrupt or mine shipping lanes and, critically, whether energy infrastructure in the Gulf continues to be targeted.

If those lines are crossed in tandem, the war will no longer be containable within the region.

IMAGE: Cargo ships in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah, near the border with Oman's Musandam governance, in United Arab Emirates, March 11, 2026. Photograph: Reuters

From the start of this war, Professor Robert A Pape of Chicago University and other experts have used a word to describe the contours of the conflict: escalation.

The happenings of this weekend suggest a quantum shift to something more consequential: convergence.

Military, economic, and strategic threads are tightening around a single objective: the control of energy flows through the Gulf.

What we are seeing is an intensification of conflict coupled with a narrowing of focus as the war organises itself around Hormuz.

The most dangerous shift came in the form of an ultimatum.

The United States signaled a potential escalation to direct control of the Strait of Hormuz, with Donald Trump threatening to 'obliterate' Iran's energy infrastructure if shipping is not restored within 48 hours.

Iran's response was equally stark: any such move would trigger a complete closure of the Strait, alongside attacks on regional energy infrastructure.

This is a qualitative shift. Hormuz is becoming the central battlefield.

Nearly a fifth of global oil flows through it. A sustained disruption would raise prices, sure, but more importantly it could begin to reorder global energy logistics. [The Washington Post (external link); Al Jazeera (external link)]

IMAGE: A map showing the Strait of Hormuz. Photograph: Dado Ruvic/Illustration//File Photo/Reuters

Key Points Conflict shifts from escalation to convergence, focusing sharply on control of Strait of Hormuz and global energy flows.

US ultimatum and Iran's counter-threat signal dangerous escalation with potential closure of key oil transit route.

Missile strikes expand to nuclear-adjacent sites like Dimona, raising risks of wider regional and nuclear-linked confrontation.

India's muted diplomatic stance draws criticism amid rising dependence on Gulf energy, fertiliser supply, and geopolitical risks.

IMAGE: A drone view shows a damage in a residential neighbourhood, following a night of Iranian missile strikes which injured dozens of Israelis, in Dimona, southern Israel March 22, 2026. Photograph: Roei Kastro/Reuters

At the same time, the missile war intensified and spread.

Iran launched some of its most sustained strikes yet on Israeli territory, with missiles hitting southern towns including Arad and Dimona, injuring scores and damaging civilian infrastructure.

The strikes on Dimona, home to Israel's Negev nuclear research center, is particularly noteworthy.

Dimona sites at the centre of Israel's nuclear ambiguity -- on paper, Israel is not a nuclear nation; in practice, it has anything from 100-400 nuclear warheads in its arsenal.

Interestingly the IAEA, which thus far has been pretending that Dimona does not exist, has just announced that it will inspect the area to ensure there is no nuclear leak from the strikes. [Britannica overview of Dimona (external link); NTI (external link) on Israel's nuclear initiative].

On this note, the Simplicus blog argues that the war has climbed to its most dangerous rung, with both sides now signaling willingness to target nuclear-adjacent and critical civilian infrastructure, from Bushehr to Dimona, while rhetoric veers toward outright economic and societal devastation.

It frames the current moment as one of strategic incoherence and accelerating escalation, where threats to energy systems, desalination, and regional infrastructure risk tipping the conflict into a broader, potentially uncontrollable Middle Eastern war [Simplicus (external link)]

The pattern is now unmistakable: nuclear-linked sites are being targeted, civilian-adjacent zones are increasingly affected, and retaliation cycles are tightening.

This is no longer episodic exchange. It is a sustained strike cycle, with shorter intervals and an expanding geography. [Reuters (external link); ALMA (external link)]

IMAGE: An Israeli policeman inspects part of an Iranian missile in a living room, after Iran launched barrages of missiles towards Israel, in Rehovot, Israel, March 20, 2026. Photograph: Tomer Appelbaum/Reuters

Information Warfare Expands Conflict

Alongside kinetic escalation, the war is widening into less visible domains.

Iran has sharply intensified its information warfare, flooding social media with coordinated narratives and AI-generated content.

At the same time, the humanitarian and infrastructural toll inside Iran is becoming clearer: widespread damage to civilian sites, displacement, and environmental fallout from strikes on energy facilities.

That Israel is hurting became obvious when over the weekend it asked for an emergency meeting of the UN security council to discuss Iran's targeting of civilian infrastructure -- ironic, because that is exactly what Israel has been doing in the Gaza, in Lebanon, and even in Iran. [The Guardian (external link), and one more (external link) from the same site]

Taken together, the weekend's developments suggest that the war has crossed another threshold.

It is converging geographically around Hormuz, operationally into sustained strike cycles, and structurally into a systems conflict that links energy, information, and civilian infrastructure.

The distinction between the battlefield and the economy is collapsing. The conflict is no longer something that happens 'over there'.

It is something that moves through oil prices, shipping routes, supply chains, currencies. [The rupee was 90.97 to the USD; at the time of writing it is 93.80].

IMAGE: The LPG carrier vessel Shivalik, which crossed the Strait of Hormuz, arrives at the Mundra port in Kutch, March 16, 2026. Photograph: Video Grab/ANI Photo

Energy War Threatens Global Supply

The question is no longer whether the war will expand. It has.

The next few days will tell us whether the war stabilises around Hormuz or whether the Strait itself becomes the trigger for a far larger rupture.

What to watch for over the next 48 hours is simple: Any move by the United States toward direct naval control of the Strait; any credible Iranian attempt to disrupt or mine shipping lanes and, critically, whether energy infrastructure in the Gulf continues to be targeted.

If those lines are crossed in tandem, the war will no longer be containable within the region.

India Faces Strategic Silence Questions

ESSENTIAL READING:

The weekend produced much in the way of essential reads. Below, a list organiz=sed by theme:

The War's Logic and Limits

Tom Nichols in The Atlantic homes in on the immediate failure: Trump had a Plan A -- strike hard, watch the theocracy collapse, hand power to a government of his choosing -- and no Plan B.

The concept Nichols reaches for is 'scriptwriting': Deciding what you want to happen, then writing your adversary's lines for them.

Trump assumed the Iranian regime would play its assigned role and crumble. It didn't.

The parallel with Putin's Ukraine miscalculation is exact and damning -- both leaders, isolated with a handful of advisers, convinced themselves that the enemy was waiting to be liberated. [The Atlantic (external link)]

The Economist traces the political consequences for Trump himself.

The war diminishes his three political superpowers: His ability to impose his own reality, his leverage over other actors, and his dominion over the Republican Party.

NATO allies declined his call for help reopening the Strait. Iran is using access to the waterway as a bargaining chip. Republican support is softening.

A president weakened by events, the piece warns, is a president who becomes more dangerous. [The Economist (external link)]

The Eustochos strategic analysis cuts deeper. Its central insight is that ambiguity was not a failure of the pre-war regional order but its load-bearing mechanism.

The shadow war between Iran and Israel persisted for decades precisely because both sides understood that clarity produces obligation: a strike becomes a commitment, a response becomes required.

Once that ambiguity was destroyed, the underlying tensions emerged in their full form.

The most dangerous outcome now is not total war but normalisation -- a region that learns to operate within continuous confrontation, where the distinction between crisis and order disappears. [Eustochos (external link)]

Kenneth Pollack argues that the US-Israel air campaign against Iran, while militarily effective, is ultimately a gamble on triggering regime change.

And it is a gamble with low odds of success unless actively supported.

Airpower alone rarely topples regimes, and Iran's security apparatus remains capable of crushing uprisings, meaning the most likely outcomes are either regime survival (in a more aggressive, nuclear-driven form) or chaotic collapse into civil war.

To improve the chances of a favourable outcome, Pollack proposes two escalatory steps: direct US air support for any Iranian popular revolt, and the dismantling of Hezbollah to weaken Tehran's regional position and morale.

Even then, regime change remains risky and unpredictable, but without such intervention, the current strategy relies too heavily on hope rather than design. [Foreign Affairs (external link)]

IMAGE: A satellite image shows a closer view of the Natanz nuclear facility with new building damage, near Natanz, Iran, March 20, 2026. Photograph: Vantor/Handout via Reuters

Iran's Strategy: Not Flailing, Calculating

Two pieces this week push back hard against the official American framing of Iran as a desperate, reckless actor.

Kelly Grieco at the Stimson Center applies Thomas Schelling's framework of coercive risk strategy -- the deliberate manipulation of shared danger -- to Iran's campaign.

The target progression is not random: Military installations first, to raise risks to US personnel; civilian infrastructure next, to signal to Gulf governments that hosting American forces carries direct economic costs; energy facilities last, to send a warning far beyond the region.

The Gulf States are Iran's best-chosen pressure point precisely because they are not combatants, and hence they have powerful incentives to push for de-escalation, which is exactly what Tehran is counting on. [Stimson Center (external link)]

Sina Toossi in Al Jazeera provides the longer arc: Iran's 'strategic patience' since the JCPOA collapse was built on a foundational assumption that the US would ultimately act rationally.

That assumption is now shattered. The more consequential question Toossi raises is what Iran concludes from this.

With Khamenei dead and his son installed in a move that breaks the Islamic Republic's own foundational taboo against hereditary rule, the ideological brake on pursuing nuclear weapons may have been removed.

The very success of Operation Epic Fury may have made a nuclear Iran more likely. [Al Jazeera (external link)]

Sanam Vakil at Chatham House provides the historical grounding.

Iran's forward defence doctrine of cultivating armed partners across Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen to push threats away from Iranian soil was born from the trauma of the 1980 Iraqi invasion, when Tehran found itself isolated as Arab states funded Baghdad and both superpowers tilted toward Saddam.

The strategy worked, until it didn't. The network designed to keep war away from Iranian territory instead created multiple arenas of escalation.

It has produced a strategic boomerang, drawing the Islamic Republic into the very confrontation it spent four decades trying to avoid. [Chatham House (external link)]

Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar argues that while the US-Israel campaign has severely degraded Iran's military capabilities, it has not weakened--and may in fact be strengthening--the regime internally.

Tehran entered the war prepared for large-scale attack and is deliberately escalating outward, targeting regional energy flows and global economic stability to restore deterrence.

At the same time, the regime is using the conflict to consolidate power at home: invoking nationalism, martyrdom, and wartime unity to suppress dissent, rebuild legitimacy, and elevate new leadership under Mojtaba Khamenei.

Drawing on the precedent of the Iran-Iraq War, Tabaar suggests that external pressure can reinforce, rather than fracture, the Islamic Republic -- highlighting that while the US and Israel are fighting to weaken Iran from above, the regime is simultaneously fighting a second war from below to solidify its domestic control. [Foreign Affairs (external link)]

IMAGE: QatarEnergy's liquefied natural gas production facilities, in Ras Laffan industrial city, Qatar, March 2, 2026. Photograph: Reuters

The Human Costs

Two pieces bring the war to ground level in Tehran.

Najmeh Bozorgmehr in the Financial Times writes from inside the bombardment: the body's insistence on sweetness after each blast, the bakeries keeping their ovens running, the phone calls confirming that another loved one has made it through another night.

Planning a meal becomes an act of defiance. A friend sold more raspberry jam in the first two weeks of war than in the entire previous year. [Financial Times (external link)]

Cora Engelbrecht's extraordinary New Yorker dispatch works through the messages and voice notes of Hadi, an Iranian dissident who chose to stay in Tehran.

His is a double jeopardy: Threatened simultaneously by American bombs and by the regime's security forces, who are raiding homes, confiscating phones, and arresting anyone suspected of sharing information with the enemy.

The mourning-and-wedding-chicken proverb he reaches for is worth the price of entry: the chicken gets cooked for either occasion, and the people of Iran are that chicken.

The piece ends on Chaharshanbe Suri, the festival of fire on the eve of Nowruz, celebrated on a rooftop with sake, wine, Shirazi salad, and fireworks against a sky still lit by bombardment. [The New Yorker (external link)]

Taking a wide-angle view, a look at an issue that will affect us all: the climate cost of the Iran war is now coming into focus, and it is staggering.

An early analysis estimates that just the first 14 days of US-Israel operations generated over 5 million tonnes of CO2, driven by refinery fires, bombed infrastructure, and fuel-intensive air campaigns.

This is equivalent to the annual emissions of dozens of countries combined.

The piece by Damien Gayle argues that beyond its human and geopolitical toll, the war is rapidly burning through the global carbon budget, reinforcing a deeper pattern: modern conflicts, especially those centred on fossil-fuel geographies, are themselves accelerants of the climate crisis. [The Guardian (external link)]

The Economic Reckoning

The FT's energy desk reports that the world is approaching a cliff edge: The last LNG tankers that loaded in Qatar and the UAE before the war began are arriving at their destinations over the next ten days. After that, the supply simply stops.

Qatar produces a fifth of the world's liquefied natural gas; its Ras Laffan plant has been damaged by Iranian missiles and will be out of service for between three and five years.

Pakistan is perhaps the most acutely vulnerable: Almost all of its LNG came from Qatar, it had actually asked QatarEnergy to redirect cargoes away just before the war began, and it now cannot afford spot market prices that have doubled since hostilities started.

Bangladesh has closed its universities. Taiwan moved quickly to secure alternative cargoes through April, but summer electricity demand could still produce severe shortages.

The distinction the Economist draws between rich and poor countries in this energy auction is unsentimental: South Korea and Japan will outbid India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

[Financial Times (external link)]

IMAGE: People at the scene of damage after Iranian missile barrages struck residential buildings in Arad in southern Israel, March 22, 2026. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters

The Military Endgame

The New York Times's military correspondents map the options for reopening Hormuz, none of them clean.

Destroying land-based missile and drone capacity is the precondition for everything else, but Iran still has firepower.

Minesweeping would take weeks and put sailors directly in harm's way.

The US had four dedicated minesweepers in the Gulf; they have been replaced by three dual-purpose littoral combat ships, two of which were spotted near Singapore this week. Iran is believed to have up to 5,000 mines.

Naval escorts are possible but require a ratio of roughly twelve destroyers to protect five or six tankers through a ten-hour transit -- a massive strain on assets for which the Pentagon has already requested an additional $200 billion.

Seizing Kharg Island remains on the table, with Marines en route, but Iranian troops remain on the island and a ground operation would be the clearest step yet toward the quagmire that Abigail Hauslohner's FT piece, drawing on former US ambassador Ryan Crocker, describes as the real risk: 'If we did, it would be a godawful mess.' [New York Times (external link); Financial Times (external link)]

Truth, Media, and the Information War

David Remnick in The New Yorker locates the oldest casualty.

Trump launched the war from Mar-a-Lago in a ball cap, with a fund-raising dinner to attend, rambling through contradictory rationales: Nuclear weapons, terrorism, ballistic missiles, regime change, not regime change.

His advisers have followed his lead, blaming the media for every contradiction. The FCC is threatening to revoke broadcast licences. Hegseth has replaced Pentagon reporters with influencers.

The historian Garry Wills' line, which Remnick reaches for, cuts to the bone: Self-censorship is always more effective than bureaucratic censorship.

The cruelest irony, Remnick writes, is of a president who addresses the Iranian people in the language of liberation while threatening American journalists with treason charges. [The New Yorker (external link)]

India's Silence

Two pieces, from very different directions, arrive at the same devastating verdict on India's response.

Mukul Kesavan (external link) in The Telegraph is direct and polemical.

India will be among the countries worst hit by this war: Dependent on Gulf oil, Gulf gas, and Gulf-sourced fertiliser for the nitrogen that underlies Indian agriculture.

The spring planting clock is ticking. And yet India co-sponsored UN Security Council Resolution 2817 condemning Iran's attacks without once mentioning the US-Israeli aggression that began the war. Kesavan's contempt for Shashi Tharoor's 'realpolitik' defence (external link) is withering: there is no evidence that sucking up to Trump has done India any favours.

Operation Sindoor ended with Trump taking Pakistan's side. The tariffs came anyway.

A US nuclear submarine sank an Iranian frigate in the Indian Ocean after a naval exercise hosted by India in Visakhapatnam.

Modi's reward for riding in Trump's baggage train. [The Telegraph (external link)]

Pankaj Mishra in the New York Review of Books writes from a different angle: Civilisational and historical rather than polemical.

He opens with Nehru's observation that among all the peoples who have influenced India's life and culture, the oldest and most persistent have been the Iranians.

A millennium of Persian as Asia's lingua franca. Tagore at the tomb of Hafez. Hedayat publishing The Blind Owl in Bombay. Mossadegh inspired by Gandhi.

All of that inheritance, and India's Navy couldn't bring itself to mention the sinking of the IRIS Dena, the Iranian frigate whose crew had visited the Taj Mahal and taken selfies with Indian spectators days before a US missile sent them to the bottom of the Indian Ocean.

Sri Lankan civilians donated money for refrigerated storage for the bodies. India said nothing.

Mishra's word for what afflicts India's policymaking class is Al-e-Ahmad's: gharbzadegi -- West-struckness, bewitchment, the affliction of a people with no supporting traditions and no historical memory. [New York Review Of Books (external link)]

M Rajshekhar's long Polis Project investigation is a companion piece to both, though it arrives from a different angle entirely.

India's arms manufacturing push -- the private-sector military-industrial complex being built on technology transfers from Israel and others -- is producing assemblers rather than genuine OEMs, overcapacity rather than exports, and a flood of military-grade weapons into paramilitary forces and state police, with consequences already visible in Bastar.

The uncomfortable question Rajshekhar poses: As Indian conglomerates embed themselves ever more deeply in Israel's military-industrial supply chain, India risks becoming a channel through which Israeli arms reach countries reluctant to buy from Israel directly.

The Adani-Elbit Hermes 900 drone, the first manufactured outside Israel, has reportedly been deployed in both Gaza and Iran. [The Polis Project (external link)]

In passing...

War, Clausewitz wrote, has a grammar of its own, but not its own logic -- it borrows that from politics.

What the past week has made plain is that the politics driving this war has no logic that anyone has yet been able to identify.

Trump's 48-hour ultimatum expires at some point today, depending on what time zone you are in. The Strait is still closed. The Marines are still en route.

And somewhere under the waters of the Gulf, Iran's mines and low-cost submarines are waiting. Keep an eye on the Strait.

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
Ninety-nine years ago, a young Dr B R Ambedkar embarked on a revolutionary and most overdue reformatory path -- he led hundreds of men and women to a water tank in the town of Mahad, western Maharashtra, to fulfil one of the most basic human needs: The right to drink water from the tank.

IMAGE: A bronze sculpture depicting B R Ambedkar's Mahad Satyagraha. Photograph: Kind courtesy JAIBHIM5/Wikimedia Commons

Key Points B R Ambedkar led the landmark 1927 Mahad Satyagraha, asserting the Dalits' right to access public water -- a basic human right denied under caste norms.

The movement emerged amid India's broader freedom struggle, highlighting that social emancipation from caste oppression was as urgent as independence from British rule.

The Mahad municipality's progressive 1924 resolution allowed all citizens access to public tanks, but upper caste resistance blocked its implementation.

Ninety-nine years ago, a young Dr B R Ambedkar embarked on a revolutionary and most overdue reformatory path -- he led hundreds of men and women to a water tank in the town of Mahad, western Maharashtra, to fulfil one of the most basic human needs: The right to drink water from the tank.

India in the mid-1920s was a nation brimming with ferment. Mahatma Gandhi (the title Mahatma had already been bestowed upon Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in 1915, just weeks after his return from South Africa) had fired the nation's imagination with the Non-Cooperation Movement a few years earlier (1919-1922), demanding self-governance for India.

But even as many Indians dreamt of a life not beneath the British yoke, there was another set of Indians planning to throw off far more oppressive shackles -- the chains of caste that bound them with hundreds of restrictions in their day-to-day activities.

None more than the right to draw water from common water bodies, be they wells, lakes, ponds, or rivers.

The Dalits (formerly the untouchables) had a new leader in Ambedkar, then a young lawyer and who had been just appointed the Bombay Presidency Committee.

Ambedkar had already voiced his opinions against the practice of untouchability through his publications.

But he realised that he needed a movement that could galvanise the Dalits into action and capture the attention of the nations.

It was not Ambedkar who chose to launch in his satyagraha in Mahad as much as Mahad town that invited Ambedkar.

In 1924, in a remarkable move that has not received the praise it deserves, the municipal officers of Mahad decided to outlaw untouchability.

Note, these municipal officers belonged to the so-called 'upper' castes, persons who were aware that social discrimination was a curse that had to be vanquished.

The Mahad municipality had passed a resolution that all people could draw water from public tanks built and maintained by the government.

As it often happens, the legal ruling was blocked by the 'upper' castes who prevented Dalits from reaching the water.

The Mahad municipality's top leaders then invited Ambedkar, and his supporters, to drink water from the tank.

On 20 March 1927, Ambedkar and thousands of Dalits marched to the tank and drank water from the tank.

Mahad Satyagraha Triggers Backlash

Reaction came quickly, though the trigger lay elsewhere. The so-called upper castes decided to 'purify' the tank, and did so, using 108 pots of cow dung and cow urine, which were emptied into the tank while mantras were being recited.

After the 'ceremony' was over, the tank was declared fit for consumption by upper castes.

Later that year, the upper caste Hindus claimed the tank was a private property and sought to ban its use by Dalits.

Since the matter became sub judice, there was little that Ambedkar or the Dalits could do until the case was resolved.

That happened in 1937, when the Bombay high court ruled that Dalits have the right to use water from Chowder tank!

The Mahad satyagraha was remarkable because it set the tone for the emancipation of the Dalits, and alongside, of the Adivasis and Shudra communities.

A few years later, Ambedkar would lead the move to enter the Kalaram temple in Nashik, to the utter consternation of the upper castes.

In 1940, on the 14th anniversary of the Mahad satyagraha, the Mahad municipality would honour Ambedkar, and 20 March would henceforth be known as Social Empowerment Day.

Considering that practices restricting Dalits still continue, one wishes this day was better observed across India.

As an aside, Mahad is located just over 50 odd kilometres from Ambedkar's ancestral village, Ambadawe.

A young Bhim, who was born in Mhow, initially had the surname Ambadawekar, which was changed to easier-to-pronounce Ambedkar by one of his teachers (who hailed from the 'upper' caste), who was impressed by his intelligence and diligence.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
On September 1, 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping solemnly proposed the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) at the "Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Plus" Meeting. GGI offers China's solution to the core questions of our time  what kind of global governance system to build and how to reform and improve global governance. This significant initiative features and advocates five core concepts: First, sovereign equality to ensure participation in global affairs by all countries; Second, international rule of law for a just and orderly global governance system; Third, multilateralism for greater solidarity and cooperation among all countries; Fourth, a people-centered approach for universally beneficial and inclusive outcomes of global governance; Fifth, an action-oriented approach for a pragmatic and efficient global governance process. These five core concepts provide a new vision, new ideas, and new pathways for the transformation of global governance as it enters a new period of turbulence and change. They help the international community strengthen cooperation, promote the building of a more just and equitable global governance regime, and work together toward a community with a shared future for mankind.

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Encouraging diversity of thought

Boosting the pipeline of not only young women, but people from a range of backgrounds, entering the industry was important, Peddie said.

Everybody thinks in a different way, so having that diversity is hugely important, she said.

Because if everybodys the same, theres no challenge. Thats ultimately why its important to encourage more people to come in  to have that diversity and different thought processes.

Attracting more young people would also bring the next generation of talent into the sector, Peddie said.

Thats a whole new generation of people. They learn in different ways, they utilise tools differently, and they adopt technology so much faster, as well. Their expectations and the way theyre challenging us is also incredibly important.

While acknowledging women were still underrepresented in technical roles, Peddie believes encouraging young women into non-technical roles can also help develop the pipeline of more technical jobs.

Ive watched people come into the industry and theyve ended up in quite technical roles, helping design collaboration solutions for end users, she said.

Using her own career development as an example, Peddie said not having a technical background did not have to be an obstacle to a successful career in the industry.

Be open to learning and asking questions

However, being open to learning and being comfortable to ask questions are both crucial to advancing in any career, she said.

Even though I have focused predominantly on sales, I still like to have a technical understanding of the solution so that when were working with our end users and our partners, I can understand how were going to help them, Peddie said.

If I dont know something, I pull people aside and ask them to give me the 101 on how things work.

You have to remember you dont always know everything, and theres a huge amount of knowledge you can tap into. People are absolutely prepared to help you learn and if youre open to asking questions, people want to share their knowledge with you.

Turning to her new role, Peddie said although her remit has increased, the channel-facing aspect of the job was second nature to her.

Relationships are everything. People buy off people, ultimately. So having that focus is incredibly important and stands me in good stead, she said.

Anything that has a channel route to market sits within my team and thats across all of our categories  Poly, our print business, personal systems, so our PCs and workstations, and services. The focus for me is how do we take what HP has as an offering across those different categories and take that to market through our channel.

Starting in the channel provided a solid foundation for Peddies career.

I was really fortunate to start off in the channel. This gave me a huge amount of exposure to the different ways that channel partners and vendors worked in the market, she said.

Ultimately, it helped guide me to where I am today and what I find enjoyable  working with the channel to help them drive outcomes within their customer base.

Peddies focus for the year ahead is on helping partners manage through the current economic climate.

At the moment, a big focus for me is the market dynamics that are at play and supporting our partner partners through that. And helping my team to grow and adapt to change and making sure theyre focused on driving outcomes for their customers as well.
Specialist cybersecurity distributor Chillisoft has appointed Scott Leman as New Zealand country manager for security vendor Eset.

At the same time, Eset this week launched two subscription tiers for its Eset Protect managed detection and response (MDR) offering in New Zealand, as well as Cloud Workload Protection  a module which protects virtual machines in public cloud environments.

Leman joins Chillisoft after 15 years at HP where he was most recently enterprise sales manager and previously held category manager roles for the vendors personal systems and printer ranges.

The creation of the country management role demonstrated how important the market was to the vendor, Leman told Reseller News.

The cyber security market is growing across the world, and New Zealand is a growing market. Part of the driver for putting more investment into New Zealand is so that we can grow the Eset business and develop the channel here, he said.

Leman added he was looking forward to bringing the channel experience he gained at HP to leading Eset in New Zealand.

New Zealand has a fantastic partner community, and I am looking forward to deepening those relationships and ensure we are enabling resellers and MSPs with the support and services they need to succeed, he said.

Chillisoft group CEO Alex Teh said Leman was selected for the role after an extensive executive search because of his unique blend of experience in both the enterprise and consumer segments through the channel.
WASHINGTON -- In a significant shift in energy policy, the United States has confirmed it will not renew sanctions waivers that previously allowed the purchase of certain Russian and Iranian oil, handing Kyiv a sought-after victory.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the move on April 15 from the White House podium, signaling the end of a "general license" for oil that was already in transit before mid-March -- a mechanism the administration had used to stabilize global energy prices amid volatility in the Strait of Hormuz stemming from the US-Israeli war with Iran.

Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's commissioner for sanctions policy, told RFE/RL in an interview that any relief for Moscow only serves to extend the war.

RFE/RL: The United States has decided not to renew waivers that had allowed certain purchases of Russian and Iranian oil. What did that decision mean when it was first announced, and what does it mean now for Ukraine?

Vladyslav Vlasiuk: We certainly didn't like any waivers or extensions of sanctions. We would like to have sanctions against Russia that are as tough as possible, and this is something that we've constantly been asking from our partners. Why? Because we see that sanctions are working well, and the more sanctions are applied against Russia, the quicker we will see success in peace negotiations. This is a very simple hypothesis.

Of course, we were disappointed when the waiver on Russian oil was imposed a month ago. Likewise, we are happy now it has not been extended. Even better, there is no indication that it will be extended in the future. This is very good. We did not know the specific reasons behind the waivers. We've seen public statements suggesting they were introduced to mitigate market volatility driven by the Hormuz blockade, but to us that seemed ungrounded.

Vlasiuk: The More Sanctions Against Russia, The Faster Progress In Talks by RFE/RL No media source currently available 0:00 0:01:04 0:00

The Hormuz trade accounts for something like 30 percent of global oil shipments, whereas Russian oil is only about 4 percent or 5 percent. That calculation was never going to work, anyway. It seems everyone understood this from the very beginning; it did not work and it did not help. Perhaps that was taken into account when the decision was made not to extend any waivers. So, we are happy that no waiver is being prolonged.

We are pleased that the sanctions against Russia, Rosneft, and Lukoil are still very much in force. We see many indications that those sanctions are particularly meaningful against the Russian economy. In February, we saw a record low in Russian oil revenues since the full-scale invasion -- below $10 billion.

That's a clear sign sanctions are working. We also believe that because of those waivers the Russians gained an extra $2 billion to $4 billion, of which $1.7 billion was denied thanks to the Ukrainian Armed Forces conducting "kinetic sanctions" against Russian ports in Ust-Luga, Primorsk, and Novorossiysk. This is an ongoing situation. Ukraine has every right to protect itself with these types of sanctions, but we will also continue our work on applying more restrictions to deny Russia oil revenue. This is key.

RFE/RL: US officials have argued the waiver was a short-term measure to prevent larger economic disruptions. Do you see any merit in that argument?

Vlasiuk: That could be. But again, the quantity of Russian oil available on the market and the quantity of oil blockaded because of the Hormuz trade are not comparable. You cannot save a market facing a deficit of roughly 16 million barrels per day by allowing back only two or three million barrels per day. The calculation simply doesn't match. It couldn't have worked from the very beginning.

RFE/RL: In terms of Russia's war chest, how did these financial gains from the waiver period translate into their actual battlefield capacity and military budget?

Vlasiuk: Good question. They continue to increase the total amount of money spent on their war efforts. We believe this year's war budget is around $60 billion. Even $2 billion, $3 billion, or $4 billion is a significant portion of money that they will use exclusively for war purposes.

They've cut many other budget expenditures to accommodate this. What we've observed is they reached their planned annual budget deficit in only three months. From now on, the deficit continues to increase toward record highs. They are really struggling economically.

RFE/RL: When the United States applies these periodic, temporary waivers, does it undermine the long-term structural integrity and psychological impact of the broader sanctions regime?

Vlasiuk: We were told from the beginning that this temporary waiver would never impact the general weight of the sanctions. While it allowed the Russians to make some extra money, it did not allow them to solve their structural economic problems.

We are glad this waiver was not extended. We see that Russia is spending more and more on the war effort while their profits and overall revenues are decreasing. It may not be a popular opinion yet, but we believe time is playing against Russia. Their economy is struggling, and they cannot survive many more years of this level of war effort.

RFE/RL: During this waiver period, we saw major players like China and India increase their intake of Russian oil. With the waivers now expired, how difficult will it be to reverse those trade flows and ensure full enforcement?

Vlasiuk: Before the full-scale invasion, India was not buying Russian oil. Afterward, India became the No. 1 buyer, and we do not like this. It seems unfair to call for a quick resolution to the war while simultaneously helping one side with effective budget revenues. Nobody should be buying Russian oil as long as Russia is not negotiating for peace in good faith.

Sanctions help to disincentivize potential buyers. This is why we were so happy when the administration applied sanctions against Russian oil, and why we've worked so much with the EU, UK, and Canada to keep the pressure on exports. All of this helps to deny Russia revenue. It works: we see a record deficit and no GDP growth. All countries that truly want Russia to withdraw from Ukraine should not be buying Russian oil or gas.

RFE/RL: Considering the broader US perspective, the administration is juggling tensions with Iran and threats to the Strait of Hormuz. How can Washington maintain a maximum pressure campaign via sanctions without triggering a global economic crisis?

Vlasiuk: One of the takeaways from the Hormuz situation should be the level of threat that dual-use items pose. Iran has shown that operating cheap drones can cause massive economic damage. For instance, the Qatari LNG facility was put on hold just because of two Shahed UAVs. Each costs maybe $30,000, yet they impacted a facility representing 20 percent of the global market.

The awareness of the threat posed by UAVs is something we've talked about for years, and that awareness has finally risen. We are trying to use this momentum.

Beyond energy and freedom of passage, the key point is the components used by Iran to destabilize multiple countries. This is the game changer. Hopefully, more countries will now pay attention to supply chain evasion and sanctions efficiency. It isn't just about having the money to buy something; its about the ability to obtain specific tools and parts.

If a country wants to build UAVs to destroy those around it, it will buy the necessary parts. This is why we talk so much about critical components with our partners. We must ensure that the microchips manufactured by Western companies are not freely available on the market for terrorist regimes like Russia or Iran. It's about availability, not just revenue.

RFE/RL: Ukraine has repeatedly documented the presence of US-made components within Iranian and Russian drones. Have you addressed this specific issue with your US counterparts, and what has been their response regarding the failure of export controls?

Vlasiuk: Yes. For the last three years, we've been observing American microelectronics in Russian weapons. It is even worse in the Iranian drones we saw in 2022 and 2023. This creates a lot of challenges for the US export control system and for manufacturers. We raise this issue constantly. We know the US government is prioritizing this and working to deny these items to terrorist regimes, but it remains a pressing challenge.

It was a highlight of my meetings today. It is not an ideal situation. In late March, a vast territory of Ukraine was attacked by Shahed UAVs that appeared to have been produced that same month. In those drones, there were American components apparently produced as recently as late 2025. I say "apparently" because a portion of the American parts turn out to be counterfeit, but many are genuine. American, Japanese, German, and Chinese parts are unfortunately still available to the Russian defense sector.

We believe that the day Russia stops receiving Western parts, they will no longer be able to produce Shahed UAVs or cruise missiles. It is that critical. Some countries, like the Emirates, were initially hesitant, saying "business is business," but that has changed. I have a good feeling that key countries in the region have changed their attitude toward these dual-use items and will no longer help Russia or Iran obtain them.

RFE/RL: Are there joint investigations under way with the United States on this issue?

Vlasiuk: Yes, quite a lot of work is being done by law enforcement in the US, Ukraine, the Netherlands, Germany, and others. The truth is that these supply chains are not easily shut down. The Russians are very creative about infiltrating markets. Furthermore, they don't need a massive volume; to produce 50,000 Shahed UAVs, you only need 50,000 specific microchips. That is a small enough amount to be purchased through various indirect means.

RFE/RL: Can you identify the specific US tech companies whose products are most frequently recovered from the battlefield?

Vlasiuk: It's not a big secret. Any big American tech company -- like AMD, Texas Instruments, Analog Devices, or Linear Technology -- produces microelectronics that are then found in Russian UAVs or missiles. They know it, and they have been trying to address it. We are pragmatic: As long as we find new American parts in Russian weapons, it is a clear indication that current efforts are not enough.

RFE/RL: We have seen strong calls from lawmakers like senators [Lindsey]Graham and [Richard] Blumenthal for even tougher measures. Have you been coordinating directly with them on potential legislation?

Vlasiuk: I have a lot of respect for senators Graham and Blumenthal for their actions against Russia. They are truly on the side of Ukraine. However, it seems the key decisions on sanctions are taken at the White House rather than on Capitol Hill. That doesn't mean the pressure from Congress isn't helpful; it probably is. I would love to see some of those bills passed and signed.

RFE/RL: Specifically, what unique enforcement tools or authority would the current bills in Congress provide that the administration doesn't already possess?

Vlasiuk: These tools would essentially oblige the government to take action against anyone who buys Russian oil. It is one of the strongest instruments available because it cannot be ignored by buyers. It is simple but efficient.

On the other hand, we shouldn't limit ourselves to just tariffs; we must continue regular sanctions work: Let's target the shadow fleet, their captains, and further list Russian oil majors. I support the bills, but I also think the US government should explore more "classical" sanctions instruments, as increasing the pressure will help us negotiate for peace properly.

RFE/RL: I ask because US officials, including the secretary of state, have occasionally suggested the "low-hanging fruit" is gone and there are no targets left to sanction. Is that an accurate assessment from your perspective?

Vlasiuk: Ill give you one number: Over the last year, Ukraine has adopted 60 sanctions packages against Russia. Clearly, there are still many potential targets. You can always sanction the oil industry further or turn back to the LNG sector. There are many targets in the military-defense sector, the oligarchs, and the financial sector. Maybe 50 banks are under sanctions, but there are 250 more waiting. There is also the area of Russian nuclear energy, which is not yet sanctioned.

RFE/RL: Finally, looking at the geopolitical nexus between the Strait of Hormuz, global oil prices, and the front lines in Ukraine, what is the most critical takeaway for the US public?

Vlasiuk: We think Russia received an extra $2 billion to $4 billion in oil revenue because volumes were released and prices went up. They benefited significantly. We have tried to mitigate those benefits through our own "kinetic" sanctions quite successfully. We really hope the situation in Hormuz will be resolved soon, and we expect Russian oil revenues to continue to shrink. That is what is truly important.

This interview was edited for length and clarity.
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)

Editor: Zhang Zhou
As US President Donald Trumps deadline looms for Iran to open the crucial Strait of Hormuz, the Israeli military warned its citizens that more weeks remain in the conflicts against Iran and Hezbollah.

"Citizens of Israel, we face more weeks of fighting against Iran and Hezbollah," military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said in televised remarks on March 22.

"With each passing day, we are further weakening the terror regime [in Tehran]. We will not allow it or its proxies to threaten the citizens of Israel or the existence of the state of Israel," said Defrin, who added that the ground campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon would intensify in the coming week.

"The operation against the Hezbollah terrorist organization has only begun.... This is a prolonged operation," Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir added in a statement.

The United States has designated Hezbollah a terrorist organization, while the EU has sanctioned the group's military wing but not its political organization in the country.

Trump's Hormuz Deadline Looms For Iran

Looming ahead is an ultimatum set by Trump on March 21 at 7:44 p.m. Washington time in which the US president demanded Tehran fully open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours or face dire consequences.

"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.

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 with, he asserted, most US goals achieved. The Pentagon is also reportedly sending thousands of additional ground forces to the region.

Iran vowed to retaliate if Trump should carry out his threat on power plants.

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.

Separately, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, speaker of the Iranian parliament, warned 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."

Such Iranian retaliatory attacks would likely have devastating effects on Gulf Arab countries, which are huge power consumers and rely heavily on desalinated sea water. Bahrain and Qatar get 100 percent of their water from desalination plants, while other countries get 50-80 percent, Reuters reports.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards 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. It later issued a statement saying that if Iranian power plants were attacked, the IRGC will retaliate against regional power plants that supply electricity to US bases.

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. Iranian attacks on oil and gas facilities in the Gulf have also caused fears in the market.

Nations Preparing For Strait Duty: Rutte

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. He has expressed anger with the reluctance of many nations to become involved.

But on March 22, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said more than 20 countries were planning to be involved in the reopening of the strait in the face of the Trump pressure.

"I know the president was angry because he feels that European and other allies have been too slow," Rutte told Fox News on March 22.

He added that NATO was now looking to work on the issue together with Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain.

"So we are now planning the military people and others amongst this group of 22 nations and with the US," Rutte said.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has been singled out for criticism by Trump, spoke with the US president by phone on March 22, with the leaders discussing the situation in the Middle East and the need to reopen the strait to global shipping, Downing Street said.

A Pause On Embassy Attacks In Iraq?

In Iraq -- which is increasingly being pulled into the conflict across its border -- an influential pro-Iran Iraqi armed group said on March 23 that it would extend a pause on its attacks on the US Embassy in Baghdad by five days.

"The deadline given to the embassy of American evil will be extended by an additional five days," Kataeb Hezbollah said in a statement.

Pro-Iran militias in Iraq have targeted US sites in the country, while they themselves have been hit by air strikes that they blame on the United States and Israel.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Farda, Reuters, AFP, and dpa
WhatsApp is throttled. Telegram is about to be blocked. Soldiers are angry. Max, a state-backed messenger app, is being forced on everyone. Commanders warn Max is unsafe. Average Russians are trying to avoid it.

Oh, and mobile Internet is being turned off everywhere, so in 21st-century modern Moscow, you can't hail a taxi, order food delivery, or even look at an online map.

In the plugged-in, very online, mobile-wired Russian capital -- not to mention many towns and cities around the country -- the Internet, along with the apps that Russians rely on for daily life, is breaking down.

Ask the Kremlin how they're dealing with it:

"We're using land lines," spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Ask average Russians how they're dealing with it:

"They all have cars with special police lights, and we can't even call a taxi or order carsharing," said Maksim, who asked that only his first name be used, describing the widely hated flashing lights used by government officials to avoid Moscow's infamous traffic.

Earlier this month, Maksim said, he was late to work as he commuted from the suburb of Zelenograd because of the Internet outages in downtown Moscow.

"There was absolutely no service. So I took a commuter train, then the subway, and then had to walk almost 2 kilometers to our warehouse," he told RFE/RL's Siberia.Realities. "I couldn't even pay to rent an electric scooter."

Russia's online world is being roiled by a series of major crosscurrents, most of which are the result of government regulators and the country's main security agencies seeking to impose tighter control over everyday citizens: what they read, what they watch, what they share, what they order, how they pay.

Pretty much everything they do online.

"A significant portion of Muscovites are accustomed to a very comfortable Internet experience, accustomed to living in cozy Telegram channels and communicating via a very convenient messenger. Now Muscovites are being kicked out of this rather comfortable environment," Igor Yakovenko, a Russian sociologist, told RFE/RL's Russian Service.

"The Kremlin is trying to make the Russian Internet into a closed ecosystem, where all the important services are controlled and accessible" to the Federal Security Service, Russian commentator Maria Kolymchenko wrote in an article for the Berlin-based Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center. "If there are foreign platforms that haven't been blocked yet, it's only because there's no viable domestic alternative yet."

What's Going On

The crosscurrents come from a series of policy moves spearheaded by state tech regulator Roskomnadzor, with the backing of the Kremlin.

The first has to do with messaging apps.

For several years, regulators have been working with Russian tech-industry leaders to build replacements for the two most popular messengers for Russians, namely WhatsApp, which is owned by the parent of Facebook, and Telegram, which is owned by the exiled tech entrepreneur Pavel Durov.

Roskomnadzor has been gradually throttling the two apps, slowing them down to make them unusable. The agency has been taking similar steps with YouTube, which is the most popular video streaming service in the country and owned by the parent of Google.

Russian news reports say Telegram may be completely blocked within the country as of April 1.

At the same time, authorities have been promoting an alternative messenger that was built by VK, the social media giant whose top executives include Kremlin-linked officials.

That app, called Messenger Max, was rolled out last year with public backing from President Vladimir Putin. Since then, state-run and state-aligned media organizations have been promoting it aggressively.

Local authorities have also leaned heavily on Russians to switch. As of September, upcoming new mobile devices purchased in Russia will have to have Max pre-installed. Last week, a Moscow university announced it would not award diplomas to graduating students unless they install Max.

"Russia is restricting access to Telegram to force its citizens onto a state-controlled app built for surveillance and political censorship," Durov said in a post to X last month.

But Russians are resisting the switch and looking for creative ways to dodge installing it on their mobile devices.

Telegram, meanwhile, is widely used not only by Russian civilians but also by soldiers deployed to Ukraine, along with the so-called Z Bloggers who use Telegram to amplify war propaganda and raise money for themselves and military units.

Telegram's throttling -- tightened further by reports that commanders have ordered it completely deleted from soldiers' phones -- has prompted open grumbling from troops and their public supporters.

"Who is slowing down Telegram?" Sergei Mironov, a prominent lawmaker, said in angry speech last month. "Go out to the front, to the [war]. The guys who are shedding blood -- their only connection with their families and friends is through Telegram. What are you doing, idiots? I'm calling a spade a spade. Idiots! What are you doing?"

Adding further frustration, Russian commanders have banned the use of Max on soldiers' phones, citing security concerns with the app, according to several prominent pro-war Telegram channels.

"All this cacophony around Telegram is ridiculous. Ridiculous. We are simply working against our own people, making their lives worse," said Andrei Bezrukov, a well-known former Russian foreign intelligence "sleeper" agent who now teaches at a Moscow university.

"During a rather difficult period for the country, we are trying to, how can I put it -- annoy a large percentage of our population, who naturally are for victory [in the Ukraine war] and only want the best," he said in a video interview.

Lawmakers in February passed new legislation giving FSB and other police and security agencies the power to order mobile operators to cut off any client if needed.

'Can't Even Reach Loved Ones'

On top of all this are the mobile Internet outages, which began inconveniencing millions of Muscovites around March 6.

In other border regions, authorities justified temporary outages as necessary measures to thwart Ukrainian drones, which frequently rely on local cell phone networks for guidance. Several days after Moscow disruptions began, Peskov said the measures were "in the interest of security," without providing details.

Some Russians vented their outrage with the outages on International Women's Day, posting directly to Roskomnadzor's VK page below the agency's well-wishes for the holiday, which is widely cerebrated in Russia.

"Thanks for shutting off the Internet on March 8 -- what a gift! Can't even reach loved ones to congratulate them," one user wrote.

The economic fallout from the outages was considerable, according to the newspaper Kommersant, which estimated losses for Moscow businesses at between 3 billion and 5 billion rubles ($35 million to $58 million) over the first five days of the outages. Hardest hit were retailers, food delivery and courier services, and carsharing operations.

Russians in other major cities have experienced mobile outages for months now. Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a Pacific coast peninsula city that is more than 7,200 kilometers from Ukraine, reported disruptions last June, as did Irkutsk, in Siberia, where locals evinced little sympathy for Muscovites.

"Well, now they'll feel our pain," said one Irkutsk woman who gave her first name as Natalya.

"In June, they started slowing down our Internet, at the end of the year there was a complete blockade, and now the situation is such that it can be blocked at any moment, for several days or weeks," she told RFE/RL's Siberia.Realities. "Even when the network is working, the speed is very slow -- we can't send video or audio."

The confusion, and frustration, has drawn wry responses from Ukraine, where Telegram, WhatsApp, and the Internet are unfettered.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a comic actor in his previous career, trolled Putin over the Internet outages.

"This is, you know, a step backward, a step 100 years back," he told reporters last week. "They might as well switch to paper mail, telegrams, and horses soon. That's the kind of civilization they have. Perhaps Putin even likes it. Maybe that is how he feels young again."
Ukraine and Russia exchanged drone strikes, involving over 200 drones from each side, following US-Ukrainian talks in Florida that also addressed potential prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine.

Russian air defense forces reported intercepting and destroying 249 Ukrainian drones overnight, marking one of the largest Ukrainian drone attacks recorded as Ukraine intensifies its attacks on Russian energy facilities.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Air Force said Russian forces launched 251 strike drones during the same period.

In Ukraine, Russian drones targeted residential areas and port infrastructure in the southern Odesa region on the Black Sea, according to the regional governor. At least four people were injured in Kryviy Rih, a major industrial city in central Ukraine, after Russian strikes, with damage to infrastructure and fires reported.

In Russia, a drone strike set fire to a fuel reservoir at the Baltic Sea port of Primorsk, the country's largest western oil-exporting hub, according to Aleksandr Drozdenko, governor of the Leningrad region.

Over 70 drones were destroyed in the region in the last 24 hours, Drozdenko wrote on his Telegram account.

The Baltic Sea port of Primorsk, capable of exporting over 1 million barrels of crude oil per day, is a key outlet for Russia's Urals crude and high-quality diesel.

It was not the first time Primorsk was hit by Ukrainian forces; the port was previously targeted in September 2025, temporarily disrupting oil loadings.

Ukraine continues to target Russian energy infrastructure, striking oil export facilities and refineries to weaken Moscow's war economy.

US-Ukraine Talks In Florida

Ukraine's negotiating team met with US representatives in Florida for two days of talks on March 21-22.

The US delegation included special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and White House senior adviser Josh Gruenbaum, while the Ukrainian delegation included Rustem Umerov, Kyrylo Budanov, David Arakhamia, and Serhiy Kyslytsya.

According to both sides, discussions were focused on durable security guarantees for Ukraine and humanitarian efforts, including possible further prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine.

"There are signals that further exchanges may be possible, and this would be good news and confirmation that diplomacy is working," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly address on March 22.

Witkoff called the talks with the Ukrainian delegation in Florida "constructive," adding that it "focused on key points to define a durable and dependable security framework for Ukraine, as well as critical humanitarian efforts in the region."

Ukrainian chief negotiator Rustem Umerov reported that "progress" in aligning positions and further narrowing the range of unresolved issues with the American side has been made.

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."

The Kremlin said on March 19 that trilateral talks between Washington, Moscow, and Kyiv on ending the war in Ukraine were on "situational pause" following the start of the Iran war.

"This is a situational pause, for obvious reasons," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, adding that as soon as "our American partners" could pay more attention to Ukrainian affairs, Moscow hoped that the pause could end and that a new round of talks could take place.

With reporting from RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and Reuters
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)

Editor: Zhang Zhou
Alison O'Riordan

A 39-year-old man has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to murdering his grandfather in the Donegal Gaeltacht over two years ago.

A prosecuting barrister told the trial of Derek Mulligan on Monday that the accused was the victim of serious sexual abuse at the hands of a school caretaker when he was a child and has suffered with a litany of mental health difficulties since his teenage years.

Patricia McLaughlin SC, said that expert consultant psychiatrists for both the State and defence are in agreement that the accused was suffering from a mental disorder when he killed his grandfather.

Mulligan, with an address at Carrickcoyle, Derrybeg, Gweedore in Co Donegal has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of his grandfather Derek Burns (78) at Carrickcoyle on December 19th, 2023.

Opening the prosecution's case, McLaughlin, along with Fiona Crawford, said that where a mentally ill person commits a crime including taking the life of another, the law recognises it may not be the case that the person is responsible for the conduct they engaged in.

The focus of the panel's attention, the barrister said, was not whether these events happened or not.

"You will hear the accused admitted to this conduct. Your focus is on his mental state at the time," she said.

McLaughlin said once the defence of insanity is established, Mulligan is entitled to a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. She said the defence of insanity applied to all five counts on the indictment.

She said Mulligan had been examined by two consultant psychiatrists; Dr Ronan Mullaney on behalf of the defence and Dr Stephen Monks for the prosecution.

"Both are of the one mind that he was suffering from a mental disorder at the time and is enough to bring the defence of insanity into play".

Outlining the facts of the case, McLaughlin said Mulligan is originally from Bunbeg in Co Donegal but had been living in Carrickcoyle. She said the deceased man, Derek Burns, is the accused's grandfather and he had been living alone in the village.

Counsel told the panel that Burns and his wife Mary had five children, who were brought up in Edinburgh but later returned to live in Co Donegal.

The lawyer said Mary, who had been diagnosed with dementia, was living with her daughter Angela Mulligan, who is the accused's mother.

The prosecution barrister went on to tell the court that Burns had experienced ill health in recent times and became withdrawn but was still living with his family around him.

McLaughlin said the jurors would hear evidence that the accused man, Mulligan, had suffered a number of traumas in his life.

Counsel said the accused's father had died from lung cancer when Mulligan was 16 years of age. She also said that when the accused was 12 years old, he was the victim of serious sexual abuse at the hands of a school caretaker.

McLaughlin said that the individual was prosecuted in the Central Criminal Court and sentenced to 15 years in prison for abusing a number of victims.

There will be evidence, McLaughlin said, that Mulligan suffered a litany of mental health and psychiatric difficulties from his teenage years.

The barrister further stated that Mulligan returned to live in Donegal before December 2023. She said the accused's mother had sourced a house for him near where his grandfather lived, and Mr Mulligan had been residing there for several months.

She said the jurors would hear evidence that in the weeks leading up to December 17th, 2023, people around the accused had noted Mulligan's mental health deteriorating significantly and that he was behaving erratically.

Counsel said the accused's mother, Angela Mulligan, called gardai to tell them that her son had been involved in an incident earlier on December 17th.

The court will also hear evidence, the lawyer said, that Mulligan was later detained by gardai under section 12 of the Mental Health Act. The accused was examined by a GP, who said he needed to be admitted into a psychiatric hospital in Letterkenny.

Evidence will be that when the accused was detained under the Mental Health Act, no one knew what had happened to Burns.

There was an arrangement, said counsel, that one of Burns' daughters would come to visit her father at 3.30pm on December 17th.

When the daughter went up the laneway to her father's house, she noticed one of his dogs off the lead, which would have been "very unusual".

McLaughlin said the daughter found her father on the ground, unconscious and bloodied. She initially thought he had fallen and had a stroke. Burns died from his injuries two days later on December 19th.

Counsel said when Burns was brought to hospital, medical personnel were suspicious and didn't think his injuries were consistent with a fall.

Ultimately, the accused, Mulligan, was released from a psychiatric unit in Letterkenny on December 18th and arrested. He was brought to Milford Garda Station, where he was interviewed on three occasions and admitted carrying out the assault on his grandfather.

Mulligan has also pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity that on December 17th, 2023 at Carrickcoyle, he did without lawful excuse damage property, to wit the windscreen of a Nissan Quashqui belonging to Catherine McDermott, intending to damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be damaged.

The defendant has further pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity that on the same occasion he did without lawful excuse make threats to McDermott to kill or cause her serious harm, intending her to believe that these threats be carried out.

In addition, Mulligan has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to two counts of assaulting Breege McFadden and Derek McFadden at Carrickmacafferty, Derrybeg in Co Donegal on the same date.

The trial continues tomorrow before Judge Eileen Creedon and a jury of seven men and five women.
Eoin Reynolds

A self-described jihadist who set fire to a pub owned by Conor McGregor and later stabbed a garda on a Dublin street while shouting 'Allahu Akbar' told detectives he was inspired by the founder of Isis, Musab al-Zarqawi, and had pledged his allegiance to the terrorist organisation.

A sentencing hearing at the three-judge Special Criminal Court also heard on Monday that 24-year-old Abdullah Khan, who describes himself as a Salafi jihadist, is part of a "wider group of people of a like-minded mindset".

Det Inspector Gavin Ross of the Garda Special Detective Unit said an investigation is ongoing with lines of inquiry still open.

He said that statements made to gardai by Khan's associates are also the subject of ongoing investigations.

Khan's defence counsel, Michael Bowman SC, suggested that there may be others who are "operating in the shadows" and preferred to have Khan, who has a history of social isolation, depression and paranoia, operating in broad daylight.

Motivation

Ross said that when Khan was asked for the motivation behind his crimes, he said he wanted to send a message to McGregor and others with a "right-wing mindset" not to insult the Prophet Muhammad.

He said he was angry that the State allowed people to insult the Prophet and attacked the garda to show his anger and make his protest known.

He said he had listened to speeches by al-Zarqawi, who was killed in 2006, and was inspired by them. He said he found al-Zarqawi "charismatic" and his message resonated with him.

Khan, with an address in Dublin that cannot be published due to a court order, previously pleaded guilty to eight charges.

He was charged that on July 25th 2025, at the Black Forge Inn, Drimnagh Road, Dublin 12, he committed arson by pouring petrol on the front door of the pub and lighting it with a match.

He was charged four days later, on July 29th 2025, at Capel Street, he assaulted Gda Gary Lynch causing him harm, and attempted to assault Gda Patrick Nevin.

He was further charged with producing a knife during the same incident and two counts of endangerment, in that he intentionally or recklessly engaged in conduct which created a substantial risk of death or serious harm to the two gardai.

Khan was further charged with two counts of engaging in terrorist activity or terrorist-linked activity on the dates of each offence.

Det Sgt Liam McLoughlin told the sentencing hearing that Lynch and Nevin were on foot patrol near Little Britain Street in Dublin city when Khan ran up behind them carrying a knife and stabbed Gda Lynch in the arm while shouting 'Allahu Akbar'.

The gardai put distance between themselves and their attacker as he continued to wield the knife and tried to move towards them.

They used their 'ASP' batons and pepper spray, and a member of the public brought Khan to the ground before the two gardai moved in to arrest.

Lynch suffered two lacerations to his arm that required stitches and nerve damage that required surgery.

In a victim impact statement handed into court, the garda described his "shock and disbelief" that there was nothing he could do to prevent such a violent attack.

He described ongoing pain, discomfort and stress.

During his first interview following his arrest, Khan immediately admitted to setting fire to Mr McGregor's pub four days earlier, saying it was "better to get that over with now than have it come back to me later."

Khan said he came from a professional family, but when he had issues with his mental health, he resisted their efforts to find help and he became homeless for some months prior to the offences.

Radicalised

Det Insp Ross told prosecution senior counsel Gerardine Small SC that the Special Detective Unit (SDU) became involved due to the concern that Khan had been radicalised by Islam.

The use of the term, Allahu Akbar and an attack on police was similar to terrorist attacks elsewhere in Europe, he said.

In his first interview with the SDU, Khan said it was "undeniable" that what he had done was terrorism. He later explained that from the age of 18, he had started listening to people like al-Zarqawi online, and his beliefs progressed in his early 20s.

Det Insp Ross said Salafi Jihadism is a puritanical and literal interpretation of Muslim law that was adopted by Isis.

In his interviews, Khan referenced the four core principles of Salafi, including a rejection of man-made laws and the ability to declare those who do not follow the religion as apostates and legitimate targets.

His beliefs removed prohibitions on attacking members of the security forces in any country where the State does not follow a literal interpretation of the Koran, the inspector said.

Ross said that when it became more difficult to visit ISIS territory in Iraq and Syria, the leaders of the movement declared that individuals could take responsibility for their own jihad wherever they lived.

During his garda interviews, Khan declared his support for Isis ideology, saying he had a love for them and had pledged his allegiance to the organisation.

Insults

Khan spoke of being motivated by insults against the prophet by "people with a right-wing mindset" and said he was angry at the Irish State.

He described such insults as "outrageous and unacceptable" and said they made him sad and angry.

He said McGregor had helped the far-right to grow in Ireland, so he held him responsible for the insults.

He said he wanted McGregor to know that he was "playing dangerous games". He added: "When it comes to the prophet, we don't see it as a matter of freedom of speech." He said insults to the prophet are always provocative, and there is a "duty on the state anywhere in the world" to denounce such insults.

When he attacked Gda Lynch, he said he did not expect his victim to die, but he wanted to "injure him to make the point".

He added: "This was a message to the Irish government that if, under the name of free speech, you insult our prophet, there will be people who are angry."

In mitigation, Bowman asked the court to consider his client's early guilty plea and his admissions to gardai. He said his client was in a "state of mental crisis" and apologises to his victims.

Justice Karen O'Connor, presiding, commended the bravery of the two gardai who arrested Khan. She adjourned sentencing to April 20th and remanded Khan in continuing custody.
Construction work is to begin on a massive solar farm in South Roscommon shortly.

It is projected that the Taduff Solar Park could power up to 20,000 homes with renewable energy, and provide a Community Benefit Fund worth approximately 180,000 per annum.

In July 2020, the project, then known as TDC Community Solar Park, received planning permission from Roscommon County Council for a development on an area of 70 hectares at Taduff West, Taduff East, Creagh and Curraghaleen, Athlone South, County Roscommon.

The development will see 19 single storey inverter/transformer stations; a single storey substation and access road; a single storey customer substation, and a single storey spare parts container, as well as a boundary security fencing with access gates, CCTV security cameras, and landscaping works.

As part of the 20 planning conditions, the developer, now EDF power solutions Ireland, will pay a development contribution of 180,000 to the council.

An Comisiun Pleanala has also granted planning permission for a new 110kV substation at the solar park and a grid connection to connect the project to the national grid at Athlone.

A statement from EDF power solutions Ireland described the imminent works later this month as a key milestone.

The solar farm is expected to be constructed and operational by spring 2028, at which point a Community Benefit Fund worth approximately 180,000 per annum will be established.

Paul Gallagher, head of onshore technologies at EDF power solutions Ireland, said this was "a major milestone for a project that will help improve Irelands energy security and sovereignty, while also reducing carbon emissions and the countrys over reliance on fossil fuels, he said.

He added that they were committed to working closely with local groups and stakeholders to ensure the benefits of the project are shared across the community.
The SuperValu national TidyTowns competition was launched this morning, Monday, in Carrick-on-Shannon, which was named Irelands Tidiest Town and and Overall winner of Irelands Tidiest Small Town in 2025.

The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary, alongside the Managing Director of SuperValu, Luke Hanlon, launched the competition.

In place since 1958, the competition, administered by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and sponsored by SuperValu, continues to be one of the most recognised sustainable, environmental and community initiatives in the country.

Speaking at the launch of the competition, Minister Calleary said: I am delighted to be here in Carrick-on-Shannon, Irelands Tidiest Town for 2025, as we launch the 2026 SuperValu TidyTowns competition. This year we celebrate 68 years of this wonderful competition, which continues to thrive year on year - its success benefits us all. There are almost 1,000 active TidyTowns groups, and last year saw a record 929 entries to the SuperValu TidyTowns competition. This saw over 30,000 volunteers giving up over 1 million hours of their time, all year round, to come together to make our communities cleaner, brighter and more vibrant places.

TidyTowns groups have been instrumental in supporting and enhancing the governments objective to ensure towns are sustainable, resilient and thriving hubs of commercial and social activity.

I would encourage everyone to reach out to their local group and volunteer, you will be surprised at the benefits that can accrue to you and to your wider community.

I would like to say a special thank you to our national sponsor, Supervalu, now in their 36th year of sponsoring the competition. SuperValu have been wonderful partners on this journey and I look forward to continuing this partnership in the coming years.

Speaking at the launch today, Luke Hanlon, Managing Director of SuperValu, said: The launch of SuperValu TidyTowns competition is always an exciting time for committees and volunteers nationwide. The longevity and diversity of the programme is remarkable, with 70% of committees active for more than a decade, and a quarter of all volunteers are under 45. Its fantastic to see volunteers of all ages and backgrounds come together with the aim of enhancing their communities, and we cant wait to see their hard work pay off throughout the year.
Kenneth Fox

There were 5,440 people convicted in the District Court system in 2025 on drug offences

The total convictions for drug offences in our District Court system rose from 5,202 in 2024 to 5,440 in 2025  a 5 per cent increase nationwide.

Irish MEP Cynthia Ni Mhurchu argues the figures are only the tip of the iceberg, warning they point to a broader rise in drug use in Ireland that must be confronted head-on.

Whilst district court drug convictions in many Irish towns have remained relatively stable or declined, some towns and counties in Ireland have recorded significant rises in the number of people convicted in the district court system on drug offences.

Dublin topped the table of drug offence convictions, with 2,071 people convicted of drug offences in the capital in 2025 - up 11 per cent on 2024.

Cork was in second place with 504 convictions for drug offences in 2025, but down 7 per cent on 2024.

Clonmel district court office recorded the next highest number of people convicted for drug offences in 2025 at 281, a 27 per cent increase on 2024.

Portlaoise district court office came in fourth place at 248 people, a 95 per cent increase on 2024, followed by Limerick, Mallow, Tullamore, Tralee, Waterford and Galway all making the top ten of district court offices recording the largest number of people convicted for drug offences in our District Courts in 2025.

Drug convictions in our District Courts are well above pre-pandemic levels (2019), with 2021 recording the highest number of drug offence convictions.

While most counties or District Court offices recorded falls in the number of persons convicted on drugs offences between 2024 and 2025, some District Court areas recorded massive jumps.

That included Tullamore (+180 per cent), Roscommon (+100 per cent), Portlaoise (+95 per cent), Clonmel (+27 per cent), Mallow (+27 per cent) and Waterford (+17 per cent).

Clonakilty recorded the biggest fall in the number of people convicted for drug offences between 2024 and 2025, falling by 50%. Dundalk, Ballina, Carlow and Letterkenny also recorded significant falls in the number of people convicted for drug offences between 2024 and 2025.

Other notable trends in the figures include a sharp decline in the number of drug convictions in West Cork (Clonakilty district court office) but a surge in drug convictions in the Midlands (Tullamore District Court office +180 per cent) Portlaoise (+95 per cent), and Longford (+24 per cent).
Nova Poshta, Ukraines leading express delivery operator, has invested more than UAH 1 billion in security since the start of Russias full-scale invasion, which has helped save 951 lives, the companys CEO Yevhen Tafiychuk has said.

"War has long become a standard. So we do not wait, we invest in security now," he said at the NOVA Summit held in Kyiv this week, an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reported.

According to Tafiychuk, since the start of the full-scale invasion there have been 72,620 air raid alerts, 12 logistics hubs and 28 company branches have been destroyed, while another 16 hubs and 152 branches have been damaged.

In order to enhance safety, Nova Poshta has built 1,244 protective structures of various types at its facilities for employees and customers, including 779 metal shelters, 438 reinforced concrete shelters, and 27 underground shelters.

"The strategy is very simple  we must ensure continuous movement, because if you are moving, it is very difficult to hit you. For this, we design our logistics in such a way that parcels are almost never stationary," the CEO said.

He added that for customer safety, the company continuously monitors the situation at its facilities using an artificial intelligence (AI) agent. "We know where and how many customers are currently in our service areas. And if this number exceeds our standards, we immediately intervene: we reinforce our operational team, strategically develop the region, install parcel lockers, and open mobile branches," Tafiychuk said.

He said that in case of damage or strikes, there is a "Plan B" for rapid deployment of mobile branches to ensure service continuity. Currently, Nova Poshta has 43 mobile branches and 16 backup locations in frontline areas, and a mobile depot can be deployed within eight days.

In addition, the company has five backup depots in Dnipro, Poltava, Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Odesa.

Tafiychuk said that security begins with threat detection, which is why Nova Poshta has created a dispatch center that operates 24/7 and continuously monitors both air and ground situations.

"Through our system of acoustic vibration sensors, we understand absolutely everything happening in the air. We know how many Shahed drones and missiles there are, where they are coming from and where they are heading. If we know, we can respond. And we do this through our alert and response system," he said.

According to him, this system has three layers. The first is visual, via monitors. The second is audio: Nova Poshta has more than 350 sound systems that help promptly inform employees and customers. The third is informational: more than 70 Telegram channels and over 100 Signal groups, so each unit, branch, and terminal has its own channel with tailored security updates.

"It is important to be sure that security protocols are actually followed and can be implemented. Our AI agent helps us with this: after each incident, it analyzes the situation, identifies who did not comply, and we constantly make changes and improvements," Tafiychuk said.

Nova Poshta currently operates 51,500 service points in Ukraine, including 15,900 branches and 36,500 parcel lockers. In 2025, the company increased revenue by 21% compared to 2024, exceeding UAH 54 billion, while profit reached UAH 2.6 billion compared to UAH 2.5 billion a year earlier. The number of delivered parcels and shipments in 2025 grew by 7.4%, from 486 million to 522 million, including international deliveries, which rose by 52.6%, from 19 million to 29 million.
March 23, 2026

A roundup of local and world news

Newsflash

Newsroom, 23.03.2026, 13:55

Social-Democrats consider withdrawal from ruling coalition

The Permanent Bureau of the Social Democrats (PSD) convened today at the headquarters to decide the timeline for internal consultations regarding a potential withdrawal from the ruling coalition they from alongside PNL, USR and UDMR. Following the adoption of the 2026 state budget on Friday, PSD President Sorin Grindeanu said that members will also decide whether it is appropriate to replace the Liberal Prime Minister, Ilie Bolojan. Grindeanu added that he will travel to Brussels next week to inform the Party of European Socialists of the internal evaluation. He noted that all options are on the table, adding that PSD will not vote for a minority government or form an alliance with the opposition nationalist party, AUR.

Authorities are reviewing measures amidst fuel price hikes

The Government has announced an extraordinary session for Tuesday to adopt an emergency ordinance aimed at limiting fuel price increases. Specifically, a state of crisis will be declared on the crude oil and petroleum products market for six months, with the possibility of three-month extensions.

Measures to protect the economy and the population include capping commercial markups across the entire supply chain for petrol, diesel, and raw materials. During the crisis, the biofuel content in gasoline will be reduced to lower the final price. Furthermore, the export and intra-community delivery of fuel will only be permitted with prior written consent from the Ministries of Economy and Energy.

Health Minister visits Brussels

Romanias Health Minister, Alexandru Rogobete, is paying an official visit to Brussels on Monday and Tuesday. The visit aims to strengthen institutional dialogue, exchange best practices in medical service organization, and participate in a European debate on mental health and the responsible use of digital tools in prevention.

The Minister visited the Queen Astrid Military Hospital today, and tomorrow will speak at the European Parliament event: Prevention in Mental Health in the Digital Age in Europe: Digital Tools, Human Expertise and the Protection of Minors. Talks will focus on the impact of AI, the protection of minors online and the responsible use of technology in prevention.

Digital education summit in Washington

An official Romanian delegation will participate in the inaugural summit of a global coalition dedicated to childrens digital education in Washington, organized by US First Lady Melania Trump. An invitation was extended to Mirabela Gradinaru, the partner of President Nicusor Dan. The summit promotes international cooperation for child welfare through education, innovation and technology.

The Presidency in Bucharest noted that the initiative targets access to modern tools, including AI solutions, to support students, teachers and parents. The agenda includes a working session at the State Department on March 24 and a high-level meeting at the White House on March 25.

Aircraft scrambled amidst drone scare

Two German Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons, currently serving in the Enhanced Air Policing mission, were scrambled on Sunday night from the 57th Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base. This followed the detection of drones near Romanias border with Ukraine, according to the Ministry of Defense. Radar contact was lost while the target was east of Sulina. No debris was reported on national territory, and the air alert ended at 10 P.M. local time.

New wave of attacks in Middle East conflict

The Israeli military announced on Monday a new wave of attacks on the Iranian capital, with Iranian media reporting explosions in several areas of Tehran. Conversely, the IDF said that Iran has launched missiles toward Israel, with air defense systems currently intercepting the attacks.

A separate wave of Iranian strikes, including cluster munitions, was intercepted over Tel Aviv overnight. Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has warned it will close it completely if the USA fulfills President Donald Trumps threat to destroy Iranian power plants. IEA Director General Fatih Birol stated that the best solution to current global energy problems is the reopening of the Strait, noting he is discussing with world governments and may release oil stocks if necessary.

Local elections in France

The Left has retained control of Frances three largest cities (Paris, Marseille and Lyon) in Sundays municipal elections. The far-right, currently leading polls for the 2027 presidential election, won several medium-sized southern cities but failed to take major targets like Toulon or Nimes.

Socialist candidate Emmanuel Gregoire, 48, won decisively in Paris. In Germany, Chancellor Friedrich Merzs CDU won the regional elections in Rhineland-Palatinate, defeating the Social Democrats in their own stronghold. While the AfD achieved record scores, the victory provides a reprieve for Merz ahead of a busy electoral calendar in the East this autumn.

Sports: tennis and handball

Romanian tennis player Jaqueline Cristian has qualified for the round of 16 at the WTA 1000 tournament in Miami, for the first time, defeating Russias Ekaterina Alexandrova in Miami. She will next face world no. 5 Jessica Pegula of the USA. She is joined in the round of 16 by Sorana Cirstea, who will play world no. 4 Coco Gauff of the USA.

In handball, the Romanian mens national team was eliminated from the 2027 World Cup race by Turkiye, losing 37-31 in the second leg. Meanwhile, CS Gloria Bistrita defeated Denmarks Ikast 35-34 in the first leg of the Womens Champions League play-offs. (VP)
Joint Statement on the Strait of Hormuz

Romania joins the International Statement on Freedom of Navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Photo: pixabay.com

Daniela Budu, 23.03.2026, 14:00

Romania joins the International Statement on Ensuring Freedom of Navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Romanias joining this initiative takes place against the backdrop of the serious implications that the closure of the Strait has on global energy markets, as well as on the world economy. The effects are also felt in Romania, especially in terms of fuel prices, President Nicusor Dan said. He added that Bucharest maintained its clear decision not to get involved in the conflict in the Middle East. We are working alongside international partners for de-escalation, the head of state said.

More than 20 states, including the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, France, Canada and Japan, have condemned the critical situation in the Strait of Hormuz and called on Iran to de-escalate the conflict. In the Joint Statement, the signatory countries show that they are ready to join appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and announce that they will take measures to stabilize energy markets. We condemn in the strongest terms Irans recent attacks 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 says.

The signatories recall that 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 Irans actions will be felt by people in all parts of the world, especially the most vulnerable, they warn. The countries concerned underline that such interference in international maritime transport and disruption of global energy supply chains constitute a threat to international peace and security. We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait, the signatories write, welcoming the decision of the International Energy Agency to hold discussions with governments in Asia and Europe on the release of additional quantities of oil from reserves if necessary.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has given Iran a 48-hour ultimatum to unblock the Strait and has threatened to order the destruction of Iranian power plants if it fails. Tehran, in turn, has said it will completely close the Strait if Donald Trump carries out threats targeting Iranian energy facilities. Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz, one of the worlds busiest oil shipping routes, on February 28, when the United States and Israel attacked it. Bordered to the north by Iran and to the south by Oman and the United Arab Emirates, this waterway connects the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea. According to the BBC, about 20% of the worlds oil and liquefied natural gas usually pass through the Strait, with oil coming not only from Iran but also from other Gulf states. Global fuel prices have risen considerably following the war. (LS)
Will the Social Democratic Party leave the ruling coalition?

Uncertainties persist on the Romanian political scene.

Government headquarters (Photo: Guvernul Romaniei)

Bogdan Matei, 23.03.2026, 13:50

Judging by the figures, the pro-western government coalition has the majority in Romanias two-chamber Parliament. With the contribution of the approximately 20 MPs from the group of national minorities, who, in practice, are not elected, like the other parliamentarians, but are designated by their ethnic communities and who always vote with the government, the coalition has approximately 70% of parliamentary seats. Ideologically, the parties in the Romanian government mirror the centrist composition of the European Commission: the Social Democratic Party is affiliated with the Socialists, the National Liberal Party and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania with the Peoples Party, and the Save Romania Union with Renew Europe.

Although everything seems to indicate that the government is functioning in a coherent manner, in reality, the opposite is true. After being the subject of heated debates, Romanias state budget was eventually adopted in the second half of March, a situation that the press has described as an almost unprecedented occurrence in the 36 years of post-communist democracy.

A survey conducted by Avangarde and made public on Saturday reveals that when asked How satisfied are you with the way the government led by (liberal) Ilie Bolojan is running Romania?, 43% of respondents said they were totally dissatisfied, 37% rather dissatisfied, 17 percent rather satisfied and only 1% very satisfied, while 2% did not know or did not answer. Also, 49% of respondents said they were not at all satisfied with the prime ministers activity, 24% said they were rather dissatisfied, 20% rather satisfied and 1% very satisfied, while 5% did not know or did not answer. Asked whether the direction Romania is heading is good or wrong, 79% of respondents said it is heading in the wrong direction, 18% believe it is the right direction, and 3% preferred not to say. For commentators, things are clear: the government is increasingly unpopular in the wake of the tough austerity measures it adopted in order to reduce the countrys budget deficit, the highest in the European Union.

Against this not at all cheerful background, the Social Democrats said they would hold an internal debate on whether or not to leave the government. For some of the Social Democrats, the solution would not be to leave the Executive, but to replace Prime Minister Bolojan with a liberal willing to bend to their demands. With one foot in power and one in opposition, analysts say, the Social Democratic Party would try to win back some of the voters lost to the nationalist Alliance for the Union of Romanians.

Indeed, the Anvangarde poll indicates that if parliamentary elections were held next Sunday, the latter would get 35% of the votes. In the following places are the coalition parties, the Social Democrats with 22%, the Liberals with 14%, the Save Romania Union with 11% and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians with 5%. The rest of the parties would not pass the electoral threshold of five percent needed to enter Parliament.
Romanian-Turkish relations in the 20th century

In the 20th century, Romania and Turkiye built a privileged relationship based on tradition

History Show

Steliu Lambru, 23.03.2026, 14:00

No other influence was greater in the Romanian regions in the last millennium than the Turkish influence. Since 1877, after Romania had gained its state independence, relations entered a new territory. In the 20th century, Romania and Turkiye built a privileged relationship based on tradition.

Lawyer Radu Boros, specializing in air law, told the Oral History Center of the Romanian Radio Broadcasting in 1995 how bilateral relations evolved after the First World War.

Radu Boros: The first thing Kemal did, was to seek to isolate himself from Europe. And one of his policy points, in this decision to isolate himself, was to transfer the capital of Turkiye from Istanbul to Ankara. And in Istanbul he did not want to add any kind of commercial, financial, or other combinations with the powers of the European continent. Therefore, he interrupted the air line that the Franco-Romanian Society had been covering since 1920 on the Paris-Vienna-Budapest-Bucharest-Istanbul route.

Gradually, both Europeans and Turks understood that they could not move forward separately. And it was the Romanians who opened the way for rapprochement.

Radu Boros: Until 1938-39, when the Treaty of Lausanne changed the status of the straits, the Turks did not want to hear about any air connection to Constantinople. It was only after the Treaty of Lausanne that the issue arose and the possibility of flights from Europe to Istanbul opened up. We, as Romanians, within the Balkan Agreement, in the aviation section, also had the issue of air transport, which also provided for a connection with Turkiye. While with the other countries our objective was to connect the capitals, with Turkey our objective was not to connect to Ankara, the capital, but to connect to Istanbul. Romanias air policy included the establishment of airlines as a support, as a reinforcement of our maritime navigation lines. Despite all the efforts made to obtain authorization from Turkiye to build the line to Istanbul, we failed. We received no response, neither negative nor positive, we were always told to wait. In the General Assembly of the Economic Council of the Balkan Entente, in the session of April 1939, towards the end of the meeting, the president of the Turkish delegation, who was Hasan Saka, informed us that the Turkish authorities urgently invited a Romanian delegation to Ankara to conclude a concession contract for a Bucharest-Istanbul line with the LARES Aviation Company.

Vasile Sandru worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1994, he remembered the process of normalizing Romanian-Turkish relations, although the two were separated by the barrier of opposing military blocs.

Vasile Sandru: Romania was the first to break this barrier. As a participating country in the Warsaw Treaty, Romania was the first to take this step of normalizing relations with Greece and Turkiye. As bilateral problems between Romania and these two countries were, first of all, those related to financial arrears, that is, some assets that had belonged to the nationals of these countries, nationalized in Romania, after 1948. An agreement could not be reached due to the very large difference between the claims of the former owners and what the Romanian side could offer. But this was not a problem that would generally prevent the development of relations. The main impediment had been, practically, dictated by belonging to opposing blocs.

The 1966 visit of the Romanian Prime Minister was that to open the future cooperation.

Vasile Sandru:  There was a large delegation, led by Prime Minister Maurer, which was attended by our Foreign Minister, many representatives of the economic ministries. There were deputy ministers from metallurgy, machine building, transport, culture and so on. The visit took place in an exceptional atmosphere, the Romanian Prime Minister was received with all the honors, with a company of honor and so on by Prime Minister Demirel at the airport. The entire protocol part was organized, with wreaths being laid at the mausoleum of Ataturk. What I found very interesting at the time was that I think almost the entire government participated in the official discussions from the Turkish side. There were at least 20-30 people on the Turkish side of the table, in two rows, who were attending these discussions and I can tell you that they were actually absorbing Maurers words. Maurer gave them a presentation on the problems of peaceful coexistence, using the terminology of the time. Maurer spoke about the need for peaceful coexistence as a result of the evolution and the technical-scientific revolution, of economic development, about the role of small and medium-sized countries, about the role of countries like Romania and Turkiye in promoting detente. On this occasion, a whole series of agreements were signed. An agreement was signed that resolved the problem of financial arrears. A cultural agreement was signed, an economic collaboration agreement, six, seven different agreements that suddenly marked the opening of Romanian-Turkish relations on all levels.

The relations between Romania and Turkey in the 20th century are the basis of what exists between them today. The two countries go together, as they have done for several hundred years.

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Valneva SE (VALN) saw its stock drop sharply, even as the company and partner Pfizer announced that their Lyme disease vaccine candidate demonstrated more than 70% efficacy in a large Phase 3 study.

Lyme disease, spread through tick bites, affects hundreds of thousands of people each year in the U.S. and Europe. With no approved human vaccine currently available, the medical community has long viewed a preventive shot as a major unmet need.

Strong Efficacy, But Missed a Primary Endpoint

The Phase 3 VALOR trial evaluated the investigational 6-valent OspA-based vaccine PF-07307405 (LB6V) in individuals aged five and older. According to the topline results, the vaccine reduced confirmed Lyme disease cases by:

-73.2% from 28 days after the fourth dose

-74.8% from one day after the fourth dose

Both analyses showed clinically meaningful protection. However, because fewer Lyme cases occurred than expected during the study period, the first pre-specified analysis did not meet the statistical threshold required for the primary endpoint. Even so, Pfizer noted that the second analysis-where the lower bound of the confidence interval exceeded 20%- supports confidence in the vaccine's potential.

Safety Profile and Expert Reaction

The vaccine was well tolerated, with no safety concerns identified at the time of analysis. Pfizer's Chief Vaccines Officer, Annaliesa Anderson, called the results "highly encouraging," emphasizing the need for a preventive option for a disease that can cause long-term complications if untreated. Valneva CEO Thomas Lingelbach said the findings bring the companies "a step closer" to delivering a much-needed vaccine.

How the Vaccine Works

The candidate targets outer surface protein A (OspA) on the Lyme-causing Borrelia bacteria. When a vaccinated person is bitten by a tick, antibodies generated by the vaccine are taken up by the tick and block the bacteria from leaving the tick's gut- preventing transmission to humans. The vaccine covers the six most common OspA serotypes found in North America and Europe.

Next Steps

Pfizer plans to move forward with regulatory submissions, citing the strong efficacy and safety profile. If approved, PF-07307405 would become the first human Lyme disease vaccine available in decades.



Financial Position

Valneva ended 2025 with 109.7 million, in cash and cash equivalents, according to its recently reported full-year financial results. The company said cash management will remain a priority, with operating cash burn expected to decline further in 2026 while still supporting strategic R&D investments.

VALN has traded between $5.43 and $12.25 over the past year. The stock closed Friday's trading (March 20, 2026) at $10.32, down 1.67%. In pre-market trading the stock is at $6.70, down 35.08%.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
After taking a look at the top 10 2ws and top 10 scooters last month, let us now take a look at the top 10 motorcycles. Indias motorcycle segment registered strong growth in February 2026, with the top 10 models collectively selling 8,74,781 units. This marks a 27.40% year-on-year (YoY) increase compared to 6,86,633 units sold in February 2025. Demand remained strong across commuter as well as premium segments, with most models reporting positive growth.

Top 10 Motorcycles Feb 2026

Hero Splendor retained its position as Indias best-selling motorcycle with 3,21,952 units sold in February 2026. It posted a massive 54.96% YoY growth, contributing a significant share to overall motorcycle sales. Honda Shine secured the second spot with 1,71,360 units, registering a 10.87% growth. Bajaj Pulsar followed in third place with 1,11,617 units, up by 26.98% YoY, continuing its strong performance in the sporty commuter segment.

Hero HF Deluxe recorded 71,717 units with marginal growth of 1.61%, indicating stable demand in the entry-level commuter segment. TVS Apache posted 45,166 units, growing by 19.00%, reflecting consistent demand in the performance-oriented segment. Royal Enfield Classic 350 saw sales of 34,307 units, registering an 11.96% growth, while Honda CB Unicorn reported 36,317 units with a strong 25.53% increase.

TVS Raider continued its upward trend with 36,134 units, marking a 28.44% YoY growth. Bajaj Platina recorded 24,390 units, up by 16.57%, maintaining its position in the commuter space. Royal Enfield Bullet 350 rounded off the top 10 list with 21,821 units, registering a 13.39% YoY growth. The model continues to hold strong appeal among buyers looking for a classic motorcycle experience.

OEM wise performance

OEM-wise analysis of the top 10 motorcycles for February 2026 highlights Hero MotoCorps clear dominance, driven largely by Splendor along with steady volumes from HF Deluxe. The brand continues to lead the commuter segment with a strong margin over rivals.

Honda holds a solid second position, supported by consistent demand for Shine and CB Unicorn, although its growth remains relatively moderate compared to others. Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor are showing healthy momentum, with Pulsar, Platina, Apache and Raider contributing to strong double-digit growth, indicating rising traction in both commuter and sporty segments.

Royal Enfield, while lower in volumes, maintains a stable presence with Classic 350 and Bullet 350, reflecting sustained demand in the premium motorcycle space. Overall, the data shows that while commuter bikes continue to dominate volumes, growth is fairly well distributed across segments, with multiple OEMs strengthening their positions.
The Editors Guild of India (EGi)

March 21, 2026 | New Delhi: The Editors Guild of India (EGi) strongly condemns the use of excessive force, as well as the undue haste shown in implementing a High Court order cancelling the allotment of land on which the premises of United News of India, one of Indias oldest independent news agencies, was situated, and allowing the Land and Development Office of the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry to retake possession of the land.

While the Guild does not question the need to implement the High Courts order, what is disturbing is the lack of due process, and the manifestly excessive display of force by the authorities in executing the Courts directions. As per reports, the order was pronounced in Court at around 1.30 PM on Friday, March 20, 2026.

Within hours, and even before the order was made available on the Courts website, a force of hundreds of police and paramilitary personnel had arrived at the UNIs premises. Journalists, including female staff, were forcibly evicted in the midst of carrying out their duties. The journalists have asserted that no notice was shown to them, and that the authorities refused to allow time for the UNI management to arrive, or even allow journalists to collect their personal effects before the premises were sealed. They have also alleged that some staff, including some women journalists, were manhandled in the process, a charge which the Delhi Police have denied.

The alacrity with which the authorities reacted, as well as the overwhelming display of force, sends a chilling message to the media. The action has not only halted the dissemination of news to UNIs subscribers, but has also cast a shadow over the future of the organisation, and the careers of hundreds of journalists. The EGI urges the authorities to exercise greater restraint, and desist from actions which restrict the freedom of media to operate and carry out its functions in a democracy.

Sincerely,

Sanjay Kapoor, President

Raghavan Srinivasan, General Secretary

Teresa Rehman, Treasurer

Address: 4/7- A, INS Building, Rafi Marg, New Delhi-110001
The General Staff of the Armed Forces (AFU) of Ukraine recorded 234 combat engagements over the past day. This was reported by the General Staff of the AFU on Telegram in operational information regarding the Russia invasion as of 8:00 a.m. Monday.

Yesterday Russia launched 67 air strikes, dropping 285 guided aerial bombs. In addition, it used 9,266 kamikaze drones and carried out 3,811 attacks on settlements and positions of our troops, including 57 from multiple launch rocket systems, the General Staff reports.
On the night of March 23 (from 6:00 p.m. March 22), Russia attacked with 251 strike UAVs of the Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas and other types from the directions of Bryansk, Orel, Kursk, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk  Russia, and Gvardiyske - TOT of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea; about 150 of them were Shaheds, the Air Force of the AFU reported on its Telegram channel.

According to preliminary data, as of 8:00 a.m., air defense shot down or suppressed 234 enemy UAVs. Hits by 17 strike UAVs were recorded at 11 locations, as well as the fall of shot down debris at 8 locations, the Air Force of the AFU reports.

The department emphasizes that the air attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare and unmanned systems units, and mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces of Ukraine.
Medicare recipients are bracing for a range of changes in 2026, including the expansion of prior authorization. It is expanding beyond private plans and into parts of traditional Medicare, adding a new step before some services are approved. While officials say the goal is to reduce unnecessary care and fraud, critics warn it could slow down access to needed treatments. Heres what you need to know about Medicare prior authorization in 2026 and how it may impact your care.

What Medicare Prior Authorization Actually Means

Medicare prior authorization is a process that requires approval before certain medical services are covered. Your doctor must submit a request to Medicare or your plan before performing specific treatments or procedures.

If approval isnt obtained, the service may be denied, even if its already completed. This system has long been used in Medicare Advantage plans but is now expanding further.

In 2026, Medicare prior authorization will be tested in traditional Medicare for the first time. The pilot program includes six states: Arizona, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, and Washington. It applies to 17 outpatient procedures considered vulnerable to fraud or overuse. This initiative, known as the WISeR model, is designed to reduce waste and improve oversight. However, experts warn it could be expanded nationwide if the program is deemed successful.

Why Some Seniors Could Experience Delays in Care

One of the biggest concerns about Medicare prior authorization is delayed treatment. Medical providers must wait for approval before moving forward with certain services. Even though decisions may be made within days, that waiting period can be critical for some conditions.

In some cases, additional documentation or appeals may be required, adding more time. Critics argue that these delays can affect access to medically necessary care.

New Rules Promise Faster Decisions

Medicare Advantage plans are also updating their Medicare prior authorization rules. Standard requests must be processed within seven days, while urgent cases must be handled within 72 hours.

These timelines are meant to reduce long waits and improve transparency. Plans will also be required to report approval and denial rates publicly. However, even faster decisions still mean an extra step before care begins.

Another major shift in Medicare prior authorization is the use of technology and artificial intelligence. AI tools may assist in reviewing requests and flagging cases for approval or denial. Officials say this can speed up the process and reduce administrative burdens. But critics worry that automation could lead to more denials or errors. Some healthcare professionals argue that algorithms may prioritize cost savings over patient needs.

The Hidden Trade-Off Seniors Need to Watch Closely

If youre affected by Medicare prior authorization, preparation is key. Start by asking your doctor whether a recommended treatment requires pre-approval. Make sure all paperwork is submitted correctly and as early as possible.

If a request is denied, dont hesitate to appeal. Keep records of all communications with your provider and insurance plan.

The expansion of Medicare prior authorization reflects a balancing act between cost control and patient care. On one hand, it aims to reduce fraud and unnecessary procedures that drive up healthcare costs. On the other hand, it introduces new steps that could slow down access to important treatments. Ultimately, the real impact will depend on how efficiently these systems are implemented.

Do you think Medicare prior authorization will help reduce costs or create more delays for seniors?

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If youve been thinking about switching careers, upgrading your skills, or finally getting into a higher-paying field, todays news out of Illinois could be a game-changer. New Illinois workforce training grants are opening, offering funding to help workers and employers build in-demand skills without taking on heavy debt. These programs are part of a broader push to strengthen the states economy and connect residents to better-paying jobs. Whether youre unemployed, underemployed, or simply looking to pivot, these grants could help cover training, certifications, and more. Heres what you need to know right nowand how to take advantage before deadlines hit.

What the New Illinois Workforce Training Grants Actually Offer

The newest round of Illinois workforce training grants includes funding aimed at building skills in high-demand industries. Programs like the Strategic Workforce Training Support initiative provide millions in funding to support training partnerships and workforce development.

Some grants focus on employers upgrading employee skills, while others support community colleges and training providers. Funding can go toward equipment, training programs, certifications, and workforce expansion. The overall goal is simple: help Illinois workers move into higher-paying, more stable careers.

Who Qualifies for These Workforce Training Grants

Eligibility for Illinois workforce training grants depends on the specific program, but there are clear patterns. Many grants are open to employers, nonprofits, community colleges, and workforce organizations rather than individuals directly.

However, individuals benefit by enrolling in programs funded through these organizations. Priority is often given to programs serving unemployed, underemployed, or underrepresented populations. Applicants must also demonstrate the ability to successfully train workers and connect them to jobs.

High-Demand Industries Getting the Most Funding

The state is heavily investing in sectors like advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and technology. Life sciences, agriculture technology, and AI-related fields are also receiving major attention. These industries are expected to drive job growth across Illinois in the coming years. That means training programs tied to these fields are far more likely to receive funding.

Key Deadlines You Need to Know Right Now

Timing is critical when applying for Illinois workforce training grants. For example, one major workforce training support program opened in February 2026 and closed on March 19, 2026. Other programs, like manufacturing training academies, have deadlines stretching into April 2026.

Some grants operate on rolling deadlines, meaning funds can run out before official closing dates. Waiting too long could mean missing out entirely, even if you technically qualify.

4 Ways Individuals Can Benefit Even If They Cant Apply Directly

Even if you cant apply directly, you can still benefit from this program. Here are four ways you can still capitalize on it

You can enroll in programs funded by these grants through community colleges or workforce centers. Many programs offer free or low-cost certifications in high-demand fields. Some include job placement support or direct connections to employers. Others provide stipends, transportation help, or childcare assistance.

Why Illinois Is Expanding Workforce Training Right Now

The state is responding to labor shortages and a growing demand for skilled workers. Employers need trained workers, and many residents need better-paying opportunities. These grants help bridge that gap by funding targeted, short-term training programs. In many cases, participants can complete training in under a year and move directly into higher-paying roles.

Why These Grants Could Change Your Financial Future

If you want to benefit from Illinois workforce training grants, the first step is identifying local programs. Check with community colleges, workforce development boards, and state job centers. Look specifically for programs tied to high-demand industries like manufacturing or healthcare.

Make sure you meet any eligibility requirements and apply as early as possible. The earlier you act, the better your chances of securing a spot before funding is exhausted.

These new funding opportunities are more than just short-term assistancetheyre a pathway to long-term financial stability. By participating in programs funded through Illinois workforce training grants, many workers are able to transition into careers with significantly higher wages. The focus on in-demand industries means these skills are likely to remain valuable for years to come.

Are you considering applying for a workforce training program this year, or do you think these grants could help someone you know?

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Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/news/all

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, in an interview with CBS News, emphasized that the USA and European countries continue close cooperation in supporting Ukraine, while balancing other international interests, including Iran and European energy security.

According to Rutte, the USA is again providing Ukraine with critical intelligence and weapons supplies, working together with European allies: " Then on Ukraine, it is again the U.S. providing critical intelligence support and weapons flow, working together with Europeans to secure Ukraines fight against the Russians, making sure they have what they need."

He noted that at the same time, Washington must consider other international priorities, in particular stability in the Persian Gulf: "This takes time, as countries had to prepare for this, not knowing the details of the first strike on Iran, and for good reasons," the NATO Secretary General emphasized.

According to him, all partners are now uniting to guarantee freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Rutte added that US President Donald Trump and his team are coordinating actions with the Ukrainian side and putting pressure on Russia in an attempt to ensure the end of the war.

"He was the only one who was able to break the death lock with Putin when he made the first phone call in February last year, and he has consistently, with his team, done what is necessary to put that pressure, of course, on the Ukrainians, and they want to play ball. They show this. They want to end the war, and are also with the Russians," Rutte noted.
Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that following two days of meetings between the Ukrainian delegation and US representatives, there are signals regarding the possible continuation of exchanges and discussions on security guarantees for Ukraine and Europe.

"Today there was already a report from our negotiation group  the second day of meetings in America with representatives of the President of the United States. ...It is important that Russia receives no reward for this war. And it is important that we are all not forced to return to war in months or years, meaning that security guarantees for Ukraine and all of Europe are sufficient for peace  for a reliable peace," Zelenskyy emphasized in his evening address on Sunday.

The President noted that after the negotiation group returns to Ukraine, all aspects of the meetings will be discussed in detail. He also expressed hope that the possible continuation of exchanges would confirm the effectiveness of diplomacy: "this would indeed be very good news and confirmation that diplomacy works. We hope that this succeeds."

"In general, the situation remains quite transparent: Putin does not want to end the war. But the main thing is what the world wants. All of us together must do everything possible and will continue to do everything possible to end this war," the Head of the Ukrainian State underlined.
Photo: https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that during this week, Russia troops tried to intensify offensives, taking advantage of favorable weather, but their actions led only to significant losses.

"During this week, we have recorded attempts by Russia to intensify offensive attempts, taking advantage of more favorable weather. As a result, the only tangible result for the Russia army was an increase in their losses, namely: in these seven days alone, more than 8,000 Russia soldiers have already been killed and seriously wounded," Zelenskyy stated on Telegram following a meeting with the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky and the Chief of the General Staff Andriy Hnatov.

According to him, the Russia command was finally able to determine the actual location of its units on the front, which differs from official reports, and some commanders at the brigade level have already been replaced for lying.

Zelenskyy added that in Donetsk region, the positions of Ukrainian troops have not significantly changed, while in Kharkiv region and the border communities of Sumy region, the enemys attempts to advance from the border continue, accompanied by the destruction of Russia units. In the Oleksandrivka direction, active operations by assault and airborne units of the AFU continue.
U.S.-Iran threats target critical infrastructure.

Hezbollah-Israel clashes escalate in Lebanon.

Conflict disrupts oil, trade, and global stability.

The war in the Middle East, now entering its fourth week, has entered a perilous phase as the United States and Iran exchange threats targeting critical infrastructure, putting lives and livelihoods across the region at risk. Iran warned that it would 'completely close' the Strait of Hormuz a strategic chokepoint for global oil shipments if the U.S. acts on President Donald Trumps threat to strike Iranian power plants.

Despite the heightened rhetoric, the Strait of Hormuz remains open to shipping, though Irans U.N. representative clarified that vessels linked to 'Irans enemies' would be barred. The U.S. had demanded the waterway be 'fully open' within 48 hours, signaling the strategic importance of the Gulf in the broader conflict.

Meanwhile, violence in northern Israel escalated as rocket fire from Lebanon killed one person, marking the first fatality from Lebanese-based attacks since the war began. Hezbollah confirmed responsibility for the assault, which targeted Israeli forces, while Israel has intensified its ground operations in southern Lebanon. Israeli military officials have prioritized demolishing bridges used by Hezbollah near the Litani River, describing the campaign as 'a prolonged operation' that is only beginning. Smoke from airstrikes was visible near the city of Tyre as the military advanced in its strategic plan.

U.S. and Israel launched operations in the region, while Iran has reportedly fired 400 missiles at Israel, with 92% intercepted by Israeli defense systems. Iran has also threatened to target energy and desalination infrastructure following U.S. warnings, citing damages from 'terrorist and cyber attacks' as justification. The conflict has already claimed over 2,000 lives since February 28, when thelaunched operations in the region, while Iran has reportedly fired 400 missiles at Israel, with 92% intercepted by Israeli defense systems. Iran has also threatened to target energy and desalination infrastructure following U.S. warnings, citing damages from 'terrorist and cyber attacks' as justification.

Adding to the regional volatility, the Iraqi pro-Iran armed group Kataeb Hezbollah announced an extension of its pause on attacks against the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, warning of retaliation if provoked. A recent drone strike near an Iraqi intelligence building killed an officer, although the group denied involvement.

With oil prices surging, global air corridors disrupted, and key infrastructure at risk, the conflict shows no sign of abating, leaving the region on edge as the world watches closely.
In September 2025, as Ethereum broke above $4,700 for the first time in months, blockchain analytics identified a significant buyer: wallets attributed to the perpetrator of the $300 million Coinbase data breach hack, purchasing approximately $18.9 million in ETH near the highs. The trade was not announced. The buyer did not identify themselves. They used no centralized exchange, left no account to subpoena, and made no public statement. But because their wallets had been labeled months earlier  during the forensic attribution work that followed the original exploit  every subsequent on-chain move was visible in near real time to anyone monitoring the relevant addresses through platforms like Arkham Intelligence.

The case is a precise illustration of one of the most counterintuitive properties of cryptocurrency: stealing it may be easier than spending it.

The Problem With Stolen Crypto

Cryptocurrency theft creates a specific problem that does not exist in the same form for most other asset classes: the stolen funds are publicly traceable from the moment they move. A thief who steals physical cash faces the challenge of spending unmarked bills without attracting attention. A crypto hacker faces something structurally different  every outflow from the original exploit address is recorded permanently on a public ledger, and if that address has been labeled by analytics firms, every subsequent transaction by every address that ever received funds from it becomes part of a continuously monitored network.

This is not a theoretical deterrent. It is operational reality demonstrated repeatedly in the forensic record of major crypto thefts. The Coinbase hacker's September 2025 ETH purchase illustrates the persistence of that surveillance with unusual clarity: months after the initial exploit, with funds having potentially passed through multiple intermediate addresses, the buyer's wallets were still sufficiently attributed that the transaction generated same-day coverage in major financial media  all citing Arkham on-chain data as the primary source.

How Attribution Persists

The mechanics behind persistent attribution involve what blockchain analysts call taint analysis  the process of tracking the flow of funds from a known source address through a chain of subsequent transactions. When a hacker moves funds from an exploit address to a new wallet, the new wallet inherits the forensic history of its source. If that wallet eventually sends funds to an exchange deposit address, the exchange may flag the deposit based on source history analysis. If it interacts with a DeFi protocol or decentralized exchange, analytics platforms record the interaction and extend the attribution network.

Arkham's blockchain intelligence platform maintains continuously updated entity graphs that map known wallets  including those attributed to criminal activity  and monitor their downstream interactions in real time. When new activity is detected on a monitored address, it surfaces immediately in the platform's alert infrastructure. For the Coinbase hacker, the September ETH purchase was flagged not because the buyer made a mistake in their operational security, but because the original wallet attribution was sufficiently robust that downstream activity remained traceable through multiple hops.

The platform's bounty system adds a further dimension to this capability: users can submit intelligence about wallet attribution in exchange for token rewards, creating a distributed network of forensic contributors that extends the platform's coverage beyond what any internal team could maintain alone. This crowd-sourced model has accelerated attribution timelines for several high-profile cases and has demonstrated that community-driven on-chain intelligence can be both faster and broader in scope than centralized analysis.

The Cat-and-Mouse Dynamic

Hackers and illicit actors have developed countermeasures: cryptocurrency mixers, cross-chain bridges, privacy coins, and layered intermediate wallet structures are all used in attempts to break the taint trail between exploit and ultimate destination. Some techniques are more effective than others against a given level of forensic investment, and none is completely foolproof against a sufficiently resourced investigation.

Cross-chain bridges introduce analytical complexity but also leave on-chain records. Bridge contract interactions are public events; the receiving address on the destination chain can be attributed if the sending address on the originating chain is already known. Cryptocurrency mixers  services like Tornado Cash that pool and redistribute funds to obscure individual transaction histories  have faced significant regulatory pressure. Tornado Cash was sanctioned by the US Treasury, and similar services face increasing legal risk for operators. The practical availability of effective mixing infrastructure for large amounts has narrowed considerably since 2022.

Privacy coin conversions require interaction with exchanges willing to accept inbound funds with known illicit history  an increasingly limited set as compliance requirements tighten across the regulated exchange landscape. Large-scale conversion of tainted Bitcoin or ETH into Monero requires finding a counterparty willing to process the trade, which is itself a point of vulnerability.

The Coinbase hacker's decision to purchase ETH directly through an on-chain venue, rather than attempting further obfuscation, may reflect the practical limits of available infrastructure, a calculation about ongoing surveillance risk, or simply the operational difficulty of converting a large illicit position into anything usable without touching the labeled on-chain network at some point.

What This Means for Crypto Crime Economics

The persistent visibility of labeled criminal wallets changes the economic calculus of crypto theft in ways that are still being worked through at an industry level. Stolen funds that cannot be converted into spendable assets  because every exchange with adequate compliance infrastructure will flag the inbound taint  are effectively frozen, regardless of who holds the private keys. The hacker who steals $300 million but cannot spend $1 of it without triggering immediate forensic attention and potential law enforcement response has an outcome that differs significantly from what the headline figure implies.

For institutions building on blockchain infrastructure, this dynamic is a genuine security feature. Arkham Exchange and similar platforms that integrate real-time on-chain intelligence into their operational and compliance infrastructure are, in effect, part of the deterrence layer that makes large-scale crypto theft progressively less economically rational. The Arkham entity explorer and related forensic tooling provide compliance teams with the counterparty visibility needed to identify tainted funds at the point of entry  before they reach account balances  which is the point in the process where intervention is most effective.
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Sponsored BusinessCompaniesBulls N' Bears Ardea WA nickel project grabs Japanese-US attention Brought to you by BULLS N BEARS Craig Nolan March 23, 2026  5:02pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Ardea Resources Kalgoorlie nickel project (KNP) has received a shout-out in the Japan-US Critical Minerals Joint Fact Sheet, a call-to-action to shore up critical mineral supply chains between the two powerful nations and other Western markets. The companys nickel-cobalt project, about 70 kilometres north of the city of Kalgoorlie-Boulder in Western Australia, comprises its bulk-scale KNP  Goongarrie Hub and hosts a mammoth 854 million tonnes grading 0.71 per cent nickel and 0.045 per cent cobalt for a whopping 6.1 million tonnes of contained nickel and 386,000 tonnes of cobalt. Ardea Resources KNP-Goongarrie Hub project has received a shout-out in the Japan-US Critical Minerals Joint Fact Sheet, a team effort to shore up critical mineral supply chains between the two nations. Management believes the project is of global significance. That recognition has now been further enhanced by its inclusion on the Joint Fact Sheet list of projects, potentially bolstering the supply of key critical minerals to the West. The push to spotlight a shortlist of top-tier projects stems from last weeks summit between US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, where both leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation on critical minerals.

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Ardea is pleased to see the global significance of the Kalgoorlie nickel project continuing to be acknowledged. Ardea Resources managing director Andrew Penkethman The fact sheet was subsequently released by Japans Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) in conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and both governments outlined plans to help meet their desired critical mineral objectives. Ardea Resources managing director Andrew Penkethman said: Ardea is pleased to see the global significance of the Kalgoorlie nickel project continuing to be acknowledged and welcomes the inclusion of the project in the JapanU.S. Critical Minerals Joint Fact Sheet. Penkethman said the company looked forward to continued collaboration among Australia, Japan and the US, moving the Goongarrie Hub towards development and locking in a secure supply chain among the three nations. The company has already taken steps down the international cooperation pathway with its KNP project, bolting down a binding agreement in 2024 with a Japanese consortium consisting of Sumitomo Metal Mining and Mitsubishi Corporation.

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Under the terms of the deal, the consortium has agreed to fund 100 per cent of a definitive feasibility study (DFS), setting a budget of $98.5 million to complete the work. At the conclusion of the DFS, the Japanese investors will secure a 35 per cent stake in the project. That right can be upped to 50 per cent ownership if a positive final investment decision (FID) is made to build, commission and operate a more than 30,000-tonne-per-annum nickel operation. Ardea recently revealed that the DFS remains on track for completion in the first half of this year, with several design changes to be implemented from the companys preliminary feasibility study (PFS) released in July 2023. Those changes include the removal of an atmospheric leach circuit, to be replaced with an expanded high-pressure-acid-leach (HPAL) circuit. Additionally, the company now plans to sell the nickel product as a mixed sulphide precipitate (MSP), which should improve payability compared to the previously planned mixed hydroxide precipitate. The MSP is considered a suitable feedstock for a wide range of nickel smelters and refineries worldwide. The company has also received several non-binding, conditional letters of support for the project from renowned financial groups, including Export Finance Australia (EFA) and the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM).

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The combined conditional and non-binding support for the KNP project is up to A$1 billion. EFA has indicated it could potentially stump up $500 million in development funding, with EXIM providing a letter of interest for an account-busting US$350 million (A$500 million). Ardeas KNP-Goongarrie Hub is a blockbuster of a project in almost every sense and may play a massive role in supplying some of the critical minerals coveted by Western nations and industry. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au

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BusinessWorkplaceMedia & marketing Opinion Jackie Os poker face: Which side is the radio star really on? Elizabeth Knight Business columnist March 23, 2026  3:58pm

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The dissolution of the Kyle & Jackie O Show may have begun as a shock, but there has been no more predictable development than Kyle Sandilands being the first to go to court on Monday and challenge the end of his $100 million contract. Jackie O Henderson, though, is typically just as voluble as her co-host, and she has been all but absent from the public posturing about radio company ARNs decision to oust the pair after she allegedly said she couldnt work with Sandilands a second longer. Jackie O Henderson is at the centre of the $100 million radio contract storm. Tim Bauer For a woman with the power to back Sandilands case and argue the pair are happy to work together again, or confirm ARNs argument that things had deteriorated beyond repair, her silence could be a strategy in itself as all three parties jostle for the best financial outcome. Sandilands strategy is a no-brainer. He was only just over a year into his $100 million contract, so he is fighting ARNs decision to terminate it.

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His public argument has already been along the lines of: They hired a provocative caveman to say provocative things, and thats what they got. Related Article Updated

Media & marketing KIIS expected me to berate Henderson, Sandilands tells court Team Henderson, however, remained steadfastly quiet, despite her equally lucrative contract also being torn up. And without any whiff from the Henderson camp, the media reporting on it are operating in an echo chamber of whispers and suppositions. These tips range from Henderson being on the cusp of filing her own wrongful termination legal action, to her being warmly embraced by an ARN that is keen to offer her more work within the group.

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Meanwhile, the centrepiece of ARNs defence for terminating Sandilands contract is said to be the letter from Hendersons lawyers that contains her more extensive reasons for being unable to work with her former radio co-star. Sources unable to speak publicly say this letter goes well beyond the on-air spat during which Sandilands berated her and belittled her astrology mania, which in turn prompted Henderson to stop broadcasting last month. In a statement on Monday, ARN said it disputed Sandilands claims and would defend the proceedings. Loading Surely, Hendersons agenda must be to try to force ARN to honour her contract  or get compensation or an alternative deal close to its value. Maybe she could argue that abandoning a partnership with Sandilands represented a kind of force majeure event  perhaps framing it as a breach of workplace standards  which rendered her unable to fulfil that contract to work as a team with him, rather than a Henderson dummy spit. The only statement that Henderson has made over the past couple of weeks emphasised that she did not quit or resign and was addressing the issue through her lawyers.

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And strangely, Henderson did not appear to anticipate that her walking off set and refusal to work with Sandilands would have played out as it has. That sole statement from Henderson, which was released earlier this month said: I am deeply saddened by the events of the past week and the possibility of the show ending. This has come as a shock to me Whatever strategy Henderson and her legal team now employs, it will surely centre on her best financial outcome. If this involves legal action against ARN, then so be it. If ARN can offer Henderson a sufficiently attractive alternative, then litigation could be avoided. Either way, she appears to have the advantage of time while Sandilands claim plays out in public. ARN entered into a financially profligate contract with Henderson and Sandilands a couple of years back. Since then, the return on this investment has been woeful given markets other than Sydney have not shared its enthusiasm for the duos particular brand of charm.

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Its not clear if ARN actively set a mouse trap to catch Henderson and Sandilands. But when Sandilands crossed the line by offending his on-air partner one too many times and when Henderson stormed off and refused to work with him, both took a nibble at the cheese. Henderson may be the one to get away with more than a morsel. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
In Bucha (Kyiv region), two explosions were recorded near a high-rise building, two police officers were wounded, reported the head of the regional military administration Mykola Kalashnyk and the press service of the regional police.

"This morning in Bucha, an explosion of an unknown object occurred near an apartment building. As a result of the explosion, window glazing in the building was damaged. Subsequently, another explosion of an unknown device occurred nearby. As a result, two police officers were wounded," Kalashnyk wrote on his Telegram channel on Monday.

The police officers were hospitalized; their condition is of moderate severity, and there is no threat to their lives. Further treatment will be outpatient.

As the police press service specified on Facebook, a call was recorded at 5:35 a.m. from a "resident of the city of Bucha about an explosion that occurred on the street. As a result of the blast wave, windows in her house were damaged. Police officers, State Emergency Service (SES) rescuers, as well as explosives experts from the Kyiv region police promptly arrived at the scene. According to the algorithm of actions for terrorist threats, the police immediately cordoned off the territory and warned residents about the danger of a repeated explosion. While responding to the call, another explosion occurred at the scene."

Currently, the territory is being inspected for the presence of other dangerous objects.
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CultureMoviesLiterature Forget the Famous Five  did Enid Blyton invent the multiverse? John Bailey 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

Derivative, repetitive and short on basic compassion, Enid Blytons massive back catalogue is like AI fiction a century before such a thing was imaginable. What it did imagine may be something that was previously unthinkable, though. For all her (many) literary flaws, Enid Blyton might just have invented the multiverse. Blyton churned out books at an astonishing rate, sometimes as many as 50 a year. Through series such as Noddy, The Famous Five and The Secret Seven she has sold more books than Beatrix Potter, C. S. Lewis and Stephanie Meyer combined. Even J. R. R. Tolkien and Stephen King would have to form a supergroup to equal the number of volumes Blyton shifted over the past century. Enid Blyton with her daughters Gillian (left) and Imogen, in 1949. Getty Images Yet, the popularity of Blytons writing has always been in inverse proportion to her respect within literary circles. Publishers often rejected her submissions, while the BBC blacklisted her stories from broadcast. Her response was to call her critics stupid people who dont know what theyre talking about, the mid-century British equivalent of haters gonna hate  and her casual dismissal of negative feedback bore all the hallmarks of someone who could light their cigar with a hundred pound note. Her stories were frequently called out as sexist, racist, xenophobic and excessively cruel. Modern editions scrub out all the corporal punishment, while her weird habit of giving characters names like Dick and Fanny has been softened to less nudge-nudge-wink-wink titles like Rick and Frannie.

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Despite all of these shortcomings, her Faraway Tree series does feature a central mechanic who was well ahead of its time. Long before the notion of alternative realities went mainstream via films like Everything Everywhere All At Once or Into the Spider-Verse, Blyton imagined a giant tree whose top granted access to a countless series of strange new dimensions. From the childish wish fulfilment of the Land-of-Take-What-You-Want to the seismically unstable Rocking Land to the brutally violent Land of Dame Slap (or Dame Snap as shes now known), the basic laws of physics at these destinations are always up for grabs. In The Land of Upside Down, everything and everyone is inverted; Roundabout Land never stops revolving; and the Land of Dreams is positively Lynchian in its lack of logic. The Faraway Tree in the Ben Gregors new, sanitised, film adaptation of Enid Blytons classic. Elysian Film Group You could argue that none of this was particularly novel. Didnt Alice, Dorothy and those kids in the wardrobe visit fantastical lands? Sure. But none of them were frequent flyers to a seemingly endless array of worlds, and each of their authors was more interested in conjuring a magical realm to comment on our own. Historian James Gleick has convincingly argued that a similar notion, time travel, didnt really exist before the late 1800s. It just didnt strike anyone that we could jump in a machine or step through a magic portal and end up in a different era. For most of human history, the difference between the world of your childhood and the one in which you died was very little; it was only when technology and society began to undergo rapid, widespread changes that jumping through time became something you might want to consider.

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If a concept now as ubiquitous as time travel has been around for just a little over a century, why should its even nerdier cousin, the multiverse, be any older? You could point to the various heavens and hells and other mythological spaces in different cultures as evidence that the postulation of other realities goes back millennia. But many of those were presented as real places you could physically travel to, with a bit of effort. From Mount Olympus to the Isle of Avalon to the many gates to hell scattered across the globe, gods and demons didnt inhabit other dimensions so much as real places it was a hassle to get to. Blytons own daughter Gillian said the Faraway series was inspired by Norse myths, which centre on an immense tree that connects the nine realms of the universe. It would be an understatement to say that Blyton played fast and loose with that premise, though. The Viking cosmos has its elves and goblins, but its a long way from the Land of the Old Saucepan Man or the one that traps people who lose their temper. If Blyton didnt conjure the concept of the multiverse from whole cloth, she may at least be responsible for its inception in a more sidelong way. It could be that her writing inspired those who would go on to popularise the idea of multiple, perhaps infinite alternative realities. The scientific concept of the multiverse  technically named the many worlds interpretation - is typically traced to physicist Hugh Everett. Everett would have been nine when the first Faraway Tree book hit the shelves, but he grew up in the US, where Blyton-fever never really took off, so its unlikely the budding maths geek was ever exposed to the adventures of Joe, Beth and Fanny/Frannie.

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An earlier lecture by Erwin Schrodinger  of dead/not dead cat fame  presented its audience with the possibility that hard maths can prove that several different histories exist simultaneously. Schrodinger was living in Dublin at the time of The Enchanted Woods release, but he held a visiting position at Oxford, a pleasant half-hours drive from Blytons home in Beaconsfield, England. His first daughter Ruth was born in the university town, and she was five when Blytons Faraway series became a bestseller. Long before the Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All At Once, Enid Blyton was dealing with multiple universes in her kids books. Roadshow Did Schrodinger read to his kids? In the absence of one of those time machines, its impossible to tell, but someone probably did. The scientist was living at the time with both his wife and his mistress  Ruths mother  and his two other children had different mums again. That certainly ups the likelihood that someone was versing the young uns in the various lands at the top of the Faraway Tree, and its not a great leap to imagine little Ruthie passing on those stories to her dad. Its perhaps worth noting that Blytons romantic life was equally unconventional for the time. Biographers write of her extramarital affairs with men and women. Its a mystery how she found the time to pump out 6000 to 10,000 words a day. The evidence thus far: Blytons series hypothesised the existence of an uncountable number of alternative realities that differ from our own to varying degrees. At the time of their release, one of the fathers of the many worlds interpretation of physics was himself a child, and the other had kids of the same age and lived just down the road. An open-and-shut case, clearly.

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Related Article Review Cynical vampires, gritty crime and Bob Carrs moving memoir: 10 new books But to any cynics yet to be convinced by this ironclad argument, consider one final way in which Blyton must be considered the creator of what we now call the multiverse. According to the current leading model of multiverse theory, by which I mean the Marvel Cinematic Universe version, an infinite number of universes will mean every possibility exists as a reality in at least one of them. Theres no denying that somewhere out there, accessible to us or not, there exists The Land Where Enid Blyton Invented the Multiverse. And if you dont accept that, you dont have to guess what shed call you. The Magic Faraway Tree opens nationally March 26.
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PayPal has offered some relief to those who bought tickets to the 2026 Byron Bay Bluesfest, announcing a special refund exception amid the fallout from the music festivals cancellation and liquidation. The online payment platform  which was one of Bluesfests principal non-bank payment channels  on Monday said it would temporarily relax its refund policies to help some ticket holders get their money back. Bluesfest was one of Australias oldest and most popular music festivals before it went into administration earlier this month. When you purchase tickets using PayPal, you may be eligible for a refund under PayPals buyer protection policy if an event is cancelled, or if tickets are fake or do not arrive, a PayPal spokesperson told this masthead. In light of Bluesfests sudden cancellation, and to support our customers, PayPal is making a one-time exception to its standard buyer protection eligibility window. PayPal will consider all eligible claims for Bluesfest 2026 (Byron Bay) tickets purchased using PayPal, including those made more than 180 days prior to the dispute.

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Related Article Music festivals Bluesfests collapse leaves many questions. These six demand immediate answers Those who purchased Bluesfest tickets using the buy now, pay later service PayPal pay in 4 should contact PayPal via the contact us section on the platforms website for assistance with their claim, the spokesperson added. This feature was enabled for all Bluesfest tickets and add-ons, allowing punters to divide payments over four interest-free payments over six weeks. The relaxation of this policy is likely to offer hope to the approximately 10,000 people who spent hundreds of dollars on Bluesfest tickets before its sudden cancellation on March 13. Organisers of the hugely popular Byron Bay music festival shut it down just weeks before its Easter weekend run. A liquidator has been appointed to manage all financial matters, including vendor and partner obligations, Bluesfest director Peter Noble said in a statement following the festivals cancellation. Insolvency firm Worrells has been appointed as liquidator of two Bluesfest-related companies.

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In a March 13 email to creditors, including some ticket purchasers, Worrells said: At this stage it seems unlikely that you will be refunded from the liquidation any money, but we will notify you if the position changes. This was because tickets were sold via Moshtix, a subcontracted service provider that accepts no responsibility for refunds. A screenshot of the disclaimer shown to Bluesfest customers buying tickets from Moshtix using PayPal (a similar message was shown to those using Stripe). For this event, Bluesfest used its own merchant facility for payments, so payments were made directly to Bluesfest, Moshtix said in a statement last week. Where this occurs, under our terms and conditions of sale, it is the obligation of the event organiser to provide refunds to ticket purchasers and not Moshtix. A one-day ticket to this years Bluesfest was priced at $257 per adult. Three- and four-day adult passes cost up to $554 and $686, respectively. Then there were those who spent around $112 a night for camping, as well as car parking costs.

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Music festivals Bluesfest music festival cancelled as organisers appoint liquidator Those who used a credit card to buy their ticket may be able to recoup the purchase via their bank. PayPal has been named by the liquidator as a creditor, with the company listed as being owed $1.73 million in documents filed to ASIC. A second non-bank payment channel, Stripe, was also listed in the same ASIC report as being owed $3.92 million. Stripe has been contacted for comment. Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday.
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NationalPetrol prices Opinion Nightmarish decisions lie ahead on fuel rationing, but better to go hard early Allan Fels Former chairman Australian Competition and Consumer Commission March 23, 2026  11:50am

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Fuel rationing is looming as a real possibility in coming weeks. Theres already discussion of some relatively soft steps that could include rationing of access to petrol based on odd/even number plates; driving every second day; working from home; and speed limits. One problem with soft approaches (often proclaimed by governments with much fanfare) is that rather than reducing demand, they induce a rush to the bowsers by a public troubled by the adoption of rationing. The war in Iran has pushed petrol prices to record highs. Jamie Brown It is instructive to look at what happened in World War II. Every vehicle owner received a ration book with coupons that allowed purchases of a fixed amount of petrol. Without a coupon, motorists could not buy petrol. In addition, allocation was prioritised for essential industries (farming, freight, doctors and emergency services). This left very little available for everyday motorists, but supplementary rations were allocated if justified, such as for business needs. There were heavy penalties for black marketing and fuel coupon forgery. The result was a massive decline in the use of personal cars, a surge in public transport use, and greater use of bicycles and carpooling.

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Of course, WWII rationing occurred in a different environment from now. The size of population and number of cars was smaller; the needs of industry and the public were not as complex; most people lived within close walking distance of shops; there was considerable time to set up a rationing system; and, in wartime circumstances, there was general public and nonpartisan support for rationing. Related Article Opinion

Petrol prices Weve survived oil shocks before  by changing our energy use. We must again Nick O'Malley Environment and Climate Editor This wartime approach wont be replicated, but it indicates some of the difficult issues that arise in liquid fuel rationing. What is likely is that federal and state liquid fuel emergency legislation of the 1980s could soon be activated to introduce rationing. Apart from early soft steps, a more substantial early step may be government-enforced allocation to users such as transport, agriculture, industries deemed essential and emergency workers. There will also be special allocations to rural and remote areas.

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The choice of essential users will be controversial, much more than the COVID selections of essential industries and workers. These allocations will mean that less fuel will be available for non-prioritised users, including the public, which will experience disproportionately high cutbacks, shortages, queues and high prices. The higher prices stemming from the shortages themselves play a role in rationing demand, but the effect is modest. The demand for essential fuels is insensitive to price, with a 10 per cent price rise, say, likely to lead to limited cutbacks of perhaps 1 to 2 per cent. A 100 per cent price rise might reduce demand by 10 to 15 per cent. This suggests that very difficult, potentially nightmarish, decisions lie ahead for the government on rationing. But also, whatever form rationing takes, it will require associated price regulation. As motorists already know, they will not be shielded from a painful pass-on of high world fuel prices, but the public will want constant reassurance that the increases do not constitute price-gouging. The present price powers of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission are limited to attacking proven price collusion or false claims about the war as the cause of exorbitant prices. These powers do not address directly the scourge of price gouging.

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Related Article Tony Wrights Column

Middle East tensions Petrol queues and rationing: How Trump and his secretary of war ignored the lessons of history The required legislation may be based on the mild price surveillance laws used in the Iraq-Kuwait War of 1991, or the sterner-but-temporary Howard-Costello laws used for the introduction of the GST in 2000. All of this constitutes a potential horror story to play out if the shortages appear. Meanwhile, Australia will do all it can to protect supplies, or at least to stop a fall in our share of dwindling Asian supplies. Lets hope that theres a solution other than rationing or price control, but the government needs to plan for this contingency, and if it proves to be inevitable, it is better to act sooner rather than later given our limited reserves and the spectre of early fuel price buying, queuing and hoarding. Professor Allan Fels of University of Melbourne and Monash University is former chair of the ACCC. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter.
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Exclusive NationalNSWCourts An open secret: Member of Parkway Drives inner circle admits sex with child Perry Duffin and John Buckley March 23, 2026  5:45pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

A touring family member of Parkway Drive, one of Australias most successful rock bands, has pleaded guilty to a child sexual offence, prompting young women to denounce the open secret of the hardcore music scene, where predatory older men targeted female fans with impunity. Jed Chode Gordon, the brother of band drummer Ben Gordon, last week told Byron Bay Local Court he was guilty of sexual intercourse with a person between the ages of 14 and 16 years old. Jed Chode Gordon has pleaded guilty to sexual intercourse with an underage girl. IMDB Parkway Drive has since condemned the behaviour. In response to questions from this masthead, the band said its members did not know about the seriousness of this until last week. They said they completely support the victim. We didnt know about the seriousness of this until last week, Parkway Drive said in a statement, via a spokeswoman.

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Jed always had his issues, just thinking about how he treated people in general and specifically women, but the extent of this 2002 incident is genuinely shocking. We werent a band then, but we bear moral responsibility for contracting him from 2003, on and off, over the years. There were warning signs that we should have taken more seriously. Parkway Drive performing in London last year. Getty Images A journalist and anti-sexual abuse campaigner within the NSW hardcore scene has told this masthead that fans hope it will cause a long-overdue reckoning about predatory behaviour in the music business. Police were told Gordon had texted the girl in 2002 when he was 21 years old and met her in a park, where they had sex. She was 15 at the time.

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The sexual contact went on through 2003 when Gordons brother, Ben, started Parkway Drive with his friends in Byron Bay. It ceased around the time the girl turned 16  by that time Gordon was 22. In 2021, the woman attempted to reconnect with Gordon before going to police in 2023. He was arrested in July 2025 and pleaded guilty on March 16 to the single count of sexual intercourse with an underage person. He was released on bail and will face sentencing on May 19. Gordons conviction sent shockwaves through Australias tight-knit hardcore music scene because of his prominent supporting role with his brothers band.

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Parkway Drive is one of the most successful Australian bands of the past two decades and Gordon, who goes by the nickname Chode, was part of the bands inner circle for years. He has held roles managing the bands tours, lighting and merchandise. No members of Parkway Drive, including Ben Gordon, have been accused of any wrongdoing, and there is no suggestion that they knew of Jed Gordons criminal acts. No longer involved Parkway Drive said in a statement that Gordons last tour with the band was in January 2018. He also filled orders as part of the bands Australian online merchandise team more recently, the band said. We did terminate his contract when we became aware of this incident, the band said in response to questions.

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Hes no longer involved with Parkway Drive in any capacity. Hes closely associated with us and the entire Australian heavy music scene. Hes also Bens brother, so there is a family connection. The band also acknowledged Byron Bays toxic culture, not only in music but in other parts of the region. The band said that power imbalances, consent issues, and bullying were everywhere growing up. They said its heartbreaking and unacceptable. What we want to say to any victims, both those who are coming forward and those who havent, is that we see you and we hear you. We take your pain and trauma seriously, the band said. Wed love to say that we get it. We cant. But as men in a place of privilege, we need to do better. This Byron Bay hardcore scene of the time was meant to stand for equality, friendship and social justice. It didnt always live up to those values.

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Anti-abuse campaigner Rory Banwell. Despite no longer being associated with Parkway Drive, as news of his plea broke last week, Jed Gordon was described by members of the metal scene as an unofficial sixth band member and a habitual creep. This has been an open secret for 20 years  everyone knew it, Rory Banwell, a journalist and anti-abuse campaigner within the hardcore music scene, told this masthead. [The band] have failed to mention its the drummers brother. Banwell said she has been inundated over the past week with messages from young women approached by Jed Gordon while they were teenagers at shows and parties, including at the famous home on Parkway Drive at Ewingsdale near Byron Bay, after which the band was named.

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I was the one who got therapy [because] everyone told me it was legal and no ones business, one woman said. Jed Gordon, like others, used his proximity to the bands to approach young fans, Banwell said. An 18-year-old Banwell was at a Parkway Drive show in Coffs Harbour in 2005 and sustained a concussion. I was sitting behind the merch table, essentially out of it, and Jed was saying oh, you should come hang out with me, she said. Banwell was with another male friend who led her away, she said.

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Jed Gordon also acted as a tour planner for other metal and hardcore bands around Australia. Safe space for misfits The hardcore music scene was supposed to be a safe space for misfits, Banwell said, but it was also a place that put predators in the same room as vulnerable young people at all-ages shows. In Byron Bay, there was a [youth centre] where most of the shows were placed, she said. It was very about the elite Byron Bay hardcore people and people who were underage, able to go to shows and have access to bands who werent huge, but big in the scene.

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If you said you were friends [with Parkway Drive], you were the coolest person at the party. But there was so much accessibility to creeps. Its been an open secret Jed was a creep. Another person, in a message sent to Banwell and passed on to this masthead with the senders consent, said Jed Gordon had creeped on my friend at a show in Newcastle a decade ago. Banwells posts, including aggregated comments from other fans, have been shared widely around social media over the weekend, particularly from Byron Bay, where Parkway Drive was founded.

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I think its where a lot of shame has come from for victims, they dont want to be ostracised in their community, Banwell said. Byron, being this elite community in Australia, celebrities live there theyve been willing to look past it because theyre so proud of what [Parkway Drive] has done. But Jed is attached to them  whether they like it or not. Hope for a reckoning Banwell said many women who grew up in the scene had hoped a reckoning would follow the conviction of paedophile promoter John Raymond Zimmerman more than a decade ago. Zimmerman, in 2011, was sentenced to 16 years in prison after abusing 55 girls, many of whom were fans of bands he promoted, including The Getaway Plan.

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All but two were aged between 12 and 15, the eldest was 17. Zimmerman elicited sexualised photographs of the girls and groomed them online for sexual abuse. He used his proximity to the bands he promoted to bribe one victim with tickets. Three years after Zimmermans conviction, Banwell launched a viral photographic project, Still Not Asking For It, which she hoped would help push back against the normalisation of sexual and domestic offending. Parkway Drive, pictured in 2018, is one of Australias biggest bands of the past two decades. PA Images via Getty Images

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Me and my friends have all been like, Oh my god, is this finally happening?  I think there would be a lot of scared older men right now, Banwell said. Its a weird time because sometimes theyre people we know getting outed. Its really difficult. Some of the posts circulating online also highlighted a now-defunct website, which this masthead has chosen not to identify. The forum included a trade forum where hardcore music fans could swap scene nudes along with shirts and merchandise. Anyone needing support can contact National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732); Lifeline 131 114; Beyond Blue 1300 224 636. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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NationalNSWEducation Opinion Banning aggro parents from schools is a good move. But dont stop there Jenna Price Columnist March 23, 2026  7:30pm

March 23, 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

I have been that pain-in-the-arse parent. Ive been the one running up to school complaining about what I saw as unfairness towards my perfect angel child. (Turns out, in my defence, it was unfair. The newish teacher had no real idea how to mark against the criteria.) But explaining to a new teacher how to mark assignments is not the real reason  or even the only reason  there are new rules which will allow principals across systems to ban parents from schools. Illustration by Simon Bosch Look, its possible the real reason is this. Parents are mad and getting madder. They are angry and violent. Their respect for authority is minimal. They are putting teachers at risk. And you should see their kids. Mind-blowing. Maybe thats why the Minns government plans to give principals power to ban adults who threaten or abuse students, staff, or other community members. That ban will exclude those adults from school grounds and from school-related activities like sport. These new powers will apply to every single school in every single system.

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Its weird, though. Principals already have those powers. The unusually named Inclosed Lands Act has meant parents or other adults could be kept out of schools for behaviour that was threatening or violent. These new School Community Safety Orders and Protection Orders will also include phone, email and social media. 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 So why this big hoo-ha now? Hmm. Could it be because there were a record number of principals and teachers experiencing this kind of violence at the hands of parents and students and now the Department of Education has had to pay them out? There has to be a big statement to make it look as if something is being done. The department could not enlighten us by our deadline. But here are some other examples of what parents and students do to principals and teachers. I spoke to a school leader from south-west Sydney. A parent broke his door in a rage. I spoke to a younger principal from Sydneys north-west who told me a parent made threats of physical violence towards her. She had to call for help. I spoke to a number of former teachers who could no longer stand the threats, the physicality, the sheer terror of dealing with daily anger from parents. Then there are the students whose main aim appears to be to sexually harass young female teachers. I would like to belt them myself, but I dont think that would fix the problem. The Australian Catholic Universitys Paul Kidson, whose team reports annually on the health and wellbeing of principals, vividly remembers the time he was poked in the chest by a parent in 2013. It was at a parent-teacher event, and two of his deputies quickly moved towards Kidson, thinking they would have to step in. In his ACU gig, he sees the problems principals and teachers face  and theres just not enough support for our education workforce across a range of areas. Moneys good, but its not enough.

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Meanwhile, the Greens Abigail Boyd  chair of the NSW upper house education committee  says she is hearing that violence between staff is also on the rise. Boyd asked the question in budget estimates a few weeks ago, and we are still waiting for an answer. Has there been an increase in occupational violence, not just from parents and students but from and between other staff members? The statistics suggest not. Workers compensation claims reduced by nearly 1000 instances between 2023 and 2025, a decrease of around 15 per cent. Bullying and harassment has also trended down in that time  about 10 per cent. Some of this decline is surely about the improvements to conditions. NSW teachers received a thoroughly appropriate and well-deserved pay increase not long after the election of the Minns government. Related Article Exclusive

Education Aggressive, entitled parents to be banned from school in behaviour crackdown Those figures are straight from Mary Noy at budget estimates, whos been in the job of Executive Director, Health, Safety and Staff Wellbeing for 14 months after six years in the same gig for NSW Police. Still, thats a hell of a lot of claims being made, well over 5000. But I am concerned that there are other stresses in schools which we arent doing anything about  and banning angry parents wont help. I think we need to seriously look at how complaints are dealt with in school communities and the impact that has on staff. The never-ending series of investigations which go nowhere. The capacity of some staff members to file complaint after complaint, often unproven, often groundless, but then those complaints not only take their toll on everyone around them and take up valuable time, they also take time away from the actual work of schools. Id like to see the figures on that. Are there any? How are principals dealing with their internal dramas? Are they doing it well?

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No amount of community protection orders will fix those problems, or even the problems caused by angry parents. As Kidson says, no policy and no legislation is going to generate character and culture. The lack of respect doesnt start at school. It starts at home. It is absolutely fine to question authority  in fact, I highly recommend it. But I dont recommend punching holes through doors just because your kid got suspended. In fact, your kid probably got suspended for exactly that behaviour, which he learnt at home. From you. Boyds Legislative Council colleague Mark Banasiak, from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party, is also keeping a close eye on what happens to our teaching workforce. Why? Banasiak was a teacher for 16 years. He fully gets the chaos and joy of education. He knows the system isnt working as it should. Why are we giving them the same powers with little extra support? he asks. As I say, it is perfectly OK and even a good idea to question authority. No need for physical or verbal violence either from parents or staff. Sometimes we feel sad or angry when our kids are unhappy and feel as if they have been badly treated. Belting the principal wont make the problem go away. Jenna Price is a regular columnist. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter.
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NationalNSWSydney councils Fairfield Council goes to court following major data breach Anthony Segaert March 23, 2026  12:54pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

A western Sydney council is communicating with anonymous hackers by sending Dropbox links into a chatroom, after it suffered a major data breach. In October last year, Fairfield Councils servers  which contained personal, financial and property information about councillors, ratepayers, residents and staff  were illegally accessed by hackers, who are assumed to be located outside Australia. Fairfield Council, in Sydneys west, had its servers accessed in October 2025. Getty Images The council discovered a ransom note which claimed that the plaintiffs network/system had been encrypted, that the unnamed persons had downloaded compromising and sensitive data with a threat to publish the data if the council didnt communicate or come to an agreement with the group only through a specified chatroom, according to a court judgment first reported by technology newsletter The Sizzle. The hackers demanded payment  but their identity and location are still a mystery.

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In November, the council commenced urgent legal proceedings against the persons unknown. It was granted permission by the court to provide legal papers to the hackers by sending a Dropbox link into the chatroom. As soon as this incident was detected, a response team was quickly mobilised, and work began to ensure the security and integrity of our systems, the council said in an alert on its website. We would also like to assure our community that, at this time, we have not detected any misuse or disclosure of any data, and we have put sophisticated monitoring in place to keep us informed of any activity. A spokesperson for the council declined to answer specific questions about whether the incident reflected on the councils cybersecurity infrastructure failings or if the organisation had the ability and funds to protect against sophisticated online security issues. The incident reflects the growing cost and struggle local councils have in protecting residents against online threats.

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A report by the NSW Auditor-General into local government last year identified cybersecurity as a major weakness across the state. Editor's pick Exclusive

Sydney councils Sydney council boss and senior staff placed on leave after secret four-hour meeting Councils have critical weaknesses in managing supply chain risks, the report read. Policies and processes for assessing the cybersecurity exposure of technology assets are inadequate, and monitoring of cybersecurity investments and their associated benefits is limited. Blacktown Council chief executive Kerry Robinson earlier this year told an industry conference that councils were struggling to afford the great increase in online security costs with a rate that has been effectively capped since 1978. Our building in 1978 had no computers in it. We spent $3 million on cybersecurity last year, he said. So effectively, we took $3 million out of service delivery because the state caps our rates, and we cant have a sensible conversation with our community, including the development and business community of Blacktown, about the services which should be delivered. Be the first to know when major news happens. Sign up for breaking news alerts on email or turn on notifications in the app.
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Exclusive NationalNSWChild safety The AI chatbots entrapping Australian children through sexual content Emily Kowal March 23, 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

Children and teenagers who turn to AI companion chatbots for relationships are being left vulnerable to sexually explicit content and are being encouraged to self-harm or suicide, a new report by the eSafety Commissioner has found. A landmark transparency report by the eSafety Commissioner found almost 80 per cent of Australian children and teens use popular AI companion bots, but these services are failing to protect children from sexually explicit content and not doing enough to prevent users from generating child sexual exploitation and abuse material. In October, the eSafety Commissioner compelled four of the most popular companion chatbot platforms  Character.AI, Chub AI, Nomi and Chai  to explain how they are protecting children from exposure to harms, including sexually explicit conversations and images, and suicidal ideation and self-harm. Almost 80 per cent of Australian children and teenagers surveyed by the eSafety commission said they are using AI chatbots. Getty The transparency report found the companies were failing to protect children; all were contacted for comment but did not respond.

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AI companions use generative artificial intelligence to mimic human conversations. These bots are engineered to feel personal and commonly marketed as a source of friendship, emotional support, romantic relationships or an antidote to loneliness. However, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said the apps are dodgy by design and trained to emotionally manipulate children. We are riding a new wave of AI companion chatbots that are entrapping and entrancing impressionable young minds, with human-like, sycophantic and often sexually explicit conversations, some even going as far as encouraging self-harm and suicide, Inman Grant said. As this report shows, none of these four AI companions had any meaningful age checks in place to protect children from age inappropriate content that many of these chatbots are capable of producing, primarily relying instead on self-declaration of age at sign up. In Australia, this is no longer good enough. In a survey of nearly 2000 Australian children aged 10-17, the eSafety Commissioner found 79 per cent had used an AI chatbot or companion. One in five (20 per cent) of those who used a companion bot said they did so daily. Almost 50 per cent of children surveyed said an AI bot had a negative impact on them such as making them feel sad, unsafe, embarrassed or hopeless.

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At the time of the legal notice, none of the service providers had robust age assurance in place, meaning children could reach adult spaces and features. Chai, Chub AI and Nomi did not direct users to support when self-harm was detected in user prompts. Related Article Exclusive

AI The people using AI for therapy  and the scientists trying to catch up Nomi and Chub AI had no staff dedicated to safety and moderation, the report said. Character AI, which has a reported 25 million active users, had 37 staff dedicated to safety. I think none of the AI CEOs will admit that theyve lost control, but they will say they cannot guarantee what will be said or done, which is as good as saying precisely that, Inman Grant said. The report follows the recent commencement of Age-Restricted Material Codes in Australia designed to protect children from exposure to inappropriate content. Among other service types, these new codes also apply to the growing number of AI chatbots.

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These codes complement the existing Unlawful Material Codes and Standards, which require industry to take system-wide action to prevent child sexual exploitation material, as well as pro-terror and extreme crime and violence material. In high school, Isabella Knight would stay up for hours talking to chatbots. Her mother, Sara Knight, said: AI companies are not protecting kids, and called for the government to ban the bots. I feel parents are naive when it comes to their childs online safety, she said. Isabellea Knight started using AI chatbots in 2022 and found herself speaking to them for hours. Wolter Peeters Criminologist Michael Salter, who is the Australasian head of global child safety institute Childlight, said companion chatbots were reshaping how some children grow up online.

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We have children whose mental health conditions are exacerbated by these chatbots, in which their sexual development is being warped by sexualised interactions with chatbots, he said, arguing governments need to move faster than they did with social media to prevent a new wave of harm. Since the four companies received transparency notices, some have implemented changes. Character AI introduced age assurance measures for Australian users and has removed the chat function for under 18s, while Chub AI blocked its service in Australia. Chai has restricted free access to chat with AI Companions, instead requiring users to pay a subscription, while Nomi has committed to implementing further age assurance functionality. University of NSW AI researcher Professor Joel Pearson said AI companions represent a shift from social medias attention economy to an attachment economy.

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The goal is to build a really tight bond between a child and the app so they keep coming back for more, he said. He called for all AI companions to be restricted to those aged 18 or over and said it was vital academics gather study young peoples AI chatbot use before we ruin another generation of young people. I dont think its appropriate for any young people to be spending hours a day building strong bonds with an artificial agent which does not act like a human and does not push back, he said. For support contact Lifeline 131 114; Beyond Blue 1300 224 636 or Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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Exclusive NationalNSWProperty development This idea would save apartment owners $333m. Strata managers took high offence David Barwell March 24, 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

A lucrative system of payments that has driven up the cost of apartment living in NSW is facing an overhaul as the state government considers becoming the first in Australia to outlaw commissions to strata managers. A NSW Productivity and Equality Commission report obtained by the Herald before its publication recommends banning strata commissions, finding they have fostered conflicts of interest, eroded trust and inflated costs across one of the states fastest-growing housing sectors. NSW Productivity Commissioner Peter Achterstraat said strata commissions have created systemic problems. Louis Trerise The findings strike at the heart of a long-standing industry model in which strata managers  appointed by owners corporations to oversee the day-to-day running of their buildings  can supplement their base fees by receiving commissions from services they arrange, including insurance policies and energy contracts. The report found these payments, while legal, can create a perverse incentive where managers may avoid pursuing better-value deals if doing so reduces their own income.

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NSW Productivity Commissioner Peter Achterstraat said the practice can distort decision-making and leave apartment owners paying more than necessary for essential building services. These payments can create incentives that do not align with the best interests of owners and renters, Achterstraat said. Strata lawyer Allison Benson said the industrys response to reform has been mixed. Sitthixay Ditthavong The commission estimates scrapping commissions could create $333 million in benefits to apartment owners over 15 years through lower premiums and more competitive pricing, while also restoring trust and transparency in a sector that has become central to the states housing mix. More than 1 million people live in strata properties across NSW, and by 2041 nearly half of all homes in Greater Sydney are expected to be strata-titled, placing greater reliance on strata managers as housing density increases.

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NSW Treasury director of competition and regulatory policy Tom Carr said a standard strata insurance policy can attract 20 per cent commissions  typically split between brokers and strata managers. Related Article Opinion

NSW residential property Death by a thousand cuts: How strata owners get ripped off Cathy Sherry Professor of law at Macquarie University A $50,000 insurance policy could generate a $10,000 commission, which ultimately feeds into the higher premiums [paid by residents], he said. Consultation on the report drew more than 550 submissions, with reform proposals receiving strong backing from apartment owners who highlighted concerns over rising costs, opaque pricing structures and perceived conflicts of interest. Sydney apartment owner Lui Timbano is pursuing action in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, alleging his strata manager exceeded agreed commission limits.

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Timbano said his building had been paying $28,000 a year for insurance that an independent broker later quoted at $21,000. Despite the apparent savings, contractual terms complicated any attempt to change providers. Because the agreement allowed the manager to recover lost commissions, we would have been worse off changing. It was a catch-22, he said. As secretary of his strata scheme, Timbano has taken on the burden of navigating the dispute himself. Im now having to trawl through email records and prepare legal submissions and affidavits  I basically feel like Im studying to become a lawyer, he said.

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Experts say such cases are not isolated. Socio-legal researcher Nicole Johnston said commissions can account for 15 to 25 per cent of some strata management firms total revenue, in some cases representing their entire profit margin. Strata lawyer Allison Benson said that reliance has hardened resistance to reform within parts of the industry. I attended a meeting with strata managers last year, and some took high offence at the suggestion of banning commissions, insisting it would ruin their business model, she said. The report also highlighted broader structural concerns, including the growing prevalence of vertical integration, where strata management companies are owned by  or closely linked to  service providers they recommend. While disclosure of such relationships is required, the commission found existing rules are insufficient to mitigate conflicts of interest.

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Further tension arises from how strata managers are initially appointed. In many new developments, developers select a strata manager before apartments are sold, effectively locking in arrangements for incoming owners. The strata manager often has deep ties back to the developer they are then expected to pursue on behalf of the new owners, if issues such as building defects emerge, Benson said. Strata living is becoming a reality for an increasing portion of Sydneysiders. Dean Sewell That creates real conflict of interest. Momentum for change appears to be building. The Strata Community Association NSW last year announced that members would phase out insurance commissions, describing the move as a step towards greater transparency.

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The commissions report outlines four reform pathways, ranging from a voluntary industry phasing-out of commissions to a full legislative ban, alongside a three-year transition period to allow existing contracts to expire. Editor's pick Series

Shoddy Sydney Shoddy Sydney It also recommends restricting insurance brokers from accepting commissions for strata-related work, and increased monitoring and compliance checks. Fair Trading Minister Anoulack Chanthivong said the government would carefully consider the recommendations. Strata managers play an important role in supporting apartment and commercial buildings across NSW, and it is critical that their remuneration arrangements align with the interests of owners corporations and apartment owners, he said.

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The government will now carefully consider the commissions findings and recommendations, including the potential impacts on owners, strata managers and the broader industry. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
Queensland to ban under-16s from e-bikes

The Queensland Government is set to introduce nation-leading laws in parliament this week that will ban children under 16 from riding e-bikes and e-scooters.
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A body found at a home north of Brisbane early on Monday had no obvious signs of serious injury, police say, but they are treating the death as suspicious and a homicide investigation is under way.

Officers discovered the 36-year-old man after being called to the two-storey property on Navua Street in Strathpine just before 1am.

Detective Inspector Phil Hurst told media the man was a short-term resident of the house, and had briefly known the two other occupants.

Police outside the Strathpine home on Monday morning. Nine

He added the dead man had some minor unexplained injuries, but none that accounted for his death.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) is requesting the initiation of sanctions against a former Peoples Deputy from the Party of Regions, who is a figure in a case involving land fraud at the Stolychny market.

"The National Bureau appealed to the President of Ukraine and the Security Service of Ukraine with a request to initiate the application of sanctions against one of the suspects in the case of fraud with the lands of the Stolychny market, a former Peoples Deputy of Ukraine from the now-banned Party of Regions," the Nataional Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) reported on its Telegram channel on Monday.

The report does not state the name of the former MP, but based on the facts of the case, it refers to Yuriy Ivanyushchenko.

According to NABU, during the investigation, detectives discovered stable financial ties between the suspect and the Russia.

"In particular, facts were established regarding the functioning of companies related to the suspect in the temporarily occupied territories and the territory of Russia, which paid taxes to the Russian budget," the Bureau noted.

Also, according to the report, the suspects use of a Russian passport and connection with persons involved in financing armed groups and occupation authorities of the Russia were established.

NABU reminds that anti-corruption authorities are conducting a pre-trial investigation in criminal proceedings regarding a deal involving 9 land plots on the territory of the Stolychny market. Within these proceedings, the mentioned ex-MP is suspected of organizing the legalization (laundering) of property obtained by criminal means.
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NationalVictoriaLocal council We all whinge about the buses: Tourist woes continue at Brighton bathing boxes Gemma Grant March 23, 2026  5:09pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Residents living near one of Melbournes most iconic tourist attractions have been told trial and error is the only way forward in finding a long-term solution to illegal and dangerous tour bus parking. Though the Brighton bathing boxes on Dendy Street Beach attract more than one million tourists annually, parking is a long-standing issue, due to limited access via public transport and a heavy reliance on private tour buses. The Brighton bathing boxes are visited by millions of people each year. Ruby Alexander An estimated 20,000 people take a tour bus to the colourful boxes each year, with up to 20 vehicles visiting simultaneously during the peak summer months, according to a report by the Bayside Council. There are frequent public reports of illegal parking by tour operators, parking of buses in residential streets as well as general traffic and road-safety concerns in the area.

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Brighton resident Rowan Thompson, who lives near the bathing boxes, said bus parking is a constant issue, and that he frequently sees vehicles parking in no-standing areas, despite the fact they often receive fines. We all whinge about the buses, he said, adding that Dendy Street was the most impacted. One of the topics of conversation is certainly the buses, and what a pain in the arse they are. Brighton resident Rowan Thompson said there should be designated bays for buses to park in. Ruby Alexander Bayside City Council introduced three trial bus bays along the Esplanade in May 2024 to try to regulate parking in the area. But the designated spaces were used only sporadically, largely due to their distance from the boxes  located roughly 300 metres away. Some locals also complained that the bus bays replaced 13 public car parks. A petition with 96 signatures was submitted to the council requesting the designated bus zones be permanently removed, and car parking reinstated.

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Last week, Bayside councillors voted for multiple parking changes, including trialling new bus bays that are directly across the road from the boxes, investigating a resident permit parking system on Dendy Street and implementing a traffic management plan. Deputy Mayor Andrew Hockley said at the March 17 meeting the only way to find an effective plan would be trial and error. [Its] the only way to deal with something which is as complex and important as this. Spending huge amounts of money on an I reckon is simply not the way to go, Hockley said. Rowan Thompson agreed designated bus parking closer to the boxes was needed so that traffic could be safely managed in the area, even if it meant slightly reducing the number of public car parks.

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Its a fantastic attraction for Melbourne, and I dont want to see that die. However, they need to allow for this bus traffic because its there  its happening, he said. Related Article City life Fears poachers have taken sugar gliders and bats from Darebin Parklands Director of city planning and amenity at Bayside City Council Kelly Archibald said the new parking mechanisms approved by councillors would be supported by increased enforcement by parking inspectors. We are developing a parking management plan for the area which will seek to restrict the impact on residents from tour bus operators, Archibald said. Council is committed to finding a parking solution that prioritises our residents while allowing safe access for visitors.

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Though some tour operators are believed to be acting irresponsibly, others are endeavouring to reduce the impacts on the local community. Daniel Pantlin, operations manager at Go West Tours, said his company was the first to conduct organised tours to the bathing boxes back in 2015. Routes to the attraction have since increased, and he said some newer operators had started parking incorrectly. Go West tour guide Jools De Loryn pays for parking near the Brighton Bathing Boxes. Ruby Alexander We hold our staff to a very high level  not parking illegally or making nuisances of themselves. Unfortunately, it does appear that those [who] followed our itinerary ... impact the public in a negative way. Pantlin said the trial bus bays introduced in 2024 were not feasible for older customers or those with accessibility needs, and that introducing closer parking locations was an important first step.

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But he warned there also needed to be guidance from the council about what operators should do when those bus bays are full. Photo: Matt Golding You need to have a solution and look at the bigger picture during these peak times  Otherwise, this is trying to put out a fire with a cup of water. Pantlin said he had been in contact with Bayside Council and was hopeful that its latest decision would eventually lead to a permanent solution. We are aware that these people do live there, but were only there for a very short time, he said. You want people to come and see these amazing places within Melbourne. You dont want to make it hard for them to get there. 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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For Kyro McDonald, transitioning felt like a waiting game. Now a year into his hormone therapy journey, the 19-year-old still wishes he could have accessed the life-changing medical treatments sooner. McDonald described his journey to coming out to his family as a trans man at 16 as both confusing and very scary. Puberty is when I started to figure stuff out. Id always been a very, very girly girl. Ive always liked makeup, all that stuff. It was just more my body image when I started going through puberty [when things started to feel off]. It was such an odd feeling, he said. Sandi and Kyro McDonald. Sandi McDonald It already is [weird] going through puberty in general  but when youre looking at men, and youre looking at women, and youre like, Wait a second, I want to be doing what theyre doing, that you realise you shouldnt be feeling like that. McDonald, who appears alongside his mother Sandi in an upcoming episode of Insight about trans medicine, said he couldnt imagine his life as a woman.

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It was more like dread of the idea of going through a female puberty and how I was going to develop more. I remember hearing about it, and periods, and childbirth and all that stuff, and it just was such a disconnect in my brain, he said. It was so foreign and weird. But then the idea of being a man felt more comfortable. It felt safe to me. It felt calmer, and it just felt right compared to being a woman. But my problem was, again, I was very feminine. I still liked girly stuff. I still liked makeup. And it was not until Id watched more queer media where I saw more gay flamboyant men when I realised, Wait, thats an option? I can be that? Despite cutting his hair, binding his chest and dressing more masculine, without parental consent McDonald was unable to begin his transitioning journey before he was 18. In WA, people younger than 18 have access to puberty blockers and hormone treatments  as long as both parents give consent. I felt like I could talk to my mum about it, but then I couldnt because she was still very dismissive of it at that point and I just could not talk to my dad about it, he said. McDonald said his mum was in denial about his desire to transition and believes she thought it was a phase he was going through.

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Even at that point, when I was 15 it was still like, Youre just a bit confused because my friends were queer. So [she thought I was] just copying them and it was just a funsy little thing we all get together and do, he said, But its like, no, we dont want to get hate crimes, its not like a fun cute thing where we go outside and get yelled at. While McDonald wishes his parents had supported his desire to begin hormone therapy at 16, he understands their hesitation. I 100 per cent get it. Because at the end of the day, its a big thing. Almost all the changes with testosterone are irreversible. Like, your voice isnt going to un-drop, he said. I also understand the fact that its scary, youre losing your daughter, and if it was a mistake, then shes going to have all these issues when shes older  like I get that. But my mental health was so bad because Im trapped, not being able to do anything about anything  and I felt like once I was on hormones, [things would be better]. A few months after his 18th birthday, McDonald had his first appointment to go on hormones and, by February 2025, had his first shot.

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I was so giddy, he said. But appointments arent easy to come by. McDonald plans to undergo top surgery and said he has had to wait a year just to have his first initial assessment appointment which is pencilled in for November. You shouldnt have to wait a year for a surgery when youre already feeling like shit for years and years and years, he said. The numbers behind transgender healthcare in WA Perth Childrens Hospitals Gender Diversity Service is the point of call for transgender youth in WA. The GDS, operated by the Child and Adolescent Health Service, offers outpatient services for children and adolescents up to 18 years old with persistent gender dysphoria, the psychological distress caused by a mismatch between a persons sex assigned at birth and their gender identity.

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The service  which can be accessed through referral by a general practitioner, paediatrician or other health professional  treats patients in two stages: puberty suppression treatment and hormone treatment. Related Article Queensland government Legal service files fresh effort to scrap Queensland kids gender care ban As of March 2026, there are 215 children as young as 11 receiving care as part of the program. This number has declined from 2020, when there were 392 young people accessing gender diversity services at PCH. The GDS has a multidisciplinary team model including clinical psychology, child and adolescent psychiatry, endocrinology, gynaecology, nursing and speech pathology professionals, a spokesperson for the Child and Adolescent Health Service said. All young people who wish to access gender-affirming medical care, undergo a comprehensive mental health assessment and multidisciplinary team assessment. The care pathway is comprehensive and requires written informed consent from the young person and both parents or legal guardians. Treatment options are explored with the family at the end of the assessment phase and are dependent on the young persons physical development, gender experience, wishes, and existing supports.

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PoliticsFederalEnergy Economic carnage worse than 70s as PM admits stable, predictable world is gone Mike Foley Updated March 23, 2026  7:30pm ,first published 12:26pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Governments have failed to inform their citizens of the scale of economic carnage being wrought by the Iran war, International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol warned Australians, describing the fuel crisis as worse than the combined impacts of the three biggest energy shocks in modern history. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged on Monday in his most pessimistic remarks to date that Australians would continue to face economic aftershocks long after the conflict ended, declaring that the decades of global economic growth enjoyed since World War II are over. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol. Alex Ellinghausen Even if we were to wake up tomorrow to the welcome news that this conflict was over, there would still be a long economic tail to reckon with, Albanese said in an address to the Minerals Council annual dinner on Monday night. All of this underlines a simple reality. The stable, predictable world of ever-expanding free trade is gone - and it will not be returning any time soon.

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Middle East at war Albanese steps in on fuel supply as Coalition floats Russian sanctions pause Birol said his bleak message on the economic impact from Irans closure of the Strait of Hormuz was needed because the depth was not very understood. This crisis, as things stand now, is two oil crises and one gas crisis, put all together, he said in an address to the National Press Club in Canberra on Monday. Households need to be better informed about the magnitude of the challenge we are facing. I think theyd be better prepared if they understood what kind of challenge we are facing today. Birol cited the 1973 oil crisis when Arab nations refused to supply oil to the US, as well as the 1979 Iranian revolution, which cut off about 5 per cent of global oil supply, and the 2022 gas crunch caused by Russias invasion of Ukraine.

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The amount of oil we lost is equal to two oil price shocks in the 70s, which led the world to recession, Birol said. He said the current block on fertiliser shipments from the Middle East, which produces about 30 per cent of global supply, would drive up food prices. Birol is executive director of the IEA, an influential agency that advises on global energy security and coordinates strategic oil reserve releases. He met Energy Minister Chris Bowen and Albanese on Monday, and confirmed that the IEA was discussing with the agencys 32 member countries a second release of oil to tackle the crisis. He warned that Asian nations, particularly developing countries with weaker economies, would be among the hardest hit by the unique combination of challenges caused by the Iran war. Again, I go back to 1970s. Many of the emerging and developing countries in [Asia], also in Latin America, went into a spiral of international foreign debt, which became a major problem for those countries [for] years and years to come, Birol said.

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The IEA last week called on countries to consider drastic fuel-saving measures, such as encouraging people to work from home, drive at reduced speeds and cut back on flights. Australia has so far resisted these measures, even as Bowen told parliament on Monday that 37 service stations in NSW were out of fuel, 47 in Queensland had run dry and 109 in Victoria had at least one type of fuel unavailable. Weighing up energy options: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese could restrict LNG exports. Alex Ellinghausen Bowen warned of a continued bumpy supply of fuel to Australia in coming weeks, but insisted imports remain secure as the government works on contingency plans as the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz enters its third week. The resources sector has been the mainstay of Australias export revenue for decades and Albanese acknowledged the unprecedented turmoil to the sectors supply chains as well its supplies of liquid fuel.

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Australia imports about 90 per cent of its liquid fuels, and Albanese has said he would use Australias gas exports as leverage to ensure Asian nations maintain their exports to the country. Photo: Matt Golding The prime minister announced on Monday that he had struck an agreement with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to support the flow of LNG and petroleum oils, including diesel, between the two countries. Singapores refineries are a major liquid fuel supplier to Australia. The government is being pressured by crossbench MPs, trade unions and energy experts to impose a new tax on gas exporters windfall profits, as gas shipments from the Middle East to Asia are due to run out within days after Qatars gas fields were attacked by missiles and its ships blockaded in the Strait of Hormuz. Birol declined to weigh in on Australias response to the crisis, but said it was important a fair share of profit was collected by governments on behalf of their citizens, who are the real owners of the resource endowment.

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However, he said countries should be wary of taxation changes that may undermine critical export industries. Energy investors are like butterflies. When they are scared, they fly away. Related Article Opinion

Petrol prices Nightmarish decisions lie ahead on fuel rationing, but better to go hard early Allan Fels Former chairman Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Birol said the oil crunch would spur a dramatic increase in renewable energy investment, as countries seek to increase their energy security by reducing their reliance on imported fossil fuels. I expect one of the responses to this crisis will be acceleration of renewables, not only because they are helping to reduce the emissions, but they are also a homegrown domestic energy source.

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He said 40 per cent of the worlds nuclear power plants were built in response to the 1970s oil shocks and backed the technology as a crucial electricity source for many countries. But he said Australia did not need nuclear power and should be proud of its renewable energy rollout. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.
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Labor has moved quickly to attack One Nations working-class credentials, piling on Pauline Hansons partys record after South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas warned against sneering about the cultural anxieties of suburban Australians. Two days after the populist party beat the Liberal Party on primary votes at the South Australian election, federal Labor MPs used question time to try to drive a wedge between Hanson and her growing number of working-class supporters by arguing her party was just about stunts, not jobs. South Australias premier won a thumping victory at the state election. Roy Vandervegt As counting continued on Monday, One Nation was in the running for three lower house seats, close behind the Liberal Partys expected four or five. Malinauskas, a centrist leader who has rejected identity politics and embraced pro-business policies, said on Monday that Labor could be hurt in the long-run even though One Nations support was drawn almost entirely from the Liberal Party in his home state.

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One Nation project patriotism in their form: we shouldnt sneer at it, he said on ABC. It opens up an opportunity for others to talk about patriotism in a way that I think reflects our country. Related Article Analysis

Australia votes The Hanson paradox: How a populist surge became Labors best friend I think theres no shame in being honest about that and being patriotic ourselves. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles talked up Labors investment in blue-collar jobs in South Australia via the AUKUS deal. This stands in contrast to One Nation, which have really only ever been about stunts and the vibe, he said in parliament.

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Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy cited the notion of progressive patriotism, a phrase Prime Minister Anthony Albanese first used on this mastheads Inside Politics podcast after last years election, while talking about Labors $22 billion Future Made in Australia policy. One Nation leader Pauline Hanson said the South Australian election was only the beginning. Alex Ellinghausen This will increase our independence and sovereignty and create Aussie jobs. It was at the heart of the progressive patriotism agenda the prime minister took to the people, Conroy said. Aussie-made steel leading to Aussie-made missiles. Another Labor MP, Sally Sitou, said One Nation had consistently voted against industrial relations and other policies that benefit working- and middle-class Australians, reflecting Labors strategy in Queensland to portray Hanson as anti-worker. One Nation is like a bad Tinder date, Sitou said. Photoshopped profile pic and they promise you the world. But the reality is very, very different. Just look at their voting record: they voted against strengthening workers rights, against making homes more affordable, voted against funding more public schools.



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Malinauskas said almost one in four voters choosing One Nation as their first preference in South Australia should not be dismissed as an anomaly or just a threat to the conservative side of politics. Related Article Opinion

Political leadership Only one party can defang One Nation, and its not the Libs Sean Kelly Columnist I think there are implications for my party as much as there are for the Liberal Party, the re-elected premier told Nines Today show on Monday morning. Were going to treat this seriously. I dont think One Nation, or any political party for that matter, should be written off. Asked whether he thought One Nation was a threat at the federal level, Malinauskas said: Yeah, I do.

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While Malinauskas decisive victory on Saturday night was expected, the state election was seen as the first major test of whether One Nation could convert strong polling into actual votes. Labor won 32 of the states 47 lower house seats, while the Liberal Party was decimated. Malinauskas warned the electorate would punish politicians who showed hubris or got carried away with themselves following a decisive victory. Complacency is death; you get found out really quickly, he said. Better to remind ourselves that in the modern era, there are no such thing as safe seats. There just isnt. While weve had some incredibly big swings to us in some areas, theres also been swings against us in others. The federal Coalition on Monday echoed the attack on Hansons credibility as it pivots to a more hardline approach to One Nation. Most of the swing to One Nation in South Australia came off the Liberal Partys primary vote.

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Deputy leader Jane Hume conceded the election outcome was not ideal, but argued the Liberals were the only credible alternative for opposition. Related Article Analysis

Australia votes The Malinauskas Mandate: How the SA premier became the nations most formidable politician We need to make sure that when we speak to Australian people we do so with empathy and understanding, but also demonstrate competence and capability, she told Sky News. Hanson hit back, saying the Liberals had failed to be an effective opposition after losing the 2022 federal election when they became deflated, depressed. Their policies are hopeless, Hanson told 2GB on Monday. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.
Greens senator Steph Hodgins-May has brought a chain of dead leafy seadragons into the Senate chamber to protest government inaction on the algal bloom of the coast of South Australia and called for a levy on windfall gas profits.

A toxic algal bloom, driven by polluters like Santos, has destroyed millions of ocean animals. It has ripped across 20,000 kilometres of coast, shrank the economy and broken peoples hearts every morning, Hodgins-May said.

Senator Steph Hodgins-May holds up a string of dead seadragons. Alex Ellinghausen

Santos is swimming in profit, while children, my children are asking why there are so many dead rays on the beach. Santos is drilling for more gas. South Australias marine emblem [the Leafy Seadragon] is a thing of fragile, extraordinary beauty, and I have here in Canberra 100 of them sent to me by devastated communities, the senator said before holding up a string of the dead animals.

The stunt is the second in recent memory from the Greens, after Senator Sarah Hanson-Young brought a dead salmon into the chamber in March last year.
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Exclusive PoliticsFederalMiddle East at war States warn piecemeal fuel rationing would trigger COVID-era confusion Paul Sakkal March 24, 2026  4:37am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

States are insisting the Albanese government take on a national leadership role managing the prospect of emergency measures to cut demand for oil, fearing any piecemeal state-by-state approach would create COVID-era confusion and anxiety. As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used a speech on Monday to warn of a prolonged economic hit caused by the Strait of Hormuzs blockade, NSW Premier Chris Minns and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan raised the prospect of extraordinary interventions to conserve oil should shipments dry up, though both emphasised such precautions were not yet needed. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in parliament on Monday. Alex Ellinghausen Several state energy ministers, including Labor government ministers, are telling Energy Minister Chris Bowen the federal government must take a lead role in co-ordinating Australias response to the oil shock that the International Energy Agency has described as the worst crisis to ever hit the global fuel market. Two sources familiar with a meeting of energy ministers on Friday, but not authorised to speak about it publicly, said states were worried that fuel companies would discriminate against states that individually introduced measures such as price caps or fuel rationing.

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States would prefer the Commonwealth lead a national conversation about what Australians might need to do if there is a fuel shortage, even if the recommendations were voluntary and light-touch. Asked about fuel rationing on Saturday, two days after he convened national cabinet and appointed a fuel co-ordinator, Albanese said: Thats a decision for state and territory government, so its not a question for me. Energy Minister Chris Bowen on Monday. Alex Ellinghausen Most states, including NSW and Victoria, have the power to ration and effectively take over supply and distribution of fuel under their own legislation. But state leaders have emphasised, in private and in public, similar federal powers held under the Liquid Fuel Emergency Act, which Bowen said had never been invoked. Not through the first two Gulf Wars, not through COVID. Its not designed to be invoked lightly, Bowen said on ABC on Sunday. I would need to be satisfied that theres a real shortage and that the powers under that act are useful.

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One source involved in planning between state and federal governments said that while states had special powers, it was incumbent on the Commonwealth to use its status to communicate a consistent national message at a time when Australians nationwide were anxious about the future. Related Article Energy Economic carnage worse than 70s as PM admits stable, predictable world is gone States went their own way during COVID and that shouldnt be repeated, the source said. It is common for states to seek to shift responsibility to the Commonwealth, but the states frustration adds to scrutiny on the Albanese government and the urgency of its response. In a speech to the minerals sector on Monday night, Albanese will appeal to Australians progressive patriotism to avoid hoarding of fuel.

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Our government will continue to look at every practical option to protect Australia from the worst of this international crisis, he said. Putting our faith in the practicality  and patriotism  of Australians. Victoria on Monday said the Commonwealth should lead the response. Should there be additional measures that need to be taken to manage supply  it is my view that that is something that does need to be co-ordinated through that national cabinet, Allan said. There will need to be a nationally co-ordinated approach here.

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In NSW, Minns said his government would of course take emergency measures if required, but those measures themselves have an impact on the economy. We want to make sure we only do it when we absolutely have to, he said. A communique from the energy ministers meeting on Friday said ministers had agreed there were shared responsibilities and it will be critical to work together to maintain fuel security by anticipating risks. Bowen released figures showing 37 of NSWs 2444 service stations had run dry, while 109 were out in Victoria and 47 in Queensland.

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The Albanese government has largely sidestepped questions on measures suggested last Friday by the International Energy Agency, such as cutting down flights or driving more slowly, although ministers have said that working from home could be a sensible step for individuals. The International Energy Agencys director, Fatih Birol, did not express concern about Australias fuel reserves, which are below international standards, a day after Bowen revealed that six of 81 oil tankers headed for Australia had been cancelled. Photo: Matt Golding I think the 38 days is a solid number, and I know that more ships will be sailing through and bringing more of these and other products to the markets, Birol said at the National Press Club in Canberra. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.
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PoliticsNSWGun control The embarrassing email blunder that revealed NSW Libs stance on gun laws Alexandra Smith March 23, 2026  7:24pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

A senior NSW Liberal MP has inadvertently revealed her partys opposition to gun reforms, including planned buybacks, after emailing all electorate offices in an embarrassing communications blunder. Three months after the Bondi massacre, when 15 people were killed and dozens injured in a shooting attack, Goulburn MP Wendy Tuckerman sent an email response to all electorate offices on Monday saying concerns raised by a constituent well and truly indicates why we should stop the buyback and fix the [gun] registry. Senior Liberal MP Wendy Tuckerman has shown the partys hand on gun reform. Flavio Brancaleone Robbo, you need to do a submission to shadow [cabinet] calling for the government to support the Coalition legislation to reverse the position and fix this mess, Tuckerman wrote, referring to Anthony Roberts, the oppositions police spokesman. The constituent had raised concerns about the impact of the Minns government firearms laws on law-abiding NSW citizens arguing the government had enacted knee-jerk laws  that they cannot currently enforce, pulling vital police resources away from other areas to clean up the administrative mess of the firearms registry.

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Once Tuckerman realised she had emailed dozens of people, the former frontbencher sent another message, urging people to delete the email and any attachments from your system, not copy, retain forward or otherwise use the information in any form. She then demanded that her directions to delete her comments be confirmed in a return email and stressed the information was confidential, before citing the Privacy Act. However, her email blunder confirmed there is a push within the party to wind back the gun laws, which the Minns government introduced in a bid to reduce the number of weapons in NSW. Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane has indicated the Liberals want the new gun laws to be reconsidered, arguing they were rushed through on Christmas Eve. Were saying its not good enough to rush legislation so quickly just before Christmas, then close the book and not be prepared to revisit it  were happy to revisit it if it provides better laws, Sloane said last month.

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A spokesperson for Sloane said: When this legislation passed in December, the Liberals committed to ensuring it was implemented properly. Editor's pick Opinion

One Nation This party has no MPs and no candidates. So why are NSW voters so infatuated? Alexandra Smith State Political Editor Our MPs have been engaging with stakeholders as part of that work which will continue. An opinion expressed in a private email by one of our backbenches does not reflect a shift in the partys position, the spokesperson said. NSW parliament was recalled for two days to debate an omnibus bill, the Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025. It included measures to combat hate speech, prohibit hateful symbols, restrict public assembly and cap gun ownership to four for individuals and 10 for primary producers. The NSW Nationals opposed the legislation because of the impact that the gun restrictions would have on farmers and their use in rural NSW. But the Liberals supported the legislation.

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A Resolve Political Monitor poll conducted in the days after the Bondi attack found that three-quarters of Australians believed laws had to be strengthened, while 10 per cent were satisfied with current arrangements. Last week, the NSW Liberals primary vote slumped to its lowest level since the March 2023 election, while at the same time One Nation surged to 23 per cent, only two percentage points behind the Coalition. 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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Last month truck driver Chris Gibbs paid about $1500 each time for a full tank of diesel. On Monday, he paid more than $2600. Gibbs, who owns five trucks in the Upper Hunter region of NSW, said this meant his customers had to absorb some of the extra costs and pay up to 25 per cent more for his services. Truck driver Chris Gibbs, filling his 900-litre tank, cannot avoid the steep increase in diesel prices. Louise Kennerley NSW Premier Chris Minns has resisted implementing fuel rationing or urging employees to work from home, arguing current supply levels are not dire enough to warrant the economic impact. For truckies like Gibbs, the price hike is evidence enough that something has to give. Theres going to be plenty of businesses getting to the point where they have to close down, Gibbs said. Ive got friends who are just going to park their trucks up, especially when people have got contracted work and cant vary the prices  they dont have a choice [except] to absorb the cost of fuel. A lot of them are working for very little.

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Gibbs said recent geopolitical conflicts which have led to petrol bowsers going dry and skyrocketing fuel prices meant the future was grim for the trucking industry. He also added that the unpredictability of fuel prices compounded difficulties for drivers, who often already face lengthy waits to be paid for contract work. Related Article Middle East at war Work-from-home warning: COVID-style office exodus not the answer to save fuel It wasnt uncommon to use $8000 worth of fuel in one [trip]. Its insane because you spend that money, then you invoice your work, and you wait another 30 days to get paid. But from the moment from the time you do the work to when you get paid, the price of fuel may have doubled, he said. At 5pm on Monday, 131 petrol stations in NSW were without diesel, and 38 were without fuel altogether. Most of them are in the regions. Greenacre had Greater Sydneys highest diesel price on Monday, where it was being sold at 314.7 a litre compared to a statewide average of 285.5 a litre. Brooklyn was selling Sydneys most expensive unleaded 91, at 299.9 a litre, compared to the statewide average of 241.3 a litre.

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Despite advice from the international energy watchdog suggesting working from home could be a way to reduce demand, Minns said the majority of public sector workers are critical, public-facing jobs like nurses, teachers and police officers who cannot avoid travelling to their workplaces. Related Article Exclusive

Petrol prices The Sydney suburbs that will cop the biggest Uber price rises A more general suggestion for non-public sector workers to work from home if possible could be on the cards, Minns said. The government wrote to the major fuel companies on Friday to ask for information including supply and order forecasts, which will play a role in guiding how the state responds. The premier can give his energy minister, Penny Sharpe, the power to direct fuel companies to ration fuel and to sell their supplies to particular areas that need it most  but only if Minns makes a declaration of an energy supply emergency. We will, of course, take emergency measures if required, but those measures themselves have an impact on the economy and businesses in NSW, and we want to make sure we only do it when we absolutely have to, Minns said.

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The government is particularly worried about independent petrol stations that are struggling to secure supply, with the major retailer contracts prioritised. Thats an area were looking at very closely, and have been looking very closely over the weekend, and we want it fixed in the next couple of days with some of the big fuel suppliers, the big guys, when it comes to fuel supplies, Minns said. For demand management processes from there, were going to have to take it step by step, and that may mean further remedial action in the weeks ahead, depending on what happens in the Middle East. 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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New licence laws will damage Queenslands tourism economy, with some visitors banned from using Neuron or Lime e-scooters or bikes to travel around destinations such as Brisbane and the Gold Coast, an industry body has warned. The state government has accepted, in principle, all 28 recommendations of an e-mobility inquiry, with laws set to be introduced into parliament this week. It will make Queensland one of the most restrictive jurisdictions in the world for e-bikes limited to assistance, only when pedalling, up to 25km/h. A tourism body says introducing tough licence restrictions on e-bike and e-scooter riders would mean visitors would be banned from the convenient low-emissions way to travel. Felicity Caldwell Children younger than 16 will be banned from riding all e-bikes and e-scooters, 10km/h limits would be introduced on all paths and riders would have to hold at least a Queensland car learners permit.

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They will be required to be medically fit to drive  this is an important recommendation that will ensure that those who use these devices have the capacity to use them safely, Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg said. Related Article E-Scooters Under16s face escooter ban under Queensland recommendations I acknowledge that will disadvantage some people who currently use these devices and are unable to drive. People riding high-powered electric motorbikes  most of which are already banned from being ridden on public roads or footpaths  would have to get a motorbike licence and register them. Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Natassia Wheeler has spoken out about the licence component of the proposed laws, arguing a blanket requirement for compliant e-bikes and e-scooters may have significant unintended consequences.

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Wheeler said the QTIC acknowledged community concern about e-mobility safety and supported proportionate reforms that improved safety and addressed the growing harm associated with illegal and modified devices. Many visitors use active and low-emissions transport modes to move around tourism destinations, particularly in high-visitor urban and coastal locations such as Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Cairns and Townsville, she said. Shared e-scooters and legal e-bikes can play an important role in first-and-last-mile transport, local dispersal, access to attractions, and visitor movement within dense tourism precincts. Wheeler said a requirement to hold a Queensland drivers licence would be a barrier for international visitors, temporary visitors and students hoping to use a low-speed and compliant device.

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She argued there should be a distinction between compliant e-bikes and e-scooters used appropriately and illegal, modified, high-powered or high-speed devices. Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg. Catherine Strohfeldt Mickelberg said visitors who held an equivalent licence would be allowed to use them not dissimilar to how international drivers drive in Queensland. In many countries, holding a drivers licence is less common than in Australia. About one-third of US residents do not have a drivers licence. To drive with an international licence in Queensland, you must carry a recognised English translation if it is in another language.

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Mickelberg said new fines would be introduced for shared e-scooter companies who did not enforce the under-16s ban, police would be empowered to seize and destroy devices used illegally, and RBTs introduced. Related Article Perspective

City life Toddler v e-bike: We test 10km/h speed rule in a race with a two-year-old The licence rules are a departure from the norm worldwide, where riders generally do not need licences for low-powered electric bikes. Queensland welcomed 2.2 million international visitors in the year ending June 2025. Research from Denmark shows e-bike riders are more likely to follow traffic laws and are more safety-oriented than conventional cyclists, and University of Queensland researchers said legal e-bikes that meet the EN15194 standard are limited to 250 watts  roughly the power an avid cyclist could generate with their body.

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Professional cyclists easily produce well over 400 watts, they wrote, in a piece in The Conversation. The licence requirement would make it illegal for children and adults with disabilities and older people who do not hold a car licence to ride a pedal-assist e-bike. Clive Bassett is in his 80s and enjoys riding his electric trike for exercise and fun. He does not hold a drivers licence, so would be banned from riding this bike, which only receives some assistance, while pedalling, up to 25km/h. He could, however, use an electric wheelchair. Mickelberg said people with a disability who used mobility devices would still be able to do so. This includes electric wheelchairs. To get a learners licence in Queensland, the applicant must pass a written road rules test and be medically fit to drive.

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On the first day of the e-mobility inquirys hearings, TMR deputy-director general Geoff Magoffin said: The department is not aware of any significant safety issues with legal e-bike use; however, we are very concerned about the increasing use of illegal devices. The deputy chair of the inquiry, Jonty Bush, also said there was no evidence legal pedal-assist e-bikes were a safety risk. Scooters would be restricted to 10km/h on footpaths and shared paths under proposed new Queensland rules. Queensland Police Service In response, speaking at a press conference, Mickelberg said there was a lack of a clear definition in relation to what constitutes an illegal or a legal e-mobility device. Later in the press conference, he said the European standard did provide a framework for clarity on what was legal or illegal.

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The speed recommendation would apply to all footpaths, including shared paths. Almost all bicycle infrastructure in Queensland is shared paths, meaning an e-bike commute would take twice as long at the jogging speed of 10km/h versus an average speed of 20km/h. TMRs guideline for speed on shared paths says: a bicycle can become unstable at speeds below 11km/h and cyclists can travel at speeds between 15-25km/h on well-designed paths with minimum risk or decrease in amenity to people walking. The laws, which will undoubtedly pass due to Queenslands unicameral parliament, will take effect from July 1, with a six-month transition period. But Mickelberg said anyone using a device which was already illegal to use in public should not wait until then.

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Its already illegal, and they can already be held to account, he said, adding police would have beefed-up powers under the new laws, and would do more enforcement. The laws would not apply to people riding regular bicycles or joggers, which can easily exceed 10km/h, and are allowed to use roads and paths without a car licence. 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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SportRacingVictorian racing No answers in breast cancer drug mystery, as horse trainers hit with fines Danny Russell March 23, 2026  12:07pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Five stables at the centre of a mysterious breast cancer drug case have escaped with modest fines after no one was able to prove the source of their positive tests. The Victorian Racing Tribunal handed down penalties in the case on Monday morning, conceding that theres no evidence before the tribunal that the trainers had been directly culpable for their horses testing positive to formestane and its metabolite 4-hydroxytestosterone. Warrnambool trainer Symon Wilde had his mare Sirileo Miss stood down for 12 months. Getty Images Formestane is a prohibited substance used to treat breast cancer overseas. It is not permitted for use or importation in Australia. If administered, it can be viewed as an anabolic-androgenic steroid. Five horses from five different stables tested positive to formestane and 4-hydroxytestosterone after racing at different race tracks on different dates between February 22, 2023 and April 13, 2023.

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Related Article Racing integrity What have they done? Horse trainers to learn their fate in breast cancer drug case On Monday, the tribunal fined trainers Smiley Chan, Julius Sandhu and training partnership Amy and Ash Yargi $4000 each for presentation (a horse testing positive on race day), with $2000 of their fines suspended for 12 months. Fellow trainers Symon Wilde and father and son combination Mark and Levi Kavanagh were fined $6000 each on the same charge because of their prior records - with $3000 suspended for 12 months. Tribunal chairman Magistrate Peter Reardon said neither the trainers nor Racing Victoria were able to prove the origins of the substance. The trainers were unable to explain to stewards what caused the positive findings, and they had never heard of the substance, Reardon said when handing down the tribunals decision.

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Its worth noting that neither had some of the veterinarians. There was no incriminating evidence located in the stables or elsewhere. The level of the prohibited substance found in each horse was very low. Reardon said the tribunal could not make a definitive determination of how these horses had the substances in their respective systems. He said despite the unusual nature of the case, financial penalties were appropriate at a significantly reduced rate.

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The tribunal should not be seen to condone the presence of prohibited substances in horses on a race day, he said. Reardon said that while the World Anti-Doping Agency had no part to play in this case, he noted that it had introduced formestane thresholds for athletes. Formestane can occur naturally in humans. With no threshold level for this substance found in a horse, presentation offences have been committed, he said. But the levels found in each horse are so low it is doubtful it would have any effect on the performance of each horse - either illegal performance enhancement or a negative impact. The trainers initially pleaded not guilty to the charges, but after a contested hearing lasting five days in December last year they agreed to change their pleas to guilty after reaching an agreement with Racing Victoria.

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Related Article Victorian racing Money laundering probes, a multimillion-dollar deal and misleading evidence: The curious case before Victorias racing tribunal As part of the agreed facts, the trainers said they would not seek to establish that the substances  formestane and 4-hydroxytestosterone  were produced naturally in horses (an endogenous origin). And Racing Victoria agreed it would not seek to establish the substances were administered to the horses (an exogenous origin). Racing Victoria also agreed it did not have evidence to contradict what the trainers told stewards. Under the rules of racing, presentation offences are strict liability offences. There is no requirement from Racing Victoria to demonstrate how the substance came to be in the horse. It just has to prove it is present.

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But for three years, since the positive urine samples were first recorded by Racing Analytical Services Limited (RASL), the trainers have denied any knowledge of where the substances came from. Their legal counsel, Damian Sheales, argued that formestane and 4-hydroxytestosterone could occur naturally in horses, as it does in humans. He said it was impossible to discount. Sheales said it was a unique case because the cause of the positives could not be established. He said it could not be inferred that the trainers did anything wrong, had been negligent, had turned a blind eye to less-than-adequate stable practices or had a third party, such as a vet, being left to their own devices without supervision. He argued there should not be a penalty imposed on the trainers because they had already suffered considerable ongoing costs.

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All five horses were disqualified from the races in which they tested positive. In Wildes case, his stable lost $150,000 in Sirileo Misss group-3 winnings and her sale value as a brood mare was said to have dropped from $800,000 to $400,000. News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport are sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
Lawmakers propose that the Verkhovna Rada remove the provision from the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) of Ukraine on the mandatory publication of summons and procedural documents in mass media of nationwide distribution.

The corresponding bill No. 15095 on making changes to the CPC regarding the improvement of the procedure for summoning a person and serving procedural documents in criminal proceedings has been registered in the Verkhovna Rada, the parliaments website reports.

The bill provides for amendments to Articles 135, 297-5, and 323 of the CPC, which propose to exclude from current legislation the requirement to publish summons and procedural documents in mass media of the nationwide sphere of distribution.

The bill also establishes an obligation, in cases provided by law, to publish summons and information about procedural documents on the official websites of the Office of the Prosecutor General and courts in a way that ensures the possibility of searching for such summons and documents by the persons surname, criminal proceedings number, and court proceedings number.

The authors of the bill are MPs from the Servant of the People faction Serhiy Demchenko, Heorhiy Mazurashu, and Ihor Vasyliev.
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Updated WorldMiddle EastMiddle East at war Trump backs off from threat to bomb Iran power grid, citing talks to end war Maayan Lubell and Jon Gambrell Updated March 23, 2026  11:55pm ,first published 5:55pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Tel Aviv/Jerusalem/Dubai/Washington: US President Donald Trump has postponed threatened strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure and power plants for five days, pending the outcome of what he said were productive talks with Iran to end the 24-day war. Trumps statement early on Monday (Washington time) came after Iran said it would strike electrical and desalination plants across the Middle East if the US followed through on a threat to obliterate power stations in the Islamic Republic unless Tehran reopened the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. Iran had also vowed to mine the entire Persian Gulf if the US invaded. US President Donald Trump speaking to reporters on Monday after his Truth Social post. AP The reaction from markets was swift and marked: Brent crude oil futures plunged more than 14 per cent to below $US100 a barrel, the US dollar fell against other major currencies, stock markets rallied, and US government borrowing costs fell back. However, oil pared about half those losses when Irans semi-official Fars news agency, citing an anonymous source, said there were no direct or indirect communications with the US. Irans semi-official Tasnim News Agency cast the presidents Truth Social announcement as a retreat, writing on X: Trump backs down.

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Irans parliament Speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, denied there had been any negotiations with the US, writing on X that it was fake news used to manipulate financial and oil markets. In his post, written entirely in capital letters, Trump said the US and 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. I have instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five-day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions. Donald Trumps post on Truth Social. @realDonaldTrump via Truth Social Trump, speaking to reporters in Palm Beach on Monday after his post, said Iran wanted to make a deal. He said his Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, had been holding talks with a respected Iranian leader. He declined to name the person, but said the US had not spoken to new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and did not know if he was alive.

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Trump said the conversations that took place on Sunday night (Washington time) would continue on Monday and that if the negotiations remained productive, there could be a deal very soon. If it goes well, were going to end up  settling this. Otherwise, well just keep bombing our little hearts out, he said. Related Article Middle East at war US-Iran war as it happened: Trump gives Iran 48 hours to open Strait of Hormuz; Iran threatens to destroy energy, oil infrastructure; Israel strikes bridges in southern Lebanon If a deal was reached with Iran, Trump said, the US would move to take Irans enriched uranium critical to its disputed nuclear program. US news outlet Axios reported that Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan had met Witkoff and, separately, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

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Araghchis ministry said there were regional initiatives to reduce tensions, the Mehr news agency reported, adding that Tehran wanted Washington, as the party that began the war, to be a direct participant. A source briefed on Israels war plans said Washington had kept it informed of its talks with Tehran, and that Israel was likely to follow Washington in suspending any targeting of Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure. Mondays threats by Tehran put at risk both electrical supplies and water in the Gulf Arab states, particularly as the desert nations commingle their power stations with desalination plants crucial for supplying drinking water. Fars, which is close to the Revolutionary Guard, published a list of such sites in what appeared to be a veiled threat, including desalination plants as well as the United Arab Emirates Barakah nuclear power plant, which has four reactors out in the western deserts of the country near its border with Saudi Arabia.

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Over the weekend, Iran launched missiles targeting Dimona in Israel, near a facility key to its suspected nuclear weapons program. The Israeli facility wasnt damaged in the barrage. Israel neither confirms nor denies having nuclear weapons. As concerns grew in Tehran over the potential arrival of US Marines in the region, Irans Defence Council also warned against an invasion. Any attempt by the enemy to target Irans coasts or islands will, naturally and in accordance with established military practice, lead to the mining of all access routes ... in the Persian Gulf and along the coasts, it said in a statement. Related Article Energy Economic carnage worse than 70s as PM admits stable, predictable world is gone The US has been trying to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, to energy shipments. Iran has shut the Strait, through which a fifth of the worlds oil is shipped, along with other important commodities, in response to US and Israeli strikes. A trickle of ships has been getting through the Strait, and Iran insists it remains open  just not to the US, Israel or their allies.

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The Marines could come ashore to seize either islands or territory in Iran to support that mission. Israel has also suggested that a ground operation could take part in the war. Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said earlier on Monday that if the US followed through on its threat to attack its power plants, Iran would respond by hitting power plants in all areas that supplied electricity to American bases, as well as the economic, industrial and energy infrastructures in which Americans have shares. Do not doubt that we will do this, the Guard said in a statement read on Iranian state television. Qalibaf, the Iranian parliament Speaker, said Tehran would consider vital infrastructure across the region  including energy and desalination facilities critical for drinking water in Gulf nations  legitimate targets. No country will be immune to the effects of this crisis, International Energy Agency head Fatih Birol told the National Press Club on Monday. Bloomberg

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Fatih Birol, the head of the Paris-based International Energy Agency, warned earlier on Monday that no country will be immune to the effects of this crisis if it continues to go in this direction. The Middle East crisis has had a worse impact on energy markets than the two oil shocks of the 1970s and the Russia-Ukraine war combined, he told Australias National Press Club in Canberra. Jorge Moreira da Silva, a senior United Nations official, said the world had already seen a ripple effect, including exponential price hikes in oil, fuel and gas, having a far-reaching impact on millions, primarily in Asian and African developing countries. There is no military solution, he said. Loading

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US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper had claimed in an interview aired early on Monday that Iran was launching missiles and drones from populated areas, and suggested those areas would be targeted. You need to stay inside for right now, Cooper told Iranian civilians in the interview with the Farsi-language satellite network Iran International. There will be a clear signal at some point, as the president has indicated, for you to be able to come out. Israel launched new attacks on Monday on the Iranian capital, saying it had begun a wide-scale wave of strikes on infrastructure targets in Tehran without immediately elaborating. Related Article Middle East at war How Iran could cripple the Gulf

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In his first one-on-one interview since the war started, Cooper said the campaign against Iran was ahead or on plan and that the US and Israel were targeting infrastructure and manufacturing facilities to destroy Irans capabilities to rebuild its military. Its not just about the threat today, he said. Were eliminating the threat of the future, both in terms of the drones, the missiles, as well as the navy. He suggested Iran could bring a quick end to the war if it stopped firing back, though he did not say whether that would prompt Israel and the US to relent before all infrastructure targets had been destroyed. Related Article Middle East at war Why Iran is not giving in, despite heavy pummelling They could stop this war right now, absolutely, if they chose to do so, he said of Iran. They need to stop putting the wonderful Iranian people at risk by firing missiles and drones from inside populated areas ... They need to stop immediately attacking civilians throughout the Middle East region.

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Irans death toll in the war has surpassed 1500, 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. In Lebanon, authorities say Israeli strikes targeting Iran-linked militia Hezbollah have killed more than 1000 people and displaced more than 1 million. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has fired hundreds of rockets into Israel. AP, 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.
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WorldMiddle EastMiddle East at war Why Iran is not giving in, despite heavy pummelling Susannah George March 23, 2026  11:48am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Washington: As the war in Iran enters its fourth week and US operations increasingly focus 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 because they were not authorised to brief the media on sensitive details. Tehran is escalating attacks on its neighbours and Israel. Getty Images Irans unwillingness to capitulate is wrapped up in the power it exerts over the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the worlds fuel shipments transit, that Tehran has largely closed, roiling energy markets. US President Donald Trump gave Iran a 48-hour deadline on Saturday to reopen the critical waterway, threatening to obliterate the countrys power plants if Tehran doesnt comply. By partially closing the Strait, 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.

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Irans leaders saw their ability to control the strait and withstand the US and Israeli onslaught as a short-term victory, the Arab official and European diplomats said. But as the war expanded, with Irans critical infrastructure increasingly threatened, the countrys leadership was also deeply concerned about its ability to recover in the long term, they said. Related Article Middle East at war US-Iran war as it happened: Trump gives Iran 48 hours to open Strait of Hormuz; Iran threatens to destroy energy, oil infrastructure; Israel strikes bridges in southern Lebanon As long as the regime is there, they can create terror in the region, they terrorise international markets with the oil and gas prices. Yes, thats what winning is for them, said one of the European diplomats, who is based in the Persian Gulf. They dont feel any pressure to negotiate. So far, the conflicts economic fallout for the US and its European allies had been moderate, by the diplomats assessment, not reaching the dire 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 to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the Pentagon was intensifying operations around the critical choke point, ramping up airstrikes and deploying additional attack helicopters in the area. Opening the Strait by force requires clearing Iranian positions so that US warships can escort tankers through.

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The US Treasury Department on Friday attempted to ease energy markets by lifting sanctions on Iranian crude already loaded onto vessels. Qatari and Omani officials began contacting Iran about a possible ceasefire last week after they assessed 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 the European diplomats. Iran responded that it would only engage if the US and Israel stopped attacking first. Loading No premature ceasefire Iran is not willing for a premature ceasefire like the 12-day war, said the Iranian diplomat, referring to the conflict between Israel and Iran last year, during which the US struck Iranian nuclear sites.

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Iran would not be willing this time to stop attacks against US interests unless Washington could agree to a number of non-aggression guarantees, including monetary compensation for war-related damage, he said  viewed in Tehran as necessary to prevent Israel and the US from attacking again. The diplomat appealed to Trump to end the war before it escalated further. This is the very beginning of the US getting stuck in a swamp, he said. There is no other ramp off. Two weeks ago, Donald Trump said military operations against Iran were very complete, pretty much. AP The US and Israel have hit more than 15,000 targets across Iran, according to the Pentagon. The attacks have destroyed military infrastructure, municipal buildings and eliminated senior leadership ranks. Irans Health Ministry says more than 1200 civilians have been killed in the conflict, including in an attack on a school that killed more than 160 people, mostly children. Within the past week alone, Israeli strikes killed four senior Iranian officials, including Ali Larijani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, and the spokesman for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Ali Mohammad Naini.

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The conflict has expanded to include strikes on regional energy infrastructure, with Iran retaliating after an attack on the South Pars gas field by launching strikes on Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, which caused 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, a Washington think tank, who worked as a US State Department official focused on Iran. The countrys leaders think that with enough economic pain, they can force Trump to back down, he said. Iran still hasnt made their point; they are still trying to up the costs. The new year will be a year of delivering a strong blow to Irans enemies. [Iran] will emerge from these storms with pride and stronger than before. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iranian parliament Speaker The back-to-back assassinations of senior Iranian officials also appear to have disincentivised Tehran from talks, according to one of the European officials, who was formerly based in Iran. The official said the killing of Larijani, in particular, damaged the prospect of talks because he was uniquely qualified to engage with the West. For years, Larijani maintained a back-channel with the US through Europe, and before he was killed, there were reports he was exploring ways through Moscow to speak to the Trump administration, the official said.

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Related Article Explainer

Middle East at war Its seven emirates united 50 years ago. Now the UAE faces its biggest challenge yet The killings were a stress test of a system built to outlast specific individuals, the official said. In the short term, he said, the assassinations were probably concerning for Irans ruling class. Long term, I think it increases defiance. Messages of defiance were central to the raft of communications from Iranian leaders marking the Persian New Year, Nowruz, on Friday. They offered support for those who lost loved ones to the conflict, but also promised that Irans enemies would be defeated. Iran to emerge stronger than before On the eve of the holiday, Iranian state media announced three executions, some of the first acknowledged by the government since Trump claimed to have prevented hundreds from being carried out, with threats of military force in January. Rights groups condemned the judicial process and executions.

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Those put to death included Saleh Mohammadi, 19, a member of the countrys national wrestling team who was accused of attacking police during the protests earlier this year, to which Iran responded with overwhelming violence, killing thousands of people. The new year will be a year of delivering a strong blow to Irans enemies, said the Speaker of Irans parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. He promised that the country will emerge from these storms with pride and stronger than before. Iranian parliament Speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf (centre) pictured visiting Beirut in 2024. Fairfax Media Irans newly appointed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, issued a written statement on Friday. He has not been seen in public since the start of the war and is believed to have been badly wounded in the strike that killed his father, according to US intelligence assessments. Beneath the public bravado, Irans leadership was grappling with deep concerns about the wars long-term costs, said Reuel Marc Gerecht, a former US intelligence officer focused on Iran, now a senior fellow at the Foundation for the Defence of Democracies, a Washington think tank known for a hawkish stance on Iran.

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Related Article Middle East at war Netanyahus dreams came true with the Iran war. Will it propel him to victory? Theyre always thinking about internal politics, and they know  their disfavour, to put it politely, he said, referring to the anti-government protests the Iranian regime has weathered in recent years. A long conflict might serve Irans interests in the immediate term, but would ultimately backfire. Eventually, in a long war, almost nothings going to really work in Iran, he said. The immense damage caused by thousands of US and Israeli airstrikes would leave Irans government less capable of addressing existing grievances and could spark new waves of popular unrest, Gerecht said. The most critical moments for them are not during the battle when they hold out against the pummelling, its when the pummelling stops, he said. The Washington Post Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
PHILIPSBURG: --- In a major breakthrough, the Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) announced the arrest of a Trinidad national, identified by the initials A.H., in connection with the fatal double shooting on Arlet Peters Road (Old Cake House Road) that left two individuals dead on March 2, 2026. This swift action followed a series of targeted house searches carried out across the island as part of the ongoing investigation. While A.H. remains in custody, authorities have revealed that the main suspect is still at large, and all suspects involved are believed to be from Trinidad. KPSM, working closely with the Prosecutors Office, continues to pursue multiple leads and expects additional arrests as the investigation progresses. The dead are Quincy Damon Sylvester, who operated a PVC business on St. Maarten, and American citizen Denisha Delancy.

The criminal underworld of Sint Maarten faces intense police scrutiny following the targeted murder of Quincy Damon Sylvester. The Trinidadian national, identified by sources as a prominent drug dealer, died alongside an American companion in a violent double shooting on Arlet Peters Road on March 2, 2026.

The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) continues to untangle a complex web of organized crime surrounding the attack. Sylvester reportedly used a legitimate-looking PVC pipe business as a front for his illicit drug operations. The fatal incident occurred when the vehicle carrying Sylvester and his companion was ambushed, causing it to topple over on Arlet Peters Road, also known as Old Cake House Road.

Surveillance footage recovered from the Nowhere Special nightclub indicates that unknown individuals heavily monitored Sylvester shortly before his death. This evidence strongly points to a carefully orchestrated hit.

Sylvesters reach within the criminal underworld stretched far beyond local operations. Intelligence suggests he maintained close ties to the same illicit networks involved in the recent Plumpy Boss shooting. These connections highlight the deeply interconnected and violent nature of rival factions operating on the island.

The KPSM Major Crimes Team is actively pursuing multiple leads. On the day of the shooting, officers executed targeted house searches at several locations across Sint Maarten, gathering crucial evidence. While authorities arrested a Trinidad national identified by the initials A.H. on March 4, the main suspect remains at large. Police have confirmed that all suspects sought in connection with the case are from Trinidad. The investigation continues as investigators and the Prosecutors Office work to build a comprehensive case.

Law enforcement officials expect to make additional arrests in the near future as the investigation progresses steadily. However, authorities stress that public assistance remains critical to solving this case and curbing retaliatory violence.

The KPSM urges anyone with information about the Arlet Peters Road shooting or the broader criminal networks involved to come forward. Community cooperation plays a vital role in bringing the perpetrators to justice. You can contact the Police Force of Sint Maarten directly at +1 (721) 542-2222 or provide information anonymously by calling the tip line at 9300.
PHILIPSBURG:--- On Thursday, March 19, while in Aruba for Flag and Anthem Day, Minister of Justice Nathalie M. Tackling used the opportunity to engage with key border management partners and explore practical solutions to strengthen and modernize Sint Maartens systems.

As part of the visit, Minister Tackling, alongside Arubas Minister of Justice, the Honorable Mr. Arthur Dowers, toured the Immigration Department at Queen Beatrix International Airport, where the department marked its 57th anniversary. During the visit, the Minister received a detailed presentation on Arubas border control system, RADEX, to assess its functionality and explore opportunities to enhance its application in Sint Maarten.

Minister Tackling also met with officials from the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to gain insight into Arubas preclearance operations and integrated passenger processing systems. Discussions focused on advanced technologies such as APIS, ATS, TECS, Global Entry, and biometric screening, which support more efficient and secure passenger processing.

The visit also provided an opportunity to observe recent upgrades at the airport, including a fully automated central luggage-handling system designed to support streamlined operations in line with CBP standards. These systems, combined with integrated passenger screening processes, contribute to efficient passenger flow and reduced processing times.

The insights gained from this engagement will directly inform efforts to further strengthen Sint Maartens border management systems, enhance operational efficiency, and improve the overall travel experience while maintaining high security standards.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Science Week 2026, held March 9 to 21, 2026, brought together students, educators, professionals, and community stakeholders in a dynamic celebration of curiosity, innovation, and discovery under the theme Innovate for Wellbeing.

The week of activities highlighted the growing interest in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) across the island, while also reinforcing the importance of innovation in addressing real-world challenges and improving community wellbeing.

Science Week officially launched with an inspiring opening ceremony featuring addresses by Dr. Rolinda Carter, President of the St. Maarten Science Fair Foundation; Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina; and Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Ms. Melissa Gumbs.

In her remarks, Dr. Carter emphasized the role of science and innovation in strengthening small island communities, encouraging participants to move beyond ideas and focus on solutions that positively impact society. Minister Gumbs highlighted the importance of nurturing curiosity, noting that the moment a child asks why, that is the moment science begins. Prime Minister Mercelina described Science Week as a celebration not only of projects, but of the possibilities that young minds represent for the future.

Following the opening ceremony, a Horizon Chat titled Moving Ideas into Solutions set the tone for the week by encouraging participants to translate innovation into practical impact.

Student engagement remained strong throughout the week. 61 students from 6 schools participated in 7 STEAM-focused field trips to local businesses, gaining hands-on exposure to careers in healthcare, engineering, multimedia, and meteorology. These experiences allowed students to explore potential career paths and better understand the practical applications of science.

The flagship event, the St. Maarten National Science Fair, showcased student projects from Learning Unlimited, MAC Comprehensive Secondary Education, St. Maarten Academy, St. Maarten Academy VBC, and the Caribbean International Academy. Students demonstrated not only technical knowledge, but also confidence, collaboration, and a willingness to learn from peers and experts.

The public viewing welcomed local, regional, and international visitors, including delegations from St. Eustatius, Anguilla, St. Martin, and the United States, reflecting growing regional interest and opportunities for collaboration.

Science Week concluded with the Science Week 2026 Award and Closing Ceremony, where outstanding students were recognized for their achievements.

Reflecting on the week, Dr. Carter noted that Science Week created meaningful moments of connection, discovery, and growth. From collaborative discussions during panel sessions to hands-on learning during field trips and confident project presentations at the Science Fair, students were actively engaged in the process of innovation.

The week also extended beyond the island, as St. Maartens first robotics team, SXM Tech Tides, competed in the OECSRA Super Regional Robotics Challenge in St. Kitts, securing 2nd place among eight countries and earning both the Code Mastery Award and the Digital Engagement Award. This milestone reflects the expanding opportunities for students in robotics and innovation at the regional level.

One thing is clear: our youth are ready, said Dr. Carter. They are ready to research, to be challenged, and to innovate. As a Foundation, we remain committed to providing those opportunities alongside our partners.

The St. Maarten Science Fair Foundation extends its sincere appreciation to all who contributed to the success of Science Week 2026, including board and committee members, school management and coordinators, teachers, mentors, sponsors, volunteers, parents, and guardians.

The Foundation continues to play a vital role in developing a generation of young people equipped with the skills to think critically, solve problems, and lead innovation locally, regionally, and internationally.

Science Fair Award Winners:

Natural Science 12-14

1st: Vlad Ahlip & Amir Baharani (LU) - Mind Over Muscle

2nd: Joella Riviere & Shaniah Persaud (Mac-High) - Improving Posture to Prevent and Back Pain

Natural Science 15+

1st: Odeya Attia & Christine Cutler (CIA) - Investigating the use of seaweed for use in paper and packaging manufacturing.

2nd: Mya Gomez & Marit van de Wel (CIA) - Investigating seaweed for use as a fertilizer

Earth & Environmental Science 12-14

1st: Giselina G. Domatilia & Taina Clement (CIA) - Sargassum for use in Bioplastics

2nd: Daniel Samuel & Jelani Richardson (Mac-High) - Clean Water Solutions for Community Wellbeing

Earth & Environmental Science 15+

1st: Cheyandro Redan & Gloria Beretta (LU) - Watt's Up?

2nd: Menarly Edmond & Dandranee McNamee (Mac-High) - Waste Management Innovations for Small Islands

Social & Behavioral Sciences 12-14

1st: Shandelia Ashloy & Neriah Williams (Mac-High) - Reducing Bullying to Improve School Wellbeing

2nd: Annaya Mahtani & Charvi Pahuja (LU) - Academic Pressure Cooker

Computer, Software, and Robotics 12-14

1st: Elia Bevilacqua (LU) - The Cleaning Buddy Bot

Computer, Software, and Robotics 15+

1st: Shivanie Dookhan & Arianna Hernandez (LU) - Kindness Currents

Viewers Choice award 12-14

Vlad Ahlip & Amir Baharani (LU) - Mind Over Muscle

Viewers Choice award 15+

Neriah Richardson & Aarushi Goklani (LU) - Clot Busters

Poster Winner

Fang Yu Cai - Learning Unlimited

SXM Tech Tides selected representative

Jacob Boxshall - Learning Unlimited

Akash Pillai - St. Maarten Academy

SXM Tech Tides selected alternates

Edom Richardson - St. Maarten Academy

Dominic Peters - St. Maarten Academy Vocational Business Campus

For more information, please visit the SMSFF Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SXMSCIENCEFAIR/.
Iran awaits Trump threat to blow up power plants



Tehran, March 22 (AFP) Mar 22, 2026



Iran on Monday faces a deadline by President Donald Trump to open up the crucial Strait of Hormuz or face a major US assault on power plants, as Israel warned of weeks more of war.

Israel also gave the clearest signs yet it intends a ground campaign into Lebanon, destroying a key bridge as it vows to crush Hezbollah, the Shia Muslim movement backed by Iran.

Trump, after enthusiastically backing Israel in the war the two countries launched on February 28, is under political pressure as fuel prices rise, the result of Iran's attempts to retaliate in the oil-rich Gulf.

Trump on Saturday threatened to "obliterate" Iran's power plants if it did not within 48 hours end its partial blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway into the Gulf through which one-fifth of the world's oil flows.

The deadline, based on the time of his social media posting, would be 23:44 GMT, early morning Tuesday in Iran and Monday evening in Washington.

Iran's military command responded defiantly, saying that if Trump goes ahead, it would strike Israel's "power plants, energy and information and communications technology infrastructure" -- along with power plants in regional countries hosting US bases and companies with American shareholders.

"If the United States' threats regarding Iran's power plants are carried out... the Strait of Hormuz will be completely closed, and it will not be reopened until our destroyed power plants are rebuilt," a process that could take years, the operational command warned.

Iran's powerful parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that vital infrastructure across the region would "be considered legitimate targets and will be irreversibly destroyed".

And the energy minister said US-Israeli strikes have already inflicted "heavy damage" on Iran's water and energy infrastructure.

Trump's threats drew rare concern from exiled Iranians supportive of the war, launched weeks after the Islamic republic crushed widespread demonstrations, killing thousands of people.

Reza Pahlavi, son of the late shah ousted in the 1979 Islamic revolution, called on Washington and Israel to target the "apparatus of repression" but to protect "Iran's civilian and vital infrastructure, which our people need to rebuild the country".



- Lebanon fears Israeli ground invasion -



Trump has offered varying timelines and objectives for the war, saying Friday he was considering "winding down" the operation, a day before his threat to power plants, which would mark a significant escalation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken of a long-term campaign against Iran's government, a rare state sponsor of Hamas, which carried out the unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack against Israel which responded by devastating Gaza.

"Citizens of Israel, we face more weeks of fighting against Iran and Hezbollah," Israeli military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said.

In Lebanon, where Israel occupied a southern section for 18 years until 2000, Israeli forces were given orders to destroy bridges they said were used by Hezbollah to cross the key Litani river, 30 kilometres (20 miles) north of the border.

More than 1,000 people have died in Lebanon since Israel launched strikes, according to the health ministry, with more than one million people displaced.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun warned that the bridge attacks "represent a dangerous escalation and flagrant violation of Lebanon's sovereignty, and are considered a prelude to a ground invasion".

But the country's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also put blame on Hezbollah, which began firing on Israel in retaliation for its killing at the war's start of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

"It was declared that this war was in retaliation for the assassination of Khamenei, so this means this war was imposed upon us," Salam told the Al Hadath network.

Israel's army chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir warned that the "operation against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation has only begun".



- Iran takes toll in Israel -



Israel has prided itself on air defences, and Trump and Netanyahu both claim to have knocked out key Iranian military sites.

But Iranian missiles on Saturday managed to land in two southern towns including Dimona, close to Israel's desert nuclear facility. Dozens were injured.

"We thought we were safe," Galit Amir, a 50-year-old care provider, told AFP in Dimona. "We didn't expect this."

AFP journalists heard blasts early Sunday in Jerusalem as Iran fired a fresh barrage of missiles.

Netanyahu vowed to pursue senior commanders of Iran's Revolutionary Guards "personally" as he inspected the damage in Arad, the other town struck by an Iranian missile.

According to rescuers, a missile landed about five kilometres from 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.

Iran said the Dimona strike was in response to an earlier attack on its nuclear site at Natanz.

Asked about Natanz, Israel's military said it was "not aware of a strike".

In Iran, at least 3,230 people have died in the war, including 1,406 civilians, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. AFP is not able to access the sites of strikes nor independently verify tolls in Iran.



- Iran eyes Hormuz tax -



Oil prices rose again early Monday, with US benchmark crude briefly touching the $100-per-barrel mark.

In recent days, Iran has allowed some vessels from countries it considers friendly to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, while warning it would block ships from countries it says have joined the "aggression" against it.

Iran's parliament is mulling imposing tolls on shipping through the strait, with parliament speaker Ghalibaf saying maritime traffic would "not return to its pre-war status".

Patrick Pouyanne, the head of French oil giant TotalEnergies, said the economic outlook would worsen the longer the conflict dragged on.

"If it's more than six months, we will have some real impacts. All the economies of the world will be damaged," he told Chinese broadcaster CGTN.

burs-sct/mlm
Iraqi pro-Iran group extends pause in US embassy attacks



Baghdad, March 22 (AFP) Mar 22, 2026



An Iran-backed armed group announced on Monday that it would continue its five-day pause on attacking the US embassy in Baghdad.

Since the start of the war in the Middle East, pro-Iran armed groups have claimed responsibility for near-daily attacks on US interests in Iraq and across the region, while strikes have also targeted these groups.

On Thursday, Kataeb Hezbollah, designated a "terrorist organisation" by Washington, said it would stop attacking the Baghdad embassy under certain conditions, including an end to attacks on residential parts of Iraq and the southern suburbs of Beirut.

The latter area is a bastion of Lebanon's Hezbollah, which is also Iran-backed and is at war with Israel.

"The deadline given to the embassy of American evil will be extended by an additional five days," Kataeb Hezbollah said in a statement on Monday.

It added that it would respond to "any violations by the enemy accordingly" and inform a mediator of its "response mechanism".

Iraq has been unwillingly drawn into the regional conflict triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.

Kataeb Hezbollah's announcement comes after a series of overnight strikes targeting a US diplomatic and logistics centre at the Baghdad International Airport.

Late Sunday, three strikes also hit south of Baghdad, with a local emergency crisis cell saying they targeted a stronghold of former paramilitary coalition Hashed al-Shaabi, also known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF).

A Kataeb Hezbollah official said on condition of anonymity that his group had been targeted.
On Monday night, drones of the SBU "Alpha" Special Operations Center, together with other units of the Defense Forces, struck the oil terminal of the Prymorsk port in the Leningrad region, a source in the SBU told Interfax-Ukraine.

"Tonight, drones of the SBU Alpha Special Operations Center, together with other units of the Defense Forces (SBS, SSO, GUR, and SBSU), arranged bavovna at the oil terminal of the Prymorsk port in the Leningrad region," the agencys interlocutor said.

According to him, this is the largest Russia oil port on the Baltic Sea and a key export hub: a significant part of oil supplies to foreign markets passes through it, including through the "shadow fleet." In 2025 alone, over 46.6 million tons of oil were handled through the port.

The agencys interlocutor added that after the attack, a fire started on the territory of the oil terminal.

"Tanks with oil and oil products are burning. Hits and ignition were confirmed by local authorities, who are currently evacuating personnel," he added.

"Every barrel of Russia oil sold is funds that go toward the war against Ukraine. Therefore, the SBU continues systematic work to reduce these revenues. Such special operations will continue until Russia stops its aggression against our state," the SBU source summarized.
War in the Middle East: latest developments



Paris, France, March 23 (AFP) Mar 23, 2026



Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war on Monday:



- Iraqi group extends pause in US embassy attacks -



Kataeb Hezbollah -- an Iran-backed armed group in Iraq -- says it will extend its five-day pause on attacking the US embassy in Baghdad, announced Thursday.

Since the start of the war in the Middle East, pro-Iran armed groups have claimed responsibility for near-daily attacks on US interests in Iraq and across the region, while strikes have also targeted these groups.



- Lebanon says Iran commanding Hezbollah operations -



Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards are commanding Hezbollah's operations in the group's 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.



- 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.



- 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.

burs-dw/ksb
Global economy under 'major threat' from Strait of Hormuz crisis: IEA chief



Sydney, March 23 (AFP) Mar 23, 2026



The global economy is under "major threat" from the energy crisis caused by the Middle East war and "no country will be immune" to its effects, International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol said Monday.

Speaking at the National Press Club in Australia's capital, Birol compared the current energy crisis to those of the 1970s and the impact of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

"This crisis as things stand is now two oil crises and one gas crash put all together," Birol said.

"The global economy is facing a major, major threat today, and I very much hope that this issue will be resolved as soon as possible.

"No country will be immune to the effects of this crisis if it continues to go in this direction. So there is a need for global efforts."

US President Donald Trump and Tehran have issued tit-for-tat threats as the war entered its fourth week, with the US president demanding the Islamic republic reopen the blocked Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20 percent of the world's oil and gas shipments transit.

The bottleneck has nearly halted all petroleum shipments through the narrow waterway.

Oil prices rose again early Monday, with US benchmark crude briefly touching the $100-per-barrel mark.

Birol told Australian media that at least forty energy assets across the region had been "severely or very severely damaged" in the conflict.
Saudi Arabia says detected 2 ballistic missiles



Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, March 23 (AFP) Mar 23, 2026



Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense said it detected two incoming ballistic missiles on Monday, as the kingdom and its Gulf neighbours face Iranian strikes.

"Two ballistic missiles were launched towards the Riyadh region, one of which was intercepted and the other fell in an uninhabited area," the ministry posted on social media.
Australia, Singapore agree to strengthen energy supply chains



Sydney, March 23 (AFP) Mar 23, 2026



Australia and Singapore agreed on Monday to cooperate in ensuring smooth supply chains of oil, LNG and diesel as the two import-reliant nations weather a global energy squeeze caused by the Mideast war.

Global oil prices have soared as the war between the United States, Israel and Iran has centred around the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20 percent of the world's oil and gas shipments normally transit.

In a joint statement, Australia and key shipping hub Singapore said on Monday they shared "deep concern over the situation in the Middle East and its consequences for our region, such as the impact on energy supply chains and prices".

"We are committed to working together to strengthen energy supply chain resilience," they said.

And they agreed to "strengthen energy security, to support the flow of essential goods including petroleum oils, such as diesel, and liquefied natural gas between our two countries".

In Australia, petrol prices have soared and officials have issued calls for residents to only buy what they need in the face of panic buying and alleged price-gouging.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen insisted on Monday the country was a "long way" from rationing, while conceding that some petrol stations had run out of fuel.
Japan 'not thinking about' discussing Hormuz passage with Iran



Tokyo, March 23 (AFP) Mar 23, 2026



Tokyo is "not thinking about" calling on Iran to let Japanese tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, the foreign minister has said, after Tehran said it was ready to help.

Japan depends on crude oil imports from the Middle East, most of which transits the strait, located in the Gulf.

Iran has effectively closed the strait in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes, sending countries reliant on the shipping lane scrambling for alternative routes and tapping reserves.

Asked about whether the government would urge Iran to let Japanese ships transit Hormuz, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Sunday on a Fuji Television programme that "for the time being, we are not thinking about that".

His comment came after Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said in a telephone interview with Kyodo News Friday that Tehran was prepared to ensure safe passage for Japan.

"They only need to contact us so we can discuss how this transit can take place," Araghchi added.

Motegi spoke with Iranian counterpart Araghchi on Tuesday but he told Fuji Television that there was no mention from his counterpart of helping Japanese ships.

"Safety of navigation is extremely important. That's what we spoke about," Motegi said.

In the Kyodo interview, Araghchi denied the passage was closed, insisting "from our perspective, the strait is open".

"It is only closed to ships belonging to our enemies -- countries that attack us. For other countries, (their) vessels can pass through the strait," Araghchi said according to a Farsi transcript of the interview posted on his Telegram channel.

Last week, Tokyo said it was beginning the release of its strategic oil reserves, among the world's largest.
Iran threatens to target Mideast power infrastructure over Trump ultimatum



Tehran, March 23 (AFP) Mar 23, 2026



Iran has laid out maps of power plants it threatened to target in the region, in response to US President Donald Trump's ultimatum for the Islamic republic to reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz.

Trump threatened to "obliterate" Iran's power plants if it did not reopen the strategic waterway within 48 hours, which were due to end late Monday. The waterway has remained effectively closed since the start of the war sparked on February 28 by US-Israeli bombardment of Iran.

Iran's armed forces have since vowed to "completely" close the strait and target power plants in Israel, as well as in countries in the Gulf which Iran says support US bases in the area.

State media, including the judiciary's Mizan Online website, on Monday showed infographics of potential targets in Israel, including Orot Rabin and Rutenberg, Israel's two largest power plants.

Another infographic on Mehr news agency was titled "Say goodbye to electricity!" and showed possible targets in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait.

"In the event of the slightest attack on the electricity infrastructure of the Islamic republic, the entire region will be plunged into darkness," the graphic said.

Iran's powerful parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf meanwhile vowed to "irreversibly" destroy vital infrastructure across the region if the United States and Israel attacked its own.

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz -- through which 20 percent of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas normally passes -- has been brought to a near-standstill since the start of the war.

A relatively small number of vessels have been able to transit it -- around five percent of its pre-war volume, according to analytics firm Kpler.

Iranian forces have attacked multiple vessels, saying they failed to heed "warnings" against transiting the waterway.

In recent days, Iran has allowed some vessels from countries it considers friendly to pass, while warning it would block ships from countries it says have joined the "aggression" against it.
Israel army confirms own artillery fire killed civilian on northern border Sunday



Jerusalem, March 23 (AFP) Mar 23, 2026



The Israeli military on Monday said its own artillery fire killed an Israeli civilian a day earlier near the northern border with Lebanon, where its forces are fighting Hezbollah.

After opening an investigation, the military said "the initial findings suggest that the Israeli civilian was killed by IDF artillery fire conducted to support IDF soldiers operating in southern Lebanon".

"Several severe issues and operational errors took place during the incident, including both the planning and execution of the fire," it added.

Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group said it attacked soldiers in northern Israel's Misgav Am on Sunday, where first responders said rocket fire from Lebanon killed one person.

Israel's military later said it was investigating whether its own fire had killed a civilian in the same area.

On Monday, it said the artillery fire that killed Ofer Moskovitz "was carried out at an incorrect angle and did not follow required protocols".

"As a result, five artillery shells were fired at the Misgav Am ridge instead of toward the enemy target," a military statement said, expressing regret over the incident and extending "its deep condolences to the Moskovitz family and the Misgav Am community at this difficult time".

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.
Russia calls for 'political and diplomatic' settlement after Trump Iran ultimatum



Moscow, March 23 (AFP) Mar 23, 2026



Russia on Monday called for "political and diplomatic" settlement to the Middle East war after US President Donald Trump's ultimatum for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump threatened to "obliterate" Iran's power plants if it did not reopen the strategic waterway within 48 hours, which were due to end late Monday.

The waterway has remained effectively closed since the start of the war sparked on February 28 by US-Israeli bombardment of Iran.

"We believe that the situation should have transitioned to a political and diplomatic settlement," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists, including from AFP, at a briefing.

"This is the only thing that can effectively contribute to defusing the catastrophically tense situation that has now developed in the region," Peskov said.

Russia -- which helped build Iran's only operational nuclear power plant at Bushehr -- has warned against strikes that could endanger the site that the UN's nuclear watchdog announced last week was hit by a projectile.

"Of course, this poses a very serious security threat if this trend continues," Peskov said Monday.

"We consider strikes on nuclear facilities to be potentially extremely dangerous and fraught with, perhaps even irreversible, consequences," he added.

Russia was in "constant dialogue" with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the Bushehr plant, Peskov said.

Agency head Rafael Grossi called "for restraint during the conflict to avoid any risk of a nuclear accident", the IAEA said in a statement last week.
Iraqi PM says accelerating withdrawal of anti-jihadist coalition forces



Baghdad, March 23 (AFP) Mar 23, 2026



Iraqi leader Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said he would accelerate the dismantling of a US-led international anti-jihadist coalition, in an interview with an Italian newspaper published Monday.

The prime minister's comments come as the country finds itself unwillingly drawn into the conflict in the Middle East, which began with Israeli and US strikes on Iran on February 28.

Pro-Iran armed groups have claimed responsibility for near-daily attacks on US interests in Iraq and across the region, while strikes have also targeted these groups.

The end of the international anti-jihadist coalition's mission was initially planned for September 2026 in Iraq, with the drawdown launching in 2024.

The end of the mission was intended to pave the way for bilateral security partnerships with member countries of the alliance, formed in 2014 to fight the extremist Islamic State group.

"With our allies we have now decided to bring forward the end of the international coalition, which was supposed to continue until September 2026," Sudani told Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera.

"Once there are no more foreign military contingents on Iraqi soil, it will be easier to break up the armed factions," he said, referring to pro-Iran groups in the country.

The presence of foreign troops -- particularly American advisers -- is a long-running point of contention between the government and the pro-Iran armed factions.

Baghdad has demanded a monopoly on weapons and called for the dismantling of the groups' arsenals, which the factions justify by pointing to the presence of foreign soldiers.

Both the government and the coalition insist the coalition deploys military advisers -- who provide expertise and support, aiming to prevent a resurgence of IS -- to Iraq at the invitation of the authorities.

These advisers are currently only deployed in northern Iraqi Kurdistan and were scheduled to remain there until September 2026.

In January, the first phase of the coalition withdrawal agreement was completed, with personnel leaving the Iraqi military bases.

The coalition is also in the process of withdrawing from neighbouring Syria, where it also deployed, having recently handed over its bases to Syrian government forces.

bur/tgg/rbu/jsa
War in the Middle East: latest developments



Paris, France, March 23 (AFP) Mar 23, 2026



Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war on Monday:







- Aircraft carrier return -

The USS Gerald Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier playing a key role in the Middle East war, has returned to a base in Crete, according to an AFP journalist.

The vessel, which took on food, fuel and ammunition at Souda Bay in February, reported a laundry fire on March 12 which injured two crew members.



- Political settlement -

Russia called for a "political and diplomatic settlement" to the war.

"This is the only thing that can effectively contribute to defusing the catastrophically tense situation that has now developed in the region," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.



- 'Goodbye to electricity' -

Iran's state media published infographics of power plants in the region that its forces could target, in response to US President Donald Trump's threat to "obliterate" Iran's electricity plants if it didn't reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.

One infographic was titled "Say goodbye to electricity!" and showed potential targets in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait. Other maps showed Orot Rabin and Rutenberg, Israel's two largest power plants.



- Friendly fire -

The Israeli military confirmed that its own artillery fire had killed an Israeli civilian on the northern border on Sunday, where Hezbollah had claimed an attack and that "several severe issues and operational errors took place during the incident, including both the planning and execution of the fire".

Israeli emergency workers had initially said 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.



- Naval mines -

Iran's defence council said in a statement that it would mine "all access routes and communications lines in the Persian Gulf and coastal areas" -- including deploying "drifting mines deployable from the coasts" if its coastlines or islands were attacked.



- 'Uncontrollable situation' -

Asked about US President Donald Trump's threats to "obliterate" Iran's power plants, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian warned that "If the war expands further and the situation deteriorates again, the entire region could be plunged into an uncontrollable situation."



- Israel interceptions -

Israel's military said defensive systems were working to intercept the latest salvo of missiles fired from Iran and urged people to take cover.

On Saturday Iranian missiles evaded defences and injured dozens when they hit two southern towns close to Israel's desert nuclear facility.



- Economic 'crisis' -

International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol said "the global economy is facing a major, major threat" and compared the current energy crisis to those of the 1970s and the impact of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

"This crisis as things stand is now two oil crises and one gas crash put all together," Birol said, adding that no country will be immune to its effects.



- Gulf nations attacks -

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates repelled fresh attacks, while sirens sounded in Bahrain.

Abu Dhabi authorities said an Indian national had been wounded by falling debris from an intercepted ballistic missile.



- 'Wide-scale' strikes -

Israel's military said it launched "a wide-scale wave of strikes" on Tehran.

Iranian media reported explosions ringing out over the capital, while an AFP journalist saw a thick column of black smoke rising at least an hour later.



- France 'solidarity' -

French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X that he spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to express "solidarity" with the kingdom and reiterate France's commitment to contributing to air defences against Iranian missiles and drones.

- US embassy attacks pause -

Kataeb Hezbollah -- an Iran-backed armed group in Iraq -- says it will extend its five-day pause on attacking the US embassy in Baghdad, announced Thursday.

Since the start of the war in the Middle East, pro-Iran armed groups have claimed responsibility for near-daily attacks on US interests in Iraq and across the region, while strikes have also targeted these groups.



- Lebanon raps Hezbollah -

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards are commanding Hezbollah's operations in the group's 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 at Israel.



burs/yad/gv/db
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/orbanviktor

Hungary will investigate information about the alleged wiretapping of Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto by foreign intelligence services  including Ukrainian ones, Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated.

"Wiretapping a member of the government is a serious attack on Hungary. I have instructed the Minister of Justice to immediately conduct an investigation into the information regarding the wiretapping of Peter Szijjarto," Orban wrote on his Facebook page.

He also provided a link to a report in the pro-government publication Mandiner, which claims that foreign intelligence services, with the help of opposition journalist Szabolcs Panyi, gained access to Szijjartos telephone conversations. The publication also claims that Anita Orban, who could take the post of Hungarian Foreign Minister in the event of a victory by the opposition Tisza party in the April elections, was involved in organizing the wiretapping.

The publication cited an anonymous letter, to which audio recordings of conversations were attached, as its source. The publication claims that Panyi began cooperating with foreign intelligence services and provided them with Szijjartos phone number, making the wiretapping possible.

Szijjarto himself stated that he was "shocked" by the report.

"And now tell me, what is the legal definition of the fact when a Hungarian citizen maintains ties of this kind with a foreign intelligence service? I dont know. But what is serious is that this Hungarian journalist, who maintains ties with foreign intelligence services, is part of the inner circle of the Tisza party. This Hungarian journalist, who maintains ties with foreign intelligence services, is a friend of Anita Orban," Szijjarto stated on Facebook.
Iran seeks repatriation of sailors in Sri Lanka



Colombo, March 23 (AFP) Mar 23, 2026



Iran was in talks for the return of 251 sailors in Sri Lanka after one of its frigates was sunk near the island earlier this month, Tehran's ambassador said Monday.

Alireza Delkhosh said crews from two vessels -- 32 men from the IRIS Dena, which was torpedoed by a US submarine, and 219 from the IRIS Bushehr, which was given safe harbour in Sri Lanka -- wanted to return home.

"We are talking, and we are following this issue with the Sri Lankan government," Delkhosh said in a press conference broadcast on local networks, but which was not open to international media.

"I do hope that we can solve this problem as soon as possible", he added, saying that they were being treated well but wanted to leave.

"Their only worry is that they are separated from their families," Delkhosh said.

There was no immediate reaction from Sri Lankan authorities to Iran's request.

IRIS Dena was attacked just south of Sri Lanka on March 4, and the ambassador said that 104 sailors were killed, many of them cadets, as well as a music band.

That raises the death toll from 84, based on the recovery of bodies by Sri Lanka's navy. Those bodies have since been flown back to Iran.

Sri Lanka's President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has said that the island provided protection to the Bushehr crew in line with the 1907 Hague Convention, which requires a neutral state to hold combatants of a belligerent state until hostilities end.

Dissanayake on Friday said he had denied permission for US warplanes to use ground facilities in Sri Lanka in order to maintain Sri Lanka's neutrality.

A third Iranian ship, IRIS Lavan, with 183 crew members, sought shelter in India's Kochi port.

Sri Lanka meanwhile has raised fuel prices by more than a third since the start of the Middle East war and has taken several energy-saving measures, including a four-day working week.

The Iranian envoy said Sri Lanka's crude oil supplies would face no issue passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

"Sri Lanka is our friendly country... the Hormuz Strait is not closed to our friendly country's vessels," he said.

"If Sri Lanka demands oil, or any other necessary goods, Iran will supply and provide these goods to Sri Lanka. We don't want to see Sri Lanka in trouble."

Sri Lanka imports all its oil requirements, and the country's only refinery is geared to handle Iranian light crude.
Taiwan opposition leader says talks with Xi a 'bridge' to peace



Taipei, March 23 (AFP) Mar 23, 2026



The leader of Taiwan's largest opposition party said Monday she hoped to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and build a "bridge" to resolve disputes between China and the democratic island, which Beijing has threatened to seize by force.

Communist China has never ruled Taiwan, but Beijing insists the self-governed island of more than 23 million people is part of its territory, and uses military pressure to assert its sovereignty claim.

Kuomintang (KMT) chairwoman Cheng Li-wun, who has been a strident critic of President Lai Ching-te's government since taking up her role in November, has insisted on meeting Xi before she makes an official trip to the United States.

While the KMT has long supported closer ties with Beijing, Cheng has been accused by Lai's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of doing Beijing's bidding by stalling the government's defence spending plans.

There are concerns inside the KMT that a Cheng-Xi meeting could trigger a voter backlash in Taiwan's district elections later this year.

But speaking to foreign media on Monday, Cheng said talks with Xi would carry "signficant symbolic meaning" and could be a "foundation" to peaceful relations across the Taiwan Strait.

"I do not believe a single meeting can resolve all the issues that have been accumulating for nearly a century," Cheng said.

"But... I hope I can successfully build such a bridge."

While Cheng has expressed confidence that a meeting with Xi will happen, there has been no confirmation from Beijing.

Cheng's remarks came as Taiwan's parliament began reviewing rival proposals for special defence spending that are aimed at boosting the island's military capabilities against a potential Chinese attack.

Lai's government has proposed NT$1.25 trillion ($39 billion) in spending on critical defence purchases, including US arms, while the KMT wants to allocate NT$380 billion for US weapons with the option for more acquisitions.

While the KMT supported having stronger defences, Cheng said more military spending alone would not achieve peace with China.

"There must also be political efforts. Political efforts are... the key," Cheng said.

China severed high-level communications with Taiwan in 2016 after Lai's predecessor Tsai Ing-wen, who also belongs to the Democratic Progressive Party, took power.

Chinese leaders detest Lai, who Beijing calls a "separatist".

Cheng said her push for closer relations with China did not come at the expense of the United States, which is Taiwan's biggest arms provider.

Lawmakers in Washington have been critical of Taiwan's opposition parties for blocking the government's defence spending bill.

"The KMT has long had very good relations with the United States, and improving our relations with the mainland (China) will not affect that," Cheng said.

"We do not need to choose one or the other."
Trump lifts Iran threat after 'very good' talks on ending war



Tehran, March 23 (AFP) Mar 23, 2026



President Donald Trump said Monday the United States and Iran had held "very good" talks towards ending the three-week Middle East war, putting threatened US attacks on Iran's power plants on hold in a stunning about-turn.

In a social media post that immediately sent oil prices tumbling, Trump said Washington and Tehran had held "productive conversations" over the last two days towards "a complete and total resolution" of hostilities in the Middle East.

Based on the talks, Trump said he had instructed the Pentagon to "postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings."

The previously unreported US-Iranian talks would "continue throughout the week," Trump said.

The bombshell announcement came ahead of a Monday night ultimatum for the Islamic republic to reopen the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane -- or see Trump "obliterate" its power plants.

In response, Iran had threatened to deploy naval mines in the Gulf and target power plants across the region -- ramping up its rhetoric after warnings the world faced an energy crisis of historic proportions if the US-Israeli war with Iran drags on.



- Strikes -



Tehran has retaliated against US-Israeli assaults by throttling traffic through Hormuz, conduit for a fifth of global crude, hitting energy sites and US embassies across the Gulf as well as targets in Israel.

Israel hit Tehran with fresh strikes early Monday -- with AFP witnessing a thick plume of black smoke billowing in the city's east.

Later in the day, another series of blasts were heard in the Iranian capital, though it was not immediately clear what had been hit.

The head of the International Energy Agency warned overnight that, in the event of a protracted war, daily oil losses put the world on track for a crisis worse than the combined impact of both 1970s oil shocks and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Oil prices have been driven above $100 a barrel by the conflict -- and tumbled sharply after Trump's Monday announcement.

International benchmark Brent North Sea crude plunged more than 14 percent to $96.00 per barrel, while the main US oil contract West Texas Intermediate shed more than 14 percent to $84.37 per barrel.

Sign of the conflict's tentacular impact, the world's second economy China said earlier Monday it was capping domestic fuel cost increases to mitigate the effect of surging oil prices.



- 'Weeks' more fighting -



Weighing in before Trump's announcement, China's foreign ministry had warned of an "uncontrollable situation" should the war expand further.

Key Iran ally Russia meanwhile called after the Washington-Tehran talks were revealed for an "immediate cessation of hostilities".

In a call with Iran's top diplomat Abbas Araghchi, Russia's Sergei Lavrov called for "a political settlement that takes into account the legitimate interests of all parties involved, above all Iran," the Russian foreign ministry said.

The US president had offered varying timelines and objectives for the war, saying Friday he was considering "winding down" the operation -- only to later threaten Iran's power plants -- of which it has more than 90.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has meanwhile spoken of a long-term campaign against Iran's government, a state sponsor of Hamas, which launched the October 7, 2023 attack triggering the Gaza war.

Israel has also expanded its ground campaign against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, warning of "weeks of fighting" in the country.

The Lebanon violence has killed more than 1,000 people and displaced more than a million, according to the health ministry.



- Iran takes toll in Israel -



Israel prides itself on its air defences, and Trump and Netanyahu both claim to have knocked out key Iranian military sites.

But Iranian missiles evaded the defences over the weekend to land in two southern towns, including Dimona, close to Israel's desert nuclear facility, injuring dozens on Saturday.

According to rescuers, a missile landed about five kilometres from what is widely believed to be the Middle East's only atomic arsenal -- although Israel denies possessing nuclear weapons.

On Monday Israel's military said it was working to intercept a new salvo of missiles from Iran -- while confirming its own artillery fire had killed an Israeli civilian a day earlier near the Lebanese border.

In Iran, at least 3,230 people have died in the war, including 1,406 civilians, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. AFP is not able to access the sites of strikes nor independently verify tolls in Iran.

burs-ec/ser
Russia calls for 'political' settlement over Iran as Trump says US talking to Tehran



Moscow, March 23 (AFP) Mar 23, 2026



Russia on Monday called for a "political and diplomatic" settlement to the Middle East war just as US President Donald Trump revealed Washington and Tehran had held talks on ending the conflict.

Trump said Monday the two sides had, over the last two days, held "very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities."

Trump also said he had ordered a halt to threatened strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure, after earlier issuing an ultimatum for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The waterway has remained effectively closed since the start of the war sparked on February 28 by US-Israeli bombardment of Iran.

In a call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Russia's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov urged an "immediate cessation of hostilities and a political settlement that takes into account the legitimate interests of all parties involved, above all Iran," the Russian foreign ministry said in a readout of the call.

There was no mention of US-Iran talks -- which have not been confirmed by Tehran -- in the Russian statement.

Moscow said the call was initiated by Iran.

Russia is one of the Islamic Republic's closest allies and has slammed the US-Israeli strikes on the country, but has not publicly offered military support.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had earlier said the "situation should have transitioned to a political and diplomatic settlement."

"This is the only thing that can effectively contribute to defusing the catastrophically tense situation that has now developed in the region," Peskov told reporters at a briefing.

He was speaking before Trump's statement that talks had taken place.

Russia -- which helped build Iran's only operational nuclear power plant at Bushehr -- has warned against strikes that could endanger the site that the UN's nuclear watchdog announced last week was hit by a projectile.

"Of course, this poses a very serious security threat if this trend continues," Peskov said Monday.

"We consider strikes on nuclear facilities to be potentially extremely dangerous and fraught with, perhaps even irreversible, consequences," he added.
S. Korea FM urges safe Hormuz transit in call with Iranian counterpart



Seoul, March 23 (AFP) Mar 23, 2026



South Korea's foreign minister urged his Iranian counterpart during a call on Monday to guarantee the safe passage of its fleet through the Strait of Hormuz, Seoul said.

The call came as South Korea faces mounting risks to its energy supplies, after the strategic artery was effectively closed since the war began late February, when the United States and Israel launched an attack against Iran.

Around 70 percent of South Korea's crude oil imports transit through the waterway.

During the conversation, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun urged his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi to "halt attacks on civilians and civilian facilities in Gulf countries, ensure safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, and take steps to ease tensions and stabilise global energy supplies", the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Cho noted that "multiple vessels of various nationalities, including SKorea's", are anchored in the strait -- from which one fifth of global oil and gas supplies flow.

The crisis has already pushed South Korea to impose a fuel price cap for the first time in nearly 30 years.

South Korea uses about 2.5 million barrels of oil per day as of the end of 2024, according to data website Worldometer.
What cargo ships are passing Hormuz strait?



London, March 23 (AFP) Mar 23, 2026



Just a trickle of cargo ships and tankers -- most of them Iranian -- have made it through the Strait of Hormuz since Iranian forces effectively blocked the crucial trade route in the Middle East war.

Here are facts and figures about vessels that have passed through the 167-kilometre (104-mile) long strait since the war broke out with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.



- 95% shipping drop -



From March 1 to 0400 GMT on March 23, commodities carriers made just 138 crossings, according to analytics firm Kpler -- a 95 percent decrease from peacetime.

Of these, 87 crossings were by oil and gas tankers and more than half were loaded, Kpler data showed, with most travelling east out of the strait.

"Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continues to be severely disrupted," shipping intelligence journal Lloyd's List said in its latest update Monday.

Its editor Richard Meade has noted bulk carriers, tankers and container ships make up most of the traffic.

He said the week to last Thursday saw an "uptick in gas carriers moving" through the maritime chokepoint.



- New approved route? -



On Monday, three further vessels -- two Indian-flagged tankers carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and a China-bound oil carrier -- became the latest to navigate the strait, according to Kpler's monitoring service MarineTraffic.

The Jag Vasant and Pine Gas, both Indian flagged, were each carrying around 45,000 metric tonnes of LPG when they left the waterway, having loaded up in the UAE and Kuwait respectively in late February, according to Bloomberg and MarineTraffic.

The Panama-flagged Bright Gold left the strait carrying around 40,000 metric tonnes of methane, and was due to arrive in China on April 13.

The trio -- not included in Kpler's overall tally update -- appeared to have used a purported Tehran-approved route around Larak Island just off the Iranian coast.

Meade has said that governments including China, India, Pakistan, Iraq and Malaysia seemed to have been in direct talks with Tehran, "coordinating vessel transits" with its Revolutionary Guards.

Lloyd's List noted last week that at least nine ships had by that time passed through the apparent Iranian-approved "corridor" for vetting by its authorities.

Two of the vessels navigating it Monday -- the Bright Gold and the Indian tanker Pine Gas -- kept their AIS transponders on, a rare occurrence for a non-Iranian vessel in the current climate.



- Iranian, Greek, Chinese ships -



The biggest proportion of ships to have passed through the strait are owned or flagged in Iran, followed by Greek and Chinese carriers, Bridget Diakun, an analyst at Lloyd's List Intelligence, said last week.

"Although Iran is continuing to control the Strait and exit its own oil, everything else is largely still at a standstill," Meade previously noted.



- 51 sanctioned ships -



Overall since the war started, more than 40 percent of the ships transiting the strait have been under US, EU or UK sanctions, according to an AFP analysis of passage data.

Of the oil and gas tankers, nearly 59 precent were under sanctions.

Since March 16 "anything heading westbound has been shadow fleet, gas carriers or tankers... they absolutely dominate the traffic going through," Diakun told the Lloyds briefing.



- Oil to China -



Commodities analysts at JPMorgan bank have noted that most of the oil passing through the strait was headed for Asia, principally China.

Cichen Shen, Asia Pacific editor at Lloyd's List, said there were indications online that Chinese authorities were working on "some sort of exit plan" for their big tankers stuck in the region.



- 1.3 mn barrels of Iran oil -



The JPMorgan analysts said overall 98 percent of the observable oil traffic through the strait was Iranian, averaging 1.3 million barrels a day "in early March".

A fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the strait in peacetime.

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Trump announces 'very good' talks with Iran on ending war



Tehran, March 23 (AFP) Mar 23, 2026



President Donald Trump said Monday the United States and Iran had held "very good" talks towards ending the three-week Middle East war, putting threatened US attacks on Iran's power plants on hold in a stunning about-turn.

In a social media post that immediately sent oil prices tumbling, Trump said Washington and Tehran had held "productive conversations" over the last two days towards "a complete and total resolution" of hostilities in the Middle East.

In Iran, media outlets quoted the foreign ministry denying any such talks and suggesting Trump was angling to bring down energy prices sent soaring by the war -- with no mention of his claim on state television's latest news bulletin.

But Trump asserted he had told the Pentagon, on the basis of talks to date, to "postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings."

He said the US-Iranian sides would keep talking "throughout the week."

The bombshell announcement came ahead of a Monday night ultimatum for the Islamic republic to reopen the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane -- or see Trump "obliterate" its power plants.

In response, Iran had threatened to deploy naval mines in the Gulf and target power plants across the region -- ramping up its rhetoric after warnings the world faced an energy crisis of historic proportions if the US-Israeli war with Iran drags on.



- Strikes -



Tehran has retaliated against US-Israeli attacks by throttling traffic through Hormuz, conduit for a fifth of global crude, hitting energy sites and US embassies across the Gulf as well as targets in Israel.

Israel hit Tehran with fresh strikes on Monday, with the latest wave reported by the military minutes after Trump's announcement.

The head of the International Energy Agency Fatih Birol warned overnight that, in the event of a protracted war, daily oil losses put the world on track for a crisis worse than the combined impact of both 1970s oil shocks and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Oil prices have been driven above $100 a barrel by the conflict -- and they tumbled sharply after Trump's announcement, while and European stocks rebounded.

International benchmark Brent North Sea crude plunged more than 14 percent to $96.00 per barrel, while the main US oil contract West Texas Intermediate shed more than 14 percent to $84.37 per barrel.

Sign of the conflict's tentacular impact, the world's second economy China had said earlier Monday it was capping domestic fuel cost increases to mitigate the effect of surging oil prices.



- Lebanon ground campaign -



Weighing in before Trump's post, China's foreign ministry had warned of an "uncontrollable situation" should the war expand further.

Key Iran ally Russia meanwhile called after Trump's announcement for an "immediate cessation of hostilities".

In a call with Iran's top diplomat Abbas Araghchi, Russia's Sergei Lavrov called for "a political settlement that takes into account the legitimate interests of all parties involved, above all Iran," the Russian foreign ministry said.

The US president had offered varying timelines and objectives for the war, saying Friday he was considering "winding down" the operation -- only to later threaten Iran's power plants, of which it has more than 90.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has yet to comment on Trump's announcement, has spoken of a long-term campaign against Iran's government, a state sponsor of Hamas, which launched the October 7, 2023 attack triggering the Gaza war.

In Lebanon, Israel has also expanded its ground campaign against Iran-backed Hezbollah, warning of "weeks of fighting" there.

The Lebanon violence has killed more than 1,000 people and displaced more than a million, according to the health ministry.

On Monday Israel's military said it was working to intercept a new salvo of missiles from Iran -- while confirming its own artillery fire had killed an Israeli civilian a day earlier near the Lebanese border.

In Iran, at least 3,230 people have died in the war, including 1,406 civilians, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. AFP is not able to access the sites of strikes nor independently verify tolls in Iran.

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War in the Middle East: latest developments



Paris, France, March 23 (AFP) Mar 23, 2026



Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war on Monday:



- Iran media report no US-Iran talks -

Iranian media reported that there were no negotiations between Tehran and Washington after US President Donald Trump announced progress in talks on ending the war.

"There are no talks between Tehran and Washington," said the Mehr news agency, citing Iran's foreign ministry, adding that Trump's statements were part of a push "to reduce energy prices".

Other media carried similar reports.



- Russia-Iran call -

Russia on Monday called for a "political and diplomatic" settlement to the Middle East war just as Trump claimed Washington and Tehran had held talks on ending the conflict.

In a call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Russia's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov urged an "immediate cessation of hostilities and a political settlement that takes into account the legitimate interests of all parties involved, above all Iran," the Russian foreign ministry said in a readout of the call.



- US-Iran talks -

Trump wrote on social media that Washington and Tehran have had "VERY GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS REGARDING A COMPLETE AND TOTAL RESOLUTION OF OUR HOSTILITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST" over the past several days, adding that the contacts would continue during the week.

Trump said that he had ordered the US military to hold off on strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure, which he had threatened to carry out unless Tehran unblocked the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Trump's comments sparked a sharp reversal on markets, with crude prices sinking as much as 14 percent after rising around one percent earlier in the day.



- Oman 'working' to open Hormuz -

Oman, which has mediated nuclear talks between the United States and Iran, said it was working on securing safe passage in the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has de facto blockaded.

"Oman is working intensively to put in place safe passage arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz," Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said in a statement on X, adding: "Whatever your view of Iran, this war is not of their making."



- Tehran explosions -

A series of strong explosions were heard in the Iranian capital, an AFP journalist said, as the war with the United States and Israel raged for its fourth week.

It was not immediately what was targeted, but the blasts were felt in central Tehran, rattling the windows of buildings in the area, the journalist said.



- Aircraft carrier return -

The USS Gerald Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, which has played a key role in the Middle East war, has returned to a base in Crete, according to an AFP journalist.

The vessel, which took on food, fuel and ammunition at Souda Bay in February, reported a laundry fire on March 12 which injured two crew members.



- 'Goodbye to electricity' -

Iran's state media published infographics of power plants in the region that its forces could target, in response to Trump's threat to "obliterate" Iran's electricity plants if it didn't reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.

One infographic was titled "Say goodbye to electricity!" and showed potential targets in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait. Other maps showed Orot Rabin and Rutenberg, Israel's two largest power plants.



- Friendly fire -

The Israeli military confirmed that its own artillery fire had killed an Israeli civilian on the northern border on Sunday, where Hezbollah had claimed an attack and that "several severe issues and operational errors took place during the incident, including both the planning and execution of the fire".

Israeli emergency workers had initially said 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.



- Naval mines -

Iran's defence council said in a statement that it would mine "all access routes and communications lines in the Persian Gulf and coastal areas" -- including deploying "drifting mines deployable from the coasts" if its coastlines or islands were attacked.

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UN force in Lebanon says HQ struck in Hezbollah-Israel fighting



Beirut, Lebanon, March 23 (AFP) Mar 23, 2026



The UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) announced Monday that its headquarters in Naqura had been hit by a projectile, probably launched by a "non-state actor", after Hezbollah declared it had targeted Israeli forces in the same town.

Since Saturday, the coastal town in Lebanon's far south on the border with Israel, has been one of the flashpoints between Hezbollah and the Israeli army.

"Just before noon today, a projectile hit a building inside our headquarters," UNIFIL said in a statement.

"Peacekeepers with expertise in explosive ordinance disposal are working to deal with it. We believe it was fired by a non-state actor."

UNIFIL's statement came after Hezbollah claimed at least two attacks on Monday against Israeli forces in Naqura.

The first, at 11:00 am (0900GMT), targeted "a gathering of Israeli enemy soldiers in the vicinity of the Naqura municipality building". and the second, at 1:00 pm, targeted a similar gathering "near the Naqura school".

After a November 2024 ceasefire to end a previous war with Hezbollah, Israel kept forces in five positions, including the village of Labbouneh, just three kilometres away from Naqura.

On Saturday, Hezbollah said its fighters had targeted Israeli soldiers along the border, including in Naqura.

In its Monday statement, UNIFIL said it had observed over the past 48 hours "intense gunfire and explosions" in and around Naqura, close to its headquarters.

"Bullets, fragments, and shrapnel have hit buildings and open areas inside our headquarters, putting peacekeepers at risk."

The force reminded "all actors of their responsibility to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers".

"We reiterate that there is no military solution to this conflict and urge the actors to put down their weapons and commit to working toward a long-term solution, before more people get hurt."
Trump tells AFP 'things are going very well' on Iran



Washington, United States, March 23 (AFP) Mar 23, 2026



US President Donald Trump told AFP on Monday that "things are going very well" regarding Iran, shortly after announcing talks with Tehran and a five-day pause on targeting the Islamic republic's power plants.

Trump's abrupt shift on Iran came hours before the expiration of a two-day ultimatum under which he threatened to attack Iranian power plants if Tehran did not reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

"Things are going very well," Trump said in brief comments by telephone to AFP when asked about Iran, following his earlier Truth Social post on the negotiations that immediately sent oil prices tumbling.

In his post, Trump made the surprise announcement, backed by little detail, that diplomacy was underway. This came after he earlier shunned talks with Tehran in the fourth week of the joint US-Israeli military campaign.

Trump said in the post that Tehran and Washington "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."

"Based on the tenor and tone" of the talks, "which will continue throughout the week, I have instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five-day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions," Trump wrote.

The US president did not give further details on the talks in his comments to AFP, which he made from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, where he spent the weekend.



- Iran denies talks -



Iranian media however said on Monday that there were no negotiations underway towards ending the war.

"There are no talks between Tehran and Washington," said Mehr news agency citing Iran's foreign ministry, adding that Trump's statements were part of a push "to reduce energy prices".

Trump's post came just hours before Wall Street was set to open after brutal selloffs on European and Asian markets and a further climb in the price of oil.

The oil price has posed an increasing political headache for Trump as Americans complain of higher prices at the pump, ahead of crucial midterm elections in November that will determine the make-up of Congress.

On Friday, Trump had said that he was considering "winding down" the war, leaving the responsibility for keeping the strait open to so far-reluctant NATO allies.

But on Saturday Trump then issued a deadline of 2344 GMT Monday -- early Tuesday in Tehran -- for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow passageway into the Gulf through which one-fifth of the world's oil transits.

Iran had partly closed the strait as part of its retaliation for US and Israeli attacks launched on February 28 that have killed top officials including the cleric-run nation's longtime supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamanei.

Iran had remained defiant and threatened that if Trump went ahead it would target vital infrastructure across the Gulf including energy sites and desalination plants critical in the parched region.
Photo: http://bank.gov.ua/

Based on materials from the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), a National Guard serviceman who set up a laboratory for the production of a particularly dangerous psychotropic substance in Kharkiv region has been sentenced to 9 years in prison, the SBI reports.

A report on the agencys website on Monday notes that SBI employees, in cooperation with the National Police Drug Crime Department and the SBU, exposed the crime at the stage of launching the laboratory, preventing the products from entering the "black market."

According to the investigation, the figure decided to organize the illegal production of a psychotropic substance and involved a civilian acquaintance.

"They purchased instructions and drawings on the Internet and watched educational videos, after which they ordered the necessary equipment and precursors," the report says.

According to the SBI, the figures set up the laboratory in a remote settlement more than 120 kilometers from Kharkiv, expecting to avoid detection.

After starting production, according to the report, the perpetrators produced a trial batch of the substance, which they planned to sell via the Internet.

Law enforcement officers exposed the laboratory at the initial stage of its operation: expertise established that almost 7 kilograms of the psychotropic substance had been produced by that time, the estimated value of which on the "black market" could exceed 2 million UAH.

During searches, special equipment, precursors, finished products, and almost half a kilogram of cannabis were seized.

By the decision of the Novovodolaha District Court of Kharkiv Region, the National Guard member was found guilty of illegal production and storage for the purpose of sale of particularly dangerous psychotropic substances in especially large amounts, committed by prior conspiracy by a group of persons (Part 3 of Article 307 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine); illegal acquisition and storage of precursors for the purpose of using them for the production of a psychotropic substance, committed by prior conspiracy by a group of persons (Part 2 of Article 311 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine); and illegal production and storage of equipment intended for the production of psychotropic substances or their analogues for the purpose of producing a particularly dangerous psychotropic substance, committed by prior conspiracy by a group of persons (Part 3 of Article 313 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

He was sentenced to 9 years of imprisonment.

The SBI specifies that the materials regarding the servicemans accomplice are being considered by the court separately.

Public prosecution was supported by prosecutors of the Specialized Prosecutors Office in the military sphere of the Eastern Region.
Russia, Vietnam advance plans for first nuclear power plant



Moscow, March 23 (AFP) Mar 23, 2026



Russia and Vietnam on Monday signed a cooperation agreement on the construction of Vietnam's first nuclear power plant, Russia's Rosatom nuclear agency said on Monday.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh was visiting energy-rich Russia as Vietnam seeks to shore up its fuel reserves at a time of disruption to energy supplies caused by the war in the Middle East, sparking fears of fuel shortages around the world.

Since the US-Israeli war against Iran began in late February, the cost of 95-octane petrol and diesel in Vietnam, a manufacturing hub, has soared by 50 percent and 70 percent respectively.

The agreement lays out the legal framework for the construction of two reactors with a total output of 2400 MW at Vietnam's proposed Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant, Rostam said.

Rosatom head Alexey Likhachev said the agreement would be the "foundation for a long-term industrial partnership, which will strengthen Vietnam's energy independence and open up new opportunities for economic growth".

No timeline was given for when construction would start or when the plant might come online.

Moscow and Hanoi had initially agreed to build the Ninh Thuan 1 atomic power station back in 2010, but later decided to suspend construction.

Another agreement between Russia's top liquefied natural gas (LNG) producer Novatek and a Vietnamese buyer was also signed recently, Novatek's CEO Leonid Mikhelson said on Monday.

"We have been in negotiations with potential buyers for over five years, and have very recently signed a preliminary supply agreement with one of them. We are ready to commence deliveries at the earliest opportunity," he told state broadcaster Rossiya 24, without naming the customer.

Russia and Vietnam have also signed a deal on oil and gas production in both countries, the TASS state news agency reported, citing Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, without giving details.
'Point of no return' looming in Middle East war: Red Cross



Geneva, March 23 (AFP) Mar 23, 2026



The International Committee of the Red Cross demanded Monday a halt to the "war on essential infrastructure" in the Middle East, warning of potential "irreversible consequences" including harm to nuclear facilities.

"What we have seen in recent days in the Middle East risks reaching a point of no return," ICRC president Mirjana Spoljaric warned in a statement.

"Most alarming is the potential harm to nuclear facilities, whether deliberate or incidental," she said.

Energy infrastructure has been repeatedly hit since the start of the war on February 28, when the United States and Israel began their attacks on Iran. Tehran has responded by striking targets in Israel and Gulf states.

Over the weekend, an Iranian strike hit the southern Israeli town of Dimona, home to a nuclear facility, in what Tehran said was in response to an earlier attack on its nuclear site at Natanz.

"Damage to these sites could trigger irreversible consequences, which is why they are afforded heightened protections under the rules of war," Spoljaric said.

She cautioned that "war on essential infrastructure is war on civilians".

"Deliberate attacks on essential services and civilian infrastructure can amount to war crimes."

Her comments came as US President Donald Trump suddenly backtracked on a threat to "obliterate" Iran's power infrastructure if it did not reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

In response to Trump's initial threat, Iran had threatened to deploy naval mines in the Gulf and target power plants across the region.

On Monday, Trump said he was putting his ultimatum on hold after "very good" talks with unidentified Iranian officials, while Iranian media outlets quoted the foreign ministry in Tehran denying any negotiations and suggesting Trump was angling to bring down energy prices.

"Attacks on essential infrastructure have already punished millions of civilians both near and far from the front lines," Spoljaric said in her statement.

"This pattern, combined with an escalatory rhetoric that disregards the limits imposed by international humanitarian law, normalises a style of warfare that strips away our shared humanity."
The Verkhovna Rada will not have time to fulfill 25 structural measures by the end of the first quarter of 2026 as provided for by financial support programs from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank (DPO), and the Ukraine Facility, reported Peoples Deputy Yaroslav Zhelezniak (Holos faction) on his Telegram channel on Monday.

According to the deputy, the attraction of financing totaling about EUR7 billion is at risk due to the failure to fulfill these points. Zhelezniak noted that the current plenary week, the last in March, has effectively failed: Tuesdays session was canceled due to a lack of votes, and there is no potential for decision-making on Wednesday and Thursday.

"During all this time, no one has even tried to solve the problem. There was no communication from the government or attempts by the president to gather the faction to coordinate actions. Currently, there is no plan or strategy on how to get out of this situation," the parliamentarian emphasized.

Zhelezniak also added that he sees no prospects for a quick change in the situation as the political crisis within the mono-majority deepens. In his opinion, deputies of the Servant of the People faction no longer feel obligations to the president, do not see their own political future in new government projects, and critically assess the incapacity of the current government.

The head of the committee on finance, tax, and customs policy, Danylo Hetmantsev, reported that on Monday, March 23, he held a meeting with representatives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), during which the failure of structural benchmarks of the new financing program that Ukraine was supposed to fulfill in March was discussed.

"We talked for a long time, the conversation was not easy, as the situation is extremely complicated. Indeed, the disruption of the program with the IMF (and we are closer to it than ever) will mean a financial catastrophe. We finally came to a predictable conclusion: it is impossible to discuss, collect votes, and vote in the Rada for any initiative while it is absent from the Rada. Even if the initiative is for the implementation of the IMF program. We are waiting for the relevant bill from the government," he wrote on Telegram.

As reported, the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine on March 20 published the so-called "large tax bill" on its website. It contains norms on mandatory VAT registration for single-tax payers with incomes from UAH 4 million per year, taxation of imported parcels worth up to EUR 150, the extension of the 5% military tax even after the war, as well as the introduction of international automatic exchange of information on income received through digital platforms and taxation on digital platforms (Uklon, OLX, etc.).

According to the terms of the new $8.1 billion EFF program approved in late February, Ukraine must adopt the tax package described above by the end of March 2026.

Earlier, on March 10, the Rada rejected the bill on taxing income through digital platforms (No. 14025), which received only 168 votes out of the 226 required.
Israel's David's Sling system failed to intercept Iranian missiles: army



Jerusalem, March 23 (AFP) Mar 23, 2026



A malfunction in the David's Sling aerial interceptor system allowed two Iranian ballistic missiles to strike southern Israel, wounding dozens of people over the weekend, the military confirmed Monday.

The towns of Dimona and Arad were hit on Saturday evening, with the former widely believed to hold Israel's undeclared nuclear arsenal.

Most of the wounded were injured by shrapnel or while rushing to shelters, Israeli first responders said.

Several buildings were also damaged in the strikes.

Israeli financial daily and website Calcalist first reported that it was David's Sling, a key component of Israel's multi-layered air defence shield, that had failed to intercept the incoming Iranian ballistic missiles.

Contacted by AFP, the Israeli military confirmed that it was David's Sling, named after the Biblical figure who slew Goliath, that had malfunctioned.

Operational since April 2017, the aerial defence system was originally designed to counter heavy rockets and cruise missiles.

Long-range ballistic missiles of the kind fired by Iran are typically handled by the Arrow system, which intercepts targets outside the atmosphere, while shorter-range threats fall to the Iron Dome and the newly deployed Iron Beam laser system.

Calcalist reported that the military chose to use David's Sling on Saturday following a recent upgrade in a bid to preserve Arrow interceptor stocks amid concerns the war with Iran could drag on.

On February 11, the defence ministry announced that David's Sling had successfully completed a series of tests as part of what it described as a "future threat readiness upgrade".

The war with Iran began on February 28.

Yoav Tourgeman, chief executive of Rafael, the system's main contractor, was quoted as saying that the upgraded version "incorporated new capabilities across a wide range of challenging scenarios".

Despite Saturday's failed interceptions, the military has stressed that its forces have intercepted about 92 percent of the more than 400 ballistic missiles fired by Iran since the start of the war.

Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said on Sunday that there had been only four direct hits on Israeli territory since the Iran war began.

The Middle East was sparked by joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran that triggered a wave of retaliatory missile and drone attacks against Israel and several other countries in the region.
Macron, alongside Lebanese minister, warns against 'occupation'



Paris, France, March 23 (AFP) Mar 23, 2026



French President Emmanuel Macron, hosting an event attended by a Lebanese minister, on Monday issued a warning that "occupation" does not bring security, in a message seen as directed at Israel.

"No occupation, no form of colonisation -- not here, not in the West Bank, nor anywhere else -- is able to ensure the security of anybody," Macron said as he opened an exhibition at the state-funded Institute of the Arab World in Paris.

He was speaking alongside Lebanon's culture minister, Ghassan Salame.

The remark came as Israel waged an offensive on Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah, which launched rockets and missiles at Israel in retaliation for the US-Israeli war on Iran that, at its start, killed the Islamic republic's supreme leader.

Israel has been conducting airstrikes, and sent ground troops into Lebanon's south in what its military has described as a "limited" incursion.

The Israeli offensive has killed more than 1,000 people, according to Lebanese officials.

In the occupied West Bank, meanwhile, at least six Palestinians have been killed in attacks and buildings and cars have been torched by Israeli settlers since the start of the Middle East war.

Macron urged respect for international law, saying that "at a time that certain people want to have us believe that security can only be achieved by invading a scary neighbour, Lebanon reminds us of just one thing: the force of universalism".

The Paris exhibition is dedicated to Byblos, a city in Lebanon inhabited since 6900 BC that is considered the oldest port in the world.

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France takes small indirect steps to mitigate fuel price rise



Paris, France, March 23 (AFP) Mar 23, 2026



France's government announced some indirect measures Monday to alleviate fuel price rises resulting from the Middle East war, while asking refiners if they were able to boost their output.

The decisions were made as many countries grappled with the virtual shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf, through which 20 percent of oil passes in peacetime, and as Iran continued to target facilities in oil- and gas-rich Gulf neighbours in retaliation for the US-Israeli war against it.

The French steps comprised an easing of some payroll levies, extended deadlines for tax payments and public loans for companies in the transport and fishing sectors that ask.

Fishing associations dismiss them as "mini-measures" falling far short of what was needed for trawlers to be able to set out to sea.

According to a government letter seen by AFP, Paris also asked oil refineries to swiftly check to see if they could "quickly and temporarily increase the production of refined products".

The aim was to "alleviate market tensions on refined products in Europe and reduce European market tensions if this situation is prolonged".

One refining company, North Atlantic, told AFP that it believed it could only increase production "by a maximum 10 percent... if everything aligns".

French oil giant TotalEnergies was already producing at maximum capacity at its refineries, one expert told AFP.

France imports half of the diesel it requires.

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Syrian army says base targeted by missiles from Iraq



Damascus, March 23 (AFP) Mar 23, 2026



Syria's army said on Monday that one of its bases in the northeast was targeted by a missile attack from neighbouring Iraq, while an Iraqi official said a local armed group was behind the attack.

"One of our military bases near the town of al-Yarubiyah in the Hasakeh province was targeted by a missile attack," the army said in a statement.

The Iraqi official, requesting anonymity, told AFP that "an Iraqi faction fired seven Arash-4 rockets, an improved version of the Grad rocket, towards a base in the Hassakeh region".

He added that a rocket launcher platform had been found abandoned in the northern Rabia area, near the Syrian border.

This month, the Syrian army took over the Rmeilan base in Hasakeh after the withdrawal of a US-led international coalition against the Islamic State group from it.

"We have been in contact and coordination with the Iraqi side regarding the incident, and they have confirmed that the Iraqi army has begun a search operation to locate the perpetrators," the Syrian military added.

Syrian Kurdish military official Sipan Hamo, who was recently appointed as Syria's Assistant Minister of Defence for the eastern region, said they "condemn the attack targeting" Rmeilan.

"We hold the Iraqi authorities fully and directly responsible for this act, due to their failure to control their territory and prevent its use to launch attacks that threaten our security and territorial integrity," he added stating that the incident resulted in "material damage, but no casualties".

Iraq has been unwillingly drawn into the conflict started on February 28 when the US and Israel launched a massive wave of strikes on Iran.

Pro-Tehran armed groups have claimed responsibility for near-daily attacks on US interests in Iraq and across the region, while strikes have also targeted these groups.
15,000 Ukrainian-made STRILA interceptor drones, funded by Germany, to be handed over to National Guard of Ukraine

15,000 STRILA interceptor drones of Ukrainian production, funded by Germany, will be transferred to units of the National Guard of Ukraine, part of Berlins support in scaling up drone production for the Ukrainian army, the press service of the German Embassy in Ukraine reports.

As noted by the embassy, within the framework of a recently signed multi-million dollar agreement, the exact amount of which has not been disclosed, modern Ukrainian-made STRILA interceptor drones, funded by Germany, will be supplied to the National Guard of Ukraine. The agreement also provides for comprehensive support for National Guard members, including unit training, logistics, and the further development of unmanned systems.

The STRILA interceptor drone is specifically designed to hit fast and maneuvering aerial targets, including Shahed-type combat drones, and has already been tested in real combat conditions. Its production will be expanded through the joint efforts of the German company Quantum Systems and the Ukrainian manufacturer WIY Drones, which specialize in the development of unmanned systems.

"The STRILA system will be produced in Ukraine to promptly meet the urgent needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as the security and defense forces. Production funding is provided by the German government, which consistently supports Ukraine in countering Russias aggression," the report says.

The agreement was concluded with the participation of representatives of the National Guard of Ukraine, Quantum Systems, and the German Charge dAffaires Maximilian Rasch.

Earlier, it was reported that the German company Quantum Systems and the Ukrainian defense technology company Frontline Robotics founded the first joint German-Ukrainian drone production enterprise  Quantum Frontline Industries, localized in Germany.

As part of this cooperation, the Ukrainian Armed Forces will receive the first 10,000 German-Ukrainian produced Linza UAVs this year, equipped with artificial intelligence and successfully tested on the battlefield.

"In this way, Germany actively supports the priority of the Ukrainian government to strengthen air defense to protect lives and critical infrastructure, as well as contributes to the technological superiority of the Ukrainian army," the diplomatic mission emphasized.

In total, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion by Russia, the German government has directed about EUR 95 billion in support for Ukraine, EUR 55 billion of which is for defense.
What we need here is de-escalation and thats why we had a statement from a number of countries last week about what we need to do about the Strait of Hormuz, which obviously needs careful co-ordination and a viable plan, but its very important we defend our interests, we defend British lives, but without getting dragged into the war.
Why Arsenal may be the big winners from PSG vs Bayern thriller

Why Arsenal are the big winners from PSG vs Bayern thriller
We are Jews who will stand up for ourselves, and we will not let this country be radicalised. This is why we dance and we spread love, and we dont let the dark and the hate overtake us.
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Until that happens, they simply fail to believe as the Met would have it, that a 19-years-old first year student can go back to a hotel room with two men in their fifties and end up dead the next morning and there be nothing to see.
Accountants are also stressing that British expats who are currently in the UK and unable to return to their homes in Gulf states due to the war may also get caught in the same capital gains trap, as could some individuals who were planning to emigrate to these countries.
Mr Foremans statement added: Lastly, we would like to say a massive thank you to our families and friends who have been and are still the driving force and the backbone fighting for our release and our safe passage back home.
He also pointed out that the think tank praised the pledge to reform the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) and business rates, adding: The bottom line is that tax cuts of the scale proposed by Reform UK Scotland are perfectly possible  but they would not pay for themselves, and in the context of a Scottish budget already under pressure would almost certainly require cuts to at least some frontline services or benefits.
He added: If any country has a missile capable of travelling the sort of distances we are talking about with the sort of intent that Iran definitely has if we are supporting the United States by the use of bases then its a risk that has to be taken seriously.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/RedCrossUkraine

The Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) has organized humanitarian assistance for residents affected by a Russian airstrike on the Mykolaivka community in the Sumy region.

"Yesterday, 14 households, as well as a hospital and a school, were damaged at the site of the attack on the village of Ulianivka in the Mykolaivka community A team from the Ukrainian Red Cross Society joined the recovery efforts. The distribution of materials for the temporary repair of damaged homes was organized, including OSB boards and tarpaulins, as well as food packages for affected families," the URCS reported on Facebook on Monday.

According to the Mykolaivka settlement community, two elderly women were injured in the Russian attack.
And of course, the best form of solidarity is practical solidarity, which is why today, our London Ambulance Service colleagues will be providing support to the team here in Golders Green to make sure that we dont skip a beat when it comes to responding to emergency callouts.
He said the community is grateful for the significant amount of security which is being provided to us by our Government in the same way as previous governments have provided, together with police forces, adding: You can never have too much security  the more we get, the better.
He added: We have to prioritise police resources to where we are most likely to get results, that could be friends or family, he might be at a friends house, a family members house, we were checking those addresses.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree enacting the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) regarding the introduction of sanctions against a group of Russian individuals.

The corresponding document No. 244/2026 was published on the website of the President of Ukraine.

The sanctions list includes ten Russian paralympians who were direct participants in the war against Ukraine.

According to the decision of the NSDC of Ukraine, the restrictions include the blocking of assets, a ban on conducting business activities in Ukraine, the acquisition of real estate, restrictions on entry into the country, and the deprivation of state awards of Ukraine.

The restrictive measures will be in effect indefinitely, while specific types of sanctions are established for a period of up to 10 years.
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Sybiha calls on partners to consider Black Sea's potential as route for non-Russian energy resources to Europe

Photo: https://t.me/Ukraine_MFA

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha has called on partners to consider the Black Seas potential as a route for non-Russian energy resources to Europe and to develop the Three Seas initiative (Adriatic-Baltic-Black Sea).

He stated this during the online opening of the Third Black Sea Security Conference, which is taking place in Chisinau on Monday.

In his speech, Sybiha focused on three key points. First, he said, the Black Sea must once again become a sea of peace and security. The minister emphasized that freedom of navigation must be restored, which is crucial for global food security. He called for increased pressure on Russia, which carried out more attacks on Odesa port infrastructure last month than in the entire previous year.

"We need to work together to force the Kremlin to stop its aggression, agree to a ceasefire, and move toward genuine diplomacy," the Foreign Minister emphasized.

Among other important steps, he cited demining and active sanctions against the "Russian grain shadow fleet." Sybiha recalled that last year alone, Russia illegally shipped 2 million tonnes of stolen Ukrainian grain from Ukraine via the Black Sea for sale in other countries.

Secondly, as the head of the department noted, future security guarantees for Ukraine should include a maritime security component.

"Long-term peace in the region requires not only the presence of our allies military forces on land, but also the presence of our allies warships in our waters," the minister emphasized.

He noted the readiness of several countries, particularly Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania, and Turkey, to play a major role in Black Sea security. He also urged everyone to remember the European choice of the Georgian people.

Thirdly, as Sybiha emphasized, the liberation of Crimea from Russian occupation is the only path to long-term security in the Black Sea region.

"There can be no stable trade at sea, at the very heart of which lies a militarized peninsula under the control of an aggressive state. What began in Crimea must end in Crimea. Crimea is Ukraine," the minister stated.

Sybiha called on partners to consider the Black Sea in a broader geopolitical context, develop the Three Seas initiative (Adriatic-Baltic-Black Sea), and consider the Black Seas potential as a route for non-Russian energy resources to Europe.

"Today, what happens in the Baltic Sea resonates in the Black Sea, because our security is indivisible. This is how we should understand our security space  as a single axis from the Baltic to the Black Sea. Its all about our shared benefits and prosperity. But it all begins with security," Sybiha emphasized.

Sybiha noted that security is a prerequisite for economic prosperity. He noted that, despite the war in the Middle East, the allies attention remains focused on Ukraine and the Black Sea, as it is here that the fate of European and global security is being decided.

"The EUs Black Sea Strategy, adopted last year, is an important step forward. Its right that its first fundamental component is security. Ukraine, as a future EU member and a contributor to European security, will play a vital role in implementing this strategy," the Foreign Minister said.

In his speech, the minister emphasized the importance of holding the event in Moldova, as this country, like other neighboring states, has suffered from restrictions on freedom of navigation, disruptions to supply chains, and a lack of security in the Black Sea as a result of the Russian aggression.

The Black Sea Security Conference is the second flagship event of the International Crimea Platform, following the annual summit. Previous conferences were held in Bucharest (2023) and Sofia (2024).
Education and Science Minister Oksen Lisovy announced that authorities will take a stricter approach to children missing school without a valid reason.

"We document violations of a childs right to education, and then we work with the Juvenile Police to determine the cause of these violations," Lisovy said at a press conference summarizing the three-year work of the Ministry of Education team, responding to a question about students failure to attend school.

He stressed that the responsible authorities will now be "more strict about school absences."

"We are currently discussing synchronizing efforts between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, particularly the National Police, which is responsible for monitoring a childs presence at an educational institution. If a child is absent for an extended period of time, we must notify both the Child Welfare Service and the National Police, who must make efforts to locate the child. After that, depending on the cause, various accountability mechanisms are activated," said Deputy Minister of Education and Science Nadia Kuzmicheva.

She noted that this is not a new approach, but a return to mechanisms that were not very active due to the pandemic and the invasion.

As reported, Ukraines Education Ombudsman, Nadia Leschyk, advocates for reducing the period of time children can stay home from school without a medical certificate from ten to five days, as well as increasing parental accountability.

According to the procedure for maintaining records of preschool- and school-age children, foster children, and students, if a student is absent from classes for ten consecutive working days for unknown or unexcused reasons, the responsible official at the educational institution changes the information in the childs profile by adding the notation "not enrolled in classes." The reasons for the students absence from classes are confirmed by a corresponding medical certificate from the healthcare institution or a written explanation from one of the childs parents or other legal representatives, provided in any format.

According to the Code of Ukraine on administrative offenses, failure of parents or persons replacing them to fulfill their statutory obligations to ensure the necessary living conditions, education and upbringing of minors or underage children entails a warning or a fine of 50 to 100 non-taxable minimum incomes of citizens (UAH 850-1700), and the same actions committed repeatedly within a year after the imposition of an administrative penalty entail a fine of 100 to 300 non-taxable minimum incomes of citizens (UAH 1,700-5,100).
Photo: @V_Zelenskiy_official Telegram

Russia continues to transfer intelligence data to Iran, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced following a report by Oleh Ivaschenko, head of the Main Intelligence Agency (GUR) of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, on Monday.

We have irrefutable evidence that the Russians continue to provide intelligence to the Iranian regime. Russia is using its own signals intelligence and electronic intelligence capabilities, as well as part of the data obtained through cooperation with partners in the Middle East, Zelenskyy said on X.

As reported by Politico on Friday, Russia offered the USA an agreement under which the Kremlin would stop sharing intelligence data with Iran, such as the precise coordinates of US military installations in the Middle East, if Washington stopped providing Ukraine with information about Russia. The USA refused.

"Two people familiar with the negotiations between the USA and Russia said Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev put this proposal to Trump administration envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner during their meeting last week in Miami," the publications website reported. The sources added that the USA rejected the proposal.

Prior to this, US Special Representative for Near East Affairs Stephen Witkoff stated that the Russians told US President Donald Trump during a phone call on Monday that they were not sharing intelligence with Iran during the US war against that country. However, when asked whether the Russians had provided intelligence to Iran, Witkoff replied, "Well, Im not an intelligence officer, so I cant tell you that."
U.S. Senate advances DHS secretary nomination in procedural vote

Xinhua) 08:53, March 23, 2026

People attend a rally in front of the Los Angeles City Hall, in Los Angeles, California, the United States, Jan. 31, 2026. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Russia planning deployment of ground-based control stations for long-range UAVs in Ukraines TOT, as well as four stations in Belarus  Zelenskyy

Photo: President's Office / www.president.gov.ua

Russia plans to further deploy long-range UAV ground control stations in the temporarily occupied territory (TOT) of Ukraine and four stations in Belarus, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced.

Third, we have clear information that Russia is planning further deployment of ground-based control stations for long-range UAVs in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, as well as four stations in Belarus. We will respond accordingly, Zelenskyy said on X following a meeting with the head of the Main Intelligence Agency (GUR) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Oleh Ivaschenko, on Monday.

The President instructed Ivaschenko to inform partners and media representatives about the data that can be made public.

Moreover, the Russian command constantly attempts to exaggerate the achievements of Russian troops on the front lines and subsequently use such exaggerated data from the occupying groups headquarters in the negotiation process, Zelenskyy said.
The Army is tightening its education benefits policies, requiring all soldiers to get command approval for tuition assistance and eliminating up to $4,500 a year in credentialing assistance for officers, according to the service. (Nell King/U.S. Army)



The Army is reining in some of its education benefits, eliminating commissioned officer reimbursements for industry certifications and requiring command approval for all tuition assistance requests.

Army leaders say the changes, spelled out last week in a major policy revision, will help sustain resources for the program and preserve funds for soldiers more in need of financial help.

The annual cap for active-duty personnel and members of the Army Reserve and Army National Guard is $4,500 for up to 18 semester hours.

Considerations in denying a request include whether a soldier has any potential disruptions to finishing a course, such as an upcoming military-ordered move or scheduled military training. Tuition assistance requests must be approved or disapproved no later than five days prior to the semester start date, or the request will be automatically denied and deleted, according to the updated policy.

Additionally, soldiers will be suspended from the program for a year for not finishing or failing a course if it happens twice in the same fiscal year.

Credentialing assistance, meanwhile, will now be available only to enlisted personnel and warrant officers, with commissioned officers no longer eligible for the benefit. Command approval is also now required for the benefit under the new guidance, while soldiers failing to complete their courses will be suspended from the program for a year.

Launched in 2020, the credentialing program allows troops to pursue education in hundreds of fields ranging from private pilot licenses for single-engine aircraft to security, personal training and technical trades.

The Army in 2024 cut support for credentialing assistance from a maximum cap of $4,000 to $2,000, with Army leaders citing at the time concerns that the program was becoming financially unsustainable.

The Army says industry credentials can be used for promotion points toward career growth and increased pay.

These updates are designed to support long-term sustainability of Army education benefits, preserve resources for Soldiers where theyre most needed, and increase leader involvement in the approval process, the Army said in a statement last week.

This also brings the Army into closer alignment with education policies across other Services.

Soldiers and veterans aired concerns about the changes on social media last week, lamenting that requiring command approval for tuition assistance could discourage or even thwart personnel from starting their academic journey and would burden commanders with more paperwork.

Tuition assistance is authorized by Congress to fund off-duty voluntary education for U.S. troops, with the support considered a quality-of-life benefit and recruitment tool, among other incentives.

A 2025 congressional paper on the programs background says that military commanders have some latitude to decide whether to approve tuition assistance requests, given that the authority is discretionary and does not require the services to pay for all education expenses.
Brig. Gen. Simon Doran, left, incoming commander of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, receives the wing colors from the outgoing commander, Maj. Gen. Marcus Annibale, at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, March 20, 2026. (Ryan Sotodavila/U.S. Marine Corps)



A veteran Marine fighter pilot and former instructor at the Navys elite Top Gun school has taken command of a key U.S. air unit in the Indo-Pacific, as regional tensions continue to shape the militarys posture in Asia.

Brig. Gen. Simon Doran assumed command of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing on Friday, succeeding Maj. Gen. Marcus Annibale during a ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.

About 200 Marines, U.S. airmen and representatives from Japan and South Korea attended the ceremony, which was closed to the news media, wing spokesman Capt. Tyler King said by email Monday.

Annibale, in remarks at the ceremony, described the wings Marines as neighbors when called to help, partners when called to stand together, and warriors when called to fight, King wrote.

Doran pledged to continue strengthening cooperation with regional allies and supporting the Marines and sailors assigned to the unit, the spokesman said.

Brig. Gen. Simon Doran gives his first remarks as 1st Marine Aircraft Wing commander at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, March 20, 2026. (Scott Smolinski/U.S. Marine Corps)



Doran, who was born in Liverpool, England, graduated from Purdue University and was commissioned in 1993, according to his official biography. He holds a masters degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College.

A designated F/A-18 Hornet pilot, Doran attended the Navy Fighter Weapons School, known as Top Gun, in 2000 and returned as an instructor from 2002 to 2005. He has flown more than 600 combat hours in the Hornet and F-35B Lightning II.

His deployments include missions over the Persian Gulf in 1999 aboard the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy and operations in Afghanistan in 2001 aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, according to his official biography.

Before coming to Okinawa, Doran led the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory in Quantico, Va., and has been nominated for promotion to major general.

Annibale, of Fairfax, Va., led the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing during a period of heightened tensions with China, whose naval and coast guard activity has increased in waters around Taiwan and Japan.

During his tenure, the Marine Corps deployed MQ-9A Reaper drones to Kadena Air Base in 2024 for intelligence and surveillance missions. The wing also hosted its first rotational deployment of F-35B fighters to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, near Hiroshima, last year.

Annibale is expected to become deputy chief of staff at NATOs Allied Command Transformation in Norfolk, Va.

The 1st Marine Aircraft Wing  the aviation component of the III Marine Expeditionary Force  includes about 7,500 Marines and sailors based in Japan and Hawaii. It operates a range of aircraft, including F/A-18 and F-35B fighters, MV-22 Osprey tiltrotors and AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters, and provides air support, reconnaissance and electronic warfare capabilities.
An F/A-18 taxis before flight aboard USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) during Operation Epic Fury March 6, 2026. (U.S. Navy)



NAPLES, Italy  USS Gerald R. Ford is at a Navy base in the Mediterranean Sea for repairs and maintenance following a fire aboard the carrier earlier this month during operations in the Middle East.

The Ford arrived at U.S. Naval Support Activity Souda Bay on the Greek island of Crete on Monday following operations in the Red Sea, the U.S. 6th Fleet said in a statement the same day. It was operating in support of Operation Epic Fury, the ongoing joint American and Israeli military campaign against Iran.

The port call in Greece allows the carrier to undergo efficient assessment, repairs, and resupply, the 6th Fleet said, adding that the Ford remains fully mission capable.

Fords arrival at NSA Souda Bay follows a March 12 fire that started in the carriers main laundry areas. The fire was fully contained the same day, the Navy said at the time.

Three sailors aboard the ship were injured as a result of the blaze. None of the injuries were life-threatening, and two of the sailors have since returned to duty, while the third was in stable condition last week after being flown off the ship for treatment.

Officials have released few details on the cause of the fire, only saying that it is under investigation. It did not impact the ships propulsion plant, the service has said.

The Navy also has not said if the fire impacted crew living quarters, but there are indications it may have displaced hundreds of sailors, potentially destroying bedding and personal possessions.

The New York Times reported last week that more than 600 sailors and crew members had been uprooted by the fire, sleeping on the floor and on tables. It took more than 30 hours to fully extinguish the fire, according to the report.

The U.S. 6th Fleet did not reference the fire in its statement but did say that the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group continues its overseas deployment.

The carrier, which deployed from its homeport in Norfolk, Va., in late June with nearly 4,500 personnel aboard, has been deployed for nine months.

The Ford had been in the Red Sea since transiting the Suez Canal on March 5.
Crew members aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz perform physical training on the carrier deck while in the Pacific Ocean on March 21, 2026. (Jaron Wills/U.S. Navy)



The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz will sail around the southern tip of South America as part of the U.S. 4th Fleets Southern Seas 2026 deployment, U.S. Southern Command announced Monday.

Along with Nimitz, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gridley will conduct passing exercises at sea with ships of other nations as they circumnavigate the South American continent.

The Navy said joint exercises are planned with Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Uruguay. Port visits are planned in Brazil, Chile, Panama and Jamaica.

Southern Seas 2026 marks the 11th such exercise in the region since 2007. The Nimitz and its Carrier Strike Group 11 will be operating in the waters of the 4th Fleet, which includes the southern Pacific, southern Atlantic and Caribbean.

Deployments like this demonstrate our unwavering commitment to ensuring a secure and stable Western Hemisphere, said Rear Adm. Carlos Sardiello, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet.

The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group includes the Nimitz as its flagship, the embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, the Gridley and the staff of Destroyer Squadron 9.

The air wing consists of six squadrons flying F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers, C-2A Greyhounds and MH-60R/S Seahawks.

An F/A-18F Super Hornet, attached to the Kestrels of Strike Fighter Squadron 137, takes off of the flight deck of aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in the Pacific Ocean, March 20, 2026. (Tanner Orth/U.S. Navy)



Elements include Helicopter Maritime Squadron (HSM) 73, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 6, Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40, Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22, VFA-137, and Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 139.

We look forward to continuing the Nimitz legacy of teamwork as we engage with and train alongside our regional partners, said Rear Adm. Cassidy Norman, the commander of Carrier Strike Group 11.

USS Nimitz was homeported at Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Wash., until this month, when it was ordered to move to Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia. The Navys oldest aircraft carrier, commissioned in 1975, was scheduled to begin its retirement and decommissioning next month upon arrival on the East Coast.

The Navy announced this month that the ship will stay in service until at least 2027, when the USS John F. Kennedy, the second Gerald R. Ford-class carrier to be built, is scheduled for commissioning. The John F. Kennedy is scheduled to be homeported at Naval Base Kitsap in 2029.

Under a congressional mandate, the Navy must have a minimum of 11 operational aircraft carriers. The retirement of the Nimitz prior to the John F. Kennedy joining the fleet would have left the Navy with just 10 carriers.
Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Kevin Moreno, a sailor assigned to the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, greets his partner following the ships return to Naval Station Norfolk, March 23, 2026, after nearly six months supporting U.S. Southern Command missions. (Anderson W. Branch/U.S. Navy)



The USS Gettysburg returned to its homeport at Naval Station Norfolk, in Virginia, on Monday after a nearly six-month deployment supporting U.S. Southern Command missions, according to a service news release.

Families and friends gathered on the pier to welcome home the sailors.

The War Horses of USS Gettysburg conducted themselves honorably and professionally. ... We stand GETTY ready to support our American warfighting team wherever and whenever we are called, said Capt. John Lucas, commanding officer of the USS Gettysburg.

The Gettysburg was among U.S. military forces deployed to the Caribbean in support of Operation Southern Spear. The guided-missile cruiser worked alongside the Iwo Jima Amphibious Readiness Group and the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and transnational crime.
Dead & Company perform on March 22, 2025, at the Sphere in Las Vegas. The Sphere is a 366-foot-tall geodesic dome, projecting bright images that can be seen from miles away (as well as from the sky while youre flying in and out of Las Vegas). Inside, the venue boasts a giant wraparound 16K-resolution screen. Since opening in late 2023, the Sphere has become a must-see concert venue. (Jim Harrington, Bay Area news Group/TNS)



Las Vegas is  by very definition and mission statement  an immersive experience.

It wants all of you  your eyes, your ears, your stomach, your imagination and, of course, your wallet. It offers up giant resorts with so many amenities and attractions that, really once immersed inside one of these complexes, you never really need to leave for the entire length of your stay.

Its the type of place that comes at you basically the very moment you enter the city limits. And then it just keeps right on coming  with concerts, roulette tables, celebrity chefs, showgirls, spa treatments and so much more.

Still, Vegas is never content to stay stuck in its old ways. Instead, its gone from Rat Pack to high-tech as its embraces cutting-edge technologies, from virtual reality attractions to a giant 360-degree screen, that submerge you into an alternative world. Youll basically find these newfangled immersive experiences around every corner, from The Strip to the revitalized downtown area and beyond.

Here are some of the very best of the bunch, all of which would take a Vegas itinerary to the next level.

AREA 15

Since opening in 2020, Area 15 has drawn well over 10 million visitors to its location just one mile off The Strip  and its easy to figure out why.

Area 15 is a mixed-use experiential playground, offering up an impressive assortment of retail, dining, nightlife and immersive activities. One visit to this 40-acre complex is simply not enough  at least not if you want to take in all the diversely appealing attractions found in both the original Zone 1 and the more recently opened Zone 2.

But if youre only going to do one, definitely make sure its the Interstellar Arc, which may well be the finest virtual reality attraction on the planet.

Interstellar Arc

The newly opened Interstellar Arc  located in Zone 2  presents an approximately hourlong virtual reality experience that puts you right in middle of a Hollywood-style sci-fi epic.

The plot goes something like this: Youre a futuristic space traveler, just waking up from a 200-year hypersleep-style nap, and youre on a mission to help colonize a new world  one that is located some 11.4 light years from Earth. That means its time to explore your massive ship  the Interstellar Arc  and get a good look at this new world from above.

To be honest, Ive never much cared for the basic VR-enhanced rides and such  in large part because they can leave me feeling a bit nauseated. So I was initially worried that spending 50-60 minutes with a VR headset on at the Arc would be rough sledding.

Yet, the experience turned out to be an absolute breeze  and delight  as I got to take in what is billed as the worlds largest free-roaming VR experience. You take VR space shuttles, walk across VR glass floors, peer over VR ledges to see VR spacescapes, etc., as you casually make your way along an easy, flat guided path in this 20,000-square-foot space.

This is a true cant-miss Vegas experience.

Details: Tickets start at $54. For more information, visit interstellararc.com .

Jack the Clown and his evil sidekick Chance at Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas. Universal Horror Unleasheds four attractions are: Universal Monsters (Frankenstein, the Mummy, etc.), Scarecrow: The Reaping (maybe the scariest of the bunch), The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Blumhouses The Exorcist: Believer. (Universal Destinations & Experiences/TNS)



Universal Horror Unleashed

Another new Zone 2 attraction is Universal Horror Unleashed, which nothing short of a dream  or, perhaps, nightmare  come true for those who think Halloween fun should last all year long.

As the name underscores, this chilling immersive experience comes courtesy of the same folks behind the popular Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios in Los Angeles, Orlando, Fla., Singapore and Osaka, Japan.

Like the Halloween-season phenomenon, Universal Horror Unleashed also has multiple themed haunted houses filled with very convincing ghouls, axe murders and others menaces who all share the goal of making you shriek in terror.

Its four attractions are Universal Monsters (Frankenstein, the Mummy, etc.), Scarecrow: The Reaping (maybe the scariest of the bunch), The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Blumhouses The Exorcist: Believer.

These experiences are at least as frightening as what youll find at Halloween Horror Nights. Plus, you can get your scare on 12 months a year here.

Details: Tickets start at $59. For more information, visit universalhorrorunleashed.com .

John Wick Experience

Leaving Zone 2 behind, lets venture back to Zone 1 to take in yet another great immersive attraction  one that will surely please fans of the best action film franchise of the 21st century.

Of course, were talking about the John Wick movies starring Keanu Reeves.

In Area 15, you can experience what its like to be an assassin on the run by venturing into the John Wick Experience. Its part escape room, part cinematic experience and part theatrical play, as you interact with actors  who refuse to break character  and make your way through rooms of the famed Continental Hotel from the Wick film franchise.

Oh, and did I mention that theres a $1.5 million contract on your head? Yeah, that turns up the urgency level  which the attraction designers have successfully built into the whole experience.

Highly recommended for Wick-heads and just anyone who likes a good Hollywood-style adrenaline rush.

Details: Tickets start at $63.98. For more information, visit johnwickexperience.com .

Those are just three distinct highlights of the many Area 15 attractions. To explore more offerings, visit area15.com .

IMMERSIVE DINING

Lip Smacking Foodie Tours

There are plenty of ways to turn a mere meal into a full-on experience  especially in Vegas. Yet, very few mix the informative with the tasty better than the Lip Smacking Foodie Tours.

These culinary walking tours, which mostly run around 2 1/2 hours, are an amazing way to immerse yourself into the storied, ever-changing and diverse food scene in Las Vegas. They run several times per day, seven days per week, and cover all sorts of aspects of the culinary landscape.

You get to taste great food  a lot of great food  at fabulous restaurants and learn plenty of backstories and interesting tidbits from your guides.

Plus, its a group activity, and even if youre flying solo, as I was on my recent Lip Smacking Foodie Tour, your fellow culinary travelers tend to be quite chummy and festive  especially if cocktails are part of the mix.

Given that most vacationers tend to stay on The Strip, it makes a lot of sense to sign up for a tour that is centered at one of the major hotel casinos.

Try the MGM Grand Lip Smacking Tour, which takes you through three of the resorts hottest restaurants  Iron Chef Masaharu Morimotos self-named establishment, James Beard Award-winning chef Tom Colicchios Craftsteak and popular Italian-American restaurant Luchini  where you get to sample some three-to-four dishes at each stop.

Theres also a similar casino-centered tour of Mandalay Bay, offering up three stops  two of which (StripSteak and the Mediterranean/Middle Eastern restaurant Orla) happen to be Michael Mina establishments.

Both of those tours are great for people who want to minimize walking and avoid the elements  especially that blistering Vegas heat during the summer  because all the restaurants on each tour are housed in the same climate-controlled building.

The cost is $199 per person for a MGM tour and $175 for a Mandalay adventure. There are also beverage add-on packages for an additional fee (usually around $50-$70).

Big-time foodies  perhaps ones whose tech companies went public and turned them into multimillionaires  might want to check out the Ultimate Steakhouse Tour. Itll set you back  and this is not a misprint  $999 per person, but it might just be worth it if youre connoisseur of the finest beef in the land. It hits a number of different restaurants, at different resorts, including Bazaar Meat at The Palazzo  which celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern once dubbed the best meat house in America.

For those (like me) who like to get off The Strip, I highly recommend the Downtown Lip Smacking Tour. It takes place near (but, thankfully, not on) the wild and crazy Fremont Street Experience, bringing you to four different stops  three restaurants and one bar  to sample a mix of cuisine ranging from modern American comfort food to inspired Mexican dishes. Plus, your guide will tell you all sorts of fascinating tales about this thriving business and cultural area  which, if your experience was anything like mine, could change how you perceive the city of Las Vegas.

The cost is $135 per person.

Also, Lip Smacking now offers a foodie tour in San Jose  at Santana Row  which stops at four of the centers top restaurants.

Details: For more information, or to book any of these tours, visit lipsmackingfoodietours.com .

Resorts World Las Vegas

Beyond the Lip Smacking, Ill toss in that one of my favorite spots to eat on The Strip is at Resort World Las Vegas ( rwlasvegas.com ). It offers some great quick bites  the best of which is the New York-style slices at Beverly Hills famed Mulberry Street Pizzeria  as well as plenty of opportunities to satisfy your sweet tooth. As far as the latter goes, it could be almost too much of a good thing to have Randys Donuts right across from those legendary cheesecakes of Juniors. Taking it up several notches is Kusa Nori, an incredible Japanese spot that may well rank as my top restaurant pick in Las Vegas.

THE SPHERE

The hottest and most celebrated immersive attraction in Las Vegas is, no doubt, the Sphere .

Since opening in late 2023, the Sphere has become the must-see concert venue  not just in Vegas but, really, in the entire world.

Go there once, and youll understand why.

The exterior is amazing enough all of on its own  a mammoth geodesic dome standing 366 feet tall and projecting bright images that can be seen from miles away (as well as from the sky while youre flying in and out of Vegas).

And it gets even more impressive once you enter and take your seat, allowing the giant wraparound 16K-resolution screen  running from floor to ceiling  to take you on a musical trip you wont soon forget.

U2 opened the venue, with Dead & Company , Phish, the Eagles, Kenny Chesney and other titans of the industry following.

The calendar currently includes more Eagles shows through March, the return of the mighty Phish in April and May, No Doubt making its Sphere debut in May and June, and Carin Leon stopping by in September, among others. And metal fans from around the globe will be heading to Vegas to catch that highly anticipated Metallica Sphere residency , which kicks off in October.

Of course, concerts are pricey, and the artist you most want to see may not be playing at The Sphere when youre planning to be in Vegas.

Those are two of the (many) reasons why I recommend catching the ongoing run of 1939s The Wizard of Oz, which screens at The Sphere several times a day, seven days a week.

Without giving away any of the surprises, Ill just say that Oz is a great way to experience the Sphere  one that takes advantage of the venues 4D capabilities in ways that even the concerts dont. The films tornado scene, in particular, is absolutely stunning.

This is no ordinary movie ticket  with ducats starting at around $114  but its well worth the price. Screenings are currently scheduled through the end of 2026.

Details: For more information, visit thesphere.com .

WHERE TO STAY

Theres never any shortage of appealing places to stay in Las Vegas. But since youre asking, I highly recommend the Hilton properties at Resorts World Las Vegas ( rwlasvegas.com ). The hotels are pretty posh, with a nice big pool area, a popular spa and nightclub (Zouk), a well-equipped gym and a nice selection of eateries.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/oleksyikuleba/photos

Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction of Ukraine and Minister for Communities and Territories Development Oleksiy Kuleba met with the EU Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management and Equality Hadja Lahbib to discuss the protection of energy facilities, ensuring stable water and heat supplies in the face of constant attacks, and the implementation of rapid financing instruments for communities.

As reported on the Telegram channel of the Ministry of Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine on Monday, the parties discussed expanding Ukraines participation in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and the use of rescEU reserves, which allows Ukraine to quickly receive critical assistance (equipment, generators, equipment) from EU countries.

"It is also important to launch fast-track financing mechanisms to quickly restore life support systems after the shelling. This should be taken into account in the new EU financial support program  Ukraine Support Loan 2026-2027," the message reads.

As reported, during her visit to Kyiv in February, Lahbib discussed increasing humanitarian aid and strengthening critical infrastructure. She held several meetings, including with Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, as well as with representatives of the Office of the President, the Ministry of Energy, and the Ministry of Community Development. She also visited key energy facilities that provide electricity to over 500,000 people and that suffered significant damage as a result of the attacks.
Joan K. Mendel Elementary School serves students in pre-kindergarten to fifth grade at Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo. (Stars and Stripes)



YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan  A janitorial contractor has been barred from this U.S. airlift hub in western Tokyo after allegations of inappropriate interactions with students at an on-base elementary school, officials said Monday.

Leaders at Joan K. Mendel Elementary and Yokotas 374th Airlift Wing said they were recently informed of the allegations involving a Japanese employee who worked on the schools janitorial staff.

Because the allegations involve inappropriate interactions with students, Col. Richard McElhaney, the wings commander, immediately barred the contractor from the base, he and the schools principal, Kathleen Smith, wrote in a letter to parents.

The Air Force Office of Special Investigations is working with Japanese police in nearby Fussa city to investigate the allegations, according to the letter.

We want to reassure all parents that the safety of the students is non-negotiable, McElhaney and Smith wrote.

Both leaders said they have taken steps to prevent further incidents and would continue working together to address the matter.

Spokespeople for the wing and Department of Defense Education Activity-Pacific did not immediately respond to phone and email requests for comment Monday afternoon.

Parents or students with information are encouraged to contact investigators at DSN 315-225-7910, while families needing support are advised to reach out to the Family Advocacy Program at DSN 315-225-3649, the Military and Family Readiness Center, or their chain of command, according to the letter.
Diego Garcia, home to a joint U.S.-U.K. military base, is seen in this undated photo. Iran launched two missiles toward the Indian Ocean atoll over the weekend, signaling a longer strike range than previously assessed. (U.S. Navy)



STUTTGART, Germany Irans recent missile launch directed toward Diego Garcia has raised the stakes for U.S. forces in Europe, but the odds of Tehran being able to successfully target hubs like Ramstein Air Base in Germany remain low even if they are now in theoretical range, analysts say.

Last weeks launch, which involved two intermediate-range ballistic missiles, marked the first time Iran has ever demonstrated the ability to fire at sites some 2,500 miles away. Both missiles failed to reach their targetone failed in flight while the other was intercepted before reaching the joint U.S.-U.K. base in the Indian Ocean, according to British officials.

But the new development, first reported Friday by The Wall Street Journal, set off alarms in Europe, where major cities like Berlin, Rome and Paris now appear technically in range of Iranian missiles.

But those on or around U.S. bases like Ramstein should not be imminently concerned, said Mauro Gilli, professor of military strategy and technology at the Hertie School in Berlin.

Any missile would need to overfly several NATO member states, and Irans demonstrated accuracy at this distance was also poor, said Gilli.

NATOs integrated air defense system developed over a decade ago was built with an Iranian missile threat in mind. However, the situation presents the potential for tactical dilemmas for the U.S. and its allies when it comes to defending European airspace.

Iran could be trying to force a reexamination of how missile defense assets are deployed across the region, Gilli said.

U.S. Patriot missiles and systems have already been moved from Europe toward the Middle East to meet the immediate threat, creating gaps in Europes air and missile defenses, Gilli said. A demonstrated Iranian capability at 4,000 kilometers complicates that calculus further  every interceptor moved to the Gulf is one fewer interceptor that can protect European airspace.

Still, Ankit Panda, a defense expert with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said Irans ability to strike with precision at great distances shouldnt be taken as a given yet. For now, Irans launch in the Indian Ocean speaks to the continuing escalation beyond the initial geographic limits of this war, Panda said, adding, the threat is less to operations at European bases like Ramstein, and more about the potential for escalation.

The development comes as Europe comes under increased pressure from President Donald Trump to get involved in the conflict. Trump has repeatedly called on allies to help open the Strait of Hormuz, characterizing the situation as a test of NATOs reliability.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Sunday that numerous allies were involved in talks related to developing a plan of action for ensuring oil tankers can navigate the strategic waterway.

In an interview with CBS News, Rutte offered no details about what such a mission could look like. Military planners, he said, are now working together to make sure that we are ready to ... secure the free sailing there, which is crucial for the world economy.

It remains unclear how Iran would respond to more direct European involvement in the war.

By attempting to strike Diego Garcia, Iran may have been sending a deterrent signal, aiming to raise the perceived costs of any deeper European involvement, Gilli said.

If Iran could prove it has developed a legitimate threat to U.S. military bases in Europe, the situation could create political complications. Some in Europe could see it as proof that hosting U.S. operations invites danger while others might argue for the need to confront Iran more directly, Gilli said.

The political impact of a credible threat on a U.S. base in Europe would be enormous, he added.
Eight people, incl a child, injured by enemy shelling in Dnipropetrovsk region - Emergency Service

Eight residents of Dnipropetrovsk region, including a child, were injured due to Russian shelling, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES) reported.

"In Synelnyky, an apartment building, a private home, and a store were damaged. Six people were injured, including a 14-year-old girl Two men were wounded in a Russian attack in Kryvyi Rih," the Service said on its Telegram channel.

The State Emergency Service reported that fires broke out in Nikopol district. Rescuers extinguished the blazes and rescued two people.

Fires also broke out in Dnipro, which rescuers extinguished, and infrastructure was damaged.
MJ Arrebola Granada 23/03/2026 Actualizado 24/03/2026 - 12:20h.

In recent months, what were once isolated cases have become, according to the residents of La Rabita on Granada province's Costa Tropical, a veritable wave of burglaries which are happening every day and have spread fear in the streets, farmhouses and houses in the area.

"You go to bed wondering if they are going to come back", Jose Miguel, a resident of the Los Castillas area, says. His case reflects what many are experiencing. One day, on arriving at his farm, he found that the door to his farmhouse had been ripped off its hinges. "They didn't force it, they just smashed it in," he explains.

Inside, the place was empty. The burglars had taken engines, radial saws, chainsaws, tools... everything he used for his work was gone. He says that even animals including partridges were taken. He reported the incident to the Guardia Civil, but says that no progress has yet been made.

In one of the most central streets of the village, Francisca Fernandez and her sister Belen explain what happened to them. Their home, a second family residence, was completely "turned upside down". The sisters say that the "don't even know what day they broke in".

The door was intact, but when they entered the property they found that appliances including the fridge, washing machine, oven and microwave had been taken. Other furniture, mattresses and beds were also missing, even cutlery and things from the bathroom such as the tap or the shower head.

Sleeping family

Everything suggests that the thieves gained access through a window without bars and lifted the shutter. Once inside, they found a key and acted freely for several days. "They dismantled a solid wooden cupboard inside. You don't do that in a moment. They have been there for a long time and nobody has seen anything".

Despite having reported the incident, the sisters say they have not been contacted by the Guardia Civil. "They told us that they would call us to take fingerprints, but no one has come. We have had to clean up everything ourselves", they complain. They estimate losses of more than 2,000 euros. Now they have reinforced doors, changed the locks and plan to install bars. "But the fear is already there. In summer we slept with the windows open, now you don't dare.

In the case of Ali El Ouasghiri, the burglary took place while he and his family were asleep inside the house. The thieves broke into the garage through a window, searched the car, found the remote control and entered the house. "They took two bicycles, one electric and one road bike. We are very scared, the thieves were inside my house while we were asleep," Ali explains. He estimates losses of around 2,600 euros. Since then, the fear has been constant: "My wife sleeps with the light on. Any noise wakes you up".

Ali says that the burglaries are happening almost every day and could be committed by organised groups that travel by van. "There are three or four people, they come prepared and take what they can. More than twenty places have been burgled here in a month".

Unattended

"It's not just that they steal from you, it's that they know they can do it because there is no surveillance here", Ali sums up, reflecting a sentiment shared by all. Most agree that the lack of police presence is one of the key factors explaining the situation. The locals say that during the night, between two and four in the morning, there are no patrols on the streets, which makes these hours the perfect time for thieves to act.

Residents, desperate at the increase in crime, are calling for a greater police presence, especially at night. They consider it essential to have patrols in the municipality on a constant basis, not just occasional interventions after thefts. In addition, they are calling for a reinforcement of the Guardia Civil in the village, which previously had a station.

Another of the measures they are proposing to the council is the installation of security cameras at the entrances, an initiative which, they explain, would make it possible to monitor who enters and leaves the town during the night. "If cameras were in operation, suspicious vehicles could be identified," they conclude.

Click here for more Costa Tropical news
E. P. Dos Hermanas (Seville) 23/03/2026 a las 12:01h.

Spains Vice-President Maria Jesus Montero has urged prudence and caution following remarks by US President Donald Trump threatening the withdrawal of American forces from the military bases at Rota and Moron.

During a visit to Dos Hermanas, a town in Seville province, she said, I think we have to be very careful when it comes to interpreting any statement, because one day we hear one thing and another day we hear the opposite.

Trump has also threatened to withdraw US forces from other NATO countries not contributing to the protection of the Strait of Hormuz, as a result of the war in Iran and tensions in the Middle East.

Montero explained that Spains relationship with the US is, mediated by the European Union in all its commercial aspects. We are going to ensure that the security of the Spanish territory is guaranteed. This, she added, means that military bases, including the air base in Moron (Seville) and the naval base in Rota (Cadiz), must operate in accordance with the constraints of EU agreements.

She stated that no use of the bases for illegal warfare will be authorised, a sentiment echoed by other Member States. This is a position shared by citizens, particularly in Moron and Rota, to guarantee their safety".

"All matters concerning relations with other countries must be addressed through dialogue and diplomacy. At this moment, I want to send a message of absolute calm", added the vice-president, describing the governments stance as "common sense, to denounce the fact that an illegal war is taking place".

Montero insisted that this military conflict has a "deeply concerning political background", since "it is being waged by the world's leading power" in a region marked with complex geopolitical relations.
Nuria Triguero Malaga 23/03/2026 a las 15:38h.

The fifth Andalusian cybersecurity conference kicks off in Malaga on Tuesday, 24 March, bringing together representatives of technology companies, public institutions and universities.

The two-day event at the Fycma trade and fair centre will reflect on the challenges before "a more secure, reliable and cyber-resilient future" at a time of growing cyber threats.

More than 3,000 people will reportedly attend the event under the slogan 'Secure Territories, Connected Future'.

The Andalusian Digital Agency (ADA) is organising the conference, with regional minister of industry Jorge Paradela hosting the opening ceremony, alongside Mayor of Malaga Francisco de la Torre. "The conference is key to moving towards a more innovative and competitive economy," Paradela states.

"Cybersecurity is one of the pillars of ADA's work. There can be no digital transformation without cybersecurity. That is why we implement technologies such as artificial intelligence from the perspective of cybersecurity," ADA Managing Director Raul Jimenez says.

Private companies and public institutions collaborate in this event, which is of critical importance in the fight against cybercrimes.

"Cybersecurity is no longer just a technological challenge, it is an economic, institutional and social challenge; a challenge that affects citizens, companies and public institutions," Paradela says. "Only by working together can we build secure territories and a connected digital future."
Europa Press Seville 21/10/2024 Actualizado 23/03/2026 - 12:54h.

The high-risk fire period has officially ended in the Andalucia region of southern Spain with just 6,062 hectares of land scorched. The total - which includes 683-hectares-worth of trees and 5,379 hectares of burnt scrubland - is 34% below the average for the decade (9,217 hectares).

Minister of the presidency Antonio Sanz chaired the Plan Infoca meeting on Friday 18 October, after officially ending the high-risk fire season on 15 October. At the meeting, they revealed there were 613 Infoca interventions carried out in forest fires during this season, 118 fewer than the average for the decade (731). Sanz said that the high percentage of fires, 82%, is mainly due to "the effective and rapid response of the Infoca system, as well as the land and air resources used in each incident".

The minister thanked "the collaboration of the public in the early warning of emergencies, which has allowed the plan's resources to be activated promptly and the fires not to become large". Four fires were major, affecting an area larger than 500 hectares: in Enix (Almeria), 639 hectares; in Tarifa (Cadiz), with 572 hectares burnt; in Nijar (Almeria), 2,167 hectares, and in Andujar (Jaen), 530 hectares.

Sanz said the "continuous improvement" of material and human resources is the "main asset" the Junta has to fight forest fires, which are becoming increasingly virulent and prolonged due to climate change. The Plan Infoca comprised of 4,700 people during this season, with Sanz congratulating them on their work.

Sanz also thanked emergency services involved in the fight against fires, as well as the UME, 112, the Andalusian emergency group, civil protection volunteers and local police, the Spanish Red Cross, urban firefighters, as well as the local rapid assistance groups and the forest defence associations. The Attached Police Unit (UPA) helped solve 88% of suspicious fires (30 of 34 incidents), Sanz added, with the group arresting or investigating four people, three in the province of Malaga and one in the province of Jaen for negligence that caused the fires.

The UPA also raised 4,090 proposals for sanctions or complaints for risky behaviour in forest areas. The UPA (whose functions include the protection of the natural environment) and the forest fire investigation brigade attached to Infoca, "have once again been an indisputable axis of security this season", Sanz added.

From the total number of actions already investigated by the forest fire investigation brigade, 22% of forest fires were intentional; 42.5% were due to negligence; 15% due to natural causes, 8.73% were accidental and 12.49% were caused by unknown causes.

The emergency service, 112 Andalucia, dealt with 18,270 phone calls during this high-risk fire period, of which 12,960 were related to agricultural fires and 5,310 to forest fires. Last year there were 11,952 phone calls, an increase of 53% in this period. "These figures confirm that the awareness campaigns are having an effect," said Sanz, who urged Andalusians and visitors to the region to continue being cautious and collaborating with Plan Infoca Plan by phoning 1-1-2.

Stabilisation of workforce

Antonio Sanz also pointed out that the Junta has initiated the stabilisation and reduction of the temporary nature of Plan Infoca workers, following negotiations with the workers' representatives. This means that Infoca personnel assigned to the Andalusian environment and water agency (Amaya) can work throughout the year if they wish to do so. Three million euros has been earmarked in 2024, with the next budgets to include new items.

The stabilisation process has affected 357 workers (of the 371 positions offered), 301 of whom were also offered contract extensions, of which 294 have accepted. They have gone from working for six months to working until December. Sanz said the creation of the Andalusian Security and Emergency Agency (Asema) means Infoca personnel will be available 365 days a year to fight fires all year round and be used to help in the event of other natural emergencies such as floods, earthquakes or even searches for people missing in natural areas.

The Andalusian government has also shown its commitment to fighting fires in the region, with work completed on a new forest defence centre in El Pedroso in Seville province. Work has also started on a new forest defence centre in Algodonales in Cadiz province, which will replace the current one, and the one on the Costa del Sol (Istan-Marbella). Construction has also started on a new airstrip in Villaviciosa de Cordoba. The Andalusian government has allocated more than 165 million euros to Infoca Plan projects and facilities.

A tender has also gone out for the contracting of eight ground cargo aircraft, four light transport and firefighting helicopters and another four semi-heavy transport and firefighting helicopters for the next five years, with a budget of 62.5 million euros.

Infoca has 23 forest defence centres, in addition to ten forest defence sub-centres, three reinforcement brigade bases and nine airstrips for emergency aircraft. There are also three private bases, as well as 195 surveillance points and 88 water intake points for helicopters.

During the high-risk period, Plan Infoca operated 44 aerial resources, the highest number in the history of the operation. Of these, a total of 37 are provided by the Junta (23 helicopters and 14 aircraft).

With an investment of 27 million euros, a new radio network will also boost radio communications. Infoca used the new fire response management platform for the first time, to which all operational personnel are connected. The information management platform stores cartography, sketches, positioning of those involved, updates fire data, among other capacities, which makes it possible to have all the information readily available in the event of an emergency.
On Tuesday, March 24, at 12,00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency will host a press conference entitled "Acceleration of external and internal Ukrainian political dynamics." Participants: public figure and Member of Parliament of Ukraine of the VI and VII convocations Oles Doniy, political expert Kostiantyn Matviyenko and President of the Liberal Democratic League of Ukraine Artur Kharytonov (8/5a Reitarska Street.). The event will be streamed on the Interfax-Ukraine YouTube channel Admission requires registration on the spot with press ID cards.
SUR in English 23/03/2026 Actualizado 24/03/2026 - 10:34h.

Gibraltar's deaf community now has access to a round-the-clock British Sign Language interpretation service, following the launch this week of a new video interpretation platform by the Supported Needs and Disability Office (SNDO).

The service, introduced to coincide with BSL Week, is delivered in partnership with Convo, a UK-based company whose platform allows deaf users to connect via video call to a qualified BSL interpreter - typically within one minute - using nothing more than a smartphone or tablet and a QR code.

A built-in telephone directory feature allows users to select the department they need, with the interpreter then facilitating a three-way call: the user signs via video while the interpreter relays the message by voice to the relevant department. The key improvement over previous services available in Gibraltar is the 24/7 availability.

QR codes will shortly be distributed across all government departments, including public counters and meeting rooms, and staff training covering both technical support and deaf awareness will follow in the coming weeks.

Representatives from Convo visited Gibraltar this week to meet with key stakeholders, including the Gibraltar Health Authority's Neurodevelopment and Disability Office, Director General Paul Bosio and Medical Director Mark Garcia. Separate talks were also held with emergency services - including Civil Contingencies, 999, 111, Police, Fire and Ambulance - to explore integrating Convo into critical response pathways.

Importantly, the SNDO also held a dedicated session with BSL users and members of the Gibraltar Hearing Issues and Tinnitus Association (GHITA), giving people with lived experience the chance to learn about the service and feed back their views.

Minister for Equality Christian Santos said the launch represented "the next step in empowering deaf individuals to communicate independently and advocate for themselves, without relying on others." He added that the SNDO had already introduced SpeakSee in December and continues to work with SignCode, who provide in-person interpreters and pre-recorded BSL content for Gibraltar.
SUR in English 23/03/2026 Actualizado a las 13:00h.

A groundbreaking telesurgery procedure carried out in Gibraltar has been recognised at the highest levels of international medicine, featuring in a special plenary session at the 41st Annual Congress of the European Association of Urology - Europe's largest urological event, attended by around 20,000 delegates worldwide.

The operation, performed at St Bernard's Hospital through the Gibraltar Health Authority's robotic surgery programme, saw Dr James Allan and his team collaborate remotely with Professor Prokar Dasgupta, who leads The London Clinic's Robotic Centre of Excellence in London. The procedure is already being described as a milestone in surgical history.

Professor Dasgupta said the technology opens up enormous possibilities: "This gives us the opportunity to treat patients in remote areas and smaller communities by literally being able to take the best surgeon anywhere. The humanitarian benefit could be significant."

Al Russell, Chief Executive of The London Clinic, added: "The London Clinic is proud to be part of medical history and we have a strong reputation for medical firsts. Congratulations to Professor Dasgupta and the Gibraltar Health Authority, and Dr Allan and his team at St Bernards. We hope more patients will be able to benefit from this incredible medical breakthrough.

The robotic system used was funded in part by donations from Kusuma Trust and Prostate Cancer Gibraltar, with additional support from robot manufacturer Microport and technology provider Presidio.

The operation has generated global media coverage estimated to have reached over 100 million people, and the Gibraltar Health Authority is now considered among the leading international centres for the delivery of telesurgery. The achievement is also seen as strengthening Gibraltar's position as a platform for future innovation in robotic medicine and artificial intelligence.

The Gibraltar team has since been invited to present their work at the 2026 annual meeting of the Society of Robotic Surgery in Florida - further confirmation of the procedure's significance to the global medical community.

Health Minister Gemma Arias-Vasquez said it was "a genuinely remarkable development," adding: "To see work undertaken here presented live at one of the most important urological congresses in the world is significant in itself, but more importantly it demonstrates how Gibraltar can contribute meaningfully to medical advances with real global relevance. I am extremely grateful to Dr Thomson, Dr Allan, Professor Dasgupta, the wider GHA team, our international partners, and also to Kusuma Trust and Prostate Cancer Gibraltar, whose support has helped make this level of innovation possible in Gibraltar.
SUR in English Malaga 23/03/2026 Actualizado 25/03/2026 - 13:08h.

For many expatriates, moving to Spain represents a pursuit of balance and a better quality of life. However, living abroad often brings practical considerations that are easy to overlook until they arise. When family lives in another country and local systems feel unfamiliar, maintaining absolute control over ones finances becomes essential to preserving autonomy and, above all, peace of mind.

A common fear among those moving capital across borders is the safety of their hard-earned savings. Yet, many are unaware of the protection provided by the European Union, a safety shield designed to ensure that your financial future remains secure, regardless of which EU country you choose to call home.

The Power of the 100,000 Guarantee

The pillar of European banking security is the EU Deposit Guarantee Schemes Directive. Under this law, every member state is required to have a national fund, known as the Deposit Guarantee Scheme (DGS), that protects up to 100,000 per person and per bank.

This means that whether your savings are held in an institution in Germany, Belgium, or the Netherlands, they are backed by a regulated national fund. This protection applies regardless of your country of residence, ensuring that your capital is safeguarded by the same high standards across the entire Union.

Diversification: The Key to Strategic Security

While the 100,000 limit is robust, it also presents a challenge, specifically regarding what happens to the surplus. A frequent mistake is exceeding this limit within a single bank, which leaves any additional funds legally unprotected in the event of a banking crisis.

This is where Raisin becomes an indispensable ally for the security-conscious resident. Instead of navigating the complexity of opening multiple accounts in different jurisdictions, Raisin allows you to split your wealth across several regulated European banks through a single registration. By distributing your savings across various institutions, you can effectively insure millions of euros. Each portion of your capital remains fully backed by a different national Deposit Guarantee Scheme (DGS), all while you maintain a clear and centralized overview of your total balance.

Time-Limited Opportunity: The Cuenta Bienvenida

As Marta Pinedo, Country Manager for Raisin in Spain, emphasizes, the real value for international customers often lies in clarity. Knowing exactly where you stand, by having one single platform to manage diverse European deposits, helps generate the peace of mind that customers seek.

To support those new to the platform, Raisin offers the Cuenta Bienvenida, a commission-free account that currently provides a return of 3.33% AER for a three-month duration. However, it is crucial to note that this specific promotion is set to conclude on April 6, 2026. This gives savers a narrow but vital window to organize their capital under the most competitive conditions available. Acting before this deadline allows you to lock in this attractive return while ensuring your funds are distributed safely across the European banking landscape.

Preparing for a Confident Future

Living abroad should be about enjoying the present, not worrying about the what ifs of banking stability. By understanding the Deposit Guarantee Scheme (DGS) framework and utilizing a platform like Raisin to manage it, you ensure that your financial foundation is as solid as your new life in Spain. With the April 6 deadline fast approaching, now is the strategic moment to organize your savings with total clarity, maximum protection, and the freedom to enjoy with absolute confidence.

Please note that Raisin Spains website is primarily available in Spanish. If you need support in English, our Customer Service team will be happy to assist you.
Javier Almellones Malaga 23/03/2026 Actualizado 25/03/2026 - 13:29h.

Not all forests are the same, and in Malaga this diversity can be perceived just by changing surroundings. There are extensive and ancient ones, such as the 'pinsapares' that have survived from other climatic eras, but also small green refuges by the water, chestnut groves shaped by humans or pine forests resulting from more recent reforestation. This selection brings together seven forest areas that can be explored on foot and that provide an insight into this richness: from large stands of trees to more discreet enclaves, but equally valuable within the natural landscape of Malaga. A walk along these paths through leafy spaces with the utmost respect for nature can be a good way to celebrate World Forest Day, celebrated on 21 March.

Sierra de las Nieves 1 Pinsapar de Yunquera

Puerto Bellina. (J. A.)

Malaga's greatest forest landmark is found in the Sierra de las Nieves natural and national park. Several routes set off from the Saucillo Pass, allowing visitors to venture into this forest of ancient relic fir trees, considered one of the most unique ecosystems in southern Europe. Trails such as the one connecting to Puerto Bellina or the one leading to the Cueva del Agua (Cave of the Water) wind between centuries-old specimens, in a setting where shade and humidity define the experience. These are accessible routes that let you discover one of the most iconic landscapes in the province.

Recommended path

2 Pine grove of Los Reales de Sierra Bermeja

Paseo de los Pinsapos. (J. A.)

Between Estepona and Genalguacil lies another of Malaga's great botanical treasures, albeit smaller in size. This Spanish fir forest, the southernmost in the world, can be explored along the well-known Paseo de los Pinsapos, a comfortable route that leads to the small square of Garcia Lorca. From there, those looking for a more demanding route can continue to the top of Los Reales. The contrast between the vegetation and the reddish soils makes this route a very unique experience in Malaga hiking.

Recommended path

Arriate-Ronda 3 Gallery forest of the Ventilla stream

Riverbank woodland at the Arroyo de la Ventilla. (J. A.)

This small enclave proves that you don't need a large area to enjoy spectacular surroundings. The Ventilla stream route, which is very popular with hikers, allows you to walk through this riverside woodland along wooden walkways and stretches beside the water. The route is short and simple, but very intense from a scenic point of view, with dense vegetation and a humid environment that clearly differentiates it from other forest areas in the province.

Recommended path

Igualeja, Pujerra, Parauta 4 Castanar del Genal

Castanar del Genal. (J. A.)

The Genal Valley is home to one of the largest chestnut groves in the south of the peninsula, a landscape that can be explored along numerous traditional trails. These include the Charco de la Cal route from Igualeja or the paths that connect villages such as Pujerra and Parauta. At this time of year, the forest begins to cover itself with its first green leaves, leaving behind its winter rest. It is an environment where nature and human activity have gone hand in hand for centuries.

Recommended path

Los Alcornocales 5 La Sauceda

Eerie woodland at La Sauceda. (Ventana del Visitante Junta de Andalucia)

In the municipality of Cortes de la Frontera lies part of one of the great green lungs of southern Europe. Trails that start from enclaves such as La Sauceda allow you to enter these cork-oak groves, characterised by their density and biodiversity. These are routes that run through centuries-old trees, in a landscape where the traditional cork extraction is still present and where the humidity generates a very different atmosphere to that of other mountain ranges in Malaga.

Recommended path

Canete la Real 6 Pinar de las Carboneras

Las Carboneras. (J. A.)

This little-known enclave can be explored along the Carboneras route, an itinerary that combines more open stretches with others that go deep into a dense and shady pine forest. Although the beginning may be more exposed to the sun, a good part of the route runs under the trees. Its discreet and less crowded nature make it a very attractive option for those looking to get away from the busier routes in the province. There is also a surprise for those who love reading: a small library where you can share books.

Recommended path

Round 7 Dehesa del Mercadillo

The oaks and pines of the Dehesa del Mercadillo. (J. A.)

Just a stone's throw from Ronda, this peri-urban park offers the possibility of walking through a well-preserved forest environment along the route of Profesor Paco Marin. This is a simple circular route through a pine forest that is the result of reforestation processes, which also allows us to understand the more recent evolution of these landscapes. In addition, the route preserves traces of old livestock trails, which adds a historical component to this natural space.

Recommended path
The National Police have arrested a 35-year-old man after two women separately reported that he had used violence to steal their mobile phones in Malaga. The suspect has also been on the police's radar for an attempted murder.

The incidents happened in the Palma-Palmilla district. The police launched the operation after a woman reported a theft. She told them that she knew the suspect, because he often walked around the area where she lived.

According to the victim's account, the man approached her to ask for money. When she refused, he violently pushed her to the ground and stole her mobile phone.

Later, another woman reported that a man had threatened her with a sharp object to steal her mobile phone. The incident had taken place in the same area.

Both victims immediately recognised the perpetrator thanks to photographic evidence. According to the police, the suspect had a long criminal record, including an attempted homicide.

The police managed to arrest the individual, who had been evading arrest by moving between several homes of relatives and friends.

Click here for more crime news.
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The Mayoress of Marbella has visited the fair, which is being held at the Palacio de Congresos until the 29th.

Jose Carlos Garcia Marbella 23/03/2026 a las 13:18h.

The Marbella Design & Art Fair has once again transformed the town into the national hub for high-end interiors.

Hosted at the Adolfo Suarez Congress Centre until 29 March, the eighth edition of the event showcases 30 exhibition areas and nearly 100 brands, complemented by a full programme of professional talks and presentations.

During a visit to the fair alongside organiser Alejandro Zayas, Marbella Mayor Angeles Munoz praised the event for "consolidating its position as a benchmark for the sector".

Highlighting the calibre of the exhibits, the mayor thanked the organisers for their commitment to the municipality, noting that the fair "presents Marbella as a space open to art and design" and brings world-class products to the local public.

Zayas emphasised the event's national reach, pointing out that most participants travel from outside Andalucia. "They choose Marbella because of its market potential and the significant growth the city has seen in recent years," he explained.".

This edition of the fair has larger exhibition spaces and around a hundred brands, as well as design areas that can be used by the public such as the auditorium, the restaurant and the terrace, where presentations and activities will be held during the days of the event.

International benchmarks

This years layout features larger exhibition spaces and functional design zones, including a restaurant, terrace, and a dedicated auditorium.A major highlight this Friday was the debut of premium German appliance brand Miele. For their first appearance at the fair, they unveiled 'Timeless Design', an installation by interior designer Helena Rocha.

The showcase features Mieles new integrated collection in a 'Pearl Beige' finish, incorporating surfaces by Cosentino - a global leader in architectural surfaces - to create a dialogue between technology and interior architecture.

A fusion of tech and art in Marbella Beyond Miele and Cosentino, the fair hosts a prestigious roster of international firms across design, technology, and lifestyle, including: Bang & Olufsen Technogym Villeroy & Boch Natuzzi Italia Hastens



Renowned interior designers such as Marisa Gallo, Nina Dubarry, and Silvia Trigueros are also present, creating exclusive spaces that explore new ways of living through the interplay of light, materials, and architecture.

The experience is rounded off by contemporary galleries and artists, including Anna Burko, Anna Westerlund, and Excellence Art Gallery. Their presence reinforces the fair's core mission: bridging the gap between fine art and functional design.
Cristina Vallejo 23/03/2026 a las 14:47h.

The wage gap between Spanish and foreign workers in Malaga province is 29.1%, according to Comisiones Obreras. This represents a decrease from 38.2% in 2022, but still a significant sum of about 5,000 euros less per year.

According to Comisiones Obreras, the average salary of Spanish workers in the province is 20,974 euros, compared to 16,246 euros for foreigners.

The narrowing of the gap over the past few years can be attributed to the progressive increase in the minimum wage (SMI), which mostly covers immigrant workers. This means that their wage has risen faster than that of local employees.

Why does a large pay gap exist between migrants and locals in Spain?

As Secretary General of Comisiones Obreras in Malaga Fernando Cubillo said during the conference on immigration on Monday, the wage difference can be explained above all by the higher rate of temporary and part-time work among migrants. According to data from the trade union organisation, a foreigner on average works the equivalent of 64% of a full working day throughout the year, compared to 77% for a local worker.

The wage gap between Spanish and foreign workers in Malaga is lower than in Andalucia, where it is close to 7,400 euros and exceeds 58%, and also lower than that recorded at national level, which exceeds 8,800 euros and is close to 54%. Labour intensity of the foreign population is greater in the province of Malaga, while the difference with the local labour force is smaller.

Malaga is also the Andalusian province with the highest number of foreign workers, with more than 121,000 as of February this year, followed by Almeria (around 86,400). They account for 16.5% of the workforce in the province, compared to 11% at Andalusian level, after growing by more than 20% in the last two years.

16.5% of workers in the province of Malaga are foreigners, more than in Andalucia as a whole, where they barely exceed eleven per cent

Expanding on the figures, Cubillo stated that 48% of immigrant workers in the province earn less than 10,000 euros. Furthermore, these same 48% represent the gender pay gap between foreign men and women in the city of Malaga. Women earn practically half of what men do. Across the province as a whole, the gender pay gap is 21%.

The union analysed the general situation of migrants in Andalucia in view of the forthcoming extraordinary regularisation process approved by the government.

Regarding the number of people in Malaga province that this process could cover, Cubillo said that it is "very difficult" to determine how many of the workers who are not registered with Social Security are foreigners. According to SUR's estimates, the number is around 50,000.

8.5 billion euros per year is what foreign workers contribute to the province's economy, which is 20 per cent of Malaga's GDP

According to the data, foreigners affiliated to Social Security contribute around 8.5 billion euros per year to Malaga's economy. Cubillo highlighted the importance of the regularisation process, which will help remove many workers from the underground economy in sectors such as "agriculture, commerce and hospitality".

Around 20,000 people in the shadow economy

Andalusian Secretary General of Comisiones Obreras Nuria Lopez agreed with Cubilloa that the regularisation process is "a question of human dignity".

Lopez demanded that the central government carry out the regularisation "with the greatest agility, increasing the public services that have to deal with it so that there are no bottlenecks". In addition, she called on the Andalusian regional government to "draw up a new immigration plan" and to collaborate in the regularisation process by providing the accreditations that certify the stay through health actions or active employment policies.

Nuria Lopez also called attention to "hoaxes and fallacies": "The challenge for the working people of Andalucia is not the poor. It is the rich who exploit you, who make you work hours and hours without paying you what you are entitled to or the vulture funds that kick us out of our homes. That is the problem," Lopez said.

The true impact of the suspension of the rail service

During the conference, Comisiones Obreras also analysed the impact of the suspension of the high-speed rail service with Madrid ahead of Easter. "Most tourists to Malaga arrive by plane. There is also data that shows that the war in the Middle East is diverting tourists to Spain. What we want to know is the objective data, not the forecasts of any company. What we agree on is that transport must be strengthened, not only for tourists, but also for the many workers who travel to the province," Lopez said.

According to Cubillo, the report on the loss of employment for this Easter should be taken with a grain of salt, as recruitment has always been higher than forecasts in recent years.
Lucia Palacios Madrid 23/03/2026 Actualizado a las 15:18h.

The High Court of Justice of Madrid (TSJM) has rejected Airbnb's request to temporarily dismiss the fine that the Ministry of Consumer Affairs imposed in December 2025. The company will have to pay more than 64 million euros for illegal listings.

Specifically, Consumer Affairs found irregularities in more than 65,122 ads, which had already been withdrawn in July 2025.

This is the third judicial setback for Airbnb in Spain in barely a year. In May last year, the TSJM forced the platform to remove 5,800 ads, then it did the same with another 34,728 ads in September.

Among the main offences, the ministry points out that Airbnb allowed the publication of accommodation without a tourist licence or with incorrect information. Other accommodation ads did not provide correct information about who was behind the advert, which constitutes misleading advertising.

The report includes some other sanctions: failure to properly report the identity of the hosts, failure to cooperate with the authorities during the investigation and failure to comply with certain orders issued during the process.

The ministry has calculated the fine on the basis of the profit made by Airbnb while those advertisements were active.

Airbnb has appealed the fine, but the most recent decision of the TSJM dismisses the appeal and the platform will no longer be able to defer payment, although it still has the option of lodging a new appeal before the same judicial body.
Flower-themed scenic areas drive rural tourism in Chongqing's village

Xinhua) 08:23, March 23, 2026

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)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Article March 20, 2026

EU Energy Governance Reform: Ensuring Competitiveness and Flexibility

The Confederation of Swedish Enterprise welcomes the opportunity to provide input to the revision of the governance framework established under the Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action.

Photo : Perstorp/ Adam Ihse/TT

A well-functioning governance framework is essential to ensure that the European Union achieves its climate neutrality objective while safeguarding competitiveness, energy security and economic growth. The governance framework should contribute to a cost-efficient transition to net zero, stable and predictable environment for investments, reduce unnecessary administrative burden, and facilitate efficient cooperation between Member States.

The purpose of the Governance Regulation is to set out the necessary legislative foundation for reliable, inclusive, cost-efficient, transparent and predictable governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action, which ensures the achievement of the 2030 and long-term objectives and targets of the Energy Union in line with the 2015 Paris Agreement.

The Confederation of Swedish Enterprise believes in this context that a single, overarching GHG emissions reduction target should be at the core of EUs decarbonisation efforts and governance architecture. This ensures certainty for investments, while also giving the necessary flexibility to reflect Member States different comparative advantages regarding both energy production and composition of the business sector. Reaching net zero requires a multitude of solutions, and the closer we get to net zero, the more solutions will be needed.
Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk announced on Saturday that he is willing to pay the salaries of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers during a second unpaid work stoppage caused by the ongoing federal funding lapse.

The partial government shutdown has left about 50,000 TSA employees without pay, contributing to long lines and chaotic conditions at airports across the United States.

"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," Musk wrote on his social media platform X.

The shutdown has left many TSA officers struggling as spring break travel ramps up.

According to USA Today, some airports have reported absences as high as 32%, including John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, Atlanta, and New Orleans.

Last weekend, overall TSA no-show rates jumped to 10%, compared to under 2% during normal operations.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said 366 TSA workers have quit since the shutdown began.

Under federal law, TSA employees who continue working during a shutdown are entitled to back pay once funding resumes.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has confirmed that the upcoming March 27 pay period will be the second missed paycheck for the workers.

BREAKING: Elon Musk offers to pay the salaries of TSA workers during the ongoing partial Department of Homeland Security shutdown, as lines stretch for hours at airports throughout the country.



Musk wrote on : I would like to offer to pay the salaries of TSA personnel pic.twitter.com/e64EPVw43M  Officer Lew (@officer_Lew) March 21, 2026

TSA Officers Average $61K Salary

While Musk's offer has garnered attention, legal experts note that there is no clear mechanism for a private individual to directly fund federal salaries.

"Any money donated to the federal government goes into the Treasury. That doesn't mean that an agency has the authority to take it out," explained Philip Candreva, a professor of national security policy at Duke University.

Airlines and travel groups have expressed concern that ongoing TSA absences could worsen delays, particularly at smaller airports.

Meanwhile, some larger airports have launched food drives and accepted donations to support staff. TSA officers earn an average of $61,000 annually, according to federal data, Reuters reported.

The funding dispute centers on DHS, the TSA's parent agency, which remains without approved appropriations.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said negotiators have narrowed differences on DHS funding, but a final agreement has yet to be reached.

In February, Democrats withheld DHS funds in response to the killing of two U.S. citizens in Minnesota by immigration authorities.

Originally published on vcpost.com
U.S. enterprises are welcome to seize development opportunities in China: vice premier

Xinhua) 08:28, March 23, 2026

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
German court rejects landmark climate case against BMW, Mercedes



Karlsruhe, Germany, March 23 (AFP) Mar 23, 2026



A German top court on Monday rejected a landmark climate case brought by environmentalists that had aimed to force auto giants BMW and Mercedes-Benz to stop selling combustion-engine cars from 2030.

The case at the Federal Court of Justice was brought by campaigners of the group Environmental Action Germany (DUH), and marked the latest example of activists turning to the judiciary to enforce climate action.

The plaintiffs built their case on a landmark 2021 ruling by Germany's Constitutional Court that the state has a duty to protect future generations from the effects of climate change and sought to apply the principle to companies.

But handing down its ruling, Germany's highest court for civil and criminal matters rejected DUH's arguments. It found that citizens' personal rights were "not affected... by the business activities of the defendant," in a decision that upheld rulings by lower courts.

"Private individuals cannot demand that automobile manufacturers refrain from placing passenger cars with internal combustion engines on the market" ahead of European Union deadlines, it said.

The DUH case demanded a 2030 phase-out of fossil fuel-powered cars -- five years earlier than the target year in a European Union plan that was last year watered down after intense lobbying by automakers.

DUH executive director Barbara Metz said the decision did not "absolve Mercedes-Benz and BMW of their responsibility for the climate crisis, which stems from their sale of millions of internal combustion engine vehicles in order to maximise profits".

But she said the court had made it clear that responsibility for action lies with the federal government, and called on Chancellor Friedrich Merz to step up action to protect the climate.

The DUH said it was also considering whether to file an appeal to the Constitutional Court.



- Activists turning to courts -



Mercedes welcomed the ruling for providing "a clarification of our democratic system".

"Setting legal requirements for climate targets is the responsibility of the legislature, not the judiciary," said the group in a statement, adding that climate protection remained a key consideration.

BMW added that the decision contributed to "legal certainty for companies operating in Germany".

"Throughout the proceedings, we have consistently maintained the position that the debate over how to achieve climate targets must take place within the political process through democratically elected parliaments," the group added in a statement.

The legal action is part of a wider trend of climate activists turning to courts.

Campaigners celebrated last May after a regional court in northern Germany ruled that companies could in principle be sued over the consequences of their emissions.

However, the court did not award damages to a Peruvian farmer, Saul Luciano Lliuya, who had brought the case against utility firm RWE.

The case against the carmakers was passed up to the Federal Court of Justice on appeal after lower courts in Stuttgart and Munich ruled in favour of the firms, finding they had complied with relevant regulations.

German carmakers have invested billions in the transition to electric and hybrid vehicles in a bid to meet EU climate targets.

But progress has been slowed by lower than anticipated demand, with many consumers put off by higher upfront costs and still patchy charging infrastructure.

burs-sr/fz/gv

BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG

Mercedes-Benz Group
Feature: Chinese cultural elements shine at Cape Town Carnival 2026

Xinhua) 08:51, March 23, 2026

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)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
US energy chief calls oil market disruptions 'temporary'



Houston, March 23 (AFP) Mar 23, 2026



US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Monday that oil market disruptions are "temporary," as costs surge on the back of war in the Middle East, squeezing consumers.

Asked how markets have been reacting to supply disruptions, Wright said "markets do what markets do," adding that prices have surged to "send signals to everyone that can produce more -- please produce more."

Wright told the annual CERAWeek conference in Houston that "prices have not risen high enough yet to drive meaningful demand destruction."

He stressed that Washington has taken "pragmatic solutions" to ease sanctions on oil that is already being shipped, allowing them to enter the market.

"But these are mitigants of a situation that's temporary," he stressed.

Wright added that the United States started releasing oil from its strategic reserves on Friday.

He added that the release, which was earlier announced, would reach around 1.5 million barrels a day out of US stocks, getting potentially close to three million barrels total.

More than 10,000 attendees are expected at the high-level energy gathering, which is this year dominated by oil and gas supply disruptions sparked by war.

US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 triggered Tehran's retaliation that brought commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to a virtual halt.

Around a fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the critical waterway during peacetime, and US consumers are now facing average gasoline prices of nearly $4 per gallon.

Attacks on critical energy facilities in Iran, Qatar and other Gulf countries have exacerbated global oil and gas supply problems.

Oil prices tumbled Monday as President Donald Trump suddenly ordered a halt on strikes targeting Iranian infrastructure after "very good" talks -- although Tehran denied that negotiations had taken place.
First UN high seas summit proposed for January in New York



United Nations, United States, March 23 (AFP) Mar 23, 2026



Countries that ratified a landmark treaty to protect the high seas on Monday set January 2027 as the proposed date for their first summit, known as a conference of the parties.

After years of delays, the treaty was ratified in September by 60 countries. The law aims to protect biodiverse areas in international waters, beyond countries' exclusive economic zones.

Belizean diplomat Janine Coye-Felson, co-chair of the committee working on implementing the treaty, said the group would recommend "that the first meeting of the COP be convened from 11 to 22nd January 2027 at UN Headquarters" in New York city.

The preparatory committee is holding its final meeting in New York to lay the groundwork for January's summit, where operating rules and the location of a new secretariat must be decided.

The treaty, adopted in June 2023, aims to counter the myriad threats facing the world's high seas, including climate change, pollution and overfishing.

Teeming with life, the oceans are responsible for creating half of the globe's oxygen supply and are vital to combatting global warming because they absorb significant amounts of the CO2 emitted by human activities, conservationists say.

The high seas begin where a country's exclusive economic zone ends -- up to 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) from the coast -- and fall outside the jurisdiction of any single nation.

Although they cover nearly half the planet, the high seas have been long overlooked in the fight to preserve the environment.

Today only about one percent of the high seas is subject to conservation measures. In 2022 at the COP15 biodiversity conference, the world's nations committed to protect 30 percent of global lands and oceans by the year 2030.
Trump administration seeks to ease oil fears but industry wary



Houston, March 23 (AFP) Mar 23, 2026



A top US official in President Donald Trump's government sought to reassure fears about the oil market Monday as war raged on in the Middle East, but industry leaders remain wary.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright told the annual CERAWeek conference in Houston that disruption to global energy flows is "temporary," as costs surged after US-Israeli strikes on Iran prompted Tehran's retaliation that virtually blocked the Strait of Hormuz.

Wright said Washington has adopted "pragmatic solutions" such as by helping oil flow to Asian refineries. The United States also started releasing oil from its strategic reserves on Friday.

"But these are mitigants of a situation that's temporary," he stressed to a packed ballroom.

His comments came as energy industry leaders converge in Texas this week under the cloud of oil and gas supply disruptions from the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran in late February.

More than 10,000 attendees are expected for CERAWeek, the spring gathering that has taken on unexpected importance as fuel prices rocketed after the war began.

Wright said the United States would be able to release up to 1.5 million barrels of oil a day, and this could get close to three million barrels.

Attacks on critical energy facilities in Iran, Qatar and other Gulf countries have exacerbated global supply problems.

Oil prices tumbled Monday as Trump ordered a halt on strikes targeting Iranian infrastructure following "very good" talks. But Tehran denied that negotiations were underway.

Wright told CNBC on Monday that even though the world is undergoing a "short-term period of disruption" now, "the long-term benefits will be enormous."



- 'Economic terrorism' -



Separately, the chief of UAE state energy company ADNOC slammed Tehran's actions to effectively block the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global energy supplies.

"Weaponizing the Strait of Hormuz is not an act of aggression against one nation," Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said in virtual remarks to the conference.

"It's economic terrorism against every nation. And no country should be allowed to hold Hormuz hostage," he added.

TotalEnergies chief Patrick Pouyanne expects "very high" liquefied natural gas prices by the summer, when gas storage in Europe is being refilled, if the strait is not reopened.

US energy giant Chevron's chief executive Mike Wirth warned that oil prices have yet to fully factor in fallout from the blockade.

"In particular, Asia is facing some real concerns about supply," he said, citing government measures to conserve stocks.

Even after the war ends, it will take time to rebuild inventories, he added.



- Wind power projects -



Outside the conference venue, dozens of demonstrators pushed back on fossil fuel reliance.

Chloe Torres of the Texas Campaign for the Environment said her community in Corpus Christi has been hit by "hyper-industrialization" from the fossil fuel and petrochemical industry.

"We are rapidly running out of water," she said, adding that industrial demand has strained resources.

At the event, the Trump administration reached a deal with French energy giant TotalEnergies in which it would pay almost $1 billion to end its US offshore wind farm projects, the Interior Department said.

The $928 million reimbursement, which was what TotalEnergies paid for project leases, would instead be invested in US oil and gas projects.

"We're partnering with TotalEnergies to unleash nearly $1 billion" tied up in lease deposits, said Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.

The weeklong conference gathers experts from industry, finance, government and academia to discuss energy and other topics including trade and artificial intelligence.

Besides the war, much of the attention this year again centers on the profound reorientation of US energy and environmental policy under Trump.

This year's conference also features a plenary event with Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado, who is due to speak Tuesday.

bur-mav-bys/jgc

CHEVRON

TotalEnergies

Shell

Saudi Aramco
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At last, we might be free of the hegemony of Paddington. That well-mannered ursine need not be the British publics sole cinematic obsession. One of the franchises co-writers, Simon Farnaby, is quietly building his own empire of wholesome whimsy, all spiritual successors to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968). Post-Wonka (2023), hes come back for another spin on a literary classic, this time adapting Enid Blytons The Faraway Tree series (here titled The Magic Faraway Tree) for director Ben Gregor.

Farnaby keeps it fresh and witty, combining the wordplay and low-stakes surrealism of his roots in The Mighty Boosh and Horrible Histories with a keen eye for literary adaptation. Hes never precious about the source material  Wonka was, after all, an origin story prequel to the Chocolate Factory  yet keeps a core respect for the wonder and imagination that makes literary classics out of bedtime stories.

And Blyton, as both one of Britains most popular and most contested writers, is ripe for the Farnaby treatment. He preserves the basics of her four-book series, with its rigid childs-eye view of the world. Here, the magnificent English countryside conceals a magical tree, in which reside Moonface (Nonso Anozie) and his enormous crescent hair; the fairy Silky (a luminous Nicola Coughlan); the cheery laundress Dame Washalot (Baby Reindeers Jessica Gunning); the Don Quixote-like Saucepan Man (Dustin Demri-Burns); Mr Watzisname (Oliver Chris), whos forgotten what hes called; and the tiny Angry Pixie (Hiran Abeysekera).

Andrew Garfield, Delilah Bennett-Cardy, Phoenix Laroche, Claire Foy and Billie Gadsdon in The Magic Faraway Tree ( Entertainment Film Distributors )

Their home offers a gateway to other worlds, where a childs greatest dream  an endless supply of sweets  can collide with their greatest fear  the stern headmistress Dame Snap, played by a sneering Rebecca Ferguson in answer to the question, What if we made the Child Catcher hot? Ann Maskreys outsized costumes and Alexandra Walkers playhouse sets offer a sense of joyous abandon, all accompanied by Isabella Summerss heart-swelling score. There are French disco elves and an office that operates by the same rules as Twin Peakss Red Room (wonk uoy, wonk uoy fi).

Farnaby, as youd expect, does leave behind Blytons more regressive ideas, as well as the comparatively simplistic outlook of her stories, which seemed interested less in passing down wisdom than indulging in playtime fantasies. Here, child heroes Beth (Delilah Bennett-Cardy), Fran (Billie Gadsdon), and Joe (Phoenix Laroche) are being raised by two rather brilliant parents, Polly and Tim. And we immediately know theyre brilliant because theyre played by Claire Foy and Andrew Garfield.

Tim is a stay-at-home dad, so attuned to the manic pixie dream boy mould that it lets Garfield practically bounce off the walls. Polly kickstarts the plot by quitting her job as a smart fridge designer in protest against privacy invasion  shes the more authoritative, practical parent, yet Foy has enough of her own frenetic energy to prevent the character from devolving into the humourless scold.

Both are fun, eccentric parents whose children cant appreciate the fear that theyve wasted their childhoods on digital screens. Not only does the tech angle lead to some brilliant gags (Farnaby turns up as a local farmer who confuses Wifi for wife, aye), but its a lovely way to tether Blytons work to a thoroughly modern world, in a way that feels regenerative rather than dismissive. Because theres more out there, after all, than Paddington.

Dir: Ben Gregor. Starring: Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, Nonso Anozie, Nicola Coughlan, Jessica Gunning, Jennifer Saunders, Rebecca Ferguson. Cert U, 110 minutes.

The Magic Faraway Tree is in cinemas from 27 March
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Scottish actor Michelle Gomez has stepped down from playing the formidable and villainous Nurse Ratched in the London stage adaptation of One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest for personal reasons.

The actor, 59, best known for her work on shows such as Green Wing, Doctor Who and Netflixs Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, had been due to star in a bold new staging of Ken Keseys 1962 novel One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest running at The Old Vic theatre through April and May.

Directed by Clint Dyer, the production was initially led by Gomez, who is married to actor Jack Davenport, along with Hamilton star and Olivier winner Giles Terera and The Morning Shows Aaron Pierre.

open image in gallery Gomez will no longer appear in the production ( Getty )

But on Monday (23 March), one week out from previews beginning on 1 April, The Old Vic announced that The Sixth Sense star Olivia Williams would now be playing Nurse Ratched following Gomezs departure from the production.

In a statement on Instagram, the theatre wrote: The Old Vic is sorry to announce that Michelle Gomez has stepped down from One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest for personal reasons. The theatre, cast and company wish Michelle well and thank her for time on the production.

The part of Nurse Ratched will now be played by Olivia Williams and we are pleased to welcome Olivia to the company. All performances are scheduled to go ahead as planned.

open image in gallery Gomez dropped out for personal reasons ( Getty )

The Independent has contacted Gomezs representatives for comment.

A British actor who trained at the Royal Shakespeare Company, Williams, 57, broke onto screens in 1996 opposite Kate Beckinsale in a film adaptation of Jane Austins Emma. She has starred in films including Rushmore and An Education, and played Bruce Williss wife in The Sixth Sense.

Williams will be taking on the role of Nurse Ratched  a cruel, calculating nurse in a male psychiatric facility played by Louise Fletcher in the 1975 film and, more recently, Sarah Paulson in Ryan Murphys 2020 spin-off series Ratched.

open image in gallery Olivia Williams will step in to play Nurse Ratched ( Getty )

Stage director Dyer, who worked at the helm of the Bob Marley musical Get Up, Stand Up! as well as the Death of England trilogy, has said that audiences will be shocked, heartbroken and bullied into submission by this new production.

In the play, which runs from 1 April to 23 May, the patients in the facility are all played by Black actors, with Dyer saying that he wanted the show to emphasise the themes of colonialism in One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest.

[It] was really about trying to embrace what the book was really trying to say  that its a comment on society, he said. It speaks to every generation because theres no good guys and theres no bad guys.
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Father Ted actor Ben Keaton has died, aged 69, with his family leading tributes to the Irish star.

Keaton, who was born Ben Burke-Kennedy, was best known for playing Father Austin Purcell in the Channel 4 show, appearing in a 1996 episode.

He later appeared in Casualty, Doctors, childrens programme Hububb and Emmerdale, in which he played Ritas Brannigans father, Jeff.

While Keatons cause of death has not been announced, his family described his death as unexpected.

open image in gallery Ben Keaton is survived by his son Waldo and daughter Daisy ( BBC )

Keatons family announced his death in the Irish Times on Friday (20 March), writing: Ben will be forever greatly missed, loved and fondly remembered by his ex-wife Polly, son Waldo and daughter Daisy, brothers Des and Thom, sister Jeanette.

His ex-wife, Polly Kelly Keaton, also paid tribute to the actor on Facebook, writing: So incredibly sorry to say Ben Keaton died last night. It was very sudden and we are all in shock.

We had separated several years ago, but we had half a lifetime together and infuriated and made each other cry with laughter in equal measure.

He was a great dad to Waldo and Daisy and the finest Groucho and Cyrano I have ever seen.

Fans took to social media to remember the actor, with one writing: RIP Ben Keaton! Father Austin Purcell- the most boring priest in the world- was one of my favourite guest characters!

Another said: A sudden and heartbreaking loss. Ben Keaton will be remembered for the laughter and memories he gave to so many.

open image in gallery Ben Keaton won an Olivier last year for creating Brainiac Live ( X )

Keatons episode of the Channel 4 sitcom sees him play Father Austin, who is described by Ted (Dermot Morgan) as the most boring priest in the world. Decades after taking on the role, Keaton brought back Father Austin to host pub quizzes in character and in 2015, started his own webseries as the clergyman titled Cook Like A Priest.

Outside of his TV roles, Keaton established a career in theatre  appearing in runs of Cyrano de Bergerac, American Buffalo and Harvey at The Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester.

He won the Perrier Comedy Award at Edinburgh Festival in 1986 for his stand-up work and was nominated for an Olivier after playing Groucho Marx in Animal Crackers in 1999.

Just last year, he took home an Olivier Award for Best Family Show after creating Brainiac Live, based on the Sky science show.
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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.

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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Yellowstone star Mo Brings Plenty has shared his belief that his nephew was murdered, accusing the local police of not wanting to dedicate resources to investigating his death.

Cole Brings Plenty, 27, was found dead in a wooded area of Kansas in April 2024, just days after his family reported him missing. At the time, the Johnson County, Kansas Sheriffs Office confirmed there was no foul play suspected in the 1923 actors death.

Years later, his family is still demanding answers.

For his murder to go uninvestigated, and for it to be written off as no foul play, because they didnt want to invest anything into it? Its heartbreaking, said Mo, a member of the indigenous Oglala Lakota tribe, in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter. Were not letting it go.

The actor, who reprised his best-known role as Mo in Taylor Sheridans new Yellowstone spin-off Marshals, added: Because were taxpaying people as well. So for them to not work for us, no different than how they work for anyone else is, is pretty sad.

open image in gallery Cole Brings Plenty was found dead in a wooded area of Kansas in April 2024 ( Frazer Harrison/Getty Images )

open image in gallery Mo Brings Plenty accused the police department of writing off his nephew's death 'because they didnt want to invest anything into it' ( Getty Images )

I saw his body, I saw the evidence that is there that someone caught him, he claimed. So for them to say that there was nothing, I cant believe that. I still cant.

At the time he was reported missing, Cole was a suspect in a domestic violence case. He was accused of fleeing after authorities responded to reports of a female screaming for help.

Lawrence police said in a statement at the time: Traffic cameras showed him leaving the city immediately after the incident.

Mo further alleged that the departments didnt put much effort into searching for Cole. In fact, they werent even really looking for him. They were hunting him, he claimed. They werent searching for him. They were hunting him until the day when a good friend of mine and I rented a helicopter and told the Lawrence Police Department that we were going to go and search from the air, and that day, they were out in full force.

In a statement to The Independent, a spokesperson for the LKPD denied Mos allegations, saying: We provided a complete, in person, presentation of the evidence to the family which included videos, witness statements, and photographs. The family chose not to release the facts. Out of compassion we complied with their wishes.

Once the case concluded, the family petitioned the court to seal the autopsy report, medical examiners case file, law enforcement case files of the Lawrence, Kansas Police Department and the Johnson County, Kansas Sheriffs Department, and the Death Certificate of Cole Brings Plenty. A judge signed it, they continued.

The entire case contains clear evidence that there was no foul play involved in Coles death and that Cole acted alone, they added. Any confusion and speculation are a result of the familys messaging. With the familys permission, we are willing to release a full report of our investigative efforts and results.

The Independent has contacted the Coles family and the Johnson Sheriffs Office for comment.

open image in gallery Cole appeared in two episodes of the Yellowstone spin-off 1923 ( Paramount+ )

Cole was a media student at Haskell Indian Nations University in Kansas. He was best known for playing Pete Plenty Clouds on the Western drama 1923.

Describing Cole as the future of their people, Mo added: It was a hard loss for us because this was an individual who was speaking our language, singing our songs and carrying on our traditions.

Months after Coles death, his father, Joe Brings Plenty Sr., also demanded a full investigation.

My boy, we have some work to do, the Cheyenne River Sioux tribal leader said at the 2024 Red Nation Film Festival. We want a full investigation done, a fair investigation, to find out what happened with Cole.
J-16 multi-role fighter jets participate in training

China Military Online) 10:10, March 23, 2026

Pilot assigned to an aviation brigade under the Chinese PLA Air Force conducts pre-flight check with a maintenance member before a flight training exercise in early March, 2026. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Hu Hongbin)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
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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.

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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The co-hosts of The View are not holding back their criticisms of Donald Trump after he celebrated the death of former FBI director Robert Mueller.

Trump has garnered pushback after he wrote on Truth Social that he was glad Mueller, 81, died so that he could not hurt innocent people anymore, prompting the stars of ABCs daytime talk show to discuss the controversial statement during Mondays show.

I thought that was something beneath the dignity of the office of the presidency, co-host Sunny Hostin said.

She then demonstrated the Trump administrations hypocrisy by recalling Vice President JD Vances response to people celebrating Charlie Kirks death in September.

Vance said at the time: We have a first amendment in this country. The first amendment protects a lot of very ugly speech. But if you celebrate Charlie Kirks death, you should not be protected for being fired for being a disgusting person.

open image in gallery President Trump celebrated Mueller's death Saturday saying 'I'm glad he's dead' ( @realDonaldTrump/Truth Social )

open image in gallery The co-hosts of 'The View' criticized Donald Trump for his controversial reaction to Robert Mueller's death ( ABC )

The studio audience at The View erupted into applause as Hostin, after playing Vances remarks, went on to say: And I agree with those sentiments. I think that if you celebrate someones death, you should be fired. I think its inappropriate  especially coming from the President of the United States.

Trumps ire for Mueller stemmed from the fact that the special counsel was appointed to investigate Trumps ties to Russia during his first administration.

Guest host Abby Huntsman said on the show that Trumps statements were a rock bottom. She said: He cant help himself, and he gets himself such trouble. Its indefensible.

Whoopi Goldberg agreed, saying, I listened to you guys clutch your pearls about what you thought was being said about Charlie Kirk. I listened to you. We felt for his family, and you dont have the courage or  its not even empathy, just the decency to say, You know what? Go with God. I didnt like what he did but Go with God.

Thats what we say about people we dont like. We dont like their politics, and we dont like the person. Go with God. I dont like you, but God loves you. Thats what we do. Thats how Americas supposed to run, regardless of what God youre talking about, she said.

Ana Navarro pointed out that Trump also spoke poorly about the dead when he recognized the deaths of Senator John McCain and director Rob Reiner.

This is who he is because hes a mean person with a dark heart, verbal diarrhea, and no impulse control, Navarro said. He is 80 years old. Hes got obvious physical ailments. And there will be people that, when he passes away, as we will all pass away, will write these things and celebrate. If you dont condemn it today from him, you dont have a right to condemn it then from anybody.
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Gypsy-Rose Blanchard is facing backlash for casually joking about her mothers murder in the viral We Listen, and We Dont Judge TikTok trend, which sees people trade embarrassing personal confessions.

The 34-year-old convicted felon, who served eight years in prison for her role in her mother Clauddine Dee Dee Blanchards 2015 killing, recently collaborated with controversial influencer Natalie Reynolds on a video in which the pair recited their most infamous public moments, along with some new revelations.

We listen and we dont judge: I went to prison for eight and a half years because I ... Gypsy said, before making a choking noise and an X symbol with her arms and adding, ... my own mom.

Reynolds acted mildly shocked as Blanchard reminded her: Hey, we listen, and we dont judge.

Many people were quick to express their disapproval of the video in the comments below, with one writing: Man this is not funny this is just bad.

open image in gallery Gypsy-Rose Blanchard (left) partook in the viral 'We Listen and We Don't Judge' TikTok trend ( TikTok/nataliireynoldss )

She said it too casually, a second noted. Gypsy rose WTF??? a third said.

We listen and we call the judge, a fourth quipped, while another found the lack of remorse here is wild.

The Independent has contacted Blanchards representative for comment.

Blanchard pleaded guilty in 2016 to conspiring to kill her mother with her then-online boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn. He was later sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for stabbing Dee Dee to death in her Missouri home.

Dee Dee, 48, allegedly had factitious disorder imposed on another (formerly Munchausen syndrome by proxy), forcing her daughter to pass herself off as younger and pretend to be disabled and chronically ill, while subjecting her to physical and psychological abuse.

Their story was adapted into the 2019 true-crime anthology, The Act, starring Patricia Arquette and Joey King.

open image in gallery Blanchard, 34, served eight years in prison for her role in her mothers 2015 killing ( Getty Images )

While in prison, Blanchard married Ryan Scott Anderson in July 2022. They separated in March 2024, just months after her release. Shortly afterward, Blanchard reconnected with her ex-fiance, Ken Urker, and the pair welcomed a daughter, Aurora, in December 2024.

In January 2025, the Life After Lock Up star denied claims that Child Protective Services were called to check on her daughter.

NO, CPS is not involved! (our baby is very safe and healthy), she wrote alongside a rolling eyes emoji in her Instagram Story at the time.

Speaking to People last year, Urker gushed about Blanchard: I couldnt be more proud to have her as the mother of our child and as a partner in life. And I think that even after all the things that shes gone through, that was one of the things that I loved about her from the beginning. I couldnt be happier to have her at my side in this life.
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A young woman from Norwich claims her debilitating endometriosis symptoms were dismissed for a decade, with doctors repeatedly attributing her pain to her weight or "just a bad period." Tehyana Johnson, 22, expressed a profound wish that "someone would have just listened" to her pleas for help.

Ms Johnsons ordeal began with painful periods, heavy bleeding, blood in her urine, full body pain, and vomiting, symptoms she says were consistently ignored by medical professionals. From 2014 onwards, she recounts being "fobbed off" and believes she has undergone more than 250 consultations in the past three years alone, all while her condition worsened.

She eventually self-diagnosed herself with endometriosis  a condition where tissue similar to the womb lining grows elsewhere in the body  before receiving an official diagnosis in July 2025. This came after a laparoscopy, a keyhole surgery, which revealed extensive endometriosis with lesions and scar tissue on multiple organs, including her bowels.

While the diagnosis brought a sense of vindication, Ms Johnson feels much of her suffering could have been prevented. She is now campaigning for earlier diagnosis of this "invisible" and currently incurable condition.

open image in gallery Tehyana is campaigning for earlier diagnosis for endometriosis ( Collect/PA Real Life )

"Id been fobbed off for so long and told that this isnt whats wrong with me, so when I was diagnosed, I almost felt vindicated because I was right  but I was angry," Ms Johnson told PA Real Life. "I was doing the research into whats wrong with me and I was right every single time. But this is something Im going to have to live with for the rest of my life because everything we have tried so far hasnt worked. I wish someone would have just listened to me in the first place."

According to the charity Endometriosis UK, it takes an average of more than eight years from the first GP visit to receive a diagnosis for endometriosis, a condition affecting 176 million women worldwide. Symptoms vary but can include pelvic pain, severe period pain, heavy bleeding, and pain during or after sex or when urinating.

Ms Johnsons symptoms began at age nine with heavy bleeding, leading to an iron deficiency diagnosis. By 12, her condition escalated to include nausea, vomiting, and such severe cramping that she would be "off school, in bed for days."

"I couldnt move and Id just curl up into the foetal position," said Ms Johnson, who works as a regional assistant for a social care company. "That would go on for days but when we went to see the doctors when I was about 14, there was no investigation and they just stuck me on the pill."

open image in gallery Tehyana during one of her hospital admissions ( Collect/PA Real Life )

Despite the pill stopping her periods, she experienced "phantom pain" and occasional light bleeding, along with back pain dismissed as "growing pains." Her symptoms continued to worsen, leading to hospital admissions where she felt her "body was on fire," yet she claims she was still "ignored."

"I would go to hospital, and they would say, are you sure its not just a bad period?," she explained. "Theyd tell me to go back to my GP and, effectively, ignore me, and then my GP would say, if your pain is that bad, you need to go to hospital."

In 2023, Ms Johnson was finally referred to a gynaecologist but faced a year-long waiting list, during which her symptoms severely impacted her ability to sleep, walk, and study. A change of GP surgeries led her to a locum doctor who recognised the severity of her pain, prescribed codeine, and escalated her referral.

However, in 2024, after seeing a male gynaecologist and undergoing clear ultrasound and MRI scans, she was again told she did not have endometriosis. Instead, her weight was cited as the cause of her symptoms.

open image in gallery Tehyana said her symptoms were 'ignored' for around a decade ( Collect/PA Real Life )

"He spent the whole (appointment), telling me its because of my weight and he said to me: Your weight is my ideal weight as a 6ft 5in man," she recounted. "Trying to explain (my symptoms) to someone who has already decided what he thinks is the answer, he just wasnt listening."

Convinced something was profoundly wrong, Ms Johnson began her own research while at university. "I wasnt going into my lessons because I couldnt get up, I didnt have any support, so I started Googling my symptoms and looking at WebMD and I came across endometriosis," she said. "I just thought, wait a second, this is whats been going on with me for the past 10 years."

Later in 2024, an unplanned pregnancy became a suspected ectopic pregnancy, which Ms Johnson claims doctors also dismissed. A private scan a week later identified a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, leading to an emergency hospital visit. Although she suffered a partial rupture, the pregnancy later "dissolved" without surgery.

After advocating for a laparoscopy, considered the "gold standard" for diagnosis, she endured another year-long wait. During this time, her symptoms intensified, including severe abdominal pain, nausea, bladder spasms, bowel dysfunction, and debilitating sciatica.

open image in gallery Tehyana said her symptoms would often leave her crying in pain on the floor ( Collect/PA Real Life )

"Its traumatic. Im on the floor, Im screaming, crying, and the pain lasts for hours," she described.

In July 2025, Ms Johnson finally underwent the diagnostic laparoscopy. Upon waking, she was informed of the extensive endometriosis. While some tissue was removed, she was told not all could be safely excised due to its widespread nature and location.

"They said there are lesions which look like theyve been there for about 15 years, and Ive got massive scarring on basically everything," she stated. "At this point, Im thinking, youve left it so long that now theres not a chance that (treatment) will work."

Ms Johnson continues to experience "flare-ups" but uses a TENS machine for pain relief and is pushing for more referrals. She may require further surgery or, in severe cases, a hysterectomy, but for now, she is dedicated to raising awareness and advocating for better education and support.

"Always advocate for yourself and fight for yourself but youre not alone as there are millions of us with this condition and there are support groups," she urged. "Id say to GPs, think about if this was your child or your wife or your partner, youd want them to be heard. Medical professionals need to educate themselves and be willing to be educated again."

open image in gallery Tehyana said endometriosis is an 'invisible' condition ( Collect/PA Real Life )

During Endometriosis Awareness Month, intimate wellness brand Intimina highlights that diagnosis takes an average of eight years and 10 months. Dr Susanna Unsworth, a womens health expert for Intimina, commented: "Too many women are still told that severe period pain is just something they have to live with. But pain that stops you going about your normal daily life is not normal and should always be assessed. If your periods are affecting your quality of life, trust your instincts, seek medical advice and keep advocating for yourself. Women deserve to be listened to when they say something isnt right."
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The collapse of old regimes and the long shadow of conflict define this weeks front pages. Power fragments in the Soviet Union, from Boris Yeltsins electoral upset in Moscow to a tense military standoff on the streets of Lithuania. Elsewhere, the realities of Western intervention dominate the news agenda. Nato escalates air strikes over Kosovo, allied air power backs Libyan rebels, and Iraq descends into chaos after the first Gulf War. Yet, amidst global turmoil, there are also flashes of diplomatic progress. In a scene once thought impossible, former adversaries Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams sit side by side to forge a power-sharing deal, heralding a new era of peace for Northern Ireland.

28 March 1989  Soviet old guard routed at the polls

Soviet voters use new parliamentary elections to deliver a significant defeat to the Communist establishment. While the result vindicates Mikhail Gorbachevs perestroika reforms, it also empowers new political forces that challenge his opposition to a multi-party system. The front page features Boris Yeltsin, who secures 89 per cent of the Moscow vote and will later become the first president of a post-Soviet Russia.

open image in gallery ( The Independent )

25 March 1990  War of nerves in Lithuania

Tensions mount between Vilnius and Moscow as Soviet tanks and troops deploy outside the Lithuanian parliament. The breakaway republic appeals to the West and neighbouring Baltic states for solidarity, actively defying a Kremlin ultimatum demanding the return of army deserters. This military standoff accelerates the fracturing of the Soviet Union, culminating in full international recognition of Lithuanian independence the following year.

open image in gallery ( The Independent )

23 March 1991  Iraq sinks into post-war chaos

The United Nations moves to ease a seven-month food embargo against Iraq as warnings of impending starvation and widespread epidemics mount. Insurrections against Saddam Hussein intensify in Baghdad and across the south, prompting international demands that relief supplies reach rebel-held territories. Despite the scale of these post-Gulf War uprisings, the Iraqi regime maintains its grip on power for another decade.

open image in gallery ( The Independent )

29 March 1999  Nato escalates air war over Kosovo

Nato intensifies its air campaign against Yugoslavia in an effort to prevent Serbian forces from committing atrocities against Albanian civilians in Kosovo. The military alliance draws a strict line at the 44th parallel, warning that any Serb tanks or troops moving south of the boundary will face immediate aerial bombardment. The 78-day intervention ultimately forces Slobodan Milosevic to withdraw his military from the region, paving the way for a UN administration and international peacekeepers.

open image in gallery ( The Independent )

24 March 2004  9/11 failures exposed

A National Commission report details a decade of American intelligence failures and missed opportunities to apprehend Osama bin Laden. The investigation reveals a catalogue of misjudgements, noting that the US only agreed on a strategy to overthrow the Taliban the day before the 11 September attacks. These highly critical findings ultimately force a sweeping overhaul of the US security apparatus and the creation of the Director of National Intelligence.

open image in gallery ( The Independent )

27 March 2007  Paisley and Adams discuss power-sharing deal

In an unprecedented step for the Northern Ireland peace process, sworn adversaries Rev Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams sit side by side for the first time to agree a power-sharing executive. The Independent places the event in the context of other major diplomatic milestones, likening the breakthrough to the historic handshakes of Reagan and Gorbachev, De Klerk and Mandela, and Rabin and Arafat. The agreement paves the way for a devolved unity government at Stormont, drawing a close to decades of bitter sectarian conflict.

open image in gallery ( The Independent )

25 March 2008  Concerns raised over missing Tibetan monks

Amnesty warns that 15 young Tibetan monks face a severe risk of torture after being detained by Chinese security forces. The monks, some still in their teens, disappeared shortly after holding a demonstration against Beijing's rule in the region. Their defiance helps ignite the largest Tibetan uprising in decades, drawing intense international scrutiny ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games.

open image in gallery ( The Independent )

28 March 2011  Libyan rebels advance towards Tripoli

Backed by Western air power, Libyan rebels push towards Tripoli as Muammar Gaddafis frontline forces begin to collapse. Opposition fighters quickly set their sights on the dictator's birthplace of Sirte after international strikes decimate the regime's remaining artillery. Although the capital eventually falls to the uprising, the ousted leader remains alive and in hiding until he is captured and killed seven months later.
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A California woman and three accomplices have been arrested after she allegedly hired a hitman to kill her ex-boyfriend.

Ignacia Cadaos Perkins, 40, of Murrieta, has been charged with murder in connection with the death of 30-year-old Aaron Parr. He was found dead on January 13 inside an apartment in the city, the Murrieta Police Department said.

Authorities responded to the apartment and determined that the circumstances surrounding Parrs death were suspicious, prompting a homicide investigation.

On January 29, Perkins and an acquaintance, James Lawrence Petri, 43, were both arrested in Alabama. The pair were charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder, police said.

Investigators have not shared further details on Parrs death but have suggested that the killing may have been motivated by financial gain, according to the Los Angeles Times.

open image in gallery Ignacia Cadaos Perkins and three accomplices have been charged in the murder of Aaron Parr. He was found dead in his California apartment in January ( Murrieta Police Department )

open image in gallery James Lawrence Petri was arrested and charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder, police said ( Murrieta Police Department )

Since the initial arrests, Murrieta Police Detectives have continued to diligently examine a substantial volume of physical evidence, digitial evidence, and investigative leads, police wrote in a Facebook update on their investigation Friday.

Through persistent investigative efforts and coordination with partner agencies across the United States, detectives were able to identify and locate two additional accomplices involved in this homicide, the police added.

Last Wednesday, authorities arrested Jerry Wheeler, 34, in Brookhaven, Georgia, and Kenneth Maxwell, 39, in Midfield, Alabama, police said.

open image in gallery Jerry Wheeler was arrested in Brookhaven, Georgia, March 18 ( DeKalb County Sheriff's Office )

open image in gallery Kenneth Maxwell was arrested in Midfield, Alabama in connection with the murder ( FBI Birmingham/Safe Streets )

Wheeler and Maxwell both face charges for murder, murder for financial or other consideration, and criminal conspiracy to commit murder, police said.

Both Wheeler and Maxwell are awaiting extradition to California, where they will face trial.

Authorities have shared few other details about the circumstances of the killing, citing an ongoing investigation.

The Independent has contacted the Murrieta Police Department for comment.
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A Kentucky woman has been arrested and charged with hitting four pedestrians with her Tesla Model 3 while driving under the influence in downtown Lexington in the early hours of Sunday.

Kaydence Carpenter, 20, from Frankfort, was apprehended after police say video shows her calmly reversing her black Tesla in a parking lot before abruptly plowing forward straight through a crowd of people at 2.20 a.m. Sunday morning.

The suspects car can be seen in surveillance video of the incident obtained by WKYT mounting the curb and surging through the assembled pedestrians, sending several flying off her hood, before proceeding in the wrong direction down Short Street.

open image in gallery Kaydence Carpenter's mugshot taken at Fayette County Detention Center, Kentucky, Sunday March 22, 2026 after she was charged with DUI offences ( Fayette County Detention Center )

She was then quickly stopped by officers who wrote in their arrest citation that her actions created substantial danger of death and/or serious physical injury to others.

Carpenter had displayed an extreme indifference to the value of human life, the police added.

The arresting officers further said she exhibited bloodshot watery eyes, slurred speech, a variety of emotional effects, and the odor of an alcoholic beverage radiated from her person when she spoke to them.

They reported recovering a fake ID and a valid driving license during a routine search of her vehicle.

According to the citation, Carpenter refused a breath test at the scene and showed signs of impairment during a field sobriety test she did later participate in at Fayette County Detention Center.

open image in gallery Carpenter's black Tesla Model 3 seen in surveillance camera footage of the incident in the early hours of Sunday morning broadcast by WKYT ( WKYT )

Carpenter can be seen smiling in her mugshot.

The suspect was ultimately charged with four counts of second-degree assault, first-degree wanton endangerment, DUI, reckless driving and licensee allowing a person under the age of 21 on premises where alcohol is sold.

She was released later Sunday after posting a $5,000 bond.

Carpenter is scheduled to be arraigned in Fayette District Court on Monday, according to court records.
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Multiple people have been stabbed after a vicious brawl reportedly broke out at an upscale restaurant in Los Angeles on Sunday.

Four women were wounded, including two with a knife and one with a bottle, police told ABC Los Angeles.

The victims are reportedly aged 26, 27, 28, and 37, an LAFire Department spokesperson told the Los Angeles Daily News.

The injuries are said to include lacerations to the arms and back with a fourth person, who fled the scene, reportedly stabbed in the neck.

Two suspects were arrested at the scene police continue to investigate the incident.

Helicopter footage from shortly after the melee showed a large presence of first responders at the scene, which took place at the Zaya restaurant located between 7th Street and Olive Street in the downtown section of the city around 5.30 pm.

open image in gallery ( ABC7 )

In the images, police and other emergency personnel, including several fire trucks, are crowded around the restaurant and the surrounding streets. The area did not appear to be cordoned off.

A party at the restaurant was said to be winding down when an argument broke out among multiple people and escalated, according to police.

Local media reports that the fight took place in two locations outside the restaurant, while other reports suggest that the argument broke out inside the establishment.

open image in gallery ( ABC7 )

One persons injuries are said to be moderate, while two others are said to have sustained light injuries. The condition of the fourth person who ran away from the fight is unknown. Officials have yet to locate that person.

The restaurant released a statement in the aftermath of the incident, writing: We are aware of the incident that occurred earlier today.

While some situations develop unexpectedly and are beyond our control, the safety of our guests and staff remains our highest priority.

We are especially grateful for the swift response of our team, as well as the immediate support of local law enforcement and emergency personnel.

It added: We appreciate the patience and support of our community and look forward to moving ahead together.

The Independent has contacted the LAPD for comment.
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A suspect in the murder of an 18-year-old student in Chicago had apparently been released from border and police custody after entering the U.S. illegally.

Jose Medina, 25, of Chicago was arrested on Friday night in connection with the shooting of Loyola University student Sheridan Gorman and is facing charges that include first-degree murder.

According to a Department of Homeland Security release, Medina, originally from Venezuela, illegally entered the U.S. in 2023.

On Thursday, Gorman was walking with her friends at Tobey Prinz Beach around 1:30 a.m., which is less than a mile from Loyola. A man allegedly walked up to the group, pulled out a gun, and began firing at them.

Gorman was shot in the head and died at the scene. No one else in the group was injured.

open image in gallery Gorman was described as full of life, full of kindness, and full of a love that she gave freely to everyone around her ( Department of Homeland Security )

She was only a few months away from finishing her first year of college, according to ABC 7. Chicago police do not believe that she was the intended target of the attack.

"Sheridan was our daughter, our sister, and the heart of our family. She was full of life, full of kindness, and full of a love that she gave freely to everyone around her," her family said in a statement. "She made people feel seen. She made people feel valued. Whether it was her friends, her family, or someone she had just met, Sheridan had a way of leaving people better than she found them."

Loyola University's president offered his condolences to Gorman's family.

This is a tragic loss, and our hearts go out to Sheridan's family, loved ones, and all who knew her." he said.

When Medina entered the country in 2023, he was arrested and released, according to the DHS. He was arrested again later on shoplifting charges but allegedly skipped out on his trial, which resulted in police obtaining a warrant for his arrest.

On Monday, President Donald Trump was asked about the murder. In addition to his controversial anti-immigration policies, he has repeatedly claimed, without providing evidence, that Venezuela emptied its prisons and insane asylums and sent their inmates to invade the U.S.

open image in gallery Jose Medina, 25, entered the country illegally from Venezuela in 2023 and was arrested at the time but was later released ( Department of Homeland Security )

"It's devastating. These people were let in by [former President Joe] Biden. We're getting them out. We're getting them out fast. That's why ICE is so important. They're doing such a good job. This, this animal ... came in through Joe Biden, with his open door policy and his border czar Kamala, who never saw the border, never made one phone call," Trump said.

"All the ICE people, you see, they all know me. Everyone knows me. They like me. I speak to them all the time. [Harris] didn't make one phone call during four years [that] she was the border czar," Trump said. "This person [Medina] came in through the open door policy of Joe Biden and we have others. We're taking them out by the tens of thousands. We're doing a great job, but it's a shame they've hurt our country."

In 2024, Trump tried to prime the American public for his coming immigration crackdowns and ICE raids by insisting that Venezuela had sent all of its most violent and dangerous criminals to cross the U.S. border.

"In Venezuela, their crime rate went down 72 percent. You know why? Because they took the criminals out of Caracas, and they put them along your border. And they said, 'if you ever come back, we're going to kill you,'" Trump said in 2024.
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Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg is developing a personal artificial intelligence agent that can perform some of his CEO duties autonomously, according to a report.

The AI tool, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, allows the tech founder to bypass human reports and various corporate management layers in order to retrieve information.

It forms part of a broader strategy at the Facebook and Instagram owner to build internal AI systems that can be integrated into all employees workflows.

Metas tools include Second Brain, designed to search and organise company documents, and My Claw, which can communicate with other colleagues AI agents on their behalf.

The company has also reportedly set up an internal messaging group that allows AI bots to talk to each other independently.

The Independent has reached out to Meta for more information.

Revelations about Mr Zuckerbergs AI CEO bot come amid a new trend in Silicon Valley known as Tokenmaxxing.

First reported by The New York Times, the term refers to engineers at Meta, OpenAI and other major tech firms using AI as much as possible while they work.

The status game is based on the idea that maximizing the use of tokens  the units of data processed by AI systems  leads to increased efficiency and productivity in the workplace, though some within the industry have questioned the approach.

Inside large tech companies, its becoming a career risk to not use AI at an accelerated pace, regardless of output quality, said software engineer Gergely Orosz.

On a company earnings call last month, Mr Zuckerberg said Meta would be integrating AI tools into peoples roles in order to reshape how work gets done.

Were investing in AI-native tooling, so individuals at Meta can get more done, he said.

Were elevating individual contributors and flattening teams. Were starting to see projects that used to require big teams now be accomplished by a single very talented person.

In recent months, Meta has helped fuel this push with the acquisition of agent-focussed startups Manus and Moltbook, despite controversies surrounding autonomous AI.

AI agents on Moltbook, which serves as a social media app for bots, gained widespread attention in February after posts about overthrowing humans went viral.

Security experts have also warned about a lack of safeguards surrounding AI agents, which could potentially lead to data breaches and inappropriate behaviours.

Adam Peruta, a professor at Syracuse University who co-authored the PROMPT guides for working with AI, told The Independent: The key lesson is that once you connect semi-autonomous agents to real data and real services, you must treat the platform like critical infrastructure.
This spring, BYRNE Watch will take up a temporary address in the heart of historic Geneva, the playground of independent watchmakers. From April 1 to May 15, 2026, a pop-up boutique at 1214 rue Etienne-Dumont will open its doors to collectors, retailers and journalists, offering an immersive encounter with its unconventional universe. During Watch Week, it will be a rendezvous not to be missed.

This is no opportunistic move. It reflects a clear ambition to give Byrne a lasting home where the brand can fully express its originality within a bespoke retail environment. This first direct commercial foothold in Switzerland signals a determination to establish a permanent presence in the cradle of watchmaking. The Geneva location will complement Byrnes international network of retailers, who will continue to champion the brand worldwide while embracing this new address as a natural flagship and meeting point for the Maison.

To mark this strategic shift, BYRNE Watch expands its collection with three new creations.

What sets BYRNE apart is a singular invention: a mechanical watch whose movement changes the design of the dial itself. Every 24 hours - at midnight or noon, depending on the wearers choice - four rotating cubes positioned at 12, 3, 6 and 9 oclock turn simultaneously, revealing a new face of time. Arabic numerals, Roman numerals or the brands signature ghost face succeed one another in a stunning mechanical ballet. This is Byrnes signature: the Gyro Dial.
So, it seems that there's such a thing as too much of a good thing. Somewhere in the late 2010s, the Nautilus's success proved to be so large it as really overwhelming. The watch, and by the watch we mean the steel 5711 specifically, became so popular it created a host of issues for Patek Philippe. So much, that the costs overweighed the benefits. Everybody's vying for, begging for, praying for more success of, well, any watch. And Patek Philippe had to cool things down. Forcibly. The brand had to stop offering its hottest watch.

What happened is an alignment of stars the likes of which had never happened before. Prior to the Covid lock-downs, the integrated bracelet trend compounded with the Gerald Genta trend which compounded with the luxury steel trend, which compounded with the status of Patek Philippe as the leading watch brand in its segment (meaning: more expensive than Rolex). But steel watches, sports watches and the Nautilus range are each minority items in the Patek universe. So the blue-dialed, all-steel, no-complication Nautilus found itself in a state of demand several times over output. By people who had a lot of money. Really, a lot of it. And they badly wanted one. All the more so as they couldn't get one. So much so that they began wanting one at any cost. So, they got what they'd asked for. As a result, prices on the secondary market skyrocketed.
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CultureTV & radioHarry Potter Paapa Essiedu received the role of a lifetime in the Harry Potter series. Then the death threats began Nell Geraets March 23, 2026  10:51am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

British actor Paapa Essiedu has said he received race-based death threats following his casting as Severus Snape in the upcoming Harry Potter television adaptation. Ive been told: Quit, or Ill murder you, the 35-year-old star said in an interview with The Times of London published at the weekend. Paapa Essiedu will play the role of Severus Snape in the upcoming HBO Max series for the next 10 years. Simon Ridgway Essiedu was last April cast as Snape, Hogwarts Professor of Potions, in HBO Maxs highly anticipated television series. The emotionally complex role is a fan favourite, largely because the beloved Alan Rickman was the last to play it before his death in 2016. Essiedus casting triggered a race-fuelled backlash online, with some arguing a black actor should not play a character originally written as white. Eventually, British actor Jason Isaacs  who played Lucius Malfoy in the films  directly called the abuse out.

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Paapa Essiedu is one of the best actors Ive ever seen in my life. Ive seen some people online who are being rude about him. What theyre being is racist, Isaacs said. All the cast of the new Harry Potter TV series are amazing. They will be swallowing their tongues, hopefully  you know, their digital tongues  when they see what [Paapa] does on screen. Related Article Harry Potter New cast members and first looks revealed as Harry Potter TV series begins production The reality is that if I look at Instagram I will see somebody saying: Im going to come to your house and kill you, said Essiedu, who has starred in Black Mirror and I May Destroy You. While I hope Ill be OK, nobody should have to encounter this for doing their job. Many people put their lives on the line in their work. Im playing a wizard in Harry Potter. And Id be lying if I said it doesnt affect me emotionally. However, Essiedu said the abuse fuelled his passion to make the iconic character his own.

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I think of how I felt as a kid. I would imagine myself at Hogwarts on broomsticks, and the idea that a kid like me can see themselves represented in that world? Thats motivation to not be intimidated by someone saying theyd rather I died instead of doing work Im going to be really proud of. He hasnt reported any of the death threats to the police, he said. I dont think some 17-year-old boy being put in jail for two weeks for threatening to murder me would actually make me feel any better. But Essiedu noted that racist rhetoric remained an issue whether he paid attention to it or not, which was part of his motivation for joining the Harry Potter series, which will see him play Snape for a staggering 10 years. The themes that run through Harry Potter are of love triumphing over hate  of acceptance, he said. And thats why Im doing it. Paapa Essiedu with his costar from I May Destroy You, Michaela Coel. AP

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Some fans also questioned how Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling would respond to Essiedus casting. Just weeks after the actor was offered the role, he signed an open letter that called for the protection of trans rights after the UK Supreme Court ruled gender is defined by biological sex, prompting speculation his support was in opposition to Rowling, who has been accused of transphobia for her views on gender identity. Related Article Racism #NotMyAriel: Why everyone is arguing about The Little Mermaid reboot Original Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint have also publicly supported trans rights. There were calls for Rowling, who is co-producing the HBO Max series, to sack Essiedu. However, she said she doesnt have the power and wouldnt exercise it if [she] did. Essiedu is not the first performer to face race-fuelled backlash after being cast in an iconic role. In 2022, debate erupted over the casting of Halle Bailey as Ariel in the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid. Some were so outraged over the fact she would not be white-skinned and blue-eyed that they sent the hashtag NotMyAriel viral.

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Black and other non-white actors cast in predominantly white worlds such as Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Star Wars and Thor have also faced significant backlash. Failing to acknowledge that the performers could simply have been the most talented during auditions, trolls instead labelled such casting a marketing ploy used to bleed money out of social justice movements. At the end of the day, I got this job on the merit of my talent, said Essiedu, who was the first black actor to play the lead in a Royal Shakespeare Company production of Hamlet. If the calls to dismiss him from the Harry Potter series had worked, then it wouldnt be a project [hed] want to work on anyway. The first season of the Harry Potter television series is scheduled to premiere on HBO Max in 2027. Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday.
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William Drake, described by his brother as a bike-loving daredevil, had to be going very fast when he was killed. The 15-year-old was riding a petrol-powered trail bike, which resembles a mini-dirt bike, when he and his 14-year-old passenger Adrian Lai collided with a commuter bus at an intersection on the Liverpool Parramatta T-way in Bossley Park on Monday night. William Drake and Adrian Lai died when the mini-dirtbike they were on collided with a bus in Bossley Park. Nine News He loved bikes, he loved everything, said his brother, who wished to remain anonymous, standing beside a makeshift memorial that was already surrounded by flowers. He was a little daredevil, he was popular in school and loved a joke. We are all feeling quite devastated, and I feel lost without him.

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Drake lived in a house across the road from crash site, with many members of his family making the short walk to pay their respects. A sign reading RIP Boys was placed amidst a makeshift memorial, and a steady stream of young men arrived bearing flowers and drinking bottles of Red Bull. One of Drakes friends said the collision wasnt the result of a dangerous part of the T-way, but was an accident. Loading It reflected the mood among the young men, some of whom arrived by riding their bikes on the T-way where Drake died. Among them wasnt a sense of denial but a sense of defiance, rejecting suggestions that their hobby created this tragedy. On social media many of the tributes to the boys included footage of them doing wheelies and tricks on the T-way, or pictures of them on their bikes.

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Rest easy, you will forever be missed, the caption of one of the videos posted on TikTok read. On first inspection, it becomes clear why Drake and his friends might have been tempted to speed at that location: the T-way is a long, flat piece of road, occupied almost solely by buses. Flowers at the site where two teenage boys were killed when the motorbike they were riding collided with a commuter bus. Janie Barrett Its also long enough and wide enough that bikes can snake their way around the buses, forming an enticing obstacle course. But it is also an essential transport artery for this part of Sydney, connecting the south-west with the CBD and Parramatta, and it can get very busy, with the dedicated bus route used by more than 43,000 passengers each week.

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The collision occurred on a section of the T-way adjacent to Wheller Street, about 100 metres from Restwell Road. Drake and Lai were hit by a bus making a U-turn at the intersection at around 7:15pm, with the bike becoming trapped underneath. Both boys were treated by paramedics but died at the scene. Emergency services at the crash scene in Bossley Park. Sitthixay Ditthavong Police shield the public from the incident. Sitthixay Ditthavong It was the middle of peak hour, but that didnt seem to deter Drake. Neighbours said he was riding the trail bike up and down the T-way up to half an hour before he was struck. From e-bikes to pushbikes and trail bikes, locals said the spot was a magnet for young people who could not resist the stretch of road sometimes empty for 10 minutes or more during off-peak periods.

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The kids who ride along the T-way are known to attempt tricks and ride dangerously. One group was said to ride directly at buses, before swerving away at the last second. Children bring flowers to the crash site. Janie Barrett Fairfield City Mayor Frank Carbone said the T-way has been a source of concern for residents for some time, following another incident in February when two boys were hit by an e-bike. My thoughts and prayers are with those who were hurt, and I sincerely hope they are OK, Carbone wrote on Facebook shortly after the incident. The tragedy comes as the NSW government is set to introduce new e-bike laws to parliament, which will give NSW Police and Transport for NSW new powers to seize and crush illegally modified e-bikes.

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It is illegal for children to ride motorcycles in NSW. Learner riders must be at least 16 and nine months old. Loading Mandy, one of Drakes neighbours, said the teenager would take his bike up and down the road. He was taking his bike and doing wheelies every day. You could hear him opening his gate, revving his bike, and then off he goes. Sometimes hed be out at night as well, going out at nine or midnight. Ameliana Smith also attended to pay her respects. A local who parks on the street and takes the bus into work, she knew the dangers of that section of the T-way intimately.

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The kids treat it as some sort of roadway they can use. Theyre not among cars, and thats what I think makes it most dangerous. Its just kids on bikes and buses, and some of them come through here and are reckless, but some are just here to have fun. Related Article Cycling Twelve or 16? Extent of age limit for e-bike riders under scrutiny She pointed out that many use it as a makeshift bike lane since none exist in the region, and riding along the T-way would probably be safer than the roads. The dangers are really down to visibility and general safety. For somewhere like this spot, it has to come down to the parents  they know their kids are riding around here  because their behaviour is dangerous to them and to pedestrians. Questions have been raised over how the two teens had access to the trail bike. Detective Superintendent Craig Middleton said this would be investigated, and that police were well aware of illegal bike riding on the T-way.



We have had a number of issues around the illegal use of the T-way, whether its trail bikes or other vehicles, Middleton said.



Weve conducted a number of operations with highway patrol in the past, and a number of trail bikes and other bikes were seized.



He claimed it was a tragic accident and that highway patrol were vigilant in keeping watch.



But unfortunately, we cant be everywhere all the time.

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Exclusive PoliticsVictoriaOne Nation One Nation should be welcomed into anti-Labor alliance, Kennett tells Coalition Chip Le Grand March 23, 2026  8:04pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

One Nations stunning result in the South Australian election has convinced Jeff Kennett that Pauline Hansons party should be welcomed into a broad coalition for Victoria to ensure Labor is defeated at the November state election. While debate is raging within the Liberal and National parties in Victoria over how best to respond to the rise of One Nation, the former Liberal premier has urged them to put the interests of the state first and work with anyone opposed to Labor. Former premier Jeff Kennett says the Liberals and Nationals should be open to forming a Victorian coalition with One Nation. AAP Kennett said this could extend to including One Nation or independent MPs on the frontbench of a future non-Labor government. The government is corrupt. It sponsors corruption and the public are understanding that more and more every day, he told The Age on Monday.

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In the event that the Coalition doesnt win in its own right, I would have no hesitation in asking and inviting some of those who are elected who have experiences that we might not have to form a coalition for Victoria. Related Article Analysis

Australia votes The Hanson paradox: How a populist surge became Labors best friend I am not worried about One Nation. They are a part of the democratic process. If Pauline [Hanson] says she intends to take on Victoria, so be it. All of those who stand and are elected who are opposed to corruption must work together, Kennett said. Victoria is a lot more important to me right now than the Liberal Party or the Labor Party or One Nation. However, Opposition Leader Jess Wilson has ruled out forming an alliance with One Nation.

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Kennetts radical idea of offering MPs from a populist, anti-immigration party a seat at the Victorian cabinet table is likely to be seized upon by Premier Jacinta Allan, who on Monday claimed that a secret pact had already been struck between One Nation and the Liberal and National parties. Referring to comments on ABC Radio by One Nation upper house MP Rikkie-Lee Tyrell that her party and the opposition have the same agenda, Allan said the cat has been let out of the bag. One Nation and Liberal and National parties are working together in coalition, the premier said. The only way to stop One Nation and the only way to back a fairer, better, stronger Victoria is to vote Labor. The prospect of One Nation moving into a balance-of-power position offers Labor a fresh rallying call to energise its progressive base as it chases a fourth consecutive term at the November state election.

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In her interview with broadcaster Raf Epstein, Tyrell said the surging support for One Nation was definitely going to be a shake-up for Victorian politics. I would like to see the Coalition realise One Nation is not the enemy, she said. We both have the same agenda. We want to get rid of Labor, and we need to work together to do that. Opposition Leader Jess Wilson has ruled out forming an alliance with One Nation. Luis Enrique Ascui One Nation had secured 22.4 per cent of votes counted in the South Australian election as of 4pm on Monday, making it the most popular non-Labor party in the state. Support for the Liberal Party slumped to 19 per cent, while Labor attracted a healthy 37.7 per cent share. The split among right-of-centre voters reduced the Liberal Party to a parliamentary rump, and helped deliver a record majority to Peter Malinauskas second-term Labor government. Yet One Nation could win only one lower house seat.

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The Victorian opposition is now divided over how to best to respond to the South Australian result. Opposition deputy leader David Southwick said on Monday that the election showed what happened when the anti-Labor vote splintered. Related Article Editorial

One Nation Pauline Hanson marches past the party that once expelled her The Herald's View Editorial We know if people stray to other parties there is more chance we will get Jacinta Allan elected again after November, he said. People cant risk that. If we want to see the back end of Jacinta Allan, we need to make sure we vote Liberal and Nationals in November. Others in the Coalition believe that in Victoria, the rise of One Nation has opened a path to victory if Hansons candidates can win once-safe seats held by Labor, particularly in the western and northern suburbs. Kennett said Australian politics was undergoing its most rapid change since the Dismissal in 1975 and that, in stark contrast to South Australia, where Labor entered the election campaign with a popular leader and strong primary support, voters were abandoning Labor in Victoria after 12 years of government and months of damaging revelations about endemic corruption on government building sites.

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It is a totally different kettle of fish, he said. Every day that is passing, people are turning their back on what Labor have done. They have no chance of winning. They are going to lose a poultice of seats. Kennett also said that while some in the Coalition would be tempted to fight the election against the government and One Nation, this would be a fatal mistake. In South Australia, Peter did that. Thats because he leads a good government and everyone expected him to win. Here in Victoria, we dont have the resources or the creativity to be fighting on two fronts  attacking One Nation as well as the government. My argument is stay focused on what you have to do, which is to defeat Labor in the interests of the state. One Nation is contesting the Nepean byelection, which was caused by the resignation of former Liberal deputy leader Sam Groth. But it is yet to announce its candidates or policies for the Victorian state election. At the last federal election, the minor party campaigned on promises to substantially reduce immigration and abandon Australias commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
SOUTH BEND, Ind., March 23, 2026 -- Global military mobility solutions provider, AM General, will feature its all-new Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) at the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) Global Force Symposium & Exposition, March 24-26, Booth #1111 at the Von Braun Convention Center in Huntsville, AL. This groundbreaking platform is equipped with the next generation light tactical vehicle powertrain, marking a new direction for the company's light tactical vehicles.

"We are excited to showcase the next generation of innovation at AUSA Global Force," said incoming AM General President and CEO, John Chadbourne. "The UGV is a groundbreaking capability for Army logistics needs. We're also envisioning the additional benefits of this flexible platform and is an example of what collaborative industry initiatives can deliver."

Continuing its collaboration with Carnegie Robotics and Textron Systems, the company will showcase this next-generation autonomous ground vehicle engineered for adaptability, survivability, and operational dominance and built to extend reach, reduce risk, and bring scalable capability to the modern battlefield. The vehicle on display has a reconfigurable cargo deck for multiple mission sets, features a wireless remote-controlled T-boom service crane for logistical efficiency, and has an L-track modular cargo fastening system. At the show, the UGV will also carry the FireAnt sUGV from Swarmbotics AI, which is a low-cost, attritable unmanned ground vehicle designed to extend situational awareness and operational capability in high-risk environments.

"At Carnegie Robotics, we are excited to continue this partnership with AM Generala collaboration that fuses engineering excellence with visionary ambition. By integrating our robust, low-cost autonomy stack and modular hardware kit, we are accelerating the deployment of next-generation unmanned systems," said Leo Agafonov, Director of Technical Operations. "Together, with AM General, we are not only expanding the boundaries of technological possibility but also inspiring a future where affordable, attritable autonomy empowers new missions and redefines what's achievable."

The vehicle also features a new turbocharged 6.5L 8-cylinder engine that delivers powerful, fuel-flexible performance with advanced cooling and injection. Utilizing a common rail direct injection fuel system, the new engine can produce 250hp and over 550lb-ft of torque. Not only will this new engine power the UGV, but it will also underpin future light tactical vehicles, including the ever-evolving HUMVEE platform. This marks a new direction for the company which continually innovates to serve those who serve to protect us.

"Providing the hardware and software control layer for the AM General UGV program underscores Textron Systems' commitment to advancing autonomous systems by leveraging ready- now, commercial off the shelf (COTS) technology," said Sara Willett, Vice President of Programs. "By connecting intent to robotic execution, our control layer delivers reliable, consistent performance for autonomous ground vehicles operating in challenging environments. Our collaboration with AM General and Carnegie Robotics accelerates the fielding of an autonomous resupply solution built to meet the demands of modern missions."

A UGV demonstrator is undergoing testing in preparation for an Army request for proposal, expected to be released later this year.

About AM General

AM General engineers, manufactures, and supports specialized vehicles for military and commercial customers. Its global presence of diverse product offerings in over 70 countries uniquely positions AM General to enhance interoperability across allies and build on its long-standing defense industry and automotive partnerships. AM General's innovative spirit delivers advanced, rugged, resilient, and dependable mobility solutions that will move you. With a well-rounded product portfolio that includes the iconic HUMVEE vehicles, Joint Light Tactical Vehicle A2 (JLTV A2), and the revolutionary soft recoil technology for mobile platforms, AM General strives to offer continuous improvement that is ready now. AM General has extensive experience meeting the changing needs of the defense and automotive industries, supported by its employees at major facilities in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, and a strong supplier base that stretches across 46 states. Please see more information about AM General at www.amgeneral.com.
At least one fatality has been reported after the C-130 Hercules, which was carrying 121 people, crashed in Putumayo, in the southwestern part of the country

A Colombian Air Force plane crashed at 9:50 a.m. on Monday in a rural area near Puerto Leguizamo, in Putumayo, in the southwestern part of the country. According to General Carlos Fernando Silva Rueda, commander of the Colombian Air Force, the aircraft, a C-130 Hercules, was carrying 110 soldiers and 11 crew members. Shortly before 2 p.m., President Gustavo Petro provided the latest update on X: So far, there have been 77 injured admitted to the hospital, one fatality, and 43 people whose condition is yet to be determined.

Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez reported that the accident occurred shortly after takeoff and that military units were already at the scene. However, he added that neither the number of victims nor the causes of the crash have been determined yet. Both the Defense Ministry and the Presidency have called for restraint regarding speculation out of respect for the families of the service members.

The incident is currently being investigated as an aviation accident, according to official sources consulted by this newspaper, but in a country where state security forces are a frequent target of attacks, other hypotheses have not been ruled out. Although there is no evidence, every possibility is being investigated, these sources said.

Footage recorded by residents at the crash site shows a massive fire and locals evacuating surviving soldiers on their motorcycles. In one of the videos, in which the plane can be seen shattered and engulfed in flames, the rattling sound of what appears to be ammunition exploding can be heard.

All protocols for assisting the victims and their families have been activated, as has the corresponding investigation. I extend my deepest condolences to the families of those affected, and out of respect for their grief, I urge everyone to refrain from speculation until official information is available. This is a deeply painful event for the country. May our prayers accompany them and bring them some measure of comfort, Sanchez added in his X post.

President Gustavo Petro also commented on the incident. I hope there are no fatalities in this horrific accident, which should never have happened, he said on his X account. Petro was anticipating criticism from his opponents, who accuse him of failing to maintain and strengthen Colombias military capabilities.

The president added that he has already demanded the modernization of the military air fleet, but that the document required to do so (the CONPES) has not been approved, and he blames his officials for this. If civilian or military administrative officials are not up to this challenge, they must be removed, he added. I will not grant any more time; it is the lives of young people that are at stake. Petro requested a meeting with the director of National Planning and his defense minister to approve the CONPES.

Videos and photos from the crash site show a fire in the rural area where the plane went down, and several people trying to get close to help the injured and extinguish the fire. The accident in Putumayo is being investigated on the ground by the relevant authorities, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement, while videos from local media show rescue workers and military personnel arriving at the crash site.

Puerto Leguizamo is a Colombian town near the tri-border region with Ecuador and Peru, in southern Colombia. According to reports, the plane crashed north of the town, in a village called La Tagua. Various armed groups have been active in the area, but so far there has been no mention of an attack on the plane, only of an accident during takeoff.

The presidential candidates have called for solidarity with the military. We deeply regret these events and hope for greater clarity regarding the circumstances surrounding such a tragedy, wrote Senator Paloma Valencia, a supporter of Alvaro Uribe. I stand with the families of our military personnel in this time of mourning, said far-right candidate and criminal law expert Abelardo de La Espriella. The left-wing candidate, Ivan Cepeda, who leads in the polls, also posted a message on social media along the same lines. My condolences to the Colombian Air Force, to the families and loved ones of the victims of this tragic event, which has plunged not only the security forces but the entire nation into mourning, he said on X.

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A TELLING STRIKE





DESPITE the incoherent statements dished out daily by United States President Mr. Donald Trump on the future of the war with Iran, a scale-back looks imminent after Irans two significant strikes in the last couple of days. In retaliation to the Israeli missile strike on its Natanz nuclear site, Iran has targeted Israels Dimona nuclear facility which houses the Jewish States key reactor. This attack has changed the scope and course of the 24-day war. But more than this strike, the world is worried about the ballistic missile strike Iran launched at Diego Garcia, a joint base of the US and United Kingdom in the Indian Ocean. The missiles covered a distance of 4,000 kms targeting the base in the Chagos Islands archipelago making the world squirm with the secret capabilities Iran has built over the years. Though the two Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles (IRBMs) did not hit the target  one failed mid-flight and other was intercepted by a US warship  it delivered a significant message to the world about Irans hidden military capabilities and its missile programme.

Till the IRBMs were fired at Diego Garcia, Iran was using its ballistic missile stockpile to target Israel and also US facilities in the Gulf countries. The 4,000-km-range IRBMs have come as a major surprise for the entire world, putting a question-mark on the Intelligence instruments which simply failed to find out Irans capabilities. A message has been delivered to the world, for, most of the top cities in the world come within the reach of the Iranian IRBMs. Whether the US takes it as a provocation or a signal to tone down its operations will decide the course of this conflict. Irans choice of Diego Garcia looks a strategic move.

The IRBMs were launched within hours of the United Kingdom assuring use of its bases by the US military to target Iran. The two missiles, despite not hitting the target, have told the UK the implications of widening the scale of the war. By targeting a base in the Indian Ocean, Iran has signalled that it was also ready to expand the theatre of war beyond West Asia. Calling it a defining moment in this war might be jumping the gun but the strikes on Diego Garcia can change the US-Israel perspective on Iran. The international community will also realise the futility of distancing itself from the conflict and might actively engage in de-escalation efforts. Already bleeding due to the acute shortage of oil and gas supplies caused by the chokehold of Strait of Hormuz and damage to gas fields in the Arab nations, countries have already started to reach out to Iran. A similar move with the US and Israel can also come very soon so that the world can breathe again. That this is the most pointless war involving US has already been proved in the last 24 days. Irans changed strategy should now ring a bell in Washington on the losses the Americans are suffering and might suffer further if Tehran pulls out another surprise like the IRBMs. It is incumbent upon the US Congress (all sides included) to stop Mr. Trump from leading them into a global catastrophe. And it is time for nations like India to use unique leverage and take the proactive role of a peacemaker.
Chief Minister Fadnavis calls for intensified fight against drugs





Staff Reporter :

Chief Minister Fadnavis inaugurates new Bhandewadi Police Station

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday stressed the urgent need to curb drug-related activities while inaugurating the new Bhandewadi Police Station in Nagpur. He said that increasing attempts to sell drugs in cities must be stopped immediately before the problem grows further. Addressing the gathering, CM Fadnavis said, Nagpur Police is facing many challenges, and they are working hard to overcome them. Operation Thunder is very important, but one operation alone will not work. He added, In many cities, there are attempts to sell drugs, and we must stop it right now, or it will increase later.

The fight against drugs should continue strongly. He also called for intensifying Operation Thunder, saying its activities must be strengthened to tackle drug networks and other crimes effectively. Fadnavis inaugurated the police station at a temporary location and said a new building will be constructed at a different site soon. He added that new police stations are being opened across Nagpur considering the citys growing population and rapid urbanisation. We have started new police stations across Nagpur to meet the needs of the increasing population and to maintain law and order, CM said, while appealing to citizens to cooperate with police in keeping the city safe.

Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, MLA Krishna Khopade, Police Commissioner Dr Ravinder Kumar Singal, and DCP Zone 5 Niketan Kadam were present at the event along with other senior officials. Speaking earlier, CP Dr Singal welcomed the guests and shared details about the new police station. He said the facility is equipped with modern technology and citizen-friendly services, which will help improve police response time and efficiency. Officials said the new Bhandewadi Police Station will play an important role in crime prevention, especially in controlling drug-related activities, maintaining law and order.
Flamingo habitats face decline due to toxic wetlands





MUMBAI :

CLIMATE activists have sounded a wetland emergency, as three key flamingo habitats in Navi Mumbai have turned toxic, with tests of water samples revealing alarming results. Activists flagged the deteriorating condition of the DPS, NRI, and T S Chanakya lakes at Nerul, which serve as satellite wetlands for the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary (TCFS), a Ramsar site. Flamingo season in Navi Mumbai is from November to May, with January to March seen as the peak viewing time, as bird lovers and enthusiasts gather at wetlands to catch a glimpse of the pink parade. Water sample tests commissioned by the NatConnect Foundation indicate a system under severe stress, activists have stated in messages sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The warning is reinforced by the absence of flamingos, which have not arrived this season, said B N Kumar, director of NatConnect Foundation. Four basic indicators - TDS, pH, BOD and COD - paint a consistent picture of decline. The results showed over-concentrated, stagnant water rather than natural tidal flushing. Put simply, all four indicators tell the same story-the water is not moving as it should in a healthy intertidal wetland, Kumar said, pointing to blocked or restricted tidal flow. Instead of being regularly flushed, the wetlands are turning into stagnant, polluted basins. Activists squarely blame governance failure. The City And Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) is largely responsible for what has happened, Climate activist Nandakumar Pawar said, adding that regulators such as the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority and the forest department have simply looked the other way. The wetlands, he warned, are a public asset being destroyed in plain sight.

Flamingos depend on algae and microorganisms that thrive in balanced conditions. As water quality deteriorates, the food chain collapses, turning feeding grounds into stressed habitats. While flamingos have adapted to degraded sites in the past, their absence now suggests the system may have crossed a critical threshold.

These wetlands were our pride. Today, they are being destroyed in full view, said Rekha Sankhala of Save Flamingos and Mangroves Forum, urging authorities to treat the situation as a public health emergency. Calling for accountability, Sandeep Sareen of Navi Mumbai Environment Preservation Society (NMEPS) said the lab results expose toxic waters driven by unchecked development. CIDCOs apathy - putting concrete over conservation - is destroying these wetlands despite court orders, he said, warning that flamingos are the canary in our ecosystems coal mine. CIDCOs deliberate neglect in a time of climate crisis has put groundwater and biodiversity at risk, and we urge immediate Government intervention to save these wetlands, activist Pamela Cheema said.
Medical service should be a mission of empathy rather than a commercial venture: Dr Bhagwat





RSS Sarsanghachalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, MLC Sandip Joshi, ex-Mayor Maya Iwnate and others at inauguration of Gangadharrao Fadnavis Memorial Diagnostic Centre. (Pic: Satish Raut)

Staff Reporter :

Inauguration of Gangadharrao Fadnavis Memorial Diagnostic Centre held on Sunday

Stating that the true success of any healthcare institution lies in its ability to reach the last person in society with dignity and care, Dr Mohan Bhagwat, Sarsanghachalak, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangha (RSS) on Sunday emphasised that medical service should be a mission of empathy rather than a commercial venture. The RSS chief was speaking at the inauguration of the Gangadharrao Fadnavis Memorial Diagnostic Centre at Pawanbhoomi ground, Somalwada. Dr Bhagwat, chief guest, inaugurated the Diagnostic Centre and further delivered a profound message on the ethics of healthcare.

He noted that while advanced machinery is vital, the spirit behind the service is what heals. Science and technology have advanced tremendously, but they must be coupled with compassion. This centre is named after a man whose life was a testament to Seva. We must ensure that no one is turned away due to lack of funds. Providing world-class facilities at nominal rates is not just charity; it is our social Contd from page 1 responsibility to the needy, Dr Bhagwat remarked. The inauguration ceremony was organised by Shri Siddhivinayak Sewa Foundation while the diagnostic centre, located in Somalwada, was dedicated to the memory of late Gangadharrao Fadnavis, a prominent social leader. Dignitaries including Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways; Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister, Sandip Joshi, MLC and President of Shri Siddhivinayak Sewa Foundation; Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Minister of Revenue; Mayor Neeta Thakre, Minister Pankaj Bhoyar, former Mayor Maya Iwnate, Minister Adv Ashish Jaiswal and others were present during the programme.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari spoke about the importance of Atmanirbhar healthcare infrastructure during his speech, I have always believed that politics is 20 per cent power and 80 per cent social work. This centre, equipped with Made in India technology, is a step toward making Nagpur a medical hub where the poorest can access an MRI for a fraction of the market cost. We are bringing the best of medical science to the doorsteps of common people. CM Fadnavis delivered a deeply personal speech, focusing on his fathers legacy and the States healthcare initiatives. For our family, this is an emotional moment. My father, Gangadharrao, always believed in silent service. Today, following those principles, our Government has integrated health schemes like Ayushman Bharat and Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana to provide 100 per cent coverage to the States citizens.

From free dialysis to assistance up to Rs 22 lakh for organ transplants, we are committed to ensuring that health is a right, not a privilege, Fadnavis asserted. Sandip Joshi informed about the facilitys mission. Our goal was simple: 5-star facilities at 1-star rates. We have installed three Tesla, two CT scan, two MRI machines and 25-bed dialysis unit to ensure accuracy. When the market price for an MRI is Rs 7,000, we will provide it for Rs 2,100. This centre is our promise to the citizens that quality healthcare will no longer be a financial burden, Joshi explained.
Modi completes record 8,931 days in office





NEW DELHI :

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi has achieved a historic milestone in Indian politics by becoming the longest-serving head of an elected Government in the country. With this, PM Modi has surpassed Pawan Kumar Chamling, who held office as Chief Minister of Sikkim for 8,930 days. He has now completed 8,931 days as head of government, combining his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat and as Prime Minister, thereby entering his 25th year in a leadership role.

The milestone is being seen as a rare and significant achievement, reflecting decades of uninterrupted public service and political leadership at the highest level. Over the course of his career, PM Modi has set several notable records, including being the longest-serving Chief Minister of Gujarat and the Prime Minister with the longest prior experience as a CM. He is also the first Prime Minister of India to have been born after Independence and has secured victory in three consecutive Lok Sabha elections in 2014, 2019 and 2024, a feat that underscores political longevity and sustained public mandate. Narendra Modi first assumed office as Chief Minister of Gujarat on October 7, 2001, and continued in the role until May 21, 2014, leading the state for more than 13 years before moving to national politics. He was sworn in as the 14th Prime Minister of India on May 26, 2014, becoming the first non-Congress leader to secure a full majority in the Lok Sabha.

He later became the first non-Congress Prime Minister to complete two full terms in office and return for a third consecutive term. In addition to this milestone, PM Modi has crossed several other significant benchmarks this year, particularly in the digital domain. Earlier this month, he reached 30 million subscribers on his YouTube channel, strengthening his position as one of the most-followed global leaders on the platform. With this, he currently leads among both serving and former heads of government in terms of subscriber base, remaining well ahead of other prominent international political figures. In February, PM Modi also crossed 100 million followers on Instagram, becoming the first serving world leader and politician to achieve the milestone on the platform. Since joining Instagram in 2014, his presence has steadily grown into one of the most active and widely followed accounts among global leaders, reflecting a sustained outreach strategy aimed at engaging audiences both within India and internationally. He is currently at 101 million followers on the social media platform.

On X, PM Modi has 106.4 million followers. Top Union Ministers, BJP chief hail PM: TOP Union Ministers on Sunday complimented Prime Minister Narendra Modi for setting a record of 8,931 days in public life, first as the Gujarat Chief Minister and now as the Prime Minister, saying this reflects his deep commitment to nation-first governance, in giving rights to the poor and enhancing the nations pride on global platforms. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now the longest-serving head of a Government in India. Pure devotion to the nation and its people defines PM Modi ji, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said. Union Ministers, including Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Piyush Goyal, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and BJP chief Nitin Nabin hailed the Prime Minister, saying the Modi era has transformed India unrecognisably in setting new landmarks in development. Defence Minister Singh praised Modi, in a post on X, saying his life has been a continuous journey of service -- from his unwavering commitment as the Gujarat CM and his dedicated leadership as the PM. 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. Heartiest congratulations to Modi Ji on this remarkable achievement, he said. Home Minister Amit Shah said Modis decades of seva (service) have shaped an era of his own. Whether it is giving the poor their rights, setting new landmarks in development or enhancing the nations pride on global platforms, the Modi era has transformed India unrecognisably, he said in a post on X. Shah said fostering this new India required a lifetimes effort and PM Modi gave it. He said 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 Indias PM. Peoples trust, affection and support for him have only grown with every passing day, he said with a hashtag #PradhanSevakModi. The Home Minister also said the milestone is rooted in service, hard work and unwavering commitment. PM Modi jis 8,931 days in public life, first as Gujarat CM and now as prime minister reflect a deep dedication to nation-first governance, integrity in action, and tireless service to every citizen. A rare legacy built on unprecedented trust and unparalleled Seva, he said. Health Minister JP Nadda said Modis years in government reflect his deep commitment to the country and a constant focus on serving the people. Under his leadership, India is moving towards the vision of Viksit Bharat, driven by people-centric policies that have empowered the poor, youth, women, and farmers, he said. Today, Nadda said, India stands more confident and influential on the global stage.

PM Modi jis work has always been about putting the nation first and bringing real change on the ground. A leadership shaped by trust, dedication, and a clear sense of purpose, he said. BJP president Nitin Nabin said during Modis tenure as prime minister, the country has made rapid progress in infrastructure expansion, the digital revolution, effective public welfare schemes, and the direction of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. The historic public mandates received in three consecutive Lok Sabha elections in 2014, 2019, and 2024 are a testament to the unwavering trust of the countrymen in him, the BJP chief said in a message in Hindi. Railways, Information and Broadcasting Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw posted a message in Hindi on X with a picture of the PM on Chenab railway bridge holding the tricolour: Every moment of time... Is solely and exclusively for the fellow citizen #PradhanSevakModi.

The bridge over the Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir is the worlds highest rail bridge. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said with 8,931 days in public life, PM Modis 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 Indias growth story, Goyal said. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju described the Prime Ministers distinction as a truly remarkable milestone and said his 8,931 days of service stand as a testament to tireless dedication, integrity and nation-first governance. An inspiring journey of trust and Seva, he said. Modi has the distinction of being the longest-serving Gujarat CM, with his term spanning from October 2001 to May 2014. He was first sworn in as Indias prime minister on May 26, 2014, after winning the Lok Sabha elections held that year. Since then, he has won two more Lok Sabha elections in 2019 and 2024 and continues to serve as the PM of the country.
Netanyahu visits site of Iranian missile attackClaims US-Israel fighting for entire world





By Harinder Mishra

JERUSALEM

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. Theyre using that as a mass murder weapon. Luckily, no one was killed, but thats 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, Thats 4,000 kilometres. Ive 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 Irans 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 Trumps 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, its for the security of the entire world. And its 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. Weve 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. Were well on our way in achieving it, the Israeli premier claimed. Weve 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.

Situation in Israel filled with fear, anxiety: Indian-Israeli influencer

TEL AVIV,

Mar 22 (IANS)

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 its 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 dont 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 Irans 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 Israels 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 countrys enemies on all fronts, The Times of Israel reported. Later, the IDF said that the Air Force was carrying out strikes in Tehran targeting Irans infrastructure.
Open Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours Or else... US will obliterate Iranian power plants: Trump





ARAD (Israel) :

Iran said the Strait of Hormuz, would be completely closed immediately if the US attacks its power plants.

IRAN and the allied Lebanese militant group Hezbollah stepped up attacks on Israel on Sunday after the United States 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 the US follows up on President Donald Trumps new threat to attack its power plants. Trump late Saturday set a 48-hour deadline to open the strait. Irans Parliament Speaker said Tehran also would retaliate against US and Israeli energy and wider infrastructure in the region. Israeli leaders visited Arad, one of two southern communities near a secretive nuclear research site struck by Iranian missiles late Saturday, wounding scores of people. The developments signalled the war, which the US and Israel launched Feb. 28, was moving in a dangerous new direction, despite Trumps comment last week he was considering winding down operations. It has killed over 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 Gulf Arab states - including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - said they intercepted new Iranian strikes.

ENERGY AND DESALINATION PLANTS ARE THREATENED: 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 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. Trump said if Iran didnt open the strait, the US would destroy its various

POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST! 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 cases to civilians, legal scholars say. Separately, Iranian officials said they would keep providing safe passage through the strait to vessels from countries other than its enemies.

STRIKES IN ISRAEL AND IRAN BRING NEW NUCLEAR CONCERNS: Iran said its strikes in the Negev Desert late 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 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, Qalibaf said. 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, though it doesnt confirm or deny their existence. The UN nuclear watchdog said on X it had not received reports of damage to the Israeli center 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 SAYS STRIKES ALSO HIT HOSPITAL: 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 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.

HEZBOLLAH STRIKE ON NORTHERN ISRAEL CLAIMS FIRST FATALITY THERE: The Israeli civilian was killed in the northern town of Misgav Am in what Israels military said seemed to be a rocket attack. 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. Fighting there has intensified. Israel on Sunday expanded its list of targets to include all bridges over the Litani River, which Defence Minister Israel Katz said Hezbollah is using to move fighters and weapons into the south. Israel later struck the Qasmiyeh bridge near Tyre, giving an hours warning. Katz also ordered the military to accelerate its destruction of Lebanese homes near Israels northern border. Lebanese authorities say Israels strikes have killed more than 1,000 people and displaced more than 1 million.
Perilous commute at Mokshadham RUB





(Left) Neglected half of road in front of Mokshadham, seeking for the attention from authorities. (Right) Potholes and uneven surface at the RUB, force vehicles to slow down which leads to massive traffic congestion and travel delay.

Staff Reporter :

The Railway Under Bridge (RUB) near Mokshadham, a critical link connecting South Nagpur to the citys commercial hub of Sitabuldi, has turned into a nightmare for commuters. For over six months, the stretch has been plagued by potholes and a severely uneven surface, yet the local administration remains seemingly oblivious to the daily struggle of thousands of citizens.

Bottlenecks and broken asphalt

The most pressing issue occurs on the route from Mokshadham through the RUB towards Sitabuldi. The road surface has disintegrated to such an extent that riding has become hazardous, particularly for two-wheelers. The uneven patches force vehicles to slow down significantly, creating a permanent bottleneck that leads to massive traffic congestion and travel delays. For the past six months, this has been my daily office route, and the situation has only deteriorated, said Pankaj Chorghade, a regular commuter. You have to constantly dodge potholes while maintaining balance on an uneven slope. Its not just about the delay; its a serious safety risk that the authorities are simply ignoring.

Neglected half

Adding to the chaos is the peculiar state of the road leading from RUB towards Mokshadham. While one side of the road is paved, a significant half-parallel portion remains unconstructed and untouched. This nearly the half-road serves no purpose other than accumulating dust, while commuters on the finished side struggle for space. If the administration were to utilise this abandoned, unconstructed patch, the road could be significantly widened. This would allow for a smoother flow of traffic, effectively eliminating the current congestion that chokes the area during peak hours. It is baffling to see half the road lying waste while we are stuck in bumper to bumper traffic right next to it, noted another frequent traveller. If the authority constructs the road on that untouched side, there would be enough space for everyone to pass comfortably. It feels like the project was simply abandoned halfway. As monsoon pressures loom, the residents of Nagpur are calling for the immediate intervention of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and the Public Works Department (PWD). Until the potholes are filled and the unconstructed patches are integrated into the main thoroughfare, the Mokshadham RUB will remain a symbol of urban neglect.

Neglected stretch fuels traffic woes

The unconstructed parallel patch near Mokshadham RUB remains a significant hurdle for smooth traffic flow and for the people going to Mokshadham. While one side is paved, the adjacent untouched space effectively halves the potential road width, forcing vehicles into a narrow bottleneck. Completing this construction would immediately widen the thoroughfare, providing ample room for commuters and effectively eliminating the chronic congestion that plagues this vital route during peak hours.
US attempts to dominate global energy market, says Russian FM





MOSCOW :

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. He 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 -- Russias marginalisation in European energy markets.

He emphasised that for the United States to cooperate with Russia, it must first respect Russias 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 EUs 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.
Initiatives are multiplying in EU countries including France, Germany and Austria to attract the talent being driven away by the US presidents policies

When Eric Berton, president of Aix-Marseille University (AMU), launched the Safe Place for Science initiative on March 7, 2025, he had a clear idea in mind: to create a scientific haven for U.S.-based researchers seeking refuge elsewhere due to the Trump Administrations budget cuts and restrictions. The aggressive measures imposed on Bertons colleagues in American laboratories and classrooms served as a warning of what was to come. What was unexpected, however, was the success of his idea.

On the day that the platform opened, Safe Place for Science registered its first application. By the deadline, it had received around 300 applications, while another 600 arrived after the deadline. The United States, which since the end of World War II had been the world center for researchers in all scientific fields, no longer held the same appeal it had a few years prior. And Europe saw an opportunity.

In May 2025, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the launch of the Choose Europe for Science program, with funding of approximately 500 million to attract American candidates. In addition to France, nine other European countries, including Spain and even the EU itself, have developed similar initiatives.

The German federal government also created the Global Minds Initiative Germany and the Meitner-Einstein Programme, while the German Max Planck Society presented the Max Planck Transatlantic Programme. Earlier this year, a spokesperson for the German Interior Ministry explained to EL PAIS that the number of residence permits granted to U.S. citizens in the country increased by 32% in the comparative period from January to September between 2024 and 2025. Some of these permits were granted for work purposes, a category that researchers fall under. In Austria, there was a similar initiative called APART-USA with the same goal: to capitalize on this brain drain.

Alka Patel, one of the candidates selected for Safe Place for Science, arrived in France at the beginning of last year, accompanied by her husband, Didier, a French national, and their daughter. In a video call with this newspaper, she acknowledges that she left the U.S. before Trump took office. The turning point for me was in 2024, before the election, with the extremely violent repression of the students who were demonstrating on my own campus at the University of California [where she was teaching], she explains.

Patel was brought to the U.S. from India by her parents as a child. She had been planning her departure for three years, ever since Trump returned to power. I dont think that whole phenomenon [the brain drain] was instantaneous. I think, unfortunately, it was a process that developed over time, she explains. Trumps budget cuts sealed her decision. If I had any remaining doubts about the educational landscape, the opportunities, and so on, those doubts were resolved, she affirms.

In the early days of his second term, the Trump administration launched an even more aggressive offensive against agencies and institutions that bothered the Republican president. For example, climate oversight agencies saw their work on climate change and related grants restricted. There have been budget cuts, researchers have been laid off, and databases have been deleted, lamented the president of AMU in a phone conversation. However, some of that content was recovered through court orders. According to the president of the French university, some applications to the French program even arrived via private messaging and were encrypted, due to the applicants fear of being identified.

The three-year Safe Place for Science program focuses on two areas of study: the social sciences and humanities (environment and climate, gender, history, geography) and the classical sciences (such as biology and medicine). All the subjects banned by the Trump administration, Berton adds.

Patels research has focused on South Asia and its connections to Iran and Central Asia, including land and maritime networks in the Indian Oceantopics she plans to continue exploring during her time at AMU. While some of her family remains in the U.S., she says she cannot consider moving back there, though she does hope to travel to the country in the future.

France, a pioneering country

Following the launch of the Safe Place for Science program in Marseille, President Emmanuel Macron launched another similar and complementary project just a month later: Choose France for Science. Co-financed by the French government, it allows researchers like Patel to develop their projects in institutions throughout France.

Paris-Saclay University, in the French capital, is one of the higher education institutions that have joined the campaign. We have two programs. One for doctoral students and another for established researchers, Mehran Mostafavi, Vice President of Research at Saclay, explained to this newspaper by telephone. Financial support from the CentraleSupelec and Gustave Roussy foundations has allowed the faculty to expand its capacity to eight and ten candidates, respectively.

After the three-year program, both candidates hosted in Marseille and those in the national program can apply for an extension of their stay. After two years, the scientists must present their project to the European Research Council (ERC), Mostafavi explains. The ERC will then decide whether to renew their funding for another five years. Otherwise, the vice-president assures that each application will be reviewed.

For now, Patels next step is clear: Ive been offered a position at the CNRS [the French National Centre for Scientific Research], she admits shyly.

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Concerns have been raised about the voters register as the election approaches, while officials maintain that safeguards are in place. How confident are you in the integrity of the register? Share your view in our poll.

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Bomb explodes

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IMPHAL, Mar 23 : A bomb explosion on March 21 caused minor damage to some houses at Khurai Chingangbam Leikai Thingom Leirak, under Porompat Police Station in Imphal East. According to reliable sources, the bomb went off between two houses at Khurai Chingangbam Leikai Thingom Leirak near Yangoi Ningthou Haraobung. Locals reported hearing a loud explosion around 12.55 am (March 21). It was later found that four houses were partially damaged in the explosion. In response to the incident, the Youth Social Development Organization, along with the Club Library Centre of Khurai Chingangbam Leikai Thingom Leirak, filed a report with the Porompat police station, urging authorities to investigate the matter.
Political deception, appeasement: TIM on Guwahati meet

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IMPHAL, Mar 23: The Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM) has categorically stated that the meeting held between Chief Minister Y Khemchand and Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) at Guwahati on March 21 was a calculated act of political deception, selective Kuki appeasement and a blatant betrayal of the people of Manipur.

TIM has also unequivocally rejected and condemned Chief Minister Khemchands recent meeting with the illegitimate and unmandated Kuki-Zo Council (KZC).

By engaging a body the State Government previously declared non-existent, the Chief Minister has exposed the collapse of credibility, consistency, and integrity in governance while surrendering to an illegitimate, non-indigenous militant group that seeks to permanently destroy and annihilate the social fabric, integrity and indigenous identity of the people of Manipur, TIM said in a statement.

On December 18, 2024, the Government of Manipur officially declared: There is no organisation called Kuki-Zo Council its origin and authenticity are highly questionable.

Today, the Chief Minister is legitimising this phantom entity through closed-door talks outside the State. This is not governanceit is political opportunism of the worst kind. Such a brazen reversal demands not explanation, but accountability, it said.

TIM said that the so-called Kuki-Zo Council has no democratic mandate, no customary legitimacy, and no acceptance among the very communities it claims to represent.

The Thadou community has historically and categorically rejected the imposed Kuki identity and has already built grassroots pathways for peaceful coexistence with the Meitei community.

Zomi (a nomenclature for several non-Kuki tribes of Manipur, Hmar, Mizo, Lushai and Ralte), and several others have repeatedly rejected and disowned the Kuki-Zo label, it said.

KZC is nothing more than a loose front of self-appointed actors and militant-linked interests attempting to manufacture legitimacy where none exists. It is a hollow construct and the Chief Minister knows it, TIM asserted.

The Chief Minister admitted the term Kuki-Zo was confusing, yet extended recognition and engagement without clarity, framework, or accountability, it alleged.

Past engagements involving this same entitywhether linked to highway reopening claims or arrangements involving militant groupshave yielded nothing but failure, exposing the Governments repeated reliance on ineffective and questionable intermediaries, it remarked.

Genuine grassroots peace efforts between Thadou and Meitei communities have been deliberately ignored by both the State and Central Governments, TIM said.

Thadou IDPs, especially those outside Manipur, continue to suffer in silence while selective and opaque benefits are extended elsewhere.

The Guwahati meeting was exclusionary, opaque, and devoid of legal or democratic legitimacy, it said.

TIM has demanded full and immediate disclosure of the Guwahati meetings agenda, participants, and outcomes; a public justification for the Governments complete policy reversal since December 2024; formal acknowledgment that KZC has no legitimate representational standing in Manipur; immediate, equitable, and transparent rehabilitation for all IDPs, including every Thadou IDP, backed by publicly accessible data.

It further demanded recognition and institutional support for existing grassroots peace initiatives, and a transparent, inclusive peace process conducted within Manipurnot behind closed doors outside the State.

By legitimising the illegitimate, the Chief Minister has not advanced peacehe has undermined it, TIM added.
LA PAZ, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz Pereira on Sunday called on future subnational authorities to work with the central government to address the country's economic and institutional challenges.

Paz Pereira made this appeal after casting his vote in the southern city of Tarija, where elections are being held to choose more than 5,400 officials, including governors, mayors and local legislators for the 2026-2031 term.

"We will work with those elected by the will of the people," he said, adding that the elections offer an opportunity to strengthen democracy and encourage citizen participation.

He said the current situation requires coordinated efforts among the central government, regional authorities, and the legislature to pursue a common agenda for national recovery.

The president also highlighted his administration's progress in economic management, international engagement, security and anti-corruption efforts.

More than 7.4 million eligible voters were expected to take part in the elections across more than 33,000 polling stations, with more than 200,000 electoral jurors and 32,000 police deployed. 
India has a habit of arriving early to the future and late to its paperwork. Crypto is a case in point. Across cities, small towns, and trading communities, Indians have embraced digital assets with a speed that policymakers can no longer dismiss as fringe enthusiasm.

Chainalysis ranked India first in its 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index. This underscores the breadth of activity across retail and institutional channels. Yet the legal architecture around the sector remains incomplete. Crypto is taxed, monitored, and partially supervised. However, it is still not governed by a clear, comprehensive framework.

Indias paradox

This is Indias crypto paradox. The market exists in plain sight. The state recognises it enough to levy a 30 per cent tax on gains from virtual digital assets and a 1 per cent tax deducted at source on transfers. It recognises it enough to bring virtual digital asset service providers within anti-money-laundering reporting obligations.

It recognises it enough to watch trading patterns closely for tax compliance. But recognition has stopped short of rule-making. India has created a regime of surveillance before establishing one of classification, consumer protection, and market design.

Not a niche hobby

That halfway house was perhaps defensible when crypto could still be treated as a speculative sideshow. It is less defensible now. India is not dealing with a niche hobby of technologists. It is dealing with a large, persistent, and increasingly sophisticated market. Its users span spot traders, long-term holders, developers, huge institutions, and cross-border participants.

The question, therefore, is no longer whether crypto should be wished away. It is whether India can afford to let a major financial technology category operate indefinitely in policy twilight.

A legitimate worry

To be fair, the caution has a logic. The Reserve Bank of India has long worried about financial stability, capital controls, monetary sovereignty, and the risk of speculative manias hurting households. Those concerns should not be caricatured.

Anyone who has seen the boom-bust cycles of digital assets knows that unguarded enthusiasm is no substitute for regulation. Fraud, market abuse, reckless leverage, and offshore opacity are real risks. A serious framework must begin with the basic admission that not every token deserves legitimacy and not every business model deserves indulgence.

But the absence of a full framework does not eliminate those risks. It can worsen them. High-friction ambiguity tends to drive users towards less visible venues. In such places, Indian authorities have less oversight, and consumers have less recourse.

Reuters reported in 2022 that the 1 per cent transaction tax sharply reduced domestic trading volumes after it came into effect. So, when policy makes compliant participation expensive, the market participants tend to migrate to more conducive jurisdictions.

India has, in fact, moved towards formal oversight. Since 2023, crypto intermediaries have had to register with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) as reporting entities under anti-money-laundering (AML) rules.

The FIU has continued to tighten compliance expectations through revised registration circulars and enforcement action against offshore operators. This is an important shift. It shows that India does not view the sector as wholly beyond governance. Yet AML registration is not the same as a market framework.

One addresses illicit-finance risk. The other must address asset classification, disclosures, custody, segregation of customer funds, and standards of conduct.

A balanced framework

What would a balanced framework look like? First, India should separate categories that are currently discussed as though they were one. Bitcoin is not the same as an algorithmic token issued on a whim; a fiat-backed stablecoin is not the same as a meme asset; and a compliant exchange is not the same as an anonymous offshore venue.

Regulation becomes more intelligent when it distinguishes among risks instead of treating the entire ecosystem as a single moral hazard. Second, India needs a licensing and disclosure architecture for intermediaries. There should be clear rules on custody, reserves, governance, conflict management, and customer disclosures. Third, taxation should support formalisation rather than merely punish participation.

None of this requires India to become credulous. A mature policy does not ask whether crypto is good or bad in the abstract. It asks which activities deserve permission, which demand restraint, and which must be prohibited. That is how serious jurisdictions govern complicated technologies.

Indias advantage is that it still has time to write those rules while sitting atop one of the worlds deepest retail markets. Its danger is that it may confuse delay for prudence. In crypto, as in finance, ambiguity is rarely neutral. Eventually, somebody pays for it. And usually, the least protected participant pays first.

The author is the CEO of Giottus.com, a cryptocurrency exchange registered with the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Finance Ministry.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.
In the seven-year period from 2018 to 2024, as many as 175 sailors of the British Royal Navy, serving in the nuclear submarine force, have tested positive for various banned or illegal drugs.

According to the UK Ministry of Defence, of the total 175 cases, 52 submariners were caught using narcotics while on submarine duty, with 12 such cases reported in 2024 alone.

The sailors were found using cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy, steroids, and benzodiazepines, which are drugs used for treating insomnia and anxiety.

For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India

What makes this more concerning is the fact that some of those who failed drug tests are believed to have been serving on the UKs four Vanguard-class submarines, each valued at around 6bn. These vessels, which reportedly have longer stints at sea, carry the Trident II nuclear missilesBritains ultimate deterrentwith at least one always deployed at sea.

According to a report by The Telegraph, drugs were not found in any search of a submarine in the seven-year period, but sailors testing positive have raised concerns.

The UK ministry of defence has asserted that it has a zero-tolerance policy towards drug abuse and that almost all those who tested positive for drugs were fired. It said strict measures are in place to crack down on drug abuse by armed forces personnel.

The Telegraph quoted sources as saying that a few personnel were likely spared punishment in cases where banned substances were taken unknowingly or where mitigating circumstances existed.

ALSO READ: Pakistan hypes up Indias missile range to 12,000 km to create panic. How true is this claim?

There is no place for drugs in our Armed Forces, especially in sensitive areas such as the submarine service, where there is an increased security risk of drug-takers being blackmailed for classified and sensitive information," The Telegraph quoted Philip Ingram, a former colonel in British military intelligence, as saying.

In the tightly controlled, high-risk environment of submarines, there is little margin for error. Drug use aboard submarines can lead to possible operational and strategic risks, as even minor lapses in judgment can compromise navigation, weapons handling, and emergency response in a high-stakes, confined environment. In the case of nuclear-armed submarines, such impairment raises serious concerns over safety, command reliability, and the security of critical deterrent systems.

We operate a strict zero-tolerance policy towards drug misuse. Any individual found to have breached this policy can expect to face serious consequences, including immediate discharge from the service. Such behaviour is entirely incompatible with the high standards of professionalism, discipline, and integrity expected," The Telegraph quoted a Royal Navy spokesperson as saying.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing rape, human sacrifice, and black magic charges against self-styled astrologer and godman Ashok Kharat on Sunday questioned a watchman and the priest of the Ishaneshwar Mahadev Temple, with which the accused is linked, in Nashik.

Kharat, a former Merchant Navy officer, was arrested on 18 March for rape and other offences following the complaint of a 35-year-old woman. She alleged that 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 the Nashik district.

"On Sunday, the SIT questioned Pramod Gadakh, the caretaker priest of the Ishaneshwar Mahadev Temple in Mirgaon, and a watchman. On Saturday, it interrogated Neeraj Jadhav, a staffer at Kharat's office, for seven hours in connection with a case registered at the Shirdi police station," an official was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. A staffer at Kharat's office was questioned for more than seven hours by the SIT, led by Tejaswini Satpute, IPS, and CCTV DVRs were seized as part of the probe from Kharat's Mirgaon farmhouse, Tikde Colony bungalow, and Canada Corner office, the official added.

He has also been charged under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act for allegedly threatening to circulate photographs of a 24-year-old woman, the official said. The woman's complaint accuses Kharat of rape, human sacrifice, and black magic. Consequently, he has been booked under the BNS and the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, the official added.

Meanwhile, officials said residents of Kharat's native Mirgaon are angry at the way the reputation of the village has been "tarnished", with some of them seeking "capital punishment" for the accused. They have also sought the seizure of Kharat's properties and the handover of the temple his trust runs to the local residents.
A civilian staff member posted at an Indian Air Force (IAF) station in Assam was arrested on Sunday for allegedly passing sensitive information to Pakistan-based handlers, a news report said. The accused was identified as Sumit Kumar, who hails from Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, the report added.

It was a joint operation by the IAF intelligence and the state intelligence of Rajasthan that reportedly exposed Sumit Kumar's activities. A multi-tasking staffer at the Chabua Air Force Station in Assam, he is alleged to have been exchanging classified information for money with Pakistani agents since 2023.

Among the information that Kumar had access to were details about fighter aircraft deployment and missile systems, Jansatta said in a report. He also had clearance to extract information on personnel posted at Air Force stations in Bikaner, Chabua, and Nal, which could also have been compromised.

However, Sumit Kumar did not operate alone. His name popped up following the arrest of a man in Jaisalmer by Rajasthan Intelligence, the Hindi news report said. After it was claimed that Kumar was a key member of the espionage ring, they tipped off IAF intelligence, who started watching him closely.

Investigators also found that he allegedly helped Pakistani handlers create social media accounts using mobile numbers registered in his name, enabling secure communication. The Rajasthan Intelligence, in coordination with Air Force Intelligence, detained Kumar and took him to the Central Interrogation Centre in Jaipur for questioning, Jansatta said in the report.

Following interrogation, he was formally arrested under the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Further investigations are reportedly underway to identify other moles and links in the network.
The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has finalised its seat-sharing arrangement with the NDA for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly election.

About 27 seats have been allocated to the BJP, 18 to the Pattali Makkal Katchi and 11 to Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam. The AIADMK will contest the remaining 178 seats.

The agreement was signed by the AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) and BJP leader Piyush Goyal after days of intense discussion within the AIADMK-led alliance.

Early reports citing party sources had said that the party would retain the dominant majority of the seats, around 160 to 178 out of the total 234 constituencies, to maximise chances of a majority.

Palaniswami also seems to have his eyes set on the chief ministerial role with the next election and has set a target of winning over 200 seats.

Initial reports had also suggested that the BJP would receive a higher allocation than the last time. In the 2021 election, the party contested alone for 20 seats but won only four. The alliance however seems to believe that the partys influence has grown in regions like Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Kanyakumari and Nellai and has allocated them 27 seats in these areas.

The AIADMK seems to have also allowed an allocation of slightly higher number of seats to the BJP to secure the 11 per cent votes which would otherwise have been scattered among the DMK alliance and Vijay TVK party in the four way elections.

The pact was signed after the seat sharing talks turned into a tussle between the AIADMK and the BJP. EPS had flown to Delhi three times over three months for the negotiations.

Union Minister Amit Shah had also monitored the developments and was directly involved in the discussion before the pact was sealed.

In the 2021 election, the AIADMK had contested 179 seats but managed to win only 66.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah are trying to increase the number of BJP members in the Tamil Nadu Assembly to double digits.
MOSCOW, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The situation in the Strait of Hormuz will stabilize only after the conflict in the Middle East ends, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said on Monday.

"We called for an end to this entire conflict, first and foremost, the aggression by the Americans and Israelis against Iran," Rudenko told the media on the sidelines of the forum "Russia and India: Towards a New Bilateral Agenda."

"What is happening in the Strait of Hormuz is a direct consequence of this illegal act. Once the war is stopped, I believe the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will normalize."

Commenting on U.S. President Donald Trump's remarks regarding plans to strike Iran's energy facilities, Rudenko said: "I expect that the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant will not be included in these target lists, as the consequences would simply be catastrophic for everyone."

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant is an operating facility that houses thousands of kilograms of nuclear material. A direct hit to the plant could result in a very high release of radioactivity to the environment.

On Saturday, Trump stated that the United States would destroy several Iranian power plants if the Strait of Hormuz was not fully opened to maritime navigation within 48 hours.

In a post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump said the United States would hold off on attacking Iran's energy assets following "productive" talks with Tehran.

The United States and Israel launched a large-scale military campaign against Iran on Feb. 28. The two countries carried out two airstrikes on the Natanz nuclear facilities on March 1, struck a building within the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant complex on March 17, and launched another strike on the Natanz uranium enrichment facility on March 21. 
A case has been registered by the Guruvayur Police against BJP candidate B. Gopalakrishnan over his controversial remarks that neither the Left nor the UDF has fielded a Hindu candidate in the constituency and that Guruvayur should have a Hindu MLA. He had also allegedly used the Guruvayur temple premises for his poll campaign.

Following complaints from the left and the Congress, the chief electoral officer sought a report from the Thrissur district collector. After examining the statement, the district collector, in turn, recommended that a case be registered. Acting on the direction of election authorities, the returning officer in Guruvayur then filed a complaint at the Temple Police Station, citing violations, including breach of election rules, following which the police registered a case against Gopalakrishnan.

Interestingly, there are narratives suggesting that Gopalakrishnan has deviated from the BJPs development-first poll plank with this controversial video. However, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekharseen as the poster boy of that plankhimself came out in his defence, indicating that the party may be deploying a more layered and sophisticated form of Hindutva politics aimed at engaging multiple strands of identity politics in the state.

And Gopalakrishnan was moving in perfect sync with that plan.

The Kerala paradox

Kerala has historically presented a unique paradox for the BJP. Despite boasting one of the highest densities of RSS daily shakhas in India, the party has struggled to translate this extensive grassroots presence of the Sangh Parivar into electoral success.

At the core of this Kerala problem lies a structural gap between Hindutva and Hindu identity. In Kerala, being a devout Hindu does not necessarily translate into identification with a Hindutva political identity. The BJPs attempts to consolidate a Hindu vote bank have largely faltered because Malayali Hindu identity is, to a significant extent, shaped by the Left and the Congress, which have embedded local Hindu traditions within their broader secular-political frameworks.

Nevertheless, the BJP now appears to be attempting to bridge this gap, with increasing support from various Hindutva-aligned groups.

For instance, when THE WEEK asked whether the Maha Magham Mela in Malappuram held in January and projected as a Hindu revivalist gatheringwas aimed at consolidating Hindu identity by bringing together tribal communities, OBCs, and forward castes under a single umbrella, and whether its continuation could generate political capital for Hindutva-oriented forces in Kerala, Swami Anandavanam Bharati Maharaj, the key organiser, responded: Hindutva is the identity of every Hindu. Any dharmic programme naturally strengthens that identity. In that sense, it may influence Hindu political consciousness. But everything is politicaleven this conversation. Every individual carries their own political understanding.

Notably, Hindu Ekta Sammelanams (Hindu Unity Conferences) have also been organised with the support of the RSS in key constituencies such as Nemom ahead of the elections. These events brought together representatives from various Hindu community organisations, including the Nair Service Society, Hindu Nadar Samajam, SNDP Yogam, Brahmana Maha Sabha, Yogakshema Sabha, and Brahmana Sabha.

This points to an ongoing effort to reframe Hindu identity beyond its existing sub-identities and secular-political affiliations, aligning it more closely with a Hindutva-based political identity.

Chandrashekars Hindutva

Notably, when Rajeev Chandrasekhar was brought in as the BJPs Kerala state president, there were discussions that the party would place its traditional Hindutva politics on the back burner and foreground development as its central plank. However, when THE WEEK recently asked Chandrasekhar whether he had shifted the Kerala BJP away from its traditional Hindutva path in favour of a development-focused approach, he dismissed the suggestion as a misreading of the partys politics.

Development is the primary purpose of politics today. In the BJP, we are in politics to create a better future for the people we serve. That is our mission.

As far as Hindutva is concerned, it has long been projected as a bogey by the Congress party. Sometimes that narrative sticks, but most of the time it does not. People rejected it in 2014, in 2019, and again in 2024. Across many states, this narrative has failed, and it will fail in Kerala as well.

What is Hindutva in what we say or do? There is nothing contradictory. We are proud of who we are and of our faith, and we have no reason to be hesitant about it. At the same time, we respect every believer and every individuals right to practice their faith, he saidsuggesting that, in his framing, Hindu faith and Hindutva are not seen as distinct.

More importantly, Chandrasekhar indicated that he is actively countering attempts by political opponents to project Hindutva as a bogey in Kerala.

Against this backdrop, Gopalakrishnans assertion that a Hindu must represent the Hindu-majority Guruvayur constituencyand Chandrasekhars defence of itreflects the same underlying approach of aligning Hindu identity with Hindutva. This becomes clearer in Chandrasekhars defence, where he draws a parallel with Muslim League leaders such as K. M. Shaji asserting their devout Muslim identity.

While Kerala is known for its high literacy and progressive movements, the selection of candidates and the consolidation of vote banks are almost always influenced by communal demographics. And the sub-identities within different religious communitiesand their traditional patterns of political allegiancehave posed an additional challenge, alongside the gap between Hindutva and Hindu identity.

What Gopalakrishnan said was that Guruvayur needs an MLA who is a believerhow does that become hate speech? Gopalakrishnan has not spoken against anyone. When the Sabarimala issue happened, there was no one standing with the believers. So, isnt it reasonable to ask whether Guruvayur should have an MLA who is a believer? Chandrasekhar said.

It may not be an exaggeration to say that, in defending a Hindutva leader from his party as a devout Hindu, the BJP state president is also signalling to Hindu voters that they can assert their religious identity without hesitationand align it with Hindutva. However, Chandrasekhar himself knows that this remains a work in progress.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will contest 27 seats in the upcoming assembly elections in Tamil Nadu. The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) will contest 18, while the T. T. V. Dhinakaran-led Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) will fight for 11.

It was not immediately revealed how many seats will go to the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the principal opposition party in the state, which leads the alliance.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah held talks with AIADMK general secretary Palaniswami, Dhinakaran and PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss, in the national capital last week.

BJP Tamil Nadu in-charge and Union Minister Piyush Goyal arrived in Chennai to finalise seat-sharing talks with the AIADMK. It was during a press conference by the BJP leader that the suspense over the seat allotment was finally broken. It was earlier reported that the saffron party had demanded 50 seats and the AIADMK's reluctance to hand over some of its strongholds to its ally was the reason for the talks remaining unresolved.

"As I have already said I don't work for the deadline. I work for quality. I am quite confident that given the family relations that we have, the whole NDA will work as a family led by AIADMK's Edappadi K Palaniswami, (AMMK leader) TTV Dhinakaran, Anbumani (PMK), my party (TN) president Nainar Nagenthran and Union Minister L Murugan. We will sit and decide today (March 23)," Goyal had earlier told reporters.

"We will launch the fight against the evil force DMK and its partners who have taken Tamil Nadu to extreme difficult times due to their incompetent management of economy and due to actions which hurt Tamil culture. People are fed up with the DMK and Congress," he reportedly said during another interaction.

Single-phase elections to 234 Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu will be held on 23 April, while 30 segments in neighbouring Puducherry go to the polls on 9 April.
Former BJP leader and Assam politician Nandita Gorlosa has joined the Congress after being denied a ticket for the single-phase assembly election on April 9.

Gorlosa had submitted her resignation to Assam BJP Dilip Saikia, stepping down from her ministerial post and primary party membership.

General Secretary, AICC In-Charge of Assam, Jitendra Singh Alwar tweets, "Those who truly want to protect Assam and make it prosperous are standing with Congress. We are pleased to welcome Smt. Nandita Gorlosa (Cabinet Minister of Assam) into the Congress family. For the past pic.twitter.com/GhTvAVeQI4  IANS (@ians_india) March 22, 2026

She is an MLA from the Haflong ST constituency.

She was not given a ticket by the BJP for the upcoming elections. The ticket was given instead to newcomer Rupali Langthsa as part of the party's larger plan, which involved dropping a number of incumbent MLAs from the candidate list. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had visited the Dima Hasao district and said that the 18 sitting MLAs would be denied tickets and given different responsibilities.

The Congress took this as a chance to change their candidate for the constituency of Haflong at the last minute.

Assam Congress shared a photograph of Gorlosa joining the party. She joined the party in the presence of senior leaders in the party, including Assam Congress general secretary Nirmal Langthasa. "We are very happy to announce that Smt Nandita Garlosa has joined the Congress party. She has been the voice of Dima Hasao for the last five years, and she has always stood for her beliefs and principles," the Congress said in their post on X.

The party said that Gorlosa was removed because the BJP was trying to sell tribal land to a corporation."She paid the price for this in the BJP because Himanta Biswa Sarma is only interested in selling the land of the tribals to large corporations," the party statement added. "She paid the price for this in the BJP because Himanta Biswa Sarma is only interested in selling the land of the tribals to large corporations," the party statement added.

Congress also confirmed that Gorlosa will be fielded as its candidate from the Haflong constituency. "Congress will declare her as our candidate for the Haflong seat tomorrow," the statement noted.

Born on May 13 1977, she belongs to the Haflong in the hill district of Dima Hasao and has a strong influence among tribal communities in the constituency. Nadita Gorlosa has been representing the Haflong constituency since 2021.

She won the assembly elections on a BJP ticket.

She then took up a cabinet role and took charge of portfolios like mines and minerals and tribal faith, and culture.

Gorlosa has gained a prominent position in the hill region of Assam and has a considerable amount of support from the tribal population.

Her sudden joining of the Congress party could be a deciding factor in the outcome of the election in the Haflong constituency, which is a major part of the state's Dima Hasao district.

In Assam, the Congress is in an alliance with Sam Jatiya Parishad, Raijor Dal, CPI(M), CPI(ML), and the All-Party Hill Leaders Conference.
A group of app-based cab drivers in Gurugram has announced a strike on Monday, demanding mandatory KYC for passengers, citing surging safety fears and zero accountability. On Saturday, the group gathered outside sector 46 to share their problems and call for action.

They highlighted incidents of assaults and threats that left them vulnerable. They also pointed to the fact that drivers face rigorous checks, but riders don't.

One driver who spoke to Hindustan Times said, "What about our safety? We also need protection from fake passengers."

The primary reason for the strike is the increasing number of safety risks posed by fake or unverified passengers.

They said that some of the customers misuse the service, behave badly and sometimes even attack drivers during rides.

They referred to one incident where a 25-year-old cab driver, Suraj Singh, was strangled to death by passengers in January this year in Sector 37.

While drivers complete strict KYC checks before joining the platforms, the customers are not required to do so. They said passengers should go through an Aadhaar or a valid ID verification making KYC verification mandatory for all users.

Drivers also said that in-app safety features like the SOS and panic buttons as ineffective. They said both the police and the companies fail to respond swiftly in crises, exposing them to grave risk.

Residents in the city reported travel delays during the strike on Saturday. They said that they had to wait for longer times and that their journey took longer than normal.
US President Donald Trump on Saturday warned that the US would obliterate Iranian power plants if Tehran doesnt "fully open" the Strait of Hormuz to all shipping within 48 hours. Trump set a Monday deadline of around 7:45 p.m. EDT, which is 5:15 am on Tuesday in Indian Standard Time.

Now, with the Hormuz deadline approaching, the expectation is that the President will order attacks on Iranian power plants. If Iran does not give in to that deadline, White House officials have reportedly told their Israeli counterparts that it plans a weeks-long operation to reopen the waterway. The administration is reportedly considering plans to occupy or blockade Iran's Kharg Island to pressure Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to Israels Channel 12.

Washington is adamant that it will not allow Iran to take the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of the worlds oil flows. For this, a change of strategy is needed.

Senior US officials have also told their counterparts in Israel that there appears to be no alternative but to launch a ground military operation to seize the Kharg Island, the oil hub of Iran. A US official told The Jerusalem Post that the US military has accelerated the deployment of thousands of Marines and Navy personnel to the Middle East.

Meanwhile, it is expected that the US Navys USS Tripoli, carrying over 2000 Marines, will arrive in the Middle East tomorrow or Wednesday. The US has also deployed the US Navys Amphibious Assault Group led by USS Boxer. The vessel set sail for the Middle East after loading Marines and helicopters from Camp Pendleton in San Diego, accompanied by the dock-landing ship USS Comstock and amphibious transport dock USS Portland.
After issuing a 48-hour ultimatum threatening to hit and obliterate Iranian power plants, President Donald Trump has pushed the war with Iran into a phase that now feels close to a humanitarian disaster. If Tehran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Washington has signalled that it is prepared to strike energy facilities that millions of ordinary Iranians depend on every single day. Iran has responded by warning that it will retaliate against the infrastructure that keeps entire societies functioning across the Middle East.

The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial global chokepoint through which approximately one-fifth of the worlds oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies travel. Irans effective blockade of the Strait to US and allied shipping since the conflict began on February 28 has triggered the worst global oil crisis since the 1970s. As crude oil prices have spiked by more than 70 per cent, the Trump administration temporarily lifted the Jones Act and eased sanctions on Iranian and Russian oil. Meanwhile, Iran insists the waterway remains open to friendly nations such as China, India and Pakistan but is closed to its enemies. Reports indicate Tehran is actively monetising its control by charging up to $2 million per tanker for safe passage, aiming to establish a "new legal regime" in the strait while using the economic disruption as leverage to force the US to end the war. Analysts warn the crisis could deepen further if Yemen's Houthis enter the fray and close the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea.

Should the US carry out its threat to bomb Iranian power plants, Iranian officials have promised catastrophic consequences for the entire Middle East. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Irans Parliament Speaker, warned that critical infrastructure across the region would become "legitimate targets" and be "irreversibly destroyed," ensuring oil prices remain elevated for an extended period. The Khatam al-Anbiya military command elaborated that this retaliation would specifically target fuel, energy and information technology systems, as well as essential water desalination facilities used by Israel and Gulf neighbours. Desalination is absolutely critical for providing drinkable water to millions in the region. Amnesty International has cautioned that attacking systems providing vital services such as electricity and water could constitute war crimes because of the predictable and devastating civilian harm.

Furthermore, Irans military declared that an attack on its power grid would result in the indefinite and complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz until Iran's facilities are fully rebuilt. Iranian semi-official media amplified this threat by publishing a map of Gulf power plants, warning that 70 to 80 per cent of major regional power plants lie along the Persian Gulf coast within Iran's striking range, threatening to plunge the entire region "into darkness". Iran has also warned that energy facilities in countries hosting US bases, as well as companies with US shareholders, will be considered lawful targets for destruction.

These infrastructural threats are accompanied by severe military escalation. Iranian commanders are moving from a defensive to an offensive posture, promising "new surprises". This shift was demonstrated when Iranian missiles penetrated Israels air defence systems for the first time in the southern towns of Arad and Dimona, injuring approximately 200 people, including children. Tehran stated that this attack was retaliation for a strike on its Natanz nuclear enrichment facility. Although the International Atomic Energy Agency reported no abnormal radiation levels following the strikes on nuclear sites in either Iran or Israel, the World Health Organisation warned that targeting such facilities poses a dangerous, escalating threat to public health and the environment. Iran has also demonstrated its expanding reach by firing long-range ballistic missiles at the joint USUK military base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

Military intervention alone is unlikely to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as commercial shipping and insurance companies will refuse to operate in a conflict zone. Analysts fear Trump's threat has placed a ticking time bomb over global markets, threatening a "black Monday" of plunging stocks. Most of the Asian stocks are already down. Ultimately, the mutual threats of total infrastructure annihilation could lead to an unprecedented economic and humanitarian catastrophe unless a diplomatic off-ramp is found quickly.
In what could be a shift in the ongoing war between Washington and Tehran, President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the United States will not attack Iranian energy infrastructure for five days.

Taking to Truth Social, Trump said he asked the US War Department to "postpone any and all military strikes" targeting Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days. "I am pleased to report that the United States of America and the country of Iran have had over the last two days very good and productive conversation regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East," he posted.

For latest news and analyses on Middle East, visit: Yello! Middle East

However, Iran's semiofficial Fars news agency, which is close to the Revolutionary Guard, cited a source, saying there has been no direct contact with Donald Trump, "not even through an intermediary".

Responding to Trump, Irans state media posted on X, saying, "Trump, fearing Irans response, backed down from his 48-hour ultimatum."

Later, the Iranian embassy in Kabul posted on X that Trump's "retreat" came after Iran's "firm warning".

"After the Islamic Republic threatened that in the event of any US attack on Iran's energy infrastructure, it would target the energy infrastructure of the entire region, Trump backed down and stated that he had issued an order to postpone the attack," read the post.4

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said Iran would consider vital infrastructure across the region to be legitimate targets, including energy and desalination facilities critical for drinking water in Gulf nations.

Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he spoke by phone with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan. Turkiye has been an intermediary before in negotiations between Tehran and Washington.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Gaurd Coprs (IRGC) has issued a threat to strike all power plants and water stations across the Middle East if US President Donald Trump goes ahead with targeting Tehrans power structure.

Iranian media outlets have specified that the Barakah nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi, UAE, is a potential target in the strikes by the IRGC.

The media posted images and names of over 10 power plants in the region, including in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait.

Among these was the Barakah nuclear power plant. The plant has the ability to generate about 5,600 MW of energy and also falls under the range of Iranian missiles. It supplies about 25 per cent of the countrys energy, reducing the country's emissions by about 22 million tonnes each year. Before the plant was built, the county relied on fossil fuels to provide about 95 per cent of its electricity.

The plant is located in Barakah in the Al Dhafra region, 53 kilometres away from the Ruwais city on the south western part of the country.

It also provides UAE's crucial electricity needed to enable desalination to create potable water for the country.

The Barakah plant was built after the UAE accepted a bid from a South Korean consortium, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) and was commissioned in March 2020.

In its threat the IRGC said that "If Iran's power infrastructure is attacked even slightly, the entire Middle East will be plunged into darkness," and threatened, "70 to 80 per cent of the major power plants in the Middle East are built on the Persian Gulf coast. The distance to this coast is less than 50 kilometres. This means that all of this power infrastructure is within Iran's sights."

Do not doubt that we will do this, the Guard said in the statement read on Iranian state television.

After the threat, Iranian media, including semi-official Fars News Agency, published the names of the potential targets. The threats come after Trump said that the US would "obliterate" the country's power plants if it didnt open the Strait of Hormuz.

The threat to the power plants comes after Tehran seemed to roll back on earlier threats on water desalination plants. Iran had said that the US falsely claimed that Tehran intended to hit infrastructure needed to create potable water. The lying US President has claimed that the Revolutionary Guards intend to attack the water desalination plants and cause hardship to the people of the countries in the region, it said.
You are going about your day, fishing in the sea near Thondi in Tamil Nadu, and suddenly you spot a large metal object floating in the water. Your first thought? Could this be a missile? That is exactly what happened on March 12, 2026, when fishermen near Thondi spotted a strange metallic piece floating off the coast of Thiruppalaikudi in Ramanathapuram district. They did the right thing  they immediately informed the Devipattinam Marine Police, who then brought in scientists from ISRO.

By March 18, the object had drifted closer to the shore. A three-member team from ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram arrived to examine it. After careful inspection, the mystery was solved. It was not a missile. It was a piece of India's own PSLV rocket  specifically, a component called the SITVC system from the rocket's first stage.

Now, what exactly is this SITVC (Secondary Injection Thrust Vector Control)? Think of it like the steering wheel of a rocket. When a rocket is roaring upward after liftoff, it needs to adjust its direction precisely, just like how you steer a car. The SITVC does this job by injecting special fluid into the rocket's exhaust. This creates an imbalance in the thrust, which nudges the rocket left, right, or wherever it needs to go. It is a very clever piece of engineering, sitting at the bottom of the rocket's first stagethe big solid fuel booster that gives the enormous initial push during liftoff.

A rocket is not one single machine that goes all the way to space. It is built in stages like a multi-storey building that sheds its floors one by one as it climbs higher. The first stage, which is the bottom-most and largest part, burns its fuel completely within the first couple of minutes after launch. Once its job is done, it separates from the rest of the rocket and falls away. This separation happens over the ocean, far from populated areas, and that is completely by design, explained space expert Girish Linganna.

So, where does this separated stage go? It falls. Straight down into the ocean. As it re-enters the Earth's atmosphere at very high speed, the friction generates intense heat enough to burn most of the metal to nothing. In almost all cases, the debris burns up completely before reaching the water. But in rare situations, heavier and denser components like the SITVC system do not burn fully. They survive the heat and splash down into the ocean. That is what happened here.

A senior ISRO scientist has confirmed there is nothing to worry about. The part is inert, meaning it has no fuel, no explosive material, nothing dangerous. It is essentially a heavy piece of metal that has done its job and come to rest. Scientists are still checking records to determine which specific PSLV mission this piece belongs to, as multiple launches happen over the years and tracking every separated component is a complex task.

This is not an isolated incident. In December 2025, a piece of ISRO's LVM-III rocket was found along the Malai Munthal coastal area in Sri Lanka. Just two months later, in February 2026, another large piece of the same LVM-III rocket was discovered on an uninhabited island in Laamu Atoll in the Maldives. Space agencies around the world are increasingly paying attention to this issue.

To prevent such debris from causing accidents, space agencies carefully calculate 'drop zones'  specific ocean regions where separated rocket stages are expected to fall. These zones are chosen to be far from shipping lanes and coastlines. Ships and aircraft are warned in advance through official notices. Recovery teams are sometimes deployed. Most modern rockets are now being designed with "passivation" technology  meaning leftover fuel and pressure are vented out after separation, so there is no risk of explosion. Some advanced rockets, like SpaceX's Falcon 9, even land their first stages back on platforms to be reused, eliminating debris entirely, added Linganna.

India too is working on reusable rocket technology. But until that becomes standard, incidents like this will occasionally remind us of something rather poetic that the very machine that carries our satellites to space quietly falls back to Earth, piece by piece, mostly unseen, usually burned away, and only rarely washing up on a fisherman's shore.
An Air Canada Express aircraft, flying back from Montreal, collided with a ground vehicle upon landing at New York's LaGuardia airport on late Sunday. The incident led to the temporary shut down of the airport and flights were diverted.

According to Flightradar24, the Air Canada Express CRJ-900 plane struck the vehicle at a speed of about 24 miles per hour (39 kph).

Reportedly, four people were injured in the incident, which involved a fire truck manned by police officials. The videos of the incident, which went viral on social media, revealed that the aircraft's nose suffered severe damage.

It is not certain whether the pilot and co-pilot survived the crash.

Conflicting reports initially cast doubt on whether the pilot and co-pilot survived the crash. While some unverified accounts suggested fatalities, official sources confirm that both crew members survived the incident, though they are being treated for severe injuries.

Among the four injured also includes the truck driver driving the vehicle. They have been rushed to the hospital soon after the incident.

BREAKING: Pilot and co-pilot killed in collision involving plane and fire truck at LaGuardia Airport in New York, sources tell NBC News. pic.twitter.com/SR2wjCuxCF  AZ Intel (@AZ_Intel_) March 23, 2026

Due to the incident, the arriving flights had been diverted to other airports or returned to their point of origin.

The plane involved in the accident was operated by Air Canada's regional partner Jazz, which is owned by Chorus Aviation. According to Air Canada's website, Jazz's CRJ-900 can seat up to 76 passengers.

New York City's emergency notification system said people could expect cancellations, road closures, traffic delays and emergency personnel near the airport.

ATC 'Stop, stop, stop' warning

The Air Traffic Controller's audio has surfaced on social media with the official's heard yelling, "Stop, stop, stop" to the truck driver seconds before the crash.

Audio from Air Traffic Control when plane collided with fire truck at New York airport:



"Stop Truck 1, stop!"



"We were dealing with an emergency earlier and I messed up" pic.twitter.com/7dJcFov4gq  BNO News (@BNONews) March 23, 2026

In the audio clip, the official was heard saying that the "Truck 1 and company LaGuardia Tower are requesting to cross 4 at Delta".

"Truck 1 and company crossing 4," the official says.

The traffic controller then asks, "Frontier 4195, just stop there, please."

"Stop, stop, stop, Truck 1, stop, stop, stop," the controller can be heard shouting in panic.

The traffic controller then asks "Delta 2603" to "go around".

"Jet 646. Jet 646, I see you collide with a vehicle. Hold position; I know you can't move. The vehicle is responding to you now," the controller was apparently heard telling the pilot of the Air Canada plane in the audio clip.

THE WEEK could not immediately verify the audio.

Reportedly, the truck, a fire vehicle, was trying to cross the runway to get to a United Airlines flight.
MOSCOW, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Russia's Progress MS-33 cargo spacecraft is expected to dock with the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday in manual mode, Russia's state space corporation Roscosmos said Sunday.

According to flight control for the ISS Russian segment, one antenna of the Kurs system, which is used for automatic docking of the spacecraft, failed to fully deploy after the spacecraft's launch earlier in the day.

Specialists are monitoring the spacecraft's flight parameters and preparing for a manual docking by the crew aboard the Russian segment of the ISS, Roscosmos said.

Cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov is expected to carry out the manual docking. Oleg Kononenko, head of the Cosmonaut Training Center, said manual docking is routinely practiced and considered a straightforward task.

Launched atop a Soyuz-2.1a rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Progress MS-33 is expected to dock with the Russian segment's Poisk module, delivering more than 2.5 tonnes of cargo. 
A ground collision between an aircraft and an airport truck on a taxiway at New York's LaGuardia Airport has caused panic and chaos. Unverified social media reports indicate that the incident happened near runway 4. With the collision reports surfacing, there is apprehension that the airport may have temporarily shut down.

However, officials have yet to confirm whether the airport is shut down.

BREAKING: New video shows the plane which collided with a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport in New York, reports of multiple victims. pic.twitter.com/mUiBEuFCsQ  AZ Intel (@AZ_Intel_) March 23, 2026

The flight-tracking data shows that the collision may have involved Air Canada CRJ flight AC8646, flying from Montreal, and a fire truck identified as Truck 1 while attempting to cross runway 04/22.

#BREAKING Plane collides with fire truck on taxiway at LaGuardia Airport in New York, per initial reports. Unconfirmed reports of injuries.

pic.twitter.com/8hdCfyMxBQ  Fast News Network (@fastnewsnet) March 23, 2026

The US Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop for all planes at the airport, according to a notice from the regulator. The FAA notice showed that the reason for the halt at the airport was an emergency and there was a high probability of an extension, without specifying any details. The regulator, in a seperate notice, said that the shut down could extend to 1800 GMT.

 CORRECTION & UPDATE: Queens, NY  Air Canada Express CRJ-900 flight from Montreal collided with a fire truck on runway 4 at LaGuardia Airport during landing.



Multiple critical patients reported, including 5 red tag FDNY firefighters; possible fatalities.



Massive emergency https://t.co/ZhUzapt8fP pic.twitter.com/hNc7290Gmj  Breaking News (@TheNewsTrending) March 23, 2026

Videos of the incident are surfacing on social media. The aircraft appears to have sustained significant damage in the reported collision.

Passengers were reportedly evacuated onto the tarmac. While unconfirmed reports of injuries have surfaced, some sources indicate that five firefighters sustained critical injuries and over 100 passengers were hurt.

The audio of the air traffic control tower surfaced on social media. The ATC officials are heard yelling, "Stop, stop, stop!" in panic.

The video visuals show that despite the stop warnings, the ground vehicle collides with the plane.
The Justice Department filed a new lawsuit Friday against Harvard University, saying its leadership failed to address antisemitism on campus, creating grounds for the government to freeze existing grants and seek repayment for grants already paid.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Massachusetts, is another missive in a protracted battle between the administration of President Donald Trump and the elite university.

The United States cannot and will not tolerate these failures and brings this action to compel Harvard to comply with federal civil rights law, the Justice Department wrote in the lawsuit, and to recover billions of dollars of taxpayer subsidies awarded to a discriminatory institution.

The lawsuit comes after negotiations appear to have bogged down in the months-long battle with the Trump administration that has tested the boundaries of the governments authority over Americas universities. What began as an investigation into campus antisemitism escalated into an all-out feud as the Trump administration slashed more than $2.6 billion in research funding, ended federal contracts and attempted to block Harvard from hosting international students.

In a pair of lawsuits filed by the university, Harvard has said its being unfairly penalized for refusing to adopt the administrations views. A federal judge agreed in December, reversing the funding cuts and calling the antisemitism argument a smokescreen.

Even so, Harvard and the Trump administration have held some negotiations, and the two sides have reportedly been close to reaching an agreement on multiple occasions. Last year, the administration and the university were reportedly approaching a deal that would have required Harvard to pay $500 million to regain access to federal funding and to end the investigations. Almost a year later, Trump upped that figure to $1 billion, saying that Harvard has been behaving very badly.

At the same time, the administration was taking steps in a civil rights investigation that had the potential to jeopardize all of Harvards federal funding, including federal student aid.

In June, the Trump administration said a civil rights investigation had led to a formal finding that Harvard tolerated antisemitism.

In a letter sent to Harvard, a federal task force said its investigation had found the university was a willful participant in antisemitic harassment of Jewish students and faculty. The task force threatened to refer the case to the Justice Department to file a civil rights lawsuit as soon as possible, unless Harvard came into compliance.

Harvard responded that it strongly disagreed with the governments findings and was committed to fighting bias.

Antisemitism is a serious problem and no matter the context, it is unacceptable, the university said in a statement. Harvard has taken substantive, proactive steps to address the root causes of antisemitism in its community.

Since he took office, Trump has targeted elite universities he believes are overrun by left-wing ideology and antisemitism. His administration has frozen billions of dollars in research grants, which colleges have come to rely on for scientific and medical research.

Several universities have reached agreements with the White House to restore funding. Some deals have included direct payments to the government, including $200 million from Columbia University. Brown University agreed to pay $50 million toward state workforce development groups.

(AP)
Two suspected Iranian spies have been arrested while allegedly attempting to breach one of the United Kingdoms most sensitive military installations.

According to a report by the Sun, the suspects  a 34-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman  were taken into custody Thursday evening near HM Naval Base Clyde in western Scotland, home to Britains nuclear-armed submarine fleet. The facility is considered a cornerstone of the countrys national defense, housing both its Trident nuclear deterrent and attack submarines.

Police Scotland confirmed the arrests, stating that officers were alerted at approximately 5 p.m. to two people attempting to enter HM Naval Base Clyde. Both individuals were detained at the scene, and authorities said that investigations remain ongoing. Officials declined to comment on the suspects nationalities, though reports suggest the man may be Iranian.

The Royal Navy acknowledged the incident but offered no further details, citing operational sensitivity and the active investigation.

The attempted breach comes nearly four weeks into a widening conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran. While Britain has not formally joined offensive operations, its military has already been drawn into the confrontation, intercepting Iranian missiles and drones in the Gulf.

British intelligence officials have repeatedly warned that Iran poses a growing threat on UK soil. MI5 has previously disclosed that Tehran-linked networks were suspected of orchestrating more than 20 plots involving kidnapping or assassination attempts within the country.

In a separate development just days earlier, two men appeared in a London court accused of conducting hostile surveillance on Jewish individuals and sites  operations prosecutors say were directed by Iranian actors.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
On Wednesday, Agudath Israel of America held its third 2026 Albany Advocacy Day, with yeshiva leaders and community advocates joining Agudah staff and board members to meet with legislators and push for key initiatives on behalf of New Yorks Orthodox Jewish community.

The highlight of the day was a meeting with Governor Kathy Hochul, during which she engaged in a meaningful discussion with Agudah leaders and community representatives about the pressing issues facing the Orthodox Jewish community. Governor Hochul reaffirmed her unwavering commitment to be a voice in pushing backs against rising antisemitism.

The delegation urged her to opt-in to the new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (FSTC) to ensure that New Yorkers can fully benefit from the law and expand educational opportunities for families across the state. Starting in 2027, the FSTC allows individual taxpayers to contribute to a nonprofit scholarship granting organization (SGO) and receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit worth up to $1700. The SGO then pools the funds and distributes scholarships to eligible students for a wide range of K-12 educational expenses including private school tuition. However, in order for SGOs to be approved, the state in which they are located must opt in to the tax credit.

One of the most helpful tools for ensuring childrens security is the Nonpublic School Safety Equipment Grant (NPSE) program which reimburses nonpublic schools in New York State for certain safety and security equipment and services. Agudah advocates encouraged all the legislators to retain the $90 million allocation as proposed in the executive budget.

A key priority was preserving the reimbursement for Mandated Services Aid (MSA), the largest source of nonpublic school funding in New York, which reimburses nonpublic schools for services mandated by the state. During the past two budget cycles, Mandated Services Aid has been underfunded by approximately $20 million, leaving schools unreimbursed for mandated services that the state is legally obligated to cover. Delegates asked for language allowing the release of the funding from the prior shortfall to be released immediately upon passage of the budget. At the same time delegates asked legislators to consider expanding funding for nonpublic school record-keeping of student immunization data to include the entire state, not just the three cities that previously received this allocation

Another important priority was the protection of due process rights for students with special needs to ensure they do not lose vital services because they attend a nonpublic school. To that end, legislators were asked to support important legislation proposed by Assemblymember Robert Carroll and Senator Jessica Scarcell-Spanton which would enshrine this right into law.

Over 25 Senators and Assemblymembers joined the delegation for lunch, hosted by Assemblymember David Weprin (D-24). Many of the legislators addressed the delegates, committing to support New Yorks Jewish community.

Delegates met with the offices of Deputy Senate Majority Leader Michael Gianaris (D-12), Assemblymembers Jeffery Dinowitz (D-81), Simcha Eichenstein (D-48), Alec Brook Krasny (R-46), David Weprin (D-24), Kalman Yeger (D-41), Maritza Davila (D-53), Mike Benedetto (D-82), William Colton (D-47), Amy Paulin (D-88), Alex Bores (D-73), Jamie Williams (D-59), Latrice Walker (D-55), Charles Fall (D-61), Sarah Clark (D-136), Al Taylor (D-71), as well as State Senators Julia Salazar (D-18), Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-23), Zelnor Myrie (D-20), Sam Sutton (D-22), Samra Brouk (D-55), Roxanne Persaud (D-19), Brian Kavanagh (D-27), Steve Chan (R-17).
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso hosted a high-level and highly productive Pre-Pesach sanitation summit, bringing together top leadership from the Department of Sanitation (DSNY), senior borough officials, and a broad coalition of community leaders and organizations from across Brooklyn.

The meeting included the full executive leadership of DSNY, alongside Chiefs of Brooklyn North and South, as well as key representatives from Borough Park, Flatbush, Williamsburg, and Crown Heights. Also in attendance were the heads of Shomrim and Chaverim organizations from neighborhoods throughout Brooklyn, underscoring the strong collaboration between city agencies and community-based volunteer groups ahead of the busy Yom Tov season.

Discussions focused on critical Pre-Pesach preparations, including expanded sanitation collections, bulk trash removal, designated container sites, and coordinated cleanup of bread-burning locations throughout the borough. Additional concerns and quality-of-life issues impacting the community during the holiday season were also addressed in detail.

Community leaders expressed appreciation for the citys cooperation and the enhanced services being provided during this time.

Were grateful to the Department of Sanitation for their additional services during the holiday season, said Samuel Stern, Chair of the UJO Community Advisory Committee. We are thankful to Borough President Reynoso for bringing us together with the Commissioner and top leadership to discuss those services and other matters important to the community.

The meeting was organized and arranged by Jacob Eisdorfer, Senior Advisor to the Borough President, who played a key role in coordinating between city officials and community stakeholders.

Representing DSNY were Commissioner Javier Lojan, Chief of Staff Rebecca Kriegman, Chief of Department Anthony Pennolino, Chief of Cleaning and Collection Daniel Lindley, Chief of Cleaning Operations Jeffrey Pitts, Chief of Collection Operations Daniel Stine, Chief of Operations James Miglino, Chief of the Commissioners Office Frank Lettera, Brooklyn North Borough Chief Joseph Rainone, Brooklyn South Borough Chief Joseph OKeefe, and Deputy Commissioner for Public Affairs Joshua Goodman.

Also in attendance from the Borough Presidents office were Deputy Borough President Rev. Kimberly Council, Chief of Staff Laura Imperiale, and Senior Advisor Jacob Eisdorfer.

The meeting highlighted the importance of coordination and communication between city agencies and community organizations to ensure a smooth, clean, and safe Yom Tov season for Brooklyn residents.

Photos By Eliezer A. Esterzohn

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
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 its 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

(AP)
At least 64 people were killed, including at least 13 children, in a strike on a hospital in Sudans western Darfur region last week, the World Health Organization said Saturday.

The strike on the Al Daein Teaching Hospital in East Darfur on Friday also injured at least 89 people and rendered the hospital non-functional, Tedros Ghebreyesus, the head of the WHO, said on X.

Sudan slid into chaos in April 2023 when a power struggle between the military and the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces exploded into war throughout the country.

The RSF has blamed the military for the strike on the hospital.

The army has denied the attack, but two military officials said the strike was targeting a nearby police station. They spoke on the condition of anonymity as they were not allowed to discuss the matter openly.

The devastating war has killed more than 40,000 people, according to U.N. figures, but aid groups say that is an undercount and the true number could be many times higher.

The WHO has said that over 2,000 people have been killed in attacks on medical facilities since the start of the war.

Enough blood has been spilled. Enough suffering has been inflicted. The time has come to de-escalate the conflict in Sudan, said Ghebreyesus.

(AP)
Japans top government spokesperson said Monday that one of two Japanese nationals detained in Iran has safely returned home in good health.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kiharas confirmation came one day after Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi announced the persons release.

Motegi, speaking on a Fuji Television talk show Sunday, said the person had been detained since last year and was released on Wednesday. He said the person took a flight from Azerbaijan.

Kihara, at a regular news conference Monday, confirmed that the former detainee returned to Japan on Sunday in good health.

Kihara said another Japanese national who was arrested earlier this year is still in custody but we have confirmed that there is no problem with the safety and health of the person and that Japan is continuing to press Iran for a release as soon as possible.

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 Japans public broadcaster NHK. The CPJ said the NHK journalist was arrested Jan. 20 by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and was transferred Feb. 23 to Evin Prison, quoting unidentified sources citing fear of persecution.

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 has given no further details and did not say whether the two cases were related.

(AP)
As media organizations go, NewsGuard cuts a low public profile as it follows its mission of issuing credibility ratings about news outlets. The Trump administration knows about it, though, and the company has joined a lengthening list of journalism organizations to face the White Houses wrath.

A dispute between President Donald Trumps regulators and the news monitoring service has spilled into court, with NewsGuard Technologies suing the Federal Trade Commission and its chairman, Andrew Ferguson, to shut down an investigation. The FTC accuses the company of trying to suppress conservative speech. NewsGuard says it is being forced to kneel before vindictive power.

Since Trump returned to office in January 2025, the Republican administration has fought The Associated Press in court over the outlets claim it is being punished for not adopting his preferred name for the Gulf of Mexico; settled with CBS News corporate parent in a dispute over 60 Minutes editing; sued The Wall Street Journal for its reporting on Trump and Jeffrey Epstein; and is in a legal fight with The New York Times over Pentagon reporting restrictions.

NewsGuards lawsuit, filed last month in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia, accuses Trumps FTC of brazenly using its power not for any issue concerning trade or commerce but rather to censor speech simply because it disagreed with NewsGuards judgments about the reliability of news sources.

The FTC calls NewsGuards accusations untethered from both law and fact.

The FTC, normally low-key, is busier under Trump

Like the Federal Communications Commission under Brendan Carr, Fergusons FTC is a normally sleepy federal agency that has sprung to life to address issues of importance to Trump and his supporters, particularly involving the media. The FCC has launched investigations of media companies and this weekend Carr, responding to a Trump complaint about negative coverage of the Iran war, warned broadcasters running hoaxes and news distortions to correct course or see their licenses threatened.

Ferguson has made no secret about where he takes his cues. He said in an interview in July that I am a law enforcer, and I will follow the law. But the policy priorities are set by the man the people chose to run this government.

The liberal lobbying group Media Matters for America was one of his targets. A federal judge last summer halted an FTC investigation over efforts to promote advertising boycotts of companies the group opposes, saying the inquiry violated MMAs free speech rights.

While NewsGuard may not be a big name, money is at stake for news outlets friendly to the president. The company began in 2018, started by Court TV founder Steven Brill and Gordon Crovitz, a former Journal publisher. NewsGuard uses journalists to examine thousands of news outlets and websites, giving them ratings based on the credibility and reliability of their journalism.

A monthly subscription costs $4.95. Much of its business comes from companies that advise advertisers where to hawk their products, showing them which news sites may be toxic to their brands, and artificial intelligence companies looking to see where they would be more likely to find information they could trust.

Making a powerful enemy in Newsmax

NewsGuard made an enemy of the Trump-friendly television network Newsmax, giving its website a 20 on a scale where 100 is the best score. NewsGuard says this website is unreliable because it severely violates basic journalism standards. Newsmax has since repeatedly urged Republican lawmakers or regulators to do what they can to silence NewsGuard, the company said in its lawsuit.

NewsGuard was started by Steve Brill to target conservative media and get ad agencies to deny them advertising revenue as a means of censorship, Newsmax spokesman Bill Daddi said. Brill is a Democratic Party activist and donor over many decades with a long history of advocating for liberal causes. He is not a respected journalist and in no way should be running a ratings service used by major ad agencies.

Brill said his only political activity was working for Republican John Lindsay, New York Citys mayor in the late 1960s and early 1970s, while a college and law school student. I have been a journalist ever since, Brill said. Federal records show Brill donated to more than a dozen political campaigns in the 1990s and 2000s, primarily Democrats but including some Republicans.

NewsGuard says its ratings are based on clearly defined criteria, such as whether or not an outlet publishes false or misleading material, whether it distorts arguments and uses multiple sources, whether it distinguishes between news and opinion and regularly corrects errors. To counter charges that it unfairly boosted liberals, the company noted times where Fox News scored higher in its ratings than the former MSNBC.

Yet the conservative Media Research Center has published studies contending that NewsGuard is more likely to give higher ratings to outlets with a liberal bent. In court papers, the FTC said it began investigating NewsGuard because congressional investigators connected the companys services to coordinated actions to demonize disfavored media entities.

The agency has asked the company to produce reams of internal documents, emails, financial reports and subscriber lists dated to its founding. Not only does NewsGuard consider that task unduly expensive and burdensome, it worries that regulators will use that information to target its subscribers.

The FTC, as a condition to approving a merger of two of the worlds biggest media buying firms, Omnicom and IPG, prohibited the new company from using a service that reviews and rates news sites. That is designed to eliminate the companys ability to deny advertising based on politics, the agency said.

It has already cost NewsGuard business, the company asserts.

The whole idea that any speaker has to justify to the government that its not biased is a really troubling thought, Brill said in an interview. We have a constitutional right to be biased. It just so happens that we started the company on the core principle that we were going to be totally apolitical.

Continuing until NewsGuard knuckles under

The FTCs press department did not return a message seeking comment. But in court papers, the agency said it was conducting a broad investigation into whether advertiser boycotts violated antitrust laws and that it has issued more than a dozen orders for information similar to the one given to NewsGuard. The companys charges are completely meritless, the agency said.

If its order was so demanding, the FTC wondered why it took NewsGuard eight months after it was issued to sue.

We tried to cooperate in the belief that the more that we told them what we do, the more likely it would be that they would decide that they didnt have any case, Brill said. We soon realized that they werent worried about the merits.

The company argues that the FTC actions will continue until NewsGuard knuckles under. Asked if he thought the government agencys goal was to put his company out of business, Brill declined to comment.

(AP)
Israel's Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir meets with Northern Command leadership at the Northern Command headquarters in Israel, March 21, 2026. Israel's military chief has approved plans to expand the offensive in Lebanon and said the military is prepared for a "prolonged" operation. 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. (Israel Defense Forces/Handout via Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Israel's military chief has approved plans to expand the offensive in Lebanon and said 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.

In remarks on video, Zamir said that the offensive against Hezbollah "has only begun" and described it as a central arena interconnected with the U.S.-Israeli war against the Iranian government.

Zamir said that since the cross-border fighting resumed in early March, Israeli forces have struck more than 2,000 targets and "dozens" of weapons storage facilities.

Zamir emphasized that the military is prepared for a "prolonged" conflict and will continue to operate "as required, both offensively and defensively." He said the aim is to "ensure the long-term security of the residents of northern Israel."

The development came amid heightened regional tensions after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran starting from Feb. 28, to which Iran and Iran-aligned groups, including Hezbollah, responded with attacks on Israeli and U.S. interests across the Middle East.

Hezbollah said it launched rockets from Lebanon toward Israel on March 2, the first such attack since a ceasefire was declared on Nov. 27, 2024. Israel subsequently launched a military campaign against the group, including intensive airstrikes on areas in southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as Beirut's southern suburbs. 
Joe Kent, the recently resigned head of the National Counterterrorism Center, raised eyebrows Wednesday when he appeared on Tucker Carlsons podcast and pointedly suggested that Charlie Kirks opposition to war with Iran was a data point worth investigating in connection to his killing.

One of President Trumps closest advisers advocating for us not to go to war with Iran and then hes suddenly publicly assassinated, Kent said. And were not allowed to ask any questions about that.

He stopped short of directly accusing Israelbut the implication was unmistakable.

Authorities have charged a suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, with aggravated murder in the September 2025 shooting at Utah Valley University that killed Kirk. Investigators have uncovered extensive evidence, including text messages indicating Robinsons personal motives, with no credible indication of foreign involvement.

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Law enforcement officials were quick to dismantle Kents claims.

He had no authority, one source familiar with the investigation told the New York Post, adding that Kent was never blocked from probing the case but was instead denied access to materials outside his jurisdiction. According to the source, Kent repeatedly floated theoriesincluding blaming Iranwithout presenting a shred of evidence.

In other words, the claims now being aired publicly mirror the same unsupported speculation he reportedly pushed behind closed doors.

Kent resigned from his post just one day before making the comments, after clashing with the Trump administration over the war in Iran. He has since accused Israel of driving U.S. military involvementa claim that has also been rejected by administration officials.

The FBI is reportedly investigating Kent for leaking classified information, in a probe that preceded his resignation.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The Pentagon is rapidly accelerating the deployment of thousands of additional U.S. forces to the Middle East, a move that signals a possible shift toward American boots on the ground inside Iran.

The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, a combat-ready force of at least 2,200 Marines, departed San Diego aboard the USS Boxer on Wednesday, weeks ahead of schedule. The early deployment, first reported by Reuters, underscores the urgency gripping military planners as the Strait of Hormuz remains essentially blocked, driving up gas prices globally.

Pentagon officials, citing operational security, declined to confirm details of the movement. U.S. Central Command similarly refused to comment on future force posture, offering only that it does not discuss deployments outside its current operational theater.

The Boxers departure comes less than a week after another 2,200 Marines and sailors left the Indo-Pacific aboard the USS Tripoli, part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. Satellite imagery captured the Tripoli and its escort vessels cutting across the South China Sea on March 15, en route toward the Gulf region.

If both amphibious groups arrive, they will reinforce a growing U.S. military presence already anchored by the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, which has been actively involved in the ongoing bombing campaign targeting Iranian positions.

At the same time, the USS Gerald R. Ford  another key asset  has been temporarily sidelined and redirected to Crete for repairs following a fire onboard, creating added pressure to sustain force levels in the region.

The rapid deployments come amid mixed messaging from Washington. President Donald Trump publicly denied that additional troops are being sent to the Middle East.

No, Im not putting troops anywhere, Trump said Thursday at the White House. But he quickly added a caveat: If I were, I certainly wouldnt tell you.

Behind the scenes, however, administration officials are reportedly weighing a range of increasingly aggressive options, including the use of U.S. air and naval power to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil chokepoint that Iran has effectively shut down since the war began on February 28.

Discussions have also taken place about the possibility of deploying ground forces to Irans Kharg Island, the hub for roughly 90 percent of the countrys oil exports.

The stakes are already high. At least 13 American service members have been killed and roughly 200 wounded since the conflict erupted, and the steady stream of reinforcements suggests the Pentagon is bracing for a prolonged fight.

The administration is preparing to ask Congress for a staggering $200 billion in supplemental funding, a sign that early expectations of a short, four-to-five-week campaign may no longer hold.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The U.S. military has struck more than 8,000 targets inside Iran since the start of the conflict, significantly degrading Tehrans military capabilities, the head of U.S. Central Command said in an update Saturday.

Adm. Brad Cooper, who leads United States Central Command, described a sweeping campaign that has hit Iranian naval assets, missile systems and drone infrastructure over the course of just three weeks.

So far, weve struck over 8,000 military targets, including 130 Iranian vessels, constituting the largest elimination of a navy over a three-week period since World War II, Cooper said in a video statement.

The assessment comes as U.S. officials point to a noticeable drop in the intensity of Iranian retaliatory attacks, suggesting the sustained bombardment is beginning to erode Tehrans ability to respond.

My operational assessment continues to be: Irans combat capability is on a steady decline as our offensive strikes ramp up, Cooper said.

The CENTCOM chief said U.S. forces have focused on dismantling Irans offensive arsenal, including thousands of Iranian missiles and advanced attack drones, while effectively neutralizing its naval presence in key waterways.

Their navy is not sailing, their tactical fighters are not flying, and theyve lost the ability to launch missiles and drones at the high rates seen at the beginning of the conflict, Cooper said. Our progress is obvious.

The destruction of Iranian maritime forces  long used to harass commercial shipping and project power in the region  marks a significant shift in the balance of power, U.S. officials say.

Cooper added that American forces remain on plan to eliminate Irans ability to project meaningful power outside its borders.

At the same time, the U.S. has rapidly expanded its defensive posture across the region. Cooper said Washington has constructed what he described as the most extensive air defense umbrella in the world over the Middle East, aimed at protecting both U.S. assets and allied infrastructure from any remaining Iranian threats.

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(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Iran unsuccessfully targeted Diego Garcia, the joint UK-U.S. military base in the Indian Ocean, on Friday morning.

The airbase holds enormous strategic value for both the United States and the United Kingdomso critical that defense officials often describe the prospect of losing it as unthinkable. Positioned in the heart of the Indian Ocean, it serves as a major platform for projecting military power across the Middle East, South Asia, and the IndoPacific.

Its vast airfield can accommodate B52 bombers, KC135 refueling aircraft, and advanced reconnaissance planes, and it played a central role in operations during the Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The base also includes a deepwater port capable of supporting nuclearpowered submarines and carrier strike groups.

Roughly 3,000 kilometers from the Strait of Hormuz, the BabelMandeb, and the Strait of Malacca, Diego Garcia sits at the crossroads of global commerce. From this position, the US and UK can safeguard vital shipping lanes through which a third of the worlds cargo and twothirds of its oil flow.

Home to about 2,500 mostly American personnel, it has supported U.S. military operations from Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2008, the U.S. acknowledged that it also had been used for clandestine rendition flights of terror suspects.

The U.S. deployed several nuclear-capable B-2 Spirit bombers to Diego Garcia last year amid an intense airstrike campaign targeting Yemens Houthis.

Diego Garcia is part of the Chagos Archipelago, a chain of more than 60 islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean off the tip of India. The islands have been under British control since 1814, when they were ceded by France.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Britain evicted as many as 2,000 people from Diego Garcia, so the U.S. military could build the base there.

After long negotiations, the U.K. government struck a deal last year with Mauritius to hand over sovereignty of the islands. Britain would then lease back the Diego Garcia base for at least 99 years.

The U.K. government says that will safeguard the future of the base, which is vulnerable to legal challenges. But the agreement has been criticized by many British opposition politicians, who say giving up the islands puts them at risk of interference by China and Russia.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem & AP)
Israels ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, said Sunday that the joint American-Israeli military campaign against Iran must press forward until the Islamic Republics regime is so thoroughly weakened that the Iranian people can overthrow it themselves.

Speaking in an interview with CNN, Leiter said the campaign would not end until there is not an entity in Tehran thats going to threaten the region.

What we have to focus on now is degrading to the point where they have no power left in this regime, Leiter said. Hopefully, that will trigger this combustion point where the people are able to take charge of their own lives.

Asked what such an outcome might look like, the ambassador conceded that a change of heart from Tehran was theoretically possible, while immediately dismissing it as hard to imagine. A popular uprising, he said, was far more likely. Probably, its going to take place because the Iranian people have had enough.

Leiter reached for historical analogies to make the case that sudden regime collapse, however unforeseeable, is not without precedent. Nobody knew when the Soviet Union would collapse, he said. Nobody knew when the Romanians would turn their guns against their government. But it happened at some point. And if we degrade them enough, the people of Iran are going to say, weve had enough and we want a different regime.

I think that we need boots on the ground, Leiter said, but theyve got to be Iranian boots  and I think theyre coming.

The ambassador also sought to reassure people that the campaign was not open-ended. This is not something that goes on forever, he said, adding that airstrikes by the US and Israel could be sufficient to bring about the desired outcome.

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(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Ceasefire mediators presented Hamas this month with a sweeping disarmament proposal that would see all armed groups in Gaza gradually hand over their weapons over the coming months, beginning with heavy weaponry and maps of the terror groups vast tunnel network, two Arab diplomats familiar with the matter told the Times of Israel.

Under the framework, Hamas would be required within 90 days to surrender its missiles, rocket launchers, and other heavy arms, along with detailed maps of the tunnel system that runs beneath the Strip. A separate buy-back program would offer jobs and cash payments to fighters who agree to turn in personal weapons  a process expected to stretch well beyond the initial three-month timeline.

Hamas negotiators have signaled some willingness to part with heavy weaponry in talks with Arab mediators, but have drawn a firm line at lighter arms, arguing they are needed for self-defense. The mediating countries  the United States, Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt  had themselves concluded that Israels original demand for an all-at-once disarmament was unrealistic, pushing instead for the phased approach.

Israel was aware of the proposal and did not formally object, though one of the Arab diplomats said Israeli officials believed Hamas would reject it outright. The same diplomat expressed doubt that Israel would ultimately agree to further troop withdrawals from Gaza even as the framework envisions the IDF being gradually phased out of areas where weapons have been cleared, replaced by Palestinian police and an International Stabilization Force.

The proposal envisions surrendered weapons being handed over to a newly forming Palestinian police force operating under the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, the body being assembled to replace Hamas in governing the territory. The NCAG began recruiting for the force last month, allowing former Hamas civil servants to apply, though each applicant will require Israeli vetting, and those implicated in the October 7 attack may be denied immunity.

The handover is designed to proceed geographically, starting in southern Gaza and moving northward as areas are cleared.

The framework was presented to Hamas in Cairo meetings led by Nickolay Mladenov, the former UN diplomat tapped to implement President Donald Trumps postwar Gaza plan, alongside Aryeh Lightstone, senior adviser to US special envoy Steve Witkoff. On Thursday, Mladenov confirmed that mediating countries had agreed on a framework that he said can unlock reconstruction, breathe life into communities, and bring closer to unity and a negotiated resolution of the Palestinian question. He added that executing on it requires one clear choice: full decommissioning by Hamas and every armed group, with no exceptions and no carve-outs.

Mediators are hoping Hamas responds within days, though one of the Arab diplomats predicted the group would return with a counteroffer, further prolonging the process.

That delay comes as Hamas appears to be tightening its grip on Gaza rather than loosening it. Gazans who spoke with the Times of Israel in recent days described a surge in the terror groups visible presence across the Strip  enforcing price controls, managing the distribution of incoming goods, and appearing to intimidate residents who had previously spoken to international media by name but now insist on anonymity.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Irans Revolutionary Guards made a dramatic decision last week to raise the level of the war and shift to disproportionate responsesshifting from a strategy of regional defense to intensified offensive operations, a tactic of internationalizing the pain.

Kan News reported that since the end of last week, Iran has begun implementing this decision in practice, carrying out attacks on energy infrastructure in Gulf states, launching missiles toward Dimona and toward the military base on Diego Garcia Island, about 4,000 km away. In addition, it has significantly increased attacks in Saudi Arabia in recent days.

At the same time, Iran is threatening a complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has begun collecting transit fees in the area, is bringing the Houthis into the conflict, and is increasing threats against all Gulf statesincluding potential strikes on Doha, the capital of Qatar, and even the headquarters of Al Jazeera.

But even as Iran steps up its attacks on countries in the region, the Gulf States are still refraining from retaliating and escalating the conflict. A source close to the leadership in the United Arab Emirates told Kan News: Despite the difficulty, were holding the line.

The source added: What matters for us is understanding what happens the day after, and of course, resolving the bottleneck in the Strait of Hormuz. Our focus is on achieving regional stability once the war ends.

A Jordanian source told Kan News that his country is also focused on the day after. He said the goal is to establish new security arrangements that would restrain Iran and prevent it from running wild against them as it has in the current war.

According to data published by the Saudi Al-Arabiya outlet, Iran has launched five times more drones and missiles at Gulf states than it has at Israel.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
U.S. officials have told Israel that a potential operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could take several weeks, as tensions sharply escalate with Iran, according to a report.

If Iran refuses to comply with President Trumps 48-hour ultimatum to reopen the critical shipping lane, the war may be extended to allow time for the U.S.-led operation.

At the same time, Irans military is threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz indefinitely if the U.S. targets its energy infrastructure, warning the waterway would remain shut until any damaged facilities are rebuilt.

Iran also warned it would target Israeli energy and communications infrastructure, along with similar companies in the region with U.S. shareholders.

U.S. officials emphasized that a strategic shift is underway and made clear Washington will not allow Iran to hold the vital waterway  through which roughly 20% of the worlds oil flows  hostage.

We will use this to make them collapse from within, U.S. officials reportedly said.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Iran on Monday threatened to place naval mines across the entire Persian Gulf if the enemy targets its southern coast and islands.

Any attempt by the enemy to attack Irans coasts or islands will cause all access routes in the Gulfto be mined with various types of sea mines, including floating mines that can be released from the coast, Irans Defense Council stated.

In this case, the entire Gulf will practically be in a situation similar to the Strait of Hormuz for a long time One should not forget the failure of more than 100 minesweepers in the 1980s in removing a few sea mines.

The US is considering plans to seize or blockade Irans Kharg Islandthe countrys primary oilexport hubas a means of pressuring Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Seizing the island could also serve as leverage to compel Iran to keep the strait open, while providing a forward base for strikes against the Iranian mainland.

Previously, Iran threatened that oil and energy sites linked to the US would immediately be destroyed if Kharg Island came under attack.

The US is preparing to deploy about 2,500 Marines and additional warships to the region. If Iran refuses to comply with President Trumps ultimatum to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the US may launch an operation to reopen it.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
The Iran-linked Ashab Al-Yamim terror group claimed responsibility on Monday for the arson attack on four Hatzolah ambulances in Golders Green, London, overnight Sunday.

The terror group released a video claiming responsibility for the attack, but unlike its previous videos, the footage did not show the suspects carrying out the act.

The group, previously unknown until this month, previously claimed responsibility for recent attempted attacks on shuls in Belgium and Rotterdam and on a Jewish school in Amsterdam. It also claimed responsibility for an attack in Greece on March 11, but no such attack has been reported.

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The arson occurred around 1:35 a.m. local time. Security camera footage shows three men near the ambulances, and seconds later, the vehicles burst into flames. No one was injured, but the ambulances and nearby buildings sustained damage.

The Israeli embassy in the UK referred to the incident in a statement on Monday morning, saying: Antisemitism is rampant on the streets of London. Firebombing ambulances is not an anomaly; it is the consequence of years of hate-filled marches, incitement, and intimidation being tolerated in plain sight.

Enough is enough. There must be a thorough investigation and decisive action to put an end to this climate of intimidation before it spirals further. Silence and inaction are no longer an option.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with a delegation led by Nyam-Osor Uchral, chairman of the Mongolian People's Party and chairman of Mongolia's State Great Hural, in Beijing, capital of China, March 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Zhao Leji met with a delegation led by Nyam-Osor Uchral, chairman of the Mongolian People's Party and chairman of Mongolia's State Great Hural, in Beijing on Monday.

Zhao, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the China-Mongolia comprehensive strategic partnership is steadily advancing toward building a community with a shared future featuring peaceful coexistence, mutual assistance and win-win cooperation.

China is willing to work with Mongolia to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, enhance strategic mutual trust, continue to respect each other's core interests and major concerns, strengthen exchanges between legislative bodies, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, promote friendship between the people, and enhance multilateral coordination, Zhao added.

Zhao also introduced the practices of China's whole-process people's democracy during this meeting in Beijing.

Uchral stated that developing long-term, stable, mutually beneficial and cooperative friendly relations with China is a consistent feature of Mongolia's foreign policy. The State Great Hural of Mongolia is willing to enhance exchanges and cooperation with the NPC of China, and stands ready to promote the continuous development of practical cooperation between the two countries. 
US President Donald Trump announced early Monday morning that the US has been holding talks with Iran over the end of the war for the past two days, and he has suspended any military strikes against Irans power and energy infrastructure for five days.

I am pleased 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, Trump wrote on Truth Social (in all caps).

Based on the tenor and tone of these in depth, detailed and constructive conversations, which will continue throughout the week, I have instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions.

Following Trumps dramatic announcement, oil prices fell by 12%.

Following the announcement, Irans Foreign Ministry issued a statement denying Trumps statements, and its state television channel broadcast a statement saying: U.S. president backs down following Irans firm warning.

The statement from Irans Foreign Ministry said that Iran denies that contacts are taking place between the parties to end hostilities. Iran maintains its position, rejecting any kind of negotiation before achieving its war aims.

It further stated, Trumps statement is a retreat from his previous threats, but the Islamic Republic of Iran remains committed to all of its stated positions. Irans position in the Strait of Hormuz has not changed, and the strait will remain closed to those who attack Iran.

Trumps dramatic announcement follows his ultimatum on Motzei Shabbos that if Iran doesnt reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, the US will obliterate the Islamic Republics power plants.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
Israels major airlines are sharply reducing flight operations as new wartime restrictions take effect at Ben Gurion Airport.

Under Transportation Ministry orders limiting traffic to one flight per hour, departures have been capped at about 15 flights per day, with a maximum of 50 passengers per flight.

El Al said it is shifting to essential flight activity only, operating limited routes to New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London, Paris, Rome, and Athens. Passenger priority will be given based on original booking dates, with preference for humanitarian and medical cases.

Israir also announced a reduced schedule, operating flights only to Athens, Larnaca, Rome, Tbilisi, and Addis Ababa, which will serve as hubs for onward travel.

The airlines say the restrictions have significantly reduced capacity, leaving thousands of passengers competing for limited seats.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
President Donald Trump took aim at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday, calling the New York Democrat to a Palestinian leader and predicting his defeat in the next primary.

Trump made the comments during a visit to Memphis, Tennessee, where he joined Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Attorney General Pam Bondi for a roundtable on the Memphis Safe Task Force.

After accusing Democratic leaders of putting the country at great risk during the ongoing military conflict with Iran  which Trump insisted on calling a military operation, not a war  he turned his fire on Schumer specifically.

Schumer is gone, hes a Palestinian. He should be fighting on the side of Palestine. Hes actually become a Palestinian leader, Trump said. It was not the first time Trump has deployed the line; he has made similar remarks about Schumer on multiple prior occasions.

Ive never seen a man change so much, he said. He used to be pro-Israel, now hes pro-Palestinian, Ive never seen anything like it.

He then pivoted to electoral politics, predicting that Schumers perceived shift on the issue would cost him his seat. Hes worried hes going to lose his next election, which it only depends, if anybody runs against him. If anybody runs against him hell lose. But hes gone very whacky and very dangerous for our country.

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Earlier in the Memphis remarks, Trump addressed the TSA staffing shortage at American airports, laying blame on Democrats and touting his decision to deploy ICE agents to supplement airport security. He also took credit for directing those agents to remove their masks while on duty at terminals.

I didnt love the look in the airport as you get off the plane, Trump said, explaining his reasoning. So, I made a request, and they agreed to it. He added that the National Guard could be mobilized to assist at airports if staffing shortfalls continue.

Trump also used the airport remarks to revisit his immigration record, claiming that the Biden administration had allowed hundreds of thousands of killers into our country and asserting that his administration is rapidly getting them out.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Since October 7th and throughout the war that followed, hundreds of Israeli families have been left carrying a loss the world has largely moved on from. The widows raising children alone. The orphans growing up without fathers. The bereaved parents who buried a child and had to figure out, somehow, how to keep going.

Menucha VYeshua exists for these families, providing structured, ongoing care long after the emergency phase ends and the support systems disappear.

The world moved on. We didnt.

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The Retreat in Caesarea Three-day retreats at the largest charity villa in Israel, by the sea, with professional support on site

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Subsidized stays at a network of mehadrin hotels and private guesthouses across the country Organized Retreats Professionally accompanied group getaways with workshops and peer support

Professionally accompanied group getaways with workshops and peer support Yom Tov & Shabbos Programming Occasional shabbotons and programs every Yom Tov, so no family marks a holiday or a Shabbos completely alone

Occasional shabbotons and programs every Yom Tov, so no family marks a holiday or a Shabbos completely alone Events & Activities Year-round programming for mothers, children, and families to encourage and uplift

Year-round programming for mothers, children, and families to encourage and uplift Ongoing Support A dedicated team that stays in relationship with every family, long after the acute phase ends

Since its founding, Menucha VYeshua has served thousands of families. Every request is reviewed. No one is turned away without care.

When the world moves on, we stay. CLICK HERE TO DONATE.
KAMPALA, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Authorities have seized 106 kg of elephant ivory in Uganda's eastern district of Bukedea, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) said.

Police, working with UWA and acting on a tip, arrested five suspects in the operation, the authority said Monday in a post on social media.

The haul comes about a month after another in the northern district of Nwoya, where 10 pieces of raw elephant ivory weighing 154 kg were seized.

Ivory trafficking is a serious offense that threatens elephant populations, undermines conservation gains, and fuels organized criminal networks operating across borders, UWA said.

Enforcement operations are being intensified nationwide to dismantle wildlife trafficking networks wherever they operate, the agency said. 
BEIRUT, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army took control early Monday of a strategic hill in southern Lebanon and destroyed a key bridge over the Litani River, according to Lebanese security sources and official media.

The hill, al-Nabi Oweida, rises about 820 meters above sea level and is located west of Marjeyoun in the eastern border sector, about four kilometers north of the Lebanon-Israel border.

A Lebanese security source told Xinhua that the hill directly overlooks the Litani River and several towns in the Nabatieh area, making it strategically important amid ongoing field escalation.

Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes on Monday destroyed the Arzi bridge over the Litani River in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA).

The Arzi bridge, administratively linked to Sidon, connects the village of Arzi and nearby communities to the coastal highway, serving as a key link between southern areas such as Tyre and Sidon on the one hand, and Beirut and central Lebanon on the other.

Also on Monday, a shell fell on the headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon in the southern city of Tyre, causing material damage but no injuries among international peacekeepers, according to NNA.

Hezbollah entered the confrontation on March 2 by launching rockets from southern Lebanon toward Israel for the first time since a ceasefire reached on Nov. 27, 2024, prompting Israel to intensify its military campaign and carry out airstrikes targeting multiple areas across Lebanon. 
BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- China calls on the international community to uphold its commitment to peace, actively promote peace talks, and push for a return to diplomatic means in resolving disputes, a Chinese special envoy said on Monday after concluding his visit to the Middle East.

Zhai Jun, special envoy of the Chinese government on the Middle East issue, told a news briefing that he elaborated China's position to regional countries during the trip.

First, this is a war that should not have happened. While the people of Middle East countries aspire to peace and stability and the latest round of Iran-U.S. talks were going on, the United States and Israel abruptly started a war, undoing all the diplomatic efforts. This is deeply regrettable and disappointing to everyone committed to peace.

Second, the ins and outs of the crisis are clear. The U.S. and Israel attacked Iran without the authorization of the U.N. Security Council. This is a blatant breach of the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter and international law, China firmly opposes and condemns such acts. Any discussion on how to solve this crisis must be based on an understanding of the root cause and full picture of the conflict.

Third, efforts must be made to prevent the spread and escalation of hostilities. The war seriously undermines security and stability in the Middle East, deals a heavy blow to the security of the global economy, energy and shipping lanes, and threatens the well-being of all countries. The Arab states, in particular the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, are suffering a disaster not of their own making. Under no circumstances should the red line of protecting civilians in military conflict be crossed; nor nonmilitary targets such as energy, economic and livelihood facilities be attacked; nor the security of the Strait of Hormuz and other international shipping lanes be undermined. China condemns all indiscriminate attacks on civilians and nonmilitary targets.

Fourth, the priority is to realize a ceasefire. The scale, intensity and duration of this war have exceeded that of the 12-Day War last year. The Middle East has seen more than enough turmoil. The countries and peoples in the region hope for nothing more than peace and tranquility. The relevant parties should immediately stop military actions and prevent the situation from further escalation and spiraling out of control.

Fifth, dialogue and negotiation offers the fundamental solution. Both the past and present tell us that dialogue and negotiation provides the only solution to disagreements and disputes, military means cannot solve fundamental issues, and the use of force should never be a first choice. China calls on the international community to uphold its commitment to peace, actively promote peace talks, and push for a return to diplomatic means in resolving disputes.

Sixth, unilateralism must be firmly resisted. Might does not make right. A major country should not use its military strength to attack other countries at will. The international community should together say no to any act that violates international law, and oppose attempts to reduce the world to the law of the jungle. The U.N. should function as the main channel for mediation, and help build trust, bridge differences, and restart negotiation among the relevant parties. 
A woman was arrested on Saturday, March 21, after allegedly telling a congregation at a Confirmation mass that she had a bomb "strapped" to her.

Gardai have confirmed they responded to a report of a public order incident at a premises in Navan, Co. Meath on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at around 1pm.

The church webcam at St Mary's Church in Navan, Co Meath, captured the moment a woman approached the altar and spoke to the congregation through a microphone. A clip is being circulated widely on social media.

In the video, a voice can he heard saying "Can I speak?" and "I have a bomb strapped to me" before being approached by two clerics and being ushered away from the altar.

The incident occurred as pupils from a number of nearby schools were in the church celebrating their Confirmation sacrament. A number of parents who were there praised the quick action of the priests and were thankful it appeared most kids in attendance did not hear what the woman said.

READ NEXT: 'Oh my God, she's hitting her head'- Young woman 'critical' after violent roadside attack

Gardai attended the scene quickly and a woman was arrested.

In a statement on Monday, they said: "A woman, aged in her 40s, who was arrested at the scene has since been charged.

"She is due to appear in court at a later date."
HANOI, March 23 (Xinhua) -- A collision between a sleeper bus and a motorbike in Song Luy commune, Vietnam's central province of Lam Dong, left two people dead, the Vietnam News Agency reported Monday, citing local police.

The accident occurred on Sunday night when the bus, traveling from the central province of Khanh Hoa to Ho Chi Minh City, struck the motorbike carrying a man and a woman, according to the report.

The impact dragged the motorbike under the bus, killing both riders at the scene. Their identities have yet to be confirmed.

Authorities are investigating the case. 
Tonight a spate of gunfire in otherwise peaceful suburban Kansas neighborhoods dominates local newscasts . . .

Here are the basics of a developing story as police continue to investigate . . .

"Multiple people have been injured following a shooting in Prairie Village on Sunday evening. According to the Overland Park Police Department, a shooting occurred near 99th and Roe. Two people were taken to the hospital with injuries."





Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Overland Park police investigate shooting that injured at least 1 Sunday night At least one person was taken to the hospital on Sunday night after a shooting near W. 99th Street and Roe Avenue.

Developing . . .
Actually . . . This legislation has been unpopular since its inception and this might be the last chance for the Kansas GOP to pull back on this kind of accommodation as they seem destined to slowly lose their super majority.

In the meantime . . . As college is now unattainable for most Kansas residents . . . Here's a peek at the soon-to-be rescinded offer for newer arrivals . . .

"The Kansas Legislatures bill repealing a law offering in-state tuition rates at public colleges or universities to students who immigrated to the United States and live in Kansas without proper documentation continues a bizarre journey through the political process."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
The long delayed and highly doubted party place on a truss is soon to debut after years of delays.

To wit . . .

CELEBRATE BRIDGE GOOD TIMES OVER TROUBLED WATERS, FIGHTING IN IRAN & WORSENING ECONOMIC FEAR!!!

Just for context . . .

There are hundreds of fast food joints closing across the nation because most people can't even afford a burger anymore.

And so . . .

We wish this effort good luck as economists are now starting to openly worry about stagflation.

In fairness, here's more happy news that local outlets are carrying without much context . . .

"We are thrilled to announce that The Rock Island Bridge is opening on April 1st  and no, it's not a joke. The world's first entertainment district on a bridge, right here in Kansas City.



"It's been a long time coming, and we can't wait to share this moment with our partners, supporters, and YOU. More details soon. Mark your calendars and get ready."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
We have a feeling Missouri politics might get even more feisty as we move closer to midterms and Jeff City politicos struggle to imagine life as MAGA might turn into a lame duck.

Here's a preview . . .

Missouri lawmakers are returning to Jefferson City on Monday for the remaining eight weeks of the 2026 session.



They are coming back having already sent some legislation to Gov. Mike Kehoe, including an expansive criminal justice bill and a measure removing legal barriers for pregnant women seeking divorce.



A long list of priorities remains.



It includes several bills aimed at lowering taxes and the passage of a smaller budget compared to years past.



Here are five things that are likely to gain momentum in the second half of the session . . .

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
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LONDON, March 23 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said there was no indication that mainland Britain was being targeted by Iran, while stressing the need to protect British interests and avoid further escalation in the Middle East.

"We carry out assessments all the time in order to keep us safe, and there's no assessment that we're being targeted in that way," Starmer told reporters on Monday while visiting a school in southeast London, according to The Guardian.

He made the remarks when asked whether Britain could become a target of Iran following weekend reports that Iran had fired two ballistic missiles at the U.S.-British military base Diego Garcia in the Chagos Archipelago.

Starmer also said that any attempt to reopen the Strait of Hormuz required careful consideration and a viable plan.

He said his number one priority was to protect British interests and de-escalate tensions, and the government would discuss every possible lever to address cost-of-living pressures arising from the Iran conflict. 
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 23. A flag-raising ceremony took place at the Embassy of Pakistan in Azerbaijan to celebrate Pakistan Day, Trend reports.

The national flag was raised by Pakistans Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Qasim Mohiuddin. During the ceremony, official messages from Pakistans President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif were read out.

During the event, Mohiuddin highlighted Pakistan's significant appreciation for Azerbaijan's backing regarding the Jammu and Kashmir matter.

We are grateful to Azerbaijan for its solidarity with us on the Jammu and Kashmir issue. Events of the past year have once again clearly shown that peace in South Asia is impossible until the Jammu and Kashmir issue is resolved in accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, the ambassador said.

He also conveyed his gratitude for Azerbaijans unwavering diplomatic and moral backing.

The conflict in Afghanistan and its consequences affect us all. For its part, Pakistan and its leadership will continue to take all possible measures to ensure rapid de-escalation and resolution of the situation. Our prayers are with all victims of this conflict and beyond. We sincerely hope that peace, security, and stability will prevail in our region, Mohiuddin added.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 23. Pakistan expresses gratitude to Azerbaijan for its solidarity on the Jammu and Kashmir issue, Qasim Mohiuddin, Pakistans Ambassador to Azerbaijan, said during a flag-raising ceremony at the Pakistani Embassy in Baku on the occasion of Pakistan Day, Trend reports.

The events of last year once again demonstrated that peace in South Asia is impossible until the Jammu and Kashmir issue is resolved in accordance with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, the ambassador said.

Mohiuddin also expressed gratitude to Azerbaijan for its unwavering diplomatic and moral backing.

This year also serves as a crucial reminder to stay attuned to the evolving dynamics within our region. The situation in Afghanistan and its ramifications impact everyone involved. Pakistan and its leadership will continue to take all possible measures to ensure rapid de-escalation and resolution. Our prayers are with all the victims of this conflict and beyond. We sincerely hope that peace, security, and stability will prevail in our region, he added.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 23. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev sent a letter to Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif, Trend reports.

"Esteemed Mr. Prime Minister,

My dear Brother,

On behalf of myself and the people of Azerbaijan, I am pleased to extend to you and your brotherly people my sincerest congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of 23 March  Pakistan Day.

Today, Azerbaijan-Pakistan relations, which stem from the will of our brotherly peoples, bound together by deep historical roots and common religious and spiritual values, are at a high level. Regular high-level reciprocal visits, our close contacts, and active dialogue between us provide a significant boost to the strengthening of interstate relations between the two countries across all areas, and the implementing new partnership opportunities both bilaterally and multilaterally. In this regard, I would like to specially mention your visits to our country last year.

Azerbaijan-Pakistan relations encompass a multifaceted cooperation agenda. The mutually beneficial cooperation between our countries in political, economic, trade, industry, energy, transport, logistics, defense, investment, humanitarian and other spheres is enriched with new content day by day. The recent inauguration of the first ASAN Khidmet Center in Islamabad serves as a new practical outcome of the large-scale interstate cooperation between the two countries. The achievements we have attained in a short period through bilateral cooperation contribute to ensuring the well-being and prosperity of our peoples and fostering regional cooperation.

The cooperation between Azerbaijan and Pakistan, based on mutual trust and support, continues to advance successfully on a multilateral basis, as well. Our common stances on regional and global issues, our mutual support within international organizations are a clear manifestation of Azerbaijan-Pakistan brotherhood and solidarity.

I highly value your determination and commitment that you have constantly demonstrated for the sake of further strengthening and deepening our interstate relations and strategic partnership.

I am confident, that thanks to our joint determined efforts, the Azerbaijan-Pakistan strategic partnership, which has been established between our brotherly countries and fully meets the common interests of our peoples, will continue to strengthen and deepen in the future.

On this festive day, I once again cordially congratulate you and wish you robust health, happiness, success and new achievements in your responsible and honorable mission to ensure peace and prosperity of the brotherly people of Pakistan," the letter reads.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 23. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the opening ceremony of the Shirvan Agro livestock complex in the Shamakhi district on March 23, Trend reports.

Head of the Shamakhi District Executive Authority Tahir Mammadov briefed the head of state on the complex.

Covering nearly 100 hectares, the complex aims to supply the countrys population with high-quality milk and meat products, support their export, and contribute to regional developmentparticularly by increasing employment in Shamakhi and surrounding districts.

The complex has the capacity to house 9,000 head of cattle, including 3,200 dairy cows, 3,000 beef cattle, and 2,800 calves. Breeds such as Holstein-Friesian, Limousin, and Aberdeen Angus are currently being raised at the facility.

Equipped with the latest technologies and managed using artificial intelligence tools, the complex is one of the largest livestock facilities in the Caucasus region and across the CIS. It is also the first livestock complex in the country to utilize alternative and green energy sources.

A Training and Education Center will operate within the complex to train highly qualified specialists and introduce the application of the worlds most advanced technologies.

The facility features the largest carousel-type milking system in Azerbaijan and the South Caucasus, as well as a parallel milking system. An online milk quality analyzer has been installed at each milking point. The countrys first advanced rapid cooling systemwhich cools milk from 32C to 4Chas also been installed, along with the first Reproduction Center operating on the basis of the latest genetic material to increase milk yield.

An innovative herd management system has been implemented to ensure early diagnosis and prompt treatment of diseases among the animals. Real-time herd monitoring, efficient fattening management, and electronic weight calculation are carried out using a specialized scale system.

AfiCollar electronic neck collars are used for animal identification, health monitoring, and precise determination of insemination timing.

The complex also includes an innovative feed center equipped with specialized stationary equipment, as well as a meat processing and cutting area featuring a Dry Age room equipped with advanced systems.

More than 200 residents of Shamakhi and surrounding districts have been provided with jobs at the enterprise. The complex also includes a residential building for workers commuting from other districts and for foreign specialists.

x x x

The head of state then met with the employees of the enterprise.

Addressing the event, President Ilham Aliyev said:

- Congratulations! We are creating hundreds of jobs and establishing excellent conditions. This enterprise is of great importance for the development of agriculture both in the Shamakhi district and across the country. It is the largest meat and dairy farm not only in Azerbaijan but also in the South Caucasus. We are currently working to reduce the volume of imports. Our goal is to ensure 100 percent self-sufficiency in meat, milk, and dairy products. We are approaching this goal, although it has not yet been fully achieved. The launch of such farms will help us reach this objective. In fact, we will also be able to export meat and dairy products in the future.

Of course, the working conditions here are excellent. I can say with confidence that this complex is one of the most advanced farms in the field of agriculture and the processing of agricultural products. The technologies applied here are those of leading companies, and the highest standards of modern business practices are being implemented. I would like to emphasize once again that this enterprise will play a significant role in increasing employment in the Shamakhi district.

As you are well aware, extensive development is currently underway in the Shamakhi district. Shamakhi has become one of the tourism centers of our country. A number of modern recreation areas, hotels, catering, cultural, and educational facilities have been established here. The ShamakhiBaku highway is also highly modern, providing strong connectivity with both Baku and the western and northwestern regions of the country.

A new ShamakhiIsmayilliGabala highway is currently under construction. The bridge being built there is the largest in our country, and it is expected to be commissioned next year. We are also addressing connectivity issues across the country as a whole. Our goal is to ensure that our people live better lives, have stable jobs, and enjoy a decent standard of living.

The opening of such an enterprise during these holidays also carries great symbolic significance. These days, we are celebrating both Ramadan and Novruz, and there is a wonderful atmosphere and a positive mood throughout the country. The main reason for this is the development of our country, our status as a victorious nation, and our confidence in the future.

I once again congratulate you and wish you every success.

Employees of the enterprise: Thank you very much.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 23. President of the Peoples Republic of China Xi Jinping has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports.

"Dear Mr. President,

I sincerely express my gratitude for your congratulatory letter on the occasion of the Spring Festival. On behalf of the Government and the people of China, I cordially congratulate you, as well as the Government and the entire people of Azerbaijan, on the traditional Novruz holiday.

China and Azerbaijan are comprehensive strategic partners. In recent years, mutual political trust has been strengthened, and cooperation across all spheres has continued to develop. I attach great importance to the advancement of ChinaAzerbaijan relations and stand ready to work together with you to further enhance and elevate the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Azerbaijan to a new level, for the benefit of our peoples.

I wish you robust health and well-being," the letter reads.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 23. Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry awaits clarification regarding the remarks made by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova during a recent press briefing, said the head of the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Aykhan Hajizada, commenting on the issue, Trend reports.

According to him, Zakharova attempted to mention the name of Azerbaijans National Leader Heydar Aliyev in a context unrelated to a question about Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyans statements on religious figures.

Mentioning the name of National Leader Heydar Aliyev in such a manner demonstrates disrespect for his legacy and for the Azerbaijani people.

Such statements do not meet the standards expected from an official representative. Diplomacy requires discipline, accuracy, and responsibility, not inappropriate remarks that heighten tensions and undermine trust.

We expect clarifications from the Russian side regarding this statement, the MFA spokesperson noted.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 23. On March 23, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira held a telephone conversation with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, Trend reports, citing the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

The parties discussed bilateral cooperation, interaction on multilateral platforms, and the security situation in the Middle East.

The ministers reviewed the activities of the Azerbaijan-Brazil Working Group on Trade and Investment, opportunities for expanding cooperation on the climate agenda, and joint coordination within the framework of COP29 and COP30.

Both sides expressed serious concern over the ongoing war in the Middle East, stressed the importance of preventing further escalation, and highlighted the need to resolve conflicts based on international law, dialogue, and diplomatic means.

The Brazilian side expressed solidarity with Azerbaijan in connection with the drone strike carried out from Iranian territory and thanked Azerbaijan for its assistance in evacuating Brazilian citizens and diplomats from Iran.

The ministers also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 23. On March 23, a telephone conversation took place between the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and the Islamic Republic of Iran, Jeyhun Bayramov and Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, Trend reports, citing the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

During the conversation, the regional situation was discussed. The ministers exchanged views on possible measures to stop the military escalation and emphasized the importance of ensuring security in the Caspian region.

Minister Jeyhun Bayramov expressed hope that the investigation into drone strikes on the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic from Iranian territory would be completed.

The parties also discussed bilateral issues of mutual interest.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 23. Active participation from Turkmenistan in the APRECA Investment Forum in Baku will enrich dialogue on regional energy transition priorities and help shape investment pipelines, Gurbuz Gonul, Director of Country Engagement and Partnerships at the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), told Trend.

"Specifically, the APRECA Investment Forum will be held in June 2026 in Baku, Azerbaijan, as part of Baku Energy Week. The Forum will convene governments, investors, and project developers to advance concrete renewable energy and grid modernisation projects across Central Asia," he said.

He provided insights on the recent assembly involving delegates from IRENA and Turkmenistan.

"During the recent meeting between Turkmenistans new Ambassador, H.E. Mr. Bayram Bayramov, and IRENAs Director-General, Francesco La Camera, discussions focused on strengthening Turkmenistans engagement with IRENA and identifying concrete avenues for future collaboration," Gonul further noted.

He noted that both sides reaffirmed the importance of deepening cooperation under IRENAs regional initiatives, particularly the Accelerated Partnership for Renewable Energy in Central Asia (APRECA), and expressed IRENAs expectation to welcome Turkmenistan to APRECA very soon.

According to Gonul, Turkmenistans energy system currently relies heavily on traditional sources, but the country possesses significant renewable energy potential.

"Turkmenistan benefits from nearly 300 sunny days a year, with some of the highest solar irradiation levels in Central Asia. Its wind potential is also considerable, with assessments indicating that around 40% of the countrys territory is suitable for wind power development," he delineated.

Gonul added that these natural advantages position Turkmenistan to play a more active role in the regions long-term energy transition, helping to meet future demand and diversify the Central Asian energy mix.

He also highlighted ongoing and planned initiatives within IRENAs regional programs. IRENA engages Turkmenistan through APRECA, which aims to strengthen enabling frameworks, investment readiness, and cross-border cooperation. Gonul explained that active participation from Turkmenistan could meaningfully contribute to diversified regional power systems and enhanced energy security.

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an intergovernmental organization established in 2009 to promote cooperation and the adoption of renewable energy worldwide. It provides data, policy advice, and technical support and facilitates partnerships to help countries transition to sustainable energy systems. IRENA has 169 member states and is headquartered in Masdar City, United Arab Emirates.

Turkmenistan has been a full member of IRENA since 2018 and has participated in its governing bodies and regional initiatives. The countrys officials have met IRENA leadership multiple times to discuss renewable energy goals, joint projects, and Turkmenistans involvement in the regionwide Accelerated Partnership for Renewable Energy in Central Asia (APRECA). Turkmen diplomats also presented credentials as the permanent representative to IRENA in early 2026, with both sides reaffirming commitments to deepen cooperation on clean energy technologies, green hydrogen, and integration into broader regional renewable energy efforts.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, March 23. Kyrgyzstans Ministry of Energy has signed two memorandums of understanding with Indias KEC International Limited and CraticAI Services Private Limited aimed at developing mutually beneficial cooperation and exploring joint projects in the energy sector, Trend reports via the Ministry of Energy of Kyrgyzstan.

The documents were signed on the sidelines of the Bharat Electricity Summit 2026 in New Delhi, where Minister of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic Taalaibek Ibraev held a series of meetings with representatives of leading Indian energy and technology companies, including KEC International Limited, NHPC Limited, NTPC Limited, and CraticAI Services Private Limited, as well as other firms.

During the talks, the parties discussed prospects for implementing investment projects in Kyrgyzstans energy sector, including the development of hydropower, renewable energy sources, and the coal industry, as well as the modernization of energy infrastructure and the introduction of digital and innovative technologies.

Focused efforts were directed towards enhancing collaboration with Indian firms in executing extensive energy initiatives and drawing investment into the nation's power industry.

Earlier, on the sidelines of the Bharat Electricity Summit 2026, Minister Ibraev also met with Indias Minister of Power Manohar Lal, during which the sides confirmed their mutual interest in expanding cooperation in renewable energy, hydropower, and the coal sector.

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BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Jin Xiangjun, former governor of north China's Shanxi Province, is being prosecuted over bribery charges, the country's top procuratorate said on Monday.

Jin is accused of abusing his various positions, including his role as Shanxi governor, to seek profits for others and accept bribes involving money and valuables in "a huge amount."

Jin was expelled from the Communist Party of China and dismissed from public office in October last year. 
Premium Azerbaijan quadruples revenue from sugar exports in Feb. 2026

When compared to the corresponding period previous year, Azerbaijan's sugar exports were much higher in volume and value.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, March 23. OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) Secretary General Feridun Hadi Sinirlioglu will visit Kyrgyzstan on March 24-25 for a working visit, Trend reports, citing the Kyrgyz MFA.

During his stay, Sinirlioglu is scheduled to meet with senior Kyrgyz officials, including Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubayev, to discuss the current state and future prospects of cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and the OSCE across political-military, economic-environmental, and humanitarian dimensions.

The talks are also expected to cover regional developments, including Central Asian integration initiatives, contemporary security challenges, and potential areas for further collaboration within the OSCE framework.

Kyrgyzstan has been an OSCE participating state since 1992 and hosts the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, which supports practical cooperation in areas like border management, countering transnational threats, good governance, anti-corruption, small arms control, and implementation of UNSCR 1540 (non-proliferation). Recent OSCE engagement with Kyrgyzstan includes election observations (e.g., the November 2025 parliamentary elections), support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through 2030 programs, and border security training.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 23. Uzbekistans Migration Agency and the U.S.-based organization USA Farm Labor have signed an agreement on the organized recruitment of Uzbek citizens for seasonal agricultural work in the United States, Trend reports via the agency.

The document was signed by Head of the Migration Agency of Uzbekistan Bekhzod Musaev and Director of USA Farm Labor Manuel Fick.

The agreement focuses on the employment of Uzbek citizens in the U.S. agricultural sector under the H-2A visa program, which allows foreign workers to take part in temporary seasonal work.

During the negotiations, the parties agreed on the procedures for candidate selection, employment conditions, and organizational arrangements for sending workers abroad. Under the agreement, participants will be able to work in the United States for up to 9-10 months, with an average monthly salary of about $3,500.

Employers will provide seasonal workers with accommodation, while priority in recruitment will be given to candidates with relevant skills and work experience.

The sides expressed readiness to begin the practical implementation of the agreement in the near future and to further expand cooperation in the field of organized labor migration.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 23. Uzbekistans Minister of Foreign Affairs Bakhtiyor Saidov and Won Doyeon, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to Uzbekistan discussed upcoming plans for cooperation, the Uzbek foreign minister wrote on his X page, Trend reports

We exchanged views on upcoming plans and emphasized the importance of further intensifying cooperation to fully utilize existing opportunities, Saidov stated.

He underscored the long-standing and trusted partnership between Uzbekistan and South Korea, highlighting the importance of the timely and effective implementation of all previously reached agreements.

Meanwhile, trade turnover between Uzbekistan and South Korea totaled $126.8 million in January 2026, marking a 28.6 percent increase compared to $98.6 million in the same period of 2025, according to official statistics.
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BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, March 23. Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev and Montenegros Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ervin Ibrahimovic discussed prospects for cooperation in hydropower and the green economy, Trend reports via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan.

The meeting took place in Bishkek as part of Ibrahimovic's first official visit to the country in the history of bilateral relations.

During the talks, Kulubaev briefed his counterpart in detail on the large-scale political and economic reforms underway in Kyrgyzstan, aimed at ensuring sustainable development and creating a favorable investment climate. Particular attention was paid to the implementation of regionally significant projects, including the construction of the ChinaKyrgyzstanUzbekistan railway and the Kambar Ata-1 hydropower plant.

Turning to the bilateral agenda, the foreign ministers noted the similarities between Kyrgyzstan and Montenegro, as both countries are dynamically developing mountainous states with abundant water resources and significant tourism potential. The ministers also agreed to actively exchange experience in the tourism sector.

Moreover, the sides discussed expanding cooperation at the government level, developing interparliamentary dialogue, and further improving the legal framework.

In addition, the importance of advancing a joint mountain agenda, as well as cooperation in climate change adaptation and environmental protection, was highlighted. In this regard, the Kyrgyz side invited the Montenegrin delegation to take part in the 6th World Nomad Games and the upcoming Second Global Mountain Summit Bishkek+25.

As a practical outcome of the meeting, the parties signed a cooperation program between the foreign ministries of the two countries for 2026-27, as well as a memorandum on cooperation in diplomatic training.

As part of the visit of Ibrahimovic, the Honorary Consulate of Montenegro in Kyrgyzstan was also officially opened.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 23. Iranian armed forces launched another missile towards Israel, Iranian state television says, Trend reports.

According to the information, the main target of the attack was the northern part of Israel.

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 23. The suspension of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz is not caused by decisions by Tehran, but by military operations carried out by the other side, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on his X page, Trend reports.

"The Strait of Hormuz is not closed. Ships hesitate because insurers fear the war of choice you initiatednot Iran. No insurerand no Iranianwill be swayed by more threats. Try respect - Freedom of Navigation cannot exist without Freedom of Trade. Respect bothor expect neither," 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.
TEHRAN, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Defense Council has warned that the country will lay naval mines in the Gulf if the United States and Israel launch any attack on its coasts or islands, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Monday.

"Any attempt by the enemies to attack Iranian coasts or islands will naturally and based on common military practices cause Iran to lay various types of naval mines, including the floating ones that can be laid from the coasts, in all access routes and communication lines in the Gulf and the coasts," the report said.

The council said that in that case, the entire Gulf would effectively mirror the Strait of Hormuz situation for a long time, and the waterway would be practically blocked, a responsibility to be borne by the threatening party.

The only way for the non-hostile states' vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz is through coordination with Iran, it added.

In response to the U.S. threat of attacking Iran's power plants and energy infrastructure in case the Strait of Hormuz is not opened, the council reaffirmed its commitment to immediately give a "decisive and devastating" response to any such strikes.

In response to the U.S. threat to attack Iran's power plants and energy infrastructure if the Strait of Hormuz is not opened, the council reaffirmed its commitment to respond decisively and devastatingly to any such strikes.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened to "hit and obliterate" Iranian power plants if the Strait of Hormuz is not opened within 48 hours.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei condemned as "false flag storylines" Israel's claim that Iran has targeted the Diego Garcia island in the Indian Ocean with ballistic missiles.

He made the remarks on X, citing North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who said the alliance "cannot confirm Israel's claim that missiles targeting Diego Garcia were Iranian intercontinental ballistic missiles."

"That even the NATO secretary-general declines to endorse Israel's most recent disinformation speaks volumes: the world has grown thoroughly exhausted with these tired and discredited 'false flag' storylines," Baghaei said.

Citing a U.S. official, CNN claimed that Iran launched two intermediate-range ballistic missiles on Friday at Diego Garcia, a joint U.S.-British military base located over 3,000 km off the Iranian coasts, saying the launch "has renewed questions about Tehran's military capabilities and how far its missiles can reach."

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. 
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 23. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi did not make any specific commitments regarding Japans participation in efforts to ensure shipping security in the Strait of Hormuz during talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on March 19, Japans Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara stated at a press conference in Tokyo, Trend reports.

Kihara acknowledged that during the meeting, Trump called on Tokyo to step up and help ensure maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz.

Nevertheless, Japan has not made any definitive commitments about this issue; such a fact is absent, Kihara emphasized.

He also pointed out that no decision has come about concerning the deployment of Japans naval forces to the region after a ceasefire.

Earlier, Japans Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi did not dismiss the option of deploying the nations military to aid in mine-clearing efforts in the Strait of Hormuz.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 23. The Israeli army carried out large-scale attacks on infrastructure facilities in Tehran, the Israeli army press service said in a statement, Trend reports.

"The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out large-scale attacks on the Iranian regime's infrastructure in Tehran," the statement 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.
Middle schoolers to compete in Alaska Science Olympiad

Photo courtesy of Maynard Maglaya

Students on the Discovery Peak Charter School Dinos team prepare for the helicopter challenge at the 2025 Science Olympiad national tournament at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The team won first place in the 2025 Alaska state tournament held at UAF.

The Alaska Science Olympiad Division B will convene March 27-28 at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Troth Yeddha Campus.

The olympiad is part of a nationwide competition consisting of hands-on, team-based tournaments designed to increase student interest in science, technology, engineering and math fields. Science Olympiad Division B includes students ranging from grades 6-8.

Approximately 120 students from 11 middle schools across Alaska will form 12 teams to compete in 17 events. Students will travel to Fairbanks from Palmer, Kenai, Seldovia, Cordova, Minto, Valdez, Nome and Utqiagvik to compete with Fairbanks North Star Borough students.



Contests include not only written tests but also construction challenges. Students will build a boomilever (a cantilevered beam or truss structure), a helicopter, a scrambler (a device that transports an egg safely along a track) and a hovercraft.

The Alaska Science Olympiad gives Alaska middle school students a chance to experience a taste of college campus life. Theyll sleep overnight in UAF dormitories, eat in the Wood Center dining hall and visit several campus buildings and the Student Recreation Center for the competition events.

The public is welcome to watch the tournaments build events at the Patty Center on Friday. The boomilever and helicopter events take place concurrently between 8 a.m. and noon. Scrambler and hovercraft events take place from 1-5 p.m.

The first place winning team will advance to compete nationally at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California, on May 22-23, 2026.

The Alaska Science Olympiad is organized by the Alaska National Science Foundation Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, the UAF College of Engineering and Mines, the UAF College of Natural Science and Mathematics and the UAF Makerspace.

Sponsors of Alaska Science Olympiad include ConocoPhillips, Alaska 529, the Alaska Blue Economy Center, the UAF College of Engineering and Mines, the Alaska IDeA Network of Biological Research Excellence, UAF faculty member Brian Rasley and UAF Residence Life.

You can learn more about the Alaska Science Olympiad on the website.

ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Tara Borland, Alaska EPSCoR associate director, taborland@alaska.edu; Courtney Breest, Alaska EPSCoR outreach coordinator, cfbreest@alaska.edu

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By Nicole Lyons, March 23, 2026

Anthropologist and award-winning author Jason De Leon will present a public lecture on April 7 at UCM.

The University of Central Missouri (UCM) and the McClure Archives and University Museum invite the community to a public lecture by anthropologist and award-winning author Jason De Leon on Tuesday, April 7.



De Leon, a renowned scholar of migration along America's southern border, will have several events on campus during his visit April 6-7, including class visits, a student reception and a faculty and staff reception.



He will present a lecture at 6 p.m. April 7 in Nahm Auditorium in the W.C. Morris Building, followed by a book signing. Both are free and open to the public. The University Store will have copies of his book available for purchase at the lecture.



De Leon is a faculty member at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he serves as director of the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, Loyd E. Cotsen Endowed Chair of Archaeology, and professor of Anthropology and Chicana/o and Central American Studies.



He is also the executive director of the Undocumented Migration Project (UMP) Inc., a 501(c)(3) research, arts and education collective that seeks to raise awareness about migration issues globally while also assisting families of missing migrants to be reunited with their loved ones.



Since 2009, the UMP has been studying clandestine migration between Latin America and the United States using a combination of ethnographic, visual, archaeological and forensic approaches to understand this violent social process. De Leon has published numerous academic articles and his work with the UMP has been featured in a variety of popular media outlets.



He is the author of two award-winning books: The Land of Open Graves: Living and Dying on the Migrant Trail, featuring photos by Michael Wells, and Soldiers and Kings: Survival and Hope in the World of Human Smuggling. Soldiers and Kings won the 2024 National Book Award for Nonfiction. De Leon is also a 2017 MacArthur Foundation Fellow.



For more information about De Leon, visit jasonpatrickdeleon.com. For more information about his UCM visit, contact Amber Clifford, professor of Anthropology and director of the McClure Archives and University Museum, at clifford@ucmo.edu.
Qeshm: Irans Underground Missile Fortress

As Qeshm becomes the focal point of a 21st-century energy war, its silent salt caves and ancient shrines serve as a reminder that while past empires and military coalitions like those of the Portuguese and British have eventually faded, the geological fortress of the strait remains anchored in the turbulent tides of history.

Apparently, Persian Gulfs largest island  Qeshm has transformed from a tourist spot to its new sobriquet  the Missiles city of Iran. Qeshm with its labyrinthine salt caves and emerald mangrove forests in the Strait of Hormuz, offered tourists to have a peek at its open-air geological museum to wonder at its surreal rock formations, but at present the worlds gaze is fixed on what lies beneath the coral - Irans underground missile cities.

Qeshm occupying an area of 1,445sq km (558sq miles) approximately is considered to be the entrance point from the Gulf, acting as a cork in the worlds most vital energy transit passage. It is considered to be one of the most ecologically diverse locations in the Middle East. It is home to the Hara mangrove forest, a vital breeding ground for migratory birds, and the Qeshm Geopark  the first of its kind in the region to be recognised by UNESCO, in 2006.

Further, it is home to a complex network of canyons and rock pillars carved by millennia of erosion. Local legends claim the valley was formed by a falling star that shattered the earth, and is known as The Valley of Stars. The island is also home to one of the worlds longest salt caves, popularly known as Namakdan Salt Cave,stretching for more than 6km (3.7 miles). Its crystalline formations are hundreds of millions of years old, containing some of the purest salt in the Gulf. In addition, Chahkooh Canyon is a deep, narrow corridor of limestone and salt, where vertical walls create a natural cathedral of stone, on the island.

However, the islands modern industrial facade, bolstered by its status as a free trade-industrial zone since 1989, is overshadowed by its role as Irans unsinkable aircraft carrier, as the island acts as the primary platform for Irans asymmetric naval power, say analysts.

Reportedly, Iran has stationed a vast number of naval drones, missiles and other armaments under the soil of the popular tourist island, ostensible presuming that it will afford its stockpile a safe haven, as no country would target this UNESCO heritage island.

However, that has not stopped the US and Israeli war planes and armed drones from dropping bombs on the sites, apparently entombing the Iranian weapons below ground in some locations. Satellite imagery taken in recent days shows the smouldering remains of several Iranian missiles and launchers destroyed in US and Israeli airstrikes near entrances to the missile cities, as Iranian officials call the subterranean sites.

Additionally, on March 7  one week into the war  US air strikes targeted a critical desalination plant on the island. The strike, which Tehran branded a flagrant crime against civilians, cut off fresh water supplies to 30 surrounding villages on the island.

While exact figures regarding the number of Iranian fast-attack boats and coastal batteries hidden within the islands subterranean labyrinths remain heavily classified, their strategic intent is clear. As reported byAl Jazeera,Qeshm houses striking Iranian capabilities within what is described as an underground missile city. Apparently, this is designed for one primary purpose: to effectively control or close the Strait of Hormuz.

This, they have successfully done. Shipping traffic through the strait was effectively halted last week when Iran threatened to strike ships attempting to pass.

Interestingly, Qeshms strategic importance was revealed to the world by the Iranian authorities themselves. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has used newly released footage from its underground Iran 'missile city' to claim it holds an 'enormous' stockpile of naval suicide drones and other weapons, which commanders say could be deployed to shut the Strait of Hormuz and hit targets across the region. The video, broadcast on Iranian state media and attributed to the IRGC Navy, was released on Thursday (March 12), although officials did not say when it was filmed.

The purported video shows long underground tunnels packed with unmanned surface vessels, anti-ship missiles and naval mines, some of which are shown being readied and fired. Iran's naval suicide drones, also known as unmanned surface vehicles or USVs, have already been blamed for attacks on commercial shipping. It is reported they were responsible for strikes on two oil tankers in the Persian Gulf.

USVs operate either on or just below the surface of the water and are packed with explosives for what are effectively kamikaze missions. They are particularly difficult to defend against, especially after dark, because many of the tools developed to detect and stop aerial drones do not transfer neatly to waterborne threats.

Iranian-made USVs are also said to have been used by Yemen's Houthi rebels against trade vessels in the Red Sea, and unmanned boats have been used by Ukraine against Russian forces.

A recent report cites a study by UK-based security and defence analysts Westland Advisory, which argues that USVs are a particularly awkward problem for navies because existing radio-frequency detection, geolocation and jamming techniques for aerial drones are not always effective at sea level.

The same study suggests possible countermeasures such as more advanced radar and sonar to spot small surface targets, improved capabilities to intercept or jam USV communications, and the deployment of autonomous underwater vehicles tasked with neutralising the drones before they reach their targets.

Alongside the suicide boats, the Iran missile city footage reportedly flaunts a wider arsenal. Experts identified various systems as Abadil-2 and Abadil-3 'kamikaze' drones on rail launchers; Shahed-136 drones adapted for naval use; Zolfaqar explosive-laden boats designed to swarm larger vessels.

Moreover, other identified in the arsenal are Ghadir, Nasr-1 and Khalij Fars anti-ship cruise and quasi-ballistic missiles; and multiple types of sea mines such as Maham and Sadaf-02, some of which can be laid from ordinary-looking dhows or fast boats.

Iranian officials framed the Iran missile city arsenal as a tool to inflict severe economic and military damage if Western strikes continue. The regime has threatened to cripple the global economy and drive oil prices to as high as $200 (151) barrel by using its weapons to close or disrupt traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important energy chokepoints.

Meanwhile, an FBI memo has raised concerns about a separate Iranian 'revenge' plot involving drones launched from an unidentified vessel off the United States West Coast, including California. The memo, as described, said the bureau had intelligence that drones could be used to strike targets from such a platform, although no specific timelines or locations were provided.

Allegedly, Iranian forces already possess 'thousands' of attack drones that can be operated from far away, fly hundreds of miles and hit targets with a level of accuracy that would once have required manned aircraft. These are not hobbyist quadcopters but what he described as 'long-range, one-way attack drones that are extremely capable and can be sent in swarms'.

As Qeshm becomes the focal point of a 21st-century energy war, its silent salt caves and ancient shrines serve as a reminder that while past empires and military coalitions like those of the Portuguese and British have eventually faded, the geological fortress of the strait remains anchored in the turbulent tides of history.

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Nazrin Abdul



Major stock markets across Asia tumbled on Monday as escalating threats between United States and Iran deepened investor concerns, with the ongoing conflict now entering its fourth week, AzerNEWS reports, citing foreign media.

Japans benchmark Nikkei 225 dropped nearly 3.6%, while South Koreas Kospi plunged close to 6%, reflecting heightened vulnerability among energy-importing economies.

Tensions intensified after Donald Trump warned that Washington could obliterate Iranian power plants if Tehran fails to reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz -a key global oil transit chokepoint. In response, Iran signaled it would target strategic infrastructure across the region, including energy facilities, in the event of an attack.

The situation has had a disproportionate impact on countries such as Japan and South Korea, both of which rely heavily on oil and gas shipments passing through the Strait. Since late February, Iran has effectively restricted access to the waterway, through which around 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) flows.

The disruption has already driven global fuel prices higher and intensified concerns over supply shortages. International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol warned that the world could be heading toward its most severe energy crisis in decades. Speaking in Australia, he compared the current situation to the oil shocks of the 1970s and the fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

This crisis, as it stands, is now two oil crises and one gas shock combined, Birol noted, underlining the scale of the disruption.

Meanwhile, the conflict has continued to escalate militarily. Iranian missile strikes targeted Israeli cities, including Dimona and Arad, prompting further threats from Tehran. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that any attack on Irans power plants would trigger irreversible damage to regional energy and desalination infrastructure.

Broader Asia-Pacific markets also declined, with Hang Seng Index falling nearly 3.5% and Chinas Shanghai Composite Index down 2.5%.

Despite the geopolitical turmoil, oil prices showed relative stability on Monday. Brent Crude rose 0.45% to $112.69 per barrel, while WTI Crude increased by 0.7% to $98.93.
BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao has urged safeguarding the multilateral trading system and resolving China-Europe economic and trade frictions through dialogue during his meetings with business leaders from Germany's BASF, Volkswagen and Bosch on Sunday.

When meeting with Markus Kamieth, chairman of the board of executive directors of BASF, Wang urged China and Europe to defend the World Trade Organization-centered multilateral trading system, according to a Ministry of Commerce statement released on Monday.

Kamieth said BASF remains firmly optimistic about the development prospects of China's economy and will better seize the opportunities from China's sustainable and green development.

When meeting with Oliver Blume, chairman of the board of management of Volkswagen, Wang said that China and Europe should view their competitive and cooperative relations in a rational light, engage in fair, orderly and sound competition, and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation.

Blume said the implementation of the 15th Five-Year Plan will open up new market space for multinational companies, and pledged to increase investment in China and boost R&D and innovation to achieve win-win results, according to a separate press release from the commerce ministry on Monday.

When meeting with Stefan Hartung, chairman of the board of management of Bosch, Wang said that China stands ready to work with the European side to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two sides, jointly oppose protectionism and unilateralism, resolve economic and trade frictions through dialogue and consultation, properly address each other's economic and trade concerns, and foster a fair, open and non-discriminatory policy environment for business cooperation between the two sides.

Hartung said the company will continue to increase investment in R&D and expand production presence in China in the days ahead, and take concrete actions to promote the steady and sound development of economic and trade relations between Germany and China, as well as between Europe and China, according to the ministry. 
SHENZHEN, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Shenzhen, China's southern technology hub, is systematically transforming its urban fabric into an AI testbed, spanning smart factory floors, robot janitors, the nation's first AI Bureau and even an AI-powered court system.

Earlier this month, hundreds of AI enthusiasts and developers queued outside Tencent's headquarters in the city to complete deployments of OpenClaw, a popular AI agent, with assistance from engineers on site.

The scene unfolded amid Shenzhen's broader push to harness AI to catalyze a new wave of wealth creation. It aims to establish over 100,000 square meters of "One Person Company" communities by 2027, an initiative riding the tide of AI-powered entrepreneurship that is reshaping how individuals launch and scale businesses.

A defining characteristic of the city is its strong entrepreneurial culture, with both businesses and the government eager not to miss out, making them bold early adopters.

Local authorities' embrace of AI became particularly evident in March 2025, when Shenzhen's Longgang District established China's first dedicated AI and robotics administration, a regulatory body purpose-built for the machine age.

"This administration exists to break down departmental walls and provide one-stop coordination from industrial planning and ecosystem building to investment services, scenario promotion and safety management," said Yu Xiquan, secretary of the Longgang District Committee of the Communist Party of China.

In the district, Neolix autonomous delivery vehicles now ferry packages along a newly opened road. Opening up bustling commercial districts to such new scenarios reflects the metropolis' transformation into a proving ground for intelligent technologies.

The city has been bold in experimenting with municipal management. Humanoid robots assist with subway security screening, patrol the streets alongside police officers, and deliver government services through pilot applications powered by OpenClaw.

"I used to have to go to the service hall to pay my water bill, but now I just say 'pay water bill' on my phone, and it's done in seconds," said a Longgang resident surnamed Li, explaining the convenience of AI services through the "iShenzhen" app.

The Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court has launched China's first AI model for judicial proceedings, piloting AI-assisted case handling throughout the trial process.

To rapidly integrate into the smart economy, Shenzhen has pioneered a voucher system to lower innovation barriers, with 500 million yuan (about 72 million U.S. dollars) in "training vouchers," 50 million yuan in "data vouchers," and 100 million yuan in "model vouchers," aimed at encouraging AI technology application.

Last year, Shenzhen established a 10 billion yuan AI and robotics industry fund. This year, it launched an "AI plus" advanced manufacturing action plan to support the deep integration of AI and advanced manufacturing.

The numbers reflect this commitment. In 2025, the city's core AI industry generated approximately 220 billion yuan in revenue, and its AI industry cluster output value is projected to grow by over 10 percent in 2026.

Shenzhen also aims to achieve 1 trillion yuan in smart terminal output this year, with production expected to exceed 150 million units and more than 50 AI-enabled terminal products. While AI-enabled hardware produced in Shenzhen made a splash at January's CES in Las Vegas, creating "new forms of the smart economy" was written into China's government work report this month.

AI technology is now boosting efficiency on the city's assembly lines. Automaker BYD's factories use AI visual inspection systems, achieving 99.8 percent accuracy in detecting battery defects.

Chinese smartphone brand Honor's smart manufacturing campus in Pingshan District -- the industry's only Level 4 intelligent factory -- produces one device every 28.5 seconds. AI simulation has compressed foldable phone hinge design "from six months to two months," said Hu Wei, an engineer at Honor.

In healthcare, AI large models have been deployed across 30 top-tier hospitals citywide, assisting in diagnosing over 100,000 complex cases in early tumor screening. A brain-wave cognitive screening model developed by Shenzhen Bay Laboratory and a local hospital can detect Alzheimer's signals before symptoms appear.

The consumer front also shows similar momentum. In February, driverless tech firm Pony.ai achieved monthly per-vehicle profitability for its robotaxi service in Shenzhen.

Recently, China's first home cleaning robot launched operations in Shenzhen. Working alongside human cleaners, the robot from startup X Square Robot precisely identifies and neatly arranges scattered shoes, organizes desktop clutter, and picks up toys from the floor. After tidying, it switches modes to wipe surfaces and clean pet litter boxes, all in one go.

In 2025, the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou cluster jumped to the top of the world's 100 leading innovation clusters. In the coming years, Shenzhen is set to evolve into an AI native metropolis, embedding intelligence across factory floors and urban infrastructure, algorithm by algorithm and scenario by scenario. 
BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- China strongly calls on parties to the conflict in the Middle East to immediately stop military operations, return to dialogue and negotiation, and not continue the war that should not have happened in the first place, a foreign ministry spokesperson said here on Monday.

Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks at a daily press briefing in response to a query, after the U.S. side threatened to "hit and obliterate" Iranian power plants if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened within 48 hours.

Lin said the war raging in the Middle East is spreading and spilling over. If the fighting goes on expanding and the situation escalates again, the whole region will be plunged into an irreparable situation.

"Force will only lead to a vicious circle," said the spokesperson. 
CANBERRA, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government announced on Monday that it will fast-track approval for data centers that use water sustainably and support the national clean energy transition.

Tim Ayres, minister for industry and innovation and minister for science, said on Monday that the new framework of expectations for data centers and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure developers will make it easier to invest in Australia by setting clear and consistent signals.

He said in a joint statement with Chris Bowen, minister for climate change and energy, and Andrew Charlton, assistant minister for science, technology and the digital economy, that the expectations make it clear that data center developments "must put the needs of the Australian people first."

Under the new framework, data center projects that prioritize the national interest, support the energy transition, use water sustainably and responsibly, invest in local skills and jobs, and strengthen Australia's research capability will be fast-tracked through the planning and approval process.

"Australia is open for business -- but the kind of business that puts Australia's national interest first," Ayres said.

The Australian Energy Market Operator in 2025 estimated that data centers will consume around 6 percent of grid-supplied electricity by 2030 and 12 percent by 2050, up from 2 percent in 2024-25.

The new framework says that new data centers will be expected to secure new and additional clean energy generation or storage to offset demand, adopt industry-leading efficiency measures and cover their share of transmission and distribution infrastructure costs.

Bowen said that the measures would keep energy prices low for all consumers. 
Meloni describes outcome as a "missed opportunity to modernise Italy", in a setback for the premier ahead of next year's general election.

Italy's prime minister Giorgia Meloni appeared on course for a narrow political defeat on Monday after exit polls suggested her flagship judicial reform referendum had been rejected by a slim majority of voters.

"The Italians have decided, and we respect this decision", Meloni said in a video message on social media, expressing "regret for a missed opportunity to modernise Italy" but pledging to "move forward with determination, our commitment remains unchanged."

The two-day ballot, which closed on Monday afternoon, asked Italians to approve a sweeping overhaul of the country's justice system - a reform long cherished by Italy's right and known as the Riforma Nordio after justice minister Carlo Nordio.

Exit polls from three separate polling organisations - SWG, Opinio and YouTrend - all put the opposition-backed No camp fractionally ahead, though the margin was narrow enough that final results remained uncertain.

According to separate surveys by SWG and Opinio on Monday afternoon, the No campaign secured between 49 and 53 per cent of the vote, compared with 47 to 51 per cent for the government's Yes campaign.

A second poll gave 51.5 per cent to No and 48.5 per cent to Yes - a knife-edge outcome that underscored just how polarised Italian society has become over the future of its judiciary.

What the reform would have changed

The reform proposed amending Italy's constitution in several significant ways. Most controversially, it would have permanently separated the career paths of judges and public prosecutors, ending a long-standing system that allows legal professionals to switch between the two roles.

It would also have split the High Council of the Judiciary - the powerful self-governing body that oversees the magistracy - into two distinct councils, one for judges and one for prosecutors, with members chosen by sortition, or lottery, rather than elected by their peers.

A new high disciplinary court would have been established to handle misconduct proceedings.

Meloni's government argued that the changes were essential to bring impartiality and accountability to a justice system it characterised as antiquated, overly political and prone to overreach.

Critics, including magistrates and the opposition, thought otherwise. Elly Schlein, leader of the centre-left Partito Democratico (PD), argued the referendum was badly drafted and would weaken rather than strengthen judicial independence.

A referendum that became a verdict on Meloni

What began as a technical constitutional question rapidly evolved into a proxy vote on Meloni herself.

The reform passed parliament in October 2025 but failed to secure the two-thirds majority required to avoid a popular ballot, transforming it into a test of public confidence in the governing coalition.

For much of the campaign, Meloni kept a degree of distance from the Yes effort, wary of the reputational damage a defeat could inflict

Her right-wing party, Fratelli d'Italia, notably avoided using its symbol in campaign materials, in contrast to coalition partners Lega and Forza Italia.

However as polling tightened in the final weeks, she shifted strategy and threw herself behind the cause, warning voters in stark terms about the consequences of failure.

The campaign exposed the deep mutual animosity between Italy's right-wing coalition and its judiciary - a relationship corroded by years of legal battles, blocked government policies, and accusations of political bias flowing in both directions.

The courts have repeatedly obstructed Meloni's efforts to process migrants offshore in Albania, halted plans for a bridge linking Sicily to the mainland, and ordered the government to pay damages over the detention of migrants rescued at sea.

For the prime minister's allies, the referendum represented a long-overdue opportunity to rebalance that relationship.

Turnout far higher than expected

One of the most striking features of the vote was the level of public engagement, attracting a turnout of around 59 per cent - the highest figure for any Italian referendum in more than two decades.

The strong participation suggested that, whatever the result, Italians were paying attention.

Political consequences

A defeat does not compel Meloni to resign. Her mandate runs until 2027 and she has repeatedly pledged to see it through, dismissing suggestions to the contrary.

Analysts say the defeat, even if it is narrow, weakens Meloni and her coalition, while giving the opposition a morale boost ahead of elections expected in 2027.

Photo credit: Massimo Todaro / Shutterstock.com.
Justice referendum is being held in Italy over two days although it remains to be seen whether the surge of voters on Sunday will benefit the Yes or No camps.

Italians turned out in extraordinary numbers on Sunday for the first day of voting on a landmark constitutional referendum on judicial reform, with participation figures smashing records for two-day referendums in the post-millennial era.

The turnout reached 46.07 per cent by 23.00 on Sunday, according to data published by the interior ministry, surpassing that of every other referendum of the third millennium held over two days.

Polls closed at 23.00 on Sunday and reopen again on Monday from 07.00 to 15.00. The total electorate, according to interior ministry figures, stands at 51.4 million, including 5.5 million Italians eligible to vote from abroad.

Referendum

The justice reform, championed by prime minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing government, was approved by parliament last October but requires a referendum to become law.

The referendum is widely viewed as a test for Meloni and her coalition which has been campaigning for a Yes vote.

Meloni has hailed the reform as an important step towards a more efficient, balanced and citizen-orientated system, and has made references to alleged "left-wing factions" within the magistracy.

Critics of the reforms, including the National Association of Magistrates and the centre-left opposition, have called for a No vote, amid warnings of potential risks to judicial independence.

Voters are being asked to decide on a constitutional reform of the justice system that would introduce the separation of careers between judges and public prosecutors, the splitting of the CSM - the judiciary's self-governing body - into two distinct councils, and the creation of a new High Disciplinary Court.

As a confirmatory constitutional referendum, no quorum is required, meaning the outcome depends solely on the balance of Yes and No votes cast.

Historic surge in participation

The day's turnout figures grew steadily and consistently broke with historical precedents. At the midday check-in, participation stood at 14.9 per cent, rising to nearly 39 per cent by 19.00, before hitting 46.07 per per cent at the close of polls.

The 19.00 figure represented almost 10 percentage points more than the equivalent reading at the 2020 referendum on reducing the number of parliamentarians, which had recorded 29.7 per cent at the same time on its first day, newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano reports.

Compared to other constitutional referendums held over two days, the 2006 devolution referendum had recorded just 22.4 per cent by 19.00 on its first day, and the 2001 reform of Title V had reached only 23.9 per cent, according to news outlet Fanpage.

The figure was also more than double the equivalent reading recorded in June 2025, when a five-question referendum on labour and citizenship had drawn only about 16 per cent by the same hour on the first day.

Emilia-Romagna led all regions with the highest participation at 53.69 per cent, while Sicily registered the lowest at 34.94 per cent, according to TGCOM24.

In Lombardia, turnout exceeded 51.83 per cent by 23.00, with the provinces of Milan and Monza Brianza surpassing 53 per cent, newspaper Il Giorno reports.

Political implications

The high turnout immediately set off intense political calculations. Pre-vote polling had indicated a tendency toward a Yes majority when turnout was high, though forecasters at Youtrend described the situation as "unpredictable."

Earlier Ipsos Doxa polling had projected that with participation above 49 per cent, the outcome would be on a knife's edge.

One broadly shared observation was that with such high turnout, the political consequences of the vote could not be minimised: the result would represent either a rebuke or a boost for the government, and either a springboard or a stumbling block for the centre-left coalition ahead of the next general election.

Leaders at the polls

The day was punctuated by social media posts from politicians proudly showing themselves voting. President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella cast his vote at 13.00 in Palermo.

Deputy prime minister and Lega leader Matteo Salvini voted in Rome in the evening on returning from the funeral of Umberto Bossi in Pontida, while the other deputy premier, Antonio Tajani of Forza Italia, voted in Fiuggi in the afternoon.

Centre-left opposition Partito Democratico (PD) leader Elly Schlein and M5S president Giuseppe Conte both went to the polls in Rome in the morning.

What happens next

After polling stations close on Monday afternoon, counting begins immediately, with the first instant polls from Youtrend expected from 15.00 onwards.

With no quorum threshold to cross, a result - and its political fallout - is expected swiftly once counting gets underway.

Photo credit: Massimo Todaro / Shutterstock.com.
Blast struck in Piana del Sole district to the west of the Italian capital.

A powerful explosion completely destroyed a three-storey residential building in Rome in Sunday, leaving two people in their 80s critically injured and forcing dozens of residents from their homes.

The blast struck at around 13.00 in the Piana del Sole district in the western outskirts of Rome, bringing down an entire three-storey building and tearing open two adjacent structures, between Via Tavagnasco and Via Castellinaldo.

Debris was hurled hundreds of metres in every direction, causing damage to four or five neighbouring buildings as well as vehicles parked in the street.

Investigation

According to the fire brigade, the explosion is believed to have been caused by a gas leak from an LPG cylinder installed in the building.

Investigators were on site throughout the afternoon to establish the precise sequence of events, though no alternative causes were being actively pursued.

Casualties and rescue operations

Two elderly people were seriously injured: a husband and wife aged 86 and 84, who were pulled from the rubble by firefighters and taken to Rome's Sant'Eugenio hospital in a critical condition.

Around 70 people were evacuated from the immediate area. Once search operations through the rubble were concluded, the fire brigade confirmed that no further victims remained trapped beneath the debris.

Police closed off surrounding streets and civil protection personnel were deployed to assist displaced residents in finding temporary accommodation.

Eyewitness accounts

One man living about 150 metres from the collapsed building told reporters that he heard an enormous blast and that the windows in his home were shattered.

"Car and home alarms began going off all at once," another local resident said.

A couple living nearby described initially fearing an earthquake or a terrorist attack, adding that the walls and windows of their home had shaken violently before a cloud of black smoke rose into the sky.

Mayor's response

Rome mayor Roberto Gualtieri travelled to the scene shortly after the explosion. Speaking to reporters, he described it as a very powerful and deeply alarming blast that had completely destroyed one building and severely damaged those around it.

Gualtieri confirmed that the fire brigade was investigating the cause, with a gas leak from the building's LPG system appearing to be the most likely explanation.

He offered his thoughts to the injured and pledged that all those requiring assistance with housing would receive support.

Photo Vigili del Fuoco
A Medical Emergency in Europe Exposes Two Very Different Healthcare Systems

A Seattle student collapsed in Europe. Italys public health system gave her back her life and raised uncomfortable questions about the one she left behind.

On a Tuesday morning in early March, Lucy McGovern was in Budapest. She was 21, a junior at John Cabot University in Rome, doing what JCU students do on long weekends: moving through Europe quickly and cheaply, filling in the map. Budapest was city number four or five of the semester. She had a return ticket to Rome on Sunday.

She never made it to Sunday.

By the time she noticed her skin and eyes had turned yellow, the damage to her liver was already severe. She contacted MedinAction, the English-speaking medical service used by JCUs largely American student body. Dr Andrea Guerriero, Chief Medical Officer at MedinAction and JCUs on-call advisor, assessed her condition remotely and was unequivocal: return to Rome immediately.

She booked the first available flight.

We Didnt Have Much Time

Back in Rome, Lucy was first admitted to UPMC Salvator Mundi International Hospital before being transferred to San Camillo-Forlanini, one of the citys largest public hospitals. There, hepatologist Valerio Giannelli led the diagnostic workup.

The diagnosis was clear and alarming: Wilsons disease, a rare hereditary condition that prevents the body from properly eliminating copper, causing it to accumulate in the liver and brain. In Lucys case, it had gone undetected for two decades, silently progressing until it tipped into acute liver failure.

The message from doctors was direct. Without a transplant, and quickly, her chances were slim.

Her parents were on a plane from Seattle within hours.

What Would Have Happened at Home

It is worth pausing here to consider the parallel version of this story the one that might have unfolded had Lucy fallen ill in the United States.

She would have been taken to an emergency room. Tests would have been run. And alongside the medical emergency, a second crisis would likely have begun: calls to insurance companies, questions about in-network transplant centres, pre-authorisation approvals.

A liver transplant in the United States can cost between $300,000 and over $500,000. Even well-insured patients often emerge with six-figure debt. Medical bills remain one of the leading causes of personal bankruptcy in the country.

In Rome, none of that happened.

Lucy McGovern, a foreign national with no prior relationship to the Italian health system, was admitted, diagnosed, placed on the transplant list, and operated on. The Servizio Sanitario Nazionale functioned around her as it would for any Italian citizen.

The bill, in the American sense, never arrived.

A Family in Sardinia Said Yes

The donor organ came from Sassari, in Sardinia from a family who, in the middle of their own grief, chose to donate.

Italys transplant system operates on a national network: when an organ becomes available, it is matched to the most compatible patient regardless of geography.

The operation was performed by Dr Giuseppe Maria Ettorre, Director of General Surgery and Organ Transplants at San Camillo. It was successful.

When Lucy woke up, her first question was about the donor family.

She has not met them, and may never do so. But she has said she hopes to visit Sardinia one day not as a tourist, but as something harder to define.

I would like this family to know that I am grateful and moved, and I feel extremely fortunate to have received this new chance in life, she said from her hospital room.

More Than a University Story

John Cabot University President Franco Pavoncello described the episode as JCU at its best, referring to the institutions medical partnerships and student support systems.

The sentiment is understandable. But the story is larger than one universitys response.

Weeks after surgery, Lucy was recovering well, with her parents at her side. She is expected to return to a normal life. She is 21.

She has most of her life ahead of her thanks to a donor she will never meet, and a healthcare system she had no prior connection to.

Every year, thousands of American students study abroad in Europe. They carry insurance cards they hope never to use, moving through systems built on a fundamentally different premise: that healthcare is a right, not a transaction; that the first question in an emergency is what do you need, not what can you afford.

Lucy McGovern did not come to Rome to learn that lesson.

She came to study, to travel, to grow up a little.

She is going home with a new liver and, one suspects, a very different understanding of the country she is returning to.

Ph: Corriere . it
Dozens of practitioners gathered at Budapest's Heroes' Square on Saturday morning to celebrate the first International Taijiquan Day, joining a worldwide promotion of the traditional Chinese martial art and healthy lifestyles.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Ave Maria University have began advertising for positions at Mount Melleray Abbey.

Mount Melleray closed its doors last January, after almost 200 years in service to the community.

It is now set to become an outpost for the American Catholic higher-level institution Ave Maria University, which will be establishing a new campus on its grounds. Based in Florida, the university will be hosting a semester-long program at Melleray, designed to provide students with academic, spiritual, and cultural formation.

A job post advertised by the university last week invites applications for a one-year renewal position in philosophy for the Universitys program at Melleray.

The primary duties of this position include regular instruction of philosophy courses in the undergraduate core curriculum, active personal mentoring and social involvement in the daily life of the Universitys Ireland program, the advertisement stated.

Read our Special Report on the history and future of Mount Melleray Abbey HERE
Waterford TD, Government Chief Whip & Minister for Mental Health, Mary Butler, travelled to three countries this St Patricks Day.

Minister Buter met with officials from Malta, Portugal, and Spain in 20 engagements before heading home for the parades in Portlaw, Dungarvan and Waterford.

While Minister Butler said the local events were the most important, nobody should underestimate the value of the international events.

We may be a small country of 5 million or so, but the estimated 70 million people around the world with Irish forebears make the Irish diaspora one of the largest of any nation and show our global reach.

Thirty-eight ministers visited more than 50 countries for St Patricks week this year to further strengthen our diplomatic, cultural, economic, and historical ties.

By all accounts, we were warmly welcomed the world over, and we should never take our glowing global reputation for granted, said Minister Butler.

Minister Butler presents Jo Etienne Abela, the Maltese Minister for Health, with Waterford Crystal

The Ministers gift of choice to the dignitaries, who welcomed her so warmly, was Waterford Crystal.

Read More Minister turns down meeting with Waterford Crystal pensioners

MALTA

Minister Butlers first visit was to Malta, where she was welcomed by the countrys president, Myriam Spiteri Debono.

In Malta, the minister for state attended the launch of Maltas first Suicide Reduction Strategy alongside Maltese Minister for Health, Jo Etienne Abela.

Minister Butler is welcomed by the President of Malta is Myriam Spiteri Debono

Before we engaged in meetings to discuss Mental Health and general matters relating to health. Malta has one of the lowest numbers of deaths by suicide in the EU, averaging six per 100,000 people. I also enjoyed engagements with officials from service provision for members of the LGBT+ community, as well as those from equality and reform, said Minister Butler.

MADRID

In Madrid, Minister Butler was welcomed by Irish Ambassador Brian Glynn for showcases of Irish businesses, tourism and Irish food and beverage companies.

She then met with the Spanish Minister for Health, Monica Garcia Gomez and the Commissioner for Mental Health, Belen Gonzalez Callado, to discuss healthcare.

Minister Butler showcases hurling helmets by Azzuri Waterford at the Irlande Tourism Expo in Madrid

It was really encouraging to meet so many of the Irish diaspora living in Spain, including descendants of Red Hugh ODonnell.

My Spanish visit concluded with a fabulous parade through the centre of the great city of Madrid, where members of An Garda Siochana were featured, as were the St. Laurence OToole Pipe Band, said Minister Butler.

PORTUGAL

Minister Buter concluded her St. Patricks visits in the fabulous city of Lisbon in Portugal wher she was welcomed by Ambassador Alma Ni Quigligh.

She said the city is home to a large community of Irish diaspora, shares many historical, cultural and academic ties with Ireland.

It was very worthwhile to meet with CasaQui, an organisation which works to support victims of violence, particularly those within the LGBT+ community who have suffered trauma or abuse.

Minister Butler presents Waterford Crystal to Irish Ambassador to Portugal Alma Ni Quigligh

It was very pleasing to visit the Museum dos Condos de Castro Guimares, which had amazing links to the Flight of the Earls and Hugh ONeill. The shamrock ceiling in the former ONeill family home, which is now a museum, was breathtaking, said Minister Butler.
Various members of the community gathered at the Rainbow Community Hall in Kilmacthomas last Friday for the official launch of the Active Travel Safe Routes to School projects at Scoil Mhuire National School, Butlerstown and Kilmacthomas Primary School.

Maria OConnor, principal of Butlerstown Primary School, spoke to the Waterford News & Star about the positive effect of the park and stride scheme at the school. She said, We have several staff members who cycle to school and in the fine weather, we have a few children who cycle to school. Far more children are doing the park and stride.

The new scheme, which opened last year, means that parents can park in a nearby church car park and children can walk the rest of the way to the school using a beautiful, safe footpath which we never had before.

Theres a real sense of wellbeing in the mornings. The children come to school energised because theyve had their fresh air and theyve had a little bit of exercise.

Mayor of Waterford City and County Council Cllr Seamus Ryan and Minister of State for Local Government and Planning John Cummins taking a tour of the Safe Routes to School works at Scoil Mhuire National School, Butlerstown.

Although it's just a few minutes' walk away, Ms OConnor told the News & Star that the scheme helps with the pupils sense of independence.

Very often youd see older children bringing their younger brothers and sisters along the footpath, she said.

Head of Active Travel for Waterford City and County Council, Michael Murphy, told the Waterford News & Star, We expect all the children at both Kilmacthomas and Butlerstown to utilise the work weve put in.

Were trying to keep cars away from the front of schools by providing alternative facilities and encouraging people to walk.

The weather in Ireland gets a bad rapport but weve all grown up in Irish weather. Ive said it to a few people who dont like hearing it, but coats and umbrellas are not gone out of fashion.

Our plan is to make all cycle lanes separate from traffic and separate from pedestrians.

Fine Gael TD John Cummins also attended the event. He told the Waterford News & Star: It's been fantastic to be here. Both schools have had an investment of about 300,000 from the government through the NTA in co-operation with Waterford City and County Council and An Taisce. Its a really excellent scheme that encourages pupils to use the safe paths that have been put in place.

Tim Ryan, the principal of Kilmacthomas, spoke at the event. He said, On behalf of Kilmacthomas school and staff, I want to say thank you to the Safer Routes to School initiative. The difference this project has made is immense. The school itself was built in 1973. The N25 was repositioned in the 1990s and at that time it was thought that the traffic problems had vanished from Kilmac. As you know, time stands still for no person and there has been additional traffic so we had to look at it once again.

Id recommend all parents to look into the safer routes to school and at active travel, I only have positive things to say about it all.

Funded by the Local Democracy Scheme
On what was framed as a historic day for the future of Waterford with the opening of the SETU Glassworks building on the old site of Waterford Crystal, ghosts of the past still came out to play.

As Taoiseach Micheal Martin pulled into the site in a blacked-out Audi A6, he was met by roughly 30 protestors from the Waterford Crystal Pensions Action Group (WCPAG).

The workers have campaigned for state redress following their redundancy in the early 1990s, in which workers claim they were not presented with adequate information on their redundancy options.

Former location of the great pension robbery, read one sign. Careful now! Skullduggerry about! read another.

A review of the situation by the Government Attorney General in 2024 advised then Taoiseach Simon Harris that there was no case for state involvement, given the debacle related to the machinations of a private company.

Members of WCPAG now argue that the state failed to protect affected workers under the 1990 Pensions Act.

Speaking to the Waterford News & Star, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said that the situation with the workers was fairly complex.

The state did everything it could have back at the time I know this has gone to the ombudsman for pensions, said the Taoiseach.

It's gone through various examinations, the Attorney General and so on like that.

I appreciate the issue, and I have to examine it again, but it's basicallythe issue falls to the Irish pension trust.

At the time there were agreements reached and everything else we've been focused on investment and development here as much as we possibly can to try and create new industries and new alternatives for people.

As Micheal Martin's driver escorted the Taoiseach towards the exit of the Glassworks site following his remarks at the launch event, the former Crystal workers were waiting for him, hoping to hand him a letter which outlined their position on the matter.

The Taoiseach did not engage or acknowledge the workers.

Speaking to the Waterford News & Star after the protest, former master glassblower at Waterford Crystal, Walter Croke, told us that the group were stonewalled by the Taoiseach and government officials who were present on the day.

We were not approached by any of the Ministers, he said.

We had a peaceful protest outside the grounds of the old Waterford Crystal office block, we didnt interfere with anybody and asked for permission from security and gardai to deliver a letter to the Taoiseach.

The Taoiseach drove past us and did not engage with us. Its an extension of the stonewalling that has been highlighted over the last number of weeks.

Further protest action is being planned by the group in the near future, the workers say.

A refusal to meet

The protests come on the back of comments made last week by the Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary, who has turned down a meeting with the former workers of Waterford Crystal.

Raising the matter in the Dail last week was Deputy David Cullinane and Deputy Conor McGuinness.

Minister Calleary told the Deputies, The Attorney General has advised that there is no basis on which the state could be obliged to compensate the members concerned or otherwise intervene.

"I genuinely feel on this occasion that a meeting would be unfair because it may create an expectation that I cannot meet.

"The Attorney General's advice is very clear; there is nothing further that can be done as of now in this case."

We asked Minister Mary Butler for her reaction to these comments whilst outside the launch of the Glassworks building on Monday.

She said in light of Minister Calleary's comments, identifying a path forward will be difficult.

I really dont know where we can find a path forward at this stage because the Attorney General's advice is not going to change," Minister Butler said.

Minister John Cummins also spoke to the media on the issue at the launch event.

He said, I totally appreciate the strength of feeling that is there on this issue. I will continue to engage with the workers. They are exploring a number of options through legals and through Europe and I have no problem continuing to engage with them on that.

'We are not going away'

Whilst at the launch, Minister Butler addressed the workers hopes of having official Dail records corrected, which comes after she received incorrect information in response to a parliamentary question she submitted to then Minister for Social Protection Regina Doherty in 2017.

If somebody is going to correct the record, its the person who has signed off on the particular answer, so theres no opportunity for me to have that corrected, Minister Butler said.

We enquired to know was there an avenue to have the record corrected, but because the Minister at that time is no longer a member of the Dail, shes not in a position to correct the records.

Mr Croke asserted, however, that the Waterford Crystal Pension Action Group will not be giving up.

We are not going away. We intend to fight this as we have done for the last 35 years, because we know we never got the option forms.

The group are asking for an immediate end of what they describe as non-engagement from Government, and for a direct meeting with the Minister for Social Protection.
The Rotary Club of Waterford celebrated a weekend of community spirit, sunshine, and generosity as hundreds of people attended the clubs Pick Your Own Daffodil Weekend in Portlaw, in aid of the Irish Cancer Society.

The event was held last weekend at the Daffodil Field in Portlaw. The Rotary Club welcomed families, friends, and visitors from across the region to pick their own daffodils and invited them to make a donation to the Irish Cancer Society.

The daffodil picking field located in Portlaw.

In a statement to the Waterford News & Star, the organisation said they were, Blessed with exceptional weather throughout the weekend.

They continued that the event created lasting memories for all involved, with children running through the rows of daffodils, families gathering outdoors, and the community coming together in support of a cause close to many hearts.

Over 1,600 was raised on the first day alone, with 3,017 raised overall.

Speaking following the event, Aedin Hassett, President of the Rotary Club of Waterford, said: "What an absolutely incredible two days it has been. The weather was amazing, and everything came together to create wonderful memories for all of us in Waterford Rotary Club, and for the hundreds of people who turned out to support us. We are deeply grateful to everyone who came along and donated so generously in support of the Irish Cancer Society."

The Rotary Club expressed sincere thanks to Killowen Orchard, who generously provided the field filled with daffodils, making the event possible, as well as to the many volunteers who gave their time across the weekend.
Dear Editor,

I filed an objection to an application made to Waterford Council to amend a planning permit for a housing development on the North Quays in Ferrybank. My objection is based on the fact that the legal authority for the amendment is highly questionable, and that the proposed changes elevate the pursuit of profit over the actual need and demand for family housing.

The amendment would double the number of previously permitted single-bed apartments by eliminating all three-bed units and cutting the number of two-bed apartments.

Also, it would convert a portion of approved retail space to single-bed apartments.

Government Apartment Guidelines adopted in July 2025 free developers to favour more profitable single-bed units, but explicitly exclude previously permitted plans. Government has since adopted a law that allows developers to apply for permission to amend existing permits to apply the 2025 Guidelines.

The legality of the 2025 Guidelines has been challenged in court and the High Court was told recently that the Government intends to replace them with a National Planning Statement, which would include a yet to be conducted environmental impact assessment. The guidelines then are not just inapplicable, but as the Government has tacitly admitted, likely unlawful.

The proposed amendment must also be rejected on its lack of substantive merit. Whereas there is a recognized need for a mix of housing, single-bed apartments are unsuitable for families of any size.

Yet across the European Union, Ireland has the highest number of households with three or more children. Indeed, the Irish Constitution recognizes the family as the "natural primary and fundamental unit group of Society. Waterford Council must reject the proposed amendment and honour the promise of sustainable family-friendly development in the city centre.

Robert McCarthy,

Ferrybank.

LETTERS, your voice, your view: Whether you agree or disagree with the views expressed or would like to have your own personal opinion aired in public, were waiting to hear from you. Send your letters to Editor, Waterford News & Star, Gladstone House, Gladstone Street, Waterford City, or email maryfrances.ryan@waterford-news.com
This undated photo shows meteorologist Tashi Yangzom (2nd L), together with other team members, collecting data in the fields of Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. (Xizang Meteorological Bureau/Handout via Xinhua)

LHASA, March 23 (Xinhua) -- As the first rays of sunlight spread across southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Tashi Yangzom studied satellite imagery, her eyes quietly tracking shifting weather systems unfolding on the screen.

"The weather here is like a child's changeable face," said the 60-year-old. "We have to learn to read it."

Tashi Yangzom, a Tibetan meteorologist at the regional climate center, has spent over three decades observing the sky.

From blurry manual images to precision satellite data, her career reflects the transformation of Xizang's meteorological service. The data she monitored and collected has helped save lives, guide herders, and navigate the challenges of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, known as "the roof of the world."

Monday marks World Meteorological Day.

Born into a road maintenance worker's family in Xizang's Bomi County, Tashi Yangzom understood the impact of weather on daily life from a young age.

"Whether to bring an umbrella in the morning, whether construction could proceed in the afternoon, whether the wind would pick up toward evening -- the weather dictated my parents' daily work," she recalled, adding that when her parents were working outdoors, her heart would tighten at the sight of dark clouds in the sky.

After graduating from a college of meteorology in 1988 in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Tashi Yangzom became a meteorologist at the regional observatory in Lhasa.

Back then, the most advanced equipment was a manually operated satellite image receiver.

"The images were blurry, as if we were looking at the mysterious plateau through frosted glass," she recalled. "But we studied every detail like deciphering a treasure map. Sometimes, to identify an approaching heavy snowfall, we had to work over 10 hours."

A decade later, the regional meteorological bureau introduced polar-orbiting meteorological satellite reception and processing equipment, marking the beginning of satellite remote sensing applications in the region.

In 1997, the worst snowstorm in nearly a century struck northern Xizang, stranding herders and burying thousands of livestock. Tashi Yangzom and her team moved into the computer room, working around the clock in temperatures well below zero as computers frequently crashed from the cold.

"We had to determine how deep the snow was and how far it extended," she recalled.

After days of adjustments, their self-developed snow monitoring system provided the region's first-ever snow depth data, enabling authorities to respond in time and prevent further loss of life and livestock.

In 2005, when several lakes in northern Xizang expanded rapidly due to global warming, Tashi Yangzom's team analyzed satellite and meteorological data from previous years to determine the scale of the expansion. Based on their analysis, the government relocated over 100 households from dangerous areas.

She also recalled that after a massive landslide on the Yarlung Zangbo River in 2018, her team used remote sensing data to predict secondary risks, prompting the timely evacuation of more than 1,000 residents.

"Meteorology serves the people," Tashi Yangzom said.

Figures from the regional meteorological bureau show that the number of surface weather stations in Xizang has increased from 23 in 1965 to 1,284 today, covering all townships.

As one of the regions most sensitive to climate change, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau plays a critical role in the meteorological monitoring of both China and the wider world.

The World Meteorological Organization confirmed in early 2025 that 2024 was the warmest year on record, with the previous 10 years being the 10 warmest years on record. Against this backdrop, monitoring the plateau's shifting weather patterns has become increasingly vital, not just for local communities, but for understanding global climate change itself.

Although Tashi Yangzom retired last year, she has been working tirelessly to mentor the next generation. At her innovation studio, she encourages young professionals to choose their own topics and lead research with funding support.

Pema Yangzom, 32, took full charge, from design to implementation, of a remote sensing monitoring project focused on grassland phenology in northern Xizang.

Yangzom is a common Tibetan name and these two Yangzoms are not related.

The young technician said the project, now in its trial phase, will benefit local herders by providing scientific data to guide livestock relocation and production.

"My mentor Tashi Yangzom trained me from day one. Young staff like me will carry on her dedication to Xizang's meteorological work," Pema Yangzom said. 
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BusinessCompaniesVale The reclusive 43-year-old billionaire owner of OnlyFans dies after cancer battle Olivia Solon and Benoit Berthelot March 24, 2026  2:41am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Leonid Radvinsky, the reclusive billionaire owner of adult content platform OnlyFans, has died of cancer, the London-based company said on Monday (UK time). He was 43. We are deeply saddened to announce the death of Leo Radvinsky. Leo passed away peacefully after a long battle with cancer, the company said in an emailed statement. His family have requested privacy at this difficult time. Leonid Radvinsky bought a majority stake in OnlyFans in 2018. Facebook/LeonidRadvinsky Radvinsky bought a majority stake in the platform in 2018 and turned it into a cultural phenomenon that reshaped the pornography industry by allowing creators to charge directly for their content. He owned the OnlyFans parent company, Fenix International, according to the companys last filing in the UK. His death comes at a time when Radvinsky was in talks to sell a majority stake in OnlyFans, a controversial user-generated platform that shot to prominence during COVID-era lockdowns. Founded in 2016 by British father and son Guy and Tim Stokely, OnlyFans hosted pornographic material forbidden on most social networks. During the pandemic, many adult film actors and sex workers turned to the platform for alternative sources of income.

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Radvinsky was seeking to sell a 60 per cent stake that would give it an enterprise value of around $US5.5 billion. Architect Capital, a little-known investment firm based in San Francisco, held talks to lead an offer with equity and around $US2 billion in debt, according to a person familiar with the matter. As of February, the talks were still in their early stages, said the person who asked not to be identified because the deliberations are private. Radvinsky paid himself about $US1.8 billion in dividends from the platform since 2021. His net worth was valued at $US3.8 billion as of last May, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. That was before OnlyFans disclosed a dividend payment of $US700 million to Radvinsky in August. His death comes at a time when Radvinsky was in talks to sell a majority stake in OnlyFans, a controversial user-generated platform that shot to prominence during COVID-era lockdowns. Getty Images While the company has tried recruiting more mainstream posters, like celebrity chefs and athletes, it remains known for its adult content. OnlyFans takes a 20 per cent fee on most subscriptions and content sold on the platform. In 2024, the company reported more than 4.6 million creator accounts and some 377 million fans, posting revenue of $US1.4 billion.

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Born in the Ukrainian port city of Odesa, Radvinskys family moved to Chicago when he was a child. He studied economics at Northwestern University. Related Article Harassment The day porn turned off: Inside Australias high-stakes war with the adult industry He started running porn sites as a teenager, according to the Wall Street Journal. One of his websites, called MyFreeCams, was a pioneer in letting people pay for explicit content online. Radvinsky lived most recently in Florida, according to his website. OnlyFans said Radvinsky, who has given few public interviews and statements, supported several philanthropic projects globally. He has donated to charities including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, open source initiatives and the West Suburban Humane Society, according to his website.

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OnlyFans said Radvinsky moved his ownership to a trust in 2024. Bloomberg The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.

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CultureMoviesPhilosophy Opinion I could weep every time I hear this brilliant woman speak. Shes so true and wise Julia Baird Journalist, broadcaster, historian and author March 21, 2026  6:30am

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One of the greatest tragedies in modern society, said Chloe Zhao at the London Film Festival, is that we forgot the power of the crone, the power of the grandmothers and grandfathers and elders in society. And that we stopped gathering around them. We stopped going to them to help make decisions about how this tribe should work. Illustration by Dionne Gain Its not easy being a crone in Hollywood. Women over 50, or even 40, who still glam up, and turn up, are subjected to the kind of exacting, often cruel scrutiny that would make the couch seem a far preferable option to the red carpet. The lighting was apparently so harsh at this years post-Oscars Vanity Fair party that one actress spent the whole time on her phone yelling at her publicist, then went home and cried herself to sleep. The Hollywood Reporter quoted a VF Insider saying: It was just so unforgiving. Like being shot in extremely high-def. You saw a lot of excess pounds and wrinkles that used to be hidden. Nobody wants to be photographed like that!

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One problem with this whole charade is that it is just such a boring, limiting way to view women. During this years awards season, past the parade of best and worst dressed, and those just trying to keep it together in a world of seemingly infinite judgment, came the sweetest relief in the figure of Chloe Zhao. The Beijing-born director is a marvel, an illumination in a sea of dross, talking with depth and sincerity about grief and loss and joy and dancing and pain. I could weep every time I hear her speak, just like I wept during her beautifully crafted film Hamnet because she is so true and so wise. Because she wrestles with the real stuff, with who we are and how we go on. Because it does not matter what she wears; when she opens her mouth, she can make you catch your breath. She is both exceptional and relatable, with a gleaming poetic energy, and I hope we hear more from her. Oscar winner Jessie Buckley and Zhao at the 79th British Academy Film Awards in February. Alastair Grant/Invision/AP Let me explain why. First, she grapples with grief in an open way, which is not coy and not sentimental, which recognises its howling emptiness  and yet also our capacity to endure, to live with and beyond grief. That this is part of love. This is powerfully evident in Hamnet, which is such an emotionally powerful and wrenching movie about the death of Shakespeares young son from the plague, an adaptation of Maggie OFarrells wonderful novel. OFarrell had wanted to explore what the impact of the death of the 11-year-old Hamnet was on his fathers later writing of Hamlet.

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Zhao insists that grief might be helped, but not resolved, by talking about it. Ultimately, she says, one has to feel it, in order to transcend grief, or alchemise grief  and, more importantly, feeling the love that is on each side of grief. Because one cannot grieve unless they have loved deeply, deeply, and have a tremendous amount of empathy. So how do you get the audience to feel instead of just think about it? When they feel, its not just the characters grief and love, its their own. For me, its about trying to capture something that you cant quite grasp. By the end of the film, you understand grief is bordered by joy, and perhaps even faith. Second, her creativity is rooted in empathy. She says that she makes decisions from the feeling place instead of from intellect. Steven Spielberg, who was her producer on Hamnet, described her as the most spiritually empathetic director he has ever known. Zhao seems to have created quite an extraordinary environment on the set of Hamnet, where she used dream work interpretation as well as cathartic dance takes, where the cast shook out the emotions they were channelling in their performances. I have watched one of them  the final take  over and over, and each time found myself grinning at the exuberant joy.

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From this came the inspired performances of Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal. When Buckley won the Oscar for best actress, she described the film as depicting the chaos of a mothers heart. Third, because Zhao speaks about spirituality without sounding daft, entwining Eastern and Western thought: the Japanese Shinto  believing every object has a spirit  that fascinated her as a child, and the symbolism of Carl Jung she found as an adult. (She told The New Yorker that her art has been shaped by her childhood love of manga, her relationship with the natural world and her neurodivergence.) Related Article Opinion

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Women gave the monarchy decency. Has mens indecency forever soiled the crown? Julia Baird Journalist, broadcaster, historian and author See the way she describes composer Max Richter, whose music defines Hamnet, when presenting him with the Berlinale Camera. He matters, she says, because today the world feels really busy and really fast and loud. We have so much, and we somehow feel emptier inside. And in modern society we dont have the time skills or safe spaces or even sometimes permission to descend into ourselves. And I think Max knows this about the modern world, and I believe that it is because of this that sets him on a journey deep into himself to bring us the music that helps us to reclaim our own connection to our inner divinity. And thats why so many of us turn to Maxs music at the most intimate and vulnerable moments of our live. Including at birth and at death. Because of it, his music says to us this life matters, stay with it. And, so we do. Im so tired of seeing discussions about which woman had what facial procedure and who has failed the ever-shifting bar of modern femininity  and so interested in hearing new discussions about ways of loving, grieving, understanding the world and each other, rooted in ancient truths and enduring symbols. About continuing to value and nurture human creativity during the rise of the robots.

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About the stuff that matters, this life that matters. The strength of leadership doesnt come from dominance, Zhao said to an admiring Bradley Cooper in Interview magazine. It comes from interdependence within an ecosystem that needs to be carefully protected and tended. Interdependence doesnt really fit the model our industry is built on, even the word director. Its a revolutionary way to think, and one the world is hungering for. Julia Baird is a journalist, author and regular columnist. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion 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  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

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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NationalNational security Opinion Australians know were under threat  and underprepared Rory Medcalf Head of the National Security College March 22, 2026  5:00pm

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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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WorldEuropeAntisemitism Iranian terror group claims arson attack on Jewish ambulances in London David Crowe March 24, 2026  3:48am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

London: An Iranian terrorist group has claimed responsibility for setting Jewish ambulances on fire near a British synagogue, shattering windows and setting off explosions on a residential street. British police are investigating the claim amid a renewed debate about an increase in antisemitism at the same time Israel intensifies its attacks on Iran. In a move that highlighted Irans role in funding terrorism over many years, the British Foreign Office called in the Iranian ambassador, Seyed Ali Mousavi, to criticise the reckless actions of the Islamic Republic in the UK and other countries. The diplomatic action was focused on a separate court case, in which two individuals arrested in Britain have been charged with assisting the Iranian intelligence service, but it came amid public debate about whether Iran was behind the arson in London on Monday morning, UK time.

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Related Article Middle East at war US-Iran war as it happened: Trump postpones strikes on power plants, says Iran wants to make a deal; Iranian Speaker labels talks fake news Security TV footage appears to show three people in hoodies pouring fuel on the four ambulances before setting them alight in Golders Green, a part of London with a large number of Jewish households. Nobody was injured in the attack. The vehicles belonged to the Hatzola service, a volunteer Jewish organisation that helped the local community. The Metropolitan Police said officers were called to Highfield Road in Golders Green at 1.45am on Monday (12.45pm AEDT) when the London Fire Brigade were on the scene. We believe we are looking for three suspects at this early stage, said Superintendent Sarah Jackson, who leads the police in the area.

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No injuries were reported, but houses have been evacuated. The police said the explosions were believed to be caused by gas canisters onboard the ambulances. The president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Phil Rosenberg, said the volunteer ambulance service highlighted an obligation to choose life while the arsonists showed the emptiness of their cause. While the motives are unclear at this stage, this attack comes in the context of rising antisemitism around the world, he said. Forensic experts get ready to investigate the area in Golders Green. AP

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This is a threat not just to the Jewish community but to our societies as a whole. The group claiming responsibility for the Golders Green attack is Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya, also known as the Islamic Movement of the People of the Right Hand and seen as a group aligned with Tehran. While the group said on its Telegram channel that it was behind the attack, the Metropolitan Police have yet to verify the claim and have not yet declared the incident a terror attack. Burnt ambulances in a car park in London. AP Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the arson attack as horrifying antisemitism.

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An attack on our Jewish community is an attack on us all. We will fight the poison that is antisemitism, he said. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said people in the Jewish community told her they lived in fear of attack. A hatred of Jews is growing in our country, and all of us need to make it clear in our words and actions that Britain will not tolerate antisemitism, she said. Farage warns of fifth column Reform UK leader Nigel Farage went further by claiming a fifth column was being formed inside Britain to target Jewish people and bring terrorism to the country. Farage said the group claiming responsibility for the Golders Green attack was directly linked to Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard.

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Jewish leaders warned of rising antisemitism last October when an assailant rammed a synagogue in Manchester before killing one worshipper with a knife and wounding several others. Another victim died when struck by a bullet fired by police seeking to take down the terrorist, Jihad al-Shamie. The streets of Golders Green hosted a celebration less than four weeks ago when Jewish residents joined members of the Iranian community in London to welcome the Israeli and US airstrikes on Tehran, with both groups hoping it would lead to the fall of the Iranian regime. Related Article Letters Hegseths holy war will be just another failed crusade The Foreign Office summoned the Iranian ambassador on Monday, hours after the attack, to criticise Iran over the spying allegations being heard in court. Nematollah Shahsavani, 40, and Alireza Farasati, 22, appeared in court last week on charges under the National Security Act of engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service.

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They are alleged to have spied on targets in the Jewish community and the Israeli embassy, passing on information to the Iranian regime. The two men were arrested two weeks ago over their surveillance, which mostly took place last year but continued as recently as February. They will appear in court again next month. 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.
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WorldNorth AmericaAviation A total miracle: Flight attendant thrown from Air Canada plane survives strapped to seat Jake Offenhartz , Jennifer Peltz and Ed White March 24, 2026  7:01am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

New York: A flight attendant still strapped in her seat survived being thrown from an Air Canada plane that collided with a fire truck at New Yorks LaGuardia Airport, her daughter has said. Its a total miracle, Sarah Lepine told Canadian news station TVA Nouvelles. Solange Tremblay. Her daughter described her mothers survival as a miracle. She said her mother, Solange Tremblay, had multiple fractures to one leg and would need surgery, but otherwise was OK. An aviation safety expert said she likely was helped by being in a seat with a four-point restraint used by crew members. Im still trying to understand how all this happened, Lepine said, but she definitely has a guardian angel watching over her.

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The jet, carrying more than 70 passengers, was landing when it collided with a fire truck that was responding to a problem with another plane on Sunday night (New York time). The nose of the Air Canada plane was destroyed, and the pilot and co-pilot were killed. Related Article Updated

Aviation I messed up: Footage shows Air Canada jet hit fire truck as controller panicked Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti also described Tremblays survival as a miracle when compared to the destruction of the nose of the airplane. The flight attendants seat is kind of a jumpseat that folds down and is bolted to the wall, the same wall that the cockpit utilises, said Guzzetti, a former federal crash investigator. Its a very robust seat, he added. Its designed to withstand probably more crash loads than passenger seats because you need the flight attendant to help passengers get out of an airplane after a crash.

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Air Canada passenger Clement Lelievre credited the pilots incredible reflexes with saving his life and others. The flight crew braked extremely hard just as the plane touched down, he said. The pilot and co-pilot who died were both based out of Canada, said Kathryn Garcia, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the airport. Antoine Forest was identified by CBC as one of the planes two pilots killed in the collision. Jeannette Gagnier, the great aunt of one of the pilots, identified him as Antoine Forest. Forest considered her a grandmother figure and always wanted to be a pilot, she said. His LinkedIn page showed he had worked for two airlines for the past five years. According to Canadas national broadcaster, CBC, Forest was from Coteau-du-Lac in Quebec.

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On the citys Facebook page, members of the municipal council offered their sincerest condolences to his family, loved ones and friends. We wish them all the comfort they need to get through this difficult time. CBC named the co-pilot as MacKenzie Gunther, citing Radio-Canada sources. US President Donald Trump called it a terrible situation while Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a statement the accident was deeply saddening. The Port Authority identified the two people in the fire truck as Sergeant Michael Orsillo and Officer Adrian Baez. They suffered injuries not believed to be life-threatening, Garcia said. One was expected to be released shortly, while the other would stay in the hospital for observation, she said.

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The fire truck was travelling across the runway to respond to a United Airlines flight, whose pilot had reported an issue with odour, said Garcia. It was the first fatal crash at LaGuardia in 34 years, Garcia said. In 2013, at least two flight attendants were injured when they were thrown from an Asiana Airlines flight that crashed into a seawall while landing at San Francisco International Airport. There were 291 people aboard the Asiana Boeing 777, and three girls were killed. AP Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.

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The State Council Information Office (SCIO) holds a press conference on achievements of the 2023-2025 special action plan for patent commercialization and utilization, in Beijing, capital of China, March 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Pan Xu)
Story Highlights Jeffersonville increased its police presence on the Big Four Bridge after recent incidents on Louisvilles Waterfront Park side, including a homicide and juvenile disturbances.

Jeffersonville Mayor Mike Moore emphasized that anyone causing trouble on the bridge will be dealt with firmly and expressed frustration that Kentucky doesnt enforce laws as strictly as Indiana.

Residents feel the Jeffersonville side of the bridge is generally safe, with police regularly patrolling.

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (WDRB)  Jeffersonville is increasing its police presence at the Big Four Bridge following recent incidents in Louisville's Waterfront Park area.

Sunday, Jeffersonville Mayor Mike Moore said he's concerned about chaos spilling over from Louisville to Jeffersonville.

"Either Louisville deals with the problem on the bridge or we will," Moore said.

Louisville Metro Police said its officers responded to multiple incidents at Waterfront Park involving mostly if not all juveniles Saturday night.

They confiscated a gun, and a juvenile offender was cited and released to their guardian. LMPD didn't give any further detail about the incident or share how many juveniles were involved.

At the time of all the commotion, there were not any adults around.

A few weeks back, Jeffersonville Police responded to a large fight between teens on the bridge that happened around 11 p.m.

"Where are the parents?" Louisville resident William Wright said when talking about the fight on the bridge.

Around 3 a.m. Friday, a man was killed in the park area near the splash pad at Waterfront Park on Louisville's side of the bridge.

LMPD has officers who patrol the bridge and park area during various times of the day. There was not anyone monitoring the area when Friday's homicide happened.

Sherry Miyahara lives in Jeffersonville, very close to the Big Four Bridge.

Miyahara said Jeffersonville Police are always patrolling Indiana's side of the bridge.

"Whether you see the cars, whether you see them or not, they're here," she said.

Miyahara said she feels like the bridge area in downtown Jeffersonville is extremely safe, but she does feel eerie when she hears about incidents like the homicide that happened across the way.

"Nobody needs to be out here at 3 o'clock in the morning," she said. "There's no reason for someone to be here past 10, 11 o'clock. It's a beautiful space on both sides if we keep it nice and we keep it safe."

She said she wouldn't have an issue if curfews were put in place or if the bridge was blocked off after a certain time.

Mayor Moore said he won't tolerate people putting other people's safety at risk. Moore said he feels like Kentucky doesn't enforce the law as strongly as Indiana.

He warned that anyone who comes across the bridge starting chaos will be dealt with firmly.

"Our court system deals with troublemakers. You don't get a slap on the wrist," the mayor said. "I respect the police officers that wear the uniform on Louisville's side, but you can't just keep telling someone, 'Hey, don't do this anymore'. And that's where my frustration comes from."

Jeffersonville Councilman Dustin White said if Mayor Moore wants to increase Jeffersonville's police presence on the bridge that's fine, but he currently doesn't have concerns about crime from Kentucky crossing the bridge.

"I've been on the council for 10 years, and I haven't seen that," White said.

Copyright 2026 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
JERUSALEM, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli military said on Monday afternoon that it was carrying out strikes on Iranian government targets in "the heart of Tehran," as the regional conflict stretched into its 24th day. 
CAIRO, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry said Sunday that Tehran has prevented the passage in the Strait of Hormuz of vessels belonging to the United States and Israel and those participating in "the aggressions" against the country.

It said non-hostile vessels from other countries can secure safe passage by coordinating with Iranian authorities, provided they have not participated in or supported aggression against Iran and comply with safety regulations.

Just under 100 ships have passed through the strait since the start of March, and at least 20 commercial vessels were attacked off the Iranian coast since the conflict began, including the U.S.-owned MT Safesea Vishnu, said the BBC in a Thursday report.

As the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, through which around a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supply passes, continues to escalate, what statements and actions have been made by the parties involved?

The United States

-- U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that he has ordered the United States military to postpone strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days after holding "good and productive conversations" with Tehran.

"I have instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five-day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions," he said.

This follows Trump's threat 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.

-- U.S. media reported Friday that the U.S. military's amphibious assault ship USS Boxer, accompanied by the dock-landing ship USS Comstock and amphibious transport dock USS Portland, had left San Diego, California, to the Middle East.

Military experts believe the military buildup is part of an effort to pressure Iran into reopening the strait.

-- Trump, on March 14, said the United States and several other nations would send naval forces to secure the strait as global oil prices spike. But by Tuesday, Trump reversed course, saying his calls had gone largely unanswered.

"We do not need the help of anyone!" he said, calling the NATO allies' refusal a "very foolish mistake."

Israel

-- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday any Iranian attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz "won't work," threatening more military campaigns against Iran. "There's still more work to do, and we're gonna do it," he said.

-- Netanyahu also proposed oil and gas pipelines running west through the Arabian Peninsula to Israel. "Just have oil pipelines, gas pipelines going west through the Arabian Peninsula right up to Israel, right up to our Mediterranean ports, and you've just done away with the choke points forever," he said.

Iran

-- Iran's Defense Council warned on Monday that the country will lay naval mines in the Gulf if the United States and Israel launch any attack on its coasts or islands.

"Any attempt by the enemies to attack Iranian coasts or islands will naturally and based on common military practices cause Iran to lay various types of naval mines, including the floating ones that can be laid from the coasts, in all access routes and communication lines in the Persian Gulf and the coasts," the council said.

-- Iran's primary military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said Sunday that if U.S. threats are carried out, Iran would immediately adopt several punitive measures, including the full closure of the Strait of Hormuz until damaged Iranian facilities are rebuilt.

Other measures would include large-scale strikes on Israel's power, energy and communications infrastructure, attacks on regional companies with U.S. capital ties, and targeting power facilities in countries hosting U.S. military bases.

-- Iran's Foreign Ministry said Sunday the full restoration of sustainable security and stability to the strait requires an end to the anti-Iran military aggression and threats, a halt to the destabilizing actions of the United States and Israel, and full respect for Iran's legitimate interests.

Iran has always respected the freedom of navigation and maritime security and safety, the ministry said, adding that it has worked to uphold those principles over the years.

-- Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said Sunday the Strait of Hormuz is open to all "except those who violate Iran's territory."

Yemen

-- Yemen's Houthi group said Saturday it is closely monitoring the developments in the Strait of Hormuz, and would take "appropriate action" in the face of unfolding events in the region.

The group said the United States has placed itself in a "strategic predicament," and is attempting to draw others into a broader conflict, urging increased international pressure on the United States and Israel to halt military operations against Iran.

Britain

-- 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." 
COMMUNITY NOTES: NORTH MAYO - WESTERN PEOPLE (MARCH 24 EDITION)

The passing of Mary Boland, Currabaggan, Knockmore was met with a great sense of sadness and loss in the community.

Mary went to her eternal reward on Friday, March 13, surrounded by her beloved family, following a year long illness which she bore with great courage and acceptance. The huge crowds that passed her remains in Clarkes Funeral Home on the Saturday evening and again attended her 11am concelebrated Mass on the Sunday spoke volumes for the high regard that both she and her family were held in the community.

During the homily, she was remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend who touched many peoples lives in so many ways. A great Christian person who would reach out to anyone in need, a person who was dedicated to her church and weekly Mass and involved with many organisations in the parish. Tributes were also paid to her husband Brendan and family for their dedicated care, love and support given to Mary during her final illness.

For over 30 years Mary was on the staff of the Junction in Ballina where she was held in high esteem by her colleagues and patrons alike.

The high regard she too was held by her employers was evident with the day closure of their business and their full attendance of staff at her Requiem Mass.

Members of Knockmore GAA Club formed a Guard of Honour as a mark of respect for both she and her family and for their support down the years as her remains were brought to the church. Following Mass Mary was taken to her final resting place in Ballinahaglish Cemetery.

May her gentle soul now rest in peace.
COMMUNITY NOTES: BALLYHAUNIS - WESTERN PEOPLE (MARCH 24 EDITION)

Much is written about rural depopulation and decline but the lure of life in the Ballyhaunis hinterlands remains strong. Drawn to the peaceful surrounds of Ballinastoka, a townland adjacent to Logboy, English couple Deb and Pam Mejor are refurbishing a cottage built in the early 1800s and vacant for fifty years.

It was April 2025 when Pam first saw the cottage. Back home in Lichfield, near Birmingham, shed been hunting for Irish rural properties on the property website Daft.ie.

There were three cottages to see during that visit last spring: one in Pettigo (Donegal), another in north Letrim and then the cottage being offered with 12 acres in Ballinastoka.

That same day she was shown the property by Ballyhaunis estate agent Kevin Kirrane she made up her mind and phoned the agent with an offer while on the way to Ireland West Airport for a flight back to England. It was the peace of the site that sold her.

You barely hear a car pass, just the sound of birds, and theres a beautiful field at the back.

The price was fair, she said, and in the summer of 2025 she and Deb moved over.

The once populous village of Ballinastoka, six kilometres from Ballyhaunis, was empty in recent years but the lights are back on after several properties were sold, with a Croatian family moving into a small bungalow next door to Deb and Pam. A family from Claremorris are restoring another nearby farmstead.

The couples knowledge and construction skills are proof of how much can be accomplished without waiting on a builder or a mains power connection. Since purchasing theyve built a cabin residence while they work on the house. Theyve also built a handsome wooden barn for their equipment. Solar panels provide electricity, backed up by a generator. Soon theyll add more panels to boost their power supply.

Pam spent a career advising contractors on the restoration of old castles and historic structures across Britain.

Ive worked on many refurbishments of stately homes, she explains.

From her professional vantage point, Pam thinks a builder would ask 200,000 for the refurbishment from what a sign on the gate announces as Finnegans Cottage.

Thats the name of the family to whom the cottage and fields once belonged. Built in the vernacular style with local stone, the cottage had been thatched but the Finnegans availed of a grant in the 1950s to slate it. A few decades later the house was vacated and a small council house built adjacent to it. That house was also sold recently and is now occupied by a young Croatian family.

The couple will use traditional lime rather than cement mortar in repairing and pointing the stonework and finish the walls with lime harling, a coating similar to what was originally applied to the stones.

Lintels will be replaced with horse chestnut wooden lintels, chosen for the close grain.

Timber, unlike concrete lintels, will flex, explains Pam.

A second chimney added belatedly to the left gable wall will have to come down, having already stressed the wall with a crack.

The walls are two-foot wide but a three-foot-wide wall carries the main chimney in the kitchen. A large wooden beam built into the wall on the reverse of the house marks where the hag, an alcove off the kitchen, was added. The wall was boarded up where the hag once stood but the rotting of the beam has prompted some subsidence in the wall.

Also on the back wall where the anchor of a cattle crush was pulled out, ivy roots are visible, the sinuous plant having worked its way into the middle of the wall. In this section the Mejors plan to take the perimeter walls of the house down to the height of the window lentils and rebuild.

The first thing theyll do is erect scaffolding and take off the chimney on the gable wall. Then slate by slate they clear the roof. They may opt for a tin roof which, with modern insulation products, offers the same comforts as slates.

Theyve decided not to go for the states refurbishment grant for derelict properties, which can be worth up to 70,000. This is because they want to do it themselves and dont want to be under a 13-month timeframe.

They will let you extend up to 19 or 20 months but still, wed prefer to work at our own pace, explained Pam.

Theres plenty of room for their three dogs to roam. Deb plans to continue her practice as a dog behaviourist, taking in dogs for training. Shes already printed leaflets to advertise locally.

Out on the 12 acres, some 690 saplings have been planted by local schoolchildren, partly for biodiversity and partly as a natural means of drainage. As we walk the field, the couple marvel at the primroses in the hedge, the harbingers of spring on the traditional clay ditches that divide fields and offer some space for wildlife lost on larger farms where such ditches have been removed.

Both Deb and Pam grew up on farms.

Both of my parents were dairy farmers and some of my family are farmers. Theres plenty of rushes and docks too in Derbyshire, said Pam.

Visiting with them gives one hope that rural Ireland, its vernacular homes and its fauna and flora are, in this patch of East Mayo, in good hands.
SYDNEY, March 23 (Xinhua) -- A man has died and five others have been hospitalized after a vehicle crashed into a tree in western Sydney on Sunday.

A police statement said that the SUV left the road and struck a tree in the suburb of Dharruk, 40 km west of central Sydney, around 5:20 p.m.

Emergency services found the man had died at the scene. Five other occupants were taken to the hospital.

A crime scene was established and specialist officers from the crash investigation unit were deployed.

According to the latest data, 81 people have died in road incidents in the state of New South Wales so far in 2026, compared to 65 deaths at the same point in 2025. 
Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

Mostly cloudy; a dry start, but showers becoming more likely towards later afternoon and evening. .

Tonight

Cloudy skies with some rain showers likely overnight, especially before midnight.
Qabil Ashirov

On the auspicious occasion of the National Day of Pakistan, flag-hoisting ceremony was held at the Embassy of Pakistan, AzerNEWS reports.

The ceremony brought together Azerbaijani brothers and sisters as well members of the Pakistani community in a spirit of fraternal solidarity.

Messages from the President, the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister were read out to the audience, highlighting the significance of Pakistan Day.

The Ambassador thanked the Pakistani community and the Azerbaijani brethren for participating in the ceremony and prayed for peace and prosperity of Pakistan.
WARSAW, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The Polish government is "ready to intervene" regarding current fuel prices, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Monday.

"The readiness is there," Kosiniak-Kamysz said when asked by Polish media in Lodz, central Poland, about possible government action on fuel prices.

"Milosz Motyka, minister of energy, is taking all possible actions. Orlen, the largest oil company in Poland, has also introduced various discounts and promotions," he said.

He noted that the situation in the Middle East remains unstable.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that he had ordered the military to delay strikes on Iranian power plants and energy facilities for five days following what he described as "productive" talks with Iran. However, the semi-official Fars news agency reported that Iran has had no direct or indirect contact with Trump.

European gas and oil prices rose sharply recently amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. 
BEIRUT, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed and seven others injured in Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon on Monday, according to Lebanon's National News Agency.

An Israeli airstrike on the Tyre district killed two and wounded five, while in the Nabatieh district, a strike killed one and injured two, the report said.

Israeli artillery shelling also destroyed the Qaaqaait al-Jisr bridge linking the Nabatieh area to Wadi al-Hujeir and the Ghandouriyeh sector in southern Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah said in statements that its fighters targeted gatherings of Israeli soldiers along the Lebanon-Israel border.

Also on Monday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri met to discuss the security developments, focusing on Israeli escalation, the targeting of bridges linking southern Lebanon, and the potential repercussions.

They stressed national unity and solidarity, and the importance of preserving civil peace and not being influenced by destabilizing rumors.

Hezbollah entered the confrontation on March 2 by launching rockets from southern Lebanon toward Israel for the first time since a ceasefire on Nov. 27, 2024. Israel carried out an intensified military campaign targeting multiple areas across the country. Enditem.
Data gaps obscure NPO impact on youth employment

Study finds NPOs among SAs biggest youth employers, but overlooked.

South Africa may be underestimating the role non-profit organisations play in helping young people enter the labour market, partly because the country lacks reliable data on the sectors true employment footprint.

Thats one of the key conclusions of new research from the Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment (CAPSI) at Wits University, which examined how the non-profit sector contributes to dignified and fulfilling work for young people.

The study highlights a significant knowledge gap: while non-profits are widely recognised for delivering social services, far less attention has been paid to their role as employers and job creators. Read the full article.

This article was first published on TimesLive.
PHNOM PENH, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Sokimex, one of Cambodia's leading petroleum and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) importers, has announced to temporarily suspend the supply of LPG from April due to severe transportation disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

In an official announcement released to the media on Sunday, the company said that due to the ongoing conflict and prolonged instability in the Middle East, global transportation of petroleum and LPG has been severely disrupted.

Cambodia, like many other countries, has also been affected by this situation, Sokimex's Vice Chairman Diep Cheng Heng said in the announcement.

"Under these difficult circumstances, Sokimex Company has been unable to import LPG since the beginning of March 2026 and therefore cannot continue supplying LPG to customers according to market demand," he added.

"Accordingly, Sokimex Company hereby informs that it will temporarily suspend the supply of LPG effective from April 1, 2026, until further notice," Cheng Heng said.

He said Sokimex will closely monitor the situation and provide updated announcements as promptly as possible, while working in close cooperation with customers to overcome this challenge together.

A liter of LPG costs 3,200 riels (about 0.8 U.S. dollar) on Sunday, up 60 percent from 2,000 riels (0.5 U.S. dollar) before the outbreak of the Middle East conflict, according to the company.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said in a post on social media on Saturday that to ease the consumers' burden, the government has subsidized 6.5 U.S. cents per liter for gasoline and diesel, and an additional subsidy of 1 U.S. cent per liter will be provided if international fuel prices exceed 90 dollars per barrel for gasoline and 100 dollars per barrel for diesel.

The government has also reduced import duties and value-added tax (VAT) on gasoline and diesel to zero, he said, adding that the special excise tax on gasoline has been reduced to 15.71 U.S. cents per liter and has been cut to zero on diesel. 
He Lifeng, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the office of the Central Financial Commission, meets with Teo Chee Hean, chairman of Singapore's Temasek Holdings, in Beijing, capital of China, on March 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- China welcomes Singapore's Temasek and investors from all countries to invest and start businesses in China, and share the opportunities of China's high-quality economic development, a senior Chinese official said here on Sunday.

He Lifeng, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the office of the Central Financial Commission, made the remarks when meeting with Teo Chee Hean, chairman of Singapore's Temasek Holdings.

Noting that this year marks the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan, He said China's economy has made a strong start, better than expected, continuously injecting stability and certainty into the global economy.

China will unswervingly expand high-level opening up to the world, and continuously boost and upgrade its domestic market, he added.

Teo said that Temasek is confident in the prospects of China's economic development, and is willing to continue to expand its investment and cooperation in the country. 
The traditional spring festival of Newroz, celebrated by the peoples of the Middle East and Central Asia, falls this year in the midst of Ramadan and against a backdrop of imperialist barbarism running amok. As the US-Israeli war against Iran enters its fourth week, Israel has invaded Lebanon and continues its genocide in Gaza. In Syria, Kurds and Alawites remain under threat from the new jihadist regime backed by the United States and Turkiye.

The genocide in Gazain which officially more than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed, with the true figure estimated to be far higherhas been expanded into a war against Iran and Lebanon. It is made possible not only by the open support of European imperialist powers, but by the explicit or tacit backing of Turkiye, Azerbaijan and Arab regimes across the region. Azerbaijan serves as Israels principal oil supplier, while the flow of oil to the Zionist state passes through Turkiye with Ankaras full consent. US and NATO military bases on Turkish soilmost notably Incirlik and Kurecikcontinue to serve the interests of Washington and Tel Aviv and are being used directly against Iran.

The joint statement issued following the Consultative Ministerial Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Group of Arab and Islamic Countries on Iranian Aggressions, held last week in Riyadh, Saudi Arabiaand signed by Turkiyecondemns Iran, the country under attack, without so much as naming the United States, which launched an entirely unlawful and unprovoked imperialist war of aggression against a nation of 90 million people. This statement is irrefutable proof that the struggle against imperialism cannot be separated from the struggle against its collaborator bourgeois regimes.

Even as the United States and Israel continue to bomb Iran, Washington is preparing a ground offensive aimed at seizing the Strait of Hormuz and Kharg Island, through which 90 percent of Irans oil exports pass. This marks a new and far more dangerous phase in the imperialist wars that have ravaged the region for 35 years. The danger of the war expanding to engulf Turkiye and other countries, and assuming a global dimension, is growing by the day.

The imperialist lies previously deployed against Iraq, Syria and Libya are being recycled once more, with claims that this war of annihilation will bring democracy and freedom to the people in Iranas though the unrelenting wars of imperialist aggression and regime change since 1991 have not already destroyed entire societies, killed millions, displaced tens of millions more and produced catastrophe on a historic scale.

President Donald Trumpwho is working to establish a fascistic regime in the United Statesand Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are not concerned with the political rights of Iranians, whether Kurdish, Persian or of any other nationality. They are interested in Irans energy resources and its strategic position. Workers in Iran and across the Middle East and the world must respond these lies with a single, unambiguous demand: Hands off Iran! The task of settling accounts with the Islamic Republic belongs to the working class in Iran, which includes Persians, Kurds, Azeris and other nationalities!

What is at stake in this war against Iran is the subjugation of a country that broke free from Washingtons grip through the 1979 revolution, and the consummation of 35 years of imperialist warfare aimed at bringing the entire Middle East under full imperial domination. As David North, national chairman of the Socialist Equality Party in the United States, has explained, the strategy of this war is to abolish the 20th centuryto wipe out all the consequences of the national democratic and socialist struggles of the 20th century, to act as if it was all somehow a big mistake, that colonial domination can be restored and imperialism can rule.

At the same time, this war is an attempt by the American ruling class to resolvethrough war and foreign conquestthe irresolvable contradictions it faces at home. The Trump administration is pursuing this policy of global aggression and domination, which now targets Iran, in tandem with its efforts to establish a fascistic form of rule within the United States itself. The war abroad and the internal front are inseparable. The Trump administration is demanding a war appropriation of $200 billion on top of an already staggering $839 billion defence budget for this year alone. This money will be extracted through cuts to healthcare, food assistance and other social programmes in the United States. The war is an attack not only on the peoples of the Middle East, but on the American working class itself.

The Social Equality Group, predecessor to the Sosyalist Esitlik PartisiDorduncu Enternasyonal, issued the following warning in its 2013 Newroz statement: A victory by Western imperialists in Syria  will open the door to imperialist intervention against Iran. This warning has been vindicated. The United States that is bombing Iran today is the major power that devastated Syria and brought the Al-Qaeda-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) regime to power.

As in 2013, a peace process manoeuvre between Ankara and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) once again stands before us. In that period too, negotiations were developed in subordination to the deepening imperialist war in the Middle Eastabove all in Syria. And precisely the same dynamics eventually led to thousands of deaths, hundreds of thousands displaced in the Kurdish area and countless Kurdish politicians imprisoned.

The collapse of those negotiations in 2015 was not due to any lack of will on the part of either side. The causes were far more deeply rooted in objective conditions. As Leon Trotskywho co-led the October Revolution of 1917 alongside Vladimir Leninexplained in his theory of Permanent Revolution: In the epoch of imperialism, the bourgeoisie is incapable of resolving basic democratic tasks; the resolution of these tasks falls to the working class, which unites the oppressed masses behind it, and requires an international socialist program.

The Turkish and Kurdish bourgeois nationalist leaderships, deeply enmeshed in the imperialist war in the Middle East, cannot construct an island of peace and democracy in conditions where working class discontent and resistance are growing and the region is being turned into an inferno. Nor, for that matter, do they have any such aim. Their objective position places them squarely against peace and democratization, not in their favour. They seek to negotiate an agreement of their own reactionary interests with the new Middle East ambitions of their ally, US imperialism.

Newroz, which in Kurdish and Persian mythology is associated with legends of resistance against oppression, has becomeespecially since early 1990sa day of national rebellion and resistance for the Kurdish people in Turkiye against state repression and the policy of denial of Kurdish identity. This significant day must now be transformed into a day of resistance for all oppressed peoples against the colonial shackles imperialism is seeking to impose across Iran and the broader Middle East. The Kurdish peoples aspirations for freedom, peace and democracy cannot be realized while genocide continues in Palestine and the peoples of Lebanon and Iran are subjected to a war of annihilation.

The Turkish states return to the negotiating table with the PKK is not independent of Washingtons plans for Iran and the Middle East, nor of Israels expansionist objectives in the region. The Sosyalist Esitlik Partisi underscores that all pseudo-left claims which offer open or critical support to the Ankara-PKK negotiationssuggesting that this process can in some way serve the interests of Turkish and Kurdish working peoplerepresent a fraud. As Lenin succinctly explained in 1916, in the midst of the First World War:

Whoever promises the nations a democratic peace without at the same time preaching the socialist revolution, or while repudiating the struggle for itthe struggle which must be carried on now, during the waris deceiving the proletariat.

Turkish and Kurdish workers must refuse to subordinate themselves to the interests of pro-imperialist Turkish and Kurdish bourgeois nationalist leaderships and must unite with their class brothers and sisters across the Middle East and internationally against all these forces. The goal must not be reconciliation with genocidal powers and their collaborators, but the overthrow of capitalist regimes across the region through the mass mobilisation of the working class, the expulsion of imperialist powers, and the establishment of a Socialist Federation of the Middle East.

Placing the burden of war and militarism on the backs of the working class will intensify the class struggle everywhere. In Turkiye, millions of workers struggle against the cost of living and to make ends meet, while a tiny minority at the topthe capitalist oligarchycontinues to multiply its wealth. According to the UBS Global Wealth Report 2025, Turkiye ranks second among European countries in wealth inequality as of 2024. According to 2023 Turkish Statistical Institute report, 7 million children (31.3 percent) live below the poverty line. Turkiye comes first in Europe for child poverty among OECD nations. Every penny spent on armaments and war will be stolen from the health, education and livelihoods of working people.

These facts underscore that the decisive division in society is one of class. Only the international unity of the working class can open the road to the emancipation of all the oppressed. It is for precisely this reason that the President Recep Tayyip Erdogan government is seeking to suppress the emerging independent movement of the working classfree from trade union bureaucracythrough intimidation and repression, as seen most recently in the arrest of BIRTEK-SEN independent union leader Mehmet Turkmen in Gaziantep.

The trade union confederations, which for decades have assisted the state and corporations in suppressing class struggle, are complicit in these efforts. Workers need to build their own rank-and-file committees. These are the instruments through which workers can organise independently of this bureaucracy, under their own direct control. They are organisational forms that shield strikes and actions from bureaucratic sabotage, link workplaces to one another and give concrete expression to international solidarity.

The claim that the ruling class and its political representativeswho ruthlessly exploit Turkish, Kurdish, and Arab workers, degrade their living conditions, eliminate on their basic democratic rights, and are dragging Turkiye into war in subordination to US-NATO imperialismcan bring the peace and democratization that working people long for, is a manifest lie.

Fulfilling these urgent tasks in Turkiye and across the Middle East requires uniting workers of all nationalities on a socialist program and launching a frontal assault on the wealth and power of the ruling class. This means fighting to establish the political independence of the working class from all establishment parties that serve imperialism and build a new revolutionary leadership. That leadership is the International Committee of the Fourth International and the Socialist Equality Parties affiliated with it.

On Newroz 2026, the Sosyalist Esitlik Partisi calls on all workers to unite against imperialist-Zionist aggression, to defend Iran, Lebanon and Palestinehistorically oppressed countriesthrough the methods of class struggle. Build rank-and-file committees in factories, ports, mines, hospitals and schools to mobilize the working class as an independent political force in the struggle against imperialist war, authoritarian rule and social counterrevolutionfor workers power and socialism. For this fight, we advance the following demands:

The US and Israeli war against Iran, the invasion of Lebanon, and the genocide in Gaza must be halted immediately and unconditionally.

All US armed forces in the Middle East must be withdrawn, and the military basesincluding those in Turkiyethat form the infrastructure of imperialist domination must be closed.

The NATO summit scheduled for July in Ankara must be cancelled; Turkiye must withdraw from NATO; NATO must be dissolved; and all resources devoted to militarism and war must be redirected to meet the needs of society.

All sanctions and economic warfare against Iran and all other countries must be brought to an end.

All war criminals must be held accountable.

All political prisoners must be released.

The fundamental democratic rights of the Kurdish people must be recognised immediately, beginning with mother-tongue education and constitutional recognition of the Kurdish language.
Yet again, the Albanese Labor government is effectively defying a High Court ruling to stop illegally punishing ex-immigration detainees, now by increasingly removing them to the tiny remote Pacific island of Nauru, a former British, Australian and New Zealand colony.

Accommodation in the Nauru offshore processing facility. [Photo by DIAC images / CC BY 2.0

Last Wednesday, the countrys supreme court struck down as unconstitutional punishment the most recent bid by the government to keep ex-detainees shackled in ankle bracelet monitors and subject to curfews, after the court had already ruled the entire regime unlawful in 2024.

For the second time, the judges ruled that the shackling and curfew regimeeven if slightly modified by ministerial regulations issued by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke to try to evade the 2024 verdictviolated the separation of powers in the 1901 Australian Constitution, which reserves to the courts the power to inflict criminal punishment.

Burke immediately declared that the government would dodge the latest ruling by accelerating its dumping of the refugees and other non-citizens on Nauru, whose government last year agreed to place the ex-detainees on 30-year visas in return for an Australian government upfront payment exceeding $400 million, plus $70 million a year.

Fortunately we now have the agreement with Nauru, because the best thing for people who have had their visa cancelled is to not be in this country, Burke said in reaction to the High Courts judgment, against which the governments lawyers had strenuously argued in court.

Labors response marks another blatant violation of basic legal and democratic rights, combined with brutal treatment of asylum seekers and immigrants, and a resort to neo-colonial methods.

Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses government is setting precedents that match those being pursued by other capitalist governments internationally, spearheaded by the Trump administrations fascistic Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in the US.

For the past two and a half years, the Labor government has gone to ever-greater efforts to demonise, re-detain, shackle or deport about 350 people, including asylum seekers, whom it had been forced to release from indefinite immigration detention in November 2023 as the result of a High Court case known as NZYQ.

That case overturned a notorious regimemaintained for nearly two decades by Labor and Liberal-National Coalition governments alike and sanctioned by the High Court itselfof incarcerating non-citizens indefinitely if they could not be deported, usually because they were stateless or their previous home countries would not accept them.

In NZYQ, however, the judges said it would still be constitutional to lock up people where there was a real prospect of removal to another country, which now includes Nauru.

Last weeks ruling was a challenge by a Papua New Guinea citizen, referred to only as EGH19. As an immediate outcome the government must end the shackling and curfewing of people in the NZYQ cohort. But it will place them under a new reporting and monitoring regimethe legality of which is unclearuntil they can be removed to Nauru.

Above all, as indicated by Burke, the government will ramp up its operation to remove them to Nauru, regardless of ongoing or likely legal challenges to the deportations. Government sources told corporate media outlets that six people had already arrived in Nauru since last years 30-year visa deal. A further 27 people had Nauruan visas approvedwhich allows them to be re-detained under Labors lawswhile 27 more had their visa applications sent to Nauru for consideration.

In 2023, the Labor government also reopened the barbaric refugee detention facilities in Nauru, originally established by the Howard Coalition government in 2001 as part of a Pacific Solutiona world first in imprisoning asylum seekers on remote islands.

Nauru has become a desperate neo-colonial dumping ground. With a surviving population of only around 12,000 people, Nauru was impoverished by decades of phosphate mining under colonial rule before nominal independence was granted in 1968. The mining has left about 80 percent of the small island uninhabitable and rising sea levels caused by global climate change are forecast to force 90 percent of its residents to relocate.

The Albanese government has also stripped the basic right of procedural fairnessthe right to a hearingfrom people being consigned to Nauru or any other designated third country, setting a wider precedent for potential use against more than 80,000 other people living in Australia on insecure temporary visas.

Labor tried to evade the 2024 High Court ruling by amending Migration Regulations to set a nominally higher threshold for Burke, as the home affairs minister, to impose shackling and curfew conditions on a visa holder. But Burke only needed to be satisfied that the person posed a substantial risk of harming any part of the Australian community by committing a serious offence and it was reasonably necessary and appropriate to do so.

Non-compliance with either a shackling or curfew order was punishable by imprisonment for up to five years. The High Court held that these regulations were just as punitive and therefore unconstitutional as the previous ones struck down in 2024.

The Labor governments moves this week mark its sixth attempt, backed by the Coalition, to thwart the High Courts NZYQ ruling and to terminate all legal challenges against its Nauru plan.

Labors previous measures included preventative detention laws that proved difficult to implement, as well as powers to impose ankle bracelets, curfews and other police-state restrictions on released detainees.

Despite popular opposition, Labor and the Coalition further joined hands last year to pass three anti-immigrant bills. One was a potential mass deportation bill. Immigration officials admitted that more than 80,000 people on bridging or temporary visas could be expelled from the country under its provisions.

The second bill ordered migrants being expelled from the country to cooperate with their prompt removal, or they could be imprisoned repeatedly for up to five years. The third bill gave the government powers to confiscate mobile phones from detainees, to prevent them from communicating with the outside world.

These moves have been accompanied by bipartisan and media scaremongering, branding detainees as serious criminals, murderers and rapists. In reality, many are traumatised refugees, and all have completed any prison sentences they received for earlier convictions. If they were citizens, they would not be incarcerated.

Earlier this month, having joined an illegal war in which the US and Israeli governments are pulverising Iran and Lebanon, killing thousands of people, the Labor government also rushed a bill through parliament to block entry to anyone trying to flee to safety, even if they hold a valid visiting visa.

This takes Labors historic anti-refugee recordfrom the Keating governments pioneering of the introduction of mandatory detention of asylum seekers in 1991to new depths of reaction.

A direct parallel exists between Labors measures and those of the Trump White House in rounding up thousands of working-class people and throwing them into detention prisons for deportation to horrific locations without any due process, blaming them for deteriorating social conditions.

Increasingly, amid a spiralling cost-of-living and housing crisis, Labor has also scapegoated refugees, together with other immigrants and international students, seeking to outflank the Coalition and the far-right anti-immigrant One Nation by slashing intake numbers.

On every continent, the media and political establishments are seeking to whip up anti-immigrant sentiment, nationalism and patriotism to divide the working class globally, now under conditions of a war in the Middle East that threatens to ignite another world war. They are seeking to divert the growing discontent with plummeting living and working conditions away from the real sourcethe staggering accumulation of wealth by the billionaires and the underlying capitalist profit system itselfnow compounded by war.

Workers and young people must oppose this poison. They must defend the basic democratic right of people to live and work wherever they choose, with full social and citizenship rights. This is an essential component for the fight for a unified mass movement of the working class worldwide against war and for the establishment of workers power to reorganise society on a socialist basis, for human and social need, not corporate profit.
Armed federal immigration agents will be mobilized to many major airports in the United States beginning Monday, according to social media posts by President Trump and statements by his key White House anti-immigration aide, Tom Homan.

Trump threatened the use of agents Saturday as a means of pressuring Senate Democrats, who have blocked funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in an effort to secure minor cosmetic reforms in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), two units of DHS whose agents murdered protesters Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis in January.

Homan went further, appearing on several Sunday television talk shows, to declare that ICE agents would begin working at airports on Monday, presenting this as a means of alleviating gridlock due to long lines for airport screening by agents of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), another unit of DHS.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement goons walk through a gas station, on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Minneapolis. [AP Photo/Ryan Murphy]

Hundreds of TSA agents have quit and thousands called in sick every day so that they can work second jobs to pay bills and feed their families. DHS funding authorization expired February 15, and there have been no full paychecks since then. The only DHS employees being paid are those at ICE and CBP, because the agencies received a special five-year appropriation last summer as part of Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill, which was otherwise devoted largely to tax cuts for the wealthy.

Speaking on CNN, Homan said there would be a plan by the end of today, where were sendingwhat airports were starting with and where were sending them. ... So its a work in progress. He added that the focus was the large airports where theres a long wait, like three hours. These would presumably include New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Houston, where press reports have documented the longest waiting times.

Homan said that ICE agents would not conduct X-ray and other scanners but could be deployed to guard exits or check IDs as passengers queue up for their inspections. He brushed off questions about other specificssuch as whether the agents will be armed or maskedsuggesting that this was still being worked out in internal DHS discussions.

He told CNN interviewer Dana Bash, Hopefully, well have all those answers here by this afternoon, but were working on it. And when we deploy tomorrow, well have a well-thought-out plan to execute. Bash seemed taken aback, replying, With respect, if youre doing this in 24 hours, how well thought-out could it possibly be?

President Trump in his weekend social media postings was virtually frothing at the mouth over the role that ICE agents would play at airports. On Saturday, he wrote: If the Democrats do not allow for Just and Proper Security at our Airports, and elsewhere throughout our Country, ICE will do the job far better than ever done before  I look forward to moving ICE in on Monday, and have already told them to, GET READY. NO MORE WAITING, NO MORE GAMES!

Adding his usual racist slurs, Trump said the ICE agents would 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.

Both Trump and Homans comments suggest that ICE agents will be involved in checking identification and that they will focus on green card holders, international travelers and other non-citizens, who could well be asked to step out of the line for more intensive interrogation, including the surrender of electronic devices for inspection by the federal agents.

The most ominous threat in Trumps weekend messaging came on Sunday morning, when he denounced the Democrats for blocking the DHS funding, while claiming they are only focused on protecting hard line criminals who have entered our Country illegally, are endangering the USA 

He went on to say, Now with the death of Iran, the greatest enemy America has is the Radical Left, Highly Incompetent, Democrat Party!

This remarkable statement suggests that the next target for military action by the commander-in-chief is a political party that received 75 million votes in the 2024 election and holds nearly half the seats in both the House and Senate. It is nothing less than a declaration of war against his domestic opponents.

Equally remarkable was the indifference and complacency with which House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries responded to this threat. He also appeared on CNN and was asked by Dana Bash to respond to Trumps declaration that the Democratic Party was now the greatest enemy America has.

Jeffries said, Donald Trump should keep his reckless mouth shut before he gets somebody killed. The answer evinces a certain nervousness over the threat of violence, although the implication is that Trump might inspire some lone wolf attacker, not that he is actively preparing for the use of military force against political opposition within the United States.

The House Democratic leader acknowledged the danger that deploying ICE agents at airports might pose, saying, The last thing the American people need is for untrained ICE agents to be deployed at airports across the country potentially to brutalize or to kill them.

But he continued, Our basic premise and value proposition from the very beginning has been simple. ICE should conduct itself like every other law enforcement agency in the country. In other words, ICE agents should be unmasked but can otherwise carry out the same murderous violence that every other law enforcement agency in the country is responsible for. US police have killed more than 1,000 Americans every year in this decade: 20 people a week, three a day.

The Democratic Party supports the repressive apparatus of the capitalist state because it is also a party of the financial oligarchy, which requires that apparatus to maintain its wealth and privileges. Its only quarrel with Trump is that the tactics of ICE are so brutal and heavy-handed that they risk provoking mass popular opposition that could take on an openly anti-capitalist political form.
Thousands of people protested against Trump's plans to wage war on Chicago, September 6, 2025.

On March 18, Jacobin, the online publication affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), published an article by Eric Blanc titled Sectarianism Has Never Ended a War. By sectarianism Blanc means adherence to socialist principles and opposition to the Democratic Party.

Blancs latest commentary develops themes he advanced on March 9 in a Jacobin article headlined Why Is There No Antiwar Movement in the US? As the World Socialist Web Site wrote of that essay: The piece is essentially a political brief for the Democratic Party, calling for the subordination of antiwar sentiment to the interests of American imperialism.

These articles appear as the Trump administration is deploying thousands of Marines to Iran in preparation for a land invasion that will have catastrophic consequences for the populations of Iran, the United States, the broader Middle East and, indeed, the entire world. Untold thousands of soldiers will die on both sides and Washingtons illegal war of aggression will metastasize into a global conflict, increasing the danger of nuclear war. Trump is already demanding another $200 billion to fund the war, the cost of which will be borne by the working class in the form of brutal social cuts and an escalation of the drive to dictatorship.

Under conditions where a large majority of Americans already oppose the war and strikes are spreading across the country, opposition to the war is bound to erupt, drawing in millions of workers. For the American ruling class, the great danger is that mass opposition will escape the confines of official politics and its two-party system, and assume a revolutionary, anti-capitalist character.

This is the context in which Jacobin and the DSA, agencies of the Democratic Party, wage war against what they call sectarianism and ultra-leftism.

Blanc begins by denouncing anti-imperialist radicals for criticizing New York Mayor Zohran Mamdanis attack on Palestinian author and activist Susan Abulhawa at a recent press conference. The DSA-Democratic mayor, responding to right-wing attacks on Abulhawa as an antisemite, called her social media posts on Israel reprehensible. Blanc solidarizes himself with Mamdani and the Zionist lobby, falsely accusing Abulhawa, the daughter of Palestinians forced from their home by the 1948 Nakba and then into exile by the 1967 war, of clear antisemitism.

The controversy around Abulhawa, Blanc writes, is indicative of the prevalence of counterproductive sectarianism among too many American anti-imperialists. He proceeds to argue that the record of the anti-Vietnam War protest movement proves the correctness of his proscription against infusing opposition to war with a socialist, internationalist and revolutionary perspective and basing anti-war resistance on the working class.

He claims that the tactic of limiting the mass protests against the war to a single demand, Out Now, and directing antiwar sentiment into pressuring the Democratic Party rather than breaking with the Democrats and fighting for an independent political movement of the working class, put an end to the Vietnam War. In fact, the channeling of mass opposition to the war behind the Democratic Party, which was overwhelmingly pro-war, enabled the election of Richard Nixon and the escalation of the war. The Vietnam War did not end until the fall of Saigon in 1975, two years after the withdrawal of American forces.

Blanc praises the political line in the antiwar movement of the Socialist Workers Party and its 1968 presidential candidate Fred Halstead. They led an antiwar front called the National Peace Action Coalition (NPAC), which called mass protests from the late 1960s to the early 1970s. While hundreds of thousands and even millions marched against the war, the SWP disoriented the movement by channeling it behind Democratic Party war critics on the basis of the single protest demand, Out Now. This is what Blanc praises, deceptively calling it independent mass politics, and presenting it as the model for antiwar opposition today.

The links between NPAC and the Democratic Party were not subtle. Indiana Senator Vance Hartke sat on NPACs steering committee. Democratic politicians such as Rep. Bella Abzug of New York, a rabid Zionist, and Rep. Abner Mikva of Chicago spoke at NPAC rallies.

Far from advancing the struggle against war, the SWPs perspective misled youth and workers who opposed the war and blocked the development of socialist consciousness. When Nixon withdrew American troops and ended the draft in 1973, the antiwar movement collapsed. This was at a point of explosive crisis within the political establishment, culminating in the resignation of Nixon in August 1974. But the ruling class was able to restabilize its rule due in large part to the disorientation of workers and youth produced by the opportunist and class collaborationist politics that dominated the movement against the Vietnam War.

Indeed, the United States has conducted hundreds of military interventions since the end of the Vietnam War. A partial list includes: Lebanon (1982-1984), Grenada (1983), Panama (1989), Iraq (1990-1991), Somalia (1992-1994), Bosnia (1993-1995), Haiti (1994), Kosovo (1999), Afghanistan (2001-2021), Iraq (2003-2011), Libya (2011), Iraq and Syria (2014-2021), Venezuela (2026) and Iran (2026).

When Blanc speaks of sectarianism, he is above all referring to the Socialist Equality Party, the International Committee of the Fourth International, and the World Socialist Web Site. He never refers to them by name, however, for fear of drawing attention to the genuine continuators of Marxism, Leninism and Trotskyism. The Workers League, the predecessor of the Socialist Equality Party, opposed the political line of the SWP and the Communist Party in the movement against the Vietnam War. It called for the building of a Labor Party based on the trade unions and a socialist program to establish the political independence of the working class in the fight against imperialist war and capitalist exploitation.

The position of the DSA is so far to the right that Blanc devotes a considerable portion of his article to attacking the line of the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) in the anti-Vietnam War movement. The SDS was essentially reformist, but it did seek to link the struggle against the war to the fight against capitalism and racism. Denouncing this, Blanc writes:

Alongside them, the national leadership of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) increasingly argued that the antiwar movement should adopt a multi-issue program encompassing opposition to racism, capitalism, and imperialism as a whole

Further on, he criticizes SDS for its impulse to load every coalition and protest with every demandto insist that every antiwar mobilization also be an anti-Zionist, anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist formation

In the course of the article, Blanc repeatedly praises the single issue protest policy that dominated the anti-Vietnam War movement for its perspective of pressuring the war criminals who rule the United States. He writes:

Only concrete, immediate, nonnegotiable demands generated maximum pressure to actually constrain the ruling class.

But the task remains to build the kind of mass movement that can reach into the places where power actually operates and make it impossible for business as usual to continue.

You build something so large, so broad, and so persistent that the people whose hands are on the machinery start to refuse.

Under the heading What This Means Now Blanc indicates what the DSAs policy is in regard to the Iran War and the popular opposition to it. He writes: The continued refusal of Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries to take a hard stance against the illegitimacy of this war in Iran is deplorable. Fortunately, the Democratic base is increasingly irate at the old guard.

In other words, the opposition to this illegal war of aggression and mass murder must be channeled behind the Democratic Partys new guard: Bernie Sanders, Zohran Mamdani, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and company.

As bankrupt as this perspective was at the time of the Vietnam War, it is doubly reactionary after 50 years of decline of American capitalism and the putrefaction of American democracy, which the DSA ignores. Jacobin pushes the fatal illusion that pressure from below can contain the ruling class under conditions of the evisceration of democratic norms by a fascist president who represents a financial oligarchy. The nominal opposition party, the Democrats, put up no real opposition because they represent the same class interests. They spearheaded the genocide in Gaza and attack Trump for refusing to escalate the war against Russia in Ukraine.

This perspective of blocking the independent mobilization of the working class against the capitalist system and all of its parties and agencies, including the trade union bureaucracy, would lead to the victory of fascism and the certainty of world war, including the nuclear incineration of the world. Imperialism is already carrying out genocide in Gaza, and the fate of the mass international protests against it, involving tens of millions of people, is the clearest refutation of the perspective advanced by the DSA. These protests had no effect on the support of imperialist governments for Israeli war crimes precisely because they were channeled into appeals to the war criminals.

History has, however, provided one example of mass social and political action hastening the end of war, and it was led precisely by Blancs so-called sectarians. It is a historical fact that the 1917 October Revolution in Russia, led by the Bolshevik Party of Lenin and Trotsky, created conditions of revolutionary working class upsurge across Europe and beyond that compelled the capitalist ruling classes to end World War I the following year.

This is the perspective that must be adopted by workers and youth today in the US and internationally, in opposition to the treacherous politics of the DSA and the rest of the pseudo-left. Imperialist war and fascism must be defeated by putting an end to capitalism, their root cause.
Saturdays South Australian election has resulted in the return of a Labor Party government with a comfortable parliamentary majority. The outcome, however, shows a deepening crisis of the capitalist two-party system that has been in place, not only at the state level but also federally, for the past 80 years or more.

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas [Photo: Facebook/Peter Malinauskas]

The election again highlighted the existential crisis of the Liberals, the traditional conservative party of the capitalist class. It confirmed electorally what polling has indicated, that the far-right, anti-immigrant One Nation party is on the rise. And it revealed a further disintegration of Labors erstwhile base in the working class, after decades of having imposed the dictates of the banks and big business.

As of this writing, with 65 percent of the vote counted, Labors statewide primary vote sits at just under 38 percent, a swing of around 2.3 percent against it compared with the last election in 2022. The Liberal vote plummeted by over 16.5 percentage points to just 19 percent of the total. One Nation substantially eclipsed that with over 22 percent.

With the outcome in eight electorates still uncertain, Labor holds 32 seats, more than the 24 required for a majority; the Liberals only 4; One Nation 1 and independents 2.

The ballot has national significance, as it is the first state or territory election held since the May, 2025 federal election.

It was also held in the shadow of the US-Israeli war on Iran, which threatens to transform into a broader, even global conflagration. An immediate impact of this war, which the Albanese government was among the first in the world to support, is the rising cost of fuel which itself will intensify the already dire situation facing working people in SA and across Australia.

The silence of all the political parties and the media on the issue of war only highlights the conspiracy to cover the real agenda being discussed behind closed doors.

That federal election had also been marked by the collapse of the Liberal vote, with the party receiving its worst result since its founding in 1944 and retaining just eight metropolitan seats nationwide. As in the South Australian election, Labor retained a majority federal government, but its primary vote was near historic lows at only 34 percent.

Since then, the federal Liberal Party, and their rural coalition partner the Nationals have been in a continuous crisis, with leadership changes, splits and defections, impacting on their state branches as well. The disintegration of the Liberals expresses the collapse of its erstwhile base in the relatively broad, post-World War II middle class, which no longer exists after decades of social polarisation.

That tendency was displayed again in the South Australian election. Despite being an urban party, it may only retain one seat, Bragg, in the state capital of Adelaide, a city that once had a reputation of being something of a Liberal stronghold. The Liberals have lost more affluent seats that they had held for decades, including Unley.

In a sign of the scale of their crisis, some Liberals have depicted the result in a positive light, given that pre-election polling had indicated they may not have any seats at all.

That polling shaped the campaign. Under conditions where all indications were that they would win comfortably, Labor adopted a small target strategy, outlining only a handful of policies.

In the polling leading up to the election, the main concerns identified were the cost of living, health, manufacturing, jobs and housing. Nothing was presented by Labor or any political party to address these basic issues.

What was put forward was a pitch, not to popular concerns, but to the corporate and financial elite. Labors housing policy, amid an unprecedented affordability crisis, consisted largely of promises to hand out a cumulative $1 billion in state funds to property developers, to construct apartments and houses for the private market, and to make minor alterations to the tax regime to ensure continued home-buying demand.

On the eve of the election campaign, Labor Premier Peter Malinauskas had joined Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the announcement of a $30 billion program at Adelaides Osborne shipyard for the construction of nuclear-powered submarines. That is one component of AUKUS, the pact with the US and the UK, and is aimed at rapidly advancing Australias militarisation, above all to prepare for a war against China.

In the campaign itself, Malinauskas did not mention AUKUS. That undoubtedly expressed a fear over growing anti-war sentiment, especially amid widespread hostility to the illegal US war against Iran, that Labor federally is enthusiastically supporting and participating in. The pre-election pledge, however, was a clear signal of Labors reliability to the military-intelligence apparatus.

In the 2022 election, when Malinauskas led Labor to unseat a Liberal government, he had pledged to end the crisis of public healthcare, particularly ramping, the practice whereby ambulances are forced to wait outside hospitals because of a lack of available beds.

With ramping having reached record levels last year under Labor, Malinauskas sought to evade the issue. A handful of healthcare funding pledges did not alter the reality that Labor will continue to fund the sector at below projected costs. Promises on the cost-of-living were equally meagre, including such things as limited transport concessions for students.

One of the issues confronting the Liberal campaign was that Labor is now indistinguishable from what the Liberals once were.

Labors character as the preeminent party of the bourgeoisie and the wealthy was reflected in the fact that the greatest swings to Labor were in the affluent areas of Adelaide. In five of the six electorates in the state, broadly described as the more wealthy, there were swings from the Liberals to Labor, including of around 10 percent in Unley, covering Adelaides inner-south, and Dunstan, the inner-east, and over 18 percent in Waite which encompasses some of the citys sought after foothills suburbs.

The election was a microcosm of the dynamic that is facilitating the growing prominence of One Nation. With Labor having imposed the cost-of-living crisis and pitching itself to the ruling class as the reliable party of parliamentary rule and the Liberals in meltdown, One Nation was alone in making any pitch to deep-going discontent over the social crisis.

Its strongest results were concentrated in working-class suburbs, particularly in the north of Adelaide. The area has been decimated by the closure of the car industry, a process involving decades of job cuts enforced by Labor and the corporatised trade union bureaucracy, and completed with the final closure of the General Motors plant in Elizabeth in 2017.

The result has been conditions approaching economic depression, with real unemployment rates approaching 20 percent in some areas, entire generations condemned to low-paid and insecure work and high incidences of poverty and social distress.

In the seat of Elizabeth, there was a 14 percent swing away from Labor. With One Nation receiving 32.6 percent of the primary vote, compared to Labors 41.5 percent, the governing party was dependent on preferences to retain a key working-class seat that it has always held. Similar, though less dramatic results were recorded in other working-class suburbs such as Port Adelaide, where One Nation received 20 percent of the primary vote, and Mawson, where they won over 25 percent.

One Nation also pitched to discontent in regional and rural areas, which also face a range of issues including a dearth of social services. Its only confirmed seat at this point is Ngadjuri, a regional seat north of Adelaide.

One Nations appeals to social discontent are a fraud. The partys scapegoating of immigrants serves to divide the working class and to divert social opposition away from hostility to the banks, big business and the capitalist system.

While employing populist demagogy, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has been travelling the country in a private jet provided by mining magnate Gina Rinehart, Australias wealthiest individual. She has often been accompanied by Barnaby Joyce, the former Nationals leader who defected to One Nation last year, having been a leading figure in multiple right-wing, pro-business Coalition federal governments.

Rineharts backing for Hanson points to the fact that sections of the ruling elite are seeking to develop a far-right, populist formation, under conditions where the Liberals and the Nationals are in crisis. The aim is to fill a developing political vacuum with a reactionary force that will aid and justify the assault on the social and democratic rights of working people.

The rise of One Nation, whose showing in the election was its best primary result since the 1998 Queensland election, does not express a shift to the right by working people. Polling has previously indicated that the majority of One Nation supporters are backing the outfit primarily because of hostility to the major parties and anger over the social crisis, not animosity to immigrants.

The dangers, however, are clear and should not be minimised. The ability of One Nation to exploit discontent is not only the result of Labors pro-business policies, and its own attacks on immigrants and refugees, but also the transformation of the unions into corporatised entities that collaborate with governments and big business against the workers they falsely claim to represent.

Its pitch is also facilitated by the bankruptcy of the official left. Under conditions of an election marked by the fraying of the two-party system and substantial social anger, the Greens primary vote was stagnant on 10 percent. A pro-capitalist party representing a narrow layer of the upper middle-class and closely associated with Labor, they are incapable of making any appeal in working class areas.

The key issue is building an independent movement of the working class, based on the socialist perspective that alone can address the deepening social crisis by taking aim at its source, the capitalist system and the rule of the corporate elite. Such a movement, uniting workers internationally, is also the only means of halting the deepening plunge into militarist disasters, including the war against Iran and the threats against China.
Mohamedou Ould Slahi underwent 14 years of abuse and torture at the hands of the US military and CIA.

Through the film The Mauritanian (2021, Kevin Macdonald), Slahi became one of the public faces of the horrors at the US prison camp in Guantanamo, Cuba, where he was imprisoned and brutally mistreated. But despite his being released 10 years ago, and his innocence proven beyond a doubt, he is still not allowed to travel to Duisburg. German authorities continue to treat him as a terrorist.

Such actions express clearly the support of the German ruling elite for the dictatorial methods of rule employed by Donald Trump, who is expanding the notorious Guantanamo torture prison into a concentration camp for 30,000 inmates and is setting up similar camps for migrants everywhere in the US modelled on it.

Slahi became known internationally because he recorded the story of his suffering in diary entries, initially published with many redactions under the title Guantanamo Diary. It formed the basis for the screenplay of the film The Mauritanian featuring Jodie Foster as a human rights lawyer and Benedict Cumberbatch as an investigator, seen by around 3.8 million viewers.

The film was also shown on German television. A documentary entitled Slahi and his torturers can be seen in the ARD media library.

But despite his rehabilitation, Slahi, who now works as a writer, is still not allowed to travel to Germany. He has been repeatedly denied entry.

In 2021, he was not allowed to come to the Berlinale for the German premiere of The Mauritanian. In 2023, following publication of his first novel, The True Story of Ahmed and Zarga, he was invited to Berlin to head the African Book Festival. This triggered a fierce campaign against him, whereupon his entry was prohibited. An Israel-hater should not be allowed to direct a book festival, wrote Alan Posener in Die Welt.

Once caught in the clutches of the intelligence services, Slahi faces being pursued as a suspect for life. Especially now, when everything is being done to maintain the Islamic bogeyman image, intended to nip any resistance against the imperialist wars in the Middle East, and elsewhere, in the bud. Slahis entry ban is part of the political attacks on artists and authors who express solidarity with the Palestinians and reject the imperialist war policy.

Slahi is still not allowed to come to Duisburg, even though the Dusseldorf Higher Administrative Court declared the citys justification for the entry ban to be no longer legally relevant on February 2. Because the Duisburg authorities appealed to the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig, and maintain there exists a suspicion of terrorism against Slahi, he is still not permitted to enter Germany, to attend premieres of his plays or award ceremonies, nor to visit his wife and son, who live in Germany.

Duisburg bases its suspicion of terrorism on information from the US Department of Justice. And this despite the fact that the Federal Criminal Police Office has found no evidence that Slahi had anything to do with the 9/11 attacks.

The WSWS has reported on Slahis story several times and also interviewed him. Therefore, only the most important facts will be outlined here.

Slahi came under suspicion because he travelled to Afghanistan as a devout Muslim in 1990 to prepare in an al-Qaeda camp for the jihad against the Soviet-backed regime of Najibullah. At that time, al-Qaeda and other Islamist groups were supported and promoted by the CIA to weaken Soviet influence in Central Asia.

After a second trip to Afghanistan in 1992, Slahi returned to Germany to complete his studies in electrical engineering. At this point, according to his own statements, he broke off all ties to al-Qaeda.

However, he came under the suspicion of the Verfassungsschutz (German secret service) in 1998 after US intelligence services intercepted a telephone call to his cousin Mahfouz Ould al-Walid, which the latter made from Osama bin Ladens telephone. However, this call only concerned his cousin asking Slahi to send money to his sick father.

The CIA subsequently falsely considered Slahi to be the chief recruiter for al-Qaeda in Germany. In addition, one of his relatives had been a member of the al-Qaeda leadership and had headed the organisations religious advisory body. However, he had left the organisation in protest against the planned attacks of September 11, 2001. From this point on, Slahi was apparently permanently in the crosshairs of the intelligence services.

Tahar Rahim and Jodie Foster in The Mauritanian

In 2001, he was arrested in Mauritania, where he had been living for a year and working as an electrical engineer. At the instigation of US security forces, he was interrogated for several weeks by Mauritanian officials and American intelligence agents. The interrogations were continued in Jordan and Afghanistan. From 2002 to 2016 he was then imprisoned in Guantanamo and subjected to cruel interrogations and torture.

The US intelligence services chose to view him as one of the masterminds of the 2001 September 11 attacks and sought to obtain non-existent information from him. He was tortured with solitary confinement, waterboarding, exposed to continuous noise, sexual harassment, sleep deprivation, bodily harm and threats of violence against his mother. Eventually he confessed to deeds he had never committed.

After his release, Slahi faced an odyssey between various German authorities. The foreign ministry approved a visa application, not least because he spoke fluent German and was a welcome guest at the German embassy in Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania, and was able to give lectures there. However, the federal interior ministry intervened against this.

Nevertheless, the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) has no findings indicating that Slahi poses a terrorist threat, that he spread Islamist ideology after his release or that he has been active in the Islamist scene in Germany over the past 20 years. The Administrative Court in Dusseldorf had obtained corresponding information from the BKA for the trial.

The city of Duisburg issued an indefinite entry ban against Slahi in 1999 for alleged benefit fraud. After his studies, he had applied for unemployment benefit and later founded a company without reporting thiserroneously, as he explainedto the Federal Employment Agency. A court then assessed this not as an administrative offence, but as an intentional criminal offence and imposed a six-month suspended prison sentence. Slahi was deported from Germany.

When he applied to the city of Duisburg in 2020, after more than 20 years, for a time limit to be set on the entry ban, the city ordered a further ban for 20 years. It justified this with the allegedly continuing threat of terrorism.

Slahi is now a Dutch and thus European Union citizen. He works as an author and wanted to travel to Duisburg for the premieres of his plays and award ceremonies. He also wanted to visit his wife, an American human rights lawyer, and his son living in Germany. But his application for family reunification was also rejected.
The central committee of Sri Lankas Frontline Socialist Party (FSP), a fake-left outfit, has issued a statement laced with anti-imperialist and anti-war demagogy. It unequivocally denounces the US war on Iran and calls for building a Global Peoples Power against the devastation of Imperialist War!

The FSP warns that rising tensions between nuclear powers have jeopardised the survival of the human race and the entire planet, insisting that international peoples power against imperialist warcentred on working-class leadershipis essential to defending humanitys future. It proposes global actions against the war.

This left-sounding rhetoric is intended to hoodwink workers and youth. The FSP is not calling for a unified anti-war and socialist movement based on the only social force capable of preventing warthe international working class. Rather it is proposing an international coalition of opportunist groupspseudo-lefts, Stalinist-Maoist outfits, and bourgeois nationalistsdressed up as Global Peoples Power. These are the organizations the FSP is closely associated with, some of which were invited to the FSPs congress held earlier this month.

These include:

Frances Pabloite New Anti-Capitalist Party (NPA), which backed the US-NATO proxy war in Ukraine against Russia and supported the pro-war National Popular Front led by France Unbowed in the 2024 elections.

Germanys Marxist-Leninist Party, an arch-Stalinist group, which equates Iranian retaliation with the war of aggression waged by US imperialism and Israel. It calls on all parties to stop the war, which in reality means siding with the US and Israel war criminals.

Italys Lotta Comunista and Nepals Scientific Socialist Communist Party are both Maoist formations and among the petty-bourgeois organizations that are international collaborators of the FSP.

The hallmark of these parties, like the FSP itself, is their opposition to the independent mobilization of the working class and the fight for socialism. They seek solutions within the global capitalist framework, dominated by imperialism.

Not surprisingly, the FSPs entire statement avoids the word socialism. Its politics, like those of its allies, revolve around futile protest movements to pressurise imperialist powers that only politically disarm the working class. The FSPs call for an international movement centred on the working class has only one meaningsubordinating workers to this pro-capitalist alliance.

The FSPs real orientation was underscored by its invitation to Cuban Ambassador Patricia Lasara, who delivered greetings from the Cuban Communist Party to the FSP congress. While invoking Fidel Castros stand against US threats, she represents a bourgeois Cuban regime that lurched sharply to the right after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 and opened up to global investorsa process now accelerating amid the Trump administrations threats of intervention.

FSP leader Duminda Nagamuwa at March 5 press conference organised by the Peoples Struggle Alliance [Photo: Facebook/Peoples Struggle Alliance]

FSP leader Duminda Nagamuwas remarks at a March 5 press conference, organized by the Peoples Struggle Alliance (PSA)a coalition led by the FSP that includes the Pabloite-linked Socialist Peoples Forum, the Maoist New Democratic Marxist-Leninist Party, trade union bureaucrats, and NGO activistsfurther expose its opportunist orientation.

Nagamuwa criticised the Sri Lankan government for failing to condemn US attacks on Gaza, sanctions on Cuba, the abduction of Venezuelas president, or the war on Iran, while also quickly voicing concerns over Irans attack on Saudi Arabia. He bemoaned the fact that the ruling Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and its National Peoples Power (NPP) has been tamed by US imperialism.

Yet Nagamuwa and the FSP have failed to denounce the JVP/NPP governments complicity in the US-Israeli war on Iran, including Colombos silence over the US sinking of Irans IRIS Dena off Sri Lankas south coast, drowning more than a hundred sailors.

Rather than exposing the JVP/NPPs alignment with Washington and Tel Aviv, he merely advised the government to be cautious: Do not take the side of the US or China; both are sitting at the ends of a seesaw; we are in danger. We are telling the government to follow a non-aligned approach in this war. That is the best thing at this time. He said that at the root of the war was US-China rivalry over control of oil in the Middle East.

The JVP/NPPs refusal to condemn the US-Israeli war on Iran is not merely its taming by imperialism. Emerging as a petty-bourgeois movement blending anti-imperialist rhetoric with Sinhala chauvinism, Castroism, and Maoism, the JVP has long promoted non-alignment. This policy, which the FSP now advises, is not anti-war nor anti-imperialist. It is simply an attempt to manoeuvre between imperialist powers that does nothing to halt wars.

First invoked in the 1960s by regimes in Indonesia, India, and Sri Lanka during the Cold War to play off US imperialism against the Soviet Union, non-alignment collapsed with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. India is now a frontline US strategic partner in its war drive against China, with which successive Colombo governments have also aligned, including the JVP/NPP since its 2024 election victory. By refusing to condemn the assault on Iran and aligning with the US and Israel, it has openly embraced the imperialist war drive.

An offshoot of a 2012 JVP split, the FSP continues this non-alignment fraud amid US imperialisms military preparations against China, of which its illegal war on Iran is a part. The Trump administration is using military force in an attempt to control oil and gas resources in the Middle East. To equate that with Chinas energy purchases is to cover up Washingtons neo-colonial war and its predatory aims.

China is not an imperialist power. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime ruled over a deformed workers state established after the 1949 Chinese Revolution. However, under the impact of the globalization of production in the 1980s, the CCP step-by-step dismantled the gains of the revolution, restored capitalism and opened up for massive foreign investment. Like Russia, it seeks accommodation within the global imperialist system.

Nagamuwa concluded by calling to oppose the imperialist American geopolitical policy as well as the religious extremism in Iran. This echoes the phony human rights propaganda that is used by the Trump administrations war against Iran. An independent working class movement must be built in Iran in opposition to the clerical regime, but only as part of the unambiguous defence of Iran, a historically oppressed country, against imperialist aggression.

The FSPs sham anti-imperialism and advice to the JVP/NPP to adopt non-alignment are of a piece with their function as defenders and apologists for the government. Since President Anura Kumara Dissanayakes 2024 election, the FSP hailed his regime as embodying peoples expectations. Its leaders have repeatedly said they defend the government from the defeated, discredited parties of the Colombo establishment.

The FSP pushes for peoples councils as building a power outside the parliament. These peoples councils are open to all capitalist parties. The task of this outside power is to pressurise the government in power to take people-friendly measures. In reality, FSP politics function to tie the working class and rural masses to a capitalist and parliamentary framework.

Its global peoples power is an extension of this nationalist policythat is, a popular front of various opportunist organisations internationally that collaborate with capitalist governments and bourgeois parties. The global actions it proposes are to appeal to imperialist powers to halt the war.

Workers and youth must reject the FSPs pro-capitalist politics and turn to revolutionary socialism to combat war and imperialism. Only the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), its sections, and the World Socialist Web Site advance such a program: immediate and unconditional cessation of US-Israeli operations against Iran; full US withdrawal from the Middle East and closure of all its bases; disbanding NATO and dismantling the US military-intelligence apparatus; repudiation of sanctions and economic warfare; full accountability for the wars architects; and defence of democratic rights.

These demands are not appeals to imperialism but require the independent political mobilization of the international working class, based on four principles: international working-class leadership; socialist opposition to finance capital and the profit system that breeds war; complete independence from all capitalist parties and organizations; and internationalism as the foundation of strategy.

We urge workers and youth to reject the FSPs opportunist policies and join the Socialist Equality Partys fight to build a mass revolutionary party and a genuine anti-war movement.
A disastrous blaze at an auto parts factory in Daejeon, South Korea killed 14 workers and injured 60 others, at least 25 seriously, last Friday. The tragedy again underscores the increasing corporate and official disregard for workers safety and lives internationally, especially in the auto industry.

Smoke rises from a massive fire at an auto parts plant in Daejeon, South Korea, March 20, 2026.

Video footage of the fire at the three-storey Anjun Industrial plant in South Koreas fifth-largest city showed people leaping from the first floor. Nam Deuk-woo, a local fire chief, told reporters that the fire had spread so quickly that by the time firefighters arrived, workers had already started jumping out of windows.

Some of the dead were so badly burned that DNA tests were needed to help identify their bodies. Nine of the 14 killed were reportedly found inside a third-floor space that had been used as a makeshift gym and rest area. Some of those injured suffered from smoke inhalation and others hurt themselves when they leapt from the building, emergency workers said.

As of Saturday morning, 28 workers were hospitalised and four of them underwent surgeries for broken bones and other injuries.

About 170 workers are believed to have been inside the factory when the fire was reported at 1:18 p.m. on Friday. It was not extinguished for nearly 24 hours, until Saturday afternoon, local time.

Firefighters were delayed in accessing the building because of fears it would collapse. They could not immediately spray water on to the blaze because sodiumwhich can explode when mixed with waterwas stored at the site. More than 200 kilograms of highly reactive chemicals were eventually removed from the plant.

Officials are still said to be investigating the cause of the blaze, but fire authorities reportedly suspect that oil residue and accumulated dust inside the factory contributed to the rapid spread of the fire, with witnesses reporting an explosion.

The Korea Herald reported that fire officials believe the flames erupted on the first floor before black smoke surged through a stairwell and into the upper levels within minutes. Residual cutting oil and grease coating machinery acted as accelerants, according to the article.

The rest area where nine victims were found together was not part of the original architectural plan, but had been built informally within the factorys interior, according to authorities. This layout may have narrowed evacuation routes and, with only a few windows on the side, limited airflow, the news outlet reported.

A fire official told the newspaper:

There were no windows on the front of the room, and only a single set along one wall, which meant ventilation was extremely poor. Once the fire broke out, smoke likely had no effective way to escape, and that structural limitation appears to have contributed to the scale of the casualties. There were also obstacles below the side windows, making it difficult for anyone to jump to safety.

This combination of hazardous materials, such as cutting oils and metalworking residues, and the illegal modifications points to this disaster being the result of systemic factors, rather than simply a terrible oneoff.

Anjun Industrial, a medium-sized subcontracting company, makes engine valves. According to its website, it is a supplier for the South Korean giants Hyundai and Kia, among others. Official records reportedly show no documented ownership/control relationship with them, and that Anjun established a US local subsidiary in 2009.

This is the deadliest fire at a factory in South Korea since 23 workers died at a lithium battery plant in Hwaseong, near Seoul, in 2024. It is part of a lethal pattern. More than 10,000 workers died on the job in South Korea from 2000 to 2024, according to official statistics.

This toll has continued despite claims by the Democratic Party administration of President Lee Jae Myung, in office since last June, to be taking measures to improve workplace safety.

Just last November, up to eight workers lost their lives in industrial accidents in a two-day period, when a power plant operated by the state-run Korea East West Power Company in Ulsan collapsed as it was being prepared for demolition by a subcontracting company, and toxic gas leaked at a POSCO steel plant in Pohang, located near Ulsan.

Government statistics report that deaths are increasingly concentrated at smaller worksites and firms. These are subcontracted on a lowest-bid basis by the chaebol giants like Hyundai and Kia as a means of slashing costs, and driving down workers wages and conditions, in order to boost their profits.

Studies of South Korean industrial safety have pointed to chronic issues: underresourced inspections, companies hiding or downplaying nonfatal accidents, and a gap between supposedly strict laws on paper and enforcement for compliance. Dangerous tasks are handed down to subcontractors that employ more vulnerable workers.

At Hyundai Steels Dangjin plant, for example, injury rates among subcontracted workers are up to ten times higher than for directly employed workers.

The Serious Accidents Punishment Act (SAPA), introduced in 2022, threatens company chiefs with at least one year in prison and fines up to 1 billion won if they fail to ensure safety and a serious accident occurs. In practice, however, from 2022 to 2024, only 15 executives have been convicted, almost all receiving suspended sentences of one to three years and relatively modest fines.

In numbers of cases, courts have acquitted main contractors under SAPA, ruling they had fulfilled safety obligations, effectively shifting legal responsibility to smaller subcontractors even where investigations found major sitelevel safety failures.

In a ritual exercise in damage control, President Lee visited the Anjun disaster site on Saturday afternoon, meeting with relatives of the victims and calling for safety measures to prevent the damaged structure from collapsing during search operations. He later travelled to a nearby hospital to visit injured workers.

Various investigations and safety reviews are said to be underway. The land ministry said it plans to reexamine building safety regulations, including those covering the illegally constructed rest room. The National Fire Agency and Labor Ministry said they will conduct emergency inspections of similar facilities nationwide.

Anjun chief executive Sohn Ju-hwan posted a statement on the companys website saying the firm would fully cooperate with authorities and implement all necessary measures to prevent a recurrence.

Given the past record of such official and employer inquiries, the only results will be whitewashes that shield the corporate elite.

The trade union bureaucracy is equally culpable for this record. After last Novembers workplace deaths, Labor Minister Kim Yeong-hun, a former head of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), claimed the government would proactively seek a compulsory investigation, including search and seizure, to thoroughly determine the causes.

Lee appointed Kim, who led the KCTU from 2010 to 2012, to his position. The KCTU, while posturing as militant, backs Lees Democratic Party, one of the two parties of big business in South Korea. The unions have called no strikes to defend workers lives or to oppose Lees pro-corporate administration.

Workers globally face the same issues. More than 5,000 workers are killed on the job in the United States every yeara figure that dramatically undercounts the toll when occupational illness is included. The auto industry has been among the most dangerous.

March 7 marked 11 months since 63-year-old Ronald Adams Sr. was killed at the Stellantis Dundee Engine Plant in Michigan. His widow, Shamenia Stewart-Adams, and co-workers have still received no official explanation of what happened. The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued no findings, and the United Auto Workers (UAW) has said nothing.

An independent investigation conducted by the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC), which presented its initial findings in July 2025, provided evidence of widespread safety violations by management, including a rush to complete the retooling of the engine plant. Far from opposing this, union officials, from UAW President Shawn Fain down, enforced these deadly conditions and joined in the corporate coverup afterwards.

Around the world, the building of rank-and-file committees in opposition to union collaboration with management is essential in the fight to assert workers control over safety and production. This must be connected to a political struggle, uniting the full power of workers across industries and national borders, to take control of the global auto industry and convert it into a public utility, as part of the socialist reorganisation of the world economy to protect workers lives and meet human need, not corporate profit and war.
WINDHOEK, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's Westair Group, a private aviation company, has implemented a fuel surcharge across its services due to ongoing global and regional pressures affecting fuel supply and prices.

In a statement on Monday, the group said that over the past weeks, due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, volatility in fuel availability, and sustained increases in fuel costs have placed significant pressure on the aviation industry worldwide.

The introduction of a fuel surcharge will allow the Westair Group to maintain its operational standards, route network, and service reliability, while continuing to provide safe and efficient air travel across Namibia and the region, the statement said.

"We remain committed to connecting Namibia and supporting the country's tourism and business sectors," said Henri van Schalkwyk, chief executive officer of the Westair Group. "This decision has not been taken lightly, but it is a necessary step to ensure that we can continue to operate sustainably in a challenging global environment."

The surcharge will be applied across applicable bookings effective March 23 and will be reviewed regularly in line with fuel price movements, he added.

The Westair Group's primary passenger operations, including FlyNamibia, FlyNamibia Safari and Westair Charters, provide essential air service across a variety of domestic and regional routes. 
In a significant but limited judicial check on the Trump administrations vaccine counterrevolution, U.S. District Judge Brian E. Murphy issued a preliminary injunction on March 16 halting sweeping rollbacks to the nations immunization policies. Ruling in American Academy of Pediatrics et al. v. Kennedy, the judge stayed implementation of the January 5 Kennedy schedule and froze the appointments of 13 recently installed members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). By staying all votes taken by the unlawfully reconstituted committee, the order effectively forces the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to temporarily restore the pre-Kennedy childhood immunization recommendations.

Operating under President Donald Trumps fascist agenda, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been implementing his long-standing anti-vaccine, anti-science crusade, seeking to dismantle the scientific and procedural machinery behind US vaccination policy. The ruling delivers a sharp rebuke of that project, which aims to systematically gut the countrys evidence-based immunization infrastructure. In his 45-page opinion, Murphy excoriated the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for bypassing established scientific procedures and stacking ACIP with individuals lacking meaningful vaccine expertise. This legal setback temporarily obstructs Kennedys calculated effort to convert the once-independent advisory committee into a political instrument designed to legitimize his anti-vaccine agenda.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., speaks in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, as President Donald Trump, left, and Mehmet Oz, administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, look on. [AP Photo/Alex Brandon]

Murphy systematically dismantled the procedural pretenses of Kennedys anti-vaccine campaign. The court found that plaintiffs are highly likely to succeed in proving that the unilateral January 5 schedule memorandum and the series of engineered 2025 ACIP votes violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and were arbitrary and capricious. Murphy further ruled that the wholesale purge and ideological restocking of ACIP violated the mandate of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) for balanced expertise, writing that Kennedys conduct highlights the very reasons why procedures exist and raises a substantial likelihood that the newly appointed ACIP fails to comport with governing law.

The opinions central legal finding is that federal vaccine decisions must be governed by a method scientific in nature and codified into law through procedural requirements. By discarding decades of established protocols, the administration disregarded those methods and thereby undermined the integrity of its actions. Murphy explicitly rejected HHSs argument that the secretary possesses sweeping discretionary authority to unilaterally rewrite vaccine schedules, writing, Congress has spoken directly to the CDCs immunization schedules and has required ACIPs specific involvement. Most strikingly, HHS lawyers argued in court that even if the administration ordered people to seek out measles infections rather than vaccinate against them, that decision would be beyond any judicial review. The judge flatly rejected that position.

The ruling lays bare the transformation of ACIP into a captured, politicized body. As previously reported in the WSWS, Kennedy fired all 17 standing ACIP members in June 2025 and replaced them with loyalists drawn from outside the mainstream of vaccinology. Murphys review of the new appointees credentials was damning: of the 15 current members, only six have any meaningful experience in vaccines, the committees core function. Six others appear to have no relevant expertise in vaccines or immunization whatsoever. The remaining three have some background that touches on the field but falls well short of the specialized knowledge ACIPs own charter requires.

The absence of any rigorous appointment process compounded these deficiencies. Historically, ACIP membership selection took approximately two years, involving broad solicitation, submission of curricula vitae and letters of recommendation, ethics disclosures and in-depth review by ACIPs Steering Committee. Murphy found that the entire reconstitution took less than four monthswith only two days between Kennedys mass termination of prior members and the announcement of the first replacement cohort. No Federal Register notice was issued, and the established year-round online application process was bypassed entirely. The court concluded that this ad hoc outreach fails to comply with the spirit or letter of the FACA regulations. The APA and allied medical organizations further alleged that the new committees conduct at each of the three 2025 meetings was riddled with inaccuracies, with members and invited speakers making dozens of false or misleading claims before each vote.

The ruling documents the full sequence of Kennedys assault: his unilateral May 2025 directive stripping COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women; three engineered ACIP votes cutting the schedule from 17 vaccine-preventable diseases to 11; and the January 2026 secretarial decree issued without any ACIP involvement. Each step bypassed the evidence-based, public deliberative process that the applicable laws require.

Murphy ordered a remedy that is sweeping for an advisory committee dispute. The injunction stays the January 2026 schedule, stays the appointments of all 13 ACIP members installed since June 2025, and explicitly stays all votes taken by that captured panel. Since a committee cannot function without nearly the entirety of its membership, the ruling effectively bars the current ACIP from convening or issuing further recommendations while the case proceeds. The court declined, however, to rule on the May 2025 COVID-19 directive, finding that the threshold questions of mootness and finality were insufficiently resolved at this preliminary stage.

The working class must have no illusions, however, that the judiciary has saved public health. The capitalist courts remain an unreliable bulwark either for science or democratic rights. On the very same day Murphy issued his vaccine ruling, a federal appeals court overturned another of his decisions that had briefly blocked the Trump administrations draconian immigration deportations. As the administration prepares its inevitable appeal, the far-right Supreme Court stands ready to protect the Trump-Kennedy agenda. The defense of science and public health rests ultimately on the independent political mobilization of the working class.

It is essential to recognize what Murphys ruling does and does not do. The opinion does not evaluate the clinical efficacy of any contested vaccinethe MMR vaccine, the hepatitis B birth dose, or mRNA COVID-19 shots. It is strictly confined to administrative method and procedural compliance. This reveals a central political reality: Even when a federal judge sides with medical organizations against the far-right administration, the defense rests entirely on technocratic, procedural grounds. The capitalist judiciary is structurally incapable of advancing a defense of public health as an inalienable social right.

The working class must also reject any narrative that portrays the pre-Kennedy status quo as a golden age of public health. The medical organizations bringing this lawsuit did so not to oppose the broader, bipartisan dismantling of pandemic mitigation and healthcare access, but only intervened to halt the most naked abuses threatening the whole structure of mass vaccination as a social policy. Murphys ruling ultimately defends the technocratic capitalist status quo rather than advancing a genuinely democratic, fully funded and needs-based public health system. Mainstream medical groups have consistently acquiesced to the erosion of universal healthcare accessthe very structural fragility that makes Kennedys targeted assault on vaccine infrastructure so dangerous.

The epidemiological context in which this ruling arrives could not be more dire. As of March 19, the CDC reports 1,487 confirmed measles cases across 32 jurisdictions, with 94 percent linked to outbreaks. Less than three months into 2026, case counts have already eclipsed every annual total since 2019, fueled by large outbreaks seeded in 2025. Ninety-two percent of cases involve individuals who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown.

The burden falls disproportionately on the young, with 21 percent of cases in children under 5, and 53 percent in youth aged 5 to 19, while adults account for the remaining 26 percent. The CDC currently reports 74 hospitalizations and zero deaths, but those figures almost certainly undercount the true toll. Reporting requirements have been disregarded and selectively reinterpreted by state health departments, including South Carolina, yet the CDC has not publicly addressed that contradiction.

That gap is thrown into sharp relief by the 2024 data: that year, the CDC recorded a 40 percent hospitalization rate when counting both isolation admissions and admissions for complicationsfar above what current figures would suggest. Harrowing data from neighboring countries reinforces the concern. Mexico has recorded 13,855 confirmed cases and 35 deaths, while Canada has recently lost its measles elimination status. Definitional shifts, reporting lags, and cross-border spread point to substantially higher real-world morbidity and a genuine risk that measles becomes permanently reestablished in the US population.

Sowing confusion about the immunization schedule in the middle of a historic measles resurgence is homicidally reckless. It exposes the underlying bankruptcy of a capitalist system that has allowed vital public health infrastructure to erode and primary care to fragment, leaving working class populations without adequate protection. The state apparatus is now litigating over how rapidly it can further slash universally recommended vaccines, with the judiciary intervening only when procedural violations become too egregious to ignore.

Murphys preliminary injunction delivers a significant short-term blow to the Trump-Kennedy agenda, but HHS has signaled its intent to appeal, aiming to push the case into a reactionary appellate structure and ultimately before a Supreme Court that has consistently deferred to executive power and is hostile to any constraints on the administrations agenda.

Workers, clinicians and communities cannot entrust their health and safety to the capitalist courts. The judiciary will defend procedural norms when convenient, but invariably sides with the state and corporate elite when core class interests are at stake. While the injunction exposes the administrations lawlessness and temporarily protects children from preventable disease, it does not alter who controls health policy. For instance, the hepatitis B birth dose that Kennedys ACIP voted to effectively eliminate helped drive a 99 percent reduction in infant infections since 1990. That is the progress now under assault. Its genuine defense requires the independent political mobilization of the working class against the capitalist system itself.
The following statement was drafted by healthcare workers in Greeley, Colorado in support of 3,800 meatpacking workers currently on strike against JBS.

A section of the over 1,000 workers who picketed Tuesday morning outside the JBS plant in Greeley, Colorado, March 17, 2026.

We are a group of local healthcare workers who stand in unwavering solidarity with the JBS workers who are courageously striking for safety and fair treatment on the job. Every day in our workplaces, we witness the human consequences of unsafe working conditions, economic uncertainty, and policies that value profit above people. Our support is grounded in what we see and hear at our Greeley clinics and hospitals. We know that when workers in one sector stand up, it strengthens all workers.

The conditions faced by JBS workers are inextricably linked to the conditions we face in healthcare. The same economic pressures that lead to dangerous line speeds, inadequate safety protections, and a lack of proper PPE and equipment in the past are mirrored in our own workplaces through chronic understaffing and cuts to essential services. Medical reductions, the closure of rural hospitals, and the erosion of patient care standards all stem from the same prioritization of profit over the wellbeing of workers and those we serve.

This is a shared struggle that cuts across political and economic divides. Whether in a hospital or a meatpacking plant, we are being asked to do more with less, often at great personal cost. Attempts to divide us by industry, by immigration status, by race, or by political affiliation, only serve to weaken our collective power. When JBS workers are demanding safer conditions and fair treatment, they are also advancing the broader fight for a society where workers are respected and protected.

Our solidarity is also informed by firsthand knowledge. We have treated workers and their families and have seen the realities behind the headlines. We have cared for patients living in overcrowded and unsafe housing conditions that exacerbate illness and make recovery difficult. We have encountered workers who tell they have significant sick time or fear retaliation.

We have known workers who faced threats of termination when they needed to be present at the hospital for a partners high-risk pregnancy or a childs serious illness. We have seen firsthand the stress and indignity caused by JBS managements harassment of workers over the legitimacy of medical excuse notes we have provided to them to support their attendance.

These are not isolated incidents. They have systemic causes that demand action. As healthcare workers, we take an oath to protect health and preserve life. That commitment does not end at the hospital door. It extends into our communities and the broader systems that determine peoples ability to live healthy, dignified lives.

We call on fellow workers, unions, community members and leaders across all sectors to stand with JBS workers in their fight.

Solidarity is not just symbolic; it is a necessary condition for a meaningful change. When we stand together, we have the power to challenge the structures that harm us and to build a future rooted in health, safety and respect for all. We stand with JBS workers because what theyre fighting for affects all of us, and its something we can only achieve by standing together.
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Iranian Red Crescent emergency workers use a bulldozer to clear rubble from a residential building that was hit in an earlier U.S.-Israeli strike in Tehran, Iran, Monday, March 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) [AP Photo]

On Saturday evening, United States President Donald Trump posted an ultimatum on his social media platform that must be recognized for what it is: a threat of genocidal violence against a nation of 90 million people, backed by the explicit threat to obliterate the infrastructure upon which their lives depend. If Iran doesnt FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS, Trump wrote, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST.

This is an act of political criminality without precedent in the post-World War II era. The only historical comparison that can be made is the ultimatum issued by the Truman administration to Japan in August 1945 after it dropped nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. There is no other government in modern history that has issued so explicit a threat to destroy the foundational life-support systems of an entire civilian population as a condition of political submission.

Iran operates over 110 power generation facilities. Even their partial elimination would trigger a cascade of humanitarian catastrophe that would unfold across days, weeks and months. Within 72 hours, hospitals would lose power, placing thousands of patients on life support, dialysis and ventilators in immediate mortal danger. Within days, water pumping and sewage treatment systems would fail across the country, creating the conditions for mass outbreaks of cholera, typhoid and dysentery.

Trump did not specify what he meant by the biggest one, but the largest power plant in Iran by capacity is the Damavand Combined Cycle Power Plant2,868 megawatts of generating capacity, located 35 kilometres southeast of central Tehran, the primary electrical hub for a capital city. Approximately ten million people would lose power simultaneously.

There is also the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, Irans only operating commercial reactor, located on the Gulf coast. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi has already warned that a direct strike on Bushehr could result in a very high release of radioactivity into the environment with consequences extending far beyond Iran. But a direct strike is not even required to trigger catastrophe.

The IAEA has identified a second, equally devastating mechanism: the destruction of the two main power lines supplying electricity to the facility would cause the reactor core to melt, triggering a catastrophic failure of the plants critical safety systems. Even without a nuclear meltdown, a strike on the Bushehr plant could cause a radiation leak into the Persian Gulf, which would contaminate the drinking water supply for millions of people throughout the region.

Iran has responded to the ultimatum by stating that if its power plants are struck, the Strait of Hormuz will be completely closed and will not reopen until the destroyed infrastructure is rebuilt. All Israeli and US energy infrastructure across the region has been declared a legitimate target. The Gulf stateswhose populations depend on desalination plants for 99 percent of their drinking water, plants that run on electricityface a humanitarian catastrophe of their own.

The ultimatum follows a definite logic. The war began as a decapitation strikean assassination campaign aimed at breaking Iran by murdering its leadership. It then escalated into relentless bombardment of cities and infrastructure, the destruction of air defenses, and attacks on shipping and naval assets around the Strait of Hormuz. These measures have not achieved their objectives. The United States and Israel have confronted determined resistance, which has driven the escalation to ever more extreme and openly criminal forms.

Destroying Irans power grid will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Three weeks of bombing have struck more than 8,000 targets, destroyed or damaged over 120 naval vessels and killed dozens of senior officialsand the strait remains closed. Reopening the strait will require ground troops, and those troops are already on the way. The USS Tripoli, carrying 2,200 Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, is arriving in the Arabian Sea as of this weekend. A second amphibious group, the USS Boxer, carrying 2,500 Marines, has departed San Diego. A third MEU is also en route. In total, roughly 7,500 Marines are steaming toward the war zoneforces configured for direct combat operations on Iranian soil.

More broadly, the war against Iran marks a new stage in a decades-long effort by American imperialism to offset the declining position of American capitalism through relentless violence. The strategic aim is to reestablish conditions of colonial domination through terror and conquest. This is not simply the product of Trumps mind, any more than the recklessness and criminality of the Nazi regime sprang solely from Hitlers psychology. It arises from the objective crisis of capitalism and the determination of a ruling class to preserve its power.

In that framework, there is no line the perpetrators will not cross. The normalization of threats to obliterate civilian infrastructureand the deliberate courting of a radiological catastrophe in the Persian Gulfraises the prospect that the United States and Israel will resort to still more extreme measures, including the use of nuclear weapons.

Commenting on the use of nuclear weapons at the end of the Second World War, historian Gabriel Jackson wrote:

In the specific circumstances of August 1945, the use of the atom bomb showed that a psychologically very normal and democratically elected chief executive could use the weapon just as the Nazi dictator would have used it. In this way, the United Statesfor anyone concerned with moral distinctions in the conduct of different types of governmentblurred the difference between fascism and democracy.

This observation takes on a new significance in relation to the war against Iran. The issue is not only the criminality of the threats now being issued, but the fact that they do not encounter any significant opposition from within the established political structure. This is itself a devastating exposure of the advanced breakdown of American democracy and the convergence of imperialist violence abroad with authoritarianism at home.

No major political figure in the United Statesnot a senator, not a governor, not a single leader of the Democratic Partyhas condemned the threat to obliterate the energy infrastructure of a nation of 90 million people. Neither Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez nor Senator Bernie Sanders has issued a statement.

On the Sunday talk shows, the deliberate destruction of a nations power grid was discussed purely as a tactical question. Not a single guest on any of the shows used the words war crime, international law, Geneva Convention, collective punishment, civilian infrastructure or illegal.

This silence reflects the degree to which the entire political establishment, across party lines, has accepted the framework of American imperial violence as the natural order of international affairs. Former Democratic National Committee (DNC) chair Donna Brazile declared: Democrats understand that Iran has posed a threat, not just to the region, the Gulf, but to the world itself.

No war has been declared by Congress. No authorization for the use of military force has been voted on. The president of the United States has, on his sole authority, been waging war for four weeks, and now threatens, again on his sole authority, to destroy the entire energy infrastructure of a sovereign nation. In any democratic system, this would raise the necessity for the removal of Trump from office. And there is not a single significant voice in the political establishment raising it.

The New York Times editorial board, speaking for the Democratic Party, published a lengthy critique of Trumps conduct of the war this weekend. The editorial argues that Trump has misrepresented Irans nuclear capability and concealed the crisis affecting US munitions production. But the Times editorial board is at pains to establish, before offering any criticism, that there is a reasonable debate to have about the wisdom of this war, and that Trump could make a fact-based argument for confronting the regime now.

The Times objection is not that the war is a crime. It is that Trump has not made a sufficiently coherent case for it.

The corporate media, the Democratic Party and the Republican Party speak for the same financial oligarchy. Their common premise is that American imperialism has the right to impose its will through unlimited violence, and that the lives of millions of human beings are expendable.

There exists immense opposition to this war among workers and youth in the United States and throughout the world. The question is whether this opposition will be transformed into a conscious movement with a strategy and perspective.

On March 28, demonstrations are being held under the banner of No Kings, following two major protests last year. At the very center of every protest must be the demand for an end to the war against Iran. No to the US-Israeli war of extermination against Iran! No to the broader assault on the Middle East, including the genocide in Gaza! Any movement that treats war as secondary, or avoids naming it directly, leaves intact the principal mechanism through which the ruling class is driving toward dictatorship and catastrophe.

A movement against war cannot be built through appeals to Congress, to the Democratic Party, or to the corporate press that has normalized extermination. It must be built by bringing the fight against war into the workplaces and industries that make society run: the ports, logistics hubs, refineries, rail networks, manufacturing plants, schools, and hospitals.

Trumps ultimatum is not merely a threat against Iran. It is a warning to the whole world of what the ruling class is prepared to do to maintain its power. It must be answered not with appeals to the institutions complicit in these crimes, but with the mobilization of the immense social power of the working class. The fight to end the war must be placed at the center of the developing struggles over wages, jobs, living standards and democratic rights. The struggle against war is inseparable from the struggle against dictatorship and the capitalist system that produces both. The alternative to barbarism is the independent, international, socialist mobilization of the working class.
BEIRUT, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Israeli forces attacked an apartment in the Hazmieh area in the southeast of Beirut on Monday afternoon, the National News Agency reported. 
Former reality TV star Joseph Duggar is facing new charges in his home state of Arkansas amid a charge for child molestation hes currently facing in Florida. Police in Tontitown, Arkansas, have charged Duggar and wife, Kendra Duggar, with four counts of child endangerment and four counts of false imprisonment.

Joseph Duggar, 31 (Courtesy: Washington County Detention Center)

Joseph Duggar, 31, is currently being held in the Washington County Detention Center in Arkansas for the Florida case. He was arrested on Wednesday.

Jill Duggar Dillard responds to her brothers arrest for alleged child sex crimes

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The Duggars charges in Arkansas are unrelated to Josephs case in Florida, police say. However, officials say this separate investigation was launched on the heels of the alleged incident in Florida.

In Florida, Joseph Duggar is already facing charges of child molestation and lewd and lascivious behavior. The charges stem from an alleged 2020 incident where he inappropriately touched a 9-year-old girl. He was arrested in Tontitown, where the family lives, on March 18 in connection with that case.

Tontitown Police at Duggar Compound Tontitown Police at Duggar Compound

Joseph Duggars booking shows he has a court date for his Arkansas charges on April 29 in Elm Springs District Court. Kendra Duggar, meanwhile, was arrested Friday, the New York Times confirmed. Together, Joseph and Kendra have four children, with the oldest being 7 years old. Kendra was released on a $1,470 bond on Friday, NYT says. Joseph remains in the Washington County Detention Center.

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Joseph rose to reality TV fame as part of the TLC series 19 Kids and Counting, which aired from Sept. 2008 to May 2015. While Kendra did not appear in the show, she appeared alongside Joseph in its spinoff, Counting On, which aired on TLC from 2015 to 2020.

Did you know? Driving above the speed limit uses more gas

But this isnt the first time the Duggar family has faced troubles related to alleged crimes against children. Back in 2021, Josephs older brother Josh Duggar, 38, was convicted of receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material, for which hes currently serving a 12 and a half year prison sentence.

On Friday, Joseph waived his right to an extradition hearing in Arkansas and now faces a transfer to Florida for the child molestation case, Associated Press reports.

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Local police said this remains an active and ongoing investigation. Due to the involvement of minor victims, officials say no further details will be released at this time.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
This article contains spoilers for "Project Hail Mary."

We love a good crossover  and sometimes those multi-story events happen where we least expect them. That's the case with a curious connection between the outstanding "Project Hail Mary" and another famous IP: "Star Trek." Back in 2016, NASA published an article pointing out that Spock's homeworld, the fictional planet of Vulcan, is located in a very real and close-by star system: 40 Eridani. The system contains three stars, including the massive dwarf star the system is named after.

It's located just 16.5 light-years away, and when the news was first published, the chief scientist of NASA's Exoplanet Exploration Program, Karl Stapelfeldt, kept hope of a real Vulcan alive when he said, "Could there be an Earth-like planet in this system? We have no way of knowing that now." At the time, he explained why they weren't aware of a planet in the system, saying, "We don't yet have a way to detect it, but NASA is working on the technology to make it possible."

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The connection to "Project Hail Mary" here is simple. 40 Eridani is the home system of everyone's favorite mineral-based alien, Rocky. That's where the "Project Hail Mary" story ends, too  albeit without any Vulcans involved.

Read more: 14 Times Star Trek Broke The Mold

Are Rocky and Spock from the same planet?

Grace in space above the green glow of planet Adrian in Project Hail Mary - Amazon Studios

Crossover potential aside, if Rocky and Spock are from the same star system, another obvious question is: Are they from the same planet? Sadly, probably not, if only due to the logistical aspects involved. At first glance, it seems like the home planet could be one and the same. In its 2016 report, NASA pointed out in relation to Mr. Spock's world, "Vulcan is perched on the inner edge, lending the world its imagined desert-like quality..."

This seems to jive with the fact that Rocky's planet is hot due to its proximity to its star. But the devil is in the details. In reality, Rocky's planet is very close to its sun. Too close for Vulcan lifestyle  or humanoid life in general  to exist. Rocky's planetary temperature is a balmy 210C (that's over 400F). His home world is also very big, giving it a gravitational pull over twice that of Earth's. The kicker? Eridanians from Rocky's planet breathe ammonia, not oxygen, something that's briefly hinted at in the movie. In the novel, the planet's unique atmospheric makeup also means it has basically no light at ground level. To top it off, in a cruel twist of fate, after kindling hope of a Vulcan home world, in 2024, NASA devastated Trekkie hopes when it revealed that what many had hoped was the science officer Spock's home world was nothing more than an astronomical illusion. While Rocky's planet has yet to be similarly debunked, we know for sure that Vulcan doesn't exist at this point, making the two friendly aliens only neighbors in fiction.

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"Project Hail Mary" is in theaters now.

If you're looking for the easiest way to keep up with all the major movie and TV news, why not sign up to our free newsletter? You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google.

Read the original article on SlashFilm.
Personal branding encompasses more than just a polished biography or a LinkedIn headline. It represents a consistent theme that reflects how an individual works, the problems they solve, and the issues they are often approached to help with. The challenge is that many people are too close to their own stories to view them objectively. They often underestimate their natural strengths and instead pursue paths that seem impressive to others. A well-structured ChatGPT prompt can be genuinely beneficial in this process. By acting as a thinking partner, ChatGPT can help identify patterns, refine language, and provide clarity that typically takes years of reflection to achieve.

Here are three prompts you might find worth trying.

ChatGPT Prompt 1: Map The Patterns You've Stopped Noticing

To begin, create a brief list of your experiences. Include recent job roles, side projects, volunteer work, and even common frustrations you've encountered. Next, reflect on this list by asking yourself: What recurring themes do I notice? What types of problems do I find myself consistently drawn to solving? "What do people often say I'm good at?"

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You can also ask follow-up questions to explore these themes more deeply.

"What strengths appear repeatedly across these examples?"

"What does this suggest about the type of impact I'm most oriented toward creating?"

"If you had to identify the single thread connecting all of this, what would it be?"

A high school student who has tutored classmates, led peer study sessions, and organized a school fundraiser may easily recognize a common theme: a commitment to helping peers gain confidence in their learning.

One important caveat: ChatGPT can only work with what its given. The accuracy of its output depends entirely on the specificity of the input. Vague summaries yield vague results: the more concrete the details, the more specific the projects, and the more measurable the outcomes, the more useful the reflection.

ChatGPT Prompt 2: Turn Self-Knowledge Into Language That Sticks

Identifying a pattern is one thing; articulating it so that others understand is much more difficult. Most personal brand statements either come across as generic ("I'm passionate about helping people") or too narrow and limiting.

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ChatGPT functions well as a drafting tool. After identifying themes in Prompt 1, ask:

"Based on these themes, write three different personal brand statements with distinct tones, one that's direct and practical, one that's mission-driven, and one that emphasizes expertise. Then identify which elements feel most accurate."

Useful follow-up prompts include:

"Make this more specific without overstating it."

"Remove any language that sounds like a job description."

"Rewrite this to focus on the outcomes I help create, not just what I do."

A teenager engaged in environmental initiatives and peer education may evolve from being a "high school student interested in sustainability" to becoming a "teen actively building community-based programs that make environmental action practical and accessible for young people." A professional in operations might shift from "project manager with 12 years of experience" to "someone who helps growing teams build systems that don't break under pressure that comes with growth."

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A survey by a career research firm found that 98% of employers search candidates online before making hiring decisions, and 54% have passed on candidates based on what they found, or didn't find. The language someone uses to describe themselves publicly shapes how they get evaluated before any conversation takes place.

Most people need several rounds of refinement before the language feels right. Thats normal. A single prompt won't produce a final answer. Trying a version, adjusting it, testing it in real conversations, and seeing what resonates, that's the actual process.

ChatGPT Prompt 3: Audit Your Current Commitments Against What You've Just Clarified

Here's where most people stop. They do the reflection, they like what they found, and then nothing changes.

The audit prompt exists for exactly that reason. Once there's a working personal brand statement in hand, the next question isn't philosophical; it's practical. Does how I spend my time match what I just said I'm building?

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Ask ChatGPT:

"Based on this personal brand statement, which of my current commitments strengthen it, which are neutral, and which actively dilute it?"

Then keep going:

"What types of opportunities should I start saying no to?"

"What would it look like to publicly demonstrate this brand in a small and low-stakes manner?"

"Where am I spending time that contradicts this direction?"

What tends to come up surprises people. A consultant who just identified "operational clarity" as her core theme realizes shes been writing LinkedIn posts about leadership culture, a topic she finds vague and unconvincing even as she writes them. A teenager who identified a genuine interest in food access noticed he joined the debate team because a college counselor suggested it, not because he wanted to.

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The audit measures whether the pattern of daily choices adds up to something recognizable over time.

That's harder than it sounds. People have reasons for every commitment on their calendar. Good reasons, usually. The prompt is asking people to honestly assess whether the whole picture still makes sense given what they now know about themselves.

How To Use ChatGPT To Apply This Today

Reading about prompts is one thing. Using them is another. Here's how to actually do this in the next 30 minutes.

Step 1. Open ChatGPT and start a fresh conversation. Write out five to eight experiences from the past two to three yearsnot job titles, but actual experiences. This could include a project that went well, something a colleague unexpectedly thanked you for, a problem you solved that others found difficult, a volunteer role, or a side project. Paste them in and run Prompt 1. Read the response carefully and push back on anything that feels off.

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Step 2. Once a theme starts to feel accurate, move to Prompt 2. Run all three versions of the brand statement and take a screenshot of the one that feels most honest. Not most impressive. Most honest.

Step 3. Take that statement and open your calendar. Run Prompt 3. Look at the next 30 days and identify one commitment that doesnt belong. One is enough to start.

The goal of this exercise is to create a personal brand statement that is specific enough to guide decision-making, clear enough to articulate aloud, and authentic enough to express without feeling like youre performing. While using ChatGPT alone may not get you all the way there, using it intentionally can certainly aid in the process.
Warning: This post mentions suicide.

As someone who loves trivia, nothing sets me off like hearing someone confidently share a historical *myth*. 

1. Myth: Marie Antoinette said, "Let them eat cake," reflecting her disregard for the starving lower class.

Deepblue4you / Getty Images

2. Myth (maybe): The Underground Railroad used quilts to communicate routes and safe houses.

Steve Dunning / Getty Images

3. Myth: Penicillin was discovered via mold on a sandwich.

Md Saiful Islam Khan / Getty Images

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Related: These 21 Historical Figures Are So Famous, Literally Everyone Knows Their Names  But Most People Can't Identify Them From A Photo

4. Myth (kind of): The US dropped nuclear bombs on Japan to force a quick end to World War II.

Science & Society Picture Library / Getty Images

5. Myth (kind of): The Founding Fathers and the framers of the Constitution were Christian.

Christine_kohler / Getty Images

6. Myth: More than 900 people died in a mass murder-suicide after drinking cyanide-laced Kool-Aid.

Federal Bureau of Investigation / Via commons.wikimedia.org

Related: People Are Discussing The Historical Facts That Are So Heartbreaking They've Stuck With Them Forever, And I Think I Could Cry

7. Myth: The first Thanksgiving took place in Plymouth, Massachussetts.

The Good Brigade / Getty Images

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8. Myth: Christopher Columbus  and people of his era  thought the Earth was flat.

Fotograzia / Getty Images

9. Myth (partly): The Great Hunger, aka the Potato Famine, happened exclusively because the potato crop failed.

Ekaterina Savyolova / Getty Images

10. Myth: The Emancipation Proclamation freed all slaves.

Smartstock / Getty Images

Related: 17 Classic '90s Cartoons That Only People Born Between 19811999 Can Identify From A Single Image

11. Myth: The first Asian settlers in the US hailed from China.

Jaimie Tuchman / Getty Images

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12. Myth (kind of): Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white man.

Don Cravens / Getty Images

13. Myth: The Boston Tea Party was formed to protest a new tax on tea.

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Are there any historical myths that drive you bonkers? Share them in the comments or the anonymous form below!

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The Jacksonville Humane Society will host its annual Mutt March on April 12 at the University of North Florida with a goal to raise $100,000 for local animal welfare.

Sunday, March 22, marks the final day for participants to register at the early bird rate of $30 before the fee increases.

The event is recognized as the largest pet walk and festival in northeast Florida. All proceeds from the fundraiser support the nearly 11,000 animals that the Jacksonville Humane Society cares for each year.

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Registration for the Mutt March is currently $30 per person through March 22. On March 23, the individual registration fee will increase to $40. Participants have the option to add an event T-shirt for $20 during the sign-up process.

Those who cannot attend the walk but still wish to support the cause can make direct donations to the society online.

The event will run from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Hodges Stadium, located at 1 South UNF Drive.

JHS noted that dogs are not required to attend for a person to participate in the walk.

Beyond the pet walk, the festival includes various family-oriented activities and music. Attendees can shop at booths from local vendors, enter a chance raffle and participate in a silent auction.

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All proceeds benefit the animals cared for by the organization.

To register for the Mutt March, CLICK HERE.

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This story, Black Bear Turns Man-Eater, appeared in the June 1963 issue of Outdoor Life.

It never entered my mind on that September day that I was seeing my friend Thurman Thompson alive for the last time.

He had come into Biscotasing, a village on the Canadian Pacific Railway about 100 miles northwest of Sudbury, Ontario, from his cabin on Biscotasi Lake six miles or so to the south. Thompson was making a few last-minute purchases at the one general store before closing his place for the winter and returning to his home in Cleveland, Ohio.

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I met him on the store steps, and we chatted for a few minutes about his plans and his pending departure. Then the talk switched to bears. The berry crop had been almost a total failure that summer of 1961, and the bears had grown unusually bold in their search for food. Thompson had seen two or three around his place, and he remarked that they were showing less and less caution, coming close to the cabin to poke around for garbage.

Wildlife photography was one of his hobbies, and he had hoped for years to get a chance to make some good close-up movies of a bear.

Im taking more film back to camp with me, he said. Ill have some real bear pictures to show you next summer.

Dont get too close, I warned him. Theyre short of food and pretty hungry. You might run into one thats looking for a fight.

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The bear population in our part of Ontario had been building up to troublesome levels for years. More and more often they were breaking into hunting camps and cabins, smashing out windows, ransacking cupboards, and making off with anything edible. Even in hunting season, when the camps were occupied, they had several times broken in during daylight, while the hunters were out in the woods, to get at food supplies. And any moose left hanging within their reach overnight was almost sure to be worked on.

Nobody expected any serious trouble, but Ive lived in the woods most of my life and seen enough bear behavior to know that they are completely unpredictable. Wary and shy most of the time but now and then amazingly bold, theyre quick to shake their fear of man once they get used to him, clowning one minute and flying into a red rage the next. Nobody knows what to expect of them. I doubt even the bear himself knows. A hungry one is likely to be mean, and if hes crowded or crossed, he can turn downright vicious quicker than you can tell it. It was with those things in mind that I urged Thompson to be careful.

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He nodded agreement, but I could see that he didnt take my warning too seriously.

Any bear Ive ever met, he said with a chuckle, was a lot more afraid of me than I was of him.

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A few minutes later he walked down to the dock with his supplies, cranked up his 25-horsepower outboard, and waved goodbye. He swung away and headed down the lake, gathering speed. I hope he had no inkling of what was in store for him.

I run two hunting and fishing camps in the roadless Ontario bush along the Canadian Pacific Railway northwest of Sudbury, one at Metagama, the other at Biscotasing, both whistle-stop villages.

Thompson, an apartment-house manager in Shaker Heights, a suburb of Cleveland, had started coming to my Metagama camp several years before. He had a strong urge to get away from the city as often as he could, and delighted in fishing, camping, and living in the woods. Because of our location, in unspoiled country well away from any highway, the fishing for northern pike, walleyes, and trout is exceptionally good, and he found exactly what he was looking for. His wife Jo enjoyed the bush as much as he did.

After a number of annual visits, the two of them decided to pick a spot on Biscotasi Lake and build a cabin of their own. They chose a secluded location on Descheney Bay about six miles from the village and equally far from the nearest neighbors, and put up a comfortable cabin, set among pines and birches, with a fine view and good fishing literally in their front yard.

He knocked again and when there was still no answer he shouted a few times. Finally, he pushed the door open and looked in.

By 1961, although he was only 62, Thurman had retired because of ill health, and he had spent most of that summer at the cabin. He and his wife had stayed three or four weeks and returned to Cleveland, and then he came back by himself for a six-week stay that would extend into the early fall.

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It was on Wednesday, September 27, that I saw him in the village. Moose season was due to open on Saturday, and I had a number of hunting parties coming in. By way of having everything ready, and also to avoid overloading the boats at the last minute, I make it a practice to send heavy supplies, such as food and gas, to my hunting camps back in the bush a day or so ahead of time.

On Friday morning, one of my guides, Baldy St. Denis, left Biscotasing with a boatload of supplies for a party that would hunt on Indian Lake. Baldy had guided Thompson on several trips, and they had become good friends. With 10 miles still to go to his destination, he stopped in at Thompsons place for the usual cup of coffee and a brief chat.

No one answered his knock. The wooden shutters were nailed in place over the windows, ready for winter, but Thompsons boat was tied at the dock, so the guide was sure he wasnt far away. The door stood unlatched and partly ajar, and that puzzled St. Denis. He began to feel a vague sense of concern. He knocked again and when there was still no answer he shouted a few times. Finally, he pushed the door open and looked in.

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There was no sign of Thompson. The table was set but dishes hadnt been used. The fire was out and the stove cold, with a half-cooked breakfast of bacon and eggs still on it. Sure now that something was wrong, Baldy went back into the yard to look around.

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A bright object on the ground a few feet from the cabin caught his eye. It was Thompsons movie camera, smashed, with the film ripped out and strewn around in loops. Next, the guide saw a pair of glasses lying nearby, also broken.

Thoroughly alarmed, and convinced that his friend had been hurt or killed in a fight with something, most likely a bear, the guide decided the situation was one for official investigation, and he did not wait to check further. He ran to the dock, unloaded his boat, and raced back to the village. Less than an hour after hed walked into the deserted cabin, he was telling the story to W. P. (Bill) ODonnel, chief ranger of the Ontario Department of Lands and Forests at Biscotasing.

ODonnel lost no time. In a matter of minutes he had his deputy chief ranger, Walter Punstel, and Conrad Phillips, a fire ranger, on the way to the Thompson place in a fast boat, carrying a walkie-talkie.

A bright object on the ground caught his eye. It was Thompsons camera, smashed, with the film ripped out and strewn around in loops. A pair of glasses lay nearby, also broken.

It took only a brief check for them to find bloodstains on the ground near the broken glasses and camera, and a blood trail leading off into the woods. The trail indicated that something heavy had been dragged away from the cabin. The two rangers did not have to follow it far. In a thicket only 150 feet back in the woods, they came onto Thompsons body, dressed in pajamas and slippers, and badly torn and mangled.

Investigation revealed later that he had been dead for a day or more, likely since Thursday morning, killed by a series of blows at the throat and neck. His neck was broken and the jugular vein torn open. In addition, the body had been bitten and clawed in many places, and bruises showed where the bear had pummeled him in a savage, mauling attack that apparently had lasted even after the victim was dead. And to their amazement and horror, Punstel and Phillips knew after one look that they were dealing with an almost unheard-of rarity, a true man-eater. The bear had dragged Thompson into the brush not out of blind rage but for a meal, and had fed heavily before leaving its mutilated kill.

The full page illustration. Illustration by James Dwyer / Outdoor Lif

Authentic instances of bears turning man-eater are so rare, occurring so infrequently, that many experienced woodsmen laugh off such reports as outright fabrications. But say what you will, it happens now and then. At least three times, prior to the Thompson affair, cases have been recorded in the United States and Canada where bears are known to have killed humans and fed on them.

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Curiously enough, in all of these instances, the offender was a black bear, not a grizzly or Alaska brown, and not always an unusually big black, either.

The wildlife writer Ernest Thompson Seton records the first two cases. One happened in northwestern Ontario, seven miles from English River station almost 40 years ago. A large black bear whose face and neck were stuck full of porcupine quills, which may have accounted for the episode, attacked and killed a trapper. The trappers rifle had been fired once and then jammed. Exactly what happened was never learned, and it is not known to this day whether he provoked the bear with a shot first, or shot and missed it as it was coming for him. In any event, the animal returned to its kill and was shot while gnawing at the body.

The mans two companions threw lard cans and other objects at it, whereupon it dragged its victim away another 100 yards into thick cover, and resumed its meal.

Before that, in 1906, a lumber-camp cook in northern Alberta was chased and overtaken just outside the door of his cook shanty by a medium-size black bear that swam a nearby river and charged three men without provocation the instant it reached dry land. It killed the cook with a hard blow on the neck, much as Thurman Thompson was killed, picked him up, carried him a few yards into the brush, and started to feed.

The mans two companions threw lard cans and other objects at it, whereupon it dragged its victim away another 100 yards into thick cover, and resumed its meal. Shots from a revolver and rifle finally drove the animal off, but it was not killed then or later.

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The third instance of man-eating, and perhaps most shocking of all, involved a three-year-old child, the daughter of a forest ranger in the Marquette National Forest in the upper peninsula of Michigan, in the summer of 1948. The ranger and his family were living in a remote fire-tower cabin set deep in the woods west of the town of Brimley. He was away from home, on duty, and the little girl was playing in the yard of the cabin the hot afternoon when the attack took place. The mother, at work inside, heard the youngster scream and looked out to see her running for the back door, chased by a small bear.

As the child scrambled up the steps and reached for the screen door, the bear grabbed her, killed her before her mothers eyes with a single bite through the neck and ran off into the woods with her. In a thicket only a quarter of a mile away, it put her down and fed.

That bear was hunted down by Alex Van Luven, one of Michigans foremost bear hunters, who tracked it to the place where it had left the girl, posted a man on watch there with a rifle, and followed the track with his best bear dog. The killer came brazenly back to its victim and was shot before Van Luven got out of hearing. It weighed only 150 pounds.

Now, at least for the fourth time since the United States and Canada were settled and white men began to have dealings with bears, a black had turned man-eater, attacking and killing a human and carrying the victim off to feed on the body. The evidence that Punstel and Phillips had found was beyond dispute.

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How the trouble started between Thompson and the bear will never be known, of course. But from the evidence found near the cabin and inside, we pieced together what seems the most likely version of the affair. We concluded that the bear had paid an early morning visit while Thompson was cooking breakfast, perhaps lured in by the smell of food, as frequently happens when bears are made bold by hunger. Or maybe the man had put scraps of food out the night before, intending to bait, for pictures, any bear that happened along. In any case, he had heard or seen the animal outside, grabbed up his camera, and had run out, not even taking time to latch the door behind him.

That much seems obvious. The rest is conjecture. Thompson had no gun with him and so could not have provoked the bear with a shot. Did he toss food to it to bring it close? I doubt it. I think he knew bears too well for that. Bill ODonnel believes he may have brought on the attack by stumbling in front of the bear, or that, sighting through the finder of his movie camera, he may have approached too close and provoked it into rushing him.

Thompsons widow has a different theory. She was told by a local guide that two or more bears had been seen around the cabin, a fact that Thompson had mentioned to me in our brief talk on the store steps. Mrs. Thompson believes that while her husband was filming one bear, a second stalked him silently from behind and made the kill.

From what I know of bears and their ways, however, I doubt that. I think the man was struck down in swift frontal attack, and my own guess is that the bear came for him the instant he stepped outside, as it would have done with a sheep or deer, its normal fear overcome by hunger when it saw a chance to make a kill.

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Whatever happened, there was no sign of a struggle, no evidence that Thompson had had time to run or try to defend himself. I suspect that the bear clubbed him to the ground almost before he knew what was happening and that he never felt the blow that killed him.

Punstel and Phillips were still going over the evidence in the thicket, shocked and hardly able to believe their own eyes, when they heard brush break in a dense tangle about 50 feet away, followed by an angry squealing sound.

Punstel and Phillips were still going over the evidence in the thicket, shocked and hardly able to believe their own eyes, when they heard brush break in a dense tangle about 50 feet away, followed by an angry squealing sound. Astonishingly, the bear was coming back to its kill!

Because there had never been an authentic case of a bear or any other wild animal attacking a human in our part of Canada, it had not even occurred to the two rangers to take a gun along when they started off in a hurry to investigate the report that St. Denis had brought back to Biscotasing. In consequence, they were now unarmed and empty-handed, facing a bear that had killed and fed on a man not many hours before.

They did not catch sight of the animal but they could hear it moving toward them through the brush, still uttering strange piglike squeals of rage.

Reluctant as they were to abandon Thompsons body, even temporarily, they had no choice. They got clear of the brush and ran for their boat. Almost certainly, had they stood their ground, the bear would have attacked and killed one or both of them. An animal that turns rogue and discovers how easy it is to do away with a man is not likely to hesitate about repeating. On top of that, any bear laying claim to its kill  as this one was  is something to avoid.

Back at the boat, Punstel and Phillips radioed to the ranger station at Biscotasing and asked for a gun. ODonnel rushed two more men, George Wright and Morris Daybutch, to the scene with a .303 Lee-Enfield.

Punstel took the rifle, and the group moved warily in on the bear. There was no need to hunt for him. They found him standing over his kill, with a paw on the body. He had not fed, perhaps because of the presence of Punstel and Phillips nearby, but he showed plainly that he did not intend to be driven off. At the first sound of the men approaching, he greeted them with growls and squeals. The instant they came within sight, he started an angry rush at them, eyes blazing, face wrinkled in a snarl that left no doubt of his intent.

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Punstel gave him no chance to finish it; he slammed in a shot at about 10 yards. It broke the bears back, and he went down, thrashing and bawling. The ranger ran up to within five feet and ended the affair with three more shots in the head and neck.

To the surprise of everyone, the man-eater turned out to be only a medium-size black, weighing a little over 200 pounds. He was thin and in poor condition from the shortage of summer food, and one front paw had been injured in a trap at some previous time and healed. Otherwise the animal appeared to be perfectly healthy and normal in every way.

Read Next: I Killed the Last Grizzly in Colorado When It Attacked Me

He was not big, but he was big enough to write one more authentic case of unprovoked attack and actual man-eating into the puzzling and contradictory records of black-bear behavior  and to prove once again the wisdom of the old adage, Never trust a bear.
Vanderbilt has always been called the Harvard of the South. That used to be generous. Now it might be an understatement.

In 1999, Vanderbilt admitted more than 61% of applicants. For the Class of 2029, that number was 4.7%. Yales acceptance rate for the same cycle? 4.6%.

Regular decision was even more striking: just 3.3% of applicants received an offer. For the Class of 2030, Early Decision drew a record 7,727 applicants, up 14.3% year-over-year, with a combined ED acceptance rate of 11.9%. Yield has climbed to 61.2%  up roughly 25 percentage points in a decade.

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By nearly all metrics, Vanderbilt is tougher to get into than most Ivy League universities. So, what happened?

Vanderbilts Specialized Schools Are Doing The Heavy Lifting

Vanderbilts rise follows a pattern weve seen at other universities that have made sharp jumps in selectivity. When a university houses elite specialized schools, those programs pull the institution upward. Wharton juiced Penns popularity, and Stern did the same for NYU. Vanderbilt doesnt have just one school doing the pulling. It has several.

Peabody College of Education and Human Development has ranked in the top 10 among graduate schools of education every year since 1996, placing as high as No. 2 in U.S. News rankings. The Blair School of Music is among the most selective conservatories anywhere in the country. And the School of Engineering is now drawing applicants who, a few years ago, wouldnt have given Nashville a second look.

One program that doesnt get enough attention: Medicine, Health, and Society. Its one of the only undergraduate majors in the country that fuses pre-medical thinking with social science and policy. It attracts exactly the kind of student Vanderbilt is looking for  someone whose interests dont fit neatly into the standard pre-med or social science track.

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Tip: If youre writing a generic Why Vanderbilt essay, youre not getting in. The students getting in are the ones who can name the specific school within Vanderbilt theyre targeting  Peabody, Blair, Engineering, MHS  and make a compelling case for why that program, specifically, is where they belong.

As Nashville Booms, So Does Vanderbilt

Nashville is one of the fastest-growing metros in the country. The metro area grew 6.4% between 2020 and 2024, adding over 136,000 residents at nearly double the national rate. Oracle has committed $1.2 billion to a new campus targeting 8,500 jobs. Amazon has established its Operations Center of Excellence at Nashville Yards, adding another 5,000. The city is home to more than 900 healthcare companies generating $72.1 billion in annual economic output  its now widely recognized as the nations healthcare capital.

That means the internship pipelines, research partnerships, and career access that students at coastal schools have fought over for years are available in Nashville  with far less competition. Students at Vanderbilt arent waiting in line behind 10,000 other undergrads for the same opportunities, which fast-tracks their careers.

And then theres the culture. Nashville offers a genuinely distinct American experience  everyone from Miley Cyrus to Jack White has put down roots here, and the music scene sets it apart from anything on the coasts.

Top Students Are Targeting Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt isnt showing up on college lists as a safety school anymore. The students getting in arent hedging  theyre applying because Vanderbilt is their first choice.

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In 2015, Vanderbilt accepted approximately 11.7% of applicants. Regular decision today sits at 3.3%. That drop wasnt engineered through aggressive marketing or application fee waivers. It happened because demand grew  across every background, every geography, and now 154 countries.

Were seeing this firsthand at Crimson Education. Our students who were admitted to Vanderbilt for the Class of 2030 are some of the highest-performing applicants in the country  100% held significant honors or major leadership positions, and more than 95% ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class. These students could have applied Early Decision anywhere, but they opted for Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt Is Building A National Footprint

At a moment when many universities are retrenching staff and slashing budgets, Vanderbilt is expanding  and doing it aggressively.

In November 2025, the university established its first campus outside Nashville: Vanderbilt University New York City, located in Chelsea, opening fall 2026. In January 2026, it announced a second expansion, acquiring the California College of the Arts campus to establish an undergraduate and graduate presence in San Francisco for the 202728 academic year. A third campus in West Palm Beach is in active development, targeting graduate programs in finance, engineering, and business innovation with AI integrated throughout.

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Underpinning all of this is a $10.86 billion endowment. Vanderbilt is launching its first new college in 40 years  the College of Connected Computing, opening for 202627 with a $25 million gift already committed. It also meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students, without loans.

Vanderbilt isnt positioning itself as a peer to the Ivies anymore, its outbuilding them.

How to Actually Get Into Vanderbilt

Vanderbilts admissions office trains readers to find reasons to admit, not reasons to deny. Thats an important distinction. Your application has to earn its way in  avoiding rejection is not a strategy.

Heres what that looks like in practice:

Know Which Vanderbilt School Youre Applying To

Unlike many peer institutions, Vanderbilt doesnt formally track demonstrated interest. Campus visits and emails to the admissions office wont move the needle the way they might at Duke or Rice. But interest still matters  it just has to come alive in the application itself.

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The applicants who stand out name the specific school within Vanderbilt  Peabody, Blair, Engineering, Medicine, Health, and Society  and clearly explain why that academic environment fits what they want to study. At this level, the reasoning for why you belong at Vanderbilt has to feel indisputable, not interchangeable.

Build a Story That Tells Vanderbilt Why You Belong

Vanderbilts own guidance is explicit: depth over breadth. Every student in the admit pool has strong grades and test scores. What separates admitted students is narrative coherence  activities, honors, and essays that together tell a single cohesive story about who the applicant is and what theyll contribute.

A student whose extracurriculars, research interests, and personal statement all reinforce a central theme is far more compelling than one with an impressive but scattered resume.

Vanderbilt Wants Proof, Not Promise

Every Vanderbilt undergraduate is required to complete Immersion Vanderbilt  a mandatory degree requirement built around a deep independent project across one of six pathways: research, study abroad, internships, community engagement, leadership and professional development, or innovation, arts, and design.

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Vanderbilt wants to see that youve already started doing this kind of work. One student I worked with, passionate about environmental science, built a working desalination prototype at home as an independent project. He connected that work directly to Vanderbilts environmental sociology program and was admitted Early Decision. He didnt need a prestigious lab or an institutional affiliation. What he needed was sustained commitment to a specific problem and the ability to show what hed built.

Apply To Vanderbilt Early Decision I

Vanderbilt offers two binding early rounds. The combined ED acceptance rate of 11.9% is roughly 3.5 times higher than the regular decision rate. Vanderbilt doesnt publish separate acceptance rates for each round, but its a fair assumption that EDI carries a stronger advantage because it shows that youre 100% committed. If Vanderbilt is genuinely your first choice, apply in the first round.

Vanderbilt Is Test Optional  That Doesnt Mean You Should Opt Out

Vanderbilt is test optional through 2027, but theres a catch. Among enrolled students who submitted scores, the middle 50% SAT range was 1510 to 1560. At this level of selectivity, choosing not to submit a score is increasingly read as having a weak one  particularly for applicants from well-resourced high schools. If your score clears Vanderbilts 25th percentile, submit it.

If You're Serious About Vanderbilt, Start Now

Students who are still treating Vanderbilt as a backup option are working from outdated information. Vanderbilts admissions standards are now on par with the Ivies, and theyre only getting more competitive. If you are seriously considering Vanderbilt, the time to start building a deliberate, Vanderbilt-specific strategy is now  not senior year.
A suspect has been charged in a Friday night shooting in east Birmingham that left an 18-year-old dead.

Mikel Ramone Thomas, also 18, is charged with murder and first-degree robbery in the slaying of Kameron Marquese Voltz, Birmingham police announced Sunday.

East Precinct officers were dispatched about 7:15 p.m. Friday to a report of shots fired in the 200 block of Lake Drive Circle N.E.

Police arrived to find a male injured. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service took him to UAB Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

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A short time later, Sgt. LaQuitta said, Voltz showed up at UAB Hospital by private vehicle. He was later pronounced dead.

Wade said two males had agreed to meet up with two other males at the Lake Drive Circle location, and shots were fired during the encounter.

Police said the arranged meetup was over the sale of undisclosed merchandise, but instead robbery took place.

Thomas was taken into custody Friday and will be held without bond in the Jefferson County Jail.

Voltz is Birminghams 10th homicide this year.

Voltz, of Hoover, was arrested last month on charges of attempted murder, aggravated animal cruelty, third-degree domestic violence/assault, third-degree domestic violence/criminal mischief and discharging a firearm into an occupied home.

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In that case, police say he was involved in a domestic dispute and when the females uncle intervened, he shot the uncle and the familys dog.

Anyone with additional information is asked to call detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777

Stories by Carol Robinson

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Thongloun Sisoulith speaks after being re-elected as President of Laos in Vientiane, Laos, March 23, 2026. The first session of the 10th Lao National Assembly elected Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee, as President of Laos on Monday. Sonexay Siphandone, a politburo member of the LPRP's Central Committee, was elected Prime Minister. The session also elected the Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Vice Presidents of the National Assembly. (Lao News Agency/Handout via Xinhua)

VIENTIANE, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The Lao National Assembly's 10th legislature opened its inaugural session on Monday, convening top leaders and representatives from across the country to set the agenda for key national priorities.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, President of the Lao National Assembly (NA) Xaysomphone Phomvihane highlighted the session's focus on electing key state leaders and addressing major national priorities.

Xaysomphone outlined the 10th legislature's priorities during its inaugural session, highlighting five years of progress and an ambitious agenda for 2026-2030.

Reviewing the previous term, he noted that the country has maintained firm political stability, safeguarded national sovereignty, and achieved consistent economic growth. Key milestones included the streamlined restructuring of state apparatus and a significant 2025 constitutional amendment, which enhanced the effectiveness of governance and the rule of law.

During the session, Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee, was elected President of Laos. Sonexay Siphandone, a politburo member of the LPRP's Central Committee, was elected Prime Minister. The session also elected the Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Vice Presidents of the National Assembly.

Scheduled for March 23 to 27, the session allows lawmakers to review and approve major national agendas, including legislative plans, development strategies, and institutional frameworks for the new term. The session is expected to adopt 19 resolutions, setting the stage for continued stability and sustainable development in Laos. 

President of the Lao National Assembly (NA) Xaysomphone Phomvihane (front, R) congratulates President Thongloun Sisoulith (front, L) in Vientiane, Laos, March 23, 2026. The first session of the 10th Lao National Assembly elected Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee, as President of Laos on Monday. Sonexay Siphandone, a politburo member of the LPRP's Central Committee, was elected Prime Minister. The session also elected the Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Vice Presidents of the National Assembly. (Lao News Agency/Handout via Xinhua)

Sonexay Siphandone speaks after being re-elected as Prime Minister of Laos in Vientiane, Laos, March 23, 2026. The first session of the 10th Lao National Assembly elected Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee, as President of Laos on Monday. Sonexay Siphandone, a politburo member of the LPRP's Central Committee, was elected Prime Minister. The session also elected the Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Vice Presidents of the National Assembly. (Lao News Agency/Handout via Xinhua)

President of the Lao National Assembly (NA) Xaysomphone Phomvihane (front, R) congratulates Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone (front, L) in Vientiane, Laos, March 23, 2026. The first session of the 10th Lao National Assembly elected Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee, as President of Laos on Monday. Sonexay Siphandone, a politburo member of the LPRP's Central Committee, was elected Prime Minister. The session also elected the Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Vice Presidents of the National Assembly. (Lao News Agency/Handout via Xinhua)
Airports across the country faced long lines and delays over the weekend as large numbers of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees called out of work during the partial federal government shutdown.

President Donald Trump plans to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents beginning Monday to help bolster understaffed airport security checkpoints. Federal officials have not said which airports will receive additional personnel, though multiple sources familiar with the situation told ABC News the plan involves 14 airports nationwide.

Long Beach Airport (LGB) was among those hit hardest by staffing shortages. More than 21% of TSA agents there did not report for work on Saturday, according to TSA data. Travelers at the airport on Sunday said they prepared for delays by arriving early, though many reported smooth experiences at other airports, including Sacramento, Reno and Salt Lake City.

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With security lines backing up nationwide, the administration is turning to ICE for support. The staffing problems stem from the partial government shutdown, which has left TSA employees without pay for three weeks. On Saturday, more than 11.5% of TSA workers nationwide called out -- the highest level since the shutdown began -- with airports in Houston and New Orleans seeing some of the biggest impacts.

SEE ALSO: Record number of TSA officers called out Saturday as DHS shutdown continues

Travelers are waiting hours at some airports to pass through TSA checkpoints as more officers call out amid the ongoing DHS shutdown.

Travelers at LGB on Sunday said they hadn't experienced any delays in their travels.

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"We were hearing about it and said, 'Let's see, and there's nothing we can do about it,'" traveler Violet Meuter said.

"I was a little concerned about it. You don't like having unnecessary delays. There was no warnings or anything like that. We were at the airport. It was very smooth. I think it was like a full crew there, so not anything different," said Long Beach resident Araceli Conde.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy defended the decision to use ICE agents at airports, saying they are trained to operate screening equipment.

READ MORE: Transportation Secretary Duffy says ICE agents are trained and can assist TSA at airports

ABC News' Morgan Norwood has the latest from Newark Liberty International Airport.

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"They run those same type of security machines at the southern border, right? Packages come through, or people come through. They run similar assets," he told ABC.

But the national president of the American Federation of Government Employees disagreed, arguing ICE personnel are not trained or certified in aviation security.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom criticized the move on social media Sunday, writing, "By sending ICE into airports, Trump is proving the problem in real time: ICE has become the president's lawless, under-trained, personal police force, deployed to serve his agenda -- not the law."

Some travelers expressed concern about the shift.

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"I'll be honest, I'm a little nervous about it," said traveler Brandie Frye. "I don't know what to expect or what vibe will be with additional employees there, but we'll see what happens."

The Department of Homeland Security says more than 400 TSA officers have quit since the shutdown began.

A spokesperson for Long Beach Airport said operations there had not been disrupted, but warned that "operations could become more challenging if the shutdown continues."

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story cited airport officials as saying Long Beach Airport had 21% of TSA agents call out. That information came from TSA data.
Less than a week before four riders and two police officers were attacked with a butcher knife at a Boston bus station, officers had already confronted another group armed with a butcher knife at a different MBTA stop.

Both unusual incidents unfolded in the same week  the first at Andrew Station on March 15, the second at Forest Hills on March 20, according to a Boston police report and the MBTA Transit Police.

The second, widely-reported incident resulted in six people hurt after police officers struggled with the armed man, who was threatening people and trying to stab tires on a bus, then ended with the man struggling with officers and reaching for an officers gun. An officers gun went off during the struggle, but neither the officer nor suspect was hit.

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The March 15 incident happened at around 8:30 p.m. and involved a larger group of antagonists, along with a 47-year-old Boston man, according to the police report.

The man, who was homeless, had been walking out of Andrew MBTA Station on Southampton Street in South Boston when he was suddenly approached by a large group of young men and women.

The group then surrounded him, the report read.

The man was clutching a metal pipe  in apparent defense of himself  by the time Boston police officers arrived at the scene.

When the officers broke up the group, the man said two of the group members  many of whom police said were underage children  started to antagonize him.

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The children followed him up the street and at one point, the female handed the male a large silver butcher knife, the report read.

The boy swung the butcher knife at the man, but missed as the man tried to run away.

As the man tried to climb the fence along Southampton Street to escape, he fell and cut his hand. He told officers that he was in fear for his life due to the large group and the male brandishing a knife, at which point (he) picked up a meal pipe to defend himself.

As the man spoke with officers, an 18-year-old woman in the group dropped a large silver butcher knife on the ground and screamed at the man, I will kill you, as she tried to push past the police, the report read.

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At one point, the teenager even took off her shoe and threw it over the officers heads at the man, the report read. Though she also tried to pick the butcher knife back up, officers grabbed it first, then put the teenager in handcuffs.

The man later pointed out she had been the one to hand over the butcher knife to the boy. A black steak knife was later found on the ground on Southampton Street by officers, who noted how chaotic of a scene the 18-year-old made outside Andrew Station  especially since there is heavy foot traffic at all hours of the day in the area.

Multiple pedestrians were forced to stop walking or cross the street as they appeared to be alarmed by (her) behavior, the report read.

The 18-year-old faces charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, threats to commit a crime, disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace. At least one other individual was also arrested and charged in connection with the crime.

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Though it occurred in South Boston on the day of its annual St. Patricks Day Parade, this incident was not connected to the festivities and its arrests were not counted in the days total arrests, according to Boston Police.

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Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Investigators in New Jersey have arrested three people on animal cruelty charges for allegedly abandoning dozens of dogs across several towns in the freezing rain.

While some of the abandoned dogs have been recovered safely, authorities in Sussex County continue their search for the remaining canines.

In a statement announcing the arrests, detectives said their search for the dog's owners had concluded.

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The New Jersey State Police and the Sussex County Prosecutor's Office confirm that Joshua Ciemniecki, 19, Robert Ciemniecki, 74, and Kaila McNeill, 30, all Phillipsburg residents, were arrested and charged with animal cruelty.

It was unclear how the three suspects know each other.

According to police, the first reports about the abandoned dogs occurred on Monday, March 16. Two state troopers' stations fielded calls from Stillwater Township, Lafayette Township and Wantage Township.

"Troopers found dozens of small dogs abandoned at each location in open crates without food or water," the statement read in part.

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Numerous animal control agencies, the Sussex County Sheriffs Office and members of the public assisted in rescuing 32 dogs.

Mailman Arrested After Video Surfaces of Him Pepper-Spraying 2 Puppies and Mama Dog in Florida

Sadly, two dogs were found dead during the search.

"Animal control agencies and local veterinary hospitals are caring for the remaining dogs until they are medically cleared for adoption," the statement noted.

It took just two days for cops to identify the dog dumping trio. On Wednesday, March 18, through various investigative means, three suspects were identified in connection with the abandonment of the animals.

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Ciemniecki and McNeill were arrested and charged with two counts of third-degree animal cruelty and three counts of fourth-degree animal cruelty, while Ciemniecki was booked on one count of animal cruelty.

Ciemniecki was released with a court date, while his co-defendants remain in custody.

It was unclear as of Sunday, March 22, if any of the three defendants managed to retain legal counsel. Plea information was also unavailable at the time of publication.

In New Jersey, each conviction for animal cruelty is punishable by no more than six months.

On Facebook, people were chiming in with their opinions.

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Texas Authorities, ASPCA Remove More Than 200 Dogs During Dogfighting Takedown Operation

Even the maximum penalty won't be enough, wrote one person. Courts and judges are too lenient these days. Animal cruelty laws are not strong enough.

What kind of person does something like this? asked another.

People who happen to spot any loose dogs in those towns are asked to call the Newton Police at (973) 383-2525.

If you know of or suspect animal abuse or neglect, you are urged to contact the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals through their website or call your local animal control officer.
It's not every day that I wish more U.S. tech platforms could be like 4chan. But the message board certainly has the right idea when it comes to the U.K. speech police.

Ofcom, the U.K.'s communications regulator, has fined 4chan 520,000 for failing to implement age verification procedures and other measures required by the U.K.'s Online Safety Act. The penalty includes "450,000 for not having age checks in place to prevent children seeing porn on its site," per Ofcom.

Ofcom also cited 4chan for failing to provide Ofcom with an "illegal content risk assessment" and for not including a section in its terms of service "specifying how individuals are to be protected from illegal content."

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4chan responded to Ofcom with an AI-generated picture of a giant hamster eating a peanut.

This was attached to a truly excellent email response to Ofcom from 4chan lawyer Preston Byrne (who also explains the hamster joke backstory here). "Thanks. As has been explained to your agency, ad nauseam, the United Kingdom lost the American Revolutionary War," the email starts. "We are not in the mood to discuss the matter further, and have not been in the mood for 250 years."

After the hamster imageNigel J. Whiskerford "dressed up as Godzilla and holding an equally giant peanut"the email goes on to state that 4chan "reserves all rights and waives none," including "the right to sue you again and/or to respond to future correspondence with an even larger rodent, such as a marmot."

This is exactly the attitude U.S. companies should be taking with foreign authorities intent on forcing their online speech regulations on the rest of us.

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American companies like 4chanwhich has no headquarters or assets in the U.K.are not required to follow U.K. internet laws.

4chan's "only content regulator is the First Amendment," wrote Nico Perrino, executive vice president of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. "The Brits don't get to colonize American companies operating out of America."

Those U.S. free speech protections include "the right to speak anonymously, as every 4chan user does, and the right to refuse foreign age verification mandates," as Byrne posted on X. The U.K.'s "2023 law doesn't override 250 years of American independence."

Ofcom director of enforcement Suzanne Cater told the BBC: "The UK is setting new standards for online safety" and will "take robust enforcement action against firms that fall short." She said that "companieswherever they're basedare not allowed to sell unsafe toys to children in the UK. And society has long protected youngsters from things like alcohol, smoking, and gambling."

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The U.K. has the legal right to try to shield children from whatever it likes, however it likes, within its own borders. If it thinks 4chan is dangerous, it can block U.K. residents from accessing 4chan by requiring internet service providers to block access and so on.

But it cannot punish "an American publisher with no assets in the country" for failing to comply with U.K. regulations, as Perrino points out. It cannot decide that its way of barring children from certain online speech must be the way of the whole world.

Alas, 4chan is far from alone in facing such attempts at global speech policing from Ofcom. "U.K. regulators have quietly been pressuring U.S. companies to comply with their orders, sparking outrage among a small but tenacious coalition of American legislators and free speech lawyers," Reason's Meagan O'Rourke reported in January.

O'Rourke noted how Byrnewho also represents Gab.com, Kiwi Farms, and Personal Autonomy LLCwas drafting model legislation to "allow U.S. companies and individuals to sue foreign governments that attempt to censor Americans."

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Lately, Byrne has been helping to draft a "UK Free Speech Act 2026" as a model bill that a member of Parliament could pick up.

We are giving it to the world, anyone can pick it up. I will happily speak with any MP in any party who is interested in expanding free speech in the UK. The bill is a menu of options. Any one of them would move the needle closer to the US 1A position.https://t.co/lAi5k0TAxY  Preston Byrne (@prestonjbyrne) March 22, 2026

In the News

A California police officer has been criminally charged for allegedly taking bribes of money and sex from a sex business. Officer Benjamin Yarbrough of the Hayward Police Department faces one count of accepting a bribe, a felony. The Alameda County District Attorney's Office handled the investigation after the Hayward Police Department passed it off owing to the police chief's "familial relationship" with Yarbrough.

The matter is largely being framed as an issue of police corruption. But it also showcases the way that the criminalization of prostitution can make it easier for cops to exploit and abuse sex workers. If a police officer can throw you in jail if you won't sleep with him, is that really a free exchange of sex for protection?

The Mercury News reports:

On April 2, 2025, Yarbrough received a sexual service and took $1,000 as a bribe in response to extorting Yangiong Xiong "with the implied threat of arrest, or as payment to influence his present or prospective official duties as a police officer in ways such as providing protection, investigating competitors or providing intelligence about law enforcement activity," according to a declaration of probable cause. The district attorney's office opened an investigation after San Jose police arrested Xiong in a separate case and discovered Yarbrough allegedly had frequent contact with her. The declaration stated that Yarbrough used his work and personal cellphones "to arrange personal sexual appointments, receive free sexual services and further receive $1,000 after identifying himself as a friendly police officer who wanted to keep the operation safe."

On Substack

'Links between social media use and mental wellness in youth are an artifact of other factors.' Chris Ferguson, lead author of a new paper published in Current Psychology, explains the results in a new post to his substack, Grimoire Manor:

In a recent peer-reviewed paper I confirm what many people have been saying: that any weak correlations between time spent on social media and youth mental health are due to "third" variables. In other words, youth who are stressed by their real lives may turn to social media a bit more a compensatory mechanism rather than social media causing those mental health problems. I analyzed a sample of thousands of youth in the UK in the BrainWaves dataset (and a heartfelt thank you to the BrainWaves folks for giving me access). This included data on hours per day spent on social media as well as several outcomes related to mental health (depression and anxiety, mental wellbeing, quality of life, self-esteem, social phobia1 as well as friendships and other activities).

More here.

More Sex & Tech

 What's in Trump's new "National AI Legislative Framework"? Reason's Jack Nicastro takes a look.

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 Data on Australia's ban on under-16-year-olds using social media show the law "has barely moved the needle," notes Mike Masnick at Techdirt. "The usage drop was only marginally larger than the normal seasonal dip that happens every year. In other words, the 'world-first' ban achieved roughly the same effect as summer ending." Masnick suggests this is worse than just being useless, since "the ban selected for vulnerability and filtered against resourcefulness."

 J.D. Tuccille reports on last week's U.S. Senate Commerce Committee hearing on Section 230.

 Halter's AI-powered collars for cows "create a virtual fence for cattle and enable farmers to monitor the animals' locations and health indicators through an app," reports Bloomberg. "Its collars, which are solar-powered, connect to farmers' phones to allow them to manage pastures remotelyfor example, a rancher can herd their cows using vibrations and audio cues from the collars."

 According to Spotify's self-reported data, 2025 saw "more than 13,800 artists who generated at least $100,000" from the site.

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 Meet the Alabama gubernatorial candidate who wants to "legalize sex stores," "make Montgomery a strip club city," and "bring prayer back in schools."

The post 4chan Sends Hilarious, Hamster-Filled Reminder That U.S. Companies Need Not Follow British Speech Regulations appeared first on Reason.com.
By Gursimran Mehar, Bing Guan, Allison Lampert and David Shepardson

NEW YORK/MONTREAL/WASHINGTON March 23 (Reuters) - An Air Canada Express jet collided with a fire truck while landing at New York's LaGuardia airport late on Sunday, killing both pilots, injuring dozens and closing the facility, authorities said.

The Air Canada Express CRJ-900 plane, operated by its regional partner Jazz Aviation, was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members and had departed from Montreal, said Jazz, which is owned by Chorus Aviation. Jazz and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed that the pilot and first officer were killed.

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The crash comes as U.S. aviation faces chronic shortages of air traffic controllers and a separate shortfall of Transportation Security Administration officers due to a partial government shutdown that has led to delays, long security lines and heightened safety concerns across airports nationwide.

A separate 35-minute ground stop at nearby Newark Liberty International on Monday morning added to delays after air-traffic controllers evacuated their tower because of a burning smell from an elevator, the FAA said.

"Today is an incredibly difficult day for our airline, our employees, and most importantly, the families and loved ones of those affected by the accident involving flight 8646," said Jazz President Doug Clarke.

NINE SERIOUSLY INJURED IN HOSPITAL

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Kathryn Garcia, executive director of the Port Authority, said 32 of the 41 injured had been released, while nine remained in hospital with "serious injuries."

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said at least two Port Authority firefighters sustained serious injuries.

Aviation safety experts say investigators would look at air traffic control staffing levels and the actions of both the controller and truck crew.

"The Air Canada jet was obviously cleared to land and from the radio transmissions, it appears that the airport rescue and firefighting vehicle was cleared. There are a lot of questions now regarding the communications," said U.S. safety expert Anthony Brickhouse. "Communication is going to be a major part of this investigation."

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Air-crash investigations typically find that accidents result from multiple contributing factors, rather than a single cause.

FIRE TRUCK WAS CLEARED TO CROSS RUNWAY

Garcia said the fire truck was responding to a separate United Airlines aircraft that had "reported an issue with odor." United, along with unions representing U.S. air traffic controllers and Air Canada pilots declined to comment.

Minutes earlier, air traffic control audio from LiveATC.net indicated that a United flight had declared an emergency due to an odor onboard. Controllers advised the crew that fire trucks were already on site.

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A later transmission captured a fire truck being cleared to cross Runway 4 at taxiway 'Delta', where the collision occurred.

Moments later, according to the ATC audio, a controller can be heard saying: "Stop, stop, stop, truck 1 stop, truck 1, stop."

The aircraft struck the fire vehicle at a speed of about 24 miles per hour (39 kph), according to flight-tracking website Flightradar24, which last recorded data at 11:37 p.m. ET (0337 GMT).

Photos taken by Reuters after the accident showed visible damage to the nose of the plane, which was tilted upward.

Two unnamed passengers told ABC affiliate WABC of the shock on board, with one describing a friend suffering a broken nose and travelers hitting their heads on the seats ahead.

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Global Aerospace leads the airline's all-risks cover for the Air Canada regional aircraft that was damaged, three senior aviation market sources said.

Those sources said Marsh is the broker for the cover. One of the sources said the aircraft's insured hull value was around $10 million.

FLIGHTS CANCELED, DELAYS EXPECTED

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it was deploying a team of experts to investigate the incident, while Canada's Transportation Safety Board said it would also send a team to support the investigation. The FAA said the airport was expected to remain shut until 2 p.m. ET (1800 GMT) on Monday.

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Air Canada, the country's largest carrier, said its teams and those from Jazz Aviation are also heading to the site.

The closure of one of New York's busiest airports will add to travel disruption. Absences among transportation security workers have soared, leading to lengthy lines for passengers at major U.S. airports.

On Monday, hundreds of ICE agents were ordered to deploy to airports to help fill TSA staffing gaps.

About 546 flights had been canceled at the airport so far on Monday, according to tracking website FlightAware.

LaGuardia served more than 30 million annual passengers in 2025, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and hosts a wide range of U.S. carriers.

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RECENT INCIDENTS PRESSURE AVIATION SYSTEM

The FAA recorded 97 runway incursions in January this year, compared with 133 in the same period last year.

A bipartisan group of U.S. House lawmakers last month proposed legislation to address 50 aviation safety recommendations issued after a year-long investigation into the January 2025 collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter that killed 67 people.

Last year also saw a UPS cargo plane crash shortly after takeoff in Louisville, Kentucky, killing seven and injuring 11 on the ground.

Canadian Transport Minister Steve MacKinnon said the country's government was working closely with U.S. authorities "as they investigate this incident, and we are following developments closely."

(Reporting by Gursimran Kaur, Shubham Kalia, Abu Sultan, Preetika Parashuraman and Ruchika Khanna in Bengaluru, Bing Guan in New York, Allison Lampert in Montreal and David Shepardson in Washington; Additional reporting by Joanna Plucinska and Susan Heavey; Editing by Jamie Freed, Joe Bavier and Louise Heavens)
22-year-old Jack Cabot was on Air Canada Flight AC8646 during a crash landing on March 22.

Cabot is grateful he was not badly injured in the collision.

Despite the crash, Cabot plans to fly again, believing it will help him overcome the trauma.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jack Cabot, a 22-year-old student at Ithaca College. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

On March 22, I was coming back to New York from a short spring break trip to Calgary. My connecting flight back was through Montreal.

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There were a few moments of pretty bad turbulence in the air, but nothing crazy happened until the landing. That's when everything went pretty haywire. The plane landed quite hard, and then two or three seconds later, I heard a really loud bang.

Everybody was terrified as the plane lost control

Everyone already seemed pretty annoyed when we boarded the flight to New York because it had already been delayed a few times. We left about two hours after our original departure time.

As we were landing, the plane started veering right really quickly. It felt like it had completely lost control. I put my head down, ducked between my arms, and prayed. There was a lot of screaming; everybody was terrified, and I was completely panicked.

When we finally came to a stop, I thought, "Okay, we're somehow alive." As I looked around, so many people were bleeding. One guy's whole face was gashed up. It was clear that a lot of people were very hurt.

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I was sitting in the middle area of the plane, a row in front of the emergency exit. When I looked toward the front of the plane, it seemed to have completely crumpled inward, like a wall of broken parts.

A woman behind me suggested we go out the emergency exit. I didn't think the plane was a good place to be, so we all got in a line and headed out one by one. It wasn't too big a plane, so we jumped onto the wing and then took another 4- or 5-foot drop onto the ground.

I feel grateful and lucky

It took two or three minutes for medical attention to arrive. I was only a little bruised up, but others were more seriously hurt. I feel really grateful and lucky.

After we got off the plane, we sat on a bus for three to four hours, then waited in a lounge. They were performing headcounts of the people there. I chose to talk with the police about what I saw, and I got out of the airport at around 4:30 a.m., even though we landed at around 11:30 p.m. My brother, whom I texted after we landed, picked me up from the airport. I got home around an hour later and went straight to bed.

I'm still planning to fly

I'll be a little reluctant next time I have to get on a plane, but I'll have to get over it. It would be really shocking if something like this happened twice.

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To recover from what happened, I think I'll need a few days of relaxation and some exposure therapy. I actually think flying more will help me get past this.

Read the original article on Business Insider
By Suban Abdulla and Sam Tabahriti

LONDON, March 23 (Reuters) - Four Jewish community ambulances were set ablaze in north London on Monday in what British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called "a deeply shocking antisemitic arson attack".

The London Fire Brigade said multiple cylinders on the vehicles exploded, shattering nearby windows. No injuries were reported and no arrests have been made.

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The SITE Intelligence website said an Iran-aligned multinational militant collective called Islamic Movement of the People of the Right Hand had claimed responsibility for the attack near a synagogue in Golders Green.

It said the group had been behind similar fires in Liege, Belgium, and Rotterdam and Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

British lawmakers and the domestic spy agency MI5 have warned of threats posed by Iran, including the surveillance or targeting of Jewish sites. Tehran has denied such accusations.

ISRAELI EMBASSY CONDEMNS CLIMATE OF INTIMIDATION

The Israeli embassy in London, which has long criticised Britain for failing to do more to tackle antisemitism, said the firebombings followed years of "hate-filled marches" in support of the Palestinians, along with incitement and intimidation.

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"Enough is enough," it said on X, calling for "decisive action to put an end to this climate of intimidation before it spirals further. Silence and inaction are no longer an option."

Security footage showed three men in hooded jackets approaching the ambulances before they were engulfed in flames.

Police said the fires were being treated as an antisemitic hate crime and not as a terrorist incident, but the investigation would be led by counter-terrorism officers who had specialist expertise. They also said they could not confirm the authenticity of the online claim by the Iran-aligned group.

Dutch prosecutors have said claims made by the group were part of the investigation into attacks on a Jewish school in Amsterdam and a synagogue in Rotterdam, but declined to say anything further.

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SEVERAL MEN CHALLENGE CAMERA CREW

Amid tense scenes in London on Monday, several men briefly challenged an Al Jazeera camera crew who were present. Others urged the visiting health minister, Wes Streeting, to view a nearby wall covered in pictures of people killed in Iran.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan condemned the attack and said police patrols would be increased in the area.

"My thoughts are with the Jewish community who are waking up this morning to this horrific news," Starmer said on X. "Antisemitism has no place in our society."

The ambulances belonged to Hatzola, a not-for-profit volunteer organisation that works alongside Britain's health service and was founded in the 1960s in Brooklyn, New York, to provide services to its Yiddish speaking, Hasidic community.

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Board of Deputies President Phil Rosenberg said the Hatzola service would continue to operate for the "nation that we love". Streeting said the government would replace the ambulances.

ATTACKS ON JEWISH TARGETS HAVE RISEN

Attacks against Jewish people and targets have risen worldwide since the October 2023 Hamas assault on Israel that triggered the Gaza war, including in Britain. Starmer had warned that the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran would stoke tensions further.

The most severe incident was a 2025 attack in Manchester that killed two Jewish worshippers during Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

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The government says it is working with Muslim and Jewish organisations to protect sensitive sites.

(Reporting by Andy Bruce in Manchester, Sam Tabahriti and Suban Abdulla in London, and Gursimran Kaur in Bengaluru. Writing by Kate Holton; Editing by Tom Hogue, Shri Navaratnam and Alison Williams)
Analilia Mejia, the Democrat hoping to replace Gov. Mikie Sherrill in Congress, made a bone-headed decision over the weekend not to participate in a debate being planned by the League of Women Voters.

Mejia is promising voters that shed fight for working families if elected to the House of Representatives next month. But its hard to take that pledge seriously if shes not willing to spend 90 minutes or so fielding simple questions about what she wants to do if she goes to D.C. to represent the 11th Congressional District.

The decision has given Mejias Republican opponent, Randolph Councilman Joe Hathaway, a gift in the final weeks of the campaign. Hathaway told me voters are now being robbed of the chance to hear him and Mejia defend their positions side by side.

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I think what shes afraid of is us standing next to each other and me saying very clearly what my positions have been in front of a broad audience, which is that Im here to be a common sense, practical leader, putting the district first, whether that means standing with my party or standing against it, but Im always here to put the district first, he said. That certainly doesnt fit her narrative of just trying to run only against the president.

I asked the Mejia campaign if I could chat with her about this, but a spokesman did not respond to my request.

To make matters worse, its not clear Mejias campaign is being honest about its reasons for bailing on the planned debate. A statement it issued Saturday said she asked the League to commit to diversity among their proposed moderators and they would not. But Jennifer M. Howard, president of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey, said on Sunday that the campaign asked to approve the list of potential moderators.

Our nonpartisan stance does not permit a candidate to influence the selection of the moderator, she said.

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Im not sure I believe that these kinds of events sway many voters, especially in federal races. But they are some of the only times candidates make appearances that arent fully orchestrated by their handlers, and it would be a shame if the voters in the 11th District are robbed of the chance to hear Mejia and Hathaway not only answer questions about why they should go to Congress, but also argue why their opponent should not.

What makes Mejias decision even more baffling is were talking about the League of Women Voters here. They arent interested in lobbing grenades at candidates to make them appear stupid in front of voters. Here are some of the questions the groups Morris County chapter asked during its county commissioner debate in 2024:

We received many questions that asked about resolutions being passed on issues that are beyond the purview of any commissioner board. If elected would you continue this practice and why?

The new affordable housing mandates are of great concern to both residents and elected leaders. What would you do within the purview of the commissions responsibility to address the issue?

How can the commissioners assist Morris County residents to get the training and skills needed to be prepared for the workforce and hopefully keep workers in Morris County?

Having covered these kinds of debates in the past, I have no doubt the questions posed to Mejia and Hathaway would have been along these lines.

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We have 24 days until the special election (Thursday, April 16). I hope wiser minds at the Mejia campaign prevail and convince her to debate Hathaway after all. Voters in the 11th District are already getting short shrift because of the abbreviated nature of this campaign and our previous governors decision to stick it on a Thursday; they shouldnt also be forced to cast a ballot without ever seeing the two leading candidates debate side-by-side.

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This is the second part in a 7-story series looking back at the 2025 ice storm and its impact on Northern Michigan.

When looking back on those last few days of March 2025, many Northern Michigan residents first remembered the sounds.

They spoke about breaking branches and falling trees cracking like gunshots, ice clattering against windows, the silence of homes going dark and quiet as the lights flickered off.

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More: Many Northern Michigan sugarbushes still recovering from 2025 ice storm

More: A daunting task: Emmet County ice storm recovery continues

As we look back at the one-year anniversary of the destructive ice storm that swept through the region, we asked readers to submit their own storm stories. Heres what they had to share:

Sydney Neidhardt, Gaylord

Sydney Neidhardt and her husband, Logen, moved to Gaylord from northwest Ohio in 2022. The couple were in the process of moving from an apartment into their first home when the storm hit.

The ice really started to build up and create damage from Friday-Sunday, Neidhardt wrote. We got the keys to our house on Saturday, which happened to be a couple days earlier than we expected, so my husband was out of town. We did however, have almost everything moved out of our apartment with an impending move-in date for the person taking over our lease.

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Neidhardt said she was so excited and grateful to be a first-time homeowner.

Around 8 p.m. our power in our apartment went out, she said. I thought about the house instantly, and left to go check if the power was out there, too. When I pulled into our new driveway for the second time as a homeowner, I saw a massive tree laying on top of our house. And yes, the power was out. I was instantly sobbing and clueless as to what to do next.

Damaged trees and debris are seen in a Gaylord forest following the 2025 ice storm. (Provided by Sean Simpson)

A neighbor came outside in the freezing rain to comfort Neidhardt as she looked around at the damage.

When my husband arrived home the next day, we had to get to work to move everything we own into a house with a huge tree resting on top of it, dodging falling power lines in the street, Neidhardt wrote. Many people ask us, Why didnt you just ask if you could stay in your apartment longer? Well, the guy moving into our apartment was coincidentally a lineman. He desperately needed a place to rest because there were many 16-hour days ahead. We also had everything we owned packed away and ready to go. Nevertheless, we prevailed and had two amazing friends help us throw every box into our new, broken and powerless house.

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The couple became first-time homeowners and filed their first insurance claim all at once. Neidhardt added that they also had to get creative with how to cook meals on only a grill and warm their home with a space heater.

We also felt so much more community than we ever imagined possible, she said. We had the time to get to know our neighbors, who we shared meals with every day. We had people rush to help us remove tree limbs. We saw churches and schools become safe places for those in need. And we connected with our loved ones every chance we got.

Damaged trees and property are seen in Gaylord following the 2025 ice storm. (Provided by Sean Simpson)

Jarett Weber, Lewiston

Jarett Weber of Lewiston was without power for about two weeks and had significant tree damage in his area from the ice storm.

I remember waking up Thursday morning and hearing the weather forecast on my alarm clock radio talking about an ice storm coming Saturday. I remember thinking to myself, Ive been through ice storms before. I dont have to go anywhere. Ill just grab some snacks and ride it out at home, Weber wrote. Then Saturday morning came and the power went out. I figured it would come back on soon, so I went back to sleep. When I woke up later, it felt like Armageddon.

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Weber said he sat in his home listening to branches cracking and popping nonstop in the woods, just hoping nothing would land on the house.

Sunday morning I tried to clear my driveway so I could get into town, he said. Every time I bent down to pick up a branch, Id hear another one starting to crack somewhere above me. I kept looking up, wondering if the next one was going to come down on me.

More: PHOTOS: Readers submit photos of Northern Michigan's historic ice storm

Ice-covered trees are seen during the 2025 ice storm that impacted Northern Michigan. (Provided by Elsa Wachter)

Elsa Wachter, Gaylord

Elsa Wachter, who lives southwest of Gaylord in Lake Arrowhead, recalled the efforts of the National Guard and line workers in her neighborhood.

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On April 4, the National Guard came through the neighborhood, checking on residents and handing out water bottles, Wachter wrote. We were without power for 14 days. Great Lakes (Energy) was amazing  working non-stop to restore power and internet. Those line workers are our heroes.

Damaged trees in Gaylord are seen after the 2025 ice storm. (Provided by Bill Heath)

Tanya Leonetti, Waters

Tanya Leonetti was visiting a friend in Gaylord when the ice storm hit and could not return to her cabin in Waters for several days.

I was forced to spend the night, and many more after that, because I could not get back on to my place, Leonetti wrote. Thank God because a tree went through the bedroom window  It was the scariest, most emotional time seeing the devastation. Im very grateful there werent casualties.

 Contact Jillian Fellows at jfellows@petoskeynews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Readers recall 2025 Northern Michigan ice storm sights, sounds a year later
An individual suspected to have participated in the kidnapping of Ledger co-founder David Balland in France last year has been arrested in Spain, according to a local news report from Le Parisien.

The apprehended individual is believed to be the final outstanding perpetrator from the January 2025 attack, according to the report.

"The French authorities identified and arrested all members of the criminal organization, with the exception of one of them, who left the country to seek refuge in our country and avoid his arrest," the Spanish Civil Guard said in a statement.

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The individual, who was not named, was located in Spain and eventually arrested last week in the municipality of Benalmadena. The arrest of the individual was facilitated with the use of a large police presence, the report says, due to their dangerousness and the possibility that the criminal organization to which they belonged might try to free them.

Balland and his wife were kidnapped from their home in Cher, France last January and held captive for around 24 hours, with ransom demands of 10 million Euros worth of cryptoabout $11.6 millionaccording to the Spanish Civil Guard.

One of Ballands fingers was cut off during that time and mailed to his associates, Le Parisien reported at the time, citing unnamed sources. The pair were soon after liberated by law enforcement and the other kidnappers were arrested.

In June, police in Morocco arrested French-Moroccan national Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou, who was alleged to be the mastermind behind Ballands abduction and other crypto-related kidnappings in France.

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Fake Police Officers Held French Couple at Knifepoint in $1M Bitcoin Robbery

Wrench attacks, or physical attacks in attempts to coerce crypto from victims, have been on the rise in the last year, jumping 75% year-over-year, according to data from security firm CertiK.

France has been particularly troubled, responsible for 16 of the 23 wrench attacks that have been publicly reported this year, according to a database compiled by crypto security researcher and Casa CTO, Jameson Lopp.

Earlier this year, six individuals were arrested for kidnapping a magistrate and seeking a crypto ransom. Plus, the CEO of Binance France was the target of a home invasion, but was unharmed and the alleged perpetrators were arrested.
by Wen Tsui

SACRAMENTO, United States, March 21 (Xinhua) -- A record-breaking heat wave swept across the western United States this week, shattering March temperature records in dozens of cities.

A corporate public relations professional who flew in from Toronto, Canada, described the temperature shift as a "physical shock," with her home city at around minus 10 degrees Celsius at departure and San Jose near 30 degrees upon arrival -- a staggering 40-degree swing.

The U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) Bay Area office said a downtown San Jose climate station reached 31.1 degrees Celsius, breaking the previous March 20 record of 25.6 degrees Celsius set in 2004.

By Friday, more than 550 daily high-temperature records had been set across the western United States since March 11, with at least 65 locations logging all-time March highs, according to media reports, spanning Arizona, California and Idaho.

The highest reading reported by the NWS came from a desert area near Martinez Lake, Arizona, where temperatures reached 43.3 degrees Celsius on Thursday, surpassing the previous U.S. March record of 42.2 degrees Celsius set in Texas in 1954.

Further reports showed additional extremes in Arizona and Southern California. In Phoenix, Arizona, temperatures rose to 40.6 degrees Celsius, matching the city's all-time April record -- in March.

The World Weather Attribution group said in a rapid, non-peer-reviewed analysis that the event "would have been virtually impossible without human-induced climate change," estimating fossil fuels added 2.6-4 degrees Celsius to observed temperatures and placing the event's return period at about 500 years under current conditions.

"These findings leave no room for doubt," said Friederike Otto, a climate science professor at Imperial College London and co-author of the analysis. "Climate change is pushing weather into extremes that would have been unthinkable in a pre-industrial world."

Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, said the atmospheric ridge driving the heat wave was the strongest ever observed over the southwestern United States in March, linking recent extremes -- including heat and wildfires -- to climate change. He warned that April 1 snowpack levels across western watersheds could fall to record lows, threatening summer water supplies.

Russ Schumacher, Colorado's state climatologist and a professor at Colorado State University, told the San Francisco Chronicle there is "no analog in March - not even close." 




Austin police have arrested a 59-year-old man accused of stalking and peeping into windows in a series of incidents across the city, authorities said Monday.

Anthony Golden was taken into custody Friday and charged with one count of felony stalking, police said. Detectives believe he may be connected to additional cases, and the investigation is ongoing.

MORE CRIME: Man found dead in East Austin, police investigating homicide on Loyola Lane

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Police said a significant tip from the public was crucial in identifying Golden.

The case stems from a string of reported window peeping incidents, including two at the same home in the 4000 block of Avenue C in the Hyde Park neighborhood earlier this year. In those instances, the suspect was reported outside the residence around 1:14 a.m. on Feb. 17 and again around 12:35 a.m. on March 4.

Austin police have arrested a 59-year-old man accused of stalking and peeping into windows in a series of incidents across the city. They released these images while searching for a perpetrator's identity. (Courtesy of the Austin Police Department)





Investigators had previously released details about a suspect vehicle  a white, four-door Toyota Prius missing its front right hubcap  and warned the person may have been armed during an earlier encounter.

Anyone with information about Golden or related incidents is asked to contact the Austin Police Departments Special Victims Investigations Unit at 512-974-5068 or submit anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477.
A Queensland, Australia, family was left heartbroken after drone footage confirmed their missing dog was taken into the water by an opportunistic crocodile.

Yahoo News Australia reported on the sad saga that took place at the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton. The family believes the 16-month-old Rottweiler puppy, Nigel, was attacked at the front of their property in Port Curtis.

Belgian tourist Minco de Bruin captured the shocking footage and shared it on Facebook. That's where Nigel's owners saw the video and came to the realization that their dog was gone.

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"It's only a matter of time before something worse happens," Nigel's owners told 7News.

While those remarks hinted at risks to humans, crocodile expert John Lever insisted that, as apex predators, crocodiles don't discriminate. They'll attack whatever presents itself near the water.

"Whether it's a dog or a pig or a human down at the water's edge, of course there is a risk if there are crocodiles there," Lever told Yahoo News. "They're increasing in numbers, so everyone has to be forever vigilant."

The Queensland Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation echoed this sentiment, urging residents and visitors to be "crocwise." Lever noted that in the warmer months, crocodiles have a greater appetite that could heighten the risks.

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Queensland officials unveiled a number of instructions to keep residents safe. They include staying away from the water's edge, obeying signs, not leaving food near water, and avoiding small boats such as canoes and kayaks. Additionally, setting up camp at least 50 meters (164 feet) from water bodies can reduce the risk of encounters.

Ultimately, the increase in human settlement and recreational activities near crocodile habitats can lead to more interactions between people and crocs.

For Nigel's owners, it's devastating that this one proved fatal. Hopefully, future incidents can be avoided with greater awareness. Officials laid out the dangers they pose in stark terms.

"Crocodiles are apex predators that use ambush tactics, such as lying and waiting at the water's edge, to capture their prey," DETSI officials wrote in a statement, per Yahoo News. "... No water body in Croc Country can be considered to be free from crocodiles."

Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips to save more, waste less, and make smarter choices  and earn up to $5,000 toward clean upgrades in TCD's exclusive Rewards Club.
A new bagel shop may be coming to Sixth Ave in Tacoma.

A building permit application was filed Monday to open a bagel shop at 2805 6th Ave., the space emptied by Locust Cider in 2024.

The application hasnt yet been approved by the city of Tacoma, but it proposes starting renovations on the site in May.

New deli and cake slice shop coming to the Museum of Glass

The Museum of Glass in Tacoma will see a couple new business additions this year, as previously reported by The News Tribune.

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A New York-style deli called Sliced is moving into the museums cafe space and is slated to open next month.

Sliced Tacoma will open new New York-inspired deli at Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Wash. in 2026.

The shop will offer a selection of half-sized and full-sized sandwiches, including the Chicken A La Vodka with a chicken cutlet, spicy vodka sauce, pesto and burrata on a baguette, and The Katz Meow with house corned beef and mustard on rye.

Sides include asparagus snap pea salad and matzo ball soup. As for dessert, visitors will find a new location of The Cat & Rabbitt Cake Shop, a popular local bakery with a brick-and-mortar store in Puyallup.

A Cat & Rabbitt employee cuts a fresh slice of cake in Puyallup, WA., on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024.

The bakery has partnered with Sliced to sell slices of its own. Along with slices of cake, The Cat & Rabbitts new location will also have its sought-after brioche cinnamon rolls, sold each Sunday until they sell out.

Steilacoom gets new juice bar

A new juice bar is open in Steilacoom, as previously reported by The News Tribune.

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Pure Intentions Juice Bar, 206 Wilkes St., serves up fresh juices, smoothies, acai bowls, wellness shots and fruit cups.

A make your own juice with pineapple, ginger, apple and celery.

The large menu includes over a dozen juices, like the Tigers Blood with beet, celery, pineapple and orange, and the Green Heart with spinach, celery, cucumber, apple, lemon and ginger.

Customers can make their own juice, smoothie or fruit cup with all the fruits, vegetables and other add-ons available behind the counter.

Pure Intentions Juice Bar is open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and is closed Mondays.

New toy store coming to Gig Harbor

The Curious Bear Toy & Book Shop is opening this May in downtown Gig Harbor, as previously reported by The News Tribune.

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The toy store will take over the space at 3202 Tarabochia St. from the independent gallery Birdnest Gallery & Framing.

The Curious Bear also has a location in Fircrest, which opened in 2018. The toy store sells everything youd expect  books, games, LEGOs, dolls, stuffed animals, collectibles, puzzles and more.

Local seafood company sells Tacoma facility

Fathom Seafood has sold one of its sites in Tacoma as it plans to expand operations elsewhere, as previously reported by The News Tribune.

An LLC affiliated with California-based Shinkei Systems acquired the facility at 2544 S. Fawcett Ave. last month, according to Pierce County property records.

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Shinkei Systems plans to use the facility to distribute Michelin-quality fish, according to a news release.

Meanwhile, Fathom Seafood is moving operations to its Tacoma headquarters 1690 Marine View Dr.

A burger and fries at Rustica Grille, a new steakhouse in Port Orchard.

New steakhouse opens in Port Orchard

Rustica Grille opened earlier this month in Port Orchard, as previously reported by The News Tribune.

The steakhouse in the Port Orchard Public Market at 715 Bay St. offers eats like bison burgers and an all-you-can-eat salad bar. Rustica Grille also serves country-style breakfast.

The owner, Katie Hudkins, told The News Tribune that the restaurant is family-friendly.

Rustica Grille replaces The Dock Bar & Eatery, which closed in 2024. Hours for Rustica Grille are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day.
By John Irish

PARIS, March 24 (Reuters) - U.N. Security Council members have begun negotiating resolutions to protect commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz, including a Bahraini draft that would authorise the use of "all necessary means"  language France has warned will be difficult to adopt.

The move underscores mounting regional concern that Iran could continue to threaten the strategic chokepoint, which carries about a fifth of global oil supplies and underpins Gulf economies.

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Shipping through the waterway has already slowed to a nearhalt after Iran struck vessels amid its conflict with the United States and Israel.

Diplomats said Bahrain's draft, seen by Reuters and backed by other Gulf Arab states and the United States, uses diplomatic language to authorise force.

France circulated a more conciliatory alternative text, also seen by Reuters, and diplomats said talks were under way to assess whether the two drafts could be reconciled.

France's Foreign Minister JeanNoel Barrot told lawmakers that there was little certainty Bahrain's bid to permit the use of force  a power the Security Council can grant under Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter, which allows measures from sanctions to military action  would win enough backing among member states. "The coming days will tell," he said.

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BAHRAINI RESOLUTION DETAILS

The Bahraini resolution describes Iran's actions as a threat to international peace and security.

It would authorise countries  acting alone or through voluntary multinational naval coalitions  to use "all necessary means" in and around the Strait of Hormuz, including in the territorial waters of countries along its shores, to ensure passage and to prevent moves that block or interfere with international navigation.

It also expresses readiness to impose measures, including targeted sanctions.

Bahrain's Ambassador to France, Essam al-Jassim, told Reuters discussions were at an early stage.

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"External protection has clear limits. International coalitions help secure sea lanes and stabilise markets, but their response remains largely reactive," he earlier told a defence forum in Paris.

"They do not address, for example, escalating state-backed attacks, and without doing so, disruptions will persist."

The Bahraini and U.S. missions to the United Nations did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The text "demands that the Islamic Republic of Iran immediately cease all attacks against merchant and commercial vessels and any attempt to impede lawful transit passage or freedom of navigation in and around the Strait of Hormuz."

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FRENCH RESOLUTION MAKES NO MENTION OF IRAN

Diplomats said there was little prospect of such a resolution being adopted by the Security Council as Iran's partners Russia and China were likely to veto it if necessary.

A Security Council resolution needs at least nine votes in favour and no vetoes by Russia, China, the U.S., Britain and France. The Russian and Chinese missions to the United Nations were not immediately available for comment.

France on Monday submitted its own draft, taking a more conciliatory tone and aiming to build broader support within the council.

President Emmanuel Macron, who has suggested having a U.N. framework for any action in the Hormuz, has refused to take part in any immediate operations to secure the strait, saying that international efforts could only happen once hostilities calm, insurance and shipping firms are consulted and with Iran's consent.

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The French resolution makes no mention of Iran and is not under Chapter VII. It "urges all parties to refrain from further escalation, calls for a cessation of the ongoing hostilities in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman, and calls for a return to the path of diplomacy."

Rather than authorising action, the text encourages states with an interest in commercial maritime routes in the strait to coordinate strictly defensive measures  including escorting merchant vessels  in full respect of international law, including the law of the sea.

(Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom in Washington; Editing by Cynthia Osterman, Saad Sayeed and Ros Russell)
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday said people need to give President Trump more empathy after Trump posted that he was glad former FBI Director Robert Mueller was dead.

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 during a Sunday appearance on NBCs Meet the Press.

Mueller led the 2016 election interference investigation into Trump, which resulted in a 448-page report that found he did not conspire or coordinate with the Russian government to influence the U.S. general election.

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He also did not recommend prosecuting Trump. However, the president has remained scorned by the 2022 raid on his Mar-a-Lago property, which was conducted as part of former counsel Jack Smiths investigation into Trumps mishandling of classified documents.

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. They are going through his wifes wardrobe, Bessent told moderator Kristen Welker on Sunday.

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, the Treasury secretary added.

Trump is now seeking an unprecedented $230 million settlement from the Department of Justice over numerous federal probes into his conduct.

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You know, I brought a lawsuit, and Im winning the lawsuit. Theres only one problem. Im the one who has to settle it, the president said of the legal battle last December.

In other words, I am suing, and Im the one thats supposed to settle it, he added.

The proposed settlement has been picked apart by legal experts who say the request for millions of dollars is unusual and could be deemed unethical.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Editors note: This story was updated at 1:30 p.m. March 23, 2026 to include comments from Croft School Spokesperson Jim McManus.

A financially troubled private school with two Boston locations is looking for financial options after its founder was accused of hiding $13 million in debt for years.

Parents and the board of the Croft School, which has locations in the South End, Jamaica Plain and Providence, Rhode Island, is working to find other funding sources to finish the school year, Spokesperson Jim McManus said in an email to MassLive on Monday afternoon. He denied reports that the school could close on March 27.

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Last week, the schools board of directors wrote in a letter to parents that founder and Executive Director Scott Given had admitted to keeping two sets of financial records to conceal the debt.

The board of directors wrote in the letter that after suspending Given on March 7, they took steps to secure the schools finances. After paying employees with what little cash was left in Crofts accounts and securing a $400,000 capital contribution from an undisclosed source, the school was left with about $448,000, according to the letter.

The board wrote in the letter to parents that Croft needs at least $5 million to cover payroll and necessary operating expenses for the remainder of the school year. While the next payroll cycle is covered, the board is currently in talks with several potential funding sources.

Tuition for the 2026-2027 academic year ranged from $31,690 to $37,690, depending on the campus, according to the schools website

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Croft was closed for spring break last week but opened for classes again Monday morning.

The accusations against Given came to light after the school backed out of a plan to expand its South End campus into a new space at 1421 Washington St., the current home of Foodies Market, a grocery store set to close in June. Given had provided the landlord of the building, 1421 Washington Associates LLC, a $500,000 letter of credit as a security deposit when the school signed a lease for the space.

However, according to a lawsuit Washington Associates filed last week against Croft and Given, when a company manager attempted to cash the letter of credit after the school backed out, the bank said it was a forgery.

Crofts board wrote in its letter to families last week that Given had admitted to forging the letter of credit at the same time that he revealed the $13 million in debt.

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Boston Public Schools said it was prepared to absorb any students living in the city if Croft closes.

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, a district spokesperson said in a statement. We welcome and enroll students throughout the school year and our team is ready to provide families with access to the districts rigorous academic programs, specialized services, and diverse extracurricular opportunities offered across our schools. We are dedicated to helping every student find a place to learn, grow, and thrive within our BPS community.

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Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP)  Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva criticized what he called the return of a colonial approach toward developing nations during a summit in Colombia on Saturday, pointing to the disposal of ex-Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and the fuel blockade of Cuba.

Its not possible for someone to think that they own other countries, Lula said, in an apparent reference to U.S. policy in the region, at a high-level forum with delegates from Africa and a summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States. What are they doing with Cuba now? What did they do with Venezuela? Is that democratic?

The left-wing president also criticized the war launched by the U.S. and Israel against Iran on Feb. 28 and drew a parallel with the Iraq War. Iran has been invaded under the pretext that Iran was building a nuclear bomb. Where are Saddam Husseins chemical weapons? Where are they? Who found them?

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Lula said that all countries present had already experienced being plundered for gold, silver, diamonds and minerals. He accused an unspecified they of seeking to own developing countries critical minerals and rare earth deposits.

After taking everything we had, now they want to own the critical minerals and rare earths that we have, Lula said. They want to colonize us again.

Washingtons history of intervention in Latin America goes back a long way  to when President James Monroe claimed the hemisphere as part of the U.S. sphere of influence more than 200 years ago.

While large-scale, overt U.S. involvement in the region mostly petered out after the Cold War, Trump has rekindled the legacy.

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Since assuming office last year, Trump launched boat strikes against alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean, ordered a naval blockade on Venezuelan oil exports and got involved in electoral politics in Honduras and Argentina.

And in Brazil, Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods last year, citing a witch hunt trial against the countrys former president Jair Bolsonaro. The U.S. has also shown keen interest in Brazils rare earth deposits.

Then, on Jan. 3, U.S. forces captured Venezuelan strongman leader Nicolas Maduro, flying him to the U.S. to face drug and weapons charges.

While such actions have thrilled right-wing leaders across the continent, they have raised fears among left-wing politicians who have voiced grave concerns over what they see as U.S. bullying.

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We cannot allow anyone to interfere and violate the territorial integrity of each country, Lula said Saturday.

Lula, who has said he will run for a fourth, nonconsecutive term in the upcoming October elections, also criticized the United Nations inability to stop multiple conflicts around the world.

What we are witnessing is the total and absolute failure of the United Nations, said Lula, pointing to the situations in Gaza, Ukraine and Iran and once again calling for reform of the bodys Security Council.

The Security Council is mandated in the U.N. Charter with ensuring international peace and security, but it has failed in major conflicts because of the veto power of five permanent members: the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France.

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There have been decades of efforts to reform the Security Council to reflect the geopolitical realities of the world in 2026, not of the post-World War II era 80 years ago, when the United Nations was established. But they have all been unsuccessful.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has designated a  priority target, echoed Lulas condemnation of the United Nations.

The body is acting in impotence, and that is not what it was created for. It was created after World War II precisely to prevent wars. And yet, what we have today is war, Petro said.

But the world needs the United Nations to provide climate solutions and curb global warming, Petro said. The more serious humanitys problems become, the fewer tools we have for collective action. And that path leads only to barbarism.

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Petro accused U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio of defending Western civilization and urged him to instead pursue dialogue.

Relatively few presidents and prime ministers from Latin America and the Caribbean attended the summit in Colombia, a sign of the continent's deep divisions.

Those present included the presidents of Brazil, Uruguay, Burundi and Colombia, as well as the prime ministers of Guyana and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, along with deputy ministers, foreign ministers, and ambassadors.

___

Hughes reported from Rio de Janeiro.

___

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
As a student at an alternative high school in Maine, Maliyah Powell wanted to help others.

Her 2024 graduation project was to secure donations for unhoused people in Lewiston, school officials said.

The school community on Sunday remembered the 22-year-old, who was shot and killed early Friday morning, allegedly by another woman in her 20s, as a bright light who aimed to make a difference in peoples lives.

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We are heartbroken at the loss of 2024 graduate Maliyah Powell, Wayfinder Schools officials said in a Facebook post. Maliyah was a bright light who was full of compassion and fierce determination.

When she graduated, her goal was to study social work. She wanted to help others, school officials said.

On Friday, at approximately 1:26 a.m., the Lewiston-Auburn Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a shooting on Union Street in Lewiston.

Lewiston Police responded to the scene and requested assistance from the Maine State Police.

When officers arrived, they found Powell suffering from a gunshot wound, state police said in a statement. She was taken by ambulance to Central Maine Medical Center, where she later died.

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Elise Bergeron, 25, of Lewiston, was later arrested and charged with murder in connection with Powells death.

Elise Bergeron, 25, of Lewiston, left, is charged with murder in connection with the death of Maliyah Powell, 22, also of Lewiston.

Bergeron was transported to the Androscoggin County Jail. The investigation is being conducted by the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit South, with assistance from Lewiston Police, state police said.

An autopsy found the cause of Powells death to be a gunshot wound and the manner of death to be homicide.

The homicide remains an active and ongoing investigation, state police said.

Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Maine State Police at 207-624-7076, option 9.

On Sunday, Wayfinder Schools posted several photographs of Powell from her time there.

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In one, Powell is seen smiling and delivering donations at the Trinity Jubilee Center to help people in need.

School officials shared comments from Powells former teacher, Cindy, when she graduated in 2024.

Maliyah has a personality that sparkles, her teacher said at the time. Her ability to draw upon life experiences and share her knowledge through her excellent writing skills helped her to excel in coursework.

Powells humor, honesty, and intelligence were a pleasure to experience. She wants to make a difference in peoples lives, her teacher said at the time.

We will miss Maliyah tremendously, and our hearts go out to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her, school officials said Sunday.

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A Republican sheriff in California who's running for governor seized more than 650,000 ballots from election officials last week, saying he is investigating potential fraud in last year's election.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said a group of citizens conducted their own audit of California's 2025 special election results in the county, and he claimed that the election workers tally of ballots received was 45,000 fewer than the number of votes certified to the state.

Riverside County considered one ballot question in the November special election: whether to approve a new Democratic-drawn congressional map. Voters statewide and in the county ultimately passed the measure, putting Democrats in position to gain up to five House seats in this year's midterm elections.

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This investigation is simple: physically count the ballots and compare that result with the total votes reported, Bianco said at a Friday news conference.

Art Tinoco, Riverside County's registrar, told the countys Board of Supervisors at a lengthy presentation last month that he'd met with the advocates repeatedly about their concerns. He said the citizen group was using imprecise, handwritten records in its audit, which election officials don't use in counting ballots.

When they certify results, election officials compare tallies from an electronic system that tracks each ballot's journey from officials to voters and back and from separate tabulators that count verified ballots. In the November election, the variance between the two was 103 ballots  a 0.016% error rate, which is similar to the rates in other California counties.

We are doing an amazing job in Riverside County, dont know what else we could be doing different, Tinoco said.

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Bianco's investigation comes amid a spate of inquiries into the 2020 election, which President Donald Trump lost. The FBI has seized ballots from an elections hub in Fulton County, Georgia, and subpoenaed materials related to a controversial election review in Maricopa County, Arizona. The National Intelligence Directors Office has also said it obtained and examined Puerto Rico voting machines last year to look for security vulnerabilities.

Bianco said he has been investigating voter fraud since 2022, adding that "we have not found any mass fraud in Riverside County."

Bianco said at his news conference that the county registrar had indicated that any discrepancy between ballot tallies and the official vote count was due to human error and that the machine count was what was certified as the election's results.

"I hope we can all agree there is no acceptable error small or large in our elections  let alone a 45,000-vote difference," he said. "Our investigation will determine the validity of that alleged discrepancy, and if found true, we will determine the cause."

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He also accused California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, of trying to stop his investigation.

In a statement Friday, Bonta said that he had concerns about the underlying facts of the investigation and that Bianco had refused to work with his office on the issue.

Sheriff Biancos investigation is unprecedented in both scope and scale  and appears not to be based on facts or evidence but on unfounded allegations that have already been refuted by the Riverside Registrar of Voters, he said.

Bonta wrote Bianco several letters about the matter and said he was concerned that the affidavits used to support the warrants may have misled the judge who signed off on them to seize the ballots.

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Gowri Ramachandran, an election security expert at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law, said she was concerned that law enforcement would increasingly get involved in election proceedings. She said that could affect routine election processes and risk damage to ballots.

"There are actually legal procedures that people who work for election offices get trained in before they're allowed to touch ballots," she said.

Bianco is one of the leading Republicans running for governor in California this year. While California is a deep-blue state, Democrats have expressed concern that their party's crowded field of candidates could shut them out from the general election. In California, candidates from all parties appear on the same primary ballot, with the top two vote-getters advancing.

Another GOP candidate, former Fox News commentator Steve Hilton, criticized Bonta in a statement without specifically mentioning Bianco, saying he would "lead a complete reset of our election systems to eliminate Democrat corruption and restore fairness and integrity."

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Former Rep. Katie Porter, one of the top Democratic candidates in the race, slammed Bianco's efforts.

Californias election system is one of the best in the world  but my opponent, Chad Bianco, is trying to call it into question to win Donald Trumps endorsement," Porter said in a statement. "Republican attempts to gin up distrust in our elections is the first page in the authoritarian playbook and it must be stopped.

In 2024, Bianco endorsed Trump for president in an Instagram video recorded while he was dressed in uniform. California law prohibits officers and public employees from participating in "political activities" while wearing an official uniform.

I think its time we put a felon in the White House, he said at the time. Trump 2024, baby. Lets save this country and make America great again.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Every morning in the Ohio Capital Journals free newsletter, The Eye-Opener, we round up the news and commentary from across Ohio and around the country and world that is catching our attention. We call this feature Catching Our Eye, republished here.

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Catching Our Eye

Teaching Christianity in schools. Cleveland.coms Karan Singh reports, Religious education bill honoring Charlie Kirk introduced in Senate following swift House approval.

A polarizing initiative to alter Ohios education standards based on the belief that Christianity was a building block of the United States is advancing rapidly at the Statehouse.

Drafted by Republican Reps. Gary Click of Sandusky County and Bereas Michael Dovilla, House Bill 486 is currently cosponsored by 34 other representatives of the same party. Packaged as a tribute to late conservative figure Charlie Kirk, it would permit school and college instructors to teach students about the influence of Christianity on the nations history and values.

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Prices. ABC News reports, What soaring diesel costs amid war with Iran mean for meat, vegetable and fruit prices.

Sticker shock has plagued drivers at the gas pump since the outbreak of war with Iran, but higher prices could soon follow them to the grocery store, the mall and just about everywhere else they shop, some economists told ABC News.

The reason for that is a surge in the cost of diesel fuel, which powers many of the trucks, trains and ships that transport products across a vast global supply chain. The price hike for any individual item will likely be modest, but the pileup of extra costs could weigh on wallets, they said.

Solar blocked. WOSUs Katie Geniusz reports, Ohio Power Siting Board blocks construction of Morrow County solar farm.

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The Ohio Power Siting Board has denied construction of the Crossroads Solar project in Morrow County.

The decision referenced consistent and substantial opposition to the project by the local population and as expressed through the local governmental entities.

Legitimacy of local opposition to the project has been brought into question. Local township boards all voted to oppose the project, but reporting by Canary Media has found that public comment claiming to be from residents does not align with voter registration records. Canary Media also reports that false email addresses were provided.

Gas plant. The Statehouse News Bureaus Sarah Donaldson reports, Feds announce huge natural gas plant, data center project in southern Ohio.

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Two federal agencies say a recently proposed $33.3 billion, 9.2-gigawatt (GW) natural gas plant in southern Ohio will eventually power a data center.

The facilities, including the behemoth proposed 10-GW data center, will be constructed on revitalized U.S. Department of Energy land in Piketon, where the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant was.

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WASHINGTON, March 22 (Xinhua) -- White House border czar Tom Homan said Sunday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will assist at busy airport security checkpoints amid a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown that has lasted more than a month.

Homan told CNN's "State of the Union" that ICE agents will help with security at entrances and exits to ease the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)'s workload, as more TSA officers have quit or called in sick while working without pay.

Airports nationwide are experiencing long security lines due to TSA staffing shortages, and DHS has repeatedly blamed Democrats for the shutdown.

"This chaos at American airports is a direct result of the Democrats' DHS shutdown. Our TSA officers have now gone weeks without pay. Many can't even afford gas to get to work," the department said Sunday on social media platform X.

Democrats, meanwhile, have blamed Republicans for the standoff. "Instead of sending ICE agents to harass travelers at airports, why don't Republicans get their act together and agree to pay TSA workers like we've asked them SEVEN TIMES now?" Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on X.

The Senate on Friday rejected the DHS funding bill for the fifth time, leaving key operations -- including the TSA, the Coast Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency -- severely strained. 
(FOX40.COM)  A Sacramento convenience store manager is fighting for thieves and disrupters to be held accountable after dozens of kids ransacked Power Inn Chevrons shop, along Folsom Boulevard, on Thursday night.

Store Manager Shailesh Chand showed FOX40 security footage that revealed how the store transformed within a second from a place of peace and snacks to sheer chaos and destruction.

They feel that they can just walk in any store and pick up things and throw things and do whatever they can do and run away, Chand said.

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The footage began with some apparent students heading into the store, but things rapidly escalated.

It was just one employee out here, Chand said. They all do their hard work and try to survive while working here.

Dozens of young people poured in and took claim over the business. Chand explained how the teens destroyed large quantities worth of merchandise, created a potentially hazardous environment and damaged the property. He said the cashier was frightened  not knowing how far the teen-turbulence would go. He tried to remain calm and called 911.

The crowd was trying to throw candies at him, Chand said.

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Bags of chips flew through the air and a thunder storm of candies and sodas whirled through the shop. Chand said these disruptive incidents happen all too often and pointed out how their is a major difference between a large crowd going into a store and a large crowd stealing from and destroying merchandise. He added the shop has had to replace the door twice within the past six months.

People who do all these things, they tend to be hostile, also aggressive, because they can be, like, throwing things in here, Chand said.

He said he is ready for people who target small shops to be held accountable. The store manager said with gas prices still on the rise, working at the shop and making a living is hard enough without added trouble.

With the current fluctuations of gas price, its kind of hard to survive in this business, Chand said. We are suffering loss already because people are now watching gas prices and are moving, so we are missing customers.

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The Sacramento Police Department said this was not the first incident reported that night involving what is believed to be this same group of teens. While officers did not respond to the Chevron scene  as a formal report has not yet been filed  Chand urged anyone who may recognize the people in the video to remind them that their actions can have an impact on fellow community members.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News.
After the primary and general elections comes the Chicago mayoral election, which is less than a year away.

Mayor Brandon Johnson, who is sending mixed signals about his future political plans, sat down for a one-on-one interview to talk about it.

Johnson is expected to face numerous challengers in next February's election. But on Monday, he was fending off questions about running for reelection, while also taking shots at would-be rivals.

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Johnson took part in a wide-ranging interview. He was seemingly unconcerned about the 2027 election and who might be running against him.

"I know that there are some folks who are politicking already. That's, you know, I understand it. I do. But when people see me all over the city of Chicago, they're not asking about my reelection," Johnson said.

The mayor continued to deflect about his political future.

When asked if he's planning to run for a second term, Johnson said, "Well, right now, my plan is to continue to drive violence down in the city of Chicago to make sure that we're investing in communities. As I've said repeatedly, there will be plenty of time for politics."

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"I've done both at the same time. As a Cook County commissioner, I was governing and I ran for mayor," Johnson said. "So, it's clear that I know how to multitask. I can govern and run for something. I've done it multiple times. Not only have I done it multiple times, I've won every time."

Since the first of the year, one potential mayoral rival, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, has reported raising nearly $12 million.

By comparison, Mayor Johnson has reported raising just $58,000 during that time.

"Well, what we saw on this last election cycle, you saw people spend multiple millions," Johnson said. "And it's evident that money alone does not guarantee someone's success."

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When talking about successes, Johnson touted the effort to reduce violent crime in Chicago, which happened under the direction of his first deputy mayor for public safety, Garien Gatewood. He was fired last Thursday.

Mayor Johnson addressed that decision for the first time.

"This is about making sure that my vision gets carried out. I'm carrying out that vision. That's my responsibility, right?" Johnson said.

And while reelection talk may be for another day, Johnson sent a not so subtle signal.

"We have seen many high-profile donors in this city who have been bosses of previous mayors. Right? The difference for me right now is that I'm not bossed by the same people who are trying to boss the electorate. I'm not going to do it, and I'm not going to stand for it," Johnson said.

The mayor also confirmed that in the search for a new CEO for Chicago Public Schools, he has interviewed the two finalists recommended to him. But he says he wants to talk to them again before making a recommendation to the Board of Education.
A 25-year-old Cocoa man suspected of beating a woman and shooting her acquaintance after breaking into a home earlier in March remains jailed.

Brytton Dane Hurd of Rockledge was charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, burglary with assault or battery and attempted first-degree murder after Brevard County sheriffs deputies took him into custody Thursday, March 19. He is being held at the Brevard County Jail Complex without bond, jail records show,

The shooting incident happened March 10 at a home in the 2000 block of Amallfi Drive in Cocoa, police reported.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 booster comes in for landing at LZ-40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station April 11, 2026, after delivering the CygnusXL spacecraft and supplies for the International Space Station. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK Melby the manatee shares a goodbye with one of the many people involved in his rehab just before he was released back into his natural habitat at Ballard Park in Melbourne. Artemis II and its crew of four lift off from Kennedy Space Center April 1, 2026, on a 10-day mission around the moon and back. An unknown missile is test-launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station March 26, 2026. Daisy May, a 12-week old Great Dane puppy meets her first giant bunny. Pet photos with the Easter Bunny at Myrt Tharpe Square in Cocoa Village on March 15, sponsored by Tails at the Barkery, was a fundraiser for Rescue Rebels by Cash 4 Canines, Inc. For a $10 donation, they provided a 5 x 6 framed photo by Janet Thompson, a goody bag provided by ChemDry Space Coast, and a magic Easter egg. Children were also welcome to pose with the bunny (volunteer Dawn Locascio ). Color, movement and music filled the air at Indiafest Brevard, which offered a wide variety of entertainment and culinary choices over its two-day run. A jellyfish effect is created from the sun hitting the contrail after the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 at 5:52 a.m. March 4. NASAs Space Launch System rocket Artemis II is rolled back into the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center on Feb. 25. A photographer for Toyota covers the action close-up at turn 4 at the 2026 Daytona 500, held Feb.15 at Daytona International Speedway. A United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket heads east from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Feb. 12, 2026. The full moon rises as Artemis II sits on Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center Feb. 1, 2026. Flowers in Mims are covered in ice from sprinklers in this early morning shot from Feb. 1, a hard-freeze day on the Space Coast with temperatures in the 20s. Marco and Remy have a friendly wrestling match at a gathering of Space Coast Weenie Dogs, a local club for dachshund owners or doxie lovers. Artemis II begins its journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center to the launch pad on Jan. 17, 2026. Check out our 2026 collection of photos of the week 1 of 14 A SpaceX Falcon 9 booster comes in for landing at LZ-40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station April 11, 2026, after delivering the CygnusXL spacecraft and supplies for the International Space Station. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK

Police arriving at the home found two people, a 32-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man. The woman had been struck in the head and the man shot in his lower abdomen, police reported. Both injuries were non-life threatening, police said.

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The wounded man told police he had just been released from the county jail and was staying with the woman when someone kicked the bedroom door open. Police said Hurd struck the woman in the head and knocked her down before shooting the man with a pistol.

The man told police he heard Hurd say, I told you I would kill him before pistol-whipping him, court records show. Hurd then left the home, police reported.

The woman identified the shooter as a convenience store worker she had been in a relationship with in the past, reports show.

Hurd appeared before Brevard County Judge Kelly Ingram Friday, March 20, and was appointed a public defender.

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J.D. Gallop is a criminal justice/breaking news reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallop at 321-917-4641 or jgallop@floridatoday.com. Or X, formerly known as Twitter: @JDGallop

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Cocoa man charged with attempted murder, assault in early March break-in
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) are locked into their Senate primary runoff fight as they court President Trumps coveted endorsement.

Trump teased days after the rivals advanced to a runoff that hed back one candidate and ask the other to exit the race. But Tuesday, the formal dropout date, passed without that backing. Now, both Paxton and Cornyn will appear on the May 26 ballot, a potential boost for the controversial attorney general who trailed the incumbent in the returns earlier this month.

The runoff extends the expensive primary brawl by several weeks, soaking up attention and resources on the Republican side as Democratic nominee James Talarico fuels hopes of a flip in the red stronghold and zeroes in on Novembers general election.

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A runoff is dangerous business, very dangerous business, especially going into a competitive general, Texas Republican consultant Vinny Minchillo said.

Cornyn, whos seeking a fifth term in the Senate, beat Paxton by roughly 1 point in the March 3 primary, according to tallies from Decision Desk HQ, but he fell short of the majority support needed to avoid a runoff. Across the aisle, Talarico nabbed the Democratic nod, finishing roughly 7 points ahead of rival Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas).

Trump wrote on Truth Social after the primary that the GOP infighting cannot, for the good of the Party, and our Country, itself, be allowed to go on any longer. Pledging an endorsement soon, the president said he planned to ask the candidate he didnt pick to immediately end their bid.

Im a little surprised, Minchillo said. The president is a guy who does what he says hes going to do, by and large, and soon has come and gone.

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Paxton initially suggested hed be staying in the race regardless of a Trump endorsement, but later he said hed be open to dropping out of the contest on several conditions, including if Senate leadership lifts the filibuster and advances the House-passed Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act.

Cornyn, despite his past support of the Senate tradition, has since backed changing the filibuster rules to advance the election reform bill championed by Trump.

Cornyns campaign unleashed a new ad this past week, just ahead of the deadline to drop out, hammering Paxtons character. And a pro-Paxton super PAC launched a TV ad last weekend, running not in Texas but in the West Palm Beach media market as Trump visited Florida.

But the president has so far stayed out of the Texas race as he grapples with the Iran war, which started just days before the Lone Star States primaries, and its fallout.

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Trump told NBC News on March 14 he would make an endorsement in the next week or so but added, I like both candidates very much.

By withholding an endorsement, Trump has put Texas Republicans in a situation where they cant coalesce, where they will continue to engage in bitter infighting, where they will expend a ton of money to finally get a nominee who has been decidedly bruised and battered, said Jon Taylor, a political science professor at the University of Texas, San Antonio.

And with the dropout deadline in the rear view, Taylor said, were left in a situation now where these two people who have been just bashing each other mercilessly [are] going to continue to spend a lot of money over the next two months.

Cornyns campaign declined to comment on the possibility of a Trump endorsement but emphasized in a statement to The Hill that Cornyn is one of [Trumps] most effective allies in the Senate.

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The Hill reached out to Paxtons campaign for additional comment.

Trump could still endorse at any time, but experts were hesitant to predict just how impactful his support might be at this point in the race.

If youre the Paxton campaign and you dont get the Trump endorsement, I dont think thats fatal. I think theres still a path to victory, Minchillo said, pointing to very enthusiastic Paxton voters who are expected to show up despite the typical trend of lower runoff turnout.

I think theres still definitely a chance that he does endorse coming down the end stretch. That being said, the president hates backing a loser  so hes going to want to see strength out of Cornyns camp coming out of this primary in order to lock it up, said Ross Hunt, a GOP data analyst and pollster based in Dallas.

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Hunt said Trumps support would help but wouldnt be a silver bullet, pointing to Cornyns staggering cash advantage as a sign that hes got the clear edge even without an endorsement.

A Texas Public Opinion Research survey earlier this month found that 49 percent of likely Republican runoff voters backed Paxton, while 41 percent backed Cornyn. With a hypothetical Trump endorsement for Cornyn, Paxtons lead shrunk to 1 point. The poll had a margin of error of 3.9 percentage points.

A new poll from Change Research for Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund also found Paxton beating Cornyn without a Trump endorsement, 42 percent to 39 percent. With a Trump endorsement, Paxton climbed to a 10-point edge, while Cornyn won by 3 points.

The GOP Senate primary has been considered a test of the MAGA brand in Texas, where Trump won by 14 points in 2024s presidential election. The runoff means two more months of a tough intraparty fight in whats already become the most expensive Senate primary on record.

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After a scorched-earth primary, how do you turn around and actually win the general election? Taylor said of the GOP contenders. This is not to say that whoever wins a Republican nomination cant win the general; they can. But it definitely weakens them and provides ammunition for James Talarico.

National Republicans, including the Senate GOP campaign arm, have pushed for support to consolidate around Cornyn, who they argue has the best chances of winning whats shaping up to be a surprisingly competitive general election in the red state. Theyve pointed to controversy around Paxton  impeached in the Texas House before being acquitted in the Texas Senate on corruption charges in 2023, and divorced by his state lawmaker wife on biblical grounds  as a liability for November.

But Paxtons team has underscored the Texas attorney generals success in his statewide elections, and supporters have pointed out that the majority of primary voters sided against Cornyn by voting for either Paxton or Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas), who came in third place and missed the runoff.

The winner of the runoff will face off in November against Talarico, who hasnt escaped attacks from his Republican rivals as the runoff ramps up.

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Democrats have struggled for decades to win statewide in Texas, and Republicans are still favored to win the Senate seat this fall, regardless of which candidate wins the GOP nod. But the tough GOP primary and Talaricos strong Democratic bid have put Republicans on defense in a state thats long been an easy lift.

Internal polling from the Democrats campaign showed Talarico leading Cornyn by 2 points and Paxton by 1 point in a general election, Politico reported this week.

Republicans hold a slim 53-47 majority in the Senate, and a flip in Texas could be critical to Democrats hopes of winning back chamber control this fall.

This primary runoff is a high-stakes battle for Republicans in the fall. Its also kind of a test case for whether or not the Republican party can reimagine its brand as we move into the general election, Hunt said. We dont even really know whether its going to be advantageous for candidates to distance themselves maximally from Trump, or to lean into his strengths.

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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.
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An illustration shows a primordial black hole embedded in matter and antimatter, but did these Big Bang-born black holes prefer to consume antimatter?. | Credit: Robert Lea (created with Canva)

One of the most fundamental and curious mysteries in the universe is the fact that anything exists at all. That is because during the Big Bang, equal amounts of matter and antimatter particles should have been created  antimatter being like the "opposite" of regular matter, meaning it's made up of antiprotons and antielectrons. And when matter and antimatter particles meet, they are mutually annihilated.

That means in a universe split up into matter and antimatter , large structures such as galaxies , stars , planets, moons and even our bodies should struggle to exist. Thus, some early quirk of the universe must have eliminated antimatter and allowed a matter-dominated cosmos to prosper. For some time, scientists have been keenly searching for evidence of what this type of event might be.

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Enter Polish theoretical physicist Nikodem Poplawski of the University of New Haven. Poplawski theorizes that the reason the matter and antimatter asymmetry exists is that tiny primordial black holes created during the Big Bang gobbled up vast amounts of antimatter.

"Primordial black holes are hypothetical black holes that formed soon after the Big Bang because of extreme, high-density fluctuations in the early universe. They are good candidates for being the seeds of supermassive black holes at the centers of massive galaxies, as well as of intermediate-mass black holes at the centers of globular clusters," Poplawski told Space.com. "There are other models of elimination of antimatter, but they all assume some physics beyond the Standard Model of particle physics.

"The mass asymmetry between matter and antimatter was surprising, but it immediately suggested to me that it could be a simple and natural cause of the observed matter-antimatter imbalance in the universe."

Was antimatter a drag in the earlier universe?

Poplawski explained how there are also unknown processes that violate the balance between a family of particles called baryons and their antimatter counterparts, the antibaryons.

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"The mass asymmetry and the resulting black-hole capture asymmetry produced the matterantimatter imbalance in the observable universe without violating the conservation of baryon number and invoking new physics beyond the Standard Model," Poplawski explained.

The researcher says that because antimatter particles are more massive than matter particles, during pair production in the early universe, the antimatter particles were slower than the corresponding matter particles.

"Because the probability for gravitational capture of a massive particle by a black hole increases as its speed decreases, the antimatter particles were captured by black holes at larger rates than the corresponding matter particles," Poplawski said. "The missing antimatter fell into primordial black holes and what did not fall was annihilated by matter."

A visualization of primordial black holes from the early universe. | Credit: NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center

This could explain another problem in cosmology that has become pressing ever since the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) began spotting supermassive black holes around 500 million years after the Big Bang. This is an issue because the merger and feeding process that allows supermassive black holes to grow to masses of millions, or even billions, of times that of the sun were previously thought to take at least 1 billion years to reach fruition. Seeing supermassive black holes before the universe was 1 billion years old therefore presents a considerable puzzle.

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Poplawski thinks that by gobbling up antimatter, primordial black holes could have gotten a head start on these growth processes.

"Primordial black holes consumed more antimatter than matter, and because antimatter was much heavier than matter, primordial black holes enormously increased their masses," he said. "This could possibly explain how supermassive black holes recently observed in the early universe have grown so quickly."

Of course, there is a long way to go before this theory is accepted by the scientific community at large. One thing that could aid in its acceptance is obtaining observational evidence of the existence of primordial black holes, which since they were first proposed by Stephen Hawking in the 1970s, have remained frustratingly hypothetical.

"Primordial black holes would have existed in the very early universe, which is currently very difficult to probe. I hope that gravitational waves and neutrinos could be possibly used in the future to test this hypothesis," Poplawski said. "Also, there could be future experiments testing if matter and antimatter particles may have slightly different masses at higher densities or smaller distances compared to those currently probed. "In fact, some recent experiments showed that mesons and antimesons decay differently. This difference might be related to matter-antimatter mass asymmetry."
Police are investigating a double shooting that left one man dead in South Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon.

It happened shortly after noon on the 1900 block of South 21st Street.

Officers arrived to find a man and a woman with gunshot wounds.

They were both rushed to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where the man was pronounced dead.

He has been identified by police as 26-year-old Stephen Johnson Jr. from the 6200 block of Eastwick Avenue.

The woman is reported to be in stable condition. Her identity has not been released.

Police have not made any arrests or released a possible motive.

The shooting remains under investigation.
Attorneys for an assistant Delaware County prosecutor accusing a judge of sexually assaulting and harassing her now say the judge looked at her LinkedIn profile several times, violating a protection order that's been in place for months.

The attorneys for the woman filed motions in Delaware County Common Pleas Court on March 20 accusing James Schuck, 50, of violating a protection order put in place in November after the woman asked for one. The woman said in court documents that Schuck sexually assaulted her.

One of the March 20 motions, according to court records, asks the visiting judge presiding over the case to find Schuck in contempt of the court's previous orders. The motion was first reported by The Dispatch's news partner at NBC4/WCMH-TV.

Delaware Common Pleas Court Judge James Schuck is on a voluntary leave of office.

The woman's motion accuses Schuck of using a LinkedIn profile with the name "Jim Smith" who identifies themselves as working for the U.S. Courts, to view the woman's personal account.

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"I was alarmed by this contact because it appeared to be consistent with the stalking Respondent previously had engaged in through other electronic means that were difficult to trace," the woman wrote in an affidavit.

The motion does not accuse Schuck of sending any messages or attempting to contact the woman in any way through the account.

In addition, the woman's affidavit says police told her that the IP address using the LinkedIn account is the same IP address that accessed court surveillance systems the woman previously accused Schuck of monitoring her through.

The second motion asked Judge Richard Frye, a retired Franklin County Common Pleas Court judge overseeing the case, to move the date for a hearing that is currently scheduled for April 2.

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According to the motion, the woman's attorneys want time to investigate whether or not Schuck violated court orders, which they say the LinkedIn views "strongly suggest."

"That violation would be material proof that J.S. has engaged in, continues to engage in and will proceed to engage in conduct designed to harass, stalk and intimidate," the motion says. "J.S.'s contact in this case is no accident, no mistake and is a flagrant violation of this Court's order."

The LinkedIn profile was deleted, according to the motion, after an investigative subpoena had been sent to the company for information about the account.

The woman's attorneys say in the motion that Schuck either "simply cannot control himself" or has no respect for the protection order based on the use of the LinkedIn profile.

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Schuck's attorneys, according to court records, responded and said Schuck has had the profile for several years and created it after receiving threats from a criminal defendant. Schuck's attorneys also said the profile was used to try and determine why a Cleveland area lawyer became involved.

"The motion is attempting to equate passive viewing of a public webpage with intentional communication ... even though the 'notification' at issue is automatically generated by LinkedIn," Schuck's response says.

The request to move the date was denied and the full hearing on the woman's request for a protection order is still scheduled for April 2.

Schuck took a voluntary leave of absence in late November after the assistant prosecutor filed a request for a civil protection order and a police report against him. The woman accused Schuck of sexually assaulting her in his office in May 2025 and harassing her for months.

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Schuck has denied all the allegations against him. The Montgomery County Sheriff's office is handling the investigation, which remains ongoing.

Schuck said through his attorneys that he engaged in a personal relationship outside his marriage, but that his conduct was not criminal and the allegations against him are defamatory.

The woman, whom The Dispatch is not identifying at this time, has been reassigned within the Delaware County Prosecutor's office.

Reporter Bethany Bruner can be reached at bbruner@dispatch.com.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Judge James Schuck used LinkedIn to stalk woman, court docs say
TOPEKA  Jason Hart plunked himself into the political world in early March by quitting his job as an assistant U.S. attorney, switching his party affiliation, joining a scrum of candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, and warning another candidate not to enter the race.

The transition from prosecuting child abuse to political novice hasnt been an easy one for the Wichita resident, especially without a campaign manager.

Im not sure that a campaign manager, though, would help me out, because what I have observed is the campaign manager is the handler that kind of tries to prevent you from being your authentic self, Hart said. And Im just not really keen on that, so my campaign manager might hate me.

Hart joined the Kansas Reflector podcast to talk about his background and views on federal policy. He defended his assertions that he is the best Democratic candidate in the race because he is a straight, white, Christian man, and that a competitors military service pales in comparison to his own public service as a prosecutor.

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There are many Republicans who are in the wilderness right now, Hart said. They are sort of like, the Republican Party that I grew up with is not the Republican Party right now, and they are really struggling with where their place is in the world. And theyre looking for someone who is someone they can vote for and not simply vote against. And I think thats what I bring to the table.

Hart is among eight Democrats fighting for the chance to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall.

Prayers and tears

Hart said he was born in Russell and raised in western Kansas, where he learned the value of not being a farmer.

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We had friends that worked out on a farm, and one summer when I was either 10 or 11, they sent me out there to work, and that was a real good motivation to go to law school, Hart said.

He earned a law degree from the University of Kansas and practiced back home in Dodge City for a few years before taking a job with the Shawnee County District Attorneys Office. He moved to the Kansas Attorney Generals Office and then, for the past 16 years, worked in the U.S. Attorneys Office.

He said the January killing of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis led to his decision  after some prayerful and tearful discussions with my wife and family  to quit his job and run for public office for the first time.

In February, he changed his party affiliation from independent to Republican with the intent of challenging U.S. Rep. Ron Estes for his 4th District seat in the GOP primary. Then, he said, he found out his friend Katy Tyndell was planning to run as as Democrat in that race, and he didnt want to run against her.

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There was another problem.

My wife then tells me, Im not sleeping with a Republican,  he said.

Hart said his initial concern was that Democrats might not like him because he is pro-law enforcement and friendly to the Second Amendment. But as he would explain to a rival, he viewed himself as the best candidate among the Democrats running for U.S. Senate because he is white, male, Christian, hetero, 2A-friendly, LEO-friendly, and very clearly anti-pedo.

He quit his job in early March so he could formally enter the race, and he has switched his affiliation to Democrat.

Email to rival

Hart sent an 1,800-word email on March 2 to Noah Taylor, a Wichita Democrat, inviting Taylor to become Harts campaign treasurer rather than enter the race.

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To demonstrate his political connections, Hart pointed out: As you probably know, my childs head of school is Laura Kellys daughters best friend.

After winning this years election, Hart said, Taylor could become his chief of staff. Hart reasoned that two years from now, Taylor would be better positioned to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran.

Youd also have me cheerleading for you, which would be a considerable benefit, Hart wrote in the email.

Then came the warning.

I am highly motivated to beat the snot out of these guys. And Im not particularly interested in anyone getting in my way as I do it, he wrote. But Im not simply going to run folks over without honking my horn. This is me honking my horn and offering a ride. Get in, grab the map and lets go. I hope you like Rage Against the Machine.

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Taylor, an Army infantry veteran who served in Afghanistan, announced his campaign last week.

While your 8 years of military service is laudable, it pales in comparison to my 25 years of service, Hart wrote. When Im at dinner parties, folks dont politely say Thank you for your service, but instead they exclaim, Thank god for what you do, I couldnt do it. 

Hart explained the comment in his appearance on the Reflector podcast. He said serving in the military may involve shooting somebody or getting shot at, or maybe youre working back in the garage and youre making sure the vehicles work. I dont even know.

That service is different from holding the hand of a 5-year-old whos going through trauma and helping their family get through this trauma, and Ive been doing the holding the hand and trying to do that, Hart said.

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And if somebody wants to tell me that Im wrong for thinking that Im a patriot for serving our kids, they can tell me that, and Ill respectfully disagree, he added.

In a statement, Taylor said he was proud of his military service.

Roger Marshall has spent his time in D.C. insulting Kansas veterans by cutting our health care funding and blocking the PACT Act, Taylor said. Ill hand it to Jason: Politicians like Marshall usually try to kiss veterans asses before screwing them over, but Jasons cutting right to the chase.

Policy views

Hart described President Donald Trumps foreign policy, including the war with Iran, as just distraction and chaos.

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Tariffs, he said, are dumb, and dismantling the U.S. Department of Education makes us dumber.

He said he is pro-choice on abortion, especially given his work with abused children.

And the killing of Pretti was my breaking point on immigration, he said.

He already was concerned about misdirecting border patrol and customs agents to carry out a mass deportation agenda. And, he said, he wasnt happy about statements his boss  U.S. Attorney Ryan Kriegshauser  had made on the topic.

Harts pitch for why voters should choose him over the other Democratic candidates focused on his service as a prosecutor.

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That service has been as an advocate for your interests, and thats what I plan to take to Washington, is to advocate for Kansas interests, not to argue for positions of a party, Hart said. Anybody who knows me knows Im a free thinker, and I will speak my mind. Im not going to have some campaign handler tell me what to say or what I cant say.

The reason why Im here is because Kansans, at heart, have heart. They want to do the right thing. They know what the right thing is, and I think when theyre presented with the right person to do it, theyll make the right choice. And I think the right choice is me.
A Democratic gubernatorial primary debate appears unlikely because Attorney General Aaron Ford has so far declined invitations to participate, according to his opponent Washoe County Commissioner Alexis Hill.

Hill says numerous media outlets have attempted, or are attempting, to set up a debate or forum but Fords camp is saying no.

Is he scared or what? she quipped. Whats the issue here?

What I have learned is that talking directly to voters is the best way to get the word out, Ford responded when asked by the Nevada Current if and why he is refusing to debate Hill. Im going to continue doing that. She can continue doing that as well, and thats where were going to leave it.

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And what about debating Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo?

Like I said, right now were going to focus on getting our word right out to Nevadans, Ford responded, before going on to highlight his recent 17-county listening tour.

Hill isnt satisfied with Fords answer.

That is part of running for office, talking to voters. Of course. I do that every day, she countered in an interview with the Current. But I also believe that if you are going to run for office, you better be ready to defend your career of public service, what youve done for the state, what you want to do for the state, and the best way to do that are these open forums.

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Debates, she added, are good for democracy and the Democratic Party.

Before the 2018 Democratic gubernatorial primary, Steve Sisolak and Chris Giunchigliani participated in two live televised debates. Sisolak would go on to win the Democratic primary and the general election against Republican Adam Laxalt, but not before a series of will they or wont they debate invites and snubs that ended with the states top two gubernatorial hopefuls breaking decades of precedent and not debating.

In 2022, then-Clark County Sheriff Lombardo was seen as the frontrunner for Republicans and was dubbed no show Joe by his primary opponents after declining candidate forums. After winning the primary anyway, Lombardo would go on to have one debate against then-incumbent Gov. Sisolak.

Hill has described herself as a dark horse candidate in this years governors race but balks at the notion she may not be a legitimate candidate.

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I am a legitimate elected official making real decisions on the ground for the county every day, which is why Im running, she said. I see what is broken.

She continued, I just dont understand why there even should be controversy about a debate for a contested primary for a governors race. This is a contested primary. This is an open seat as far as Democrats are concerned. How is that even a question?

Sondra Cosgrove, a civics professor and champion for reforming the states election system, sees the Democratic gubernatorial primary as emblematic of the bigger problem within Nevada politics.

You can be a candidate that doesnt debate, doesnt do meet and greets, doesnt really do much, and can still make it through (the primary) to the general election if you have the right type of money backing, she said.

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Ford has significantly outfundraised Hill. He reported having $1.5 million as of Jan. 15, compared to Hills $306,000. Ford has been endorsed by far more Democratic officials, including U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, who announced an early endorsement the same week Hill announced she would run for governor.

We know our primaries have very low turnout, and it tends to be the most loyal party members, said Cosgrove. So when the party says this is who were going with, the group whos going to follow them is the group that shows up in the closed primary.

Nevadans can register to vote or update their existing registration at registertovote.nv.gov

Nevada has closed primaries, meaning only registered Democrats or Republicans can cast ballots in partisan races. However, voters can register to one of the parties in order to participate in the primary, then re-register as a nonpartisan voter after the primary.

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That creates an uphill battle for candidates like Hill.

Youre challenging the person thats considered the anointed candidate, said Cosgrove. The people who are most likely to say I want change are not the primary voters. In this state, its the nonpartisans. Were all tapping out and saying we want something different, but were blocked from even voting in those elections.

Ford and Hill are the only two Democrats running for governor whose campaigns have garnered any traction. However, three others filed to run: James Cooper, Emile Bouari, and Miqehl Bayfield. Bayfield has a minimal online presence. Cooper and Bouari do not appear to be actively campaigning.

Additionally, seven candidates have filed to run as independent candidates and will appear on the general election ballot only. They are: Christopher Battenberg, Max Beck, Allen Rheinhart, Danielle Ford, Jordan Koteras, John T. Scott, and Emilio R. Rodriguez.

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Nevadas primary is scheduled for Tuesday, June 9.

[Editors Note: This article has been updated to reflect that Steve Sisolak and Chris Giunchigliani participated in two debates against one another before the 2018 Democratic gubernatorial primary. An earlier version said they participated in one debate.]
Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, also chairman of the Chinese side of the China-Russia Committee for Friendship, Peace and Development, meets with Boris Titov, chairman of the Russian side of the committee, in Beijing, capital of China, March 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Li Hongzhong, chairman of the Chinese side of the China-Russia Committee for Friendship, Peace and Development, met with his Russian counterpart, Boris Titov, on Monday in Beijing.

Li, also vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, said that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era has maintained high-level development.

He called on the committee to take the important common understandings reached by the two heads of state as the fundamental guidance, give full play to the role of the committee as the main channel for people-to-people exchanges between China and Russia, and serve the overall development of bilateral ties.

Li also briefed on the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress.

Titov said Russia fully supports the committee in playing an active part in promoting bilateral cooperation and strengthening friendship and mutual trust between the two countries. 
Maxine Waters is plotting her comeback at 87.

The California Democrat, dubbed Auntie Maxine by a legion of young progressives she won over in the first Trump administration, has all but locked down a second turn as chair of the House Financial Services Committee if her party wins a majority in November.

It means the committee could soon have the oldest leader in its history as it grapples with technological shifts like cryptocurrency, and Democrats look to aggressively ramp up oversight of the president, his family business and his Wall Street regulators.

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Waters  who became the first woman and Black person to lead the panel in 2019  faces virtually no opposition, despite a growing chorus of Democrats calling for the end of Capitol Hills enduring gerontocracy. Privately, some Democrats on and around the committee gripe that she doesnt do enough to elevate her members or support them with campaign funds from the finance industry. But few are willing to publicly cross her, and she maintains the backing of most senior Democrats on the panel. Many of her colleagues say theyre eager to have the progressive icon leading key fights on the economy ahead of the 2028 elections.

In an interview, Waters rejected any notion that she wouldnt be up to the task.

If you take a look at my energy and what I do  I am Auntie Maxine, Waters said. Im the one who popularized reclaiming my time.  I dont know whos got more energy, more concern. And so, Maxine Waters seems to be doing alright.

Waters grip on the role illustrates the entrenched power that many older members of Congress hold, despite growing scrutiny of elder politicians who show signs of decline while serving. Unlike Republicans, Democrats dont have term limits for House committee leadership positions. But privately, some Democrats worry about the optics of having an octogenarian  and soon-to-be nonagenarian  in the seat.

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The Financial Services Committee is considered one of the most powerful panels in the House, with a vast jurisdiction that includes banking, housing, the Federal Reserve, insurance and crypto.

Waters hasnt shown any public signs of deterioration, and lawmakers and aides who have worked closely with her say she remains sharp and engaged behind the scenes.

I am a firm believer that when people are visibly past their time, its time to sort of have some hard conversations, said Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.), who serves as Financial Services vice ranking member. Thats a mental issue, not an age issue. And I dont have any concern that shes mentally up for the job.

Most other Democrats on the committee concur. Rep. Greg Meeks of New York said Waters hasnt lost a step and remains on top of her game in hearings. Rep. Brad Sherman of California, who represents a nearby Los Angeles-area district, said Waters is the same person today that she was when he first met her in the 1980s. And Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a New Jersey moderate who has broken with Waters on some issues, said she is still hitting her three-pointer.

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More importantly, Waters maintains the backing of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is in line to become House speaker if Democrats take back the chamber. The New York Democrat said in a statement that Waters has led the Financial Services Committee with vision, intellect, passion and skill.

Its my expectation that such iconic leadership will continue in the 120th Congress, he said.

Back home, Waters is facing a long-shot primary challenge from nonprofit executive Myla Rahman, who is trying to make the race a referendum on generational change. Waters, who is one of four California Democrats facing generational challenges this cycle, has represented South Los Angeles for nearly 50 years  first as a state legislator and now in Congress.

Shes done a lot of great work, Rahman said in an interview. But were saying, lets pass the baton and let a new generation of leadership come have a seat at the table.

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Asked if she feels up for another two years as chair, Waters pointed to public appearances at an array of recent protests, including one out in front of the Department of Education at 19 degrees.

On whether she believes theres a need for generational change in her party, Waters replied that she is a big supporter of the Constitution of the United States of America.

I believe that everybody that wants to run should have an opportunity to run, she said. And depending on how good you are, how much you know, how much you convince the people  if you happen to win, thats the way the Constitution works. And thats the way we should think about it.

In Washington, Waters age isnt the only focus for her critics. Over the years, some Democrats on House Financial Services have complained that she keeps the spotlight of committee activity on herself and doesnt create enough opportunities for rank-and-file members to lead on issues.

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A leader should always take care of your troops first, said one committee Democrat granted anonymity to speak candidly. I think Maxine has a challenge with that.

Other members tell a different story. Rep. Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts said shes very inclusive and that delegating issues has been her strength.

Waters has a long record of working across the aisle on the committee to pass and enact legislation, and shes won kudos from a series of Republican chairs for her willingness to pick spots for dealmaking. But there have been tense moments where other committee Democrats  moderates and progressives alike  have complained that their priorities arent being addressed, including during her last stint as chair.

Waters said she works very hard with the opposite side of the aisle when there are bills that my members may be interested in to see if we can work out the differences so that they have a chance to move  sometimes even though its not with a Democratic bill but a Republican bill.

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I think I do that well, she said.

A committee spokesperson for Waters added in a statement that she has established a strong record of creating opportunities that elevate and empower Committee Democrats, including establishing task forces, supporting Member-led field hearings to connect with their constituents, convening roundtables, and advancing legislation that has gone on to become law.

Asked about Waters legislative track record, the spokesperson pointed to a range of wins from her last stint as chair, including a seven-year reauthorization of the ExportImport Bank and laws aimed at cracking down on anonymous shell companies and money laundering.

Another persistent concern among some Democrats is her approach to fundraising, which has long lagged her peers. Since the start of 2023, according to the most recently available federal campaign finance filings, Waters has contributed $250,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee  a figure well below other members of her party who hold similar posts. Over the same period, Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts, the top Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee, transferred $990,000 to the DCCC and Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the Democratic leader on House Appropriations, gave just over $869,000.

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Waters direct contributions to individual members are also minimal. Since the start of 2023, she has only transferred money to three sitting members of the committee, and none since the start of the current Congress.

She should certainly be raising more money, and thats definitely an issue, said another Financial Services Democrat granted anonymity who was otherwise satisfied with her leadership. Thats something that she has to focus more on.

Asked about her fundraising, Waters said shes very careful about it. She said she plans to send more cash to members and that she tries to help them in other ways, including by going to their districts.

I want to help them, but I dont want them to be misused by the big boys with all of the money who think they can own us, she said. They cannot own me, and I caution my members about being owned by the big money boys who would own them if they could.

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For Waters allies, that watchdog approach to the financial services industry is why they back her. Many Democrats like the idea of returning the Financial Services gavel to a fierce Wall Street critic and a battle-tested Trump antagonist in the run-up to the 2028 elections.

Shes sharp, shes got a great attitude, shes got a good soul, Lynch said. And I think we need that on that committee because sometimes it becomes billionaires arguing with billionaires. Thats how it is under Republican leadership. And Maxine  brings Main Street into the discussion, not just Wall Street.
Rhode Island has yet to help its schools face two growing storms, one natural  demographic decline  and one cultural  the booming demand for school choice. Neither is going away.

These new realities could push the state onto one of two paths: One direction will continue winning the battle to use schools to benefit and protect adults, at kids expense.

The other would establish, morally and legally, a new, true north star dedicated to giving every student an equal opportunity to pursue a sterling education, which is not what were doing now.

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Storm number one is the international historically unprecedented demographic crash, now exacerbated by our national hostility toward immigrants. The U.S.birth rate is roughly 1.6 live births per woman, well below the replacement rate of 2.1.

Rhode Islands overall population has stayed steady at about 1.1 million people, largely buoyed by immigration up until now.

But already, from 2019 to 2025, our public schools lost 8,652 students. Losses are spread unevenly among the 36 school districts, with tiny gains here and there.

During the pandemic, some families turned to private and parochial schools and homeschooling. Others created their own educational alternatives  microschools, learning pods, collectives. Statistically, they did not return; enrollment kept dropping.

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The Rhode Island Department of Educations (RIDE) data regarding non-public students is squishy because the numbers of students known to be homeschooled or attending private and parochial schools are self-reported by each district. For example, districts have little incentive to be fastidious about collecting the required homeschool applications, given the nominal enforcement. Some kids never appear in the data at all.

Only public school numbers are reliable. That data tells two very different enrollment stories  district and charter  that will each be buffeted by the second growing storm differently.

The second storm, thundering across the nations economic and political spectrum, is driven by families demanding school choice. (See Trumps Big Beautiful Bill.) Unlike demographic decline, choice doesnt reduce overall enrollment. In fact, some families would use Rhode Islands public system if they felt they had a shot at a school they wanted. Choice only shuffles where the enrollment rises and falls.

Charter schools will not experience any effect of the demographic decline, unless and until the demand for more options is satisfied. Last year 9,372 unique families submitted 30,202 applications for a mere 3,170 available charter seats. Families had less than a one in 10 shot at getting the education they want. Giant waiting lists backfill any vacancies.

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Nationally, Rhode Islands charters are standouts because they outperform the kids home schools by at least a year of learning, according to Stanfords CREDO report. Of course theyre popular.

The public school enrollment is draining exclusively from the district schools. Mind you, many district schools, including some in the urban core, are themselves popular, effectively choice schools. But many are not.

You would think that districts would ramp up efforts to change how they do business, perhaps looking to charter success. Instead, districts protected by unions wage fierce battles fighting to stay the same. For the second year, they are fighting reforms recommended by the Senates 2024 education commission, the subject of a bill by Sen. Sam Zurier, a Providence Democrat, that would end moldy, anti-education 1960s laws. Zuriers bill eliminates mandated hiring by seniority in the case of enrollment decline, partly to avoid wiping out district efforts to recruit and keep a diverse staff who are often the most recently hired (LIFO, last in, first out).

You would think that districts would ramp up efforts to change how they do business, perhaps looking to charter success. Instead, districts protected by unions wage fierce battles fighting to stay the same.

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But this was the email reply last spring when I asked her opinion of that legislation, then-Senate Majority Leader and now Senate President Valarie Lawson, also president of the states National Education Association: These bills undermine longstanding, collectively bargained rights and roll back critical statutory protections that teachers have fought hard to secure. Wait. You mean that once unions have won rights that badly disadvantage students, thats the end of it?

On March 10, over 900 people either showed up at the State House hearing or wrote their legislators to oppose a bill introduced by Rep. Mary Duffy Messier, a Pawtucket Democrat and the deputy majority leader. The bill aims to shut down the publics demand for new charter seats, including those already approved by the Board of Education. Messiers bill would stop the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education from granting approval to create or expand a charter school beginning operations in the next three school years and bar the state from approving or appropriating funds to a new charter school not approved before July 1, 2025.

Anti-choice vindictiveness doesnt stop there.

State law requires school transportation for private and parochial students, but leaves charter students in the lurch. Charters do not receive their full per pupil expenditure as districts hold back at least 7%, although often much more, for dubious reasons. Even rich districts get robust housing aid compared to the pittance allocated to charters, who must buy and maintain their own buildings.

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In general, districts and their unions respond to losing popularity by vilifying the charters as if they were the culprits for lowering district enrollment, even though we know (see above) many families left for whatever better option they could find.

And no one makes a stink when students go to a career and technical school like Davies Career & Technical High School in Lincoln, whose 900 students transfer with their full per pupil expenditure and state student transportation privileges from 12 home districts. Davies is unionized and thus free of the anti-choice warriors, even though it is in all ways a choice school.

These wasteful, embarrassing skirmishes are not just crimes-in-progress against kids, but they also degrade the quality of our workforce, which is key to attracting business, jobs, philanthropy and opportunities for young people to thrive in good jobs.

Public service unions are justly proud of their histories, having significantly improved certain conditions for workers. But unions are not above reproach. Unions fail when, as the private businesses they are, they behave like any other self-serving corporation profiting themselves at the expense of their tax-supported mission.

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Literally all developed nations have versions of school choice so that their people, rich and poor, will be as well educated as possible. Parents opt for the best education for their kids. Most have no idea if their kids school is private, public or something else.

In our case, districts must pay union officials, and release them from some or all classroom work, to be the organizing power behind discriminating against certain, mostly urban kids.

This must stop.

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The Sarasota County Sheriffs Office deputies are assisting the Florida Highway Patrol after a fatal crash involving a bicyclist and an SUV late Sunday night.



The crash happened just after 11:30 p.m. Sunday on North Lockwood Ridge Road at Gocio Road.

Florida Highway Patrol says the bicyclist was standing on the middle-painted median of North Lockwood Ridge Road. He attempted to cross North Lockwood Ridge Road while pushing his bicycle when he was hit by the SUV.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Southbound N. Lockwood Ridge remained closed for an extended period as investigators processed the scene.



The intersection reopened after 4 a.m., and the crash remains under investigation.
By Sam Tabahriti

LONDON, March 23 (Reuters) - A British man detained in Tehran urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday to "step out of the shadows" and publicly deny the spying charges against him and his wife, who fear for their lives more than three weeks into the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.

Craig Foreman and his wife Lindsay were sentenced to 10 years in prison in February after Iran accused them of spying for Britain and Israel. The couple have repeatedly denied the charges.

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In a voice message recorded from Evin prison in Tehran and shared with Reuters, Craig Foreman said he and his wife were living in a "war zone" and accused the British government of failing to defend their innocence.

He said the couple felt "let down, alone and completely frustrated by the lack of public defence by the people in charge of the government".

"You know we are innocent," he said. "Go public with the information you have, to clearly step up, step out of the shadows and help us. Our lives are constantly at risk."

Tehran has been hit repeatedly by U.S. and Israeli airstrikes. A blast near the jail blew out window panels and sent prisoners diving under beds for cover.

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Craig Foreman said the couple had received "zero information" from the British government about what to do if conditions deteriorated further.

Britain's foreign ministry reiterated in a statement that the sentences were "totally unjustifiable" and said the welfare of British nationals detained in Iran was a priority.

"We will continue to pursue this case relentlessly with the Iranian regime until we see Craig and Lindsay safely returned to the UK and reunited with their family," a spokesperson said.

(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti; Editing by Alexandra Hudson and Kevin Liffey)
Dizals Phase III WU-KONG28 trial of Zegfrovy (sunvozertinib) for first-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 20 insertion mutations (exon20ins) has met its primary endpoint.

The multinational study revealed positive topline data and demonstrated that Zegfrovy improved progression-free survival (PFS) compared to platinum-based doublet chemotherapy.

This randomised confirmatory, open-label trial enrolled patients across 16 countries and regions in Europe, Asia, South America, and North America.

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The primary endpoint was PFS evaluated by blinded independent central review. Dizal noted that detailed data from the primary analysis will be submitted for presentation at an upcoming international scientific congress.

Zegfrovy was previously approved in both China and the US for relapsed or refractory NSCLC with EGFR exon20ins.

In the first-line setting, it has received breakthrough therapy designations from both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and China Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE). Dizal plans to engage regulatory authorities regarding potential new drug applications based on these results.

Zegfrovy is described as an irreversible EGFR inhibitor targeting a range of EGFR mutations with wild-type selectivity.

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Dizal CEO Dr Xiaolin Zhang said: Finding a drug targeting EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations is especially challenging due to their enormous heterogeneity. We have identified over one hundred different subtypes of EGFR exon20ins clinically. Despite tremendous efforts, there is no success yet in finding an effective target drug that can spare patients from chemotherapies. WU-KONG28 study has the potential to change all that.

The success of this multinational pivotal study further validates Zegfrovy's potential as first-line therapy for patients with EGFR exon20ins NSCLC.

In June 2025, Dizal completed subject enrolment for the randomised Phase III WU-KONG28 trial of oral sunvozertinib for treating NSCLC patients.

"Dizals Phase III NSCLC trial of Zegfrovy meets primary endpoint" was originally created and published by Clinical Trials Arena, a GlobalData owned brand.




Its natural for pet owners to want to bring their pups wherever they go, especially car trips for outdoor adventures as the weather warms.

After you wrangle your dog into the car, you might roll down the window so your pet can stick their head out and enjoy the wind in their whiskers.

This act may seem harmless, but is it against the law in Washington state?

Heres what to know:

Why do dogs enjoy sticking heads out car windows?

You may think your dog is simply taking in the sights and views of the drive, but your poch is doing a little more than that.

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According to Pets Best, an Arizona-based pet insurance company, you pet is trying to sniff the wind.

The reason that dogs like to stick their heads outside cars while driving is because the wind smells so good, Pets Best.

Dogs have an incredible sense of smell with about 300 million olfactory receptors in their cute noses, the pet insurance company said. In comparison, human noses have six million, which means the dogs ability to smell and process smells is between 10,000 to 100,000 times greater than humans.

Can my dog stick their head out the window while I drive?

There is no law against your dog sticking their head out your car window in Washington state, according to Bernard Law Group, an injury lawyer group in Washington state.

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We cant stop you for having a loose animal in the vehicle, the Washington State Patrol told King-TV in 2020. If (the driver is) not committing a primary violation we dont have the authority to contact that vehicle or stop that vehicle.

While it may not be against the law, it is a distraction.

Activities such as eating, drinking, talking to a passenger, talking on the phone, using voice-to-text features, fidgeting with the radio or in-car infotainment system and even dealing with noisy children or pets in the backseat are all considered distractions by experts, Bernard Law Group said.

Under state law, a dangerously distracted driver is anyone engaged in any activity not related to the actual operation of a motor vehicle on any highway.

Am I allowed to transport my dog in my truck bed?

Although dogs and other animals dont have to be restrained when theyre in your vehicle, Washington law requires drivers to restrain dogs outside of their vehicles, according to Bernard Law Group.

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According to the Revised Code of Washington, its illegal for to transport any living animal on the running board, fenders, hood or other outside part of any vehicle unless theyve been provided with a harness, cage or enclosure.

That crate or harness must be attached to prevent animals from falling or being thrown from your car or pickup truck, state law says.

So, if youre planning to put your pupper on your truck bed or any open area, place them in a kennel before you head out on the open road.
Minocqua Brewing Company probably wasnt a name that most folks outside of Wisconsin knew before 2026.

But back in January the brewery made its name known internationally when it made an offer that had many supporters of Donald Trump angry. And it is hard to blame those folks for being upset because Minocquas offer was free beer, all day long, on the day that Trump dies.

Minocqua took some heat for the promotion, but it stuck to its guns, promoting Trump voodoo dolls that it openly hoped might be able to assist in getting to the day quicker.

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So, it probably should not be surprising that the brewery did not stay quiet when Trump celebrated the death of former FBI Director, Marine and Purple Heart winner Robet Mueller during the weekend.

Robert Mueller just died, the President wrote on Truth Social. Good, Im glad hes dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people! President DONALD J TRUMP.

Minocqua shared Trumps post on its Facebook page and responded.

Our notorious offer of free beer when he dies is still on the table, and for all those who thought that internationally viral post was a little too dark or classless, heres exhibit A on whats good for the goose is good for the gander, the statement there read. For the Fox News and Daily Mail reporters who shamed us cuz hes still the President, will you be shaming Shitler as well about his most recent post?

The brewery first made its free beer offer on Facebook on Jan. 22.

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Free beer, all day long, the day he dies, the brewery wrote. Show us this post when it happens in a few months and well make good on that promise.

The brewery added an update, we meant the Madison Taproom because thats open all year, if he dies in the summer, then its gonna be the Minocqua Taproom.

Donald Trump wasnt specifically named in the post, but the brewery has since made it clear who he is.

Apparently Fox News wants to interview us about our upcoming celebration of life party, in which we promised free beer for the whole day when he finally dies, a later post on the brewerys Facebook page read.

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Minocqua then shared its response to Foxs Lindsay Kornick.

If youd like to come to our party celebrating the impending death of a twice-impeached convicted felon covering up for the largest child sex ring in the history of the United States  someone who has enabled his contemporary American Gestapo to brutally murder two American protesters in a matter of weeks, then well invite you and any Fox News colleagues of yours on one condition . No red hats allowed. Give your bosses at Faux News my best. Kirk Bangstad, Owner, Minocqua Brewing Company.

On Jan. 28, the brewery shared a Fox News article about its free beer promise on Facebook and offered another response.

Who knew that Faux News would still write this story after we went viral mocking them in response to their cynical request for a quote about our celebration of life free beer party the MOMENT he dies, the post read. Its amazing how out-of-touch they are thinking that theyd hurt us by publishing this story. The world and most of America will be celebrating as hard or harder than us when this day happens, and they still figure their shrinking audience of manipulatable deplorables, who we already refuse to serve, would find our gallows humor appalling. Thanks Fox, youve done wonders for our sales in the last few days. Keep covering this story and well be able to pour that much more free beer when his blood clot finally moves.

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And then it continued trolling Trumps followers, even announcing that it had 200 Trump voodoo dolls made.

The brewery then tagged Fox News, Blaze Media, and the New York Post and also called out all the other right-wing news outlets who covered our Celebration of Life party and subsequently introduced us to thousands of new customers around the globe, we welcome your next story about how weve embraced the ancient Voodoo religion to GET THE JOB DONE ALREADY!

Surely the easily-manipulated deplorables in your audience believe that Voodoo actually works, and will demand that eagle-eyed Kash Patel put us on his FBI watchlist, because its clear that Catholic/West African-inspired spiritual prayers are a threat to the regime, the brewerys post added. Thanks for your help, Bondye, the pins were sticking into this doll suggest that weve gotta stop writing and start making a ton more beer for our party.

Read the original article on pennlive.com. Add pennlive.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
TOPEKA  A lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Kansas new law regulating bathroom use in government buildings and forcing Kansans to hold documents reflecting their biological sex at birth wont have its next hearing until September.

A Douglas County judge scheduled a Sept. 29 hearing to address a temporary injunction for Senate Bill 244, which became law in February. The law forces people to use bathrooms in Kansas government buildings that match their biological sex at birth and stops anyone from changing gender markers on drivers licenses and birth certificates.

Two transgender men using the pseudonyms Daniel Doe and Matthew Moe filed a lawsuit saying SB 244 violates the Kansas Constitutions protections for personal autonomy, privacy, equality under the law, due process and freedom of speech, according to a news release from the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas.

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Douglas County District Court Judge James McCabria denied a motion March 10 for a temporary injunction while the case played out in court.

This law has already forced transgender people to decide whether they can stay in Kansas now that their drivers licenses must out them as transgender and they cannot use the restrooms in government buildings on the same terms as other people, said Harper Seldin, senior staff attorney for the ACLUs LGBTQ & HIV Rights Project.

Some transgender Kansans have said theyre leaving Kansas, while others have said theyre staying to fight for their rights to use the restroom and hold documents that match the way they live.
Mar. 23March 22, 1916

Gunmen raid 21st street

With a clue furnished by residents of Billings Park the police of Superior and Duluth are today searching for two gunmen who last night entered a store owned by James G. Watterson, corner of Twenty-first street and Iowa avenue, and held up the proprietor and P.D. Sprowell, a Superior Hardware store clerk, who was the only customer in the store.

After firing a shot to scare the victims, the robbers relieved Watterson of between $6 and $7 and a watch and then took from Sprowell about $40 in cash. The robbery at Billings Park occurred about 9:30 o'clock. Sergeant Miller and Detective McDonald responded to a call.

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Shortly after their return they were called out again by an alarm from Twenty-first street and Tower avenue. Appearing suddenly in the doorway of Holmberg's drug store on the south west corner they shouted a command "Hold up your hands" to the clerk, Matt Jorgenson, and three customers in the place at the time. While one kept the quartet covered the other robber went through the cash register and took $25 he found in it. They departed as suddenly as they came without molesting the valuables of those they had covered.

March 22, 1926

Police seek drunken hit, run motorist

A search for the driver of a Ford touring car who, at 7 p.m. Sunday, knocked Edward Steel, age 59, 2314 Hughitt avenue, into the path of a street car, was being conducted today by Superior police. Police said the driver of the car was drunk.

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Mr. Steel, an employee of the Superior Water, Light & Power company, was crossing Tower avenue at Eighteenth street. A Ford, traveling south and being steered crazily, was approaching. He tried to avoid the car but was struck and thrown onto the street car track. The car, say spectators, was traveling slowly.

A street car, going north, was approaching. Two women shouted to the motorman to stop his car and waved to draw his attention. He brought his car to a stop within 15 feet of Mr. Steel, who was lying unconscious on the tracks. The motorman, Louis Lee, and spectators picked Mr. Steel up and he was taken to St. Mary's hospital.

Today at the hospital attaches said he had sustained a severe bruise on his head and had suffered minor internal injuries.

March 23, 1926

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Saved youngster

Sigurd Lee, Superior Normal senior, came along just in time this morning to save 2 1/2 -year-old George Makie from drowning.

George is the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Makie, 1812 Weeks avenue. He was playing about a miniature lake formed from melting snow on Weeks avenue between Nineteenth and Twentieth streets. It is not known how the tot got into deep water.

When Lee passed by he saw what he thought was a small dog swimming in the water. He inspected it closer and it was the brown cap of young Makie. Lee rushed into the water up to his waist and pulled Makie out.

The Makie youngster was unconscious when Lee pulled him out. He was taken to his home by Lee and given medical attention by Dr. C.J. Rollefson. The boy will be none the worse for the experience, said Dr. Rollefson.

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Lee is a leader in school activities at Normal. He is president of the fourth year students and was a delegate to the world court conference at Princeton university last fall.

Is 'King' 'Dutch' or is 'Dutch' 'King? Poser for Judge Parker

Whether "King," a black and white Scotch collie dog, is "Dutch," or whether "Dutch" is "King," is a question involved in an action started in municipal court this morning in which John A. Anderson is the plaintiff and E. Schunning is the defendant.

Both claim ownership of the dog. Anderson calls his "King" and Schunning calls him "Dutch," while a flock of witnesses, including neighbors and relatives, called each other "prevaricators" in their testimony before Judge Parker.

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"Exhibit A," the animal was on exhibition tied to the railing which separates the place for spectators from the arena in which Anderson and Schunning with their attorneys battled for possession of the canine. "Exhibit A" apparently didn't enjoy court life and whined and barked during the progress of the trial.

Schunning and his witnesses declared positively that "Exhibit A" was the same "Dutch" that they had known some months ago when he disappeared from the Schunning residence.

Anderson claims that he bought the dog last September when the animal was only a puppy and "took him home in a grape basket." According to Anderson the animal is about seven months old. Schunning says he purchased the dog in New York in September the year precious and "Dutch" was three months old then. At that rate "Dutch" is nearly two years old.

Constable Smith was sworn in as a witness but failed to qualify as an expert in guessing the ages of dogs. Schunning quoted the alleged testimony of Dr. Benson, a veterinary, but that was hearsay and Judge Parker would not permit it to be entered as evidence.

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Superior news in brief

Continue filing  Three towns filed delinquency reports with the county treasurer today, making the total filed up to date 12, with 8 towns and villages remaining yet to be filed. Those that filed today include the town of Hawthorne, $6,001.57; town of Dairyland, $10,058.40, town of Oakland, $7,848.29. It is expected that the remaining 8 will file some time this afternoon.

Chicken thieves  Chicken thieves Monday night visited a chicken roost owned by Mrs. M. Kadisovitz, 506 Fisher avenue, and took 10 of her finest chickens, she reported to police.

Articles and pictures courtesy of retired librarian Judy Aunet with Superior Public Library.
DAMASCUS, March 23 (Xinhua) -- A Syrian military base near the northeastern border with Iraq came under rocket attack on Monday, the Syrian army said, in an incident highlighting ongoing security tensions in the region.

In a statement, the operations command of the Syrian army said the base, located near the town of al-Yarubiyah in the countryside of Hasakah province, was struck by five rockets.

The rockets were launched from an area near the village of Tel al-Hawa, about 20 km inside Iraqi territory, according to the statement.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

Syrian authorities said they had coordinated with Iraqi officials following the attack. The Iraqi army has begun search and sweep operations in the area to identify those responsible, the statement said.

The Syrian military added that its forces have been placed on full alert and are prepared to respond to any further attacks.

The incident comes amid heightened regional tensions and follows a series of security developments along Syria's borders, where armed groups and cross-border activity continue to pose challenges to stability. 
The recently elected mayor of Detroit is one of several nominees for the annual EMILYs List Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award, which honors trailblazing women in the Democratic Party across state and local government.

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield was nominated for the award this year, along with Georgia state Rep. Tanya Miller, Indiana state Rep. Carey Hamilton, Minnesota state Sen. Zaynab Mohamed, and New Mexico state Rep. Michelle Paulene Abeyta.

Previous winners include former Georgia State Rep. Stacey Abrams, U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, and U.S. Rep. Emila Sykes.

EMILYs List is proud to name Mary Sheffield a 2026 Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award nominee, said EMILYs List President Jessica Mackler in a statement. Since becoming the first woman elected as Detroit mayor, Mayor Sheffield has delivered powerful results for Detroits working families, and she is dedicated to providing affordability and accessibility for her constituents. She fought hard to ensure city workers earn livable wages and introduced groundbreaking financial support for moms and infants.

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Mackler went on to say that Sheffield is a bold leader who consistently puts her community first and works hard to improve the lives of Detroiters, and we are thrilled to recognize her with this nomination.

Sheffield, who was previously president of the Detroit City Council, is the daughter and granddaughter of renowned pastors and civil rights leaders and an accomplished politician in her own right, having won election as mayor in a November 2025 landslide.
The tragic tale of Harold, the king who lost England to William the Conqueror in an infamous battle, still looms large in British popular culture. But that story may need a reset, according to new research.

The Battle of Hastings in 1066 ended the short rule of Harold, the last Anglo-Saxon king, and ushered in William, Duke of Normandy, as Englands leader, forever changing the country, as the well-worn story is told on TV, podcasts and in classrooms. New analysis of manuscripts, however, casts the nature of Harolds devastating defeat in a fresh light.

The arduous 200-mile (322-kilometer) march that King Harold and his men made before facing off with William, which supposedly left his troops depleted and ill-prepared to fight, never actually happened, says Tom Licence, a professor of medieval history and literature at the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom. Instead, Licence argues, the troops made that journey southward by ship.

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1066 is still one of the few dates that virtually everyone knows, said Rory Naismith, a professor of early medieval English history at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom who wasnt involved in the research. It is a watershed in English history, when one political regime was defeated and very soon replaced by another, with huge consequences for the cultural and institutional identity of the kingdom. The developments of 1066 are therefore crucial to understanding everything that came after.

Historians had previously thought that Harold and his men traveled from Yorkshire to London on foot. New research suggests they made the journey by ship. - Beth Spencer/University of East Anglia

Reexamining the record

The idea that Harolds men covered nearly 200 miles in 10 days after a hard-won battle at Stamford Bridge, near York, against Viking leader Harald Hardrada, another rival for the throne, had long struck Licence and other historians as improbable, given the distances involved.

The story of the dramatic overland march was largely a Victorian interpretation that had stuck, Licence said. Its origins stem from a misunderstood reference to Harolds fleet being sent home in the Anglo Saxon Chronicle, an account of key events written in old English by clergy of the time. In the earlier interpretation, sent home was assumed to mean disbanded, with ships sent home to their port of origin. While reviewing the chronicle Licence found repeated reference to home, meaning London, where King Harold was based.

It dawned on me that when he says, The fleet came home, he doesnt mean the fleet was sent to its various ports. The fleet was sent to its home, London, he said, referring to one of the authors of the chronicles

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To recap: Harold first sailed his fleet northward, Licence said, where he successfully battled the Viking leader Harald Hardrada and his Norwegian force on September 26, 1066. He then returned with it to London. Rather than exhausting his men on that march south, which of course has been blamed for the English defeat, he had the chance to rest them, Licence added.

Then, Harold and some of his men traveled overland south toward Hastings to confront the Duke of Normandy. Meanwhile, Licence argued, Harold also sent ships to Hastings to attempt a pincer movement to trap William from the south, but the fleet arrived too late to change the course of the devastating battle that took place on October 14.

Naismith said he agreed with the new interpretation. The English had a large seagoing fleet of ships, and there is plentiful evidence for sailing up and down the east coast in the era of the Norman Conquest, he said. A larger role for these ships in the events of 1066 makes a lot of sense and demonstrates Harolds ability to use the resources available to him.

The English armys march southward has always been part of Harolds romantic identity, said Duncan Wright, a senior lecturer in medieval archaeology at the Newcastle University in England. Harold is known as the last Anglo-Saxon king who strove valiantly against invading threats, but whose efforts were ultimately futile, Wright added. The march has inspired large-scale reenactments, including one in 2016 for the 950th anniversary that involved 1,066 people.

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Indeed, the English today remain very fond of a brave loser, he said via email.

This new reading also goes to show the lasting legacy of Victorian understandings of the past, and the way in which factoids can develop into historical canon; when we question such traditions, it can result in valuable new comprehensions of the past, as we see here, he added via email.

Tom Licence, Professor of Medieval History and Literature at the University of East Anglia. - Professor Tom Licence

The new interpretation shows that King Harold was a competent commander, Licence said, not reckless and impulsive: I think it was a coin toss, really. It could have been William that day. It could have been Harold.

Historians have debunked another long-standing story associated with the Battle of Hastings. A famous scene in the Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the battle from a Norman perspective, shows Harold shot with an arrow in the eye. In fact, the earliest sources describe Harold being hacked to death at the hands of four Norman knights.

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The Bayeux Tapestry will travel from France and go on display in Britain for the first time later this year at Londons British Museum.

Licence will present his work at a conference at the University of Oxford on Tuesday, March 24, and the research will also feature in a forthcoming biography of King Harold written by Licence.

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President Donald Trumps decision to order federal immigration agents to U.S. airports to help with security during a budget impasse is drawing concerns that their presence may escalate tensions among air travelers frustrated over hourslong waits and screeners angry about missed paychecks.

Trump made clear on Sunday that he was going ahead with the plan to have immigration enforcement officers assist the Transportation Security Administration starting Monday by guarding exit lanes or checking passenger IDs unless Democrats agreed to fund the Department of Homeland Security.

Democrats have been demanding major changes to federal immigration operations, while the president issued a new threat Sunday night that he would reject all deals with Democrats unless they agreed to a separate elections bill.

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Hundreds of thousands of homeland security workers, including from the TSA, U.S. Secret Service and Coast Guard, have worked without pay since Congress failed to renew DHS funding last month.

Bad idea, said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, about the new airport security plan, which Trump said would start Monday.

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?

Senators 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. Mullin has tried to make the case that he would be a steady hand after the tumultuous tenure of Kristi Noem, Trumps first DHS secretary.

Border czar heads up airport security effort

White House border czar Tom Homan, named by Trump to lead the new airport security effort, has also been meeting with a bipartisan group of senators over the partial shutdown. While he characterized those sessions as good conversations, he said they were not at a point yet where were in total agreement.

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Meanwhile, Homan said in Sunday news show interviews that the increased role of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at airports  its specific duties and numbers  was subject to discussions with the leadership of TSA and ICE. DHS spokeswoman Lauren Bis said hundreds of ICE officers would be deployed, but she would not disclose the airports where they would go, citing security reasons.

Its a work in progress, Homan said. The priority, he said, was the large airports where theres a long wait, like three hours.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens issued a statement Sunday night saying officers from ICE and Homeland Security Investigations would be deployed to the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport starting Monday morning.

At the airport on Sunday, some travelers waited in line for nearly six hours at the main security checkpoint, where only two TSA agents were on hand midafternoon to check IDs. Many missed their flights and scrambled to book later flights or add themselves to standby lists that were already dozens of names long.

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Dickens said all federal personnel would report to TSA and be assigned tasks such as line management and crowd control. Federal officials have indicated that this deployment is not intended to conduct immigration enforcement activities, his statement said.

Homan said immigration officers, as an example, could cover exits currently monitored by TSA agents, freeing them to work screening lines. Another option, he said, was having ICE agents check identification before people enter screenings areas.

Were going to be a force multiplier, Homan said, while also acknowledging there were limits.

I dont see an ICE agent looking at an X-ray machine, because were not trained in that, he said. He pledged to have a plan by the end of today, where were sending -- what airports were starting with and where were sending them.

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But Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents more than 50,000 TSA employees, condemned Trumps plan, saying in a statement that ICE agents are 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 Sunday. They deserve to be paid, not replaced by untrained, armed agents who have shown how dangerous they can be.

Budget talks stall as airport worries worsen

Democrats have said they are willing to fund TSA and most other parts of DHS as they press for changes to immigration operations after the deaths of two U.S. citizens at the hands of federal agents in Minneapolis during an immigration enforcement operation. ICE officers are largely being paid during the partial shutdown, thanks to an influx of cash from Trumps big tax breaks bill last year.

There are lots of ideas swirling right now, said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. The good news in all that is people realizing this has to get fixed, it has to get solved.

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Yet Trump threw another obstacle in the talks when he declared on Sunday night that he did not think Republicans should reach any deal with Democrats unless Congress passes a broad elections bill that includes stricter voter registration rules and is the presidents top legislative priority.

Put it all together, and also, let Leader Thune clearly identify those few Republicans that are Voting against AMERICA, Trump wrote on his social media site. They will never be elected again! In other words, lump everything together as one, and VOTE!!!

As budget talks stayed behind closed doors Sunday, senators said they had few details of which airports or how many immigration officers were being dispatched. Some welcomed the effort.

I dont think it can hurt, said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D. They can help relieve some of the pressure.

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For Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, one concern is the uncertainty that passengers are facing over possible wait times at any airport on any given day.

Do I have to come an hour and a half early? Do I have to come four hours early? They dont know until the day of or the afternoon of their flight, he said. So if we can alleviate that, again, the president wants to take away that leverage point for Democrats and make travel easier for the American people.

Homan appeared on CNNs State of the Union and Fox News Sunday, while Duffy was interviewed on ABCs This Week.

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Thick black smoke continues to rise out of the Fuyao Glass America plant nearly 24 hours after the fire was first reported.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Just before 6 p.m., the U.S. EPA told News Center 7 that the local fire department has asked the agency to provide air monitoring through a National Response Center request.

TRENDING STORIES:

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Additionally, the Ohio EPA has been providing on-site technical assistance for approximately an hour and will continue to provide technical assistance for the remainder of the day, according to the agency.

>> PHOTOS: Firefighters battle fire at Fuyao Glass America

News Center 7s John Bedell talked to the Regional Air Pollution Control Agency (RAPCA) about their possible response.

RAPCA is a division of Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County, Dan Suffoletto, Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County spokesperson, said.

As reported on News Center 7 at 6:00, the agency monitors air quality in six Miami Valley counties, including Montgomery County.

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RAPCA said Monday it is not considered an emergency response agency and added that it isnt doing anything beyond normal monitoring after the fire at Fuyao.

The closest one we have to the fire is located here in downtown Dayton, and due to the wind direction currently, were not seeing any elevated readings at that particular monitoring site, Suffoletto said.

What RAPCA screens for is called particulate matter, things like dust, soot, and smoke.

RAPCA said its regular monitoring system doesnt screen for any particular types of chemicals that may be in the air from a fire. The Ohio or U.S. EPA would do that testing.

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Instead, it screens for that particulate matter.

We would put out a notice if the levels got to an elevated situation, but right now were not seeing that in the particulate matter, Suffoletto said.

News Center 7s John Bedell also reached out to Dayton Regional Hazmat, but they said they arent involved in this incident.

We will continue to follow this story.

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In 2024, Donald Trump dramatically improved his performance among nearly all groups of voters from four years earlier. Trumps growth among Hispanic voters was especially notable, increasing by more than 10 points from 2020 to 2024, at least according to exit polls.

This led to a considerable amount of commentary speculating that Hispanic voters, historically more supportive of Democrats, might continue shifting toward the GOP.

News reports suggesting Latinos were critical to Trumps 2024 victory were, in our view, overblown. Even if Latinos had not shifted, Trump still would have won in 2024.

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Yet there is no question that over the past three election cycles, Latino men under 40, in particular, have shifted right. That change has benefited GOP candidates, even as the majority of Latinos still voted for Democrats.

However, evidence from general elections in 2025 in places such as New Jersey, New York, and Virginia, as well as special elections in 2026, suggests an abrupt correction is underway, with some of the Latino voters who backed Trump now swinging back to the Democrats.

As political scientists and pollsters who study Hispanic voting trends, we are concerned with the question of whether these latest movements are real or simply a function of fluctuating Latino Democratic turnout rates. In other words, are Latinos broadly changing their votes back to Democrats, or are Latinos who remained loyal to the Democrats now angrier and fired up?

Survey and election data suggest its a bit of both. So what does this portend for the future of American politics?

Latino voting trends

The history of the Latino vote nationwide had for decades been one of long-term stability. Historically, Democrats enjoyed an approximate 65 percent to 35 percent advantage over Republicans.

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That advantage shrank marginally after Republican President Ronald Reagan signed the Immigration Reform and Control Act in 1986, providing a path to citizenship for millions. But the more familiar two-thirds advantage for the Democratic Party returned following passage of Proposition 187, a 1994 anti-immigrant initiative in California that ultimately mobilized Latinos against Republicans.

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Another effort at GOP outreach to Hispanic voters culminated in President George W. Bush taking approximately 40 percent of the Latino vote in 2004. That growth, however, soon eroded in the wake of anti-immigrant legislation passed by the Republican-controlled House in 2005 and 2006.

The successful campaigns of Democrat Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, as well as Hillary Clintons unsuccessful 2016 campaign against Trump, saw Democrats reaping a relatively high level of Latino support, peaking at a 3-to-1 advantage in 2012.

That made Trumps improvements among Latinos in 2020 and 2024 feel, for some, particularly unexpected. He lodged notable breakthroughs in parts of Florida, where he carried Miami-Dade County, and Texas, where he flipped the historically Democratic Rio Grande Valley.

Some Latinos question whether Democrats have delivered

It should not have been such a surprise. There has been a history of sizable shares of Latinos supporting Republican candidates. For instance, both former President George W. Bush and his brother, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, performed well with Latinos in Texas and Florida.

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For two decades, Democrats have campaigned among Latinos on the promise of comprehensive immigration reform and an economic policy that would level the playing field, including raising the federal minimum wage, providing universal pre-K education, and promoting affordable housing.

Many Latinos feel they are still waiting for these Democratic policies to be enacted, let alone improve their lives.

Democratic trifectas in 2009-10 and 2021-22  when the party held both chambers of Congress, along with the presidency  failed to produce meaningful movement on immigration policy. Many Latinos felt their daily lives had not improved, as they faced high costs of living, expensive housing markets, and rising health care costs. While House Democrats did pass numerous bills to address these topics, Senate moderates proved difficult to persuade.

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Given these shortcomings, running on the message that the GOP are bad guys only gets Democrats so far. In 2024, surveys and focus groups of Hispanic voters made it clear that not everyone was convinced by this characterization. The frustrations of working-class families during the Biden administration were real, whereas fears of mass deportations and other social chaos that a second Trump term might portend were, at that point, conjecture.

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The Trump campaign specifically promised widespread action against immigrants, but many of our Latino focus group participants felt this was bluster. They believed that Trumps actions would be targeted against blatant criminals and that his policies would not affect their families and friends.

They did not believe the worst-case scenarios presented by Vice President Kamala Harris and other Democrats during the campaign. Despite often not liking Trump, his economic promises felt good during the 2024 affordability crisis.

Latinos shifting back left?

Many Latinos are now quite upset with Trump. The 2025 gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia point to dramatic 25-point changes in the Latino vote in the Democrats direction, compared with Trumps 2024 performance.

In December 2025, the first Democrat was elected mayor of Miami since 1997, with Latino support. A Democrat won a heavily Republican state legislative district in Texas in February 2026 with an estimated 79 percent of the Latino vote. Most recently, Latino voter turnout surged to record levels in the March Democratic primary in Texas.

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Majorities of Latino voters believe that their economic fortunes have declined since Trump returned to the White House. Moreover, they expect the situation to worsen over the next year. In March 2026, The Economist reported that Trumps support among Latinos had fallen to 22 percent.

In a bipartisan poll by UnidosUS released in November 2025, only 14 percent of Latino voters said their lives were better after one year under Trump, while 39 percent said they had gotten worse. Looking ahead, 50 percent expected things to get worse still in 2026, while only 20 percent were optimistic about their economic future. Two-thirds of Latino voters felt that Trump and the Republicans were not focusing enough on improving the economy for people like them.

Whats more, mass deportations have happened under the second Trump administration. The vast majority of those detained for deportation, including those who have died, had no criminal record.

Latinos are overwhelmingly opposed to federal troops in U.S. cities, according to our polling; 41 percent fear legal residents and U.S. citizens getting caught up in enforcement actions. The No. 1 immigration concern for Latino voters remains a path to citizenship for Dreamers  the undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children  and for immigrants who have worked and paid taxes in the country for more than 20 years but lack formal status.

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Among Latinos who actually voted for Trump, many would not do so again. Our poll suggests that 22 percent of Latinos who voted for Trump in 2024 would not vote for him again. By contrast, Democrats retain support from 93 percent of their 2024 Latino voters.

The long-term effects of the Trump presidency on the Latino electorate are difficult to predict, but for now party preferences have shifted firmly back toward the Democrats. Among voters in the UnidosUS poll, 55 percent said they felt the Democrats "care a great deal" about Latinos, compared with 29 percent saying they felt that way about the GOP. At the same time, 33 percent of Latino voters see the GOP as "hostile," compared with just 7 percent who believe this about the Democrats.

If the recent leftward shift is sustained, or the earlier shift to the right was illusory, the effects on the politics of 2026 could be large, potentially putting control of Congress in the hands of Latino voters. There are 46 House districts where the number of registered voters who are Latino exceeds the total margin of victory for those seats in 2024, with 23 currently held by Republicans and 23 currently held by Democrats.

Latino voters need to believe that politicians truly care about their concerns and will work to implement a plan to create equal opportunities for the nations largest minority group to achieve the American dream. We believe the candidates able to make that pitch convincingly will be the most successful.

Matt A. Barreto, Professor of Political Science, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, and Gary M. Segura, Professor of Public Policy, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs.

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This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The post The Ever-Evolving Latino Vote Is Rapidly Shifting Away From Trump and Republicans appeared first on Katie Couric Media.
Wisconsin will officially join the 22 U.S. states that have sought permission from the federal government to ban Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients from purchasing candy and/or soda with their benefits.

Gov. Tony Evers signed AB 180, now 2025 Wisconsin Act 116, on Monday. In his remarks, Evers celebrated additional funds included in the bill that are meant to keep the states payment error rate low but ignored the candy and soda ban that the law will also implement.

Evers, who is serving out his final term in office, said in a statement that he was glad to sign the bill.

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In spite of the chaos at the federal level and the continued attacks on our FoodShare program, I am proud of the work my administration has done over the past year to ensure our kids, families, veterans and seniors across our state receive the resources they need to access basic food and groceries. As long as I am governor, I will continue to do everything in my power to protect Wisconsin families and taxpayers from the harmful decisions of the Trump Administration, he said in the statement released by his office.

The bill, coauthored by Rep. Clint Moses (R-Menomonie) and Sen. Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield), initially sought only to implement the ban, but additional funds were attached through an amendment after negotiations with Evers.

Evers started seeking additional state funds for FoodShare last year after President Donald Trump signed a federal tax and spending law that made many changes to the SNAP program. Those changes included cutting the federal governments coverage of administrative costs from 75% to 50%, eliminating funding for nutrition education programs and steepening penalties for states that have payment error rates over 6%.

Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Republicans across the country, including in Wisconsin, have been pushing to ban soda and candy for SNAP recipients, saying it will help keep people healthy. Democrats have criticized the measure, saying it will stigmatize already disadvantaged children and families. Several Democrats, including Evers, provided support for the measure after lawmakers attached more than $70 million for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) to support administration of the program.

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The Wisconsin DHS had estimated that federal penalties could cost the state over $200 million a year.

DHS Secretary Kirsten Johnson said in a statement that ensuring the FoodShare program has the resources we need to meet new federal requirements is critical to maintaining access to essential nutrition benefits for Wisconsin families and saving Wisconsin taxpayer dollars.

Wisconsin will now submit a waiver to the federal government to implement its candy and soda prohibition. The bill also includes more than $3 million so the state health department can create and maintain an electronic platform to help with implementation of the prohibition.

Evers told reporters last week that he didnt agree with barring people from buying certain foods but it was one of those things called compromise.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
By Erin Banco, Gram Slattery and Maayan Lubell

WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM, March 23 (Reuters) - Less than 48 hours before the U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran began, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone to President Donald Trump about the reasons for launching the kind of complex, far-off war the American leader once had campaigned against.

Both Trump and Netanyahu knew from intelligence briefings earlier in the week that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his key lieutenants would soon meet at his compound in Tehran, making them vulnerable to a decapitation strike  an attack against a country's top leaders often used by Israelis but traditionally less so by the United States.

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But new intelligence suggested that the meeting had been moved forward to Saturday morning from Saturday night, according to three people briefed on the call.

The call has not been previously reported.

Netanyahu, determined to move forward with an operation he had urged for decades, argued that there might never be a better chance to kill Khamenei and to avenge previous Iranian efforts to assassinate Trump, these people said. Those included a murder-for-hire plot allegedly orchestrated by Iran in 2024, when Trump was a candidate.

The Justice Department has accused a Pakistani man of trying to recruit people in the United States in the plan, meant as retaliation for Washington's killing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' top commander, Qassem Soleimani.

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By the time the call took place, Trump already had approved the idea of the United States carrying out a military operation against Iran but had not yet decided when or under what circumstances the United States would get involved, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive internal deliberations.

The U.S. military had for weeks built up a presence in the region, prompting many within the administration to conclude it was just a matter of when the president would decide to move forward. One possible date, just a few days earlier, had been scuttled because of bad weather.

Reuters was unable to determine how Netanyahus argument affected Trump as he contemplated issuing orders to strike, but the call amounted to the Israeli leaders closing argument to his U.S. counterpart. The three sources briefed on the call said they believed it - along with the intelligence showing a closing window to kill Iran's leader - was a catalyst for Trumps final decision to order the military on February 27 to move ahead with Operation Epic Fury.

Trump could make history by helping eliminate an Iranian leadership long reviled by the West and by many Iranians, Netanyahu argued. Iranians might even take to the streets, he said, overthrowing a theocratic system that had governed the country since 1979 and been a leading source of global terrorism and instability ever since.

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The first bombs struck on Saturday morning, February 28. Trump announced that evening that Khamenei was dead.

In response to a request for comment, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly did not directly address the call between Trump and Netanyahu but told Reuters the military operation was designed to "destroy the Iranian regime's ballistic missile and production capacity, annihilate the Iranian regime's Navy, end their ability to arm proxies, and guarantee that Iran can never obtain a nuclear weapon."

Neither Netanyahu's office nor Iran's U.N. representative responded to comment requests.

Netanyahu in a news conference on Thursday dismissed as fake news claims that Israel somehow dragged the U.S. into a conflict with Iran. Does anyone really think that someone can tell President Trump what to do? Come on.

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Trump has said publicly that the decision to strike was his alone.

Reuters reporting, with officials and others close to both leaders speaking mostly on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of internal deliberations, does not suggest that Netanyahu forced Trump to go to war. But the reporting shows that the Israeli leader was an effective advocate and that his framing of the decision  including the opportunity to kill an Iranian leader who allegedly had overseen efforts to kill Trump  was persuasive to the president.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in early March suggested that revenge was at least one motive for the operation, telling reporters, "Iran tried to kill President Trump, and President Trump got the last laugh."

JUNE ATTACK TARGETED NUCLEAR, MISSILE SITES

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Trump ran his campaign in 2024 based on his first administrations foreign policy of "America First" and said publicly that he wanted to avoid war with Iran, preferring to deal with Tehran diplomatically.

But as discussions over Iran's nuclear program failed to produce a deal last spring, Trump began contemplating a strike, according to the three people familiar with White House deliberations.

A first attack came in June, when Israel bombed Irans nuclear facilities and missile sites, and killed several Iranian leaders. U.S. forces later joined the attack, and when that joint operation ended after 12 days, Trump publicly reveled in the success, saying the U.S. had "obliterated" Irans nuclear facilities.

Yet months later, talks began again between the U.S. and Israel about a second aerial attack aimed at hitting additional missile facilities and preventing Iran from gaining the ability to build a nuclear weapon.

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The Israelis also wanted to kill Khamenei, a longtime, bitter geopolitical foe who had repeatedly fired missiles into Israel and supported heavily armed proxy forces encircling the nation. That included the Hamas militant group that launched the surprise attack on October 7, 2023, from Gaza, and Hezbollah, based in Lebanon.

The Israelis began to plan their attack on Iran under the assumption they would be acting alone, Defense Minister Israel Katz told Israel's N12 News on March 5.

But during a December visit to Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Netanyahu told Trump that he was not fully satisfied with the outcome of the joint operation in June, said two people familiar with the relationship between the two leaders, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Trump indicated he was open to another bombing campaign, the people added, but he also wanted to try another round of diplomatic talks.

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Two events pushed Trump toward attacking Iran again, according to several U.S. and Israeli officials and diplomats.

The U.S. operation on January 3 to capture Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas - which resulted in no American deaths while removing from power a longstanding U.S. foe - demonstrated the possibility that ambitious military operations could have few collateral consequences for U.S. forces.

Later that same month, massive anti-government protests erupted in Iran, prompting a vicious response by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, killing thousands. Trump vowed to help the protesters but did little immediately that was public.

Privately, however, cooperation intensified between the Israel Defense Forces and the U.S. military's Middle East command, known as CENTCOM, with joint military planning conducted during secret meetings, according to two Israeli officials, speaking on condition of anonymity.

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Not long after, during a February visit by Netanyahu to Washington, the Israeli leader briefed Trump on Iran's growing ballistic missile program, pointing out specific sites of concern. He also laid out the dangers of the ballistic missile program, including the risk that Iran might eventually gain the ability to strike the American homeland, said three people familiar with the private conversations.

The White House did not respond to questions about Trump's December and February meetings with Netanyahu.

TRUMP'S CHANCE AT HISTORY

By late February, many U.S. officials and regional diplomats considered a U.S. attack on Iran very likely to proceed, though the details remained uncertain, according to two other U.S. officials, one Israeli official and two additional officials familiar with the matter.

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Trump was briefed by Pentagon and intelligence officials on the potential advantages to be gained from a successful attack, including the decimation of Irans missile program, according to two people familiar with those briefings.

Before the phone call between Netanyahu and Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told a small group of top Congressional leaders on February 24 that Israel was likely to attack Iran, whether or not the U.S. participated, and Iran would then likely retaliate against U.S. targets, according to three people briefed on the meeting.

Behind Rubio's warning was an assessment by American intelligence officials that such an attack would indeed provoke counterstrikes from Iran against U.S. diplomatic and military outposts and U.S. Gulf allies, said three sources familiar with U.S. intelligence reports.

This prediction proved accurate. The strikes have led to Iranian counterattacks on U.S. military assets, the deaths of more than 2,300 Iranian civilians and at least 13 U.S. service members, attacks on U.S. Gulf allies, the closure of one of the worlds most vital shipping routes and a historic spike in oil prices that is already being felt by consumers in the United States and beyond.

Trump had also been briefed that there was a chance, even if small, that the killing of Iran's top leaders could usher in a government in Tehran that was more willing to negotiate with Washington, said two other people familiar with Rubio's briefing.

The possibility of regime change was one of Netanyahu's arguments in the call shortly before Trump gave final orders to attack Iran, said the people briefed on it.

That view was not held by the Central Intelligence Agency, which had assessed in the weeks prior that Khamenei would likely be replaced by an internal hardliner if he was killed, as Reuters previously reported.

The CIA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump repeatedly called for an uprising after Khamenei was killed. With the war in its fourth week and the region engulfed in conflict, Irans Revolutionary Guards still patrol the nations streets. Millions of Iranians remain sheltered in their homes.

Khameneis son Mojtaba, considered even more harshly anti-American than his father, has been named the new supreme leader of Iran.

(Reporting by Erin Banco and Gram Slattery; Additional reporting by Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem; Editing by Craig Timberg, Don Durfee and Daniel Wallis)
Claim:

An image authentically shows a restaurant receipt for two prime rib dinners totaling $71.11, including a $10.08 service charge, tax and no added "optional tip."

Rating:

Rating: Fake

In March 2026, Facebook users made tens of thousands of comments discussing an alleged image of a restaurant receipt.

The purported receipt, dated March 2, 2026, displayed two orders of petite-size prime rib dinners costing $28 each. The itemized receipt totals $71.11  $56 for the food, a $10.08 service charge, $5.03 in tax and a customer-drawn line declining an "optional tip." The bottom of the receipt read, "All F & B purchases are subject to an automatic service charge. The service charge is not a tip or gratuity."

(MxrkJunior/Facebook)

Facebook user and online creator MxrkJunior posted (archived) the supposed receipt image along with its alleged story on March 17. The post began as follows:

I've been serving for eight years. Last night I had a table of two. Prime rib, drinks, the works. Their bill was $71.11. They paid the automatic service charge of $10.08 and left the tip line blank. The receipt clearly says the service charge is not a tip. Not gratuity. Not for me. It goes to the house. I get $2.13 an hour plus whatever people decide I'm worth. They looked me in the eye when I checked on them. Said everything was great. Smiled when I boxed their leftovers. Then they signed and left me nothing. Am I wrong for being furious? For knowing that $10.08 doesn't pay my rent? For understanding that "optional tip" really means "optional if you don't care whether your server eats this week"?

The posts' high number of comments  more than 14,000, as of this writing  showed users debating a number of different things about the receipt. Some said they would decline to add a tip if they received such a service charge. Others debated why a restaurant would not consider a service charge a tip or gratuity for servers, as well as the fact that the tip line featured a word not often found on receipts: "optional."

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In short, the receipt was fake and generated with artificial intelligence.

Snopes emailed MxrkJunior to ask about his content, such as whether he makes money from posts  including those about fake restaurant receipts. We will update this article if we receive further information.

How we confirmed the receipt was AI

With a prompt, the Google Gemini AI tool SynthID Detector scanned the image for a SynthID watermark  a hidden label Google adds to images made or manipulated with its AI platforms. The tool only detects the watermark in media created with Google AI tools. (Any user with free access to Google Gemini can upload an image or video file and simply type "SynthID," then press "Submit," to run a quick scan.)

In response, Gemini concluded, "All or part of this image was generated or edited with Google AI. This is indicated by a digital watermark called SynthID, which Google embeds in the pixels of AI-generated or edited images. This watermark is designed to be invisible to the human eye but detectable by software to help identify AI-altered content."

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The image featured other signs of inauthenticity, as well. The fake receipt did not display a restaurant name, server name, beverages, table number, credit card details or other information typical of restaurant receipts.

Scans of other recent posts on MxrkJunior's Facebook page also detected SynthID watermarks, including in an image for a fabricated story of a DoorDash delivery left at a door, as well as other fake receipts.

Fake restaurant receipt bait

Fake restaurant receipt content falls under a combination of two categories: engagement bait and rage bait. The News Literacy Project once described engagement bait as "a type of social media post that is designed to get you to interact with (seemingly) innocuous content through likes, follows, shares and comments." Merriam-Webster defined rage bait as "content (usually, but not always, found online) that tries to provoke anger or outrage, as a means of gaining attention or making money."

When a user shares a fake restaurant receipt, that user touches on the familiarity of visiting a restaurant and filling out a receipt upon finishing with a meal. That familiarity leads users to comment with their own thoughts, as well as to engage in emotionally charged debates with users who might hold different opinions on restaurant practices. All the while, the user who created the post, should they have chosen to monetize the page's content, receives payment for each of those users' posts about a fake receipt for a restaurant visit that never happened.

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For further reading, in 2021, we investigated the 2019 story of a pregnant waitress running to her manager after a New Jersey police officer gave her a $100 tip. That story, which was partially true, also involved a receipt.

Sources:

"Google Gemini." Gemini, https://gemini.google.com.

GPTZero Dashboard. https://app.gptzero.me/.

Kohli, Pushmeet. "SynthID Detector  a New Portal to Help Identify AI-Generated Content." Google, 20 May 2025, https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/products/google-synthid-ai-content-detector/.

"Rage-Bait." Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/slang/rage-bait.

"What Is Engagement Bait?" The News Literacy Project, 23 Jan. 2019, https://newslit.org/news-and-research/what-is-engagement-bait/.
Iran has denied targeting a joint military base of the United States and the United Kingdom on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia with missiles, dismissing the claim as an Israeli false flag attack.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that the accusations reflected a pattern of disinformation after NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the alliance could not confirm Israels claim that the projectiles used were Iranian intercontinental ballistic missiles.

That even the NATO Secretary General (who is infamously pressing Alliance members to appease the U.S. and support their illegal war on Iran) declines to endorse Israels most recent disinformation, speaks volumes: the world has grown thoroughly exhausted with these tired and discredited false flag storylines, Baghaei wrote on X.

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Speaking to CBS News on Sunday, Rutte backed US President Donald Trumps war on Iran, framing it as necessary and urging public support. Ive seen the polling, but I really hope the American people will be with him because hes doing this to make the whole world safe, he said.

Earlier, US media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, said missiles were launched between Thursday night and Friday morning, but they failed to hit the Diego Garcia base.

But if Iran was confirmed to be behind the attacks, it would mean that it possesses ballistic missiles with a range of 4,000km (2,485 miles) or more  able to reach as far as the UK capital, London.

Earlier this month, in an interview with the US broadcaster NBC, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, We intentionally limited ourselves to below 2,000km [1,242 miles] of range because we dont want to be felt as a threat by anybody else in the world.

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UK Defence Secretary John Healey said on Monday that two Iranian missiles had been launched in the direction of Diego Garcia.

Speaking in Parliament, Healey said that one fell short of its target, and the other was brought down short of its target, condemning that attack and calling on Iran to de-escalate .

He added, Neither got close to Diego Garcia. The UK was not required to take action, and normal operations continue.

British Housing Secretary Steve Reed said on Sunday that the UK had no indication that Iran intended to  or could, even if it wanted to  reach the country with its missiles.

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The UK-US military airbase is home to nearly 2,500 mostly American personnel and has supported US military operations from Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan as well as strikes on Yemens Houthis.

Israels military chief, Eyal Zamir, claimed that Iran used a two-stage intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of 4,000km [2,485 miles] to target the US-UK base.

Israel, a close US ally, has long said Irans missile and nuclear programmes pose a threat and has for decades lobbied the US to intervene militarily. But successive US administrations had resisted the pressure to launch military strikes on Iran. Instead, Washington imposed wide-ranging sanctions on Tehran to deter it from developing nuclear weapons.

As Washington and Tehran were engaged in talks, Israel and the US attacked Iran about three weeks ago, killing the countrys Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The attack came despite Oman, the mediator of those talks, saying a deal had been within reach.




CARACAS, March 23 (Xinhua) -- A demonstration called by political parties and pro-government social organizations was held in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas on Monday, demanding the complete lifting of U.S. economic sanctions, local authorities said.

Nahum Fernandez, head of the government of Caracas and vice president of Mobilization and Events of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, highlighted the nation's resilience in the face of the measures, and reiterated calls to end the blockade.

Caracas Mayor Carmen Melendez said the people will remain in the streets until all sanctions are lifted.

Melendez also reiterated the demand for the release of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, following their forcible seizure by U.S. troops in a military raid on Jan. 3. 
TOPEKA  Jimmie Nelms was caught on a dead-end road.

He rammed his 1973 white Mercury Marquis through a metal gate and a wire fence into a pasture, then head-on into a Kansas Highway Patrol car that had been tailing him. After a shootout, he and two others were arrested. Police eventually tied them to the murder of 26-year-old Kansas Highway Patrolman Conroy OBrien earlier that morning.

A jury found Nelms guilty of premeditated murder in 1978. A judge gave him two life sentences and then some for aggravated kidnapping and unlawful firearm possession.

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Nelms, now 79, had been in prison 47 years when, in May 2025, he was granted parole. Days later, the promise of release was rescinded.

Once law enforcement groups and elected officials heard that the Kansas Prisoner Review Board decided to grant Nelms release, backlash ensued.

So much backlash that the boards unexplained rescission of Nelms parole was just the beginning.

State lawmakers are pursuing a takeover of the board and considering legislation that would strengthen oversight, create new requirements for members and raise standards for releasing people convicted of certain crimes.

A bill making its way through the Legislature would force out the current board members on July 1, if it becomes law. Two current members have served on the board since 2024 and one has been on the board for more than a decade.

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People frequently say to the board, I would hate to be the ones having to make these decisions. I would hate to be in your shoes. Because with every decision comes criticism and dissatisfaction from someone, said Mark Keating, who is the current chairman of the board, in writing to a House committee as a private citizen.

Every decision means half of the interested parties are unhappy with the outcome, Keating wrote.

Elected officials spoke out in droves against Nelms release. Sage Hill, former president of the Kansas State Troopers Association, directly addressed the boards three members in a statement following the decision, wishing them profound shame for their disgraceful and disgusting actions.

That outrage was heated, Hill said during a Feb. 9 Senate hearing.

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Senate Bill 459, which was requested by the State Troopers Association, proposes a laundry list of changes to the Prisoner Review Boards authority and scope.

It is a measured response to real world failures that have exposed vulnerabilities in Kansass parole system, said Joe Sciarrotta, deputy chief attorney general, in written testimony.

Keating said one controversial decision is not justification for a restructuring, is not indicative of a flawed system, and does not support the issue of the PRB being a failed model.

The bill would expand the Kansas Prisoner Review Boards membership from three people appointed by Kansas Department of Corrections Secretary Jeff Zmuda to five people appointed by the governor and attorney general.

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It stipulates that at least one board member must have five years of experience or more serving victims of crime and one must have at least five years of law enforcement experience.

The requirement is a needed change, and it ensures crime victims have a voice, said Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter, who testified on behalf of the Kansas Sheriffs Association in February to a Senate committee. He said the bill embodied a balanced approach for appointments of parole board members and is a positive change to current practice.

The bill would set four-year term limits for board members and establish decision-making and public notice requirements. It would mandate public comment sessions be held in-person unless a victim or victims family says otherwise and require parole hearings to be postponed if victims are not given adequate notice. It would require unanimous decisions to grant parole for people serving sentences for serious and violent crimes. It would mandate hearing notices to the attorney general and victims families.

Emily Brandt, an appellate criminal defense attorney, said in March 2 testimony, the bills proposed changes to the board created a troublingly one-sided professional profile.

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The changes also do not account for the other responsibilities of the board. If the bill were to pass, Brandt doubted the governor, attorney general and Senate would have enough time to appoint and confirm new board members by July 1, potentially creating a gap in the boards work. The board, which is made up of KDOC employees, reviews all release plans for every person exiting corrections custody.

Steve Kearney, executive vice president of the Kansas State Highway Troopers Association, told a legislative committee the parole board was in need of reform. Kearney brought the bill to the Legislature, where it was introduced in February. It has appeared before two committees, undergone revisions and earned the support of law enforcement organizations, the Kansas Attorney Generals Office and victim advocates.

It passed the Senate in February in a 33-7 vote, and a modified version passed the House unanimously on Wednesday. It awaits final approval in the Senate.

Under existing state law, the board must hold a hearing during the month before a persons parole eligibility date. People eligible for release are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. As the board deliberates, it weighs program agreement completion requirements, whether a person is able and willing to be a law-abiding citizen, and if someone can be released without causing harm to the community or themselves, according to KDOC procedure.

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Board members also consider the circumstances of the crime; criminal and social history; program participation; employment; behavior and attitude; disciplinary history; physical and mental health; and comments from victims, their family, the offenders family, public officials and the general public.

The parole decision is representative of the criminal justice system and governmental guidelines and is an attempt to reflect the general attitude and opinions of law enforcement and the community at large, KDOC process materials said.
Financier and real estate investor Steven K. Hudson has flipped  for $21.75 million  a house he bought in December for $19 million in Midtown Palm Beach. That's a gain of about $2.75 million in less than three months.

Hudson sold the never-occupied house at 433 Antigua Lane to Cooper Sun LLC, a Michigan limited liability company, according to the deed recorded March 23.

The buying entity has a mailing address in care of a post office box in Grand Rapids. That address is linked in property records to Greenville Partners, which provides investment-management and other professional services to investors, investment entities and private foundations. But it's unclear from property records whether Greenville Partners is otherwise associated with the sale.

The house was completed at the end of 2024 by the late Palm Beach businessman and real estate investor Malcolm Mal McCluskey and his widow, Angela. She sold it with three of her family members to Hudson, records show.

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The five-bedroom house has 6,197 square feet of living space, inside and out. One property east of the Intracoastal, the residence stands on a lot of about two-fifths of an acre. The block-long cul-de-sac lies a quarter mile north of Royal Palm Way.

Financier Steven K. Hudson has sold a never-lived-in house at 433 Antigua Lane for a recorded $21.75 million. He paid a recorded $19 million for it in December 2025.

The irregularly shaped house has a ground-floor layout that includes a living room, dining room, family room and a breakfast area for the kitchen.

Among the homes other features are a first-floor primary suite, high-end interior finishes and floors of planked oak and marble, according to sales listings. French doors and an open-air loggia with a terrace above it overlook the rear patio, pool and whirlpool spa.

A private alleyway provides access to the three-car garage, which has a guest apartment above it.

A terrace above the loggia overlooks the pool area at a Palm Beach house at 433 Antigua Lane, which just changed hands for $21.75 millon.

Jennifer Hyland of the Corcoran Group was on the buyer's end of the transaction, according to the multiple listing service.

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Agent Casey Flannery of Equestrian Sotheby's International Realty said the sales contract for the transaction shows she was also involved on the buyer's side. She declined further comment.

Agent Chris Leavitt of Douglas Elliman Real Estate acted for the seller, just as he has in other Palm Beach real estate transactions in Palm Beach.

Leavitt listed the house for sale at $23.96 million in early January, and the sale closed March 19, the MLS shows.

The covered loggia at 433 Antigua Lane in Palm Beach has a view of the pool.

Hudson is CEO of ECN Capital, a Toronto-headquartered company that provides prime credit portfolios to more than 90 U.S. financial institutions, according to its website. The company specializes in offering business services to North American-based partners, including institutional investors, insurance companies, pension plans, banks and credit unions. The companys U.S. office is in West Palm Beach.

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The Antigua Lane deed of sale lists Hudson with a mailing address in care of Jack Schneider at ECN Capitals West Palm Beach location.

Architect Patrick OConnell of Patrick Ryan OConnell Architect designed the two-story house, which he described as having Bermudian style architecture with Old Florida influences in the roof lines, material choices and details.

The house was built by contractor Rene Alonso of Alonso & Associates. Landscape architect Don Skowron of BHS Landscape Architecture & Engineering designed the grounds.

When Hudson bought the house in December, he was represented by Leavitt, who negotiated opposite Corcoran Group agent Bill Yahn.

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Yahn had put the house on the market in January 2025 with a price of just under $24 million, which was later dropped to $21.5 million. The listing left the MLS in early June 2025.

The McCluskeys had planned the house as a custom home for themselves but those plans changed after Mal McCluskeys death on May 20 at age 83, according to people familiar with the 2025 transaction. The couple had built and sold other Palm Beach houses, property records show.

Before Hudson's purchase of the house, his most recent real estate deal in Palm Beach was his sale, for $16.5 million in April 2025, of a four-bedroom townhouse he had owned since September 2023 at 220 Brazilian Avenue in Midtown. The buyer in that deal, Crystal Crosby Lahners, ended up selling the townhouse for $16 million in late September.

In early 2023, Hudson sold, for $26.66 million, a new oceanfront townhouse in a quadplex at 466 S. Ocean Blvd. He had owned that townhouse for about six months, having bought it for a recorded $25.58 million from its developer, Frisbie Group.

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Leavitt acted on Hudsons behalf when he purchased and sold both townhouses. When Hudson bought the Brazilian Avenue townhouse for $14.35 million, Leavitt did double duty as the listing agent.

When Hudson parted with the Brazilian Avenue townhouse, agent Ashley Copeland of Brown Harris Stevens handled the buyer's side of the sale. And when Lahners sold the same townhouse in September, Leavitt and Copeland represented her, with agent Gary Pohrer of Serhant acting for the buyer, a Georgia-registered limited liability company linked to Michael Klump of RCG Ventures.

In 2022, when Hudson bought the townhouse on South Ocean Boulevard, agent Suzanne Frisbie of the Corcoran Group was the listing agent. When Hudson sold it, agents Kevin Condon and Cristina Condon of Sothebys International Realty handled the buyers side.

The same month that Hudson bought the townhouse on South Ocean Boulevard, a company he controlled sold a single-family house at 134 Casa Bendita for a recorded $20.83 million. Leavitt acted on Hudsons behalf in that deal, with Douglas Elliman agent Vince Spadea Jr. representing the buyer.

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(This story was updated to add new information.)

Portions of this story appeared previously in the Palm Beach Daily News.

Darrell Hofheinz is a USA TODAY Network of Florida journalist who writes about Palm Beach real estate in his Beyond the Hedges column. He welcomes tips about real estate news on the island. Email dhofheinz@pbdailynews.com, call 561-820-3831 or tweet @PBDN_Hofheinz.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Financier flips never-occupied house for $21.75 million in Palm Beach
A fire at a scrapyard near the OKC Fairgrounds has produced a massive plume of smoke visible in downtown Oklahoma City, officials report.

Oklahoma City Fire Department Assistant PIO John Chenoweth told The Oklahoman that the fire started at the scrapyard building near Northwest 10th Street and May Avenue, northeast of the OKC Fairgrounds.

The fire has been marked as basically contained as the Oklahoma City Fire Department is currently shifting to defensive methods. There are some active rubbish fires surrounding the metal building.

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Chenoweth states there are no injuries, and all inside the building have been evacuated.

The cause of the fire and the extent of damage are unknown.

A fire at a scrapyard near the OKC Fairgrounds has produced a massive plume of smoke visible from downtown Oklahoma City.

 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.

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.

A fire at a scrapyard near the OKC Fairgrounds has produced a massive plume of smoke visible from downtown Oklahoma City.

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.

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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.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Fire in Oklahoma City pushes massive plume of smoke over fairgrounds
A small helicopter crashed into an empty warehouse early Monday afternoon, March 23, in Boynton Beach, leaving no survivors, according to local authorities.

Boynton Beach Fire Rescue and Boynton Beach Police Department responded to the crash in Palm Beach County, Florida, after receiving reports around 12:30 p.m., according to Boynton Beach Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Matt Oxendine.

Upon arrival, authorities found the helicopter had crashed through the roof of the vacant building. There were workers present on the property, but nobody was inside the warehouse, Oxendine said in a press conference.

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Here's what we know so far.

A helicopter crashed into a warehouse roof at Egret Point Logistics Center on South Congress Avenue in Boynton Beach, Fla., on March 23, 2026. A helicopter crashed into a warehouse roof at Egret Point Logistics Center on South Congress Avenue in Boynton Beach, Fla., on March 23, 2026. A helicopter crashed into a warehouse roof at Egret Point Logistics Center on South Congress Avenue in Boynton Beach, Fla., on March 23, 2026. A helicopter crashed into a warehouse roof at Egret Point Logistics Center on South Congress Avenue in Boynton Beach, Fla., on March 23, 2026. A helicopter crashed into a warehouse roof at Egret Point Logistics Center on South Congress Avenue in Boynton Beach, Fla., on March 23, 2026. A helicopter crashed into a warehouse roof at Egret Point Logistics Center on South Congress Avenue in Boynton Beach, Fla., on March 23, 2026. A helicopter crashed into a warehouse roof at Egret Point Logistics Center on South Congress Avenue in Boynton Beach, Fla., on March 23, 2026. Egret Point Logistics Center hit by helicopter, hole in new roof 1 of 7 A helicopter crashed into a warehouse roof at Egret Point Logistics Center on South Congress Avenue in Boynton Beach, Fla., on March 23, 2026.

Where did the helicopter crash in Florida?

The crash took place at a vacant warehouse in the 3800 block of South Congress Avenue, near the Monterey townhouse community in Boynton Beach, located in Palm Beach County, Florida.

"It's a lightweight truss roof, so [the helicopter] actually crashed through it," Oxendine said in a news conference.

The warehouse was built in 2025, with a market value estimated at $24.2 million, Palm Beach County property records show. The complex is owned by Orlando-based WSL South Congress Owner LLC.

How did authorities find helicopter crash in Boynton Beach, Florida?

No smoke or flames came from the crash, according to Oxendine. "Usually, you would see it from far away," he said.

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Authorities were dispatched to the next neighborhood over and had multiple units searching for the crash, which only took a few minutes, Oxendine said. During the search, dispatch was on the phone with witnesses who gave an accurate description.

Was anyone injured, killed in Boynton Beach, Florida helicopter crash?

Two people died in a helicopter crash in Boynton Beach on Monday, March 23, the city has confirmed.

City officials have not released the names of the people who died or details about the crash.

Boynton Beach, federal authorities are investigating helicopter crash

Boynton Beach Fire Rescue and Boynton Beach Police Department are working the scene, officials said.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash, the FAA said.

What model of helicopter crashed in Boynton Beach, Florida?

The helicopter was a Robinson R44, the Federal Aviation Administration reported. The model has four seats, a two-blade rotor and is widely used by flight schools, private companies and aviation clubs.

Where is Boynton Beach, Florida?

Boynton Beach is located in Palm Beach County, Florida, about 12 to 15 miles south of West Palm Beach and around 57 miles north of Miami.

You can get all of Floridas best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Helicopter crashes into Boynton Beach warehouse in Florida, kills 2
A Westerville native who played defensive back for the Ohio State University football team for four years could spend decades in prison after admitting to committing nine bank robberies over a two-month span.

Marcus Williamson, 27, pleaded guilty on March 23 to nine counts of robbery, five of which were second-degree felonies and four of which were third-degree felonies.

Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Sheryl Munson will sentence Williamson on June 25. He faces sentencing options ranging from probation to up to more than 40 years in prison.

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Williamson had initially been charged with 17 counts of robbery, six counts of felony theft and one count of misdemeanor theft.

Assistant Franklin County Prosecutor Jason Manning said the five of the robberies, which occurred in March and April 2024, involved Williamson either saying or implying he had a gun. The banks Williamson robbed were spread across Franklin County.

Court records say Williamson would pass a note to the bank teller demanding money in $20, $50 and $100 denominations. He would wear latex gloves when committing the robberies.

Manning said Williamson did not get money in every robbery but in total, he stole about $22,000 from the various banks.

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Police arrested Williamson on April 24, 2024, after he was seen leaving the First Merchants Bank at 5909 N. High St.

Williamson had been under investigation at the time of his arrest for the series of robberies, all of which were conducted the same way. Officers saw Williamson leave the bank and get into a Jeep Compass. When he was stopped a short time later, Williamson had money from the bank in his possession, court records say.

Williamson played defensive back for Ohio State between 2017 and 2021.

Reporter Bethany Bruner can be reached at bbruner@dispatch.com.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Former OSU football player admits stealing $22K in 9 bank robberies
PARIS (AP)  French former Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, who gave France its 35-hour work week and then withdrew from politics after leading Frances Socialist Party to an earth-shaking presidential election defeat against far-right firebrand Jean-Marie Le Pen, has died. He was 88.

His death was confirmed by the current prime minister, Sebastien Lecornu, after the national news agency, Agence France-Presse, reported that Jospin died on Sunday, citing his family.

Lecornu said in a post on X that Jospin served France with constancy, rigor and a sense of responsibility and that his actions, guided by a certain vision of social progress and republican values, leave a lasting mark and a model of commitment.

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A tousle of white curls and thick-rimmed glasses gave Jospin the trappings of the economics professor he was before being unexpectedly named as head of the Socialist Party in 1981 by newly elected President Francois Mitterrand.

Untarnished by allegations of corruption, Jospin re-established credibility for the Socialists after bribery and fraud scandals led to their downfall in the 1993 parliamentary elections.

He became prime minister in 1997, holding the post until 2002, leading a broad left-wing government under French conservative President Jacques Chirac in a power-sharing arrangement dubbed cohabitation.

As prime minister, Jospin resisted shifting the French left toward free-market reforms embraced at the same time in Britain.

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He enacted Frances parity law, required political parties to field the same number of male and female candidates in national elections, installed civil unions for LGBTQ+ and straight couples and lowered the work week from 39 hours to 35 hours, hailed as a social breakthrough by supporters but criticized by opponents as a shackle for the economy.

Jospin never embraced his role as a public figure, hampered by a restrained personality that grew even stiffer in front of cameras.

He abandoned politics after his shocking loss to Le Pen in the first round of presidential voting in 2002.

The polarizing Le Pen qualified for the second-round runoff against Chirac, the incumbent and first-round winner, by a whisker, relegating Jospin to third place. Le Pen and Jospin both got more than 16% of the vote but Le Pen's nearly 200,000 vote-advantage over Jospin saw him advance to round two, in a triumph for the anti-immigration founder of the far-right National Front and a body blow for Le Pen's opponents.

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Determined to keep Le Pen out of the presidential Elysee Palace, voters rallied around Chirac in the runoff, who won a second term by a landslide.

Jospin was born July 12, 1937, the son of a midwife who, according to family lore, used the works of Voltaire to raise her pelvis while she was in labor.

She believed I would have the spirit of Voltaire, he said.

Jospin said his childhood memories of Nazi-occupied Paris tinged his outlook into adulthood.

I have the memory of the importance of silence. If you werent quiet, you ran the risk of putting people in danger. Certainly in political life I've retained a certain horror of talkativeness, he said.

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He grew up in a Protestant family and attended the prestigious Ecole d'Administration Nationale, alma mater to a disproportionate share of French leaders and intellectuals.

Like many people in Paris and beyond, he got caught up in the left-wing protests of 1968. He was close to Trotskyists before joining the Socialist Party.

Despite mellowing over time, Jospin never lost his wariness of the free market, keeping his trademark phrase: Yes to the market economy, no to a market society.
Germany's Federal Court of Justice will rule on Monday in two climate lawsuits filed against automotive giants BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Environmental Action Germany, a pressure group, is seeking a court order to prohibit the companies from selling new vehicles with climate-damaging internal combustion engines from November 2030.

At the core of the cases is the question of whether companies can be required to take such measures independently of existing government regulations.

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Three managing directors of the organization have brought the case. They base their argument on the right to self-determination enshrined in Germanys Basic Law, the countrys de facto constitution.

They claim that by continuing to produce fossil fuel-powered vehicles, BMW and Mercedes are consuming a disproportionate share of global and national carbon dioxide (CO2) budgets, referring to the amount of emissions that can be released while still limiting global warming to internationally agreed targets.

According to the plaintiffs, quickly exhausting this budget will force governments to impose far stricter, potentially freedom-restricting measures in the future to curb emissions, thereby infringing on the rights of younger and future generations.

The argument builds on a landmark 2021 ruling by Germanys Federal Constitutional Court, which required lawmakers to strengthen the countrys climate protection law.

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The court found that existing provisions unfairly shifted a significant share of emissions reduction burdens to periods after 2030, infringing on the freedoms of younger people.

While that case addressed the states obligations, the current proceedings at the court in Karlsruhe raise the question of whether major industrial CO2 emitters can also be held accountable in civil courts.

Lower courts in Munich and Stuttgart previously dismissed the lawsuits against the car manufacturers.
While speaking in Sebring, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 290, also known as the Florida Farm Bill. The Governors office says, the Florida Farm Bill "strengthens Floridas agricultural industry, protects consumers, and reinforces the states commitment to food security, public safety, and rural land conservation."

This important farm bill builds on the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services reforms to protect Florida agriculture, consumers, and rural communities, said Governor DeSantis. It also protects the health, security, and freedom of Floridians.

The Free State of Florida just delivered another major win for the people who feed our state and our nation, said Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson. With the legislative leaders hard work this session and Governor DeSantis signature, the 2026 Florida Farm Bill is now law  protecting our farmers from government overreach, strengthening public safety, and preserving our natural resources and rural lands. Im proud to stand alongside strong conservative leaders who understand that when you fight for freedom, family, and farmers, youre fighting for Floridas future.

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According to the Governors office, the Florida Farm Bill enacts a wide range of reforms to the states agricultural community and consumers:

It protects agricultural freedom by preventing local governments from banning gas- and diesel-powered equipment essential to farmers, ranchers, and homeowners.

It preserves rural lands by limiting inappropriate high-density development in agricultural and conservation areas.

It cuts bureaucratic red tape for agritourism to help farmers expand operations and grow their businesses.

It strengthens domestic food supply through new investments in agriculture, including programs supporting veterinarians and food distribution.

It modifies access to emergency recovery loans following disasters to require U.S. citizenship or ownership.

It launches the Florida Native Seed Research and Marketing Program to promote homegrown agriculture and increase competitiveness.

It makes Permanent the Farmers Feeding Florida Program, ensuring Florida-grown food continues to reach families in need.

It establishes a loan repayment program for veterinarians who specialize in food animals and equine care.

You can find more information on Senate Bill 290 on the Governors website.

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NEW YORK/MONTREAL/WASHINGTON March 23 (Reuters) - An Air Canada Express AC.TO jet collided with a fire truck while landing at New Yorks LaGuardia airport late on Sunday, killing both pilots, injuring dozens and closing the facility, authorities said.

The Air Canada Express CRJ-900 plane, operated by its regional partner Jazz Aviation, was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members and had departed from Montreal, said Jazz, which is owned by Chorus Aviation CHR.TO. Jazz and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed that the pilot and first officer were killed.

Heres CCTV footage capturing the exact moment Air Canada Express Flight AC8646, a Bombardier CRJ-900, collided with a Port Authority fire truck at LaGuardia Airport last night. pic.twitter.com/qxGMZzKXPD  Turbine Traveller (@Turbinetraveler) March 23, 2026

The crash comes as U.S. aviation faces chronic shortages of air traffic controllers and a separate shortfall of Transportation Security Administration officers due to a partial government shutdown that has led to delays, long security lines and heightened safety concerns across airports nationwide.

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A separate 35-minute ground stop at nearby Newark Liberty International on Monday morning added to delays after air-traffic controllers evacuated their tower because of a burning smell from an elevator, the FAA said.

Today is an incredibly difficult day for our airline, our employees, and most importantly, the families and loved ones of those affected by the accident involving flight 8646, said Jazz President Doug Clarke.

Officials investigate the site, Monday, March 23, 2026, where an Air Canada jet came to rest after colliding with a Port Authority firetruck at LaGuardia Airport, shortly after landing Sunday night in New York. via Associated Press

A Port Authority firetruck lays on its side just off the runway at LaGuardia Airport, Monday, March 23, 2026, after colliding with an Air Canada jet shortly after it landed late Sunday night in New York. via Associated Press

Nine Seriously Injured In Hospital

Kathryn Garcia, executive director of the Port Authority, said 32 of the 41 injured had been released, while nine remained in hospital with serious injuries.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said at least two Port Authority firefighters sustained serious injuries.

News: Justin Timberlake Jokes About Being White In Video Of DWI Arrest

Aviation safety experts say investigators would look at air traffic control staffing levels and the actions of both the controller and truck crew.

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The Air Canada jet was obviously cleared to land and from the radio transmissions, it appears that the airport rescue and firefighting vehicle was cleared. There are a lot of questions now regarding the communications, said U.S. safety expert Anthony Brickhouse. Communication is going to be a major part of this investigation.

Air-crash investigations typically find that accidents result from multiple contributing factors, rather than a single cause.

Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost.

Firefighters and investigators examine the site, Monday, March 23, 2026, where an Air Canada jet came to rest after colliding with a Port Authority firetruck at LaGuardia Airport, after landing Sunday night in New York. via Associated Press

Fire Truck Was Cleared To Cross Runway

Garcia said the fire truck was responding to a separate United Airlines UAL.O aircraft that had reported an issue with odor. United, along with unions representing U.S. air traffic controllers and Air Canada pilots declined to comment.

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Minutes earlier, air traffic control audio from LiveATC.net indicated that a United flight had declared an emergency due to an odor onboard. Controllers advised the crew that fire trucks were already on site.

News: Large Texas Oil Refinery Explosion Forces Residents To Shelter In Place

A later transmission captured a fire truck being cleared to cross Runway 4 at taxiway Delta, where the collision occurred.

Moments later, according to the ATC audio, a controller can be heard saying: Stop, stop, stop, truck 1 stop, truck 1, stop.

The aircraft struck the fire vehicle at a speed of about 24 miles per hour (39 kph), according to flight-tracking website Flightradar24, which last recorded data at 11:37 p.m. ET (0337 GMT).

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Photos taken by Reuters after the accident showed visible damage to the nose of the plane, which was tilted upward.

News: I Messed Up: Dramatic Audio Captures Moment Truck, Plane Collided

Two unnamed passengers told ABC affiliate WABC of the shock on board, with one describing a friend suffering a broken nose and travelers hitting their heads on the seats ahead.

Global Aerospace leads the airlines all-risks cover for the Air Canada regional aircraft that was damaged, three senior aviation market sources said.

Those sources said Marsh is the broker for the cover. One of the sources said the aircrafts insured hull value was around $10 million.

Flights Canceled, Delays Expected

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it was deploying a team of experts to investigate the incident, while Canadas Transportation Safety Board said it would also send a team to support the investigation. The FAA said the airport was expected to remain shut until 2 p.m. ET (1800 GMT) on Monday.

Video: LaGuardia Airport Collision Air Traffic Control Audio

Air Canada, the countrys largest carrier, said its teams and those from Jazz Aviation are also heading to the site.

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The closure of one of New Yorks busiest airports will add to travel disruption. Absences among transportation security workers have soared, leading to lengthy lines for passengers at major U.S. airports.

On Monday, hundreds of ICE agents were ordered to deploy to airports to help fill TSA staffing gaps.

About 546 flights had been canceled at the airport so far on Monday, according to tracking website FlightAware.

LaGuardia served more than 30 million annual passengers in 2025, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and hosts a wide range of U.S. carriers.

An Air Canada Express CRJ-900 sits on the runway at LaGuardia Airport on March 23, 2026. The pilot and co-pilot of the Air Canada jetliner were pronounced dead after their aircraft collided with a Port Authority truck on the runway in Queens, New York City on Sunday, March 22, 2026. New York Daily News via Getty Images

Recent Incidents Pressure Aviation System

The FAA recorded 97 runway incursions in January this year, compared with 133 in the same period last year.

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A bipartisan group of U.S. House lawmakers last month proposed legislation to address 50 aviation safety recommendations issued after a year-long investigation into the January 2025 collision between an American Airlines AAL.O regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter that killed 67 people.

News: Newark Air Traffic Control Radar Goes Down AGAIN

Last year alsosaw a UPS UPS.N cargo plane crash shortly after takeoff in Louisville, Kentucky, killing seven and injuring 11 on the ground.

Canadian Transport Minister Steve MacKinnon said the countrys government was working closely with U.S. authorities as they investigate this incident, and we are following developments closely.

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(Reporting by Gursimran Kaur, Shubham Kalia, Abu Sultan, Preetika Parashuraman and Ruchika Khanna in Bengaluru, Bing Guan in New York, Allison Lampert in Montreal and David Shepardson in Washington; Additional reporting by Joanna Plucinska and Susan Heavey; Editing by Jamie Freed, Joe Bavier and Louise Heavens)

Emergency crews respond to an Air Canada Express plane on the tarmac after the plane collided with a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in the Queens borough of New York, US, on Monday, March 23, 2026. An Air Canada Express plane with 76 people aboard collided with a fire truck shortly after landing at New York's LaGuardia Airport late Sunday, killing the two pilots. Bloomberg via Getty Images

An Air Canada jet and Port Authority fire truck sit on the runway at LaGuardia Airport, Monday, March 23, 2026, after colliding with each other after the Jet landed Sunday night in New York. via Associated Press

U.S. Updates

Read the original on HuffPost
A Gwinnett County mother traveled to Washington on Thursday to push for a federal law targeting xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer dealers now mix into street drugs.

Frederica Roberson lost her son Marquavies in Gwinnett County in 2025. She says he thought he was buying a Percocet. Police told her the pills were laced with fentanyl and xylazine.

A lot of people dont know what this is really doing to our families, Roberson said.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Xylazine is a veterinary tranquilizer that dealers now mix into fentanyl and heroin. It causes open wounds that dont heal and does not respond to Narcan. Roberson says she found out four months later, at a court hearing, that her sons death involved xylazine.

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Cant even explain why would somebody want to put that into any type of substance when its for animals, she said.

Roberson founded the Marquavies Bernard Broughton Foundation after his death. On Thursday, she was among about 20 parents invited to Washington, where senators debated the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, a bill that would classify xylazine as a controlled substance and allow the DEA to track where it is made and sold.

The bill could be up for a full Senate vote as early as this week. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) addressed the families directly.

I want to let everyone who shared their painful story to us know we hear you, Grassley said.

Roberson says being in that room is what change looks like.

So another parent will not have to bury their child, she said.

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CAIRO, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian spoke by phone with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday and reaffirmed Tehran's commitment to regional cooperation, Iran's Tasnim news agency reported.

Pezeshkian said Iran had not initiated the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel and described defending Iranian territory as a "natural right," according to the report.

He said Tehran remained committed to regional stability, opposed foreign interference, and urged neighboring countries not to allow their territory or facilities to be used for attacks against Iran, warning such actions could fuel further instability.

Pezeshkian attributed disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz to the conflict, saying Iran had taken steps to ensure maritime security and would facilitate passage for vessels not linked to the "aggressors."

Sharif expressed concern over the escalation and offered condolences over reported casualties, according to Tasnim. He called for collective efforts, particularly among Muslim-majority countries, to ease tensions and restore stability. Sharif said Pakistan supported Iran's right to self-defense and reaffirmed Islamabad's backing for the Iranian government and people, Tasnim reported.

Pakistani media separately quoted Sharif as expressing solidarity with the Iranian people, offering condolences for those killed and wishing a swift recovery for the injured. 
Police are asking for the publics help in locating a New Hampshire man who is wanted on sex assault and child endangerment charges.

Joshua Landeck, 42, of Manchester, is wanted for the following charges: felonious sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child, and violation of a domestic violence protection order, police said in a statement on Monday.

Earlier this year, police received a report that Landeck had sexually assaulted a child in his care.

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The current charges he is facing resulted from that investigation, police said.

Anyone who may know Landecks whereabouts is urged to contact Manchester Police at 603-668-8711.

Anonymous tips can be submitted through Manchester Crimeline at 603-624-4040.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Hawaii is not a place most people associate with blizzard conditions. This weekend, it is.

The National Weather Service office in Honolulu has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Big Island summits above 12,000 feet, in effect until 6 a.m. Monday. A Kona Low pressure system moving through the islands is producing heavy snow at the higher elevations of Hawaii Island, with total accumulations of up to 10 inches possible and wind gusts reaching 60 mph or higher, which is enough to create blizzard conditions at times.

"Travel could be very difficult to impossible," the National Weather Service warned. "Blowing snow will significantly reduce visibility at times, with periods of zero visibility. Any travel plans to the summits should be postponed until the threat diminishes."

View From Mauna Kea Observatories The Summit Of Mauna Kea On The Island Of Hawaii Hosts The World's Largest Astronomical Observatory; Mauna Kea Hawaii United States Of America. (Photo by: Stuart Westmorland/Design Pics Editorial/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

What Is a Kona Low  and Why Does It Bring Snow to Hawaii?

Most people are surprised to learn that it snows in Hawaii at all, but the islands' volcanic peaks are among the highest points in the Pacific, with Mauna Kea on the Big Island reaching 13,803 feet. At that elevation, winter storms regularly bring snow.

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A Kona Low gets its name from the wind shift it creates over the islands. Hawaii is normally dominated by trade winds blowing in from the northeast. When a low pressure system moves over the islands, it reverses that flow  drawing abundant moisture up from the warm tropical waters below and wringing it out against the steep mountain terrain. At lower elevations, that means catastrophic flooding rains. At the summits, it means snow.

This is the second consecutive Kona Low to impact the Hawaiian Islands, following a system that also brought heavy snow and widespread flooding earlier this month.

As the current system exits the area, high pressure is expected to build Monday, allowing trade winds to return and giving the islands a chance to recover through the remainder of the week.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Mar 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Hundreds of children are in hospital unnecessarily on any given day across England because they lack the necessary support to return home, a report has found.

The discharge delays mean young patients are missing out on vital childhood activities, while also creating bed shortages for other children in need of care.

The Childrens Commissioners report, published on Monday, which includes new analysis of NHS England data, found more than 260,000 youngsters spent three or more weeks of their childhood in hospital and 1,300 were there for more than a year.

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Medical advancements have meant more children with complex or life-limiting conditions can live longer, but community services such as childrens social care, housing, education and home nursing have not kept pace, the report said.

For all the debate and attention given to hospitals, waiting times and social care, children are rarely mentioned, Dame Rachel de Souza said.

Childhood is a short and precious time  so when a child spends months or even years confined to a hospital ward, not because they are too unwell to leave but because the right community support cannot be found, the system has failed.

Dame Rachel de Souza said children are rarely mentioned in the debate around hospital care (PA)

This failure is partly driven by a lack of good data, she said.

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The NHS does not consistently record how many youngsters are medically fit to leave hospital but remain there as a result of factors external to the health service, the report said.

One hospital that documents that data found five per cent of children on its ward in June 2025 were medically able to leave but could not.

My work shows a hidden crisis, as services do not definitively know how many children are stuck, waiting to be discharged, how long they wait, or how many days worth of beds could be saved and offered to children who truly need to be there, the commissioner said.

The report found more than 14,000 children have spent more than 10 per cent of their younger years in hospital, while more than 400 have spent half their lives there.

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Ethnic minorities and children from deprived backgrounds were disproportionately likely to experience prolonged stays in hospital, it said.

The lack of beds also affected elective and emergency admissions, the report added.

Multiple factors were found to delay children from leaving facilities, including long waits to secure community care packages, often caused by funding disputes between health and social care.

Multiple factors were found to delay children from leaving facilities (PA)

There was a severe shortage of childrens social care placements, as well as inconsistent access to community care, nursing, palliative care and therapeutic services.

Suitable housing for families was found to be lacking and there were delays to adaptations and equipment needed for youngsters to safely live at home.

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Long hospital stays can mean families have to travel between home and medical facilities, take time off work, and balance caring for other children while navigating challenging support systems.

Dame Rachel called on the government to create a coordinated method to support children with complex needs outside hospitals.

She recommended a cross-government system to bring together health, social care and education.

It could ensure support is available at home or that there is a specialist placement for those who cannot safely return home.

She also suggested a national plan to expand home nursing and care for children, so that families can rely on that support consistently.

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Guaranteed access to palliative and end-of-life care for children was also recommended, as well as a boost to paid leave for parents of sick children.

Research may have discovered why childrens cancer survival rates vary across Europe (Getty/iStock)

Nick Carroll, chief executive of Together for Short Lives charity, said: Sadly, Dame Rachels findings reflect what Together for Short Lives has heard from families for some time: despite the incredible support that NHS and voluntary sector childrens palliative care services provide, too many families do not get the choice to access it at home or at a childrens hospice.

This is due to workforce shortages, fragile funding and ministers not holding local NHS bodies to account for planning services which meet best practice standards.

The building of Cambridge Childrens Hospital is underway and it will be the east of Englands first specialist childrens hospital.

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In light of the report, hospital leaders said: We need a fundamentally different approach, one that connects hospital specialists with community teams, social care and schools from the start.

Professor Isobel Heyman, its clinical co-lead for mental health, and Dr Rob Heuschkel, the clinical lead for physical health, said in a joint statement: (The hospital) will include an embedded research institute focused on early intervention, and a hospital school working with childrens own schools to keep education on track, as well as extending specialist support into communities through stronger links with social care and home nursing.

Our ambition is not just to transform care locally  but to create a national model for how childrens services work together beyond hospital walls.

The children included in the data had been admitted to hospital and were 17 years old and younger on November 30 2024.

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It included the hospital stays of children born and who died in hospital.

Interviews were also carried out between June and December 2025 with parents of children with complex needs, and health and childrens social care professionals.

It also used previously unpublished data on discharge delays from five hospitals.
(Corrects spelling of opposition in second bullet point)

By Jessie Pang

HONG KONG, March 23 (Reuters) - Hong Kong police can now demand that people suspected of breaching the city's national security law provide mobile phone or computer passwords in a further crackdown on dissent.

Refusing to comply could lead to up to one year's jail and a fine of up to HK$100,000 ($12,773) while providing false or misleading information could bring up to three years' imprisonment and a fine of up to HK$500,000.

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The city government on Monday gazetted the new amendments to the implementation rules of the national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020, using powers to bypass Hong Kong's legislature.

Officials will brief lawmakers on Tuesday, a government statement said.

The sweeping law punishes acts, including subversion and collusion with foreign forces, with up to life imprisonment.

It sparked criticism from Western governments and rights groups but Beijing and Hong Kong officials said it was needed to restore stability after the city was rocked by months of pro-democracy protests in 2019.

The new amendments empower police to require a person under investigation suspected of endangering national security to provide any password or decryption method for electronic devices and to provide the police "any reasonable and necessary information or assistance."

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CUSTOMS POWERS

The new amendments also empower customs officers to seize items that are deemed to have "seditious intention", regardless of whether any person has been arrested for an offence endangering national security because of the items.

Urania Chiu, a law lecturer in the UK researching Hong Kong, said the new provisions interfered with fundamental liberties, including the privacy of communication and the right to a fair trial.

"The sweeping powers given to law enforcement officers without any need for judicial authorisation are grossly disproportionate to any legitimate aim the bylaw purports to achieve," Chiu said.

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A Hong Kong government spokesperson said the amended rules conform to the city's miniconstitution, the Basic Law, and its human rights provisions, and "will not affect the lives of the general public or the normal operation of institutions and organisations".

According to the Security Bureau, a total of 386 people have been arrested for national security crimes so far, with 176 people and four companies convicted.

Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai was sentenced to a 20-year jail term in February for collusion with foreign forces and sedition, sparking international criticism.

($1 = 7.8293 Hong Kong dollars)

(Reporting by Jessie Pang; Editing by Greg Torode and Andrew Cawthorne)
A Houston hair stylist has gone viral with TikTok posts about being fat-shamed by Southwest Airlines employees at Kansas City International Airport, adding to ongoing customer backlash online over the airlines new customers of size policy.

The incident occurred before 7 a.m. on March 11 when Kenny Slack was checking in at the Southwest counter. He has posted three TikToks about it  including this week  attracting millions of views and attention from national and international media.

He says Southwest employees, in front of other passengers, tried to make him buy an additional seat that he doesnt need after losing more than 60 pounds.

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I fly so much that sometimes I have to take different airlines depending on where Im flying to, and Ive never had a problem with any other airline at any other time, including Southwest up until this point, Slack told The Star this week after a trip to Los Angeles.

And Ive also had flights that were booked for work prior to this incident that were on Southwest  I had to take one of those yesterday  and I had zero incidents with anyone saying anything to me there either.

Slack is an educator for a global hair-color company and had just spent a couple of days with hair stylists in Manhattan, Kansas. A stylist of 19 years, he flies frequently for his teaching job, always as a priority flyer with special perks.

I actually usually go through Wichita because I teach in Salina and Hays, too, he said. But I realized KCI was a little closer to Manhattan and its also a nicer drive to Manhattan than it is from Wichita.

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I havent actually flown in or out of KCI in probably, I want to say, more than five years. The last time I was in KCI it was the old airport.

He said he pre-tagged his bag at a kiosk, then got in the priority check-in line. He handed his bag to the Southwest employee behind the counter. She looked at my ID and looked at her computer and looked at me and said, I think Im going to need you to purchase an extra seat, he said.

I told her, Well, I dont think Im going to need to do that at all, thank you. And she looked at her monitor and said Youve had extra seats in the past, so Im going to need you to purchase an extra seat.

I said, Yeah I know, I used to have extra seats in the past. If you can see my flight history then youll know I havent had an extra seat in quite some time. You know it is possible for people to lose weight and their body types to change.

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Slack said hes been on a weight-loss journey since suffering a health scare last year. In his first TikTok about the incident, he said, I know Im a hefty guy, but Ive lost over 60 pounds since Christmas.

He told The Star that the employee went to get a manager.

And the manager tried to argue the same argument, that Ive had extra seats in the past and I said, Yes, when I was well over 400 pounds and I needed the space, thats when I utilized Southwests extra seat policy. But thats not the case anymore, he said.

And she said, Are you sure you can fit in the chair with both armrests down? And I said, Yes, Im 100% sure I can do that. And then she said, Well, Im just not sure. I think we need to do this.

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Slack said he pointed out that he hadnt purchased an extra seat for the flight from Houston to Kansas City and hasnt used an extra seat all year.

He had seen the complaints online about the customers of size policy change but didnt worry because he was certain it wouldnt affect him as a priority flyer. The new policy went into effect in January.

One significant difference: Passengers can no longer request an extra seat at the airport for free.

We began communicating changes to our policy  which is in line with industry standards  almost a year ago and continued reiterating those changes directly to customers throughout the summer, Southwest said in a statement to The Star.

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Our policy is well-defined on our website and has instructions on how to book a second seat at booking.

The policy states that passengers who encroach upon the neighboring seat(s) must purchase the number of seats needed, and should do that before they travel to make sure seats are available.

The armrest is considered to be the definitive boundary between seats ... Southwest may determine, in its sole discretion, that an additional seat is necessary for safety purposes.

Under the old rules, Southwest passengers could proactively buy an extra seat and get a refund for the second ticket later, or ask for an extra seat at the airport if they were avaiable. Now they only qualify for a refund if their fare class is not full.

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If passengers dont reserve adjacent seats before they get to the airport and adjacent seats are not available, theyll be rebooked on another flight.

And, if the airline decides after a passenger is on the plane that they need an extra seat, they can be asked to leave the plane and get booked for another flight that has enough seats.

I had heard about the new policy  I mean, it wasnt really a new policy, it was just something where they werent giving the seats away for free anymore, Slack said.

And I didnt see a problem with it at the time because I fly so dang much (that) all of the things they were starting to charge people for, I get for free. I dont pay for my checked bags, I dont pay to be up in the extra legroom seats, I dont pay for any of the upgrades. I get it all because I fly so frequently. So, all the things people were yelling about with Southwest werent bugging me.

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But the way that they are allowing them to back the employees decision to discriminate against a customer at the gate is what is throwing me for a loop.

His beef isnt with the policy, but how the employees tried to enforce it. He said that as he emphasized that he had flown to Kansas City without needing an extra seat, the manager looked at me and said, Well, Im just really concerned about the level of comfortability of the people sitting next to you.

I looked her dead in the face and said, How about my level of comfortability with us having this kind of a conversation in front of this line of people trying to check their bags?

In his first TikTok he complained: I have never run into this level of just pure audacity in ... my ... life.

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So she said she was going to go ahead and allow me to go through security without purchasing the seat, but she was going to have to call the gate attendant and let them know that if I have any issues when I get on the plane that Ill have to deplane or purchase an extra seat, Slack told The Star.

Thats when I stepped away from the counter. I was on the phone with my brother at the time, thats why I didnt record the interaction. But I immediately stepped away from the counter and made the video instantly.

Then I saved it and sat on the video until I was back home in Houston, and thats when I decided to upload it.

In the second of his three TikToks, he told viewers we need to work on Southwest doing better because Southwest, you need to do better.

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He reported that he got on the flight out of KCI without buying an extra seat because I advocated for myself. I had a lovely time with the person sitting next to me where both of us had plenty of space.

Losing more than 60 pounds in 12 weeks, he said in the video, is no small feat. So to be blatantly fat-shamed at the counter in front of people, even after all that, when I never even needed an extra seat before, was just insane.

I understand that theres a time and a place for some of these policies and some people might need certain acccomodations, but the training needs to be better, the way they handle things needs to be better and they need to figure out how to do this without making people so ashamed and vulnerable and miserable in front of everyone else.

Ive seen so many people in my comments saying I am not the only one that theyve seen this happen to, or Im the first gentleman theyve seen this happen to ...

But again, Southwest, you really need to do better because discrimination and fat-shaming and just allowing your gate attendant or your baggage-check attendant employees to throw their opinions out, especially when theyre not warranted, is so incorrect.

Slack struck a chord and has been overwhelmed reading thousands of comments on his videos.

This persons take is common: If they are going to have a policy like that, they should have measurable standards and not just someones subjective opinion, the same way they have for carry-on bags.

Said Slack, Theres been plenty of other videos that have been tagged of this happening to other people and even people who have already prepurchased the extra seat for themselves and then getting reassigned with different seats.

So this policy right now is kind of out of control, being left up to the discretion of employees who arent trained on how to handle it properly. Theres been so much outrage of similar things happening, so I know that Im not just an isolated incident. I just happen to be the one that went super-viral.

Slack did not reach out to Southwest directly, but the airline sent him an email this week, he said.

We ask customers who may need an extra seat to let us know in advance of their day of travel so we can do our best to accommodate their needs, a Southwest spokesperson said to The Star via email.

Our goal is always to provide a comfortable experience for everyone on board; however, with assigned seating, adjacent seats may sometimes already be occupied.

In this case, we have reached out directly to the customers involved to better understand their experience and ensure we address any concerns with the appropriate discretion.

Slack was not impressed by his email from the airline, in which he said Southwest asked his advice for handling situations like this.

You want me as one of your plus-sized customers to help you troubleshoot how to handle this in the future so you dont get more bad PR? he said. Im sorry, that is not my fricking job. That was your job when you rolled out this policy and wanted to adhere to it so strictly, so you figure it out.

I guess I wish them the best, in a way. I know that Im not going to be able to avoid traveling on Southwest 100% from here on out, but I am going to do my best to avoid traveling on them when I can.
CHICAGO  The federal government has deployed scores of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to OHare International Airport in the midst of an ongoing partial government shutdown, and agents were seen Monday milling around the airport terminals.

In Terminal 1, agents stood in pairs at each passenger exit. They appeared to be unoccupied, standing and chatting as passengers walked by them. Most wore medical face masks. All wore bulletproof tactical vests.

Brad Hackney looked confused when he passed them after a flight from Lexington, Kentucky.

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They dont belong here, he said. They dont belong stalking people coming off of planes, going into the airports. Theres no reason for any American to feel threatened traveling throughout the United States. And thats what they did. Its just a piece of intimidation.

Hackney, 47, said the agency has targeted Latinos and argued that airports should be like a store, an off-limits spots for the agents.

Its pointless, he said. Its just to cause fear and threat to people.

But Luis Lannaro was unbothered as he came out the same exit from Minneapolis.

Honestly, I dont care, as long as they help and keep the line short, the Brazilian tourist said before a five-hour stop in Chicago.

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In a statement, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said DHS planned to deploy about 75 ICE officers to the citys largest airport beginning on Monday. Those agents would work across multiple shifts, Johnson said. The mayor said no ICE agents were expected at Midway International Airport at this time.

The move comes as more than 50,000 TSA workers  who, like ICE agents, are under the purview of the Department of Homeland Security  have worked without pay for more than five weeks during a partial government shutdown, according to their union, the American Federation of Government Employees.

That means air travelers throughout the U.S. have faced lengthy security lines as TSA employees call out rather than work without a paycheck.

At OHare, the mayors office said travelers have not seen significant delays, and on Monday morning, security lines were not long and appeared to be moving at a normal pace.

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DHS says more than 400 TSA officers have quit entirely. Trump said over the weekend he would order ICE agents into U.S. airports unless Democrats agreed to fund DHS.

Chicagos mayor said he had concerns about the deployment of ICE agents at the airport and said his office would closely monitor their deployment to ensure that people, no matter their immigration status, can travel to and from Chicago safely and without harassment from the federal government.

In Chicago, were going to keep standing on transparency, dignity, and the right to move freely without threat and intimidation by ICE agents, he said.

The national president of the TSA workers union, Everett Kelley of the AFGE, has slammed the decision to use ICE agents in airports, saying they are not trained or certified in aviation security.

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Johnson said that according to DHS, ICE agents will be performing non-screening support functions at OHare.

Those tasks include monitoring exit lanes, making routine passenger announcements (such as reminding travelers to remove liquids from their bags), assisting with queue management, and related activities intended to allow TSA officers to remain focused on passenger and baggage screening, Johnson said. Meanwhile, local TSA agents are struggling, said Darrell English, the president of the AFGE Local 777, which represents TSA workers at both OHare and Midway airports.

Some are sleeping out of their cars because they dont have enough fuel to get back and forth to and from work, English said. And the rubber will really hit the road April 1, when rent and mortgage is due again, the union president said. Thats when some TSA workers will have to make a drastic decision about whether to stay with their jobs, he said.

Democrats have pledged not to fund DHS unless changes are made to federal immigration enforcement after federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti and Renee Good during the administrations immigration crackdown in Minnesota earlier this year.

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That operation followed the administrations fall crackdown in Chicago, during which immigration agents fatally shot a man in Franklin Park.

Republicans have blamed Democrats for the shutdown, despite an effort by Democrats over the weekend to take up legislation that would pay TSA workers. Republicans argued that legislators need to fund all parts of DHS, not just the TSA.

Lauren Bis, the acting assistant secretary for public affairs at DHS, accused Democrats of putting the safety, dependability, and ease of our air travel at risk, in a statement Monday.

President Trump is taking action to deploy hundreds of ICE officers, that are currently funded by Congress, to airports being adversely impacted, Bis said.

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The TSA said almost 12% of TSA agents had called out on Sunday, the highest callout rate of the shutdown. The feds provided callout rates for nine U.S. airports that saw high levels of absences, including Atlantas Hartsfield-Jackson and New Orleans Louis Armstrong International Airports, both of which saw callout rates higher than 40%.

TSA declined to provide Sunday callout percentages for OHare and Midway, confirming that Chicagos airports were not among the top for callouts that day.

Its not the first time the feds have beset OHare with federal immigration agents. During Operation Midway Blitz, Border Patrol agents repeatedly descended on a staging lot for rideshare drivers just outside the airport, arresting dozens of people throughout the fall.

The city  which owns the parking lot  attempted to push back against the immigration crackdown there, but its efforts proved futile as Border Patrol agents showed up again and again to arrest gig drivers.

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(The Chicago Tribunes Alice Yin contributed to this story.)

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Federal immigration officers appeared at security checkpoints across major U.S. airports Monday, including Newark Liberty, as President Donald Trump moved to supplement Transportation Security Administration staff during a government shutdown that has caused extended wait times for travelers.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were seen patrolling at Newark on Monday morning.

The deployment comes as TSA employees go another week without pay amid the ongoing federal shutdown over U.S. Department of Homeland Security funding.

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Some fear the move to deploy federal immigration agents will only escalate tensions.

At a press conference at Newark Airport Monday afternoon, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., put the blame squarely on Trump and said constituents have contacted him expressing those exact fears.

Booker contrasted the reduced training the ICE agents now receive to the months of specialized training TSA agents get.

Most Americans know that ICE is reckless and out of control. That is an insult to TSA workers and it doesnt actually help them, Booker said.

It creates more chaos and confusion at our airports.

He also noted the frustration of many travelers who are stuck in hours-long lines.

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Mondays deployments of ICE agents came as hundreds of thousands of Homeland Security workers, including from the TSA, have worked without pay since Congress failed to renew DHS funding last month.

Thats led many TSA agents to call in sick  or even quit their jobs  as financial strains pile up. The staffing shortages have forced some airports to close checkpoints at times, with wait times swinging dramatically for travelers.

TSA callout rates climbed over the weekend. Nationwide on Sunday, 11.8% of TSA agents missed work  the highest rate of the shutdown so far  with more than 3,450 officers calling out, according to DHS.

So far, 400 TSA officers have quit, said Lauren Bis, acting assistant U.S. Homeland Security secretary, in what she called a pointless, reckless shut down of our homeland security workforce.

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She declined to say how many ICE agents were on duty at the bi-state airports run by the Port Authority on Monday.

For operational security reasons, we are not going to confirm the locations of our officers, she said.

Port Authority officials confirmed that ICE agents were on duty in Newark, JFK and LaGuardia airport, after it reopened Monday afternoon.

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, Bis said. This will help bolster TSA efforts to keep our skies safe and minimize air travel disruptions.

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The Trump administration announced over the weekend that it would be deploying federal immigration officers at TSA checkpoints, unless Democrats agreed to fund the DHS.

Funding for the department lapsed Feb. 14, as Democrats refused to fund ICE as well as Customs and Border Protection without changes to their operations in the wake of the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis.

Democrats have proposed a bill that would fund the TSA, the Coast Guard and FEMA which has been stalled by Republicans, Booker said.

This is not complicated, Booker said. Pay TSA and get ICE the hell out of our airports.

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Bis said Trump is using every tool available to help American travelers who are facing hours long lines at airports across the countryespecially during this spring break and holiday season that is very important for many American families."

Whether ICE will have a more sweeping role beyond watching long lines and patrolling terminals has yet to be seen. On Sunday, Trump said federal immigration officers could assist TSA by guarding exit lanes or checking passenger IDs. The administration signaled the deployments would be limited to large airports with the longest wait times.

Posted TSA security wait times at Newark Airport Terminal A were less than 15 minutes and under 10 minutes for frequent travelers who use the TSAs Pre-Check program on Monday afternoon.

In a statement over the weekend, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill implored Trump and Washington Republicans to do their jobs and fund TSA.

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Every time Trump gets involved, he creates chaos for the American people. This latest proposal  deploying ICE agents to airports  is no different, the Democratic governor said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

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Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents violently arrested a woman at an airport just one day after President Donald Trump called for them to help fill TSA staffing gaps.

Video of the incident on Sunday night showed two plainclothes agents dragging a sobbing woman away inside a boarding area of San Francisco International Airport. The reason for her arrest was not officially stated, and the agents refused to identify themselves or show an official badge. Meanwhile, airport authorities surrounded the agents to protect them while they kidnapped the womanas a young girl traveling with her stood behind them crying during the arrest.

Additional raw footage from new angle. 



This woman is U.S. citizen traveling with her young daughteraccording to witness who filmed video.



She could not prove her citizenship to satisfaction of the agentsand was violently taken into ICE custody.



San Francisco Airport pic.twitter.com/d1WXpZwIm3  LongTimeFirstTime (@LongTimeHistory) March 23, 2026

I dont know who you are! one bystander shouted. You could be someone kidnapping her! yelled another.

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Airport spokesman Doug Yakel insisted that the violent arrest had no relation to Trumps directive.

We understand federal officers were transporting two individuals on an outbound flight when this incident occurred, he wrote in an email, perhaps including the little girl. We believe this is an isolated incident and have no reason to suspect broader enforcement action at SFO.... We were not involved in or notified in advance of this incident. Airport operations continued without disruption, and there was no impact to flights or passenger processing.

I flew into San Francisco at 10pm last night & we got stuck on the tarmac for 30 minutes because of a security issue. Cant imagine it was anything other than this, Utah State Senator Nate Blouin wrote on X. Trump making things worse for travelers to target our neighbors. Gas prices up. Global safety down. Idiotic.

Trump on Monday encouraged ICE agents to continue arresting people while deployed inside airports. Theyre now able to arrest illegals as they come into the country, Trump said. Its very fertile territory.

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Even if this is an isolated event that has nothing to do with Trumps ICE directive, it makes the fear attached to it a reality.

ICE commented on X Monday afternoon and corroborated Yakels statement that the event wasnt connected to Trumps directive.



This arrest of ILLEGAL ALIENS occurred yesterday on March 22, 2026  BEFORE ICE officers were deployed to airports to bolster TSA efforts, DHS posted. ICE officers arrested Angelina Lopez-Jimenez and Wendy Godinez-Lopez at the San Francisco International Airport. These illegal aliens had a final removal order of removal from an immigration judge since 2019. While being escorted to the international terminal for processing, Lopez-Jimenez attempted to flee and resisted law enforcement officers. ICE is working as quickly as possible to repatriate the family unit to their home country of Guatemala.

But even if this is an isolated event that has nothing to do with Trumps ICE directive, it makes the fear attached to it a reality.

This story has been updated.
If U.S> Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents start assisting TSA at Newark Liberty International Airport, they need to be trained for the role, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said Sunday evening.

President Donald Trump announced in a Truth Social post Sunday that ICE agents will be deployed at airports starting Monday. His administration did not give specifics.

They will do so, 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 wrote.

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The Port Authority did not confirm if ICE agents would be on duty at TSA checkpoints at its airports, including Newark Liberty.

Decisions regarding the deployment and use of federal personnel resources, including ICE officers, rest with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, a Port Authority spokesperson said.

The Port Authority expects that any such personnel assigned to assist with passenger processing functions will be appropriately trained and focused on supporting screening operations, consistent with maintaining the safety, integrity, and efficiency of the security process at our airports and protecting the flying public.

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill was more blunt.

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Every time Donald Trump gets involved, he creates chaos for the American people. This latest proposal is no different. Trumps ICE has a track record of making communities less safe, and sending untrained ICE agents to staff our airports is not an acceptable solution. Instead, its time for Donald Trump and Washington Republicans to do their jobs and fund TSA, the Democratic governor said in a statement.

Republicans refused to allow a bill proposed by Democrats to fund the TSA, U.S. Coast Guard and Federal Emergency Management Agency to come to a vote on Saturday.

U.S. Senate Republicans defeated a proposal to suspend senate rules and allow the bill to advance through the Rules Committee. That failed by a 41-49 party line vote, the Hill reported.

Port Authority officials said the agency has been monitoring wait times at airport security checkpoints during the week.

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Wait times werent as bad at authority airports last week as they were at other airports in the nation. The authority stopped posting security line wait times on its airport websites as of Sunday evening.

TSA employees are on the verge of missing a second paycheck because of the ongoing 43-day federal shutdown over Department of Homeland Security funding.

The head of the federal workers union that represents TSA officers criticized Trumps solution saying ICE agents arent qualified to do screeners jobs.

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, said Everett Kelley, American Federation of Government Employees national president. ICE agents are not trained or certified in aviation security.

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Kelley said TSA officers spend months learning to detect explosives, weapons, and threats designed to evade detection at checkpoints.

Those skills require specialized instruction, hands-on practice, and ongoing recertification, he said.

You cannot improvise that. Putting untrained personnel at security checkpoints does not fill a gap. It creates one, he said. Congress has the power to fund TSA today. Its time for them to stop playing politics and do their jobs.

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LUSAKA, March 23 (Xinhua) -- African countries could learn from China's experience in long-term development planning to help achieve stability in their development agendas, a Zambian expert said Monday.

Johnstone Chikwanda, an energy expert and business consultant in Zambia, told Xinhua that China's long-term development planning contributed to its consistency in policies, which holds lessons for African countries.

Commenting on China's recently approved 15th Five-Year Plan, Chikwanda said China's development leap over the past decades was the result of meticulous long-term planning and its consistency and determination in pursuing the development agenda have ensured effective implementation of the plans.

He expressed optimism about China's goal of becoming a global innovation powerhouse, saying that the country has the resources and research facilities to reach the goal.

He further noted that China's technological advancement will benefit the African continent due to their strong partnership. 
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will begin working at airports today, March 23, U.S. President Donald Trump announced recently.

Many government officials, such as New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, have pushed back against idea of ICE agents at airports. They cited safety concerns.

Every time Trump gets involved, he creates chaos for the American people, Sherrill wrote in a social media post. This latest proposal  deploying ICE agents to airports  is no different. Trumps ICE has a track record of making communities less safe, and sending untrained ICE agents to staff our airports is not an acceptable solution.

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Recent headlines: Atlantic City mayor calls county prosecutor a 'punk' after tort filing

This decision comes as a response to the continued partial government shutdown, which has caused a loss of funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and a cutback in TSA workers at numerous airports, including Philadelphia International Airport.

PHL wait times

Philadelphia International Airport has closed three of its six security checkpoints in recent weeks.

The decision came in order to optimize operations at other checkpoints, as TSA employees continue to work without pay.

With half of the TSA terminals closed, many travelers have noted long wait times and disorder at the airport.

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There's been no announcement about when the three terminals will reopen.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents arrive to work at William P. Hobby Airport in Houston, Texas, on March 10, 2026.

Are there ICE agents at Philadelphia International Airport?

According to a Trump post on Truth Social, ICE will begin working at airports today, Monday, March 23.

As of 8:30 a.m. Monday, there had been no confirmation of which airports will receive ICE agents.

I look forward to moving ICE in on Monday, and have already told them to, GET READY, Trump said in the Truth Social post. NO MORE WAITING, NO MORE GAMES!

Risha Inaganti writes about trending topics across South Jersey for the Courier-Post. If you have a story she should tell, email her at rinaganti@usatodayco.com. Subscribe to stay up to date on the news you need.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Will Trump's plan to support TSA bring ICE to Philadelphia Airport?
This is the first time that in the middle of a critical invasion - in this case against Hezbollah in Lebanon - IDF soldiers were diverted to what is viewed as a less dangerous front.

In a stunning move mid-war, the IDF on Monday announced that it is diverting forces from the invasion of Lebanon to the West Bank to rein in Jewish violence against Palestinians in recent weeks.

In the past, there were times when the critical northern and southern fronts were quiet, and more soldiers were sent to Judea and Samaria to bring Palestinian terror under control.

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However, this is the first time during a critical invasion  in this case, against Hezbollah in Lebanon  that IDF soldiers were diverted to what is viewed as a less dangerous front in the West Bank. This is because Jewish violence against Palestinians has hit such large volumes that IDF Central Command Chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth did not believe he had sufficient forces to restore order.

According to IDF sources, the decision required special approval from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

To obtain approval, multiple IDF commanders based in Judea and Samaria pleaded with Netanyahu to grant them more manpower to handle the large-scale problem.

Mourners carry the body of a Palestinian reportedly killed by an Israeli settler, near Hebron in the West Bank, March 8, 2026 (credit: REUTERS/MUSSA QAWASMA)

Netanyahu taken little action to reduce Jewish violence

Currently, Netanyahu has not made a public statement about the issue.

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In fact, during his current term, Netanyahu has hardly made any public moves to reduce Jewish violence against Palestinians; he has only done so when pressured by top American officials in the Biden or Trump administrations.

Defense Minister Israel Katz has said even less about the issue, though his predecessors would generally condemn such violence when requested by IDF Central Command.

Bluth has said that the violence was caused by a mere 200-300 anarchists. Despite this, Bluths thousands of soldiers, whose primary mission is security for Jewish settlements and stifling Palestinian terror, have failed to stop the recent spread and growth of Jewish violence against Palestinians.

Soldiers preemptively deployed

On Sunday night, The Jerusalem Post was told by IDF sources that they had preemptively deployed soldiers in areas designed to prevent Jewish extremists from being able to attack Palestinians, and yet those forces still failed in that mission.

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There were dozens of anti-Palestinian incidents on Sunday night, with the IDF acknowledging some of the incidents and its inability to prevent them from occurring.

IDF sources have also made it clear that they feel unable to put down the wave of Jewish violence against Palestinians without the full support of the police, the Shin Bet, the courts, and the government.

Last week, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir said that terror incidents in the West Bank were among the lowest seen in the past year, while warning that Jewish nationalist crime against Palestinians by a threatening minority from within was harming Israels security during the war.

While Zamir credited the offensive and professional activity of the Central Command, he noted that commanders first duty is to continue maintaining a high level of alertness, strong protection of communities, and a determined and uncompromising war on terror, including Jewish violence against Palestinians.

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He called on state authorities to come out against this phenomenon and cut it off before it is too late.

Anyone who thinks these actions help security is mistaken. They are morally and ethically wrong, and they create extraordinary strategic damage to the IDFs efforts, he said.

It cannot be that, during a multi-front war, the IDF is forced to contend with a threatening minority from within, he said. These are rioters who do not represent the settlement movement. On the contrary, they endanger the settlement enterprise, security stability, and our values as a people and as a state.

He also said there was no place in public discourse for statements or incitement against commanders who work every day to eradicate terror and safeguard Israels security.

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Analyzing the timing of the spike in violent Jewish attacks last week, sources said that the Jewish holiday of Purim, in which Jewish Persians fought supporters of the anti-Jewish royal advisor Haman and, in some narratives, against descendants of the biblical Amalekites, may be being used to create a storm.

IDF sources warned that some Jewish religious thinkers have recently published articles to seemingly encourage unruly Jewish youth to take matters into their own hands to solve problems with the Palestinians in the West Bank, just as the IDF has attacked Hamas in Gaza and the Islamic regime in Iran.

The military completely rejects this ideology. The IDF is authorized to fight Iran and Hamas, both of whom are active terror platforms and promoters, whereas the 200-300 Jewish anarchists have been attacking innocent Palestinians.

However, IDF sources told the Post their ability to combat the situation is limited by their mission, the law, and the need for help from law enforcement partners.

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Current IDF officers will not publicly criticize National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvirs impact on the police or Katz, but former IDF officers and former police officials have lambasted them both.

They have slammed Ben-Gvir, stating that he was openly discouraging police from making arrests or investigating Jewish violence against Palestinians.

A family of innocent Palestinians, including two children, was mistakenly killed by Israeli border police on March 14.

Nearly 10 days later, the border police have yet to be questioned.

The Post understands that the department for probing police misconduct believes it has enough evidence to make a decision regarding the conduct of the police in the case (though it is unusual to make such a decision without questioning those involved in a killing), and may render a decision in the coming week or so.

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However, the failure to question the officers involved has been presented as another example of blocking accountability for harm against West Bank Palestinians.

Furthermore, they have blasted Katz for ending the administrative detention of the most violent Jews in January 2025.

They have said that Jewish violence has spiked since then because Katz took away a major tool, which is used more often with Palestinians, to reduce Jewish violence.

Many alternative tools have been tried, such as passing regulations determining that anyone, including Jews wearing a facemask in the West Bank, can be arrested and convicted, as well as increasing restraining orders against travel to the West Bank, and using electronic ankle cuffs to limit and track certain individuals movements.

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Yet, IDF sources said that only three Jewish anarchists have been given electronic ankle cuffs, and even some of those have figured out ways to outsmart the system.

In addition, the Post understands that the courts have been extremely lenient with cases relating to Jewish violence against Palestinians.

Just recently, three people whom the IDF believed were threats and who had evidence against them were released by various court orders.

Moreover, when these people violate restraining orders or house arrest terms, the courts, at worst, just reinstate the same order or house arrest; they do not hand down punishments that might deter further violence.

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In addition, the Post has learned that many such persons have received detailed guidance on how to avoid criminal trouble during interrogation.

Collectively, IDF sources said that only a multi-faceted approach by all arms of law enforcement, the courts, and the political echelon can rein in the problem.

Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.
World leaders have not yet sufficiently understood the dimensions of the energy crisis triggered by the US-Israel war on Iran, according to the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA).

IEA executive director Fatih Birol, who had not talked to the media during the initial weeks of the war, explained on Monday why he broke his silence last week.

"I thought the depth of the problem was not well appreciated by the decision-makers around the world," Birol told journalists at Australia's National Press Club.

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Birol stressed that markets are losing more oil per day than during the the twin oil crises of the 1970s combined.

Meanwhile, market losses in natural gas are nearly twice as high as after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, he added.

This means that the crisis caused by the Iran war already equals "two oil crises and one gas crash put all together."

Birol also took aim at Germany for exiting nuclear power following the Fukushima nuclear disaster of 2011.

He accused the German government of making a major strategic mistake by shutting down its nuclear power plants, claiming that the current situation wouldn't be as bad if Germany were still able to rely on nuclear power.
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)  The role of Israel's hijacking of Irans street cameras in the killing of the countrys supreme leader underscores how surveillance systems are increasingly being targeted by adversaries in wartime.

Hundreds of millions of cameras have been installed above shops, in homes and on street corners across the world, many connected to the internet and poorly secured. Recent advances in artificial intelligence have enabled militaries and intelligence agencies to sift through vast amounts of surveillance footage and identify targets.

On Feb. 28, Israel vividly demonstrated the potential of such systems to be hacked and used against adversaries when Israel tracked down Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei with the help of Tehrans own street cameras - despite repeated warnings that Irans surveillance systems had been compromised, according to interviews and an Associated Press review of leaked data, public statements and news reports.

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The use of hacked surveillance cameras among other intelligence in the operation to kill Khamenei was described to the AP by an intelligence official with knowledge of the operation and another person who was briefed on the operation. Neither was authorized to speak with the media and both shared information on condition of anonymity.

Iran has installed tens of thousands of cameras in its capital in response to waves of protests, most recently in January, when massive nationwide demonstrations ended in a bloody crackdown that killed many thousands of Iranians.

That Tehrans cameras were compromised was no secret: the citys cameras were repeatedly hacked starting in 2021, and last year, a senior Iranian politician warned publicly that cameras had been compromised by Israel, posing a national security threat.

Conor Healy, director of research at surveillance research publication IPVM, said Khameneis killing illustrates a pressing security dilemma for governments seeking to quash dissent.

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The irony is that the infrastructure authoritarian states build to make their rule unassailable may be what makes their leaders most visible to the people trying to kill them, Healy said. Do you trust who is watching?

Warning signs

For years, cybersecurity experts have warned that cameras could be hacked for war.

In 2019, security engineer Paul Marrapese discovered he could easily hack millions of cameras from the comfort of his home office in California.

Despite speaking up repeatedly since, the number of unprotected cameras only continues to grow. A scan of unprotected camera feeds this year turned up nearly three million hits in almost every country in the world, Marrapese told AP, including nearly 2,000 cameras in Iran alone.

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There are millions and millions and millions of these throughout the world, Marrapese said. Many, he added, are trivially easy to hack: Theyre just dumb little things. ... Its fish in a barrel.

Companies have advertised cameras hooked up online, accessible with cellphones, with feeds easily diverted by hackers. Many are installed with minimal security by unsophisticated users who fail to set up passwords or install security patches. Securing cameras takes constant vigilance, but hacking them takes identifying just one exposed vulnerability, such as an outdated system or a generic password like 1234.

Even surveillance systems set up by governments on networks sealed off from the internet are vulnerable: It takes just one insider turncoat to compromise such systems.

Humans are kind of the weakest link, Marrapese said. Theres really only so much you can do.

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Eyal Hulata, Israels former national security adviser and a senior fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, said Israel is under constant cyberattacks from Iran but has so far been able to defend against it.

There is high alert on all cyber fronts, he said.

For years, hacking cameras for war remained theoretical. But in 2023, Hamas hacked surveillance cameras in southern Israel ahead of its Oct. 7 attack, allowing the group to monitor Israeli army patrols and assisting the attack, according to Israeli media. That same year, a Ukrainian official told reporters that Russia attempted to hijack cameras near missile targets, a trend that continued in 2024 when Russians hacked cameras in Kyiv and last year, when they hacked cameras at border crossings.

Experts say advances in AI have allowed militaries to overcome a critical hurdle in weaponizing hacked footage: sifting through huge amounts of video to identify people, vehicles, and other targets, a task that once took teams of analysts weeks or months but can now be done in real time. With a simple keyword search, AI can scan feeds and return results almost immediately.

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It used to be that you could hack the cameras, but humans had to do the real work of figuring out where the person was, said cryptographer and security expert Bruce Schneier. With AI systems ... you can do a lot more automatically.

The despot's dilemma

Irans cameras have been repeatedly hacked over the past few years.

In 2021, an Iranian exile group leaked footage of abuses at Tehrans notorious Evin prison. In 2022, another group claimed it hacked over 5,000 cameras around Tehran, dumping gigabytes of surveillance footage and internal data on a Telegram channel.

Then, during a 12-day war last summer, Israel used Tehrans cameras to track and bomb the location of a meeting of Irans Supreme National Security Council, injuring Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to Iranian lawmakers and an Israeli documentary.

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All the cameras at our intersections are in the hands of Israel, Mahmoud Nabavian, deputy chairman of the Iranian parliaments national security committee, told Iranian media in September. Everything on the internet is in their hands ... if we move, they will find out.

The vulnerabilities have come amid Irans stepped-up use of surveillance cameras after a series of protests roiled the country. Subway cameras, for example, are used to detect when women dont don the countrys mandatory hijab, or headscarf, using facial recognition to identify violators.

But data collected to consolidate control creates a ripe target for hackers, said researcher Michael Caster, who investigated China's sales of surveillance technology to Iran.

Malicious parties can more easily gain access," Caster said.

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Iran in particular, long sanctioned by the West, faces difficulties in getting up-to-date hardware and software, often relying on Chinese-manufactured electronics or older systems. Pirated versions of Windows and other software are common. That makes it easier for potential hackers to target the country.

The Financial Times earlier reported on the use of cameras in Khameneis killing.

The person briefed on the operation who spoke to the AP said that for years almost all the traffic cameras in Tehran had been hacked and the information transferred to servers in Israel. At least one camera was at an angle that allowed Israel to track daily movements of people, such as where they parked their cars near Irans leadership compound, the two people said.

Algorithms helped provide information including peoples addresses, routes they took to work and who protected them, according to the person briefed on the operation. That same person said the attack had been planned for months, but the operation was expedited once it was determined that Khamenei and his top officials would be in the leadership compound that morning.

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Israels prime ministers office didnt respond to request for comment.

Col. Amit Assa, a former official with Israels Shin Bet domestic security service, said that such operations are powered by many sources of intelligence, such as undercover agents and bugged conversations.

However, Assa says cameras play a key role because they allow intelligence officers to identify people, providing key confirmation in deciding on whether to strike.

When you see a persons face on a screen in the command center, it helps in making the decision to put your finger on the yellow button, as we say, he said.

More cameras, more coverage

Check Point Research, a cyber threat intelligence group, says Iranian hacking attacks on cameras have spiked since the beginning of the war, with surges of activity in Israel and Gulf countries such as Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

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Such hacks could help Iran monitor targets and assess damage after missile strikes, according to Gil Messing, Check Point Researchs chief of staff.

The more people are installing cameras ... the more area is being covered by these cameras, Messing said. It is very easy to use in order to get extra eyes into different places.

Analysts estimate there are more than one billion security cameras installed worldwide, triple the number a decade ago. Hundreds of millions more are installed every year.

Muhanad Seloom, assistant professor in security studies at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, said that oil-rich Gulf countries like Qatar have long known their petroleum facilities could be targeted in a war and had their systems tightly secured. But only recently have officials in the region realized that street cameras, too, could be weaponized.

I dont think anyone anticipated that these traffic cameras would become targeting tools ... there is alarm all over, Seloom said. How come Iran's whole leadership has been decapitated on the first day? ... It is a topic that is being talked about.

Across the region, governments are on high alert.

Gulf monarchies have barred residents from filming or livestreaming footage of Iranian strikes, with the UAE arresting dozens of people for sharing video of the conflict online. Though aimed in part to protect the countrys reputation, the bans are also motivated by concerns that such footage could be exploited by the Iranian military, Seloom said.

Earlier this month, Israels National Cyber Directorate said that it had warned hundreds of camera owners targeted by Iran and urged the public to change passwords and update software to starve off attacks.

Ali Vaez, Iran project director at the International Crisis Group, said though hacking has long been a concern in the Middle East, its increasing use since the war began was a wake-up call.

Still, he said theres only so much that can be done to patch up vulnerabilities.

Its a whack-a-mole, Vaez said.

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Kang reported from Beijing.

-

Contact APs global investigative team at Investigative@ap.org or https://www.ap.org/tips/.
DUBAI, March 23 (Reuters) - The cases of individuals arrested over Iran's nationwide protests earlier this year have been processed, first deputy Chief of the Judiciary Hamzeh Khalili said on Monday, with cases given a final verdict now being implemented

Nationwide anti-government protests rocked the country in January and were repressed in the biggest crackdown in the history of the Islamic Republic.

"The cases of January terrorist elements and rioters have been processed. Some have led to final verdicts being issued and are now being implemented. Some cases have already been implemented in the past few days, which will be reported. No leniency will be applied to the convicts in these cases," Khalili was quoted as saying by the judiciary's news outlet Mizan.

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Last week, Iran executed three men convicted of killing two police officers during unrest earlier this year, raising concern among right groups such as Hengaw that Tehran is intensifying executions against political detainees and protesters amid mounting military and international pressures.

Khalili added that the judiciary would have no leniency toward what he said were "infiltrators, mercenaries, traitors who cooperate with the enemy", as hundreds have been arrested during March since the start of the war with Israel and the U.S.

(Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; Editing by Toby Chopra)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday the U.S. was talking with an Iranian leader and claimed the Islamic Republic was eager for a deal to end the war. He also extended a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on its power plants, saying it has an additional five days.

Trumps turnaround, which held out the possibility of resolving the war now in its fourth week, served to drive down oil prices and jolt stocks. It offered a reprieve after the U.S. and Iran traded threats over the weekend that could have cut electricity to millions in Iran and around the Gulf, and knocked out desalination plants providing many desert nations with drinking water.

Trump told reporters Iran wants to make a deal, and he claimed U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner had held talks Sunday with an Iranian leader. He did not say who that was, but said the U.S. has not talked to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.

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Iran denied talks had been held. No negotiations have been held with the US, Iranian parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf posted on X, adding that fakenews is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets.

Trump says Iran would give up its enriched uranium

Trump said if a deal is reached, the U.S. would move to take Irans enriched uranium, which is critical to its disputed nuclear program. Iran has adamantly refused such demands in the past, insisting it has the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.

Iran has already performed 99% of the centrifuge work required to produce weapons-grade uranium for nine nuclear weapons, said Robert Goldston, a Princeton University professor who researches arms control and fusion energy. As of June 2025, the International Atomic Energy Agency estimated that Iran had 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of highly enriched uranium.

Turkey and Egypt, meanwhile, said they had spoken to the warring parties, the first sign of coordinated mediation from regional heavyweights.

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The war launched by the United States and Israel has killed more than 2,000 people, shaken the global economy, sent oil prices surging and endangered some of the worlds busiest air corridors.

Trump threatened over the weekend to obliterate Irans power plants unless the country releases its stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of all traded oil passed before the war, within 48 hours. That deadline would have expired late Monday Washington time.

The five-day extension was subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions, Trump said.

Speaking later in Tennessee, Trump said his administration has been negotiating for a long time" with Iran.

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They want peace, Trump said. Theyve agreed they will not have a nuclear weapon, you know, etc., etc. but well see. He said theres a very good chance a deal will be reached this week, crediting his threat to blow up Iranian power plants.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer indicated he was aware of talks between Iran and the U.S.

We, the U.K., were aware that was happening, he said Monday, without giving details.

Possible international mediation

Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he spoke by phone with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan. Turkey has been an intermediary in past talks between Tehran and Washington.

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The Turkish Foreign Ministry declined to comment Monday on whether the country had relayed messages between Iran and the U.S. On Sunday, Turkish officials said Fidan had also spoken to his counterparts from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt and the European Union, as well as with U.S. officials as part of efforts to end the war.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said Cairo has delivered clear messages to Iran focusing on de-escalating the conflict, according to his office. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said it was making constant efforts and communications with all parties.

An Egyptian official said the U.S. and Iran exchanged messages through Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan over the weekend aimed at averting strikes on energy infrastructure. The official was not authorized to speak to the media and so spoke on condition of anonymity.

A Gulf diplomat also said that Egypt and Turkey were leading the de-escalation efforts.

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For now, it appears they managed to avert an energy catastrophe that would result if Trump attacked Irans energy facilities and Iran responded, said the diplomat, who was not authorized to speak with journalists and also spoke on condition of anonymity.

Iran says Trump backed down

In the wake of Trump's turnaround, Iran's semiofficial Fars and Tasnim news agencies portrayed the American president as backing down.

Since the start of the war, messages have been sent to Tehran by some mediators, but Irans clear response has been that it will continue its defense until the required level of deterrence is achieved, Tasnim said. With this kind of psychological warfare, neither the Strait of Hormuz will return to prewar conditions nor will calm return to energy markets.

Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard had promised retaliation if Trump carried out his threat, saying Iran would hit power plants supplying electricity to American bases, as well as the economic, industrial and energy infrastructures in which Americans have shares.

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Qalibaf, the parliament speaker, said earlier that Iran would consider vital infrastructure across the region to be legitimate targets, including desalination facilities critical for drinking water in Gulf nations.

The Fars news agency, which is close to the Revolutionary Guard, published a list of such facilities, including the United Arab Emirates nuclear power plant. Over the weekend, Iran launched missiles targeting the city of Dimona in Israel, near a facility key to its long-suspected atomic weapons program. The facility wasnt damaged.

With the U.S. deploying more amphibious assault ships and additional Marines to the Middle East, Iran's Defense Council warned against any ground attack, saying it would lead to the mining of all access routes.

Trump has said he has no plans to send ground forces into Iran but has not ruled it out. Israel has suggested its ground forces could take part in the war.

Israel strikes Tehran and Lebanon

Israel launched new attacks Monday on Tehran, saying it was targeting infrastructure. Explosions were heard in multiple locations. It wasnt immediately clear what had been hit.

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Israel is also battling the Iran-linked Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, which has fired hundreds of rockets into Israel. In recent days, Israel has hit apartment buildings in Beirut and bombed bridges over the Litani River in Lebanons south.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called the targeting of bridges a prelude to a ground invasion.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will continue to strike Iran and Lebanon, even as the U.S. considers a ceasefire.

Theres more to come," he said.

Authorities say Israeli strikes have killed more than 1,000 people in Lebanon and displaced more than 1 million.

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Irans death toll has surpassed 1,500, its Health Ministry has said. In Israel, 15 people have been killed by Iranian strikes. At least 13 U.S. military members have been killed, along with more than a dozen civilians in the occupied West Bank and Gulf Arab states.

___

Becatoros reported from Athens, Greece, and Magdy from Cairo. Associated Press writers Bill Barrow in Atlanta, David Rising in Bangkok, Charlotte Graham-McLay in Wellington, New Zealand, Sally Abou AlJoud and Bassem Mroue in Beirut, Josef Federman in Jerusalem and Jennifer McDermott in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this report.
LONDON (AP)  Iran's attack this week on Qatar's 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 world's 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 region's energy producing infrastructure have added to supply worries, with Qatar's state-owned gas company saying it would crimp helium exports by 14%.

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Here's a deeper look at helium's industrial role:

Qatar's role in helium supply

Helium is a byproduct of natural gas production, when it's separated out by cryogenic distillation. Qatar, which sits on the world's biggest single natural gas field, produces about 30% of global helium supply, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Qatar's 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 Iran's 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%.

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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.

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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.

It's 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 that's been deposited on a wafer is scraped away to form transistor structures, said Jacob Feldgoise, an analyst at Georgetown University's Center for Security and Emerging Technology.

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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

Helium's atomic properties make it tricky to store and transport.

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In gas form, helium's tiny molecules can easily escape containers by leaking through even the smallest of gaps.

Helium is typically chilled by Qatar's 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 aren't 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.

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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.

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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 it's 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.

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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, it's 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 writers Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, South Korea, Chan Ho-him in Hong Kong and Eileen Ng in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia contributed.
JERUSALEM, March 23 (Reuters) - Israel said on Monday its own forces had misfired artillery that killed an Israeli farmer near the Lebanese frontier, the first Israeli civilian killed in a border conflict being waged in parallel with the war in Iran.

Ofer Moskovitz, 60, an avocado farmer in the town of Misgav Am, had spoken with Reuters just last week and said he was worried about the fighting at the border.

In a statement, Major General Rafi Milo, who heads the military's northern command, said: "Moskovitz was killed by our own forces fire during an operation whose entire purpose was to protect them."

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The military had initially blamed cross-border fire from Lebanon when it first reported the incident on Sunday.

Israel has launched a major ground assault and air campaign into Lebanon to root out Hezbollah, a powerful Iran-backed militia, which fired into Israel in support of Tehran two days after the start of the Israeli-U.S. air attacks on Iran.

Lebanese authorities say more than a thousand people have been killed and more than a million driven from their homes in Lebanon. The death of Moskovitz was the first reported in Israel. The military says two Israeli soldiers have been killed in combat.

"Every five minutes you can hear the bombs," Moskovitz told Reuters last week.

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The military's statement said troops had opened fire to support soldiers operating in southern Lebanon, but "severe issues and operational errors" had taken place.

"The artillery fire was carried out at an incorrect angle and did not follow required protocols," it said. "As a result, five artillery shells were fired at the Misgav Am ridge instead of toward the enemy target."

(Reporting by Steven Scheer and Rami Ayyub; Editing by Toby Chopra and Peter Graff)
BEIRUT (AP)  An Israeli strike on a health center in southern Lebanon instantly killed 12 medical workers, seriously wounded one and left four missing under the rubble for hours.

The March 13 strike in the village of Burj Qalaouiyah, one of the single deadliest strikes in Lebanon since the latest Israel-Hezbollah war began on March 2, targeted a center run by Hezbollahs health arm, the Islamic Health Society, which has so far lost 24 members over the past two weeks.

Since the latest war began, Israels military has not only been targeting the groups military assets but also its civilian institutions in an apparent attempt to weaken the Iran-backed group further and try to push its supporters away from it.

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Hezbollah is a political party as well as an armed group, and its health and social service institutions have helped strengthen its base of support over the years.

In addition to health centers, Israel has destroyed more than a dozen branches of Hezbollahs financial arm, al-Qard al-Hasan. Other strikes heavily damaged Hezbollahs Al-Manar TV headquarters and its Al-Nour radio stations.

The strikes also have targeted the group's Amana gas stations and discount shops known as Sajjad, where low-income people can buy highly subsidized products.

On Wednesday, an Israeli airstrike on an apartment in central Beirut killed Mohammed Sherri, the head of political programs at Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV, along with his wife.

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Israel has accused Hezbollah of using health facilities for military purposes and has said al-Qard al-Hasan  officially a charitable organization that provides interest-free loans  finances the group's military activities. Lebanon's Health Ministry denies the Israeli claims about Hezbollah's health facilities being used for military purposes.

This is a different war that will not end with a ceasefire, said Hilal Khashan, a political scientist at American University of Beirut. This war will not end before Israel achieves its full objective - that is, the elimination of Hezbollah not only as a military movement, but also the ultimate objective is to erase Hezbollah from the Lebanese political picture.

Hezbollah is under internal and external pressure to disarm and knows this latest fight is crucial. Intense clashes along Lebanon's southern border between Hezbollah fighters and advancing Israeli troops have left dozens of Lebanese gunmen dead.

During a visit to the northern front Monday, Israel's army chief Gen. Eyal Zamir said that Hezbollah is now fighting a war for its very existence and is paying a heavy price for entering this battle. He added that pressures exerted by Israel's military will only increase more and more.

Hezbollah vows to keep fighting

This is an existential battle. It is not a limited or simple battle, Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem said in a televised speech over the weekend. Kassem vowed that his group would fight to the end and never surrender.

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Israel says that Lebanon has failed to disarm the group in accordance with the Lebanese government's own plans, and that therefore Israel will carry out the mission itself.

Unlike previous conflicts with Israel, the current one comes as the Lebanese government has called Hezbollahs military activities illegal and authorities have detained several members of the group for carrying weapons without a license.

Like previous wars, Hezbollah is being criticized by its opponents in Lebanon who blame the Iran-backed group for triggering this war by firing rockets into Israel. Hezbollah fired the rockets to avenge the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, less than two days after the U.S. and Israel began their attacks on Iran, triggering a war in the Middle East.

Israel retaliated with a campaign of airstrikes on parts of Lebanon that has so far left more than 1,000 people dead and over 1 million displaced from their homes in southern and eastern Lebanon as well as in Beiruts southern suburbs.

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Hezbollah took a suicidal initiative that will not change the equation, said legislator Samy Gemayel, who heads the nationalist Kataeb Party, adding that Tehran is using Lebanon "as a platform to defend Iran.

A previous 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006 ended with a draw. A 14-month conflict that started in October 2023  when Hezbollah fired rockets in support of Palestinians a day after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel  killed much of Hezbollahs political and military command and left the group severely weakened but not destroyed.

Strikes followed by backlash

After airstrikes hit Hezbollahs institutions even in central Beirut, residents protested and forced the group to close a branch of al-Qard al-Hasan in the heart of the capital. Bowing to the pressure, workers removed the financial institution's sign and dismantled ATMs, marking the end of its presence in central Beirut.

Amnesty International has said that the al-Qard al-Hasan branches are not legitimate military targets under international humanitarian law and that the strikes should be investigated as war crimes.

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The Israeli military has appeared to assume that labelling something as Hezbollah-affiliated, be that healthcare workers, homes in border villages, or financial institutions, makes it targetable. Thats wrong, said Heba Morayef, regional director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International.

Mahmoud Karaki of Hezbollahs Islamic Health Society said that during the last war in 2024, his group lost 153 members in Israeli attacks. But he vowed that the group would continue its work as it has done in previous wars.

By targeting us, they are targeting the safety network for the people and their steadfastness in areas under attack, Karaki said

The Israeli militarys Arabic spokesperson alleged that Hezbollah is using ambulances to transport weapons and fighters, a charge that the paramedic group strongly denies.

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Hezbollah and Iranian officials have said that any halt in U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran should also include a stop to Israeli attacks in Lebanon.

Senior Hezbollah official Mahmoud Qamati told Lebanons Al-Jadeed TV on Monday that Iran will not leave Lebanon nor the resistance, nor will it allow that Lebanon remains vulnerable," adding that "Lebanon will be part of this victory and will not be left alone.

When Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was asked if Tehran could accept a ceasefire to stop strikes on Iran while they continue in Lebanon, he said: I don't think so.

We do not believe in a ceasefire; we believe in ending the war. And ending the war means exactly that  ending the war on all fronts, Araghchi told Al Jazeera English, adding that this includes Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, Iran and "other countries of the region.
At least nine Palestinians have been injured as Israeli settlers rampaged through towns and villages in the occupied West Bank for a second night in a row.

A 45-year-old man was shot in the foot late on Sunday during a confrontation with Israeli settlers in Deir al-Hatab, east of Nablus, the Wafa news agency reported.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported that a 47-year-old Palestinian man was attacked by settlers in Jabal al-Arma in Beita, while others were beaten.

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Earlier, Israeli settlers set fire to homes and cars in two areas south of Jenin and vandalised property across the occupied West Bank.

Simultaneous attacks took place on Saturday night in at least six communities, including the villages of Silat ad-Dhahr and al-Fandaqumiya, both near Jenin; in Jalud and Salfit, both south of Nablus; and in the agricultural regions of Masafer Yatta and the Jordan Valley.

The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that homes and cars were set ablaze, Palestinians were pepper-sprayed, and at least five people were wounded in the assaults, which took place during the Eid al-Fitr holiday marking the end of Ramadan.

Sunday nights attacks came after settlers in the illegal Israeli settlement of Elon Moreh held a funeral for 18-year-old Yehuda Sherman, who was killed in a collision with a Palestinian vehicle in an area north of the villages attacked.

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Israeli police said they were investigating the settlers claims that the collision was deliberate.

The Israeli government is pressing ahead with new illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, with attention shifted to the US-Israel war on Iran.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 25 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli settlers and soldiers so far this year.

Israels security cabinet last month ratified a series of decisions pushed by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defence Minister Israel Katz, enabling Israel to claim large areas of the occupied West Bank as state property if Palestinians cannot prove ownership.

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The Palestinian presidency condemned the decision in a statement, calling it a grave escalation and a flagrant violation of international law that amounts to de facto annexation.

Amnesty International said the expansion of illegal settlements and state-backed settler violence in the occupied Palestinian territory were a direct indictment of the international communitys catastrophic failure to take decisive action.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in 2024 that Israels continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory is unlawful and should come to an end as rapidly as possible.

The judges pointed to a wide list of policies, including the building and expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem, use of the areas natural resources, the annexation and imposition of permanent control over lands and discriminatory policies against Palestinians  all of which it said violated international law.




JOHANNESBURG, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Cultural cooperation between China and African countries, including academic exchanges, language programs and artistic collaboration, is playing an increasingly vital role in strengthening bilateral relations, a South African scholar at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) has said.

In an interview with Xinhua, Munyaradzi Chatikobo, chair of community engagement and a lecturer at the Wits School of Arts, said that such initiatives foster lasting people-to-people connections and promote cultural literacy essential for sustainable international cooperation.

"Art is a universal language," Chatikobo said, noting that creative engagement enables a deeper appreciation of Chinese culture even without language proficiency. These interactions, he added, have been instrumental in forging "durable soft power links" between the two sides.

Chatikobo identified universities and research institutions as key drivers of such exchanges, citing partnerships between China's Peking University and South Africa's Wits as pivotal in dismantling stereotypes and fostering collaborative knowledge production.

Students participating in exchange programs during the 2024-2025 academic year described their experiences as "transformative." However, Chatikobo noted that while these initiatives have significantly enhanced intercultural competence, access remains uneven and should be expanded to reach more people.

China's growing investment in scholarships, cultural institutes, and educational frameworks across Africa has also yielded significant results, particularly in the cultural and creative industries. Chatikobo believes these efforts are helping to "humanize" diplomatic relations, mitigate misunderstandings, and strengthen public support for broader economic and political initiatives.

To maximize the benefits, Chatikobo called for increased student mobility, jointly developed research projects, digital collaboration platforms and more equitable funding to expand participation among young people and researchers.

Looking ahead, Chatikobo identified heritage conservation, digital culture, community-based tourism and climate-linked cultural knowledge as emerging frontiers for cooperation.

Reflecting on a decade of engagement in China-Africa relations, Chatikobo underscored that the true value of these ties lies in their longevity.

"Cultural exchange builds trust and fosters long-term solidarity that transcends trade and politics," he concluded. "It anchors China-Africa relations in shared human values." 
An Israeli airstrike hit an apartment in a predominantly Christian neighbourhood south-east of Beirut on Monday, targeting a figure linked to the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.

A witness said a loud explosion was heard in Hazmieh, causing panic in the area. Ambulances were seen outside the targeted building.

The Israeli military said it had struck a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force in Beirut.

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Lebanons Health Ministry said one person was killed in the strike.

Hazmieh lies near the Defence Ministry and the Baabda palace, where President Joseph Aoun resides.

Hezbollah said earlier it had carried out 63 operations against Israeli military positions over the past 24 hours, describing the attacks as defensive measures in response to Israeli aggression.

The group said the operations included rocket fire, drone attacks and artillery strikes targeting bases, armoured vehicles and troop concentrations along the border and in northern Israel.

The escalation comes amid growing infrastructure damage in southern Lebanon.

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The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said peacekeepers had recorded intense gunfire and explosions around its headquarters in Naqoura over the past 48 hours, with shrapnel and debris hitting buildings and forcing personnel to remain in shelters for safety.

It added that a projectile struck a building inside the compound around midday on Monday, which it believed had been fired by a non-state actor.

Meanwhile, shortly after midday, an Israeli military spokesman said the army would strike the Dallafa Bridge, which spans the Litani river, to prevent the transfer of reinforcements and military equipment to Hezbollah.

Earlier, Lebanese security sources said Israeli airstrikes at dawn on Monday destroyed the Qaqaiyat Bridge, another of the main crossings over the Litani.

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The bridge connects the market town of Nabatieh with surrounding areas and Wadi al-Hujair.

Wadi al-Hujair is considered a strategic Hezbollah stronghold, where the group is believed to use the rugged terrain and dense vegetation to conceal military infrastructure, including potential rocket launch sites. A military expert said Hezbollah also uses caves in the area as command centres, weapons depots and bunkers.

The destruction of the bridges has severely disrupted transport and isolates several southern villages.

Residents who remained south of the Litani river despite Israeli evacuation warnings last week now face increasing difficulties as movement in the region becomes both limited and dangerous.

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On Sunday, President Aoun called the attacks on the bridges "an attempt to sever the geographical connection between the southern Litani region and the rest of Lebanese territory."

He said they fell "within suspicious schemes to establish a buffer zone along the Israeli border and solidify the reality of the occupation ... within Lebanese territory."

Since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran on February 28, more than 1,000 people have been killed and more than 2,700 others wounded by Israeli attacks in Lebanon, according to official figures.
Italy's right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is facing defeat over her plans for judicial reform, after early projections showed voters rejecting the controversial proposal in a referendum.

According to broadcaster Rai, 53.1% of voters opposed the reform, while 46.9% backed the plan put forward by Meloni's three-party coalition.

The two-day referendum was seen as a test of Meloni's leadership ahead of the next parliamentary elections, scheduled for late 2027.

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Both chambers of parliament have already approved the proposal. However, as the reform requires a constitutional amendment, it was put to a public vote.

Final results are expected by Monday evening.

The reform is a central project of Meloni's coalition, which has governed Italy for three and a half years.

Italy's right has long maintained that much of the judiciary is aligned with the left, while the opposition accuses Meloni of attempting to increase political influence over the justice system.

At the heart of the reform is a plan to separate the career paths of judges and public prosecutors. It would also introduce new self-governing bodies for both groups, with parliament involved in appointing members  potentially giving politicians greater influence over personnel decisions.
Thomas Paines 1776 pamphlet Common Sense, advocating republican form of government in the 13 colonies, turned him into a national hero. Few people today realize that he in fact died poverty-stricken and alonehis opposition to religious dogma in his last major work, The Age of Reason, having proven significantly less popular in early American society than his writings against monarchy.

Today, the United States appears on paper the sort of representative democracy with formal separation of church and state that Paine championed. But in practice, the sort of dogma Paine warned about is ubiquitous, including in electoral campaigns. Perhaps nowhere is this more clearly visible than in the run-up to the Texas race for the U.S. Senate, where Democratic primary-winner James Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian, has made his faith central to his campaigning, counterposing his vision of godliness to the Christian nationalism he sees as ascendant in the Republican Party. But now Talarico himself is being accused of apostasy: not against god but against barbecue. It is a telling moment, where debating the finer details of religious dogma is being actively encouraged while even the slightest challenge to secular dogma (in this case, meat eating) is treated as unacceptable.

Ever since the charismatic young member of the Texas House of Representatives from Austin won the Democratic primary and began polling ahead of both Republican hopefulslong-serving incumbent Senator John Cornyn and his challenger, Attorney General Ken Paxtonthe GOP has been scraping the internet for oppo research. Last week they found it, improbably, in a speech Talarico gave during a statehouse race in 2022 to a small animal rights group called the Texas Humane Legislation Network. In it, Talarico told his audience that reducing meat consumption for animal welfare and climate reasons was the right thing to do and explained that his campaign was a non-meat campaign  only buying vegan products from our local vegan businesses.

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Its a perfectly commonsense claimand just the right amount of pandering to a special interest groupfor a young Democrat running in a local election in Austin. But its red meat for the Republican Party culture warriors trying to win a statewide race. Ted Cruz took to Twitter to claim, baselessly, that this freak wants to BAN BBQ. Thats not Texas. Cornyn chimed in: Vote Republican this November. The steaks couldnt be higher. Newsmax, Fox, and The Hill immediately ran stories on Talarico blaspheming against both Texass culture and its agriculture. How could he represent Texas if he shunned meat in the state that produces more beef than any other in the country and where barbecue might as well be a religion?

Talaricos campaign fired backat veganism. His campaign released a photo of him wearing a Texas flag shirt, chowing down on barbecue. And the day after the video resurfaced, at an event in Dallas hosted by The Bulwark, Talarico told the audience: I deny all accusations of veganism  our campaign basically runs on barbecue these days.

All electoral politics is to some extent identity politics, in that it entails a population choosing a representative who will speak for themand therefore, typically, whom they also see as being like them in one way or another. This may be why Talarico, an outspoken Christian, is such a viable candidate, even as a Democrat, in a state where 67 percent of the population is Christian. But its also why being vegan or even being brandedpun intendeda vegan is such a hard sell for a politicians. Meat eating is the one true cultural unifier in the United States, crossing party, geography, class, and creed lines. The vast majority of Americans eat meat, and the average American eats about 225 pounds of it per year.

This has been exacerbated by meat eating being pulled into the culture wars, primarily as a marker of masculine and conservative identity. This is in part why Republicans accuse any opponents who dare mention environmental issues of trying to ban meat. In 2018, when Ted Cruz was locked in a Senate battle with Democrat Beto ORourke, he claimed that if Texas elects a Democrat, theyre going to ban barbecue across the state of Texas. In 2019, when Alexandria Ocasio Cortez was championing the Green New Deal, conservatives claimed the New York congresswoman wanted to ban hamburgers. In 2020, Cory Bookers presidential campaign was beset with attacks on his veganism. And Joe Bidens climate initiatives were attacked for allegedly requiring the rationing of meat.

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In this sense, meat eating works as both a cudgel in attack ads and as something of a secular dogma, an ideology placed by its proponents beyond rational critique. Ideals of a democratic public sphere in an age of reason, as championed by Paine, rested on the idea that dogma of any kind, and especially dogma that undergirds power and oppression, should wilt under the light of rational scrutiny and critique. Sacred cows should be slain.

Talarico and his campaign have decided that to be seen as a legitimate Texan and to focus on ostensibly more important issues, he has to pretend he never gave that 2022 speech. But heres the problem: That speech was right.

There is a broad consensus among environmental scientists that to keep global food production within planetary boundaries, and to reduce the food systems contribution to climate change, we need to produce and eat far less meat. The ethical case for reducing harms to animals is no less salient today than it was four years ago when Talarico gave that speech. And research shows that the politicians who are most effective at championing both personal and policy changes to address climate and environmental problems are the ones who lead by example. In other words, to move toward a more sustainable food system, we need more politicians willing to talk about meat reduction and maybe even veganism.

And thats particularly true in Texas, where the volume of cattle production makes the state one of the countrys biggest agricultural greenhouse gas emitters. The states massive cattle feedlots also choke local ecosystems and communities in particulate matter, including fecal dust. Politicians being able to freely speak about these documented harms, and linking them to meat consumption, should be the first step to being able to address them.

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But modern electoral politics make this sort of speech extremely risky or even disqualifying. It forces what Paine called infidelity, or the professing of beliefs people dont actually believe.

This isnt Talaricos fault. Hes making a rational decision about electoral strategy. But we should be very worried about what that decision represents: right-wing culture warriors successful poisoning of the public sphere, to the point that rational discussion about science and ethics is seen as politically disqualifying.

Two hundred and fifty years after Paine wrote Common Sense, we find ourselves with a public sphere where neo-scholastic claims about whose vision of politics better aligns with religious texts are fair game, but discussions of the environmental impact of food production and animal ethics are off the table, all enforced by an elite-owned media amplifying bad-faith attacks. Thomas Paine imagined the opposite: a United States where the public sphere would be a robust democratic space for the rational exchange of important ideas about how to build a better society, free from the suasion of elites and organized religion. When even ostensible progressives abandon science and embrace dogmasboth religious and secularwe have never been further from that ideal. These are the times that try mens souls, as it were.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear took his criticism of Vice President JD Vance directly to Ohio on Saturday. He told a crowd in Vances home state that the vice president aint from Appalachia. Beshear added that residents there deserve better.

JD Vance slammed by Andy Beshear in Ohio

Andy Beshears comments came at a spring gala hosted by the Butler County Democratic Party. The two-term Democratic governor used the appearance to renew his clashes with JD Vance. The vice president is seen as a likely White House contender in the next election cycle, as is Beshear.

The governor targeted Vances bestselling memoir, Hillbilly Elegy. He called it poverty tourism and accused the vice president of leaning on outdated portrayals of Kentuckians. (Vance) wrote an entire book that trafficked his tired stereotypes about the people in my state, called the people who mined the coal that powered the Industrial Revolution, helped us to win two world wars, he called them lazy, Beshear said.

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Ohio deserved a much better senator than (JD Vance), and we all deserve a much better vice president, he added (via CNN). JD Vance grew up in Ohio and spent summers in eastern Kentucky as a child. His memoir gained widespread attention after Donald Trumps 2016 victory in Rust Belt states.

Taylor Van Kirk, a spokesperson for Vance, pushed back on Beshears comments in a statement to The New York Times. 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? Van Kirk said.

Andy Beshear has become a prominent Democratic politician through his handling of multiple crises during his time in office. His name surfaced as a possible running mate for Kamala Harris in 2024. He has since taken steps to expand his public visibility. The two politicians have sparred before. Both are viewed as early contenders for their parties presidential nominations in 2028.

The post JD Vance Called Out in His Home State by Governor appeared first on Mandatory.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP)  A South Florida judge on Monday cleared three more police officers of wrongdoing in the shooting death of a UPS driver who had been taken hostage during a 2019 robbery.

Broward Circuit Judge Ernest Kollra ruled that Miami-Dade police officers Richard Santiesteban, Leslie Lee and Rodolfo Mirabal  who had been charged with manslaughter in the death of UPS driver Frank Ordonez  could not be prosecuted because Florida's stand your ground law justified the shooting. The same judge cleared officer Jose Mateo in September for the same reason.

The Broward State Attorney's Office said it will appeal all four rulings.

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Immunity from prosecution is not the same as a defense presented to a jury from this community," the state attorneys statement said. It is our belief that Stand Your Ground immunity does not apply in matters involving innocent bystanders, like Frank Ordonez and Richard Cutshaw, who presented no danger to officers. In this incident, two innocent men were killed, and the lives of numerous other innocent bystanders were endangered.

Cutshaw was also killed in the barrage of gunfire that afternoon.

Ordonez, 27, had been delivering packages in Miami-Dade County on Dec. 5, 2019, when police said two would-be jewelry store robbers abducted him and forced him to drive from the scene. A rush-hour police chase ended at a busy intersection in neighboring Broward County.

Prosecutors said Mateo fired the shots that killed Ordonez. The two robbers and a passerby were also killed in a hail of gunfire at an intersection in Miramar, Florida.

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Footage from a body camera that was played in court showed Mateo's pursuit of the UPS truck that afternoon. His partner could be seen in the passenger seat with a long gun drawn. The video also showed Mateo approaching the UPS truck. He emptied his firearm's magazine, reloaded and then pulled Ordonez from the vehicle.

The judge ruled the officers had reason to believe deadly force was necessary to end the confrontation.

The four officers are currently suspended from the their jobs.
Amid escalating chaos in New Jerseys federal courts due to a leadership vacuum, the states district court judges and the Trump administration appear to have reached a deal on who will lead the New Jersey U.S. Attorneys Office.

In a one-sentence order posted to the New Jersey courts website Monday, Chief Judge Renee Marie Bumb announced that Robert Frazer, a career prosecutor in the office and currently its senior trial counsel, has been appointed U.S. attorney effective today.

The appointment will not expire unless and until a presidentially-nominated successor is confirmed, though President Donald Trump has fired judicially-appointed interim U.S. attorneys in New Jersey and elsewhere.

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But this pick appears to have the support of the Trump administration based on a social media post from Alina Habba, who filled the job last year before resigning after a court ruled she could not hold it. Habba, who now works as a senior adviser to the U.S. attorney general, praised Frazer and suggested that the Trump administration and the district courts judges had worked together to pick him for the job.

New Jersey deserves a great chief federal law enforcement official who is in line with President Trumps agenda of making this country safe and NJ great! I know Rob well and he will be a great champion of this state and mission of the DOJ, Habba wrote on social media. She added that it should be clear that when judges work with the attorney general and deputy attorney general under Trump to collaborate on serving what an overwhelming majority of Americans asked for at the ballots and not attack mindlessly for political gain THINGS GET DONE.

Little public information is available about Frazer, though based on a letter from the U.S. Attorneys Office, he has more than two decades of experience in the office, having served through several presidential administrations.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who was the states U.S. attorney from 2002 to 2008, praised Frazer and said hes confident hell lead the office well. Christie said he hired Frazer in either 2004 or 2005.

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Im proud to have hired him. Hes an outstanding prosecutor with really great judgment, and Im confident hell do a really excellent job, Christie said in a phone interview. He knows how to work cases, and I think having someone who knows how to do that in this job right now will be really advantageous to the office.

Added Chrisite: And hes a Mets fan, so thats the most important thing you need to know about him.

The judges used a 160-year-old power that gives them power to fill prosecutorial vacancies in certain instances. Usually, the nations U.S. attorneys are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

But Trump has sought repeatedly to sidestep that process using a series of maneuvers to install prosecutors that courts have repeatedly rejected, in New Jersey and elsewhere.

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After Habbas interim appointment expired in July, the judges voted to instead fill the role with her first assistant U.S. attorney, Desiree Leigh Grace, a registered Republican. But the Trump administration quickly fired Grace and through a series of maneuvers reinstalled Habba in that position.

Defense attorneys then challenged Habbas ability to serve in the role for months without Senate confirmation. A judge ruled she had illegally held the job. She stepped down. Then the Trump administration installed a trio of prosecutors to run the office  an unprecedented arrangement that a court also rejected weeks ago, leaving cases in limbo.

The uncertainty over the leadership of the office had endangered cases and gotten on judges nerves. Last week, U.S. District Court Judge Zahid Quraishi refused to go forward with a sentencing hearing and ordered the trio of prosecutors leading the office  Ari Fontecchio, Philip Lamparello and Jordan Fox  to testify on the leadership structure of the office. He also questioned whether Habba still had a role in leading it.
If theres a core public service in North Carolina thats found itself most consistently in the crosshairs of hostile politicians the last several years, its public education. Thanks to the repeated enactment of budgets that have underfunded everything from teacher salaries to facilities to the number of administrators, nurses, and counselors, North Carolinas public schools have fallen among the lowest funded in the nation.

Despite this trend, thousands of dedicated educators are hanging in there and continuing to advocate for a time in the not-too-distant future in which state leaders will see the error of their ways and renew our states historic commitment to supporting a first-class public education system. Recently Newsline caught up with one of those professionals  North Carolina 2023 Teacher of the year and nationally board-certified teacher, Kim Jones  to discuss teacher retention and Governor Josh Steins critical needs budget.

Click here to listen to the full interview with Kimberly S. Jones, 2023 North Carolina Teacher of the Year
MOSCOW, March 23 (Reuters) - U.S.-Israeli strikes near the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran are extremely dangerous and Russia has shared its concerns with the United States, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.

Such strikes could have irreparable consequences, Peskov said.

"We believe that strikes on nuclear facilities are potentially extremely dangerous. (...) Therefore, the Russian side, taking an extremely responsible stance on this issue, has repeatedly voiced its concerns," Peskov said.

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The Kremlin spokesman said that the conflict in Iran "as recently as yesterday" should have been channelled towards a political and diplomatic settlement.

"This is the only thing that can effectively help defuse the catastrophically tense situation that has now developed in the region."

On 17 March, the Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom said that a strike carried out "on the territory adjacent to the building of the metrological service, located on the site of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, in close proximity to the operating power unit."

Russia condemned a strike on the territory of the plant and called for de-escalation around the facility.

(Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Gleb Bryanski)
TRIPOLI, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Armed clashes broke out Sunday in Zawiya, a city about 60 km west of Tripoli, leaving one person dead, a local daily reported.

Al-Bashti Al-Zahouf, a member of the city's Council of Elders and Notables, told Al-Mashhad newspaper that fighting erupted in the Dila-Qamouda area between two armed factions. And both groups are affiliated with the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU).

The fighting underscores persistent tensions in Zawiya, where rival armed groups have repeatedly clashed despite calls from local leaders for calm.

Libya remains divided between the UN-recognized GNU in the west and a rival eastern administration headed by Osama Hammad and backed by Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army. 
Lawmakers advanced a bill that would allow Maine jails to refuse to hold immigration detainees, laying the groundwork to settle the legal question at the heart of the dispute over a federal contract with Maines largest jail.

I think everybody wins, Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce told the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee on Wednesday about the legislation.

With late votes tallied Friday, the committee backed the measure 8-5, sending it to the full Maine Senate and House of Representatives for consideration.

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Since President Donald Trump began ramping up immigration detentions, Cumberland County Jail has faced mounting pressure from community members to end its longstanding contract under which the federal government pays the facility to house its detainees. But the board of commissioners pushed off its decision, citing ambiguity as to whether they could refuse to hold federal detainees, regardless of the contract, because of a decades-old state law.

The underlying law

The underlying law that lawmakers are attempting to alter was enacted in 1964 to address a narrow and urgent problem: there was no statutory authority governing cooperation between state and local law enforcement and the detention of people charged with crimes.

The city of Rockland had stopped accepting people arrested by state police and neighboring municipalities. The Maine attorney general issued an opinion stating that the city as a subdivision of the state could not refuse to accept people arrested for violations of state criminal law.

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As a result, the Legislature took emergency action to codify that opinion.

Nothing in the legislative history of the law suggests a mandate to house federal detainees accused of civil infractions, bill sponsor Sen. Rachel Talbot Ross (D-Cumberland) and other supporters said.

Thats the law that this bill, LD 2058, seeks to clarify.

Maine law currently stipulates that municipal and county jails shall at all times be available for detention of persons arrested by state or any other law enforcement officers. The bill would add the stipulation, unless a person is being detained solely for a civil immigration violation, which supporters say more accurately reflects the original intention behind the statute that was established in 1964.

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The legislation would clarify who jails are mandated to hold, not who they can hold. But such a clarification would presumably put to rest the debate over whether Cumberland County Jail or any other facilities could decline to hold civil immigration detainees.

It would also bring that old law more in line with another forthcoming law that restricts local involvement with federal immigration enforcement, according to committee analyst Will Tew.

You might not agree with the underlying policy, Tew told lawmakers, but I think that this change probably more closely aligns with what the state law is.

Confusion between criminal and civil offenses

Maine does not have a standalone U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility. The only ICE facility in the state, which is located in Scarborough, is an administrative building for routine check-ins with three small, short-term holding cells.

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That means jails have been relied on for immigration detentions, increasingly during Trumps second term.

Immigration detention is an administrative, or civil, form of confinement. It is therefore not intended to be punitive, though often looks similar to criminal custody because the U.S. prison and immigration systems are interconnected. The line between the two has been further blurred as the Trump administration has used both policies and rhetoric to try to characterize all undocumented immigrants as criminals.

And, that blurriness was demonstrated during the tense committee debate about the bill, with Republicans opposing any limits to federal access to the states jails.

The majority of people detained during Trumps second term have no criminal convictions, and many have no criminal charges at all.

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Its a common misconception of, Okay, well, if theyre held in jail, they must have committed crimes, said Anna Welch, founding director of University of Maines School of Laws Refugee and Human Rights Clinic. The clinic has helped provide legal support to more than 300 people held in Cumberland County Jail and Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset during Trumps second term, most of whom were being held in civil custody.

The Cumberland County Sheriffs Office doesnt have a direct contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement but has had a contract with the U.S. Marshal Service since July 2010 under which its compensated per day to house federal detainees, including people awaiting a hearing on their immigration status or deportation.

Joyce told Maine Morning Star the jail informed ICE that we werent interested in holding individuals detained due to an administrative or civil violation, a stance he reiterated to committee members in explaining why he supports the legislation.

The elephant in the room is ICE and some of their tactics about asylum seekers, and Ive been trying to stay away from that and only hold the criminals, the worst of the worst, Joyce said.

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Thats the terminology ICE used when launching its large-scale operation in Maine in January, during which agents detained many asylum seekers and others pursuing lawful immigration processes.

One was a corrections officer recruit, who Joyce said was lawfully allowed to work in the U.S. and had no criminal record. After Joyce publicly rebuked the detention of his staffer, the federal government pulled all of its immigration detainees from Cumberland County Jail.

[Federal authorities are] still going to do what they do, Joyce said of the impact of the bill. Its just that Maine jails wont be holding the administrative or civil violators that everyone is concerned with.

The contract with the U.S. Marshal remains, and the jail is still holding other federal detainees.

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The initial version of the bill presented at the public hearing would have mandated jails to hold people only on criminal charges with documented probable cause, whereas the version that passed committee creates an immigration-specific exception.

That appears to address concerns raised by the Department of Corrections that the initial version would have made it so jails wouldnt have to accept people arrested for violating probation, which is often not charged as new criminal conduct, or people found incompetent to stand trial or not criminally responsible, as they would no longer be facing criminal charges once those charges are dismissed.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  At least seven cars were involved in a crash in Batavia that sent three people to the hospital on Monday morning, according to police.

The crash happened around 7:40 a.m. Monday at the intersection of West Main Street and Oak Street. One of the vehicles caught fire in the crash.

Two people were sent to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, including one person who was airlifted in critical condition. One other person was sent to ECMC.

Photo: Alecia Kaus for WIVB Photo: Alecia Kaus for WIVB Photo: Alecia Kaus for WIVB Photo: Alecia Kaus for WIVB Photo: Alecia Kaus for WIVB

Police deemed the cause of the crash to be one of the cars running a red light and crashed with a car that was legally in the intersection. Anyone with additional information is asked to call Batavia police at (585) 345-6350.

Latest Local News

Aidan Joly was named News 4s Digital Executive Producer in 2025. He has been on staff since 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here.

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Seven IDF soldiers were lightly wounded in separate incidents, including a safety event in southern Lebanon and an accident in northern Israel, Walla learned on Sunday.

At least seven IDF soldiers were lightly injured on Sunday, Walla has learned.

This includes four IDF soldiers who suffered minor injuries during a safety incident while operating in southern Lebanon on Sunday evening.

Another soldier suffered minor injuries when a drone fell near a military unit operating in the area.

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Additionally, two soldiers suffered minor injuries during an accident that took place in a field in northern Israel.

All seven were evacuated to the hospital for further medical treatment, Walla learned.

IDF soldiers operate in southern Lebanon on March 21, 2026. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

At least 48 IDF casualties have occurred since ground operations began against Hezbollah in Lebanon during Operation Roaring Lion.

This total includes two fallen soldiers, one serious injury, 13 soldiers suffering moderate injuries, and 32 suffering minor injuries.

IDF strikes Litani River crossing

Meanwhile, the IDF struck a crossing on the Litani River that was used by Hezbollah terrorists to maneuver south, the military announced on Sunday.

An IDF infographic detailing the strike on a crossing over the Litani River, March 22, 2026. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

The terror group used this crossing to transfer thousands of weapons, rockets, and rocket launchers, which were used to carry out terror attacks against the IDF and Israeli civilians, the military stated.

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Striking the crossing not only prevented harm to Israeli civilians, but also to Lebanese civilians, the military argued.

In a separate wave of strikes, the IDF hit approximately 15 Hezbollah command centers in the Nabatiya area of southern Lebanon on Sunday.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also endorsed talks with Israel and called for the expulsion of Iranian operatives from Lebanon.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam expressed support for his government's decision to disarm Hezbollah and blamed the terror group for dragging Lebanon into a wider regional war in a Sunday interview with Saudi newspaper Al-Hadath.

Salam also endorsed talks with Israel and called for the expulsion of Iranian operatives from Lebanon.

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Following American and Israeli strikes on Iran at the end of February, on March 2, Hezbollah joined the war by launching a six-missile attack on Israel as supposed revenge for the assassination of former supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

Salam blamed Hezbollah for war, destruction

When asked about Hezbollahs entry into the war, Salam was firm in saying that the war is not Lebanons choice.

Each of Hezbollah's six missiles cost the lives of 10,000 displaced Lebanese, he said, condemning the Iranian-backed group for bringing the war to Lebanon.

Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam speaks to journalists working for foreign media and news agencies at the Government Palace in Beirut on December 3, 2025. (credit: Joseph EID / AFP via Getty Images)

This is a war between America, Israel, and Iran, he said, adding that Lebanon was dragged into it but has no direct interest.

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We've reached a point where we've surpassed one million registered displaced people, he said, maintaining that the true figure could be higher.

Buildings can be rebuilt, and villages can be rebuilt But how can we bring back the martyrs who died, the victims who were maimed, he said, lamenting the hundreds killed and wounded in the fighting.

PM backs disarmament and ban on Hezbollahs armed wing

In response to questions on the implementation of government policy, Salam reaffirmed his backing for two key government measures, one adopted in August 2025, mandating Hezbollahs disarmament, and another introduced at the start of the war, banning the groups armed wing.

Salam said the decision in August was based on the 1989 Taif Agreement, which ended the Lebanese civil war, framing the governments decision to order the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to monopolize arms as unavoidable and unrelated to Hezbollahs recent actions.

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I will not yield to [Hezbollahs] coercion, he said, adding that the consolidation of weapons has become more urgent, given the cost of the conflict.

We are committed to these decisions, he said, adding they would take time to implement but that the government will not back down.

Lebanese PM highly critical of IRGC

Salam, whose government has been vocally opposed to Iranian influence in Lebanon, linked Hezbollahs actions to Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps activity.

This is the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, which is present and which is carrying out the operations, unfortunately, he said, citing a report from Iranian state media of a coordinated joint attack on Israel by Iran and Hezbollah.

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Salam expressed his governments desire to expel Iranian agents from Lebanon, but warned that identifying such agents could be a difficult task.

These people have forged passports, they entered the country illegally, and its difficult to detect them, but the day they are discovered, they will definitely be stopped and deported, he said.

Salam also broached the possibility of direct negotiations with Israel, despite a lack of recognition and a historical boycott on diplomatic relations with the Jewish state.

In recent weeks, speculation that Israel and Lebanon may enter into negotiations has mounted, and last week, French President Emmanuel Macron offered to host talks in Paris aimed at ending hostilities and finding a lasting peace.

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Negotiation doesnt mean recognition, Salam said, adding that Lebanon had previously entered into direct negotiations with Israel during the 1980s.

We have expressed our readiness to negotiate, he also said, adding that Israel had offered no response as of yet.
Nora and Gary Facko got the news their son was shot and killed by the Palos Hills Police Department about 10 hours after he died Feb. 15, they said.

He was shot about 4:20 in the morning, and we didnt get any call until about 2 oclock from the police, Gary Facko said. He died at the hospital. We couldve got there and maybe seen him.

Now, the parents of Gerhardt Facko, 37, are calling for more information regarding the circumstances of his death.

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Our lives will never be the same, Nora Facko said. Every day, I swear to God, he called me at 3 oclock. Every day, coming home from work he would call me.

Police said Gerhardt Facko, a Palos Hills resident, was shot following a 911 call to an address on Cour Versailles about a domestic disturbance. The caller claimed a man with a shotgun was going to harm his girlfriend and her children, police said.

Police arrived on scene and were met by an armed suspect, the police statement after the shooting said. An officer involved shooting occurred.

However, his parents say that while their son was armed, no one else was in the house when police arrived, and there was no reason for the police to have approached him aggressively.

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Thats the worst kind of approach for a situation like that, Gary Facko said. It created a kill-or-be-killed situation. They didnt have to do that. Why did they do that?

They said they want to know who called the police and what was said on the 911 call. Their daughter submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for the call, but it was denied on the basis that it contained personally identifying information.

We want justice, because we believe that the police shot him for no reason at all, Nora Facko said. They shot him like he was an animal.

Gerhardt Fackos cause of death was listed in the Cook County medical examiners report as multiple gunshot wounds.

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He shouldve put his hands up, but it shouldnt have came down to that, Gary Facko said. He was in front of the house. One of the bullets ended up in the mailbox. If there were people inside, they couldve been injured.

The Palos Hills Police Department said Thursday the Illinois State Police public integrity unit was investigating the incident, and no additional information was available.

The Fackos said they have been talking to lawyers, and that they are frustrated by a lack of communication from the police.

Were not looking for money. We dont want money, said Nora Facko. We want to know exactly what happened.

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Gerhardt Facko wasnt a violent person, his parents said. He worked as a stationary engineer.

He was the one that looked out for us. He would come check on us, Nora Facko said. He was like the best son in the whole world you would want.

He was the youngest of six children.

I had six. Now I only have four, and Im so worried, Nora Facko said. Youre supposed to die before your children.

elewis@chicagotribune.com
The Pennsylvania legislature last overhauled the states open records law, known as Right-to-Know, nearly two decades ago.

Now, some elected officials and media advocates say its time for an update.

Right-to-Know hasnt been addressed since 2008, Rep. David Delloso (D-Delaware) told the Pennsylvania Capital-Star. I think a timely response is due.

Delloso, majority chair of the House Intergovernmental Affairs & Operations Committee, repeatedly noted the laws age in an hour-long informational hearing on Right-to-Know Monday. Panelists urged lawmakers to either extend leniency for responding government units or tighten exemptions.

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Drafters created the Right-to-Know law with a goal to empower citizens, labelling all records as public  unless otherwise specified by an exemption  and giving agencies five days to respond with just one 30-day extension.

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But Lancaster County Commissioner Ray DAgostino, testifying on behalf of the County Commissions Association of Pennsylvania, said that within 15 years of implementation it became clear to counties that the law needed to be updated.

The environment in which the law operates today is very different from that which was envisioned at the time it was passed, he said.

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While requests used to be for individual records, now the shift was toward large-scale data extraction and commercial data mining that required an extraordinary breadth of records, said DAgostino. Some commercial enterprises even repackage the information and sell it, he added.

What was once a simple document retrieval may now require retrieval records from different systems, coordination across multiple departments, legal review and careful redaction of confidential information, he said. All this must be completed within strict statutory timelines, regardless of the size and complexity of the request.

DAgostino supported charges for commercial requests as well as a blackout period around elections to keep administrators free to focus on Election Day, rather than records requests.

Other identified issues for governments

Ron Grutza, the senior director of government affairs with the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs, echoed DAgostinos remarks about charging fees for commercial requesters. He also emphasized the need to address so-called vexatious requests  or bad faith public record searches designed to tie up officials  and artificial intelligence.

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When someone has an ax to grind, especially with smaller boroughs and townships, they know that they can shut down the office for a week or so by sending these complex requests, said Grutza.

Stakeholders said that AI, in particular, has disrupted the system, flooding government agencies with lengthy or burdensome submissions.

The incursion of AI  is affecting all government and, frankly, all representational bodies, said Delloso. I was in union representation (and) suddenly members are handing in grievances that are AI generated with long-standing, extinguished cases that have no appeal and no bearing on their particular grievance.

Senate Bill 431, authored by Sen. Tracy Pennycuick (R-Montgomery), would allow agencies to reject requests automatically generated by technology like AI if they have a reasonable suspicion.

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Grutza said that his association supported the proposal, which also allows denials for requests that contain links and documents if the responding officer believes that downloading  could pose a cybersecurity risk.

Barriers to public access

Melissa Melewsky, an attorney with the Pennsylvania News Media Association, assists journalists throughout the commonwealth  including the Pennsylvania Capital-Star  with Right-to-Know requests and public access.

While the 2008 law is a significant improvement, Melewsky warned about continuing efforts to exempt entire subject areas from public scrutiny, which could erode the Right-to-Know law (and) risk death by 1,000 cuts.

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Thats obviously not something we want to see happen here in Pennsylvania, said Melewsky.

And though request deadlines are strict, members of the media may often seek records informally  only to be diverted to the Right-to-Know process for plainly public documents like meeting minutes, contracts and salaries, said Melewsky.

Those documents are often granted a 30-day extension, which Melewsky said should be reserved for special circumstances but, in practice, has become (a) standard operating procedure.

Some public documents could be proactively disclosed, she continued, which could reduce the burden on local governments and maintain public access. Additionally, some public entities share files as PDFs, rather than machine-readable documents or databases, limiting their usefulness for public analysis.

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What was once a functional data set, in effect, becomes a static printout, said Melewsky. Thats not a neutral, administrative choice. It materially alters the records and diminishes its value to the public  the risk is only increasing as government agencies rely more heavily on databases and data-driven systems to manage their operations.

Melewsky also said that the states criminal investigation exemption was one of the broadest in the nation and creates a significant barrier.

At left, Melissa Melewsky, an attorney with the Pennsylvania News Media Association, describes public access barriers before a committee on March 23, 2026. (Photo by Whitney Downard/Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

As written and interpreted, Pennsylvanias criminal investigation exemptions shield most law enforcement records even long after cases are closed and resolved. This includes even basic incident reports, which were public under the prior, more restrictive law, Melewsky said.

And as traditional police blotters are phased out, she said, the result is that the public often has no meaningful access to basic information about criminal activity in their community.

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That wasnt the intent of the Right-to-Know law, and its something that could be meaningfully addressed by the legislature, she added.

Non-criminal investigative exemptions can include inspection reports for child care facilities or nursing facilities as well as infrastructure safety records. According to the Office of Open Records 2025 report, non-criminal and criminal investigative records were the top two cited exemptions in filed appeals.

Melewsky also cautioned against the vexatious requester label, noting that available data doesnt indicate its a widespread practice and it could limit public scrutiny.

A requester who persistently seeks information could be characterized as vexatious simply because the requests are inconvenient or uncomfortable, said Melewsky.
A bill for an ordinance to dissolve Longmonts Airport Advisory Board is set for its first reading before the city council Tuesday night, along with final votes tied to the citys downtown Front Range Community College push, a wildfire code update and a police presentation on automated license plate readers.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the Civic Center, 350 Kimbark St.

It has been a tumultuous time for the Airport Advisory Board, marked by frustration among aviation professionals, councilmembers and residents alike. The board has been short three members all year, following a board interview process in which two sitting board members who interviewed other candidates were candidates themselves.

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Although these two candidates did not fill out rubrics for themselves, some councilmembers at the time said it raised concerns about ethics and conflicts of interest in the boards interview process, though they acknowledged that no city rules or charter provisions were broken. As a result, the three members were not confirmed to the board, and the original plan was for the city to reopen the application process in March when it reopens its other boards and commissions application process.

On Feb. 10, the city council discussed consolidating the AABs duties into the Transportation Advisory Board, with Councilmember Sean McCoy making the initial motion to do so. His original motion passed 4-3, with Councilmembers Alex Kalkhofer, Crystal Prieto, and Diane Crist in opposition. Two days later, however, a tense AAB meeting in which AAB member Matt Gibson criticized McCoys motion in a manner that appeared to mock his stutter, led to the council making an about-face.

During the following City Council meeting, on Feb. 24, the council moved to direct city staff to bring back an ordinance to dissolve the AAB altogether; and not to consolidate its duties into the TAB. While discussing the motion, the conduct by Gibson at the previous AAB meeting was mentioned numerous times, described by members of the City Council as unprofessional and hard to watch.

In light of the AABs uncertain future, the city chose to hold off on reopening applications to fill its three vacant seats earlier this month, during the citys second recruitment process of the year for citizens advisory boards. City spokesman Rogelio Mares said Thursday that the city would reopen applications for the AAB if the City Council voted to keep the board intact. The ordinance would repeal the chapter of city code that created the Airport Advisory Board. It is set for a second reading and public hearing on April 14.

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Also on Tuesday, the council is set for second reading votes on two items tied to the Innovative Urban Downtown Campus and Transit Hub at First and Main. They are part of the citys latest push to bring a permanent Front Range Community College campus into downtown Longmont.

One of those votes is on an additional appropriation of $549,000 for planning work. According to the council packet, $499,000 would come from Front Range Community College and $50,000 would come from city money first budgeted in 2019 for a Front Range capital campaign contribution. The money would support early planning for a downtown campus, including a facility master plan, space needs and an academic program plan.

The other vote is on a development agreement with Vertikal Richmark LLC. City documents say that agreement would cover the first phase of predevelopment for a mixed-use, transit-oriented project on 6.14 acres east of Main Street between First Avenue and Boston Avenue. That work would include feasibility and high-level planning for an academic campus, other early site planning and construction of the First and Main Transit Hub.

The packet also says the city would be on the hook for $200,000 in earnest money (also known as a good faith deposit) the developer has already put up if the property does not close for the college project or another mixed-use development that benefits the city.

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The council is also scheduled to hold a second reading and public hearing on adopting the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code on Tuesday. This is a state-required code update for areas that touch the wildland-urban interface. In Longmont, that affected area is small and is generally on the citys southwest edge around Vance Brand Municipal Airport, according to the council packet.

Buildings there that have occupiable or habitable space would have to meet state wildfire standards meant to lower the risk of a wildfire reaching a structure and the risk of a structure fire spreading into nearby vegetation. The packet also says that if Longmont does not adopt the code, the city could risk future state funding.

Additionally, the Longmont Department of Public Safety is set to give a presentation on automated license plate readers, or ALPRs, and alternative vendors to Flock.

The presentation comes after questions from both the public and the council in recent months about license plate reader technology, especially after the public controversy over Flock cameras. Some anti-Flock advocates have expressed that it isnt the license plate reader technology they take issue with, but Flock, as a private, for-profit company, contracting with cities, that raises concerns. Tuesday nights discussion appears set up as a staff update on how the technology works and what other vendor options may be available.
A Louisiana state representative has withdrawn his bill to allow guns on college campuses, killing the proposal for the year.

House Bill 99 by Rep. Danny McCormick, R-Oil City, would have allowed anyone 18 or older to carry a firearm on public or private college and university campuses.

McCormick said he withdrew his bill because the college students who asked him to file it told him they would be unable to testify in support of it. McCormick said he would be open to filing it again next year if a student will come to the Capitol to speak in favor of the proposal.

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Several pro-gun bills McCormick has filed in the past have failed to garner support, including a measure to allow certain teachers to carry firearms in K-12 schools. Lawmakers approved a law Sen. Blake Miguez, R-New Iberia, sponsored in 2024 to legalize concealed carrying of guns without a permit, a proposal that McCormick backed but whose own version faltered.

In addition to his campus proposal, McCormick has also sponsored a bill this session that would prohibit any entity from taking a firearm away from a law-abiding citizen without due process. House Bill 94 would counter any potential red-flag laws that have been approved in some states, but not Louisiana, to seize guns from persons deemed to be a risk to themselves or others.

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Future Louisiana driver's licenses would include proof of U.S. citizenship under a bill advanced by the state House Transportation Committee March 23.

House Bill 613 by Republican Haughton Rep. Dodie Horton would add the image of a bald eagle on licenses as proof of U.S. citizenship if the bill becomes law.

It comes as Congress debates the SAVE Act supported by President Trump and congressional Republicans that would require proof of citizenship to vote. It's already illegal for non-citizens to vote in U.S. elections.

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Opponents of the SAVE Act argue that it will disproportionately disenfranchise voters who are young, nonwhite and low income.

Horton said she has the support of the parish registrars of voters that she has spoken to about the bill.

Office of Motor Vehicles personnel testified that if the bill becomes law it won't add any additional requirements to securing a driver's license or any increased cost to the license fee.

Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) speaks during an "Only Citizens Vote" bus tour rally on passing the SAVE Act outside the U.S. Capitol on September 10, 2025, in Washington, DC.

The bill cleared the committee on an 8-5 vote largely along party lines, with all Republicans supporting the legislation, though Democratic Rep. Pat Moore joined Republicans in voting for the measure.

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"I think this would avoid some of the issues we might run into if the SAVE Act passes," Moore said.

But other Democrats, like Shreveport Rep. Joy Walters, were skeptical, especially since the "eagle" proof of citizenship would only be recognized in Louisiana, unlike the federal Real ID program already in place that is recognized nationwide.

"If it's only recognized in the state I don't think it serves the full intent," Walters said.

If passed, Louisiana won't implement the law until the OMV completes its technology upgrade, which is underway but without a specific completion date.

The bill now moves to the full House for debate.

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Shreveport civil rights icons: Louisiana lawmakers advance bill to honor Shreveport civil rights icons

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: SAVE Act may prompt change in Louisiana driver's licenses
A Louisville man is dead after a collision in Meade County, according to a news release from Kentucky State Police.

The collision occurred on US-31 West in Muldraugh around 9:50 a.m. March 21, spokesperson Bryan Washer said. A preliminary investigation indicates that a man was driving a Ford Escape on northbound US-31 West when the vehicle hit the end of a guardrail, which caused it to overturn.

The vehicle came to rest on the drivers side on the outside shoulder of the roadway, Washer said. No other vehicles were involved.

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The driver, who was identified as Dennis Perry, 34, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Meade County Coroner.

KSP is investigating the collision.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville man dies in Meade County collision
KHARTOUM, March 23 (Xinhua) -- At least 17 people were killed, and 25 others injured in drone strikes targeting residential neighborhoods in Lagawa city in West Kordofan state, southern Sudan, according to a statement by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and an eyewitness.

In a statement on Monday, the RSF said that "these systematic attacks on hospitals, markets, and residential areas across several cities in the Kordofan and Darfur regions, using drones, constitute a grave and explicit violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits targeting civilians and civilian objects."

The RSF called for an independent international investigation to hold those responsible accountable.

An eyewitness inside the city told Xinhua, "Early this morning, we heard loud explosions, followed by thick plumes of smoke rising from several neighborhoods in central Lagawa."

"Projectiles fell on some homes in the eastern part of the city, resulting in casualties," the witness added, confirming the reported deaths and injuries.

West Kordofan state, located in the southwestern part of the Kordofan region and bordering South Sudan, is under RSF control.

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have not commented on the accusations of shelling the city.

The SAF and RSF have been at war since April 2023. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions inside Sudan and across the region. 
A male who fell into the Congaree River Saturday died, officials said.

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources said officers responded to a section of the Congaree River in Lexington County to investigate a reported drowning fatality.

The victim has not been publicly identified by the Lexington County Coroners Office, and no cause of death has been announced.

At about 2 p.m., the male fell out of a boat in the area of the Congaree River near the I-77 overpass, a spokeswoman for the City of Cayce told The State Sunday.

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Another boater recovered the victim and brought him to shore where Cayce first responders performed CPR at the scene for 45 minutes until an ambulance could reach them, officials said.

The victim was taken to a hospital, according to officials. Information about when he died was not available, but DNR confirmed the death at 3:49 p.m. Saturday.

DNR is continuing to investigate the death.
A 32-year-old man has been charged in connection with indecent exposure this month in Rochester Hills.

Bryan DeAngelo May was arraigned Saturday in 52-3 District Court on a count of aggravated indecent exposure. The charge is a high misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in jail and/or a $2,000 fine, the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office announced Monday.

On Thursday, the Detroit resident allegedly exposed himself in the womens apparel department at Walmart, according to the office.

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"Women and girls have a right to feel safe when shopping," Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said in a statement. "No one should just put up' with this behavior. If youre victimized, call the police. This is a crime, and we will hold these criminals accountable."

A Walmart spokesperson sent an email to the News and said they are thankful law enforcement responded to the incident.

"The safety and security of our customers and associates is a top priority. What occurred at our Rochester Hills store was unacceptable, and we take incidents like this seriously," the statement said.

An attorney representing May was not listed in court records Monday.

mjohnson@detroitnews.com

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Man accused of alleged exposure at Rochester Hills Walmart charged
NEED TO KNOW

Ohio resident Shane DiGiovanna, who has the rare disorder epidermolysis bullosa (EB), is advocating for legislation to help cover costly medical bandages for patients with the disease

The disease is also known as butterfly syndrome because patients skin is as fragile as a butterflys wings, he said

Every day requires intensive wound care, he told PEOPLE

An Ohio man with a rare terminal disease is fighting to help thousands of others with the same condition.

Shane DiGiovanna, 27, of Cincinnati, was born with epidermolysis bullosa, or EB, a painful disease that prevents the body from growing healthy skin.

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The condition causes fragile, blistering skin and a number of chronic and often fatal complications. It affects about 25,000 to 50,000 people in the U.S., according to Stanford Medicine.

Credit: Shane DiGiovanna

This condition is often called the worst disease youve never heard of, DiGiovanna told local news outlet WKRC. Its also called the butterfly disease  people with EB, their skin is as fragile as a butterflys wings.

DiGiovanna, who graduated from college in 2021 and is a self-described political junkie, is hoping to make concrete change in the lives of people suffering from EB, specifically regarding their access to life-saving bandages.

DiGiovanna explained in an exclusive statement to PEOPLE, Ive lived my entire life with epidermolysis bullosa  Every day requires intensive wound care just to prevent infection, manage pain, and keep my body functioning. The bandages that make that possible arent optional  theyre the difference between life and death.

Credit: Shane DiGiovanna

DiGiovanna went on to say that the cost of bandages alone for patients with EB can bankrupt patients and their families.

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Those bandages can cost tens of thousands of dollars a month, and too often, they arent covered. Families are forced into impossible decisions: go into debt, go without care, or watch things get worse, he said.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Because of this, DiGiovanna took his story  and the story of many others with EB  to Rep. Greg Landsman. The meeting prompted Landsman to introduce a bill that may one day provide financial relief for EB families.

The bill, called the Shane DiGiovanna Act, would direct the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to study whether covering the cost of bandages for patients with EB would result in fewer hospital visits overall, and therefore lower overall costs to the health care system.

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If the study shows that making bandages more accessible to EB patients saves money overall, then Congress could potentially mandate bandage coverage in the future.

This bill  asks a simple question: What happens if we treat wound care for EB patients not as a luxury, but as essential medical care? DiGiovanna said in his statement to PEOPLE. Because we already know the answer. When patients have what they need, they stay out of the hospital. They suffer less. They live longer, fuller lives.

Credit: Shane DiGiovanna

For me, this is personal  but its also bigger than me, he continued. Its about every child and every family facing this disease, and making sure they dont have to fight the health care system just to survive.

Congressman Greg Landsman didnt just see a policy problem  he saw me, and he listened. Thats rare. And its why this bill exists, he added. At the end of the day, this isnt about politics. Its about dignity. Its about making sure that people like me are given a fair chance to live our lives with comfort, care, and humanity.

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The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

While speaking to WKRC, Landsman said that DiGiovanna isnt just a professional collaborator  hes also become a friend.

Hes given me so much good advice, Landsman said, adding that DiGiovanna always reminds him of a simple truth: Just do the right thing. Always do the right thing.

DiGiovanna  who told PEOPLE he is very old for a person with severe EB  continues to fight for others amid his own declining health.

In a September 2025 Facebook post, he shared that he was entering hospice care due to complications from his condition.

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At 27, I am already old for someone with severe EB, he wrote.

One of the new challenges has been inflammation effectively attacking my internal organs. Over the past year, my kidney function has steadily declined  and in the past few months, it has dropped off a cliff.

The doctors say I have somewhere between three months and a year left to live, he continued, adding that he has had a wonderful life and has tried to live to the fullest.

I am proud of everything I have accomplished, and how far I have come, but now it is time for me to rest and connect with everyone I care about, he wrote.

Read the original article on People
The Chicago man charged with arson and murder in the death of a Chicago firefighter will be detained, pending trial, the Cook County State's Attorney's Office said Monday.

Sheaves Slate, 27, appeared in court Monday, after missing a hearing Saturday amid his hospitalization.

Prosecutors allege Slate was squatting in a building in the 1700-block of West North Shore Avenue, and he started a fire in the basement after arguing with two tenants.

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While battling the blaze, Chicago Fire Department firefighter Michael Altman fell from the building's first floor, which collapsed, and into the basement last Monday.

The 32-year-old CFD EMT died from his injuries on Tuesday.

Slate was later arrested in the 800-block of West Irving Park Road on Wednesday. He was taken into custody at a local hospital he had checked himself into for psychiatric help.

Prosecutors said, before that, he took the Red Line to Harold Washington Library, where he allegedly dyed his hair and changed his clothes after the fire.

The judge said Monday it's clear that Slate is someone with a penchant for setting fires and is a threat to the community.

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Slate appeared mostly disengaged from his detention hearing. The 27-year-old at one point placed his head onto the courtroom table as if asleep.

After his court appearance Monday, Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke said in a statement:

"We are all grieving the tragic loss of Michael Altman - a young father and dedicated firefighter who followed in his family's footsteps to serve and protect others. His death is a profound loss for the Chicago Fire Department, his family and loved ones, and communities across Cook County. My thoughts are with all who are mourning during this incredibly difficult time.

"Our felony review prosecutors acted swiftly, in collaboration with the Chicago Police Department, to approve charges including first-degree murder and aggravated arson in connection with Michael's death. This marks the second time under my administration that murder charges have been brought for a firefighter's on-duty death - a sobering reminder of the risks first responders face every day as they confront danger to keep us safe.

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"We will pursue this case with the utmost seriousness and will seek justice in court on behalf of Michael, his family, and the people of Cook County."

The ABC7 I-Team learned that Slate also has a history of drug and retail theft charges.

Officials in court on Saturday said Slate recently failed to appear for a hearing in connection with a retail theft case, and he was already on suspension in connection with another retail theft case.

Prosecutors Monday said he had an open warrant for his arrest.

According to prosecutors, Slate had previously lived with a friend in a third-floor unit inside the building.

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In the weeks prior to the fire, he had been seen coming and going, illegally staying in the basement, where the boiler room and laundry room were located.

It is there they said Slate admitted to setting fire to a mattress after becoming depressed and having suicidal thoughts.

Court documents stated Slate blocked the entryway with a door that made it harder for responding firefighters to gain access.

"This type of incident is clearly preventable. There is not doubt when you look at what has happened here that somebody who continually did not show up at court appearances after his arrest should have been locked up the first time," former 2nd Ward Alderman Bob Fioretti said.

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Altman, a fourth-generation CFD firefighter, was a husband, and a father to a young child. His wife is pregnant with their second child.

"The evidence was overwhelming, and I think they got it right. It's good to see. It's good for the family," 45th Ward Alderman James Gardiner said Monday.

A large contingent of Chicago Fire department personnel, including Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt, attended Monday's hearing.

Gardiner acknowledged the tragedy of the department's loss while also saying, "it's equally reassuring to see the camaraderie among first responders. The amount of support that has come from first responders, not only in Chicago, but in the suburbs and even out of state is tremendous."

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Altman's funeral is set for Friday at Saint Rita of Cascia at 10 a.m. The visitation is scheduled for Thursday, from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m., at the same location.

ABC7 will have live coverage of Altman's funeral on our air and wherever you stream on Friday morning.

Slate is next due in court April 8.
A man accused of driving over 120 mph during a high-speed chase that turned into a deadly crash has been formally charged.

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Tarsem Singh, 33, was indicted by a Darke County grand jury on charges of involuntary manslaughter, failure to comply, reckless homicide, aggravated vehicular homicide, and vehicular assault.

As previously reported by News Center 7, on Feb. 16, a Range Rover, driven by Singh, was going west on SR 47 while being chased by the Darke County Sheriffs Office.

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A deputy observed the SUV going at a high rate of speed and was trying to catch up with it.

The deputy chased the SUV for five miles with speeds reaching 124 mph, according to a Darke County Sheriffs Office spokesperson.

Cruiser camera video shows the deputy chasing the car until it goes over the center line and hits an oncoming car.

An oncoming 2016 Jeep Cherokee was driven by a 35-year-old Union City, Indiana, woman.

After hitting the Jeep, Singh went off the left side of the road, overturned, and finally stopped back in the roadway.

Ashlee Holmes, 17, was a passenger in Singhs car.

She was thrown from the SUV and died from her injuries at the scene.

Holmes was pregnant.

Singh is being held on a $1 million bond.

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Jose Medina's pretrial detention hearing has been postponed as police say he is still at Illinois Masonic Hospital, being treated for tuberculosis.

Monday's hearing revealed new details about the shooting he allegedly carried out last week, as well as his criminal history. Meanwhile, local and federal officials say Medina should not have been free on the streets of Chicago.

The Department of Homeland Security says 25-year-old Medina is an undocumented immigrant. He is facing felony charges of first-degree murder and aggravated use of a firearm.

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Police say Medina allegedly shot and killed Sheridan Gorman, a Loyola University freshman who was walking in Rogers Park with a group of friends early Thursday.

"Tom and Jessica... the parents of Sheridan are taking this very hard. Tom said to me on the phone, you know, 'Every parent says that their kid is the best in the world, but mine was,'" said Archdiocese of Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich.

DHS says Medina has allegedly been living in the country illegally after entering it in 2023. President Donald Trump shared his thoughts on the matter on Monday.

"It's devastating. These people were let in by Biden. We're getting them out. We're getting them out fast. That's why ICE is so important. They're doing such a good job," Trump said.

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DHS says Medina remained in Chicago despite being arrested by Border Patrol in 2023. Chicago police later arrested him again in that same year for retail theft charges at a Macy's store in the city.

SEE ALSO | Loyola student murder leads to new friction point over state's sanctuary policies

Court records show Medina failed to appear for those charges, and that's when an arrest warrant was issued.

An attorney representing Gorman's family said in a statement, in part, "We are gravely disappointed by the policies and failures that allowed this individual to remain in a position to commit this crime... When systems fail -- whether through release decisions, lack of coordination, or unwillingness to act -- the consequences are not abstract. They are real. And in our case, they are permanent."

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DHS has now filed an ICE arrest detainer, hoping to place Medina in their custody, so he can be deported. But local officials say he needs to face felony charges in Chicago first.

"This person has to held accountable to the highest extent of the law, which in his case, because he is here illegally, would require him, at some point, to be deported, either to fulfill his sentence or after fulfilling his sentence," said Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza.

Prosecutors say Medina was hiding near the pier where Gorman and her friends were walking early Thursday.

Witnesses told police that they were suspicious of a man hiding there. An arrest report says witnesses saw Medina walking "with a very distinct and slow gait."

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When the group of friends came upon Medina, who wore a mask and all black clothing, he allegedly fired shots as they ran.

Gorman, who is from New York, was shot in the back and died from her injuries.

After tracking surveillance video, police say, Medina was arrested at his home near North Sheridan Road, just a couple of blocks from the scene.

There, a lobby camera captured him without a mask, and after investigators used facial recognition software, U.S. Customs and Border Protection records returned a match for the Venezuelan national, the arrest report said.

Inside Medina's apartment, officers allegedly found the clothing he was allegedly wearing during the shooting and a 40-caliber handgun that matched the shell casings found at the scene.

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An attorney representing Gorman's family says they are grateful for the quick work of police, and that this is the first step toward justice for the 18-year-old.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker's office issued a statement, saying, "Our 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 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."

Ald. Ray Lopez, who represents the city's 15th Ward, was in court on Monday. He says this tragedy could have been avoided.

"Because we refuse to amend our laws in a way that makes sense while still allowing us to open up our communities to those who want to be here, who want to make our city and state and country better, a life has been taken," Lopez said.

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Medina is due back in court on Friday morning as long as doctors approve his release from the hospital.

Gorman's family said they do not want this to be just another case that fades from public attention. Her life mattered, they said, and what happened to her matters.

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A man on the DeKalb County Sheriffs Office most wanted list was captured in Alabama.

According to the sheriffs office, fugitive Brian Tripp was captured in Prichard, Alabama. with help from the Mobile County Sheriffs Office.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Tripp was on the run after escaping mid-trial in January 2024. He was awarded bond before his escape.

The sheriffs office said the trial went on without him, and he was convicted of kidnapping, street gang charges and other offenses by a jury, receiving a life sentence plus 65 years.

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While on the run, the sheriffs office said Tripp faced additional serious charges and was indicted again in April 2025 for helping cover up the death of Anthony Woodland.

Tripp is accused of putting Woodlands body in a suitcase, then burning it in the woods in 2025.

Working closely with our law enforcement partners, the Mobile County Sheriffs Office, we were able to locate and arrest someone who went to great lengths to avoid accountability, DeKalb County Sheriff Melody M. Maddox said in a statement. This case shows we dont give up. No matter how long it takes or where someone goes, we will keep working to bring them back to face justice.

Jail records show Tripp is in custody in Alabama, awaiting extradition back to Georgia.

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A man is facing charges in connection with a major fentanyl bust at a home on Cape Cod, authorities announced Monday.

Carlton H. Hendricks III, 35, of East Falmouth, was arrested on a charge of trafficking fentanyl over 100 grams but under 200 grams, according to the Falmouth Police Department.

Officers serving a search warrant at 148 Central Avenue around 5 a.m. Monday seized just over 150 grams of fentanyl, digital scales, a cutting substance, sandwich bags, and more than $1,700 in cash, police noted.

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The search of the home stemmed from an ongoing narcotics investigation that revealed Hendricks had been regularly selling illegal drugs, according to police.

Drug Enforcement Administrations Cape Cod Task Force and the Barnstable County Sheriffs Office assisted Falmouth police at the scene.

Police also noted that Hendricks arrest is part of a community crackdown to disrupt drug trafficking operations that contribute to overdose deaths and harm across Cape Cod.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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The state agency that runs Rainier School, a residential campus for people with disabilities in Pierce County, found numerous failures in protocol that led to a clients fall in 2024 and resulted in lifelong injuries, according to a lawsuit.

Dustin Snyder, who was reportedly a known risk for falling, lived at the habilitation center in Buckley for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities from 2005 until just after he was seriously hurt in November 2024, the legal complaint said.

In the lawsuit filed this month in Pierce County Superior Court, Snyders legal guardian, Lorrie Medina, alleged that the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) neglected Snyder after the fall and delayed providing him with a medical examination for nearly a week. It was later determined at a hospital that Snyder suffered three brain bleeds and two skull fractures, according to the suit.

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Due to the severity of the brain injury, doctors predicted that Dustin would die within 48 hours, the complaint said.

Snyder, now 43, survived but is not faring well. He previously required assistance to walk due to disabilities, but can no longer walk at all, according to the suit. His feet are now pigeon-toed, and the extent of his brain injuries is unknown, the suit said.

DSHS, which operates Rainier School, declined to comment on the lawsuits allegations Wednesday, citing its practice of not publicly addressing pending litigation. The complaint, filed March 12, accused the agency of negligence and abuse of a vulnerable adult.

Rainier School has faced abuse claims before. Legislation last year proposed shutting it down. Instead, it and Yakima Valley School  two of the states four residential rehabilitation centers  will remain open but cannot accept new residents, The News Tribune previously reported. Rainier Schools proponents say its role is critical.

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DSHSs own investigation concluded that Snyder should have been in a wheelchair instead of walking when he fell, and afterward he should have been taken to a hospital or, at least, seen by a nurse, according to the lawsuit.

Snyder has significant disabilities, including cerebral palsy, epilepsy, non-verbal autism and a severe intellectual disability. He has the functional ability of a toddler and is a fall risk due to fatigue and seizures, the complaint said. As such, Snyder was required under his state-established care plan to use a wheelchair on all trips outside his residence, according to the suit.

Snyder did not have the wheelchair, however, during a trip to a campus coffee shop, a few hundred feet from his residence, on Nov. 26, 2024.

While walking with a DSHS caregiver, Snyder fell backward and struck the back of his head on a sidewalk, causing his head to gush blood, the suit said. The caregiver took Snyder back home instead of to an on-site doctor or emergency room; DSHS didnt immediately report the fall to Snyders mother, whos also his legal guardian; and DSHS didnt draft an incident report, the suit said.

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In the aftermath, Snyder showed signs of a brain injury, including lethargy, unsteadiness, confusion, and decreased appetite and inability to feed himself, according to the suit. He was seen by an on-site doctor for the first time after the fall on Dec. 2, 2024, and, as his symptoms worsened, Snyders mother was notified about his fall the following day, the suit said.

On Dec. 3, 2024, Snyders mother rushed him to a local hospital, where a CT scan and x-rays revealed his brain and skull injuries, the suit said. Snyder, who suffers from a disorder where one eats non-food items, also had debris of clothes, bedsheets and trash in his stomach, according to the complaint.

The enormous amount of debris suggested that Snyder wasnt being properly supervised, the suit said, adding that he now must eat chopped up or blended foods.

Snyder spent more than five months in a hospital, where he couldnt digest the debris, swallow, sit upright or show emotion, according to the suit. The complaint also alleged that DSHS gave up on Snyder and stopped funding his physical therapy.

The lawsuit is seeking unspecified damages and legal fees. An attorney representing the plaintiffs didnt immediately return a message seeking to discuss the allegations Wednesday.
Former Sen. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) on Sunday said it was time to stand up to Senate Republicans who seek to abolish the filibuster.

The filibuster, unique to the Senate, is more than 200 years old. The rule allows for debate until 60 votes are gathered to invoke cloture and end debate, a high bar when neither party controls 60 seats.

Ive always been independent. But now, stand up. You need at least 10 or at least five Democrats right now to sign a pledge that we will not, absolutely under no way, shape or form, will we vote to get rid [of the filibuster], Manchin said during an appearance on NewsNations The Hill Sunday.

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Manchin said nixing the filibuster would kill the soul of the Senate, diminish the governments global reputation and make the upper chamber a flip-flop glorified House that changes every two years.

The former West Virginia senator argued the filibuster protects the minority party and works against passing bills without bipartisanship.

It gives the minority a chance to participate. Thats all to hear from the minority, which makes us the most deliberate, unusual body in the world, because when we pass legislation, Chris, its hard. Its even harder to get rid of it, Manchin told host Chris Stirewalt.

So, the bottom line is we have stability. We have predictability in the world, he added.

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Senators have reconsidered the usefulness of the filibuster in recent weeks as GOP lawmakers work to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act ahead of midterm elections.

House Republicans have urged their counterparts in the upper chamber to use a talking filibuster to get the bill over the line. The measure would require Democrats to hold the floor physically to block the SAVE America Act from passing.

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.
Chinese Vice President Han Zheng delivers a speech during the China-Kenya Business Forum in Nairobi, Kenya, March 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

NAIROBI, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on Monday attended the China-Kenya Business Forum in Nairobi, where he reaffirmed China's commitment to expanding trade with Kenya and the wider African region.

Han said that in April last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kenyan President William Ruto jointly agreed to elevate bilateral ties to a China-Kenya community with a shared future for the new era, setting the direction for the long-term development of relations.

The Chinese vice president put forward three proposals to strengthen bilateral ties. First, to consolidate strategic mutual trust. China stands ready to strengthen alignment between its development strategies and the Kenya Vision 2030, and to support African countries, including Kenya, in transforming resource advantages into development strengths so as to advance modernization together.

Second, to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation. China is Kenya's largest trading partner and source of foreign investment, while Kenya is China's largest trading partner in East Africa. China is willing to expand cooperation in areas such as agricultural technology, the digital economy and green energy, and encourages more capable Chinese enterprises to invest and operate in Kenya.

Third, to uphold multilateralism. President Xi has announced that starting May 1, China will implement a zero-tariff policy for all products from 53 African countries with diplomatic ties to China. China is ready to work with African countries, including Kenya, to safeguard the multilateral trading system and foster an open, inclusive and non-discriminatory environment for international economic cooperation.

Han said that China's recently concluded annual "two sessions" approved the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan, which charts the country's development blueprint for the next five years. China will remain committed to expanding high-level opening-up and will share opportunities and achieve success with countries, including Kenya, through open development.

Prior to the event, Han also held talks with Kenyan Deputy President Kithure Kindiki. He said China supports Kenya in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions and welcomes Kenya to make full use of trade facilitation measures to boost exports of high-quality and distinctive products to China, tapping into the vast opportunities of the Chinese market.

China is a good partner and friend of Kenya, Kindiki said, noting that through the Belt and Road Initiative, China has promoted regional connectivity and created significant opportunities for Kenya.

Kenya is willing to fully leverage the benefits of the zero-tariff policy to expand exports to China, promote balanced trade, enhance technological exchanges, and position itself as a gateway for China to the broader African market, Kindiki added. 
NEED TO KNOW

The Colombian Air Force said a C-130 Hercules aircraft carrying about 110 troops and 11 crew members crashed on March 23 after taking off

The Air Force said dozens have been injured, but did not confirm any possible fatalities

I express my most sincere condolences to the families of those affected," Colombia's defense minister said in a statement

Officials in Colombia said a military plane reportedly carrying at least 120 troops and crew crashed following takeoff, leaving 77 injured.

In a news release, Colombias Air Force said the crash involving a C-130 Hercules aircraft carrying about 110 soldiers of the National Army and 11 crew members occurred the morning of Monday, March 23, after taking off Puerto Leguizamo.

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According to preliminary information, 77 people have been reported injured so far. Some are being treated at medical centers in Puerto Leguizamo and Puerto Asis, Putumayo, the Air Force statement read. Others will be urgently transferred to Bogota and Florencia for specialized medical care. Air traffic control measures are also being implemented in the area to facilitate and expedite response and relief efforts.

Flames and thick black smoke rise from an Air Force Hercules that crashed during takeoff in Puerto Leguizamo, Colombia, near the southern border with Ecuador, March 23, 2026

Credit: daniel ortiz / AFP via Getty

The Air Force's news release did not indicate any possible fatalities from the crash.

Pedro Sanchez, Colombias defense minister, also confirmed Mondays incident in a post shared on X.

With deep sorrow, I report that a Hercules aircraft from our @FuerzaAereaCol suffered a tragic accident while taking off from Puerto Leguizamo (Putumayo), as it was transporting troops from our Public Force, Sanchez wrote.

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Military units are already at the scene of the incident; however, the exact number of victims and the causes of the crash have not yet been determined, he added.

Carlos Fernando Silva, commander of the Colombian Air Force, said that about 48 were alive and rescued, The Associated Press reported.

At this time we dont have any more details except that as soon as it took off, the airplane suffered a problem and descended toward the ground, a couple of kilometers from the airport, Silva said in a video statement, The New York Times reported.

Soldiers and rescuers near an Air Force Hercules emitting thick smoke after the aircraft crashed during takeoff in Puerto Leguizamo, Colombia, on March 23, 2026

Credit: daniel ortiz / AFP via Getty

The Air Force said that care and reaction protocols were activated following the crash, deploying ambulance aircraft and aircraft in mass patient transfer configuration, with an interdisciplinary team including medical specialists, Prehospital Care (APH) and investigators from the Colombian Aerospace Force and the National Army.

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I express my most sincere condolences to the families of those affected and, in respect for their pain, I call for avoiding speculation until official information is available, Sanchez said.

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It is a deeply painful event for the country. May our prayers accompany and, to some extent, alleviate the sorrow, he added.

The Colombian Air Force did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

Read the original article on People
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP)  A military transport plane with 128 people on board, mostly soldiers, crashed shortly after taking off Monday in Puerto Leguizamo, Colombia, killing at least 66 people and leaving dozens injured, the head of Colombias armed forces said.

General Hugo Alejandro Lopez Barreto said that four military personnel were still missing.

Sadly, as a consequence of this tragic accident, 66 of our military elements died, he said.

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At the moment, we have no information, or indications, that it was an attack by an illegal armed group, Barreto added.

In a video posted on social media, Deputy Mayor Carlos Claros said that the bodies of the victims were taken to the small town's morgue, and that the only two clinics in town treated the injured before they were flown to larger cities. Puerto Leguizamo is located in Putumayo, an Amazonian province that borders Ecuador and Peru.

I want to thank the people of Puerto Leguizamo who came out to help the victims of this accident, Claros told Colombian television station RCN.

Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez said on X that the plane that crashed Monday was transporting troops to another city in Putumayo.

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Images shared online by Colombian media outlets showed a black cloud of smoke rising from a field where the plane crashed and a truck with soldiers rushing to the site.

The airplane had 128 people on board, including 115 were from the Army, 11 crew members and 2 from the National Police. Baretto said 57 people were evacuated.

Media outlets shared videos of soldiers being rushed from the site on motorcycles driven by local residents, while another group of residents tried to put out the fire that the plane crash had created in a field surrounded by dense foliage.

Carlos Fernando Silva, the commander of Colombias air force, said details of the crash were not yet known, "except that the plane had a problem and went down about two kilometers from the airport.

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The air force commander added that two planes, with 74 beds, were sent to the area to fly the injured back to hospitals in the capital, Bogota, and elsewhere.

Petro seized on the accident to promote what he called his longtime campaign to modernize planes and other equipment used by his countrys military, saying those efforts have been blocked by bureaucratic difficulties and suggesting that some officials should be held accountable.

If civilian or military administrative officials are not up to the challenge, they must be removed, Petro said.

Critics of the president pointed out that military aircraft have been given less flight hours under the Petro administration due to budget cuts, which leads to less experienced crews.

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Erich Saumeth, a Colombian aviation expert and military analyst, said that the Hercules C-130 that crashed Monday had been donated by the United States to Colombia in 2020. Three years later, it went through a detailed revision known as an overhaul, in which its engines were inspected and key components were replaced.

I don't think this plane crashed because of a lack of good parts, Saumeth said. He said that investigations will have to determine why the engines of the Hercules, which has four propellers, failed so quickly after take off.

In a message on X Monday, Defense Minister Sanchez said that so far there were no signs indicating that the plane was attacked by rebel groups that operate near Puerto Leguizamo.

Sanchez wrote that the accident was profoundly painful for the country, adding that: We hope that our prayers can help to relieve some of the pain.

___

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
This story has been updated to correct an inaccurate headline.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier visited the Santa Rosa County Correctional Institution near Milton Monday to tout a statewide crackdown on career criminals.

Highlighted at the press conference was an 81-year sentence handed down March 12 in Escambia County to Mario Crawford.

Crawford was busted for using a drone to deliver items that included drugs, razors and cellphones to inmates behind bars at state prisons in Northwest Florida. Drones linked to him were located in 2022 inside a work camp at the Century Correctional Institution in Escambia County and close to the Okaloosa Correctional Institution following a contraband drop at the state prison there.

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He was convicted for introducing contraband at a state facility, conspiracy to introduce contraband at a state facility, trafficking in narcotics, illegal use of a drone and using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.

He was sentenced March 12 in Escambia County to serve 203 months (16.9 years) on three of the counts and 30 years on the drug trafficking charge. All sentences were ordered served consecutively.

Crawford had been convicted of crimes on 41 previous occasions, Uthmeier told those gathered, and the state of Florida is determined to crack down on repeat offenders.

"So often we see it's people who have been repeat offenders, people who have been in and out of the criminal justice system over and over," he said. "We're going to make sure Florida is not a revolving door for our criminal justice system."

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Accompanying Uthmeier to Santa Rosa County were Ricky Dixon, the secretary of the Florida Department of Corrections, and Guillermo Vallejo, a state-wide prosecutor who Uthmeier said would be heading up the career criminal crackdown. Santa Rosa Sheriff Bob Johnson also spoke at the news conference.

Uthmeier said it is hoped criminals will see the stiff sentence handed down to Crawford and realize that Florida is not the place to engage in criminal enterprise.

"This is only the beginning. We want people to start realizing you don't come to Florida and commit this stuff," he said. "We are committed to prosecuting these people to the fullest extent of the law. .... We're going to throw the book at you."

Though staff at the Santa Rosa County prison was not apparently involved in the discovery of narcotics dropped in by Crawford-operated drones or his subsequent arrest and conviction, Dixon emphasized the growing threat to prison operations across the state and nation posed by drones used to funnel contraband to inmates.

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The probable cause affidavit filed in the Crawford case states that the package found alongside a crashed drone during a routine check of a closed section of the Century prison's work camp had uncovered nine cell phones, 279 grams of tobacco, 25 grams of cocaine, 51 grams of methamphetamine, four phone sim cards, four charging cords and jigsaw and razor blades.

The package found in Okaloosa County contained 22 cell phones and 38 sim cards.

Uthmeier said the cell phones brought in are selling to inmates for $1,000 and being used from inside the prisons to conduct criminal activity.

Lt. Gov. Jay Collins visits Milton: Florida may invest $374M into pay raises for correctional officers

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Dixon said he has written opinion articles and testified before Congress on the impacts of drones on security.

"Me and my colleagues are working to make Congress aware of the dangers," he said.

In the op-ed published in The Floridian newsletter, Dixon wrote that drone deliveries into the state's prisons are fueling an uptick in overdoses as well as inmate attacks on guards and fellow inmates. Violence in the outside community is being linked to messages being transmitted using contraband cell phones.

"What began as hobbyist drones flying over prison fences has evolved into a coordinated criminal enterprise," Dixon wrote. "Drones are no longer a nuisance; they are sophisticated tools of organized crime being used to smuggle drugs, weapons, and cellphones into our prisons."

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Officers using a cell phone confiscated from an inmate associate of Crawford at the Liberty County prison were able to track Crawford's movements in the hours ahead of his arrival in Century from the vicinity of the state prison in Walton County.

Uthmeier said packaging from the drone drops confiscated in Northwest Florida looks similar to packaging seen by law enforcement investigators across the state.

"There's a RICO (racketeering) element to it," he said.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Florida Attorney General General James Uthmeier visits Milton prison
A Milwaukee man has been charged with causing an estimated $25,000 of damage to various items inside the Church of the Gesu at Marquette University mere months after the parish completed a multi-million dollar renovation project.

Demetres Xaviar Martece Henderson, 29, was charged March 20 in Milwaukee County Circuit Court with felony criminal damage to property. He could face up to 3 years in prison and $10,000 in fines if convicted.

According to the criminal complaint:

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Marquette police responded to the church just before 8 a.m. March 18 to a report of someone, later identified as Henderson, breaking items in the sanctuary.

A witness told police he was praying in the upper sanctuary when he heard a strange noise in the lower level of the church and went to find out what it was. When the witness got to the lower level he saw Henderson vandalizing various items in the church.

Henderson reportedly continued to vandalize the church while the witness followed him, praying.

Gesu's Director of Operations and Administration Ray Ellingen estimated the damage to items in the church, which included statues, candleholders, chairs and kneelers, at about $25,000.

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In November, Gesu's upper church reopened following a yearlong closure for a $10 million dollar renovation. Upgrades included new floors and pews, brighter lighting, revamped wiring and better acoustics in the historic building.

The renovations also included security cameras and a security desk near the entryway. Those measures allowed the church to keep its doors unlocked and open to the public during the day, something the parish's pastor, Father Michael Simone, previously told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he was proud of.

Gesu Parish is among the oldest churches in Milwaukee, tracing its origins to 1849. The building, which was designed by Henry C. Koch, at North 12th Street and West Wisconsin Avenue opened in 1894.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee man charged with vandalism at Church of the Gesu
Mar. 23BAGLEY  The Minnesota Farm to School Roadshow will set up shop in Bagley from 2 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, at Bagley High School, 1130 Main Ave. N.

"Are you a Minnesota farmer or producer who is looking to expand your market opportunities? Are you a school or early care provider who would like to incorporate more locally grown food in your meal program?" a release stated. "(The roadshow) will bring together producers, school nutrition professionals and early care providers to make new connections and learn how to build successful relationships."

The event is free to attend and will include training and facilitated networking opportunities. The roadshow will offer sessions focused on relationship building, Farm to Kids resources and support, a school kitchen tour, and fostering community connections.

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In addition to the roadshow, Good Agricultural Practices training will be offered from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Topics may include best practices to improve safety in growing, harvesting, washing and handling fresh fruits and vegetables; compost/manure use; water testing; and creating written procedures to improve safety and efficiency on a farm, among others.

GAP training is free of charge, though registration is required. Those interested should visit

renewingthecountryside.org/farmtokids.

Lunch will be provided for those attending GAP training as well as the roadshow portion of the event.
Minnesota lawmakers are seeking to repeal a state holiday honoring the late labor leader Cesar Chavez after a recent New York Times investigation alleged he had sexually abused young girls and women for years.

In 2014, Minnesota legislators passed a law designating March 31  Chavezs birthday  as a commemorative holiday to honor the farmworker activist who co-founded United Farm Workers of America. Chavez was a prominent Mexican-American labor activist who improved the lives and working conditions of millions of Latinos nationwide, according to Minnesotas statute.

Dedicating March 31 of each year as Cesar Chavez Day provides the citizens of Minnesota the opportunity to learn about and appreciate the Latino community and their contributions to our state, the law states.

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The Times investigation revealed substantial evidence to support allegations that Chavez had abused at least two young girls and several women  including United Farm Workers co-founder Dolores Huerta  during his time as a leader in the Latino civil rights movement.

Rep. Maria Isa Perez-Vega, DFL-St. Paul, said during a Capitol press conference Monday that the Latino rights and labor movement transcends one man.

Honoring Cesar Chavez for the Latino community in Minnesota would be incongruous given the five-year investigations into allegations of assault, Perez-Vega said, adding that the state instead should honor the courage of Huerta.

Huerta, a prominent Chavez ally, is now 95. She told the Times that Chavez forced her to have sex with him, and that she bore two of his children as a result of the encounters.

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House DFL Leader Zack Stephenson acknowledged the urgency behind the effort, with the holiday eight days away. The House passed the Chavez repeal bill Monday 129-0.

Gov. Tim Walz last week said he supports repealing the state holiday.

Ramona Arreguin de Rosales, a co-founder of Academia Cesar Chavez in St. Paul, said the news about Chavez was especially painful to her because she met the labor leader in college and was inspired by him to join the labor rights movement.

Rosales said at the press conference that she supports renaming the school she co-founded, as well as Cesar Chavez Street in St. Pauls West Side, which she also helped name.

The cause is much bigger than one person, she said. We must continue the good work to fight for human dignity and justice and especially for those whose voices are not heard.
A woman and her young son died after a car veered off the road and slammed into a home early Sunday in Stephenville. The driver was arrested on two counts of criminally negligent homicide.

The crash happened around 3:30 a.m. in the 200 block of North Ollie Street in the community located about an hour southwest of Fort Worth.

Stephenville police said officers arrived to find multiple people injured inside the residence. First responders from Erath County EMS and the Stephenville Fire Department rushed the victims to Texas Health Resources Stephenville, but a woman and a boy were pronounced dead despite life-saving efforts.

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Family members identified the victims as Barbara Rocha and her 7-year-old son, Alex, who were sleeping in a bedroom when the vehicle struck the house. Officials did not release details on the injuries to others in the home, but a young daughter survived.

The driver, 18-year-old Gracie Yates, was taken into custody at the scene and booked into the Erath County Jail. She faces two counts of criminally negligent homicide with bonds totaling $29,000, police said.

A neighbor who lives nearby, Reese Skinner, said the impact woke him up, adding, You always think that crazy things will never happen to you or hit this close to home.

Skinner later spoke with the victims husband and father, who was making funeral arrangements.

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He told me what had happened, but I just felt helpless, Skinner said, WFAA reported. I wanted to help him, and all I could do is offer my condolences and a hug.

Skinner added that neighbors were already coming together to support the family.

Ill be over there. Ill be helping out any way that I can, he said.

Police said the investigation remains ongoing.
A tour-style bus carrying 54 people crashed March 22 near Interstate 43 in Green Bay, according Capt. Clint Beguhn of the Green Bay Police Department.

About 2:30 p.m., the bus was exiting northbound I-43 at the Webster Avenue exit. Beguhn said the bus crossed Webster Avenue, went over an embankment and came to a stop between two warehouses between Webster and Angie avenues.

Thirty-three people who were on the bus were taken to all four Green Bay hospitals; two of those injuries were considered critical, said battalion chief Chad Bronkhorst of the Green Bay Metro Fire Department.

Cpt. Clint Behuhn, right, of the Green Bay Police Department and battalion chief Chad Bronkhorst of the Green Bay Metro Fire Department give a news conference on the bus crash that injured 33 people on Sunday, March 22,2026.

The bus was headed from the Chicago area to a casino in Michigan.

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The cause of the crash is unknown at the time and under investigation. The Wisconsin State Patrol is investigating the vehicle to see if there was a mechanical defects. Police are talking to witnesses and the driver.

The owners of the warehouses opened a heated area where passengers could wait, Beguhn said.

Law enforcement and first responders clear the scene after a charter bus from Illinois crashed March 22, 2026, after exiting northbound Interstate 43 in Green Bay.

A reunification site was set up at the Salvation Army Kroc Community Center, 1315 Lime Kiln Road, for those who weren't injured.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Bus crash near I-43 in Green Bay leaves multiple injured, police say
Jersey City is asking the state for $150 million in state aid as it looks for a way to emerge from a $255 million budget deficit, officials said.

If approved by the state Department of Community Affairs, it would be the largest transitional aid grant since Camden received $69 million in 2010 during the first year of former Gov. Chris Christies administration.

The transitional aid program gives state assistance to municipalities facing severe fiscal distress. It is intended as short-term aid to help local governments meet their payroll, pay their debts and stay afloat while they solve their financial problems.

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Jersey Citys request is being made as New Jersey lawmakers are beginning to debate the state budget. Gov. Mikie Sherrill proposed a record $60.7 billion state budget earlier this month, shortly after announcing New Jersey is facing a $3 billion deficit.

Mayor James Solomon announced shortly after taking office in January that Jersey City was facing major financial problems that he blamed on the previous administration.

Sherrill has not said if she supports Jersey Citys request for aid.

Gov. Sherrill understands that municipalities face real challenges right now, from budget constraints to attacks from Washington. Her administration will work with him and mayors across the state to navigate these concerns, Sean Higgins, Sherrills spokesperson, said Friday.

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Without the transitional aid, Solomon has said the city will be forced to consider significant service cuts and steep tax increases.

Any transitional aid grant, regardless of amount, comes with strings. Jersey City would be required to accept a state-appointed fiscal monitor with oversight on hiring, procurement and other matters, according to the New Jersey State League of Municipalities.

Solomon outlined Jersey Citys deficit three weeks after taking office Jan. 15. He accused former Mayor Steve Fulop of relying on gimmicks and irresponsible decision-making when his administration created the deficit.

Solomons spokesperson continued to blame Fulop for the citys troubles on Friday.

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Jersey Citys economy is healthy, and we do not need long-term aid, said Solomons spokesperson, Nathaniel Styer. We want to fix what the former mayor broke without forcing our residents to carry the entire burden through tax increases.

Fulop, now president and CEO of the nonprofit Partnership for New York City, has disputed Solomons contention that his administration left New Jerseys second-largest city with a fiscal crisis. He previously said Solomon voted for virtually every contract and resolution during his eight years on the city council concluding in January.

Solomon previously announced that he would accept a $1 salary in 2026 in response to the crisis. City officials said he was scheduled to earn $223,201 as mayor this year, which would have made him one of the states highest-paid mayors.

Solomons administration announced several changes in recent weeks, including withdrawing the citys support for building a branch of Frances Pompidou modern art museum, a project supported by Fulop.

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Jersey City agreed to switch employee health care providers in a step that Solomon said would save $30 million. His office also launched an audit of developer tax abatements.

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New Jersey lawmakers on Monday passed three bills aimed at limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities in the state.

The measures were approved along mostly partisan lines in both houses of the Democratic-controlled state Legislature in Trenton.

The moves drew sharp Republican criticism as legislators revisited proposals previously vetoed by Democratic former Gov. Phil Murphy, who cited legal concerns. Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrills administration has signaled she may be willing to sign them if officials believe they can be successfully defended in court.

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One bill (S3521) would codify the states 2018 Immigrant Trust Directive, an order by the state Attorney Generals Office that bars local police from assisting federal immigration authorities without a judicial warrant.

Another (S3522) would prohibit state agencies from sharing a persons immigration status without a warrant. A third (S3114) would bar both local and federal law enforcement officers from wearing masks during interactions with the public in the state.

Versions of the trustdirective bill and the informationsharing limits were rejected by Murphy during his tenure.

The updated legislation comes after the Sherrill administration in late January launched a public portal allowing residents to report and upload videos of what they believe is unconstitutional conduct by federal law enforcement. State Attorney General Jennifer Davenport has said she is prepared to prosecute federal officers who violate state law.

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The bills also follow a series of recent legal clashes between the new governor and President Donald Trumps administration over U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement, or ICE. The Sherrill administration has sued in an effort to block construction of a federal ICE detention facility in Roxbury, aligning with the majorityRepublican township in opposing the project.

And in February, the Trump administration sued the state over its policy barring federal officers from using state property as an ICE staging ground without a judicial warrant. Several municipalities have adopted similar local restrictions.

Masking by law enforcement has become a growing point of tension, with residents and civil rights advocates arguing that officers failure to identify themselves raises constitutional concerns. Federal agencies and some local Republicans argue that masking protects officers from being doxxed.

Some immigrantrights advocates argue the broader package does not go far enough, saying it lacks additional protections for people accused of crimes and those attempting to appeal deportation orders.

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State Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz, chair of the New Jersey Legislative Latino Caucus, said framing the bills as measures that make communities less safe is inaccurate.

I wasnt going to take this vote and allow for people to come in here and talk about aliens and illegals, as if theyre not your neighbors and friends of your students inside of their classrooms, Ruiz, D-Essex, said during the Senate session.

In the state Assembly, Assemblyman Paul Kanitra, R-Ocean  one of the legislations most outspoken and controversial opponents  held a rally outside the Statehouse ahead of the vote.

On the floor, Kanitra made a series of assertions that prompted Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, DMiddlesex, to repeatedly interject, saying the assemblymans arguments veered into topics unrelated to the bill and overall attacks on the Democratic Party  moments of tension that recurred throughout the voting session.

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It should be called the illegal immigration trust directive, Kanitra said of the bill that would make permanent the limits on when local police may cooperate with immigration officials.

The Sherrill administration has not said whether the governor will sign the bills. But a source familiar with the matter told NJ.com she is expected to approve them in the coming days. The source was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.

Gov. Sherrill is committed to protecting constitutional rights and public safety in New Jersey, and intends to sign this legislation in the near future, Sherrill spokesperson Sean Higgins said in a statement Monday.

NJ.com staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this story

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TOKYO, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Japan's average rice price has fallen for a fifth straight week, with the agriculture ministry attributing the decline to wholesalers' attempts to reduce their inventories, local media reported on Monday.

In the week until March 15, the average price of rice sold at around 1,000 supermarkets across Japan fell to 3,980 yen (about 25 U.S. dollars) per 5 kilograms, marking the fifth straight weekly decline, public broadcaster NHK reported, citing ministry data.

The price fell below 4,000 yen for the first time since last August, when a large volume of less expensive government stockpile rice circulated on the market, the report said.

Many people in the rice industry expect prices to keep falling, it added. 
A 23-year-old man who was swept out to sea in Puerto Rico while trying to rescue a friend was found dead Friday, officials said.

Samuel Cruz, a Morristown native and senior at the New York Institute of Technology, went missing on Wednesday evening at Condado Beach.

Cruz was on a trip to Puerto Rico with two of his friends and jumped in without hesitation when they were caught in a dangerous current, his sister, Jacky Cruz, said in a GoFundMe campaign.

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According to a statement from the U.S. Coast Guard, watchstanders in the San Juan sector received a call from a 911 operator at 7:05 p.m. reporting two people in distress.

According to a witness to the incident, three bystanders tried to help two women who were struggling in the water.

Coast Guard agencies conducted four air and five surface searches, covering roughly 853 square nautical miles. Several other agencies also assisted in the search efforts, including Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action marine units, Puerto Rico Fire Department Corps and Puerto Rico Emergency Management Bureau.

Cruzs body was found approximately 1.5 nautical miles off Condado Beach. Officials credited the San Juan Municipal Police Department marine unit for its role in locating and recovering him.

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Although this is a most unfortunate outcome, we hope that recovering Samuel can provide his loved ones with some closure, said Lt. Cmdr. Ray Lopez, Sector San Juan search and rescue mission coordinator.

Our hearts are with his family and loved ones as we extend our deepest condolences to them during this difficult time. We are grateful for the coordinated efforts of all responding agencies.

Jacky Cruz said her family is heartbroken and struggling to process the unimaginable loss.

He has always been the kind of person to put others above himself, anyone who knew him knows how deeply he cared for the people around him, she said.

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Cruz was set to graduate from college in May and had a bright future ahead of him, she added.

To me, he was more than just my brother, he was my biggest support system and a constant source of strength and inspiration for my family, she said. Knowing Sam is truly a blessing.

The GoFundMe campaign, which will go toward funeral arrangements and other expenses, had raised more than $42,000 of its $60,000 goal as of Monday morning.

Thank you for helping my family honor Sam and keeping my family in your thoughts during this hard time, she said.

Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
There is a proposal submitted to the states top environmental agency for the construction of a natural gas pipeline that would potentially impact two popular state parks.

The states largest utility company, Eversource, which owns Yankee Gas, submitted a project proposal to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, according to the scoping notice on the plan shared last August and a copy of the application.

The electric company is proposing two modifications to two existing electric transmission easements. The modified easements would allow construction, operation, and maintenance of a 199-psig natural gas distribution pipeline across state owned property, records show. The pipeline would allow for the maximum allowed operating pressure or pounds-per-square-inch for industrial gas piping in Connecticut, according to the plan shared in the scoping notice.

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The proposed pipeline would be 16 inches in diameter and stretch for the entire length of the already existing electric easements, records show. The proposed pipeline segment would cover a distance of approximately 6,700 feet or 1.2 miles, according to the project proposal. The existing electric easements were established by the former Hartford Electric Light Co., now modern day Eversource.

The utility company said that the proposed construction is part of its Southeast Resiliency Project. The aim of the pipeline is to improve Connecticuts natural gas infrastructure to better withstand threats and impacts while ensuring greater energy supply to customers, according to Eversource, records show.

According to DEEP, the first easement is located on the Connecticut Valley Railroad State Park Trail in Middletown. The second easement, several hundred feet wide and located in Haddam and East Hampton, covers portions of Hurd State Park and George Seymour State Park Scenic Reserve along with Higganum Meadows Wildlife Management Area.

Construction and gas equipment would not impact the George Seymour State Park Scenic Reserve and the Higganum Meadows Wildlife Management Area portion of the existing easement, according to DEEP. Officials said thats because that portion falls to the south of the proposed pipeline segment. Construction would impact the Connecticut Valley Railroad State Park Trail and portions of Hurd State Park.

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DEEP did not specify if those areas would be closed to recreational use during construction.

The agency notes that at the scoping stage, detailed information on a projects design, alternatives, and environmental impacts does not yet exist. Sponsoring agencies are asking for comments from other agencies and from the public as to the scope of alternatives and environmental impacts that should be considered for further study.

In a report shared this month on a public meeting on the project, DEEP noted, It is unlikely that this project would impact the overall energy diversification of Connecticut, but DEEP generally agrees that there is a significant need for a greater supply of clean, reliable, and affordable energy in the state.

Asked about the portion that would pass below the Connecticut River, DEEP said it is the regulatory agency for activities proposed in public trust areas like the Connecticut River. However, DEEPs statutory authority to grant interests in submerged land beneath navigable waters is limited to lands beneath certain lighthouses in Long Island Sound. That authority is not implicated here and Eversource has not requested such rights from DEEP. In the absence of a delegation of authority to a state agency to grant those rights, the General Assembly would have authority to grant an interest in submerged lands.

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After the public hearing held on Sept. 9, DEEP officials said they are moving forward with an environmental impact evaluation. AN EIE is the next step after a proposal that may significantly affect the environment to review any possible impacts.

DEEP will proceed with the preparation of an Environmental Impact Evaluation for the proposed modification of easements within portions of Hurd and Connecticut Valley Railroad State Parks for the purpose of accommodating the operation and maintenance of a 199-psig natural gas distribution line, the agency noted.

DEEP agrees that before an amendment to an existing easement moves forward, additional surveys of critical species, natural communities, and their habitats within and in proximity to the easement corridor should and will be required from the applicant, the post meeting report notes.

The agency noted that it knows that in the long-term a new pipeline will necessitate increased access to the property for repairs, vegetation management, or other reasons, but the full extent of the habitat and species impacts will only be understood once the additional habitat and species analyses are completed. Going forward, any impacts would be mitigated before and during construction as well as each successive time Eversource re-enters for work on the pipeline. 

The agency did not give a timeline for when the EIE is expected to be completed.

Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com
The Minneapolis-based activist and lawyer tells her side of a complicated story of organizing a national boycott  and how shes still moving forward boycotting after Pastor Jamal Bryant called off his Target fast.

When Target announced a rollback of DEI initiatives on January 24, 2025, Nekima Levy Armstrong knew she had to do something.

Because [Target] had such a powerful reputation as embracing diversity, the fact that they capitulated to Donald Trump so quickly within a week of him taking office meant that if we let them off the hook in our community, then every company in America was going to see that as a green light to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion, Levy Armstrong tells theGrio.

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Levy Armstrong, a lawyer and longtime activist based in Minneapolis where Target is headquartered, immediately took to her Instagram and Facebook accounts the next day, on January 25th, to issue a collective call for feedback  a tactic she says was intentional and reflects the culture of collaborative organizing that defines her city.

I know that a number of you are upset or at least bothered by Targets decision to roll back progress. But the question is, what should we do about it? Please respond with any personal action you plan to take and thoughts on what we should do collectively to challenge/address this slap in the face, Levy Armstrong wrote on Instagram.

By January 30th, she joined two fellow local activists, Monique Cullars Doty and Jaylani Hussein, to publicly announce a plan of action: Target would be boycotted starting February 1, 2025, with a clear demand. We will not spend a dime at Target, unless and until they reverse course on their recent decision to rollback diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, Levy Armstrong wrote.

The reactions were passionate outside of Target headquarters, where protesters cut up their Target red cards and encouraged others to shop elsewhere until the retail giant did a 180-degree turn back to the company they used to know.

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Theyve been embedded into the fabric of the community for a long time, Levy Armstrong explains. They also contributed to a number of Black organizations. So you go to a gala or an event, you might see Sponsored by Target as their logo or feature sponsor.

The Minneapolis-headquartered retailer had complicated history with the Black community even before the DEI rollback. Levy Armstrong says that during protests over the murder of George Floyd, some Target locations wouldnt allow protesters who had been teargassed to come inside to buy milk to soothe their eyes  a detail that deepened local distrust of the brand and added weight to the eventual call to boycott.

But in an America where the letters DEI had been turned into a curse word, Levy Armstrong knew that only money would talk in terms of making Target feel the consequences of their decisions  and that meant calling for an indefinite national boycott of the brand.

Its for this reason that more than a year later, when Levy Armstrong saw Pastor Jamal Bryant had called for an end to his extended Target fast during a press conference with fellow organizers in Washington, D.C., she was both appalled and hurt.

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I was really upset, Levy Armstrong tells theGrio. I found out through a breaking news headline from our hometown newspaper that came through my email, and it said something like national target boycott ends with no DEI concessions, and then I open the article and what do I see? A picture of my baby, my eight-year-old holding a sign with our national target boycott branding from the first press conference that we held outside of Targets national headquarters.

I took her out of school to participate in that press conference, and she held that sign with pride that we were taking a stand  then to see it used for a false narrative, trying to end a boycott that was successful. I just couldnt believe it, in all honesty.

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA  FEBRUARY 13: Civil rights attorney and activist Nekima Levy Armstrong (C) leaves with a group of co-defendants after an arraignment hearing at the Warren E. Burger Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse on February 13, 2026 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Levy Armstrong pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiring to violate someones constitutional rights and violating the FACE Act. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

In a press conference heard round the country, Pastor Bryant announced the end of a 400-plus day-long Target fast, saying that three of the four goals laid out had been met: Target following through on a $2 billion pledge to invest in Black-owned businesses, creating a talent pipeline from HBCUs to train corporate leaders, restoring their DEI programs, and making a $250 million investment in Black banks.

In reality, only two goals had been met. Target confirmed that despite a painful $12 billion profit loss and the stepping down of their CEO, they had not reversed their anti-DEI stance. The repackaging of their Belonging program still carried no explicit commitment to DEI or Black communities, and their former CEO, Brian Cornell, was merely replaced by their COO and moved into an executive board role.

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Target had continued to feel the squeeze as store traffic dropped  but right as the Black community had crossed the historic milestone of lasting the length of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, that collective power seemed to have the wind knocked out of it with Bryants premature announcement.

Pastor Bryant immediately felt intense heat for calling off what he says was a separate Target fast meant to engage Black faith communities  one that originally started as only a 40-day plan of action and stood independent of a national Target boycott organized by his co-leaders, former state senator Nina Turner and activist Tamika Mallory, or anything organized by Levy Armstrong. But the damage was done.

In a lengthy 20-minute apology on YouTube, Bryant pled his case, saying he was willing to get behind the Black women who started the movement.

Levy Armstrong says not only did it not have to happen that way, but that she warned Bryant and his collaborators from the beginning about certain risks.

Complicated Beginnings & A Broken Coalition

The complicated relationship between Minneapolis-based activists like Levy Armstrong and leaders like Bryant, Mallory, and Turner is nothing new to the organizing world. As far back as the civil rights movement and into recent movements like Black Lives Matter, there has been negotiating and wrestling for both authority and notoriety.

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In exclusive, separately conducted interviews with Turner, Mallory and Levy Armstrong for theGrio, each paints a picture of communication failures, with allegations that reflect a fundamental breakdown in trust  one that contributed to the fallout in the aftermath of Bryants Target fast ending announcement.

At the crux of Levy Armstrongs complaint is her claim that although she was initially approached collaboratively by Tamika Mallory to work on Target boycott activities and was open to conversation, she was immediately put off by media interviews that portrayed her collective as working for Bryant, Mallory and Turner, known collectively as The Mothership Three. She says she raised her concerns to the group and felt that her local work was allegedly co-opted after sharing press releases, demands and more.

Turner counters that claim with a time-stamped announcement of her organization, We Are Somebody launching, a Target boycott on January 25th, well before Levy Armstrong had officially announced her boycott. Legalistic, is how Levy Armstrong responded to the timeline presented, asking why she was invited to participate if the boycott was already established.

Turner, a high-profile former state senator and previous national co-chair for the Bernie Sanders campaign, says her track record and boycott intentions were clear, making co-optation out of the question and a communication mix-up more likely. She says it was Mallory who raised the idea of reaching out to Minneapolis organizers, given her history of respect for local organizing during movements like the Breonna Taylor protests.

LOUISVILLE, KY  SEPTEMBER 23: Activist Tamika Mallory, from the Until Freedom organization, speaks ahead of the Grand Jury verdict on September 23, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. Protesters marched in the streets after the Kentucky Grand Jury verdict indicts 1 of 3 officers involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor, who was fatally shot by Louisville Metro Police officers during a no-knock warrant at her apartment onMarch 13, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Mallory describes the early days of trying to collaborate with local organizers as one that had stops and starts, as she was in the midst of a demanding book tour, and there were lapses in clear communication.

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Everybodys kind of announcing their own things and doing their own thing, and it was disjointed. So I believe thats where the frustration came from locally, and it wasnt intentional harm  it was just that we didnt have a manager, if you will, to coordinate all the people and the pieces, Mallory tells theGrio.

Levy Armstrong also says the missteps went beyond communication or personality differences and reflected problems with strategy and intention. She says she raised a red flag early on, warning that Bryants steps toward organizing his own fast would create confusion amongst the public:

Why would he launch a fast when theres already a nationwide boycott underway? And the boycott is indefinite. What is the difference between a fast and a boycott?

That murky distinction is something both Turner and Mallory spoke to as well, with Mallory calling it a painful lesson in communication.

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Sometimes we believe because weve said something a million times that everybody understands or is aware, Mallory told theGrio. What we found out is that there are so many people who were very confused and really did not understand the difference between a tactic [and] the boycott.

Turner says the group of three leaders went into the press conference in different places but felt they owed the public an update after 400-plus days of protest.

Weve been working together for the last year, Turner tells theGrio. So I think also people are focusing on the wrong thing. Why wouldnt the three of us get together and give the report?

But Turner and Mallory both insist that despite the confusion around Bryants Target fast, they not only plan to continue boycotting  they also will maintain productive relationships with other local Target groups, including the D.C. boycott group who protested outside stores over the past year.

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Me and my organization are still boycotting, Turner told theGrio. We never stopped boycotting. You will not find any malice coming from me or Tamika Mallory  and for that part, Reverend Bryant  against the Minnesota organizers. Matter of fact, we tried to give them credit.

In a viral and contentious interview on Roland Martins live show, Levy Armstrong challenged the integrity of all three boycott leaders with accusations that didnt go unnoticed by Mallory.

Weve moved beyond people who are saying you know, respectfully, we dont think that the way in which your campaign played out was done properly. That we can all take. We can all benefit from a very direct critique of the work, that is also coupled with support. But when it turns into slander and defamation, were on a different track, Mallory told theGrio.

That viral interview led to mixed responses, empathy for Levy Armstrongs feelings, but also some criticism of her asserting credit for launching the national Target boycott, with certain commenters crediting Mallory, Turner and Bryant for putting the boycott on their radar.

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA  FEBRUARY 13: Civil rights attorney and activist Nekima Levy Armstrong speaks with media gathered after an arraignment hearing at the Warren E. Burger Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse on February 13, 2026 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Levy Armstrong pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiring to violate someones constitutional rights and violating the FACE Act. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

It mattered who started it when people tried to end it  who didnt start it  to disrupt the success of the boycott as it was going on, Levy Armstrong tells theGrio in response to any critics. None of this would have happened if they hadnt gone to Washington, D.C. and did what they did.

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Levy Armstrongs supporters see her track record of grassroots work in the community as important to understanding her approach in the interview.

I trust the wisdom of Black women on the ground, wrote one commenter on the Roland Martin interview thread. Every time.

Levy Armstrong insists that accountability matters in how the boycott played out because it shapes the future.

Of course youre going to have people [like] cant we all just get along  but they had positioned themselves as the leaders, and it looked like the leaders were walking away from unfinished business, Levy Armstrong tells theGrio. So we had to step forward and tell the people what really happened and have them hear us and understand our truth, why it started here, and the passion behind it. The connection to Target, it wasnt just random for us. This is a continuation of the movement that weve had going on here since 2014.

Social media makes it worse, Turner tells theGrio of the fight to shape narratives around how the boycott played out. Sometimes you need to hear somebodys voice, and you need to be able to look in their face.

Social media allows anyone to turn their microphone on, and the sausage-making process becomes public versus something thats worked out behind the scenes, Mallory tells theGrio. I personally was raised in a time that conflict took place, but there were many more knock-down, drag-out conversations behind the scenes that helped people to either come out working alongside one another or being able to go their separate ways without a constant barrage of insults and attacks.

Moving Forward With Intention

Although Levy Armstrong has been vocal about her concerns with representations of the Target boycott, she is adamant about moving forward and has seen renewed promises from shoppers to keep boycotting.

Im very proud of the Black community, of Black America for sticking together and pushing back against what happened and saying, We are never returning to Target or were expecting Target to restore DEI,' she tells theGrio. That is exactly what we were hoping that our community would do and not just acquiesce.

Our bigger picture goal is success of the boycott and showing the power of our dollars and also the power of bringing allies to the table, which is what we also did in Minnesota, she continues. The white women here  theyre like, we aint never going back to Target. Because we were inclusive from the beginning. The Black community isnt alone in this. We have white allies here and around the nation who are also boycotting Target.

Levy Armstrong encourages people to sign the letter on her Facebook page thats written to Targets CEO and says there will be different actions throughout summer 2026.

We want people to have autonomy in their communities to organize how they see fit, Levy Armstrong said of other efforts around the country.

Levy Armstrong is also navigating a battle on a separate front: she faces federal charges for her participation in a non-violent protest inside a Minneapolis church, an arrest that also led to the detention of journalist Don Lemon. The White House even used her photo with AI edits, making it appear as if she were crying during her arrest when she was actually stone-faced. After undergoing neurosurgery to remove a tumor from her brain in 2022, Levy Armstrong knows what it means to fight on every front for her life. The activist and mother is channeling that same fortitude to keep her portion of this national, decentralized boycott moving forward.

You guys saw what happened with Operation Metro Surge and how we were 10 toes down as a state in fighting back, Levy Armstrong says of the anti-ICE protests that reverberated across the nation and the world. Thats the energy of the people in my network too, regarding this boycott.

Natasha S. Alford is SVP & Chief Content Officer at TheGrio. A recognized journalist, documentary filmmaker, and TV analyst, Alford is also the author of the award-winning book, American Negra. (HarperCollins, 2024) Follow her on Instagram at @natashasalford and Substack at https://substack.com/@natashasalford .

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Scientists who discovered species of baby dinosaur in South Korea thought the prehistoric critter as so cute they named it after a popular Korean cartoon character.

A mischievous baby dinosaur named Dooly is one of the most beloved cartoon characters in South Korea.

So, when researchers from The University of Texas at Austin and the Korean Dinosaur Research Center discovered a new species of baby dinosaur from Korea's Aphae Island, they knew exactly what to call it: Doolysaurus.

"Dooly is one of the very famous, iconic dinosaur characters in Korea. Every generation in Korea knows this character," said Jongyun Jung, a visiting postdoctoral researcher at UT's Jackson School of Geosciences who led the research. "And our specimen is also a juvenile or 'baby', so it's perfect for our dinosaur species name to honor Dooly."

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The find marks the first new dinosaur species identified in South Korea in 15 years, and the first Korean dinosaur fossil discovered with parts of its skull intact. The skull bones were revealed after the fossil underwent a scientific micro-CT scan at the University of Texas High-Resolution X-ray Computed Tomography facility.

"When we first found the specimen, we saw some leg bones preserved and some vertebrae," Jung said. "We didn't expect skull parts and so many more bones. There was a fair amount of excitement when we saw what was hidden inside the block."

Research on the dinosaur, whose scientific name is Doolysaurus huhmini, was published in the journal Fossil Record on 19 March. The name huhmini honours the Korean palaeontologist Min Huh, who has contributed to the study of Korean dinosaurs over the past 30 years, founded the dinosaur centre, and worked with UNESCO to preserve fossil sites in the country. The fossil itself was discovered in 2023 by co-author Hyemin Jo.

The dinosaur is thought to have been around two years old at the time of its death and still growing. Roughly the size of a turkey, an adult Doolysaurus may have grown to about twice that size. Researchers also believe it may have been covered in a coat of fine, fuzzy filaments.

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"I think it would have been pretty cute," said study co-author Julia Clarke, a professor at the Jackson School. "It might have looked a bit like a little lamb."

Much of the fossil remains encased in hard rock, a process that can take nearly a decade for specialists to remove by hand. However, analysis using micro-CT scanning revealed the full extent of the specimen within months. Jung and Clarke then spent more than a year analysing its anatomy alongside their colleagues.

Doolysaurus lived between around 113 and 94 million years ago, during the mid-Cretaceous period. Based on its anatomy, researchers have classified it as a thescelosaurid - a type of bipedal dinosaur found in East Asia and North America that may have had a fuzzy covering. Growth markers in a thin slice of femur bone confirmed it was a juvenile.

The fossil also contained dozens of gastroliths - small stones swallowed by the animal to help digest food. These suggest the dinosaur was an omnivore, feeding on plants, insects and small animals. Their presence also prompted researchers to take a closer look at the fossil.
A Senate panel is set to review legislation Monday that would direct the secretary of state to tell New Jersey voters they could be disenfranchised if they wait until the last minute to send in their mail-in ballots.

The bill before the Senates state government committee would order the launch of a $100,000 public awareness campaign to warn of changes at the United States Postal Service that are likely to delay the postmarking of some timely delivered mail-in ballots beyond Election Day.

The Postal Service in December finalized a rule that reduced the number of times per day that mail flows from post offices to processing facilities where postmarks are applied, meaning some mail wont reach those facilities and receive a postmark the same day a person sends it.

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Now, the postmark is whenever its processed at the facility. That could be the day of. That could be two days later. Theres no way of knowing, said Nuzhat Chowdhury, director of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justices democracy and justice program. But of course, if that postmark does show up after Election Day, then that ballot will be invalidated.

Senate President Nicholas Scutari (D-Union), the bills prime sponsor, did not return a request for comment.

In New Jersey, election officials must count valid mail-in ballots that reach them up to six days after Election Day as long as they are postmarked before polls close.

The Postal Service maintains the changes  and the postmarks themselves  are purely operational and not meant to show the date the service accepts a piece of mail. Rather, they are meant to show that a piece of mail was in the agencys possession on a given date, it said in a January response to outcry over the changes.

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The Postal Service is self-funded and loses money each year because the cost of its operations outstrips its revenue. The agency posted a net loss of $542 million in the federal fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, and officials have said making less frequent, more distant trips to a smaller number processing centers will save the agency money.

To avoid missing deadlines that key off the date of a postmark, senders can request a postmark be manually applied at a post office, rather than at a processing facility.

Those who cannot reach a post office  because they have a disability, for example  can simply send their mail earlier, the agency said in a rulemaking notice.

That advice aligns with that given by voting activists. The Institute for Social Justice, Chowdhury said, is recommending that mail voters send their ballots in at least a week ahead of the election or deliver the ballots themselves, whether through a ballot drop box or by a hand delivery to their county Board of Elections.

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The public awareness campaign envisioned by the legislation to be heard Monday at the Trenton Statehouse must assure them that their votes will still be counted, but they just have to be a little bit more organized ahead of time, she said, adding New Jersey should add more secure ballot drop boxes.

The bill would require the secretary of state to assess the placement and number of ballot drop boxes and recommend whether the law should be changed to require more of them.

Mail voting has long been a target of President Donald Trump. The president has repeatedly claimed the practice is rife with fraud  though he himself has voted by mail  and partially blamed it for his 2020 election loss.

Hes launched new offensives against mail voting, including an order purporting to end grace periods for late arriving mail-in ballots, and has expressed a desire to end no-excuse mail voting altogether.

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No more crooked mail-in ballots except for illness, disability, military, or travel, he said during his state of the union address. None.

Though voters of both major parties return mail-in ballots at similar rates, Democrats are far more likely to vote by mail, partly because Trumps repeated and baseless fraud claims have pushed Republicans away from the practice.

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A board the New Mexico Legislature created in 2025 to transform the 236-acre State Fairgrounds property in the center of Albuquerque voted Monday to move forward with the first phase of that project, with the help of more than $100 million the Legislature approved in the session earlier this year.

Under the new master plan the board adopted Monday, the southwest corner of the fairgrounds property will make way for new housing, a multi-use stadium and a public park, as well as pedestrian safety improvements at two nearby intersections.

Senate Bill 481 in 2025 created a new tax district board, composed of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and other local and state elected officials, and entrusted it with up to $500 million in bonding capacity to transform the fairgrounds. The Legislature approved $92 million in bonds and added an additional $100 million from the state budget in the 30-day session in November.

Marty Chavez, a former Albuquerque mayor who is spearheading the project for the governors office, told Source NM on Monday after the meeting that the boards vote obligates $114 million for the project, including both the $100 million the Legislature approved this year and $14 million from last years session that was allocated to the State Fair but never spent.

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Designers with Stantec, a firm charged with developing a master plan for the site, revealed its recommendations for phase one of the project Monday, following a series of public meetings. The firm estimated that phase one will cost $240 million in total.

The firm did not make a recommendation on one possibility that has loomed over the process since it began last summer: relocating the annual State Fair from its home of nearly a century.

According to Stantecs presentation, the new construction the board approved Monday will enable the fair to stay at its current location for the foreseeable future. Under a timeline the firm presented, the earliest a decision could be made regarding the fairs future is 2031.

In the meantime, the firm described the projects first phase as a series of early wins that will provide more than 430 units of new housing amid a statewide shortage, as well as a new stadium and pedestrian safety improvements at two of the states most dangerous intersections.

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The board ultimately voted 6-1 to accept the master plan. The lone no vote came from Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa, who tried unsuccessfully to postpone the vote until the board received information about the new housing.

I am not against a stadium. I want due process. I want community and I want things that are binding. So I would have voted yes on this in a month when we had those things, she said.

The boards next meeting, scheduled for May 7, will feature more-detailed presentations on new housing and the new stadium, as well as a broader framework for how nearby neighborhoods will be impacted.

While the plan is approved and the funding obligated, its not clear when construction will begin. The states General Services Department first needs to acquire a handful of privately owned parcels on the southwest corner of the fairgrounds, which officials said Monday was still in process.

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After the vote, Lujan Grisham congratulated board members for what she described as a necessary investment in a long-neglected area.

Even if we dont always agree on the nuances, we agree that this is an area [that] for decades has been promised that we would do something here, and nothing has happened, she said.
Organizers of a March 28 "No Kings" rally at Union Square Park in Hornell expect the demonstration targeting Trump administration policies to attract an even larger crowd of protesters than the "No Kings 2.0" gathering last October in the Maple City.

We anticipate that this 'No Kings' Hornell event will be several times larger than the last event," said John Bradley, chair of the Hornell Democratic Party. "Ordinary citizens of all political persuasions are fed up with cruelty and capriciousness of the Trump regime. We urge everyone to come out on March 28 and exercise their First Amendment rights to free speech and peaceful assembly."

Hornell Democrats are co-sponsoring the rally with the Allegany County Democratic Committee.

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Our right to assemble is enshrined in the First Amendment to our Constitution. It is a sacred patriotic duty to continue our protests against this administrations lawlessness, said Karen Ash, chair of the Allegany County Democratic Committee.

The third No Kings demonstration is one of more than 3,000 events occurring around the country on March 28.

Hornell "No Kings" organizers accuse the administration of "bombing countries, committing war crimes, killing Americans, terrorizing immigrants, defying court orders, attacking civil rights, foregoing due process, destroying the economy, and ignoring the needs of everyday Americans to cater to billionaires."

Time, place of Hornell 'No Kings' rally on March 28

Hornell rally-goers will gather from 10 a.m. until noon in Union Square Park at Seneca and Genesee streets.

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Organizers said rally-goers will be encouraged to bring signs for a "Honk and Wave" with passing motorists. The party committees said there will also be opportunities to register to vote and sign candidate petitions at the event.

Protest leaders promised an "inspiring" program.

"The community is invited to attend to express their support of democracy, the rule of law, and the many different marginalized communities being hurt by this administration," the organizing groups said.

More: Hornell sells 'lucky' BOCES house 13 on Madison Avenue. What to know

'No Kings' rally also scheduled in Livingston County

The Hornell No Kings rally drew a crowd to Union Square Park on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. The rally included signs, honks from passersby on Seneca Street and chants of "This is what democracy looks like" as rally-goers participated in a nationwide celebration of free speech and a day of protest against Trump administration policies.

Protests are also scheduled in Livingston and Wyoming counties on March 28

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No Kings events are scheduled Gateway Park in Geneseo, from 12:30-1:30 p.m., and from 10-11 a.m. on Main Street in Perry.

Email Neal Simon at nsimon@gannett.com. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Hornell 'No Kings' rally to protest Trump policies March 28




NORTH HAVEN - When it came time to enroll her daughter in elementary school, Shayna Hackett said the reason her family was drawn to North Haven Public Schools' Integrated Day program was the smaller community it would offer.

"We loved the idea of her being able to loop and stay with the same group of kids for multiple years, which has been absolutely amazing," Hackett said in an interview. "We adore her teacher. We've built some really solid bonds with the families in the class that she's in today."

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The ID program has been a fixture at the two local elementary schools for decades, offering students an alternative that focuses on project-based learning, while giving them the chance to stay with the same teacher for multiple years. Students are in classes with peers of different but similar ages. It has been at Ridge Road Elementary School since the 1970s and was brought to Green Acres Elementary in the late 1980s.

However, the program will be coming to an end after the Board of Education voted at a February meeting to dissolve it once this school year ends. This means Hackett's daughter and other ID students returning to elementary school next year will be moved into the district's contemporary classrooms.

"Oh it was the most magical program I had ever been in," recalled Claudia Granthem, who taught ID at Ridge Road beginning in the 1970s. "I loved every minute of it. ... I think (dissolving the program) is going to be devastating."

'You had a choice'

For decades, North Haven Public Schools has offered parents the option to put their children in the ID program, a draw for people to move to town, Granthem said.

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"You had a choice, how lovely is that?" she said.

Granthem noted when she taught ID, she worked hard to tailor the lesson plans to her students' interests.

"If I had a kid that wanted to learn about dump trucks, I made a curriculum for dump trucks," she said. "If I had a kid that wanted to learn about dinosaurs, we did a dinosaur thing. ... That's what we did in ID. We supported each other."

Sonya Masur, a student in one of the first ID classes in the 1970s who now lives in Massachusetts, said the program was ahead of its time.

"It had teachers who were very heart-based, Earth-oriented, wanted kids to believe in themselves. ... I remember thinking when I brought my kids to kindergarten and first grade (in Massachusetts), 'Oh, this is too bad this isn't ID,'" she said. "Because it was just different. We were always doing things outside when the weather was good, and just creating things that impacted our world and potentially the world at large."

Why is ID ending?

North Haven Superintendent Patrick Stirk and some current teachers noted at the February meeting that ID is not keeping up with the times, meaning the program makes it difficult for teachers to ensure students are learning grade-level standards.

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"The increasing curricular demands placed on educators, particularly in reading and mathematics, have stretched our staff thin and made it nearly impossible to sustain the traditions of the ID program as it was originally designed," said Krista Kaplan, president of the North Haven Education Association.

Stirk brought up the new literacy program the district implemented in response to the state's Right to Read law, which required all school districts to launch a phonics-based literacy program by July 1, 2025 for kindergarten through third grade. North Haven is using Bookworms, which has specific resources for each grade.

"The Bookworms program is built upon learning acquired from the previous grade levels and there are numerous themes that span multiple years," Stirk said. "We cannot adjust or manipulate this curriculum in order for our classroom teachers to effectively provide instruction."

As a result, a unique aspect of ID is becoming harder to offer: placing students of different grades in the same class. This comes after the district has put in "genuine efforts" to keep multi-grade classes by adding staff and increasing training, Kaplan said.

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But Stirk said they had to separate kindergarten and first grade "because we were not able to account for the developmental and instructional needs of a 4-year-old student to an almost 7-year-old student."

'A punch to the gut'

For many ID parents, the decision to dissolve the program came as a shock because they say they were given just over a week's notice that it was going to be on the Board of Education's February meeting agenda.

"It was such a punch to the gut that it was just this abrupt ending and there wasn't a whole lot of information given until the time of the Board of Ed meeting," said Jessica Tresselt, an ID parent. "That was the only window that parents were provided to be publicly heard and it was contentious."

Board of Education members did not respond to a request for comment on when parents were notified.

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However, once ID parents heard about it, some started to take action. Hackett helped create a Change.org petition to "preserve the magic of ID." As of Saturday, the petition has more than 620 signatures.

"I just think there are so many great elements to the program. Rather than dissolve the program, I would like to see a plan in place that keeps some of those elements and incorporates them across all of North Haven, which is what me and a lot of the other parents who signed the petition were shooting for," she said.

Many of these parents said at the meeting they do not want to see their child's teacher under stress caused by trying to meet state standards. But they also said they did not think this means the only solution is to fully remove ID from the district.

"There's just so much appealing to the program, but that being said, if it's causing more stress and more work for our teachers, I want to figure out what we can do to support our teachers, not just take the program away," Hackett said.

What happens next?

Some ID parents said they haven't received much communication from the district about what the transition from ID to regular classrooms would look like.

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"I have heard no discussion of a phase out for the kids who are currently in ID," parent Scott Friedman said at the meeting. "I've heard no discussion of a Board of Ed subcommittee that would allow parents, teachers and administrators to work on this problem together. Just so we're clear, as a parent who probably watches or hears about every single Board of Ed meeting, this has not been discussed. Not once."

Stirk said at the meeting there wasn't a planned transition plan for the ID students because the school board first had to decide what to do about the program. A letter to parents, dated Feb. 20 from North Haven Public Schools, said each elementary school will hold a "Meet & Greet Day" for every grade level before summer break begins. This event will let parents and students meet their grade-level team and classmates for the upcoming school year. Classroom assignments will be shared in mid-August, just like in past years, Stirk noted.

"We acknowledge that ending the Integrated Day program is a significant change for our students and their families," the letter continues. "District administration and building principals will continue to provide updates as we progress through the school year."

But since this letter, ID families said they haven't received any other information about how the district is going to support ID students during this transition or if any aspect of the program will continue in the contemporary classrooms.

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"My gripe is not with the school or the teachers at all," Tresselt said. "My gripe is with the Board of Ed and the superintendent, and how poorly they communicated this drastic change and how little they considered the parents' voices."

Hackett said she hopes the district will "take a thoughtful approach to this" as young kids will have to adjust to a whole new learning environment.

"I think they need to think about that mindfully in how we talk about it to our students, and not just send a letter to parents, drop the bomb and walk away, which is kind of what it feels like," she said.

This article originally published at North Haven schools to end 'magical' Integrated Day program after decades.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Monday a summit between her brother and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi won't happen if Japan sticks to its anachronistic approach.

Kim Yo Jong's statement came after Takaichi told reporters last week that she had informed U.S. President Donald Trump during a summit in Washington that she had a very strong desire to meet Kim Jong Un.

But this is not the one that comes true, as wanted or decided by Japan, Kim Yo Jong said. In order for the top leaders of the two countries to meet each other, Japan should first be determined to break with its anachronistic practice and habit.

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Kim Yo Jong, who is also a senior official, didnt explicitly say what Japan's anachronistic practice and habit" are. However, in 2024, she said in a statement that North Koreas acceptance of a reported offer for a meeting by one of Takaichis predecessors would depend on Japan tolerating the North's nuclear weapons program and ignoring its past abductions of Japanese nationals. The meeting eventually didnt occur.

In her latest statement carried by state media on Monday, Kim Yo Jong said: I dont want to see the prime minister of Japan coming to Pyongyang. But she still described her rejection as just my personal position, suggesting she was pressuring Japan to make concessions.

Observers say North Korea likely aims for better ties with Japan to drive a wedge between the United States and its allies. Meanwhile, Tokyo wants to resolve the cases of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea during the 1970s and 1980s.

After years of denial, North Korea acknowledged in a 2002 summit between Kim Jong Il, the late father of Kim Jong Un, and then-Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, that its agents had kidnapped 13 Japanese. North Korea allowed five of them to return to Japan. Japan believes more people might have been abducted and that some could still be alive.

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Koizumi made a second visit to North Korea and met Kim Jong Il again in 2004, the last time the two nations held talks.

Chances for a North Korea-Japan summit remain slim as North Korea refuses to return to diplomacy with the U.S. and South Korea since 2019. Trump, who met Kim Jong Un three times between 2018 and 2019, has repeatedly expressed his intentions of resuming dialogue with Kim, but the North Korean leader suggested he could only return to talks if the U.S. drops its delusional obsession with denuclearization" of North Korea.

Takaichi said that Trump expressed his support for the immediate resolution of the abductees cases and that he indicated he would provide cooperation in various ways concerning meeting Kim Jong Un.
By Kyu-seok Shim

SEOUL, March 24 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country would permanently strengthen its nuclear forces and treat South Korea as its most hostile state, as he set out policy priorities in a speech to parliament, state media KCNA reported on Tuesday.

Kim said Pyongyang's status as a nuclear-armed state was irreversible and expanding a "self-defensive nuclear deterrent" was essential to national security, regional stability and economic development.

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He rejected the idea that nuclear disarmament could be exchanged for economic benefits or security guarantees, saying North Korea had already proven that maintaining nuclear forces while pursuing development was the correct strategic choice.

"The current world reality, where the dignity and rights of sovereign states are mercilessly violated by unilateral force and violence, clearly teaches what the true guarantee of a states existence and peace is, Kim said in the address on Monday to the Supreme People's Assembly, the communist-run country's rubber-stamp legislature.

Nuclear weapons had deterred war and allowed the state to focus resources on economic growth, construction and living standards, he added.

Analysts in South Korea said the comments amounted to an indirect critique of U.S. military action against Iran.

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"These circumstances have reinforced Pyongyangs long-standing argument that nuclear weapons are essential to deter external intervention and safeguard regime survival," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korea Studies.

Kim further accused the United States and its allies of destabilising the region by deploying strategic nuclear assets near the Korean peninsula, but said North Korea no longer viewed itself as a country under threat and possessed the power to threaten others if necessary.

SOUTH KOREA DESIGNATED MOST HOSTILE STATE

Kim said South Korea had been "recognised as the most hostile state" and warned Seoul that any attempt to infringe on North Korea's sovereignty would be met "mercilessly without hesitation or restraint".

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The comments are the latest sign of Pyongyangs hardening stance toward Seoul since Kim dropped decades of policy seeking peaceful reunification and moved to redefine relations with the South as those between two hostile states.

Analysts have been watching for any sign that this shift had been codified in law. The state media report did not elaborate.

Lim Eul-chul of Kyungnam University said the language "effectively strips South Korea of any remaining status as a compatriot nation", and goes beyond past rhetoric aimed at isolating Seoul diplomatically.

Instead, it marked a "declaration denying South Korea's very legitimacy as a counterpart", he said.

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South Korea's presidential Blue House on Tuesday said Kims remarks were "undesirable for peaceful coexistence," adding that only dialogue and cooperation could ensure mutual security and prosperity on the Korean peninsula, Yonhap news agency reported.

FIVE-YEAR PLAN TO MODERNISE

Alongside security policy, Kim outlined economic priorities, calling on officials to fully implement a new five-year development plan focused on modernising industry, boosting electricity and coal production, increasing food output and expanding housing construction nationwide.

North Korea is one of the worlds poorest countries, with a heavily sanctioned economy and chronic shortages that have left much of its population dependent on state rations and informal markets, according to international assessments.

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The parliamentary session adopted amendments to the constitution, and passed legislation endorsing the new five-year economic plan, KCNA said.

Lawmakers also approved a 2026 state budget that raises defence spending to 15.8% of total expenditure, with funding explicitly allocated to expanding nuclear deterrence and war-fighting capabilities, according to a separate budget report released at the session.

The assembly heard a congratulatory message from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who praised Kims leadership and pledged to deepen a comprehensive strategic partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang.

(Reporting by Kyu-seok Shim; Editing by Stephen Coates and Lincoln Feast. )
PYONGYANG, March 23 (Xinhua) -- A senior official of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said she does not "want to see the prime minister of Japan coming to Pyongyang," the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Monday.

"However, this is just my personal position," said Kim Yo Jong, department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.

Kim's remarks came after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressed during her recent visit to Washington her intent for a summit with the DPRK leader.

"This is not the one that comes true, as wanted or decided by Japan," Kim said.

"If the prime minister of Japan seeks to resolve its unilateral matter not recognized by us, our state leadership will have no intention to meet or sit face to face with her," she added. 
JOHANNESBURG (AP)  One of South Africa's most notorious apartheid police commanders testified on Monday at an inquiry into the killing of four activists in 1985 as part of the country's renewed focus on atrocities committed by security forces during decades of forced racial segregation that went unpunished.

Eugene de Kock, dubbed Prime Evil for his role in killing anti-apartheid activists, denied involvement in the prominent case of the Cradock Four  but said police at the time had photos of around 6,000 anti-apartheid activists described as known terrorists who should be tracked and killed if an arrest was not possible.

The Cradock Four were not among them, he said. Matthew Goniwe, Fort Calata, Sicelo Mhlauli and Sparrow Mkonto, three of them teachers, were abducted by police at a roadblock and killed. Their bodies were found burned, in one of the apartheid era's most shocking cases.

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De Kock testified that one of the police officers implicated in the killings had asked him to help assist with a cover-up.

He wanted to know if I could get another firearm, de Kock said, adding that he was asked if we could interfere with the ballistics.

De Kock, the commander of a special counterinsurgency police unit during apartheid, was sentenced in 1996 to two life terms and another 212 years in prison after being convicted of murder, kidnapping and other charges for his role in abducting, torturing and killing activists. He was released on parole in 2015.

Now 77, de Kock was given a police guard to a court in the southern city of Gqeberha, where the Cradock Four were killed. His image was blurred on the official video broadcast after the judge ruled that he not be shown, according to the Foundation for Human Rights, which is representing some of the victims' families.

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Two inquiries into the case conducted during apartheid were widely suspected of being cover-ups. One that started in 1987 found the men were killed by unknown people. The other that began in 1993, found that they were killed by unnamed police officers.

The latest inquiry started last year after families' pressure. The six former policemen implicated in the killings were never prosecuted despite being identified and denied amnesty during South Africas post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation process in the late 1990s. All six have died.

South African authorities have reopened other investigations into apartheid atrocities in recent years. They include the 1967 death of Nobel Peace Prize winner Albert Luthuli, the 1981 killing of lawyer Griffiths Mxenge and the 1977 death in police custody of iconic anti-apartheid figure Steve Biko.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa last year ordered a separate inquiry to establish whether post-apartheid governments led by his party intentionally blocked investigations and prosecutions of apartheid-era crimes.

___

AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa
SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2026  5:49 p.m.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV)  Officers with the Green Bay Police Department provided an update on the bus crash from Sunday afternoon that injured numerous people.

Officers say the bus exited I-43 northbound onto Webster Avenue and ended up between some warehouses. It was reported that 54 people were on the bus at the time of the crash and were headed from Chicago to a casino in Michigan.

In total, 33 people were reportedly taken to local hospitals, most with minor injuries; however, authorities say that two were possibly in critical condition.

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This is a developing story. Local 5 will provide updates when new information is released.

Original story: Numerous injured after bus crashes near I-43 in Green Bay

SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2026  4:10 p.m.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV)  Numerous injuries have been reported after a tour-style bus crashed in Green Bay while reportedly on an exit ramp from I-43.

According to the Green Bay Police Department, officers, along with the Green Bay Metro Fire Department, responded to a bus crash on Sunday afternoon, around 2:45 p.m., near North Webster Avenue by I-43 northbound.

Green Bay Bus Crash

Woman left in critical condition after stabbed by son in Fond du Lac, suspect arrested

Multiple ambulances and first responders are currently at the scene. Early reports indicated that over 50 passengers were on the bus.

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This is a developing story. Local 5 will continue to provide updates as more information is released.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
Federal charges filed against a Virginia man accused of illegally selling the gun used in a recent shooting at Old Dominion University are intensifying scrutiny of the states now-defunct universal background check law  and raising new questions about whether the violence could have been prevented.

The case comes as Virginias background check requirement for most private firearm sales remains invalidated following an October ruling by a Lynchburg-area circuit court, a decision that still stands after an appellate court declined to revive the law.

Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones, who sought to intervene after then-Attorney General Jason Miyares did not defend the statute, said the consequences of that decision were significant.

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My predecessor had a choice: defend Virginias background check law and protect our communities, or stand aside. He stood aside and put lives at risk. I fought to intervene and appeal because background checks save lives and closing the private seller loophole keeps guns out of dangerous hands, Jones said in an email Friday.

The timing of the federal case has brought that debate into sharper focus.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Kenya Mcchell Chapman, 32, of Smithfield has been charged with illegally selling the firearm used in the shooting, which left one person dead and two injured, and prompted renewed concern about campus safety in Norfolk.

In a statement announcing the charges, the Justice Department said the defendant is accused of engaging in the unlicensed sale of firearms, including the weapon later used in the ODU shooting. Prosecutors allege the gun was sold to an individual prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law.

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The federal complaint has drawn attention from gun violence prevention advocates, who say the case reflects the risks created when background check requirements are weakened or removed.

Thats the very thing that the law was intended to stop from happening, said Lori Haas, advocacy manager for the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, in a phone interview Friday.

People who are prohibited from purchasing a firearm, by law, we need to make certain that they cant buy firearms. Because look at what happened. Somebody who was prohibited by law got their hands on a firearm and caused harm and devastation to another university community.

Virginias universal background check law, enacted in 2020 under a Democratic majority and signed by then-Gov. Ralph Northam, expanded existing federal requirements by requiring most private firearm sales to go through licensed dealers, who would conduct background checks.

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But in October, a Lynchburg-area circuit court judge struck down the law in a case initially focused on handgun access for people ages 18 to 20. The ruling went further, invalidating the broader private-sale background check requirement statewide.

Miyares, a Republican, did not pursue an appeal before leaving office. Jones, a Democrat, moved in December to extend the deadline so the commonwealth could continue the case.

That motion was denied, meaning the Lynchburg courts ruling remains in effect and the law is unenforceable.

The ODU shooting

Authorities say the ODU shooting suspect obtained the firearm through a private sale after it had been stolen, a transaction that would have required a background check under Virginia law before it was struck down. The alleged shooter  Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a 36-year-old former Virginia National Guardsman  was prohibited from possessing a firearm.

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The shooting left one person dead and led to heightened concern on campus and across the region.

In response, university officials have taken additional safety measures, including asking students to disclose more information about their criminal histories  a significant move because Virginia law limits how public colleges handle criminal history.

State statute prohibits public institutions from including questions about criminal history on their own admissions applications or denying admission solely based on that information, though schools may review such records after a student is admitted if there are safety concerns.

The case has also fueled ongoing debate about whether stronger background check requirements could have prevented the sale.

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For Haas, the case underscores why advocates pushed for the 2020 law.

I think the attorney generals point is extremely valid, she said. Its why the Virginia Tech families and the gun violence prevention movement fought so hard to get universal background checks.

She added that while it is not possible to know whether the seller would have complied with the law, the requirement itself could have created a barrier.

It would have been at least a barrier in some minds in requiring a background check of the buyer, Haas said.

Federal charges and legislative response

The Justice Departments case focuses on the alleged conduct of the seller, who is accused of unlawfully dealing firearms and transferring a weapon to a prohibited person.

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Federal law requires individuals who are engaged in the business of selling firearms to obtain a license and conduct background checks. But private sellers who fall outside that definition are not subject to the same requirements, a gap that states like Virginia sought to address through broader laws.

With Virginias law currently struck down, that gap has effectively reopened, at least temporarily.

Even as the courts consider the future of the states background check requirements, lawmakers have moved to adopt new measures.

During the 2026 legislative session, Democrats passed legislation aimed at strengthening firearm purchasing requirements.

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Senate Bill 643, sponsored by Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, would prohibit any person younger than 21 years of age, with certain exceptions outlined in the bill, from purchasing a handgun or assault firearm in the commonwealth. A companion bill by Del. Garrett McGuire, D-Alexandria, also passed.

Both bills are now headed to Gov. Abigail Spanberger and would take effect July 1 if signed into law.

The convergence of the federal prosecution, the court ruling and the legislative response has created a complex and evolving landscape for gun policy in Virginia.

Jones said he intends to continue pursuing the issue in court and emphasized the broader stakes.

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Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children, and at a moment that demanded action, my predecessor chose the gun lobby over public safety. I will not. As attorney general, I will pursue every avenue, including taking this fight to court, to defend our laws, enforce accountability, and save lives.

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Federal prosecutors have charged another nine repeat criminal offenders from Cincinnati, part of a "workaround" to reduce violent crime because of looser state gun laws.

U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II announced the latest charges during a news conference March 23, flanked by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Cincinnati Interim Police Chief Adam Hennie and other law enforcement officials.

The nine men who were charged by indictment are as young as 18 and as old as 46. Seven face charges of possessing a gun as a felon, which carry up to a 10-year prison sentence, while two face charges of possessing a machine gun, which carry up to a 15-year prison sentence.

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"We're not here to declare victory," Gerace said. "We're not done with these cases and while I'm the U.S. Attorney we will never be done. I expect to see a steady stream of these cases to continue out of my office."

So far, Gerace's office has now announced charges against 21 people as part of the state-led violent crime reduction initiative, combining forces on the local level with Ohio State Highway Patrol and federal partners.

Cincinnati Interim Police Chief Adam D. Hennie gives an update on initiatives to reduce violent crime in a press conference at the Atrium Two building in downtown Cincinnati on Monday, March 23, 2026.

Most recently, federal prosecutors stepped in to charge two men involved in a mass shooting at Riverfront Live earlier this month. One man claimed self-defense and state-level charges were dropped against him. However, federal charges for both men remain.

In another case, federal prosecutors stepped in to charge the alleged gunman in a high-profile shooting last fall on Fountain Square, who had also claimed self-defense and had state-level charges dropped against him.

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In recent months, Cincinnati has worked closely with other agencies on a wide range of high-visibility operations, ranging from highway patrol conducting nighttime patrols by helicopter to county sheriff's deputies assisting on traffic stops.

Yost: 'Policy mistakes' in Ohio necessitate efforts

Yost praised efforts in Cincinnati and across Ohio to reduce violent crime by working with federal officials, saying it was a necessary force multiplier because of the state's current gun laws.

Specifically, Yost said the state's weapons under disability law, which prohibits people convicted of a felony (among other conditions) from possessing a gun, is now a "relatively insignificant offense." He also said he disagreed with the Legislature's approach to changing self-defense laws.

"My hope is the Legislature will revisit the weapons under disability statute and use common sense to bring that into line with the needs of society and take repeat offenders who use guns off the streets," Yost said. "But this is a good workaround, even if it is temporary, to use a federal partnership when we can."

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost provides an update on initiatives to reduce violent crime at a news conference in Cincinnati on March 23, 2026.

Yost has continued to champion tougher penalties for repeat gun offenders alongside some state Republican lawmakers, but has been unsuccessful.

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As a city, officials have tried  and failed  to enact more restrictive gun ordinances within Cincinnati. Under a 2006 state law, expanded in 2018, Ohio municipalities are forbidden from imposing any restriction on a person's ability to own, possess, purchase, sell, transfer, transport, store or keep any firearm, part of a firearm, its components and its ammunition.

Some men charged had Glock switches

Two of the nine men charged by federal prosecutors this month are accused of possessing Glock switches, a device that can turn a semi-automatic Glock 9mm pistol into a fully automatic weapon.

A semiautomatic handgun fires one round per trigger press, while these weapons will fire rapidly until the user lets go of the trigger or the gun runs out of ammunition.

Polo Alexander, 37, charged with possessing a Springfield Armory XD9 9mm pistol as a felon.

Austin Fowler, 46, charged with possessing a Glock 36 .45 caliber pistol as a felon.

Lamont Golightly, 28, charged with possessing a Taurus 9mm pistol as a felon.

Adrian Hardy, 19, charged with modifying a Glock 19 9mm pistol to fire automatically.

Nathaniel Mack, 40, charged with possessing a Sig Sauer P365 9mm pistol as a felon.

Rodrick Meatchem-White, 18, charged with modifying a Glock 19 9mm pistol to fire automatically.

Auston Page, 31, charged with possessing a Girsan MC 1911 .45 caliber pistol and a Taurus PT 140 .40 caliber pistol as a felon.

Reca Shelton, 40, charged with possessing a firearm as a felon.

Naim Warren, 29, charged with possessing a Taurus G3C 9mm pistol as a felon.

With summer near, violent crime is 'number 1 priority'

While the weather grows warmer, Cincinnati's interim police chief said that working hand-in-hand with other agencies is essential to combat violent crime.

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Hennie said the previously announced two days per month partnership with other agencies is gone. Instead, Cincinnati police are working as much as possible with highway patrol and county sheriff's deputies, as personnel numbers permit.

"Violent crime is our number one priority and we cannot combat that alone," Hennie said.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Federal prosecutors charge 9 more in Cincinnati with illegal gun crimes
Officials in Iowa were taken aback after a surprising and unlikely find in the Des Moines River.

As the Des Moines Register reported, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources discovered two pallid sturgeons in the river within a week's time last spring.

The fish, native to central regions of the United States, ranks among the rarest fish in North America. With only a few populations remaining, they've been classified as federally endangered since 1990.

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Sturgeon are among the most widely traded fish globally, with their eggs used for caviar. Overfishing for this delicacy, combined with habitat loss, has specifically endangered the pallid sturgeon and made sightings uncommon.

"The pallid sturgeon wasn't even on our radar because it wasn't one that we expected to actually find in the Des Moines River," revealed Mark Flammang, a DNR fisheries biologist, per the Register.

The find was part of an annual spring sturgeon sampling effort that's been going on since at least 2014. Flammang said both of the likely decades-old fish were healthy and doing well. Sturgeon can live to 150 years, so the duo could have many years left in the waters.

Making the find even more notable was where it occurred and the nature of the fish. Pallid sturgeons are more common in the Missouri River and not in the waters of the Mississippi north of St. Louis, per Flammang.

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These two were also not reproduced from a hatchery, which is contributing to the efforts to resuscitate their population.

"Not only did we catch a fish we weren't expecting that's federally endangered, but also that was produced naturally, so it's kind of a trifecta," Flammang said, per the Register. "You can't get rarer than that."

The DNR collected tissue samples from the sturgeon and released them back into the river, hoping they would serve as an example to fishermen.

"It's imperative that anglers know that they must release these fish back in the river immediately," Flammang concluded.

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A danger potentially lurking in the waters of the Azores' islands could be reduced after efforts to overturn a landmark fishing ban stalled.

According to Mongabay, a law to safeguard Azorean waters went into effect on Jan. 1, 2026, after its initial approval in October 2024. As a result, one-third of the Azorean seascape in the North Atlantic will serve as a 110,800-square-mile marine protected area.

Fishing will be banned in fully protected areas in half of the MPA, advancing Portugal's commitment to protect 30% of its waters by the end of the decade.

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At one point, though, the landmark ban appeared to be in jeopardy.

MPAs can be controversial because they limit access to fishing grounds that people rely on for their livelihoods. Nevertheless, they can help reduce the risk of marine life encountering the "silent killer"  abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear, also referred to as ghost gear. In the long term, this can support local economic growth and food security.

The MPA was also a point of contention in the Azores, which is home to a diverse array of shark, cetacean, turtle, and seabird species, Mongabay reported.

In March, the Azorean Socialist Party proposed opening up fully protected areas to pole-and-line fishing. This type of fishing is typically seen as more sustainable and low-impact.

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The tuna canning industry backed the idea as some professional groups continued to oppose the ban.

Azores Fisheries Federation president Jorge Goncalves told Mongabay that the 10 million (around $11.8 million) earmarked by the Portuguese government for Azorean fishers over the next three years wasn't enough to compensate them for the MPA's economic effects.

"[This] has to do with politics and not with the defense of resources," Goncalves suggested, explaining that tuna only migrate through the Azores for three months in total.

However, a number of politicians, researchers, and members of the public supported outlawing pole-and-line fishing in fully protected areas. On Jan. 15, the Azores Parliament voted to uphold the no-fishing zones.

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This essentially ended a push to allow pole-and-line tuna fishing in these areas, which would have been "catastrophic and damaging to the region," according to Luis Bernardo Brito e Abreu, coordinator of conservation organization Blue Azores, per Mongabay.

Portuguese environmental association ZERO lauded the Jan. 15 decision as "historic" on its website. ZERO researcher Joana Soares told Mongabay that permitting fishing in fully protected areas would have "set a very dangerous precedent."

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Reductions in federal funding for food stamps are rippling through the Ohio legislature.

For decades the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program has split administrative costs evenly between states and the federal government.

The Trump/Republican One Big Beautiful Bill Act changes that split to 75% and 25%, with states shouldering more of the burden.

The measure also pushes benefit costs onto states for the first time.

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Based on a states SNAP error rate, it could be on the hook for 5-15% of its benefits.

In the most recent year on record, only eight states and the U.S. Virgin Islands had error rates low enough to avoid added costs.

Ohios error rate was 9%, meaning the state would have to cover a tenth of its SNAP benefits.

Researchers at Georgetown University estimate those changes together will increase Ohios SNAP contribution by 268%  pushing the state share north of $530 million.

The added administrative costs take effect this October, while the benefit cost share is set to begin the following year.

The immediate shortfall amounts to about $38 million landing on counties throughout the state.

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While Republican lawmakers arent prepared to cover the full amount, they offered to put up $12.5 million to soften the blow in Ohio House Bill 730.

But their plans for divvying up the money infuriated Democratic lawmakers who pushed back forcefully during floor debate this week.

What could be fairer than equal?

Ohio House Bill 730 is whats known as a capital reappropriation bill. Ohio budgets on a two-year cycle, but many of the projects it funds take longer than that to complete.

Because lawmakers would like to see the roads, bridges, and community centers they paid for actually get built, the reappropriation bills which keep dollars flowing are typically noncontroversial.

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But the proposed SNAP distributions changed the calculation for House Democrats.

Ohio state Rep. Brian Stewart, R-Ashville, who leads the Finance Committee, defended the plan, arguing it treats Ohios 88 counties equally.

It starts out giving the same exact amount of money to every single county, but once a county is made whole, they dont get any more, Stewart said. We then take the remaining funds and distribute those to all the remaining counties equally until the money runs out.

In all, he said, 59 counties wont lose a penny.

But $12.5 million split 88 ways doesnt amount to a huge sum of money. The largest amount any county will receive under the GOP plan is about a quarter million dollars.

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Cuyahoga County meanwhile stands to lose $7.5 million in federal administrative funding. Franklin County will lose $5.6 million. Hamilton, Lucas and Montgomery Counties stand to lose more than $2 million each.

But to Stewarts point, the GOP plan treats them all equally. Each one gets $226,486.

Democrats amendment

Ohio state Rep. Munira Abdullahi, D-Columbus, offered an amendment on the House floor that would distribute dollars based on an existing administrative formula. In short, the money would flow based on need.

As a thought experiment, Abdullahi described a cafeteria with hungry people at two different tables. If there are a bunch of hungry people at one table and one hungry person at the other, you wouldnt just split sandwiches equally between the tables.

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Food doesnt feed tables or counties, she said. It feeds human beings.

This isnt county versus county. Its not urban versus rural. Its not Democrat versus Republican, Abdullahi continued. Its about whether we fund public services based on based on real need and real caseloads, or not  simple as that.

And Abdullahi argued the stakes are bigger than county balance sheets. The $38 million Ohio stands to lose in federal administrative funds pales in comparison to the money it could have to pay in benefits if error rates are too high.

But it could be hard to keep error rates down if agencies running the program dont have adequate funding.

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Shortchanging program administration means less money for the people who verify eligibility and enforce work requirements and prevent fraud, Abdullahi said.

If we cannot fill the entire $38 million hole today, then the least we can do is distribute the limited dollars we have in a rational way, she said.

We should not be setting up our largest counties to fail, colleagues. Its a question not only of fairness, but also of fiscal responsibility.

Passage

Stewart dismissed the idea, insisting a handful of metro counties would get the overwhelming bulk of the money, and then the smallest rural counties would fight over the scraps.

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And lets be clear, these largest counties, that were clutching pearls over, have the money  period, he claimed.

Stewart contends that while counties are looking to the state to cover lost federal revenue theyre sitting on significant carryover balances.

What is the money for, he asked, if not to pay for things like this?

But Ohio state Rep. Daniel Troy, D-Willowick, noted some resource-strapped, small counties are getting punished for doing exactly what lawmakers encourage.

One argument in Ohios property tax debate is that local governments should share services.

Instead of paying to build out a fire department in every city and township, maybe communities should band together to pay for one department serving all of them.

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Under this bill, were penalizing South Central Jobs and Family Services, which serves Hocking, Ross, and Vinton County, Troy said.

South Centrals combined administrative cost shortfall is only about $386,000, and even though they serve three counties, theyre treated the same as agencies serving one. They got the maximum amount of $226,486.

If they hadnt shared services, they would all be restored at 100%, Troy said. But because theyre a shared thing, there actually will be a reduction in the funding they get.

The House voted down Abdullahis amendment and approved the bill by a vote of 66 to 29. In all, four Democrats supported the measure. The proposal now heads to the Ohio Senate.

Follow Ohio Capital Journal Reporter Nick Evans on X or on Bluesky.

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This month, Ohio landed in international news. The Guardian reported on ICEs new Operation Buckeye, an initiative to deport Somali residents of central Ohio and throughout the state.

While deportations represent the most visible and sometimes violent policy being enacted in the United States today, the largest impacts on immigration in today are coming from limiting immigration.

According to researchers at the Brookings Institution and the American Enterprise Institute, 100,000 more people left the United States in 2025 than in 2024. But nearly 2 million fewer people immigrated into the United States in 2025 compared to the previous year.

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When all is said and done, reductions in immigration were 19 times as high as total increase in emigration.

This means that the United States had a historically low net immigration rate, with about as many people leaving the Land of Opportunity in 2025 as came in.

I have written in the past about how slowing immigration will impact Ohio in the future.

I also asked a question to Scioto Analysiss Ohio Economic Experts Panel about how the states immigration slowdown will impact the economy.

Most economists said it would lead to higher prices, nearly all said it would lead to less small business formation, and all of them said it would lower tax revenue.

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A conversation I had on social media recently about an article written on that experts panel led me to an interesting question: has this happened before?

Douglas Buchanan of the Columbus Metropolitan Club asked me if there was economic fallout from U.S. restrictions on immigration enacted in 1924.

The Immigration Act of 1924 is considered by many to be the among most restrictionist immigration law passed in U.S. history, often mentioned alongside the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.

Responding to public fears about demographic change, Congressman and Eugenics Advocate Albert Johnson championed legislation that enacted quotas on immigration in an attempt to keep the countrys white population at the level established by the 1920 census.

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The economic literature shows a range of economic effects from this legislation, mostly negative.

Danish economists studying the change found the immigration crackdown led to long-term population declines for areas in the U.S. that previously relied on immigration.

They also found manufacturing productivity dropped due to less availability of labor and that native worker job quality dropped, presumably due to fewer people buying goods due to fewer immigrants coming into the country to buy goods.

An international team of researchers looked at how farms responded to the reduction, finding they moved from labor-intensive agricultural techniques to more reliance on technology.

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In short, restricting immigration led to more jobsfor tractors.

According to one Chinese researcher, the 1924 crackdown did have one interesting side effect: spurring the Great Migration.

With many employers in large northern cities looking for workers, they turned to Black migrants from the South, which led to new opportunities for Black American workers.

On balance, restricting immigration leads to fewer consumers, fewer workers, fewer entrepreneurs, fewer inventions, fewer ideas, fewer skills, and less of an edge for Ohios economy.

As the state and local governments are trying to figure out how much to support or oppose federal efforts to deport and restrict immigration, they cannot ignore that the damage they do to the lives of immigrants will spill into the lives of American-born residents as well.

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OKLAHOMA CITY  A bill allowing firearm safety training in public schools overwhelmingly passed the state House on Monday with bipartisan support.

House Bill 3312, which passed 84-10, would allow schools to choose whether to offer the training, though the bills original version would have required the course in all public schools. The training must be age- and grade-appropriate, politically neutral and include no live ammunition.

The training would promote practical, life-saving education, said the bills author, Rep. Ryan Eaves, R-Atoka.

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Students in elementary grades would be taught not to touch a found firearm, to leave the area and to tell an adult. Older students would receive instruction on safe handling and storage of firearms, how to avoid injury when finding a firearm and school safety.

The Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training and the Oklahoma State Department of Education would develop a curriculum for the training and decide the earliest appropriate age to receive it. The program couldnt bear any organizational affiliation, except for a state-issued brand.

A school would have to give parents the choice to opt out their children from the training.

HB 3312 doesnt dictate who must give the training, but having a CLEET-certified school resource officer or a member of local law enforcement teach the course shall be considered best practice, under the legislation.

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Its not my intent that every second grade teacher in Oklahoma is now teaching firearms education, Eaves said. I dont think anyone here wants that. Thats not the intent.

The measure heads to the Senate for consideration.

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Are you still working toward your New Years resolution? By this time of year, most people have long since forgotten their goals to hit the gym or eat healthier foods.

Pensions are sort of like New Years resolutions. Policymakers always promise, to themselves and to their constituents, that this will be the year theyll finally get their financial house in order and bolster their pensions. But inevitably, something shiny comes along and distracts them.

Oklahoma is grappling with this dilemma right now. After years of dutifully funneling millions of extra dollars into its beleaguered teacher pension plan, state policymakers are now considering scaling back. Instead, they would like to use that money to fund a list of other priorities: pay raises for active teachers, more money for its school choice tax credit program, plus new investments in reading and math.

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Its likely to be a popular list. But it threatens to derail the states progress on pension funding.

Oklahoma has actually done better on the pension front than most other states. Thanks to a combination of benefit cuts, plus a surge of new contributions, it has dramatically improved the health of its teacher pension plan.

For example, the systems unfunded liability, essentially the difference between how much it had promised and how much it had saved toward those promises, shrank from $10.4 billion in 2010 down to $6.1 billion last year. Its funded ratio  a comparison between its assets and its liabilities  has improved from 47% in 2010 all the way up to 80% as of last June.

Oklahomas teacher plan is still not quite as well-funded as the median state and local plan  which was 82.5% funded last year  but the states policymakers deserve kudos for making progress. Current and retired Oklahoma teachers should be thankful that their retirement plan is in much better shape than it was 16 years ago.

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So how did they do it? First, legislators raised the retirement age from 62 to 65 and extended the amount of time that a teacher would need to work to qualify for a benefit from five to seven years. (This is called the vesting period, and these tend to be longer for teachers than for workers in the private sector. For example, according to a survey of Vanguard 401(k) plans, half of employees are immediately vested in their employers retirement contributions.) These policy changes meant that any Oklahoma teacher who started after Oct. 31, 2011, had to wait just a bit longer to qualify for retirement benefits than those who came before them.

Related

Worry for Teacher Pensions Prompts Criticism of Oklahoma Ed Funding Plan

A rising stock market certainly helped the pension plan as well, but the biggest change was on the funding side. From 2001 to 2011, Oklahoma was contributing less each year than what its actuaries said it needed to. Instead of paying off their metaphorical credit card in full, they made only minimum payments, which led to a large financial hole.

But every year since 2012, Oklahoma has put in more than what its actuaries said it needed to. As of last year, individuals were required to contribute 7% of their salaries. Employers like school districts paid 9.5% of each employees salary. And the state contributed a percentage of its revenues from sales taxes, cigarette taxes, corporate income taxes, individual income taxes and lottery proceeds. This extra state contribution came out to $456 million last year, and this is the portion that state legislators now want to cut back.

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Oklahomas teacher pension plan is in much better shape today than it was. But its instructive to compare it with the plan Oklahoma offers to other state employees, which is in even better shape than the teacher plan.

That largely comes down to how far legislators went in designing reforms for each plan. In the case of the teachers, Oklahomas legislators were more hands-off. Teachers continue to be placed in the same defined benefit pension plan, for example. On average, their benefits are worth 10.67% of their salary, according to the plans latest actuarial valuation report. But remember that teachers themselves are paying about two-thirds of that cost, which means that most of the contributions made by the state and its school districts are paying for the plans unfunded liabilities, not for benefits for todays workers. Moreover, the benefit structure is so heavily backloaded that someone would have to teach in Oklahoma for decades just to earn more than what they personally contributed.

Meanwhile, state employees have been enrolled in a portable defined contribution 401(k)-style plan since 2015. Members are required to contribute 4.5% of their salary, their employer contributes 6% and employees qualify for a growing share of those contributions over five years. A bill in the state legislature would raise those contribution rates and drop the vesting requirement altogether. Oklahomas higher education employees get an even better deal.

Putting the benefit situation aside, Oklahoma deserves credit for making substantial progress funding its teacher pension plan. According to the latest financial projections, the states actuaries expect that the plan could be fully funded by 2034. However, that assumption depends on its investments earning a 7% return every year. They also cautioned that one risk to its projection is that actual contributions from the state may not be made in accordance with the current arrangement.

If Oklahoma legislators go forward with their plans to divert some of the money toward new expenses, theyd be putting all their hard-earned funding progress at risk.
KATHMANDU, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Nepal will allow solo foreign trekkers to visit designated restricted areas by ending the group-only permit system, the Department of Immigration said on Monday.

The South Asian country has designated 15 areas across 13 mountain districts as restricted areas. In a notice published on its website, the department said the decision was to address complaints from travel trade entrepreneurs.

However, solo travel to these areas will be subject to certain conditions, including submitting applications through a trekking agency, assigning a trekking guide, and requiring the concerned agency to take full responsibility for rescue operations in emergencies, among others. 
A private contractor recently sank a grassroots effort to overhaul how Oklahoma selects candidates for office thanks to a change in state law that allows signatures to be tossed on technicalities.

That a business and not even election officials ended the quest to open our states party primaries makes for a compelling  and concerning  story all on its own.

But consider this: State Question 836, which the Oklahoma secretary of state said fell short of the needed signatures to make it onto a statewide ballot, could be one of the last times voters here have a legitimate opportunity to exercise their constitutional right to even consider a ballot initiative.

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Thats because Republican lawmakers continue their crusade to curtail everyday Oklahomans ability to participate in the democratic process.

After all, Republican leaders havent been shy in voicing their opposition to this measure, and it was probably alarming to them that it fell only 31,000 signatures short of qualifying for a ballot.

This state question proposed creating an open primary system where all candidates, regardless of political affiliation, would appear on the same ballot. The top two vote-getters would advance even if they were members of the same party.

Given that this nearly made the ballot, a man who knows Im a journalist asked me whether lawmakers might take steps to further water down Oklahomans rights to place citizen-initiated ballot measures before voters. And if, or when, our courts would have the courage to say enough is enough.

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While lawmakers  much to their frustration  havent figured out a way to outright strip Oklahomans of their long-held constitutional right to put things on the ballot, theyve been on a laser-focused quest to water down those rights since voters began approving progressive initiatives over the past decade. Think expanding Medicaid and making medical marijuana legal, against the wishes of the GOP leaders of the Legislature.

Beginning around 2020, lawmakers have made it much more difficult to qualify legitimate signatures collected by using a random third-party contractor that claims it created an innovative and automated process that searches voter records and matches signatures with registered voters, highlighting discrepancies.

The company brags on its website that it spearheaded legislation in Oklahoma that will modernize the age old, archaic petition system. It says their process will eliminate many of the issues associated with the initiative process.

Instead of three data points as the law previously required, now 4 of 5 voter data points  legal first name, legal last name, zip code, house number and day and month of birth  must align for a voters signature to be counted. Of the signatures collected for SQ836, 57,841 were disqualified for failing the data point check, NPR-affiliate KOSU reported.

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I dont know about you, but my signature never seems to look the same twice, and I never seem to have good luck with automated processes. I sure hope someone manually verified this result because if the first state question to undergo this new screening process failed, it doesnt bode well for those yet to come.

And lets not forget, theres also another terrible law aimed at further crippling citizen-led ballot measures looming large over future efforts.

This one weakens voters voices by limiting how many signatures can be collected by county, essentially capping the number that can come from the states most populous areas. It also prohibits paying people based on the number of signatures they collect, requires the disclosure of who is paying circulators and bars out-of-state interests from donating to support these citizen-led initiatives.

The Supreme Court stopped the law from applying to State Question 836 while a legal challenge over its constitutionality plays out.

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This may be the last ballot question we see before these ridiculous  and seemingly unlawful  parameters take effect.

Its always been really difficult for grassroots measures to make the ballot, but now were getting our first taste of just how much more challenging lawmakers have made it.

And adding insult to injury, Republican House lawmakers this session decided to try to circumvent the open primary state question by passing their own competing plan to overhaul those elections. House Republicans want every party to have the opportunity to choose a candidate for every general election. Their plan would directly have conflicted with State Question 836, and had both become law, it would have created a legal mess.

Dont forget, lawmakers have made it really easy to place their own measures on the ballot. They only need a majority of members in each chamber to agree, while everyday Oklahomans face expensive and timely campaigns to collect hundreds of thousands of signatures from registered voters.

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With lawmakers hellbent on stripping voters of their voice and what little influence they do have, is it any wonder that a group of Oklahomans felt compelled to overhaul our primary election system?

The fact that this got so close to making the ballot  and our continually dismal election participation numbers  should signal to state leaders that something is not working and people are fed up and feel disenfranchised.

When a supporter of State Question 836 was explaining to me early on what they were proposing, I asked why not pursue a system similar to Texas. The way that state operates its primary election system seems like it would be much more palatable to Oklahomans. Texas voters dont register by party. Instead, under its open primary system, they choose which party primary they want to participate in. Voters can only pick one party, and then they must stick with that choice throughout the primary election cycle.

Like in Oklahoma, the candidate that receives over 50% of votes moves on to the general election.

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And to ease the worries of Oklahomas dominant party: It hasnt harmed Republican prospects in Texas, as they hold top government posts and both U.S. Senate seats.

Its clearly working for Texas voters too. In its primary election earlier this month, nearly 25% voters  or about 4.5 million  weighed in, the Texas Tribune reported. Primary turnout in 2018 and 2022 has hovered around 17%.

Oklahomas primary isnt until June. But looking at our most recent statewide primary elections in 2024, only 237,333 voters cast ballots in the top Republican contest, according to the state Election Board. To put that into perspective there were over 2.3 million registered voters. That means turnout was only 10%.

I fear this years primary turnout is going to be abysmal given that independents, which now total close to 491,000, are for the first time in years barred from participating in all partisan contests because no party is allowing them to vote.

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Adding insult to injury, now lawmakers want to make it more difficult to even register to vote. Currently, if someone forgets to select a party designation, theyre automatically registered as independent. But under a bill working its way through the Legislature, their application would be thrown out if they dont choose a designation.

Legislators should not be disenfranchising any group of voters, particularly on a technicality.

I hope it begins to dawn on lawmakers that State Question 836 may just be the beginning of the rise of resistance. Because if they continue on this current path of destruction, I dont think it will be long before their constituents will have had enough of being sidelined and silenced.

Picture a scenario where voters move to strip legislators of much of their power.

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Should that day come, it will be interesting to see how lawmakers like a taste of their own medicine. Being regulated  and relegated  to the political sidelines.

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One of the pilots killed in a crash at LaGuardia Airport on Sunday, March 22, has been identified as Antoine Forest

At a press conference the following day, an FAA official said that the pilots were both "two young men at the start of their careers"

An investigation is ongoing

One of the two pilots killed when a passenger jet and a firetruck crossing the runway at LaGuardia Airport crashed over the weekend have been identified.

Antoine Forest, of Coteau-du-Lac in Quebec, was one of the pilots who died, his family told the Toronto Star. A LinkedIn profile stated he was a first officer with Jazz Aviation, according to the outlet.

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The other pilot has not yet been publicly identified.

At a press conference on Monday, March 23, an FAA administrator said that the pilots were both "two young men at the start of their careers."

"Its an absolute tragedy that were sitting here with their loss," the administrator added. "My heart really goes out to their families."

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul went on to call them "two young pilots" who "left their homes expecting to return to their families and they will not."

Air Canada Flight 8646 was being operated by Jazz Aviation for Air Canada. The company previously said in a statement that they were "deeply saddened by the loss of two employees and are working to support family members and employees at this difficult time."

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There were 72 passengers and four crew members on board the CRJ-900 aircraft, which was flying from Montreal to LaGuardia, according to officials.

Over 40 people were left injured as a result of the crash, including two people on the truck  Sergeant Michael Orsillo and Officer Adrian Baez  according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Among those who survived was a flight attendant who was ejected from the aircraft and found strapped into her seat.

LaGuardia  which has reopened after being temporarily closed as of Monday, March 23  has said the crash took place when the Air Canada flight was landing and struck an aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle that was responding to a separate incident.

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Audio was later released of the air traffic controllers working at the airport amid the collision.

In the audio from air traffic control, one controller is heard giving the green-light to cross before shouting, Stop, stop, stop, stop. truck 1, stop, stop, stop.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Stop, truck 1, stop! the controller said again, per the audio recording.

Its unclear what the firetruck crew did in the moments before the collision.

An investigation remains ongoing.

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A Somerset County regional school district plans to cut 17 jobs in next school years budget to address rising costs.

Bridgewater-Raritan Regional school officials introduced a budget last week with the proposed job cuts. They said escalating costs, including sharp increases in health insurance premiums, are forcing staff reductions.

Theres no end in sight with the health care cost rising exponentially, said Bridgewater-Raritan Superintendent Robert Beers, who also noted a rise in gas prices resulting in higher energy costs.

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Were always going to have those pressures and weve got events that are outside of our control, he said.

Assistant Superintendent Daniel Fonder said 29 positions will be eliminated under the proposed budget. But 12 new positions will be created for full-day kindergarten, resulting in a net loss of 17 positions.

Board officials said the cuts will affect elementary and secondary schools, as well as administrative and support staff, due to consolidation and declining enrollment.

Bridgewater-Raritan currently includes students from Bridgewater and Raritan Borough. The district has 11 schools.

District officials said earlier this month they rejected an offer from an unnamed, nearby school district to consider a merger.

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The potential Bridgewater-Raritan merger came as some lawmakers have been pushing the state to consider widespread mergers to help cut down on New Jerseys more than 600 school districts to save money.

Bridgewater-Raritan has seen a steady decline in enrollment over the past few years, according to Business Administrator Kevin Lomski.

Data presented at the meeting showed there were 584 fewer students in the district over the last five years. In the 2025-26 school year, there were 7,438 students enrolled.

This decline in enrollment will allow the district to strategically plan staffing, including evaluating resignations, retirements and where positions need to be filled.

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Rising health insurance costs are the districts biggest expense driver, Lomski said.

He added that those costs have been skyrocketing.

This is not sustainable, Beers said. There is no way we can continue down this road  with 30% increases to health care every year. Theres just no way of getting around it.

Its a world that we live in, and a lot of schools live in, where there are cost pressures well outside of our control that we have to deal with, Beers added.

The proposed budget is more than $193.9 million, a 3.2% increase over last years spending plan.

Bridgewater-Raritan is slated for a slight increase in state funding under the proposed state budget submitted by Gov. Mikie Sherrill earlier this month. The district will get about $15.3 million, a 1.9% increase over last year, under the governors plan.

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The preliminary budget was submitted to the county superintendent for final review. It will be voted on by the school board at the April 28 meeting, according to Beers.

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Camden, a city once named among the nations most dangerous cities, had no homicides during the winter for the first time in 50 years, county officials said.

Between Dec. 21, 2025, and March 20, there were no homicides recorded in Camden, a statistic that hadnt been seen since 1970, according to officials.

Since reforming the local police department into a county law enforcement agency in 2014, the city has shown declines in violent crime.

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Camden recorded 12 homicides in 2025, the lowest number since 1985, according to the Camden County Police Departments 2025 Uniform Crime Reporting results.

The city has seen a 100% decrease from the same time last year and a 78% drop in shootings during the same time period, officials said.

County officials tout the success in reducing violent crime in a city once considered among the most dangerous in America as a combination of cutting-edge technology and community policing.

As a son of this city and having worked my entire law enforcement career in Camden, Im somewhat astounded at where we find ourselves, police chief Gabriel Rodriguez said in a statement. This accomplishment is a benchmark for the agency that could not be accomplished without our community partnerships, engagement and dialogue with our neighbors, and support of our stakeholders.

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The department also launched a drone program to assist with rescues and other incidents, complimenting the citys network of surveillance systems.

Training for officers has also improved. The Camden County Police Department has placed an emphasis on de-escalation tactics using training simulators that throw officers into a variety of high-pressure situations.

Fridays announcement builds off the summer of 2025s success where no homicides were recorded.

The years of investment in new technology, de-escalation training, and community engagement by our CCPD officers have resulted in a remarkable transformation citywide, Camden mayor Victor Carstarphen said. Camdens streets are safer, and our residents have embraced this new reality.

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For the past five years the Camden County Police Department has instituted the Village Initiative, a collection of partnerships and events designed to provide alternatives to crime and provide essential services to those who need them most.

A social services unit embedded inside the police department has played a pivotal role in reducing crime rates, according to officials.

The program is part of the Arrive Together initiative promoted by the state Attorney Generals office where licensed mental health professionals respond to certain emergency calls to provide assistance.

A few days a week, social service professionals and police officers proactively meet with people in need of assistance and provide help obtaining important personal documents, provide food and health care, and also provide housing assistance.

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Officials have credited the program with lifting people out of housing insecurity and providing support to obtain jobs. The county also runs a day-labor program with Volunteers of America Delaware Valley for those suffering homelessness, paying $75 for a days worth of work and providing a meal.

Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
COVINGTON, KY  Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear will be in Northern Kentucky this week to welcome a Japanese-based company to the region.

Mitsui Chemicals America, Inc., and its brand InnoCell, are the first international lab company in LifeSciKY's incubator lab at the OneNKY Center in Covington.

The company is focused on innovative cell culture products that are used in healthcare and research.

The main entrance at the new OneNKY Center in Covington, Ky., on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025.

The OneNKY Center and LifeSciKY opened last year, funded in part by a $15 million allocation from the Kentucky General Assembly.

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The science lab offers affordable lab space and state-of-the-art equipment, its website states. A ribbon-cutting for the company is slated for 10:30 a.m. March 24.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Gov. Andy Beshear to welcome InnoCell to NKY
Why is President Trump stuck on a political message that is leading his party to lose control of Congress?

The answer is staring Republicans in the face. But they cant find the heart of the daring boy in the fairytale who speaks up to say, The Emperor has No Clothes.

Well, if you held a congressional GOP seat, do you think youd be willing to go to raise your hand and tell Trump that President Biden won the 2020 election fair and square?

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Fear of getting that hand chopped off  figuratively speaking  has congressional Republicans refusing to speak up.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) is the latest Republican leader to conclude it is better to play along with Trumps refusal to admit defeat in 2020.

Cornyn is suddenly abandoning his longstanding opposition to eliminating the Senate filibuster to allow a Trump-backed bill to pass on only Republican votes.

The new law imposes sweeping new restrictions on voting that will effectively end mail-in voting. Republicans nationwide warn that the new law will disenfranchise millions of senior citizens and women whose maiden names may differ from their married names. Rural voters will be hurt. Those constituencies that have historically voted for Republicans.

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But no one will tell Trump.

Certainly not Cornyn. He still dreams of a Trump endorsement for his bid to win a GOP primary in Texas to be the partys nominee for a U.S. Senate seat.

Conversations with nearly a dozen GOP state and county chairs and strategists reveal a party largely eager to move on from relitigating Trumps election grievances, Politico reported last week. But the president wont let it go, subpoenaing 2020 election records and putting pressure on lawmakers to pass legislation to overhaul registration laws.

The president continues to claim falsely that the 2020 election was stolen The Wall Street Journal reported in straight language.

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The truth about his 2020 election loss has also been delivered to Trump by federal and local courts, some led by judges appointed by Republicans, including Trump.

Bill Barr, who was Trumps attorney general during the 2020 election, found no evidence of extensive voter fraud or any conspiracy to deny the election to Trump. Conservative media companies have paid enormous settlements on charges that they advanced Trumps false claims about election fraud.

None of that appears to matter to Trump. He will be 80 years old before the November election. His social media messages are increasingly violent and angry. He has launched a war without a clear endpoint. Polls show the war is unpopular with most Americans, notably all-important independent voters.

Any strategy to bolster Republican victories in the 2026 midterms is secondary to him. After his party suffered major losses in the 2018 midterms, during his first term, Trump said the problem was simply that he was not on the ballot.

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In addition to false claims of voter fraud as his midterm theme, Trump is pushing Republican majority state legislatures to redraw congressional districts to make them more likely to elect a Republican. But that move also provoked countermeasures.

California responded with its own redistricting changes. Virginia could soon follow under newly elected Gov. Abigail Spanberger, whose victory was widely seen as a backlash against the Trump administrations hostility toward federal workers. Early estimates suggest Virginias congressional delegation could tilt as heavily as 101 in favor of Democrats.

The political consequences are already visible.

California Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley announced last week that he will run as an independent in his Sacramento-area district while continuing to caucus with House Republicans. Kiley was redistricted into a Democratic-leaning seat after California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) responded to aggressive partisan gerrymandering in Texas.

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Kileys predicament illustrates how a redistricting war that began in Texas  at Trumps urging  and triggered retaliation in California has left some incumbents scrambling to salvage their political careers.

Overly aggressive deportation of undocumented immigrants will also carry political costs. Polls show Trump has alienated most Latino voters.

That backlash could cost Republicans seats in Texas and potentially even endanger a GOP Senate seat if Democrats unite behind a candidate like state Rep. James Talarico.

This is the essence of Boomerang politics.

Trumps complaints after losing in 2020 included telling Republicans not to trust elections for the U.S. Senate in Georgia. That led to many of his loyal voters staying home, costing Republicans two U.S. Senate seats.

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At recent campaign rallies, Trump often jokes about the weave  his description of a winding, unclear speaking style often riddled with insults and no correspondence with the truth, the facts, or objective political reality.

But Republicans may soon find themselves dealing with something beyond the Weave  the Boomerang. That refers to policies and power moves that look to be snapping back, ready to hit Republicans this November.

It is no longer outside the realm of possibility that this time next year, House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)  armed with large majorities will be looking to pass a series of widely supported Democratic policies. Among them: Medicare for All, a $15 federal minimum wage, an end to the carried-interest loophole, and limits on what critics describe as the blank check of foreign aid to the Netanyahu government in Israel.

And if that happens, Democrats may have Trump to thank.

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Juan Williams is senior political analyst for Fox News Channel and a prize-winning civil rights historian. He is the author of the new book New Prize for These Eyes: The Rise of Americas Second Civil Rights Movement.

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.
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife staff on Saturday found quagga mussels on a motorboat coming from Lake Havasu, Arizona, during a boat inspection in Ashland.

Station crews decontaminated the boat and disposed of all the mussels, marking the first instance in 2026 where crews found the invasive mussel on a boat entering Oregon.

Quagga, zebra or golden mussels have never been detected in Oregon waterways, but officials have intercepted them several times at waterway inspection stations, according to ODFW spokesman Adam Baylor.

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Quagga mussels are an invasive, freshwater and quick-reproducing species that not only pose a serious threat to native food chains but have the potential to damage or clog dams, irrigation and drinking water infrastructure.

In neighboring Idaho, state officials since 2023 have spent millions of dollars trying to eradicate quagga mussels from parts of the Snake River, the states longest river heavily relied on by farmers to irrigate the states most important crops such as potatoes and wheat. The mussels were discovered near Twin Falls, located 180 miles east of the Oregon border. State officials used aquatic pesticides to combat the mussels, killing millions of fish in the process, including decades-old sturgeon.

For more information about the Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program and Waterway Access permits, visit the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife website here.

Invasive freshwater mussels like quagga mussels can do real damage to Oregons lakes, rivers and water infrastructure, said ODFW Invasive Species Coordinator Keith DeHart. Oregon is worth protecting so always clean, drain and dry your boat before transporting it.

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Under Oregon law, any vehicle transporting watercraft must stop at all open watercraft inspection stations for aquatic invasive species inspections. Stations are open if orange, Boat Inspection Ahead, signs are posted, followed by Inspection Required for All Watercraft.

In 2025, Oregon crews decontaminated 12 watercraft carrying invasive freshwater mussels and intercepted an additional 295 watercraft for other types of aquatic biofouling, such as the noxious weed Eurasian Watermilfoil, according to the state fish and wildlife department.

To report an invasive freshwater mussel on watercraft, call the Oregon Invasive Species hotline at 1-866-INVADER or visit the hotline website.

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The study, entitled "From Complaint to Redress: Routes to Remedy for Garment Workers in Pakistan," draws on three years of evidence collected via MyVox, a community-based monitoring tool operated by GRC, as well as research from Pakistani civil society organisations and trade unions.

It maps the various judicial and non-judicial pathways available to garment workers and details the obstacles they face in seeking redress for issues such as wage theft, unsafe working conditions, harassment, and lack of social protection.

Mechanisms examined in the report included labour courts and provincial labour departments. They also included the Federal Ombudsmans Secretariat for Protection Against Harassment (FOSPAH), the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), and the National Industrial Relations Commission (NIRC), as well as alternative dispute resolution (ADR) processes and social protection bodies like the Employees Old Age Benefits Institution (EOBI).

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The report also examined company-level grievance channels, multi-stakeholder initiatives, and strategic litigation or international options.

GRC identifies fragmentation, uneven implementation, and limited accessibility as key challenges across these existing frameworks.

The organisation states that the challenge in Pakistan is not the absence of remedy mechanisms, but that workers struggle to navigate parallel systems because of unclear procedures and a lack of standardisation.

Workers often do not have clear information about their rights or which institution to approach, and may experience delays, jurisdictional confusion, employer resistance, and fear of retaliation.

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The report finds that gaps between brands, suppliers, and state institutions with differing approaches to grievance handling contribute to confusion and place the burden on workers to manage complex procedures without adequate support.

GRC said: The absence of standardised grievance handling approaches across brands, suppliers, and state institutions results in multiple parallel systems that are inconsistent and poorly understood.

Despite these challenges, GRCs report reveals cases where remedy mechanisms delivered outcomes for individual cases, particularly when trade unions or civil society groups supported workers.

Provincial Labour Departments, labour courts, FOSPAH, and social protection institutions have all provided redress under certain conditions.

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Remedy mechanisms can and do work when they are accessible, properly resourced, and supported by worker organisations, it said.

Findings indicate that labour rights abuses in the sector are often systemic and overlapping, with many workers facing wage violations, harassment, and restrictions on freedom of association at the same time. This complexity means that standalone legal processes are insufficient.

The report observes that Labour Departments can act as an effective first point of contact due to their local presence and ability to facilitate negotiation.

Recent years have also seen increased use of ADR methods as a less adversarial route for workers seeking resolution of disputes.

Recommendations

GRC urged Pakistani policymakers to prioritise access to remedy within the next National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAP-BHR) through measurable targets and strengthen coordination between federal and provincial authorities.

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It also calls for greater transparency via public reporting, ratification of key International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions and expansion of Labour Departments mandate.

For multinational companies sourcing from Pakistans garment sector, GRC advises recognition and participation in grievance processes that are led by workers or supported by unions, including those outside of factory-level structures.

It recommends that companies transition towards grievance mechanisms that are designed and managed jointly with workers and unions.

Brands are encouraged to support remediation through purchasing practices, such as making price adjustments or providing advance payments when necessary.

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The report also calls on companies to use their influence transparently by requiring suppliers to issue appointment letters, acknowledge unions, and cooperate with state-based mechanisms.

GRC business and human rights lead Lara Strangways said: "As Pakistan prepares the next phase of its BHR-NAP, this report underscores a critical message: effective remedy depends not on creating more mechanisms on paper, but on making existing ones work better, faster, and more consistently for workers.

Strengthening access to remedy requires coordinated action by the government, brands, suppliers, trade unions, and civil society  grounded in workers lived realities and aligned with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs)."

In October last year, the BrandSupplier Roundtable, hosted by the Pakistan Accord, called for stronger brandsupplier collaboration and greater technical capacity to improve safety and health in Pakistans textile and garment sector.

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"Pakistans labour rights abuses persist despite remedy channels, report" was originally created and published by Just Style, a GlobalData owned brand.




Trading in antiquities and bringing antiquities from the West Bank into Israel without a permit as well as searching for antiquities without a license using a metal detector are criminal offenses.

Dozens of rare coins dating to about 2,000-years-ago were seized from a Palestinian doctor attempting to smuggle them through the Hizma checkpoint between the West Bank and Jerusalem on the first Friday of Ramadan.

Border Police discovered a box containing the coins during inspections of the doctors vehicle, and archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority were called to the scene to verify that they were indeed ancient.

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The individual was detained on suspicion of smuggling antiquities. He was transferred to the Shafat Police Station in the Neve Yaakov neighborhood of Jerusalem for further questioning.

Several of the coins, bearing ancient Hebrew inscriptions, are believed to date to the Second Temple-period and the revolts against Rome.

The coins, believed to have been looted from a Jewish archaeological site from that period, include silver shekels from the second and third years of the Great Jewish revolt and bear the ancient Hebrew inscriptions Shekel of Israel and Jerusalem the Holy.

Ilan Hadad, inspector in charge of antiquities commerce, holding an ancient silver coin seized during smuggling attempt, March 23, 2026. (credit: EMIL ALADJEM/IAA)

In addition, bronze coins from the fourth year of the revolt were found, bearing an image of the Four Species used during the holiday of Sukkot.

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Coins from the Bar Kokhba rebellion were also found among the seized coins, bearing the name of the revolts leader, Shimon (Bar Kokhba), on one side, and the phrase Year Two of the Freedom of Israel on the other.

Some of the coins were cleaned by unskilled hands, causing irreversible damage, while others, which may have been excavated recently, have not yet been cleaned, said Ilan Hadad, the inspector in charge of antiquities commerce, adding that the coins had most likely been unearthed using metal detectors.

Trading in antiquities without a permit, bringing antiquities from the West Bank into Israel without a permit, and searching for antiquities without a license using a metal detector are all criminal offenses under Israeli law.

According to Hadad, the coins were intended to be sold in Israel to illegal antiquities traders or collectors, and noted the possibility that some could have ended up in auction houses abroad.

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The IAA intends to carry out a formal investigation in order to trace the source of the coins and their intended destination.

Call to restrict sale of metal detectors in Israel

We witness every day the expansion of a reprehensible phenomenon, said Dr. Amir Ganor, Director of the Antiquities Theft Prevention Unit. Ancient coins from all historical periods are looted and removed from antiquities sites by individuals using sophisticated metal detectors.

It is important to understand that every ancient coin has tremendous value for the study of the countrys past when found [on site] and within its archaeological context, Ganor explained. Once a coin is looted and removed from its context, the ability to reconstruct the past through it is irreversibly lost.

Ganor added that over the past few years, thousands of metal detectors have been brought into Israel without supervision and are being used more and more by individuals to illegally treasure hunt at antiquities sites.

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The seized coins were most likely looted for financial gain, he said, and now that they have been removed from their context, we will never know to which archaeological site or historical narrative they once belonged.

Ganor called for the government to pass a law restricting the marketing and sale of metal detectors, which are used as destructive tools through which entire chapters of history are erased.

Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu echoed Ganors sentiment, adding that those who loot antiquities are attempting to destroy our identity and to deny our historical connection to this land.

He commended the Border Police and IAA inspectors for their action, noting that Israel is fighting the illegal antiquities trade and is working to bring the looters to justice.
Reports of contaminated land at a new elementary school have caught the attention of a South Carolina school district, which says it is notifying parents about the matter and will work with state regulators to learn more.

The Darlington County School District said it had a study done before Black Creek Elementary School was built to determine whether the land had any environmental issues.

But the district study, known as Phase I report, did not turn up any environmental problems with the site, according to a district news release issued just before 5 p.m. Friday. The district built Black Creek Elementary last year and the school opened in the fall with about 700 students.

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The districts statement follows the recent release of state data showing that 91 tons of waste sludge from the old Galey and Lord textile plant were applied in 1998 and 2001 on part of the school property, before Black Creek was built in 2025. Separate information indicates sludge might also have been applied there in 2006.

Basins at Galey and Lord that contained waste sludge, like the material shipped to farmers in the area as fertilizer, contained high levels of forever chemicals, also known as PFAS, federal records show. These chemicals can cause an array of health problems for people exposed over time, including cancer, immune system deficiences and thyroid problems.

The state Department of Environmental Services will test the soil at Black Creek in coming weeks to determine if forever chemicals are in the soil of the school property.

The S.C. Department of Environmental Services has indicated there is no immediate concern at this time, the Darlington County School District statement said. As part of a broader review of historic sludge application in the area, additional soil testing is planned. The district welcomes this step and will fully cooperate.

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has declared the Galey and Lord property a Superfund priority site for cleanup because it is so contaminated and the site is abandoned. It is now looking at whether to expand the Superfund site to include farm fields polluted by sludge from the factory.

For more than 20 years, beginning in the early 1990s, Galey and Lord shipped waste sludge to area farmers for use as fertilizer, which was cheaper than manufacturered fertilizer. State regulators gave Galey and Lord permission to put sludge on about 10,000 acres in the area. At the time, sludge was thought to be good for crop growth and harmless, but it was later discovered that waste sludge is often contaminated with forever chemicals.

Dozens of wells surrounding former sludge application sites in Darlington County are polluted with forever chemicals, many at levels above a proposed federal safety standard. Little testing has been done on soil on the 10,000 acres, but tests that have been conducted have identified potential problems. The soil on about 20 of the former sludge fields has shown forever chemical contamination, raising questions about the safety of growing crops. Yale University researchers have done most of the testing.

The school districts statement, similar to letters being sent to parents, noted that Black Creek Elementary does not draw water from a well on the property, but gets drinking water from a public system.

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Darlington County School District is aware of recent questions regarding the history of the land on which Black Creek Elementary School is located, the district statement said. We understand families and community members may have concerns, and we want to share what we know and what steps are being taken.

The statement said the safety of our students and staff remains our highest priority.

A key question is where the sludge was applied in relation to where the school was built. The district bought more than 100 acres for the school project in 2022. About 55 acres of the school site received sludge, the DES said in a statement this past week.

Drone footage taken by The State indicates that the school was built in the immediate area of the property where sludge was applied. The land that received sludge is shown in Department of Environmental Services data provided to consultants for a Chesterfield County landowner.

Black Creek Elementary School in rural Darlington County opened in the fall of 2025. Records show part of the school site was coated with sludge from a polluting industrial plant decades ago. (Sammy Fretwell/The State)

A spokesperson for the Department of Environmental Services was not available Saturday to respond to questions, but the overall issue of spreading sludge is being met with growing concern. Its a statewide issue that has manifested itself in Darlington County.

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At a meeting Thursday night in Darlington, residents said they were concerned that sludge has been  and is continuing to be  applied to farmland in the county. They asked state regulators for help, but DES officials said there was not much they could do without stronger laws over the disposal of sludge in South Carolina.

Rep. Joseph Bustos, R-Charleston, said the school issue in Darlington, as well as the overall question about sludge disposal on farms, is something South Carolina should pay attention to. He has introduced legislation to limit spreading contaminated sludge on farmland, but fellow lawmakers have not taken up the matter.

So far, powerful farming interests have been cool to the idea of limiting the use of sludge as fertilizer because it is cheaper than buying manufactured fertilizer, the Mount Pleasant lawmaker said. But he said protecting food and water is more important.

Its important for the people of South Carolina to know what theyre eating and what they are drinking, Bustos said Saturday. I guess thats kind of my mission now, and I dont care who gets antsy about it.
COLOMBO, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka will increase bus fares by 12.19 percent from midnight on Monday following a recent rise in fuel prices, a senior minister said on Monday.

Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said the minimum bus fare will increase from 27 rupees (about 0.09 U.S. dollars) to 30 rupees, while the maximum fare will rise from 2,159 rupees to 2,422 rupees.

The National Transport Commission (NTC) said earlier that the recent fuel price increase had significantly affected the bus fare revision formula.

NTC Director General Nilan Miranda said the fuel price adjustment pushed fare revision above the 10 percent threshold required for a change in current bus fares.

Several bus associations had called for the fare increase to take effect from Sunday. Bus unions warned they could withdraw services on Monday if authorities fail to approve the fare increase.

Meanwhile, three-wheeler fares also increased in line with the latest fuel price revision announced by the government.

State-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation revised fuel prices from midnight on Saturday. (1 Sri Lankan rupee equals 0.0032 U.S. dollars) 
More than 100 miles of Northeast Texas roadways  including approximately 35 miles in Hunt County  will receive new surfaces starting the second week of April, according to plans awarded last winter by the Texas Department of Transportation.

Contractor Clark Construction of San Antonio was awarded the contract to seal coat highways in all nine counties within the Paris District with a low bid of $12.9 million. The Paris District includes Hunt, Grayson, Fannin, Rains, Hopkins, Franklin, Lamar, Delta and Red River counties.

The project consists of seal coat and striping. Various lane closures are to be expected throughout project duration.

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Hunt County work includes State Highway 24, Farm-to-Market Road 751, FM 429, FM 1565 and FM 2736.

SH 24 work will take place from FM 499 to Interstate 30 (2.26 miles), from Loop 178/State Highway 11 to FM 513 (6.08 miles) and from FM 513 to FM 499 (1 mile).

FM 751 work will take place from SH 276 to the Van Zandt county line (6.13 miles) and FM 428 work will take place from FM 751 to the Kaufman County line (1.76 miles).

FM 1565 work will take place from I-30 to the Kaufman County line (10.93 miles and FM 2736 work will take place from SH 224 to SH 24 (6.28 miles).

The projected start date is April 13 with expected completion, whether permitting, by the end of summer.
New data shows Pierce County deputies used force against Black people and Native Americans at higher rates than against white people in 2024, continuing a pattern shown in a similar study from 2021..

The new data, unveiled last month, also shows overall use-of-force incidents have ticked up each year since 2021.

Deputies used force against Black people and Native Americans at more than three times the rate they did against white people in 2024, according to a February use-of-force report presented to the County Councils Public Safety Committee.

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The report is an update to a study completed in 2021. The new report was produced by the countys Finance Department without a formal work group after it received data from the Sheriffs Office.

The 2021 report was the work of a Criminal Justice Workgroup that included senior staff from the County Executives Office, Sheriffs Office, Prosecutors Office and Public Defenders Office. It examined use-of-force incidents from 2016 through 2020. It used data from the Sheriffs Office on use-of-force incidents and information from the American Community Survey for demographic data. A limitation of both reports is that they lack context for why force was used in each incident, and they dont determine whether the uses of force were lawful.

From 2016 through 2020, deputies used force against Black people at more than five times the rate they did against white people and against Native Americans at roughly twice the rate of white people.

Thats a higher use of force rate for Black people than what was reported in the new report, and a lower use of force rate for Native Americans. That indicates that in recent years, the disparity in use-of-force rates between Black people and white people in the county has narrowed, but use-of-force rates have worsened for Native Americans.

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Putting the findings of the initial 2021 report and this years update side by side is an imperfect comparison. The initial report used data across 2016 to 2020 to calculate use of force per 10,000 people. This years update used the latest year that data is available, 2024, to work out the per-capita use-of-force rates for each demographic. Maranatha Hay, a spokesperson for Pierce County, said that aligns with standard annual reporting. She said a more detailed five-year update for 2021 to 2025 is planned once last years data is available.

When the original report was published, then-County Executive Bruce Dammeier called it a milestone in justice reform.

Dammeier said there was a lot of work ahead. Kevin Roberts, then a bureau chief in the Sheriffs Office who was part of the group that compiled the earlier report, said at the time that it would dig deeper into the findings to figure out possible solutions.

In response to questions from The News Tribune, a spokesperson for the Sheriffs Office, Carly Cappetto, said if there are disparities that are accurately demonstrated in findings, the Sheriffs Office is committed to looking into the root problems and addressing them immediately.

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The accuracy of data on police use of force can be significantly affected by where the data originates, especially when disparities in law enforcement practices toward certain groups are involved, Cappetto said in an email. Understanding these limitations of data collection is crucial when interpreting such data and drawing conclusions about fairness and accountability in law enforcement.

Asked what the Sheriffs Office is doing to address the disparities in use of force, Cappetto said the office has enhanced training programs with a focus on de-escalation, cultural awareness and bias recognition while reinforcing clear policies that prioritize the sanctity of life and the appropriate use of force.

The Sheriffs Office also actively engages with community members and leaders to listen, learn, and strengthen trust, Cappetto said. When disparities are identified, we are committed to investigating the underlying causes and implementing meaningful changes to policies, training, and practices to ensure accountability and fairness for every person in our community.

Cappetto added that the Sheriffs Office is committed to responding to each call for service and reacting with the least amount of force necessary to resolve the issue. She noted that the agency follows all state use-of-force laws and policies when training and teaching deputies the definition of necessary as defined by state law.

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The law she cited to define necessary, RCW 10.120.010, says: Under the totality of the circumstances, a reasonably effective alternative to the use of physical force or deadly force does not appear to exist, and the type and amount of physical force or deadly force used is a reasonable and proportional response to effect the legal purpose intended or to protect against the threat posed to the officer or others.

Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello told The News Tribune that disproportionately in the use of force against people of color remains too high.

Black and Native American residents continue to experience force at rates notably higher than their share of the population warrants, and that is not acceptable, Mello said in a written statement. The narrowing of the disparity for Black residents is encouraging, but it is not enough.

Lyle Quasim, the chair of the Tacoma-Pierce County Black Collective, was somewhat skeptical of the reports accuracy. The News Tribune sent him the report and several key statistics. He said it could be debated whether deputies uneven use of force is improving, and that any racial disparity is unacceptable.

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I want to know what the plan is to eliminate the disproportionality in terms of the use of force, Quasim said. Thats the way forward. Not that, I hit you upside the head three times, and then I hit you upside the head six times. Are we having a good time? No. Quit hitting me upside the head. Stop the disproportionality.

According to the report, Black people make up six percent of residents in areas served by the Sheriffs Office but accounted for 18 percent of use of force incidents in 2024. Native Americans or Alaska Natives made up 1 percent of the population but accounted for 2 percent of use-of-force incidents. Asian or Pacific Islanders made up 7 percent of the population but 8 percent of incidents.

Deputies most often used force against white people  63 percent of all use-of-force incidents. White people make up 66 percent of the population.

Types of force used by deputies

Uses of force are broken into four categories in the report: non-physical, non-deadly, intermediate and deadly.

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Non-physical force isnt likely to cause pain and uses the officers presence, such as verbal commands and handcuffing when the subject is compliant.

Non-deadly force is likely to cause temporary pain or injury. It includes control tactics such as grabs and holds or the use of a leg restraint.

Intermediate force has a greater risk of injury. Its used in response to active resistance and includes when deputies strike someone or use a baton or Taser.

Deadly force is expected to result in death or very serious injury. Its used in response to the risk of deadly force from the subject and includes the use of firearms and vehicle ramming.

Less severe forms of force remained more common than intermediate and deadly force throughout 2016 to 2024. Across all force types in 2024, there were 547 use-of-force incidents. Most often, deputies used verbal commands that year (361 uses), followed by control tactics (348 uses) and then pointing a firearm at someone (143 uses).

The report did not address how the number of use of force incidents compares to the total number of police contacts. For some context, in 2024 there were 3,459 arrests in the areas the Sheriffs Office patrols.

Use of force rising but below pre-pandemic levels

Incidents where deputies use force remain below pre-pandemic levels, but use-of-force incidents have been rising each year since 2021. There were 348 use-of-force incidents that year, compared to 547 in 2024, a 57 percent increase.

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The report offered some possible influences that might have affected the number of use-of-force incidents. Those included a pandemic-era decline in arrests, significant staffing shortages in the Sheriffs Office, changes to policy such as implementing body cameras and banning vascular neck restraints, as well as changes in laws governing vehicle pursuits.

The report did not include data about how often deputies are injured in use-of-force incidents.

A senior research and data analyst at the Finance Department told the Public Safety Committee on Feb. 23 that a more detailed analysis is planned for later this year that would examine the influence of those factors.

Use of force against Black people, Native Americans

Overall, Black people and Native Americans or Alaska Natives experienced the highest rates of use of force. Compared to 2023, the use-of-force rate against Black people in 2024 was lower across all severity levels except for deadly force, which was unchanged.

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Uses of deadly force have remained fairly consistent each year  an annual average of seven incidents from 2016-2024 and a total of 60 across the time period. Not every use of deadly force results in a fatality. The News Tribunes homicide records show Sheriffs Office deputies fatally shot 13 people from 2021 through 2024.

One statistic requires a statistical caveat. In 2024, deputies used deadly force on Native Americans or Alaska Natives at 37 times the rate that deputies used deadly force on white people. That rate comes from a single incident, and the relatively small size of Native Americans population in unincorporated areas of the county  about 4,000 people  creates a large per-capita rate.

That context is important for understanding the data, but it does not lessen the seriousness of the outcome, Mello told The News Tribune. Rates can still highlight meaningful patterns, and every incident involving deadly force deserves careful scrutiny and reflection.

Transparency, engagement encouraged

Mello said one of his core commitments as executive has been to make sure Pierce County is doing work on use of force in the open. He said transparency is a tool for keeping people safe and holding institutions accountable.

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Since taking office, we have made meaningful improvements to how data is collected, how frequently it is shared, and how consistently it is reported to the public, Mello said. The fact that we are having this conversation today, grounded in regularly updated figures, reflects that progress.

Data included in the 2024 use-of-force update is available on the website Open Pierce County. Mello said annual monitoring through publicly available data is how the county ensures the community can see what is happening, ask hard questions and achieve better outcomes.

Its hard to say how the Sheriffs Offices use-of-force rate compares to the Tacoma Police Department. Although Tacoma has started reporting use-of-force data to a statewide database launched last summer, data is only available for half of 2025 and the start of 2026.

When Pierce Countys initial use-of-force report was published, The News Tribune had recently conducted an independent analysis of use-of-force incidents at the Tacoma Police Department that similarly showed that officers used force against Black people at roughly five times the rate they did against white people.

Beyond use-of-force statistics, Quasim is dissatisfied with the Sheriffs Offices engagement with communities of color. In a phone call Wednesday, he said the Black Collectives social and legal justice committee last year met with the police chiefs for Lakewood and Tacoma, as well as the Sheriffs Office.

We had a responsible conversation with all of those law enforcement representatives except one, Quasim said. Keith Swank. Sheriff Swank.

Quasim said they requested a meeting three months in advance and sent Swank a list of questions. Some of the 11 questions asked about the racial makeup of the Sheriffs Office, policies for responses to behavioral health incidents, how the office addresses inappropriate conduct based on race and gender and what the department was doing to strengthen relationships with the Black community.

During the June meeting, Swank said he hadnt received the questions, according to Quasim, which Quasim disputed. He said Swank was unprepared to provide answers, and when he began to try, he meandered. Quasim said he ended the meeting early and told Swank he would be happy to talk to him when he is prepared. Another meeting hasnt happened.

Asked about the meeting, Swank told The News Tribune that he did not have or see the questions in advance and said the questions might have been lost. He said he was under the impression it was a meet-and-greet.

He was supposed to reschedule the meeting, but he did not, Swank said in an email. This group endorsed my opponent and was biased towards me from the beginning. I spoke with them during the campaign, and it was a disrespectful engagement. I have more community meetings than any other sheriff or probably any chief, and those meetings, as you know are spread out across the county.
Nothing seemed amiss as NASA's experimental X-59 supersonic jet touched down after its second test in the air, smoothly coasting onto the runway.

But the sleek, needle-nosed airplane had completed only nine minutes in the air on Friday, March 20, before a cockpit warning light forced an early landing. That warning was separate from a caution light that occurred during an earlier takeoff attempt just before 10 a.m. P.T., said Cathy Bahm, project manager at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center.

The brief flight left from Edwards Air Force Base in California at 10:54 a.m. P.T. marked only the second time the aircraft had flown. While the team originally planned for about an hour, leaders stressed that even short flights provide new data for moving the project forward. You can watch the landing in the video below.

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Bob Pearce, who heads NASA's aeronautics research, said the team made the right call to cut the flight short on Friday. The agency expects to find and fix issues at this stage of an Xplane, an aircraft the U.S. builds to test new flight technologies and ideas.

"Sometimes it's easy to forget that building this kind of experimental aircraft means creating something that never existed before," Pearce said during a news conference. "As far as X-planes go, it's not unusual."

The X-59 is part of a long-term effort to change how fast commercial airplanes fly over land. Traditional supersonic aircraft create a loud boom when they break the sound barrier, which is why the U.S. government bans routine supersonic passenger flights over populated areas. NASA and its contractor, Lockheed Martin, built the X-59 to fly faster than sound while producing only a "thump," with the goal of providing regulators and the industry with the evidence needed to reconsider the restrictions.

At the kind of supersonic speeds NASA wants to target for the X-59  around 925 mph  a nonstop flight from New York to L.A. could take less than three hours. Today's commercial airlines typically cruise at about 550 mph on that route, so passengers tend to spend about 5 to 6 hours crossing the country.

A sonic boom occurs when a plane flies faster than the speed of sound, compressing pressure waves into a single shock wave that hits the ground like a sudden explosion of air. NASA designed the X59 so its shape spreads those pressure changes out along the aircraft, turning that single sharp shock into a series of smaller pulses.

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Residents below didn't hear the X-59's thump during either of the first two test flights  and they weren't supposed to. The plane never flew fast enough either time to make it. Both flights intentionally stayed at subsonic speeds. NASA is using these early tests to shake out systems and watch how the plane handles.

During Friday's test, the aircraft was supposed to fly for roughly an hour, reaching a cruising speed of 230 mph at 12,000 feet before accelerating to 260 mph at 20,000 feet. The plane never exceeded 230 mph, officials said.

"I certainly hoped to have more to talk about than nine minutes of flight," said Less, who flew the X-59 for the first time on this mission. "Although I had not intended to have to land quite as urgently for my first landing, the plane performed beautifully."

NASA test pilot Jim 'Clue' Less sits inside the cockpit of the experimental X-59 quiet supersonic jet at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.

He described the aircraft as handling just like its simulators. Over hundreds of hours of test runs in the simulator, Less and other test pilots had practiced with the unconventional vision system that combines images from cameras into a high-definition display. But this was his first time flying without the traditional front window.

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The long nose shape that helps soften the sonic boom doesn't leave room for a standard cockpit windscreen. But in some cases, the system offers better visibility than the naked eye, he said. If a pilot is facing into the sun, for example, image processing can reduce glare and improve contrast.

"It really felt comfortable," he said. "Even though I wasn't seeing out the front, I could see out the sides and match that up."

More than 100 test flights are planned. NASA intends to gradually push toward higher, faster flights before testing those muffled booms over towns.

Mashable and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.
UPDATE: Police have located this missing teen.

The City of Washington Police Department is asking for help locating a missing teen who is considered a runaway.

Investigators say Martell Jones, 15, was last seen with his girlfriend and another friend in Washington. His mother last had contact with him on March 18 at 5 p.m.

He stands 6 feet tall and weighs 140 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black hoodie, black sweatpants, and red, black, and white Jordan shoes.

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Though he was last seen in Washington, investigators say its in the realm of possibilities that hes since left the area.

Police want to locate him to ensure his safety and well-being.

Anyone with information is asked to call 911.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

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San Francisco police evacuated some residents in the Mission District on Sunday after officers found a "suspicious device," prompting an investigation, officials said.

Officers responded to a report of the suspicious device around 1:36 p.m. on the 3100 block of 22nd Street, located between South Van Ness Avenue and Folsom Street, according to the San Francisco Police Department.

Officers located the device, which they did not describe or say why it was suspicious, set up a perimeter with yellow tape and evacuated residents on the block "as a precaution," the department said. Police later deemed the device and the location safe.

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The bomb squad and San Francisco Fire Department also responded to assist with the investigation.

No further information was immediately available.

This article originally published at Police evacuate S.F. block to investigate suspicious device' .
Four women were injured in downtown Los Angeles in what police are describing as a stabbing investigation that prompted investigators to shut down a busy intersection in the area.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, officers responded to 515 W. 7th Street near the intersection of Flower Street for a reported stabbing.

Officials said callers described a suspect with a folding knife at 7th Street and Grand Avenue, though its unclear if any arrests have been made.

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Details are limited and its unknown what exactly happened, but preliminary information suggests that there may have been some sort of altercation in a bar along downtowns restaurant row that left four women between the ages of 26 and 37 injured, officials said.

All four were taken to the hospital in fair condition, with investigators saying the woman in her 30s suffered serious lacerations to her wrist.

Multiple were reportedly injured in what police described as a stabbing investigation in downtown L.A. on March 22, 2026. (Citizen) Multiple were reportedly injured in what police described as a stabbing investigation in downtown L.A. on March 22, 2026. (Citizen) Multiple were reportedly injured in what police described as a stabbing investigation in downtown L.A. on March 22, 2026. (Citizen) Multiple were reportedly injured in what police described as a stabbing investigation in downtown L.A. on March 22, 2026. (Citizen)

The incident appears to have taken place inside Zaya, a bar restaurant with several lounge areas for customers. The restaurant released a statement Sunday evening on Instagram, saying in part:

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Thieves burglarize home in upscale San Fernando Valley neighborhood

While some situations develop unexpectedly and are beyond our control, the safety of our guests and staff remains our highest priority. We are especially grateful for the swift response of our team, as well as the immediate support of local law enforcement and emergency personnel.

Footage of the incident posted to Citizen showed a heavy police presence at the intersection, as well as Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters and medical personnel.

In a post to X, officials with LAPDs Central Division said, Officers have responded and closed off the area. Expect traffic delays in the area.

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In an update posted to X later in the evening, police officials said that two suspects were in custody in connection with the incident.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Portugal Golden Visa takes longer than legally required, while Italy delivers on time

When Portugals Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Antonio Leitao Amaro addressed the countrys golden visa backlog in October 2025, he made a candid admission: The government had deliberately processed wealthy investors last.

"Next year we will resolve the outstanding issues that, for reasons of social equity, we left until the end, which are those that pay the most, the golden visas," Amaro said publicly.

The statement confirmed what thousands of applicants had experienced firsthand: Portugals golden visa program, which legally requires processing within 90 days, was taking years to deliver approvals.

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A new analysis by MovingTo, an immigration advisory firm, examined processing times across four major European golden visa programs using data from 127 client applications between January 2023 and February 2026. The findings reveal that some countries dramatically exceed their stated timelines while others deliver on schedule.

The Gap Between Promise and Reality

Portugals golden visa backlog has reached crisis levels. Under Lei 23/2007 and Regulatory Decree 84/2007, the Portuguese Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) is legally required to process applications within 90 days. The actual average processing time, according to MovingTos data: 34 monthsmore than 12 times the legal requirement.

The slowest Portugal application in the dataset has been pending for 52 months and counting.

By contrast, Italys investor visa program consistently meets its commitments. The Ministry of Economic Development promises a 30-day decision on the initial Nulla Osta certificate. MovingTos data shows actual processing averaging 68 days from application to residence permitroughly double the initial phase timeline but still within a predictable range.

Processing Time Comparison

 Portugal: 90 days required  34 months actual (12x longer)

 Greece: No official timeline  11 months actual

 Spain: 20 days required  3.2 months actual (3-4x longer)

 Italy: 30 days required  68 days actual (minimal gap)

Why Italy Works and Portugal Doesnt

The divergence stems from structural differences in how each country handles investor applications.

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Italy created a dedicated investor visa unit within its Ministry of Economic Development with clear documentation requirements and a functional digital application system. The program processes lower volumes than Portugals, but the infrastructure was designed to handle investor cases specifically.

Portugals golden visa applications flow through AIMA, the same agency processing asylum claims, work permits, and general immigration matters. When application volumes surged following favorable program terms, the system couldnt scale.

The backlog grew to over 55,000 pending applications by early 2025, including initial applications, renewals, and family member cases. The Portuguese government allocated 5.97 million to clear the backlog by June 2025a target it failed to meet.

Immigration Lawyers Push Back

The ministers admission that golden visa holders were deliberately deprioritized drew sharp criticism from Portugals immigration bar.

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Andre Miranda of Fieldfisher Portugal called Amaros statements very offensive and shameless. Madalena Monteiro of Liberty Legal noted that applicants find it hard to believe in any promises after years of delays and unmet commitments.

Some investors have begun challenging the delays at Portugals Constitutional Court, though outcomes remain uncertain and the legal process itself adds years to an already extended timeline.

Greece Offers No Accountability

Greece presents a different problem: The government publishes no official processing timeline at all.

The Migration Ministry website lists application requirements but makes no commitment on timing. This means applicants have no legal standard to enforce when processing drags.

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MovingTos data shows Greece averaging 11 months from application to approval, with a range of 6 to 16 months. Industry sources that previously marketed Greece as a 3-6 month program have quietly adjusted their estimates upward.

The delays coincide with a surge in applications following Portugals 2023 decision to eliminate real estate as a qualifying investment. Many investors who would have chosen Portugal pivoted to Greece, overwhelming a system thatlike Portugallacks dedicated processing infrastructure for investor cases.

IMI Daily reported in late 2024 that at popular processing offices like Piraeus, appointment wait times alone could exceed 14 months before an application was even reviewed.

Spain Falls in the Middle

Spains UGE (Large Business and Strategic Collectives Unit) is supposed to process investor visa applications within 20 days under Law 14/2013 (Ley de Apoyo a los Emprendedores), Article 76.

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Actual processing runs 2-4 months according to MovingTos data, with an average of 3.2 months. Thats 3-4 times longer than promised, but not catastrophic.

Spain represents what might be called normal bureaucratic delaythe kind of timeline slippage common in government services. Its frustrating but manageable for planning purposes.

The more pressing issue for Spain is program availability. The countrys golden visa for real estate investment closes in 2025, leaving only fund and business investment routes.

What This Means for Prospective Applicants

The data suggests several practical considerations for anyone evaluating European golden visa options:

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Timeline sensitivity matters. If residency is needed within a specific windowfor tax planning, business relocation, or family reasonsItaly offers the only predictable timeline among major European programs. Portugal should be considered a three-plus-year commitment minimum.

Portugal means fund investment. Since Portugal eliminated real estate as a qualifying route in 2023, investors must now commit 500,000 to qualifying venture capital or private equity funds (see funds.movingto.com for current options). The three-plus-year processing timeline affects liquidity planning for these fund commitments.

Citizenship timelines compound. Portugals golden visa theoretically offers a path to citizenship after five years of residency. But if initial approval takes three years, the actual timeline from application to citizenship is closer to eight years.

Published timelines are unreliable. Official government claims bear little relationship to actual processing in most countries. Only Italys program delivers results close to stated expectations.

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No timeline means no recourse. In countries like Greece that publish no official processing time, applicants cannot challenge delays or hold authorities accountable. The wait is simply what it is.

Methodology

This analysis draws from three source categories:

Government sources: Portuguese Lei 23/2007 and Regulatory Decree 84/2007; Italian MISE Investor Visa Operating Manual; Spanish Law 14/2013 (Ley de Apoyo a los Emprendedores), Article 76; Greek Migration Ministry publications.

Industry data: IMI Daily reporting (2024-2026); Schengen News visa processing reports; immigration law firm publications from Fieldfisher and Liberty Legal.

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Client data: 127 golden visa applications processed through MovingTo between January 2023 and February 2026. Processing times measured from initial submission to residence permit issuance. Data anonymized and aggregated by country.

This story was produced by MovingTo and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
By Tracy Johnke

School officials in Prince Georges County and Washington, D.C., are considering school name changes after sexual abuse and assault allegations surfaced against the late labor leader Cesar Chavez.

Prince Georges County Public Schools described the allegations as deeply troubling in a statement and said the school system is evaluating the next steps for the naming of Cesar Chavez Dual Spanish Immersion School in Hyattsville, a public charter school for kindergarten through fifth-grade students.

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In the District, a statement from the Cesar Chavez Public Charter School for Public Policy called news reports of Chavez and his abuse of women and underage minors are deeply shocking and incredibly disappointing. The Board will thoughtfully consider changing the name  and will engage in discussions grounded in our values and commitment to students and families.

The school in Southeast D.C. serves middle and high school students.

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The New York Times was the first to report accusations last week that Chavez, who died in 1993, raped and sexually abused women and girls involved in the movement to organize migrant farmworkers in the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

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The news touched off a wave of name change actions and pledges across the U.S. from cities and states with schools, streets, monuments and days of celebration named for Chavez.

In Prince Georges County, the school district said the renaming process includes forming a committee of students, staff, parents and community members, then having a naming commission review three suggested names. The superintendent then makes recommendations to the school board, which makes the final decision.

D.C. charter schools have changed their names in the past through a public process that includes opportunities for comment and a vote by the D.C. Public Charter School Board.

WTOP has asked the D.C. board for comment on the Chavez allegations and more information on the procedures involved in renaming charter schools.

 As part of Maryland Matters content sharing agreement with WTOP, we feature this article from Tracy Johnke. Click here for the WTOP News website.
SIOUX FALLS  Last year, lawmakers coalesced around the need to improve rehabilitation programming and reduce recidivism rates as part of a broader investment in South Dakotas prison system. Those two issues were sticking points in an ultimately successful effort to approve construction of a mens prison.

Yet during the 2026 legislative session that wrapped up earlier this month, few bills were brought forward to address inmate rehabilitation needs, lawmakers on a Downtown Sioux Falls Rotary Club panel said on Monday.

One bill passed that makes it easier for people released from prison to return to their home area, rather than remaining in the area the prison is located. It requires the Department of Corrections to transport released people to their home county, the county where they were sentenced, or to a location equivalent in distance to the closer of those two options. Gov. Larry Rhoden signed the bill into law earlier this month.

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Another bill would have awarded $2.7 million to the state Department of Corrections to expand an existing rehabilitation program within the prison system, but failed late in the session.

Sioux Falls Republican Rep. Brian Mulder introduced the funding bill. He told attendees that the prison population is overwhelming the state and how we operate.

Although that was the number one priority last year, it was quickly forgotten for this year, Mulder said.

Half the people released from prison in South Dakota return within three years, according to the Department of Corrections 2025 annual report  the highest recidivism rate in at least the last eight years. Lawmakers and prison reform advocates have pointed to a lack of rehabilitation programming as a cause, among other issues.

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The drive to address rehabilitation needs this session was pushed aside by the desire to provide property tax relief across the state, Mulder told South Dakota Searchlight after the panel discussion. The result is another year lost in strengthening rehabilitation as a new Rapid City Womens Prison nears completion and the state begins construction on a mens prison in Sioux Falls that will replace the oldest parts of the penitentiary.

When were not releasing individuals to the best of their potential from our prison, it just puts a strain on our community overall, Mulder told Searchlight, adding, its just spinning our wheels, costing us more and more dollars.

He told members of the Rotary Club that lawmakers and state officials will continue to have that conversation through the state Correctional Rehabilitation Task Force. Gov. Larry Rhoden formed the group of lawmakers, government officials and nonprofit leaders last year while lawmakers considered approving the $650 million mens prison.

The task force is focused on behavioral health, educational, faith-based and Native American-themed programs. Its next meeting will be in April, Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen confirmed on Monday.

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Venhuizen told attendees he expects rehabilitation and recidivism legislation will be a major topic next winter as the task force provides recommendations. The inmate release bill from this session will put the responsibility on the task force to ensure post-release services are available across the state, he said, not just concentrated in Sioux Falls or Rapid City.

So if they go back to Mitchell or Chamberlain, or wherever they wind up, that they have the services there to be successful, too, Venhuizen said, because we dont want repeat customers in this business.

House Minority Leader Erin Healy, D-Sioux Falls, said she believes the task force and conversation around rehabilitation is a progressive move. Where South Dakota can improve, she said, is prevention and diversion.

That includes analyzing data and trauma-based care options to ensure South Dakotans live a life where they thrive and dont necessarily go down the wrong pathway.

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Italy's right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni appears set for a clear defeat over her plans for judicial reform, after projections showed voters rejecting the proposal in a referendum.

According to broadcaster Rai, 53.9% of voters opposed the reform, while 46.1% backed the plan put forward by Meloni's three-party coalition.

Other projections also showed the "No" camp ahead by several percentage points.

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The two-day referendum was seen as a test of Meloni's leadership ahead of the next parliamentary elections, scheduled for next year.

For the prime minister, the result would mark a significant setback around 18 months before the vote. Meloni had ruled out stepping down in the event of a defeat.

Turnout was around 58%, relatively high for a referendum. More than 46 million people were eligible to vote, and final results were expected later on Monday.

Both chambers of parliament had already approved the proposal. However, as the reform requires a constitutional amendment, it was put to a public vote held on Sunday and Monday.

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The reform is a central project of Meloni's coalition, which has governed Italy for three and a half years.

Italy's right has long maintained that much of the judiciary is aligned with the left  a complaint frequently voiced by the late former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi  while the opposition accuses Meloni of attempting to increase political influence over the justice system.

At the heart of the reform is a plan to separate the career paths of judges and public prosecutors, in line with practice in most European countries.

It would also introduce new self-governing bodies for both groups, with parliament involved in appointing members. Critics say that opens the door to politicians having greater influence over personnel decisions.

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Despite the political divide, there is broad agreement that Italy's justice system requires urgent updating, even as opinions differ on how to achieve it.

Legal proceedings often take significantly longer than in many other European countries, and only four in 10 Italians trust the judiciary, according to one survey.
ATHENS, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Monday announced a 300-million-euro (344.7 million U.S. dollars) support package aimed at helping households, businesses and farmers cope with rising energy costs linked to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

The measures, to be implemented in April and May, focus primarily on reducing fuel costs and easing pressure on key sectors of the economy. Under the plan, the government will subsidize diesel fuel at the distribution level by 0.16 euros (0.19 dollars) per liter.

According to data from the Development Ministry, the average price of gasoline has exceeded 2 euros (2.3 U.S. dollars) per liter, with diesel prices close behind, both rising by more than 20 percent since the Iran conflict.

To further support households, the government will introduce a digital fuel card that can be used for purchases at fuel stations, as well as on public transport and taxis.

Farmers will also receive targeted assistance, with the state covering 15 percent of fertilizer costs to offset rising prices for agricultural inputs.

In the transport sector, ferry operators will receive financial support to mitigate the impact, with the aid tied to mandatory discounts on ticket prices.

Mitsotakis stressed that the measures would be implemented within the country's fiscal limits and financed not only through public funds but also through contributions from sectors experiencing increased profitability. 
LINCOLN  The full Nebraska Legislature will consider letting people outside city limits in Omaha and Lincoln vote in municipal elections as part of a bill that would also give the state auditor more oversight of no-bid state contracts.

The Legislatures Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee voted 5-3, along ideological lines, to advance an expanded version of Legislative Bill 997 from State Sen. Bob Andersen of Sarpy County related to auditor oversight. The measure now includes a narrowed version of LB 951, from State Sen. Beau Ballard of Lincoln, related to city elections for Omaha and Lincoln.

Not about changing elections, just want to give these individuals a seat at the table, Ballard said Thursday after the committee vote. Its all about transparency and accountability.

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Residents of unincorporated areas within the three-mile extraterritorial zoning jurisdictions of the states two largest cities would be able to vote in city elections, excluding bonds. State zoning laws give city officials limited planning and regulatory authority over residents in those areas.

The elections bill would have originally applied to all cities and villages statewide.

Extraterritorial zoning jurisdictions map, Omaha and Lincoln

Omaha

Lincoln

Sources: Omaha Planning Department, Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Department

Ballard says the problem is taxation without representation. Multiple local officials, including those from Lincoln and Omaha, oppose the measure and say its representation without taxation.

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Lincoln and Omaha would need to redraw city council districts by Jan. 1. Lincoln city elections are every two years, while Omahas next city election isnt until 2029. Both cities are led by Democrats and are served by city councils led by Democratic majorities.

Andersens base LB 997, proposed on behalf of State Auditor Mike Foley, received support at its public hearing from the Nebraska Governors Office. It would require copies of contracts that go around the states normal bidding process to be sent to Foleys office in addition to the Nebraska Department of Administrative Services, which operates under Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillens control.

The Foley proposal comes amid controversy over a no-bid emergency contract between the Nebraska Department of Economic Development and a lobbyist Pillen recommended, the specifics of which were the subject of two state audit letters and are now being reviewed by Lincoln police.

LB 997, as originally proposed, had advanced 8-0 from the Government Committee two weeks ago. An effort to attach the elections bill stalled 4-4 in committee, with State Sen. Fred Meyer of St. Paul, a Pillen appointee, breaking from his four fellow Republicans in opposition.

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Last week, Meyer flipped.

State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, a registered Democrat on the Government Committee, suggested last Wednesday that if Ballards measure moved forward, Omaha and Lincoln should have the option to eliminate their extraterritorial zoning jurisdictions.

State Sen. Rita Sanders of Bellevue, committee chair, ruled the committee could not vote on the amendment for at least 24 hours. By then, Cavanaugh and Ballard pledged to work together on some compromise related to Cavanaughs concerns, and Cavanaugh withdrew his suggestion.

Cavanaugh has noted area that residents have representation on zoning boards already and arent subject to as many daily actions  such as the city budget, police pensions, the number of firefighters or a citys response to potholes  that city elections address.

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It is sort of a sledgehammer when a flyswatter is needed situation, Cavanaugh said Thursday.

Ballard confirmed he and Cavanaugh will work together and see what happens on the floor. Ballard said hes hopeful well get to there and excited for the debate.

Said Cavanaugh: We dont have any kind of agreement yet, but we have an agreement to try to get to an agreement.

OMAHA-ETJ_BuildingandZoningJurisdiction_8x11_revised

LINCOLN-ETJ-ThreeMileLimit

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Let us start with the obvious: the flyers using civil-rights imagery to influence Black Virginia voters on redistricting were juvenile, foolish, and deserving of the outrage they received. This effort generally represented the Republicans way of communicating with Black people: tone deaf and completely cynical. Any Black person associated with that effort should be embarrassed and criticized.

On the other hand, Black voters here understand state Democrats desire to respond to Republican redistricting tactics seen in states like Texas and Florida. The proposed map aims for ten Democratic-leaning districts and one Republican-leaning seat. While the political motivation is clear, a key question still stands for Black Virginians.

How does this benefit us?

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Black voters form a critical component of the Democratic leadership and voting bloc in Virginia, consistently organizing, participating, and contributing substantial margins essential to Democratic control of the General Assembly and the election of a Democratic governor. They have done their job for the Democrats.

However, analysis of the proposed maps accompanying data tables indicates that Black political influence is not being consolidated.

The proposal maintains one distinctly Black-influence district while dispersing Black voters among other districts. Specifically: the 3rd Congressional District comprises a 42.64% Black voting age population; the 4th District, 39.97%; the 5th, 22.59%; the 8th, 20.41%; the 1st, 19.04%; and the 10th and 11th districts, 7.96% and 7.69%, respectively.

Regardless of the criteria used to assess effective electoral power, Richmond, Petersburg, Southside, and other predominantly Black communities were not combined into a district specifically designed to increase Black representation or create a viable opportunity for a third congressional seat for a Black candidate.

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Instead, Black voters from these areas were dispersed across multiple districts, including the 5th and 8th, which may solidify Democratic support but are not necessarily structured to enhance Black political influence.

To date, most of the announced Democratic candidates for the newly established districts are white, and most of the institutional support, money and endorsements has been directed toward these candidates. As a result, some Black Virginians have expressed frustration with the maps, questioning why at least one of the new districts was not drawn to better represent regions that could support Black candidates, especially given the substantial number of Black state senators and delegates who were ready to run.

The quick allocation of resources to white candidates highlights ongoing questions of institutional equity in the Democratic party.

We know the argument  that white Democrats are preferable to white Republicans on issues affecting Black communities. However, in Virginia, persistent racial disparities across the socioeconomic spectrum remain deep and durable, seemingly no matter who has held power in Washington or Richmond.

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Black women in Virginia continue to face much worse maternal-health outcomes than their counterparts. The Virginia Maternal Mortality Review Team reported that in 2022, Black women had a pregnancy-associated death rate of 138.1 per 100,000 live births, compared with 50.6 for white women. The same report found Black women had cardiac-related pregnancy-associated death rates of 26.6 per 100,000, versus 5.8 for white women.

Cancer outcomes for women tell a similar story. The Virginia Cancer Registry found that Black women in Virginia do not have substantially higher breast cancer incidence than white women, but they do have a breast cancer mortality rate about 38% higher.

The criminal-justice disparities are just as stark. A 2025 Virginia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot revealed that the prison incarceration rate for Black Virginians remains nearly five times higher than white Virginians rate. Compared with white adults in Virginia, the data showed, Black adults are 2.5 times more likely to be arrested, 2.2 times more likely to be on probation, 3.9 times more likely to be in prison, and 8.2 times more likely to be on parole.

All this, while Black Virginians make up just 20% of the states population, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures, compared to white people, who make up 67% of it.

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In education, the pipeline still runs in the wrong direction. A 2024 review of Virginia school discipline found that Black students make up less than a quarter of statewide K-12 enrollment but nearly half of students placed in alternative settings. The report also found Virginia remains among the states suspending the highest numbers of students and that Black students continue to be disciplined disproportionately.

Concerning wealth and institutional investment, the gap yawns. The University of Virginia School of Law summarized a state racial inequity report by noting that the national white-Black wealth gap holds true in Virginia. Federal housing data show only 48% of Black households in Virginia own their homes, compared with 73% of white households.

Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) reflect fewer financial investments than those predominantly white institutions receive. Federal officials estimated in 2023 that Virginia State University had been underfunded by more than $277 million from 1987 to 2020.

Although the proposed map is seen as partisan self-defense, supporting the Democratic Party has not always equated to empowering Black Virginians a concern party leaders have yet to address.

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If Black voters are crucial for Democratic wins, why wasnt more effort made to form a district in areas with large Black populations like Richmond, Petersburg, Southside, or Tidewater that would certainly support black candidates? While the map may benefit Democrats overall, it still leaves Black Virginians questioning its composition.

Opposing Donald Trump and congressional Republicans is a worthy goal for Democrats. But its a Washington fight, and Black support of Washington politicians does not always result in trickle down benefits to Black Americans.

As Democratic political elites encourage Black Virginians to vote yes on these maps, Black Virginians must still ask, what does yes mean? Until these issues and questions are addressed transparently, the question for Black Virginians is not yes or no, it is what is in this for us?

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The Russian economy contracted in the first month of the year, as the war in Ukraine was about to enter its fifth year, President Vladimir Putin told a cabinet meeting on Monday.

"In January this year, Russia's gross domestic product (GDP) was 2.1% lower than a year ago," Putin said.

He added that industrial production had declined by 0.8%, attributing this to more holidays in 2026 than in 2025, while calling on the government to come up with decisive measures to "return to the path of sustainable growth."

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Putin ordered his forces to invade Ukraine in February 2022, leading Western countries to impose sanctions on Russia. The switch to a war economy has long enabled Russia to maintain growth on the basis of state investments in armaments.

There were signs of crisis in the civilian economy last year, and the January figures now indicate that the defence sector is no longer able to compensate for this.
Vladimir Putin is testing Donald Trump by sending oil tankers straight through his embargo on Cuba.

Two vessels carrying Russian oil and gas were initially bound for Cuba, in a direct challenge to the Trump administrations effort to choke off fuel supplies, according to maritime intelligence data reported by The Financial Times.

Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel addresses members of the government in Havana, Cuba, March 13, 2026. / Cuba Presidency / via REUTERS

One of the ships, believed to be transporting about 27,000 metric tons of liquefied natural gas, had been expected to arrive as early as Monday, but has since updated its destination to a port in Venezuela, according to Bloomberg.

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A second tanker, thought to be carrying roughly 100,000 metric tons of crude, is still en route to Cuba, in apparent defiance of U.S. restrictions.

The delivery is expected to arrive in early April, and if successful, will be the first to reach Cuba since a Mexican shipment in early January.

Mexico halted further shipments amid concern over repercussions from the Trump administration, though Mexicos President Claudia Sheinbaum has insisted it was a sovereign decision.

The shipment of Russian fuel suggests Moscow is testing how far it can push Trumps embargoeven if Russian shipments get through, they will not ease the situation in Cuba for long.

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Energy expert Jorge Pinon told the Associated Press that the crude shipment would only amount to little more than a weeks worth of usable fuel, with any diesel likely diverted to critical sectors such as agriculture and transport.

Were talking about crude oil that has to be refined into liquid fuels Each product has its specific demand, he said.

The islands energy system is already buckling under the sustained pressure.

Earlier this week, Cubas electricity grid collapsed, triggering a nationwide blackout that left more than 10 million people temporarily without power.

The Cuban government has said it is relying on a mix of natural gas, solar power, and thermoelectric plants as outages continue, according to AP.

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Trump has ramped up his rhetoric against Cuba in recent days, suggesting he would take Cuba in some form.

Trump and Putin after their meeting to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine in Anchorage, Alaska, U.S., Aug. 15, 2025. / Kevin Lamarque / REUTERS

Whether I free it, take it, I could do anything I want with it [if] you want to know the truth, he said.

His administration has also warned it would target countries that continue to send fuel to the island.

Russia, however, is still testing those limitsand the standoff is now playing out offshore.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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The fireball could have scattered meteorites across a populated urban area north of Houston. | Credit: NASA, Google Earth,  JakeFromStateFarm

NASA has released a "strewn field" map of where meteorites may have fallen after a rare daytime fireball explosively disintegrated in the skies over Houston on Saturday (March 21) evening  with the force of 26 tons of TNT.

Houston residents reported hearing loud booms as pressure waves brought about by the meteor 's demise reached the ground at 5:40 p.m. EDT (21:40 GMT), following its brief but fiery descent.

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As the roughly 1-ton (1,000-kilogram) meteor struck the atmosphere, it created a flash of light bright enough to register on lightning mapping instruments aboard NOAA's GOES satellites , which hold geostationary orbits tens of thousands of miles above Earth 's surface.

"Most of the mass of an object like this is reduced to atoms and fine droplets during the fireball and only a few percent of the total mass survives to reach the ground, scattered across a range of meteorite sizes," according to a post from NASA's Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division (ARES).

Where did the meteorites fall?

Scientists detected meteor fragments falling through the Texas skies for eight minutes following its destruction 29 miles (46.6 kilometers) above the community of Bammel in Harris County on the evening of March 21. The fragments may have come to rest on a swathe of densely populated land between Willowbrook and Northgate Crossing.

A strewn field map showing where meteorites of differing sizes may have fallen during the March 21 event. | Credit: NASA, Google Earth

In the image above, the potential distribution of the meteor fragments can be seen visualized in a strewn field map created by NASA's Ares division. The colors overlaid on the map indicate where you're likely to find larger or smaller meteorites , with red marking the zone where the heaviest (around 2.2 pounds, or 1 kilogram) shards may have fallen, and yellow where the lightest (around 0.04 ounces, or 1 gram) samples may be found.

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ARES notes the map is provisional and subject to being updated when a discrepancy is resolved between its model of the event and another made by NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office. The agency also cautions potential meteorite hunters not to trespass on private property during their search.

Think you've found a meteorite? Your first step should be to compare it to images of confirmed meteorites online before contacting your local university's geology department for advice and potential verification. You can also take a look for yourself using our handy home guide to identifying meteorite features ? Try not to handle it too much with your bare hands, as the oils contained in your skin can degrade precious samples contained within the ancient meteorite, which dates back to the formation of the solar system .
One person is dead after a fatal crash involving a reckless driver in Liberty Township, according to a news release from the Butler County Sheriff's Office.

The driver died upon arriving at the University of Cincinnati West Chester hospital on Saturday, March 21. The sheriff's office did not name the driver.

The Mazda6 driver exited onto Ohio 747 where the vehicle sideswiped a silver SUV before driving northbound. The driver then made a U-turn and continued southbound on Ohio 747.

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As the driver approached the bridge on Ohio 129, they ran a red light and struck a Ford F-150 head-on. The Mazda driver then came to a stop after crashing into the bridge's guardrail.

The driver of the SUV was not injured. The driver and passenger of the Ford were taken to UC West Chester hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. No names or ages of vehicle occupants were released.

The Butler County Sheriff's Office traffic accident response team is investigating the incident.

This story may be updated.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 'Reckless driver' died after Liberty Twp. crash, sheriff's office says
A nationwide wave of No Kings protests is set for this weekend, with organizers planning thousands of demonstrations across the United States on Saturday in what they expect will be one of the largest coordinated days of action yet against President Donald Trumps second administration.

Keep up with the latest in LGBTQ+ news and politics. Sign up for The Advocate's email newsletter.

More than 3,100 events have already been confirmed, with additional protests being added in the days leading up to the mobilization. The effort is being led by the 50501 Movement and a coalition of partners, who say the protests are a response to what they call rising authoritarianism, aggressive immigration enforcement, and threats to democratic institutions.

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The March 28 actions build on earlier No Kings demonstrations that drew massive crowds. Organizers estimate that 7 million people participated in events last October alone, and they expect turnout this weekend to exceed that number.

Related: How No Kings aims to build 'protest muscle' for the long term

Related: No Kings: What to know about the October protests against Trump

Were definitely expecting that the numbers are going to be larger, Rebecca Winter, a Massachusetts-based organizer with the 50501 movement, said in an interview with The Advocate. We already have more events on the map than we had last time, and theres a lot of really amazing energy behind this.

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Organizers say demonstrators are mobilizing around a wide range of issues, including immigration enforcement, foreign policy decisions, and economic pressures, as well as what they describe as the billionaire classs repeated attempts to dismantle our democracy.

Winter said the demonstrations are less about immediate political outcomes than about building visible, sustained opposition.

We know that were not going to come out and protest, and magically, the Trump regime is going to give up that day, she said. But what we do is we show our power by standing up together and saying, this is not the democracy that we want.

Trans Day of Visibility ties into protests

In Washington, D.C., the protests will intersect directly with LGBTQ+ advocacy efforts tied to the Transgender Day of Visibility, observed annually on March 31.

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A rally hosted by the Christopher Street Project is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the National Mall, featuring elected officials, activists, and speakers, including NCAA champion CeCe Telfer and Cook County Commissioner Precious Brady-Davis. The event will include performances and keynote addresses, followed by a march aligned with the broader No Kings demonstrations.

The way that this administration is attacking specifically transgender individuals is so targeted, Winter said. So thats a community that we really, really have to protect.

The Christopher Street Project, which organized the rally, said the event comes at a time when trans peoples rights are being threatened and their identities questioned across the country.

Related: As LGBTQ+ people go back into the closet under Trump, the Human Rights Campaign reveals plan to fight back

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Related: Activists hold 'die-in' at HHS to protest Trump health care cuts: in photos

A big tent movement

While LGBTQ+ rights are a key focus, organizers stress that the movement is intentionally broad, drawing participants from across ideological and geographic lines. We have Republicans and Libertarians who come out and protest with us, Winter said. Were looking at authoritarianism as a whole.

That coalition includes activists, scientists concerned about research funding, immigrants rights advocates, and voters worried about election access and the rule of law, event hosts say.

A central goal this year is converting turnout into sustained engagement. In the weeks leading up to March 28, activists have hosted nationwide trainings, including Eyes on ICE sessions, to prepare participants to monitor enforcement actions, understand their rights, and plug into longer-term organizing.

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You dont need a lot of experience to be an activist, Winter said. Maybe an hour a week. There are roles for every ability.

For many involved, the urgency of the moment is driving participation. I think people are just really, really motivated to use their First Amendment rights while we have them, Winter said.

This article originally appeared on Advocate: Record-breaking No Kings protests expected as nationwide marches near

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The younger the workforce, the higher the cost of spending on health care, a recent report by United Health Care and Health Action Council shows. But catastrophic care events are a major cost-driver, regardless of age, and can be prevented, the report says.

The workforce is getting younger, the report notes. By 2030, Generation Z, born between 1997 and 2012, will make up about a third of the U.S. workforce, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers. By that same year, all baby boomers, born 1946 to 1964, will have reached the traditional retirement age of 65.

Younger (workers) are developing chronic health conditions faster and requiring catastrophic care at significantly higher rates than they did just two years ago, the report says. The report looked into the health care needs, levels of engagement with a provider and care delivery preferences across four generations in the workplace.

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Catastrophic care, the report describes, is any sudden, expensive medical condition that exceeds $100,000 over a 12-month period. Across all four generations  baby boomers, Generation X, millennials, also known as Generation Y, and Gen Z  the need for this type of care jumped nearly 40% over a five-year period from 2020 to 2025.

While historical trends show that people generally need more health care as they age, the recent report shows that younger employees, particularly millennials, have an increasing number of comorbidities, or overlapping conditions, earlier in adulthood, like simultaneous depression, obesity and hypertension.

Over a two-year period from 2023 to 2025, millennials experiencing chronic conditions climbed from 44% to 47%, and those managing a complex condition also increased from 6% to 7%; meanwhile, the percentage of millennials considered well dipped from 25% to 22%, the report said.

Gen Z and millennials also go to the doctors office less than their older co-workers, the report found, and telemedicine is trending downward. There is also an increase in the number of visits to urgent care or the emergency department among those millennials and Gen Z, the report shows.

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People across all generations tend to prefer a brick-and-mortar doctors visit over a virtual appointment. Those who do see a provider virtually dont see a primary care provider, the report showed.

The report also shows catastrophic care costs can be avoided if people go to the doctor earlier in their lives. Employees who took advantage of their health insurance plan and engaged with their (primary care provider) for at least three years have an average catastrophic case cost 27% lower than members who did not engage, the report says.

Between the ages of 18 and 39, men often see their provider less than women, which leads to an increase in catastrophic care events, the report shows.

With the exception of men aged 40 to 49 years old, men aged 26 to 65 who dont have a primary care provider have a catastrophic care cost thats 24% higher than women. Breast cancer diagnoses in women aged 40 to 49 are the leading cost of catastrophic care, the report says.

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In advance of when Generation Alpha, born 2010 to 2025, starts working in 2031, the report says employers and industries should be well prepared to handle a changing workforce.

The report encourages employers to educate employees about finding and keeping a primary care provider earlier on; to prioritize preventative care so that employees can be proactive about their health; and to find ways to communicate with employees of all generations and genders, as how they use the health care system varies.

It also suggests helping male employees build a health care strategy that starts at 40, so that they can get vital screenings and talk to providers about risk assessment to prepare for any catastrophic events.

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Mayor Cherelle Parker announced an updated proposal Monday to increase taxes on rideshare companies, a move city officials say could generate millions of dollars for Philadelphia's public schools.

But it's already drawing opposition from rideshare companies and riders.

Speaking at the Delaplaine McDaniel School in Point Breeze and surrounded by students and supporters, Parker proposed adding $1 to every rideshare trip in the city. The measure would increase fivefold a 20-cent-per-ride tax that was previously proposed to City Council on March 12.

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Parker said the higher tax was necessary after the full scope of the School District of Philadelphia's financial challenges became clearer.

"With new data at our fingertips, in light of the school district's $300 million structural deficit, it was clear that I, as mayor, and the Parker administration needed to add additional recurring revenue," Parker said.

The school district is facing a major budget shortfall after the loss of federal COVID-19 relief funding. District leaders had proposed laying off 340 teachers, counselors and other staff as part of an effort to reduce the deficit. City officials said the revised rideshare tax is expected to raise about $48 million a year, which could allow the district to retain roughly 200 of those positions if City Council approves the plan.

Some council members signaled early support while urging caution.

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"I think it's a good idea to find new revenue for the schools. I also think we have to be sensitive to taxes that will fall on our consumers," said Councilmember Jamie Gauthier.

"I'm encouraged to see this proposal as part of the mayor's budget, especially as we look for responsible ways to support our public schools," added Councilmember Rue Landau in a statement. "I look forward to working with my colleagues and the administration to craft policy that is fair, thoughtful, and delivers real benefits for Philadelphia."

Parker and other leaders also urged rideshare companies not to pass the cost of the tax on to riders and drivers.

"It is their choice whether our families carry this burden, or they make an investment in our city," said Donna Cooper of Children First.

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Shortly after the announcement, Uber emailed customers slamming the tax proposal, calling it a double tax and saying it would pass the cost along to the consumer.

Lyft also released a statement saying the tax would increase the cost of its services.

"Philadelphia is already facing mounting cost-of-living and mobility challenges, and this proposal would intensify both by increasing the price of everyday rides that many working residents rely on to get where they need to go," the statement said.

The proposal would require approval from City Council and would not take effect until Jan. 1.

City officials emphasized that the funding would help address the district's budget deficit and prevent layoffs, but would not stop the planned closure of more than a dozen schools.
Hours after the first reported call on Sunday night in Moraine, parts of Fuyao Glass America are still smoldering.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The fire has been burning since 8:30 p.m. Sunday. The Moraine Fire Marshal told News Center 7 the fire started on the roof of the new coating factory.

The agency told News Center 7 it did not request help from the Ohio or U.S. EPA. Despite the flames still visible on Monday, Fuyao did not close.

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Moraine firefighters have not talked about their efforts to bring the fire under control. The flames hit the sprawling facility on Sunday night.

TRENDING STORIES:

The emergency response began when people were driving by, and nearby workers all noticed the problems and called 911.

Other callers indicated they had looked for potential victims.

The flames definitely showed on the roof of the building. Flames covered large portions of the roof, but now many ladder trucks have pumpers pouring water from above onto the roof.

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Huge plumes of smoke filled the sky and covered the area. News Center 7 reached out to Fuyao after noticing a nearly full employee parking lot.

A spokesperson told News Center 7, Production at the impacted building is suspended to allow for comprehensive safety inspections and coordination with fire officials to address any remaining hazards.

That spokesperson also said fire officials allowed the restoration of power to other, unaffected buildings. With all safety and production requirements met, we will resume regular operations in that other facility soon, the spokesperson said.

Its not clear how long firefighters will remain on scene putting out the smoldering hotspots.

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Once firefighters believe they have the fire out and conditions are safe, they will go inside the huge facility to begin the process of looking for what caused the fire.

No injuries have been reported at this time.

We will continue to follow this story.

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SARAJEVO, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Freight traffic at seven of the 16 border crossings between Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and European Union (EU) member Croatia was disrupted on Monday as truckers staged protests over working conditions and regulatory constraints, local authorities said.

Long queues of trucks were reported at key crossings, including Velika Kladusa, Gradiska, Brod, Orasje and others, with waiting times stretching for hours. Passenger traffic was largely unaffected.

The protests, organized by the Logistika BiH Consortium, target EU rules limiting non-EU drivers' stay in the Schengen Area to 90 days within any 180-day period. Truckers say the issue has worsened since the introduction of the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) in November 2025, which digitally records border crossings and reduces flexibility in cases of delays.

Despite the blockade, organizers said fuel deliveries would be allowed due to low domestic supplies. Police in some regions restricted the protests, limiting disruptions at certain crossings.

According to the Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH, the EU accounts for about 73 percent of the country's foreign trade, with up to 90 percent transported by road.

Minister of Communications and Transport of BiH Edin Forto said the sector's concerns are understandable, but resolving them requires coordinated efforts by domestic institutions and the EU. 
MIAMI  The federal trial of a former Miami congressman accused of secretly lobbying for Venezuelas government during the first Trump administration began Monday, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio set to testify over his interactions with his old friend.

Prosecutors allege David Rivera was a hired gun for former President Nicolas Maduro, leveraging Republican connections from his time in Congress to push the White House to abandon its hard line on Venezuelas socialist government.

Rivera, who at one time had been Rubios roommate in Florida, allegedly persuaded then Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez  now Venezuelas acting president  to award him a $50 million lobbying contract to be paid by state oil company PDVSA. As part of the alleged foreign influence campaign, prosecutors say Rivera was aided by Texas Republican Rep. Pete Sessions and a convicted Cali cartel associate as he sought meetings with the White House and Exxon Mobil on Maduros behalf.

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The trial offers a rare glimpse into the often unseemly role Miami  long a haven for exiles, corruption and anti-communist crusaders  plays in shaping U.S. policy in Latin America. As such, it is perhaps fitting that Rubio, Miamis most prominent politician, is set to take the stand Tuesday about his meetings with Rivera while the former congressman and an associate were allegedly helping Maduro mount a charm offensive in Washington.

Also likely to face scrutiny is Rodriguez, who relied on Rivera to set up meetings in New York, Caracas, Washington and Dallas in a bid to build U.S. support for normalizing relations with Venezuela  an effort that failed at the time but now appears within reach, albeit on unequal terms, following Maduros ouster and the ascent of his more pragmatic aide.

This case is about two things: greed and betrayal, prosecutor Roger Cruz said in his opening statement Monday. The evidence will show that for $50 million these two defendants made a pact to secretly lobby for Nicolas Maduro, the communist director, and his second-in-command, Delcy Rodriguez.

Indictment details alleged covert lobbying and money-laundering scheme

An 11-count indictment, unsealed in 2022, charges Rivera and Miami political consultant Esther Nuhfer with money laundering and failing to register as a foreign agent.

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Prosecutors allege that to hide their work, Rivera set up an encrypted chat group called MIA  for Miami  with his main conduit to the Maduro government: Venezuelan media tycoon Raul Gorrin, who was subsequently charged in the U.S. with bribing top Venezuelan officials.

Members of the group used playful code words to discuss their activities: Maduro was the bus driver, Sessions Sombrero, Rodriguez The Lady in Red, and millions of dollars melons, according to prosecutors.

Rivera, 60, denies wrongdoing. His attorneys counter that his one-man firm, Interamerican Consulting, was hired by an American subsidiary of Venezuelas state-owned oil company  not PDVSA itself  and therefore did not need to register as a foreign agent.

His three-month, $50 million contract, they say, was focused exclusively on luring Exxon back to Venezuela  commercial work that is generally exempt from the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

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This is like a murder case without a murder, a drugs case without drugs, a kidnapping case without a kidnapping, Riveras defense attorney, Ed Shohat, said in his opening statement to the 12-person jury.

Nothing happened, he added. Not one single policy of the U.S. was impacted by this case.

Riveras meetings with Rubio and others were wholly distinct from that consulting work, Shohat said, and tied to efforts he undertook with Maduros opponents to usher in leadership less hostile to the U.S.

He described Rivera as a staunch freedom fighter and ardent opponent of communism who would never do anything to benefit Maduro. The governments theory is utterly preposterous.

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Plaintiffs in a parallel civil case accuse Rivera of doing little of the promised work and using the contract as cover for illegal lobbying. Of the roughly $20 million he received, $3.75 million went to a South Florida company that maintained Gorrins luxury yacht.

No turkey without Rubio

Rubios expected testimony is highly unusual  not since Labor Secretary Raymond Donovan testified at a mafia trial in 1983 has a sitting member of the presidents Cabinet taken the stand in a criminal trial.

While Rubio isnt charged and theres no indication in the indictment that he acted improperly as a senator at the time, prosecutors say Rivera viewed him as a key ally in his outreach to the White House. For Rubio, prosecutors said in a pretrial hearing last week, contact with Gorrin offered a backchannel to Caracas at a time U.S. authorities had detected a possible death threat against him from Venezuelan socialist party boss Diosdado Cabello.

Rivera and Rubio met at the senators Washington home on July 9, 2017, according to the indictment. Rivera, the indictment says, told Rubio that he was working with Gorrin, who had persuaded Maduro to accept a deal in which he would hold free and fair elections.

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Remember, U.S. should facilitate, not just support, a negotiated solution, Rivera texted Rubio two days later as the senator was set to meet Trump, the indictment says. No vengeance, reconciliation.

Following a second meeting between Rubio, Rivera, Gorrin and others, Rivera remarked in the chat that the bus driver  Maduro  would have to pay him for setting up the meeting with Rubio. Without the senators support, Rivera said, there would be no turkey, he wrote. At the same time, the group was trying to secure a meeting with White House aide Kellyanne Conway.

The outreach quickly unraveled, however. Later that month, Trump sanctioned Maduro and labeled him a dictator, launching a maximum pressure campaign to unseat the president. Rubio took to the Venezuelan airwaves to press the White Houses agenda.

For Nicolas Maduro, who I am sure is watching, the current path you are on will not end well for you, Rubio said July 31, 2017, in a rare 10-minute address to the Venezuelan people that aired on Gorrins network.

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The State Department declined to comment.

Outreach to Exxon for Rodriguez

After the contract was signed, Rivera and Gorrin arranged a meeting in New York City between Rodriguez, then foreign minister and a PDVSA board member, and Sessions, whose Dallas-area district included Exxons headquarters.

Later, Sessions tried to broker a meeting for Rodriguez with Darren Woods, who had succeeded Trumps then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson as CEO of Exxon. Rodriguez was looking to resolve a long-running investment dispute and enroll Exxon in reviving the OPEC nations collapsing oil industry. The meeting never happened, as Exxon lawyers rebuffed the outreach.

Almost a year after helping Rivera make inroads with Exxon, Sessions secretly traveled to Caracas for a meeting with Maduro arranged by Gorrin and Rivera, the indictment says. As part of the effort, Sessions also agreed to deliver a letter from the Venezuelan president to Trump.

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The defense team also wanted Maduro and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles to testify. Maduro, through a lawyer, said he would invoke his constitutional right to remain silent if compelled, while prosecutors successfully quashed an attempt to subpoena Wiles, who was a registered lobbyist for Gorrins Globovision network at the same time the media magnate was working with Rivera.

Before being elected to Congress in 2010, Rivera was a high-ranking Florida legislator. During that time he shared a Tallahassee home with Rubio, who eventually became Florida House speaker.

Rivera has previously faced controversy, including allegations he secretly funded a Democratic spoiler candidate in a 2012 congressional race. Last year, federal prosecutors dropped the case after an appeals court threw out a sizable fine imposed by a lower court. Rivera was also investigated  but never charged  for campaign finance violations and a $1 million contract with a gambling company while serving in the Florida Legislature.

Rivera has denied any wrongdoing and said both investigations were politically motivated.

By JOSHUA GOODMAN, Associated Press
Washingtons state legislature completed its short session last week, but I have a prediction about the state income tax bill it sent to the governors desk. What was done in the 60-day session will create complications for years.

Thats not to say I think the mere existence of a state income tax will summon the apocalypse, as some opponents seem to warn. Theres nothing inherently bad about adding a new method of taxing to the mix.

But the policy wasnt planned out meticulously over months, and it shows. Most pressing to your everyday life is this: the new tax model is on track to create budget holes going into the multi-millions in county and city budgets. The state set aside $200 million from the new income tax to address the problem, but local officials dont think that will go far enough.

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This seems to be the result of a mad rush to pass a tax in a short time span, turning the policymaking process into a pie fight. It was chaotic. The participants seemed to make up and change the rules along the way. And it left a giant mess to clean up.

Or as Tacoma mayor Anders Ibsen put it, Thats the problem with making gigantic shifts in short sessions.

Ibsen supports moving away from regressive taxes like sales tax, but doesnt want the state to rob Peter to pay Paul. The good news, he said, is theres still time to make a course correction.

Were enthusiastic about a thoughtful discussion with lawmakers, he said.

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Washington Speaker of the House of Representatives Laurie Jinkins said the exact impact on local budgets isnt clear yet. But, she knows thats going to be an important conversation.

I dont think that the $200 million thats coming from millionaires to tax is thought necessarily to be covering all of that, she conceded. Im open to hearing as we go through all of this that its a net revenue loss.

State law, local policies

So how does a state tax law affect local coffers?

The bill exempts a wide range of things from sales and business taxes starting in 2029. That includes hygiene products, diapers and over-the-counter drugs, as well as a huge class of services that just became subject to taxes in 2025. The exemptions dont just apply to statewide sales tax, which is charged at 6.5%. Theyll also apply to taxes approved by local voters and councils in order to fund local programs.

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Its also complicated. Jinkins pointed out that some local sales taxes already exempt products like over-the-counter drugs and hygiene products, like the countys Maureen Howard affordable housing tax. But theyll still bring in less money because of the repealed taxes on services.

Other local sales taxes include the public safety taxes for cities like Tacoma, Lakewood and Ruston, as well the Sound Transit sales tax. Tacoma levies 1.4% in total sales taxes, and that will go up slightly in April when the citys criminal justice and public safety tax goes into effect.

Pierce County executive Ryan Mello projects the countys shortfall will be more than $11 million in 2029. The states plan to set aside $200 million to help replace the lost money doesnt sound like enough to make up the loss to Mello.

So hes planning for a near future without the funds. That changes how the county can spend the sales tax money it will receive until then, he said.

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I need to treat those more like one-time revenues, Mello said. And do one-time kinds of investments, not make ongoing commitments that I cant afford to maintain.

Mello and other counties in the region are especially concerned about these shortfalls in light of other financial pressures theyre facing. That includes the tax bills lack of funding for constitutionally mandated public defender services that counties have to provide.

Moving away from relying on sales taxes

You might be surprised that the state can change how a local government charges sales tax. Derek Young, executive director of the Washington State Association of Counties, said local governments had to fight to make sure state lawmakers knew about the impact on the local taxes.

We were scrambling to try to meet with legislators, he said. Many of them expressed surprise or even pushed back, and didnt think we were right.

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He doesnt fault the legislators though. Its the result of squishing a lawmaking process into a time frame shorter than a season of 90-day fiance.

Im not saying that theyre not out there working hard, Young said. Its just when you move very fast, not everyone can be brought along.
KYIV, March 23 (Reuters) - Russia plans to open four ground control stations for long-range attack drones in Belarus, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday, citing information from Ukraine's military intelligence service.

Zelenskiy, who in recent months has repeatedly warned about Belarus becoming more involved in Russia's war against Ukraine, added in comments on X that he had instructed the service's chief to inform Kyiv's partners about these plans.

Speaking later in his nightly video address, Zelenskiy said that earlier in the now four-year-old war, Belarusian assistance had for a time intensified the damage inflicted by Russian attacks until Ukraine took action against it.

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"We now have information from our intelligence that Russia intends to continue using the territory of Belarus and temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine to build ground control stations for long-range drones," he said.

"There will be responses to this. And they will be felt."

Belarus' foreign ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment outside of business hours.

(Reporting by Yuliia Dysa; Editing by Daniel Flynn, Ron Popeski, Rod Nickel)
A San Antonio mother of three is speaking out after her Kia Soul was stolen from her driveway for the second time, only to be discovered hours later being driven recklessly through her own neighborhood.

The entire incident was captured on surveillance video, highlighting a continued vulnerability in certain Kia models that has made them a persistent target for thieves.

"It Was Horrifying": The Night the Car Disappeared

Kelsey Kellerhouse was awakened by her husband at 3:30 a.m. Wednesday with the news that her 2016 Kia Soul was missing from their home on the citys far west side, near Cleba Road and Lone Star Parkway. The sense of violation quickly escalated from frustration to horror when she saw the footage of what happened to her vehicle.

Image Credit: KENS5/YouTube.

It was horrifying because not only can my car have something happen to it, but he could have gotten crashed into peoples homes, Kellerhouse said. But thankfully that didnt happen.

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The stolen Soul was captured on neighborhood surveillance cameras drifting through the streets, performing doughnuts, and being driven with extreme recklessness.

The brazen joyride underscores a well-known security flaw in Kia models sold before 2022, which have gained notoriety for being easily stolen with nothing more than a USB cable. The method, popularized by a wave of social media challenges, allows thieves to bypass the ignition and start the vehicle in seconds.

The "Kia Boys": A National Crisis

The Kia Boys phenomenon has led to thousands of thefts across the U.S., with viral videos showing stolen Kias and Hyundais being recklessly driven, often ending in crashes or police chases. The issue stems from certain 20112021 models lacking immobilizers, making them easy targets.

Image Credit: KENS5/YouTube.

The Kia Boys first gained notoriety in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where police reported thousands of Kia and Hyundai thefts in 20212022. Viral TikTok clips showed teens joyriding stolen cars, sometimes abandoning them after crashes.

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In 2022, police linked a surge in car thefts to the Kia Boys trend. Victims often found their cars wrecked or used in other crimes. Similarly in St. Louis, Missouri, reports showed hundreds of thefts in a single month, overwhelming police resources. Local officials sued Kia and Hyundai, arguing the lack of anti-theft technology made these cars unsafe.

The Kia Challenge on TikTok spread nationwide, leading to at least eight fatalities linked to reckless joyrides. By late 2025, Kia and Hyundai agreed to retrofit over 9 million vehicles with anti-theft hardware as part of a multi-state settlement.

Affected models were typically Kia Soul, Forte, Rio, Optima, Sportage (20112021), and similar Hyundai models. Many lacked engine immobilizers, meaning thieves could start them with a USB cable. TikTok and YouTube clips glamorized the thefts, which fueled copycat crimes.

The San Antonio case fits into a larger national crisis: Kia Boys exploits have repeatedly shown how design flaws, amplified by social media, can turn everyday cars into crime magnets. Automakers are now retrofitting millions of vehicles, but the damage to communities, and to Kias reputation, has already been severe.

A Family Left Strandedand a Community That Stepped Up

Image Credit: KENS5/YouTube.

For Kellerhouse, as a business manager and a mother, the loss crippled her familys daily routine. I manage a business and they rely on me, so not only not being able to get my children to school but not being able to be there for my center was really, really hard for me, she explained.

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After calling 911, Kellerhouse turned to her neighbors through the Nextdoor app. The community quickly mobilized, sharing surveillance footage of the stolen Kia being driven dangerously through the area. The tip that finally led to the cars recovery came from a neighbor who reported a reckless driver to police.

Officers located the vehicle, but the suspect or suspects fled on foot. Police were able to recover the Kia Soul around 10:30 a.m. The car was returned to its owner in a state of disarray, with the ignition wiring ripped out and exposed.

It was a mess, Kellerhouse said. I went from feeling helpless to being very mad just because I do baby my car. It is our means of transportation. Its how I keep my kids safe.

A Steering Wheel Lock and Hope for Justice

Image Credit: KENS5/YouTube.

This latest incident marks the second time her Kia Soul has been stolen from her own driveway. However, this time there may be a path to justice. Kellerhouse noted that police were able to lift multiple fingerprints from the vehicle, so, shes hopeful that the perpetrator will be identified.

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With her family now wary of a third theft attempt, they have decided to take a low-tech but visible security measure. Kellerhouse has invested in a steering wheel lock to serve as a deterrent.

Thats the only thing I can do at this point until we upgrade our vehicles, she said, a sentiment shared by countless owners of vulnerable Hyundai and Kia models across the country who continue to wait for a permanent solution to a problem that shows no signs of fading.

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The withdrawal of the CEO of the world's top oil exporter from this conference highlights the scale of the challenge he faces in dealing with the Iran crisis.

Saudi Aramco Chief Executive Amin Nasser has canceled 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 a headline speaker at the conference, one of the energy industry's biggest events.

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CERAWeek, organized by S&P Global, which begins on Monday, draws top executives, government officials, and policymakers from around the world to discuss the 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.

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US 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.

Sheik 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.

A ship passes through the Strait of Hormuz. (credit: somkanae sawatdinak/Shutterstock)

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.

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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.

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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 US by ADNOC's international investments arm XRG.

Nasser last year told CERAWeek there was more of a chance of Elvis speaking than of current energy transition plans away from fossil fuels succeeding.
School hiring processes play a crucial role in determining the racial demographics of the American teacher workforce  including by putting non-white teaching candidates at an apparent disadvantage  according to a study released in February. In dozens of school organizations around the country, Asian American applicants to teaching jobs were significantly less likely than those of other groups to advance at each stage of the hiring process.

Black and Asian candidates both struggled to clear early hurdles, such as being classified as minimally eligible for a position by a district screening protocol. But Asians faced the biggest obstacles to hiring, ultimately receiving job offers at half the rate of their counterparts.

Study author Dan Goldhaber, an economist and director of the Center for Analysis of Longitudinal Data in Education Research, said the disparities for Asian applicants were particularly striking once he and his coauthors accounted for factors that should have made them more competitive, including greater teaching experience and a higher likelihood of earning an advanced degree.

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Once you control for those differences, then it looks like theyre doing even worse because they look like better candidates on paper, Goldhaber said.

Related

Why Diversity Matters: Five Things We Know About How Black Students Benefit From Having Black Teachers

The research takes up the key question of how schools can achieve greater racial diversity within their teaching ranks. Education leaders have worked toward that goal for decades, citing a need for minority students to have access to role models of their own background. A series of influential research findings from the last few decades shows that children see higher levels of academic achievement after being assigned to a same-race teacher.

School districts have rolled out a huge variety of initiatives designed to attract and retain more teachers of color, hoping that the result will be a teacher group that more closely resembles their student demographics. But these reforms to the teacher pipeline, including sizable investments in alternative teaching pathways and grow-your-own programs, dont address the individual hiring decisions of districts and schools.

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To put a spotlight on those choices, Goldhaber and his collaborators gathered data from Nimble Hiring, a company that provides applicant tracking software to schools. The service supplies hiring teams with information on the gender, race, and ethnicity of their applicant pools, along with detailed work histories including applicants prior job titles and descriptions, highest academic degrees, and reasons for separating from their former jobs.

In all, they assembled records for over 46,000 job aspirants between 2019 and 2024. Applications were drawn from 18 school districts and 24 charter school organizations across multiple states. Each application was tracked across four escalating steps, from an initial screening by a district central office to the final decision to make a job offer.

With each successive stage, the pool was narrowed further, but not all groups saw the same degree of winnowing. For example, Asian and African American candidates were somewhat less likely to make it through the primary screening (80 percent and 86 percent, respectively) than whites (92 percent). But the next step showed a huge divergence between groups: Black candidates had their applications passed to school-level hiring managers at a rate of 63 percent, measurably less than the 80 percent chance for whites; Asian candidates saw the lowest rate of all, just 46 percent.

By the final phase, they were substantially under-represented relative to other job seekers. Between 15 and 18 percent of white, Hispanic, and African American applicants received job offers, compared with 7 percent of Asians. Even that proportion shrank to just 5 percent when controlling for professional qualifications that should have made Asians particularly attractive: Sixty-four percent reported holding an advanced degree, while just 38 percent of white applicants said the same.

Evidence of bias?

Goldhaber warned that the papers findings should be interpreted with care. Such a large difference in hiring rates between racial categories certainly lends itself to concerns about bias, he acknowledged, especially given the research teams efforts to directly compare candidates with similar credentials applying for similar roles.

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Yet even the broad dataset they assembled differed from that used by school administrators.

For instance, the authors knew more than hiring managers about the race of individual applicants; that information was not directly reported to district and school officials, though they could develop intuitions based on factors like candidates names. On the other hand, the researchers knew less about what facts came out in the course of the hiring process, such as applicants self-described teaching styles or the perceived quality of their colleges or graduate programs.

Discrimination, to me, is that if all else is equal, there are still differences in hiring rates by demographics, Goldhaber said. We did our best, given the data we had, to make all else equal, but were not looking at quite as much information as the school systems are looking at.

Still, he added, a hypothesis of either conscious or unconscious discrimination would be supported by evidence from other research examining racial hiring differences. Those audit studies have found that companies  including those that attach pro-diversity statements to their job postings  are less likely to hire individuals with evidently Asian surnames.

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Related

I Didnt Have a Teacher Who Looked Like Me Till College  Why Im Working to Change That for the Next Generation

Chris Chun is a private school administrator in Berkeley, California, and the treasurer of the Asian Educators Alliance, a group aimed at expanding opportunities for educators of Asian descent. In an email, she argued that the small proportion of Asian Americans working in K12 schools may contribute to a chicken-and-egg problem.

People do not have Asian teachers growing up and dont see Asians as teachers, Chun wrote, citing her own experience. Then, when it comes to hiring, Asians arent seen as teachers because the people doing the hiring havent had very many Asian teachers.

Making matters even more complicated, there is little reason to think that hiring decisions are the only, or even the primary, reason why comparatively few Asians take jobs as teachers. Melanie Rucinski, a lecturer in public policy at Harvard University, wrote in a 2023 white paper that Asian college students in Massachusetts were less likely than those of other racial extractions to pursue education at the undergraduate level. They were also less likely to gain a teaching license after passing their licensure test  and less likely to be hired at a school after receiving their license.

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Rucinski cautioned that her studies of teacher labor markets focused on applicants behavior rather than that of employers. Yet she added that it was possible that a dearth of Asian educators could be somewhat self-perpetuating, and that that theory would track with what we know about discrimination in employment in other settings.

Asian teachers are just less represented, even compared with African American or Hispanic teachers, Rucinski said in an interview. So its very easy for me to imagine, based on broader literature on discrimination in hiring, that that will generate feedback loops for who gets hired into teaching.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Senate confirmed Markwayne Mullin as homeland security secretary late Monday, approving President Donald Trump's nominee to take over the embattled department after the firing of Kristi Noem during a public backlash over the administration's immigration enforcement and mass deportation operations.

Mullin, a Republican senator from Oklahoma known for his close friendship with Trump, has tried to present himself as a steady hand, saying his goal as secretary would be to get the department off the front page of the news. He takes over at a difficult time as Trump has ordered ICE agents to bolster airport security during a budget standoff in Congress. And he tangled with the Republican chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, who questioned Mullin's character and temperament during last week's combative confirmation hearing.

Senators confirmed him on a largely party-line vote, 54-45.

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Routine funding for the Department of Homeland Security has lapsed since Feb. 14, leading to long waits at U.S. airports as Transportation Security Administration agents call out rather than work without pay. Democrats are demanding the Trump administration make changes in immigration enforcement operations following the deaths of two U.S. citizens during protests this year in Minneapolis. Trump has refused the latest proposal, and talks have stalled.

MMA fighter takes on Homeland Security

While the senator comes to the position after more than a dozen years in Congress, and with the management experience of running an expanding family plumbing business in Oklahoma, he has not been seen as a key force in immigration issues.

A former mixed martial arts fighter and collegiate wrestler who has led early-morning workout sessions in the members-only House gym, he became close with members of both parties and is often seen as a negotiator in partisan Washington.

It is his loyalty to Trump that landed him the job, and hes not expected to sway from the presidents approach. Mullin was a strong supporter of Trumps immigration agenda and ICE officers before being tapped for the DHS job.

I can have different opinions with everybody in this room, but as secretary of homeland Ill be protecting everybody, Mullin said during his confirmation hearing.

Immigration enforcement at center of funding stalemate

Mullins first challenge will be to restore routine funding to the department that has been blocked since mid-February as Democrats demand tighter restraints. They want immigration officers to identify themselves and not wear masks; refrain from enforcement operations around schools, churches, hospitals and other sensitive locations; wear body cameras; and obtain a judge's approval on warrants before entering people's homes or private spaces.

At his confirmation hearing last week, Mullin sought to portray himself as a steady hand at a pivotal time for the agency  an image that was challenged by the committee chairman, Republican Sen. Rand Paul, in a heated exchange. Democrats are also skeptical, seeing him as a loyal executor of Trumps agenda.

Paul voted against Mullin during the committee vote, and again Monday. Democratic Sens. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico joined the other Republicans in voting to confirm the nominee.

Markwayne Mullin is ready to lead," said Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, the No. 2 ranking Republican. He said Mullin will serve with seriousness and character. He will be a leader who makes our country safer.

Mullin comes into office at a time when public support for the presidents immigration agenda has fallen after a year of high-profile operations in multiple American cities. Under Noems leadership, officers were accused of using force to arrest immigrants, detaining them in squalid conditions and bypassing due process to rapidly deport immigrants.

Mullin did walk back some of his comments during his confirmation hearing, saying he was wrong to malign protester Alex Pretti after he was shot and killed by an ICE officer. He said that as secretary he would refrain from making judgments before an investigation is carried out.

He shed light on other ways he might influence policy when it comes to immigration. For example, he said officers would be required to use a warrant signed by a judge  not the administrative warrants now used by ICE officers  to enter a house except in rare circumstances.

He acknowledged the concerns some communities have over building massive ICE detention facilities in their neighborhoods and said cutting off federal funds to so-called sanctuary jurisdictions that dont work with ICE would be a last resort.

But ultimately, it is the White House that sets the agenda when it comes to how Trumps vision for immigration enforcement is carried out, and Mullin is expected to follow its lead. Trump faces a strong lobby within the GOP pushing him to make good on his promise to deport 1 million people a year.

FEMA and federal disaster aid in flux

Mullin will also have his hands full charting a new course at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has come under scrutiny as it delivers disaster aid to parts of the country hard-hit by hurricanes and other natural disasters.

A growing number of critics, even fellow Republicans, said Noems policy of personally approving contracts over $100,000 slowed disaster response, and the department still doesnt have a full-time administrator.

Mullin presented a fresh approach on federal emergency management during his Senate confirmation hearing, rejecting the idea of eliminating FEMA and saying he would revoke Noems contract approval rule.

__

Associated Press writer Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.
March 23 (UPI) -- The Senate on Monday confirmed Sen. Markwayne Mullin as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, replacing Kristi Noem atop the department.

Mullin was confirmed along largely partisan lines, 54 to 45, with two Democrats -- Sens. John Fetterman, D-Pa., and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., voting yes with Republicans.

"My goal in six months is that we're not the lead story every single day," Mullin told senators during his confirmation hearing last week.

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"My goal is for people to understand we're out there, we're protecting them, and we working with them," he said.

The Senate had voted 54-37 Sunday afternoon to set up a final vote on his confirmation.

That vote was also mostly along party lines, with Fetterman and Martin again voting with their Republican colleagues to approve the motion.

Nine lawmakers, including eight Democrats, did not vote, including GOP Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, chair of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, who has been vocally opposed to Mullin's confirmation.

Paul was the only Republican to vote against the Oklahoma senator when his committee voted last week to advance his nomination to the full Senate.

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President Donald Trump nominated Mullin after firing Kristi Noem following months of controversy over her leadership of the department, especially after the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis and a $220 million advertising contract.

Fetterman was among those who called for Noem's firing, and said he was supportive of Mullin to lead the DHS.

He has said he approached Mullin's confirmation "with an open mind."

"My AYE is rooted in a strong committed, constructive working relationship with Senator Mullin for our nation's security," he said.

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Following Sunday's vote, Heinrich issued a statement, similarly addressing the Oklahoma senator as "a friend" with whom he shares "a very honest and constructive working relationship."

"We often disagree and when we do, we work to find whatever common ground we share," he said.

"I have also seen first-hand that Markwayne is not someone who can simply be bullied into changing his views, and I look forward to having a secretary who doesn't take their orders from Stephen Miller."

Miller is Trump's far-right Homeland Security adviser.

Mullin is likely to be confirmed by the GOP-controlled Senate, despite opposition from Paul, who voted against him during last week's committee hearing and did not vote on Sunday.

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Paul confronted Mullin during the committee hearing over reportedly calling him "a freaking snake." He also accused Mullin of lying when he told a reporter he had told Paul that he "completely" understood why a man had attacked him in late 2017, breaking five of his ribs.

"You got a chance today. You can either continue to lie or you can correct the record," Paul said in his opening statement.

"You have never had the courage to look me in the eye and tell me that the assault was justified, so today, you'll have your chance."

When it was Mullin's turn to give his opening statement he began by addressing Paul's comments, stating that he had made the remarks while Paul was in the same room and that it was due to his behavior of seemingly going against hardline Republican policies.

"As far as my terms of a snake in the grass, I worked to try to fix problems. I've worked with many people in this room. It seems like you fight Republicans more than you work with us."
Dozens of protesters gathered outside Anthropic's headquarters in San Francisco on Saturday, calling on major artificial intelligence companies to temporarily halt the development of frontier AI systems.

The group, Stop the AI Race, began its demonstration in front of Anthropic before moving on to the offices of OpenAI and xAI. Organizers said they want company CEOs to publicly commit to a conditional pause on advanced AI development.

"Once we have everyone agreeing on this conditional pause, I think we can enforce this pausing of AI," said Michael Trazzi of Stop the AI Race.

MORE: OpenAI strikes deal with Pentagon hours after Trump administration bans Anthropic

The group believes frontier AI poses significant risks.

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"The reason we are pausing AI is because we believe that building AI, can automate AI research, and can self improve, like a danger to the human race, especially human extinction. It's not only me and other researchers saying this, it's the lab CEOs themselves that the risk is real," Trazzi said.

The protest followed the White House's release of an AI legislative framework intended to help nationalize AI policy. President Trump has encouraged Congress to strengthen protections for children while limiting liability for AI companies.

Tech expert Ahmed Banafa of San Jose State University compared the administration's approach to longstanding legal protections for social media platforms.

MORE: Teens sue Musk's xAI claiming image-generator made sexually explicit images of them as minors

"It is the closest thing to section 230 that protected social media for years. Basically you can't sue someone for posting something there," Banafa said.

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Banafa said the country is now dealing with the consequences of early social media regulation. "Now we're dealing with the consequences because we were excited about how it was going to connect people, but there was no accountability for the platforms," Banafa said.

State Senator Scott Wiener criticized the president's approach to AI oversight. "He's not interested in having smart public policy approach to AI where we promote and foster innovation while we assess and try to get ahead of some of the risk," Wiener said.

Wiener has supported legislation requiring AI companies to publish safety protocols. He said California has "a huge role to play when it comes to AI governance and in helping ensure that this powerful technology is to the benefit of humanity."

MORE: Anthropic sues Trump administration seeking to undo 'supply chain risk' designation

Last year, the president signed an executive order barring states from enacting their own AI laws, with the White House pledging to develop a national regulatory standard.

If you're on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live
BRUSSELS, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Train traffic at Brussels-Midi, one of the Belgian capital's main railway stations, resumed gradually on Monday evening after the station was evacuated during rush hour following the discovery of three suspicious packages.

Belgium's national rail operator SNCB said in a statement that services were gradually returning to normal after the packages were found to be harmless, although delays and cancellations could continue until the end of the day.

Earlier on Monday, Belgian federal police said suspicious packages had been found at the station, prompting an evacuation and a security operation involving the defence ministry.

Police said they received information about the incident at around 5:20 p.m. local time and immediately took the necessary measures at the scene. Federal officers carried out checks together with Belgium's defence ministry. DOVO, the ministry's bomb disposal unit, was called in to examine the packages.

By around 7:45 p.m., all three packages had been found to be harmless, Belga news agency reported, citing sources in the federal police.

"Since 8:02 p.m., trains have been able to run again at Brussels-South, on all tracks except tracks 19 and 20," Belga quoted Belgian railway infrastructure manager Infrabel as saying. "The station has also been reopened." 




A passing cold front brought plenty of rain to Connecticut Sunday night and Monday morning, and the National Weather Service warned northern parts of the state could see the rain change over to a slushy mix of sleet and snow.

The weather service's Boston office issued a special weather statement warning Hartford, Tolland and Windham counties could see the overnight rain change to sleet and snow between 2 and 4 a.m., continuing until between 9 and 11 a.m.

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"Motorists and commuters traveling during the pre-dawn hours into Monday morning should be aware of this changeover to wintry precipitation and the potential for slippery conditions," the weather service wrote. "Travel with extra caution if snow and sleet is encountered Monday morning."

By around 6:45 a.m., that special weather statement had ended, but the weather service in a separate statement continued to warn of a changeover to "a light wintry mix of mainly snow and sleet" in Litchfield County.

The statement said "patchy light freezing rain," also could occur.

"The light wintry mix could result in some slippery spots on any untreated roads and walking surfaces. Use caution if out and about early this morning," the statement said, noting the precipitation should end by 7 or 8 a.m.

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Early precipitation reports from across Connecticut did not show any accumulating snowfall, though snow was observed in several locations in Massachusetts.

Several Connecticut municipalities recorded an inch or more of rainfall by early Monday, including West Hartford, Staffordville and Manchester, according to the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network, an organization that tracks precipitation.

The rain is courtesy of a cold front and low pressure wave passing through the area that's expected to leave Monday afternoon and evening, the weather service's New York office said.

Rain is expected to continue through the morning, with precipitation decreasing in the afternoon, the office said.

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"As the precipitation comes to an end and some colder temperatures move into the area, can not rule out some wet snowflakes mixed in with the rain," the New York office added.

This article originally published at Rain could turn to slushy snow in parts of Connecticut Monday morning, NWS says.
President Donald Trump has reversed course on his threats to obliterate Iran hours before his 48-hour deadline was due to expire.

On Saturday, the 79-year-old president said he would pummel the country if it didnt agree to open the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important shipping lane in the Gulf region, within 48 hours. The regime didnt take the statement lying down, warning that it would irreversibly destroy critical infrastructure in neighboring countries.

Economic panic brewed over the weekend, with analysts warning of an all-out energy crisis. But by Monday morning, Trump suddenly had a very different tone, saying Washington and Tehran had engaged in talks that prompted him to take things down a notch.

Truth Social / Donald Trump

Writing in all caps, 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.

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Trump made a typo within his first few words, writing PLEASE instead of PLEASED. He also wrote WITCH instead of WHICH.

He continued: BASED ON THE TENOR AND TONE OF THESE IN DEPTH, DETAILED, AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS, WITCH WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, I HAVE INSTRUCTED THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR TO POSTPONE ANY AND ALL MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRANIAN POWER PLANTS AND ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A FIVE DAY PERIOD, SUBJECT TO THE SUCCESS OF THE ONGOING MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS.

Brent Crude Futures as of the close of business on Friday. It is expected to tick up to $114. / Brent Crude Futures

Minutes after the first post, it was deleted, and a new one appeared with the typos fixed.

Irans foreign ministry denied that any talks with the U.S. had taken place, telling state media that comments from the U.S. president are part of efforts to reduce energy prices and buy time to implement his military plans, according to the Associated Press.

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The statement marks a stark removal from the tone of his initial threats and could be designed to give marketsand his administrationbreathing room after a brutal week. The five-day period means that the pause neatly ends at the closing of the markets on Friday, giving Trump the weekend to regroup.

But while the markets might rally slightly, polling for Trumps war is still in the gutter, according to two recent polls. A Reuters/Ipsos survey of 1,545 adults conducted March 1719 found 59 percent disapprove of the conflict, with only 37 percent in support. An Economist/YouGov poll, conducted days earlier, told a similar story. It found that some 56 percent oppose the war and only 33 percent support it, with independent approval of Trumps handling of Iran sliding from 30 percent to 24 percent in a single week.

More than 2,000 people have been killed since the Iran ar broke out, including 13 U.S. service members. / Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

The presidents climbdown comes after the head of the International Energy Agency warned of a major, major threat to the global economy. No country will be immune to the effects of this crisis if it continues to go in this direction, Fatih Birol said at Australias National Press Club in Canberra.

Indeed, the benchmark price of oil ticked up 1.5 percent to $114, European stocks entered correction territory and U.S. futures pointed to losses of around 1 percent on Wall Street. Gold fell more than 8 percent, according to Bloomberg, while the Financial Times said silver tumbled by 10 percent.

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Rory Johnston, oil market researcher and founder of Commodity Context Corp, told Bloomberg that Trump had backed himself into a corner with his threat. It is highly unlikely that Tehran will agree to Trumps terms on such an accelerated timeline under the threat of attack. And Iran is clearly able and willing to match any escalation, he said.

The White House referred the Beast to Trumps remarks outside Air Force One as he prepared to board a flight in Palm Beach. He said the talks between D.C. and Tehran have been very strong, and that they had been led by his adviser Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner.

We will see where they lead, he said. We have major point of agreement; I would say almost all points of agreement.
For most of the last century, if something hostile was flying at your face, options boiled down to this: hope somebody around has a big gun. A Stinger team. A Patriot battery. An F-16 somewhere overhead doing F-16 things. The grunt on the ground pointed their tiny weapon up, got that potential threat in their sights, and proudly said out loud, pew, pew.



Also Read: The grunts 250-year quest for a weapon that actually works



Drones have officially broken that arrangement. Cheap, fast, expendable unmanned aircraft flooding battlefields from Ukraine to the Middle East dont care about your air defense umbrella. A $500 FPV (First-Person View) quadcopter rigged with a grenade doesnt need to beat a Patriot missile. It just needs to find the one soldier who isnt covered by one.



But heres the thing nobodys really talking about yet, at least not enough: the counter-drone fight has gotten personal, as in, strapped-to-your-rifle, loaded-in-your-magazine personal.



Anti-drone weaponry coming online right now are designed so that any soldier, with minimal training and zero extra nonsense, can look up then shoot back.



And some of them already are.

Meet The Pea

(Ministry of Defense Ukraine)

Ukraine, as it tends to do these days, got there first out of pure survival instinct and testicular fortitude.



In mid-2025, Ukraines Brave1 defense innovation cluster rolled out a 5.56mm NATO round nicknamed Horoshok, Ukrainian for little pea. It looks like standard ammunition, fits in a standard magazine, and fires from any NATO 5.56 rifle a Ukrainian soldier already carries, including the M4 and CZ Bren.



No new optics required. No extra battery needed. No added ounces to a kit that already weighs more than most people bench press.



The difference is what happens after it leaves the barrel. The projectile fragments into roughly five smaller projectiles, creating a shotgun-style spread at rifle velocity, over 800 meters per second, nearly double what a smoothbore shotgun round delivers.



One Ukrainian journalist and combatant wrote that hed personally downed multiple FPV drones with Horoshok rounds after failing to hit maneuvering drones with conventional 5.56. Thats the kind of product review money cant buy.

By December 2025, Ukraines Ministry of Defence announced plans to scale production to 400,000 rounds per month, with the stated goal of putting at least one anti-drone magazine in the hands of every frontline soldier.

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Thats the beauty of it all. A soldier hears a drone, swaps a magazine, and engages. You could even designate soldiers as you would with M240 teams. No new platform. No new training pipeline. No new thing to charge overnight, and pray still has juice in the morning. Just simple, old ammo.

Scopes That Think

Ammunition is only half the battle. The other half is actually hitting a small, fast, Madden-esque target, juking you out of your boots, while your heart rate is higher than your credit score.



Dont worry about it; SMASH fire control system, built by Israeli company Smart Shooter, has your six.



It mounts on the ubiquitous Picatinny rail, weighs about a pound and a half, and runs for roughly 70 hours on a charge. Behind the casing is an AI-driven computer running target acquisition software. Its officially the future, yall.



SMASH tracks drones like a hungry Hawk, then only allows the rifle to fire once a hit has been forecasted. The soldier pulls the trigger; the computer decides when the bullet leaves the weapon.



In May 2024, the U.S. Army awarded Smart Shooter a $13 million contract to push the SMASH 2000L into frontline units under the Transformation In Contact program, which is the Armys way of saying skip the paperwork, get this in soldiers hands now.



The 82nd Airborne and 1st Cavalry Division have already received SMASH systems alongside other handheld counter-drone gear.

The Squad Shield

Giving individual soldiers better tools is one thing. Giving a squad an integrated defensive bubble is another.



Thats exactly what Project Flytrap set out to build. A joint U.S.-UK counter-drone exercise running through Germany and Poland in the summer of 2025, Flytrap combined wearable RF (radio frequency) detectors, a system called Wingman that scans for drone signals in real time, with body-worn Pitbull jammers, the compact EchoShield radar capable of tracking nano-drones out to 30 kilometers, SMASH optics on rifles, and 12-gauge SkyNet shotgun shells that deploy a five-foot capture net to tangle a drones propellers.



Layered all together, and you get something close to what every grunt actually needs: 360-degree awareness around a squad, with multiple ways to kill or disable whatever shows up. Detect it with Wingman. Jam it with Pitbull. If it keeps coming, shoot it with SMASH or snag it with a net round. Boom.

Let There Be Light

Heres where things start sounding like science fiction. Theyre not.



Directed energy has moved out of the lab and onto the battlefield faster than most people realize. The driver is those sweet sweet benjamins. A Patriot interceptor costs somewhere around $4 million per shot. Israels Iron Beam laser system, which saw its first confirmed combat intercepts during operations in early 2026, costs roughly $2 per shot. Thats not a typo.



The interesting part for the individual soldier is whats happening at the small end of the power scale. The Nuburu Lyocon is a rifle-mounted laser dazzler that uses multiple light wavelengths, green, blue, and infrared, to blind a drones cameras and sensors. It doesnt melt the airframe.



Basically, imagine Terminators were deployed by an unpredictable man, then the scary robots were looking for your family, forcing you to toil away in the Tesla mines if captured; all youd have to do is point your rifle at them and shoot your laser light into their stupid robot eyes.



Did we mention it mounts on good ol Picatinny rails again? As of March 2026, prototype trials are underway. Also, anything that has robot legs is dumb.



For anyone wondering whether a soldier could accidentally or recreationally blind a buddy with one of these things, the short answer is that modern laser dazzlers are specifically engineered not to cause permanent eye damage in humans.



France has gone further with the CILAS HELMA-LP, a laser rifle, based on the AR-15 platform, paired with a backpack power unit that weighs about 33 pounds (15 kilograms) in total. French special operations units have experimented with it.



Effective against static or slow-moving targets out to around 500 meters, though holding the beam on a fast-maneuvering drone long enough to lock on remains a very real issue. Think of it more as a problem made for a sniper than a rifleman.

The result of HELMA-Ps laser impact on a DJI Mavic drone during tests.

Of course, this is where Ukraine comes through again. Recently, they introduced us to Sunray, a portable laser system compact enough to fit in the trunk of a sedan or on the bed of a pickup truck. During field tests, it tracked and burned through a small drones airframe within seconds, causing the drone to fail in midair.



Observers described the engagement as invisible lightning, no sound, no muzzle flash, no visible beam.



Brave1 also backed the SlimBeam, a 1.5-kilowatt laser turret weighing 50 kilograms that can hard-kill a drone at 800 meters or blind its optics at two kilometers. A two-person team can deploy it. Thirty minutes of battery-powered operation, potentially being utilized on the frontlines today.

The Infantrys Take

All this is enough to make one wonder what someone who has actually humped a ruck up a mountain would say about the new equipment.



I love the idea, but unless it weighs as much as a flashlight and takes AA batteries, I dont know how much more crap you can pile on the individual fighters, exclaimed GWOT veteran Spc. Stewart Deroo, 10th Mountain Division.



Stately, and hes not wrong. Every new capability strapped onto a soldier is another pound on a frame already carrying 80 to 120 of them. The best technology in the world is worthless if the person carrying it is too smoked to employ it.



Thats exactly why the most promising systems in this space are the ones that add almost nothing. Horoshok rounds weigh what ammunition already weighs. The SMASH optic replaces an existing sight and runs for days on a single charge.



The Pitbull jammer weighs under three pounds and clips to a plate carrier. The engineers, whether theyre in Kyiv or Tel Aviv or Picatinny Arsenal, seem to have gotten the message: if it doesnt fit in a kit thats already too heavy, it doesnt fit.



Ready or not, the era of drone warfare has been here for a few years now. It is not going away. However, the idea that theres nothing between you and a $500 quadcopter with a grenade? That parts already outdated.



Until the next drop, stand easy.

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A woman who police allege was killed by her son in the Long Neck area of Millboro has been identified by Delaware State Police.

Patricia Sulecki, 72, of Millsboro, was the victim of a homicide by her son, 40-year-old John Sulecki of Millsboro, according to police.

Around noon March 19, police responded to a residence on White Pine Drive within The Pines at Long Neck community after another family member called 911 to report that John Sulecki had a gun and had shot a 72-year-old female relative during an argument, police said.

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Patricia Sulecki was pronounced dead at the scene. John Sulecki was taken into custody without incident, police said.

State police detectives learned that John Sulecki and Patricia Sulecki were involved in an argument, and John Sulecki shot her while in a back room of the house.

John Sulecki was charged with first degree murder and possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, police said.

The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information can contact Delaware State Police on a private Facebook message, Delaware Crime Stoppers, or Detective D. Patterson at (302) 365-8471.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: State police ID woman killed in Long Neck; son charged with murder
After two severe storms left areas of Maui and O'ahu underwater, more and more residents are being forced to evacuate their homes. Many fortunate pet parents were able to evacuate their furry and feathered friends, too, but other homes and farms didn't have time to get everyone out.

A brave volunteer named Jacqueline and a team of rescuers with Hawaii Pointer Rescue wasted no time getting into the water near Mokuleia, on O'ahu's North Shore, to help the animals who needed them the most. On March 22, CBS News shared one of Jacqueline's harrowing videos showing a pack of stranded dogs bravely swimming through the floodwaters to safety.

It's difficult to see such a devastating scene or to imagine animals in these perilous conditions, but a relief to know many of them are now safe. I can only imagine the emotinoal roller coaster these floods must have caused for the poor pups' families! It takes a brave and selfless person to face uncertain conditions in the name of animal rescue, but thanks to Jacqueline, there have been so many more happy stories than sad ones.

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"What a beautiful thing youve done," commented @mtnraven. "This is breaking my heart for both the animals & the people of Hawaii. Sending love & money when I can." Although this terrible natural disaster hasn't gotten the media coverage it deserves, Hawaii residents and concerned friends from the mainland are trying their best to help.

Related: Selfless Crowd Forms Safety Net Below Whippet Stranded on Window Ledge

"I know everybodys situation is different," @doobisoft began, "but I dont give a f--- what I have to do. I will go back and swim or paddle or go get my dogs." Most pet parents feel the same way, but for some, it wasn't so easy.

Jacqueline's trek through the water saved many lifes, but it was also dangerous for both her and the dogs. Even though most dogs can swim, floodwaters can be filled with all kinds of dangerous debris and germs. As Jacqueline explained in another Instagram post, she was hospitalized for a month after her previous flood left her with infected wounds, so she's limiting herself this time around.

Helping the Animals of Hawaii

It's normal to feel powerless or overwhelmed when disaster strikes, especially for those who live far away. However, there are several ways people can help those who have been displaced or injured by the floods in Hawaii, including donating to or volunteering for disaster relief organizations like the American Red Cross.

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If you feel compelled to help animals like the dogs and puppy in Jacqueline's video, you can also donate to animal rescues and nonprofits on Maui and O'ahu. The Hawaiian Humane Society is currently raising funds for flood victims, though you can also do some research to find a rescue that speaks to youjust rememeber to investigate thoroughly before sending money to any organization you're not familiar with.

Thanks to selfless people like Jaqueline, the pets and farm animals of Hawaii have so many people looking out for them. Still, it will be difficult to rest until every animal is found safe and sound.



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This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Mar 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Mar. 23WENATCHEE  Students who have a business or an innovation they're trying to get off the ground can get a boost at NCW Tech Alliance's first Student Pitch Competition.

"We've noticed in some of our other work at the Tech Alliance, with high school students (and) college students, that so many of them are already creating apps and tools and businesses in their free time," said NCW Tech Alliance Director of Entrepreneurship Becca Freimuth. "So, we know that these students are out there doing this work and we just want to be able to elevate what they're doing."

The Student Pitch Competition is an outgrowth of the NCW Tech Alliance's annual Flywheel Conference, which provides opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors from throughout North-Central Washington to connect. It's designed for students who are already building and testing a startup or business model, according to NCW Tech Alliance's announcement of the competition, to give them a chance to find an investor willing to back it financially. Students can work alone or form a team of up to five and fill out an application online. The application includes a one-line pitch, a short video, a pitch deck and written responses to questions about the startup's solution to a problem, its intended market and how it can make money.

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Applications must be filled out by March 26, NCW Tech Alliance said in an announcement unveiling the competition. Six to eight teams will be selected from among those applications to bring their ideas to the Flywheel Conference on May 20 in Wenatchee.

Besides the opportunity to gain funding for their idea, there are cash prizes available, Freimuth said. There's a $2,500 Judges' Choice award, and a People's Choice prize of $500, voted on by conference participants. The other teams will receive a Student Innovator Honorarium of $250.

The Student Pitch Competition is sponsored by the Salcido Group of Companies, which includes operating companies, real estate development and other investments in central Washington, according to its website. The Salcido Group has been a strong supporter of the Flywheel Conference for many years, Molly Nelson, executive assistant to the CEO, wrote in an email to the Columbia Basin Herald.

"Supporting entrepreneurship and local economical efforts is in our DNA," Nelson wrote. "We're getting behind the Flywheel's first annual Student Pitch because we remember exactly what it felt like to be the underdog with a big idea wanting to share our plans. After 25 years in business, supporting these young entrepreneurs isn't just about economics; it's about making sure our local students know they don't have to leave home to build something world-class."

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The Flywheel Conference is more than just a pitching contest, Freimuth said. It's a chance to network and exchange ideas with professionals in all facets of business and technology.

"So much of what happens is actually off the stage," she said. "It's building those connections, meeting those potential mentors, potential business partners, maybe potential investors ... They are in a room of hundreds of different people who love this kind of stuff."

For more information or to apply, visit www.flywheelconference.com/studentpitch.
The U.S. Supreme Court appears poised to upend laws allowing ballots to be counted after Election Day amid President Trumps attacks on mail-in voting, according to the Associated Press.

Members of the Supreme Courts conservative majority seemed skeptical Monday while hearing arguments for a case from Mississippi, where an appellate court had struck down a law allowing ballots to be counted so long as they are postmarked on Election Day, and arrive within five days.

Thirteen other states, including New York, California, and Texas, as well as the District of Columbia, have similar laws. An affirmative ruling could also impact states collection of ballots from Americans overseas.

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Justice Samuel Alito fretted that a big stash of ballots could arrive late and radically flip the results of an election. Mississippi Solicitor General Scott Stewart, who was defending the law, observed that no one has been able to furnish a single case of fraud due to the delayed arrival of mail-in ballots. Justice Neil Gorsuch worried about a slippery slope in which votes could be counted up until a new Congress was sworn in.

Meanwhile, the liberal justices appeared to support the law allowing for votes to be counted after Election Day. Justice Sonia Sotomayor argued that prompting states to alter their vote-counting procedures just a few months before the midterm elections could cause confusion and disenfranchisement.

The people who should decide this issue are not the courts, but Congress, the states and Congress, she said.

Justice Elena Kagan claimed that arguments forbidding the counting of late ballots could threaten absentee ballots and early votingwhich seemed to concern Chief Justice John Roberts, the courts conservative member most likely to side with his liberal colleagues.

The ruling is scheduled to be delivered in June, just a few months before the midterm elections that could see Republicans lose their grip on the House and Senate. The Trump administration is taking extensive efforts to limit voting power, including pushing for a law that would make it harder for many married women to vote. Meanwhile, anti-voting activists are circulating an unconstitutional executive order draft that could allow the president to hijack the countrys electoral systems ahead of the 2026 midterms.
A Baldwin Park bakery is cleaning up after a suspected DUI driver jumped the curb and crashed into their business.

Video shows the mess left behind at Nissi #2 Restaurant Bakery and Cafe.

The crash happened just before 2 a.m. Sunday in the 4000 block of Maine Avenue, across the street from a Baldwin Park Police Station.

The video shows a large portion of the front wall missing, with glass and debris scattered all over the floor of the restaurant.

The suspected DUI driver was taken into custody and then to the hospital to be checked out. No other injuries were reported.
This development shows some countries are beginning to change their approach to Syria, while still stressing the need to respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Several members of the United Nations Security Council expressed their appreciation for the measures the government of Syria has taken in recent months to combat terrorism and enhance internal stability.

This development shows some countries are beginning to change their approach to Syria, while still stressing the need to respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

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At a session on Syria, several countries pointed to signs of improvement in security and the economy, even as major challenges remain. In this context, the UN deputy special envoy for Syria, Claudio Cordone, called on Israel to adhere to the 1974 Agreement on Disengagement, warning of the risks of military escalation that could undermine the fragile truce.

He also said Damascus has stepped up contacts with regional and international actors to ease tensions and prevent further escalation.

Cordone pointed to early signs of economic improvement, particularly after some external financial channels reopened, which could help ease living conditions despite ongoing sanctions and infrastructure challenges. He also praised the measures taken by Syrian forces in confronting the Islamic State, noting that these operations have contributed to reducing the groups capabilities in several areas.

Claudio Cordone311 (credit: Courtesy)

The session was also characterized by cooperation among several countries, including Russia, Turkey, China, and Denmark, along with others, in supporting Syrias stability and criticizing Israeli violations, while emphasizing the priority of preserving Syrian territorial unity. Despite differing interests, this alignment reflects a growing recognition of the risks posed by continued instability to regional security.

Syria undergoes 'profound transformations,' says US envoy

Meanwhile, the US special envoy for Syria, Thomas Barrack, said the country has undergone what he described as profound transformations over the past 15 months, referring to shifts that may influence how the international community engages with the crisis. Syrias permanent representative to the UN, Ibrahim Olabi, affirmed that Syria is moving forward with a comprehensive national path that is receiving increasing support within the council.

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These developments come amid a complex regional backdrop, with Syria remaining a focal point of competing international and regional interests since the conflict began in 2011, leading to economic decline and deep political and territorial divisions.

Although the intensity of military operations has declined in recent years, parts of the country remain outside government control, while challenges persist regarding foreign military presence, economic sanctions, and reconstruction efforts.

Tensions between Syria and Israel also remain a factor, particularly amid repeated airstrikes, highlighting the urgency of upholding the 1974 agreement to avoid a broader confrontation. Any improvement in security or economic conditions is viewed as a limited step within a long and complex path toward stability.

Praise at the Security Council points to a shift in tone, with some countries taking a more pragmatic approach focused on containing the crisis and supporting gradual stability rather than pushing for rapid, sweeping change.

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Nevertheless, disagreements persist over the future of the political process and the role of the Syrian government, as well as the ongoing impact of sanctions on any potential economic recovery.

In sum, the Security Councils discussions reflect a mix of caution and guarded optimism. While praise is paired with warnings, a lasting solution will depend on broader international agreement and the ability of key actors to address the root causes of the crisis.
March 23 (Reuters) - A Taco Bell and Dunkin franchisee has agreed to pay more than $1.5 million to settle claims by New York City that its managers at two dozen restaurants violated a local law requiring fast food businesses to give workers advance notice of their schedules and other protections, Mayor Zohran Mamdanis office said on Monday.

Mamdani, who took office in January, campaigned in part on strengthening enforcement of worker protection laws.

Salz Management LLC, according to the citys Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, routinely failed to give workers sufficient notice of their schedules, pay extra wages for clopening shifts that require workers to close a store one night and open it the next morning, and offer available shifts to existing workers before hiring new ones, among other claims.

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The city also announced on Monday it is filing suit against another Dunkin franchisee, QSR Management LLC and its managing corporate officer Ronny Nader, on allegations that the business violated New York City scheduling laws for roughly 1,000 workers at 21 Dunkin stores in Staten Island. The same franchisee was required by the city in 2022 to pay relief to more than 100 workers.

Neither franchisee responded to a request for comment by publication time.

In December, New York City announced that Starbucks would pay $38.9 million to settle claims it violated the citys scheduling law. The office of then-mayor Eric Adams said it was the largest settlement involving worker protection in the citys history.

On the day the Starbucks settlement was announced, Mamdani praised the agreement at a press conference he held alongside Senator Bernie Sanders at a picket of striking Starbucks workers.

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Yum Brands and Inspire Brands, parent companies for Taco Bell and Dunkin respectively, did not respond to a request for comment.

New York City was one of the first in the U.S. to limit "on-call scheduling," a practice in which retail, fast food and other service businesses call workers in or cancel shifts with little notice. Oregon has adopted a similar law, along with Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and several other U.S. cities.

In 2025, the city opened 57 investigations against fast food employers for possible violations of the scheduling law, according to public metrics.

Business groups have criticized the laws, saying they are unworkable and can lead businesses to cut jobs.

(Reporting by Waylon Cunningham, Editing by William Maclean)
TEHRAN, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Iran has had no direct or indirect contact with U.S. President Donald Trump, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Monday.

Quoting an Iranian source, Fars said Trump has withdrawn its threat of attacking Iranian power plants after hearing of Iran's retaliation through targeting all power generation facilities across the West Asia region. 
The Georgia Court of Appeals upheld a ruling that firing Cobb County elementary school teacher Katie Rinderle in 2023 was an appropriate action by the school district.

In 2023, Rinderle read her elementary school class the book My Shadow is Purple, and was fired.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The book is about about exploring gender identity and aimed at a younger audience.

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Rinderles firing over reading the book became a national story as tensions over the action in the Cobb County School Board led to multiple public meetings and eventually a hearing over her termination.

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Ultimately, the board voted 4-3 to confirm the termination and Rinderle took her battle to the court instead.

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On March 12, the Georgia Court of Appeals affirmed a previous ruling that deemed the firing appropriate, dismissing Rinderles lawsuit to restore her employment.

Rinderle can now file a writ with the Georgia Supreme Court to appeal that decision, but it must be filed within 20 days of the ruling, which court records show was March 12.

That means Rinderle must file with the GSC by April 1 to be placed on the docket for further legal review.

Channel 2 Action News reached out to Rinderles attorney for comment, who said they will be filing a motion for reconsideration.

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Qatar Airways has begun parking part of its fleet in Spain as the ongoing war in the Middle East and Gulf continues to severely disrupt aviation.

According to flight-tracking website Flightradar24, around 20 Qatar Airways aircraft have now been relocated to Teruel Airport in eastern Spain, a state-owned facility thats known as one of Europes largest aircraft maintenance and storage sites.

The move reflects the airlines reduced flying schedule, with fewer aircraft needed as airspace restrictions limit operations from its hub at Hamad International Airport in Doha.

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In a statement, Qatar Airways told Doha News: Due to the current exceptional circumstances in the region and the resulting disruption to flight operations beyond our control, Qatar Airways has positioned some of its aircraft at selected airports outside Qatar.

This is a temporary measure, and the aircraft will be progressively returned to service as flight operations are restored to normal levels.

Teruel is a tiny remote airport in rural Spain, said the Independent, and previously served as a major parking facility for grounded aircraft during the Covid-19 pandemic, when it hosted around 140 planes.

With its location between a number of large cities  including Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Zaragoza and Bilbao  Teruel is a base for industrial aeronautical development and is considered one of the largest sites in Europe for maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO).

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Spread across 540 hectares, the airport has a runway length of 2,825 metres and capacity to park 400 aircraft.

Qatars decision to relocate some of its aircraft comes amid one of the most significant disruptions to global aviation in recent years.

Since the escalation of the Iran war in late February, airspace across much of the Gulf has been partially or fully closed following missile and drone attacks.

Key regional corridors linking Europe, Asia and Africa have been heavily affected, forcing airlines to cancel flights, reroute aircraft and absorb higher fuel costs.

Industry estimates suggest thousands of flights have been cancelled across the region, with major hubs such as Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi impacted.

Qatar Airways is currently operating a revised limited schedule until 28 March for flights to and from Hamad International Airport.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Police say three men are charged in connection with two Downtown Memphis shootings that sent a 14-year-old boy to the hospital in critical condition and injured a woman on Friday night.

DShawn Heffner (Left), Ezell Howard Jr. (Middle), Sadat Muhammad (Right) 0 Shelby County Sheriffs Office

MPD says the first shooting happened at 11:15 p.m. in the area of B.B. King Boulevard and Peabody Place. Police say 14-year-old boy was critically injured and two suspects were detained on the scene.

ORIGINAL STORY: Juvenile critically injured, woman shot in Downtown Memphis on Friday night

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According to police, 21-year-old DShawn Heffner was arrested and charged with theft of a firearm. A male juvenile was detained, then released to his parents, police say.

Heffner is being held in the Shelby County Jail on a $20,000 bond and is due in court Monday morning.

I was ducking: Witness recalls Beale St. shootings chaos

The second Downtown Memphis shooting happened 30 minutes later near Rufus Thomas Boulevard and Beale Alley.

Officials say 20-year-old Ezell Howard, Jr. and 20-year-old Sadat Muhammad are both charged with two counts of reckless endangerment in connection with that shooting, where a woman was shot in the leg and taken to the hospital in non-critical condition.

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Three charged with assaulting Memphis Police officers

Police say this shooting is still under investigation.

Howard and Muhammad are both being held in the Shelby County Jail, each with a $50,000 bond and both are due in court on Monday.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
One year ago, we opened the doors of opportunity for Tennessee families with Education Freedom Scholarships  a school choice program for students in all 95 counties across our state  and the response has been nothing short of extraordinary.

We cast a strong vision to put parents back in the drivers seat, give families a say in their childs education, and give every child access to the education that best fits their unique needs  because every child learns differently.

Today, that vision is a reality, with 20,000 students thriving in a classroom thats right for them  and families who, at last, have a choice in their childs education.

Gov. Bill Lee signs the statewide school voucher bill at the Tennessee State Capitol building in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025.

Demand far outpaces available scholarships

But what really tells the story? Soaring demand.

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Last year, 40,000 students applied for 20,000 Education Freedom Scholarships. This year, applications surged to 56,000 for those same 20,000 spots  thats nearly three families competing for every available seat.

99% of last years scholarship recipients submitted a renewal application this year, reflecting complete satisfaction with the program.

Notably, half of new applicants  nearly 18,000  are from low- and middle-income families, demonstrating high demand from Tennesseans across varied economic and demographic groups.

Broad support across families and the state

If we do nothing, these students will continue to wait  without options. We owe it to their families to expand education freedom this year.

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Parents know best, and theyve sent a clear message: its time for more school choice.

Support for growing the Education Freedom Scholarship program extends beyond parents, too. The majority of Tennesseans  56%  support program expansion so that all eligible students who apply can participate.

Last year, Tennessee joined the 18 states across the country that now have universal school choice programs, but we're still lagging behind as states like Florida and Arizona currently outpace Tennessees scholarships up to 28 to one.

With another investment in Education Freedom Scholarships this year, we can close that gap and ensure the Volunteer State remains a national leader in school choice.

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Ive said many times that education has the power to change the trajectory of a childs life forever. After a strong first year of the Education Freedom Scholarship program, I believe that now more than ever.

Gov. Bill Lee signs the statewide school voucher bill at the Tennessee State Capitol building in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025.

This familys story shows whats possible

Weve seen success stories all across our state, like the McCuiston family in Maryville.

Last school year, James and Stephanie McCuiston were looking for a solution for their son, Manasseh, who has unique learning challenges. He needed more assistance and would benefit from smaller class sizes, but financial barriers and a lack of options made finding a solution impossible.

Education freedom changed everything for their family. After being awarded two scholarships, they were able to enroll Manasseh and their daughter, Janessa, at Rivers Edge Christian in Knoxville, and its been life-changing.

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Today, both of their children are thriving in a supportive environment where they are challenged academically, encouraged in their faith and given the tools needed to succeed.

The case for expanding opportunity now

But right now, 36,000 students just like Manasseh and Janessa are still waiting for a shot at education freedom.

The most important investment we can make for Tennessees future is an education that works for every child.

Weve delivered more than $2.5 billion to public schools since 2019, with another $340 million in the budget this year. At the same time, we should fulfill our commitment to the Tennessee families who are still waiting for school choice.

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Opportunity should never be limited by a waiting list.

Its time for Tennessee to double the number of available scholarships to 40,000, delivering education freedom for thousands more Tennessee students in the upcoming school year.

Gov. Bill Lee delivers his State of the State address in the House Chamber at the State Capitol Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn.

Bill Lee is the 50th Governor of Tennessee, currently serving his second and final term.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Parents have spoken. TN needs more Education Freedom Scholarships
Germany's Federal Court of Justice (BGH) on Monday dismissed climate lawsuits filed against automotive giants BMW and Mercedes-Benz over the sale of new combustion engine vehicles beyond 2030.

The cases were brought by Environmental Action Germany (DUH), a pressure group that was seeking a court order to prohibit the companies from selling new vehicles with climate-damaging internal combustion engines from November 2030.

At the core of the cases was whether companies can be required to take such measures independently of existing government regulations.

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Three DUH managing directors filed the case, basing their argument on the right to self-determination enshrined in the Basic Law, Germany's de facto constitution.

They claimed that by continuing to produce fossil fuel-powered vehicles, BMW and Mercedes are consuming a disproportionate share of global and national carbon dioxide (CO2) budgets, referring to the amount of emissions that can be released while still limiting global warming to internationally agreed targets.

The Karlsruhe-based BGH on Monday confirmed rulings by lower courts in Munich and Stuttgart dismissing the lawsuits against the car manufacturers.
Germany's Federal Court of Justice (BGH) on Monday dismissed climate lawsuits against automotive giants BMW and Mercedes-Benz that sought to ban the carmakers from selling new combustion engine vehicles beyond 2030.

The Karlsruhe-based court on Monday confirmed rulings by lower courts in Munich and Stuttgart dismissing the lawsuits, which were brought by pressure group Environmental Action Germany (DUH).

At the core of the cases was whether companies can be required to take such measures independently of existing government regulations.

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Three DUH managing directors filed the case, basing their argument on the right to self-determination enshrined in the Basic Law, Germany's de facto constitution.

They claimed that by continuing to produce fossil fuel-powered vehicles, BMW and Mercedes are consuming a disproportionate share of global and national carbon dioxide (CO2) budgets, referring to the amount of emissions that can be released while still limiting global warming to internationally agreed targets.

The argument built on a landmark 2021 ruling by Germanys Federal Constitutional Court, which required lawmakers to strengthen the countrys climate protection law.

The court found that existing provisions unfairly shifted a significant share of emissions reduction burdens to periods after 2030, infringing on the freedoms of younger people.

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While that case addressed the states obligations, the latest proceedings at the court in Karlsruhe raised the question of whether major industrial CO2 emitters can also be held accountable in civil courts.

Following a hearing three weeks ago, Mercedes stated that setting legal requirements for climate targets was a matter for the legislature, not the courts.

A BMW spokesman also emphasized that the debate over how to achieve climate targets must take place in the parliamentary chamber, not in the courtroom.

BGH judge Stephan Seiters agreed with the companies' arguments, stating that "private individuals cannot demand that motor vehicle manufacturers cease to place on the market passenger cars with combustion engines before the deadline set by the EU Regulation setting CO2 emission standards for passenger cars."

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The claimants' general right to privacy is not infringed by the companies' actions, Seiters ruled.

Germany's CO2 budget applies nationwide and does not break down into individual federal states, the transport sector or even individual companies, the court said.

It would be up to politicians to regulate this, Seiters added, confirming that "the responsibility for any possible necessity for future climate legislation lies with the legislator."

A constitutional complaint could then be lodged against CO2 emission limits for being too high, he suggested.

DUH national director Barbara Metz announced that the BGH ruling would be reviewed before the organization decides whether to appeal to the Federal Constitutional Court.
UPDATE: As of 9:30 p.m., all lanes have reopened.

The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department told Action News Jax that two adults with life-threatening injuries and two pediatric patients with non-life-threatening injuries were transported from the scene.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

The Florida Highway Patrol reported the crash at 7 p.m. on Sunday. All northbound lanes of I-295E at Alta Drive were then closed.

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A highway camera on FL511 shows a flipped vehicle and several emergency crews responding.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

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President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters Monday morning before boarding Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport in Florida, delivered a familiar blend of grievance and policy demands, with transgender people once again at the center of his rhetoric.

Keep up with the latest in LGBTQ + news and politics. Sign up for The Advocate's email newsletter.

In a sprawling exchange, Trump cast Democrats as destructive and returned to a line he has used with increasing frequency by portraying support for trans rights as extreme.

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Theyre fighting for men in womens sports. Theyre fighting for transgender for everybody, Trump said. Everybody go out, get your kid a nice operation, and change the sex of your kid.

Related: Trump uses State of the Union to demonize transgender kids and their families

Related: Donald Trump, an actual threat to democracy, claims its transgender kids who are a threat to democracy

Related: Republicans rage after Trump appears to soften stance on trans care

The remarks echoed a phrase Trump has deployed repeatedly  transgender for everybody  a catchall that, as The Advocate has reported, functions less as a description of policy than as a political device.

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On Monday, it came packaged alongside calls for stricter immigration enforcement and renewed pressure on Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, a Republican-backed voting bill that would impose new identification and proof-of-citizenship requirements.

Only settle if you get the Save America Act, Trump said, urging allies not to compromise.

On Saturday, Senate Democrats blocked a GOP amendment that would have barred transgender girls and women from participating in female school sports, rejecting an effort to attach the provision to the SAVE Act. The amendment failed 49-41, part of a broader stalemate over the legislation, which lacks the 60 votes needed to advance.

LGBTQ+ advocates seized on that moment as both a warning and a reprieve.

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Related: Donald Trump refuses to sign new laws until SAVE Act voting bill passes with added anti-trans provisions

Related: Donald Trump targets trans kids while abandoning Americans real needs around affordability

Related: 11 times Donald Trump has randomly brought up his transgender for everybody obsession

Things have really gone off the rails in the U.S. Senate and with this administration, said David Stacy, vice president of government affairs at the Human Rights Campaign. Despite the many crises at home and abroad, theyve spent the weekend taking this already deeply unnecessary and harmful bill, the so-called SAVE Act, and attempting to load it up with attacks on transgender people.

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Stacy called the legislation a dystopian nightmare designed to undermine our democracy and steal elections for generations to come, adding that the Senate has yet again rejected another attempt to attack trans youth.

For the good of all Americans, and especially trans folks, the Senate should stop wasting the countrys time and put this shameful legislation to bed once and for all, he said.

This article originally appeared on Advocate: Trump claims Democrats want to change the sex of your kid during tarmac rant

RELATED
The U.S. Department of Treasury is planning to move forward with a 24-karat gold commemorative coin with President Donald Trump's portrait on it.

The Commission of Fine Arts on March 19 approved the general design of the coin etched with Trump leaning over the Resolute Desk, a photograph that is on display in the Smithsonians National Portrait Gallery.

The commission, an advisory board whose members were handpicked by Trump, had a couple of small suggested changes to the design, though, including making it as big as possible at about 3 inches in diameter.

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The coin is expected to join a slate of special-edition currencies and medals the treasury is releasing for the nation's semiquincentennial year, including the separate $1 Trump coin the Fine Arts commission approved in January.

But neither the $1 coin or the gold coin has received approval from the Citizens Coinage Advisory Council, a nonpartisan group created by Congress to advise the treasury on coin design. That committee declined to review both coins and argued that depicting a sitting president on currency runs counter to the country's founding principles. Also, federal law prohibits putting a living person on U.S. currency.

If created, the Trump coins will join a growing list of buildings, bills and other items to commemorate the president. And fittingly for the commemorative coin, it's in Trump's apparent favorite color: gold.

More: Design approved for US Mint's 24k gold Trump coin, despite objections

Gold tweezers, gold sneakers and a gold guy in the White House

It is no secret Trump has a tendency to brand items and businesses in his name. In 2004, "Saturday Night Live" made a fake advertisement for "Donald Trump's House of Wings" with singing chicks in eggs dancing around the now-president.

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His love for gold appears to go back just as far. Here is a look at some of his golden adornments throughout the years:

Trump has had these things named after him

The coin is not the first thing that the U.S. federal government has put Trump's name or face on. Here are some others:

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Contributing: Karissa Waddick, Joey Garrison, Mary Walrath-Holdridge, Davis Winkie, Amanda Lee Myers, Cybele Mayes-Osterman, Mike Snider, Marc Ramirez, Andrew Marra, USA TODAY Network

Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at KCrowley@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X (Twitter), Threads, Bluesky and TikTok. Subscribe to the free Florida TODAY newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Trump coin shows his love for gold. List of things with his name, face
ICE agents have been deployed to airports across the country as the partial government shutdown continues, officials at multiple airports confirmed Monday.

Airport and city officials at Houstons George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport, New York Citys John F. Kennedy International Airport, New Jerseys Newark Liberty Airport, Chicagos OHare International Airport and Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport all confirmed to POLITICO that immigration agents were there. Agents have also been seen at Atlantas Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the worlds busiest airport.

Border tzar Tom Homan told reporters Monday that ICE agents are present at "14 airports right now, and there will be more."

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The agents arrivals come amid a more than a month-long, ongoing partial government shutdown , with congressional Republicans and President Donald Trump squabbling with Democrats over funding the Department of Homeland Security.

Democrats have demanded major changes to the Trump administrations immigration tactics as a prerequisite to funding the DHS, while congressional Republicans have rejected Democratic bids to fund most of DHS  save for immigration-focused agencies  while talks continue.

"The laws haven't changed. It's about the execution of our mission," Homan said.

Trump on Sunday evening also threw a wrench into congressional negotiations over the shutdown, stating on Truth Social he may not make a deal unless Democrats back his SAVE America Act, the GOPs partisan elections bill that Democrats are unlikely to support.

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But as negotiations continue, TSA agents have gone without pay, leading some to call out of work and triggering hours-long wait times at some airports.

A spokesperson for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey  which operates the three major airports in and around New York City  said in a statement the Port Authority expects that any such personnel assigned to assist with passenger processing functions will be appropriately trained and focused on supporting screening operations, consistent with maintaining the safety, integrity, and efficiency of the security process at our airports and protecting the flying public."

Chicagos OHare International Airport will also have an estimated 75 federal agents patrolling the airport to perform non-screening support functions, according to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, including monitoring exit lanes, making announcements, assisting with queue management and related activities intended to allow TSA officers to remain focused on passenger and baggage screening.

Johnson, a Democrat, said in a statement he has concerns over the agents arrival.

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We will closely monitor the deployment and use every tool we have to ensure that people, no matter their immigration status, can travel to and from Chicago safely and without harassment from the federal government, Johnson said.

Lauren Bis, a DHS spokesperson, confirmed in a statement that agents were being deployed but declined to share at which airports, blaming Democrats for the shutdown. She said over 400 TSA agents have quit their jobs, and highlighted call-out rates that sometimes topped 40 percent at the countrys major airports on Sunday.

One industry official familiar with the political dynamics of the funding stalemate, granted anonymity to speak candidly, said the ICE deployment is largely performative, with the agents not having certain badges to get into secure parts of airports and not being trained to check documents and bags.

However, helping with queue management, I think thats a real thing. They can help staff exit lanes, the official added. There could be some operational benefit.

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They said they hadnt yet seen an official list of where ICE agents are being stationed, but had heard they will be at more than a dozen airports.

The official said the pressure is untenable and if lawmakers dont cut a deal by Friday, theres probably a world where they stay in Washington until theres a resolution. I think the chessboard is kind of set for this week, they said.

Trump first threatened to deploy the agents on Saturday, writing in a post on Truth Social that if the Democrats do not allow for Just and Proper Security at our Airports, and elsewhere throughout our Country, ICE will do the job far better than ever done before!

He continued: I look forward to moving ICE in on Monday, and have already told them to, GET READY. NO MORE WAITING, NO MORE GAMES!

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As ICE agents began to arrive at airports on Monday, Trump announced he was also considering sending in National Guard troops to assist the agents.

I want to thank ICE because they stepped in so strongly, Trump told reporters at Palm Beach International Airport Monday. They'll do great. And if that's not enough, we'll bring in the National Guard.

Trump stated in a separate Truth Social post on Monday that though he supported ICE agents wearing masks while conducting their regular duties, he would make an exception for inside the airports.

Among their list of demands for ICE reform, Democrats have called for agents to be prohibited from wearing masks while on duty.

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I would greatly appreciate, however, NO MASKS, when helping our Country out of the Democrat caused MESS at the airports, the president wrote.

Democrats have condemned the federal agents deployment to airports.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in an interview with CNNs State of the Union on Sunday that agents at airports are the last thing that the American people need ... potentially to brutalize or in some instances, kill them.

Weve already seen how ICE conducts itself, the New York Democrat added. These are untrained individuals when it comes to doing the current job that they have for the most part, let alone deploying them in close exposure and highly sensitive situations at airports across the country.

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The sentiment was echoed by New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, who accused Trump of creating chaos.

Trumps ICE has a track record of making communities less safe, and sending untrained ICE agents to staff our airports is not an acceptable solution, Sherrill said in a statement Sunday.

Sam Ogozalek and Ry Rivard contributed to this report.
Seven months after President Donald Trump announced a law enforcement surge in Memphis to help fight crime, Tennessee state officials and local Memphis residents thanked him as he visited the city March 23 to highlight the progress of the 31-agency Memphis Safe Task Force.

Trump visited the Tennessee Air National Guard 164th Airlift Wing for a roundtable alongside top administration officials including Attorney General Pam Bondi, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, FBI Director Kash Patel, Homeland Security Adviser Stephen Miller, and state officials including Gov. Bill Lee and Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton.

During the event Memphis mother Delishia Ballenger thanked Trump for making her neighborhood a safe place for her 5-year-old son to play.

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We have experienced multiple burglaries in our home. And what was lost wasnt just the material things, it was our sense of security," Ballenger said. Before the Memphis Safe Task Force, I didnt just hear about crime, I lived it.

She shared the story of a drive-by shooting that brought a stray bullet through the wall of her home.

"At just 5 years old, I could have lost my son," she said. "Today, I can sit on my porch and drink tea in peace. For the first time in five years, I don't hear any gunshots in my neighborhood."

More: Trump talks Iran, voter registration at Memphis Safe Task Force visit

Memphis business owner Tim Pugh, cofounder of Pugh's Flowers, told the president that his business had suffered financially from crime. Last year, one of his work crews was robbed at gunpoint.

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Weve had landscaping equipment stolen from jobsites, so we have to lock the equipment to trucks," Pugh said. "Honestly, Mr. President, I feel like crime is down 100%. People have to feel safe. That wasnt the case before, but now it is.

In front of a U-shaped table on the stage, boxes of evidence were piled with stacks of drugs and guns, labeled with White House-logoed signs reading methamphetamines, firearms and marijuana.

Notably absent was outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Trump pledged that the task force's work was not finished.

"In another two months, we're going to be down  you're going to be an almost crime-free city," Trump said.

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Recap: Trump talks Iran, voter registration, Graceland at Memphis visit

Trump announced that Hegseth signed a proclamation requiring all National Guard involved in the effort recieve the same benefits as active duty troops "because you deserve it."

Ahead of the speech, Republican VIPs filed in as country music blared over a loudspeaker. They included U.S. Sen Marsha Blackburn, U.S. Rep. John Rose, U.S. Rep. Diana Harshbarger, U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, U.S. Rep. Matt Van Epps and U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles. Rose took questions from reporters.

During his remarks, Trump acknowledged Tennessee's congressional delegation, calling them "warriors."

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He also acknowledged that Tennessee would soon have "a new governor soon." Then, gesturing to U.S. Sens. Blackburn and Bill Hagerty said, "could you both stand up  as senators?" as the audience applauded.

Red and blue banners emblazoned with the presidential seal and the slogan Making America Safe Again peppered the hangar, while Memphis Police and Tennessee Highway Patrol vehicles dotted the audience perimeter.

"I love Tennessee. Maybe someday I'll move to Tennessee," Trump said, adding that he planned to stop at Graceland for a quick visit after the roundtable.

Trump visits Graceland, signs replica guitar. What he said about Elvis

Officials tout success

Top Trump administration officials congratulated the president on the group's arrest statistics.

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Hegseth said the effort is "more than a task force, this is a statement."

U.S. Marshals Service Director Gadyaces Serralta touted statistics of the firearms siezed and arrests mades, saying "each of the siezures of contraband have a ripple effect."

Gov. Lee thanked the president for making the resources of the task force available to the state.

To watch this great city be plagued by crime like it has for decades was a very tough thing for Tennesseans. But what has happened over the last six months has changed that story entirely, Lee said. What has happened here has created generational change, and will create generational change. ... The people of Memphis are grateful. This governor is grateful.

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Trump said that he'd "heard so many great things" about Tennessee House Speaker Sexton, R-Crossville, who met with Homeland Security Adviser Miller at the White House last week.

"I have heard such good things about you," Trump said, introducing Sexton to the crowd. "I especially want to thank Speaker Sexton who's working with the task force to pass model bills that will be tough on crime and deliver permanent safety to the people Memphis. They're looking at this all over the country."

Sexton thanked Trump for having delivered freedom to the people of Memphis.

Its as little as a child who had a bicycle in their living room, and now they can ride outside, Sexton said. When you have freedom, Mr. President, then you have opportunity. Then you have hope.

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He said that as crime has gone down, hundreds of lives have been saved, and there have been 10,000 less victims in Memphis due to the task force's work. Sexton said he is working on legislation not only to crack down on illegal immigration, but to "Soros-proof the state of Tennessee."

Memphis mayor says crime 'definitely not over' after Trump visit

How we got here

Trump created the task force involving the National Guard in September, making Memphis the third U.S. city last year in which the president deployed military troops to crack down on crime.

The decision to deploy National Guard troops has been challenged in court by a group of state and local elected officials. Plaintiffs argued the deployment of the National Guard for domestic law enforcement purposes violated the Tennessee Constitution.

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In November, a Nashville chancellor ruled that Lees authority to deploy National Guard troops is not unfettered and ordered troops to be withdrawn from the city. The state appealed. That appeal remains pending.

Lee has asked for $80 million in new funding in his budget request this year for safety initiatives in Memphis.

Since September, task force personnel have made 7,416 arrests, including arrests of 772 known gang members, and seized 1,219 firearms, according to the White House.

This task force has been a success, I mean, the numbers are incredible. Memphis is a safer city because of it, said Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti. Theres a lot going on in the world. Politics is always going to give us reasons to fight with each other and disagree with each other, but one of the most basic jobs of government is to keep people safe and here weve got people crossing party lines to work together to get a good result for everybody.

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Republican state officials have loudly praised the work of the task force, which has resulted in a lower crime rate in Memphis. But when asked about a plan to wind down the operation, officials directly involved in governing the task force have either refused to answer questions, not responded to inquiries or said they are unaware of an end plan.

Also attending were Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, Tennessee Economic Development Commissioner Stuart McWhorter and Tennessee Homeland Security Commissioner Jeff Long.

I think Mayor Young made it very clear that he put his city ahead of his party, and thats the right thing to do for all of us, Skrmetti said.

Vivian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Reach her at vjones@tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Trump visits Memphis to highlight crime drop under task force
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
President Trump reacted to news of former special counsel Robert Muellers death on Saturday by writing on Truth Social that he was glad hes dead, reflecting his continued disdain for Muellers probe into Russian interference and the Trump campaign in the 2016 presidential election.

Robert Mueller just died, he wrote. Good, Im glad hes dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people!

Mueller, who died on Friday night at the age of 81, was appointed by then-acting Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to serve as special counsel in the Russian interference investigation in May 2017, a move that came days after Trump fired James Comey as FBI director.

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In June of that year, the Washington Post reported that Mueller was investigating Trump for possible obstruction following congressional testimony from Comey in which he claimed the president asked him to end an FBI investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

Trump fired back in a New York Times interview about a month later, accusing Muellers office of conflicts of interest and warning him against widening his inquiry beyond Russia.

The next several months were characterized by a series of arrests and indictments of figures in Trumps orbit, including Flynn; his former campaign chair, Paul Manafort; Manaforts former business partner, Richard Gates; and former Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos.

In April 2018, federal investigators raided the apartment, hotel room and office of Trumps personal lawyer, Michael Cohen. Investigators reportedly sought records related to the 2005 Access Hollywood tape that was released shortly before the presidential election and other evidence that had been concealed because it was potentially damaging to Trump.

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The investigation continued, and in November of that year, Trump submitted written answers to Mueller about issues regarding the Russia-related topics of the inquiry, capping months of back-and-forth over how much the president would cooperate.

Roger Stone, an informal adviser to Trumps presidential campaign, was indicted in January of 2019, as Muellers probe neared its conclusion.

The 22-month investigation culminated in a 448-page report that found the Trump campaign did not conspire or coordinate with the Russian government to interfere in the 2016 election. Mueller declined, however, to conclude whether Trump had obstructed justice.

As set forth in our report, after that investigation, if we had confidence that the President clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said that, Muller said in 2019 when the investigation was finished. We did not, however, make a determination as to whether the President did commit a crime.

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The investigation became a prime target of Trumps, with the president regularly lashing out at Mueller and labeling the probe a witch hunt, hoax, and other pejoratives. He maintained it was politically motivated, a claim he continues to echo nearly seven years later.

In the waning months of his first term, Trump granted clemency to Papadopoulos and Dutch lawyer Alex van der Zwaan. He also pardoned Flynn, a decision former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said at the time sets right an injustice against an innocent man and an American hero.

Trumps cold response to Muellers death on Saturday quickly drew strong backlash online.

Every day, this president shows his basic indecency and unfitness for office, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) wrote on the social platform X.

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The cruelty is the point, Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) wrote on X. Trumps goal is to distract you from rising gas prices, his aimless war, ICE abuses, and the Epstein files. Dont give him what he wants. And may Robert Mueller, a US Marine and lifelong public servant, rest in peace.

Trump faced similar condemnation, including from some Republicans, in December when he suggested that director Rob Reiner and his wife, who were stabbed to death in their home, had died from Trump derangement syndrome.

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.
WASHINGTON  On Sunday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., discussed an off-ramp with President Donald Trump to reopen TSA and end the long lines and delays at airports.

It would fund all of the Department of Homeland Security except for ICE, which Democrats have refused to support without new limitations on immigration enforcement operations, two sources with knowledge of the conversation told NBC News.

White House aides initially conveyed the idea to Trump and, after that briefing, Thune spoke with the president, the two sources said. Thune discussed the idea with Republicans on Capitol Hill, one of the sources said. The second source said it's seen by numerous Republicans as a viable path to break the logjam.

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ICE would be funded separately by Republicans in a party-line reconciliation bill that can pass without the need for any Democratic support later in the year.

The Department of Homeland Security has been shut down for more than a month, and while key operations, such as TSA and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, are still operating, many of those employees are working without pay. As NBC News reported this weekend, more than 400 TSA officers have quit since the shutdown began. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is also shut down, but its employees are being paid through Trump's big beautiful bill passed last year.

Republicans believe that the off-ramp Trump and Thune discussed would win support from Democrats, who have offered to fund noncontroversial parts of the Department of Homeland Security on the Senate floor while the two parties continue to negotiate on immigration.

But Trump rejected it  as he made clear in a Truth Social post Sunday night.

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I dont think we should make any deal with the Crazy, Country Destroying, Radical Left Democrats unless, and until, they Vote with Republicans to pass THE SAVE AMERICA ACT, Trump wrote, while instead calling on Republicans to Kill the Filibuster, and stay in D.C. for Easter, if necessary.

Trumps first two ideas arent viable. Democrats are determined to sink the SAVE America Act, which doesn't have enough support to pass. And Republicans have made clear they lack the votes to nuke the filibuster. They may, however, cancel recess if theres still no deal by the end of this week.

The conversation with Thune and Trump was first reported by Punchbowl News.

Speaking Monday in Memphis, Tennessee, the president doubled down on his demands to pair Homeland Security funding with the voting bill.

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You dont have to take a fast vote. Dont worry about Easter, going home. In fact, make this one for Jesus. OK, make this one for Jesus, Trump said, adding: The most important part of homeland security is voter ID and proof of citizenship. Nobody can vote on Homeland Security without voter ID or proof of citizenship.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumers office said that Democrats will again seek unanimous consent to fund just the TSA on the Senate floor Monday, for the eighth time.

Republicans have so far rejected those stand-alone bills.

If Trump were to change his mind and accept the Thune-GOP idea, it carries benefits for both parties. For Republicans, they could avoid giving into Democratic demands, such as requiring immigration enforcement officers to remove their masks and requiring judicial warrants to conduct raids. For Democrats, they could keep their fingerprints off ICE funding, which has become toxic with their base since Homeland Security agents killed protesters Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis.

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We can be out of this shutdown by the end of the week, Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said Sunday. Heres what we do. The Democrats are amenable to opening up everything at DHS but ICE. We should accept that. The very next day, we should file a budget resolution through reconciliation that funds ICE as we deem appropriate. We dont need Democratic votes to do that.

Democrats are also planning to seize on the Trump social media post to argue that he owns the shutdown and travel chaos.

Reconciliation bills are arduous, requiring near-unanimous support among Republicans, especially given the tiny House majority. There has been deep skepticism that the party could pull it off, even if it tried. But needing to fund an agency like ICE would raise the impetus to use that path.

Under the big, beautiful bill passed by Republicans last year, ICE received a cash infusion of about $75 billion for the next four years to help carry out Trumps mass deportation program.

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The path comes with another possible upside for the White House: Some Trump allies have proposed reconciliation to approve supplemental funding for Trumps war in Iran. Its not clear that could win enough Democratic support.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
President Donald Trump told a Memphis crowd he loves Tennessee so much that he may move here.

During a speech in Memphis about the Memphis Safe Task Force's work, the president expressed his appreciation for Tennessee due to the consistent support he receives.

"I love Tennessee," Trump said. "Maybe someday I'll move to Tennessee, I might have to move."

During his speech, the president discussed the drop in crime, the increase in arrests, and the overall shift in the city's perception. Trump also mentioned his love for Tennessee and a possible visit to Graceland following his press event.

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"You know I'm going to see Graceland after this, I think," Trump said. "I love Elvis."

Here's what to know about the president's visit to Memphis.

Why is Trump in Memphis?

Trump made a stop in Memphis on March 23, to promote the victories of the Memphis Safe Task Force, which began working to reduce crime in September 2025, following the president's executive order.

The multi-agency task force, which includes federal, state and local law enforcement organizations, has made 7,240 arrests and seized 1,188 firearms since operations began in September 2025, according to the White House.

The stage included Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, FBI Director Kash Patel and Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton, among other state and federal public officials.

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Related: Trump, Lee tout Memphis Safe Task Force results in Bluff City

State Reps. Mark White and John Gillespie, both Republicans representing portions of Shelby County, and Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti were also in attendance.

How to watch Trump's Memphis speech?

Jordan Green covers trending news for The Commercial Appeal and Tennessee. She can be reached at jordan.green@commercialappeal.com.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Trump says he loves Tennessee and 'might have to move' here
President Donald Trump said Monday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents deployed to airports should not wear masks, even as he defended the practice during immigration operations.

Keep up with the latest in LGBTQ+ news and politics. Sign up for The Advocate's email newsletter.

I am a BIG proponent of ICE wearing masks as they search for, and are forced to deal with, hardened criminals, Trump wrote on Truth Social shortly after 9 a.m. EDT. I would greatly appreciate, however, NO MASKS, when helping our Country out of the Democrat caused MESS at the airports.

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The directive came as ICE agents began arriving Monday at major hubs, including Atlanta, New Yorks JFK, Phoenix, and Pittsburgh, under an emergency plan to support the Transportation Security Administration during a Department of Homeland Security funding lapse.

Administration officials said the agents would not conduct immigration enforcement but would instead help manage passenger flow and provide general security support, freeing TSA officers for screening duties. The move follows weeks of staffing shortages, during which TSA officers worked without pay and reported higher callout rates.

The airport plan has drawn criticism from Democrats, labor groups, and civil liberties advocates, who say ICE agents lack aviation screening training and warn their presence could alarm travelers.

The deployment is happening as Congress remains deadlocked over DHS funding. Senate Democrats have pushed for a short-term funding bill paired with new limits on ICE, including requirements for visible identification, body cameras, and tighter rules on enforcement actions. Republicans and the White House have rejected those conditions, and Trump has tied broader negotiations to unrelated priorities, including a GOP-backed voting bill.

This article originally appeared on Advocate: Trump says no masks for ICE agents at U.S. airports

RELATED
MEMPHIS, Tennessee, March 23 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday urged Republicans in Congress to work through the upcoming Easter holiday in a bid to pass a voter identification bill that Democrats strongly oppose.

Trump said the voting bill should be included in any agreement to fund the Homeland Security department, which has been partially shut down since February 13 after Democrats demanded reforms to immigration enforcement.

"I'm requesting that the Republican senators do that immediately. You don't have to take a fast vote. Don't worry about Easter, going home. In fact, make this one for Jesus," Trump told a roundtable event in Memphis, Tennessee.

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Lawmakers are due to take a two-week Easter recess starting at the end of this week.

The lack of funds means tens of thousands of Transportation Security Administration personnel have worked without pay for five weeks, leading some airport security workers to call in sick or quit entirely.

The voting bill would voters provide proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote and a photo ID for casting ballots. The bill currently lacks the 60 votes needed to overcome Democratic opposition in the 100-member Senate, where Republicans hold 53 seats.

(Reporting by Bo Erickson and Ryan Patrick Jones;Editing by David Ljunggren)
[Source]

President Donald Trump told Fox & Friends host Brian Kilmeade, who is white, that immigrants do not have your genetics during a Friday phone interview on immigration. He paired the statement with claims that migrants entering the U.S. are criminals and should be barred. By linking criminal behavior to biology, Trump's comments suggested a fundamental racial distinction between migrants and white Americans.

Trumps eugenics language

Trump made the remarks while responding to questions about violent incidents involving individuals identified as Muslim, arguing that some shouldnt have been let in while others go bad. He said, Theyre sick people, and a lot of them were let in here. They shouldnt have been let in, before adding, Others are just bad. They go bad. Something wrong  theres something wrong there.

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He then attributed that behavior to biology, saying, The genetics are not exactly your genetics, its one of those problems, Brian. Its a terrible thing, and it happens, it happens too often, linking criminality to inherited traits rather than individual actions or circumstances.

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The language reflects a core idea associated with eugenics, the long-debunked belief that social outcomes such as crime or behavior are determined by genetics and differ across groups. That framework has historically informed exclusionary immigration policies and was a defining feature of Nazi racial ideology under Adolf Hitler, where hereditary difference was used to justify hierarchy and exclusion.

Not hiding white supremacism

Trumps comments drew criticism from policy analysts and journalists, many of whom focused on his use of genetics to describe immigrants and its historical implications.

Trending on NextShark: Senior art student detained by ICE in NYC, held in Louisiana

David J. Bier, director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute, wrote that the language reflects ideas that have shaped past U.S. immigration restrictions, stating, Trump is an old-school eugenicist nativist. He actually is fine with immigrants as long as they have the right 'genes.'

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Journalist Alex Cole pointed to what he described as a contradiction in Trumps framing, writing on X, Imagine being the grandson of immigrants, who dyes his hair, paints his face orange, and wears lifts, lecturing the country about 'genetics.' The irony writes itself.

Journalist Mehdi Hasan offered a more direct characterization: He's a white supremacist. He doesn't hide it.

Trending on NextShark: Trump tells white Fox News host that immigrants who should be barred from US dont have 'your genetics'

History of rhetoric invoking blood, genetics

Trumps reference to genetics builds on years of rhetoric in which he has described immigrants as threats defined by identity and, more recently, by genes.

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At the launch of his first presidential campaign in 2015, Trump framed immigration in terms of crime, describing Mexican immigrants as rapists bringing drugs and crime into the U.S. That framing established a baseline argument centered on behavior and threat. As president in 2020, he repeatedly referred to COVID-19 as the China virus, a label that researchers and scholars later linked to a documented rise in anti-Asian hate incidents.

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By 2023, his rhetoric had shifted more explicitly toward heredity. At multiple campaign events, Trump said immigrants were poisoning the blood of our country, invoking language that historians and analysts have noted parallels earlier exclusionary ideologies. The phrasing closely mirrors passages in Hitlers "Mein Kampf," which originally warned of national decline through blood poisoning.

While some Trump supporters have dismissed comparisons to the Nazi leader as exaggerated, the overlap extends beyond rhetoric, as his use of biological language has been paired with policies, including restrictions and bans on immigration from Muslim-majority countries, sweeping limits on asylum at the southern border, large-scale deportation operations, aggressive ICE enforcement actions, immigrant detention facilities that have faced criticism over conditions and efforts to strip citizenship from certain naturalized Americans, among others.

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This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter  a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices.

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Donald Trump on Monday appeared to set up Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to take the blame should the president characterize the Iran war as a failure.

During a roundtable on crime prevention in Memphis, the president recounted how he made the decision to launch the strikes on Iran late last month.

I said, lets talk. We got a problem in the Middle East. We have a country known as Iran that , for 47 years, been just a purveyor of terror, and theyre very close to a nuclear weapon, Trump said.

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The president then explained what he viewed were the options.

We can keep going and get that 50,000 up to 55 and 60, theres no end, Trump said, referring to the militarys goal to recruit 60,000 soldiers, or we can take a stop and make a little journey into the Middle East and eliminate a big problem.

And I think, Pete, you were the first one to speak up, Trump said. And you said, lets do it. Because you cannot let them have a nuclear weapon.

Trump claimed Iran came to him Sunday night asking to negotiate an end to the war, which Tehran denied earlier Monday.

The presidents remark toward Hegseth was laying the groundwork to blame the defense secretary for the unpopular Iran war, according to Trump critics and other political observers.

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Hegseth about to give his next briefing from under the bus, tweeted Pod Save America co-host and former Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau.

David Stockman, who has nearly 49,000 followers on X, shared a similar sentiment.

Would you like a Greyhound bus or an 18-wheeler coming your way, Pete?! he tweeted.

Added Matt Ford, host of The Good Trouble: Well someone is getting thrown under the bus! Remember MAGA Trump says he always hires the best, he tweeted.

Donald Trump

Read the original article on al.com. Add al.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON, March 22 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday any Department of Homeland Security funding deal should not be made until Democrats in Congress approve a bill that requires people registering to vote to provide proof of U.S. citizenship.

Trump said he does not "think any deal should be made on this until they approve Save America," a NewsNation reporter posted on X on Sunday, quoting Trump's remarks from an interview.

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The bill requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration is called the Save America Act. It currently lacks the 60 votes needed to overcome Democratic opposition in the 100-member Senate, where Republicans hold 53 seats.

Trump also said he was prepared to deploy agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which is part of DHS, at airports "for as long as it takes," according to NewsNation. Trump this weekend said he would put ICE agents in airports until Democratic lawmakers agree to fund DHS.

"Now that I did this, the Democrats want to make a deal. And I don't think any deal should be made on this until they approve SAVE America," Trump was quoted as saying.

Proponents of the bill have argued it would help deter voter fraud. Republicans have echoed Trump's false claim that large numbers of people who are in the country illegally vote in U.S. elections.

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Democrats and other critics of the bill have argued that it could disenfranchise Americans who lack ready access to passports, birth certificates and other forms of identification.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Sergio Non and Stephen Coates)
Copies of William Brown's book "West Meets East: Stories of Americans in China" are on display at a book launch event in New York, the United States, on March 21, 2026. William Brown, a professor at the School of Management at Xiamen University, launched his book "West Meets East: Stories of Americans in China" in New York on Saturday. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

by Xinhua writer Liu Yanan

NEW YORK, March 23 (Xinhua) -- For Americans who can't visit China themselves, reading about the experiences of fellow citizens who have come to China is the next best thing to understand the country, an American scholar has said.

William Brown, a professor at the School of Management at Xiamen University, launched his book "West Meets East: Stories of Americans in China" in New York on Saturday. The book features 20 true stories of Americans in China spanning two centuries.

In an interview with Xinhua on the sidelines of the event, Brown, who has lived and worked in southeast China's Xiamen for over 30 years, underscored misunderstandings about China among some Americans.

"We are so afraid of China and blind. We don't know anything about China and we have these stereotypes of China. Many people look at China today like I did in the 1970s," he said.

"When you see how Americans in China love China, support China, and come to know China ... there must be something good," said Brown, who moved to Xiamen with his family in 1988.

Brown voiced hope that his book will help Americans gain a deeper, more holistic understanding of China, encouraging them to look beyond Western media narratives.

"I want Americans to understand that we've had a strong relationship with China overall ... People are very similar, very hardworking people," he said.

"The best way for them to see that is to come to China, but most people can't," he said. "If they can read stories of Americans in China, I think that can interest them. And maybe once they're really interested in China, then they will come. So this, I hope, is like a first step."

Stressing the historical importance of the U.S.-China relationship, Brown said the two countries need to cooperate for the world's survival.

Brown expressed hope that Americans could open their minds to the idea of being "alike but different."

"Although Americans and Chinese differ somewhat in how we pursue our dreams, the dreams are essentially the same: a better life for our family and descendants, security and peace," he said in the preface of the book.

For over 30 years, Brown has encouraged Americans to study Chinese and engage in people-to-people exchanges.

"I encourage everybody to come to China. No matter where you go, learn Chinese and then see for yourself what it is," he said. "Almost every time, once Americans came to study Chinese, after just a few weeks, a few months, they loved it."

Through extensive travels throughout China, Brown has dedicated years to collecting and documenting the stories of 19th- and 20th-century Americans who lived and worked in the country.

Brown said he visited and interviewed people featured in the book and talked with the second and third generations of some historical figures.

Published by Amplify Publishing Group, the book chronicles the real-life experiences of ordinary Americans -- teachers, doctors, diplomats, pilots, and families -- who have forged lasting bonds with China. 
President Donald Trumps chest-thumping ultimatum against Iran is looking like a misfire.

On Saturday evening, the 79-year-old commander-in-chief threatened to obliterate Irans power plants if the country did not end its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.

Trump threatened to obliterate Iranian power plants unless the Strait of Hormuz is reopened within 48 hours. / Truth Social

Tehrans answer came soonerbut it wasnt the climbdown Trump had hoped for.

Irans Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned Sunday that Iran would irreversibly destroy critical infrastructure of its neighbors in the Middle Eastincluding energy and oil facilitiesshould Trump follow through on his threat to hit the countrys electricity grid, Reuters reports.

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Qalibaf said such an attack would keep the price of oil elevated for the long haul.

Trump is already scrambling to contain the economic consequences from the war he started more than three weeks ago. Gas prices in the U.S. have spiked roughly 30 percent as Iran has blockaded the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway that transports up to a fifth of global oil supplies.

Trump appears to have issued his ultimatum to compel Iran to back down from the straitbut it appears to have had the opposite effect.

Irans powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned it would seal off the strait if the U.S. targets its power infrastructure.

Irans chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, a major shipping lane for global energy supplies, has rattled oil markets and pushed up prices. / Stringer/REUTERS

The Strait of Hormuz will be completely closed and will not be opened until our destroyed power plants are rebuilt, the Guards said in a statement, Reuters reports.

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The possibility of tit-for-tat attacks on civilian infrastructure could further roil global markets and intensifies fears that American allies in the Middle East will be drawn deeper into the conflict.

Trump claimed he had wiped Iran off the map before threatening new military strikes just an hour later. / Truth Social

Strikes on critical infrastructure would be devastating for Irans Gulf neighbors, whose percapita electricity use far outstrips Irans and whose booming desert cities depend heavily on energyintensive desalination plants for nearly all of their drinking water.

Trumps ultimatum got off on a confusing note from the beginning, coming just an hour after he claimed that the U.S. has blown Iran off of the map and that the country has no defense and wants to make a deal. I dont! he said.

The escalation also raised legal red flags since targeting civilian infrastructure, like power plants, can be considered a war crime under international law.

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The Geneva Conventions prohibit attacks on objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population.

Trump has repeatedly claimed the U.S. is very close to achieving his ever-changing war goals, even as thousands more troops are set to be deployed to the region, and strikes continue to escalate. The war has killed 13 U.S. service members and more than 1,000 civilians in Iran.

The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House for comment.
Turkey's state-owned defense company Makine ve Kimya Endustrisi (MKE) has unveiled the PIRANA, a kamikaze unmanned surface vessel designed to strike enemy ships and coastal infrastructure at ranges over 230 miles. It can be guided in real time by an overhead drone.

The PIRANA is a maritime loitering munitiona crewless boat that approaches its target and detonates on impact. MKE designed it as an "effective, simple, low-cost" concept, aimed at delivering serious operational impact without expensive or complex platforms.

What PIRANA brings to the fight

Weighing 2,646 pounds (1,200 kgs), the vessel is propelled by a waterjet system capable of exceeding 50 knots (approximately 58 mph) and can operate in sea conditions up to Sea State 4. Its composite hull features a low radar cross-section to reduce detectability during approach.

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The warhead is engineered for penetration before detonation. A 33-pound precursor charge breaches the hull first. A 110-pound main charge then detonates inside to maximize damage to internal ship systems, not just the outer structure. Three detonators ensure detonation regardless of the contact angle.

Navigation relies on jam-resistant GNSS, with operation possible via direct remote control or autonomous mode.

MKE confirmed a direct hit on a 3.5-meter target during final testing in 2025, validating its targeting accuracy before unveiling.

The drone-guided drone boat

The most operationally significant feature of the PIRANA is its integration with airborne relay platforms.

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In June 2025, trials aboard Turkey's amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu, a Bayraktar TB3 unmanned combat aerial vehicle launched from the ship, took control of the PIRANA via datalink, and guided it to its target.

This extended the vessel's effective command range to 25 miles beyond line of sight. The TB3 served as a relay, enabling operators aboard TCG Anadolu to control the USV through the drone without requiring a direct radio link to the surface.

This air-to-sea command transfer represents a doctrinal advance. It means a single drone carrier, such as TCG Anadolu, can simultaneously operate aerial-strike drones and surface-strike boats, with drones serving as both weapons and command relays.

Swarm designed to overwhelm

MKE integrated swarm coordination into PIRANA's design. In multi-vessel scenarios, some units act as decoys to draw enemy radar and fire. Others approach from different vectors at a low profile to strike.

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This combined speed, low radar signature, and coordinated attacks from multiple angles. As a result, interception by advanced naval air defense systems becomes far more difficult.

The system is now mission-ready and awaits induction into Turkish Navy service. MKE identifies satellite command capability as the next milestone.

This would significantly extend the operational range beyond the current TB3 relay. It would enable strikes at more strategic distances.

The PIRANA joins a growing Turkish maritime unmanned portfolio that includes the ULAQ KAMA, ALBATROS, and CAKA  all purpose-built for asymmetric naval strike operations.
LANCASTER, PA  It's hard to describe the city of Lancaster as anything other than quaint. Its vibrant but small downtown is peppered with coffee shops, bookstores and friendly locals. It has charm in abundance. The same can be said for the upscale Lancaster Country Day School, a K-12 private school in the area that hosts just over 600 kids. They frolic around in matching uniforms and play on crisp green grass once school lets out.

Perhaps that's why the AI-generated sexual abuse scandal that recently rocked this town came as such a shock. No one saw it coming.

Only that's not exactly true. Students did.

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One student, in particular, was sent a pornographic deepfake of his upper school classmate on the communications app Discord, apparently in error. He deleted the photo, left the group chat, and filed an anonymous report to a state-run tip line, which in turn reported it to the school. But the school failed to act, according to lawyers representing at least 10 families.

As AI platforms evolve, the prevalence of "nudify" applications, meant to remove someone's clothing, is growing in tandem. School policies, legal recourse and awareness lag far behind, according to experts.

Over the next six months, two boys at the school continued to make AI-generated content of other girls.

The deepfakes came to light in May 2024 when the school received additional information and filed a ChildLine report with the state, but a criminal investigation began only after parents notified law enforcement, according to an investigation by the Lancaster County District Attorneys Office.

It was revealed that the two juvenile male students created and shared 347 AI-generated pornographic images and videos of 59 minors and one person over 18, according to the Lancaster County District Attorneys Office. All of the victims were female; 48 were students at Lancaster Country Day School, and the remaining 12 were acquaintances of the students who appeared in photos.

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The two boys pleaded guilty to 59 felony counts of sexual abuse of children (manufacturing child sexual abuse material) and criminal conspiracy to commit that offense, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said in a news release. Theyre set to be sentenced Wednesday, March 25.

Yet the case at Lancaster Country Day School is hardly isolated.

Schools across the country are dealing with similar situations. As artificial intelligence platforms evolve, the prevalence of "nudify" applications, meant to remove someone's clothing, is growing in tandem. School policies, legal recourse and awareness lag far behind, experts say. That's especially problematic for the often underage victims of this abuse  90% of which are women  as studies show these deepfake nude images can have wide-ranging and long-lasting consequences.

We continue to prioritize the health and well-being of our students, Emile Kosoff, the head of Lancaster Country Day School said in a statement to USA TODAY. Our deliberate and intentional approach aims always to ensure that our school community remains informed, continues to heal, and moves forward together.

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Victims of Lancaster deepfakes speak out at the sentencing for two juvenile perpetrators

Some victims are struggling just to get through

For some of the young women at Lancaster Country Day School, the emotional impact has been profound. The creation and dissemination of the images occurred from October 2023 to May 2024, but much of the case is still playing out in court.

A lot of them were sophisticated, college-bound, high-academic, functioning young women who also had all the right extracurricular activities to fill out all the right applications to go to all the right schools, says Nadeem Bezar, an attorney and partner at Kline & Specter, who is representing at least 10 impacted families in a lawsuit against the school, which they intend to file after perpetrators sentencing. Those same students, Bezar says, are now struggling just to get through.

Lancaster Country Day School hosts just over 600 students. Of the 60 girls who had deepfakes made of them, 48 were students at the school.

The families claim the school did not take the appropriate steps to stop the creation of deepfakes after receiving the first tip. The school later dismissed its head of school and president of the board in the fallout.

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Research shows the distribution of deepfake nonconsensual intimate imagery can lead to loss of privacy, psychological distress and reputational harm  and these symptoms can be experienced multiple times by an individual victim if that content is spread repeatedly.

You have this future trauma, this future worry, What if this shows up on my graduation day, what if it shows up when I start dating somebody else, what if it shows up on my first job interview, what if it shows up on my wedding day? explains Matthew Faranda-Diedrich, a partner at the Royer Cooper Cohen Braunfeld law firm, who represented some of the families from Lancaster Country Day School and is now representing another victim of deepfake abuse in the close-by New Hope-Solebury School District. That is frankly one of the most damaging things because it's really the thing that we have the least control over.

The trauma can change how victims move through the world. For some of these young victims, images were lifted from their social media posts and transformed into pornography, which has exacerbated their emotional distress.

You take images from totally innocuous, great situations that were positive memories for these girls  these minors  and now it's turned into something nasty and gross, Faranda-Diedrich says. It totally ruins that memory of the nice moment with friends.

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Nina Jankowicz, an advocate for targets of online abuse who also had deepfake pornography generated of her, said theres still a stigma surrounding those that speak out about this form of abuse.

Theres a real disconnect. People dont believe that the internet is real life, Jankowicz says. But the psychological effect of being depicted in digital sexual abuse like this changes how you move around in the world. Ultimately it does make you self-censor.

Thats the profound inequity in all of this, Faranda-Diedrich says. His clients who experience deepfake abuse, primarily young women, are often made to shoulder the burden.

Its hard enough right now to be an adolescent, and then you add on top of it all these things, and it's just so much for these young women and their families to bear.

Lancaster Country Day School is nestled in a quiet community, just a short drive from a vibrant downtown area abundant with bookstores and coffee shops.

Many schools are unprepared and the laws are still catching up

In 2024, a survey of 3,170 K-12 students, teachers and parents was conducted by the Center for Democracy & Technology to demonstrate the prevalence of AI deepfakes in schools and how prepared schools were to handle cases.

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The survey found that 6 in 10 teachers were not aware of school policies and procedures for addressing authentic or deepfake sexual images, and only 16% said their schools teacher training covered how to protect the privacy of a student depicted in a deepfake. Only 13% of students reported that their school has explained that sharing this type of AI-generated media is harmful to the person depicted.

Kristin Woelfel, coauthor of the survey, says schools shouldnt have to experience an incident first-hand before taking preventative actions.

We have numbers that we can put to this now and figures that do show how prominent this issue is, even if you're not hearing these stories, she says.

In 2025, the organization updated their data, finding that the percentage of students who had heard of deepfake and nonconsensual intimate imagery that depicts someone at their/their childs school increased. However, an alarmingly low number of students know who to tell if they see or hear about these incidents (11%).

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Woelfel says schools tend to have a greater focus on discipline than prevention  and also fall short on providing support to students after an incident.

We did specifically ask parents what they want the students to have access to. In terms of providing resources to help students who were depicted, 77% of parents said that they wanted the school to provide this and only 8% of teachers were reporting that the school currently did that, Woelfel said.

Lancaster Country Day School updated its reenrollment contracts to discourage students and families from publicly speaking poorly of the school, according to Bezar and a parent USA TODAY spoke with. The school did not return USA TODAYs requests for comment about the contracts.

The school knows that they have this deepfake issue, and they all of a sudden add this clause to their enrollment contracts, Bezar says. That to me seems a little disingenuous and unfair, and it doesn't seem like someone's apologizing.

'In wild times': Deepfake incidents are growing

The number of people searching online for tools or platforms that can be used to create deepfakes is growing. And while the deepfakes themselves arent new, the scale at which they are being created is unprecedented, according to Charles DeBarber, takedown and digital victim advocate at DMCA Bunny.

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Were kind of in wild times, he says. Gone are the days of using CGI to stick a celebritys face on existing pornographic materials. Now, you can do it with AI on really anybody pretty quickly.

Between 2022 and 2023 Alice (formerly ActiveFence), a software development company, found that threads discussing and sharing celebrity fake photos climbed by 87%, and the number of threads related to the creation of sexual deepfakes depicting individuals rose by 400%.

Woefel says schools need to implement education on the harms and consequences of deepfake abuse to prevent future incidents. In her research, she found that none of these things were being conveyed to students.

Or if they were, it was very few and far between, she says.

Advocates and lawyers want to tighten mandatory reporting laws

Lancaster District Attorney Heather Adams determined that Lancaster Country Day School officials were not required to report the deepfake incident to the state-run tip line ChildLine or law enforcement. This is due to a limitation in the Pennsylvania Legislature that families and advocates are working to address.

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Schools and teachers are mandated reporters who are required by law to report suspected cases of child abuse, neglect or maltreatment to authorities (such as child protective services or the police) when they have "reasonable cause" to suspect it.

However, there is a loophole in the mandated reporter statute that says you don't have to report "child-on-child abuse," according to Faranda-Diedrich.

In this scenario ... its not one of the things you could be criminally liable for," he says.

As of Dec. 20, 2024, the Pennsylvania Legislature amended their laws to specifically include and define AI child pornography as child sexual abuse material. Faranda-Diedrich is hopeful that amendments to the law regarding child-on-child abuse will be next.

Other states have similar limitations currently in place, and in several states, AI or computer-generated images are not included in existing child pornography statutes.

As victims struggle to remove content, families want a focus on prevention

In May 2025, the Take It Down Act was signed into law to combat nonconsensual intimate imagery, including deepfakes and revenge porn. The law requires social media platforms and similar websites to remove nonconsensual intimate imagery, including pornographic deepfakes, within 48 hours of a verified request from a victim.

However, victims still struggle to get their photos taken down, increasing the likelihood that images will continue to spread and retraumatize them. A 2025 report from the Center for Democracy and Technology found that across eight popular social media and online platforms, the policy language and structure for reporting the nonconsensual distribution of intimate images was vague and inconsistent. Platforms provide limited transparency and support, the report says, and fail to provide real-time tracking of reports [and] reporting outcomes, making it more difficult for victims to navigate their case.

The generational tech gap is also setting victims up for failure, says victim advocate DeBarber. One of his college-aged clients had to meet with the dean of her university and explain AI-generation to them, using pictures of cats to demonstrate how images can be altered.

Theyre expected to be their own leading advocate most of the time, he says. Schools need to get these policies in place, so especially some of the worst perpetrators cant go, Well, I didn't know this was wrong, I didn't know this was bad.

Thats the thing parents at Lancaster Country Day School wish the most  that prevention had been in place  or at least that action would have been taken after the first image was discovered.

The school should be instilling in these children what is right and wrong with using AI, Faranda-Diedrich says. They have to broaden the lens and include the perils of AI for adolescents, just like they talk about perils of drug use or of promiscuity. Its a peril of being a young person.

This story was supported by a grant from the Tarbell Center for AI Journalism. Funders do not provide editorial input.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Deepfake porn scandal of 60 girls rocked a small town, private school
Two people are still in the hospital after the floor dropped out of a wedding venue in New Hampshire over the weekend.

More than 100 people were on the floor at the Preserve in Tamworth when it fell around eight feet while they were inside the Sap House on Saturday.

Six people were rushed to the hospital to be treated for their injuries and two people still remained there as of Monday, according to the New Hampshire State Fire Marshals office.

A photo provided by the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal's Office shows the buckled floor that collapsed Saturday, sending nearly 70 wedding guests into the basement of a building in Tamworth, N.H. Saturday, March 21, 2026. Six people were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. (New Hampshire State Fire Marshal's Office via AP)

The Fire Marshals office also said Monday that the Sap House predates the states building code.

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Officials say they are looking into the layout of the space, seating types, and the exit capacity and are reviewing the occupancy load.

Officials say the owner of the property has been cooperative during the investigation.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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By Andrea Shalal

March 23 (Reuters) - Moscow's shipment of modernized drones to Iran made Russian drone production sites legitimate military targets, a top Ukrainian diplomat said on Monday, urging Western powers to equip Ukraine with weapons capable of hitting those sites.

Ukraine's permanent representative to the United Nations, Andriy Melnyk, said Russia's support of Tehran with modernized versions of its Iranian-designed Shahed drones and other military support, meant it was now Tehran's main accomplice in the war. Moscow had used the Shahed drones against Ukraine since early in its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

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"The recent conflict in Iran has revealed how intertwined this crisis is with Russia's military invasion and the Kremlin's malign, imperialistic goals," he told a special Security Council session on the Ukraine war.

Russia's shipments of modernized versions of Iran's Shahed drones, using licenses provided by Tehran, marked an unprecedented escalation that would allow Iran to attack Gulf countries and U.S. forces in the region for a long period, destabilizing the region and threatening the global economy, Melnyk said.

As a result, Russian drone production sites should be considered "legitimate targets for military strikes in the campaign against the mullah regime," he said.

Ukraine was already hitting Russian drone production facilities given the threats the weapons posed to its people and infrastructure, but could be more effective with new weapons and resources, he said.

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"Providing Ukraine with the means for deep strikes and helping ramp up our domestic production of long-range missiles would support collective efforts to bring peace to the Middle East," Melnyk said. Ukraine had also sent hundreds of experts to the Gulf region to help countries there defend against the drones.

Russia had also transferred attack helicopters to Iran in an apparent violation of U.N. arms restrictions, he said.

He told the council that the Iran war offered a "new lifeline for the Russian war machine," citing sharp increases in the price of oil that were aiding Moscow's struggling economy.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Stephen Coates)
Wilberforce University is mourning the death of its former president, John L. Henderson.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Henderson served as president from 1988 until 2002.

From 2007 to 2010, Henderson served as interim president of Cincinnati State Technical and Community College.

TRENDING STORIES:

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He was also the first Black president of the Council of Independent Colleges.

We honor his life, his service, and the lasting impact he made on generations of students, faculty, and the broader academic community, the university said.

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By Andrew Chung and John Kruzel

WASHINGTON, March 23 (Reuters) - Conservative U.S. Supreme Court justices signaled skepticism on Monday toward a Mississippi law challenged by Republicans that allows a five-day grace period for mail-in ballots received after Election Day to be counted in a case that could lead to stricter voting rules around the country.

Republican President Donald Trump's administration argued in favor of the challenge to Mississippi's law, which permits mail-in ballots sent by certain voters to be counted if they were postmarked on or before Election Day but received up to five business days after a federal election.

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Absentee voting by mail in Mississippi is limited to a few categories of voters including elderly people, the disabled and those living away from home.

The Supreme Court heard arguments in Mississippi's appeal of a lower court's ruling that deemed its mail-in ballot law illegal. The dispute centered on whether federal laws setting the dates for federal elections preempt laws in various states that allow ballots to be received after Election Day.

U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer, arguing on behalf of the Trump administration, called Mississippi's law unduly "general and permissive."

"Official receipt is at the definitional heart of 'election,'" Sauer said, referring to the receipt of ballots.

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The Supreme Court has a 6-3 conservative majority. Questions posed by some of the conservative justices appeared to express their concern over mail-in ballot practices beyond merely grace periods, including who can deliver a ballot, whether it must be postmarked and even whether such a ballot may be recalled by the voter who sent it.

Trump last year vowed to end the use of mail-in ballots nationwide before the midterm elections in November, when his party is seeking to maintain control of Congress. Such a move likely would disproportionately benefit Republicans given that Democratic voters traditionally have been more likely to use mail-in ballots.

Legislation now being considered by Congress would put new restrictions on mail-in ballots involving requirements for certain government-issued photo identification. Trump, however, has urged Senate Republicans to expand the proposal to include a sweeping ban on mail-in voting, with limited exceptions for military personnel and certain others.

About 30 states and the District of Columbia accept at least some ballots that are postmarked on or before Election Day but received afterward. Mississippi has said a ruling in favor of the challengers would doom these laws, including for military personnel voting by mail.

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The Republican National Committee, the Mississippi Republican Party and other plaintiffs sued in 2024, seeking to invalidate Mississippi's law.

'STASH OF BALLOTS'

Trump has sought to cast doubt on the security of mail-in ballots, although evidence of voter fraud is rare. Trump has continued to make false claims of widespread voting fraud in the 2020 presidential election that he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

Some of the conservative justices asked Scott Stewart, the lawyer arguing for Mississippi, to address concerns that permissive mail-in ballot practices could cause the appearance of voter fraud.

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"Confidence in election outcomes can be seriously undermined if the apparent outcome of the election on the day after the polls close is radically flipped by the acceptance later of a big stash of ballots," Justice Samuel Alito said.

Stewart said that the federal Election Day laws were meant to address double voting and that opponents of Mississippi's law have not shown actual evidence of fraud from post-election ballot receipt deadlines.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh asked Stewart to address whether historical practice favors a stricter deadline. Kavanaugh said the Republican challengers made the point that until recent times the predominant approach was to require receipt of mail-in ballots by Election Day.

Some justices wondered how a ruling against allowing ballots to be received after Election Day would not also jeopardize the widespread practice of early voting prior to Election Day.

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"How is it that you're not taking issue with early voting?" liberal Justice Elena Kagan asked Paul Clement, the lawyer who argued on behalf of the Republican challengers.

If, as the challengers contend, both the casting and the receipt of the ballot must happen on Election Day, Kagan said, "When I early vote, I'm not doing that."

Conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett also challenged Clement on this point. Clement replied that early voting "doesn't sort of vitiate the whole idea of an Election Day" the way receiving ballots after that day does.

The Republican-controlled Mississippi legislature in 2020 passed the law on a bipartisan basis amid health concerns during the first year of the COVID pandemic.

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The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2024 found the law invalid. Though this ruling applied only in the three states where the regional federal appeals court has jurisdiction - Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas - it called into question the voting practices in the other states with similar policies.

The Supreme Court is expected to rule by the end of June.

(Reporting by Andrew Chung and John Kruzel; Additional reporting by Nolan McCaskill; Editing by Will Dunham)
Eligible students who transfer to Wayne State University can get up to two years of free education under a new expansion of the Wayne State Guarantee program, the university has announced.

The expansion covers the full cost of transfer students' tuition and standard fees, WSU said in a press release. Eligibility requirements include family earnings of $80,000 or less per year and $50,000 or less in assets.

Students and faculty walk down Gullen Mall on the campus of Wayne State University, in Detroit, August 30, 2023.

The program was previously open to first-year college students who met that same family earnings threshold. By opening it to full-time transfer students, more than 1,000 additional learners can benefit, the university said.

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"Transfer students bring determination, experience and resilience to our campus, and they deserve the same assurance that cost will not stand in the way of completing their education," Wayne State President Richard A. Bierschbach said in the release. "This expansion strengthens our promise to Michigan families and reinforces Wayne States role as a national leader in access and social mobility.

Last year, more than 1,370 transfer students from nearly 220 institutions enrolled at Wayne State, the university said. Most of them transferred from community colleges (75%) and were enrolled full-time (73%). Almost half of the new transfer students were first-generation college students.

Expanding the Wayne State Guarantee to transfer students removes one of the most difficult financial barriers to a four-year degree that our students face, and that is something worth celebrating, Wayne State Vice Provost for Strategic Enrollment Charles Cotton said in the release.

The school said that about 70% of its full-time, four-year transfer students graduate, far outpacing the statewide rate of 55%.

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Wayne States outcomes demonstrate what transfer students can achieve when affordability and student success are aligned, said Catherine Kay, senior director of financial aid at the university.

Who's eligible?

The expansion takes effect for students admitted to Wayne State for the fall 2026 semester.

Besides meeting the family earning criteria, transfer students must have at least a 3.25 cumulative GPA from all of their former college institutions. They must also have graduated from a Michigan high school in 2023 or later and meet other conditions.

WSU, which has a total enrollment of more than 24,000, first unveiled the Wayne State Guarantee program in 2023 to provide free tuition to students from families with annual incomes of $70,000. At the time, officials said it would benefit about half of all new incoming students.

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In February 2025, the university increased the threshold to $80,000  notably higher than the median household income in Michigan, which is $72,875, as of 2024.

While transfer students have their tuition paid for up to two years, first-year students can get up to four years of tuition paid for through the program.

Wayne State Guarantee does not cover housing, meal plans, books or course-specific fees, the university says on its website.

mreinhart@detroitnews.com

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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Wayne State's free tuition program expands to include transfer students
MEXICO CITY, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum told a press briefing on Monday her government supports a peaceful resolution to tensions between the United States and Cuba, advocating the use of diplomatic and multilateral channels over violence or invasion.

Multilateral institutions, like the United Nations, should be utilized to resolve conflicts, and the United Nations "should also send humanitarian aid," said Sheinbaum.

She noted that Mexico will continue to support the Cuban people through humanitarian aid, adding that a new ship loaded with supplies departed on Monday.

The president also reiterated the Mexican government's opposition to the commercial blockade imposed on Cuba, which restricts the flow of fuel and other essential resources. 
At least one person took to Reddit over the weekend, claiming they were attacked unprovoked by a squirrel in the Browns Point area of Pierce County.

After reaching out to the Pierce County Sheriffs Department and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, The News Tribune found that five squirrels were lethally removed with a firearm on Friday after exhibiting behavior indicating they had become habituated to people.

A commenter on Tacomas Reddit thread claimed a squirrel came out of nowhere while they were near their car in a Browns Point neighborhood. The commenter did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The News Tribune on Monday.

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I felt one run up my back onto my head. I tried shaking and swatting it off, thats when it jump[ed] onto my arm and bit down on my hand really hard. It held there for a minute before I could get it off. Had to kick it in the face a few times before it finally ran away, they posted on Friday. Some friends in the local FB group told me there were other squirrel attacks in the same area.

Since Browns Point is outside Tacoma in unincorporated Pierce County, The News Tribune called the Sheriffs Office, which has an animal control department. Spokesperson Carly Cappetto said Monday that the department had received two emails about aggressive squirrels at Browns Point late last week. In one case a person was crouching down to feed the squirrel, and then the squirrel jumped on them and bit them, Cappetto said.

The case was referred to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, as are all cases that involve wild animals, she said. The countys animal control department only deals with cases involving domesticated or exotic animals, Cappetto said.

Bridget Mire, with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, told The News Tribune via email on Monday that on Friday the department received one report that a Tacoma resident was bitten by a squirrel, and they received medical treatment.

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In Washington, only bats are known to carry the rabies virus, Mire said. WDFW enforcement officers responded to the scene and lethally removed five squirrels exhibiting behavior indicating they had become habituated to people.

Mire said WDFW generally discourages people from feeding wildlife, because it can cause unnatural wildlife behaviors and potentially increase human-wildlife conflict.

Feeding wild animals causes them to lose their natural fear of humans, which can make them aggressive or vulnerable to harm, Mire said. Some wildlife cant properly digest human-provided food and can become sick or die, she said. Some animals carry diseases that can be transmissible to humans and pets, and animals might cross busy roads to get human food sources, Mire said.

In some instances, wildlife feeding is against the law. Feeding deer, elk, moose and large carnivores is illegal in Washington due to concerns about wildlife disease transmission and/or human-wildlife conflict, Mire said. WDFW also urges people not to feed feral or stray cats, and to pick up outdoor pet food when not feeding their pets. Pet food often attracts wildlife, including carnivores.

Cappetto said if anyone is bitten by an animal like a squirrel, they should call WDFW to report it.
A whale headbutt has been caught on camera for the first time, 200 years after one of the mammals inspired the novel Moby-Dick by attacking a ship in the same way.

Until now, there had only been anecdotal evidence of sperm whales using their heads to push and strike objects.

Researchers at the University of St Andrews have finally captured such behaviour on video after using drones to film the creatures in waters around the Azores and Balearic Islands between 2020 and 2022.

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The findings, published in the journal Marine Mammal Science, also revealed how younger whales engaged in headbutting, rather than between larger males as previously thought.

Herman Melvilles novel was said to have been inspired by just such an attack on the Essex, a whaling ship, in 1820. The vessel was rammed with two head-on strikes in waters off the Galapagos Islands.

The 27-metre sail-powered vessel was destroyed in the attack. Only a handful of crew members survived and were rescued months later.

Moby-Dick, described in the novel as a white whale, destroys the Pequod and kills almost all its crew at the end of the story - A. Burnham Shute/Bettmann

The incident attracted widespread attention at the time and was drawn on by Melville when he wrote Moby-Dick, in which the eponymous white whale attacks and sinks the Pequod whaling ship.

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Owen Chase, first mate on the Essex and one of the few survivors, described the attack after being rescued.

He said: I turned around and saw him about one hundred rods [approximately 500 metres] directly ahead of us, coming down with twice his ordinary speed of around 24 knots, and it appeared with tenfold fury and vengeance in his aspect.

The surf flew in all directions about him with the continual violent thrashing of his tail. His head about half out of the water, and in that way he came upon us, and again struck the ship.

A colour engraving of crew from the whaling ship Superior doing battle with one of the creatures in 1835 - Pictures from History/Universal Images Group Editorial

Similar accounts of whaling ships being attacked by sperm whales include the sinking of the Ann Alexander in 1851, the year Moby-Dick was published, and the Kathleen in 1902.

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The University of St Andrews said the research raised intriguing questions about the reasons behind such behaviour, as well as its effect on group dynamics.

Dr Alec Burslem, the studys lead author, who carried out the research while at the University of St Andrews, in collaboration with researchers at the University of the Azores and Asociacion Tursiops, said: It was really exciting to observe this behaviour, which we knew had been hypothesised for such a long time, but not yet documented and described systematically.

Gregory Peck played Captain Ahab in a 1956 film adaptation of Melvilles novel - Cine Text / Allstar/Sportsphoto Agency

Dr Burslem, who is now based at the University of Hawaii, said: This unique overhead perspective for observing and documenting near-surface behaviour is just one of the ways drone technology is transforming the study of wildlife biology.

Its exciting to think about what as-yet unseen behaviours we may soon uncover, as well [as] how more headbutting observations may help us to shed light on the functions the behaviour may serve.

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If there are people out there with similar footage, we would be very keen to hear from them.

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One traveller's Instagram post has become a cautionary tale for anyone planning a visit to Indonesia, after police in Bali have arrested a Swiss national on suspicion of insulting a major Hindu holiday.

Police said the man allegedly posted derogatory remarks on Instagram about Nyepi, also known a Day of Silence, the most sacred holiday on the Indonesian island.

Police became aware of the comments on Friday, at which time the post caused widespread outrage across Bali. The man now faces potentially serious consequences for his remarks.

What are the rules during the Nyepi holiday?

Bali's largely faithful population celebrated Nyepi last Thursday, on March 19. On this day, which also marks the Balinese New Year, strict rules apply for both locals and tourists.

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No one is permitted on the streets, traffic comes to a complete standstill and even the international Ngurah Rai Airport remains closed, with no flights departing or landing.

Investigators said they quickly identified the suspect and arrested him, the Indonesian news agency Antara reported, citing a police spokesman. The man is accused of spreading content on social media that could incite religious hatred.

Suspect faces five years in prison

The man has been charged under Indonesian criminal law, which criminalizes the online dissemination of such content. He now faces up to five years in prison.

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Authorities said they have secured evidence, including the suspect's mobile phone, and have questioned witnesses. Further details, such as the man's age, were not initially disclosed.

Bali is the only island within Indonesia - the world's largest Muslim-majority country - with a Hindu majority population and faith is deeply embedded in everyday life.

On Nyepi, local security forces monitor compliance with the regulations. Visitors are expected to behave quietly and respectfully, although tourists are generally permitted to move freely within their hotel grounds.

Bali attracts millions of foreign visitors each year. However, mass tourism is increasingly causing problems. The regional government regularly reports incidents involving tourists who overstay their visas, work illegally or behave disrespectfully towards locals and religious traditions.

Authorities have been cracking down with increasing severity, sometimes even resorting to deporting tourists.

A man accused of inciting religious hatred with an Instagram post about a widely observed holiday in Bali now faces years in prison there. Fabian Sommer/dpa
Two pilots were killed and dozens of people were injured at New York's LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night when an arriving Air Canada Express plane and a fire-and-rescue vehicle collided on a runway, officials said.

It happened after air traffic control apparently cleared the fire-rescue vehicle to cross the runway before telling it to stop, air traffic control recordings revealed.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs the airport, said in a statement that the pilot and co-pilot were killed in the collision. The two pilots, both from Canada, were later identified as Captain Antoine Forest and First Officer Mackenzie Gunther.

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The plane was traveling at about 100 mph when the collision occurred, the sources said.

An Air Canada Express CRJ-900 sits on the runway after colliding with a Port Authority fire truck at LaGuardia Airport in New York, on March 23, 2026. / Credit: TIMOTHY A. CLARY /AFP via Getty Images (Selcuk Acar / Anadolu via Getty Images)

The Port Authority said Air Canada Flight 8646, operated by Jazz Aviation, had 72 passengers and four crew members on board, and that 41 people were taken to hospitals  39 from the aircraft and two Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting officers from the truck. Executive Director Kathryn Garcia said Monday morning that initial indications were that 32 people had been released from hospitals but there were also serious injuries.

According to the law enforcement sources, most of the injuries were broken bones and bruises, but one person suffered a brain bleed.

A flight attendant strapped to her seat fell through an opening in the severed aircraft, according to the sources. The flight attendant was found by rescuers still in the seat and was transported to a hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

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A source told CBS News it appeared the collision was an accident and there was no foul play or terrorism suspected. Law enforcement sources told CBS News the so-called black boxes containing the flight data and cockpit voice recorders have been retrieved.

LaGuardia was closed after the accident and the Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop for the airport until 2 p.m. Monday. One runway at the airport has now reopened, but travelers are being told to expect delays and cancellations and to check with their airlines. The runway where the collision took place will be closed until Friday morning, according to an FAA notice.

Scene of passenger plane collision with fire and rescue vehicle at LaGuardia Airport in New York late on March 22, 2026. / Credit: Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images

The collision happened as air traffic control was also responding to a separate incident where pilots of United Airlines Flight 2384 aborted their takeoff when an anti-ice warning light came on. They reported an odor in the cabin and requested assistance from firefighters. The pilots said flight attendants were feeling ill and declared an emergency when no gates were immediately available.

Air traffic control recordings indicate the fire-rescue vehicle was cleared to cross the runway before a controller then told it to stop.

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Audio from ATC.com captures air traffic controllers speaking to the emergency responders on the ground.

Emergency vehicle: "Truck 1 and company LaGuardia Tower requesting to cross 4 at Delta."

Air traffic controller: "Truck 1 and company, cross 4 at Delta."

The vehicle operator confirmed, but then seconds later, the air traffic controller was back with an urgent message: "Frontier 4195, stop there, please. Stop, stop, stop, Truck 1, stop, stop, stop. Stop Truck 1, stop. Stop Truck 1, stop."

Moments after, the controller can be heard acknowledging the collision.

An air traffic controller later talked about the collision with the pilot of a Frontier flight.

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"That wasn't good to watch," the Frontier pilot said.

"Yeah, I know, I was here," the air traffic controller responded. "I tried to reach out to my staff, and we were dealing with an emergency earlier and I messed up."

"No man, you did the best you could," the Frontier pilot responded.

Capt. Laura Einsetler, a pilot with more than 30 years of experience, called the deadly incident "very concerning."

"It's very unusual to have a situation where we're landing on the runway and you have emergency equipment  emergency equipment operators on the runway itself," she told "CBS Mornings."

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The Air Canada plane, which was coming in from Montreal, had landed and was slowing down when it collided with the Port Authority vehicle. The Air Canada plane, a CRJ 900, suffered significant damage. Images showed the mangled front of the plane lifted into the air and its tail on the tarmac.

Timothy Henriksen, a passenger on a Frontier Airlines flight that wound up being grounded, told CBS News, "We stopped and then the pilot came on and said there's been an accident with an Air Canada and a fire truck. ... We got a really good view of the plane missing the whole front nose."

An Air Canada Express plane sits on the tarmac after it collided with a fire truck on the tarmac at LaGuardia Airport on March 23, 2026 in New York City. / Credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

The National Transportation Safety Board said during a news conference Monday that a team of investigators recovered the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder, which will be transported to D.C. for analysis.

"I just want to express how much ... there is a lot of debris. We need to go through all of that and to figure out what we need to take back to the NTSB, to our labs, what we might want to collect," NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said, adding that evidence collection could take days.

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Homendy also noted that the NTSB's air traffic control specialist was in line for TSA in Houston on Monday for over three hours, and the agency had to intervene so they could catch their flight to New York.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said at an afternoon briefing that the FAA also has people on site and that investigators will be working with a team from Transport Canada as well.

"It's incredibly sad. It's troubling. And I just want to let America know that we are working our hearts out to make sure that when people travel, whether by rail, or by car, or by air, that they travel safely. And we put in precautions and policies to make sure that you are safe when you travel," Duffy said. He also said this incident serves as a reminder of the importance of wearing a seatbelt aboard planes.

A former chair of the NTSB, Robert Sumwalt, told "CBS Mornings" earlier Monday that the agency will look through air traffic control tapes, radar tapes and cockpit voice recorder tapes from the airplane during the investigation.

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"They will have witness interviews, they'll interview the controllers," he said. "So they will have a lot to be able to go on."

Sumwalt estimated the investigation will take between 12 and 18 months to complete.

Investigators will be looking into what the communication breakdown was that allowed the vehicle to be on the runway as the plane was landing.

Trump claims talks with Iran went "perfectly" and says Tehran wants to make a deal

Quadruple amputee, who is a professional cornhole player, accused of murder

Air Canada Express plane collides with ground vehicle at New York's LaGuardia Airport
WASHINGTON, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The Pentagon is weighing a possible deployment of airborne troops to support military operations in Iran, The New York Times reported Monday, citing senior defense officials.

The combat forces would come from the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division's "Immediate Response Force," a brigade of about 3,000 soldiers capable of deploying anywhere in the world within 18 hours, said the report, noting that so far nothing had been ordered by the Pentagon or the U.S. Central Command.

These forces could be used to seize Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export hub, according to the report.

Another option being considered, should U.S. President Donald Trump authorize U.S. troops to seize the island, is an attack by about 2,500 troops from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is on its way to the Middle East, said the report, citing officials speaking on condition of anonymity.

The "Immediate Response Force," or ready brigade, has deployed on short notice several times in recent years, said the report.

The U.S. Central Command said on Monday that the U.S. military has conducted more than 9,000 strikes in Iran, including damaging or sinking over 140 Iranian naval vessels, since the United States and Israel launched joint military strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, disrupting global shipping, sending oil prices soaring and shaking the global economy. 
Many Americans are skipping well-worn (and expensive) retirement destinations, choosing to spend their golden years in small towns where their dollar stretches further.

Its a trend to watch as more people are set to retire.

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The number of Americans aged 65 and older is projected to increase from 61.2 million in 2024 to 82 million by 2050, making up almost a quarter (23%) of the population, according to the Population Reference Bureau (1).

Here are five boom towns and what retirees should know before packing up.

One big concern? As more retirees seek a higher quality of life in small towns, rapid growth can lead to rising home prices, strained infrastructure and health-care gaps.

5 small towns that are booming

1. Wildwood, Florida

The fastest-growing town in the U.S. for 2025-2026 is Wildwood, FL, according to U.S. News & World Report (2). The towns population has doubled in the past three years, to 36,493, with a 20% net migration rate.

Rapidly doubling a towns population can put pressure on infrastructure.

As of February 2026, Wildwood home prices were up 8.6% compared to the previous year, selling for a median price of $366,000, according to Redfin data (3). Still, thats below the national median sale price of $429,226.

The town has a high unemployment rate, at 9.47%, according to U.S. News & World Report (4). So if you want to work during retirement, it may take some time to find something suitable. But, the town also has a median age of 64.5, so it may be easier to build new friendships. If youre considering a move, you may want to do it sooner than later before costs increase.

2. Coolidge, Arizona

Coolidge, which sits between Phoenix and Tucson, saw its population grow 46% from 13,433 in 2020 to 19,674 between 2020 and 2024, according to Census data (5). But the median sale price of a home in February 2026 was $277,000, down 4.0% since last year, according to Redfin (6).

While housing is affordable, weather is a major consideration. In summer, the Sonoran Desert can see daily temperatures soar above 100F. Coolidge has a major risk of wildfire (7) and an extreme heat factor rating (8), and is expected to see a 157% increase in the number of days over 113F over the next 30 years. And this could mean higher insurance rates.
A New York Times focus group captured how Gen Z is navigating a broken job market, and what students can do to graduate with more than a degree. getty

When Jennifer, a 26-year-old in Illinois, was unemployed last year, she stopped calling her friends. Hearing them talk about their jobs made the shame too heavy. She stayed home and waited until she had something to show for herself.

Her situation is a rational response to a broken system, and it's playing out across an entire generation right now.

A recent New York Times focus group of 12 Gen Z job seekers illustrated the problem clearly. They got the degree, tailored the resumes, applied to 30, 40, 50 jobs, and still hit a wall. The conversation revealed a generation that the system has largely failed, and that has adjusted its expectations accordingly.

A Generation Adapting To A Broken System

Three patterns stood out in the focus group conversation, and taken together they paint a concerning picture.

The first is a deep skepticism about whether the system rewards investment in it. Many participants got their degree not out of genuine belief in its value, but because they saw no viable alternative. They paid for a credential, navigated an impersonal hiring process, and arrived at the workforce already doubtful that effort would be fairly rewarded. That skepticism shows up at work as disengagement, minimal initiative, and a reluctance to go beyond what's strictly required.

The second pattern is a preference for safety over growth. Nine out of 12 participants said theyd take the boring, secure job over the risky dream. That's a logical response to the job market they're facing. The problem is that when people consistently choose security over stretch, their appetite for risk shrinks over time, and a generation making smaller bets on itself now is likely to keep doing so.

The third pattern is psychological. Multiple participants described pulling back from their social lives while unemployed, feeling shame, and losing a sense of identity that went well beyond the financial stress. That damage doesn't disappear once someone finds a job. It tends to show up later in how much they trust institutions, how invested they are in their work, and how willing they are to take initiative.

What Young People Can Do About It

The people getting jobs right now are disproportionately the ones with connections and strong networks. AI hiring tools have widened that gap. For anyone already in college or planning to go, the most useful question is how to build those advantages before graduation. That means focusing on three things.

Build real experience while you're still in school. One of my students wanted a Fortune 500 sales job after graduation. Rather than waiting, he spent two years calling alumni donors for his university's fundraising office. He got cold-call experience, rejection tolerance, and real conversations with professionals in his target field, all before he ever applied for a job. Another student worked two or three afternoons a week at a consulting firm while still taking classes. By graduation, she had contacts, real experience, and professional references. The degree got her in the door. Everything else she built along the way got her the job.
Australia and Norway joined a growing list of countries cutting fuel taxes to reduce the pain at the pump for consumers (Ishara S. KODIKARA)  Ishara S. KODIKARA/AFP/AFP

Here are the latest economic events in the Middle East war:

- Oil prices rise -

Oil prices sank and most stocks rose Tuesday, following a Wall Street Journal report that indicated Donald Trump was willing to end the Iran war even if the key Strait of Hormuz remained closed.

Market experts did however warn that any US ground operation or wider Iranian retaliation could send oil prices to levels not seen since July 2008, when Brent hit almost $150 a barrel.

Both main oil contracts fell Tuesday, though West Texas Intermediate and Brent were still sitting well above $100 a barrel.

- Indonesia makes cuts to school meal programme -

Indonesia will make cuts to its free school meals programme from Tuesday as it seeks to set aside billions of dollars to counteract budget pressures brought on by the war and soaring oil prices.

- Trump threatens to destroy key Iran oil hub -

President Donald Trump threatened on Monday to destroy Iran's oil export hub Kharg Island if a deal to end the war was not reached soon and the Strait of Hormuz did not "immediately" open.

The island, located around 30 kilometres (19 miles) off the Iranian mainland, handles roughly 90 percent of Iran's crude exports, according to a JP Morgan note released early March.

He warned US forces would destroy "all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!)."

- Iranian attack sparks fire on Kuwait oil tanker -

An Iranian attack sparked a fire on a Kuwaiti oil tanker at Dubai Port, state media reported on Tuesday.

"The Kuwaiti giant crude oil tanker was subjected to a direct and malicious Iranian attack while in the anchorage area of Dubai Port in the UAE," official news agency KUNA reported, citing Kuwait's state-owned oil company.

There were no injuries, according to the report, and Dubai authorities later said firefighters had extinguished the blaze.

- Iran parliament body approves Hormuz tolls -

Iranian state media reported Monday that a parliamentary commission had approved plans to impose tolls on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway vital to oil and gas shipments that has been effectively closed due to the Middle East war.

Citing a member of the parliament's security commission, state TV said the plan involved among other things "financial arrangements and rial toll systems" and "implementing the sovereign role of Iran", as well as cooperation with Oman on the other side of the Strait.

- Dubai announces financial aid -

Dubai will provide support worth over $270 million to help businesses and families, authorities announced Monday, as Gulf states face economic disruption from Iran's aerial attacks and partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Venture capital flows to Africa soared last year, the latest sign the continents economies are being shaped by investment, not aid. VC funds ploughed around $4 billion into African economies in 2025, up around fourfold from 2020 levels, helping to mint several new unicorns. T

he surge points to investor appetite to tap into the huge, largely underserved market, but also the sudden shift in foreign finance flows to Africa: Since the start of US President Donald Trumps second term, Washington has replaced aid programs with co-investment deals. Investors hope the moves will unlock more capital: If local capital invests, foreign capital follows, a South African asset manager told The Economist.

 Jeronimo Gonzalez
Management said Alcoa has had a strong start to 2026, with stable operations and progress on strategic initiatives, aiming to capture the benefit of high metal prices in profitability. The company provided several items affecting the first quarter:

The company said its smelting system runs on 86% renewable energy , with limited exposure to energy prices due to long-term contracts.

Alcoa described itself as an integrated aluminum company with two segments: Alumina and Aluminum . In 2025, the company recorded just under $13 billion in revenue. The Alumina segment includes five bauxite mines and five alumina refineries, with annual production of about 40 million metric tons of bauxite and about 10 million metric tons of alumina. In Aluminum, Alcoa consumes roughly 40% of the alumina it produces and operates 11 smelters, which management said are primarily located near customer end markets.

Executives from Alcoa (NYSE:AA) outlined the companys operating footprint, early 2026 performance, and key strategic priorities during a fireside chat at JPMorgans industrial conference. Management also addressed the potential market impacts of Middle East disruptions, U.S. tariffs, and the companys plans for asset monetization and longer-term operational improvements.

Alcoa reiterated a plan to monetize $500 million$1 billion of assets by 2030 via transformation sites (with one deal expected in the next few months) and finished 2025 at the high end of its $1.0$1.5 billion adjusted net debt target after repaying $140 million of debt, with ~ $220 million of notes economically redeemable.

Management highlighted Middle East disruptions are tightening marketsraising LME prices and regional premiumswith Gulf smelters  7 million metric tons of capacity and Alcoas longterm alumina contracts into the region totaling  4 million metric tons , prompting an uptick in customer inquiries and expected spot demand.

Alcoa said its had a strong start to 2026 but flagged several Q1 impacts, including a $19 million postearnings adjustment, about 30,000 metric tons fewer aluminum shipments (roughly $150 million revenue deferral and ~ $30 million EBITDA delay), and ~ $60 million lower aluminum revenue from metallinked energy contracts.

Story Continues

Australia mining approvals framework: Alcoa said agreements to modernize the mining approvals framework in Australia included a $19 million post-earnings adjustment charge recorded in Q4 2025. The non-recurrence in Q1 2026 reduces a prior outlook from $30 million unfavorable to $11 million unfavorable .

Aluminum shipment timing: Aluminum shipments are expected to be about 30,000 metric tons lower than anticipated as Alcoa proactively repositions inventory into the U.S. to optimize margins and minimize tariffs. The company characterized this as a timing difference, expected to reduce Q1 revenue by about $150 million and delay about $30 million of EBITDA recognition until product is sold to end customers. Management emphasized this is not a sign of weak demand.

Metal-linked energy contracts: Aluminum revenue is expected to be lower by approximately $60 million due to increases in LME and the Midwest premium affecting metal-linked energy contracts that are accounted against revenue. Management said the EBITDA impact is already incorporated in sensitivities, so no additional EBITDA adjustment is needed.

Below EBITDA items: Currency gains and other income were $50 million through the end of February .

Tax outlook: At current prices, management expects Q1 operational tax expense of about $45 million to $55 million, citing a shift in profit mix from Alumina (higher tax rates in Australia and Brazil) to Aluminum (lower tax rates in North America and Europe).

Middle East disruptions and market impacts

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Management discussed the effects of disruptions in the Middle East on aluminum and alumina markets. The company noted that Gulf smelters produce just under 7 million metric tons of aluminum, about 9% of global supply and more than 20% of supply excluding China. During the discussion, Alcoa referenced curtailments and shipment disruptions at regional producers, and said it is seeing an immediate impact in the form of higher LME prices and higher regional premiums.

On raw materials, management said two-thirds of Gulf smelters rely on imported alumina that may have difficulty arriving, and one refinery in the region is fully dependent on externally sourced bauxite. The company said navigation issues around the Strait are also affecting flows.

 Copper Cools After Record JanuaryBut This ETF Is a Buy-the-Dip Opportunity

For Alcoa specifically, the company said it has long-term alumina supply contracts into the Gulf, totaling about 4 million metric tons annually, representing about a third of Alcoas alumina shipments into that region. Management said this dynamic is influencing alumina pricing, noting the market was already in oversupply and that volumes that would have gone to the Middle East are finding homes elsewhere, most of that probably moving into China.

Alcoa also said it has seen an uptick in customer inquiries for the second quarter and the second half of 2026 from customers concerned about supply from Middle East smelters, and it expects additional spot orders to help later in the year. Management added that while it has not yet seen operational impacts to its own raw materials, it anticipates potential pressure from higher freight costs if the conflict is prolonged.

Tariffs, China capacity, and restart considerations

On U.S. tariffs, Alcoa said the current environment is not harmful any longer for the company. Management attributed this to the rise in the Midwest premium, which it said is fully covering tariff costs on Canadian tons and is also benefiting U.S. production. The company said it has not seen demand destruction among its customers, and described market fundamentals as strong, with low inventories and constrained supply.

Regarding China, management said it continues to see compliance with the 45 million metric ton production cap, while noting reports of some smelters producing above capacity without adding nameplate capacity. Alcoa expects China to continue building aluminum capacity outside the country, including in Indonesia and India, and said global demand is strong enough to require additional supply.

When asked about restarting idled capacity, management cited its curtailed line at Warrick, Indiana (about 50,000 metric tons), estimating a restart would cost about $100 million and would require securing energy. The company said it is hesitant to make restart decisions based solely on tariff structures.

Strategic initiatives: transformation sites, operations, permitting, and technology

Alcoa reiterated a plan discussed at its November investor day to monetize $500 million to $1 billion of assets by 2030 through transformation sites, which include 10 priority former operations (smelters, refineries, and mine sites). Management said interest from data center developers is strong due to the energy infrastructure at former smelter sites, and that Alcoa is exploring deal structures that could include upfront cash, payment streams, and end-of-project cash. The company said it expects to announce one effort in the next couple months, with two more following.

Management clarified that the $500 million to $1 billion target does not include the Kwinana property in Western Australia, which it said could represent additional value in the early 2030s after remediation work.

Operationally, management highlighted record production in 2025 at five smelters and one refinery, and said 2026 focus areas include:

Alumar smelter: After instability and two power outages in December, production fell to about 80% from the mid-90% range. Management said the site has been restabilized and it is working to add pots back through 2026, with cost reduction still a priority.

San Ciprian: The smelter ramp is going extremely well, already above 90%, with a goal to reach full capacity by mid-2026. The company said it remains hedged through 2027 and is seeking a long-term power contract. Under a viability agreement, Alcoa said it must run the smelter through 2027 and aims for the smelters cash generation to offset refinery losses, with a near-term goal of cash neutrality for the complex. The refinery is running at about half capacity and faces a residue storage limitation expected to be reached in the early 2030s, prompting evaluation of options.

In Western Australia permitting, Alcoa said it expects ministerial approvals for state permits related to Myara North and Holyoake by the end of 2026. Separately, it described a federal framework agreement under the EPBC Act that includes a strategic assessment through 2045, a national interest exemption to provide continuity during the assessment, and enforceable undertakings including an AUD 36 million payment related to past mining and clearing practices. Management said that once higher-grade bauxite is accessed following the mine move (with benefits starting in 2029), it expects about 1 million metric tons of alumina volume uplift and about $15 to $20 per ton in savings, with 2030 described as the first full year of benefits.

On technology and critical materials, Alcoa said it is collaborating with the U.S., Australian, and Japanese governments to build a gallium plant co-located at its Wagerup refinery. The facility is expected to produce about 100 tons of gallium, which management said is almost 10% of global supply. The company said the project is not material financially and is being pursued largely at government request for national security supply objectives; timing has not been announced. Alcoa also provided an update on ELYSIS, noting a commercial-scale cell milestone at the end of 2025 at Rio Tintos Alma smelter and stating it expects to continue R&D investment but does not foresee material ELYSIS-related CapEx this decade.

Finally, on balance sheet and capital allocation, management said it ended 2025 at the high end of its $1.0 billion to $1.5 billion adjusted net debt target and repaid about $140 million of debt, with another potential deleveraging action involving about $220 million of notes that are economically redeemable. The company reiterated a capital allocation framework spanning portfolio actions, shareholder returns, and growth projects, stating that growth investments must exceed its cost of capital and be tied to customer demand, with Norway cited as one example under evaluation related to recycled content for auto customers.

About Alcoa (NYSE:AA)

Alcoa Corporation is a global industry leader in the production and management of aluminum, offering an integrated value chain that spans bauxite mining, alumina refining, primary aluminum smelting and the fabrication of value-added products. The company's operations are organized into segments that include raw material extraction, chemical processing and the manufacture of metal mill products and engineered solutions.

Alcoa's product portfolio serves diverse end markets such as aerospace, automotive, packaging, construction, electrical and industrial applications.

The article "Alcoa Highlights Strong Early 2026 Start, Tariff Moves and $1B Asset Monetization Plan at JPMorgan Conf." was originally published by MarketBeat.
March 23 (Reuters) - Chinese online shopping site AliExpress said on Monday it was improving controls to comply with European Union regulations as European lawmakers grilled executives over sales of dangerous and counterfeit products in the bloc.

The EU has ramped up scrutiny of fast-growing online platforms like AliExpress, Temu, and Shein which ship cheap products made in China into the bloc duty-free thanks to a waiver on low-value ecommerce parcels. Last month the EU opened a formal investigation into Shein under the Digital Services Act, its landmark regulation covering major platforms.

More from Yahoo Scout What commitments has AliExpress made to regulators? Why is the EU investigating AliExpress under regulations? How might new EU fees affect Chinese platforms? What specific products raised safety concerns on AliExpress?

Alibaba-owned AliExpress, the company's platform selling in more than 200 countries, has been under investigation by the European Commission since March 2024 and in June agreed to legally binding commitments to improve its controls.

But in November, Reuters found childlike sex dolls for sale on AliExpress, leading the platform to say it had banned the China-based seller of the products.

AliExpress has committed to limiting visibility by default for products intended for adults, Eric Pelletier, Alibaba's head of international government affairs, told lawmakers.

"At the same time we recognise we have much more work to do," Pelletier said. "We are actively engaging with the Commission to address the outstanding issues, including preventing the reappearance of illegal listings, strengthening penalties and accelerating the closure of noncompliant sellers."

Christel Schaldemose, an EU lawmaker and lead rapporteur on the DSA, said: "I will not be happy and I don't believe in your systems until the day I see it has an impact."

"My main concern is of course safety, but I also think that it is an unfair competition towards the companies who are complying with the rules we have in EU," said Schaldemose.

The number of low-value ecommerce parcels entering the EU jumped 26% last year, hitting 5.8 billion. The bloc plans to implement fees on the shipments in an effort to make competition with domestic retailers more fair.

(Reporting by Helen Reid; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
DoorDash is offering extra compensation to U.S. and Canadian drivers as part of a temporary program to help offset rising gas prices.

The San Francisco-based delivery company announced the program Monday as the national average price for gas hit $3.96 per gallon in the U.S., according to AAA. Thats 35% higher than one month ago.

Global oil prices have soared since the Iran war began on Feb. 28. Last week, Brent crude oil, the international standard, briefly rose above $119 per barrel, up from roughly $70 before the war began.

Iran has halted most shipments of oil through the Strait of Hormuz and has also attacked oil and gas facilities around the Persian Gulf in response to an Israeli attack on an important Iranian natural gas field.

DoorDash said U.S. drivers with a DoorDash debit card will earn 10% cash back on any gas purchase, up from the usual rate of 2%. More than half of DoorDash drivers have the card, the company said.

The company said drivers who travel 125 miles or more while making deliveries will also receive a weekly fuel payment, starting at $5 and up to a maximum of $15.

In Canada, DoorDash drivers will receive up to $36 Canadian dollars per week based on the miles they travel to make deliveries.

DoorDash said both programs will remain in effect through April 26. It announced a similar gas price relief program in Australia late last week.

Its not yet clear if rivals will match DoorDashs payments. GrubHub said last week that it is keeping a close eye on gas prices. Messages seeking comment were left Monday with Uber and Lyft.

DoorDash launched a similar temporary program in 2022 when U.S. gas prices topped $4 per gallon. At the time, Uber and Lyft also put in place temporary gas surcharges for customers.
The European Union has proposed that Turkey join its Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) to deepen economic integration and cut the cost of euro transfers, Reuters reported, citing the EUs envoy in Ankara.

Jurgis Vilcinskas, the bloc's charge daffaires in Turkey, said European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos discussed the idea with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan during her visit to Ankara on February 6.

SEPA, a 41-country scheme, is designed to make cross-border euro payments cheaper, faster and more secure.

The EU says candidates Albania, Moldova, Montenegro and North Macedonia, which joined last year, could save up to 500m ($575.7m).

"SEPA could present a valuable opportunity to strengthen Turkiyes economic integration as a candidate country and a key trade and economic partner of the EU," Vilcinskas said.

It could generate "significant savings annually for Turkish businesses, consumers and diaspora by making cross-border transfers in Euros as fast and as cheap as domestic ones," he added.

A Turkish diplomatic source confirmed an offer had been conveyed and said the issue falls under the Finance Ministry, which has not commented.

Ankara has not yet clarified its position on the proposal.

Under SEPA, Turkish banks could lose fee income. A Turkey-Europe transfer of 1,000 to 5,000 can cost 40, according to Western Union.

The EU is Turkeys biggest trading partner, with trade exceeding 200bn.

While accession talks are stalled, both sides say they want to modernise their customs union and strengthen economic ties, highlighted the news agency.

Vilcinskas said Turkey would need to comply with the EU's Payment Services Directive, including tougher anti-money laundering and data protection rules, and that the Commission is ready to support any SEPA bid.

A Turkish banking source said SEPA could bring "significant" savings, particularly for the large Turkish diaspora in Europe.

Odile Renaud Basso, president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, said SEPA would "basically make transactions cost-free".

"EU proposes Turkey join SEPA to slash euro transfer costs  report" was originally created and published by Electronic Payments International, a GlobalData owned brand.




The European Commission has updated the list of harmonised standards used to demonstrate compliance with EU machinery rules, affecting packaging equipment manufacturers and users across the region.

The move, set out in Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/546, revises which technical standards can be used to meet the essential health and safety requirements of EU legislation.

The update is part of the EUs ongoing effort to keep machinery safety rules aligned with current technology and industry practice. For the packaging sector, this means changes to the standards used for design, installation and operation of packaging machines and integrated lines.

Updated standards list

The decision amends the official list of harmonised standards under the EU Machinery Directive, which supports CE marking for machinery placed on the EU market. Harmonised standards provide a recognised route for manufacturers to show that equipment meets legal safety requirements.

Several standards have been added, revised or withdrawn. This includes standards relevant to packaging machinery, such as those covering automated systems, handling equipment and production lines.

When a standard is updated or replaced, manufacturers must ensure they are using the latest version to maintain presumption of conformity.

For packaging equipment suppliers, this update may require a review of current technical documentation, risk assessments and design specifications.

Impact on compliance

The revised standards directly affect how packaging machinery compliance is demonstrated in the EU. Manufacturers that rely on harmonised standards for CE marking need to check whether their current processes align with the updated list.

Where a standard has been withdrawn, there may be a transition period. After this, using the outdated version will no longer provide automatic presumption of conformity.

Companies may then need to apply alternative methods to prove compliance, which can increase administrative and technical workload.

The changes also affect importers and end users. Businesses placing packaging equipment on the EU market must ensure that machinery complies with the updated framework. This is particularly relevant for global suppliers exporting to Europe.

What companies should do

Packaging industry stakeholders are expected to assess how the updated EU standards affect their operations. This includes reviewing which harmonised standards apply to specific types of packaging equipment, such as filling machines, sealing systems and palletising units.

Manufacturers may need to update technical files, user manuals and conformity declarations. In some cases, equipment design or safety features may need adjustment to align with revised requirements.
Emirates NBD is approaching a 30% market share of all UAE retail deposits, more than the next two competitors combined, according to GlobalData analysis. That kind of concentration implies commanding customer relationships. The data on what those customers actually do with their money tells a different story.

Underpinning that is a mortgage market that, according to GlobalData, grew at a 21% compound annual rate from 2020, the fastest globally, driven by the Sakani programme and the Saudi Real Estate Development Fund. Saudi banks can, to a meaningful degree, replace rate income with volume. The UAE's position is less straightforward.

Moody's maintains a stable outlook, expecting banks to partly offset lower yields by widening loan spreads as credit demand grows, with non-oil GDP forecast at 4.2% in 2026 and credit growth running at around 8%.

Saudi Arabia is not immune, but it enters the easing cycle with more tools. Margins in the kingdom were up slightly during the high-rate period of 202324 but remain well below pre-pandemic levels, a reminder that volume and efficiency can defend earnings without eliminating rate pressure. Saudi banks have more room to absorb it.

"The single biggest pressure point is the speed of margin normalisation relative to banks' ability to reprice liabilities," says Joanne Kumire, analyst at GlobalData. "In the UAE particularly, rate cuts transmit directly into asset yields, while deposit costs do not always adjust as quickly. That creates a lag effect where net interest income compresses faster than operating costs can be taken out."

The UAE's exposure is structural. With the dirham pegged to the US dollar, domestic monetary policy follows the Federal Reserve directly, meaning rate cuts transmit into asset yields almost immediately while deposit costs adjust more slowly.

GCC banks built that profitability on elevated interest rates and substantial non-interest-bearing deposits. In Saudi Arabia, an efficiency drive delivered an average eight percentage point improvement in efficiency since 2022, according to GlobalData. The rate environment that enabled all of it is now working in reverse.

It was a vote of confidence in a system that, according to GlobalDatas Retail Banking Regional Report, ended 2024 among the most profitable globally. A ratings upgrade and an earnings challenge can coexist, and right now they do.

Story Continues

UAE customers have the regions highest net likelihood (78%) of turning to their primary bank for help achieving their financial goals, according to GlobalDatas 2025 Financial Services Consumer Survey. Yet 25% of savers and 42% of investors do not hold those products with their main bank, and one in five customers holds only one or two products with their primary provider.

Banks own the relationship but not the revenue.

Kumire frames the gap as structural rather than reputational. "The trust gap in the UAE is not about brand confidence. It is about proposition and timing. Customers trust their primary bank, but they often look elsewhere for investments and savings because specialist platforms feel more competitive, more transparent, or more digitally intuitive." The fix, she argues, is not a sales push but "embedding savings and investment journeys natively inside the core banking app, with personalised prompts and simpler pricing that make keeping money within the primary relationship the path of least resistance."

Saudi Arabia has the same problem in a different form. Savings account penetration is 57%, and only 61% of customers have their main savings account with their main banking provider, indicating that lenders, despite stronger volume growth, have yet to convert the relationship into deeper product ownership, according to GlobalData.

Where the technology spend goes

Only 49% of UAE customers use their banking app at least weekly in their first year, according to GlobalData, versus a regional average of 69%. Saudi Arabia's figure is a comparable 54%. Both markets sit well below Nigeria and Turkiye, where new customer app engagement runs above 80% in the first year. Celents Bank ICT Budget 2025 Dimensions data shows UAE banks also allocate just 2% of revenue to technology, below Saudi Arabia's 3%-plus and well below South Africa's near-4%.

The instinct is to treat this as a distribution problem requiring more features and more spend. Kumire argues the bigger issue is different. "The capability gap that matters most is data-led engagement, not pure distribution. Gulf banks already have scale and capital strength. What they lack is consistent, personalised activation of their existing customer base." The metrics she says executives should track: product-per-customer ratios and digital conversion from intent to funded product. "If those metrics are not rising as margins fall, the technology spend is not translating into earnings resilience."

The cost structure gives that warning urgency. GlobalData estimates that personnel account for 55% of regional operating expenses, the highest staff cost ratio across emerging markets. This reflects a genuine and persistent customer preference for human channels that cannot simply be redirected to an app. UAE and Saudi clients consistently favour phone, messaging and in-person contact even for routine tasks, with branch proximity among the top reasons for switching provider in both markets. The opportunity is not to eliminate that preference but to use data and AI to ensure that financial decisions on savings, investments, lending increasingly happen within the primary banking relationship rather than outside it.

Government support is a floor, not a strategy

Moody's assumes a very high likelihood of government support for Gulf banks, a structural backstop reflected in the ratings uplift both systems carry. It is a genuine credit strength. It is also one reason Gulf banks have sometimes been slower to confront operating model questions that less-protected systems face more urgently.

Rate cuts do not threaten Gulf bank solvency. They do strip away the conditions that allowed strong profits to coexist with an unresolved cross-selling gap, a digital engagement shortfall and a cost base oriented around human servicing. It reflects resilience, not immunity.

The banks that close the distance between customer trust and product ownership and build the data infrastructure to do it at scale are best placed to defend the profitability. Government backing can support stability, but it will not protect returns.

"Gulf banks face an earnings test as rates fall" was originally created and published by Retail Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand.




The federal government is moving away from using paper checks, including for tax returns.

Credit: Getty

KEY TAKEAWAY

The IRS is moving away from paper refund checks this year, and is asking all taxpayers to include their direct deposit information on their 2025 tax returns.

Taxpayers who don't include their bank information or report it incorrectly will have their refunds held until they correct it.

Taxpayers can still request a paper check, but that will delay their refund.

More from Yahoo Scout Why is the IRS eliminating paper refund checks? How will this change affect vulnerable populations? Which taxpayers are exempt from direct deposit requirements? What happens if taxpayers don't provide banking information?

The IRS is asking all taxpayers to include their bank account information on their 2025 tax returns. Failing to do so could delay any refund this year.

Starting in the 2026 filing season, the IRS is transitioning away from paper tax-refund checks to electronic payments, which are less likely to be lost, stolen or delayed, the tax agency said. To prevent refund delays this year, taxpayers should provide accurate bank account information (routing and account numbers) on their returns.

Why This Matters

About 6.5 million taxpayersroughly 7% of those who received a refundwere mailed a paper refund check during the 2025 tax filing season, according to the IRS. That group represents a small subset of Americans, many of whom are unbanked or underbanked, disabled, elderly, or otherwise vulnerable taxpayers for whom paper checks have often been the only practical way to receive refunds needed to cover basic living expenses

If you do not include your direct deposit information or report it incorrectly, the IRS will still process your tax return, but it will then send you a notice informing you that your refund has been frozen. You will have 30 days from the date you receive the notice to update your online IRS account with the correct bank information.

If you do not want to provide your bank account information, you can also call an IRS customer representative at 1-800-829-1040 to request a paper check, said the Taxpayer Advocate Service. Any taxpayers who don't take action or respond to the notice will be sent a paper check after six weeks.

If a taxpayer's bank rejects an electronic refund for some reason, the IRS will issue them a paper check.

Some taxpayers will not be subject to the direct deposit requirement, including:

International taxpayers;

Minors;

Prisoners;

Taxpayers with religious exceptions; and

Decedent taxpayers (this refers to deceased taxpayers or the personal representative of the deceased taxpayer).

The federal government as a whole has taken steps to phase out the use of physical checks across all payment types. Early last year, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to abandon paper checks and switch fully to direct deposits, card payments, and other digital methods. The government cited check fraud as a motivating factor in the move.



Read the original article on Investopedia
In 2022, Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul urged Republicans to leave the state and move to Florida. Lots of people took her advice, and not all of them the people she wanted to expel. Earlier this month, she was reduced to begging "high-net-worth" former state residents to move back and pay the expensive tax tab to fund her state's spending choices.

It's a rare and glorious sight when politicians shoo those who dislike their policies out the door only to subsequently beg them to return.

Hochul Directed Political Opponents To Go to Florida. Many New Yorkers Did.

At a campaign rally in 2022, Hochul directed Republicans to "just jump on a bus and head down to Florida where you belong, OK. Get outta town. Get outta town. Because you don't represent our values. You are not New Yorkers."

Florida, notably, has become in recent years an example, along with Texas, of GOP policy frequently contrasted with Democratic jurisdictions and their larger governments.

Message received. Last year, New York's independent Citizens Budget Commission (CBC) reported that "New York City lost 102K residents and their $13.7B in personal income to Florida from 2018-2022 on net." Detailing reasons for the migration, the CBC report noted, "those leaving the region most commonly move to Florida, California, and Texas.Notably, Florida and Texas have lower taxes."

Drawing on U.S. Census data, the Empire Center observed that "the state as a whole was down by 238,000 residents or 1.2 percent over the four-year stretch [from 2020 to 2024], even as the U.S. population rose by 2.6 percent." New York City has been especially hard hit by outmigration: "The most popular destination for departing New Yorkers was Florida."

This is all very awkward for state officials. New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli observed in a February 2026 report that "the trajectory of State spending has been steep, and is projected to continue to increase faster than inflation and projected revenues." Those revenues are certainly lower than they would have been had more people chose to remain in New York rather than heed advice to leave.

Hochul may not openly regret her words, but she certainly rues the consequences. On March 11, she spoke with Politico's Nick Reisman, who questioned her about proposed tax increases currently being negotiated between the state legislature and the governor's office.

Now, Hochul Wants "High-Net-Worth" Refugees to Return

"I need people who are high-net-worth to support the generous social programs that we want to have in our state," responded Hochul. "Now, there are some patriotic millionaires who stepped up. Okay, cut me the checks if you want to be supportive. But maybe the first step should be to go down to Palm Beach and see who we can bring back home because our tax base has been eroded."
Rio Tinto Exploration has signed an agreement with LCL Resources to earn-in to the Ono Project in Papua New Guinea.

The arrangement allows Rio Tinto to earn an initial 51% interest in the mining project by investing at least A$8m ($5.61m) in exploration activities, which will include a minimum of 4,000m of drilling.

This collaboration aims to uncover porphyry copper-gold deposits.

Further rights enable Rio Tinto to increase its stake to 80% by committing an additional A$40m towards exploration or by defining a mineral resource compliant with the Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) standards.

The resource must comprise at least 1.25 million tonnes of contained metals on a copper-equivalent basis and be accompanied by a scoping study.

LCL will initially manage the project and receive a management fee equivalent to 10% of the expenditure.

The Ono Project is situated within the Owen Stanley Metamorphic Belt, approximately 150km south of Lae port.

This area is known for hosting significant mineral resources such as the Hidden Valley gold mine and the Wafi-Golpu copper/gold project.

The project's exploration licence includes the Kusi Gold skarn resource and an application for the contiguous Kau Creek area.

The strategic partnership is expected to provide significant exploration funding, underscoring the potential of the Ono Project given recent high-grade gold and silver findings.

The agreement outlines that Rio Tinto will make total cash payments of up to A$1.5m to LCL, disbursed in phases linked to specific milestones.

During the initial phase of the farm-in agreement, if exploration licence application ELA2837 faces delays or rejection, amendments to Rio Tinto's minimum commitment may be negotiated.

LCL Resources executive chairman Chris van Wijk said: This transaction is a transformational step for LCL. Partnering with Rio Tinto brings world-class exploration capability and substantial funding to the Ono Project, enabling a level of exploration activity that would not otherwise be possible for a company of our size.

Importantly, the structure allows LCL shareholders to retain significant exposure to exploration success and any potential discoveries funded by Rio Tinto. We look forward to watching the Ono Project develop alongside one of the worlds leading miners.

In 2024, LCL received a forest use permit for the Miraflores gold deposit, part of the companys Quinchia Gold Project in Colombia.

"Rio Tinto, LCL sign agreement for Ono Project in Papua New Guinea" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.
Key Points

FTX to pay $2.2B to creditors on March 31

Many users nearing 100% recovery (some up to 120%)

Follows 2022 collapse and SBFs 25-year fraud sentence

Bankrupt crypto exchange FTX is set to distribute roughly $2.2 billion to creditors at the end of March, marking another major step in its long-running recovery process following one of the industrys most dramatic failures.

The FTX Recovery Trust said the funds will be distributed on March 31 as part of the exchanges Chapter 11 restructuring plan, with payments expected to arrive within one to three business days via BitGo, Kraken or Payoneer.

The latest payout represents the fourth round of distributions since FTX filed for bankruptcy in November 2022, when the once-dominant exchange, valued at $32 billion at its peak, collapsed almost overnight.

The implosion wiped out billions in customer funds and triggered a broader crypto market downturn.

Read More: Discount chain closes over 75 stores and raises prices

Sam Bankman-Fried, the exchanges founder and former CEO, was once seen as the face of the crypto industry in Washington, lobbying regulators and donating heavily to political campaigns. He is now serving a 25-year prison sentence after being convicted of fraud and conspiracy for misusing customer funds through his trading firm, Alameda Research.

More news:

The trust said the latest distribution will significantly improve recovery rates across creditor classes.

The latest distribution lifts recovery rates so that many customer claim classes reach 100 percent, the trust said, adding that some claimants may recover even more. Class 7 creditors, for example, are expected to receive up to 120% of their claims.

In total, previous distributions have already exceeded $6 billion, including a $1.6 billion payout announced in late 2025. The latest round brings cumulative recoveries closer to making many users whole, an outcome rarely seen in major crypto bankruptcies.

All payments will be made in US dollars through designated providers, which will then allow users to withdraw funds or convert them into digital assets.

Looking ahead, the estate said April 30 will serve as the record date for its first distributions to preferred equity holders, with payments scheduled for May 29, pending completion of ownership verification, KYC and tax requirements.

Read More: Retirees following the 4% rule are leaving thousands on the table

This story was originally published by TheStreet on Mar 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the Bankruptcy News & Analysis section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The debate between Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) and gold has intensified in recent months and years. The dominant cryptocurrency, despite posting a jaw-dropping 17,210% trailing-10-year return (as of March 19), has lagged the precious metal on a shorter time frame. The price of an ounce of gold has skyrocketed 111% in the past 24 months.

Which of these unique assets will make you richer in the long run?

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.

Gold is seeing strong demand from central banks, like those in Poland, India, and Turkey, as buying has picked up over the past couple of years. These large pools of capital might be trying to lessen their dependence on U.S. Treasuries, for instance. Since gold has been viewed as a leading store of value for thousands of years, it has tremendous mental buy-in.

But the same concerns that market participants might have, like burgeoning amounts of government debt, ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, and potential weakening of U.S. dominance, play to Bitcoin's benefit. This is a digital asset that isn't controlled by a single entity. It's extremely scarce, with a hard supply cap of 21 million units. It's decentralized. And it lays the foundation for innovation to occur, as in payments or capital markets.

Bitcoin is much earlier in its adoption. Consequently, it has significantly more upside than gold and is likely to perform much better over the next decade and beyond.

Should you buy stock in Bitcoin right now?

Before you buy stock in Bitcoin, consider this:

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Then we have the distribution, hundreds and hundreds of specialized sales people finding the businesses/customers that have all the money. Remember, were in the business of controlling spend, so you have to have clients that have spend. We have the clients, and their spend is over $400 billion annually. So, we have a lot of clients that move a lot of money or purchase a lot of things, and we have these network and regulatory moats that make it hard for other companies to compete.

The basis of our cross-border service offering is a core system that has integrated to hundreds of bank networks, in-country payment schemes and real-time payment networks around the world. We can essentially provide access to an entire global network of payment rails, including blockchain, stablecoin and digital wallets all through one point of integration to our technology, with the liquidity and licenses to support those flows globally.

Our proprietary networks have hundreds of thousands of vendors, and then the same in the cross-border business, were making payments on behalf of customers around the world. So, we have proprietary pipes (networks), and the compliance and licensing capabilities to move money to literally hundreds of countries around the world. The licensing is a massive regulatory moat.

Ron Clarke :The biggest moat we have are the various payment acceptance networks that weve built. For example, in corporate payments, what we call payables, where we help businesses automate AP workflow and pay their vendors. Weve built networkssimilar to the card networks, so we know who the vendors are, whether they accept cards, what their bank account information is, etc. We have built B2B vendor payment networks that are proprietary and advantaged.

Exec Edge: Youve talked about growing your corporate payments business. Where do you see your strongest moat in the corporate payments and cross-border space?

Ron Clarke : At the simplest level, were a corporate payments company with a menu of digital payment programs to help businesses control their non-payroll spend. We provide programs for controlling employee walk-around spending, automating AP payments and converting and moving currencies around the world. Our solutions help companies better control all kinds of vendor-related expense.

Exec Edge: Maybe well start at the top, just for readers who are unfamiliar with Corpay. Walk us through what Corpay does.

Despite coming off a strong quarter and a 2026 +20% profit growth guide, Corpays stock is down because of investor concerns about stablecoins. Exec Edge had the opportunity to sit down with Ron Clarke (CEO) and Peter Walker (CFO) to discuss their views on how the market is misreading the risk.

Story Continues

Finally, we are excited about stablecoins and blockchain as a means to move money. Though in-country payments are essentially cost-less today, and real-time rails make payments instantaneous, blockchain and stablecoin provide the ability to move money in an always on, 24/7 capacity. It also enables the ability to get money to exotic currencies more efficiently. That use case really doesnt apply to our business as 90% plus of our fx revenue and volume is in G20 currencies.

Exec Edge: Do you think the market is misinterpreting the stablecoin opportunity as a headwind instead of a tailwind for Corpay, particularly for your cross border business?

Ron Clarke: Yes. In our cross-border business, which is our fastest growing business, the concern is that its going to be disrupted by stablecoins. Whats really missing in that narrative is that stablecoins provide a new, additional digital currency and money movement rail. Id also point out that stablecoins are essentially the 4th generation of money movement capabilitiesstarting with the Swift network, then direct in country ACH schemes, then onto real time payments, and now tokenized currencies and blockchain. They all coexist today, and we expect stablecoin to increase its adoption over time.

We really make our money from FX conversion, risk management or hedging contracts, and foreign bank accounts. And the moat around the business is super strong in terms of the technology we have, the liquidity we have, etc. So people are confusing the rails, which is stablecoin/blockchain with FX conversion and hedging contracts capability. Stablecoins are a new pipe  we make money on what flows through the pipe, regardless of which pipe it is. Were completely agnostic to the rail and means of funds transfer in that we simply optimize the rail to meet the customer need.

November of last year I shared our stablecoin strategy and we are making great progress executing it. We plan to host a cross-border investor teach-in after our earnings call in May to dive deeper into the business and our stable coin capabilities.

Exec Edge: So in other words, investors arent completely understanding the complementary nature of an infrastructure provider, like Circle or BVNK, which are similar to the Swift network?

Ron Clarke: We see Circle and BVNK as alternative infrastructure providers, just like Swift or the traditional ACH banking system

So, the difference between the infrastructure providers and us, is were users of these rails or infrastructure. Were not a provider of the infrastructure. Having more suppliers of infrastructure is a good thing for Corpay, providing new, alternative ways to move money.

Again, its not competitive with what we do. Today, we simply use Swift or the banking system, and we are incorporating the stablecoin/blockchain rails.

Exec Edge: Lets talk about that MasterCard partnership. Now, I understand they also own a piece of your cross-border payments business. Why?

Ron Clarke: The idea is that our cross-border business, which is approximately $1.5 billion in revenue this year, sells to different kinds of customers, corporate accounts and select verticals. The verticals include financial institutions, asset managers and digital currency. And so the idea is that we could make the financial institution segment much bigger, its probably under 10% of the business today, if we could get to meet more people in banks. We believe that nobody knows banks around the world better than MasterCard. We proposed going to market together where Mastercard introduces our service, Corpay brings in proprietary cross-border services, and the banks clients get to utilize our services. The partnership is tracking ahead of expectations with three new clients and a robust pipeline.

Mastercard acquired 3% of our cross border business, at approximate $13 billion valuation. Our partnership is exclusive, so Mastercard cant go to another cross-border company to sell into banks.

Exec Edge: How does Mastercards BVNK acquisition impact the partnership?

Peter Walker: As Ron said, BVNK is a blockchain infrastructure business that sells to other users of that infrastructure. So Mastercard bought infrastructure. We sell services, and we have an exclusive partnership with Mastercard for currency exchange and hedging services. Our exclusivity with Mastercard protects that lane completely

Exec Edge: The historical performance of the stock has been impressive  up 10x since the IPO in 2010. In February of 2026 you delivered another beat and raise quarter and gave strong financial guidance, above analysts estimates for fiscal 2026. Yet the stock is off almost 20% in the last 30 days. What is the market missing?

Ron Clarke: We believe there is a disconnect between our financial performance and future growth prospects, and our valuation. For our stock to trade at approximately 6 turns below the equal weighted S&P, and yet be faster growing with higher margins, doesnt make a lot of sense to us.

Exec Edge: Lets talk M&A and capital allocation for a second. You guys have got a good track record. Whats the strategy and appetite for further M&A and how do you balance that with return capital to shareholders via buybacks?

Ron Clarke: Our capital allocation strategy is to overweight to corporate payments acquisitions. There a number of potential M&A targets in the corporate payment space. We also did mention on our recent earnings call that well probably divest some additional non-corporate payments businesses to simplify the company, and to generate capital. Just another way to create liquidity for more share buybacks.

Although there are attractive businesses that we want to buy, theres no better earnings to buy right now than CPAY at this price. We believe the stock is fundamentally mis-priced and under-valued, and were putting capital behind that view.

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Bitcoins drop from its peak above $75,000 last week has solidified its month-long sideways price action. While the leading cryptocurrency remains sensitive to immediate geopolitical headlines, broader market sentiment was tempered by last weeks $177 million outflows from exchange-traded funds across the crypto sector.

The weekly pullback, which saw Bitcoin dip to a low of $68,500, according to CoinGecko data, highlights the choppy nature of the current market. Over a broader time horizon, however, the assets resilience remains a focal point. The top crypto has significantly outperformed gold and the S&P 500 index since the onset of the U.S.-Iran war on February 28.

That divergence is due to Bitcoins several rounds of deleveraging since its October 2025 all-time high of $126,080, experts previously told Decrypt.

Bitcoin holding well despite geopolitical escalations is encouraging, Richard Usher, director of trading at financial infrastructure provider OpenPayd, told Decrypt, anticipating a bullish second quarter. The risk is clearly a prolonged conflict which could negatively affect sentiment in all risk assets, but my base case remains that neither side wants, or frankly can tolerate, a drawn-out conflict, so I remain cautiously upbeat for Q2," he said.

Ignacio Aguirre Franco, CMO of cryptocurrency exchange Bitget, anticipated "bouts of volatility as markets digest macro cues and quarter-end positioning," adding that towards the end of Q1, "Bitcoin may consolidate while investors rebalance portfolios, with ETF flows and liquidity trends guiding short-term direction.

Bitcoin Tops $71,000 as Trump Postpones Iran Power Plant Strike Plans

Though altcoins are at the behest of Bitcoins price action and volatility, a recovery in its price beyond $80,000 could be a key inflection point that triggers a capital rotation into Ethereum, XRP, and the broader crypto market, Ryan Lee, chief analyst at Bitget, told Decrypt.

Adding a geopolitical twist to the start of this week, Bitcoin spiked to an intraday high above $71,000 after U.S. President Donald Trump announced productive conversations with Iran and a five-day pause on planned strikes targeting the country's energy infrastructure.

Leading cryptocurrencies including Ethereum and XRP jumped alongside Bitcoin, though all three remain down on the week.

The news catalyzed bullish sentiment, with users chances of Bitcoin reaching $84,000 before $55,000 jumping by 9% on prediction market Myriad, owned by Decrypts parent company Dastan. Myriad users also assign a 20.7% chance to a U.S.-Iran cease-fire, up from 12.8% earlier today.
Leading Ethereum treasury company BitMine Immersion Technologies has continued its aggressive ETH accumulation strategy, purchasing 65,341 ETH last week and bringing its total holdings to over 4.66 million tokens$10.17 billion worthaccording to a new SEC filing.

Meanwhile, Chairman Tom Lee said he's been positioning the company for what he believes is an approaching crypto market recovery. (Disclosure: Lee is one of several angel investors in prediction market Myriad, which is operated by Decrypts parent company, Dastan.)

And indeed, Ethereum is up on the day, rising about 5% over the last 24 hours to a recent price of $2,180. The price of Ethereum and other top assets surged Monday morning following optimistic comments from President Trump, who said he would delay bombings on Iran following constructive peace talks with the nation.

The latest BitMine purchase, valued at approximately $142 million based on current Ethereum prices, extends what has become the largest institutional ETH treasury position. BitMine said in a press release that it also holds $1.1 billion in cash, along with about $14 million worth of Bitcoin.

The company is now sitting on a paper, or unrealized, loss of approximately $7 billion, according to crypto market intelligence platform DropsTab.

This new ETH purchase comes as Lee has expressed confidence that the crypto market is nearing the end of its current downturn.

"If we asked any investor, they can list all the reasons why they're worried and what could go wrong, and that gets priced in very quickly," the BitMine chairman said during an appearance on CNBC on Friday. "But we have to know that that's counterbalanced. Opportunities have always emerged. When we look at the last eight major war events, the market was always bottoming very early into the conflict."

According to data cited in market reports, BitMine's ETH holdings now represent approximately 3.81% of the total Ethereum supply.

Ethereum Hits 2-Week LowAnd Tom Lee's BitMine Just Added to Its $8.4 Billion Stash

Beyond spot accumulation, the company has also deployed significant portions of its holdings into staking operations. BitMine has staked holdings totaling 3,142,291 ETH, generating additional yield while maintaining long-term exposure to the asset. Once its treasury is fully staked, the firm expects to earn approximately $272 million per year in yield.

This accumulation has occurred against a backdrop of broader market uncertainty, with user sentiment on Myriada prediction market platform owned by Decrypt's parent company Dastanclimbing higher on pessimism amid wider equity market volatility. CoinMarketCap's Fear and Greed Index currently sits at 35, signaling Fear, at the time of the writing.

However, Alternative.me's Crypto Fear and Greed Index sits at 8, or Extreme Fear, at the time of writing.
Sweden's H100 Group has signed a letter of intent to acquire two Norwegian Bitcoin treasury companies in an all-stock transaction that would more than triple its holdings to approximately 3,500 BTCcurrently valued around $245 millionpositioning the firm among Europe's largest public Bitcoin treasuries.

The company announced that it signed a letter of intent to acquire Moonshot AS and Never Say Die AS through a share-based deal that would add roughly 2,450 Bitcoin to its current reserve of 1,051 BTC. The transaction involves H100 issuing new shares in exchange for all shares of the Norwegian companies, with no cash component.

The acquisition would elevate H100 to 27th globally among public Bitcoin treasury companies, as of today, based on data from Bitcoin Treasuries, making it Europe's second-largest listed Bitcoin treasury firm. That would put it just behind Germanys Bitcoin Group SE with 3,605 BTC.

H100 framed the consolidation as part of its strategy to enhance institutional presence, boost liquidity, and expand market relevance in the European crypto market. The all-share structure allows existing shareholders to maintain bitcoin exposure while scaling the combined entity's holdings.

We see strong industrial logic in this acquisition. Scale, credibility and access to capital markets are increasingly important in the Bitcoin space, and this transaction would significantly strengthen H100 in all these areas, said Chairman Sander Andersen, in a statement. The transaction represents a continuation of H100s existing strategy and an execution of the companys capital markets and M&A strategy to build scale through Bitcoin-based transactions.

H100 and the target companies hope to sign definitive agreements before April 22, and complete the deal ahead of the companys next annual general meeting on May 21.

Strategy Unveils $44 Billion Plan to Buy More Bitcoin, Driven By MSTR and STRC Shares

H100 began its Bitcoin treasury in May 2025. A wave of Bitcoin treasury companies emerged last year as the price of the leading cryptocurrency surged to new heights, peaking in October just above $126,000. It has since fallen sharply, recently trading just above $70,000.

Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), which pioneered the treasury model and began buying BTC back in 2020, remains the largest publicly traded Bitcoin holder by far, with 762,099 BTCover $53 billion worth of the cryptocurrency. On Monday, the firm revealed plans to raise a further $44 billion to continue buying Bitcoin.
The crypto industry is edging closer to getting its landmark legislation after US senators said they had agreed to strike an agreement in principle with the White House over key language in a bill regarding stablecoins, according to a report.

Language in the Clarity Act related to the digital tokens could be changed to prevent widespread deposit flight, senators Thom Tillis and Angela Alsobrooks told Politico on Friday.

Alsobrooks added she thought the agreement in principle would not only prevent deposit flight but protect innovation in the US.

The comments come as crypto executives, US banking representatives and regulators hash out the Clarity Act at the White House and US President Donald Trump urges them to get the legislation over the line.

Banks holding Clarity hostage?

The bill, which aims to set in stone digital asset regulation, has been in a deadlock over stablecoins and the yield they will potentially pay customers.

Crypto industry players  including the US biggest crypto exchange, Coinbase  want to pay their customers rewards on the tokens they hold.

But banking representatives have warned they could lose their deposit base as a result as customers flock to more attractive offers from crypto exchanges.

Coinbase pulled support for the bill in January. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon this month said crypto companies like Coinbase should be regulated like banks if they want to pay stablecoin rewards.

Trump sided with the crypto industry this month when he demanded the bill get passed.

The Banks should not be trying to undercut The Genius Act, or hold The Clarity Act hostage, he wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.

They need to make a good deal with the Crypto Industry because thats whats in best interest of the American People, he added.

DL News reached out to Senator Alsobrooks and Tillis for comment.

More crypto-friendly legislation

Clearer crypto guidance arrived this week after the US Securities and Exchange Commission issued a landmark interpretation of federal securities laws.

Wall Streets top regulators new guidance put cryptocurrencies into two categories: tokenised securities and so-called non-security crypto assets.

Assets like XRP and Solana were finally categorised as commodities.

The new rules will unlikely be overturned, crypto lobbyists told DL News.

Since President Trump took the White House, a number of pro-crypto bills have been signed and the SEC has taken a markedly different approach to watchdogging the space.

Mathew Di Salvo is a news correspondent with DL News. Got a tip? Email at mdisalvo@dlnews.com.
Key Points

JPMorgan flagged a crypto exchange most investors have never heard of and the reason involves the Iran war.

The volume number that caught Wall Street's attention did not come from crypto traders.

There is one structural gap in traditional markets that Hyperliquid is quietly filling, and JPMorgan says the trend is just getting started.

Wall Street's biggest bank just put a name on the radar that most equity investors have never seen before. That name is Hyperliquid.

JPMorgan analysts, led by Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou, flagged the decentralized exchange in a note this week after its oil perpetual futures contract hit $1.7 billion in peak daily trading volume, driven almost entirely by non-crypto traders seeking oil price exposure while traditional markets were closed for the weekend.

Related: JPMorgan analysts revamp 2025 Bitcoin forecast

The moment that triggered the bank's attention

The catalyst was the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East. When Iranian infrastructure strikes broke over the weekend, CME crude markets were shut. Traders who needed to react had nowhere to go.

"Oil trading exploded on the Hyperliquid exchange early this month when the Iran war erupted as CME traders were unable to react when Iranian infrastructure strikes broke over the weekend," the analysts wrote.

Hyperliquid's CL-USDC contract, a crude oil perpetual futures product margined in USDC with up to 20x leverage, stayed open for price discovery around the clock.

Within days it became the platform's third-most-traded product, behind only Bitcoin and Ethereum. Open interest has since climbed to roughly $300 million.

What Hyperliquid actually is

A decentralized exchange, or DEX, is a peer-to-peer marketplace where users trade directly via smart contracts, without a central operator holding customer funds.

Unlike most DEXs that use automated market makers, Hyperliquid runs a fully onchain order book, giving it tighter spreads and execution far closer to what institutional traders expect from traditional venues.

The exchange offers sub-second finality and portfolio margining across multiple contracts simultaneously. Those are not retail features. They are the specifications institutional desks ask for.

More on stocks:

The number JPMorgan could not ignore

$1.7 billion means it surpassed every product on Hyperliquid's platform except Bitcoin and Ethereum perpetuals, and it did not arrive from crypto traders, but from traditional commodity traders who had no other option when their usual market went dark.
Crypto investors have complained for years that their industry was regulated via law-by-ambush: Regulators brought lawsuits first and then defined norms after.

Happily, that era appears to have ended on March 17, when the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) issued a formal classification structure covering most crypto assets, including Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH), XRP (CRYPTO: XRP), Solana (CRYPTO: SOL), Cardano, Chainlink, and even Dogecoin. Most of the crypto majors you're familiar with are now considered "digital commodities," but the implications of the new classification format reach further than a single label, and they might open the door to a new golden age of crypto. Here's what you need to know.

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.

Welcome to the new crypto taxonomy

The 68-page document published by the SEC and CFTC addresses a wide array of core cryptocurrency topics, including staking, mining, airdrops, and the provenance of wrapped tokens, all of which are activities that have drawn regulatory scrutiny for years. Although it isn't the same as a new law governing crypto, it's a set of guidelines where regulators explain how they will approach (and police) the sector from here on.

The joint guidance establishes five categories for cryptocurrencies:

Digital commodities Digital collectibles Digital tools Stablecoins Digital securities

The first category is where most investor attention belongs, as the SEC and CFTC explicitly named 16 of the leading cryptos as digital commodities, including every asset mentioned above -- yes, even Dogecoin. But regulators also accounted for the possibility that a coin might begin its life in one category and then transition to another; although Dogecoin was specifically singled out as being a digital commodity, certain other dog-themed meme coins were specified as being digital collectibles.

Equally significant is what the framework says about earning a yield from crypto investments. Staking, which is to say, the process of locking up tokens to help validate a proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchain like Ethereum, is now classified as an "administrative activity" rather than being a securities offering.

The red line is now whether a staking service is promising investors a return based on their own advantage or effort. Self-directed and protocol-level staking are now on firm legal ground, but pooled staking products where a centralized platform controls the yield could still potentially be subject to legal consequences.
Willis, part of WTW, has collaborated with Circle Asia to introduce a new insurance facility aimed at individual art collectors and galleries across Asia.

This initiative brings together Willis fine art insurance experience with Circles digital platform to offer a simplified method for insuring artworks, jewellery and other valuable collections.

The new facility introduces a lower entry premium, the company said in a statement.

The policy provides coverage for various assets under one agreement, including art, jewellery, home contents, and buildings for private collectors.

Policy terms and premiums are structured to suit the specific requirements of clients.

Policy management will be handled by Willis Fine Art team through the Circle platform.

Circle Asia co-regional director Julie Quach said: This partnership demonstrates the strength that comes from two organisations bringing complementary capabilities together. Our valued collaboration with Willis builds on each others expertise, combining their deep knowledge in art and specialty insurance with Circle Asias digital infrastructure and technical underwriting strengths.

This digital approach is intended to improve communication, provide clear accountability and speed up the process compared to standard practices.

The facility is also designed to accommodate short-term needs such as cover for single exhibitions or transit events, with terms that allow for quick responses and comprehensive protection.

Based in Hong Kong, Willis Fine Art team works with auction houses, corporate and private collections of art and jewellery, dealers, institutions, museums, packers and shippers.

Willis Asia Fine Art, Jewellery and Specie, Asia associate director Fion Ko said: Asias fine arts market continues to grow rapidly, with the increasing participation of young and affluent collectors, yet insurance solutions have not always kept pace. Clients now expect fast turnaround and efficient service on their coverage and handling of claims.

Through this partnership with Circle Asia, clients will receive our tailored fine art risk expertise, along with professional advice on prevention and protection. Circles digital platform supports our team by improving efficiency, underwriting access and processing speed. These enhancements translate into a faster, more seamless experience for our clients.

Earlier this year, Willis returned to the light and recreational general aviation insurance sector after 30 years. This move followed the integration of the Crispin Speers team into the companys operations.
There's no doubt that artificial intelligence (AI) stocks have been the talk of the stock market for the past few years. Unfortunately, the talk to begin 2026 has been a little more negative than previously because many of the world's top tech and AI-related stocks have struggled so far.

Even with the slow start to the year, now isn't the time to jump ship on AI stocks. If anything, it's time to revisit how useful ETFs can be. You can get exposure to many AI companies at once without taking on the risk that comes with investing in individual stocks.

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 

One of the stock market's most popular tech ETFs is the Vanguard Information Technology ETF (NYSEMKT: VGT) but there's a much better option if you're looking to invest in AI stocks.

Image source: Getty Images.

Why VGT isn't ideal for AI exposure

To begin, it's important to look at the companies leading the way for VGT. Here are its top 10 holdings:

Nvidia (18.04% of the ETF)

Apple (14.33%)

Microsoft (10.93%)

Broadcom (4.33%)

Micron Technology (2.35%)

Advanced Micro Devices (1.89%)

Palantir Technologies (1.62%)

Cisco Systems (1.56%)

Lam Research (1.52%)

International Business Machines (1.44%)

Aside from Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft accounting for over 43% of the 318-stock fund, the main issue with going with VGT for AI exposure is that it doesn't include some of the most important companies in the AI space.

VGT only includes companies from the information technology sector, but companies like Amazon, Alphabet, Meta Platforms, and Tesla are technically in different sectors because of how their businesses make most of their money. Amazon and Tesla are in the consumer discretionary sector, and Alphabet and Meta are in the communication services sector.

Don't shortchange yourself

Training and running AI models require lots of computing power, data storage, and networking, most of which is supplied by major cloud platforms. If you're going to invest in AI stocks, it's smart to have some exposure to the major cloud infrastructure providers, and VGT is missing two of the three largest platforms globally in Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud.

AWS is particularly important because it's the largest platform in the world, and thousands of businesses rely on it for their daily operations. When there's an AWS outage, countless apps and websites stop working.
BWX currently trades at $201.69 and has been a dream stock for shareholders. Its returned 218% since March 2021, more than tripling the S&P 500s 69.4% gain. The company has also beaten the index over the past six months as its stock price is up 13.3% thanks to its solid quarterly results.

Is now still a good time to buy BWXT? Or is this a case of a company fueled by heightened investor enthusiasm? Find out in our full research report, its free.

More from Yahoo Scout Is BWX's 45.6x forward P/E ratio justified? What drives BWX's impressive 218% stock return? Why has BWX's free cash flow margin expanded? How significant is BWX's projected 17.3% revenue growth?

Why Is BWX a Good Business?

Contributing components and materials to the famous Manhattan Project in the 1940s, BWX (NYSE:BWXT) is a manufacturer and service provider of nuclear components and fuel for government and commercial industries.

1. Long-Term Revenue Growth Shows Momentum

Reviewing a companys long-term sales performance reveals insights into its quality. Any business can put up a good quarter or two, but the best consistently grow over the long haul. Thankfully, BWXs 8.5% annualized revenue growth over the last five years was decent. Its growth was slightly above the average industrials company and shows its offerings resonate with customers.

BWX Quarterly Revenue

2. Projected Revenue Growth Is Remarkable

Forecasted revenues by Wall Street analysts signal a companys potential. Predictions may not always be accurate, but accelerating growth typically boosts valuation multiples and stock prices while slowing growth does the opposite, though some deceleration is natural as businesses become larger.

Over the next 12 months, sell-side analysts expect BWXs revenue to rise by 17.3%, an improvement versus its 8.5% annualized growth for the past five years. This projection is eye-popping and implies its newer products and services will catalyze better top-line performance.

3. Increasing Free Cash Flow Margin Juices Financials

If youve followed StockStory for a while, you know we emphasize free cash flow. Why, you ask? We believe that in the end, cash is king, and you cant use accounting profits to pay the bills.

As you can see below, BWXs margin expanded by 5.7 percentage points over the last five years. This is encouraging, and we can see it became a less capital-intensive business because its free cash flow profitability rose while its operating profitability fell. BWXs free cash flow margin for the trailing 12 months was 9.2%.

BWX Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin

Final Judgment

There are definitely things to like about BWX, and with its shares outperforming the market lately, the stock trades at 45.6 forward P/E (or $201.69 per share). Is now the right time to buy? See for yourself in our full research report, its free.
Small-town independent grocers have long served as the backbone of local communities, shaping regional identities and fostering customer loyalty that national chains often struggle to replicate.

But today, the U.S. grocery landscape is undergoing a structural shift.

Changing consumer behavior, persistent economic pressure, and intensifying competition from large-scale and non-traditional retailers are redefining how and where Americans buy food.

Retail giants such as Walmart, Costco, Kroger, and Albertsons continue to expand their dominance through scale, pricing power, and extensive product assortments.

The top four grocery retailers now account for 69% of total U.S. grocery spending, with Walmart alone contributing nearly 35%, according to Farm Action.

For independent operators, the pressure is mounting. Many are being forced to adapt, consolidate, or exit the market altogether.

However, one fast-growing regional grocery chain is finding opportunity in that disruption.

Harps Food Stores expands with major acquisition

Founded in 1930, Harps Food Stores has quietly built a scalable growth model centered on acquiring independent grocers in underserved markets.

The company, which currently operates 160 locations across five states, has entered into an agreement to acquire 18 stores from Dyer Foods, an independent grocery operator owned by the Hays family.

Financial terms were not disclosed, but the transaction is expected to close by summer 2026.

Once completed, Harps will expand to 178 locations across eight states, marking its entry into two new states and representing its largest acquisition in nearly six years.

The deal includes 17 stores in western Tennessee and one in Kentucky.

Acquired store locations

Alamo

Bells

Brownsville

Covington

Dyersburg

Halls

Henderson

Humboldt

Jackson

Millington

Newbern

Somerville

Tiptonville

Trenton

Most of the 18 stores being acquired are Dyer-operated Food Rite locations, but one is a Piggly Wiggly, four are Save-A-Lots, and two are Cash Saver stores, according to Supermarket News.

Harps also stated that store operations and employment will continue with minimal disruption during the transition and that the Food Rite, Save-A-Lot, and Piggly Wiggly stores will all continue to operate under their current banners.

This move allows the company to maintain local brand identity through a unified operating model.

Harps Food Stores acquires 18 locations from Dyer Foods.Joe Raedle/Getty Images  Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Harps Food Stores' small-town grocery expansion strategy

This latest acquisition aligns with Harps' strategy of acquiring independent grocers in small markets where competition from larger chains is less saturated, but operational challenges remain.
Australian vintner Wirra Wirra has struck a deal to acquire Trott Vineyard in Blewitt Springs in South Australia.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

In a statement, Wirra Wirra said the vineyard, which sits on 2.5 acres of land, is one of Australias most significant Grenache sites.

The group is buying the vineyard from its founder Sue Trott, Matthew Deller, CEO of Wirra Wirra confirmed to Just Drinks.

The Trott family have longstanding ties to Wirra Wirra, the group noted in its statement, with Sue Trott and the late Roger Trott having "rebuilt Wirra Wirra with Roger's cousin Greg in 1969".

Upon completing the transaction, Wirra Wirra will take over ownership and day-to-day management of the site, which was planted in 1952.

Deller said: Trott Vineyard is a rare asset in Australian wine. Its fruit produces a style of Grenache that stands comfortably alongside the great sites of the world.

As part of the deal, Thistledown Wines, which previously sourced fruit from Trott Vineyard, will continue to buy half of the fruit produced at the site through a long-term supply agreement. Wirra Wirra has also established a marketing agreement with the business, Deller told Just Drinks.

Four other wineries used to source their fruit from Trott Vineyard but Wirra Wirra has only set up an agreement with Thistledown, the CEO confirmed.

In Wirra Wirra's statement, Deller said the company was "committed to protecting" the identity of Trott Vineyard, "and working with Thistledown, whose achievements with the vineyard have played a vital role in elevating McLaren Vale Grenache internationally".

Thistledown, founded in 2010 and owned by Giles Cooke and Paddy Gilhooly, focuses on small-batch Grenache, Shiraz and Chardonnay. Its brands include The Vagabond, She's Electric and the Grenache label Sands of Time.

Cooke said: We have made single vineyard wines from Trott for 13 years, and its character defines Sands of Time.

Working with Wirra Wirra secures the future of this site and allows us to accelerate its global recognition. Trott Vineyard deserves its place among the worlds leading expressions of Grenache.

Wirra Wirra said vineyard operations will be overseen by its viticulturist Anton Groffen, with an emphasis on keeping original vine material and protecting the sites structure and soil condition.

Deller also told Just Drinks it would be ending some of its grower partnerships to focus on Trott Vineyard, which links to its overall strategy of working with a smaller number of vineyards and "refining how we want to be working with only the best vineyards at McLaren Vale".
Delivery Hero has signed an agreement to sell its Foodpanda operations in Taiwan to Southeast Asian ride-hailing and delivery company Grab for $600m in cash.

In a statement, Delivery Hero said that the deal forms the first step in an ongoing strategic review.

The company plans to use the net proceeds from the deal to repay debt and for general corporate purposes, including strengthening its capital structure.

The transaction is expected to close in the second half of this year, subject to regulatory approvals.

Following completion, Foodpandas local customers, vendors and delivery partners in Taiwan are expected to transition to Grab. Delivery Hero said it remains fully committed to operating as usual in the market until closing.

Delivery Hero co-founder and CEO Niklas Ostberg said: The Foodpanda team in Taiwan has built a fantastic business, and we thank them for their hard work.

"A transaction like this is a significant undertaking, but we are delighted to have agreed this cash deal, which reflects the strength and attractiveness of the business in Taiwan."

Meanwhile, the transaction will give Singapore-based Grab a delivery foothold outside Southeast Asia.

Grab co-founder and Group CEO Anthony Tan said: This acquisition will mark Grabs expansion into Taiwan, our ninth market and first outside of Southeast Asia.

This is a natural next step for Grab, as our experience in Southeast Asia is a direct fit for this market. We see a significant opportunity to grow the food and groceries delivery scene here.

In full-year 2025, Delivery Heros Taiwan food delivery operations generated gross merchandise value (GMV) of 1.5bn ($1.75bn) and delivered positive adjusted EBITDA [earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation].

"Delivery Hero to divest Taiwan food delivery business for $600m" was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand.




The company expects the transaction to close in the second half of 2026 , subject to customary regulatory approvals. To facilitate a separation from Delivery Heros global infrastructure, the company plans to provide support services for a migration period of up to 12 months after closing. In the Q&A, management also indicated that technology support would continue through 2026 and most part of 2027 as part of transitional services.

Chief Financial Officer Marie-Anne Popp provided financial context and expected timing for the sale. She said that in full-year 2025, the Taiwan business generated gross merchandise value (GMV) of EUR 1.5 billion , representing around 3% of Delivery Heros total GMV.

On a conference call held at short notice to discuss the announcement, Chief Executive Officer Niklas Ostberg said the deal is the companys fifth asset monetization and is intended to crystallize fundamental value for what he called a market-leading asset. Ostberg added that while Delivery Heros operational performance remains strong, the company believes public markets have not fully reflected the intrinsic value of its global operations. He also noted that completing a carve-out transaction had required extensive work over roughly the past nine months, and characterized the negotiations as volatile but ultimately constructive for both parties.

Delivery Hero (ETR:DHER) said it has agreed to divest its food delivery operations in Taiwan to Grab for $600 million in cash , describing the transaction as the first major milestone in the companys strategic review announced in mid-December 2025.

Delivery Hero will provide transitional tech and support services for up to 12 months (with some tech support into 2027), and management expects the sales impact on adjusted EBITDA and cash flow in 2026 and during the transition to be marginal .

The Taiwan unit delivered EUR 1.5 billion GMV in 2025 (about 3% of group GMV); the transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026 and will be used to repay debt, reducing net leverage from roughly 2.7x to 2.2x .

Delivery Hero has agreed to sell its Taiwan food-delivery business to Grab for $600 million in cash , calling the deal the first major milestone in its strategic review and its fifth asset monetization to crystallize value.

Story Continues

Popp said the divestment would significantly strengthen Delivery Heros capital structure, reducing net leverage from approximately 2.7x to 2.2x.

During the question-and-answer session, UBS analyst Joe Barnet-Lamb asked about the companys recent issuance of a $1.4 billion term loan and why the amount exceeded the convertible bond buyback figure the company had referenced previouslyparticularly given the additional cash expected from the Taiwan sale. Management reiterated that the term loan and proceeds from the divestment were aimed at repaying existing debt, optimizing the companys debt structure, and strengthening the balance sheet, while maintaining flexibility to respond to future opportunities or challenges.

Profitability and EBITDA considerations

 Trash to Treasure: 3 Waste Removal Stocks to Minimize Volatility

Citi analyst Monique Pollard asked about the Taiwan businesss profitability and the potential impact on Delivery Heros results once the asset is sold. Management said Taiwan contributes positively to adjusted EBITDA at the country level, but when platform cost allocations are included, the impact is expected to be marginal. The company said it expects the overall impact on adjusted EBITDA and cash flow in 2026and during the transitional service periodto be marginal, and noted it would expect to adjust costs over time to align with the size of the remaining business beyond the transition period.

Valuation context and competitive position

Morgan Stanley analyst Luke Holbrook asked how the implied valuation compared with a prior, referenced transaction involving Uber that had been discussed in the market around 18 months earlier. Ostberg said deal multiples are not directly comparable and emphasized the difference between a buyer that is already operating in the market versus a buyer entering as a standalone operator. He added that market conditions have also changed, citing multiple contraction and broader geopolitical uncertainty, but said Delivery Hero believed it had reached a good outcome that is significantly incremental to how the company is valued today.

Deutsche Bank analyst Silvia Cuneo requested more color on Delivery Heros market position in Taiwan. Ostberg said the business holds a very strong position, and that profitability in the market has improved significantly over the past couple of years. He described geographic variation in relative strength versus Uber, with areas where each player is larger, but maintained that the overall competitive position is strong.

Limited interim updates on broader strategic review

Management stressed that the Taiwan divestment is only one element of several ongoing reviews. Popp said the company would not provide interim updates to protect the integrity of those processes and would inform the market only when definitive agreements are signed. Executives also noted the company will publish full-year results on Thursday and host an analyst call then, and therefore did not comment on broader group performance or provide 2026 guidance during this event.

In closing remarks, Ostberg thanked the Taiwan team for building what he called a tremendous business and said he believes Grab will be an excellent owner, describing the sale as a first good step in Delivery Heros broader strategic effort.

About Delivery Hero (ETR:DHER)

Delivery Hero SE offers online food ordering and delivery services. It operates approximately in 70 countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Latin America. The company was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Berlin, Germany.

The article "Delivery Hero to Sell Taiwan Food Delivery Unit to Grab for $600M in Strategic Review Milestone" was originally published by MarketBeat.
Interview: Global Civilization Initiative in tune with Central Asia's historical experience, says Kyrgyz expert

Xinhua) 09:02, March 23, 2026

BISHKEK, March 22 (Xinhua) -- The China-proposed Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) resonates deeply with the long-standing tradition of cultural exchange in Central Asia, one of the oldest crossroads of civilizations, a Kyrgyz expert has said.

The initiative, proposed in March 2023 during the Communist Party of China in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-level Meeting, is an important public good offered by China to the international community in the new era. It helps promote dialogue among civilizations and seeks to overcome divisions through mutual exchange and understanding.

"Central Asia can be considered one of the oldest crossroads of civilizations. Key routes of the ancient Silk Road passed through the territory of modern-day Kyrgyzstan. Chinese, Russian, Persian, Turkic and Middle Eastern civilizations intersected here," Mars Sariev, a political scientist and expert on Central Asian issues, said in an interview with Xinhua.

"Along with goods, different ideas, religions, scientific knowledge and artistic traditions were exchanged. Therefore, the concept of civilizational dialogue is natural and deeply rooted in the region," Sariev added.

The Central Asian region had served as a bridge between the East and the West for centuries, and today it can once again play that role in civilizational exchange and dialogue in Eurasia, fostering mutual learning and understanding between different cultural worlds, the expert said.

"In this sense, Chinese initiatives for humanitarian and cultural dialogues are effectively restoring the spirit of openness that once existed along the great Silk Road," he emphasized.

Kyrgyzstan currently holds the rotating chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which marks its 25th anniversary this year.

According to Sariev, the SCO's practice of bringing together diverse civilizations for more than two decades supports China's view that different civilizations can coexist peacefully.

"In fact, the Organization has become a kind of laboratory where the possibility of peaceful coexistence between different civilizations is tested in practice," the Kyrgyz expert said. "If you look at the evolution of the SCO, it becomes clear that it is an international platform that, from the very beginning, has emphasized trust and pragmatic cooperation."

"The Organization brings together countries with distinct political systems and cultural traditions. But it is precisely this diversity that has become the organization's hallmark," Sariev added.

The Shanghai Spirit that underpins the SCO emphasizes respect for diverse civilizations. China maintains that there are no superior or inferior civilizations. Sariev noted that these principles are particularly important amid certain voices that seek to rank civilizations.

For countries in Central Asia in particular, respect for cultural diversity is not an abstract concept, but a reflection of their own historical experience, said the expert. "Our region has always been at the crossroads of civilizations, resulting in a special environment where the coexistence of different cultures has become the norm."

Sariev also stressed that stability emerges where there is balance and mutual respect.

"The principle of equality among civilizations essentially means recognizing the right of each society to develop along its own historical path. In today's world, this model of international relations appears more realistic and sustainable," he said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Indian quick-service restaurant (QSR) operator Devyani International (DIL) is set to become a minority shareholder in Thailand-based Restaurants Development.

According to local reports, DIL will invest Rs3.47bn ($37m) in Restaurants Development, which operates 274 KFC restaurants in Thailand.

The investment is aimed at strengthening Restaurants Development's balance sheet and supporting long-term business requirements.

DIL will make the injection via subsidiary Devyani International DMCC (DID) and group entity Yellow Palm.

Around Rs2.32bn of the investment will be used to repay debt that Restaurants Development owes to DID. The remaining amount will be used for working capital and CapEx needs.

In an exchange filing, DIL said: DID will raise Rs1.14bn of convertible loan from the company and take a short-term loan of Rs2.32bn from Axis Bank Limited, Dubai.

This loan will be secured by a corporate guarantee of the company and shall be repaid to Axis Bank Limited, Dubai, upon repayment of the existing loan by RD to DID.

The transaction is expected to be completed by 30 June 2026.

Once complete, DID will hold a 49% stake in Restaurants Development while Yellow Palm will own the remaining 51% stake.

Earlier this month, DIL announced plans to merge three subsidiaries into the parent entity to streamline operations and improve efficiency.

The subsidiaries, namely Sky Gate Hospitality, Blackvelvet Hospitality and Say Chefs Eatery, operate more than 100 outlets.

These include dine-in locations and cloud kitchens across more than 40 cities, including Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru.

"Devyani International to invest in Thailands KFC operator Restaurants Development" was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand.




This article first appeared on GuruFocus.

Release Date: March 23, 2026

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

DHH SpA (MIL:DHH) reported a 13% increase in revenue, reaching 41.8 million, with 91% of this being recurring revenue.

The company's EBITDA grew by 15% to 13.8 million, with an improved EBITDA margin from 33% to 34%.

Net profit increased by 25%, achieving 4.6 million, and the company maintains a net cash position of 1.3 million.

The cloud computing segment showed recovery and growth, driven by AI-related products, which are experiencing double-digit growth month over month.

DHH SpA (MIL:DHH) completed an accelerated book building, raising funds to support M&A and organic growth opportunities.

Negative Points

The company faces increased energy costs and supply chain tensions, particularly in RAM and storage procurement, which could impact margins.

There is a concern about the chip shortage affecting the growth potential of cloud computing and hosting segments.

The business connectivity segment's growth is partly reliant on acquisitions, which may not be sustainable long-term.

SeaWeb, a part of the group, experienced a significant drop in performance due to M&A activities among its customer base.

The company is facing competitive pressures in the cloud hosting market, particularly in Italy, where it is a minor player.

Q & A Highlights

Q: Is the improvement in EBITDA margin driven by operational efficiency in the legacy business or is there an initial impact of GPU and AI services? A: Antonio Baldassara, CEO: The improvement is primarily due to increased efficiency in recently acquired companies like Kunezi and Eveling. While GPU and AI services have an impact, it is currently minor but growing rapidly, and we expect a more significant effect in future reports.

Q: How is the current trading in Q1, and what is the impact of electricity prices on revenue? A: Antonio Baldassara, CEO: We are observing good revenue momentum. There is a strong increase in energy costs, but we have some protection through supplier agreements. For co-location services, we adjust prices quarterly to reflect energy cost changes, which helps mitigate the impact on margins.

Q: What is behind the strong performance in the business connectivity segment in 2025? A: Antonio Baldassara, CEO: The growth is mainly due to improvements in Kornezi, a company in our group, which is undergoing an efficiency and organizational enhancement process. Additionally, TechnoNet, a recent acquisition, contributed to this growth with its business connectivity revenue.
Q : Can you provide some visibility on the key assumptions for the 2026 free cash flow target of EUR250 million? A : Luca Colman, CFO, explained that the 2026 free cash flow target is based on assumptions similar to those in 2025, with an improvement of around EUR10 million due to increased en-route traffic and stable tariffs. The cash flow from balance reversals is expected to remain consistent with 2025.

Operating costs increased by 6.4%, driven by higher personnel costs and maintenance expenses, which could impact future profitability if not managed effectively.

The company faces challenges in predicting the impact of geopolitical events on traffic, with March data still pending and EUROCONTROL yet to update traffic forecasts.

The external environment remains volatile, with recent turmoil in the Middle East posing potential risks to traffic forecasts and financial performance.

ENAV SpA ( STU:ENV ) demonstrated strong financial performance with EBITDA reaching the higher end of the guidance range and free cash flow exceeding expectations at EUR260 million.

The company has successfully diversified its revenue streams, with nearly 50% of revenue generated outside Europe, and has expanded its presence in the drone segment with the acquisition of AIView.

Revenues from the non-regulated business grew by 1.6 times, now accounting for approximately 5% of total revenues, with a target to exceed EUR100 million by 2029.

The company achieved a remarkable reduction in CO2 emissions by 86.4% from the 2019 baseline and was included in the Climate A-list by CDP for the second consecutive year.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript .

Story Continues

Q: What are the expectations for dividends in RP5, given that RP4 dividends are largely supported by balance reversals? A: Luca Colman, CFO, stated that ENAV has room to increase debt to support dividend payments if necessary. The decision will depend on future cash flow generation and will be made by the Board of Directors at that time.

Q: Why was the CapEx figure for 2025 so low, and is the target of EUR570 million total CapEx over the 2025-2029 period still valid? A: Luca Colman, CFO, explained that the low CapEx figure was due to discounts obtained through bidding processes and grants from European and Italian sources. The planned CapEx remains unchanged, and the target for the 2025-2029 period is still valid.

Q: Can you provide an update on the acquisition of AIView and the strategy around M&A? A: Pasqualino Monti, CEO, mentioned that the acquisition of AIView is expected to be finalized soon. ENAV continues to scout for M&A opportunities, potentially larger than AIView, and may use debt to finance such acquisitions.

Q: How is ENAV leveraging AI to achieve cost savings, and what are the expected impacts on the workforce? A: Pasqualino Monti, CEO, stated that AI and digitalization are strategic pillars for ENAV, enhancing efficiency and capacity. The retirement of air traffic controllers will be managed by optimizing hiring, leveraging technology to maintain personnel costs.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
Goldman Sachs will let go of a limited number of underperforming employees next month, according to a source who spoke to Reuters.

The upcoming job cuts are separate from the companys usual annual review process known internally as the "strategic resource assessment", which normally sees between 1% and 3% of positions eliminated.

The plans were first reported by Business Insider, citing individuals familiar with the matter.

In a statement, Goldman Sachs spokesperson said: "Regular, consistent headcount management is nothing out of the ordinary for a public company. We are constantly assessing our performance and talent across divisions."

The decision comes months after Goldman Sachs expansion of its Birmingham office, according to a report by Bloomberg.

The firm revealed late last year that it intended to create 500 new roles in the city over several years.

Since opening its Birmingham location in 2021 with 30 staff, Goldman Sachs has grown its headcount there to about 500.

This move is expected to double the offices workforce.

Other international financial institutions have also recently announced job reductions.

Earlier this month, Morgan Stanley cut about 2,500 jobs, or approximately 3% of its workforce, impacting several divisions including investment banking, trading, wealth management, and investment management.

In January, BlackRock made headlines to reduce its global staff by around 1%, affecting about 250 positions.

UBS, meanwhile, has set out intentions to cut up to 10,000 roles globally by 2027, as reported by Swiss newspaper SonntagsBlick late last year.

The bank has not confirmed the precise number but said it aims to limit redundancies both in Switzerland and internationally.

"Goldman Sachs to reduce underperforming staff in April  report" was originally created and published by Private Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand.




Gibon said the higher capex contributed to a 3% reduction in net cash, with closing net cash of 26.5 million at 31 October 2025. He noted that 2024 figures for gross cash, net cash, and cash generated from operations were restated due to a reclassification of cash in transit.

Capital expenditure rose 20% to 65 million, which management said was planned and primarily tied to growth investment. The company broke out capex allocations as:

Management said profit before tax rose 6.5% year-on-year (7% at constant currency), while cash generated from operations totaled 115.5 million, up nearly 9% from the prior year. Total revenue increased 2.4% (3% at constant currency), and group EBITDA increased by more than 5% (6% at constant currency), with laundry EBITDA up 17%.

ME Group International (LON:MEGP) reported what management described as another solid year in its 2025 annual results presentation, highlighting record profitability, continued expansion in its Wash.ME laundry operations, and ongoing investment in next-generation photobooths. Deputy CEO Vladimir Crasneanscki and CFO Stephane Gibon also addressed investor questions on pricing, Germanys regulatory changes for official ID photos, a restatement related to cash classification, and a newly announced share buyback.

Photobooth headwinds but longerterm rollout ongoing: A German IDphoto rule change cut volumes by roughly 2030% (plus a supplier issue and a lost U.K. contract), yet photobooth revenue is still ~35% higher since 2021 and management is deploying nextgeneration booths and new AI features.

Shift to laundry driving growth: Wash.ME installations reached a record (net ~1,150 machines added in 2025), laundry revenue rose 17.3% and laundry EBITDA +18.1% with a margin of 49.4% , and the group targets >1,300 net new laundry machines for 2026 plus wider rollout of the WashMe app.

Solid financials: Profit before tax rose 6.5% (7% at constant currency) with cash from operations of 115.5m, revenue +2.4% and group EBITDA +5%, while capex increased 20% to 65m; the board raised the dividend 9.5%, announced an 18m share buyback and restated 2024 cash figures after a cashintransit reclassification.

Story Continues

The board declared a total dividend of 0.0864 per share for 2025, representing a 9.5% increase year-over-year. In total, the company said it would return 32.6 million to shareholders in respect of 2025.

Business mix shifts toward laundry

ME Group reiterated that it operates a large automated service equipment estatemore than 49,000 machines across 16 countriesusing a commercial model in which it typically pays site partners a percentage of revenue. The companys two core activities are photobooths and laundry, with ancillary activities including printing kiosks, childrens rides, photocopying services, and food service equipment.

 Macys Beats Expectations Again, But Guidance Spooks Investors

Management emphasized the ongoing shift in mix toward laundry. Crasneanscki said that in 2021, laundry accounted for about a quarter of vending revenue, but now represents more than a third. At the EBITDA level, he said laundry rose from just over a third of group EBITDA in 2021 to closer to half in 2025, adding that laundry margins are stronger than photobooths.

While laundry has been the fastest-growing activity, management pushed back on the idea that photobooths are structurally declining. Crasneanscki said photobooth revenue has increased 35% since 2021, and described 2025 as an abnormal year for photobooths due to several one-off headwinds.

Drivers by segment and geography

Gibon said laundry contributed just over 9 million more revenue than in 2024, while photobooth revenue was around 7 million lower. He attributed the photobooth decline mainly to:

A one-off supplier issue related to printers (resolved in the first half, with compensation received)

The end of a U.K. contract in 2024 affecting year-on-year revenue

Changes to official photo ID rules in Germany implemented in May 2025

Under the German changes, citizens are required to source passport photos directly at citizens offices or via a certified photographer. In Q&A, management said the rule change reduced volumes in Germany by roughly 20% to 30%, but added that volumes have stabilized and that the photobooth business still has multiple use cases beyond passport photos.

By region, Continental Europe remained the largest contributor, holding more than half of the vending estate and generating more than 68% of group revenue and 80% of EBITDA, management said. The company reported nearly 7% Wash.ME vending revenue growth in Continental Europe, with total regional revenue up 3%, while operating profit was marginally lower at 67.6 million due to the headwinds cited.

In the U.K. and Ireland, revenue increased almost 2% and represented 16% of group revenue. Wash.ME vending revenue rose 18% to 32.2 million, supported by the installation of 415 net new laundry machines. Management said performance came despite softer demand in unusually warm summer months, explaining in Q&A that dryer usage falls in warm, dry weather as consumers line-dry at home.

Asia Pacific delivered what management called a resilient performance, with revenue growth driven by a 2.2% increase in Photo.ME vending revenue. Operating profit rose 61%, and the company noted it also operates orange juice vending machines in Japan and Australia.

Expansion, innovation, and unit economics

ME Group highlighted record Wash.ME installations in 2025, with 1,326 new laundry machines installed versus 1,168 net new machines in 2024 and 780 in 2023. Management clarified that the 2025 figure included 1,172 net new machines and 154 relocations, with 181 old or unprofitable machines removed; overall, the net number of machines rose by almost 1,150. For 2026, the company set an ambition to install more than 1,300 net new laundry machines.

Laundry revenue rose 17.3% and laundry EBITDA increased 18.1%, with an EBITDA margin of 49.4%, which management said was higher than the prior year. The company also launched a new WashMe app, which Crasneanscki said had surpassed 60,000 users after just over a month, and includes a loyalty system, one-time code usage, and push notifications. The app was live in France at the time of the presentation, with broader rollout planned.

On photobooths, management said Photo.ME revenue totaled over 168 million, with average revenue per machine at 5,437. The company continued deploying next-generation photobooths in France, with around 3,100 installed by year-end 2025 and a target of 8,000 installed by the end of October 2027. ME Group also highlighted new generative AI capabilities, including experimental photo products and QR-based downloads and sharing.

In Q&A, management addressed product pricing, saying it was planning a moderate increase in France for ePhoto products where pricing lags behind other countries. As a reference point, the company said it charges 8 for an ePhoto in France, compared with 10 in the U.K. and 10 in Germany.

The company also discussed unit costs. Management said a laundry machine capex is a bit less than 20,000 plus roughly 5,000 in installation costs to prepare the site, while photobooths cost approximately 5,000 to 6,000.

Share buyback, audit delay, and outlook

ME Group said trading five months into the 2026 financial year was in line with management expectations. The company reiterated its focus on expanding Wash.ME, rolling out the WashMe app across major laundry markets, continuing its dog wash rollout (about 70 machines deployed in France and Ireland to date), and installing 50 KeyMe cutting machines in France under an SNCF contract.

Management also said it would launch a share buyback program, referencing an announcement of an 18 million buyback and an intention to acquire between 15 million and 20 million shares.

Addressing questions about the delayed annual results, the company said it would conduct an investigation after its roadshow. Management cited a new audit partner and a late expansion in the number of audited entitiesfrom around seven historically to 17along with a significant increase in information requests. Separately, management said the restatement of cash-related figures stemmed from what it described as a technical reclassification issue involving cash in transit and credit card suspense, identified by the companys auditor.

About ME Group International (LON:MEGP)

ME Group International plc (LSE: MEGP) is an international market leader in automated self-service equipment aimed at the consumer market, with over 48,000 vending units currently in operation. The Group operates, sells and services a wide range of instant-service vending equipment across 16 countries in its key regions of Continental Europe, the UK & Republic of Ireland and Asia Pacific. The Group's services include: Core activities:  Photo.ME - Photobooths and integrated biometric identification solutions  Wash.ME - Unattended laundry services and launderettes Ancillary activities:  Print.ME - High-quality digital printing kiosks  Other vending - Primarily foodservice vending equipment (Feed.ME), Children's rides (Amuse.ME), Photocopier services (Copy.ME) The Group has a proven track record of innovation and diversification of its products and services, enabling it to respond to the evolving needs of its customers and consumers. The Group benefits from well-established partnerships and long-term contracts with major site owners in attractive, high-footfall locations, enabling it to offer multiple products and services onsite.

The article "ME Group International H2 Earnings Call Highlights" was originally published by MarketBeat.
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Joby Aviation (NYSE:JOBY) has launched a national "Electric Skies Tour" to showcase its electric air taxi operations across the U.S.

The company has been selected for the White House backed eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, enabling early operations in 10 states.

Recent piloted demonstration flights across the San Francisco Bay Area mark an additional step toward commercial air taxi services.

Joby Aviation is drawing fresh attention as it moves closer to putting electric air taxis into real world service. The stock, trading at $9.23, reflects a business that has already delivered very large multi year returns, with the share price up 137.9% over 3 years and 39.0% over the past year, despite a 35.7% decline year to date. This combination of strong longer term gains and a recent pullback may catch the eye of investors tracking early stage transportation companies.

The new national tour, participation in the federal pilot program, and relationships with partners such as Uber and Delta Air Lines place Joby at the center of U.S. urban air mobility testing and early adoption. As regulatory work with the FAA continues and public exposure increases, investors will likely monitor how Joby progresses from demonstrations to regular routes across key U.S. markets.

Stay updated on the most important news stories for Joby Aviation by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on Joby Aviation.

NYSE:JOBY Earnings & Revenue Growth as at Mar 2026

 Beyond the headline: 3 risks and 1 thing going right for Joby Aviation that every investor should see.

Quick Assessment

 Price vs Analyst Target : At US$9.23 versus a consensus target of US$12.56, the price sits about 26% below where analysts, on average, think it could be.

 Simply Wall St Valuation : DCF inputs are not available, so there is no clear signal yet on whether the current price looks cheap or expensive.

 Recent Momentum: The 30 day return of about 6.5% decline shows the share price has pulled back despite the positive headline news.

There is only one way to know the right time to buy, sell or hold Joby Aviation: head to Simply Wall St's company report for the latest analysis of Joby Aviation's Fair Value.

Key Considerations
This article first appeared on GuruFocus.

Laopu Gold Co. (LPGCY) is beginning to look less like a traditional jeweler and more like a premium consumer brand riding both pricing power and a favorable macro backdrop. The company reported 2025 revenue rising 221% year over year to 27.3 billion yuan, exceeding expectations, while net income climbed 230% to 4.87 billion yuan, broadly in line with forecasts. It also declared a dividend of 11.95 yuan per share. Looking ahead, Laopu signaled that momentum could continue, with first-quarter sales projected at as much as 17.5 billion yuan and net profit potentially reaching 3.8 billion yuan, suggesting demand may remain strong despite the elevated base.

The backdrop is notable. While Western luxury groups such as LVMH (LVMHF) and Kering have been dealing with softer demand in China, Laopu appears to be benefiting from shifting consumer behavior, particularly as rising gold prices encourage purchases tied to store-of-value dynamics. At the same time, the company has been expanding its footprint, opening 10 new boutiques, upgrading nine existing stores, and launching its first overseas location in Singapore. It also highlighted increasing customer overlap with global luxury brands including Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Cartier and Tiffany, based on data from Frost & Sullivan, pointing to traction among higher-spending consumers.

What could be differentiating Laopu is its approach to positioning and pricing. The company has leaned into culturally inspired designs that resonate with domestic buyers, while adopting a fixed-price model that is not directly tied to daily gold benchmarks, allowing it to capture higher premiums. It has also continued to raise prices in pursuit of a more premium image, including an average increase of 27% last month, its largest to date according to Citigroup. If demand continues to hold alongside these price increases, Laopu could be reinforcing its standing as a domestic brand that is increasingly competing within the luxury segment rather than purely on commodity exposure.
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Elon Musk is reportedly planning a large scale semiconductor fabrication project called Terafab that could require extensive access to leading edge lithography tools.

Microsoft backed startup Lace is developing helium atom beam lithography, targeting chip features smaller than those produced by current equipment.

These developments arrive at a time when ASML Holding (ENXTAM:ASML) maintains a central role in advanced chip manufacturing through its EUV systems.

For investors tracking ENXTAM:ASML, this news arrives while the stock trades around 1,175.4 and has logged a 19.2% return year to date and 75.8% over the past year. Those figures highlight how closely the market currently links ASML to the most advanced end of chip production.

Terafab could translate into incremental equipment demand if it moves from plan to build out. At the same time, Lace's helium atom beam approach introduces a potential long term alternative to current lithography methods. Readers may wish to consider both the near term opportunity from additional tool demand and the longer term question of how quickly, if at all, new technologies might reach commercial scale alongside EUV.

Stay updated on the most important news stories for ASML Holding by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on ASML Holding.

ENXTAM:ASML Earnings & Revenue Growth as at Mar 2026

2 things going right for ASML Holding that this headline doesn't cover.

For ASML, Musks proposed Terafab and Laces helium atom beam project pull in opposite directions. Terafab, if built as described, could mean another large, long-duration customer that leans heavily on extreme ultraviolet tools for cutting edge capacity. That aligns with recent commentary from banks and brokers that already frame ASML as central to wafer fab equipment spending tied to AI chips. Laces approach, backed by Microsoft, points to a different future path for patterning, targeting features that current light-based tools do not address. Even if Lace is years from broad deployment, the announcement underlines that large customers and partners are actively funding alternatives to traditional lithography flows. For you, the key question is whether Musks planned capacity build and Laces early stage work reinforce ASMLs importance in the near term while also introducing a fresh set of long term competitive questions that sit alongside existing topics such as export controls and new High NA platforms.
Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) is among the 12 Tech Stocks with Best Earnings Growth in 2026. On March 16, Mizuho trimmed the price target on Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) to $320 from $400 and reiterated an Outperform rating. According to the firm, the company delivered a clean third quarter, surpassing estimates across the board and raising its FY27 revenue target to $90 billion. This was higher than the consensus forecast. While associating the price drop with multiple contractions, the firm believes worries are subsiding following the Q3 report.

When Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) reported its third-quarter results on March 10, it posted an EPS of $1.79, which outperformed the projected $1.70, and revenue of $17.2 billion, which exceeded the estimated $16.92 billion. Overall, the company achieved more than 20% growth in both organic total revenue and non-GAAP EPS. This is something that hasnt been accomplished in over a decade and a half.

Scotiabank Lowers Oracle (ORCL) Price Objective, Sees Strength in AI-Accelerated Cloud

Looking ahead, Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) anticipates sustained growth in its cloud and AI infrastructure segments, with an EPS of $1.99 for Q4 FY2026. The company also sees revenue growth driven by the expansion of its cloud applications suite and strategic investments, such as the TikTok US one.

Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) is a Texas-based company that provides solutions for enterprise information technology environments. Incorporated in 1977, the company offers a range of products, including Oracle Cloud SaaS, Oracle Health applications, Oracle Cloud and on-premises licenses, and Oracle license support services.

While we acknowledge the potential of ORCL 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 Best Stocks In Each Sector in 2026 and 15 Stocks That Will Make You Rich in 10 Years

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PepsiCo has followed its leading rival, Coca-Cola, in deciding to purge dozens of brands from its product portfolio.

In 2020, Coke implemented what could be thought of as a culling of its brands. It slashed the companys offerings.

The company expects to offer a portfolio of approximately 200 master brands, an approximate 50% reduction from the current number, and phase out some products, such as ZICO and Tab, Coca-Cola said then in a news release.

Now, just a few years later, PepsiCo has shared that it plans to slash up to 20% of its product lineup as part of a deal with activist investor Elliott Investment Management.

That plan was shared in a December press release, but no mention was made of which brands would be retired. Now, some of the company's product cuts have been discovered by a leading digital food reporter.

PepsiCo is making deep cuts

PepsiCo was not shy in stating its intent to make significant cuts.

"[The company is] aggressively reducing operating costs and improving operational excellence with savings generated to support meaningful investments in advertising and marketing and consumer value. For example, we have closed three manufacturing plants and shut several manufacturing lines this year and are in the process of reducing nearly 20% of SKUs in the U.S. by early next year," the company shared.

When you cut that deep, some people are going to lose products to which they're emotionally connected.

SnackWithZach, a food industry reporter on Instagram, shared products believed to be on the chopping block, many under PepsiCos Frito-Lay banner. These have not been confirmed by PepsiCo.

"Frito-Lay is discontinuing a bunch of different snacks from their portfolio this year, including stuff from Cheetos, Lay's, and more. Here's a list of stuff you'll no longer be able to find in stores in just a few months," he posted on Instagram.
This article first appeared on GuruFocus.

EBITDA Loss: $34.7 million.

Net Loss After Tax: $80.6 million.

Debt Increase: 88% to $472.1 million.

Revenue: $949 million, an increase of $32.3 million.

Operating Cash Flow: Net outflow of $183.4 million.

Gross Profit: $3.1 million, a decrease of $83.9 million.

Milk Price Forecast: $9.50, soon to increase to $9.70.

Consumer Revenue Growth: Increased by 51%.

Food Service Revenue Growth: Increased by 48%.

North Island Asset Sale: Expected to deliver $307 million NZD, reducing debt significantly.

Release Date: March 22, 2026

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

Synlait Milk Ltd (ASX:SM1) has developed a roadmap to recovery with a focus on stabilizing, simplifying, and scaling the business.

The sale of North Island assets is on track for April 1, 2026, which is expected to deliver a smaller, stronger, and simpler Synlait.

The company has made significant progress in operational stability and quality performance, with new strategies and policies in place.

Consumer and food service segments have shown strong performance, with consumer revenue increasing by 51% and food service revenue by 48%.

Synlait's milk supply has been certified as grass-fed by MPI, providing a competitive advantage.

Negative Points

Synlait Milk Ltd (ASX:SM1) reported an EBITDA loss of $34.7 million and a net loss after tax of $80.6 million.

The company's debt has increased by 88% to $472.1 million.

There were significant challenges in the ingredients business due to capacity constraints and unfavorable market conditions.

The advanced nutrition segment faced manufacturing disruptions and increased unit costs, impacting margins.

The North Island assets are structurally loss-making, contributing to ongoing financial challenges.

Q & A Highlights

Q: Can you provide an update on the progress towards operational stability and customer inventory rebuilding? A: Richard Wyeth, CEO: We are currently in a period without peak milk pressure, allowing us to focus on advanced nutrition production. Post-sale to Abbott, we have a manufacturing agreement that will assist with base powder production. We are aiming for a 90% attainment rate, which is more comfortable than six months ago. The next four to five months are crucial for execution.

Q: How is Synlait diversifying its business and planning for future volume shifts, especially with the impending changes from your biggest customer? A: Richard Wyeth, CEO: We are working with two or three significant offshore customers to replace the English label volume moving to the North Island. Our milk balance to customers is well-aligned, and we are not seeking new milk or losing any. We continue to explore opportunities with A2 outside the China market.
In the time it takes to walk from your car to your desk, President Donald Trump added $1.7 trillion to stocks and pushed the price of oil down by $17, or approximately 15%. By the time you got your coffee, Iran had reportedly called him a liar, and half those gains vanished.



This is the average Monday morning for a very market-oriented executive in the fourth week of war.

At approximately 7 a.m. ET, Trump posted in all-caps on Truth Social that the U.S. and Iran held very good and productive conversations over the weekend toward a complete and total resolution of hostilities in the Middle East. He ordered the Pentagon to pause all strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days.

Washington had kept Israel informed of the talks, Reuters reported, and Israel is expected to follow the U.S. in suspending strikes on Iranian power plants.

That came after Trump issued an ultimatum to Iran Saturday night, calling on the regime to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face bombardment of its power grid. Now, it appears hes buying time for the workweek, and leaving the weekend as a buffer before any next move.

S&P 500 futures swung nearly 4% off their lows, Brent crude collapsed from $109 to a low of $92 before partially recovering, and West Texas Intermediate touched $88.70, its lowest point since the war began.

Irans state media reported that the talks never happened, citing an unnamed senior security official in a post on Telegram. The official called it a ploy to manipulate markets and said theres no communication lines between the two countries. As of time of writing, no official from Iran has publicly confirmed or denied Trumps claim.

Trump told Fox Business that talks did occur Sunday night, involving special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, facilitated by Egypt, Pakistan and Turkey. Iran wants a deal badly, he said.



We have major points of agreementI would say almost all points of agreement. Perhaps that hasnt been conveyed, he added, also joking that Iran needs better public relations people.

Wall Street has a word for all of it, coined by Financial Times columnist Robert Armstrong last May: TACO, or Trump Always Chickens Out. The acronym describes Trumps habit of making catastrophic threats that cause market panic, then reversing course before economic pain can set in. The trade has minted money for investors who bought every dip, confident that Trumps tolerance for damage had a ceiling.

The pattern was seen in his trade war last year as he announced prohibitively high tariffs only to reach a deal later. It played out in Greenland too early this year, when Trump spent weeks threatening to seize the island only to settle for a vague base agreement.
Carnival Cruise Line (CCL) is taking a beating in 2026.

The cruise giants stock closed at $24.94 on March 19, signifying that conditions are not ideal for one of Wall Street's most prized cruise stocks. However, one of the biggest names on Wall Street, Morgan Stanley, seems to believe that the reaction is overblown.

The analyst upgraded the shares to overweight after a sharp pullback from recent highs, Investing.com reported. The banks new $31 price target implies about 24% upside from that close, even after it slashed earnings forecasts.

That is where the analyst call becomes notable. Morgan Stanley maintains that the risks remain. However, Morgan Stanley believes that right now the trade-off does not make sense anymore. The sell-off now looks bigger than the likely damage to the business.

Why Carnival Cruise Line stock suddenly looks more interesting

Morgan Stanleys thesis makes a lot of sense.

Carnivals stock is down more sharply than the firms cuts to projected earnings. The bank said Carnivals roughly 28% drop from peak is now well ahead of its reductions to fiscal 2026 and 2027 EPS estimates.

That is why the veteran analyst now sees a more attractive risk-reward setup.

Related: Oil shock sends blunt message on stock market inflation risk

The stock's value is also starting to look less demanding for a company that just had its best year ever.

Carnival reported $26.6 billion in 2025 revenue, $3.1 billion in adjusted net income, and $7.2 billion in adjusted EBITDA. It said its 2026 booked position remained in line with 2025s record levels at historically high prices in constant currency.

What bulls see in Carnival right now

A stock down and out from recent highs

A Wall Street upgrade, despite slashed estimates

A price target that still implies double-digit upside

Record 2025 revenue and adjusted EBITDA

Historically strong booked prices going into 2026

Carnivals business is still holding up, but risks remain

At this point, the narrative begins to take a more complex turn.

Carnivals operating backdrop is not as negative as the stock chart suggests. The cruise stock exited 2025 with a net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA ratio of 3.4x. Its 2026 advanced booked position, on the other hand, stayed in line with record levels from 2025 at prices that were historically high.

The company's 2025 results revealed that it has already booked about two-thirds of next year's capacity at historically high prices.

But Morgan Stanley still highlighted real pressure points.

The 3 biggest risks for Carnival stock
This article first appeared on GuruFocus.

Net Tangible Assets (NTA): Current NTA is approximately $1.18 per share.

Share Price: Trading around $0.99 to $1.00 per share.

Dividend: Increased to $0.03 per share, with franking reduced to 60%.

Portfolio Performance (Last 6 Months): Just under 5% return.

Portfolio Performance (Since Inception): 9% return since 2020.

Private Debt Exposure: 10% of the portfolio, all in Australian private debt.

Private Equity Performance: Portfolio experiencing revaluations and exits, indicating a harvest period for returns.

Real Estate Exposure: Increased to 12%, expected to grow to 20% over time.

Water Allocation: 13.5% of the portfolio, slightly reduced from previous levels.

Correlation to Listed Markets: 0.01, indicating low correlation.

Healthcare Australia Revenue: Over $500 million, with potential to double through government contracts.

Release Date: March 20, 2026

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

WAM Alternative Assets Ltd (ASX:WMA) reported a solid performance over the last six months, with a portfolio return of just under 5%.

The company has increased its dividend to $0.03, reflecting confidence in future performance.

The portfolio has a low correlation of 0.01 to listed markets, providing resilience against equity market volatility.

WAM Alternative Assets Ltd (ASX:WMA) has a strong track record of exiting investments at a 33.6% weighted average premium to NTA.

The company is actively engaging with financial advisors to increase shareholder base and reduce the NTA discount.

Negative Points

The share price is trading at a discount to NTA, currently around 15%, which is a concern for shareholders.

Franking on dividends has been reduced to 60% due to timing issues with asset exits.

The portfolio's performance over the last three years has been weaker due to a lack of vintage diversification.

There is a concern about the impact of AI disruption on the portfolio, although exposure is limited.

The company faces challenges in convincing financial advisors to include WMA in their model portfolios, which affects the NTA discount.

Q & A Highlights

Q: Why have previous efforts to reduce the NTA discount not been successful, and what is the plan now to achieve a reduced NTA discount or even a premium? A: Geoffrey Wilson, Director, explained that achieving equilibrium at NTA requires shareholders to understand and be satisfied with the company's performance, reducing the supply of shares for sale. The discount has decreased from the mid-30s to around 15%, and the goal is to reach NTA by ensuring shareholders are informed and content with their investment.
The close-up of the front wheel and tire of a forklift - Nikola Milosevic/Getty Images

French tire maker Michelin, one of the largest players in the industry, manufactures and sells tires in several countries worldwide. While the company is known for selling tires with the Michelin branding, the company also owns several subsidiary tire brands, including the likes of BFGoodrich, Riken, Kormoran, Taurus, and Camso.

These smaller brands let Michelin compete against products from different market segments, including affordable price, and even specialty tire segments. Many of Michelin's existing sub brands were acquired from other tire makers with the aim of better assimilating into Michelin's global portfolio. An example of such an acquisition was Michelin's 2018 purchase of Camso, a specialty tire maker based in Canada, for $1.45 billion.

Camso is a major player in the off-road and track-focused tires segment. The company's tires are seen on products ranging from construction equipment to farm equipment to snowmobiles. A large company in its own right, Camso boasted sales of over $1 billion, and its operations spanned worldwide, with 26 production facilities of its own, and over 12,000 employees. Its factories were located in countries like Vietnam and Sri Lanka, for lower costs and more proximity to sources of natural rubber.

After being under Michelin's ownership for over six years, Michelin, in 2024, announced that it is selling Camso to Indian tire maker Ceat. The company cites its decision to focus on radial tires and stop production of bias tires as the main reason for the sale. Interestingly, not everything purchased from Camso in 2018 is part of the current sale.

Read more: 21 Major Tire Brands Of 2025 Ranked

Michelin's sale of Camso to Ceat explained

A recycling truck on Camso tires - Camso

It's important to note that only three components under the aegis of Camso are being sold to Ceat. This includes rights to the usage of the Camso brand, in addition to two manufacturing facilities in Sri Lanka that Camso owns. The rest of the assets purchased from Camso during the 2018 sale remain under Michelin's ownership. This means that Michelin will continue to own and operate the remaining assets it acquired from Camso in the 2018 purchase, including Camso's headquarters and offices in Magog, Canada.

The sale of Camso to Ceat in an all-cash deal valued at about $225 million will also result in Michelin making a complete exit from compact line bias tires and the construction tracks segment. Ceat, on the other hand, will benefit from access to Camso's existing global customer base of more than 40 OEMs and OTR distributors. Under the terms of the sale, Ceat has been granted a license to use the Camso brand for three years, following which it will become a part of Ceat's brand portfolio.
WASHINGTON, March 23 (Reuters) - The Federal Communications Commission said on Monday it was banning the import of all new foreign-made consumer routers, the latest crackdown on Chinese-made electronic gear.

Routers are boxes that connect computers, phones, and smart devices to the internet, and lawmakers have raised security concerns about Chinese-made routers. The FCC order does not impact imports or use of existing models, but will ban new ones.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chris Reese)
By Jonathan Saul, Nidhi Verma and Saurabh Sharma

LONDON/NEW DELHI, March 23 (Reuters) - Two tankers bound for India sailed through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) loaded in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, although overall traffic through the critical waterway remained blocked.

Hundreds of vessels and some 20,000 seafarers have remained stranded inside the Gulf since Tehran threatened to attack ships attempting to leave via the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas normally flow.

The Pine Gas tanker sailed through the Strait with the Jag Vasant following close by, ship tracking data on the MarineTraffic platform showed.

The Pine Gas broadcast a message identifying itself as "India ship and crew", according to separate LSEG ship tracking data.

India's Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, confirmed that the two Indian-flagged tankers, carrying more than 92,000 tonnes of LPG, had sailed through Hormuz with their Indian crews on board.

The vessels were expected to reach ports in India between March 26-28, the ministry said.

MARITIME CORRIDOR EFFORT

An Indian government source told Reuters separately the Indian navy had instructed the two vessels to cross the Strait from Irans coastline.

The vessels had made stops at anchorages in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates to load the gas, ship tracking on LSEG showed.

In a separate sailing, a tanker carrying oil products crossed the Strait on March 21 bound for India, Kpler data showed.

Countries at the U.N.s shipping agency agreed last week to work towards a safe maritime corridor to evacuate commercial ships from the Gulf and protect seafarers stranded due to the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, which began on February 28. No timeframe has been given for the initiative.

"Three weeks into the Hormuz shutdown, crude tanker markets remain distorted," shipbroker Clarksons said on Monday.

"Traffic through the strait is down about 95% from pre-war levels, with Iranian-linked ships still moving."

IRAN TRAFFIC UNHINDERED

Shipping through Iranian ports has been broadly unhindered by the war, according to ship tracking data and sources.

At least 14 Iran-flagged oil tankers have reached Asian waters around the Singapore Strait with oil cargoes since February 28, according to analysis from U.S. advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), which monitors Iran-related tanker traffic through ship and satellite tracking.

Shipments were briefly paused at the start of the war but resumed soon after, the analysis showed. UANI senior advisor Charlie Brown described Iranian oil flows as "business as usual".
Oil futures plunged Monday as President Trump said in a post that he was holding off on attacks against Iran's power infrastructure and that the US and Iran have had VERY GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE conversations over the past two days.

West Texas Intermediate (CL=F) crude futures sank around 9% to trade near $89 per barrel, while global benchmark Brent (BZ=F) crude pulled back 11% to around $100 after topping $113 in earlier trading.

Oil prices moved session lows after Trump told reporters that the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway stalled since the war began, would reopen soon, but only if this works, referring to ongoing peace talks

Trump's comments boosted optimism about a potential deescalation of the US-Israel conflict with Iran, following a weekend threat in which he warned that Tehran had 48 hours to "FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz," or face strikes on its power infrastructure.

The standoff over Hormuz coupled with last weeks attacks on regional energy infrastructure, has sent oil prices soaring.

"In the very near term, the market will continue to unwind risk premium, and that move may overshoot to the downside initially," said Rebecca Babin, CIBC Private Wealth senior energy trader.

"Until there is greater clarity on when vessels can safely transit the Strait again, the market is unlikely to fully price out disruption risk," she added.

Read more: How oil price shocks ripple through your wallet, from gas to groceries

On Sunday, Goldman Sachs analysts raised their Brent forecast for April from $85 to $115, "as a longer disruption supports the risk premium for longer."

The analysts also predict WTI will average $98 in March and $105 in April.

"Due to uncertainty around the duration of the shock and assuming Hormuz flows remain at 5% through April 10, prices are likely to trend higher over that period until the market gains confidence that a lengthy disruption is unlikely," the analysts said.

Goldman Sachs also raised its 2026 average for Brent to $85, up from $77 and $79 for WTI, versus a prior expectation of $72.

The analysts noted governments are expected to rebuild higher strategic reserve levels once the Strait reopens to protect against future disruptions.

President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the South Lawn of the White House on March 20 in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)  ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ines Ferre is a senior business reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on X at @ines_ferre.

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President Trump stepped back from attacks on Iranian oil infrastructure on Monday and sent markets soaring even as he left considerable uncertainty about whether energy shippers will be able to traverse the crucial Strait of Hormuz anytime soon.

During a back-and-forth with reporters on Monday morning, the president hinted that shippers might have to wait a bit.

When asked about a possible reopening of the crucial waterway, Trump said it would be open soon, but only if this works, referring to ongoing peace talks expected to continue over the coming week.

Read more: How oil price shocks ripple through your wallet, from gas to groceries

The president added that he is looking toward a Strait of Hormuz that, in the end, will be "jointly controlled" by the US as well as whoever is in charge of Iran at the end of the war.

The new comments provided minimal clarity for international shippers who have largely been unable to operate in the area for the last three weeks. Iranian state media continued its threats Monday to completely close the waterway if its power plants are attacked and even denied that any direct or indirect talks with the US are taking place.

President Donald Trump spoke with reporters on Monday before boarding Air Force One for a trip to Memphos. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)  ASSOCIATED PRESS

Read more: How to protect your money during turmoil, stock market volatility

At another point in the back-and-forth with reporters, President Trump was asked if he was sending US Marines to the region to "police the strait." The president declined to answer, saying, "We dont talk about strategy."

Early on Monday, Trump said on Truth Social that he would postpone military strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure, thanks to "very good and productive" talks between the US and Tehran, which will continue throughout the week.

The president added on Monday that most of the focus during these talks would likely be on ending Irans nuclear program, saying that there are 15 points of agreement as these peace talks get underway and that Iran not having a nuclear weapon was numbers 1, 2, and 3.

A global artery that is 'likely to remain disrupted'

About 20% of the world's oil and many other key products passed through the Strait of Hormuz before the war, but those shipments have virtually ground to a halt since the attacks began on Feb. 28.

The ongoing uncertainty about the waterway continued even after the president issued an ultimatum centered around the strait on Saturday, giving Iran 48 hours to make the waterway FULLY OPEN before threatening attacks on power plants.

The president appeared to have backed away from that issue for now, but crude oil prices nonetheless dropped on Monday following Trump's announcement of talks.
With severe weather and ongoing TSA staffing shortages, air travelers nationwide are experiencing major disruptions and delays.

President Trump said Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents would be deployed to some U.S. airports on Monday to assist with operations amid the partial government shutdown.

TSA absences have spiked in airports across the U.S. recently, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warning last week that travel chaos will look like childs play if the shutdown isnt resolved soon.

With standard flight delays and cancellations, you can typically receive reimbursement or have your flight rebooked by the airline. However, unless you have travel insurance, there may be no recourse available if you miss your flight because you dont make it through long airport security lines fast enough.

In addition, airlines wont cover other prepaid and nonrefundable bookings youve made and missed because of a flight delay or cancellation. This is where trip cancellation insurance and cancel for any reason (CFAR) insurance can come in handy.

Learn more: Travel insurance: What it covers, costs, and how to choose the right policy

Quick answer

What is trip cancellation insurance?

Trip cancellation insurance reimburses you for prepaid, nonrefundable travel costs if you must cancel for a covered reason  such as illness, severe weather, or certain emergencies. Cancel for any reason (CFAR) is an optional upgrade that can reimburse a portion of your costs even if the reason isnt normally covered.

What trip cancellation insurance typically covers

Trip cancellation insurance usually applies if your trip is canceled or rescheduled for a covered reason listed on your policy. Keep in mind that covered reasons may vary by insurance provider and plan, so its best to compare policies to ensure youre covered for the reasons you want.

Common covered reasons

Serious illness or injury: An illness, injury, or other medical condition must be disabling enough to warrant a trip cancellation. You may also need advice from a doctor who recommends that you cancel your trip.

Death of a family member: You can often cancel your trip for this reason if the death occurs during your policy coverage period.

Severe weather disrupting travel: You may be able to cancel your trip if your travel carrier cant get you to your original itinerary destination within a reasonable time of your originally scheduled arrival time. For example, you may be able to cancel if you cant arrive within 24 hours of your original arrival time.

Jury duty or legal obligations: You may be able to cancel if you have legal proceedings scheduled during your trip that arent part of your daily job responsibilities.

Certain work-related emergencies: You may be able to cancel if you lose your job, have a work-related emergency, or youre directly involved in a merger or acquisition.

What is usually not covered

Changing your mind: Trip cancellation insurance wont cover you if you simply decide you dont want to travel.

Minor illnesses: Only significant illnesses and injuries are typically covered by trip cancellation insurance.

Known events: Known or foreseeable events, such as a hurricane you knew about before traveling, arent often covered by travel insurance.

Fear of travel: Being afraid to travel isnt a covered reason under standard travel insurance policies.

Learn more: What does travel insurance cover, and do I need it?

What costs can trip cancellation insurance reimburse?

It depends on your travel insurance policy, but here are some common reimbursable expenses.

Flights

If you have to cancel your trip for a covered reason, you should have any prepaid and nonrefundable flights reimbursed by your policy, up to the policy limit. If your flights are refundable, you can just cancel them yourself to receive your reimbursement.

Hotels

Similar to nonrefundable flights, you should be reimbursed, up to your policy limit, for prepaid and no-refundable hotel bookings if you cancel your trip for a covered reason.

Tours and cruises

Many tours and cruises are nonrefundable, so it makes sense to consider trip cancellation insurance if you plan to book one of these nonrefundable options.

Event tickets

In general, if you include them in your overall trip expenses on your travel insurance policy, event tickets should be covered if theyre nonrefundable.

Prepaid excursions

Prepaid excursions should be reimbursable under your trip cancellation coverage if the costs were included in your policy and the excursions are nonrefundable.

Tips on how trip cancellation insurance works

Here are four tips to keep in mind as you navigate the trip cancellation insurance process.

1. Timing

Travel insurance, including trip cancellation insurance, typically only applies if youve purchased it before a qualifying event occurs. For example, you need to have purchased your policy before you get sick and have to cancel your trip.

In addition, getting the timing right is essential throughout the claims process. In many cases, you have to contact your insurance provider within a certain period of time after a qualifying event occurs, then you have to submit documentation along with your claim in a reasonable amount of time.

2. Documentation

When it comes to travel insurance, its best to keep all your receipts in case you need to submit a claim. For trip cancellation insurance, this could include keeping receipts for flights, hotel bookings, cruises, and other expenses.

If you have to submit a claim, your insurance provider is going to request these documents, so it makes sense to be prepared.

3. Claim review period

Once youve submitted your claim, including the required documentation, your insurance provider will review it. Be ready to respond to any emails or phone calls and to provide more documentation if needed. Theres no set time period for how long the review will take, but it may take days or weeks. You can typically check the status of your claim through the insurance providers website.

4. Reimbursement

You can usually choose how you would like to receive your claim reimbursement from a variety of payment options. Common payment methods include direct deposit and mailed checks.

Cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage explained

CFAR coverage isnt typically included in standard travel insurance policies. You would have to pay for this upgrade if offered.

What CFAR adds

The primary reason to add CFAR coverage is to cancel your trip for any reason, including reasons not normally covered by trip cancellation insurance. For instance, you may be able to cancel simply by deciding you no longer want to travel.

That sounds like a great add-on, but the downside is that you typically receive only 50% to 75% of your trip costs in reimbursement. So, you will still lose some of your prepaid, nonrefundable expenses, but not all.

You also cant add CFAR coverage whenever you want. Depending on the travel insurance provider, you may have to buy this coverage within a few weeks of your initial trip deposit. Otherwise, you may not be able to buy it at all.

CFAR limitations

The biggest CFAR limitations include:

Must cancel within the required time frame: Depending on the policy, you may have to use this coverage at least 48 to 72 hours before your trips scheduled departure.

Percentage of reimbursement: You will typically receive only 50% to 75% of your total covered trip costs.

Extra cost: You have to pay extra to add this coverage to your policy.

When CFAR might make sense

Uncertain plans: Safety concerns or potential family or work obligations could throw a wrench into your plans, but CFAR coverage could help you recoup a portion of your trip costs.

Complex international trips: Trips with multiple flights, cruises, and/or hotel bookings may have itinerary changes that dont align with your preferences, so having CFAR coverage gives you more flexibility.

Personal risk tolerance: If you simply want some coverage for any type of scenario so that your trip costs arent completely wasted, CFAR coverage may make sense for you.

Learn more: Is travel insurance worth it?

Trip cancellation vs. trip interruption

Trip cancellation insurance is not the same as trip interruption insurance. Heres the easiest way to differentiate between the two:

Trip cancellation applies before you depart on your trip.

Trip interruption applies after your trip has started.

Learn more: How to compare travel insurance to choose the right policy

How much does trip cancellation insurance cost?

Trip cancellation insurance is typically purchased as part of a travel insurance policy, which also includes other coverage, such as trip interruption insurance. In general, travel insurance costs between 4% and 10% of your total trip price.

That means if your trip costs $10,000, a travel insurance policy may cost between $400 and $1,000.

However, the actual cost of your policy can vary depending on various factors, including the type of coverage you purchase, the travel insurance provider, total trip cost, traveler age, and coverage limits.

Adding upgrades, such as CFAR coverage, will raise your insurance premium.

Note: Many of the best travel credit cards provide trip cancellation insurance as part of their built-in benefits. If yours does, you may not need to purchase a separate travel policy. However, not all credit card travel insurance is as robust as a standalone policy.

Learn more: How credit card travel insurance works

Common misconceptions about trip cancellation insurance and CFAR coverage

Any cancellation is covered

Trip cancellation insurance does not cover any cancellation. It only reimburses you for covered reasons, as listed in your policy.

CFAR coverage lets you cancel your trip for any reason.

CFAR gives a full refund

You will not receive a full refund from CFAR coverage. Instead, the standard reimbursement amount is between 50% to 75%.

Airline cancellations are the same thing

Airline cancellations are not the same thing as using trip cancellation insurance. Depending on the situation, you may not be able to receive reimbursement from your insurance if you accept a travel voucher from your travel carrier for a flight cancellation.

Who trip cancellation insurance is best for

Trip cancellation insurance makes sense if:

You have high nonrefundable trip costs: If you cant cancel most of your travel bookings for full refunds, its worth considering a travel insurance policy to reimburse you if you need to cancel for a covered reason.

You have complex itineraries with cruises and tours: Cruises and tours may have strict cancellation policies, so it may make sense to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

Your trips are booked far in advance: Booking trips far in advance increases the risk of unforeseen events. An adequate travel insurance policy can protect you during the time you initially booked until your departure date.

You have international itineraries: International travel is often more expensive than traveling domestically, which increases your financial risk if something were to happen.

Key takeaways on trip cancellation and CFAR coverage

In general, trip cancellation insurance will cover you for severe illnesses or injuries that prevent you from traveling, as well as other covered reasons as stated in your policy documents. This could include a family birth or death, severe weather, natural disasters, and more.

CFAR coverage is an optional upgrade that may be useful if you value flexibility with your travel insurance. Since you can cancel for any reason with this add-on, you dont have to worry about only canceling for a covered reason. However, your reimbursement with CFAR coverage is typically only 50% to 75% of the total.

Trip cancellation insurance is an essential part of any travel insurance plan, but you must carefully read the exclusions of any policy you choose. Standard policies wont cover you if you change your mind on traveling, have already started your travel, are afraid of traveling, or for many other excluded reasons.

Tim Manni edited this article.
President Donald Trump himself said Friday that the United States was "very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down" Iran war, but left the issue of Hormuz open ended.

The President and the Pentagon predicted it would take approximately 4-6 weeks to achieve this mission, Leavitt said in the post. Day by day, the Iranian Regime is being crippled, and their ability to threaten the United States and our allies is being significantly weakened.

A White House spokesperson, when asked the administration's timeline for the war, referred to a post White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt made on X on Friday.

Wright met with a group of energy industry executives outside the conference hall Sunday evening, two people familiar with the meeting said. A DOE representative didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. The chaos caused by the war led the CEO of Saudi Arabia's state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco to skip the conference this year, Reuters reported . Exxon Mobil CEO Darren Woods, who has also been a featured speaker at the conference in previous years, will also not attend this year, a person familiar with the plan said.

Generally in the elevator pitch, people are going to say, Look, we need to know duration, and we need to know infrastructure possibilities. We need to make sure that the uncertainties are as limited as possible, said Frank Maisano, a senior principal at Bracewell, an energy law firm. "The events in Iran have just kind of overwhelmed what anybody was thinking this year might be about.

If theres one message the industry wants to deliver to the administration, according to interviews with half a dozen energy industry executives and foreign diplomats planning to attend the event, its this: People need to know when the conflict that is already causing major damage to their world order will end.

The annual CERAWeek confab comes nearly a month into the U.S.-Israel-Iran war and the all-but-closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the worlds main thoroughfares for Middle East oil, fuel shortages in Asia and the destruction of huge parts of the regions natural gas fields and export plants.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, National Energy Dominance Council Executive Director Jarrod Agen, FERC Chair Laura Swett and other administration officials will be in the midst of the largest gathering of energy industry officials in the world this week.

The Trump administration is sending its top energy officials to Houston this week to meet with oil industry executives and foreign dignitaries  and they can expect to get an earful as its war in Iran has sent their industry into upheaval.

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"The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it - The United States does not! Trump said in a Truth Social post.

Oil prices made their steepest climb in decades and have swung wildly as Trump has said at various times he considers the war won or, more recently, that the U.S. might fire missiles at Irans power plants. Fuel has become scarce in some countries while rising gasoline prices at home elevate cost-of-living concerns ahead of the midterm elections.

Todd Staples, president of the Texas Oil and Gas Association, said companies are hoping for a speedy solution to the conflict.

Market volatility and short-term price fluctuations create challenges for industry planning, which relies on stability to drive future investment, Staples said in a statement.

The war, even after less than a month, has the potential to fundamentally scramble an energy map that was just returning to a new normal after the Covid-19 pandemic and Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Europe, where natural gas supply is running low because of the lack of LNG tankers moving through Hormuz and the destruction of a key gas export plant in Qatar, is now debating whether to turn back to Russian gas it had avoided after the Ukraine invasion or redouble efforts to develop wind and solar power projects.

We want to know what the plan is to re-open the strait, an industry executive who will be attending said was his main question for White House officials.

The Pentagon has ramped up the number of warplanes and helicopters attacking the Iranian military in the Strait, but the action could take weeks to fully open the waterway. Meanwhile, U.S. oil prices were nearly $99 a barrel on Sunday evening, up nearly 50 percent from when the shooting started on February 28. Meanwhile, motorists in the United States are paying an average of $3.94 a gallon.

Foreign officials who will be attending the conference in Houston will be making the same pitch. As disruptive as the war has been on energy in the United States, it is becoming debilitating in Europe and Asia, which are much more dependent on imports of oil and natural gas. European countries are running low on their natural gas supply, while China has stopped exporting its own fuel in order to guard its inventories as oil becomes scarcer.

Vietnam, Bangladesh and the Philippines will all run out of oil in three weeks, said a U.S.-based Asian diplomat. Prices in the region are already rising, and if the countries run out of fuel it will drag the macroeconomy and could lead to a recession, the diplomat said.

ASEAN countries are losing trust in the U.S., especially under Trump, said the person, who was granted anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. Thats 100 percent an own goal for the U.S. And China is just watching and waiting.

When will it end?" a second Washington-based Asian diplomat said will be the main question foreign officials will ask Trump administration officials, alluding to Iran.

White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers pointed to a swath of agreements that Japan and other countries have been making to invest in energy projects in the United States as proof of the confidence they have in the administration.

Our allies have already turned to the United States as a reliable partner and supplier of crude oil and natural gas as proven by the billions of dollars in energy deals signed over the past week, Rogers said. The Iranian terrorist regimes attacks against our Gulf allies underscore the importance of eliminating this threat to our partners in the region and beyond.

In the short term, Irans destruction of a major natural gas export plant in Qatar and closure of Hormuz has been a boon for U.S. companies shipping natural gas to Asia. Shares of LNG exporters Cheniere Energy and Venture Global on Friday were up more than 30 percent since the military strikes.

But companies are also fretting that it could ultimately lead to fewer sales in the future as countries experiencing gas shortages will focus on developing gas sources closer to home. Hungary and Slovakia are already asking for waivers to the sanctions put on Russian natural gas put in place to punish it for its invasion of Ukraine, and other countries are taking a closer look at renewable and nuclear energy projects.

The war in the short term presents a good situation for U.S. exporters looking to replace the cargoes Asia has lost from the Middle East, said one U.S. LNG executive granted anonymity because they werent authorized to talk to the press. But I think its long-term demand destruction, this person added.

Chris Treanor, the executive director of the Partnership to Address Global Emissions, said the pro-natural gas coalition wants the Trump administration to keep permitting reform on the front burner, even amid the ongoing Middle East war.

I hope that one of the takeaways, when we get through part of this emergency response, will be that permitting reform needs to be taken seriously by the administration, Treanor said. The more that we can efficiently and effectively move the molecules and electrons from where they are produced to where they are needed.the more secure and reliable our system is.

Sophia Cai and Carlos Anchondo contributed to this report.
Analysts and businesses are concerned that the Iran war could drag on for months and have devastating economic consequences.

Goldman Sachs told investors that it assumed oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz would remain at 5% of normal levels for six weeks before a slow recovery; Qatar Airways sent 20 of its largest aircraft to storage in Spain, as it prepared for months of disruption.

A group of executives told CNBC that the worst could be yet to come: If the Strait is not opened within two weeks, they predicted oil prices up to $175 a barrel. Whatever happens, a prolonged period of high prices is coming, said The Economist: Even the best-case scenario for energy markets is disastrous.

A chart showing the number of vessels traversing through the strait by month.

 Tom Chivers
Glenfarne Groups Texas LNG Brownsville has confirmed that Kiewit Offshore Services will fabricate the liquefaction, pretreatment and pipe rack modules for its liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal in the Port of Brownsville, Texas, US.

This arrangement will come into effect once a notice to proceed is issued.

Texas LNG Brownsville acts as the holding company for the Texas LNG export facility, which will have a capacity of four million tonnes per annum (mtpa).

The contract will involve module construction at Kiewit's facility in Texas, with the project still on track for a final investment decision (FID) in the second quarter of 2026 (Q2 2026).

Texas LNG Brownsville cited the proximity of Kiewit Offshore Services' Texas facility to the project as a factor in cost and risk management, noting that the work will involve US and Texas labour.

Glenfarne CEO and founder Brendan Duval said: Derisking module supply via US fabrication avoids tariffs, geopolitical risks, heavy-lift shipping, Panama Canal transit, and helps ensure quality control. We had the option to go offshore, but this decision is an investment in predictability and quality.

We are giving back to the state that has supported this project so much and are proud to have Texas and US craft labour fabricate our modules. It is only fitting that Texas LNG has its modules fabricated in Texas.

The parties recently signed an engineering, procurement and construction contract for the project after more than a year of pre-FID engineering work.

Texas LNG is developing the site on the ports north shore, with access to a deep-water ship channel around one hour from the Gulf of Mexico and located near the Panama Canal. The facility will sit on a 625-acre site and will have access to gas supply from the Permian basin and Eagle Ford reserves.

A joint venture between Technip Energies USA and Samsung Engineering is leading the delivery of the Texas LNG facility.

Glenfarne Group owns and operates a portfolio of energy assets through its Global LNG solutions, grid stability and renewables subsidiaries. Its North American LNG ventures under development total 32.8mtpa across sites in Alaska, Louisiana and Texas.

Kiewit previously completed a 10.7mtpa greenfield LNG production and export terminal in southern Louisiana, utilising modular liquefaction technology to reduce costs and ensure efficient project delivery. The project included phased commissioning that enabled LNG production 25 months from the FID.

"Glenfarne subsidiary confirms Kiewit for Texas LNG module work" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.
Goldbeck Solar Polska has signed an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to build the Sidowo-Kikowo-Dobrowo photovoltaic (PV) power plants in Poland's West Pomeranian Voivodeship, with a total installed capacity of 722MW-peak (MWp).

The EPC also covers the associated high-voltage and medium-voltage (HV/MV) substations, HV cable routes and the grid connection infrastructure, including the STR LKO intermediate substation.

This project is set to surpass all existing solar farms in Europe in terms of capacity.

It also represents the first large-scale PV facility in Poland to connect directly to Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne's (PSE) 400kV HV transmission network.

The project encompasses three major PV power plants including Sidowo (290MWp), Kikowo (235MWp) and Dobrowo (197MWp), alongside HV cable infrastructure and a connection through the STR LKO 400/110kV intermediate substation.

As the general contractor, Goldbeck Solar Polska will handle all project phases, from design and procurement to construction and commissioning.

This project marks a significant step in Poland's renewable energy transition and aligns with the country's goal of increasing renewable energy in its electricity mix.

The Sidowo-Kikowo-Dobrowo solar farm is part of a broader strategic initiative involving Optima Wind, Virya Energy and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

These entities are launching Virya Renewables Poland, a new renewable energy platform with a potential project pipeline exceeding 2GW across the nation.

Goldbeck Solar Polska managing director Steffen Emmerich said: This is an enormous achievement for Goldbeck Solar Polska.

Securing the full EPC scope for such a complex, large-scale project highlights our capabilities and positions us at the forefront of Europes renewable energy sector.

We are thrilled to bring our expertise to Sidowo-Kikowo-Dobrowo project, delivering a project that sets new benchmarks in scale and impact.

"Goldbeck signs EPC contract for 722MWp Polish solar plants" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




At the same time, Electric Boat is building the first group of the next generation of Columbia-class, ballistic-missile submarines. The Navy originally planned to spend $130 billion to acquire 12 Columbia ships, but the first of them, the future USS District of Columbia, was "estimated to be delivered over a year late and cost hundreds of millions of dollars more than planned," according to a 2024 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office .

Meanwhile, Electric Boat aims to deliver another Virginia-class ship, the future USS Utah, by the end of this year, and the future USS Arizona in 2028. The Arizona will be the first ship in the Block V group of Virginia-class ships, whose defining features include a Virginia Payload Module (VPM), which contains large-diameter, vertical launch tubes that can fire Tomahawk missiles or other payloads.

The company is navigating one of its busiest-ever periods. Among recent milestones, it made last December its 14th delivery of a Virginia-class, fast-attack submarine, the future USS Idaho. The Idaho is scheduled to be commissioned next month, and it will follow the USS Iowa , which was commissioned last April.

Electric Boat officials did not specify how much they expected the company's head count to increase as a result of this year's hiring. The company has about 24,000 employees, including about 16,000 based in Connecticut, making it one of the largest private-sector employers in New England.

The company's recruitment pipeline includes more than 15,000 applicants in the past two years, with more than 1,200 people hired so far this year, according to Rayha.

"We're in a period of unprecedented growth and demand for submarines," Electric Boat President Mark Rayha said during a legislative briefing and breakfast at the Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa in Groton. "You've seen the head count growth.  We need more, so we're going to continue to hire."

The new hires would comprise about 2,250 people in operations at the company's shipyard for final assembly and testing in Groton ; 3,250 at its shipyard for module manufacturing in Quonset Point, R.I.; 1,000 in engineering-and-design positions at its offices in New London; as well as 1,500 in support roles across the Groton and Quonset Point hubs. The total would more than double the 3,345 people that the company hired last year.

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Electric Boat officials and executives at their parent company, General Dynamics, have acknowledged supply-chain issues and workforce challenges that have arisen in recent years, in large part because of the disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic. But Rayha expressed confidence in the company's ability to hit its production goals during the next couple of years.

"When you walk through the shipyard, she's looking like a boat," Rayha said of the future USS District of Columbia. "The administration asked us, We need that VPM, and we need that District of Columbia by 2028.' They'd love to have it sooner. I think we committed to that, and we're going to do everything we can possibly do to make that happen."

Current events highlight the need for Electric Boat's output. The Navy's operations in the war with Iran has included a submarine that torpedoed an Iranian warship. Pentagon officials have not disclosed the identity of the submarine. However, Electric Boat's role as one of the two designers and builders of nuclear-powered U.S. submarines, along with Newport News, Virginia-based Newport News Shipbuilding, means that there is a strong possibility that Electric Boat contributed to the submarine's production.

"Congress understands the critical importance of submarines to our strategy - not only now, not only in one part of the world, but all across the globe, and most especially, where our adversaries are trying to make gains," Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said at the briefing. "China and Russia get it too; our adversaries get it. We are in a literal arms race on submarines with them."

Electric Boat has another strong supporter in U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, a Democrat whose district covers southeastern Connecticut. Courtney said that his advocacy includes working to secure in the final fiscal-year 2026 defense budget a $1.9 billion "plus-up above the president's request" for the Virginia-class program and a $285 million increase for advanced procurement for the Columbia-class program.

"It's not a rubber stamp," said Courtney, who is the ranking member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces. "When it comes over, we spend a lot of time with the program executive offices of both Virginia and Columbia, just making sure that we're not going to have shortfalls, or that if there are issues, that we need to correct."

Congress is also providing funds for improved compensation in the shipbuilding industry. For instance, wage increases that are part of a five-year contract for about 2,500 marine drafters at Electric Boat that was approved last May are supported by a $12.4 billion contract modification for more Virginia-class production that was awarded to Electric Boat around the same time.

"Trying to hit that 8,000 target in terms of hiring, it is so important to make sure that people understand the value of this work," Courtney said. "They have built in for the next five years a contract where's there going to be a progression of increases in terms of pay."

Several local and state officials also spoke at the event, expressing their desire to work on issues such as workforce development and transportation to support Electric Boat's growth. State Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, co-chairwoman of the General Assembly's Appropriations Committee, cited her goal of supporting increased funding for technical high schools with more investments in middle schools and comprehensive high schools.

"We know that it is vitally important for young people to get a job, and to get a job that is a family-sustaining, family-supporting job," Osten said.

Meanwhile, Electric Boat is expanding its own infrastructure. Those projects include the acquisition last year of Crystal Mall in Waterford. The company plans to redevelop the property, with an expected move-in of mid-2027 at the earliest.

"The mall became an empty place, but it's fantastic infrastructure. It's got a lot of parking, which is always a premium for a shipbuilder," Rayha said. "We don't intend to do a lot to the outside architecture - signage  landscaping. But on the inside, we'll do some things that allow us to create state-of-the-art lab space, state-of the-art training space."

This article originally published at Groton-based submarine maker Electric Boat announces plans to hire 8,000: 'Unprecedented growth'.
The head of the International Energy Agency said Monday that the global economy faces a major, major threat because of the Iran war.

No country will be immune to the effects of this crisis if it continues to go in this direction, Fatih Birol told Australias National Press Club in Canberra on Monday.

He said the crisis in the Middle East has had a worse combined impact than the two oil shocks of the 1970s and the effect on gas markets of the RussiaUkraine war.

Some of the vital arteries of the global economy, such as petrochemicals, fertilisers, such as sulfur, such as helium  their trade is all interrupted, which would have serious consequences for the global economy, Birol said.

Oil prices continued to climb as the end of the Iran war was not in sight. Israel launched a new wave of attacks early Monday against Tehran, and Iran warned that it will strike power plants across the Middle East if US President Donald Trump follows through on his threat to bomb power stations in the Islamic Republic.

US WTI crude surged above $100 a barrel on Monday morning, and international benchmark Brent crude was priced at more than $113 a barrel.

Related

Assessing the damage of the war in Iran that started on 28 February, Birol said 40 energy assets in nine countries across the region were severely or very severely damaged.

The official added that he was consulting with governments in Europe and Asia about the prospect of releasing further stockpiled oil.

We will see, we will look at the markets, he said. If it is necessary, of course, we will do it, but we will look at the conditions, we will analyse, assess the market, and discuss with our member countries.

As Iran continues its stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz, US President Donald Trump gave a 48-hour deadline for Tehran to open the strategic waterway to all ships, saying that otherwise the United States would obliterate Irans power plants. Trump posted the threat to social media early Sunday in Middle East time zones.
Kevin OLeary on Saturday said that investors are pricing in a quick resolution to tensions tied to the Strait of Hormuz, arguing the next month is the key window the market is watching. He warned that a longer disruption could hit global growth hard, with oil prices acting as the main transmission channel.

In the post on X, OLeary said he believes the available data points toward the issue being addressed within about 30 days. In the same post, he framed the strait as a narrow chokepoint and said a prolonged blockage would be far more damaging.

The market is currently betting that this whole "Hormuz problem" gets cleaned up in the next 30 days. And I'm looking at the data from my office in Abu Dhabi, and so far it's heading that way.



But if that two-mile-wide spigot stays choked for three months, you're looking at a pic.twitter.com/av9BMaod5T  Kevin O'Leary aka Mr. Wonderful (@kevinolearytv) March 20, 2026

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Why Hormuz Disruptions Could Spark Global Chaos

OLeary described a scenario where the bottleneck persists for roughly three months, calling it "a global catastrophe." His core point was that duration matters more than headlines, because sustained constraints can keep crude elevated long enough to squeeze consumers and businesses.

He also pointed to historical patterns, saying that when oil holds above $93 for a quarter, every major slice of the U.S. economy starts to deteriorate. That threshold, in his telling, is where higher energy costs spread beyond transportation and into broader demand.

Is The Market Underestimating Crude Risks?

He argued that current pricing reflects confidence in a near-term fix, with traders effectively leaning on a one-month timeline. OLeary said his read of the data supports that base case, but he contrasted it sharply with the downside if the timeline slips.

Trending: This Startup Thinks It Can Reinvent the Wheel  Literally

He also singled out Japan's vulnerability, saying the country has a large share of inbound supplies exposed if flows are interrupted. OLeary put that exposure at 70% of Japan's imports being at risk.

Oil Prices: A Looming Voter Crisis

In past interviews, Kevin OLeary warned that persistently high oil prices could significantly impact American consumers, labeling energy as the granddaddy issue for the upcoming midterms. He emphasized that if oil prices remain between $90 to $100 for over 90 days, gasoline costs could spike, directly affecting every American family and driving voter concerns, which could complicate the political landscape for the Trump administration.
Oil markets experienced volatility on Monday as traders weighed the impact of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East against the potential easing of US sanctions on Iran.

By 04:46 GMT, Brent crude futures had increased by $0.65 to $112.84 per barrel (bbl), while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose by $0.84 to $98.75/bbl. Both marks had dropped by more than $1 earlier in the trading session, reported Reuters.

The price gap between Brent and WTI has extended beyond $13/bbl, a significant spread.

The situation in the Middle East has intensified, with US President Donald Trump threatening to destroy Iranian power plants if Tehran failed to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. This remark came less than a day after he mentioned plans to de-escalate the ongoing conflict, which is now into its fourth week.

International Energy Agency (IEA) executive director Fatih Birol described the crisis as "very severe", comparing it unfavourably to the oil shocks of the 1970s.

Meanwhile, Iraq has declared force majeure on all fields developed by foreign oil companies, citing disruptions caused by military action near the Strait of Hormuz, which has affected the countrys crude exports, Reuters reported.

The Iraqi Oil Ministry confirmed that disruptions have pushed storage capacities to their limits and noted that the situation is under continual review.

Iraq's Oil Minister, Hayan Abdel-Ghani, revealed that Basra Oil Company has reduced its production from 3.3 million barrels per day (bpd) to 900,000bpd.

The conflict has expanded beyond regional borders, with Iran responding to US and Israeli actions by targeting Gulf states hosting US military bases, while Israel has retaliated with attacks in Lebanon.

The IEA has begun releasing millions of barrels from its oil reserves to address the current disruptions.

After convening in early March, IEA member countries agreed to supply 400 million barrels worldwide. The release primarily involves crude oil, supplemented by refined products in Europe and increased production from the US, Canada and Mexico.

This marks the sixth instance of IEA collective action since its establishment in 1974, with previous interventions occurring in 1991, 2005, 2011, and twice in 2022.

The current disruption is considered to be the largest in the history of global oil markets, with resumption of stable shipping through the Strait of Hormuz deemed crucial for restoring normalcy.

"Oil prices fluctuate amid Hormuz crisis and speculation over Iran sanctions" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.
Artificial intelligence (AI) group OpenAI is reportedly discussing buying electricity from Helion Energy, the fusion startup company based in Everett, Washington. Sources told POWER that a deal would enable OpenAI to be guaranteed part of Helion's power generation, with as much as 5 GW available by 2030 and up to 50 GW by 2035. Helion in February announced that its Polaris prototype has set new industry benchmarks, becoming the first privately developed fusion energy machine to demonstrate measurable deuterium-tritium (DT) fusion and achieve plasma temperatures of 150 million degrees Celsius. The company at the time said the milestones mark significant breakthroughs in Helions vision to make commercially viable fusion energy a reality and are firsts for the private fusion industry. What makes this deal significant is that it reframes AI as an energy-intensive industrial system rather than just a software platform," said Siddardha Vangala, senior AI Platform Engineer & Enterprise AI Systems Architect with MasTec Advanced Technologies. Vangala told POWER, As large-scale AI models grow, data center demand is rising rapidly, and companies are beginning to secure dedicated power sources years in advance. If fusion technology becomes commercially viable, partnerships like this could define the long-term infrastructure strategy of the AI industry. Microsoft in 2023 said it had signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Helion to buy electricity from the company as soon as 2028 in what was considered the first PPA tied to fusion energy.

POWER is at the forefront of coverage for research and development of fusion energy. That includes a recent special report featuring several of the leading companies in the space. Read "Research Brings Results in Search for Holy Grail of Clean Energy", and find more content in our archives.

[caption id="attachment_250637" align="alignnone" width="640"]

Polaris is Helion Energy's 7th-generation nuclear fusion prototype, designed to demonstrate the feasibility of generating net electricity from fusion. The machine is a Field-Reversed Configuration (FRC) plasma generator, which reaches high temperatures and focuses on a smaller, pulsed, non-thermal approach to achieve commercial power generation. Courtesy: Helion Energy[/caption]

Notable Investors

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, is an investor in Helion, which was founded in 2013. Altman's stake in the company has not been disclosed, though it's been called "sizable." Other investors in Helion include Softbank, Mithril Capital (led by entrepreneur and PayPal founder Peter Thiel), and Meta, including Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz. Altman led Helion's $500-million Series E funding round in 2021. The company also closed a $425-million funding round in January of last year. Altman on Monday said he has stepped down from the board of directors of Helion Energy, though he remains on the OpenAI board. Altman said holding both positions was untenable. Altman in a post on social media platform X (the former Twitter) said he continues to have a financial interest in Helion, but will recuse himself from any negotiations around deals that involve the company. Altman at the time of the Microsoft deal in 2023 said, My vision of the future ... is that if we can drive the cost intelligence and the cost of energy way, way down, the quality of life for all of us will increase incredibly. If we can make AI systems more and more powerful for less and less moneysame thing we are trying to do with energy at HelionI view these two projects as spiritually very aligned. Other tech companies also have signed deals to secure power from fusion. Google in 2025 signed agreements with Massachusetts-based Commonwealth Fusion Systems.
DENVER, March 23 (Reuters) - The U.S. may not be scaling electricity fast enough for the expansion of artificial intelligence, Google's President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat said on Monday, speaking about the vast amounts of power needed to scale the company's AI data centers.

"We are concerned that we are not full throttle on energy, she said at the CERAWeek conference in Houston, Texas.

(Reporting by Laila Kearney in Houston; Editing by Franklin Paul)
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China Medical System Holdings (SEHK:867) has received approval in China for Desidustat Tablets for the treatment of renal anaemia.

The therapy is indicated for non dialysis chronic kidney disease patients with renal anaemia.

The approval broadens the groups nephrology portfolio and adds a new product to its specialty pharmaceutical lineup.

For you as an investor looking at SEHK:867, this approval relates directly to the companys core business of commercialising branded specialty medicines in China. By adding an oral treatment option for renal anaemia, the group is participating in a therapeutic area where chronic kidney disease and related complications represent a meaningful clinical burden.

This move is consistent with the companys focus on higher value, differentiated products rather than broad primary care drugs. Investors tracking CMS may now watch how Desidustats launch, uptake among non dialysis patients and integration with the rest of the nephrology portfolio influence the companys product mix and revenue drivers over time.

Stay updated on the most important news stories for China Medical System Holdings by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on China Medical System Holdings.

SEHK:867 Earnings & Revenue Growth as at Mar 2026

We've flagged 0 risks for China Medical System Holdings. See which could impact your investment.

The Desidustat approval gives China Medical System Holdings another nephrology product that sits alongside Velphoro and targets a clearly defined group of non dialysis chronic kidney disease patients with renal anaemia. For you as a shareholder, the key link to the financials is that this comes shortly after the group reported CNY 8,212.06 million in sales and CNY 1,488.89 million in net income for 2025, with earnings per share of CNY 0.6154. The new therapy adds another branded drug that can potentially contribute to future product mix and help support the specialty focus that the company is building out.

CMS is competing in a segment where large global players such as AstraZeneca, Novartis and Bayer are also active in kidney and cardiovascular related therapies, so the ability to use existing nephrology channels and expert relationships is important. Management has highlighted a tiered R&D and in licensing pipeline with multiple drugs at different stages, and Desidustat is one visible output of that approach. Investors may now want to monitor how effectively the company converts its nephrology footprint, sales force reach and licensing agreements into usage of Desidustat in Chinese hospitals and clinics, and how this sits alongside the recently proposed dividend for 2025.
Earendil Labs has secured $787m to drive the expansion of its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered drug discovery platform, which has already garnered interest from big pharma player, Sanofi.

Investment has come from participants Dimension Capital and Pfizer & Hillhouses Biotech Development Fund, as well as partner Sanofi. With the funding, the Delaware-based company will expand its team of scientists, engineers and translational experts, while boosting the utility of its AI-driven R&D platform.

According to the biotechs CEO, Jian Peng, the capital raised will allow Earendil to operate on a fundamentally different scale, meaning the company will now be able to progress its arsenal of more than 40 programmes.

The current star of Earendils pipeline is its half-life extended anti-tumour necrosis factor-like cytokine 1A (TL1A) therapy, HXN-1001, which is ready to enter Phase II development across inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohns and ulcerative colitis (UC). The biotech previously conducted a Phase I trial on HXN-1001 in healthy volunteers back in July 2025.

According to GlobalDatas Pharmaceutical Intelligence Center, there are currently 10 TIL1A-targeting therapies in development for autoimmune diseases across the preclinical and clinical landscape. This includes Roche-owned Genentechs afimkibart, as well as MSDs tulisokibart, which GlobalData, parent company of Pharmaceutical Technology, estimates will generate $2bn in sales during 2032.

Alongside its efforts to progress HXN-1001, Earendil plans to submit investigational new drug (IND) applications for several of its preclinical assets throughout 2026 and 2027.

Sanofis contribution to this financing deepens ties between the two companies, as the duo previously inked a $2.56bn deal to discover and develop candidates for autoimmune and inflammatory conditions in January 2026. This pact followed on from Sanofi and Earendils first blockbuster agreement, which saw the former buy the rights to two of Earendils bispecific antibody programmes in April 2025.

AI a key financing theme for biotech

As AI continues to advance the drug discovery paradigm, several pharma companies are investing into AI capabilities to bolster their pipelines.

This has become particularly important for many, as upcoming patent cliffs threaten to wipe out $230bn from the US market between 2025 and 2030, as per a report from GlobalData.

While many are opting to advance their AI technologies in-house, AI-focused deals have also been rising in prevalence, with 168 strategic alliances related to the technology signed in 2025 alone, as per GlobalData.
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.
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Pfizer and Valneva reported Phase 3 results for their Lyme disease vaccine candidate, with over 70% efficacy.

The trial did not meet its primary endpoint, mainly due to lower than expected Lyme disease incidence during the study.

Despite this, the companies view the data as clinically meaningful and plan to move ahead with regulatory submissions.

For investors watching NYSE:PFE, this vaccine update adds a fresh piece to the story around Pfizer beyond its established franchises. The stock trades at $26.77, with a 1 year return of 9.8%, a 3 year return showing a 20.2% decline, and a 5 year return showing a 6.2% decline. In that context, progress in under served areas such as Lyme disease helps illustrate how Pfizer is working to expand its vaccine portfolio.

From here, regulatory review will be important, including how authorities weigh the 70% efficacy figure against the missed primary endpoint. If the vaccine eventually reaches the market, investors may track how it fits into Pfizer's broader vaccine offerings and what it could mean for the companys revenue mix, even if initial uptake or labeling is conservative.

Stay updated on the most important news stories for Pfizer by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on Pfizer.

NYSE:PFE Earnings & Revenue Growth as at Mar 2026

We've flagged 4 risks for Pfizer. See which could impact your investment.

Investor Checklist

Quick Assessment

 Price vs Analyst Target : At US$26.77, Pfizer trades about 6.6% below the US$28.54 analyst target, which is within the typical 10% band.

 Simply Wall St Valuation : Simply Wall St models Pfizer as trading 56.6% below its estimated fair value.

 Recent Momentum: The 30 day return of roughly 0.45% shows slightly positive recent momentum.

There is only one way to know the right time to buy, sell or hold Pfizer. Head to Simply Wall St's company report for the latest analysis of Pfizer's Fair Value.

Key Considerations

 The Lyme vaccine data underscores Pfizer's effort to add new vaccines alongside existing products, even when trial statistics are complex.

 Watch how regulators interpret the 70% efficacy, any labeling constraints, and later, revenue disclosures if the product is approved.

 With four flagged risks including dividend coverage and debt versus cash flow, any extra development or launch costs are worth tracking.

Dig Deeper

For the full picture including more risks and rewards, check out the complete Pfizer analysis. Alternatively, you can visit the community page for Pfizer to see how other investors believe this latest news will impact the company's narrative.
Pfizer and Valneva reported that their Lyme disease vaccine failed to meet its Phase III primary endpoint, blaming a low incidence of disease cases.

In the VALOR study (NCT05477524), which enrolled approximately 9,400 individuals over five years of age, the investigational six-valent OspA-based Lyme disease vaccine candidate PF-07307405 was 73.2% effective 28 days after the fourth dose compared to the placebo arm.

The companies said that fewer than anticipated Lyme disease cases were accrued over the study period, meaning the primary endpoint was not statistically significant. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection, primarily caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks.

Despite this, the data was clinically meaningful, with the 95% confidence interval lower bound being above 20 in the second pre-specified analysis. As a result, Pfizer said it is confident in the vaccines potential and is continuing with planned submissions to regulatory authorities.

Dr Annaliesa Anderson, senior vice president and chief vaccines officer at Pfizer, said: Lyme disease can cause potentially serious consequences  where individuals and families face symptoms that can disrupt daily life, work, and long-term health  and there is currently no vaccine available. The efficacy shown in the VALOR study of more than 70% is highly encouraging and creates confidence in the vaccines potential to protect against this disease that can be debilitating.

These results bring us a step closer to our goal of delivering a much-needed vaccine to help protect against Lyme disease. We are grateful to our partner Pfizer for their strong commitment, which we both share in developing this vaccine as quickly as possible, added Thomas Lingelbach, CEO and board member of Valneva.

While the companies struck an upbeat tone on the data, investors were less convinced, with Valnevas stock - listed on the ELA exchange - plunging 37.1%, from $4.56 at market close on 20 March to a low of $2.54 today (23 March) while Pfizers NYSE-listed stock appeared largely unaffected.

The vaccine has been developed as part of a collaboration between Pfizer and Valneva, following a license agreement in April 2020. This agreement also granted Pfizer exclusivity to manufacture and commercialise PF-07307405, assuming regulatory success.

Worldwide, there are currently no vaccines authorised to prevent Lyme disease following the 2002 withdrawal of GSKs LYMErix from the US market, which was pulled due to fears of vaccine side effects, poor sales and class-action lawsuits.
Financial institutions are already using AI to generate personalised investment and financial planning insights in real time, helping customers make informed decisions without needing to actively seek advice. We are now seeing early deployments extend into proactive financial optimisation and risk identification, enabling institutions to intervene earlier and deliver more relevant outcomes.

AI agents can extend embedded finance by shifting experiences from customer-initiated interactions to systems that operate continuously in the background. One clear example is onboarding, which now involves automated data collection, validation, KYC checks and risk assessments, with human involvement focused on exception handling and higher-risk scenarios. In transformation programs we have supported, this has helped banks reduce onboarding friction.

According to the WEFs 2025 AI in Financial Services report , projected AI investments across banking, insurance, capital markets and payments are expected to reach $97bn by 2027. Nearly 70% of financial services executives that we talk to expect AI to directly contribute to revenue in the coming years. Interest in Agentic AI is increasing as banks look to automate complex workflows that previously required manual coordination.

Many of these capabilities were enabled without AI agents, relying instead on rule-based decision systems. However, across our recent transformation programs, institutions are now moving beyond static automation toward adaptive systems, orchestration layers and APIs that continuously learn to enable better decision-making.

Automated finance has expanded beyond payments to regular income, savings, borrowing and insurance. For example, gig-economy platforms provide access to working capital based on earnings, e-commerce apps provide BNPL options, travel bookings are bundled with insurance, etc. We are increasingly observing in our work with banks and fintech platforms that financial services are becoming embedded directly within customer ecosystems, reducing reliance on traditional banking interfaces.

There is a steady change in customer expectations from financial services providers as they expect frictionless and invisible banking services, which essentially is a step-up from digital banking to ambient banking. Today, most customers do not actively go to the bank for routine financial activities because financial services are embedded directly into everyday transactions. Consumers can pay for rides, food deliveries and e-commerce purchases without logging into a banking app, as payments are executed through wallets and integrated payment rails. Subscriptions, bill payments and marketplace purchases are processed automatically through stored credentials, requiring little or no manual action.

Story Continues

Agentic AI systems operate across core banking systems, CRM platforms and servicing workflows, ensuring continuity across digital and human interactions. Conversations that begin digitally can continue seamlessly with relationship managers because context and decisions are already available. In one engagement with a global fintech, Agentic AI enabled intelligent case routing, reducing SLA breaches and operational backlogs by prioritising high-impact exceptions.

This shift is also improving operational responsiveness. In another engagement with a fintech platform serving banks in North America, modernisation efforts enabled faster pricing adjustments, reducing release timelines from weeks to much shorter cycles. This demonstrates how stronger platforms and automation allow institutions to respond faster without increasing operational complexity.

Technology enablers for Invisible AI

Invisible AI depends on strong foundational capabilities, including unified data environments, modern architectures and operating models designed to support continuous decision-making.

APIs serve as a critical layer by enabling banks to securely connect internal systems and external ecosystems. They allow financial services such as payments, credit evaluation, and fraud detection to operate within customer journeys, rather than as separate processes.

A unified data foundation is equally important. Real-time access to enterprise data enables more accurate decision-making, personalised experiences, and reliable automation. Many banks are still operating with fragmented systems, which limit their ability to scale AI beyond individual use cases. This fragmentation remains one of the most common barriers we encounter when supporting banks in scaling AI adoption across enterprise operations.

Eventdriven architectures further strengthen this foundation by allowing AI systems to react instantly to changes and trigger actions in real time without waiting for manual requests. To sustain trust, Invisible AI must embed governance, explainability and human-in-the-loop controls. This ensures models remain compliant, auditable and resilient as they evolve.

Where human judgment must remain central

As Agentic AI systems begin to act autonomously, it becomes critical to define where humans stay in control. Routine approvals can be automated, but material decisions cannot. Loan denials, large commercial credit decisions and sensitive customer situations demand empathy, context and fairness. AI can accelerate assessments, but human decision-makers must retain authority over outcomes that materially affect lives and livelihoods.

Human judgment is equally essential when supporting financially vulnerable customers and resolving disputes. Customers need clear explanations and paths for recourse when AI-driven decisions are challenged.

At the organisational level, human oversight is essential for setting risk policies, managing exceptions and ensuring responsible deployment. The most effective institutions treat AI as a capability that strengthens human decision-making rather than replacing it.

What separates AI leaders from followers

Leading institutions are moving beyond pilots and deploying AI across end-to-end workflows, including customer service, compliance, operations and software development. From what I am observing across our client engagements, institutions that are successfully scaling AI are those embedding intelligence directly into operational workflows rather than treating it as isolated innovation efforts.

As fraud becomes more sophisticated, banks are strengthening detection through behavioral analysis, continuous verification and unified monitoring across channels. These capabilities allow fraud prevention to operate continuously without disrupting customer experiences.

Responsible AI practices, including governance, risk management and data protection, are becoming core operational priorities rather than standalone compliance activities.

Institutions that remain constrained by fragmented systems and isolated pilots will find it difficult to scale these capabilities. Competitive advantage will increasingly depend on how effectively intelligence is embedded into core operations and decision-making.

The shift underway is not about introducing more visible technology, but about making financial services more responsive, reliable and adaptive. Banks that invest in strong data foundations, modern architectures and disciplined governance will be better positioned to scale these capabilities.

Barath Narayanan, Global BFSI and Europe Geo Head at Persistent Systems

"When AI becomes invisible: How banking will really operate by 2026" was originally created and published by Retail Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand.




March 23 (Reuters) - Alphabet (GOOG)-owned Wing plans to begin delivering packages by drone to homes in California's San Francisco Bay Area in the coming months, it said on Monday, extending its rollout to one of its earliest testing grounds.

Wing is seeking to scale what it says is a solution to the hurdles facing last-mile delivery of small household items and meals by using lightweight, automated drones designed to fly directly to homes in dense residential areas.

The expansion marks a return to the roots for the company, which was founded in the Bay Area in 2012 as part of Alphabet's X.

X is Alphabets "Moonshot Factory," a research unit that takes on experimental projects such as self-driving firm Waymo, and helps spin them into independent companies.

Wing provides drone delivery for Walmart groceries and household essentials in under 30 minutes in some U.S. states. With DoorDash, it offers rapid food delivery from restaurant chains such as Wendys and Panera.

The company has completed more than 750,000 deliveries to date, and serves more than two million customers across parts of the U.S., it said.

The Bay Area rollout comes as Wing pushes to build a logistics network focused on small and local deliveries, while working to broaden adoption beyond early pilot markets.

The company also started a pilot program with Serve Robotics in October 2024, in which Serve's on-ground robots picked up food from restaurants and transferred it to Wing drones for aerial delivery.

(Reporting by Anhata Rooprai in Bengaluru; Editing by Sahal Muhammed)
By Manya Saini

March 23 (Reuters) - Asset management giant BlackRock's CEO Larry Fink warned on Monday the artificial intelligence boom risks widening the wealth gap unless more individuals share in market gains.

The rapid rise of AI has sparked debate over whether its gains will be broadly shared across sectors or increase the divide between big tech firms and smaller companies that may struggle to compete.

Since the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, much of Wall Street's AI-driven market gains have been led by companies at the center of the boom, pointing to a more narrow set of winners.

"The massive wealth created over the past several generations flowed mostly to people who already owned financial assets," Fink said in his annual letter to shareholders. "Now AI threatens to repeat that pattern at an even larger scale."

Although more individuals have entered markets in recent years, participation is still modest, particularly in equities and other traditional assets linked to wealth creation.

Fink, who leads the world's largest asset manager with about $14 trillion in assets, has used these closely watched letters to highlight the role of capital markets in building wealth and the importance of long-term investing.

"History suggests that transformative technologies create enormous value - and much of that value accrues to the companies that build and deploy them, and to the investors who own them."

'HERE TO STAY'

Fink said that AI is "here to stay" and remains central to strategic competition between the United States and China.

"The U.S. clearly sees that AI leadership is not optional, and that it will require sustained investment - in research, infrastructure, talent, and the capital markets capable of financing innovation at scale."

Investors are increasingly wary the fast-growing adoption of AI could disrupt established business models, particularly in legacy software and services, where automation and new AI-native competitors threaten to erode pricing power and growth.

The uncertainty over how quickly companies can adapt, and which firms will emerge as winners, has added volatility to valuations and weighed on parts of the tech sector.

"One thing is clear: AI will create significant economic value. Ensuring that participation in that growth expands alongside it is both the challenge and the opportunity," he said.

STAYING INVESTED

Fink urged clients to stay invested despite ongoing market volatility.

"Over time, staying invested has mattered far more than getting the timing right. Over the past two decades, every dollar invested in the S&P 500 grew more than eightfold," he added.
This article first appeared on GuruFocus.

The global auto industry is starting to recalibrate around what executives are calling China Speed, after a Leapmotor C10 in Germany received a driver-assistance fix within hours via over-the-air updatesomething that could take weeks at traditional automakers. The incident underscores a broader shift toward faster development cycles, software-first design, and real-time product iteration led by Chinese EV makers such as BYD (BYDDF), Geely (GELYF), and Leapmotor. Instead of the long-standing model of delivering fully validated vehicles, some manufacturers are now shipping cars with functional systems that can be improved post-sale, compressing timelines that historically stretched five to seven years into cycles that can take under two years.

This shift is beginning to influence strategic decisions across legacy automakers. Stellantis (NYSE:STLA) is weighing the use of Leapmotor platforms for brands including Fiat, Opel, and Peugeot, while also holding discussions with Xiaomi (XIACY) and Xpeng (NYSE:XPEV) regarding potential investments in its European operations. Mercedes-Benz has held early-stage talks with Geely on future EV cooperation, and Nissan is investing at least 10 billion yuan to develop EVs in China for export markets. In the US, Ford has explored how joint ventures with Chinese partners might be structured, with CEO Jim Farley describing China's potential entry into the domestic market as an existential threat. The competitive advantage appears rooted in China's scale and ecosystem, supported by more than $230 billion in government backing since 2009, along with tightly integrated supply chains and engineering clusters that accelerate development and reduce costs.

At the same time, the model introduces trade-offs that could shape its long-term impact. The overlapping development approachwhere production can begin before full validationis contributing to faster innovation but has raised concerns about reliability. JD Power has reported declining dependability for vehicles sold in China for a second consecutive year, with established joint ventures from Japanese and American brands performing better in that metric. Despite this, Chinese automakers are expanding rapidly into global markets such as Brazil, Mexico, the UK, and the Middle East, while analysts at UBS estimate their global market share could rise to 35% by 2030 from 25% in 2025. As engineering talent, supply chains, and innovation increasingly concentrate in China, the industry's competitive benchmark appears to be shifting, potentially forcing legacy automakers to adapt their models or risk falling behind.
We are not competing primarily on price. We compete on strategic impact: speed-to-value, scalable infrastructure, and measurable operational improvement. For mid-market B2B merchants, the winning platform is not the cheapest or the most feature-heavy. It is the one that modernises infrastructure without disruption and enables sustainable growth in an increasingly digital and AI-driven trade environment.

We integrate directly with ERP systems, automate contract pricing and credit workflows, and enable structured self-service aligned with modern B2B buying behaviour. The outcome is measurable operational improvement: reduced cost-to-serve, improved margin visibility, and scalable growth without enterprise-level burden.

Our value proposition is anchored in five principles: rapid time-to-value, scalable cloud architecture, digital-first trade experience, AI-driven operational intelligence, and long-term partnership.

Mid-market B2B merchants sit at the centre of a persistent infrastructure gap. Enterprise platforms are powerful but complex, costly, and slow to deploy. Entry-level tools are accessible but structurally misaligned with wholesale trade. Businesses operating between 10m and 300m in revenue are often too sophisticated for one and too resource-conscious for the other.

He tells EPI that B2B online commerce is "broken" due to poor data, inefficient processes, and an inability to meet B2C-like convenience standards. Noticing these patterns across multiple projects, he was inspired to create the purpose-built platform that addresses these pain points at scale.

Sharma summarises the aim of the platform as providing an affordable, easy to adopt, and powerful solution to manage the full complexity of B2B commerce while empowering businesses to scale.

E-commerce expert Bharat Sharma is the founder and CEO of Apex B2B, an AI-driven SaaS B2B e-commerce platform for mid-market merchants, such as wholesalers, distributors, and manufacturers. With over 20 years of experience in enterprise technology and commerce, Sharma founded Monsoon Consulting before evolving its proven delivery frameworks into Apex B2B.

Story Continues

EPI: Are you more likely to be competing with niche players or are you also competing with the likes of Shopify, SAP?

Sharma:

We see competition across three distinct layers of the market: First, B2C-first platforms such as Shopify. Their limitation is structural because they are designed for storefront conversion, not for the operational realities of B2B trade, such as contract pricing, credit terms, multi-user account hierarchies, approval workflows, and negotiated agreements. While they offer accessibility, they often lack the depth, flexibility, and scalability required by growing mid-market wholesalers.

Second are enterprise platforms such as SAP. These systems are undeniably powerful, but they are typically complex, resource-intensive, and cost-prohibitive for mid-market merchants. Lengthy implementation cycles, heavy customisation, and high total cost of ownership make them disproportionate to the needs of businesses in the 10m to 300m range. For many, the investment required simply does not align with operational realities.

Third, niche B2B vendors. Some address specific functionality gaps, but many lack modern cloud-native architecture, embedded AI capability, or true integration-first design. In some cases, they function primarily as a front-end ordering layer sitting on top of an ERP system rather than transforming the full trade workflow. Others restrict merchants within proprietary ecosystems that limit long-term flexibility.

Our differentiation lies in being purpose-built for the mid-market. We are integration-first by design, cloud-native, and embed automation and payments directly into the trade lifecycle. This enables mid-sized wholesalers to modernise quickly, adopt eCommerce without disruption, and scale confidently as their business grows in size and complexity.

EPI: What sort of KPIs should merchants be considering when it comes to determining which platform to adopt?

Sharma:

B2B success goes far beyond online order volume. For wholesalers, distributors, and manufacturers, commerce performance impacts sales, operations, finance, and customer experience simultaneously. This means that the right platform should reduce friction across the entire trade lifecycle, increase automation, improve cash-flow visibility, and enhance sales productivity, not simply increase online order volume. In B2B commerce, success is measured by how efficiently and intelligently trade flows through the business.

When selecting a platform, merchants should evaluate measurable impact across five core dimensions.

Platform Adoption: If orders continue to arrive via email and spreadsheets, automation and efficiency gains never materialise. With a powerful platform, businesses are enabled to operate smoothly and have a complete view of transactions and engagement. The focus should be on:

Percentage of total orders placed digitally

Revenue processed through eCommerce vs offline channels

Self-service order ratio and active account engagement

Sales Productivity: A strong platform should increase revenue capacity per rep by reducing administrative workload and shifting focus toward account growth.

Revenue per account

Repeat order frequency

Upsell and cross-sell rates

Revenue and order volume per sales agent

Operational Efficiency

Order automation rate

Manual intervention reduction

Order processing time

Cost-to-serve per customer

Finance & Payments

Days Sales Outstanding (DSO)

Invoice-to-payment cycle time

Payment reconciliation accuracy

Customer Experience

Self-service utilisation

Retention rates

Reduction in support queries

EPI: Why should B2B commerce players adopt a platform that is specifically designed for them? Why is it that existing platforms, that are normally built for B2C, do not work for B2B?

Sharma:

B2B commerce is structurally different from B2C, and the technology supporting it must reflect that reality.

In B2C, the focus is on storefront optimisation, fast checkout, and individual transactions. In B2B, transactions are high-volume, low-margin, and governed by negotiated contracts, credit terms, and long-term trading relationships.

A single B2B account may include multiple buyers, approval hierarchies, and account-level credit limits. Pricing is rarely static, and orders may involve partial shipments, backorders, invoice settlements, and complex reconciliation processes. These are not edge cases; they are everyday operational realities for wholesalers, distributors, and manufacturers.

Platforms originally built for B2C are optimised for consumer simplicity. They struggle to handle contract pricing logic, multi-user account structures, ERP-dependent workflows, and credit-based payment models without significant customisation. Over time, this creates technical debt, operational friction, and rising costs.

Purpose-built B2B platforms are designed around workflow automation, integration-first architecture, and account-level intelligence. They connect ordering, pricing, credit, and payments into a structured trade lifecycle rather than treating commerce as a digital storefront.

For B2B merchants, the choice is not about adding an online channel. It is about modernising the infrastructure that powers how trade actually flows through the business.

EPI: Why do mid-market merchants (wholesalers, distributors, and manufacturers with turnovers between 10m and 300m) need a platform specially for them? What are the challenges they face and the benefits of a tailored solution?

Sharma:

Mid-market wholesalers, distributors, and manufacturers operate in a uniquely challenging position. They are large enough to face real operational complexity, such as contract pricing, multi-location inventory, credit management, ERP dependency, and growing digital expectations, but not large enough to absorb the cost and disruption of enterprise-scale transformation programmes.

At the same time, they are too sophisticated for entry-level platforms that lack depth in pricing logic, account structures, workflow automation, and integration.

This creates a structural gap.

Many mid-market merchants still rely heavily on manual processes: email orders, spreadsheet uploads, phone-based ordering, and fragmented payment workflows. Sales teams re-enter data into ERP systems. Finance teams manually reconcile invoices. Customer service teams handle routine queries that could be automated through structured self-service.

The result is rising cost-to-serve, limited visibility, and constrained scalability.

A platform built specifically for this segment addresses those challenges directly. It must integrate seamlessly with existing ERP systems, automate contract pricing and credit workflows, enable digital self-service, and embed payments into the trade lifecycle.

The benefit is not simply digitisation. It is measurable improvement: faster time-to-value, reduced operational friction, stronger cash-flow control, and the ability to scale without proportional increases in headcount.

For the mid-market, modern B2B infrastructure is no longer optional. It is foundational to sustainable growth.

EPI: Can you share any highlights of the past year or so, and what targets you have set for the short to medium term?

Sharma:

Over the past year, we executed a structured soft launch into the mid-market segment, validating the platform in live wholesale environments. Early adoption reinforced two priorities: rapid time-to-value and integrated payment capability.

We strengthened ERP integrations, expanded AI-driven automation across pricing and ordering workflows, and progressed Apex Pay as a Phase 2 embedded payments layer.

Looking ahead, our short- to medium-term focus is clear: scale responsibly within the mid-market, expand Apex Pay as a purpose-built B2B payments layer, and continue embedding AI across the full trade lifecycle. Our ambition is not rapid expansion at any cost, but sustainable growth built on measurable operational impact.

It is also important to note that Apex B2B is built on more than a decade of hands-on B2B commerce delivery experience. Through our founding agency business, Monsoon Consulting, the team has supported award-winning eCommerce implementations, including Food & Drink eCommerce Website of the Year in the UK in 2024 and recognition at the Hive UK eCommerce Awards in 2025. That delivery heritage has directly informed the architecture and practical design of Apex B2B.

EPI: B2B payments are structurally more complex than B2C transactions. What challenges do wholesalers face, and how does Apex Pay support your vision for embedded payments within modern B2B commerce?

Sharma:

B2B payments are fundamentally different from B2C transactions because wholesale operates on very different economics. It is typically a high-volume, low-margin environment where small inefficiencies in payment processing, reconciliation, or credit management can materially impact profitability.

Wholesale trade runs on negotiated contract pricing, structured credit terms, partial shipments, invoice settlements, and account-level payment arrangements. A single customer may have multiple authorised buyers, layered approval workflows, and varying payment conditions. Reconciliation is often manual and disconnected from the ordering process, creating friction and hidden costs.

Most payment gateways are built for consumer simplicity, such as instant card capture and immediate settlement. That model does not reflect the realities of B2B trade.

In wholesale, payments are not just transactions; they are part of a broader credit, working capital, and margin management system.

As we developed Apex B2B, it became clear that treating payments as a bolt-on integration would not address these structural inefficiencies. That insight led to the development of Apex Pay, as mentioned, our embedded payments layer designed specifically for contract-driven, credit-based trade environments.

Apex Pay forms part of our Phase 2 roadmap and will be introduced through a structured rollout. It is being built to integrate directly with ERP systems, account hierarchies, credit controls, and, where appropriate, direct banking infrastructure to reduce friction and improve cost efficiency. The objective is simple: protect and improve underlying margins by making the flow of cash as intelligent and automated as the flow of orders.

Our long-term vision is that embedded payments will become foundational to B2B infrastructure. In a low-margin sector, intelligent integration between commerce, credit, and cash flow is not optional, but rather a competitive advantage.

EPI: Which markets are a particular priority for the next 1-2 years?

Sharma:

Our starting focus is Ireland, the UK, and the US, markets with strong wholesale ecosystems and a high concentration of mid-market merchants operating between 10m and 300m in revenue.

Ireland and the UK are natural foundations for us. Both markets combine mature distribution networks, increasing digital expectations, and a clear infrastructure gap in the mid-market. Many businesses still rely heavily on manual processes layered over legacy ERP systems, creating strong demand for integration-first, cloud-native platforms.

The US represents a significant growth opportunity. The structural gap between entry-level eCommerce tools and enterprise platforms is even more pronounced there, particularly in distribution-led sectors where embedded payments and automation are becoming strategic priorities.

In stage two, we plan to extend into Canada and select EU markets that share similar wholesale dynamics and regulatory environments.

From a sector perspective, we are focused on verticals where trade complexity is high and structured workflows matter. These include Food & Beverage, Industrial Supplies, Building Materials, Electronics and Computer Hardware, Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Beauty, and Fashion and Jewellery. These sectors typically operate with contract pricing, credit-based trade, repeat ordering, and multi-tier distribution models. These are all areas where our pre-built workflows and integration-first design deliver immediate value.

Our expansion strategy is deliberate. We prioritise markets and sectors where wholesale trade is economically significant, and the mid-market remains underserved by existing commerce and payments solutions.

EPI: Earlier in your career, you moved from the UK to Ireland, why did you choose Ireland as your home? In terms of business, did you feel it was a better landscape than the UK?

Sharma:

My move from the UK to Ireland was both a personal and strategic decision.

Ireland offers a uniquely strong technology ecosystem, international connectivity, and a pro-innovation regulatory environment. It has become a hub for global technology companies while maintaining close commercial ties with both the UK and the European Union. From a business perspective, that positioning is highly attractive.

For a cloud-native B2B commerce and payments platform like Apex B2B, operating from Ireland provides access to EU markets while retaining strong links to the UK wholesale sector. It also offers a supportive startup and scaling environment, particularly in fintech and enterprise software.

That said, I do not view it as Ireland versus the UK. Both markets are strategically important to us. The UK has one of the most mature wholesale and distribution sectors in Europe, while Ireland provides a strong base for international expansion.

Ultimately, the decision was about building Apex B2B in an ecosystem that supports long-term innovation and global ambition.

EPI: Anything keep you awake at night?

Sharma:

What keeps me awake is not competition. It is complacency.

The mid-market wholesale sector is undergoing structural change. Buyer expectations are evolving rapidly, AI adoption is accelerating, and embedded payments are becoming integral to trade infrastructure. The risk for many businesses is not disruption from global giants but underestimating how quickly expectations are shifting.

Technology decisions made today will define operational efficiency, cash-flow visibility, and competitiveness for the next decade. If mid-market merchants continue layering digital tools on top of legacy systems without addressing core workflow complexity, they risk falling behind more agile competitors.

From our perspective, the responsibility is to build infrastructure that is robust enough for scale but simple enough for rapid adoption. The pace of innovation in AI and payments is increasing, and we must ensure that Apex B2B evolves just as quickly while remaining grounded in real operational value.

In short, what keeps me awake is ensuring that we move fast without losing focus, and that we help our customers modernise before the gap becomes irreversible.

Bharat Sharma, founder and CEO, Apex B2B

"Interview: B2B commerce is broken  innovation can fix it says Bharat Sharma" was originally created and published by Electronic Payments International, a GlobalData owned brand.




By Max A. Cherney and Stephen Nellis

SAN FRANCISCO, March 23 (Reuters) - Lace, a Norway-headquartered chipmaking equipment startup which is backed by Microsoft, has raised $40 million in funding to further develop a technology that could enable significant advances in semiconductor design and manufacturing, the company said on Monday.

To make cutting-edge chips, manufacturers such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co and Intel employ a process called lithography that uses light to draw complex circuits that form the foundation of advanced artificial intelligence chips.

Manufacturers use light-based lithography systems made by the Dutch company ASML - which dominates the market - as they race to shrink chip components and squeeze in more features to boost the computing horsepower on a limited area of silicon.

The field has drawn fresh interest from investors and governments as a new round of startups emerges, some of which aim to compete with the Dutch firm.

Lace has developed a new approach. Instead of light, Lace's engineers have made a form of lithography that uses a helium atom beam. With that, the Norwegian company will be able to create chip designs that are 10 times as small as what is currently possible, CEO Bodil Holst told Reuters in an interview.

"Our technology is a way that can potentially expand the roadmap and be an enabler for doing things that would not have been possible otherwise," Holst said.

The main advantage of the helium atom beam is the industry could create features such as transistors, the building blocks of modern chips, an order of magnitude smaller to an "almost unimaginable" degree, according to John Petersen, Scientific Director of Lithography at Imec, a research and innovation hub for the chip industry.

The beam Lace will use to make chips is about the width of a single hydrogen atom, or 0.1 nanometer. ASML's lithography tools use a beam of light that is about 13.5 nanometers; a human hair is about 100,000 nanometers wide.

Smaller transistors and other features would give chipmakers the ability to ramp up the performance of advanced AI processors well beyond the current capabilities. Lace's technology would enable chip manufacturers to print wafers at what is "ultimately atomic resolution," Holst said.

The Bergen-headquartered company's Series A funding round was led by Atomico with additional investments from Microsoft's venture arm M12, Linse Capital, the Spanish Society for Technological Transformation and Nysn.
By Toby Sterling

AMSTERDAM, March 22 (Reuters) - Nebius closed a $4.34 billion convertible debt funding round on Monday, with a company executive saying that the European AI infrastructure firm is now "well-funded" to meet its 2026 capital spending plans of $16 billion to 20 billion.

The financing caps a month in which Nebius sold $2 billion of share warrants to Nvidia and sealed a deal worth up to $27 billion to supply Facebook-owner Meta with data center capacity, underscoring investor appetite for AI infrastructure.

Chief Communications Officer Tom Blackwell said the company will keep expanding and may strike additional deals like the Meta contract, which followed a $17.3 billion supply deal with Microsoft in September.

"We'll continue to consider these types of deals as we go, just because if they're structured in the right way, they can be a very efficient source of capital," he said.

STRATEGIC FOCUS ON AI CLOUD

Blackwell said the big contract wins were not only a validation of its expertise, but also a way to fund a business that will sustain it in years beyond the current AI demand frenzy - offering AI cloud services to firms on top of the physical infrastructure it provides.

He rejected the idea that Nebius is expanding too quickly and will be left vulnerable in a downturn. "As long as enterprise AI adoption does continue to increase... the need for what we're doing is going to make sense," he said.

Nebius plans to fund 60% of growth from customer prepayments - largely Microsoft and Meta - and 40% through a mix of equity and debt, Blackwell said.

On March 10, the firm sold $2 billion in share warrants to Nvidia at a share price of $94.94. Monday's convertible bond offering was increased amid strong demand, Blackwell said.

It featured a rate of 2.63% for notes due in 2033, with conversion at roughly 90% above the company's closing stock price Friday of $117.62.

"We've managed to achieve a significant amount of funding while really minimizing the dilution," he said.

(Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Arun Koyyur)
Nextech3D.ai hits profitability milestone with KraftyLabs - ICYMI Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock

Nextech3D.AI (CSE:NTAR, OTCQX:NEXCF, FRA:1SS) CEO Evan Gappelberg talked with Proactive about the companys latest milestones following its acquisition of Kraftylabs and the accelerating growth of its AI-powered business model.

Proactive: The company has interesting news today regarding Kraftylabs. Youve hit some big milestones since that acquisition.

Evan Gappelberg: We have. I believe weve hit the inflection point investors have been waiting for. We acquired Kraftylabs in January and integrated it into our AI-powered operating system, which has turbocharged the business.

We focus on acquiring high-margin components that scale without adding massive overhead. That gives me confidence in our ability to reach cash flow positivity in 2026. The segment is already showing profitability in its first month.

Were also sitting on $3 million in annual recurring revenue. While that may seem small, its our foundation and a very exciting number.

Some of that revenue extends into 2027, providing visibility and longevity.

Thats right. Our ARR is anchored by hundreds of tier-one blue-chip accounts. We use a land-and-expand strategy  now were focused on growing those accounts by hiring enterprise salespeople and expanding our book of business.

Were seeing deals move from tier one to tier two and tier three. At tier three, deals can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Are you surprised by how quickly adoption and integration have happened?

Im very pleased. February was a major milestone with Kraftylabs profitability. We expect similar performance from Map Dynamics and Eventdex.

We anticipate strong revenue growth in upcoming quarters, leading to profitability and positive cash flow. The technology is built, customers are signed, and now were scaling.

Weve signed major clients including Google, Netflix, Meta, Microsoft, BNP Paribas, and recently Lego. These accounts continue to expand over time.

Quotes have been lightly edited for style and clarity
Nvidia Corp will deliver one million graphics processing units to Amazon.com, Inc.'s Web Services.

AWS Locks In Massive Multi-Year GPU Deal

Ian Buck, Nvidia's vice president of hyperscale and high-performance computing, told Reuters on Thursday that shipments will begin this year and continue through 2027.

While both companies confirmed the agreement earlier, the timeline had not been disclosed.

Don't Miss:

Amazon and Nvidia did not immediately respond to Benzingas request for comment.

Beyond GPUs: Networking And AI Inference Chips Included

The agreement goes beyond GPUs, encompassing a broader suite of Nvidia technologies. This includes Spectrum networking chips and ConnectX systems designed to accelerate data transfer within data centers.

AWS will also deploy a mix of Nvidia's newer chips, including its recently introduced Groq offerings, alongside several others to improve AI inference  the process of generating real-time outputs from trained models.

Trending: This Startup Thinks It Can Reinvent the Wheel  Literally

$1 Trillion Opportunity Signals Long-Term Growth

The deal aligns with CEO Jensen Huang's projection of a $1 trillion revenue opportunity tied to Nvidia's next-generation Blackwell and Rubin chip platforms.

Despite developing its own custom hardware, AWS's continued reliance on Nvidia underscores the chipmaker's dominance in the rapidly expanding AI ecosystem.

Photo Courtesy: Mijansk786 on Shutterstock.com

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This article Nvidia To Deliver 1 Million AI Chips To Amazon Web Services By 2027 In Massive Multi-Chip Deal Set To Supercharge Inference And Cloud Computing originally appeared on Benzinga.com
Chinese autonomous driving technology developer QCraft has closed a $100m Series D funding round.

The investor line-up includes Ningbo Ninghai Xingtaihe Fund, Wonderland Capital and the Liangxi Science and Innovation Industry Investment Fund Partnership, which is managed by Broad Vision Funds.

Strategic investors also included a leading original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and an automotive electronics components supplier, the group said.

QCraft, founded in 2019, builds autonomous driving systems for carmakers covering levels L2++ through L4.

The company said its technology is already used in more than a million production vehicles through partnerships with OEMs and technology companies.

Proceeds from the round will be allocated to two areas: expanding research and development in physical AI  particularly work on world models and reinforcement learning  and improving organisational capacity, including strengthening its global talent base.

QCraft chairman and CEO James Yu said: 2026 marks a critical inflection point in AI development. We are transitioning from human-like intelligence to superhuman intelligence.

Over the next five to ten years, the greatest opportunities in AI will emerge in the physical worldand that is precisely what makes autonomous driving so exciting. It is the best and most direct gateway into physical-world AI.

Yu said the company is placing increased emphasis on L4 autonomous driving and general physical AI, while speeding up international expansion and maintaining its focus on world model and reinforcement learning R&D.

QCraft also pointed to its QPilot Pro product, which it said delivers urban Navigate on Autopilot (NOA) performance on a single 128TOPS chip.

Looking to 2026, QCraft said it expects to extend its technology and urban NOA functions to more than 50 additional vehicle models.

It also said its world model and reinforcement learning platform is set for an imminent public debut, which it described as a step towards broader physical world AI.

In L4 autonomous driving, QCraft said it has built a presence in autonomous logistics and introduced an Operations from Day One of Production model.

The company said its vehicles are already in commercial use in Jinhua, Wuhu, Ningbo and other Chinese cities.

For robotaxis, QCraft said it plans to begin a new pilot programme in 2026, with full deployment targeted for 2027.

"QCraft raises $100m for autonomous driving tech" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.




The faster companies such as AMD try to scale their data-center GPU business , the more they become vulnerable to constrained supply of advanced memory.

HBM is becoming one of the most crucial cogs inside modern AI accelerators .

Samsungs apparent strategy is simple, and that is what makes it dangerous for rivals.

That valuation helps explain why any change around AMDs AI supply chain will get Wall Street 's attention at a moment's notice.

AMD stock is no stranger to attracting attention. Shares closed at $201.33 on March 20 , giving the company a market value of about $258.8 billion .

All of this will lead to fresh pressure on TSMCs dominance in advanced chip production.

Any shift in AMDs supply chain will lead to major implications for a future revenue , margins and competitive positioning .

Samsung is looking to transform and become more than just a memory supplier .

AMD is one of the largest AI names on the stock market.

This is not just a supplier footnote buried in the semiconductor weeds. Instead, it's a possible huge power play in the boom in artificial intelligence hardware, where control over memory , packaging , and manufacturing capacity can determine who gets the next wave of revenue.

That's why this story matters to investors.

If that goes down, it will mark a line in the sand, as AMD (AMD) has long leaned on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing ( TSM ) for leading-edge logic production.

A report from Chosun Biz , cited by SamMobile , says Samsung is trying to turn that HBM4 relationship into something far more valuable: a share of AMDs advanced chip manufacturing work .

On its face, that sounds like a straightforward memory win . But it may be bigger than that.

The South Korean tech giant recently inked an amazing agreement. Under the auspices of the deal, Samsung will supply sixth-generation high-bandwidth memory, or HBM4 , for Advanced Micro Devices next flagship artificial intelligence accelerator system , Reuters reported.

Samsung Electronics may have found a back door into one of the hottest businesses in the stock market.

Samsungs new HBM4 memory deal with AMD (AMD) is far more than just about components. It's an early sign. A warning shot that the chipmaker is looking to push its way into AMDs lucrative artificial intelligence supply chain .

Story Continues

That gives memory suppliers unusual leverage.

AMDs own numbers give away the magnitude of the opportunity. The company said 2025 was a defining year, with record revenue and earnings, and said it entered 2026 with a strong wind behind it, thanks to outsized investments in the data-center AI franchise.

That means Samsung is not chasing a side hustle. It may be trying to wedge itself into one of AMDs highest-stakes growth engines.

What makes this financially important for AMD:

The need for AI GPUs is growing quickly. AI GPU demand is rising at a rapid clip.

HBM supply is necessary to get those products to their destination on time.

A second major manufacturing partnership could make the supply chain more flexible.

Better visibility of the supply chain could help keep AI's revenue growth going in the future.

And AMDs customer pipeline is getting only better from here. In February, AMD and Meta announced a multi-year deal, under which Meta plans to deploy up to six gigawatts of AMD Instinct GPUs, with shipments for the first gigawatt deployment slated for the second half of 2026.

That kind of scale raises the pressure on AMD.

Samsung is getting primed for a game-changer.Cho/Bloomberg via Getty Images  Cho/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Why this could be a real financial story for Samsung

For Samsung, it couldn't be clearer.

The companys memory business is already taking full advantage of the AI boom. Samsung said in its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings reportthat it had record-high quarterly revenue and operating profit.

Related: Jensen Huang sends shocking message on Nvidias OpenAI stake

It also said HBM sales grew despite limited supply and that it made more money selling higher-value products such as HBM, server DDR5, and enterprise SSDs.

The Device Solutions division posted KRW 44.0 trillion in sales and KRW 16.4 trillion in operating profit in the quarter.

But the foundry business does not inspire the same level of confidence. In its second-quarter 2025 earnings materials, Samsung said foundry revenue rose at a very significant pace. But earnings are still low because of changes in the value of inventory caused by U.S. export restrictions on advanced AI chips to China and low use at mature nodes.

That is the financial tension at the center of this story.

Samsung holds a memory business taking advantage of AI demand and a foundry business that is still on the lookout of a headline-making validation win. AMD could provide exactly that.

What Samsung stands to gain:

Fresh foundry revenue

A better, stronger position in the AI chip supply chain

More trustworthy because of its advanced process technology

A big win with a marquee customer that could help bring in more big clients

A slice of AMDs advanced manufacturing business will not just boost revenue.

It also will give Samsung something just as valuable: proof that a big AI chipmaker is willing to trust its process technology in a market that is still mostly TSMC.

That kind of credibility could help Samsung chase more high-margin business later.

The real threat is not to AMD; it's to TSMCs grip

TSMC is still serving as the clear heavyweight.

The company has said it continues expanding advanced technology and packaging capacity, including 3-nanometer, 2-nanometer, and CoWoS capacity, across several locations.

In other words, TSMC is not standing still.

This is not about AMD suddenly cutting ties with its main manufacturing partner, but about Samsung trying to become too strategically useful to ignore.

If Samsung can use HBM4 supply to win a small slice of AMDs logic-chip business, that suggests the rules of competition in AI semiconductors are changing.

Why this could matter for Samsung, AMD stocks

Investors might start to see HBM suppliers as more than just component vendors; they might see them as strategic power brokers.

AMD could benefit from a lower risk in the supply chain.

Samsung could tell a more interesting story about its growth by talking about how its foundries are recovering.

TSMC might have to answer new questions about whether its hold on big AI customers is getting weaker.

Memory is no longer just a component sale. It's leverage. And Samsung, after years of foundry frustration, might be readying to use that leverage to attack one of the most prized supply chains in tech.

That is the stock angle investors need to worry about.

For AMD, any Samsung tie-up could reduce supply chain risk as AI demand starts to heat up. For Samsung, it becomes a path to richer foundry revenue and an enhancement in badly needed prestige. For TSMC, it could be a bad sign that one of its biggest competitors may have finally found a weak spot.

Right now, this still looks like an opening, not a done deal.

But in a market obsessed with artificial intelligence winners, openings matter a lot. When hundreds of billions of dollars in market value ride on who controls the AI hardware stack, even a small supplier shift can turn into a huge story.



Related: Micron CEO drops a bombshell after Microns huge earnings beat

This story was originally published by TheStreet on Mar 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the Investing section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Elon Musk has said that Tesla and SpaceX plan to jointly build an advanced chip manufacturing project in Austin, Texas, which he has labelled Terafab.

He said the complex is intended to include two chip factories at the site, each dedicated to a single chip design.

Terafab will technically be two fabs, each making only one chip design, Musk wrote in a post on X.

Musk said one chip would be used in Tesla vehicles and Optimus humanoid robots. The second would be designed for AI satellites and space-based artificial intelligence data centres.

We need a high powered chip designed for space that takes into account the harsher environment, Musk said, adding it would need to operate at higher temperatures.

Musk has previously said Tesla would need to build its own AI chip plant, but he had not earlier disclosed SpaceXs involvement.

SpaceX, which is preparing for a public listing that could value the company at around $1.75 trillion, recently merged with Musks social media and artificial intelligence firm xAI.

Speaking during a presentation at an Austin facility, Musk said the project was being driven by concerns over future chip availability.

We either build the Terafab or we dont have the chips, he said, arguing that current global chip production would cover only a small part of his companies projected needs.

He did not provide a timeline for Terafab. Musk has previously announced large projects, though several have later been delayed or not completed.

Musk said he remained thankful for current chip suppliers, naming Samsung, TSMC and Micron, but argued that demand from his businesses would eventually exceed total global output.

He said Terafab would eventually produce one terawatt of computing capacity per year, compared with about half a terawatt currently generated across the United States.

"Tesla and SpaceX to build Terafab chip complex in Austin" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.




Toyota said Monday it was committing $1 billion to a pair of U.S. factories, with the bulk directed to its Georgetown, Kentucky plant  the automaker's largest vehicle manufacturing facility in the world.

The announcement allocates $800 million to the Kentucky plant and $200 million to a facility in Princeton, Indiana. The Kentucky funds are earmarked to prepare the plant for a second battery electric vehicle and to expand production capacity for the Camry sedan and RAV4 crossover. The Indiana allocation will increase capacity for the Grand Highlander SUV.

"Toyota's investment in the U.S. is for the long-term, tied to our philosophy of building where we sell and buying where we build," Mark Templin, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Toyota Motor North America, said in a statement.

The investments are part of a commitment Toyota made in November 2025 to spend up to $10 billion at its U.S. plants over the next five years, the company said. CNBC reported that the November commitment came roughly a month after President Donald Trump said during a speech that the Japanese automaker would make a domestic investment of that size.

The news coincides with the 40th anniversary of the Kentucky plant, which has produced more than 14 million vehicles since opening and employs 10,000 workers. The Indiana facility is marking its 30th year of production, with 7,300 workers on staff, the company said.

Toyota Kentucky also announced $4 million in new grant funding for STEM education programs in Scott and Fayette County schools, bringing total funding in the effort to more than $11 million, along with $400,000 for a manufacturing engineering program at Eastern Kentucky University.

The automotive industry has faced increased costs from tariffs under the Trump administration. CNBC reported that Toyota put the bill for U.S. tariffs at 1.4 trillion yen for its current fiscal year, which closes this month.

Toyota directly employs nearly 48,000 people across 11 U.S. manufacturing plants, the company said.
Volkswagen Group will continue with its restructuring programme even as its order backlog grows, chief executive Oliver Blume told German newspaper Bild am Sonntag.

Blume said the company is setting clear manufacturing cost targets across its production network to avoid expensive excess capacity, applying the same approach to plants in Germany, elsewhere in Europe and in China.

We will continue to scrutinise capacities in the future, Blume said.

The restructuring will continue, he added, reiterating Volkswagens plan to cut around 50,000 jobs in Germany by 2030.

He pointed to a comparatively high cost base in the groups domestic market, including labour expenses, and said this would need to be addressed through higher productivity.

Blume also cited elevated energy costs and what he described as excessive regulation.

Blume said the long-standing model of developing and building vehicles in Germany and then exporting them was no longer viable because global regions had changed.

Volkswagen has guided for an operating return this year that could be as low as 4%, citing the impact of tariffs, investment in electric vehicles and stronger competition from China.

In the interview, Blume said Germany could take lessons from Chinas approach to industrial policy. The Chinese take a very systematic approach with so-called five-year plans and have clear priorities with that too, he said. Its optimally structured. And what we find very positive in China is a high level of discipline and willingness to implement these initiatives.

He also highlighted the intensity of competition in China, saying Volkswagen faces over 150 competitors and strong innovation dynamics.

"Volkswagen to press ahead with restructuring, CEO says" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.




GUEST OPINION: The cyber security landscape is undergoing a significant shift. Between January and February 2026, we observed a major evolution in how threat actors adopt, weaponise, and operationalise AI. What was once experimental is now mature. What once required coordinated teams can now be executed by a single experienced developer with an AIpowered IDE. And what enterprises embraced for productivity has simultaneously become a rapidly expanding attack surface.

AI-Assisted Malware Development Has Entered a New Era

The most important finding of the period is clear: AIassisted malware development has reached operational maturity.

VoidLink, a cloudnative Linux malware framework uncovered by Check Point Research this year, set a new benchmark. Featuring more than 30 postexploitation modules, eBPF and LKM rootkits, and advanced cloud/container enumeration, VoidLinks architecture initially suggested a full engineering team working over several months. In reality, it was created by a single developer using TRAE SOLO, a commercial AI-powered IDE.

Using a structured, Spec Driven Development (SDD) workflow, the developer defined requirements in markdown files, directed three virtual AI teams, and let the agent implement features sprint by sprint. The result: 88,000 lines of code in under a week, a project that would traditionally require around 30 weeks of development effort.

Two core principles emerged:

AI now produces deployment-ready malware, not prototypes

AI involvement leaves no traces in the code itself - the only reason analysts discovered VoidLinks development process was an unrelated OPSEC failure

For defenders, this means AI-assisted development must be considered a default assumption.

Most Threat Actors Still Lag Behind - But Not for Long

Across cyber crime forums, the dominant mode of AI use remains unstructured prompting - malware wishlists fed into open-source or commercial models. Most actors struggle with quality, hallucinations, and capability limitations.

Yet VoidLink shows what happens when AI is paired with real domain expertise and disciplined workflows. Skilled actors leave far fewer traces in open forums, making the true scope of this shift difficult to measure - but almost certainly underestimated.

Self-Hosted AI Models: Aspirational but Limited

Threat actors increasingly experiment with self-hosted, open source models to avoid moderation and account bans. They install uncensored variants and prompt them to produce ransomware, exploit code, and fraud tooling.

But community discussions reveal a consistent reality: local models remain underpowered. Actors face high hardware costs (US$5,000-US$50,000+), persistent hallucination issues and limited context windows while model fine-tuning remains aspirational

Even seasoned offensive tool vendors admit self-hosting is more of a burden than something productive. Commercial models, despite restrictions, remain more capable and cost-effective.

Commercial Model Access and the Rise of Informal Workarounds

Instead of abandoning commercial platforms, threat actors compare restrictions across providers, trade advice on evading account enforcement, and use structured promptsplitting to bypass safeguards.

Early signs of AI accessasaservice have re-emerged, with operators of local models offering to generate restricted outputs for others. However, similar dark LLM services in the past largely failed to deliver, leaving it an open question whether this trend will mature.

Jailbreaking Evolves: From Prompts to Architectural Abuse

Traditional singleprompt jailbreaks are declining as platforms harden enforcement. Public prompts are disappearing, accounts are rapidly banned, and communities lament the rising cost of maintaining bypasses.

A more concerning shift is emerging: agentic architecture abuse.

A packaged Claude Code Jailbreak circulating in forums demonstrates this evolution. By modifying the CLAUDE.md project configuration file, and other .md skill files, normally used to define coding standards and context, attackers can override safety controls and reassign the agents role. The result: the AI willingly generates malware, such as RATs, within the project environment.

This is not a simple prompt injection. It is the exploitation of the agents operational hierarchy - the same mechanism legitimate developers use for autonomous coding workflows.

AI Is Transitioning from Development Tool to Operational Component

Threat actors arent just using AI to write malware-theyre beginning to use AI in live offensive workflows.

RAPTOR: A Glimpse Into AI-Driven Offensive Automation

RAPTOR, a legitimate open-source research project, showcases how markdownbased agent configurations can transform Claude Code and other agentic platforms into an autonomous offensive security agent. RAPTOR integrates static analysis, fuzzing, exploit generation and vulnerability triage all orchestrated through structured markdown instructions.

Criminal forum discussions indicate active interest in these architectures, suggesting the emergence of AI-enabled offensive pipelines is no longer theoretical-it is underway.

Enterprise GenAI Adoption: A Parallel and Growing Risk Surface

While attackers experiment with AI, enterprises are rapidly integrating it-sometimes faster than security teams can respond. Analysis of enterprise GenAI usage reveals:

1 in every 31 prompts risks sensitive data leakage (3.2% of total)

90% of organisations using GenAI tools experienced high-risk prompt activity.

16% of all prompts involved potentially sensitive information, such as source code or confidential business data.

Employees use around 10 different GenAI tools and generate 69 prompts per month on average.

As usage volume scales, so does the risk-making visibility, governance, and guardrails essential.

The Bigger Picture: An Ecosystem in Transition

From January to February 2026, one theme dominated: methodology matters more than model choice.

VoidLinks creator used the same agentic workflows that defined legitimate development in 2025-and achieved teamlevel output alone. Forum actors relying on adhoc prompting struggled. This divergence will not last. The methods that unlock AI productivity are public, accessible, and spreading.

AI involvement should now be assumed in malware development, threat assessment, and forensic analysis-even when invisible.

Looking ahead, the convergence of agentic AI tooling, open-source offensive frameworks, and

rapidly lowering adoption barriers will continue to compress the time from concept to capability in the criminal ecosystem.

For defenders, the mandate is clear: proactive intelligence, continuous adaptation, and AIaligned security controls are no longer optional-theyre essential.
Workday's co-founder Aneel Bhusri met Joel Hellermark last summer in Stockholm. Bhusri, who returned as CEO of the $65 billion enterprise software giant after a two-year hiatus, called the 28-year-old Sana founder "one of the most talented entrepreneurs I've met" and "one of those guys that comes around once in a decade."

Then Workday bought Sana for US$1.1 billion, the largest AI acquisition Europe has ever seen.

Now, we're seeing what that money actually built.

On March 17, Workday unveiled what it calls its biggest AI launch to date: Sana from Workday, a three-part system that wires conversational AI directly into the guts of enterprise HR and finance workflows, then extends it across the entire enterprise application stack.

The company frames it as "superintelligence for work." That's marketing language, sure. But the live demo (shown during two press briefings I attended) was genuinely impressive.

Three announcements, one architecture

The launch has three pieces. Sana for Workday replaces traditional menus and navigation with a conversational AI interface. Sana Self-Service Agent ships with 300+ pre-built skills covering everyday HR and finance tasks (think: filing expenses, checking leave balances, changing personal details).

And Sana Enterprise extends all of it beyond Workday into Gmail, Outlook, Salesforce, ServiceNow, SharePoint, Slack, Jira, and more, with additional connectors planned.

All three run on the Sana platform, which Workday acquired when it bought Hellermark's company. The connectors aren't read-only; they can write actions into third-party apps. That's a critical distinction from the "enterprise search" systems that came before.

"Sana is the closest thing we have to a superintelligent co-worker. It sees the full picture of your organisation in Workday, it knows which systems to touch, and it can coordinate the steps between them. Instead of dozens of tickets and handoffs, you ask for an outcome and Sana delivers it."

- Joel Hellermark, SVP and GM of AI, Workday.

The deterministic vs. probabilistic argument

Bhusri made a sharp point about why AI won't simply replace enterprise SaaS. Payroll, financial closes, compliance reporting: these are deterministic processes. They have a start and an end. You can't get them "mostly right."

AI, by contrast, is a probabilistic reasoning engine. It's brilliant at figuring out what step to take next, but it's not a system of record.

"These things are additive; they're not replacements of each other," Bhusri said during the US media briefing. He pointed to the "vibe coding will kill SaaS" narrative floating around the tech industry and dismissed it flatly: "I am a technologist and I have been in this space for a long time. I just don't see that happening."

Gerrit Kazmaier, Workday's President of Product and Technology (who came from Google Cloud, and before that SAP), put a finer point on the hallucination problem. In consumer AI, hallucinations are "a feature, not a bug," he argued, because they're what let a model write surprising poetry. But in enterprise?

"Almost right is wrong. Payroll, you better get it right 100%. Closing the books, you better get it right 100%. What we are engineering at Workday is actually building AI systems that put indeterministic AI on enterprise rails." - Gerrit Kazmaier, President, Product & Technology, Workday

This infographic created by Gemini Nano Banana 2 based on this artticle, which continues below, please read on!

The demo: 24 tasks across 6 systems, collapsed into a conversation

Hellermark's live demonstration walked through a series of real workflows. Filing medical leave by typing a single sentence (Sana pulled policy details from Workday, checked Gmail for relevant info, and pre-populated the request). Updating Salesforce after a client call by extracting the transcript from Sana's notetaker.

Creating an expense report by scanning an inbox for receipts, cross-checking them against company policy, and flagging the non-compliant ones (a Heidelberg dinner receipt didn't pass muster).

The onboarding sequence was particularly telling. Setting up a new employee, Sophie, involved provisioning software access through ServiceNow, drafting a hardware preferences email through Outlook, pulling colleague data from Workday's people context, checking calendars, and sending first-week meeting invites.

That workflow touched 6 different enterprise systems and would have required 24+ separate tasks manually.

Hellermark also demonstrated proactive agents: workflows you build once that then run continuously in the background. He vibe-coded an automated monthly expense report workflow on the fly, then added a Slack nudge step by simply typing "can you add a nudge to Jasmine."

The APAC briefing: under the hood questions

During the Asia-Pacific media Q&A session, I put several questions to Kazmaier about the architecture and business model.

On enterprise search and RAG: I asked whether Sana's enterprise search capability is essentially a retrieval augmented generation (RAG) system, working off sanitised, pre-approved data sets to avoid hallucinations.

Kazmaier confirmed that's one of the core ideas: "We use that then as a context engine to augment prompting of the AI agents." When you ask about knee surgery leave, Sana finds your company's policy documents, extracts what's covered and what isn't, then populates the right request in Workday.

On internet search capability: I noted that AI tools like Claude can search the internet in real-time when given permission, and asked whether Sana could do the same.

Kazmaier said yes: "Sana has the option to include or to exclude public search. And it's customer-specific configuration, whether they want to allow this for their users." Some organisations lock it down entirely; others let users choose.

On what "Sana" actually stands for: I floated "Super Augmented Native Automation" as a possible acronym. Kazmaier laughed: "I think you just made one up. You just generated one on the fly." (I'll take that as a compliment.)

The real answer? It's just a name. "A beautiful name for a beautiful AI system," Kazmaier said, declining to confirm any hidden acronym from the founder.

On the Flex Credits pricing model: I asked how long the free credit allocations last and what happens when customers run out. Every Workday customer receives an annual allocation of Flex Credits based on their size. One credit equals 10 cents.

Different AI capabilities consume credits at different rates (document intelligence per document, self-service agent per action completed, and so on). There's a published rate card. If customers burn through their free allocation because the automation is driving serious value, they can buy more on a subscription basis.

"We want all of our customers to have access to AI. Every customer, based on customer sise, roughly speaking, gets a free allocation. That allocation is granted every year." - Gerrit Kazmaier, President, Product & Technology, Workday

On the AI backend: I asked which AI models power Sana, given that one of their customers retired 400 ChatGPT licenses after adopting it. The answer: multiple models.

Customers can configure a preference if they have one (and some do, because some AI vendors are themselves Workday customers). Otherwise, Sana picks the model with the best accuracy and cost profile for each specific task. Some agents make multiple layered calls across different models for a single action.

Agentic HR and "lights out" finance

Workday is framing the future as "agentic HR" and "agentic finance." The pitch for HR: roles filled in days, policy changes rolled out effortlessly, real-time insights into culture. The pitch for finance: continuous close processes, always-on audit readiness, planning that adapts daily or by the minute.

Bhusri sees agentic finance as the catalyst that finally pulls legacy on-premise finance shops into the cloud. HR departments moved to cloud systems years ago because they had thousands of users who needed better experiences.

Finance departments, primarily staffed by accountants running customised general ledgers, didn't feel the same urgency. But AI changes the cost equation.

"CFOs are really taking notice," Bhusri said. "This is the reason to finally move from my legacy system to an AI-driven cloud system."

The NetApp example keeps coming up in Workday's pitch. Their Contracts Intelligence Agent (from the Evisort acquisition) analysed 90,000 procurement contracts for NetApp, saving US$2.5 million.

No company was ever going to hire hundreds of lawyers to manually review those contracts. The economics simply didn't work. AI made it viable.

Kazmaier made an important reframe during the US briefing: AI isn't just about efficiency gains and converting labour spend into software spend at lower cost. "The far greater opportunity is going to be in doing all the work undone today because of the changed unit economics of reasoning."

The workforce question nobody can dodge

Isaac from InfoWorld brought up a pointed question during the US session: a CEO who challenged his HR team with "Do I still need an HR team with all this AI?"

Bhusri didn't duck it.

"I do think a lot of low-level HR work is going to get replaced by agents. There's no way around it," he said. "We have to figure out a way to take care of the employees that are dislocated because of AI. We have to come up with a plan for them."

He pointed to retraining as part of the answer and said Workday would have more to say on that topic. But he also acknowledged the reality starkly: "There is no company that's not going to want to do it that way. It's the better way. But you have to find a solution for the people that get displaced."

Hellermark offered an interesting counter-signal from his own engineering team. Sana has 100% of its engineers running on AI-assisted coding tools, with 80-90% of code being AI-assisted. And yet, they're trying to hire as many software engineers as they can find.

"My hope is that this era will result in the return of the polymath. We'll see a renaissance of sorts where people can very quickly upskill into new domains."

- Joel Hellermark, SVP and GM of AI, Workday

He shared that one of Sana's top AI engineers started in sales, transitioned quickly into engineering using AI-powered tools. The specialist era may be giving way to something more fluid.

Bhusri added a telling observation: he's been visiting startups that would have been 500 people in the old days but are running with 150, built from scratch around the assumption that agentic technology exists. "Those are the petri dishes to see exactly what's going to be the world of work in the future."

The business model shift: from seats to outcomes

The economic model is changing too. Workday's Flex Credits system moves away from per-seat subscriptions toward outcome-based pricing. Contract intelligence is measured in contracts analysed. Self-service agent performance is measured in actions completed.

Kazmaier was direct about this: "You are moving from 'I am selling you access to software' to 'I am actually selling and delivering you an outcome.' And that's the step change Workday has led with Flex Credits."

All 4,000+ Workday customers get access to the AI innovations through their existing subscriptions, with an annual Flex Credit allocation. No paywall, no premium tier required to get started.

When a Reuters journalist asked during the APAC session whether Workday risked becoming just a "conversational layer" as Sana orchestrates across more and more third-party platforms, Kazmaier pushed back.

Many critical enterprise journeys (hiring, onboarding, invoice processing) begin and end in HR and finance systems. That's Workday's core, and the orchestration is a natural extension. But he also acknowledged the ambition: "We believe there is an opportunity for Workday to play a much bigger role outside of Workday and independent of the classical HR and finance system of record."

Shadow AI and the agent system of record

Mark from Tech Day raised the problem of "shadow AI," where employees use unauthorised AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude outside approved enterprise systems. Kazmaier revealed that Workday recently launched an "agent system of record," which lets customers register approved AI agents, contextualise them by teams and geographies (an agent might be allowed in the US but not in Europe), and have Sana verify AI model usage against that registry.

"It's a system to manage your AI workforce," Kazmaier said. It's a telling phrase. When your AI agents need their own HR-style governance, you know the paradigm has shifted.

The unsolved problem: task duration

Henning from the Swedish Daily asked what the biggest remaining technical challenge is. Hellermark's answer was revealing: current agents can handle tasks that take tens of minutes, approaching an hour.

But the capability of agents doubles every 7 months in terms of task duration. The goal is agents that run autonomously for days, tackling week-long projects.

"These agents need good memory and context that can be extrapolated over very long cycles," Hellermark said. "I think it's still early days there."

Bhusri added that the next frontier is "super agents," agents that orchestrate other agents, managing organic workflows where both human and AI workers are coordinated from above. "We first need our customers to roll out this first wave of agents. Then I think you'll see the next wave."

An ethical foundation

The day after this AI launch, Workday was named one of the 2026 World's Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere for the sixth consecutive year.

The company maintains 100% completion rates on annual Code of Conduct training across its 21,000+ employees, uses weekly Workday Peakon Employee Voice surveys to produce a real-time "integrity sentiment" score, and has earned ISO 42001 and NIST AI Risk Management Framework alignment for its AI governance.

"With the trust our customers have placed in us, we hold our ethics and compliance practices to the highest standard, including innovating responsibly in AI," said Rich Sauer, Workday's chief legal officer. For a company now embedding AI deep into payroll, financial reporting, and employee data management, that track record matters.

The bottom line

Workday is making a calculated bet that the future of enterprise software belongs to whoever can weld probabilistic AI reasoning onto deterministic business processes most cleanly. Sana, born in Stockholm and refined through a US$1.1 billion acquisition, is their welding torch.

The company tested it with 400+ early access customers before going GA. One customer, Berner, reached 90% adoption within 40 days and retired 400 ChatGPT licenses. Josh Bersin, the veteran HR industry analyst, called it "a major milestone in the market."

Whether Sana truly becomes "the last software you have to learn" is an open question. But 24 tasks across 6 systems, collapsed into a single conversation? That's a compelling demo.

And Workday shipping it to all 4,000+ customers through existing subscriptions (rather than gating it behind a premium paywall) suggests they believe the land grab matters more than the short-term revenue extraction.

The real test will be what happens when those agents start running autonomously for days instead of minutes. Hellermark says that's 7-14 months away. The enterprise world is watching.

This infographic created by Gemini Nano Banana 2 based on this article:
Australian law firms are increasingly seeing artificial intelligence as central to improving productivity and profitability, but uneven adoption of the technology risks creating a growing performance divide across the profession according to new global research from LEAP Legal Software.

The survey of 700 legal professionals, globally including 219 in Australia and New Zealand, suggest firms that integrate AI effectively may gain an efficiency and margin advantage, while slower adopters risk falling behind.

In Australia, 92% of legal professionals believe their firms have moderate to high potential to improve profitability, with 50% saying that potential has increased over the past year. At the same time, 65% report that profitability is now a high or top priority in business decision-making, signalling a profession increasingly focused on operational performance rather than expansion alone.

However, the research shows that pricing pressure, administrative workload and uneven AI implementation are also shaping firms ability to convert that ambition into results.

The Australian legal sector is entering a phase where profitability will depend less on how much work firms win and more on how efficiently that work is delivered, said Tina Shergold, Head of LEAP Australia and New Zealand.

Firms remain confident about growth but pricing pressure and rising operational complexity mean productivity gains will increasingly determine how successfully firms convert demand into sustainable margins.

Tina Shergold, Head of LEAP Australia and New Zealand

Australian legal professionals lagging on AI adoption

With mounting pressure to improve productivity, 66% of Australian based respondents identified client pricing expectations as a major constraint on revenue growth, the highest for any region. At the same time, many legal professionals are spending significant portions of their day on administrative tasks, limiting the time available for billable or strategic work.

Unsurprisingly, AI is emerging in most regions as one of the professions most significant efficiency tools. Over half (57%) of global respondents report regular use of integrated AI solutions, however this number drops to 37% in Australia. As a result, globally 71% say the technology is already saving their firm moderate to significant time but this falls to 50% in Australia.

Our research shows that Australian firms are currently behind other markets in the adoption of legal-specific AI tools, said Shergold.

While the caution is understandable given the importance of accuracy in legal work, firms that delay adoption too long risk missing out on the productivity gains that AI is already delivering elsewhere.

Pricing pressure and capacity constraints shaping growth

While legal professionals remain optimistic about the revenue potential of their firms, structural constraints are shaping how growth in the Australian market is achieved. Pricing pressures and capacity challenges are affecting how firms scale work effectively, with 37%reporting difficulty delegating or leveraging their teams, suggesting that productivity improvements may depend as much on workflow design as market demand.

Australian firms are confident about growth, but they are also operating in one of the most price-sensitive legal markets, said Shergold.

That combination is forcing firms to rethink how work is delegated, how teams are structured and how technology supports productivity across the practice.

Workforce stability and knowledge continuity remain critical

Despite 61% of Australian firms prioritising competitive salaries, retention pressures remain present across the profession, with workload intensity and burnout continuing to influence workforce stability. This instability has led to increased risks in knowledge continuity, with 33% of Australian respondents reporting no documented processes in place when staff leave, creating potential gaps in training, consistency and service delivery.

In a profession built on expertise, undocumented workflows can quietly undermine operational resilience and financial performance.

Many firms are operating with lean teams and limited support staff, which means experienced practitioners are carrying a large share of the administrative and knowledge burden, said Shergold. Improving how knowledge is captured and shared within the firm is becoming increasingly important for maintaining both efficiency and service quality.

Technology integration shaping operational efficiency

In Australia, automation of repetitive workflows, document management and legal research tools top the list of technology investments most likely to improve productivity indicating a possible shift toward operational efficiency as a core driver of financial performance.

At the same time, platform fragmentation continues to affect workflows, with many professionals relying on multiple systems daily. This fragmentation can dilute the intended benefits of technology investments by slowing processes and increasing training demands.

Confidence remains strong, but execution will define outcomes

Taken together, the findings suggest the legal sector in Australia is entering a phase where profitability will depend less on demand alone and more on how effectively firms manage productivity, technology and knowledge.

The Australian legal sector is in a strong position, with firms confident about their future growth, concludes Shergold. The challenge now is how firms translate that confidence into more efficient ways of delivering legal work, particularly as pricing pressure and operational complexity continue to increase.

Firms that fail to address these operational gaps risk seeing strong client demand translate into weaker financial performance.

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The Supreme Court on Friday ruled unanimously that an antiabortion activist can challenge a local law that limits protests to a designated area. The law violates free speech rights, he contends.

Gabriel Olivier, an evangelical preacher, was arrested in May 2021 by police in Brandon, Mississippi, for protesting outside of a city amphitheater with a group. They waved pictures of aborted fetuses, passed out fliers and used a loudspeaker. The protest took place outside of a designated area for demonstrations in violation of a city ordinance.

Olivier pleaded no contest to violating the ordinance. He was issued a small fine and sentenced to one year's probation.

A few months later, Olivier sued the city, alleging the local law violated his constitutional free speech rights. Lower courts blocked Olivier's lawsuit from moving forward, citing a rule that says criminal defendants cannot file civil rights lawsuits that could undermine the legality of their convictions.

Doing so could allow a defendant to walk free and end-run the normal criminal appeals process. At issue before the Supreme Court was whether Olivier was subject to what is known as the Heck rule.

The rule was named after the 1994 precedent Heck v. Humphrey, in which the high court unanimously held that a defendant needed to be cleared in criminal court before suing over the legality of their conviction.

The city had contended the rule should apply to Olivier. Otherwise he could invalidate his conviction, setting a precedent in which the convictions of other criminal defendants could be undermined outside of the criminal appeals process.

During oral arguments in December, the court weighed whether to apply the rule to Olivier.

But on Friday the justices sided with Olivier's attorneys who said he should be able to sue because his lawsuit would have no practical effect on his conviction. Olivier was never imprisoned, they said, and he sued only to shield himself from future charges under the statute.

Justice Elena Kagan, who delivered the opinion of the court, said that if Olivier wasn't able to bring a lawsuit he would face an "untenable choice." She compared his situation to a scene in "The Odyssey," in which the protagonist sails his ship between two monsters. Olivier could "violate the law and suffer the consequences (the Scylla), or else give up what he takes to be his First Amendment rights (the Charybdis)."

So, she said, Olivier's lawsuit "may proceed."

Olivier's attorneys cheered the decision.

"It's just common sense that a citizen who is arrested under an unconstitutional law should be able to challenge that law," said Allyson Ho, partner at Gibson Dunn, who argued the case for Olivier in December. "As people of faith, we look to the judiciary to protect our constitutional right to spread the Gospel."

(COMMENT, BELOW)




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In Ernest Hemingway's "The Sun Also Rises," a down-on-his-luck Scottish veteran of World War I is asked how he went bankrupt. "Two ways," Mike Campbell responds. "Gradually, then suddenly."

That famous line, written 100 years ago, has become a catchall phrase to describe institutions that are in the midst of collapse, something that slowly and steadily decays until the moment everything implodes.

And that dynamic could soon apply to Congress, according to independent experts and those that have served in the body. These critics are sounding the alarm that the institution needs a major course correction or else it will slide into a permanent state of weakness that further empowers the presidency.

Earlier this month, the Bipartisan Policy Center began publishing a report that suggests the decades-long slide on Capitol Hill is reaching a point of no return.

Under the headline of "Congress at a Crossroads," the initial report cites the often mentioned "polarization" and "nationalization" of politics that pushes lawmakers toward trying for attention in this new media era without putting in the necessary work to pass laws.

"Despite decades of bipartisan offenses and bipartisan critiques, nothing seems to change," wrote J.D. Rackey and Michael Thorning, the center's main authors of the report.

None of these symptoms is particularly new but no one has done anything major to fix it and instead things keep steadily getting worse, Rackey and Thorning wrote. "This has been the status quo since the late 20th century; however, it is starting to fray."

Longtime lawmakers who recently retired, as well as members who decided to quit after short and frustrating tenures, choose more blunt phrases to describe today's Congress.

"I learned ninth-grade civics: You've got three equal branches of government. But right now, the Congress is not one of them. It abdicated everything to the White House," Fred Upton, the Michigan Republican who served more than 35 years in the House before retiring in 2023, recently told The Post's Liz Goodwin.

"I don't want to sound like a prepper. I believe there will be a tipping point, and I think that we're actually pretty close to it," Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minnesota) told the New York Times, explaining her decision to announce her retirement plans after just seven years in the Senate.

These dire warnings have been a regular feature of my reporting on Congress for nearly two decades at The Washington Post, particularly the last decade of writing this @PKCapitol column that was meant to be a more analytical look at what was going right and wrong.

This is my last column at The Post, as I head out for another job, prompting a lot of reflection, particularly about the institution at the heart of this column.

Year after year, decade after decade, past House and Senate leaders brushed aside warnings about the disappearing Congress as sky-is-falling hyperbole. The result, almost everyone agrees, is a weakened legislative branch that gets steamrolled by the president (Democrat or Republican) and a Supreme Court that has taken an openly hostile tone to lawmakers.

"Yes, legislating can be hard and take time. And yes, it can be tempting to bypass Congress when some pressing problem arises," Justice Neil M. Gorsuch wrote in an opinion rejecting President Donald Trump's tariff policies that also excoriated Congress for not doing its job.

The question is whether, at this juncture, Congress can recover and become a vibrant, equal branch of government to the presidency and the Supreme Court.

Or, quite possibly, the institution has gradually decayed to the point where it may remain permanently weakened, a far cry from its designation in the Constitution as "article one," the first branch of government.

The optimistic case is that there have been moments of progress that showed some glimmer of hope.

By late January the House and Senate, on bipartisan votes, passed funding bills for every federal agency except the Department of Homeland Security. And last fall a collection of rank-and-file Democrats and Republicans overruled objections from Trump and House GOP leaders, passing a law mandating the release of the Jeffrey Epstein investigative files.

But the cynics would argue that these are the sort of basic blocking-and-tackling drills that Congress should be doing without the drama that went into these particular actions.

Lawmakers approved 11 of the 12 bills funding federal government about four months after the Sept. 30 deadline, and only after a six-week shutdown of funding for almost every agency in the fall. Moreover, because of battles over Trump's deportation policy, Homeland Security has remained without funding for more than a month.

The release of the Epstein files took months of prodding from rank-and-file lawmakers, deploying rarely used parliamentary tactics. They eventually forced Trump into accepting that an overwhelming majority wanted to vote for the legislation, and he agreed to sign the legislation.

This was hardly the type of aggressive oversight that was common earlier this century. From 2004 through 2006, the Republican leaders of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee dove into a corruption investigation involving a GOP lobbyist who plundered his tribal casino clients in a massive scheme that led to dozens of criminal convictions and politically crippled some senior Republican lawmakers.

In 2005, Republicans leading the Senate Armed Services Committee fought the Bush administration over reports of torture, forcing White House officials to agree to new laws limiting techniques used with detainees in the Middle East.

Today's House and Senate Republicans have rejected even holding public hearings to discuss the objectives in the war against Iran, an attack that was launched Feb. 28 with no input from Congress.

Democrats can complain all they want about the lack of oversight from today's GOP-led Congress of the Trump administration, but their recent track record with President Joe Biden wasn't exactly stellar.

Top leaders like Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-New York) and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-California) spent several years saying that Biden, in his early 80s, was perfectly fit and encouraged him to run in 2024 for a second term - only to see his public flailing in a televised debate expose his faltering state.

In terms of legislative futility, last year easily came in with the lowest number of laws passed in the first year of a presidency going back to at least 1989.

Instead, Trump issued executive orders at a record pace - more than 225 in his first 11 months in office, a larger tally than he issued in his previous first four years as president.

In the Senate, Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) has a home-state economy reeling from Trump's tariff policies, which, in normal times, might have compelled a debate on a policy that many Republicans privately had not supported. Instead, other than a few resolutions forced by Democrats, the Senate stayed silent on the controversial policy.

Gorsuch went public with his dismay about congressional atrophy in his tariff ruling. "The deliberative nature of the legislative process was the whole point of its design. Through that process, the nation can tap the combined wisdom of the people's elected representatives," he wrote.

Simply flipping the majorities is not likely to lead to a major renaissance of public support for Congress.

Democrats appear to be on the cusp of claiming the House majority in November, needing just a three-seat gain, but voters have already changed that majority in four of the last five midterm elections. The Senate majority has changed hands four times in the previous 10 elections.

The result has been a public thoroughly disgusted with Congress no matter who's in charge, according to monthly polling data compiled by Gallup.

Last month just 16 percent of Americans approved of congressional job performance, a little lower than the 20 percent who approved of Congress in February 2022, when Democrats held both chambers. In February 2018, when Republicans controlled Congress, 15 percent of Americans approved.

Every September, Gallup asks how much "trust and confidence" Americans have in Congress as a coequal branch. In 2002, 67 percent of Americans said they had "fair amount" or a "great deal" of trust in Congress, with only 6 percent saying they had "none at all."

By September 2025, only 32 percent expressed some trust in Congress, with 24 percent of Americans saying they had no trust at all in the legislative institution.

In 2011, Tim Kaine (D-Virginia) visited John Warner (R-Virginia), who retired in 2009 after 30 years in the Senate, to discuss running for a seat in the upper chamber. Warner told Kaine how he used to encourage people to run for Senate even if they had just a small chance of winning.

He told Kaine, who has gone on to win three terms, that it had become a much different place, but the problem wasn't in the institution itself.

"It's not in the water supply," Warner said. "It's not sick-building syndrome. It's just the character and inclination of the people who walk in the building every day."

"So it could be different tomorrow," he added.

Fifteen years later, things haven't gotten any better. Tomorrow is coming faster than many lawmakers realize.

It might only be gradually getting worse - or it might be about to suddenly fall apart.
Back in the day, he would've said, "You're welcome," which sounds more elegant to me, or even "My pleasure," which is downright friendly, whereas "No problem" sounds dismissive, a shrug.

He was in his twenties, I'm old enough to be his grandpa, and of course I am capable of opening a door and I know it wasn't a problem for him  my gratitude was for his good manners. I am grateful for his respect. I could've opened the door for him and extended my hand, to say, "After you, please" and he might've said, "Thank you."

It's mannerly, a simple way of indicating that we each belong here, we have a right to respect, are not opponents engaged in a struggle for dominance. We are not raccoons. If we don't maintain our good manners, we may soon slide to the level of filthy savages who crap in our pants and shove each other aside and say, "Outta my way, scumbag loser, or I'll kick the daylights outta you."

Well, now I have made a big fuss about it, so I may as well continue. I was a shy kid who shrank from playground bullies so my third-grade teacher let me stay in the library during recess and I became a reader. I enjoyed Mark Twain, Robert Benchley, James Thurber, but I mostly loved history.

I loved to listen to my aunts tell stories about their schooldays and life on the farm and the hardships of the Great Depression and this led to curiosity about World War II  I was born in 1942  and what interested me more than bird's-eye accounts of military campaigns and the calculations of major powers were the stories of individuals, and the book that moved me most was Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, which I read when I was 14.

Anne, a Jewish girl in Amsterdam, began writing the diary in 1942, a month before I was born, when she was 13. She and her family went into hiding in the attic of her father's business after her older sister was ordered to report to a Nazi work camp. They were discovered in 1944 and sent to concentration camps where Anne died of typhus shortly before the war ended in 1945.

Fascism was built on the idea of racial/cultural superiority and Jews were the despised minority, and the power of the book is the plain humanity of the writer. Reading it, you come to feel you are her closest friend.

She talks about wanting to be a writer, about America, Hollywood, she longs to have a close friend, and she writes, "In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart. I see the world gradually being turned into a wilderness, I hear the ever approaching thunder, which will destroy us too, I can feel the sufferings of millions and yet, if I look up into the heavens, I think that it will all come right, that this cruelty too will end, and that peace and tranquility will return again."

She sits in a corner of the crowded attic, she can hear the patrols in the streets, Germans and their Dutch sycophants, searching for Jews, but she herself has some idea of the power of what she is doing. She says she wants to be useful, wants to go on living after her death. She says, "The sharpest weapon is a kind and gentle spirit." Sometimes she despairs, says she can't do anything to change things, so what's the point in living? But she takes satisfaction in writing. "Who else but me will read these letters?" she says, and yet, when I was 14 and her reader, I honestly felt that she knew I was there looking over her shoulder.

"I live in a crazy time," she wrote. So do we. A neo-Nazi candidate for governor draws big crowds in Florida and social media and podcasting have been a fertile field for all varieties of insanity that, back when we were a coherent nation with standards of decency, would not have been allowed on the air.

Still, I believe that people are good at heart. I believe that it will all come right. Dear Lord, haste the day.

Garrison Keillor is an author and radio personality. His latest book is "Cheerfulness". Buy it at a 38% discount! by clicking here. Sales help fund JWR.
That the Strait of Hormuz is now effectively closed is not just a blow to the global economy and a key point of leverage for the Iranian regime, it is an assault against one of the foundations of American power.

Guarding the safe passage of commerce has been a core Anglo-American commitment for a couple of centuries, with the baton of naval leadership passing from the British to the United States around the time of World War II.

British naval preeminence in the 19th century contributed to the creation of the modern world by enabling relatively safe and inexpensive global commerce. We have done the same in the post-World War II era.

This has never been an entirely altruistic endeavor, since -- as two commercially oriented nations heavily involved in international trade -- the U.K. and the U.S. benefited mightily from the arrangements guaranteed by their warships. But so did everyone else.

Just consider the global pain from the current effective closure of the strait, which is being felt at the pump in the U.S. and threatens to hammer Europe and countries throughout Asia. Not just oil, but aluminum, fertilizer and any number of other products are being affected.

If shipping in the strait remains as constrained as it is now for months rather than weeks, the economic damage could become intolerable.

Iran is the equivalent of a piratical Barbary state that is managing to undermine a defining element of American geopolitical strategy, despite the beating that it is taking otherwise. We have two carrier strike groups in the region, representing alone more firepower than many nations can muster, and the Iranians have some missiles, drones and mines -- and yet, they've effectively closed the strait and we, for now, can't reopen it.

This is a stark demonstration of asymmetrical power, and the longer it goes on, the more it will look like a national humiliation.

There's no one who is going to bail us out because we have a world-class navy, whereas our allies don't -- even if they wanted to help.

Trump would like to muster an international force to reopen the strait, but Germany has rebuffed him, and the Japanese and Australians aren't interested. France is putting together a force -- to deploy after the end of hostilities. Imagine if that had been our attitude about the Battle of Belleau Wood.

The fact of the matter, though, is that allied countries aren't going to think it's possible to reopen the strait if we haven't managed to do it on our own.

Trump's two basic options are to seek some unsatisfactory accommodation with the Iranians that ends in a ceasefire -- with the Iranians having demonstrated their de facto control of one of the most consequential waterways in the world -- or to break their grip on the strait by force of arms, perhaps up to and including the deployment of ground forces to secure the shores of the strait.

Trump seems inclined to bludgeon the strait free of Iranian control. U.S. officials say we could begin naval escorts in a matter of weeks, and they worked during the Tanker War between Iran and Iraq in the 1980s.

The great 19th century naval strategist Alfred Thayer Mahan argued, "Control of the sea by maritime commerce and naval supremacy means predominant influence in the world." This was the experience of the British, and has been ours for a long time. "The necessity of a navy," Mahan also said, "springs from the existence of peaceful shipping and disappears with it."

In the Strait of Hormuz right now, peaceful shipping has largely disappeared, while we are deploying a mighty navy. If our forces can't restore free navigation, it will represent a significant failure of a traditional pillar of U.S. power.

(COMMENT, BELOW)
From the President:

Time to dust off the "Mission Accomplished" banner?

~A Thought for the Day from David Blair in our comments section:

It's time to move past your reticence to have initiated the war and get behind Trump. Your fear that it might end badly is noted.

"Get behind Trump"? That might be better directed at Vance, Gabbard, Kennedy and other cabinet members whose discomfort with the strange turn of events is palpable either through their sudden absence from public life or when they're testifying to Congress and trying to walk the fine line between not getting fired now and not getting impeached by the incoming Democrat majority in January. It is not reassuring when the Director of National Intelligence cannot answer a straight question about the casus belli - the hitherto "obliterated" Iranian nuclear programme. Mr Blair hectors those of us who think this war is a fiasco with demands that we let him know what we propose to do about Iran's nukes.

Sorry, but that's last month's question: its relevance ended with the launch of the war. It's now merely the Hitchcockian MacGuffin. Indeed, it was reduced to that status at the Geneva pseudo-negotiations to which the hyperpower dispatched two real-estate guys: the only technical expert in the room was the one the boring uptight asshole Brit civil servant decided to bring along to translate the boffin-speak into his ear. Then he discovered the Yanks had decided that was all unnecessary. So now we're back to shock'n'awe, which has worked so well this millennium, hasn't it? Thus, the recently de-obliterated nuclear programme could theoretically be bunker-busted again, and then re-bunker-busted in another six months, and on and on till the end of time. Whichever real-estate guys are sent to next year's Versailles Conference can pitch that to Ayatollah #473 and see how it goes down. Or, alternatively, the US could insert special forces into the country to "secure" the nukes. Might go like the bin Laden raid, or might be Helicopters in the Desert 2...

But either way, to repeat: it's last month's question. The issue now is how bad America's latest lost war will go.

As for me, I don't really do cheerleading, because I look rubbish wearing a Chinese-made "These Colors Don't Run!" T-shirt while the umpteenth generation of American men gets killed and crippled to no strategic purpose. Nevertheless, as a courtesy, I was about to direct my complainants to websites where they're gung-ho for this sort of thing - until I noticed that, even at those shingles which to one degree or another support the war, they'd rather yak about anything else. From Ben Shapiro's Daily Wire: "The Netflix Documentary EVERYONE Is Talking About."

So just to be clear: I don't "fear" that it "might" end badly. Because, since VJ Day, what American war doesn't? The only difference this time is the potential scale of disaster. As I noted:

Population of Syria in 2011: 22 million;

Population of Libya in 2011: 6.3 million;

Population of Iraq in 2003: 26.8 million;

Population of Afghanistan in 2001: 20-25 million;

Population of Vietnam in 1965: 37 million;

Population of North Korea in 1950: 11 million.

Oh, and, for those weary of that grim roll-call, let's throw in:

Population of the Japanese Empire in 1940: 73 million;

Population of the Greater German Reich in 1940: 79 million.

As opposed to:

Population of Iran right now: 93 million

- spread over an area the size of western Europe; or, if you prefer, three times the size of Ukraine, or the combined size of Afghanistan and Iraq. I would be interested to hear from any American under the age of 107 on what basis they think the United States is remotely capable of pulling this off - even if we knew, from one day to the next, what "this" is meant to be. In the absence of any coherent war aims, the likeliest outcomes are:

1) a failed state sending tens of millions of its citizens across Turkey to Europe; or

2) an Iran with its power and prestige vastly increased.

So no, I won't be joining the eerily sotto voce rah-rah right. And, incidentally, in our present political culture, who seriously "stands behind" anybody? Remember the Fall of Kabul? Well, no, you probably don't, but it was in the papers for a couple of days. Were any of the commanders cashiered for that? Or are they still in the Pentagon at this very minute? How about the decision to leave all that weaponry at Bagram? Which right now is being used by the Afghans against their nuclear neighbour Pakistan. Have the Bagram boys been transferred to this third fiasco in half-a-decade?

And here's the critical wrinkle: America's unwon wars usually take place in countries of peripheral significance to the global economy. Me fifteen sodding years ago:

According to the World Bank, the western military/aid presence now accounts for 97% of Afghanistan's GDP.

So that didn't leave a lot over to destabilise your ability to fill up your cart at the local KwikkiKrap.

This time it's different. Iran is the Afghan war combined with the 2008 financial crisis. You recall that just yesterday Tehran hit some joint called Ras Laffan. From Qatar's Energy Minister:

He says Qatar's liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity will reduce by 17% over the next five years, causing the country to lose $20bn in annual revenue... Iran's attack on Ras Laffan was in response to an Israeli attack on Wednesday to its South Pars gas field, which is located just north in the Persian Gulf. "Five years isn't a repair," Ciaran Roe, chief commercial officer at HySights, a clean fuels market intelligence provider based in Singapore, tells the BBC. "It's a full rebuild".

Twenty billion per annum for five years? In any country other than the United States of Brokistan (where it's merely half of the "supplemental funding" the Pentagon is demanding this week) one hundred bil would be a significant amount of money. For Iran, it's an awful lot of bucks for just one rinky-dink bang.

For fans of deadpan comedy, this paragraph in the above report is a gem:

Countries in Asia are the most reliant on Qatari LNG, especially Japan, South Korea, India and China. In Europe, Italy and Belgium are already big customers - but the continent as a whole is becoming increasingly reliant on Middle Eastern gas, having turned away from Russian imports in the wake of the Ukraine war.

You don't say! Gee, it's almost like all the arseholery eventually connects up! Forty per cent of UK homes depend on Qatari LNG - or did, until Doha shut down production. A few years ago, Kate Smyth suggested here that we were witnessing the "controlled demolition" of the entire western world. We've now moved on to the next stage: uncontrolled demolition. Look out below.

According to the Joint Maritime Information Center, 138 ships per day normally pass through the Strait of Hormuz; that's currently down to four. You do the math. An estimated third of all recent crossings through the strait are by ships connected to Tehran:

While Iran has effectively choked off oil exports by its Arab neighbors through the Strait of Hormuz, it has continued shipping its own crude largely uninterrupted.

Yeah, but it's a big problem for China, right? Er, well...

Discharges at Chinese ports have also risen, increasing from about 1.17 million bpd in February to more than 1.25 million so far in March. Figures from the International Energy Agency and maritime intelligence provider Lloyd's List similarly point to a surge in Iran's shipments. Last week, Iran also loaded a two-million-barrel cargo from Jask  its only export terminal outside the Strait of Hormuz  marking the first such shipment since October 2024.

Ah, so Iran's selling more oil than before the war? Why, yes, and that makes the Government of the United States very happy:

US considers lifting sanctions on some Iranian oil

(UPDATE! It's happened.)

Wait a minute, I thought the US was lifting sanctions on Russian oil...

Well, no, it's both. That way we can enrich both our enemies so they can prolong both wars. You know it makes sense. The Treasury Secretary says so:

"In the coming days, we may un-sanction the Iranian oil that's on the water. It's about 140m barrels," Bessent said during an appearance on Fox Business Network's Mornings with Maria. "That's about 10 days to two weeks of supply that the Iranians had been pushing out that would have all gone to China," he continued. "In essence, we will be using the Iranian barrels against the Iranians to keep the price down for the next 10 to 14 days as we continue this campaign."

Anything else? Oh, lookee here - today's winning hand at Mad Libs:

U.S. Lifts Fertilizer Sanctions on Belarus as Iran War Causes Price Surge

Honourable runners-up:

Every Wednesday a public holiday: Sri Lanka announces measure to conserve fuel Myanmar junta responds to fuel crisis with bizarre alternate-day driving order

Like I said, the Afghan war as run by Lehman Brothers: I know that's what I voted for. Yet, as Week Four begins, the Administration seems minded to continue its winning strategy of bigging up China, Russia and Iran.

As longtime readers know, I regard the west's real battlefield as the home front. In response, I have been assured that Uncle Sam can walk and chew gum simultaneously. I am unpersuaded. On the walking front, Israel's excellent human intelligence is pinpointing every dime-store evildoer in Tehran and blasting him to his virgins. On the gum-chewing front, the US government has taken the precaution of giving every Ahmed bin Evildoer Jr a Green Card.

For example, consider the case of the recently deceased Ali Larijani, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council and a chap with the blood of over 30,00 innocents on his hands, and that's just from January. His daughter teaches at Emory University in Atlanta:

Ali Larijani's daughter returns to Iran for her father's funeral and goes on state media to praise her daddy. Oh, and she's been living in the U.S. and working at Emory University. https://t.co/TCpxfmpzM7 pic.twitter.com/HMG1XrzbDy  The Persian Jewess (@persianjewess) March 19, 2026

Dr Larijani is Assistant Professor in the Department of Hematology and Oncology at the Winship Cancer Institute in the Emory School of Medicine. Has the district court judge of Dead Moose Junction weighed in yet on the President's authority to drone the families of lawful US immigrants? Has Blue Cross-Blue Shield agreed to cover your treatment by doctors who tell you to stick out your tongue and say "Death to America"?

Whatever. Lindsey Graham says the ayatollahs are within days of nuking all the cities where their kids and grandkids live and work. That's pretty hardcore.

To return to our question re the Fall of Kabul, will the US immigration official who decided Dr Larijani was indispensable to the health of the republic pay any price for it? To ask the question is to answer it: on the very day Israel blew Dr Larijani's pater into the religion of pieces, rock-ribbed Republicans joined with their Democrat colleagues to introduce "bipartisan" legislation exempting physicians such as Dr Larijani from new Trump rules requiring $100,000 fees from immigration applicants.

Unlike its forebears in 1941, your government can't walk or chew gum. Yet somehow the corrupt and dysfunctional military bureaucracy that gave us Iraq and Afghanistan is supposed to be an exception to this iron-clad law?

Oh, well. My old friends at The Spectator already have their kinky boots on the ground:

The West should double down on the Iran war

It's amazing that even Michael Gove has failed to notice that "the West" has failed to single down on the Iran war. It's America, Israel and ...no one. Bush's much-mocked "Coalition of the Willing" is sitting this one out. For example, the biggest news in Denmark this morning is that, following the Maduro dictatornapping, the kingdom's troops on Greenland spent January on training exercises to blow up and disable the island's runways in the event that Washington decided to invade.

But now, a mere six weeks later, those pitiful Eurofaggots are whining about having to pivot from potholing the landing strips to liberating the Strait of Hormuz:

Without the U.S.A., NATO IS A PAPER TIGER! They didn't want to join the fight to stop a Nuclear Powered Iran. 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 don't want to help open the Strait of Hormuz, a simple military maneuver that is the single reason for the high oil prices. So easy for them to do, with so little risk. COWARDS, and we will REMEMBER! President DONALD J. TRUMP

Hmm. Like "the West" and half the US cabinet, I find it hard to "get behind Trump", in part because he's gotten behind Lindsey Graham and Mark Levin. The good news, we are told, is that the base is right behind him, because, as is sure to be confirmed on Wednesday morning in November, MAGA voters' priority has always been easing fertiliser sanctions on Belarus.

Trump is fighting on two fronts: an air war over Persia, and an economic war across the rest of the planet. His priority re the latter is to calm the markets by holding the price of oil to $100 or less. He's just about keeping it in the ballpark, despite Brent Crude touching 120 before slipping back to 108 this morning. But it comes at a higher and higher cost, and pushes anything that can even be passed off as ersatz victory in Iran further and further out of reach.

I would like America to win this war, just because it would be the first time in my life, so it would make a pleasant change. But so far, in terms of condescending to and thus underestimating the enemy, it's going like all the others.

Mark's international bestseller America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It. If you haven't read the book during its first seventeen years, well, you're missing a treat. It's still in print in hardback and paperback. (Buy it at a 77% discount by clicking here or order in KINDLE edition at a 47% discount by clicking here. Sales help fund JWR)

(COMMENT, BELOW)

Mark Steyn is an international bestselling author, a Top 41 recording artist, and a leading Canadian human rights activist. Among his books is "The Undocumented Mark Steyn: Don't Say You Weren't Warned". (Buy it at a 49% discount by clicking here or order in KINDLE edition at a 67% discount by clicking here. Sales help fund JWR)
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President Donald Trump said he is sending U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to airports on Monday, after threatening to do so unless congressional Democrats agree to a GOP-backed funding deal.

"ICE will be going to airports to help our wonderful TSA Agents," Trump said in a social media post on Sunday morning, escalating a standoff over the funding deal that has slowed security lines at airports nationwide.

In an earlier post to Truth Social over the weekend, Trump had said the ICE agents would "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."

Deploying agents to checkpoints nationwide would mark an unprecedented expansion of immigration enforcement even as Democrats push for tighter limits on how those agents operate, citing concerns the administration has fast-tracked training to expand ICE ranks.

Speaking to CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday morning, White House border czar Tom Homan said the administration is working to identify what exactly ICE agents will be doing and which airports they will be assigned to. Homan said he expected to have a plan by the end of the day.

"We will be at the airports tomorrow helping TSA move those lines along," he said.

Homan told "Fox News Sunday" that ICE agents will not be involved in X-ray screening or other work that requires specialized training. But he said they can do other tasks - such as guarding exit doors or checking passengers' identification before they enter a screening area.

John Sandweg, a former acting director at ICE during the Obama administration, said the impact of the new deployment will largely be determined by the details of its execution - including which ICE agents are sent, how many and where inside airports they are stationed.

Sandweg emphasized that when the Transportation Security Administration is short-staffed, the biggest slowdowns tend to occur at X-ray machines, baggage screening and ID checks - functions that he said require specialized training. "I find it hard to say operationally there's any basis to do this other than to use ICE again as a political wedge to try to put pressure on Democrats to end the shutdown," he said. "I think that's what this is all about."

Homan said the deployment "allows the TSA officer to go back to screening to move people through quicker," he said. "We're trying to release TSA resources to get to positions they really need expertise like the X-ray screening. We're going to be a force multiplier."

Joe Shuker, a regional vice president of American Federation of Government Employees Council 100, which represents TSA employees, said that managing exits has become less staffing-intensive with the adoption of automated exits, and much of TSA agents' other work requires specialized training and technical expertise.

"It doesn't seem like a lot of help," Shuker said of the plan to send ICE agents to airports.

Democrats have refused to fund certain agencies within the Department of Homeland Security - which includes ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection - until the GOP agrees to new restrictions on immigration enforcement after federal personnel killed Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis. But the agencies they're seeking to change - ICE and CBP - have largely continued operations after receiving billions of dollars last year as part of Republicans' tax and spending bill.

The congressional standoff has left the majority of TSA employees working without pay for more than a month, prompting an increase in worker absences at airports and threatening worsening disruptions for travelers as spring break nears for millions of students.

The changes Democrats are seeking include a requirement that ICE agents get a warrant from a judge before forcefully entering homes and cease wearing masks. The Trump administration has agreed to several requests, including the expanded use of body-worn cameras and limiting civil enforcement activities at certain locations, including hospitals, schools and places of worship.

On Sunday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York) told CNN that Republicans "have decided that they would rather force TSA agents to work without pay, inconvenience millions of Americans all across the country, and now potentially expose them to untrained ICE agents and create chaos at airports throughout the land" instead of passing the ICE changes that Democrats are asking for.

Jeffries urged Republicans in both chambers to pass legislation to pay TSA officers even as the DHS shutdown continues. Jeffries noted that Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and John Neely Kennedy (R-Louisiana) have indicated support for such a measure.

"Let's bring those bills to the floor in the House and the Senate tomorrow so we can get TSA agents paid," Jeffries said.

Trump, in a second post about the matter to Truth Social on Saturday, accused Democrats of hurting "so many people with their vicious and uncaring ways."

"What they have done to the Department of Homeland Security, our fantastic TSA Officers, and, most importantly, the great people of our Country, is an absolute disgrace," he continued, pledging to dispatch ICE to airports on Monday.

Sen. Patty Murray (D-Washington), the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, in a statement said Trump should focus his attention on his own party.

"Surely, the next thing people want after waiting hours in long TSA lines is to get wrongfully detained by ICE," she said. "Here's an idea: instead of sidelining TSA agents and sending ICE to harass travelers, the president should tell Republicans to stop blocking our bill to pay TSA."

Some Border Patrol agents currently work checkpoints at airports along the southern border. Trump said that he would deploy the ICE agents if Democrats did not "immediately sign an agreement."

That type of operation, Sandweg said, would almost certainly target a population of immigrants without criminal history.

"For every one person with criminal history you will encounter 15 people who have been here for a long time, and there are far more efficient ways of getting to that criminal population through a targeted approach," Sandweg said.

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When my son Micah was 8, he and I listened repeatedly to "Stan Freberg Presents the United States of America," a classic 1961 send-up of American history. One sketch imagines Thomas Jefferson going door to door, gathering signatures for the Declaration of Independence. A crotchety Benjamin Franklin agrees to take a look, but has trouble with some of the words.

"Among these are life, liberty, and the  puruit of happine?" he asks, puzzled.

"That's 'pursuit of happiness,'" Jefferson replies.

"Well, all your s's look like f's," Franklin grumbles.

"It's stylish," says Jefferson. "It's in, it's very in."

Micah and I thought that was hilarious, and for years it became a favorite joke. But I hadn't thought about Jefferson's breezy assurance for decades when I stumbled recently across a fascinating experiment in how radically the English language has changed over the centuries. Jefferson wasn't wrong about those funny-looking s's being "stylish" and "very in." In his day, they were!

The experiment was devised by linguist Colin Gorrie for his Substack newsletter, Dead Language Society. He composed a fictional blog post  a traveler's account of visiting a quaint English coastal town called Wulfleet. The twist is that the blogger's language keeps getting older. With every few paragraphs, the English in which it is written shifts to the vocabulary, spelling, and voice of the previous century.

The narrative opens in 2000, with a chatty, internet-era travel blogger ("Not going to lie though: so far, it's totally worth it"). By 1800, the same narrator has become a Georgian diarist, ruminating on "the particular hospitality of country innkeepers, which is liberal beyond what prudence would advise." A few paragraphs later, he's invoking "Plinie" and writing in the plain, sober style of Daniel Defoe.

The spelling gets stranger. "That night I was vntroubled by such euents as I had vndergone the night before," the traveler writes in the English of 1600, before u and v had become separate letters. Sure enough, the s's frequently look like f's  or rather, like 's. As Gorrie explains, they were variants of the same letter, whose use was determined by its position within a word.

By the time the diarist is writing as if it were 1400  "his countenaunce was hidous and so dredful at my blood wexed colde to loken on hym"  a modern layman can just barely make out his meaning. By 1200? Forget it. The text looks almost wholly foreign, even though it is actually a more authentic English. As Gorrie explains, it is what the language looked like before the Norman French vocabulary, which gives English so much of its richness, had fully taken root.

I had always imagined that English changed very gradually and uniformly, but I realize now that the changes can come in lurches. Written English has been remarkably stable for the past 300 years. If you can read "Harry Potter," Gorrie notes, you can read "Robinson Crusoe." But go back a couple more centuries, and floor simply gives way. The language we speak and write and love is, historically speaking, a fairly recent achievement.

Which makes me cherish it all the more, and so happy that my mother tongue is one with such an extraordinarily rich vocabulary.

There are so many words in English that I find captivating. Isn't jalopy a terrific word? Isn't it wonderful that English had the nimbleness and creativity to evolve a word that so perfectly conveys the sense of an old, barely-running heap of a car? I feel the same way about blizzard and gizmo and nincompoop and rubbish. These words don't just mean something  they feel like something. They have personality and attitude.

Some words I love because of the way they sound: vermilion, lithe, fetching. Others have a jagged, kinetic energy that I find irresistible: festoon, gallivant, rambunctious, thwart.

Needless to say, I am far from alone in feeling this way.

In 1934, a copywriter named Robert Pirosh quit his job at a New York ad agency in order to pursue his dream of working as a screenwriter. He sent his resume to every studio in Hollywood, with a tour de force of a cover letter that conveyed an almost erotic joy in English words.

"Dear Sir: I like words," he began. "I like fat buttery words, such as ooze, turpitude, glutinous, toady. I like solemn, angular, creaky words, such as straitlaced, cantankerous, pecunious, valedictory." Pirosh was hired by MGM and went on to become an Academy Award-winning screenwriter.

The Oxford English Dictionary lists some 200,000 English words, the accumulated bounty of a thousand years of borrowing, blending, and invention. No one will ever know them all. But what a treasure to draw from, and how fortunate we are to be the inheritors of it.

Jefferson  well, Stan Freberg's Jefferson  was right. Those funny-looking s's went out of fashion around 1800. But the language they were part of? It's in, it's very in.

Jeff Jacoby is a columnist for The Boston Globe, from which this is reprinted with permission.

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Using new base liquor of Te-flavor Baijiu aged in 40 pottery jars as the research object, they were tested every 3 months and followed up for 2 years. Based on Pearson correlation analysis, the mutual equilibrium process of 6 flavor components of base liquor, including total acid/total ester, lactic acid/ethyl lactate, acetic acid/ethyl acetate, hexanoic acid/ethyl hexanoate, butyric acid/ethyl butyrate, and acetaldehyde/acetal during the aging period was analyzed from the perspective of chemical reaction equilibrium. Simultaneously, the effect of equilibrium on the sensory flavor of base liquor was analyzed by preparing simulated Baijiu samples before and after equilibrium. The results showed that acid-ester ratios of the new liquor were diverse, but these differences gradually decreased during the storage. The linear correlation coefficient R between acid and corresponding ethyl ester increased continuously, and the correlation coefficient (R) reached more than 0.9 after 2 years aging. The acid-ester ratio was close to the same value, and the chemical reaction equilibrium was reached. It was found that there was a highly significant positive correlation between the reduction of Baijiu esterification concentration and the new liquor concentration after 2 years of storage (P

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If you trust the titans of industry, and I do not, we are led to believe that, just around the proverbial corner, the equivalent of C-3PO will arrive to improve health care. How wonderful!

You might remember the fussy, shiny droid, the golden companion of R2-D2 in the Star Wars films. Fluent in over six million forms of communication, C-3PO bubbled with personality, but it was his desire to do the right thing that made him special. As a fellow rule-follower, I was charmed by this robot in the 1980s. Could the future bring us such a good-intentioned invention?

Lately, so-called artificial intelligence (AI) is in the front of my mind with nonstop advertisements telling me just how great this development is going to make our lives. Is it? AI companies act as if computer algorithms, ones that require massive amounts of electricity and biblical volumes of water, are going to make the human aspects of health care better. Or, maybe make them obsolete. Will each of us have our very own C-3PO for health care?

The power of organic intelligence

The fundamental core of health care is human emotion and, the way I see it, this is the most precious substance in the galaxy. This organic intelligence (OI) is powered by neurons, ATP, thoughts, feelings, memories, and, in my case, caffeine. Our ancestors harnessed OI and created human-human relationships to survive on a cold, cruel planet. Who the hell knows how they actually did this, but we have remained alive gazing up at the Milky Way for millennia.

This fact is so obvious and fundamental to our success as a species, and yet, much of the IT industry gazes past the person, the patient, narrating a story of illness and a human, the practitioner, thoughtfully listening. This organic dyad has persisted intact even as we discovered microbes, anesthesia, antibiotics, and radiation as both injury and therapy.

As long as humans have been breathing, one suffering person has turned to another, and we cannot be bamboozled by computer companies telling us that their machines can, or could, do this better. Our OI dyad promotes healing, community, and alleviating suffering. It is an imperfect relationship and things can, and often do, go wrong.

In my career, people have confessed to me an ocean of pain, spilling waves of regret, mistakes, transgressions, lies, dreams, hallucinations, in addition to simpler things like blood pressure, diabetes, and asthma. They sought my counsel, the one that radiates from my humanity, my ability to process verbal communication, read nonverbal clues, and triangulate the arc of their lives, placing it all within their particular values systems.

Corporate data and privacy concerns

As a medical doctor with receding hair and bifocals, AI infiltration into health care has me very worried. Operating under the mistaken notion that AI is going to be a benevolent droid, we are volunteering our worries, medications, menstrual cycles, lab results, biopsies, mental health problems, and family cancer histories into machines that, ultimately, are owned by corporations.

Let us forget for a moment that this information, much of it personal, is being collected and stored by Amazon, Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Apple, Starlink, OpenAI, and others. These companies do not exist to screen the population for cancer. Their mission is not to educate the public about their health. They are not currently fighting disinformation and promoting social harmony. They are not, actually, supporting your mental health. Do you honestly believe that ChatGPT has the capacity to care for you?

OpenAI says more than 230 million users already ask ChatGPT health and wellness questions every week, The Washington Post reported in January 2026. ChatGPT, obviously, is not a health care provider and, thus, is not subject to federal health privacy protections under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, most commonly known as HIPAA.

Recently, Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, suggested that AI avatars will be essential to meeting the needs of rural communities like West Virginia where I live. There is no question about it; whether you want it or not the best way to help some of these communities is going to be AI-based avatars, Oz said recently at an event hosted by Action for Progress. He did not stop there, saying, We can use robots to do ultrasounds on pregnant women, a statement that performs a shotgun wedding of my fears of technology and historic inequities in Appalachia.

In the past 20 years, has Facebook improved your health? If you believe that it has, ask yourself how much you trust this entity. And while Amazon is spectacularly good at delivering dog food and Christmas presents, do you want them to know all your medications and doctors names? This is to say nothing of upstart AI entities in far-flung parts of the globe, organizations that strike me as being as friendly as the Death Star.

The limitations of large language models

Large language models (LLMs) are the foundation of AI, harnessing the power of data sets to perform a neat parlor trick: predicting the most likely next word. This is how these machines write text that is, let us say, human-like. It is not, actually, writing and LLMs treat every word the same, merely noting how and when they are, statistically, used in many situations. How is this a problem?

Artificial intelligence is fundamentally limited, unable to predict the next words that someone will say when they are talking about their dying mother. The same is true when narrating a story about their postpartum depression. Or sharing details about their drug use. Or talking about, for the first time ever, being raped. The narrators of these painful stories do not even know themselves what words come next as they try, in the presence of a kind human, to make meaning of their experience. And this meaning-making comes precisely from the words. It is all unpredictable and messy, the vocabulary at the heart of lifes chaos and beauty.

This is the opposite of algorithms: This is humanity. It is organic and imperfect, but it often comes with a warm embrace and we will figure this out together. Do you believe AI apps like Grok, already famous for undressing women and children, will do this for you? Does Dr. Mehmet Oz actually believe that blue-collar Americans are going to trust computers with their health care? Might I remind him that these same citizens, my beloved people, struggled to trust messengers like myself in the maelstrom of COVID-19. Talk to an LED screen about your diabetes or drinking problem; give me a break.

I have no idea what I am going to say the next time I listen to a patients story. An AI avatar will always have a preformed response, but I do not have to. And I do not want to. With great faith in the organic intelligence dyad that has kept us alive, I know that my heart and my internist brain, provided I have had my coffee, will do their best to find the right words. And even if they are not the right or the best words, I know that they will be caring and kind, possessing a warmth that computers and droids, even the C-3POs of the galaxy, can never feel. And this, I am sure in my bones, is how we will survive.

This article is part of an ongoing series featuring the photography of Molly Humphreys. Find hundreds of additional photos by visiting Healthcare is Human social media and podcast.

Ryan McCarthy is an internal medicine physician.
President Reagan has unveiled plans to combat nuclear war in space.

The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) proposes a defensive shield, using laser or particle beam technology to intercept and destroy incoming missiles as they travel through the stars.

< Defense analysts have described it as the first major attempt to move away from the 30 year-old Cold War strategy of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)  where the threat of nuclear attack acts as a deterrent.

In a televised address from the White House the US leader said: We seek neither military superiority nor political advantage. Our only purpose  one all people share  is to search for ways to avert the danger of nuclear war.

Speaking just half an hour after the House of Representatives (H0R) had rejected the Republican Partys demands for 10% increases in defence spending, President Reagan attempted to justify his $2 trillion, five-year military spending plans.

In the first major congressional revolt against Mr Reagans economic policies the HoR have voted in Democrat proposals to reduce the Republican budget by more than half.

The President said: Theyre the same kind that led the democracies to neglect their defences in the 1930s and invited the tragedy of World War II.

Senior White House aide Michael Deaver reported a positive reaction to Mr Reagans scheme: He has had the most favorable response to any speech since he was elected President.

Critics argue SDI contravenes the Soviet-American Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty of 1972.

Article V of the treaty states: Each party undertakes not to develop, test or deploy anti-ballistic missile systems or components.

President Reagan has stressed SDI does not entail the actual development of a defensive shield, but is a programme for research and development.

Courtesy BBC News

In context

Reagans SDI became known as Star Wars  after the George Lucas film.

President Andropov of the USSR was highly critical of the plan, saying it violated the 1972 ABM Treaty and there was little difference between building up weapons for purportedly defensive or offensive purposes.

The Democrats in the US  and even some Republicans  claimed Reagans initiative was an expensive and unfeasible diversion from his administrations domestic failures.

SDI signalled a new round in the Arms Race and a worsening of the relationship between the US and the USSR.

The increasing financial strain it placed the Soviet Union under contributed to the break up of the regime.

SDI was abandoned in 1993 and the department was renamed the Ballistic Missile Defence organisation.

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A 19-year-old star wrestler and two other young men were hanged in Iran this week, raising alarm among rights groups that a wave of executions may be underway as authorities facing relentless attacks from the U.S. and Israel seek to squelch public dissent.

The three men are the first to be executed from among the tens of thousands who were arrested during a January crackdown on nationwide protests. Rights groups say more than 100 others could face death sentences.

The wrestler, Saleh Mohammadi, was hanged early Thursday morning  along with Mehdi Qasemi and Saeed Davoudi  in Qom, just south of the capital, Tehran, according to state media. They had been sentenced on charges of moharabeh, or waging war against God, for allegedly killing two police officers during protests in the city.

Amnesty International said the convictions of the three, and of others arrested during the protests, came in grossly unfair trials that used confessions extracted by torture.

The executions were intended to instill fear in society and deter new protests amid the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, said Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of Iran Human Rights, an Oslo-based group that has documented detentions.

Amiry-Moghaddam said he worries many more executions of protesters and political prisoners may be imminent.

At least 27 arrested during protests face death sentences

Amiry-Moghaddam said his group has documented at least 27 death sentences that have been issued against people arrested during the protests. Another 100 face charges that carry the death penalty, and Iranian state media have aired hundreds of forced confessions to crimes punishable by death, he said.

Nationwide protests that began in late December peaked in the first week of January, prompting the deadliest crackdown by Iranian security forces since the Islamic Republic took power in 1979.

A complete death toll has been hard to gauge because of internet restrictions by authorities. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists New Agency, which relies on a network of contacts inside Iran, said it confirmed that more than 7,000 were killed and that it was investigating thousands more. It said over 50,000 were arrested in just over six weeks. The government acknowledged more than 3,000 were killed.

At the height of the protests, Iranian authorities signaled that fast trials and executions lay ahead.

At the time, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested military action might be an option to stop the deadly crackdown. But he soon announced that he learned that plans for executions were halted, signaling that a military operation was no longer on the table.

Just a month later, Israel and the U.S. launched an intense airstrike campaign against Iran, pounding military installations and targeting the top political and security leadership of Iran. The security agencies believed to be responsible for the deadly crackdown on protesters are also being targeted.

War has not stopped Irans crackdown on dissent

Despite the war, Iranian authorities have kept up the crackdown on dissent. Authorities say scores have been detained since the war began on Feb. 28, including some who took part in the January protests.

Because of Irans internet blackout, there have been scant details about the three men executed Thursday. Amiry-Moghaddam said Davoudi was born on March 20, 2004, meaning he was executed a day before his 22nd birthday. Qasemis age was not known, he said.

Mohammadi appeared to be a standout in wrestling, a sport that is wildly popular in Iran. In 2024, he won a bronze medal at an international youth freestyle wrestling tournament in the Russian city of Krasnoyarsk.

On his Instagram account, Mohammadi posted photos and videos of his matches and his workouts, along with inspirational no-pain-no-gain messages. In his last post in late December, he posted a video of himself in the gym and wrote: We endured beyond our imagination. Back again #bodybuilding #training #wrestling.

He was full of energy, said Shiva Amelirad, an Iranian teacher living in Toronto who spoke with Mohammadi in 2022 while he was still in high school.

Amelirad said Mohammadi had participated in anti-government protests that erupted earlier that year when Mahsa Amini died in police custody after being detained for not wearing her headscarf properly. Those demonstrations were also met with a heavy crackdown by authorities.

She said Mohammadi told her that workouts and eating ice cream were his only ways to forget all this catastrophe that we are facing.

He always tried to show that he was happy, said Amelirad.

Theocracy has forced confessions from protesters

Mohammadi, Qasemi and Davoudi were arrested in Qom on Jan. 15, according to multiple human rights groups. The circumstances of their arrests are not known, and it is not clear if they knew each other beforehand.

They were charged in the killing of a police officer on Jan. 8 and convicted in early February, according to Amnesty and Iran Human Rights.

During his detention, Mohammadi was beaten and one of his hands broken, Amnesty said in a Feb. 19 open letter to Irans judiciary criticizing the prosecution of dozens of arrested protesters. Amnesty said Mohammadi denied the charges and retracted his confessions in court, saying they were extracted under torture.

Authorities have systematically subjected those arrested in connection to the protests to enforced disappearance, incommunicado detention, torture to extract forced confessions, Amnesty said in the letter. MDT/AP

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The Transport Bureau (DSAT) has installed omnidirectional crosswalks in the Iao Hon area to facilitate pedestrian traffic.

According to the bureau, the new crossings aim to improve pedestrian safety, reduce the need to cross the street twice, and shorten crossing times.

DSAT noted this is particularly important in this area due to the heavy flow of people and vehicles.

Following the installation of omnidirectional crosswalks at two intersections on Avenida da Longevidade in early March, and after analyzing their effectiveness and assessing road conditions, new crossings have been implemented at the intersections between Estrada Marginal do Hipodromo and Rua da Saude, near Hong Lok Village, and between Rua da Tribuna and Estrada dos Cavaleiros, near the Pak Lai Building.

The new crossings began operating last Saturday.

DSAT has already submitted this adjustment plan to the Traffic Advisory Board for feedback and is collaborating with the Education and Youth Development Bureau to communicate the changes to nearby schools.

Currently, there are 17 traffic-light intersections in Macau equipped with omnidirectional crosswalks, but the bureau said it is continuing to monitor their operation and is considering future expansion to other locations. RM

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A robbery in a Hengqin residential neighborhood left one person dead and another injured on the evening of March 20.

Hengqin Public Security Bureau confirmed that a 26-year-old male suspect has been arrested and is currently under investigation. Authorities said the suspect allegedly targeted two victims during the incident, prompting a criminal investigation.

It has now been determined that on the evening of March 20, [the suspect] went to a residential area in Hengqin and robbed two victims, resulting in the death of one of them. The case is under further investigation, the brief statement read.

The Macau University of Science and Technology confirmed that one of the victims is a student enrolled at the university.

The school said it is taking the incident seriously and has established a working group to follow up with the family and provide support, according to a TDM report. LV

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With the Two Sessions concluded, a review of 27 preagenda speeches delivered at Fridays Legislative Assembly (AL) found many lawmakers citing Beijings 15th Five-Year Plan and Macaus third Five-Year Plan as justification for aligning local policy with national strategies.

Speeches covered a broad agenda, including development of the low-altitude economy, strengthening patriotic and pro-Macau forces, urban renewal, implementation of the 1+4 industrial plan to diversify the economy, deeper Macau-Hengqin integration, fostering new-quality productive forces, and addressing the falling birth rate.

Ho Ion Sang, vice-president of the AL, warned that Macau faces twin demographic challenges of an aging population and a steep decline in births.

Last years 2,871 newborns  down more than 20% from 3,607 in 2024  is the first time the figure has fallen below 3,000 and marks a record low, he said.

As background, Ho has urged authorities to broaden talent and education policies to counter the trend.

He has previously called for the Macau Talent Card to offer enhanced services covering taxation, residency and entry/exit, childrens education, entrepreneurship, and healthcare and elderly care, and to become interoperable with Guangdongs Talent Youyue Card. He also proposed expanding the Talent Endorsement policy for Mainland-Hong Kong-Macau travel and studying measures to facilitate research visits to Macau.

Speaking yesterday on education policy, Ho urged authorities to actively discuss and plan school development strategies with institutions. He recommended support for specialized and differentiated curricula, adoption of innovative teaching models, and measures to boost schools appeal to students.

He also suggested providing resources and incentives for eligible schools to convert into continuing-education centers, vocational training providers, or senior education institutions  thereby broadening educational services from the school-age population to the entire population, he said.

Citing reports that some schools are facing difficulties in recruiting students,

Ho described the demographic shift as a significant opportunity to raise education quality and modernize the system. He recommended the government introduce systematic teacher-training programs to strengthen multi-grade teaching capacity and overall adaptability, and to help teachers acquire new skills needed to teach across grade levels and subject areas.

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The Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) says it moved its annual Cities of Gastronomy Fest to March to dodge typhoons and rainy weather that disrupted previous editions. The rescheduling follows last years event, which was affected by typhoons, heavy rain and hot, humid conditions that upended the outdoor-heavy program.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 2026 International Cities of Gastronomy Fest, Macao opening ceremony, MGTO director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes said the decision was aimed at providing more stable conditions for visitors and exhibitors and at injecting energy into a traditionally quieter period for the tourism industry.

Why did we choose March? [] Its the off-season for tourism. We wanted to offer diverse activities even during this period so people wouldnt have to rush during peak seasons or when crowds are heavy, Fernandes stated.

Organizers expect about 100,000 visitors to attend the festival, which received a 14% budget increase this year. The additional funding supports an expanded footprint across the ZAPE district and introduces new thematic features designed to deepen Macaus role as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.

The 10-day event runs through March 29.

Among the new features this year is the Global Wine Lounge, which organizers describe as a platform for fresh collaborations among wine producers, distributors and restaurateurs.

The lounge is complemented by 21 breakout venues scattered across ZAPE, featuring offerings from 16 gastronomic cities and five additional categories of culinary and cultural partners from mainland China.

The core of the festival remains the International Gastronomy Promenade, with about 100 stalls, though the layout and mix have been adjusted.

Rather than clustering exhibitors by geography, MGTO says it blended participants from mainland China, overseas culinary capitals and local eateries. I think this allows for a better layout and also promotes mutual exchange and collaboration, Fernandes remarked.

The expanded footprint aims to spread visitor flows and encourage crowds to explore different corners of the district, while also creating more opportunities for small- and medium-sized enterprises to join the program.

Beyond food stalls and demonstrations, MGTO is promoting the festival as a hub for discussions on the future of gastronomy and its links with other sectors.

An International Food Forum is scheduled for Monday, March 23, bringing together UNESCO Cities of Gastronomy and other Creative Cities in music, design, art and folk arts. According to organizers, the forum will feature three main panel discussions.

One will focus on sustainable development, co-hosted with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, and will highlight a Young Chef program that spotlights two Macau chefs working with local ingredients and responsible sourcing. A second panel will examine the links between gastronomy and other creative fields such as design and music, while a third will look at foods role in content creation, from social media to tourism storytelling.

Flight Woes

Fernandes also faced questions about broader challenges affecting Macaus tourism recovery, particularly rising airfares, reduced flights and geopolitical tensions.

Weve noticed a lot of fluctuation in airfares lately, especially for flights to Europe. Prices have been quite high, she said. Fernandes noted that conflicts in the Middle East and airspace restrictions have driven up costs and limited options for medium- and long-haul routes, hitting European visitors hardest.

By contrast, she suggested, Asian travelers may shift toward shorter regional trips within the Greater Bay Area, as long-haul journeys become pricier and unpredictable.

We will do our best to address this and hope to turn this crisis into an opportunity, Fernandes said. On assessing the numbers, she added, Its very difficult. Well, we dont have the numbers to gauge at this point. However, I think probably some of the February numbers  or when the March numbers come out  then it would be a better indication of the impact.

Fernandes also committed to tracking flight availability, pricing trends and traveler sentiment for future promotions.

UNESCO chief hails Macau as powerful connector at record-breaking gastro fest

The 2026 International Cities of Gastronomy Fest opened Friday at Macau Fishermans Wharf, drawing a record 38 UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy from 22 countries to the Macao Government Tourism Officeorganized event.

Secretary for Economy and Finance Anton Tai Kin Ip, deputy director-general of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central Peoples Government in the Macao SAR Yang Quanzhou, UNESCO Creative Cities Network Secretary Denise Bax, and MGTO director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes cut the ribbon alongside representatives from the six gaming concessionaires and other stakeholders.

During the ceremony, Bax hailed gastronomy as a powerful connector capable of uniting people, cultures, and cities in ways few other elements can.

Bax said in her opening remarks, Since joining the Network in 2017, Macau has demonstrated a strong and sustained commitment to international cooperation and to the values of the Network.

She also stated that the UCCN Secretariat is working closely with the city to develop a dedicated research report featuring Macao as a case study.

Building on the Report on the Impact of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, and with the support of FAO and UN Tourism, this initiative will help deepen our understanding of how the UCCN designation translates into tangible results at the city level, as well as highlight Macaos experience, said the UCCN Secretary.

According to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, the report is expected to be released later this year. It will examine how the gastronomy designation has driven inclusive urban development, preserved local food heritage, and stimulated creative exchange in Macau. NS

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Dozens of models with Down syndrome strutted down a catwalkat a fashion show in Romanias capital for an evening celebrating style, atypical beauty and courage to mark World Down Syndrome Day.

The SEEN Anonymous Seamstresses Gala in Bucharest brought together designers from across the country, who created garments with great kindness, care and creativity for young people with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities.

Georgeta Bucur, the president of Down Plus Association Bucharest, which organized the event held on Wednesday at the Romexpo center, said 50 seamstresses each created a costume for a youngster they had never met.

The costumes were created without anyone trying them on, she said. But the most important thing is that the people gathered together again. This event is really special  its the most beautiful thing that could happen.

For 19-year-old Antonia Voicu, who wore a puffy green netted dress and a crown of red roses, taking the stage was like a dream come true.

I feel like Im always fashionable, and I like to strike a pose, so I like to do like this, she said, before stepping on the runway. Im not nervous at all.

Antonias caretaker, Diana Negres, said the event was a big step for Antonia, who had always dreamed of being a star parading on stage. This event gives her exactly this, she said. This is her first time, we did no preparation at all, so everything will be spontaneous.

Cristina Bucur, a seamstress and one of the organizers, said the idea for the fashion show came to her because she has a child with a disability.

I wanted the other children to see what its like to wear a costume during a fashion show, what its like to be cheered on stage, she said. They enjoy it enormously because they see that someone looks at them, that someone does something for them.

In Romania, about 12,000 people have Down syndrome, and over 6 million worldwide, according to the Romania Down Syndrome Federation. In 2022, the Eastern European country reported that a person with Down syndrome was born per 847 births.

On stage, us children go on a parade, and today Im dressed in a nice dress and try to do some modeling, said nine-year-old Marusika Burlaca, who took to the stage wearing a pink dress studded with little pearls after having her hair done up.

Maybe they get a bit nervous at times, its the emotions, but they really like to be the center of attention, said Larisa Bucur, one of the organizers. We know that they want to be in the spotlight. I think its a very good opportunity for them.

World Down Syndrome Day celebrates the lives of people with Down syndrome to make sure they have equal freedoms and opportunities, and to raise awareness. In 2011, the United Nations General Assembly declared March 21 as the official day of observation.

This years theme is combating loneliness, which the World Down Syndrome Day website says can have an outsized impact on people living with Down syndrome.

Everyone feels lonely sometimes, it states. But for many people with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities, loneliness is a more common and painful experience. STEPHEN McGRATH & ANDREEA ALEXANDRU, BUCHAREST, MDT/AP

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Despite the current 20232026 Continuing Education and Development Program remaining in force, authorities on Friday unveiled new arrangements for the 20262029 cycle, including plans to implement a pay-first, apply-later mechanism.

The Continuing Education and Development Program, launched in 2011 to promote lifelong learning among residents aged 15 and over, offers subsidies of up to MOP6,000 per person for courses and certification exams.

Authorities said Friday that the new arrangements aim to improve subsidy efficiency, raise attendance, and curb noncompliance, noting that five phases of the program between 2011 and 2026 drew more than 1.56 million participants.

At Fridays Executive Council press conference, Executive Council spokesperson Wong Sio Chak, the Secretary for Administration and Justice, introduced the draft administrative regulation for the 20262029 Continuing Education Development Program, which is set to take effect on April 1.

Under the proposal, Macau residents who turn 15 on or before December 31 in any year from 2026 to 2029 will be automatically enrolled from January 1 of the relevant year, and each beneficiary may receive up to MOP6,000 in subsidies. The subsidy will cover tuition or certification-exam fees for higher-education and continuing-education courses offered by local and overseas institutions between July 1 this year and June 30, 2029.

Authorities said beneficiaries must pay tuition up front and apply for reimbursement only if any of the following conditions are met: the requested subsidy for a course is MOP3,000 or more; the beneficiarys attendance for the subsidized course falls below 30%; the beneficiarys overall attendance under the current phase is under 30%; or the beneficiary fails to meet specified obligations.

Subsidies will be released after an online application once a course attendance rate reaches 70%.

The bill proposes that subsidies continue to cover tuition or certification-exam fees for higher-education and continuing-education programs offered by local and non-local institutions, provided beneficiaries maintain a course attendance rate of at least 70% to qualify for a refund of the deposit.

The refund would be raised to 50% of the relevant tuition fees, and applicants would no longer be required to submit proof of tuition payment when applying to the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) for the grant.

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Chinese doctors save local patient from amputation in Sierra Leone

Xinhua) 09:40, March 23, 2026

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Emotional movie scores have a unique power to pierce the heart, lingering in listeners' minds long after the screen fades to black. Crafted by skilled film music composers, these soundtracks turn pivotal scenes into unforgettable experiences that still send chills down fans' spines today.

What Makes Emotional Movie Scores So Powerful?

Emotional movie scores work their magic through careful layering of instruments and dynamics that mirror human emotion. Film music composers often start with simple motifsa lone piano note or a swelling string sectionthat grow into full orchestral waves, syncing perfectly with on-screen tension or triumph. This technique heightens every moment, whether it's a hero's sacrifice or a quiet farewell.

Take the way these scores build anticipation. A slow violin solo might creep in during a dramatic reveal, then explode into choral heights, triggering physical goosebumps. Fans report replaying these tracks standalone, proving their standalone emotional punch. John Williams, one of the most celebrated film music composers, mastered this in scores that feel both intimate and epic.

Beyond instruments, rhythm plays a key role. Pulsing percussion in battle scenes or gentle harp glissandos in love stories create visceral responses. These elements stick because they tap into universal feelingsloss, joy, longingmaking viewers feel seen. Over decades, emotional movie scores have evolved, blending classical roots with modern synths for fresh impact.

Iconic Emotional Movie Scores That Deliver Chills

"Titanic" (1997) by James Horner"My Heart Will Go On" and "Hymn to the Sea" weave Celtic flutes and soaring sopranos into the film's tragic romance. Every time the orchestra swells as the ship sinks, it captures unbreakable love amid devastation, a chill-inducing blend fans revisit endlessly. "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" (2003) by Howard Shore"The Grey Havens" fades from mournful brass to hopeful strings, mirroring Frodo's bittersweet departure. Shore, a master among film music composers, layers ethnic instruments like bodhrans and fiddles to evoke Middle-earth's vast emotional landscape. Fans often cite the Rohan theme's triumphant ride as a personal chills trigger. "Gladiator" (2000) by Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard"Now We Are Free" delivers primal power through driving rhythms and otherworldly vocals that clash triumph with grief, especially in Maximus's final stand. This score's minimalist chants build to cathartic releases that feel ancient yet immediate. Lists of top emotional movie scores, like one from WatchMojo , frequently rank it high for its lasting spine-tingle factor. "Schindler's List" (1993) by John WilliamsA single violin theme conveys the Holocaust's horror, starting fragile then gaining quiet urgency, forcing tears without words. Williams drew from klezmer traditions, making it profoundly Jewish and human. Fans play it at memorials, its chills a testament to music's empathetic reach. "Interstellar" (2014) by Hans Zimmer

Organ swells in "No Time for Caution" push boundaries, with the track's relentless climb mimicking space's vast isolation. Blending pipe organ with synths for cosmic dread and wonder, it amplifies humanity's fragility during the wormhole sequence. Zimmer noted the score's personal roots in time and family. "Finding Neverland" (2004) by Jan A.P. Kaczmarek

Piano and celesta evoke childhood's fleeting magic amid illness. Its "Opening" track dances lightly yet aches, perfect for reflective chills. "Jurassic Park" (1993) by John Williams

"Journey to the Island" blasts majestic brass, blending awe with primal fear as dinosaurs roar to life. "Once Upon a Time in the West" (1968) by Ennio Morricone

Harmonica and electric guitar create stark tension. The main theme's dusty wail builds Western isolation into something operatic, chilling in its sparseness. "Forrest Gump" (1994) by Alan Silvestri

Folksy banjo mixes with orchestral swells, capturing life's unpredictable heart tugs. "Up" (2009) by Michael Giacchino

A married couple's montage uses spare piano and strings, compressing decades of joy and sorrow into minutes. Fans call it a masterclass in emotional economy. "Arrival" (2016) by Max Richter

Minimalist strings handle alien encounter's quiet profundity, with circular motifs echoing the film's time-bending chills.

These emotional movie scores prove timeless, with fans on forums like Reddit sharing how they evoke chills years later.

Film Music Composers Who Master Chills

Film music composers turn scripts into sonic souls, and a few legends dominate emotional movie scores. John Williams tops the list with over 50 Academy nods, his leitmotifs weaving character destinies in Star Wars, E.T., and beyond. His secret? Melodies that lodge in the brain, replaying emotions on cue.

Hans Zimmer revolutionized the field with hybrid scores, as in Inception's BRAAAM horns or Dune's industrial drones. He collaborates with vocalists like Gerrard, adding ethereal depth that chills. James Horner blended world music into Hollywood, from "Titanic"'s Irish pipes to Braveheart's bagpipes, always prioritizing heart.

Howard Shore excels in fantasy, his Lord of the Rings symphony earning an Oscar for its cultural authenticity. Ennio Morricone pioneered sparse soundscapes, influencing Zimmer and others with The Mission's oboe laments. Newer voices like Giacchino bring Pixar warmth, while Richter offers cerebral minimalism.

These film music composers share a trait: they score for the soul, not just the scene, ensuring chills endure.

Standout Emotional Movie Scores Comparison

"Titanic" by James Horner  Soprano & flutes deliver a tragic romance peak. "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" by Howard Shore  Fading strings create bittersweet farewell. "Gladiator" by Hans Zimmer/Lisa Gerrard  Chants & percussion evoke valiant grief. "Schindler's List" by John Williams  Solo violin conveys quiet devastation. "Interstellar" by Hans Zimmer  Organ crescendo builds cosmic yearning. "Up" by Michael Giacchino  Piano montage captures life's fleeting joys. "Jurassic Park" by John Williams  Brass fanfare heralds awe and danger.

Why Emotional Movie Scores Resonate Across Generations

Emotional movie scores thrive by amplifying narrative without overpowering it. Film music composers study psychology, using minor keys for sorrow or major lifts for hope, tricking the brain into feeling deeply. Subtle cueslike a recurring theme's variationreward attentive listeners with layered chills.

Cultural ties amplify this. Horner's Celtic nods in "Titanic" tap ancestral longing, while Shore's Maori influences honor Lord of the Rings' world-building. Tech advances let Zimmer layer sounds impossibly, as in "Interstellar"'s black hole roar.

Fans sustain these scores' life through playlists and live concerts. A site like Orchestra Central highlights how "Finding Neverland"'s whimsy cuts through cynicism. Streaming keeps them accessible, sparking new chills for younger audiences.

Emotional movie scores from top film music composers blend craft and catharsis, proving music's unmatched emotional pull. Tracks like "Hymn to the Sea" or "No Time for Caution" chill because they echo our own stories, inviting endless replays.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What Are Emotional Movie Scores?

Emotional movie scores are original soundtracks composed to heighten a film's dramatic impact, using orchestral elements like strings, piano, and choirs to evoke deep feelings such as sorrow, joy, or awe. These scores often become iconic, standing alone to trigger chills long after viewing.

2. Which Film Music Composers Create the Most Chilling Scores?

Top film music composers include John Williams (Schindler's List, Jurassic Park), Hans Zimmer (Gladiator, Interstellar), and James Horner (Titanic). Their mastery of motifs and dynamics makes scores unforgettable.

3. Why Do Certain Movie Scores Give Fans Chills?

Movie scores give chills through dynamic buildslike swelling crescendos or sparse solosthat sync with peak emotions, activating physical responses via the brain's reward centers. Fans associate them with story climaxes, replaying for catharsis.
Sands China is reinforcing its commitment to Macaus cultural and artistic development with a major exhibition that revisits one of the citys most iconic industries.

Marking the centenary of the Iec Long Firecracker Factory, the integrated resort operator is presenting A Century of Iec Long Firecracker Factory in Radiance  An Exhibition on the Resonant History and Aesthetic Memory of Macao Firecrackers at Sands Gallery, located at The Grand Suites at Four Seasons, running through Aug. 31.

Bringing together more than 400 exhibits  including original manuscripts, firecracker-making tools, and vividly designed packaging labels  the exhibition offers a comprehensive look at the century-long evolution of Macaus firecracker industry, once one of the citys four major economic pillars.

Through a combination of archival material and artistic interpretation, the showcase revives an industrial legacy that once reached markets around the world, while showcasing the citys cultural depth and creative spirit.

Structured into six thematic chapters, the exhibition moves from an immersive prologue into narratives of industry development, artisan craftsmanship, archival documentation, and interactive experiences.

It also explores the aesthetics of packaging design, illustrating how artistry and commerce intersected in the production, transport, and global export of firecrackers.

Speaking about the exhibition, Sands China executive vice chairman Dr. Wilfred Wong remarked on the importance of history in shaping identity and community.

Sometimes, we must know where we come from. Thats the beauty of history. To know your roots makes you feel that you have a developing community, he said.

The exhibition is curated by Professor Ung Vai Meng, who has spent three decades researching the firecracker trade, and the project integrates scholarly research with rare historical artifacts.

The role of individuals such as Professor Ung, whose lifelong dedication to collecting and researching firecracker-related materials has made the exhibition possible, is lauded for keeping Macaus history alive.

You have to salute people who are willing to do that, Dr. Wong said, noting that such commitment is increasingly rare, and he added that many items in the exhibition were generously donated.

Beyond preserving artifacts, the exhibition seeks to help audiences understand the social fabric shaped by the industry.

I hope it helps people to understand also, sometimes, why certain communities are like that, and live that way, Dr. Wong said, particularly for younger generations or newcomers to Macau.

He also described the exhibition as an immersive time tunnel, designed to bring history to life. History is not just up on the walls. Can you bring people back to the memory? Can you relive that part of living? he said, presenting Sands Gallerys role in offering a more dynamic and accessible alternative to traditional museum settings.

This approach embodies Sands Chinas vision of cultural revitalization, giving importance to reimagining historical narratives to keep them relevant.

The gallery, now in its fifth year, has gradually built a reputation for quality and innovation, overcoming early skepticism about its scale and accessibility.

According to Dr. Wong, such partnerships required a high level of trust, particularly given the irreplaceable nature of many exhibits. Its creating a new model of partnership in the pursuit of art exhibition and culture sharing, he said.

Professor Ung noted the historical role of the industry, stating that in the 1950s and 1960s, Macau-produced firecrackers accounted for roughly 30% to over half of global production.

The exhibition also preserves personal and historical stories, including letters from factory workers after 1945, showing how production responded to global events.

For many older residents, it represents a shared collective memory of the last century, he said, expressing hope that the exhibition would allow visitors to hear the echoes of a century-long era that belongs uniquely to Macau.

Visitors can also explore over 246 labels and original documents detailing production techniques, factory operations, and international distribution.

This section is very interesting. Its about the technique, the procedure, how to produce from paper to finished firecracker, Ung said, explaining that interactive displays and videos bring these processes to life for younger audiences.

For Ung, the mission is to build a bridge between the audience and the history to preserve it in the audiences memories.

Expanding firecracker heritage outreach locally and abroad

To deepen public engagement, Sands China and MUST are extending exhibition elements to the university campus, hosting academic dialogues and thematic displays focused on packaging design and archival materials.

These initiatives, running from March to May, aim to foster greater understanding of the citys industrial heritage, particularly among younger audiences.

At the same time, Sands China is expanding its cultural outreach beyond Macau.

From March 25 to 29, the company will participate in Art Central in Hong Kong as an Associate Partner, becoming the first integrated tourism and leisure enterprise from Macau to do so.

The showcase will feature elements of the firecracker exhibition alongside works by three emerging Macau artists, positioning Sands Gallery as a window to the world for local culture.

Dr. Wong said the move illustrates a more proactive strategy, as the integrated resort operator is keen to help Macau artists reach the world, remarking that international exposure could encourage global audiences to visit Macau and experience its cultural offerings firsthand.

Contemplating on the long-term impact of such initiatives, Dr. Wong suggested that todays efforts may themselves become part of future history.

Maybe 100 years later, people will look at Cotai and say, thats where we come from, he said.

Through the exhibition, the ultimate goal of Sands China is to reaffirm its commitment to diversity and innovation in the arts, as the group is about diversity  and the ability to showcase different things in life, in culture, in heritage.

The exhibition is jointly presented in collaboration with the Library and Faculty of Humanities and Arts of the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST), Macao Museum and the Archives of Macao, illustrating a cross-sector partnership between government, academia and industry.

It is also the first exhibition to systematically trace and present the development of Macaus firecracker industry, amplifying ongoing efforts to revitalize the historic Iec Long Firecracker Factory site.

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A senior vice president of Super Micro Computer Inc. and two others affiliated with the company were charged last week with conspiring to smuggle billions of dollars of computer servers containing advanced Nvidia chips to China.

The men violated U.S. export controls laws by scheming to divert massive quantities of the high-performance servers assembled in the United States to China between 2024 and 2025, according to the indictment in Manhattan federal court.

In a release, FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. said the defendants used fabricated documents, staged bogus equipment to pass audit inventories and utilized a pass-through company to conceal their misconduct and true clientele list.

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said schemes such as this pose a direct threat to U.S. national security.

Nvidias processors have emerged as indispensable building blocks for the data centers that power artificial intelligence  a potentially game-changing technology that could reshape society and change the balance of power in the world. For that reason, the U.S. and China are dueling to gain the upper hand in AI, evoking memories of the arms race between the U.S. and Germany to develop the first nuclear bomb during World War II.

To help gain the upper hand, President Joe Bidens put restrictions on the sale of Nvidias AI chips to China  a prohibition that President Donald Trump has maintained on the companys most powerful processors. The Trump administration last year began loosening the ban on Nvidias China sales for its lower-tier AI chips in exchange for a 15% commission paid to the U.S. government. But even with that concession, Nvidia still didnt factor in any China sales in the revenue forecast included in its most recent financial report released late last month.

Yih-Shyan Wally Liaw, 71, a U.S. citizen and senior vice president and board member of Super Micro Computer, was arrested in California Thursday along with Ting-Wei Willy Sun, 44, a company contractor. Ruei-Tsang Steven Chang, a sales manager for the company in Taiwan, remains a fugitive, authorities said. Liaw, of Fremont, California, was released on bail while Sun, a citizen of Taiwan, was held for a bail hearing Friday. It was not immediately clear who represents them.

The indictment said Liaw and Chang directed executives of a company in Southeast Asia to place orders for $2.5 billion worth of servers from the San Jose, California-based Super Micro Computer between 2024 and 2025.

Authorities say the scheme became more brazen as time went on with at least $510 million worth of Super Micro Computers servers being diverted to China after their assembly in the United States.

The court papers did not identify the company, but Super Micro Computer Inc. issued a statement late Thursday in which it identified how the men who were arrested were affiliated with the company.

The conduct by these individuals alleged in the indictment is a contravention of the Companys policies and compliance controls, including efforts to circumvent applicable export control laws and regulations, the company said. Supermicro maintains a robust compliance program and is committed to full adherence to all applicable U.S. export and re-export control laws and regulations.

The company, noting it was not indicted, also said it has been cooperating fully with the governments investigation and will continue to do so.

In a release, Nvidia said strict compliance is a top priority for Nvidia.

We continue to work closely with our customers and the government on compliance programs as export regulations have expanded. Unlawful diversion of controlled U.S. computers to China is a losing proposition across the board  NVIDIA does not provide any service or support for such systems, and the enforcement mechanisms are rigorous and effective, the company said.

Nvidias processors have emerged as indispensable building blocks for the data centers that power artificial intelligence  a potentially game-changing technology that could reshape society and change the balance of power in the world. For that reason, the U.S. and China are dueling to gain the upper hand in AI, evoking memories of the arms race between the U.S. and Germany to develop the first nuclear bomb during World War II.

Even without sales to China, Nvidias fortunes have soared during a three-year trajectory that has seen its market value rise from about $400 billion at the end of 2022 to $4.3 trillion today  more than any other company in the world.

Earlier this week, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang signaled the AI boom will continue by predicting it will soon have a $1 trillion backlog in chip orders, doubling from his estimate a year ago. LARRY NEUMEISTER & MICHAEL LIEDTKE, NEW YORK, MDT/AP

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The Italian neorealist film movement emerged suddenly with the initial fall of Mussolini in Italy in 1943. In every way this movement expressed the profound break with the past and the revolutionary potential of the period  not only in the style and subject matter of its films, but also in the conditions for its emergence as a movement.

[This article was originally published as part of issue 49 of In Defence of Marxism magazine  the quarterly theoretical magazine of the Revolutionary Communist International. Subscribe and get your copy here]

It sprang up almost overnight from its opposite  the films of Mussolinis fascist regime. These were all glossy artifice and escapism, which is what the regime required of them.

The literal destruction of the film studios controlled by Mussolinis regime, which were bombed in the war, meant that not only were Italian film makers suddenly freed from a totalitarian censor, the very studios bound up with it were gone too. They therefore had every reason to embrace the spirit of the Italian Spring, to unleash all the pent-up creativity suppressed by fascism with new studios, new methods and ideas.

That is why this film style not only reflects different political pressures and ideals, but is different in every way. These films were set amongst the working class, they were filmed, of necessity, on location, and used non-professional actors from the struggling communities they were about. This makes them not only great films, but almost documentaries of a unique moment in history.

Rome, Open City

In September 1945, Rome, Open City was released, just 15 months after Rome was liberated from the Nazis, and only four months after the war ended in Europe. This incredible film, set in Nazi-occupied Rome, was described by Martin Scorsese as the most precious moment of film history.

It was written by the great Federico Fellini, amongst others, and directed by Roberto Rossellini as part of his famous neorealist trilogy. It depicts with remarkable realism the resistance to the Nazis by a local community of ordinary Italians. To achieve this, Rossellini largely employed real working-class Romans instead of professional actors to play the parts.

The film was shot in January 1945, as the war was still raging in Germany and northern Italy, and only seven months after the Nazis were defeated in Rome. As it was being filmed, a local man pulled his gun out, believing the events being acted out were real!

A still from Rome, Open City / Image: public domain

Rossellini himself was not politically aligned with the working class, and had in fact made films for Mussolinis fascist dictatorship. But he was dedicated to his craft of realism, which he described as nothing other than the artistic form of truth. For this reason, Rome, Open City captures truthfully the intensity of this communitys struggle against Nazi occupation, their solidarity, bravery and stoical cheerfulness in the face of such hardship.

As the character Francesco says:

[The war] will end, Pina, and spring will come again, more beautiful than ever, because we'll be free. We have to believe it and want it. We mustn't be afraid now or in the future, because we're on the just path. Understand, Pina? [...] We're fighting for something that has to be, that can't help coming. The road may be long and hard, but we'll get there and we'll see a better world. And our children especially will see it.

Rome, Open City began life as a documentary, and at times it still feels like it. Thanks to its realism and the fact it was shot on site so soon after the war ended, it stands as an invaluable historical treasure, a window into a brief moment in history in which Europe was on the cusp of revolution.

The wasted potential of this revolutionary situation is intelligently hinted at in this film, when the communist the Nazis have been searching for is finally caught. The officer, whose methods of torture have failed to break him, switches to a more psychological and political technique:

You are a communist. Your party has formed a pact with reactionary forces. Youre all working together against us now. But tomorrow, when Rome is occupied, or liberated, as you call it, will these monarchist officers still be your allies? I offer you the solution to this problem: give me the names of Badoglios generals.

The revolutionary holds firm and refuses to betray his partys liberal and monarchist allies. He pays for it with his life. Whether Rossellini intended it or not, this brilliantly symbolises the tragedy of the sacrifice of revolution by its communist leaders, to please Stalins imperialist allies.

At one point early in the film, one of the residents asks another Do you think these Americans really exist? The question implies desperation for the war to end, but also a suspicion of these Americans, who will surely have their own interests. This perspective seems to be confirmed by the reply from another resident, who looks towards a bombed-out building and says: looks that way.

Allied bombings on Italian cities intensified in the second part of the war, wreaking havoc on factories and infrastructure, exacting a heavy toll of civilian casualties and destroying entire working-class neighbourhoods.

This is the liberation Rome got thanks to Stalin and Togliatti, the leader of the Italian Communist Party, holding back the communist partisans who could have liberated Rome by themselves.

Struggle for survival

The intensity of the life of the community we are focused on comes across loud and clear. Watching the film, you feel almost as if you are one of the tenants living in this cramped apartment block, overhearing their conversations and joining in the communitys efforts to undermine the Nazis. You feel the organised chaos of real life, of people living on top of each other, looking out for, but also annoying, one another.

Complaining about the difficulties of wartime life and Nazi occupation, one character says with a sigh: Flu is all there's plenty of these days. Another says, not with pride but with shame at their desperation: We stormed a bakery this morning, the second one this week.

Italian theatrical poster for Rome, Open City / Image: public domain

Rossellinis films are often described as unsentimental and cold, thanks to their realism. The gunning down of important characters is certainly shown in a matter-of-fact way: this is the reality of life. War is a bare struggle for survival; it is not warm and sentimental, and so it is right that his films are like this. That does not mean, however, that ordinary people suffering through war are themselves cold and uncaring, and this reality is also conveyed in the film.

Rome, Open City might be shot without sentimental adornment. But it is a warm film because it is about real people and their real struggles, full of heroism, solidarity and self-sacrifice.

These Romans are not shown to be superhuman abstractions of revolutionaries, however. After two of them are caught, they await their inevitable torture with terrible fear, trying to gear each other up to stay silent, unsure that they will be able to.

As the blowtorch is brought out, we see the short-sighted stupidity of the Nazi officer, who thinks all they need to do is to apply brutal methods to get the answers they want. But another officer manages to have a moment of foresight and casts doubt on these violent methods:

Weve strewn all of Europe with corpses. From their graves rises up an unquenchable hatred. Hatred, hatred everywhere!

Germany, Year Zero

The consequences of the Nazi occupation and plunder of Europe, this unquenchable hatred directed at the Germans, is the subject of a later neorealist masterpiece by Rossellini, Germany, Year Zero. Filmed partly on location in Berlin and partly in Rome in 1947, this film is perhaps even more remarkable as a record of the extreme deprivation and despair faced by ordinary Germans in the immediate aftermath of the war.

The policy of the victorious Allies at the end of the war was summarised as the complete disarmament, demilitarisation and the dismemberment of Germany as they deem requisite for future peace and security. Further, Germany was to pay for all losses incurred during the war.

In the name of demilitarisation and reparations, German industry and infrastructure was quite literally dismantled and transferred to the victorious powers, while a heavy tribute was imposed on what remained of Germanys national product. At the same time, millions of German workers were conscripted into forced labour by the Allies.

Over this programme of naked plunder was draped the myth of the collective guilt of the German people for the crimes of Nazism. Allied occupation forces unleashed a massive propaganda campaign throughout Germany, which included posters featuring images of concentration camps with the slogan, These atrocities: Your fault!

Spontaneous initiatives of the German working class erupted as the iron heel of fascism was lifted. These were immediately suppressed by the Allied occupation forces, with the support of the Social Democratic and Stalinist leaders.

A still from Germany, Year Zero / Image: public domain

Meanwhile in the Western-occupied zones, the big capitalists who had collaborated with the Nazi regime not only remained at liberty but even retained their property, while card-carrying Nazi officials filled what would become the West German state. By 1957, 77 percent of senior officials in the West German justice ministry were former Nazis; a higher proportion than under the Third Reich itself!

Germanys national shame was therefore nothing other than the transference of the guilt of the ruling class onto the shoulders of millions of working-class men, women and children, who in 1947 were gripped by hunger, homelessness and insecurity.

The suffering of a defeated and humiliated people is shown starkly in Germany, Year Zero, through the tragic story of a Berlin familys struggle to survive amid the ruins of their city. As it was shot on site less than three years after the Red Army captured Berlin, the vision of decimation in the film is entirely real. Berlin is strewn with literal hills of rubble, and every building seems to be a wreck.

The film starts with a discussion amongst workers as to which section of the city, American, British, French or Soviet, has the most food. There are rumours there is jam in the Soviet sector. What are these workers doing as they discuss? They are digging graves; we can only assume to be filled with the mountains of corpses from the war.

The main character Edmund, a boy of around 12 years old, is thrown off this grave-digging work for being too young and weak. He was played not by a professional actor but by a Berliner Rossellini found at a circus.

Desperate times

Edmunds family is desperate. There is a great deal of anguished discussion amongst them as to how they can get more food.

The eldest son is in turmoil due to his past and has not claimed his ration card for this reason, as he would have to register. His sister, who insists he do so for the sake of the family, tells him: that was a war, you were doing your duty as a soldier. But he fears the denazification campaign will target him, as his unit fought to the last. Consequently, he is just another mouth to feed, a burden on the family.

This characters predicament encapsulates the mood of this film, so different to Rome, Open City. In Italy, although the country was poor at the end of the war, people had fought a victorious struggle against fascism. But for Edmunds brother in Germany, the end of the war is not felt as a liberation; he cannot embrace the new period of peace. He is stuck in the shadow of the war, because he was a participant in the crimes of the defeated party. This despondent atmosphere pervades the film.

All of the pressure on this family falls onto young Edmunds shoulders. The family sends him out to wander the streets hawking whatever remaining possessions they have for a few marks. He is told to get at least 300 marks for the familys scales. But he is easily swindled by a much older man who takes advantage of this childs ignorance and naivety, and then gets into a smart looking car. In these desperate times, the strong get stronger and the weak weaker.

Edmund then runs into a deeply creepy man, Herr Henning, who takes the exploitation of this child further. He lures Edmund in by pretending to be his friend, stroking and squeezing the poor boy as he tells him he is no longer employed as a teacher as the authorities and I didnt see eye to eye.

It turns out he was, and is, a Nazi. He chats to a man shovelling rubble, who complains that this is slave work, saying that before, we were still men. National Socialists. Now were just Nazis, to the agreement of Henning.

Unlike Rome, Open Citys optimism of the collective struggle for a great cause, Germany, Year Zero is unrelentingly bleak.

The atmosphere throughout the film is one of survival of the fittest, the devil take the hindmost. Indeed, one character says that I dont believe in help from strangers. Everyone has to help themselves these days.

Everyone is ripping everyone else off, and the language is offensive and crude: a girl is described by a boy as a mattress that dispenses cigarettes. This is summed up by the exploitative Herr Henning, who tells Edmund that One must have the courage to let the weak die, with tragic and horrifying consequences.

A still from Germany, Year Zero / Image: public domain

Such levels of desperation eventually caused concerns for the imperialists themselves. It was feared that if the situation were to continue, Western-occupied Germany would fall to the Soviet Union, followed by the rest of Europe. Therefore, in April 1948, shortly before the release of Germany, Year Zero, President Truman signed the Marshall Plan into law, which totally reversed Allied policy in relation to occupied Germany, committing billions in aid to help rebuild its economy.

Rossellinis film therefore captures an important turning point in history, between the end of one world order and the beginning of a new, with all the hypocrisy and brutality of imperialism on full display.

The Third Man

The Third Man, shot in 1948 and released in 1949, is often cited as the greatest British film ever made. Set in gritty postwar Vienna, it was written by the celebrated novelist Graham Greene, and directed by Carol Reed.

Although it is not strictly considered a neorealist film, it is safe to say that the film would not exist, at least in the form it does, if it were not for Rossellinis Rome, Open City. The film inspired The Third Mans producer Alexander Korda, who explained, Location shooting, the use of non-professional actors and a harnessing of Romes organic rhythms had given Italian films an immediacy and honest personality. As such, he sent Greene on a trip to Vienna and Rome for research in February 1948.

The cynical, depressed and opportunistic mood of Germany, Year Zero is perhaps even clearer in Carol Reeds postwar classic. Less like a documentary and more stylised, it still feels like a truthful window into a forgotten time, being filmed as it was in Vienna in 1948.

After the war, Vienna was occupied by the Allies much like Berlin, but only up until 1955. The US did a deal with the Austrian ruling class to present the country as the first victims of the Nazis. But the atmosphere of The Third Man gives the lie to that, for the Austrians hardly seem to feel liberated and grateful, but instead seem resentful, traumatised and suspicious.

At one point, the owner of an apartment that is being searched by British authorities shouts at them in German. When asked what she is saying, an Austrian character says: Shes only complaining about the way they behave in her house.

That seems to sum up the whole story: the defeated and impoverished Austrians must endure the humiliation of rude and exploitative foreigners in their house.

The film opens with a narration by the director, who sets the story up:

I never knew Vienna before the war, with its easy charm and glamour. I got to know it in the classic period of the black market. Wed run anything if people wanted enough and had money to pay.

Like Berlin at the time, Vienna is depicted as strewn with rubble and ruined grand buildings.

US theatrical poster for The Third Man / Image: public domain

There were acute food shortages. Potato harvests in 1947 (one year before the film was shot) were below 30% of pre-war levels, and the government was unable to distribute food rations. There were many food riots and strikes. America started supplying emergency food aid for fear the shortages could see the country fall into the hands of the Soviet Union. When these were withdrawn in 1950, a series of general strikes shook the country.

Capitalists who had collaborated with the Nazis fled, abandoning their factories. Indeed, up until about 1950, many of the factories in Austria were actually rebuilt and operated under workers control.

The CIA coordinated the right wing of the Austrian trade unions, who ensured that the 1950 general strike wave went down to defeat. In the aftermath of this defeat, the CIA organised hooligans to break up the workers control of the factories, which were then returned to the hands of capitalists. The revolutionary potential of this postwar situation was snuffed out.

This was also before the Cold War had really begun. There was enormous uncertainty in Austria as to where society was going. Who would be the master: the workers or the capitalists? Which power would decide Austrias fate: the USA or the USSR?

As well as this, there was a programme of denazification, although this was cut short by the establishment of the myth that Austrians were the first victims of the Nazis. A huge layer of the Austrian bourgeoisie had a past they would rather forget, and were not sure exactly how their past crimes, or association with crimes, would be treated if they were found out. Even swathes of small business owners had acquired their property through Nazi-sponsored robbery, because their businesses had been owned by Jews. Such people were unsure if they would get to keep this property that was gained in such a fashion.

For all these reasons, there was a prevailing atmosphere of cynicism, deceit and opportunism. The general tendency was to be prepared to adapt to whatever the situation turned out to be.

Shady

This is the perfect setting for a noir mystery, which is exactly what The Third Man is. The plot is that an American man, Holly Martins, comes to Vienna after being promised work by his friend, Harry Limes, who has moved there. Upon arrival, however, he finds his friend has died in a traffic accident.

A number of details of this accident seem rather strange, and so Holly decides to stay and conduct his own investigation. It is suspicious how many people who were associates of Harry seem to have been witnesses to the accident. Two of these associates were also on hand to immediately carry Harrys body away, which is odd. Worse still, different people give him different accounts of how he died  some say instantaneously, others say he spoke to them for a while afterwards. And some tell him that there was a mysterious third man involved in carrying the body away.

A British police chief then shatters Hollys perception of his friend by insisting he was a notorious racketeer. His racket was to steal penicillin, which was in desperately short supply, adulterate it with other substances, and sell it back to those in need. This led to many deaths, especially of children.

Still from The Third Man / Image: public domain

This is not just emblematic of the general poverty and acute shortages faced by Austrians after the war. More or less exactly this sort of thing happened.

Penicillin was developed by the Americans in the war and so they did indeed have control over Austrias supply of the drug. In 1946, America gave Austria access to it, but only enough for twenty patients! According to Susanne Krejsa MacManus, the black market flourished. Newspapers from the years 1945 to 1949 reported thefts from American hospitals, counterfeiting, dilution with even dangerous substances and blackmail. Single bottles of it went for $10,000.

It is very interesting that the sinister antagonist in charge of a black-market swindle is cast as an American, and not an Austrian, German or Russian. The implication is that the new occupiers and masters of Europe are not really liberators at all, but capitalist crooks playing with the fate of a Europe that was on its knees.

The mystery of Harry Limes death can also be seen as suggesting something not to be trusted about the apparent annihilation of Nazism at the hands of the US. Their denazification programme did indeed turn out to be very limited, as the US decided it needed to incorporate Nazi bureaucrats and generals into the state as a bulwark against communism.

The film asks: what really happened to the sinister Harry Limes and his pernicious racket, just as we might ask: where did these former Nazis and their ill-gotten gains really go?

The cinematographer, Robert Krasker, masterfully uses the dramatic shadows cast by night-time street lamps to emphasise this sense of shadiness, of things hidden, and perhaps to imply the uncertainty and cynical amorality of key characters. This is especially striking during a couple of chase sequences, in which the antagonists cannot be seen save for their enormous, looming shadows cast onto walls in the style of Murnaus famous vampire-horror Nosferatu (1922).

The chase sequence ends up in Viennas cavernous sewers, or cholera canals, built in the 1830s. Here, no one can be sure where they are going, whether or not they are still on the chase, or have lost their man to one of the sewers many, many alcoves.

A glimpse of real history

These wonderful films capture the contradictory sides of a decisive but largely forgotten moment in European history.

What these films show a glimpse of is that (in the case of Rome, Open City) the Nazis were successfully fought by partisans and ordinary people, many of whom were communists, and who had the potential to turn the defeat of the Nazis into an almighty revolution that abolished capitalism across Europe.

They also show us the near total destruction that Hitler and the German ruling class had brought Germany and Austria to, and suggest that American imperialisms newfound domination of Western Europe had nothing to do with freedom, but was instead a means to the US domination of the world market.

Films with this degree of realism and connection to titanic historic events are simply not made these days. Very few, if any, films today depict the struggles and organisation of ordinary working-class people like Rossellinis neorealist masterpieces do.

Europe, however, stands on the edge of a new revolutionary crisis. Its governments and parties are despised, and yet more austerity is called for. A new generation is without a voice. It will find one in the course of the revolutionary events that impend, and with that, a new generation of bold filmmakers will emerge.
The newly inaugurated Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Bridge (formerly Belasis Bridge), connecting Nagpada and Tardeo near Mumbai Central, has become a point of contention among residents and daily commuters, who say the redesign has compromised accessibility despite improved structure.



While the bridge strengthens east-west connectivity, it lacks integration with public transport and direct access to Mumbai Central stationfeatures that were part of the earlier design. Commuters say the absence of mid-bridge drop-off points, bus stops, and pedestrian access has made daily travel more difficult.



Shuaib Khatib, a local businessman, recalled that the older bridge allowed buses and taxis to stop directly on it. I could step out, catch a cab or bus, and be dropped on the bridge. From there, it connected straight into Mumbai Central station, he said.



He added that ticket counters were strategically placed at the top of the bridge, allowing commuters to alight, buy tickets, and reach platforms within minutes. Everything was connected and designed for convenience. Now, you are dropped at the end, made to walk long distances, climb up to the ticket counter, and then go back down to the platform. Its a waste of time and energy, Khatib said.



At present, bus stops are located only at the ends of the bridge, and taxi drop-offs have largely been removed from the structure. Commuters are left to walk significant distances, often with luggage, to reach station entrances. In some cases, concrete dividers prevent pedestrians from crossing to the other side, adding to the difficulty.



The government encourages people to use public transport, but by removing bus stops and taxi access from the bridge, they are doing the opposite, Khatib said. If commuters cannot easily access stations, they are more likely to use private vehicles.



Residents say the changes have particularly affected senior citizens and daily commuters. Mohammad Zaid, who runs a garment business in South Mumbai, said the lack of direct access has made movement harder. Now, people are forced to walk the entire stretch. For the elderly, this is not convenienceits a burden, he said.



Zaid also pointed out that the earlier bridge had a gate connecting directly to nearby institutions such as Gilbert Hill School and Navneet College, which has now been removed. Students could move easily, and during election periods, when counting takes place there, the connectivity was important, he said.



He also raised concerns about design choices, noting that the bridge transitions from concrete to tar, and vibrations are felt when vehicles pass. Engineers may have their reasons, but the main issue is accessibility, he added. The addition of central concrete dividers has further restricted pedestrian movement, preventing commuters from crossing sides to access different parts of the station. Residents say this reflects a larger problem in planning, where pedestrian needs are overlooked.



Civic activist Kamlakar Shenoy criticised the broader approach to bridge construction in the city, alleging that several projects have been executed without adequate planning. Bridges are being rebuilt without widening roads or improving access to railway stations. At multiple locations, pedestrian connectivity has not been provided, he said.



Referring to other projects, Shenoy said, Hancock Bridge, Elphinstone Road bridge, and Sion bridge were demolished without extending road width as sanctioned decades ago. At Lower Parel and other locations, pedestrian access has not been properly planned. Earlier, people could get down midway from bridges, but that is no longer the case.



He alleged that projects are being carried out in a rushed and mechanical manner. There is no application of mind. Time restrictions and administrative pressure mean that several aspects are overlooked, Shenoy said, calling it a bad state of planning within the civic body.



Residents argue that solutions are not difficult to implement. They point out that there is still space on either side of the bridge that could be used for bus stops, taxi bays, and better pedestrian pathways. Restoring some form of mid-bridge access, they say, would significantly improve connectivity. There is enough room to make these bridges functional for everyone, Zaid said. If authorities pay attention, it will make a real difference to daily commuters.



The criticism around Belasis Bridge highlights a larger concern about infrastructure planning in Mumbai. While new bridges may improve traffic flow, commuters say functionality and ease of access are being overlooked. For many, the issue is not the construction of new bridges, but the absence of commuter-focused design. Without seamless integration with public transport and pedestrian access, residents say such projects risk creating new challenges instead of solving existing ones.




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 have 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 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.




Jazz pulses with raw improvisation and soul-stirring solos that have hooked generations. The best jazz albums capture this magic, blending technical wizardry with deep emotion to create timeless sounds. Famous jazz albums like Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue" top countless lists for good reasonthey redefine what music can do.

Top 15 Best Jazz Albums Ranked

Diving into the best jazz albums means starting with essentials that every collection needs. These famous jazz albums span bebop fire, cool elegance, and free-form daring, each a milestone in the genre's story.

Here's a curated top 15, drawn from critic polls and fan favorites:

"Kind of Blue" - Miles Davis (1959) - "So What" "A Love Supreme" - John Coltrane (1965) - "Acknowledgement" "Giant Steps" - John Coltrane (1960) - "Giant Steps" "The Shape of Jazz to Come" - Ornette Coleman (1959) - "Lonely Woman" "Sunday at the Village Vanguard" - Bill Evans Trio (1961) - "Gloria's Step" "Saxophone Colossus" - Sonny Rollins (1956) - "St. Thomas" "Time Out" - Dave Brubeck Quartet (1959) - "Take Five" "Mingus Ah Um" - Charles Mingus (1959) - "Better Git It in Your Soul" "Somethin' Else" - Cannonball Adderley (1958) - "Autumn Leaves" "Brilliant Corners" - Thelonious Monk (1957) - "Brilliant Corners" "Hot Fives Volume 1" - Louis Armstrong (1927) - "West End Blues" "My Favorite Things" - John Coltrane (1961) - "My Favorite Things" "Waltz for Debby" - Bill Evans Trio (1962) - "Waltz for Debby" "Bitches Brew" - Miles Davis (1970) - "Pharaoh's Dance" "Maiden Voyage" - Herbie Hancock (1965) - "Maiden Voyage"

"Kind of Blue" earns its crown as the pinnacle of the best jazz albums. One critic list from JazzTimescalls it the blueprint for modal jazz, where players explore scales freely instead of chord changes. That one-session recording magic still sells millions today.

John Coltrane dominates with three entries among famous jazz albums. "Giant Steps" dazzles with "Coltrane changes," a harmonic whirlwind that saxophonists still practice. "A Love Supreme" shifts spirituality, a four-part prayer Coltrane called his gift to Godraw, searching tenor sax over churning rhythm.

Sonny Rollins' "Saxophone Colossus" swings hard on calypso-tinged "St. Thomas," proving one horn can carry a session. Bill Evans' piano trios bring quiet fire; "Sunday at the Village Vanguard" feels like eavesdropping on geniuses in a smoky club.

Dave Brubeck's "Time Out" broke molds with "Take Five" in 5/4 timejazz that radio loved. Charles Mingus fused gospel grit and bebop bite in "Mingus Ah Um", while Thelonious Monk's quirky angles shine in "Brilliant Corners". Louis Armstrong's Hot Fives laid jazz roots, with trumpet fireworks on "West End Blues."

These picks pull from spots like JazzFuel's roundup, mixing classics that demand vinyl spins or streaming deep dives.

What Are the Greatest Jazz Albums Ever Made?

Greatest jazz albums spark endless debate, but patterns emerge from polls and sales. Here's a breakdown of standouts among the best jazz albums:

"Kind of Blue" leads JazzTimes' all-time chart for its cool restraintMiles Davis, Coltrane, and Bill Evans in perfect sync. Over five million copies sold, plus a Library of Congress nod, cement its status among best jazz albums.

"The 100 Jazz Albums That Shook the World" by Jazzwise magazine ranks it first too, praising how it opened doors for rock and fusion. Coltrane's "A Love Supreme" follows at #2 there, its chant-like opener grips listeners with urgency.

magazine ranks it first too, praising how it opened doors for rock and fusion. Coltrane's "A Love Supreme" follows at #2 there, its chant-like opener grips listeners with urgency. Ornette Coleman's "The Shape of Jazz to Come" shocked 1959 crowds with free jazzno set chords, just collective improv on "Lonely Woman." Harmolodics, Coleman dubbed it, influencing punk and avant-garde acts later.

Sonny Rollins bridged hard bop eras on "Saxophone Colossus", his tenor roaring over standards and calypso.

Monk's "Brilliant Corners" took 10 takes for the title trackangular, playful genius.

Dave Brubeck made famous jazz albums accessible; "Time Out" hit pop charts with odd meters.

Mingus' "Mingus Ah Um" blends civil rights fire and blues soul, tracks like "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" honoring lost heroes.

Herbie Hancock's "Maiden Voyage" paints cosmic blues; that title cut a 16-minute voyage without words.

Miles' fusion leap "Bitches Brew" electrified jazz, sampling into rock territorycontroversial then, prophetic now.

Reddit's r/Jazz top 50 echoes these, with Coltrane and Davis battling for supremacy. Greatest lists favor albums that evolved the sound, not just pleased crowds.

Read Also: Top Classical Tracks to Unlock Peak Focus and Deep Relaxation for Studying and Stress Relief

Who Is the Best Jazz Artist of All Time?

Best jazz artist crowns go to Miles Davis or John Coltrane most often. Davis reinvented himself five timescool on "Kind of Blue", fusion on "Bitches Brew". His muted trumpet whispered revolutions, starring on a dozen best jazz albums.

Coltrane chased transcendence, from bebop roots to spiritual quests. "A Love Supreme" and "Giant Steps" show his arc; sheets of sound and harmonic leaps awed peers. By his 1967 death, he touched free jazz and world music.

Louis Armstrong built the foundation. Hot Fives' gravelly vocals and tailgate trumpet birthed soloist stardomessential in any famous jazz albums talk.

Thelonious Monk banged ivories like no one, quirky themes in "Brilliant Corners" masking deep swing. Bill Evans redefined piano trio intimacy, graceful on "Waltz for Debby".

Charles Mingus raged against racism in bass lines, composing epics like "Mingus Ah Um". Ornette Coleman freed jazz from rules, his plastic alto wailing truth.

Modern shouts go to Kamasi Washington or Nubya Garcia, but classics rule. DownBeat polls often split Davis/Coltrane; fans pick by eraSatchmo for hot jazz, Miles for cool.

Must-Hear Tracks and Modern Twists on Famous Jazz Albums

Iconic tracks from best jazz albums demand full-volume plays. Modern takes keep the flame alive. Key highlights include:

"So What" kicks "Kind of Blue" with Paul Chambers' bass groove, Davis' trumpet gliding cool.

Coltrane's "Acknowledgement" erupts from chant to sax stormpure emotion.

"Take Five" by Brubeck swings in 5/4, Paul Desmond's alto dancing light.

Rollins' "St. Thomas" calypsos sax into bebop joy.

Monk's "Brilliant Corners" twists rhythm like a puzzle.

Gregory Porter's "Be Good" (2012) channels Nat King Cole soul over Coltrane fire.

Kamasi Washington's "The Epic" (2015)three discs of cosmic saxechoes "A Love Supreme" on steroids.

Brad Mehldau reimagines Radiohead via Bill Evans style.

Nubya Garcia's "Source" (2020) fuses London jazz with Afrobeat punch.

Stream Spotify's"100 Jazz Albums That Shook the World" playlist for instant access. Pair with vinyl for warmthjazz rewards immersion.

Essential Jazz Gems Worth Every Spin

Famous jazz albums like these sharpen ears for life's improvisations. "Kind of Blue" teaches space between notes; Coltrane urges bold leaps. From Armstrong's joy to Davis' edge, they mirror human depths. Grab headphones, hit play, and let the best jazz albums unfold surprises spin after spin.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the best jazz albums for beginners?

"Kind of Blue" by Miles Davis and "Time Out" by Dave Brubeck top beginner lists for their accessible grooves and melodies. "A Love Supreme" by John Coltrane follows for emotional depth without overwhelming complexity.

2. What is the number one jazz album of all time?

"Kind of Blue" claims the top spot across JazzTimes, Jazzwise, and most polls for its modal innovation and sales over 5 million copies.

3. Who has the most famous jazz albums?

Miles Davis and John Coltrane lead with multiple entries like "Kind of Blue", "Bitches Brew", "Giant Steps", and "A Love Supreme". Their influence spans cool, spiritual, and fusion jazz.
President Donald Trump has issued a message regarding St Patrick and Irish American Heritage Month.

Trump was Mondays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are his words:

Today, and throughout the month of March, I join the Irish American community and all American citizens in celebrating the bond between our two nations and commemorating the towering life and legacy of Saint Patrickthe patron Saint of Ireland and an immortal icon of faith, freedom, and fortitude.

Born in the fourth century, Saint Patrick spent his life traversing the rugged frontiers of medieval Ireland to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Celtic people. In the face of relentless persecution, imprisonment, and even assassination attempts, he ventured into unknown lands and hostile territory to proclaim the truth, fearlessly obeying Christs command to make disciples of all nations. Tradition holds that, during 40 days of prayer and fasting on a mountaintop, he banished all serpents and demons off of the Emerald Isle and taught the mystery of the Holy Trinity to pagans using the three-leaved shamrock, setting untold hearts on fire for Christ.

To this day, Saint Patrick lives on in our country and around the world as a heroic Christian witness, a testament to the power of prayer, and a timeless exemplar of the strength of the Irish people. In the 19th and 20th centuries, millions of Irish natives brought his faith and missionary spirit across the Atlantic and onto American shores. Inspired by his example, countless churches, hospitals, schools, and charities in the United States bear his name, including the majestic Saint Patricks Cathedral in New York City. And every March, in his honor, hundreds of thousands of Americans flood our biggest cities and towns in endless seas of green in an epic celebration of Irish heritage.

As we celebrate 250 glorious years of American independence, we also pay tribute to the distinct role of Irish Americans in our national journey. Beginning with the first shots of the Revolutionary War at the Battles of Lexington and Concord, droves of Ireland-born soldiers joined the Patriots to secure our independence and defend our liberty on the field of battle, with popular legend stating that Sons of Ireland comprised as much as half of the Continental Army. From the gallant leadership of John Barry and the courage of Hercules Mulligan to the valor of President Andrew Jackson and the tenacity of Audie Murphy, Americans with Irish roots have fortified our freedom, invigorated our culture, and immeasurably elevated our traditions and way of life toward the true, the good, and the beautiful.

This Saint Patricks Day and throughout Irish American Heritage Month, we send our best wishes to every American celebrating Irelands patron Saint. We salute the generations of Irish American heroes who have kept his legacy alive and brought our Nation to incredible new heights. Above all, we vow to keep our deep friendship with the Republic of Ireland and the whole island strong, vibrant, and flourishing for many years to come.

The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML.
Church leaders are standing firm, stating they will continue to call out misconduct among those in power. They insist that politicians must drop the insults and focus on fulfilling their promises. Despite criticism from political figures, these clerics believe their voices are essential for promoting unity and holding leaders accountable.

Nyeri Catholic Archbishop Anthony Muheria challenged political leaders to mature up and end the verbal attacks. He warned that public bickering between the government and the opposition distracts from the real issues affecting Kenyans.

Muheria noted that the growing culture of insults undermines public conversation and urged leaders to show restraint and prioritize service. He also called out politicians who have turned their sights on religious leaders, accusing them of unfairly attacking the clergy for speaking up against political intolerance.

The archbishop defended the churchs role, explaining that religious leaders have a responsibility to foster unity and address leadership failures.

In our message today, we urge Kenyans to stand firm and tell off leaders who are trading insults instead of serving the people, he said, adding that accountability is needed from those in positions of power.

His remarks follow a heated debate over the role of clergy in politics, sparked by recent comments from President William Ruto, who warned religious leaders against politicizing the pulpit.

On Saturday, President Ruto urged clerics to prevent politicians from turning churches into battlegrounds. Speaking in Yala, the president accused opposition figures of using church platforms to spread insults, hate, and divisive politics as his war of words with rivals intensified.

Mimi naheshimu sana viongozi wetu wa dini lakini msikubali majukwaa, madhabahu, kanisa itumike kwa matusikwa kuendesha fitina na ukabila na chuki kati ya Wakenyasisi tunaelewana jameni? wale wanatutukana kwa kanisa tunawaambia punguzeni mambo yenu, Ruto said.

His allies also joined the dispute, blaming the clergy for allowing these outbursts. National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwah expressed embarrassment that archbishops would oversee the trading of insults at the altar.

Suna East MP Junet Mohamed added his perspective:

Tutoe matusi kwa kanisa tukutane kwa kiwanja, sisi hatuwezi enda kwa kanisa kutusi watusisi tunangoja wewe hapa kwa soko tutakumbusha wewe

Archbishop Anthony Muheria has stood firm, asserting that the church will continue to address national concerns, especially those regarding how the country is run and how its people stay united.

In Nairobi, Archbishop Philip Anyolo of the Nairobi Catholic Archdiocese shared these worries. He urged political leaders to lower the rising political temperature and instead focus on fulfilling the promises they made during the 2022 campaigns. He reminded politicians that Kenyans elected them to serve and that citizens look for leadership that brings growth and positivity.

We want to ask our politicians; they are the signs of this country, you know. Let them look at us as the people who elect them and bring them to those levels for them to serve us, to serve the people of Kenya. People of Kenya are lovely, and they like their leaders, and they want to hear positive things, he said.

He warned that constant political fighting frustrates the public and called on leaders to ease these tensions before the next elections by choosing unity and reconciliation. Anyolo also made it clear that the church would keep encouraging leaders to work together. He urged them to show restraint in their words, thoughts, and actions while staying focused on what is best for the people of Kenya.

When there are too many quarrels, people become upset. As we move closer to the next elections, we urge leaders to be friendly to one another, to come together, to reconcile, and to allow God to guide the choice of leadership. All of them seek leadership, and ultimately the people will decide through their votes. We therefore ask our leaders to be sober in their language, in their thinking, and in their actions, and to focus on serving the greater good of the people of Kenya, he said.
Fifteen Kenyans evacuated from Iran amid the escalating Middle East conflict have safely returned home, marking the latest effort by the government to protect its citizens caught in overseas crises.

The group arrived early Sunday at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where emotional reunions unfolded as families welcomed their loved ones after days of uncertainty.

Relief and joy filled the arrivals area as the evacuees stepped onto Kenyan soil following a carefully coordinated evacuation mission. Government officials from the State Department for Diaspora Affairs received the group upon arrival.

Authorities confirmed that the evacuees traveled through Turkiye before flying back to Kenya, a route arranged to move them out of the conflict zone safely.

Soon after landing, officials guided the returnees through a formal debriefing session designed to gather information about their experiences during the evacuation. The group also received immediate psychosocial support to help them cope with the stress and trauma linked to the unfolding crisis.

Kenyan authorities organized the evacuation through a joint effort led by the State Department for Diaspora Affairs and the countrys diplomatic missions in Tehran and Ankara.

Officials described the operation as part of a broader commitment to ensure the safety and welfare of Kenyans living and working abroad, particularly in regions affected by conflict or political instability.

Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu had earlier confirmed that a multi-agency team activated emergency response protocols across Kenyas regional missions to manage the growing crisis.

The government continues to monitor the situation closely as tensions in the region evolve.

PS Njogu urged Kenyan citizens facing difficulties overseas to reach out to the nearest Kenyan diplomatic mission for help. She also encouraged those in distress to contact the State Department for Diaspora Affairs directly through official communication channels: Emergency Email  consular@diaspora. go.ke and general email  [email protected].

Kenyans in distress should contact the nearest Kenyan Mission or reach the State Department for Diaspora Affairs through: Hotline: +254 207 876 000 WhatsApp: +254 114 757 00, she added.

Authorities also advised Kenyans abroad to strictly follow guidance issued by Kenyan embassies, host governments, and official government updates to ensure their safety as the situation in the Middle East continues to develop.
Kenya is offering amnesty to citizens who illegally joined Russian forces to fight in Ukraine, a move that quietly acknowledges both the extent of the recruitment and the difficulty of enforcing the law.

Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi announced the decision on Saturday. This change shifts the focus from punishment to managing the situation as Nairobi deals with a recruitment network that has pulled hundreds of Kenyans into Moscows special military operation.

Under Kenyan law, citizens cannot join foreign militaries without the presidents permission. Section 68 of the Penal Code sets a penalty of up to 10 years in prison for this offense, unless a court finds the enlistment was involuntary. In reality, enforcement varies; many Kenyans have joined the U.S. or British militaries in the past with few repercussions.

Mudavadi made this announcement following his visit to Moscow from March 15 to 18, where he discussed the matter extensively with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

This development indicates a narrow diplomatic opening rather than a broad concession. Russia agreed to put Kenya on a stop list, which ends further recruitment of Kenyan citizens.

However, Russia stuck to its position that those already in service joined of their own free will under Russian law, meaning they are personally responsible for their choices. Still, the agreement offers some relief: Kenyans currently in the conflict who want to leave can end their contracts and return home.

Nairobi also gained consular access to citizens in Russian hospitals and civilian areas, making it possible to bring home the injured and the bodies of those who have died. Both countries have pledged to share information to stop the human trafficking and informal recruitment networks that grew while no one was watching.

Kenyas foreign ministry reports that 252 citizens were recruited into Russian forces. Of those, 44 have returned home, 38 are in the hospital, and 160 are still on the front lines. Eleven are either dead or missing in action.
Investigation teams in Kericho County are looking into a suspected mass grave at a public cemetery in the Makaburini area.

Police noted that a member of the public first alerted authorities to the site on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Early checks reveal a freshly dug grave within the cemetery grounds. Witnesses mentioned that some of the bodies appeared mutilated.

Two casual laborers, who dig graves for a living, told investigators that unknown people hired them to prepare a large pit. The pair claimed that around 6 a.m. on March 20, three people arrived in a white Land Cruiser and watched as approximately 14 bodies were dropped into the grave. The witnesses also alleged that all the bodies were in sealed bags, with several showing signs of mutilation.

These same individuals reportedly visited the cemetery a day earlier to speak with a caretaker named Ezekiel, whom police are now tracking down for questioning.

Authorities have secured the site and plan to request a formal exhumation of the bodies starting March 23 to move the investigation forward. A specialized team from the DCI headquarters in Nairobi has also arrived to assist local officers. The team expects to obtain the necessary court order today, Monday, March 23, to begin digging and gathering further evidence.

Police spokesman Michael Muchiri confirmed that officers secured the Makaburini Cemetery in Kericho to protect any potential evidence following the discovery.

At this preliminary stage, we are seeking to establish the veracity of the claims. Some witnesses have since recorded statements, and efforts are underway to locate and interview more persons of interest in this matter.

The National Police Service assures the public that this matter is being handled with the utmost seriousness and will be conducted professionally and transparently to ascertain the facts surrounding this incident, he said.

He urged the public to stay calm while the investigation continues. Anyone with information that could help should contact their local police station or reach out through the toll-free lines: 999, 911, or 112. You can also share tips anonymously via #FichuakwaDCI at 0800 722 203 or through WhatsApp at 0709 570 000.

Police are currently working to identify the victims, understand what happened, and track down everyone involved.
Government officials are ordering an immediate evacuation for Kibera and five other downstream neighborhoods, fearing that the Nairobi Dam will soon overflow.

The Water Resources Authority (WRA) reported that surging water levels now pose a direct threat to the dams embankment, making a flood likely.

Due to the ongoing heavy rains, residents living downstream of Nairobi Dam are warned of imminent flood risk due to the rising water levels in the reservoir that threaten breaching of the dam embankment, the notice signed by Noel Ndeti, WRAs subcounty coordinator, states.

Because of this danger, people in Kibera, Nyayo Highrise, Dam Estate, Langata, Nairobi West, and Madaraka must move to higher ground right away.

Everyone living/operating downstream of the dam is cautioned to be vigilant and relocate to higher grounds, the notice added.

The Kenya Meteorological Department expects heavy rains of more than 20mm in 24 hours to soak various parts of the country from March 19 to 24.

Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura previously noted that the state is monitoring the dam and performing technical reviews to understand the risks of the rising water.

The government is closely monitoring the rising water levels at Nairobi Dam and advises residents living downstream to remain alert. A technical assessment of the dam is currently underway, Mwaura stated.

Also Check Out  Is Your Area on the List? 37 Nairobi Flood Risk Areas Identified as Heavy Rains Intensify
Why Irans uranium should be left buried underground By Oded Ailam

web posted March 23, 2026 The scene practically writes itself: silent Yasur helicopters slicing through the desert night sky above Isfahan. Fighters from Sayeret Matkal and Delta Force, faces painted and focused on their mission, rappel down ropes into a gaping hole in the ground. After a short and photogenic firefight with the Revolutionary Guards, they emerge from the depths carrying gleaming metal cases filled with enriched uranium. Dramatic music swells, the aircraft lift toward the horizon, and the world is saved. Sounds good? Absolutely. Realistic? About as much as Iran establishing a liberal democracy tomorrow morning. In the real world, extracting enriched uranium is not an action scene. It is an engineering, logistical, and chemical nightmare that makes even the most complex operations in history look like a school field trip. While the headlines talk about bombing the nuclear program, the real question is what happens the day after, when hundreds of kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% are buried under hundreds of tons of reinforced concrete and granite rock? The First Problem: Engineering Under Fire The Hollywood fantasy runs into a wall, literally. Following the massive strikes of 2025 and 2026, the nuclear facilities in Isfahan are no longer production halls. They are concrete tombs. The uranium is stored dozens of meters underground in areas designed to survive bunker-busting bombs. When the ceiling collapses, it does not leave a convenient corridor for fighters. It creates a tangled mass of reinforced concrete fragments and steel that requires heavy excavation equipment. To reach the uranium, the forces would not only need M4 rifles. They would need a convoy of hydraulic excavators, diamond drills, and engineering teams working for weeks. An operation like this in the middle of hostile territory is tactically impossible. Every minute of crane work would be a flashing red signal to intelligence satellites, including Chinese and Russian ones, turning the excavation site into a lethal trap for the rescue force. The Technical Obstacle: Transporting Toxic Cargo Even if we assume the force somehow reaches the vault, the real problem begins. Iranian uranium is usually stored as gas (UF6) inside massive, heavy cylinders. These are not light suitcases. Each standard B30 cylinder together with the required Overpack, the protective casing designed to prevent leakage and radiation exposure, weighs between five and ten tons. From a physical standpoint, these containers cannot be lifted in a basket by a standard assault helicopter. Extremely heavy transport helicopters would be required, such as the CH-53K, which would have to hover above the site for an extended period while the cargo is attached. In addition, even a few minutes of exposure to a damaged cylinder without heavy shielding, layers of lead and concrete, would be a death sentence for the force. The uranium itself may emit limited radiation, but if the structure has been compromised the air would be filled with radioactive particles and corrosive gases. The fighters would need to wear sealed and cumbersome protective suits, raising internal body temperature to dangerous levels within minutes and turning every operational movement into slow, exhausting crawling. The Quiet Military Option: Poisoning the Stockpile If the uranium cannot be removed, perhaps it is better simply to kill it. Here a far more elegant and sophisticated alternative comes into play than physical extraction: chemical poisoning. Instead of sending battalions with shovels, small covert teams could conduct precise deep drilling. Through these boreholes, substances such as boron (Boron) or gadolinium (Gadolinium) could be injected directly into the storage cavities. These materials are neutron absorbers. They act as poison for a nuclear reaction. Once the enriched uranium physically mixes with these poisons, it becomes useless as a weapon. To make it usable again as nuclear material, the Iranians would have to build an advanced chemical separation facility from scratch, a process that would require years of work under the watchful eye of Western intelligence. This is a way to neutralize the bomb without moving it a single centimeter. The Agreed Burial: The Diplomatic Solution In any future agreement concerning the day after, whether with the current regime or whoever replaces it, the West should not aim to remove the uranium. It should ensure that it remains buried. The correct strategy is sealing and monitoring. Boron-infused concrete pouring

Filling the storage shaft with special concrete containing radiation-absorbing materials, making any future extraction an almost impossible operation. Remote monitoring

Embedding seismic and thermal sensors within the concrete that transmit in real time to satellites. Any attempt at drilling or excavation would immediately trigger an alert at CENTCOM and Israeli command centers. Deterring the D9

It is much easier to bomb a bulldozer attempting to dig than to try to steal the uranium ourselves. Eyes In the Sky: Why Deception Is Impossible The reason it is relatively easy to ensure the uranium remains buried is intelligence visibility. By 2026, the ability of satellites to track logistical signatures is phenomenal. Extracting uranium would require: Thermal signature: operating heavy engines and drills generates heat that is easily detected by IR satellites.

 Physical signature: moving tons of soil creates ground elevation changes measurable at the millimeter level using SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar).

 Chemical signature: sensitive sensors, electronic noses, placed near the site can detect even single molecules of UF6 gas released into the air during an extraction attempt. Conclusion: The Power of Concrete Paradoxically, the fact that the uranium is buried deep underground beneath thousands of tons of rubble is currently the best safety net. Irans scientific and technological capabilities have been severely damaged, and the weapons group, the people who know how to turn the material into a bomb, is scattered or deterred. Right now, the uranium is not a ticking bomb. It is more like an expensive grand piano buried on level minus four of a collapsed building. It may be a strategic asset, but no one will be playing it anytime soon. The real victory does not lie in a heroic extraction. It lies in understanding that sometimes the demons need to remain buried deep underground, beneath layers of concrete, chemical poison, and a watchful eye from space. Oded Ailam is a former head of the Counterterrorism Division in the Mossad and is currently a researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA). Home

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VMPL Sonipat (Haryana) [India], March 23: Engineering education has long struggled with the gap between classroom exercises and real-world problem-solving. While textbook problems have clearly defined parameters and known solutions, professional engineering involves ambiguous requirements, incomplete information, and constraints that emerge during implementation. Shri Balwant Institute of Technology (SBIT) addresses this gap through initiatives enabling students to work on live industry projects, developing practical capabilities alongside theoretical knowledge. The Real-World Experience GapTraditional engineering education excels at teaching fundamentals--mathematics, physics, core engineering principles, and systematic problem-solving approaches. Students learn to analyze well-defined problems, apply relevant theories, and calculate precise solutions. However, professional engineering work often involves messy, real-world challenges that don't match textbook scenarios. In academic settings, problem statements are carefully crafted to be solvable with available knowledge and within semester timeframes. In professional contexts, requirements may be vague or contradictory, necessary data might be unavailable or unreliable, and solutions must consider budget constraints, user preferences, manufacturing limitations, and regulatory requirements rarely addressed in coursework. A study by the All India Council for Technical Education found that employers consistently identify gap areas in engineering graduates including practical problem-solving with incomplete information, working within real resource constraints, and translating theoretical knowledge to specific applied contexts. These gaps stem not from poor academic instruction but from fundamental differences between academic and professional problem-solving environments. Internships provide some real-world exposure but typically occur late in undergraduate programs and last only weeks or months. By the time students recognize gaps between academic and professional work, they have limited opportunity to address these deficiencies before graduation. Live Project Initiatives at SBITSBIT's approach to bridging the experience gap involves integrating opportunities to work on live industry projects throughout the undergraduate program rather than relegating practical experience to final-year projects or post-graduation internships. These initiatives operate through multiple mechanisms. The institution's Incubation Cell supports students interested in developing innovative solutions to real problems, whether for commercial purposes or social impact. The cell provides workspace, mentorship, and sometimes seed funding for student projects addressing actual market needs or community challenges rather than hypothetical academic exercises. SBIT's Innovation Awards program recognizes outstanding student projects demonstrating creativity, technical sophistication, and practical applicability. This recognition creates incentives for ambitious projects and showcases student capabilities to potential employers and collaborators. Through corporate partnerships and the Corporate Excellence Programme, students gain access to industry-sponsored projects where they work on challenges companies actually face. These projects might involve developing software features, analyzing data, designing system components, or solving specific technical problems identified by partner organizations. The I3 Cell (presumably focused on Innovation, Incubation, and Industry collaboration) facilitates connections between students and real-world projects, helping match student capabilities and interests with appropriate industry challenges. Types of Live ProjectsLive projects at SBIT span diverse domains and complexity levels. Some students work on technology development projects creating software applications, mobile apps, or web platforms addressing specific user needs. These projects require students to gather requirements from actual users, design appropriate solutions, implement and test their work, and potentially deploy functional systems. Others pursue data analysis and research projects, working with real datasets from companies or organizations to extract insights, build predictive models, or solve analytical challenges. Such work exposes students to messy, real-world data quite different from clean academic datasets, teaching important lessons about data quality, preprocessing, and practical limitations of analytical techniques. Hardware and embedded systems projects might involve developing IoT solutions, automation systems, or electronic devices addressing specific applications. Students working on such projects navigate challenges of component availability, cost constraints, and physical implementation issues rarely encountered in purely theoretical coursework. Some students tackle social impact projects developing solutions for community problems--agricultural technology for local farmers, healthcare applications for rural clinics, or educational technology for underserved schools. These projects combine technical development with understanding social contexts and user needs, creating meaningful learning experiences while contributing to community development. Entrepreneurial projects represent another category where students develop potentially commercial products or services. Such projects require not just technical development but also market research, business planning, and potentially fundraising--providing holistic experience in translating technical capabilities into viable ventures. Learning Through Real ConstraintsWorking on live projects teaches lessons impossible to replicate in traditional coursework. Students learn to navigate ambiguous requirements by interviewing stakeholders, understanding user needs, and making decisions with incomplete information. They discover that real users may struggle to articulate what they want, requiring iterative refinement and feedback. Resource constraints become tangible. Academic projects often ignore costs, but live projects must work within budgets for components, software licenses, or development time. Students learn to make tradeoffs between ideal solutions and practical implementations given available resources. Timing pressures differ from academic deadlines. Course assignments have fixed submission dates but rarely face consequences beyond grades. Live projects may have external stakeholders waiting for deliverables, users depending on solutions, or market opportunities with time sensitivity. This creates different pressure dynamics teaching project management and prioritization. Collaboration challenges emerge when working with people outside the academic environment. Coordinating with company mentors, communicating with non-technical stakeholders, or working within organizational processes provides experience with professional communication and teamwork distinct from student group projects. Failure and iteration become real learning experiences. Academic projects often succeed if students apply correct methods and adequate effort. Live projects might fail despite good work due to changing requirements, technical obstacles, or market shifts. Learning to pivot, adapt, and persist through setbacks provides valuable professional preparation. Institutional Support StructuresEnabling students to work on live projects requires institutional infrastructure beyond traditional academic support. Faculty mentorship must adapt to guide student work on open-ended problems without clear right answers, requiring different skills than teaching structured courses. Physical infrastructure matters. Incubation cells need dedicated workspace where students can work on projects outside regular class hours. Access to development tools, testing equipment, and computational resources enables technical work. Internet connectivity and collaborative platforms support distributed teamwork and communication with external stakeholders. Administrative flexibility allows students to pursue projects that may not align perfectly with standard course schedules or credit structures. Institutions must create mechanisms for recognizing and rewarding project work while maintaining academic standards and degree requirements. Connections with industry partners, potential users, and funding sources require ongoing relationship management. Someone within the institution must facilitate introductions, negotiate project scopes, and maintain partnerships enabling student access to live project opportunities. Legal and liability considerations arise when student work may be used commercially or impact real users. Institutions need clarity on intellectual property rights, liability for student-developed solutions, and appropriate supervision to ensure student work meets ethical standards and safety requirements. Student Outcomes and Career ImpactStudents who successfully complete substantial live projects develop capabilities that translate directly to professional success. They build portfolios of actual work demonstrating practical abilities beyond academic transcripts. When interviewing for jobs or graduate programs, students can discuss real problems they solved, systems they built, or impact they created rather than only hypothetical knowledge. Practical experience makes students more productive employees from day one. Employers report that graduates with live project experience require less training and adapt more quickly to professional environments than those with only traditional academic preparation. Some live projects become startup ventures. Students who develop viable products or services during their education may pursue entrepreneurship after graduation, sometimes before. The skills developed through project work--technical development, user research, business planning--provide foundation for entrepreneurial careers. Collaboration on live projects creates professional networks. Students working with industry partners, mentors, or users develop connections that may lead to employment opportunities, references, or future collaborations. These networks complement traditional campus recruitment pathways. Confidence and professional identity develop through successfully delivering real results. Students who have built working systems, solved actual problems, or created value for users develop stronger sense of professional capability than those with only academic accomplishments. Challenges and ConsiderationsLive project initiatives face several challenges. Balancing project work with academic coursework requires careful time management. Students may become overly focused on projects at the expense of foundational learning, or vice versa. Institutions must help students maintain appropriate balance. Quality control becomes complex when projects involve external stakeholders. Academic faculty may not have expertise to evaluate all types of industry projects. External mentors help but introduce coordination challenges and potential conflicts between academic and industry standards. Not all projects succeed, which can discourage students despite failure being valuable learning experience. Institutional culture must frame failure constructively while maintaining standards and supporting students through challenges. Equity concerns arise if project opportunities aren't accessible to all students. Those with stronger networks, more confidence, or greater resources may pursue ambitious projects while others miss out. Institutions should ensure broad access to project opportunities and support. Intellectual property and commercialization create complex questions about who owns student work, particularly when developed with institutional resources or industry partners. Clear policies protect all parties while allowing students to benefit from their innovations. The Future of Experiential Engineering EducationAs engineering becomes increasingly interdisciplinary and applied, the importance of practical project experience will likely grow. Institutions successfully integrating live projects throughout undergraduate programs will produce graduates better prepared for professional success than those relying solely on traditional coursework. For prospective engineering students, understanding an institution's approach to practical project work provides important selection criteria. Access to incubation facilities, industry project opportunities, innovation support, and mentorship for applied work significantly enhances educational value beyond what course catalogs alone reveal. The coming years will see continued evolution in how institutions balance theoretical education with practical experience. The most effective approaches will likely combine strong fundamentals teaching with structured opportunities for applying knowledge to real problems, creating graduates who possess both deep understanding and demonstrated practical capabilities. Live project initiatives represent one approach to addressing the persistent gap between academic learning and professional practice. As implemented at institutions like SBIT, these programs demonstrate that engineering education can extend beyond textbook problems to include real-world challenges, better preparing students for the complex, ambiguous problems they will face throughout their careers. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.)
PRNewswire Noida (Uttar Pradesh) [India], March 23: Mayson, an AI startup focused on full-stack application development, has raised pre-seed funding to expand its platform, which enables users to ship production-grade applications from natural language prompts. - The platform enables builders to turn a single prompt into production-grade software, with scalable backend infrastructure and full ownership of the codebase. As vibe-coding reshapes how traditional software are built, Mayson is focused on solving the gap between fast AI-generated prototypes and software that is actually ready for production. The platform helps users turn ideas into a product, generating not just the frontend but also the backend infrastructure required to run, scale, and deploy reliably. "Software creation should be as simple as describing what you want to build," said Akshay Srivastava, Co-Founder & CEO of Mayson. "With Mayson, we are building a platform where a single prompt can generate a complete application with the backend infrastructure required to run, scale, and evolve in the real world." "Founders shouldn't have to choose between 'hacky but fast' and 'solid but slow.' That's why we built Mayson", said Akshansh Gusain, Co-Founder & CTO of Mayson. "This pre-seed funding accelerates our vision: To lower the barrier to entry for building products. Every day, brilliant ideas stall simply because founders can't access engineering talent. We're changing that. The capital will strengthen our vibe-to-code engine, build reusable patterns for common product surfaces, and grow our founding engineering team in India." He added, "Our goal is simple: help hundreds of teams ship production-ready experiences directly from Mayson in the coming months. The best ideas shouldn't wait for an engineering team. We're here to change that." This investment aligns with the investors' strategy of partnering with high-conviction entrepreneurial teams building differentiated businesses. The combination of Mayson and NovoStack demonstrates both product depth and execution strength, positioning them well for sustained, scalable growth. The newly raised capital will be used to strengthen Mayson's core AI systems, expand backend automation capabilities, and grow its engineering team in India. About Mayson Mayson is a True Full-Stack Vibe Coding platform that generates polished, production-grade software from a single prompt -- with scalable backend infrastructure and full codebase ownership. Company Name- Mayson Contact Name- Akshay SrivastavaEmail- as@mayson.dev Social media handle- https://x.com/askmayson Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2939771/Mayson_Pre_Seed_Funding.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
VMPL Gurugram (Haryana) [India], March 23: India's honey market is witnessing a significant transformation, driven by rising health awareness, increasing demand for natural sweeteners, and a shift away from refined sugar. Industry estimates suggest that the domestic honey market is poised to surpass INR 4,000 crore by 2027, fueled by growing consumer preference for clean-label, nutrient-rich food products. At the forefront of this evolution is Honeyman Foods Pvt. Ltd., a fast-emerging player redefining how India consumes honey and honey-based products. A Sweet Shift Towards Healthier Living With lifestyle diseases and sugar-related health concerns on the rise, Indian consumers are increasingly adopting honey as a natural alternative. Honey's well-documented benefits--ranging from immunity support to antioxidant properties--have positioned it as a staple in modern wellness-focused households. Capitalizing on this shift, Honeyman has built its brand around 100% pure, raw, and naturally sourced honey, directly procured from Indian beekeepers to ensure quality and authenticity. Strong Legacy Meets Unprecedented Scale & Infrastructure Backed by a legacy of beekeeping and honey production spanning generations, Honeyman combines traditional expertise with modern processing and distribution capabilities. The company sources honey from multiple regions across India, including Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, ensuring a rich variety of flavors and floral origins. Today, Honeyman is rapidly expanding its offline presence through experiential retail formats such as honey cafes and franchise outlets. Approaching 150 franchise locations, the brand has set an aggressive mission to reach 1,000 stores globally by the end of 2026. To seamlessly support this massive expansion, Honeyman has built a formidable, self-sustaining operational engine. The company operates its own state-of-the-art factory for in-house production and is powered by a robust workforce of over 100 direct and indirect staff. This end-to-end ecosystem includes dedicated, in-house teams for franchise development, AI-driven marketing, daily operations, comprehensive support, and specialized interior design. Additionally, its franchise-driven model is attracting entrepreneurs looking to tap into the fast-growing health food segment. Beyond Honey: Building the "World of Honeyman" Ecosystem Unlike conventional brands that focus solely on packaged honey, Honeyman has expanded into a diverse portfolio of honey-infused products. As part of the broader "World of Honeyman" ecosystem, which features verticals like Melifera beauty products and the Little Bee youth brand, the company offers a wide range including: - Raw, organic, and single-origin honey varieties - Honey-based spreads, sauces, and beverages - Honey-based ice creams (a premium, refined-sugar-free dessert alternative) - Ayurvedic wellness products and nutraceuticals - Honey-infused personal care solutions This diversified approach reflects the brand's larger vision: replacing refined sugar with honey across food categories. Driving India's Honey Revolution Globally As India's natural food movement gains momentum, Honeyman is playing a key role in shaping consumer perception around honey--not just as a sweetener, but as a functional superfood. Honeyman currently exports its products to key international markets including the United States, UAE, and the United Kingdom, along with a growing presence across several other global regions. "With consumers becoming more conscious about what they consume, we see honey transitioning from a traditional ingredient to a daily health essential," said Shahzada Singh Kapoor, Founder, Honeyman Foods Pvt. Ltd. "Our vision is to make honey a mainstream alternative to refined sugar, while supporting India's beekeeping ecosystem and delivering globally competitive products. By offering a fully integrated, turnkey ecosystem--complete with in-house support from factory production to storefront design--we are actively inviting visionary entrepreneurs and global partners to build the future of wellness alongside us." About Honeyman Headquartered in Gurugram, Honeyman Foods Pvt. Ltd. is an India-based honey and honey-products company committed to delivering pure, natural, and health-focused offerings. With a growing team of 100+ direct and indirect employees, the company is built on a strong beekeeping heritage and emphasizes quality sourcing, innovation, and sustainability while promoting honey as a healthier alternative to sugar across everyday consumption. For more information, visit: https://www.honeyman.in/Email: hello@honeyman.in Mobile: +91-9650305025 (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.)
NewsVoir Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) [India], March 23: The Association for Reinventing School Education (ARISE) convened its Members' Meeting at Varanasi, bringing together founders and leaders of progressive schools from across India for two days of strategic dialogue, sectoral deliberations, and institutional transition. The meeting marked two years of ARISE as an independent institution and nearly a decade of its collective journey since inception within FICCI, reflecting the organization's growing credibility as a unified national platform for school leaders. Day One commenced with a Special Address by Dr. Joseph Emmanuel, Chief Executive and Secretary, CISCE, who highlighted the transformative potential of collective leadership in education. ''When progressive schools come together with shared purpose and collective strength, they can transform the school education landscape in phenomenal ways. Platforms like ARISE enable collaboration and systemic progress that individual institutions cannot achieve in isolation," said Dr. Emmanuel. The engagement was also graced by Dr. Praggya M Singh, Professor & Director (Academics), CBSE. "Strengthening school education requires a sustained focus on academic quality, capacity building, and effective implementation at the institutional level. Interactions with school leaders provide valuable ground-level insights into classroom realities and emerging needs, which are essential for shaping responsive academic initiatives," said Ms. Singh. There was also representation from international boards including Mr. Mahesh Balakrishnan, Manager, South Asia, International Baccalaureate (IB) and Mr. Vinay Sharma, Senior Vice President and Regional Director, South Asia, Cambridge International Education reflecting the broad spectrum of institutional engagement across national and global school education frameworks. The meeting featured expert inputs and structured discussions on leadership effectiveness, institutional governance, and emerging priorities for the sector. Day Two focused on ARISE's forward roadmap, including key initiatives to strengthen member engagement and knowledge exchange. Members participated in focused deliberations on Learning & Development and Liberalising the K-12 sector, addressing leadership capacity building, professional development, regulatory challenges, and policy priorities to identify actionable advocacy areas for 2026-27. An expert session on the Decoding of New Labour Codes provided practical guidance on interpretation, compliance requirements, and operational implications for educational institutions. A key highlight of the meeting was the Presidential Baton Passing Ceremony, during which the new Company Board, Governing Body and State Councils for FY 2026-27 were announced. The newly constituted State Councils for the year FY 2026-27 are as follows: * Andhra Pradesh: Chair -- M. Padma Subrahmanyam; Co-Chair -- Mahadev Vasireddy* Assam: Chair -- Nellie Ahmed* Bihar: Chair -- Mrigya Singh* Gujarat: Chair -- Kavish Gadia; Co-Chair -- Kush Dinesh Sakaria* Haryana: Chair -- Aditi Misra; Co-Chair -- Yash Prakash* Jammu & Kashmir: Chair -- Nandan Kuthiala* Karnataka: Chair -- Srinivas Kumar Chalasani* Madhya Pradesh: Chair -- Siddharth Singh Girnar* Maharashtra: Chair -- Irshad Patel; Co-Chair -- Shailesh Dalmia* New Delhi: Chair -- Rahul Aggarwal; Co-Chair -- Jyoti Arora* Odisha: Chair -- Dr. Silpi Sahoo* Punjab: Chair -- Manjot Dhillon; Co-Chair -- Robin Aggarwal* Chandigarh: Chair -- Gurpreet Bakshi* Rajasthan: Chair -- Ragini Kachhwaha; Co-Chair -- Deepak Sharma* Uttar Pradesh: Chair -- Shalini Singh; Co-Chair -- Khwaja Saifi Yunus* Uttarakhand: Chair -- Bharat Goyal; Co-Chair -- Manoj Kumar Khera* Telangana: Chair -- Meghana Jupally; Co-Chair -- Satya Datla* Tamil Nadu: Chair -- Vikram Ramakrishnan; Co-Chair -- R. J. Thayumanaswamy* West Bengal: Chair -- Pradip Kumar Agarwal* Kerala: Chair -- Rajesh George Kulangara These councils will play a critical role in strengthening ARISE's state-level engagement, regional initiatives, and policy dialogue across the country. Outgoing President Mr. Praveen Raju, Founder, Suchitra Academy and Sagebrook International School, Hyderabad, reflected on ARISE's institutional growth. "Over the past two years as an independent institution, ARISE has grown significantly -- institutionally, structurally, and in membership -- emerging as a credible and unified national platform for progressive school leaders. The trust and spirit of collaboration among members remain the foundation of this journey," he said. President-Elect Dr. Arunabh Singh, Director, Nehru World School & Co-founder, Heathy Planet TGA emphasized continuity and forward momentum. ''ARISE represents the collective voice of progressive schools across the country. Going forward, our focus will be on strengthening collaboration, advancing policy engagement, and building future-ready institutions that place students at the centre," he stated. The ceremony also recognized members for their contributions to ARISE initiatives, underscoring the organization's participatory ethos. The Members' Meeting concluded with a shared commitment to strengthening collaboration, advancing reform-oriented dialogue, and shaping the future of school education in India. About ARISE ARISE (The Association for Reinventing School Education) is an autonomous body that brings together some of the country's most progressive and intellectual minds including School Promoters, Edupreneurs & Leaders who remain committed and focused on serving as a beacon for change within the diverse and dynamic landscape of India's school education system. Living up to the motto 'Student First', ARISE recognises the complexity and the unique challenges faced by both independent private schools and public / government schools and will continue to play an important role to be a collaborative platform to bring together forward-thinking school founders, educators, policy makers, think tanks, educationists, civil society experts and technical experts. As a collegium, ARISE represents over 1800+ Schools, 95,000 Teachers, and 1.5 Million Students. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.)
On the 20th anniversary of Stephen Harpers first victory (2006)  the decline of the Tory tradition in Canada since the 1980s (Part Three) By Mark Wegierski

web posted March 23, 2026 The fourth group within the Progressive Conservative party of the 1980s, were those who could be broadly defined as "small-c conservatives" of various stripes, or, more specifically, Tories concerned with community and nation, who truly represented the tory tradition of Canada. Patrick Boyer (the M.P. who from 1984 to1993 represented the Etobicoke-Lakeshore riding in Toronto), was probably the most prominent representative of this tradition in the PC party. Patrick Boyer has also been a university professor and has authored several books about politics and constitutional law, especially focussing on his favourite topic of direct referenda. From the late-1980s to late-1990s, many of these persons had moved to support the Reform Party of Canada, which eventually became the Canadian Alliance (officially called the Canadian Reform-Conservative Alliance). One should also mention John Gamble, who unfortunately became increasingly embittered at his treatment by the PC party in the 1980s, and eventually drifted into unqualified extremism. Brian Mulroney owed a huge political debt to Gamble for keeping the anti-Clark forces alive  thus contributing to Joe Clarks weak showing in the leadership review and Mulroneys subsequent win in the leadership convention of 1983. Despite the fact that Gamble was the PC partys official candidate in the riding, the collusion of the PC and Liberal Parties led to his defeat in 1984 by the setting up of a supposedly independent candidate who unexpectedly won the riding. Another example of disdain for a more substantively conservative candidate was the way Peter Worthington (a co-founder and former editor of The Toronto Sun) was maneuvered out of the PC candidacy in the Toronto riding of Broadview-Greenwood in 1984, thus being forced into a difficult run as an independent. So, what were at that time two of Canadas more substantive conservatives, were shut out of the huge, 211-seat, Mulroney landslide victory of 1984. There had been in the large PC caucus of 1984 and 1988, an attempt to form a small-c conservative ginger-group, snidely characterized by the media as the Dinosaur Club. Given Mulroneys contempt for small-c conservatism, the climate at the ginger-group meetings was likely to have been without much cheer. The Conservative Party under Stephen Harper had carried the hopes of a large, centre-right and centre coalition. Its more salient (1) supporters included: social conservatives, neoconservatives, libertarians, classical liberals, purely fiscal conservatives, as well as some federalists and soft sovereigntists in Quebec, some disaffected right-wing Liberals and perhaps some socially conservative former NDP supporters. However, it would be of considerable importance to the future of Canada, if the voice of what could be called "true toryism" could somehow be heard within the diverse medley of the Conservative Party. Footnotes: (1) This term means here persons who believe in some kind of more-or-less coherent principles and are willing to carry out considerable endeavours on behalf of the Party that are not necessarily driven just by prospects of personal gain. To be continued. Mark Wegierski is a Canadian writer and historical researcher. Home

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The event, which took place on Sunday, also saw Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman perform live, lighting up the stadium with his music and stage presence. However, it was his meeting with former CSK captain MS Dhoni that truly caught everyone's attention.

Rahman took to his Instagram account to share a video showing him meeting Thala at the stadium. In the clip, Rahman can be seen video-calling someone and showing Dhoni on the screen, with both sharing a warm smile and a lighthearted moment together. The video also captured glimpses of Rahman's live performance, along with fireworks at the venue.

Along with the video, Rahman added a caption that read, "Thala meets Thala #dhoni #arrahman #chennaisuperkings #ipl #csk."

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWMaRNtkpGj/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Soon after Rahman posted the video, fans chimed in in the comment section to react with love. One user wrote, "My two favourite people." Another said, "Two love of my life together." A third user commented, "My idols in one frame."

The event also brought together several former CSK stars from past winning squads. Players like Ambati Rayudu, Matthew Hayden, Muttiah Muralitharan, Parthiv Patel, Suresh Raina, Dwayne Bravo, Harbhajan Singh, Murali Vijay, and others were present. (ANI)
Hollywood actor Jason Momoa and his family were among thousands evacuated from O'ahu's North Shore as catastrophic flooding struck Hawaii, marking the region's worst deluge in two decades. The extreme weather event, triggered by a powerful Kona low, a seasonal cyclone system, is the second major storm to hit the Hawaiian islands within a week, as per Deadline. Authorities confirmed that rising floodwaters and the threat of dam failure forced evacuation orders for more than 5,000 residents north of Honolulu over the weekend, reported Deadline. Momoa shared an update through a now-expired Instagram Story, confirming his family's safety while acknowledging the broader crisis. "I got my family with me. We got out of the North Shore," he said, "Our power went off. We're safe for now, but there's a lot of people who weren't, so we're sending all our love," as quoted by Deadline. The actor emotionally described the situation as severe, adding, "The North Shore is pretty gnarly right now. So hopefully everyone's safe and getting out. Stay safe out there." Hawaii Governor Josh Green stated that no deaths or missing persons had been reported despite the scale of the disaster. Over 200 people were rescued during the flooding, while fewer than a dozen individuals were treated for hypothermia in hospitals, as per Deadline. Flood warnings remained in place across multiple islands, including O'ahu, Maui, Moloka'i, Lana'i, Kaho'olawe and the Big Island, even as evacuation orders were later lifted. Authorities also implemented statewide road closures to manage the emergency response. In response to the situation, Momoa cancelled a scheduled public appearance at The Beach House by 604 in Wai`anae, citing safety concerns. He also indicated plans to support relief efforts, sharing that fundraising details would be announced soon and encouraging his followers to contribute. In a recent social media post, he also documented efforts to distribute food and supplies to affected residents, alongside his partner, actress Adria Arjona. Reflecting on the impact of the storms, Momoa highlighted the challenges faced by vulnerable communities. "Seeing families displaced, communities struggling, and our unhoused neighbors hit the hardest," he said, urging people to support one another, as per Deadline. "That's what aloha is. It's showing up for each other when it matters most," he added in an earlier social media post. (ANI)
Some friendships in Hollywood come and go; a few stand the test of time, and Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon's bond is clearly one of them. As Reese turned 50, Aniston made sure the day felt extra special with a heartfelt birthday note that quickly caught fans' attention. Actor Jennifer Aniston took to Instagram to celebrate her long-time friend and co-star Reese Witherspoon's milestone birthday, sharing a warm message along with a video that reflected their decades-long friendship. Alongside the video, Aniston added a sweet note for Reese, calling her a "ray of sunshine", someone who lights up every room she walks into. Aniston fondly referred to her as a "little firecracker," hinting at Reese's energetic and spirited personality even at 50. In her post, Aniston wrote, "Happy birthday to this actual ray of sunshine." https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWMcjjOkf5G/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== She added, "She's 50 and still my favourite little firecracker. My sister, my partner, and my heart for 30 years. Whaaaaa!?? Y'all know what to do~ please join me in wishing this very special woman a birthday she'll never forget. I love you, honey!" The two actors go way back. Their friendship began in 2000 when Reese guest-starred on the hit sitcom 'Friends' as Jill Green, Rachel Green's sister, played by Aniston. What started as an on-screen sibling dynamic quickly turned into a real-life friendship that has lasted over the years. They reunited on screen nearly two decades later with 'The Morning Show' in 2019, where they not only shared screen space again but also strengthened their bond as collaborators and close friends. (ANI)
Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has hailed 'Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge' director Aditya Dhar for redefining Indian cinema, calling the film a transformative moment in storytelling and scale. Speaking to ANI, Varma expressed deep admiration for the recently released spy thriller, which hit theatres on March 19, 2026. Headlined by Ranveer Singh, the film has already emerged as a major commercial success, crossing Rs 700 crore worldwide since its release. "I should thank him because he showed a new way of Indian cinema," Varma said, summing up his reaction to the sequel. Elaborating on what sets 'Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge' apart, Varma suggested that the film goes beyond conventional definitions of cinema. "Calling Durandar just a 'film' doesn't feel right, because maybe in the last 20-30 years, no film has come like this, its scale, its twists, and even without relying heavily on story twists, its structure itself. Aditya has transformed that structure, especially the climax, what do you call it? Even the item songs, though unrealistic, gravity-defying fight scenes, he has packaged everything together in a complete, massive way," he said. The film is a sequel to the 2023 hit 'Dhurandhar' and has drawn widespread attention for its blend of stylised action and narrative ambition. Produced by Jio Studios and B62 Studios, the project features a multi-starrer cast including Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Rakesh Bedi and Arjun Rampal. Varma also reflected on the broader implications of the film's success, suggesting it could shift audience expectations. "The impact of the film is such that its merit, its quality, and its influence have made it a huge super hit. I feel 'Dhurandhar 2' has set a new benchmark. After this, the same old cliches, like hero elevation scenes where punches send people flying in the air or bouncing off the ground, those kinds of films might come to an end," he noted. The film has not been without controversy, with some critics labelling it as propaganda. Addressing this, Varma dismissed the notion as subjective interpretation. "As for propaganda, I don't really understand that term in this context. Everyone has their own viewpoint. If one person is accused, the defense will present their side too. People will share their perspectives. Aditya has shared his point of view through the film. If you don't agree with it, you may call it propaganda or false, but then you can make your own film in response," he said. Prior to the interview, Varma had already described the sequel as a "cinematic disruptor" on social media, arguing that it signals a decisive shift away from formula-driven Bollywood storytelling. He also criticised traditional tropes of invincible heroes, stating that the film "killed all those heroes who never bleed and never feel pain." The film has received widespread praise from across the industry as well. Actors and filmmakers including Alia Bhatt, SS Rajamouli, and Anupam Kher have lauded the project. Actor-politician Kangana Ranaut described Dhar as a "superstar filmmaker," drawing parallels with globally renowned directors like Steven Spielberg, Quentin Tarantino and Christopher Nolan. (ANI)
Acclaimed filmmaker Steven Spielberg has opened up about his experience of working with Hollywood star Tom Cruise, offering fresh insight into the actor's discipline and collaborative approach on set. Speaking at a keynote event at the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas, Spielberg recalled Cruise's commitment during their past collaborations. As reported by People magazine, the 79-year-old director, who worked with Cruise on Minority Report (2002) and War of the Worlds (2005), said the actor's dedication was evident from the start of each day. During the event, Spielberg revealed that Cruise would consistently arrive on set ahead of schedule. "Tom Cruise showed up every morning when I showed up," Spielberg said, adding, "I show up before the crew. So I get to the set sometimes at 6:30 in the morning," as quoted by People magazine. He added that Cruise made a point of aligning his schedule with the director's to prepare for the day's shoot. "On Minority Report and on War of the Worlds, Tom would insist on getting there when I got there so we would map out the whole day ... which was really helpful for me," Spielberg continued, describing the process as highly collaborative, as per People magazine. Cruise's work ethic has long been a defining aspect of his career. In a May 2025 interview, the actor spoke about his commitment to constant self-improvement and skill-building, emphasising how it feeds into his performances. "I will learn a skill, and I know eventually I'm going to use it in a movie," Cruise said, as quoted by People magazine. He added that he is "constantly training" across disciplines, including music, dance and aviation. "Whether it's the piano or having more time to dance, or parachuting or flying airplanes or helicopters. The wonderful thing is you're never there. It can always be better," as quoted by People magazine. Filmmaker Christopher McQuarrie, who has directed multiple 'Mission: Impossible' films, reinforced Cruise's hands-on approach. "Anytime you see Tom in the plane, he's at the controls," McQuarrie said, adding, "He's basically a one-man film crew: operating the camera, acting and flying," as quoted by People magazine. Cruise's commitment extends beyond his own performances. On the set of 'Top Gun: Maverick' (2022), which he also co-produced, the actor took an active role in preparing his co-stars for demanding aerial sequences. Director Joseph Kosinski revealed that Cruise personally designed a training programme for the younger cast members. "We put them through a training course that Tom actually designed himself. He's a licensed aerobatic pilot, and he was thrown into the deep end when he did the first Top Gun without any training. So he knew that they would need to kind of work up to that level," Kosinski said in a 2020 interview, as quoted by People magazine. Actor Glen Powell, who appeared in the film, echoed similar sentiments about Cruise's professionalism and character. "Tom's as great as people think he is," Powell said, adding, "He's as nice, he's as hardworking, he's as generous, he's as available. He's the man," as quoted by People magazine. (ANI)
Veteran actor Neetu Kapoor took to Instagram story and penned a sweet message for her granddaughter Samara.

"Happy 15th my precious. Thank you for being in our lives samuji. You are too special. Love you so much," she posted.

Kareena sent "love and joy" to Samara on her special day.

"Happiest birthday dearest Samara...Sending you love and joy on your special day," Kareena wrote.

Riddhima, too, posted an adorable message for her daughter, sharing her unseen pictures.

"My Sampie 15 years of loving you holding your hand and calling you mine...my greatest blessing You make my world brighter just by being you Stay as kind strong and beautiful as you are I love you to the moon and back - and a little more every day Happy 15th birthday my heart," she posted.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWMgJtrk3i7/?img_index=1

Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, daughter of late Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor, got married to businessman Bharat Sahnii on January 1, 2006, in a grand ceremony. Riddhima met Bharat while studying in London and got married in 2006, four years after being together.

Riddhima is a renowned jewellery designer. In 2024, she tasted Bollywood success with her appearance in the third season of Netflix's Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives.

She is now gearing up for the release of her debut movie with comedian Kapil Sharma. The film also stars her mother, Neetu Kapoor, in a key role. Sadia Khateeb, Sarath Kumar and Aditi Mittal are also a part of the movie. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Minister Sanjay Nishad broke down in tears during a public rally on Sunday in Gorakhpur, triggering a sharp response from Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav. Addressing a large gathering, an emotional Nishad accused the opposition parties of aiding criminals, contrasting it with "bulldozer" justice after he raised the same issues in the Assembly House. Calling for people to "destroy" those who ruined the Nishad community with votes, he alleged that the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party are "taking the share" of the community. "When your daughters' honour is taken away, this opposition stands with the accused. When I raise my voice in the House, then bulldozers are used against the accused and your daughter gets justice...Upper-caste people are not taking their share. The SP and BSP are doing it. You pressed the elephant button, and your livelihood was taken away," he said. The minister expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for raising the issues of the Nishad community in the Assembly. "He said that Nishads should get their rights," he emphasised. Nishad's emotional display quickly drew a response from Akhilesh Yadav, who took to X to question the sincerity of the tears, further making a sarcastic remark. "Are these tears of remorse for joining the BJP, or of atonement? The pain is increasing... the sufferers are multiplying... that's why the PDA is growing. The public is saying that the song we hear in the background of this video--is it our illusion or the truth: 'Hum the Jinke Sahare Wo Huye Na Hamare," Yadav said in his post. PDA is the SP party's ideology, which refers to working for "Pichchde, Dalit, Alpsankhyak" (Backwards Classes, Dalits, and Minorities). Speaking to ANI in Gorakhpur, Sanjay Nishad announced a large-scale celebration of the birth anniversary of 'Nishad Raj', claiming that the Nishad community had been intentionally marginalised by previous governments. "Since we are a Scheduled Caste in the Constitution, an order should be issued to count us in the Scheduled Caste...In 2013, when the Samajwadi Party was in power, education was snatched... If anyone has raised the voice of the Nishads, it is CM Yogi Adityanath," he said. (ANI)
In a major operation, Rajasthan Police have arrested a civilian employee on Sunday at the Chabua Air Force Station in Assam for allegedly spying for Pakistan. The accused was allegedly transmitting sensitive Air Force intelligence to handlers, exposing a wider espionage network linked to foreign intelligence agencies. Prafulla Kumar, Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence), stated that the entire case originated in January with the arrest of Jhabararam, a resident of Jaisalmer. During his interrogation and the subsequent investigation, the name of another suspect, Sumit Kumar, surfaced; he was found to be in constant contact with Pakistani intelligence agencies, as per the release. The investigation revealed that the accused, Sumit Kumar (36), was currently employed as an MTS (Multi-Tasking Staff) at the Air Force Station in Chabua, Dibrugarh, Assam. Abusing his official position, he would gather confidential information related to the Air Force Station and transmit it to Pakistani handlers via social media. Acting in a joint operation with Air Force Intelligence, New Delhi, a team from Rajasthan Intelligence detained the accused in Chabua and brought him to the Central Interrogation Centre in Jaipur. During a joint interrogation conducted by various intelligence agencies at this facility, it was revealed that the accused had been in contact with a Pakistani intelligence agency since 2023 and was sharing sensitive information in exchange for monetary payments. The interrogation further revealed that the accused had shared critical information pertaining not only to the Air Force Station in Chabua but also to other military installations, including the Air Force Station in Nal (Bikaner district). This information included details regarding the locations of fighter aircraft, missile systems, and confidential data concerning officers and personnel, the release noted. Furthermore, the accused assisted Pakistani handlers in creating social media accounts using mobile numbers registered in his own name. In connection with this serious matter, the accused was arrested on March 22 at the Special Police Station, Jaipur (Rajasthan), in a case registered under various sections of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and the BNS, 2023. This operation has led to a major exposure of a Pakistan-backed espionage network active within the country, and further investigations are underway. (ANI)
The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam is contesting independently in the Puducherry Legislative Assembly general elections scheduled for April 9, with counting of votes on May 4.

The current term of the 30-member Legislative Assembly of the Union Territory is set to expire on June 15.

In the 2021 Puducherry Assembly Elections, AINRC emerged as the largest party with 10 seats, followed by DMK with six seats, while BJP and Congress won six seats each. The voter turnout was recorded at 84.8 per cent.

While in the 2016 elections, Congress had secured a majority with 15 seats, AINRC won eight seats, AIADMK bagged four seats, and DMK got two seats, with voter turnout at 83.6 per cent.

Meanwhile, the BJP released a list of nine candidates for the elections, which it is contesting in alliance with the All India NR Congress on March 21.

The Central Election Committee of the BJP met on March 18 to decide on candidates in poll-bound states.

According to the list, A Namassivayam will contest from Mannadipet, while E Theeppainthan will contest from Oussoudu (SC). PML Kalyanasundaram will contest from Kalapet, VP Ramalingame from Raj Bhavan and A Johnkumar from Mudaliarpet.

Embalam R Selvam will contest from Manavely, GNS Rajasekaran from Thirunallar and A Dineshan from Mahe.

Independent MLA M Sivasankar from Puducherry's Ozhukarai seat also joined the Congress party in the presence of the party's Puducherry Incharge Girish Chodankar and local leadership in the run-up to the 2026 Assembly elections. M Sivasankar has won the 2021 elections from the Ozhukarai constituency. (ANI)
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday demanded that the BJP-led Delhi government grant Rs 1 crore in compensation and a government job to a family member in each of the two murder cases involving Dalit youth Tarun in Uttam Nagar and an electrician in Wazirpur. AAP's Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj held the BJP government responsible for the failure in both the incidents, alleging that while compensation and a job were promptly given to the family of a BJP karyakarta who died after falling into the Yamuna, the Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has yet to even meet Tarun's family, according to a release. He asserted that both affected families deserve equal support, warning that AAP will launch protests if the government fails to act. AAP Delhi State Unit Chief Saurabh Bharadwaj said, "The brutal murder of Tarun Khatik in Uttam Nagar warrants Rs 1 crore compensation and a government job for one family member. Similarly, an electrician from the Koli community was murdered in Wazirpur; he has three young daughters. One daughter is in nursery, another is perhaps in second grade, and the third is in sixth grade. Now there is no earning member in their household. That family should also be given Rs 1 crore financial assistance and a government job." "Their own karyakarta is being given compensation and a job, but the Chief Minister does not even have time to meet the family of a Dalit son. He had three young daughters...Tarun lost his life in Uttam Nagar, but the government is neither giving Rs 1 crore nor a government job to his family. This money does not belong to Rekha Gupta, nor was it earned by Kapil Mishra in any factory. It is the tax money of the people of Delhi. Rekha Gupta should not remain under any illusion," he added. AAP Delhi Unit Chief continued, "If she does not provide Rs 1 crore and a government job to Tarun's family and the Koli family, her government will be strongly challenged. Aam Aadmi Party knows how to bring this government to its senses. We will not just keep making requests, but will hold large protests against it." AAP MLA from Kondli Kuldeep Kumar, on behalf of Aam Aadmi Party, demanded from Chief Minister Rekha Gupta that justice be delivered in the case of the murder of Tarun Khatik, who belonged to the Dalit community in Uttam Nagar. "Similarly, in Wazirpur, an uncle was leading a wedding procession for his niece when some intoxicated individuals together murdered him. It is known that people from the Dalit community often come from economically weaker sections and their financial condition is not very strong," he asserted. "The deceased has three daughters. It is worth thinking who will now arrange their marriages and who will run the household expenses? In Uttam Nagar, the family that lost their son Tarun, who will support them now?," he questioned further, adding that while Chief Minister Rekha Gupta did not visit these affected families, she should immediately provide Rs 1 crore compensation to them. "The murders that have occurred in Delhi are directly a result of administrative failure. Crime and drug abuse are rapidly increasing in Delhi. The BJP Chief Minister is unable to control this, and her government has completely failed. These murders have happened due to the negligence of the government," the AAP MLA accused. As per the release, Kumar said that Chief Minister Rekha Gupta should immediately provide Rs 1 crore compensation to both affected families. "Along with this, one member from each family should be given a government job, as has been done previously. Only then will it seem that the CM is at least concerned about these families and their financial condition. Therefore, the government should immediately announce that full arrangements will be made to provide Rs 1 crore and a government job to both families," he concluded. (ANI)
While mainstream media is shrinking, rogue judge refuses to allow downsizing of Voice of America By Rachel Alexander

web posted March 23, 2026 U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth, who issued overly harsh sentences to the J6 defendants, even going beyond prosecutors recommendations, is refusing to allow cuts to the bloated, leftist Voice of America (VOA). This makes no sense, considering regular media not funded by the government is drastically shrinking. This is because there is less of a need in the modern era for traditional media due to the rise of social media and citizen journalists. The mainstream media has suffered from leftist bias for years (only 3 percent of journalists are Republicans), so Republicans are deserting the media. The decline is severe, with even the most well-known news organizations experiencing deep cuts  The Washington Post laid off 30 percent of its workforce in February. The VOA controversy began early last year, when the Trump administration through Kari Lake placed over 1,000 employees out of about 1,147 at VOA on administrative leave. Lake framed the cuts as part of a broader mandate from President Donald Trump to "cut bloated bureaucracy, eliminate waste, and restore accountability to government. She said last March when canceling an expensive new lease for USAGM, From top-to-bottom this agency is a giant rot and burden to the American taxpayer  a national security risk for this nation  and irretrievably broken. Partisan unions including AFSCME predictably filed groundless lawsuits. On March 7, Lamberth ruled that Lakes appointment to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) was improper since the U.S. Senate had not approved her as acting CEO, so all of the layoffs were void (the USAGM oversees VOA). The government is appealing his decision, but moved Lake to a deputy position, nominating Sarah Rogers as permanent USAGM CEO and naming Michael Rigas as acting CEO. Lamberth took a tortured interpretation of the law in order to come to his decision. The Federal Vacancies Reform Act (FVRA) allows for appointments without Senate confirmation as a first assistant to the acting CEO. So Lake was first appointed as a deputy CEO. When VOA CEO Victor Morales stepped down, the FVRA allowed Lake to replace him. The relevant part of FVRA states , [T]he President (and only the President) may direct an officer or employee of such Executive agency to perform the functions and duties of the vacant office temporarily in an acting capacity. But Lamberth pretended this violated the spirit of the FVRA, attempted to technically nitpick the language, and said the downsizing was "arbitrary and capricious." The latter is one of those vague provisions in law that can be interpreted almost any way, which progressive judges frequently exploit to thwart conservatives. . Trump has referred to VOA as The Voice of Radical America. Daniel Robinson, a journalist who worked for the VOA and USAGM for 34 years, exposed the bias in recent op-eds. I have monitored the agencys bureaucracy along with many of its reporters and concluded that it has essentially become a hubris-filled rogue operation often reflecting a leftist bias aligned with partisan national media, he said in a November op-ed for The Washington Times. VOA throws Associated Press or Reuters stories online instead of doing its own work, Robinson said in another op-ed. The demise of the private mainstream media has been staggering. Last year, around 3,400 journalism jobs were eliminated in the U.S. and U.K., and 2026 is on track to exceed that pace early on. The Los Angeles Times cut one-third of its workforce in January 2024. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution laid off 15 percent of its staff in February and ended its print version. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is shutting down completely on May 3. Cumulus Media, one of the largest radio broadcasting companies in the country, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this month. CBS News Radio shut down this month as part of CBS News layoffs. BuzzFeed News shut down in 2023 and Vice Media filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy that year. About 136 U.S. newspapers closed last year. Lamberths hostility towards conservatives is shameless. He displayed immense hostility towards the J6 defendants, criticizing descriptions of them as "political prisoners." He said labels like that were "preposterous," "shameless" and distortions of history, calling the J6 protest the "antithesis of patriotism." Another adverse decision Lamberth made against conservatives was approving a search warrant for well-loved former Fox News reporter James Rosen's personal communications regarding a leak from the Obama administration. The DOJ secretly read Rosens emails without notifying him. Two other judges had previously ruled that Rosen must be notified. Of course, Rosens emails revealed no wrongdoing  it was a fishing expedition. This was clear government overreach that created a chilling precedent for journalism. The Privacy Protection Act (PPA) of 1980 states that journalists' work product and materials are exempt from searches or seizures unless there's probable cause the journalist committed a crime. The DOJ invoked the PPA's crime exception by labeling Rosen an "aider, abettor and/or co-conspirator" under the Espionage Act for allegedly encouraging a source to share classified info. But as the emails revealed, Rosen was merely engaging in routine newsgathering, there was no probable cause. Its one thing if private media spreads leftist views. But for taxpayers to fund leftist propaganda? The VOA Charter states that VOA news will be accurate, objective, and comprehensive, and will represent America, not any single segment of American society. Why is this judge fighting so hard to allow VOAs partisan journalists to continue spewing out Democratic propaganda, illegally violating its charter using our tax dollars? Rogue judges like Lamberth are destroying our country by not applying the law accurately due to their partisan views and hate. Rachel Alexander and her brother Andrew are co-Editors of Intellectual Conservative. She has been published in the American Spectator, Townhall.com, Fox News, NewsMax, Accuracy in Media, The Americano, ParcBench, Enter Stage Right and other publications. Home

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The Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Delhi Assembly, Atishi, has written to Speaker Vijender Gupta raising serious concerns over the functioning of the Delhi Legislative Assembly, claiming that the treatment meted out to the Opposition since the formation of the Eighth Assembly is not in line with democratic values or established legislative procedures. Referring to the conduct of proceedings across sessions, she has urged the Speaker to ensure that the House is run in a fair, lawful, and democratic manner, according to a release. In the letter, Delhi Assembly LoP Atishi wrote, "After the formation of the Eighth Assembly, both the ruling party and the Opposition unanimously elected you as Speaker with the expectation that, given your experience, the House would function in a democratic and lawful manner. It is well known that in a democratic system, the Legislative Assembly is not merely a platform for the government, but a powerful institution run through the participation of both the ruling party and the Opposition, where the House functions through healthy discussion, dialogue, and deliberation. The responsibility of the Opposition is to raise issues in the House and hold the government accountable if it ignores public interest or fails to act in accordance with its promises." The Delhi Assembly LoP said, "However, it is with deep regret that I must state that from the first sitting of the first session to the first sitting of the fourth session, your approach towards the Opposition has been not only concerning but also inconsistent with democratic values. Expelling the entire Opposition, including the Leader of Opposition, from the House for raising issues of public interest and criticising the government, and not only from the House but also from the Assembly premises, is against the dignity of the House." Atishi added, "In the history of independent India, there has been no instance in any Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council, or even in the country's highest legislatures, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, where the entire Opposition has been expelled not only from the House but also from the Assembly premises. Your action has set a new precedent that is not only undemocratic but also one that undermines the dignity of the Assembly." Highlighting the implications of such actions, Atishi wrote, "An elected representative chosen through a democratic process has been disrespected and prevented from entering the premises for the entire duration of the session. This is highly condemnable and completely unjustified. It also amounts to a violation of the privileges of an elected representative." She further claimed, "During the recently concluded Assembly session, it was observed that members of the ruling party did not allow the House to function for three consecutive days, due to which several serious issues concerning Delhi could not be discussed. However, not a single member was expelled. In contrast, when Opposition members attempted to raise certain issues, they were not only expelled from the House but again removed from the Assembly premises and barred from attending the House for the entire session." Further alleging that when members tried to attend committee meetings and other meetings for which prior notice had been given, they were stopped at the gates of the Assembly, she said, "This clearly shows that there was an attempt to obstruct the privileges of elected representatives and their statutory participation in committees. As a result, they were unable to discharge their legislative responsibilities. This is a clear obstruction in the exercise of their constitutional rights and amounts to a disregard of the Constitution." As per the release, she said, "As Leader of Opposition, when I attempted to raise issues of public interest concerning Delhi and other matters in the House, it was, under your directions, treated as a breach of privilege and referred to the committee. This reflects an attempt to limit the legitimate role of the Opposition." Atishi added, "This also makes it clear that there has been an attempt to deprive me of my legislative responsibilities and my duty to raise issues of public interest, which is extremely concerning for a healthy democracy." Concluding, Atishi stated, "In view of the above circumstances, all Opposition MLAs request that you ensure that those honourable members who were unnecessarily expelled during the first sitting of the fourth session are allowed to participate in the second sitting. The House must be conducted in a fair manner, Opposition members must not be prevented from raising issues of public interest, and they must be given adequate time." She further expressed hope that the Speaker would take cognisance of these concerns and ensure that the Assembly functions in accordance with established legislative traditions. (ANI)
Following a meeting with Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, BJP candidate Jawhar Chakraborty expressed confidence in securing the 56-Dharmanagar Assembly seat in the upcoming by-election. The by-election was necessitated by the sudden passing of sitting MLA and Assembly Speaker Biswa Bandhu Sen. Speaking to ANI on Sunday, Chakraborty noted that the Chief Minister provided a roadmap for the campaign, guiding workers from the booth to the district level. "He guided us on how we should work at every booth, every home, every village, and every street. He explained the entire system and strategy to us. Our singular goal is to build a developed and progressive Dharmanagar together. This is my aim, and it's the aim with which all our workers are dedicatedly working," he said. He asserted that the opposition will struggle to retain their deposits. "We are confident that in this 56-Dharmanagar election, the Congress-CPIM candidate's deposit will be forfeited. The BJP's symbol, the Lotus, will win with a massive majority, and a 'Lotus' from Dharmanagar will reach the Tripura Legislative Assembly," the candidate remarked. "I want to tell all the voters and citizens of Dharmanagar and Tripura that we are moving forward with the slogan 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas. Together, we will build a newly developed Dharmanagar...Tomorrow is the scheduled day for filing the nomination. We expect that supporters and voters of BJP from every ward and every house will join us, and the entire Dharmanagar city will be crowded," he added, stating that he expects a turnout of approximately 15,000 to 20,000 supporters. Earlier on January 5, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha addressed a memorial meeting organised by the BJP Tripura State Committee in Agartala in memory of the late former Tripura Legislative Assembly Speaker Biswa Bandhu Sen. Paying tribute to the veteran leader, the Chief Minister on Sunday recalled Sen's contribution to Tripura's legislative traditions and his role in strengthening democratic values in the state. He said Biswa Bandhu Sen was known for his discipline, simplicity and commitment to public service, which earned him respect across party lines. (ANI)
The Directorate General for Civil Aviation has released the schedule for domestic flights on Monday, applicable from March 29th to October 24th. DGCA, in its official notification, has advised passengers to cross-check the website of the respective airlines and to contact them in case of last-minute flight schedule changes due to "operational exigencies." On Sunday, the Ministry of Civil Aviation 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 ensure 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. (ANI)
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, while addressing the Bharat Electricity Summit 2026. Addressing industry leaders, experts, start-ups, researchers, students, and policymakers, the Minister said India's rapidly expanding economy requires a balanced energy approach that aligns development with sustainability. The Minister underlined India's robust coal reserves, estimating nearly 400 billion tonnes, among the largest globally, where coal accounts for about 55% of the energy mix and nearly 74% 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." Describing coal gasification as a key transformative technology, he explained 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. He also pointed out India's dependence on imports, approximately 83% of crude oil, 50% of natural gas, and over 90% of methanol and fertilisers, making energy security a strategic priority. 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 8,500 crore has been introduced to support public and private sector projects, with several large-scale initiatives already underway and investments exceeding 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," Reddy added. 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 Government's 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. (ANI)
Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat on Monday questioned the Centre over India's mitigating measures amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, asking for an all-party meeting on the matter. Commenting on the review meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, the Congress MP appreciated the policies formed by the governemnt but questioned the implementation. He flagged concerns regarding the "unpreparedness" of the government for crude oil requirements, pointing out the heavy dependence on West Asia. Calling the conflict a "problem for the whole country," he accused the Centre of always being in the election mood. "I understand that the CCS meeting was held yesterday. If the government knew that the war would go on for a long time, then, given our dependence on West Asia, we should have talked to Africa, Russia, or Latin America to import oil from them instead... While you (government) have made a good policy, how is the implementation going?" the Congress MP told ANI. "The government always seems to be in 'election mood'... This is a fact. They should make the public aware of the actual situation... This isn't just a problem for one party; it is a problem for the whole country... Why is the government avoiding an all-party meeting? They should rise above political tensions and speak with everyone in an all-party forum," he added. According to the Prime Minister's Office, the Cabinet Secretary gave a detailed presentation on the global situation and the mitigating measures taken so far and being planned regarding the conflict by all concerned Ministries/Departments of the Government of India. The expected impact and measures taken to address it across sectors like agriculture, fertilisers, food security, petroleum, power, MSMEs, exporters, shipping, trade, finance, supply chains and all affected sectors were discussed. The overall macro-economic scenario in the country and further measures to be taken were also discussed. The ongoing conflict in West Asia will have significant short, medium and long term impact on the global economy and its effect on India was assessed, and counter-measures, both immediate and long-term, were discussed. A detailed assessment of availability for critical needs of the common man, including food, energy and fuel security, was made. Short term, medium-term and long-term measures to ensure the continued availability of essential needs were discussed in detail. The impact on farmers and their requirement for fertiliser for the Kharif season was assessed. The measures taken in the last few years to maintain adequate stocks of fertilisers will ensure timely availability and food security. Alternate sources of fertilisers were also discussed to ensure continued availability in the future. It was also determined that an adequate supply of coal stocks at all power plants will ensure no shortage of electricity in India. Several measures were discussed to diversify sources of imports required by chemicals, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals and other industrial sectors. Similarly, new export destinations to promote Indian goods will be developed in the near future. PM said that the conflict is an evolving situation and the entire world is affected in some form. In such a situation, all efforts must be made to safeguard the citizens from the impact of this conflict. PM instructed that all arms of government should work together to ensure the least inconvenience to the citizens. PM Modi also asked for proper coordination with state governments to ensure no black-marketing and hoarding of important commodities. (ANI)
The First Additional District and Sessions Court in Madurai is set to deliver its verdict on Monday in the custodial death case of P Jeyaraj and his son J Beniks, which occurred in Sathankulam of Thoothukudi district in 2020. The case has been posted for judgment by Judge G Muthukumaran. On June 19, 2020, the father and son were taken into custody by Sathankulam police. They were allegedly subjected to brutal assault at the police station that night and were later remanded to the Kovilpatti sub-jail. Beniks died of injuries on June 22, while Jeyaraj succumbed the following day. A total of ten policemen, including Inspector Sridhar, Sub-Inspectors Balakrishnan and Raghu Ganesh, along with other personnel, were arrested in connection with the case and lodged in Madurai Central Prison. One of the accused, Paldurai, later died due to COVID-19. The CBI filed its primary chargesheet against nine policemen on September 25, 2020, followed by a supplementary chargesheet on August 12, 2022. According to the CBI investigation, Beniks had gone to the police station questioning his father's detention, which led to a confrontation. It is alleged that Inspector Sridhar instructed other policemen to "teach him a lesson", following which both were subjected to repeated custodial torture. The probe further revealed attempts to destroy evidence, including cleaning bloodstains at the station and disposing of blood-stained clothes after changing them multiple times. The CBI also stated that the victims had not violated lockdown norms and that a false case had been registered against them. The father-son duo was arrested on June 19 and was lodged in the Kovilpatti sub-jail for keeping their mobile shop open during a curfew imposed amid the COVID-19 lockdown. Jayaraju and Benicks were admitted to the Kovilpatti government hospital on June 22, 2020. While the son died on the same night, the father breathed his last on the morning of June 23. The CBI was handed over the case on July 7, 2020. The Centre had earlier accepted the Tamil Nadu government's request to transfer the case to the probe agency. The case was previously registered at the Kovilpatti East Police Station in the Thoothukudi district. (ANI)
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday held a special 'Kheer Ceremony' ahead of the 2026 Delhi Budget Session, where she personally cooked and served kheer to school students. The Delhi CM was accompanied by state ministers Parvesh Sahib Singh, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Ashish Sood, Kapil Mishra, and others. They also paid floral tributes to Shaheed-e-Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh on the occasion of Shaheedi Diwas today. Gupta unveiled a statue of Bhagat Singh and inaugurated a restored 'Historic Courtroom' associated with the freedom fighter at the Registrar Cooperative Society (RCS) office, Parliament Street, on the occasion of Shaheed Diwas. The Chief Minister, along with other Delhi ministers, marked the occasion by paying tribute to Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar, recalling their sacrifice for the nation. Addressing the gathering, CM Gupta said, "Truly, today is a day of great pride for all of us. This March 23rd, celebrated every year as Martyrs' Day, reminds us of the martyrdom of those brave freedom fighters. It reminds us of how the youth of this country sacrificed their lives for India's independence." She highlighted the historical significance of the site, stating, "This is the very place where, after the assembly bomb incident, the court trial of Bhagat Singh ji, Rajguru ji, and Sukhdev ji took place. Even today, this complex remains almost the same as it was back then. I believe every Indian should definitely come here and see it." The Chief Minister also congratulated officials involved in the restoration work. "I extend my heartfelt congratulations to our Minister, Ravindra Indra ji, his entire ministry, and all the officials for presenting the memories and premises associated with Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh in a new form to the public," she said. Reflecting on the legacy of the martyrs, Gupta added, "Today, while saluting our martyrs, I once again bow down and offer my deep respect to them. We take a pledge that the country will always remember their sacrifice and martyrdom." Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru were iconic Indian revolutionary freedom fighters who were hanged by British authorities on March 23, 1931, in Lahore Jail, at a young age. Their supreme sacrifice for India's independence is commemorated annually on March 23 as Shaheed Diwas (Martyrs' Day), marking their roles in the Lahore Conspiracy Case and the revenge killing of British officer John Saunders in 1928. The Budget Session of the Delhi legislative assembly for 2026-27 will commence today, and it will go on till March 25. (ANI)
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Monday criticised the Centre's silence on the escalating US-Israel versus Iran conflict, terming it a "very dangerous turning point" while demanding clarity on India's role in the crisis. While addressing a press conference here, Raut said, "No one can say what India's role is. This war (the US-Israel versus Iran conflict) has reached a very dangerous turning point. India is a country of 1.4 billion people, but to date, Prime Minister Modi has not expressed his opinion on this war. What is the fear? They should tell us what our role is and what we are going to do next." Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also highlighted the conflict's direct impact on India's public. "The direct impact on the public--it's absolutely serious. The public is being affected. There are shortages, whether it's of LPG or everything else. For example, if you go to restaurants, they're open, but more than half the items are missing because of a shortage of LPG. It's been a third week, and there haven't been any peace initiatives from any country. So, it's a good thing, a good initiative, that the Prime Minister has called all the ministers together and discussed how we can do this," the UBT Sena MP told ANI. "We see that the Prime Minister is constantly in touch with Iran, Israel, the US, and all the other Middle East nations, so this is very important. We have to tell them all that this isn't just impacting India; it's impacting the entire world. There are select countries that are launching attacks, and because of this, the entire country and the world are suffering," Chaturvedi added. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister's Office, the Cabinet Secretary, gave a detailed presentation on the global situation and the mitigating measures taken so far and being planned regarding the conflict by all concerned Ministries/Departments of the Government of India. The expected impact and measures taken to address it across sectors like agriculture, fertilisers, food security, petroleum, power, MSMEs, exporters, shipping, trade, finance, supply chains and all affected sectors were discussed. The overall macro-economic scenario in the country and further measures to be taken were also discussed. The ongoing conflict in West Asia will have significant short, medium and long term impact on the global economy and its effect on India was assessed, and counter-measures, both immediate and long-term, were discussed. A detailed assessment of availability for critical needs of the common man, including food, energy and fuel security, was made. Short term, medium-term and long-term measures to ensure the continued availability of essential needs were discussed in detail. The impact on farmers and their requirement for fertiliser for the Kharif season was assessed. The measures taken in the last few years to maintain adequate stocks of fertilisers will ensure timely availability and food security. Alternate sources of fertilisers were also discussed to ensure continued availability in the future. It was also determined that an adequate supply of coal stocks at all power plants will ensure no shortage of electricity in India. Several measures were discussed to diversify sources of imports required by chemicals, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals and other industrial sectors. Similarly, new export destinations to promote Indian goods will be developed in the near future. PM said that the conflict is an evolving situation and the entire world is affected in some form. In such a situation, all efforts must be made to safeguard the citizens from the impact of this conflict. PM instructed that all arms of government should work together to ensure the least inconvenience to the citizens. PM Modi also asked for proper coordination with state governments to ensure no black-marketing and hoarding of important commodities. (ANI)
In Somenahalli village of Gudibande taluk in Chikkaballapur district, the annual five-day Jaarutlu fair is being celebrated with great grandeur. It is a vibrant and culturally rich rural festival that draws thousands of devotees every year. Held over five days, it is deeply rooted in local traditions and religious devotion. Thousands of devotees have participated, adding to the festive spirit. As seen in the video, a massive crowd of devotees can be seen gathered in Somenahalli village, creating a lively and deeply devotional atmosphere during the Jaarutlu fair. The visuals show people assembled in large numbers in an open ground, closely watching and participating in traditional rituals that are an integral part of the celebration. The setting reflects a typical rural jatra, with a strong sense of community as devotees move together, offer prayers, and engage in age-old customs. The energy of the crowd, combined with the cultural backdrop and festive spirit, highlights the significance of the fair as both a religious and social gathering for the local population. https://x.com/ANI/status/2035917812020171016 The timing of the fair also coincides with the broader festive season marking the Hindu New Year across different parts of India, adding to its cultural significance. Expressing greetings on the same, President Droupadi Murmu on March 19, posted on X, wishing for "prosperity and new hopes" for all citizens on the occasion of Chaitra Shuklaadi, Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, Cheti Chand, Navreh, and Sajibu Cheiroba. "On the sacred occasion of Chaitra Shuklaadi, Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, Cheti Chand, Navreh, and Sajibu Cheiroba, I extend my heartfelt best wishes to all my fellow citizens. These festivals, celebrated across various regions of the country to welcome the arrival of the new year, are vibrant symbols of India's rich cultural diversity. My fond hope is that these joyous occasions infuse prosperity and new hopes into everyone's lives," the post read. Prime Minister Narendra Modi too wrote to the people of various states, extending greetings and well wishes on the occasions of Ugadi, Chaitra Navratri, and Gudi Padwa. In separate letters addressed to Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Maharashtra and Goa, the PM wrote that the onset of spring indicates "new energy and possibilities." Highlighting the "bitter-sweet" culinary delights prepared traditionally on the occasion, the PM encouraged people to face challenges with courage and gratitude.
The Lok Sabha on Monday paid solemn tribute to revolutionary heroes Sardar Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev, honoring their extraordinary courage, sacrifice, and patriotism that played a pivotal role in India's struggle for independence. Presiding over the House, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla remembered the revolutionary trio for their unparalleled courage, patriotism, and supreme sacrifice for India's independence. In a series of posts on X, Birla stated, "On the martyrdom day of the immortal revolutionaries Sardar Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru, who made the supreme sacrifice of their lives for the country's independence, the House today paid humble tribute to them. The unparalleled valour, unwavering courage, and patriotism of these great sons have made an indelible contribution to realising the dream of India's independence." https://x.com/ombirlakota/status/2035962534172459153?s=20 He further added, "Their sacrifice is not merely a glorious chapter in history, but an inspiration that ignites the flame of national love in the heart of every Indian. The nation will forever remain grateful for their invaluable contribution to the freedom of the motherland. Following their lofty ideals and thoughts, the true tribute to them is the resolve to march forward on the path of national service." https://x.com/ombirlakota/status/2035901822775542184?s=20 "These valiant patriots, who sacrificed their lives with a smile for the freedom of the nation, set an unparalleled example of courage, sacrifice, and patriotism. Their spirit and ideals continue to inspire every Indian's heart with the call to national service even today. This dedication to the motherland will forever remain an inspiration for us," the post added on X. Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid heartfelt tributes to freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar on the occasion of their martyrdom day, remembering their unparalleled sacrifice and contribution to India's freedom struggle. In a post shared on X, the Prime Minister said, "Today, we bow in reverence to the brave sons of Bharat Mata, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. Their martyrdom for the nation remains etched in our collective memory." Highlighting their courage at a young age, he added, "At a young age, they displayed extraordinary courage and an unshakable commitment to the cause of India's freedom." The Prime Minister also emphasised their fearless resistance against colonial rule, stating, "Undeterred by the might of colonial rule, they chose the path of sacrifice with conviction, placing the nation above their own lives." He further noted that their ideals continue to inspire generations. "Their ideals of justice, patriotism and fearless resistance continue to ignite the spirit of countless Indians," PM Modi said. Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru were iconic Indian revolutionary freedom fighters who were hanged by British authorities on March 23, 1931, in Lahore Jail, at a young age. Their supreme sacrifice for India's independence is commemorated annually on March 23 as Shaheed Diwas (Martyrs' Day), marking their roles in the Lahore Conspiracy Case and the revenge killing of British officer John Saunders in 1928. (ANI)
Conner Floyd has married Carly Frei in an "old Hollywood" style ceremony in Los Angeles.

Conner Floyd is married

The Days of Our Lives star tied the knot with his skincare expert fiancee at the London Hotel in West Hollywood on Saturday (21.03.26) as part of a weekend of festivities for their friends and family.

The couple told PEOPLE they wanted the ceremony to be inspired by "an old-school, Old Hollywood" vibe. The bride added: "If we could take the most glamorous parts of our lives and all the things that we love and fit them into a dream, fairytale weekend, thats exactly what this wedding was."

Conner added: "The past five years that we have been together have truly been the best five years of our lives - and to think that we get to spend a lifetime together from this moment on just makes both of us so excited for what the future has to offer."

The wedding festivities kicked off on Friday (20.03.26) with a welcome party at Los Angeles' Sunset Tower Hotel, which was hosted by the actor's parents.

The ceremony took place on Saturday and was officiated by the couple's friend Hayes Beyersdorfer, who was present on the night the pair first met back in 2020.

The bride wore a skirt, veil and neck scarf by Danielle Frankel with a corset top by Wiederhoeft and she changed into a different version of the outfit for the reception, which featured a cocktail hour, mini tacos, sliders and seafood as well as a sit-down dinner.

The couple had their first dance to Elvis Presley's hit Can't Help Falling in Love and they later headed off on honeymoon to Bora Bora.

The couple first met in 2020 but they didn't start dating until a year later. Conner went on to propose in 2024 in Carly's hometown of Boston, Massachusetts.

The soap star previously told PEOPLE magazine: "Carly is the love of my life. She means the world to me, and I really wanted to make this special for her ...

"The Boston Commons was covered with snow and the perfect venue for the proposal. It was a struggle to get her to walk through the park in 25-degree weather, but we made it happen."
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders on Monday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he became the longest-serving head of government in the country, highlighting his contributions to governance and public service. Speaking to ANI, BJP MP VD Sharma said, "The Prime Minister has recorded history... He changed the fate of the poorest of the poor." Rajya Sabha MP Dinesh Sharma also praised PM Modi's dedication as India advances globally. "What bigger example can it be of dedication to public service... He has established himself as a global leader because while the world suffers, India goes on with the continuous pace," he told ANI. BJP MP Arun Govil also added, "We are fortunate to have such a leader for whom the nation always comes first, and who never plays politics like the opposition..." 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)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey said on Monday that the Congress and DMK surrendered India's maritime rights by giving Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka. Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, he also celebrated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's record tenure days in public office as a Chief Minister and Prime Minister, describing it as a historic milestone for Indian democracy. "I have provided the documents; I have provided a copy of the agreement. The agreement copy states that the entire maritime area where India used to have rights. You might know about Katchatheevu. I will even give you the date that the agreement was made on June 26th, so June 26th is the date," he said. Adding to this, he said, "In this, they joined hands with the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Karunanidhi ji, and made this agreement. We have the minutes of both agreements involving Karunanidhi ji from the Government of India meetings; I will provide those to whoever asks for them as well." He blamed governments from Jawaharlal Nehru to Manmohan Singh for harming fishermen's interests and escalating tensions with Sri Lanka "Understand what happened after this. After the '76 agreement and the '74 Katchatheevu agreement, the situation that developed was that lakhs of fishermen would consistently go into our seas and Sri Lanka would capture and detain them. And even that wasn't enough; when Vajpayee ji tried to do something about this in 2002-2003, a joint statement was issued with Vajpayee ji, which was overturned again in 2008. Today, I have mentioned the 2008 joint statement as well as the agreement of March 23, 1976. Can anyone do anything more disgraceful? Our fishermen were reduced to beggars. In Tamil Nadu, the politics that DMK is playing with the Congress, they will have to answer to the public in the upcoming elections, said Dubey. "This will cause problems for fishermen in the future, and fishermen will go to jail because the entire sea area where India has control at the international border, that control will go to Sri Lanka. Setalvad wrote those Attorney General's views in 1961-62. That's what I said, the process that started with Nehru ji was furthered by Indira ji and completed by Manmohan Singh ji and Sonia ji in 2008," Dubey stated. He also praised PM Narendra Modi, calling his long tenure and rise from humble beginnings a matter of national pride and a symbol of growing public trust. "A person who came from a modest family background, whose family members used to sell tea, and who himself used to help his father sell tea at the Vadnagar railway station, from there, someone rose and, after the Gujarat model, gave the country a national vision and the mantra of 'Viksit Bharat 2047' (Developed India 2047), and is continuously serving the people. The people's trust has been with him consistently, and that trust is only growing. There cannot be a prouder moment than this in the democratic history of India, in the history of democracy," Dubey added. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to Ram Manohar Lohia on his birth anniversary, remembering him as an outstanding thinker and a voice of social justice. Describing Lohia as a multifaceted personality, PM highlighted his pivotal role in mobilising the masses against colonial rule and his subsequent contributions to India's progress after 1947. The Prime Minister remarked that Lohia was an outstanding thinker and one of the foremost voices of social justice in the country. He affirmed that Lohia's unwavering commitment to empowering the poor and the marginalised continues to inspire generations, noting that his thoughts on gender equality and participatory governance remain equally relevant today. On X, the PM wrote, "Tributes to Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Ji on his birth anniversary. He was a multifaceted personality who played a pivotal role in mobilising people against colonial rule and subsequently contributed to the progress of India after 1947. He was an outstanding thinker and one of the foremost voices of social justice. His unwavering commitment to the cause of empowering the poor and the marginalised continues to inspire generations. Equally noteworthy are his thoughts on gender equality and participatory governance." Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also paid tribute to Ram Manohar Lohia through a social media post. On X, he said, "On the birth anniversary of the great freedom fighter, eminent socialist thinker, and pioneer of 'Sapta Kranti', Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, humble tributes. His dedication to social justice, equality, and the national language Hindi will forever inspire us to build a strong and self-reliant India." Apart from them, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, along with other members of Parliament, paid floral tributes to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan. Ram Manohar Lohia was an activist in the Independence movement and a socialist political leader. He was a member of the Praja Socialist Party and the Samyukta Socialist Party. In 1962, Lohia contested against former PM Jawaharlal Nehru from Phulpur, but he lost the election. In 1963, he won the bye-election and became an MP from Farukkhabad. Later in 1967, he won the election from the Kannauj constituency. (ANI)
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday introduced the Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha. The Lok Sabha adopted a motion to send the bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for detailed examination. The bill seeks further amendments to the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008, and the Companies Act, 2013. The move comes as the second leg of the Budget session of Parliament resumes. Alongside the Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, the Finance Minister is also slated to move the Finance Bill, 2026, which outlines the financial proposals of the Central Government for the 2026-27 fiscal year, for consideration. During the proceedings, Indian National Congress (INC) MP Manish Tewari opposed the introduction of the bill, raising concerns over what he described as "excessive delegation of essential legislative functions." "The bill suffers from excessive delegation of essential legislative functions in violation of settled constitutional doctrine under Article 245 and 246. Core policy matters such as classification of company's, such as exumptions, determination of compliance requirements, threshold for corporate social responsibility, audit obligations and penalty frameworks are left to subordinate legislation through repeated use as may be prescribed provisions without adequate legislation guidance," he said. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the Lok Sabha at 2 PM today amid the ongoing budget session of Parliament, outlining key aspects of the ongoing West Asia conflict and India's position on the matter. On Sunday, PM Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security to review the situation, the ongoing and proposed mitigating measures in the context of the ongoing West Asia Conflict. According to the Prime Minister's Office, the Cabinet Secretary gave a detailed presentation on the global situation and the mitigating measures taken so far and being planned by all concerned Ministries/Departments of the Government of India. The expected impact and measures taken to address it across sectors like agriculture, fertilisers, food security, petroleum, power, MSMEs, exporters, shipping, trade, finance, supply chains and all affected sectors were discussed. The overall macro-economic scenario in the country and further measures to be taken were also discussed. (ANI)
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday announced the allotment of digital vouchers to National and State political parties for free broadcast and telecast on Doordarshan and All India Radio (AIR) in the run-up to the scheduled Legislative Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. In an official press release, the ECI stated that the move has been carried out under Section 39A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. According to the ECI, digital time vouchers have been issued through an IT platform. "Digital time vouchers have been issued through the IT platform to all the recognised National and State Political Parties across 5 poll-bound States/UT for the Legislative assembly elections," the ECI noted. The broadcast window will begin from the date of publication of the list of contesting candidates and continue until two days before polling in each phase. The scheduling of actual broadcast slots will be determined through a transparent draw of lots conducted at the State/UT level. "The broadcast/telecast period will be scheduled between the date of publication of the list of contesting candidates in each phase and two days before the date of poll in the poll-bound States/UT. The actual broadcast/telecast will be scheduled in advance through a draw of lots at the State/UT level in the presence of authorized representatives of the political parties and officials from the office of respective State/UT CEO," the press release said. Each party will receive a base allocation of 45 minutes of free airtime on both Doordarshan and All India Radio. This time will be uniformly distributed across regional networks within the respective states. The ECI also clarified that additional airtime will be granted based on parties' performance in previous assembly elections, providing an advantage to those with established electoral presence. The Commission further stated that the political parties are required to submit transcripts and recordings in advance, ensuring compliance with technical and regulatory standards. "Political parties are required to submit transcripts and recordings in advance, strictly adhering to the relevant guidelines. Recordings may be made in studios meeting the technical standards prescribed by Prasar Bharati or at Doordarshan/AIR Kendras," ECI said. Beyond individual party broadcasts, Prasar Bharati will also organise panel discussions and debates, allowing parties to present their views collectively. "In addition to party broadcasts, Prasar Bharati Corporation will organise up to two panel discussions and/or debates on Doordarshan and All India Radio. Each eligible political party may nominate one representative for the programme which will be moderated by an approved coordinator," a press note concluded. Earlier, the ECI announced the schedule for Assembly elections in four states--West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Assam--along with the Union Territory of Puducherry. According to the schedule, polling in West Bengal will be conducted in two phases on April 23 and April 29. Kerala and Assam will vote in a single phase on April 9, while Tamil Nadu will go to the polls on April 23. Voting in Puducherry will also take place on April 9. The counting of votes for all four states and Puducherry will be held on May 4, the ECI announced. (ANI)
Kerala Leader of Opposition (LoP) and senior Congress leader VD Satheesan on Monday filed his nomination papers from the Paravur constituency for the upcoming state assembly polls. He is hoping to secure his sixth consecutive victory. Congress on Thursday announced its second list of 37 candidates. As per the released list, TO Mohanan is contesting from Kannur, Senapathy Venu from Udumbanchola, and Santhakumar from the Adoor (SC) seat. While Sandeep Varier is contesting from Trikaripur, M Liju is running from Kayamkulam, and Abin Varkey from Aranmula. In the first list, Congress has announced 55 candidates. The party fielded Kerala Congress Committee President Sunny Joseph from the Peravoor seat. Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan has been fielded from the Paravur seat. K Muraleedharan, former MP and son of veteran Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Kerala, K Karunakaran, from the Vattiyoorkavu seat. The 2026 Kerala Legislative Assembly elections will be held in a single phase on April 9, the Election Commission of India announced on March 15, with the counting of votes scheduled to take place on May 4. The tenure of the current assembly is scheduled to end on May 23. The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into place, setting in process elections to the 140-member State Assembly, which is also known as the Kerala Niyamasabha. Both the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance and the Congress-led United Democratic Front seek to unseat the incumbent CPI(M)-led LDF and gain control of the 140-member assembly. The LDF-led government has governed the state for around a decade. In the Kerala Legislative Assembly election, held in a single phase on April 6, 2021, with results being declared on May 2, 2021. The incumbent LDF retained power with 99 seats, marking the first time since 1977 that a ruling alliance secured consecutive terms in the state. The UDF won 41 seats, while the NDA saw a decline in vote share and lost its only seat in the Assembly. Following the victory, Pinarayi Vijayan became the first Chief Minister of Kerala to be re-elected after completing a full five-year term in office. In terms of vote share, the LDF received 41.5 per cent of the total votes, significantly ahead of the UDF, which secured 38.4 per cent. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), secured 11.4 per cent of the votes but failed to win a single seat in the election. Among individual parties in 2021, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) emerged as the single largest party with 62 seats and a vote share of 25.5 per cent. The Indian National Congress (INC) won 21 seats with a comparable vote share of 25.2 per cent, while the Communist Party of India (CPI) secured 17 seats. The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a key UDF ally, won 15 seats. (ANI)
Congress MP Digvijaya Singh on Monday questioned the Centre over India joining Pax Silica, raising concerns regarding data privacy. Pax Silica is envisioned as a strategic coalition of trusted nations committed to securing the "silicon stack", from critical minerals and semiconductor fabrication to advanced AI systems and deployment infrastructure. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, the Congress MP flagged concerns over data privacy and sovereignty, constraints on policy autonomy, and breach of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, asking the government to share the terms and conditions of the agreement. Underscoring the dominant role played by the US in Pax Silica, the Congress MP asked whether it is a step towards "digital colonialism." "I rise to draw the attention of the house to an important and emergent issue that is significant implication for India's strategic autonomy, data privacy and technical sovereignty. India has recently joined an international technology coalition known as Pax Silica. In simple terms, it is a group of countries aimed at cooperation and standard setting in critical areas such as semiconductors, AI and digital infrastructure, with a dominant role played by the US. By signing Pax Silica unconditionally, is it a step towards digital colonialism? This is something that concerns every citizen and their privacy" he argued. "While this initiative may offer certain benefits, such as access to secure supply chains and increased investments in advanced technologies, it also raises serious concerns that merit an urgent discussion," he added. Highlighting the possibility of data processing by foreign platforms, he asked about the protection of the citizens' data under the shared standards and systems of the coalition. He also questioned the safeguarding of India's long-term policy autonomy in AI, semiconductor and digital sectors. "The foremost concern is data privacy and sovereignty. If India were required to align with shared standards and systems under this coalition, then there is a possibility that Indian data may be processed or governed through foreign platforms or frameworks. This raises critical questions about the effectiveness and the enforceability of India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023. Would the private data of the Indian citizen be protected in the DPDP Act? We want to know from the govt," the Congress MP asked. "Secondly, there are apprehensions that India's long-term policy autonomy in AI development, semiconductor strategy and digital infrastructure may be constrained by external standards and oversight. This could potentially dilute our long-standing principle of strategic autonomy and impact the governemnt's India First approach," he questioned. Noting the concerns, he asked the government to present the terms and conditions of India's participation in the coalition, the measures to protect Indian citizens' data and efforts to safeguard India's policy autonomy. "In view of these concerns, I urge the govt to clarify: the terms and conditions of India's participation in Pax Silica; the safeguarding place to ensure the protection and sovereignty of Indian citizens' data; and whether this arrangement affects India's independent policymaking in critical technology sectors. This is not merely a technological matter but one that concerns national security, economic sovereignty and the rights of our citizens. The govt must present all facts before the house in full transparency," Singh asked. Earlier this month, United States Ambassador to India Sergio Gor at India Today Conclave 2026 said that the United States is a trusted partner in building the next generation of strategic supply chains centred around artificial intelligence, semiconductors and advanced technology. India formally joined the Pax Silica coalition in February this year, aimed at securing the "silicon stack" from critical minerals to advanced AI systems. Vaishnaw said innovation was driving cost efficiencies globally. "People are looking at reducing power cost by 50 per cent. The same thing will happen in chip cost. So much innovation is happening," he said. The initiative seeks to reduce overconcentration in global supply chains, prevent economic coercion, and ensure that emerging technologies are developed and governed by open, democratic societies. (ANI)
Leaders of the BRS party staged a protest near Gunpark in Hyderabad on Monday, demanding the immediate release of pending fee reimbursements for students. Addressing the protest, BRS MLA KP Vivekanand Goud said nearly Rs 12,000 crore in student fee reimbursements remain pending 2.5 years into the Congress government, affecting poor and SC, ST, BC, and minority students. They urged the budget session to release the pending fees immediately, warning that delays are harming students' futures. "The government has promised to fulfil the fee reimbursement of the students. But it's been 2.5 years since the Congress government came to power. Nearly Rs 12,000 crores of fee reimbursements are pending. We, the BRS party, are demanding that this budget session immediately release all the pending fee reimbursements to the students because poor and SC, ST, BC, and minority students are suffering," he told ANI. "They are not getting their certificates after the completion of their degrees. It's playing with the future of the students. We immediately demand that the Congress party release the pending fees," Goud added. Meanwhile, BRS MLA Palla Rajeshwar said, "Since the formation of Telangana, when KCR became Chief Minister, the scholarship benefits were extended to many other sections. Earlier, full amounts were given only to SCs and STs, but then it was also extended to some BCs and also to minorities. Whoever secured a rank within 10,000 used to get a 100% scholarship. Almost 10 to 12 lakh students receive around 2,500 crores every year. This money does not go to the management; it goes to the students. There are two kinds of fees they have divided: MTF (Maintenance Fund) and RTF (Reimbursement of Tuition Fee). Students receive MTF directly into their accounts for maintenance, while RTF is given directly to the management of the institutions." Talking about the hardships of the students, he said, "In the last two and a half years, the government hasn't paid a single rupee either to the students or to the colleges. Right now, students are facing problems. Earlier, there were some arrears of around 2,500 to 3,000 crores. But in the last three years--continuously for the last four academic years--the total has now reached almost 12,000 crores." "They are saying that in the budget, they have allocated only 4,000 crores. During the last academic year, all the students and institutions went on strike, but the government did not listen, even though they made many promises," Rajeshwar added. (ANI)
AAP MP Sanjay Singh on Monday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of putting the nation under threat amid the West Asia conflict. Speaking to ANI regarding the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting chaired by the Prime Minister on Sunday, the AAP MP questioned the delayed response of the government in attempting to safeguard the energy requirements of the country. "Why did this meeting not take place earlier? You did it now, when the shortage of gas and oil will increase... Every other country talked to Iran, and their ships are coming...Their affairs have not been hampered. It took 13 days for the government to wake up from its sleep and talk to the Iranian President. You (government) deliberately put the nation under threat. I say this because the citizens might not know, but the governemnt and the EAM knew that 60% of crude oil and 50% of natural gas are imported to India via the Strait of Hormuz, which is under the control of Iran. So we are trying to mess with a country that secures our energy requirements," he argued. Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav seconded Singh's remarks, asking the government to further its measures in navigating the crisis. including the disruption of the food supply chain. "The opposition has been saying this since the beginning, but the government did not accept... We must speak on all of these issues, and the government should work on such things, including the disruption of the food supply chain...," she said. Congress MP Mallu Ravi also raised concerns over the delayed conduct of the review meeting and asked for an All-Party meeting on the issue. "The Prime Minister should have called for an All-Party meeting in the beginning so that the problem regarding LPG could have been avoided. Now it looks like a post-mortem... This is the time for calling an All-Party meeting and taking the opinion of the nation..," he said. Meanwhile, Congress MP Ujjwal Raman Singh deemed the government incapable of managing the situation. Questioning the outcome of the CCS meeting, he demanded that the PM inform the nation regarding the arrangements made by the government. "The people want to know what the outcome of the meeting was, and that's why it did not take place earlier... We demand that during the Parliament session, the Prime Minister assure the people how people's money is being saved and what arrangements have been made to ensure that people don't face problems... The government is proving to be incapable...," he said. Expressing similar demand, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi aso asked the Prime Minister to clarify the stance of the country amid the crisis. "If the PM speaks about the situation in the country and how we will face the expected problems, then the country will come to know about the situation...," she asked. Further, Samajwadi Party MP Rajiv Rai called the increase in oil prices an excuse by the government. He also questioned the governemnt's silence on the situation of the Indian students stranded in the warring nations. "A CM of your government sent our kids to Israel, propagating it as a big achievement. Today, since you are conducting the high-level meeting, I request that you also address the safe repatriation of our students. The MEA is silent, the CM is silent, the PM is silent. As for the energy crisis, I want to ask the governemnt, what percentage did the government reduce when the crude oil prices reduced to 30-40%? Now you are excusing the crisis and increasing the prices. I have already filed an adjournment motion and will try to raise this issue sometime in the Parliament," he said. JMM MP Mahua Majhi asked the Prime Minister to hold a meeting with the opposition leaders regarding the conflict-mitigating measures, expressing criticism of the increased prices of LPG and petrol in the country. "This is a time of crisis, and it was being said that the war would stop, but nothing like that is visible. The spectre of World War III is looming... There is a shortage of LPG and petrol. The price of LPG has also increased. They should hold a meeting with the opposition leaders... This is a matter of the interest of the entire country," she said. Additionally, Congress MP Rajeev Shukla criticised the increase in the price of LPG and attributed it to the government's "wrong foreign policies." "The war should stop at all costs... Fuel prices are on the rise in the country... The government has increased the prices of LPG... Due to the government's wrong foreign policies, the nation is suffering...," he said. Meanwhile, as the conflict between the US-Israel and Iran enters its fourth week, the Iranian Armed Forces headquarters has said that it is ready to close the Strait of Hormuz "indefinitely" if the United States threatens to bomb Iranian energy facilities, CNN reported. This comes as the US President on Saturday said that he would bomb Iranian infrastructure if the Strait of Hormuz was not open to shipping in the next 48 hours. US Centcom said that U.S. forces are destroying Iranian naval targets that threaten international shipping in and near the Strait of Hormuz. (ANI)
The Supreme Court, while hearing a PIL concerning alleged financial irregularities and fund siphoning involving entities linked to Anil Ambani, including Reliance Home Finance Limited, orally observed that the conduct of the investigating agencies has reflected a degree of reluctance. The bench, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, noted that despite serious allegations flagged in regulatory findings and submissions before the Court, the pace and approach of the probe raised concerns. The Court has thus directed that the investigation carried out by the probe agencies (ED and CBI) must be transparent, fair and time-bound so as to inspire confidence not only in the Court but also among all stakeholders. "But your investigating agencies the way they have shown reluctance - they should come out in a time bound transparent and fair investigation. Your investigation must inspire confidence not only of the court by of every stakeholder", the Court said. During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the Court that the Enforcement Directorate has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising officers from different investigating agencies, including deputy directors and assistant directors, along with forensic auditors to examine the transactions. It was further submitted that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has appointed transaction auditors and that arrests have been made in the course of the investigation. The Court also noted that the status report filed by ED and CBI indicates that multiple cases are under probe, including those involving the role of public servants and that details have been sought from financial institutions. Senior Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing on behalf of the PIL petitioner, however, contended that despite findings in the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) report alleging fraudulent schemes and siphoning of funds by Anil Ambani and related entities, no substantial action, including arrests by the CBI, had been undertaken. In response, the Solicitor General submitted that four persons have been arrested so far. Taking note of the submissions, the Court observed that investigating agencies must "join hands" to ascertain the truth, particularly where allegations point to possible connivance with authorities. It reiterated that the probe must be conducted in a dispassionate and independent manner and be completed within a time-bound framework. SGI Mehta assured the Court that no stone would be left unturned in uncovering the truth. In its order, it noted that in compliance with its earlier order, the ED has constituted an SIT to investigate the Reliance-related cases. The SIT comprises senior officers and is supported by forensic auditors. It noted the CBI's status report, which states that several cases are under investigation, including those involving public servants, and that substantial financial transactions are under scrutiny. The Court has directed all concerned financial institutions to extend full cooperation to the ED with respect to the investigation in the case. The matter has been posted for further hearing after four weeks. (ANI)
Kurt Russell says Colorado is his favourite place.

Kurt Russell says Colorado is his favourite place

Describing the lifestyle he shares there with his long-term actress partner Goldie Hawn, 80, the actor, 75, said their rural life was a total contrast to Hollywood.

Kurt told Fox News about his home in the state, where he spends time with Goldie and their family: What I enjoy most is that (Goldie) really likes it in Colorado.

Referring to his son and grandchildren, Kurt added: Wyatt and Meredith and their two boys, they live in Colorado now. So we like to spend as much time there as we can.

Kurt also compared his own lifestyle to that depicted in The Madison.

He said: I'd like to be there more.

Kurt added: And there's a different kind of life there. That's primarily it. I'd like to be able to spend as much time there as possible.

In a separate interview with The Wall Street Journal, Kurt described the property he shares with Goldie.

He said: Our Old Snowmass home is my favorite. (Its) a large, beautiful log-cabin lodge on a ranch that we moved into a little over 40 years ago.

I like to wake up in bed each morning looking at the mountain out back.

I like to head down to the barn, saddle up a horse and ride. I also like zoning out in front of the living room fireplace.

Kurt said he and Goldie couple divide their time between several properties, but return frequently to Colorado, where their son Wyatt Russell lives with his wife Meredith Hagner and their children.

The comments come as Kurt promotes his new series The Madison, whose storyline similarly moves between urban and rural settings.

Goldies son Oliver Hudson also spoke about the property during an appearance on Live with Kelly and Ryan.

He said: Mom built this house first, and then my stepdad Kurt built the other house.

So we lived here in 1985 for two years.

Its a bit of a time capsule. Those curtains that you see are like 30 years old, you know what I mean? Mom refuses to update, which, kind of, is great.

Kurt and Goldie have been in a relationship since 1983 and share a blended family.

Their children include Boston Russell, Oliver, Kate Hudson and Wyatt.

Wyatt and Meredith have two children, with Kurt and Goldie having six other grandchildren.
Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Monday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for becoming the longest-serving head of a government, completing 8,931 days in office and surpassing the record of former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling's record of 8,930 days. Speaking with the media here, the Union Minister expressed pride and elation over the record and hoped for an "even longer tenure with the same spirit of service" for the Prime Minister. "It is a matter of happiness and pride not just for the PM but also his supporters that the PM has become a leader who has got the longest opportunity to serve the nation. While leading the government at the top, he has spent the most time serving the people. I wish that he gets the opportunity to spend an even longer tenure with the same spirit of service," he said. 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. Several senior leaders congratulated PM Modi on the milestone, praising his "decades-long dedication, continuous public service, and commitment to development and good governance". 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)
The Similipal Tiger Reserve, home to the rare pseudo-melanistic tigers, has seen a major crackdown on poachers, with 12 arrests made in connection with the seizure of a melanistic tiger skin. However, the main accused remains absconding, raising concerns over the effectiveness of the Rs. 100 crore annual budget allocated for the reserve's protection. In a shocking incident, the Baripada Forest Division in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha, seized the skin of an adult melanistic tiger (commonly known as a black tiger) from poachers. Authorities arrested a total of 12 individuals in connection with the case, though the main accused remains absconding. Melanistic tigers, characterised by their striking dark-striped coats due to a rare pseudo-melanism genetic mutation, are unique to Similipal Tiger Reserve, the only known wild habitat for this variant worldwide. The reserve is home to an estimated 13 such tigers, based on previous records, making each loss a severe blow to biodiversity and conservation efforts. According to the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Baripada, the tiger was killed within the past month. This poaching incident comes despite substantial government funding, over Rs. 100 crore annually from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Odisha government for tiger protection, habitat management, and anti-poaching measures in Similipal. Advanced technologies, including AI-based surveillance cameras installed to detect intruders and poachers in real-time, have been deployed to bolster security. Yet, the killing of this precious animal raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of these systems and overall enforcement on the ground. Critics argue that despite crores spent on conservation, poaching persists, threatening the fragile population of these globally unique tigers. Accountability remains a key question: Who will take responsibility for these lapses in protection? Forest officials continue investigations to apprehend the remaining suspects and trace the poaching network. This case underscores the urgent need for stronger implementation of safeguards to preserve Similipal's rare melanistic tigers for future generations. Similipal Tiger Reserve is the only place in the world to house the rare black tigers. STR was declared one of the nine Tiger Reserves of India in 1973. It is the second-largest biosphere reserve in Asia and is listed under the UNESCO network of biosphere reserves. (ANI)
The West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to release its much-anticipated election manifesto on March 28 in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The manifesto launch is expected to be a major political event, outlining the party's vision, priorities, and strategic roadmap for the upcoming Assembly elections in the state. According to sources, the BJP's West Bengal unit will unveil its manifesto on March 28 for the forthcoming Assembly elections. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will attend the launch, along with senior BJP leaders from the state. Senior party leaders, state office-bearers, candidates, and a large number of party workers are expected to be present at the event. The manifesto is likely to focus on key issues such as governance, development, employment generation, infrastructure, law and order, and welfare measures for various sections of society. Sources further indicate that special emphasis may be laid on youth engagement, women's empowerment, and strengthening both rural and urban connectivity across the state. In the run-up to the manifesto launch, the BJP has intensified its organisational activities across West Bengal. As part of these efforts, senior BJP leader Nitin Nabin will visit the state on March 24 and 25 to hold a series of crucial meetings with party leadership and key functionaries. During his two-day visit, Nabin will hold detailed discussions with leaders from the party's five major organisational zones: North Bengal, Rarh Bengal, Nabadwip, Kolkata, and Howrah-Hooghly-Medinipur. These meetings are considered strategically significant, as they aim to assess the party's preparedness at both macro and micro levels. The discussions are expected to cover a wide range of issues, including booth-level management, constituency-wise planning, coordination among district units, and strengthening the party's grassroots network. Special focus will be placed on effectively communicating the party's message to voters and maximising outreach through targeted campaign strategies. Nabin's visit is also expected to boost the morale of party workers and provide a clear direction ahead of the high-stakes electoral battle. His interactions with zonal leaders will play a crucial role in aligning the organisation with the central leadership's vision and electoral roadmap. (ANI)
BJD MP Sasmit Patra on Monday urged the US, Israel, and Iran to return to the negotiating table over the escalating West Asia conflict, warning that a prolonged clash could worsen the energy crisis, destabilize global economies, and heighten geopolitical tensions. He stressed the need for dialogue, cooperation, and collaboration to prevent further bloodshed and global polarization. Speaking to ANI, Patra said,"This conflict in West Asia is becoming more and more troubled as the day goes by... I would still urge that all three countries primarily involved in this conflict, the US, Israel, and Iran, try to find a middle path of negotiation and come back to the negotiating table and try to ensure that this conflict does not get any bloodier." He added, "If this conflict gets long-drawn, it will have a huge impact in terms of the energy crisis, destroying the value that economies have built post-COVID. It'll have a huge negative impact in terms of geopolitics and will polarise the world. While the time is still there, we need to pull back and find ways and avenues of collaboration, cooperation, and discussion rather than of conflict." Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the Lok Sabha at 2 PM today amid the ongoing budget session of Parliament, outlining key aspects of the ongoing West Asia conflict and India's position on the matter. Prime Minister's Office, the Cabinet Secretary gave a detailed presentation on the global situation and the mitigating measures taken so far and being planned regarding the conflict by all concerned Ministries/Departments of the Government of India. The expected impact and measures taken to address it across sectors like agriculture, fertilisers, food security, petroleum, power, MSMEs, exporters, shipping, trade, finance, supply chains and all affected sectors were discussed. The overall macro-economic scenario in the country and further measures to be taken were also discussed. The ongoing conflict in West Asia will have significant short, medium and long term impact on the global economy and its effect on India was assessed, and counter-measures, both immediate and long-term, were discussed. A detailed assessment of availability for critical needs of the common man, including food, energy and fuel security, was made. Short term, medium-term and long-term measures to ensure the continued availability of essential needs were discussed in detail. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday cautioned that the ongoing conflict in West Asia is likely to have lasting effects even as he asserted that India's diplomatic role has been to urge for de-escalating tensions. He emphasised that dialogue and diplomacy were the only solutions to this problem. While addressing the Lok Sabha on the issue, the PM said that the country must remain prepared for the lasting effects that are likely due to the US-Israel-Iran conflict. "Because of this war, the difficult global situation may continue for a long time. Therefore, we must remain prepared and stay united. We have faced such challenges before as well by staying united during the coronavirus pandemic. We must remain very careful and alert. Some people will try to spread rumours to take advantage of the situation. We must not allow such people to succeed," PM Modi said. He said that India's role in diplomacy has been about urging everyone to de-escalate tensions and end this conflict. The PM also informed of his conversation with the heads of state in West Asia. He asserted that the attacks on commercial vessels and the blockage of international waterways like the Strait of Hormuz were "unacceptable". "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. Attacks on commercial vessels and the blockage of international waterways like the Strait of Hormuz are unacceptable," the PM said. "India is continuously making efforts through diplomacy to ensure the safe passage of Indian ships, even in this war-like environment. India has always advocated for the welfare of humanity and peace," he added. The PM emphasised that dialogue and diplomacy were the only solutions to the ongoing conflict in West Asia. "I reiterate that dialogue and diplomacy are the only solutions to this problem. All our efforts are aimed at reducing tensions and ending this conflict. Endangering the lives of anyone in this war is not in the interest of humanity. Therefore, India's efforts are to encourage all parties to reach a peaceful resolution as soon as possible," PM Modi said. "When such crises arise, some elements try to exploit them. Therefore, all law and order agencies have been put on alert. Security is being further strengthened, be it coastal security, border security, cyber security, or strategic installations," he added. The PM said that India's identity has been to face every challenge with patience, restraint, and a calm mind. He also warned against those who sought to take advantage of the situation. "We must face every challenge with patience, restraint, and a calm mind. This is our identity, this is our strength. We must also be very careful and vigilant. Those who seek to exploit the situation will try to spread lies. We must not allow their efforts to succeed. I will also appeal to all state governments through this House. During such times, black marketers and hoarders become active. Strict monitoring is essential for this. Wherever such complaints come, prompt action must be taken. When every government and every citizen of the country work together, we can challenge every challenge," PM Modi said. (ANI)
BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy on Monday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address in the Lok Sabha over West Asia developments, asserting that he spoke like a "statesman." Speaking to ANI, Rudy emphasised that the Prime Minister gave all the information to the Lower House, adding he also cleared India's stance over the West Asia situation and wants peace in the region. "The PM's approach was like a statesman. He came to the House and gave all the information. The PM has told the world today that India is prepared, while we want this conflict to end," said Rudy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday highlighted that the situation in West Asia amid the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict was "worrisome" and had a severe impact on the global economy and people's lives. As India witnesses challenges with the ongoing conflict entering its fourth week, PM Modi addressed the Lok Sabha and stated that these challenges were related to national security. He highlighted that "unprecedented challenges" due to the conflict were humanitarian as well. "The situation in West Asia is worrisome. This conflict has been going on for more than three weeks. It has a severe impact on the global economy and the lives of the people, and that is why the world is urging all sides for an early resolution to this conflict," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister informed of India's trade relations with countries in the West Asian region that were witnessing war, stating that a large part of the country's need for crude oil and gas was met by the war-affected region. He informed that the region also remains crucial as it provides a route for India's trade with other countries as well. "This war has also posed unprecedented challenges for India. These challenges are economic, related to national security, and humanitarian as well. India has extensive trade relations with the warring and war-affected countries. The region where this war is taking place is also an important route for our trade with other countries of the world. In particular, a large part of our needs for crude oil and gas is met by this very region," he added. Highlighting that at least one crore Indian nationals reside in the Gulf countries, PM Modi said that India's concern over the ongoing war between US-Israel and Iran was "naturally greater". He emphasised the need for a unified voice regarding the conflict. "Nearly 1 crore Indians live and work in the Gulf countries. Commercial ships operate there. The number of Indian crew members is also very high. Due to these various reasons, India's concerns are naturally greater. Therefore, it is essential that a unified voice and consensus reach the world regarding this crisis from the Parliament," the PM said. He further said that all Indian nationals stranded in the conflict-ridden countries were being provided assistance by the government. The PM informed that help was being given to families of those who have died during the conflict. "Since this war began, every Indian in the affected countries has been provided assistance. I have spoken over the phone with the heads of state of most West Asian countries for two rounds. All have assured the safety of Indians. During the conflict, some people have lost their lives, and some have been injured. We are helping their families," PM Modi said, adding that the Indian government was involved in helping citizens, including tourists. "The Indian government has been issuing advisories amid the ongoing conflict, with outreach rooms and emergency helplines being operational 24 x 7," the PM said. He further stated that over 3.75 lakh Indian nationals have returned safely to the country, with at least 1,000 of them having been escorted from Iran. "Since the war began, more than 3,75,000 Indians have returned safely to India. From Iran, nearly 1,000 Indians have returned safely so far, of whom over 700 are medical students. In view of the situation, CBSE has cancelled Class 10 and 12 exams in the schools in Gulf countries and is taking necessary steps to ensure students' education continues without disruption," the PM said. He acknowledged that the challenge to the movement of cargo ships through the Strait of Hormuz was one of the effects of the ongoing conflict, informing about the efforts made by the Indian government to ensure that petrol, diesel, and gas supplies were not impacted. "A large quantity of crude oil, gas, fertilisers and many essential items comes to India through the Strait of Hormuz route. Since the war began, the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz has become very challenging. Despite this, our government has made efforts to ensure that the supply of petrol, diesel, and gas is not severely impacted," PM Modi said. The PM said that the government has prioritised domestic LPG consumers amid the uncertainty in supply. "As we all know, the country imports 60 per cent of its LPG requirement. Due to uncertainty in supply, the government has prioritised domestic LPG consumers. At the same time, domestic production of LPG is also being increased. Continuous efforts have also been made to ensure that the supply of petrol and diesel across the country remains smooth. LPG production in the country is also being increased," he added. The PM informed about the steps taken by the government in the last 11 years to prioritise the storage of crude oil for times of such crises. He said that India has strategic petroleum reserves of more than 5.3 million metric tons. "India has strategic petroleum reserves of more than 5.3 million metric tons, and the country is working on arrangements for reserves of more than 6.5 million metric tons. In the past 11 years, there has also been a notable increase in our refinery capacity. The government is also in constant contact with suppliers from different countries. First, we used to import from 27 countries; now we do from 41 nations," PM Modi said. "The difficult conditions created in the world by this war are likely to have lasting effects for a long time, so we must be prepared and remain united. We have faced such challenges with unity during the COVID period, and now we need to be prepared again," he added. (ANI)
Assam Congress President Gaurav Gogoi on Monday launched a sharp attack on the ruling dispensation in the state, alleging that "hate-filled politics" has taken root in the state and asserted that people are "fed up" with it. Speaking to reporters in Jorhat, the state Congress chief claimed that the Opposition parties are looking to unite to "clean up Assam's politics" ahead of the Assembly elections. "Today, there is hate-filled politics in Assam. The people of Assam are fed up with this... For this, all Opposition parties in Assam want to unite and clean up Assam's politics," Gogoi said. The Congress leader earlier on Sunday framed the upcoming Assembly elections as a contest between "Congress turncoats" and those committed to the legacy of former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. He took a swipe at Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who defected from Congress to the BJP in 2015, claiming the BJP in Assam is now being run by former Congress leaders. "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," he said. The political landscape in Assam has seen significant churn, with leaders such as Pradyut Bordoloi and Bhupen Kumar Borah recently joining the BJP. Bordoloi is contesting from Dispur, while Borah will fight from Bihpuria. Backing Gogoi's leadership, Congress leader Pawan Khera said the party remains united despite defections. "Everyone is fighting together... Gaurav Gogoi is our captain of the ship," he said, alleging widespread corruption and governance issues under the BJP government. The Congress plans to contest 100 of the 126 seats, in alliance with parties including Assam Jatiya Parishad, Raijor Dal, CPI(M), CPI(ML), and the All Party Hill Leaders Conference. Polling for all 126 constituencies will be held on April 9, with counting scheduled for May 4, as announced by the Election Commission of India. (ANI)
Congress leader Supriya Shrinate on Monday called for the disqualification of the candidature of Bharatiya Janata Party leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar, from the upcoming Assembly elections in Kerala, alleging that the latter has not disclosed his residence. Taking it to X, Shrinate shared a post by Congress Kerala showcasing the property tax receipt of Chandrasekhar by Bengaluru South City Corporation and questioned whether the Kerala Chief Electoral Officer will take action against such a lapse, "Isn't non-disclosure a ground for disqualification? Will @Ceokerala act against @RajeevRC_X?" Kerala Congress highlighted that Chandrasekhar has not disclosed his 49,000 sq ft of residence in Koramangala.BJP candidate from Nemom constituency, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, has not disclosed his residence, a 49,000 sq ft mansion in Koramangala 3rd Block, Bengaluru, in his affidavit. "This is a 1.07-acre property in one of the most expensive locations in the country, where many Indian billionaires live. Land here costs around Rs 35,000 to Rs 50,000 per sq.ft or more. By a fair estimate, the land value alone could be around Rs 200 crore. The property number is 408. You can download the property tax receipt using Application Number: 1600322463 from the link below: https://bbmptax.karnataka.gov.in/forms/PrintForms.aspx?rptype=3," they wrote on X. The Kerala Congress added that the tax was paid only six days ago. Calling Chandrasekhar a "habitual offender", the Kerala Congress demanded his disqualification. "The tax was paid just six days ago on 17th March, which you can verify yourself. If there is any doubt whether this belongs to the same Rajeev Chandrasekhar, his 2024 affidavit lists the same address, #408, Koramangala 3rd Block, as his residence. Rajeev Chandrasekhar is a habitual offender and appears to believe he can mislead the Election Commission of India repeatedly. His affidavit even suggests that he owns no residential property or car despite being a billionaire businessman," he said. "We request you to intervene in this matter and disqualify the candidate as per the People's Representation Act. Otherwise, it's only fair for the public to question whether the office is acting impartially," he added. Meanwhile, polling for Kerala Assembly elections will be held in a single phase on April 9, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4. (ANI)
Aviation expert Sanat Kaul on Monday called for stricter curbs on domestic airfare, suggesting that the regulatory body should step in to decide on an upper and lower limit to fares in public interest. He highlighted that a 'duopoly' in the sector could lead to increasing fares. "There should be a discussion on the issue of putting lower and upper limits on fares. There should be a regulatory body to control fares. We want competition in the sector, but when there is a duopoly and in public interest, then it has to be seen that excessive fares are not demanded," Kaul told ANI. He highlighted that the DGCA has the authority to curb airfares when they spike excessively and stressed that it should actively use these powers in the public interest. Referring to the recent IndiGo-related issues, he said the situation has once again exposed the duopoly in India's airline sector, raising concerns about limited competition and pricing control. He emphasised the need to rethink current regulatory approaches to ensure passengers are not unfairly burdened, adding that a dedicated public grievance commission or tribunal for air travellers is necessary, as cases in consumer courts often take years to resolve. 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 ensure 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)
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Monday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not condemning the United States and Israel's strikes against Iran and invoking the COVID-19 pandemic while making a statement in Parliament on the West Asia conflict. Jairam Ramesh termed PM Modi's statement a "master class in self-boasts and partisan dialogue-baazi (dramatic dialogue)." The Congress MP wrote on X, "The Prime Minister's uncharacteristically short speech in the Lok Sabha today was, as usual, a master class in self-boasts, cowardice, and partisan dialogue-baazi. Not a single word was uttered in condemnation of the continued US-Israeli air assaults on Iran. Iran's attack on the Gulf countries and the Strait of Hormuz is, to be sure, completely unacceptable - but so is the relentless bombing of Iran with the objective of regime change and state collapse." "The Prime Minister also continued his bluster on India's economic growth record. A few days ago, his own former Chief Economic Advisor went on record warning that India's economic growth in Mr Modi's tenure was significantly overestimated. The PM seems to believe that if he doesn't engage with this very credible and disturbing report, he can wish it away," he added. As PM Modi said, "We have faced such challenges with unity during the COVID period, and now we need to be prepared again," Jairam Ramesh hit back, highlighting the plight of migrant workers and deaths during the pandemic. "Finally, the PM's invocation of the COVID-19 pandemic is concerning. His Government's response was uniquely catastrophic. The nation cannot forget the deeply depressing scenes which became all too normal then - lakhs of migrants walking barefoot to their homes, thousands dying from oxygen shortages, and millions left unemployed. We can only hope there is more preparedness this time," the X post read. This comes after PM Modi addressed the Lok Sabha over the West Asia conflict, noting that the situation in the region is "worrisome." The Prime Minister informed of India's trade relations with countries in the West Asian region that were witnessing war, stating that a large part of the country's need for crude oil and gas was met by the war-affected region. He informed that the region also remains crucial as it provides a route for India's trade with other countries as well. "This war has also posed unprecedented challenges for India. These challenges are economic, related to national security, and humanitarian as well. India has extensive trade relations with the warring and war-affected countries. The region where this war is taking place is also an important route for our trade with other countries of the world. In particular, a large part of our needs for crude oil and gas is met by this very region," he added. He informed the House that the government has prioritised domestic LPG consumers amid the uncertainty in supply. "As we all know, the country imports 60 per cent of its LPG requirement. Due to uncertainty in supply, the government has prioritised domestic LPG consumers. At the same time, domestic production of LPG is also being increased. Continuous efforts have also been made to ensure that the supply of petrol and diesel across the country remains smooth. LPG production in the country is also being increased," he added. He also noted that India has strategic petroleum reserves of more than 5.3 million metric tons. The Prime Minister made a statement against the backdrop of 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. While Iran, in its retaliation, targeted Israeli and US assets in several Gulf countries and Israel, causing disruption in the waterway and affecting international energy markets and global economic stability. (ANI)
OnlyFans owner Leonid Radvinsky has died at the age of 43.

Leonid Radvinsky has died

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The BBC has revealed he was born in the Ukrainian port city of Odesa, and said Mr Radvinskys company donated to the relief effort in Ukraine using cryptocurrency.

Mr Radvinsky stated on his site he donates a huge amount of time, effort and money to non-profit causes.

He added hes an avid reader whos always ready for a chess match and is an aspiring helicopter pilot.

His family moved to the United States when he was a child and they settled in Chicago. He was believed to have been living in Florida in recent years.

The billionaire is described by Forbes as a married man, but the BBC also stated it has been unable to verify the identity of his spouse.

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Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan on Monday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for completing 8,930 days as the head of a government, saying he is "not just a person but a vision and an institution," and the nation is blessed to have such a leader. Speaking at a press conference, Chauhan recalled how PM Modi attended a railway event on the day of his mother's death, demonstrating his dedication to the nation above personal grief. "Narendra Modi as head of government completed 8,930 days yesterday. He is not just a person but an idea, and an institution. Working day and night for a great purpose, Modi ji has presented such an example that the heart fills with pride and joy. The day his mother passed away, we saw on TV that his mother's last journey was being taken out. Before we could think of anything else, we saw that there was a pre-scheduled program of PM Modi and he went to a railway event and was flagging off trains. This is a very remarkable incident. So that his pain does not become a burden on the country's work...," Chauhan said. The Union Minister said he has known PM Modi for 35 years and has worked with him as a party worker in organisational work. "I have also seen him as Chief Minister. For him, the nation is supreme; he is a servant of the people. When the devastating earthquake destroyed Bhuj and Kutch in Gujarat, he became Chief Minister of Gujarat and the complete reconstruction after the earthquake was done in such a manner that Bhuj and Kutch stood up again in a new way," he added. The Union Minister said that he still recalled the 'dark days of 2011-12' when there was an uproar about scams everywhere and the public was disappointed and frustrated. "In that despair, Modi emerged as a symbol of hope. Under Modi ji's leadership, a single-party BJP government was formed. NDA was together, but one party got a majority after 30 years. People believed 'Modi hai to mumkin hai' (If Modi is there, it is possible)," Chauhan said. "The nation is blessed to have a leader like PM Modi. After one or two terms, governments used to not return. But today BJP government is in 14 states and NDA in 19 because Modi is in the hearts of people," Chauhan added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday became India's longest-serving head of government, completing 8,931 days in office and surpassing the record of former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling's record of 8,930 days. PM Modi took the oath of office as Chief Minister of Gujarat on October 7, 2001. On May 26, 2014, over 11 years ago, Narendra Modi took the Prime Minister's oath of office for the first time. Several senior leaders congratulated PM Modi on the milestone, praising his "decades-long dedication, continuous public service, and commitment to development and good governance". (ANI)
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari on Monday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement in Parliament on the ongoing West Asia conflict, alleging key concerns were overlooked, while accusing the central government of being inadequately prepared in handling its fallout. Speaking to ANI, Tiwari said, "He forgot to mention gas...There are long queues for LPG cylinders. The government had no preparation at all... You didn't even say two words on the death of Iran's Supreme Leader; this will have far-reaching consequences for the country... Think about the interests of the nation, not the BJP's." Echoing the demand for a broader discussion, Congress MP Manish Tewari said the matter had already been raised in parliamentary forums. "Our people have raised this in the Business Advisory Committee as well; there should be a full discussion on this in the House... The Prime Minister has given an elaborate statement, but there is a need for discussion on this statement," he said. Earlier, addressing the Lok Sabha, PM Modi highlighted that the conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran has entered its fourth week and continues to impact global markets and livelihoods. He stressed that India faces "unprecedented challenges" due to the crisis, including disruptions in trade routes and energy supplies, given the country's dependence on West Asia for crude oil and gas. "The situation in West Asia is worrisome. This conflict has been going on for more than three weeks. It has a severe impact on the global economy and the lives of the people, and that is why the world is urging all sides for an early resolution to this conflict," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister also noted that nearly one crore Indians reside in Gulf countries, making the situation a matter of heightened concern. He said the government has taken steps to ensure the safety of Indian nationals, facilitate evacuations and maintain essential fuel supplies despite disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. He further stated that over 3.75 lakh Indian nationals have returned safely to the country, with at least 1,000 of them having been escorted from Iran. (ANI)
Reflecting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech in Lok Sabha over the West Asia situation today, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi criticised him for not naming the US in his address, adding that he is "100% under the control" of President Donald Trump. While addressing the Adivasi Adhikar Samvidhan Sammelan in Vadodara, the Congress MP stated that PM Modi cannot debate in the parliament because he is compromised. "I've heard that the Prime Minister gave a 25-minute speech. But I guarantee he cannot participate in a debate in Parliament because he is compromised. Narendra Modi spoke for 25 minutes but did not say a single word against America. Narendra Modi is 100% under the control of Trump," the Prime Minister. Gandhi asserted that the Prime Minister has opened India's agricultural sector for the US in the interim trade deal, while emphasising that if the US goods come to India, the farmers across the country would be ruined. "Narendra Modi has opened India's agricultural sector to America through a trade deal. Here, we have small farms, while in America, there are large farms spanning thousands of acres. Here, people work by hand, and there, work is done with large machines. If American goods start coming to India, our farmers will be ruined," said Rahul Gandhi. The Lok Sabha LoP further added that the BJP and RSS have introduced a new term called "Vanvasi" which means the people who live in forests, but don't have access to its resources. He also accused the BJP of targeting the land, water, and forests belonging to the tribals. Rahul Gandhi said, "Adivasi means the original inhabitants of India -- the rightful owners of this land, water, and forests ('jal-jangal-jameen'). But RSS-BJP has introduced a new term -- 'Vanvasi,' which implies that you only live in forests, not that you are the rightful owners of these resources. Narendra Modi and BJP leaders fold their hands before the statue of Birsa Munda, but they attack the very ideas for which Birsa Munda fought and was martyred. When BJP takes away the land, water, and forests from Adivasis, it is not just an attack on Birsa Munda, but also on the Constitution." (ANI)
Amid disruptions in the gas and fuel supplies due to the ongoing West Asia conflict, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways on Monday confirmed that two ships carrying 92,000 MT of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) have started their movement. However, the details regarding the ships will be released at a later time. Earlier on Sunday, 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. 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. As Iran reportedly exerts pressure on the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the resulting disruptions to oil, gas, and maritime trade routes continue to pose a mounting threat to global economic stability. This comes as West Asia reaches its 24th day following the joint US-Israeli offensive against Iran on February 28, in which 86-year-old Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was also killed. Following his death, Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the former leader, was appointed as the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. (ANI)
Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Ramgopal Yadav on Monday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "take advantage" of his friendship with Israeli PM and US President to stop the ongoing 'war' in West Asia. Speaking to reporters after pM Modi's address in the Lok Sabha, the SP MP said that the country's economy has been adversely affected and PM Modi must use his friendly relations with Israel, US, and Iran to stop this war as it has brought the entire world to the verge of destruction. "The economy of our and various other countries has been affected adversely. The Prime Minister must take advantage of his friendship with Israeli PM and US President as well as our age-old relations with Iran and try to stop this war, because it has brought the entire world to the verge of destruction..." said Yadav. Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, criticised PM Modi for not naming the US in his speech in Lok Sabha over the West Asia situation today, adding that he is "100% under the control" of President Donald Trump. While addressing the Adivasi Adhikar Samvidhan Sammelan in Vadodara, the Congress MP stated that PM Modi cannot debate in the parliament because he is compromised. "I've heard that the Prime Minister gave a 25-minute speech. But I guarantee he cannot participate in a debate in Parliament because he is compromised. Narendra Modi spoke for 25 minutes but did not say a single word against America. Narendra Modi is 100% under the control of Trump," the Prime Minister. Congress MP Pramod Tiwari also slammed PM Modi's statement in Lok Sabha, alleging key concerns were overlooked. Speaking to ANI, Tiwari said, "He forgot to mention gas...There are long queues for LPG cylinders. The government had no preparation at all... You didn't even say two words on the death of Iran's Supreme Leader; this will have far-reaching consequences for the country... Think about the interests of the nation, not the BJP's." Earlier, addressing the Lok Sabha, PM Modi highlighted that the conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran has entered its fourth week and continues to impact global markets and livelihoods. He stressed that India faces "unprecedented challenges" due to the crisis, including disruptions in trade routes and energy supplies, given the country's dependence on West Asia for crude oil and gas. "The situation in West Asia is worrisome. This conflict has been going on for more than three weeks. It has a severe impact on the global economy and the lives of the people, and that is why the world is urging all sides for an early resolution to this conflict," PM Modi said. (ANI)
Former Andhra Pradesh Minister Ambati Rambabu on Monday submitted a written complaint to Guntur District SP Vakul Jindal regarding the attack on his residence and vehicles. He raised the issue during the Public Grievance Redressal System (PGRS) program held in Guntur. Speaking to reporters, Ambati Rambabu said that he had given representations to the SP regarding the attack on him that took place on January 31. He also stated that he would submit a complaint to the DGP. He alleged that his house was attacked, his vehicles were damaged, and there was an attempt on his life. Rambabu criticised the police for failing to take action despite the severity of the incident. He said that no proper cases were initially registered, and only after his complaint, a case was filed on February 2nd. He further alleged that the police registered minor sections that allow bail within seven years, enabling the accused to secure bail easily. He questioned whether the accused even appeared at the police station. He also claimed that the Pattabhipuram CI (Circle Inspector) did not invoke appropriate sections and instead filed weaker charges. He accused the police of failing to control the situation during the attack on his residence. Holding Union Minister Pemmasani Chandrasekhar responsible for the incident, Ambati Rambabu strongly criticised him. This comes after a large number of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) activists gathered outside Ambati Rambabu's house on Saturday night (January 31). The group allegedly damaged his residence and office, vandalised vehicles parked on the premises, and set some of them on fire. Following the incident, police stepped up security in the area to prevent any further trouble. Acting on the directions of Guntur District Superintendent of Police Vakul Jindal, additional police personnel were deployed at Ambati Rambabu's residence and office located in the Vikas Nagar area. (ANI)
YSR Congress Party State Coordinator Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy on Monday held a key meeting at the party central office with leaders from Rayalaseema, Nellore and Prakasam districts to finalise the future course of action on the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Project. He directed leaders to take the issue aggressively to the public and talk about Chandrababu Naidu's role in halting the project. District-level task forces will be formed to implement the campaign, and meetings will be held every 10 days over the next two to three months to sustain momentum. Student, youth, and farmer wings will be actively involved to expand outreach, according to an official statement. As part of the campaign, pamphlets will be distributed in every household explaining the "losses caused" by stopping the project and the failures in irrigation under the current government. Awareness programmes will also highlight the impact of the Almatti dam height increase and Polavaram height reduction on the state's water security and farmers. Former minister Sake Sailajanath has been assigned responsibility for state-level coordination of the campaign. Senior leaders, including SV Satish Reddy, P Ravindranath Reddy, Ushashree Charan, Bhoomana Karunakar Reddy, Kakani Govardhan Reddy, Katasani Ram Bhupal Reddy, Akeapati Amarnath Reddy and others, attended the meeting. YSRCP stated it will carry forward a sustained campaign to build public pressure until the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Project is resumed and completed. Earlier on Wednesday, YSR Congress Party leader Hafiz Khan criticised Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu over his remarks at an Iftar party. Speaking to ANI, Hafiz Khan alleged that the Chief Minister made false claims about welfare measures for the Muslim community, including funds, honorariums, and development initiatives. "In the auspicious month of Ramadan, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu gave an Iftar party on behalf of the government. On the occasion when Muslims give a lot of importance to spirituality, he has spoken false statements and has lied on record," he said. Hafiz Khan condemned the Chief Minister's statements made during the Iftar event, saying that he lied about giving Rs. 100 crore to the Dudekula Corporation, or increasing the honorarium for the Imams and Moazzam. He further claimed that the government of N Chandrababu Naidu didn't do anything during the last two years for the benefit of the Muslim community. He said, "The lies are that he never gave Rs 100 crore to the Dudekula Corporation, he didn't raise the Imams and Moazzam an honorarium of Rs. 5000 and Rs. 10,000. He didn't do anything for the benefit of the Muslim community with respect to women who were promised monthly pensions, allotment of Eidgahs and Kabristans, or the development of the Muslim community in any way. In fact, what he did in these years is blatant misuse of his powers by supporting the NDA government and giving arms to the Waqf Act, where they can betray the Muslim community. But the YSR Congress Party has stood by the Muslim community, and we are fighting the case in supreme court. We will keep fighting it till we get justice." (ANI)
A doctor was arrested for allegedly raping a woman patient in Madhya Pradesh's Indore district, a police officer said on Monday. The survivor alleged that she had visited the clinic of the accused doctor around three to four months ago, during which the doctor induced an injection into her that caused her to lose consciousness, after which the doctor sexually assaulted her. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP, rural) Umakant Chaudhary said that the accused doctor also snapped her obscene photographs, used them to blackmail and coerce her into meeting him again. On Sunday, the accused allegedly took the woman to a resort, where he raped her again. Thereafter, the victim approached the police and filed a complaint against the doctor. "Yesterday, a woman filed a complaint against a doctor Shahid Khan, a resident of the Mhow area and said that she visited his clinic around three to four months ago. During her visit, the doctor administered injections to her causing her to lose consciousness, after which he sexually assaulted her. He also took obscene photos of her and used them to coerce her into meeting him again. The accused took the victim to a resort under the Badgonda police station limits yesterday and raped her again," Chaudhary told ANI. "Based on her complaint, the police registered a case under relevant sections, including rape and others at Badgonda police station and arrested the accused doctor," DSP said. The official said, "Additionally, after the incident came to light, some people attacked the accused doctor's home in Mhow and set his bike on fire which was parked there. Following which, a case has been registered against six named individuals and some other people under the relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyay Sahita (BNS) at Mhow police station and an investigation began into the matter." (ANI)
The Himachal Pradesh government is getting ready to reopen the historic Indo-Tibet trade route, part of the ancient Silk Route, through Shipki La by June. After the necessary clearances from the Union government, the state government hopes to boost tourism and infrastructure in the border areas of Kinnaur, with the expectation that the route could be opened by June. The Horticulture and Tribal Development Minister Jagat Singh Negi, officials said the government is focusing on enhancing connectivity and promoting tourism in key border destinations, including Chitkul and Shipki La. "After COVID-19 disruptions, efforts are underway to revive the old trade route along the Indo-Tibet border. The government is aiming to facilitate its reopening by June, which will boost trade and tourism in the region," Negi said while speaking in Shimla. Chitkul, known as the last inhabited village near the Indo-Tibet border, and Shipki La, a strategic mountain pass, are being developed as key tourism and cultural hubs showcasing the rich heritage of Himachal Pradesh, particularly of the Kinnaur region. The government is working to improve road connectivity and visitor facilities up to the border areas beyond Shipki La, which is expected to create new livelihood opportunities for local youth and promote eco-tourism. At the administrative level, district authorities have been directed to streamline permission processes and coordinate with local associations to ensure the smooth movement of tourists and traders. In a major step towards reviving cross-border commerce, the state also plans to establish a Trade Centre at Shipki La. The facility will provide basic infrastructure for traders travelling towards Tibet and those bringing goods across the border, making trade operations more efficient. Officials added that visits of ministers and deployment of staff in the region are being pre-planned, with roles clearly defined and expenditures estimated in advance to ensure effective implementation. The initiative is expected to revive traditional trade links, strengthen border tourism, and promote the cultural identity of the strategically important Kinnaur region. (ANI)
Former Minister and YSRCP Sri Sathya Sai District President Ushasri Charan slammed Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu while alleging "unwavering support" for TTD Chairman BR Naidu amid serious misconceptions and tarnishing the sanctity of Tirumala, an official release from YSRCP said. According to the release, Charan stated that during CM Chandrababu Naidu's recent Tirumala visit, BR Naidu accompanied him throughout, from welcoming ceremonies to Annadanam events, clearly demonstrating that claims of distancing or anger toward Naidu were false propaganda spread by yellow media. Ushasri Charan highlighted a series of sacrileges under BR Naidu's tenure as TTD Chairman, including unprecedented incidents like liquor bottles and biryani consumption in Tirumala, reel-making, security lapses allowing a psycho to climb the temple gopuram, devotees entering with footwear, and a tragic stampede in Tirupati resulting in deaths, the first such incident in TTD history. BR Naidu showed no accountability in these matters. Recently, he made outrageous remarks on the sacred Bhagavad Gita without any reprimand from Chandrababu or Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan, who claim to protect Hindu dharma yet lack sincerity, allowing such desecration to continue. Charan further alleged that a woman had written detailed letters before the 2024 elections to then-opposition leader Chandrababu Naidu, Pawan Kalyan, and Nara Lokesh, alleging sexual harassment and life-ruining actions by BR Naidu. Ignoring these, the government appointed him as TTD Chairman, which was "a gross injustice to the sacred position." Ushasri Charan demanded that, if CM Chandrababu and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan truly care about Tirumala's purity and devotees' sentiments, they must immediately secure BR Naidu's resignation from the TTD Chairman post to restore the temple's sanctity and address the widespread outrage among devotees across the state and globally. (ANI)
Ryan Gosling was obsessed with soap operas when he was growing up.

Ryan Gosling has opened up about his love of soap operas

The Project Hail Mary actor, 45, has admitted he didn't have many friends as a kid and spent most of his time watching TV - revealing he loved morning talk show Live! With Regis And Kelly and long-running soap Days Of Our Lives.

During an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Ryan explained: "I didn't have a lot of friends growing up. I had TV. I used to pretend to be sick so I could stay home and watch Regis and Kelly. I loved Regis and Kelly and Days Of Our Lives ..."

The Barbie actor went on to insist soap stars aren't given the credit they deserve because actors like longtime Days Of Our Lives castmember Deidre Hall

provided him with an "incredible acting class" when he watched her on TV.

He explained: "Days of Our Lives, soap opera actors in general, they do not get the love they deserve ... [They have to] memorise [the script] the night before, like 10 pages of dialogue. They get one take.

"And it's impossible scenarios like when [Days of Our Lives character Marlena Evans], [played by actress] Deidre Hall, gets possessed - this was right around when X-Files was a big deal, suddenly everything got supernatural - she got possessed by the devil ...

"It was an incredible acting class ... what's amazing is that I remember thinking that Deidre Hall is a great actress because she's having to act possessed right now. This seems like a lot to ask of her.

"And that was when I stopped watching the show, not because of that but because I had to live my life.

"And just recently it was on TV and she's possessed again ... My life keeps crossing the paths of when Deidre Hall is possessed."

When asked about rumours he's a big fan of UK sci-fi show Doctor Who, Ryan admitted he did used to watch it but he preferred soaps.

He explained: "I'm not as deep [into Doctor Who] ... I remember thinking it was super cool when we were growing up. I wasn't on the schedule with it."
Accusing the Congress of "being concerned about its own power and not the country" during its rule, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday referred to the oil bonds issued during the UPA government and said "those who were running the government through remote control made this wrong decision to preserve their power". Speaking at the TV9 Network Summit, the Prime Minister also took digs at the opposition parties and alleged that certain political parties, driven by self-interest, are seeking to exploit the circumstances created by global challenges for their political gain. The Prime Minister pointed to the issuance of oil bonds worth Rs 1.48 lakh crore, stating that the decision placed a financial burden on future generations. He noted that then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had acknowledged the long-term implications of the move. "Just remember what happened between 2004 and 2010. During the Congress government, petrol, diesel, and gas prices were in crisis, and Congress was concerned not about the country but about its own power. At that time, Congress issued oil bonds worth Rs 148,000 crore. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself stated that they were burdening future generations with debt. Despite knowing that the oil bond decision was wrong," he said. "Those who were running the government through remote control made this wrong decision to preserve their power, as accountability was not expected at that time. Repayment on those bonds was due after 2020. Over the past five to six years, our government has worked to wash away the sins of the Congress government. Instead of Rs 148,000 crore, the country had to pay more than 3 lakh crore rupees, as interest was also added. This means we were forced to pay almost double the amount. In the past 5-6 years, our government has worked to wash away that sin of the Congress government. And the cost of this washing has not been low. You won't have seen such a laundry," he added. PM Modi said that at a time when the world is divided into multiple blocs, India has built strong and wide-ranging partnerships. He also referred to the energy supply constraints due to the West Asia conflict. "When the world is divided into so many camps, India has built unprecedented and unimaginable bridges. From the Gulf to the Global West, from the Global South to neighbouring countries, India is a trusted partner of all. Some people ask, who are we with? My answer to them is that we are with India. We are with India's interests, peace and dialogue," he said. "In this time of crisis, when the global supply chain is faltering, India has presented a model of diversification and resilience. Be it energy, fertiliser, or essential goods, India has made continuous efforts to ensure that its citizens face minimum problems, and continues to do so even today," he added. He said challenges have been increasing after the Corona pandemic. "There is no year that has not tested India and Indians. But with the united efforts of 140 crore countrymen, India is moving ahead, facing every calamity. At this time, even in the conditions of war, many countries of the world are surprised by India's policy and strategy, seeing India's strength," he said. "The turmoil that has erupted in the world since February 28, even in these harsh adverse conditions, India is moving ahead with the resolve of progress, development and trust. In these 23 days, India has shown its Relationship Building Capacity. It has shown its decision-making capacity and Crisis Management Capacity," he added. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav chaired a cabinet meeting held at the state secretariat (Mantralaya) on Monday and the council of ministers gave a nod to various development works worth Rs 6,940 crore and the continuation of several schemes. The Cabinet also approved Rs 82.39 crore for the Mahana Micro Irrigation Project in Rewa district, along with a 3 per cent increase in dearness allowance for government employees and dearness relief for pensioners w.e.f July 1, 2025, raising it to 58 per cent. Apart from this, the council of ministers approved several welfare proposals, including the implementation of the Shaurya Sankalp Training Scheme for youth from Other Backwards Classes (OBC). During the training period, eligible male candidates will receive a stipend of Rs 1,000 per month, while female candidates will receive Rs 1,100 per month. Training will be conducted at 40 centres across 10 locations in the state, with separate facilities for male and female candidates. At least 35 per cent of the seats will be reserved for women candidates. The Cabinet further approved a proposal of the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities to provide Rs 18,000 per month as honorarium to guest teachers working in institutions for persons with disabilities, in line with the honorarium provided to Class-1 guest teachers in the School Education Department. Among the approvals granted for multiple schemes of various departments, Rs 2933 crores was approved for rural housing and transport infrastructure development projects under the Commercial Tax Department. Additionally, Rs 37 crore was allocated for maintenance of commercial tax tribunals and departmental assets, and Rs 162 crore for IT and establishment expenses for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31. Similarly, under the Public Works Department, approval was granted for the continuation of 17 schemes, including Rs 691 crore for the construction of the Mantralaya building, Vidhan Sabha and MLA rest house facilities, Rs 731 crore for government residences, state guest house and office buildings, Rs 565 crore for project implementation unit-related works and Rs 379 crore for capital project establishment expenditure. The Tribal Affairs Department received Rs 102 crore for the continuation of three schemes related to promotion, research, training and development of tribal culture for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31. The Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department got approval for 22 welfare schemes worth Rs 865 crore, including Smart PDS, Chief Minister Ration Aapke Gram, Ujjwala, PM Gati Shakti, and the Chief Minister Yuva Annadoot Scheme. Other approvals include Rs 354.03 crore for the scheme of the Madhya Pradesh State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Rs 3.90 crore for maintenance of departmental assets, Rs 16.50 crore for the Controller of Legal Metrology office, and Rs 16 crore for the formation of the Food Commission for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31. (ANI)
The deadline for filing nominations for the Kerala, Assam and Puducherry Assembly elections ended on Monday, as politics in the States and Union Territory heat-up. A total of 2039 nomination papers were submitted by 1202 candidates across all 140 constituencies in Kerala, officials said. In the 2021 polls, Kerala had a total of 957 candidates. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate K Ranjith today filed his nomination from the Dharmadam constituency in Kannur district to contest against the Chief Minister and sitting MLA Pinarayi Vijayan. MV Gopakumar, the BJP candidate for the Chengannur Assembly constituency, submitted his nomination in the presence of Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai. Kerala Leader of Opposition (LoP) and Congress candidate VD Satheesan filed his nomination papers from the Paravur constituency, looking to secure his sixth consecutive victory in the Assembly polls. Meanwhile, the BJP has come under trouble in Kerala, after a Model Code of Conduct (MCC) breach case was filed against the party's candidate in the Guruvayur Assembly Constituency, B Gopalakrishnan. Election authorities in Kerala initiated legal proceedings against BJP leader B Gopalakrishnan for allegedly making controversial remarks during his election campaign and over allegations of breaching the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). According to a press release from the office of CEO Rathan U Kelkar, the Thrissur District Collector took action based on a complaint regarding controversial remarks made by the BJP leader. The CEO directed that a case be registered under Section 123(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, along with relevant provisions of the Model Code of Conduct laid down by the Election Commission. Authorities found that a video shared by the leader allegedly violated MCC norms, which prohibit seeking votes based on caste or communal sentiments and the use of religious places such as temples, mosques, or churches for election campaigning. Following the directive, the video has been removed from social media platforms, and an FIR has been registered at the Guruvayur Temple Police Station. The Model Code of Conduct came into place with the announcement of the election schedule on March 15. However, Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar defended Gopalakrishnan, saying he asked voters a question, which did not amount to hate speech. Speaking to ANI, Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that B Gopalakrishnan was not wrong when he asked voters, "Shouldn't there be a Hindu MLA in Guruvayur?" "B Gopalakrishnan is saying the holy town of Guruvayur, where Lord Guruvayurappan's temple is. Shouldn't there be a Hindu MLA? How is that hate speech? He's asking a question of the voters. Can you imagine today in the Vatican, there being a Hindu MP? Will anybody allow in Mecca, a public representative to be a non-muslim? Gopalakrishnan ji is asking a question: Isn't it better for the voters to have a Hindu Guruvayurappan Vishwasi representing them in the holy town of Guruvayur? I don't see anything wrong with that question," the BJP leader said. Meanwhile, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate called for the disqualification of the candidature of Rajeev Chandrasekhar, alleging that the latter has not disclosed his residence. Taking it to X, Shrinate shared a post by Congress Kerala showcasing the property tax receipt of Chandrasekhar by Bengaluru South City Corporation and questioned whether the Kerala Chief Electoral Officer will take action against such a lapse, "Isn't non-disclosure a ground for disqualification? Will @Ceokerala act against @RajeevRC_X?" Kerala Congress highlighted that Chandrasekhar has not disclosed his 49,000 sq ft of residence in Koramangala. "This is a 1.07-acre property in one of the most expensive locations in the country, where many Indian billionaires live. Land here costs around Rs 35,000 to Rs 50,000 per sq ft or more. By a fair estimate, the land value alone could be around Rs 200 crore. The property number is 408. You can download the property tax receipt using Application Number: 1600322463 from the link below: https://bbmptax.karnataka.gov.in/forms/PrintForms.aspx?rptype=3," Congress wrote on X. On the last day of nominations in Assam, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) candidate Tapan Das filed his nomination and said that his nomination comes after nearly three decades of dedicated service to the party. "After 27 years of service to the Assam Gana Parishad, I was nominated, and for this, I thank Atul Bora, Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Dilip Saikia. I also seek the blessings of the people of Assam," he told ANI. BJP's alliance partner AGP has released its list of 26 candidates for the Assam polls. Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sushmita Dev also announced that the party will contest 23 seats in Assam. In a major development in the state, Former BJP leader and Assam Minister Nandita Gorlosa joined Congress after being denied a ticket. This comes as a ray of hope for Assam Congress, which suffered blows after senior leaders Pradyut Bordoloi and Bhupen Borah switched to the BJP. Assam Congress President Gaurav Gogoi launched a sharp attack on the ruling dispensation in the state, alleging that "hate-filled politics" has taken root in the state and asserted that people are "fed up" with it. Speaking to reporters in Jorhat, the state Congress chief claimed that the Opposition parties are looking to unite to "clean up Assam's politics" ahead of the Assembly elections. "Today, there is hate-filled politics in Assam. The people of Assam are fed up with this... For this, all Opposition parties in Assam want to unite and clean up Assam's politics," Gogoi said. In Puducherry, BJP president VP Ramalingam filed his nomination from Raj Bhavan constituency for the Assembly elections to be held on April 9. The Raj Bhavan seat is currently held by All India NR Congress (AINRC) Minister K Lakshminarayanan, and has now been transferred to the BJP in NDA's seat-sharing agreement for the upcoming polls. Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Tamil Nadu BJP in-charge and actor Khushboo were present during the filing of nomination. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Congress reached a seat-sharing pact for the 2026 Puducherry Assembly elections. 30 constituencies in Puducherry will undergo polls, with Congress to contest 16 and the DMK to contest on 14 seats. "We will share seats among the alliance parties in the 14 seats allotted to DMK," the party's Puducherry election in-charge Jagadrakshagan said. Congress and DMK are also alliance partners in Tamil Nadu, where the Chief Minister MK Stalin-led party allotted the Congress 28 of 234 seats for the 2026 Assembly elections. The BJP is contesting 10 seats in the NDA alliance under the leadership of N Rangasamy-led AINRC. The AINRC is contesting on 16 constituencies, AIADMK and Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi (LJK) are contesting on two seats each. Debutant Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor-turned-politician Vijay, has also thrown a hat in the ring with the list of 30 candidates. After Tamil Nadu, the TVK has decided to contest independently in the Puducherry Legislative Assembly elections as well. Kerala, Assam and the Union Territory of Puducherry are all set to hold the 2026 Assembly Election on April 9 in a single phase, with counting of votes scheduled to take place on May 4. (ANI)
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Monday, while addressing the convocation ceremony of the first graduating batch at Deakin University-GIFT city campus, stated that the strong emphasis on digital and technology-driven education in higher educational institutions has played a significant role in the transformation of the education sector. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel stated that the country's education sector has undergone a transformation aligned with global needs under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On this occasion, CM congratulated the graduating students as well as Deakin University and stated that the convocation ceremony of the first batch graduating from the GIFT City campus, established as an international branch campus in India, is not merely an event for awarding degrees, but also an opportunity to present India's transformation into a global knowledge centre before the world, the release said. The Chief Minister said that the convocation ceremony also reflects the strengthening partnership between India and Australia. He further stated that Prime Minister Modi has shown the path of global welfare through the spirit of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', and under his guidance, Gujarat is emerging beyond trade and tradition as a global economic and knowledge centre. CM said that since Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tenure as Chief Minister, Gujarat has achieved several new milestones in the field of education. With a visionary approach, efforts were made to provide the youth and students of Gujarat access to world-class educational opportunities at their doorstep, the release stated. "As a result, sector-specific universities such as the Forensic Sciences University, Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Maritime University, Rashtriya Raksha University, and National Law University have been established in the state," said CM Patel. He further stated that GIFT City stands as a living example of the Prime Minister's visionary approach, where financial services, technology, and education have come together uniquely, with four foreign universities now operational. CM also highlighted the steady growth of higher education institutions in the country under the Prime Minister's leadership. "The number of IITs has increased from 16 in 2014 to 23 today, with global IIT campuses also being established. Similarly, the number of IIMs has risen from 13 to 21, while AIIMS institutions have expanded from 7 to 20," the CM said. CM stated that under the Prime Minister's leadership, India's performance in the Global Innovation Index has consistently improved. "Through internships, apprenticeships, and skill-based courses aligned with initiatives such as 'Make in India' and 'Startup India,' education has been closely linked with industry, enabling youth to become Atmanirbhar," he added. He further said that the ceremony stands as a testament to the transformative steps taken by India over the past decade in the global knowledge and education sector under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He said that the Prime Minister has promoted learning initiatives such as the SWAYAM and DIKSHA online education platforms, encouraged foreign universities and international collaboration, and emphasised research, innovation, and skill development. "Through initiatives like 'Study in India' and the 'Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN),' a strong foundation has been laid to position India as a global education hub, leading to growing global confidence in India's talent and potential," he added. CM stated that the New National Education Policy 2020, formulated under the guidance and leadership of the Prime Minister, has aligned India's education system with global standards. He said that prestigious institutions such as the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), National Institute of Design (NID), IIT Gandhinagar, DA-IICT, and NIPER have become operational in Gandhinagar, leading to the city's emergence as a prominent educational hub, the release added. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel urged the graduating students to move forward with a spirit of 'Nation First,' utilising the knowledge, skills, and global exposure gained during their studies, the release said. (ANI)
Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Monday launched the Indus River Green Corridor Eco-Restoration Plantation at Spituk Pharka, an initiative aimed at restoring the ecological integrity of the Indus riverbanks and creating green buffers in the fragile desert landscape of Leh-Ladakh. This initiative is a one of its kind Cold Desert River Bank Restoration Project in India, according to a press release. As part of the exercise, nearly 1000 saplings of indigenous species like Oleaster, Sea buckthorn, Indian Willow, Black Poplar and White Willow were planted on the riverbank through collaborative efforts of civil administration, military, paramilitary, police, and local communities, especially Spituk Gonpa and its monastic fraternity, which gave 1 hectare of land for the plantation. Apart from this, 1000 saplings of Cherry Blossom and Apricot were also planted along the roadside in Leh city, aimed at enhancing the green aesthetics of the city, the release stated. The event was organised by the Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment in collaboration with Spituk Monastery and the University of Ladakh. The initiative witnessed active participation from civil administration, defence forces, local communities and students, reflecting a model of convergence and collective action. Describing the occasion as historic, the Lieutenant Governor stated that with the support of the local communities, this project would emerge as an instrument of resilience, stability and a global model for high-altitude river ecosystem restoration. He said that the launch of the Indus River Green Corridor in a fragile ecosystem like Ladakh represents a major step towards sustainable development. He emphasised that the initiative would not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of Leh but also help address pressing ecological challenges of Ladakh. The LG underlined the need to recognise the deep interconnection between nature, development and culture, stating that forests and rivers in Ladakh are not merely ecological assets but integral to the region's identity and sustainability. Highlighting the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Lieutenant Governor spoke about India's commitment to sustainable development and combating land degradation and desertification. He reiterated the national goal of restoring 2.6 crore hectares of degraded land by 2030 and expressed confidence that Ladakh can play a pivotal role in achieving this target, the release stated. Emphasising the importance of community participation, the Lieutenant Governor appreciated the contribution of Spituk Monastery for donating one hectare of land for the project, terming it a commendable example of collaborative governance. He shared his experiences of similar ecological initiatives undertaken in Udaipur and Delhi, including large-scale plantation drives and innovative urban greening projects, highlighting their success despite initial scepticism. The Lieutenant Governor described the Indus River Green Corridor as not merely a government initiative but a "civilisational project" aimed at restoring the ecological integrity of the Indus River while ensuring a harmonious balance between development and environmental conservation. He also called for amplifying the Prime Minister's "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" campaign in Ladakh and urged the Forest Department to identify suitable land for large-scale plantation. Drawing attention to Ladakh's low forest cover--currently less than one per cent--he termed it a matter of concern and set an ambitious target of increasing it to five per cent in the coming two years. He highlighted the scientific benefits of plantation, including reduction in wind speed through shelter belts, prevention of soil erosion along riverbanks, improvement in biodiversity and micro-climatic stability, and enhancement of oxygen levels. The Lieutenant Governor also stressed the use of scientific and innovative techniques such as gravity-based solar submersible strip irrigation and drip irrigation systems, to ensure efficient water use in plantation activities. Calling upon the youth to lead sustainability efforts, he urged them to adopt innovative practices and contribute actively to environmental conservation. He reaffirmed his vision of transforming Ladakh into one of the world's most sought-after tourist destinations by leveraging its natural beauty and ecological wealth, the release stated. On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor released a special postal cover and felicitated individuals and organisations contributing to environmental conservation, including "Go Green, Go Organic", Range Officer Stanzin Gelek, and Namgyal. Winners of a hackathon were also felicitated. (ANI)
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." https://x.com/sanchezcastejon/status/2035763497997418969?s=20 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. https://x.com/drpezeshkian/status/2035729299500884002?s=20 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)
Former diplomat Bhaswati Mukherjee on Sunday strongly criticised the latest report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). A total of 275 signatories had issued a sharp rebuttal to its recommendations targeting the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW). In an interview with ANI, responding to a question on what triggered the strong reaction from former judges, diplomats and senior officials, Mukherjee said the signatories included a wide range of experienced public servants. Highlighting the tone of the response, Mukherjee said, "We didn't slam them, we demolished them. And they deserve to be demolished for a simple reason, which is not written in the letter because it had to be courteously worded." Mukherjee also referred to the contributions of the Indian diaspora in the United States. Referring specifically to the report, Mukherjee said, "And in particular, to say that the R&AW, which is the equivalent of their CIA, and the RSS, which was founded 100 years ago to serve the nation, which was then under colonial rule and since then has always put what we call in India 'Seva,' service to the community first." Questioning the recommendation for sanctions, she added, " To drag them in, to say that their assets should be frozen, they shouldn't be allowed to travel. What do they think, that they are dealing with some banana republic? Or do they think that they are dealing with Venezuela, whose president was kidnapped and taken away to New York City against his wishes? Or do they think that they can fix us like they are trying to fix, very unsuccessfully in my perspective, the Islamic Republic of Iran? It doesn't work." Mukherjee said India's democratic institutions are capable of addressing any wrongdoing internally. "In today's world, we are members of the UN Charter, and we are a major emerging country. If any organisation does anything which does not align with India's constitution, they will be dealt with by India's judiciary, by India's democratic mechanisms, etc," she said. She added, "We have long gone beyond the stage where we need Goras to tell us what to do. We don't need Goras to tell us what to do. On the contrary, the Goras should ask us for some tips on how to behave. We never give them unsolicited advice; they should not give us unsolicited advice." On Saturday, a total of 275 signatories, including 25 retired judges, 119 retired bureaucrats and 131 armed forces officers, slammed the United States Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) report asking Washington DC to sanction India's Research and Analysis Wing and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (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)
Iran's Exiled Crowned Prince Reza Pahlavi on Saturday asserted that Iran is not the Islamic Republic, adding that the regime here must be dismantled. Pahlavi appealed to US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to continue targeting the regime and its apparatus of repression, while sparing the civilian infrastructure. In a post on X, he said, "Iran is not the Islamic Republic. Iran's civilian infrastructure belongs to the Iranian people and to the future of a free Iran. The Islamic Republic's infrastructure is the machinery of repression and terror used to keep that future from becoming reality. Iran must be protected. The regime must be dismantled." https://x.com/PahlaviReza/status/2035738681445912637?s=20 He further said, "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. With the support of the US and Israel, and above all, the sacrifice of Iranian patriots, the hour of Iran's freedom is at hand. Long live Iran!" Meanwhile, Kuwait has become the latest Gulf country to announce it is responding to missile and drone attacks. In a statement, the Kuwaiti army said the sound of explosions is the result of interceptions and called on people to adhere to the authorities' instructions, as per Al Jazeera. The Israel Defence Forces, meanwhile, said that they discovered several weapons in Southern Lebanon. In a post on X, the IDF said, "DISCOVERED: IDF soldiers found an anti-tank missile post and weapons while operating in southern Lebanon." https://x.com/IDF/status/2035787318317990183?s=20 https://x.com/IDF/status/2035725960851411099?s=20 Meanwhile, falling shrapnel has been reported in several locations across southern and central Israel after another round of Iranian missile attacks, as reported by Al Jazeera. https://x.com/modgovae/status/2035847500142391577?s=20 The UAE's air defences are currently dealing with missile attacks and incoming drones from Iran, and the Ministry of Defence confirms that the sounds heard in scattered areas of the country are the result of air defence systems intercepting ballistic missiles, as well as fighter jets intercepting drones and loitering munitions, an official statement said. (ANI)
The US Department of State on Saturday (local time) issued a worldwide warning for its citizens, saying that Iranian supporters may attack US citizens. The warning said that the citizens must follow the guidance in security alerts issued by the nearest US embassy or consulate. "Worldwide Caution: The Department of State advises Americans worldwide, and especially in the Middle East, to exercise increased caution. Americans abroad should follow the guidance in security alerts issued by the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Periodic airspace closures may cause travel disruptions. U.S. diplomatic facilities, including outside the Middle East, have been targeted. Groups supportive of Iran may target other U.S. interests overseas or locations associated with the United States and/or Americans throughout the world." https://x.com/TravelGov/status/2035776595642757436?s=20 "Enroll at http://step.state.gov to receive the latest security alerts and follow the "U.S. Department of State - Security Updates for U.S. Citizens" channel on WhatsApp or @TravelGov on X. When planning travel, carefully read the Travel Advisory and detailed information for your destination, and any recent alerts at http://travel.state.gov/destination." The warning comes as the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday said that President Donald Trump is defanging the Iranian regime and bringing peace to the Middle East. Bessent said that Trump's actions are aimed at making the world a safer place. In a post on X, he said, "US President Donald Trump is defanging the Iranian regime and bringing peace to the Middle East. Given another year or two, it would have been impossible to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. There is no prosperity without security, and what we had before was the illusion of security. Thanks to President Trump's decisive action, our world is now a safer and more secure place." https://x.com/SecScottBessent/status/2035832641291973014?s=20 https://x.com/SecScottBessent/status/2035817097243062470?s=20 Meanwhile, Iran has warned of retaliatory attacks on regional infrastructure if Trump follows through on his ultimatum over the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has said he will "obliterate" Iran's power plants if it fails to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. (ANI)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday said Ukraine was working with the Gulf countries and was in contact with these countries at the team level. Zelenskyy called for other countries to contribute to the stabilisation of the region. In a post on X, he said, "We are already working with the Gulf countries, and practically every day we are in contact with these countries at the team level. There are already concrete results from our units in defense - we are providing our expertise and our real support. Other countries of the world should now also make their contribution to stabilisation. We all need joint decisions and joint work so that there is more security for everyone. I thank everyone who contributes to the coordination and shared results." https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/2035811397976637467?s=20 Also, Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to the United States as delegations from both countries continue talks in Florida regarding the Ukraine-Russia war. "Today, I received a report from our negotiating team following the second day of their meetings in America with envoys of the President of the United States. I am very grateful to American society for its clear support for a normal, dignified peace for Ukraine. It is important that none of us is forced to return to war in a few months or years, which means that security guarantees for Ukraine and for all of Europe must be sufficient for a reliable peace. I expect that after the negotiating team returns to Ukraine, we will discuss in detail all aspects of the meetings, which for now cannot be safely discussed over the phone. There are signals that further exchanges may be possible, and this would be good news and confirmation that diplomacy is working. We hope this will happen," he wrote on X. US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said that on Sunday (local time), delegations convened again to discuss key issues and next steps on settling the Russia-Ukraine conflict. "Today in Florida, delegations from the United States and Ukraine reconvened for a second day of discussions as part of the ongoing, US-led mediation efforts toward establishing a lasting and comprehensive peace agreement to the war. The constructive talks built on yesterday's 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," he said. https://x.com/SEPeaceMissions/status/2035794441861259293?s=20 "The U.S. delegation included Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and White House Senior Advisor Josh Gruenbaum, while the Ukrainian delegation included Rustem Umerov, Kyrylo Budanov, Davyd Arakhamia, and Serhii Kyslytsia. We remain encouraged by the continued, substantive engagement and thank US President Donald Trump for his steadfast leadership in advancing these efforts," Witkoff added. (ANI)
A mirror can be brutally honest after a chaotic week. Skin picks up on everything: the missed bedtime, the stress spike, the accumulated tiredness. Thats why glow-ups often start with recovery instead of new products.

Rest & Reset Image pexels Olly 3785806

When those habits include steadier sleep, routine hydration, and less inflammation, change may show up fast. Thats where Dr. Amy Bandy comes in. Her work highlights how those internal rhythms shape what people see on the surface.

According to Dr. Amy Bandy, board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon based in Newport Beach, California, If you want to look more rested, start with the basics that affect inflammation: sleep quality, hydration, and consistency.

She adds, Puffy eyes, dull tone, and under-eye darkness often get worse when sleep is fragmented or when your body is holding onto fluid. The simplest glow-up is improving recovery because thats when the body repairs and resets. That sets the tone for a glow-up that actually feels within reach.

Sleep Habits That Actually Support Recovery

Sleep helps the body finish work that no serum can match, so the habits around bedtime matter as much as the clock setting. Many people scroll in bed without thinking about how much that light stimulation delays the first real descent into sleep.

They also shift their wake-up times wildly across the week. A steadier morning window may help regulate internal cues that guide deep rest. Picking a consistent wake-up time within an hour or so gives the body a pattern it can rely on.

People usually fall asleep faster when their night routine feels like a gentle descent. Fading the lights and removing the phone from sight can set that tone. Adding a warm shower or slow stretch can also help the body soften. Then the 4-7-8 breath pattern coaxes the brain toward rest, one cycle at a time.

Hydration Habits That Reduce Puffiness

Some mornings, the mirror tells on you before youve even had coffee. That heavy look around the eyes often links back to how late you drank water the day before. Dr. Farhan Abdullah from Magnolia Functional Wellness in Southlake, Texas, explains, when hydration starts early, the body has hours to process it instead of trying to do it overnight. The result may be a lighter, less bogged-down start to the day.

Another simple move is stepping outside for a short morning walk, since circulation may help shift lingering puffiness. A cold splash or quick cool compress adds another layer of support without dipping into extremes. Theres no need for ice baths or anything over-the-top. The body responds well to consistency.

Stress Resets That Stay Consistent

Theres a reason people feel puffy after certain days, and it usually traces back to how the previous afternoon went. Hydrating early gives your system a steady runway to handle salt, stress, and whatever you had to eat on the go. By bedtime, things have already leveled out, and the next morning may look a little smoother.

According to Monica Clayborn, LPC from BasePoint BreakThrough, Stress shows up physically, especially in the face, because it affects sleep, tension, and the way we care for ourselves day to day. Legere adds, The goal isnt to eliminate stress, its to build small routines that calm your system consistently: a short walk, a phone-free wind-down, or a simple breathing practice you can actually repeat.

A three-minute reset could help. Inhale for four, exhale for six, and repeat ten rounds. Unclench the jaw and drop the shoulders. Then name three things you can see, hear, or feel. It can ground the system without asking for a long break.

Mental Wellness Patterns That Keep Routines from Falling Apart

Mental rhythm plays a larger role in looking rested than most people realize. Burnout tends to dismantle routines, including the ones meant to support a glow-up. It often happens because goals feel too rigid. One brief check-in, a short exchange with a friend, or a few minutes in fresh air could reintroduce stability. These consistent cues may reduce the tension that otherwise builds throughout the day.

According to Dr. Michael S. Valdez from Detox California, The most sustainable glow-up habits are the ones that support mental health: structure, connection, and coping skills that replace spiraling.

She continues, Even tiny routines like checking in with your friends, getting outside daily, and keeping a consistent bedtime can improve energy, focus, and how you carry yourself.

How Alcohol Affects Rested Skin and Next-Day Energy

Alcohol has a reputation for relaxing people, but deeper sleep often pays the price. The body may fall asleep more quickly, yet the later cycles turn lighter and more fragmented. That pattern could leave someone looking and feeling less restored the next morning. A brief experiment may help: two weeks with fewer nightcaps and a steady evening routine.

According to Dr. Sanjai Thankachen, a Laguna Niguel, California-based psychiatrist at New Leaf Detox, Many people are surprised that cutting back on alcohol can quickly improve sleep quality, morning energy, and puffiness.

Dr.Thankachen warns against late-night alcohol, adding, Alcohol can make you fall asleep faster, but it often disrupts deeper sleep, so you wake up feeling less restored. A gentle reduction plan and healthy evening routines can make a noticeable difference within a couple of weeks.

A simple swap helps. Sparkling water with citrus, herbal tea, or a small closing ritual like setting the coffee maker can shift the tone of the night.

A No-Drama 7-Day Reset

The reset opens with small habits that shape the days rhythm, starting with consistent mornings and earlier hydration. Midweek introduces calmer evenings and gentle movement. Later in the week, alcohol and mealtime take center stage as people adjust them to support better rest.

The final day is simply a check-in: which part of this felt like a relief instead of a chore? A rested look often traces back to these small corrections. When the body isnt constantly compensating, it shows.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. If you are seeking medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider.

by Natalie key for www.femalefirst.co.uk


French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron on Monday held talks with Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Macron reaffirmed to him France's solidarity and commitment to contributing to the strengthening of Saudi Arabia's air defences. In a post on X, he said, "I have just held a conversation with His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I reaffirmed to him France's solidarity and our commitment to contributing to the strengthening of Saudi Arabia's air defenses, at a time when the Kingdom is subjected to repeated and unacceptable attacks by Iranian missiles and drones." https://x.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/2035792512598585418?s=20 Macron stressed the need for Iran to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. "In the face of the risk of escalation spiraling out of control, it has become more necessary than ever for all warring parties to agree to a temporary halt to attacks on energy facilities and civilian infrastructure, and for Iran to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz," he said. Macron called for responsibility and restraint. "The current phase calls for responsibility and restraint, in order to create the conditions for resuming dialogue, which alone can guarantee peace and security for all. At this critical juncture, the G7 and the Gulf Cooperation Council should strengthen their coordination. France and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are working together in this direction." Meanwhile, explosions were heard in Tehran, as per Al Jazeera. Iran's Exiled Crowned Prince Reza Pahlavi on Monday asserted that Iran is not the Islamic Republic, adding that the regime here must be dismantled. https://x.com/PahlaviReza/status/2035738681445912637?s=20 In a post on X, he said, "Iran is not the Islamic Republic. Iran's civilian infrastructure belongs to the Iranian people and to the future of a free Iran. The Islamic Republic's infrastructure is the machinery of repression and terror used to keep that future from becoming reality. Iran must be protected. The regime must be dismantled." (ANI)
The Abu Dhabi Media Office said on Monday that an Indian national suffered minor injuries from falling debris after the UAE's air defence systems successfully intercepted a ballistic missile targeting the country's capital. The incident occurred in Abu Dhabi's Al Shawamekh area, it said. In a post on X, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said, "Relevant authorities in Abu Dhabi have responded to an incident involving debris falling in the Al Shawamekh area following the successful interception of a ballistic missile by air defence systems. The incident resulted in a minor injury to an Indian national. The public is reminded to obtain information from official sources only and avoid spreading rumours or unverified information." https://x.com/ADMediaOffice/status/2035865663479419211?s=20 The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday said its air defence systems intercepted multiple Iranian aerial threats, including 25 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and 4 ballistic missiles, amid continuing West Asia conflict. In a post on X, the Ministry of Defence said, "UAE Air Defences engaged Iranian Ballistic and Cruise Missiles and UAVs Attacks," intercepting 25 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and 4 ballistic missiles in the latest wave of Iranian "attacks". https://x.com/modgovae/status/2035678974156865919?s=20 The ministry also released cumulative figures of attacks since the "onset of the blatant Iranian aggression." According to the statement, 1,773 UAVs, 15 cruise missiles, and 345 ballistic missiles have been recorded to be intercepted since the start of the escalation. Earlier, the United Arab Emirates' Ministry of Defence announced that the nation's military capabilities are actively engaged in defensive operations following a fresh wave of aerial attacks on Sunday morning. According to an official statement from the Ministry, the country's air defences are "currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran." The engagement followed a comprehensive disclosure by the UAE Ministry of Defence on Saturday, which revealed that the country's air defence systems have intercepted hundreds of aerial threats since the beginning of the conflict in West Asia. These include 341 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,748 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) originating from Iran. (ANI)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said the US and Israel would continue to act against Iran. Netanyahu visited Arad, which was hit by Iran on Sunday. The Prime Minister's Office said in a post on X, "Iran continues to prove why they are an enemy to civilization and the free world, while now posing a direct threat to European countries. Israel and the U.S. will continue to act with great force against the Ayatollah terror regime." https://x.com/IsraeliPM/status/2035782925799616879?s=20 Netanyahu visited Dimona and said, "If anyone needed an explanation of why Iran is the enemy of civilisation, and the enemy and the danger to the entire world. You got it in the last 48 hours. In the last 48 hours, they fired a terror weapon on civilians, on children. There's a children's nursery here. There's an old person's home here. Civilians, families, they fire terror weapons on civilians, and often they use cluster bombs, which are forbidden by international law." "The second thing that they did was that they fired on Jerusalem right next to the holy places. They sent ballistic missiles that could have destroyed the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Western Wall. The three holiest sites to the three monotheistic religions, they don't care. They're firing on everything. The third thing they did is they fired an intercontinental ballistic missile 4,000 kilometres right into Diego Garcia, the American-British base," he added. Netanyahu said that Iran is trying to blackmail the world by shutting the Strait of Hormuz. "They can now reach almost everywhere in Europe. I've been warning that for years. The fourth thing that they did was to shut down the important maritime Strait of Hormuz, trying to blackmail the world with oil terror blackmail. Four things that they're doing in 48 hours. And I ask the leaders of the world, the leaders of the free world, the leaders of the moderate states, what more are you waiting for? President Trump has correctly said that Israel, the United States and Israel in this great partnership, we're fighting the battle not only for ourselves, but for all of you. And he asked a simple question: Where are you? And it's time to heed President Trump's call, his leadership and his vision, not merely for our sake, but for your sake," Netanyahu said. Meanwhile, 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. (ANI)
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense detected the presence of seven Chinese naval vessels and three official ships operating around its territorial waters as of 6am (local time) on Monday. In a post on X, the MND said, "7 PLAN vessels and 3 official ships 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/2035884233810456749?s=20 Earlier on Sunday, Taiwan detected the presence of six Chinese naval vessels and an official ship. 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 China's claim over Taiwan is a complex issue rooted in historical, political, and legal arguments. Beijing asserts that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China, a viewpoint embedded in national policy and upheld by domestic laws and international statements. Taiwan, however, maintains a distinct identity, functioning independently with its own government, military, and economy. Taiwan's status remains a significant point of international debate, testing the principles of sovereignty, self-determination, and non-interference in international law, as per the United Service Institution of India. China's claim to Taiwan originates from the Qing Dynasty's annexation of the island in 1683 after defeating Ming loyalist Koxinga. However, Taiwan remained a peripheral region under limited Qing control. The key shift came in 1895, when the Qing ceded Taiwan to Japan after the First Sino-Japanese War, marking Taiwan as a Japanese colony for 50 years. After Japan's defeat in World War II, Taiwan was returned to Chinese control, but the sovereignty transfer was not formalised. In 1949, the Chinese Civil War resulted in the establishment of the People's Republic of China (PRC) on the mainland, while the Republic of China (ROC) retreated to Taiwan, asserting its claim to govern all of China. This led to dual sovereignty claims: the PRC over the mainland and the ROC over Taiwan. Taiwan has operated as a de facto independent state but has avoided declaring formal independence to prevent military conflict with the PRC, United Service Institution of India states. (ANI)
The Israeli Defence Forces on Monday have begun a fresh wave of strikes on targets in Iran, as per a report by the Times of Israel. In its statement the IDF said, "IDF launches a wave of extensive strikes targeting infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime in Tehran" In Israel, no injuries were reported after damage was caused at several locations in central Israel after cluster munitions hit the area following Iran's latest ballistic missile attack, Times of Israel said. Earlier, the IDF said that it had targeted several security bodies in Iran in a wide-scale wave of strikes. Among them was a military base used for training soldiers and storing missile systems intended to target aircrafts, a weapons production and storage facility of the Ministry of Defence, a weapons production site of the IRGC's Air Force, the HQ of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and the emergency HQ of the Internal Security Forces. Times of Israel also reported that on Sunday, fifteen people were injured when an Iranian ballistic missile dropped cluster munitions in central Israel. Damage was caused to several homes and roads by the impacts. In Jaffa, a projectile struck a residential building, and an impact in Petah Tikva started a fire in a residential area, but no one was seriously injured. With the conflict in West Asia and the Gulf region in its fourth week now, spillovers from the tensions have affected the countries in the neighbourhood. Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defence said on Monday that it detected the launch of two ballistic missiles towards Riyadh, with one intercepted and the other falling in an uninhabited area. It also reported of the interception and destruction of a drone in the eastern region. In UAE, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said on Monday that an Indian national suffered minor injuries from falling debris after the UAE's air defence systems successfully intercepted a ballistic missile targeting the country's capital. The incident occurred in Abu Dhabi's Al Shawamekh area, it said. As developments follow in the region, in a devastating attack by the US, Iran's Qom Turbine Engine Production Plant, which used to produce gas turbine engines for attack drones and aircraft components, has been destroyed, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said. US Central Command shared a photograph of the destroyed plant, which was taken on March 6, showing the intensity of the damage caused by the attack. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the US and Israel would continue to act against Iran.Netanyahu visited Arad, which was hit by Iran on Sunday. The Prime Minister's Office said in a post on X, "Iran continues to prove why they are an enemy to civilization and the free world, while now posing a direct threat to European countries. Israel and the U.S. will continue to act with great force against the Ayatollah terror regime." (ANI)
Four ambulances belonging to the Jewish community ambulance service were set on fire in Golders Green, the Metropolitan Police said on Monday. In an official statement, the police said that an investigation has been launched into the matter and that officers remain on the scene, with the arson attack being treated as an anti-Semitic hate crime. Met Police, which is the police service for the Greater London area, said in its statement that officers received a call from the London Fire Brigade in the early hours of Monday about a fire on Highfield Road, Golden Greers. "Officers attended the scene where four Hatzalah ambulances were on fire", it said. As per the Met Police, nearby houses have been evacuated as a precaution and road closures remain in place. While no injuries have been reported, all the fires have been put out. "We are aware of reports of explosions - this is believed to be linked to gas cannisters onboard the ambulances", the statement noted. Superintendent Sarah Jackson, who leads policing in the local area, underlined the distress which the incident resulted in and said the police are in the process of examining CCTV footage. "We know this incident will cause a great deal of community concern, and officers remain on scene to carry out urgent enquiries. We are in the process of examining CCTV and are aware of online footage. While no arrests have been made so far, she said that the police are looking for three suspects at the early stage. "We believe we are looking for three suspects at this early stage. There have been no arrests yet, and we would urge anyone with information to please contact us as soon as possible - you can do so anonymously if you wish." Jackson added that engagements will take place with faith leaders, and additional patrols will be carried out in the local area as the police continue the investigation to provide reassurance and a highly visible presence. (ANI)
Iranian state media Press TV said on Monday that Hezbollah carried out 63 military operations targeting Israeli positions and army centres in the last 24 hours. Citing a statement issued by Hezbollah, Press TV said that the operations were launched to "defend" Lebanese territory and people, and as a direct response to the recent Israeli attacks. It said that the operations included rocket barrages, offensive drone strikes, and artillery fire. It added that the targets primarily focused on Israeli military gatherings, armoured vehicles, bases, and troop deployment centres along the border areas. The development comes as The Times of Israel reported on Saturday that five people were lightly hurt after a Hezbollah rocket struck a home in the northern town of Ma'alot-Tarshiha. It said that Hezbollah fired several rockets at northern Israel on Saturday, which damaged several buildings and infrastructure. Meanwhile, the Times of Israel said that the Israeli Air Force blew up a bridge over Lebanon's Litani River on Sunday, as it accused Hezbollah of using it to move operatives and weapons into the country's south. It further reported that the strike on the Litani's Qasmiya Bridge was met with anger from Beirut, which warned the step to be a "dangerous escalation". It gave a call to the international community to intervene to prevent Israel from expanding its operations in Lebanon. The Israeli Air Force blew up a bridge over Lebanon's Litani River on Sunday, accusing Hezbollah of using it to move operatives and weapons into the country's south, as Israel warned that its fight against the Iran-backed militiahad "only just begun". The strike on the Litani's Qasmiya Bridge was met with anger from Beirut, which warned that the step was a "dangerous escalation" and demanded that the international community intervene to deter Israel from expanding its operations in Lebanon. Israel has carried out massive airstrikes in Lebanon and pushed Hezbollah further into the country. According to the Times of Israel, the Qasmiya Bridge was the fifth to be targeted by Israel since March 2. (ANI)
Female students in the Afghan capital have once again appealed for the reopening of schools and educational institutions that have remained shuttered under the Islamic Emirate's restrictions, urging authorities to allow girls to resume their education, reported Tolo news. The renewed calls come amid ongoing limitations on girls' schooling that have left many young Afghans without access to formal education. A number of schoolgirls expressed deep frustration over the continued closure of educational facilities, saying that their futures are imperilled by the lack of schooling opportunities. Mojda, a student from Takhar province, explained her family's journey to seek education in Kabul only to find that "after schools were closed, we came to Kabul with our family to study in courses, but those were also shut down." "Our request from the Islamic Emirate is to reopen school doors for girls," she said, highlighting the emotional and academic toll of the prolonged shutdown. Another student, Sama, echoed similar sentiments, stressing the urgency of restoring access to education. "Our demand is that schools reopen so we can study. Afghan girls no longer have hope, and their only hope is education," she told Tolo News. The girls' pleas come at a time when the restrictions on girls' education in Afghanistan have drawn international attention and criticism from human rights organisations. Women's rights activists have also weighed in on the impact of the closures, describing the situation as a violation of fundamental rights. Lamia Shirzai, an advocate for educational access, told local media that with the start of a new year, "school and university doors must be reopened as soon as possible based on the interests of the Afghan people, so the country does not fall behind in regional and global competition." Activists argue that long-term exclusion from schooling not only harms individual prospects but also poses broader social and economic consequences for Afghanistan's future. Husnia, another student, described her concern about being stuck at home after completing sixth grade, saying, "I am very worried because I have finished sixth grade and may have to stay at home afterwards and not be able to progress. I ask the Islamic Emirate to reopen schools for girls because they have big dreams." Her words reflect a wider sentiment among Afghan girls determined to pursue education despite imposing restrictions. Following political changes in Afghanistan, widespread constraints were placed on girls' education, with doors to schools and universities remaining closed to many. International human rights organisations have repeatedly emphasised that access to education is a fundamental human right, and depriving girls of this right could have long-lasting adverse effects on Afghan society. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said he had a constructive discussion with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul regarding the ongoing conflict in West Asia. In a post on X, Jaishankar wrote, "A useful conversation yesterday night with German FM Johann Wadephul on the West Asia conflict. Agreed to remain in touch." The conversation reflects the continued diplomatic engagement between India and Germany on regional security issues, particularly as tensions in West Asia remain high. Both sides reportedly emphasised the importance of dialogue and coordination in addressing humanitarian and geopolitical challenges arising from the conflict. This development comes amid heightened global attention on West Asia, where political and military tensions continue to affect millions. India has consistently called for restraint, dialogue, and humanitarian support, reflecting its long-standing diplomatic stance in the region. Earlier, The Times of Israel was told by officials on the condition of anonymity that after being attacked, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain believe that Iran's military must be cut down before a ceasefire is achieved--with some considering joining the offensive. This comes despite the frustration in the way the US and Israel are going forward in the conflict in West Asia--yet Gulf countries, especially the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar, have expressed the desire to ensure Iran comes out of the conflict with a degraded military that ceases to pose a threat to the Gulf nations. While Trump has routinely expressed surprise over the spill over of the conflict in the wider region of West Asia and the Gulf, the Gulf countries had largely anticipated the response, which was one of the reasons they opposed its start. "Ending the war with Iran still in possession of the tools it is currently using to target the GCC would be a strategic disaster," one of the Gulf officials said. As per the Times of Israel, all four officials agreed that the US and Israeli strikes were unlikely to bring down Iran's regime. (ANI)
Voices of dissent against Pakistan's policies in Balochistan echoed internationally as members of the Baloch National Movement (BNM) staged a protest in Busan, accusing the Pakistani state of systemic human rights violations and calling for urgent global intervention. The demonstration was part of a month-long global campaign running from March 10 to April 9, aimed at highlighting what activists described as decades of repression in Balochistan. Protesters asserted that their movement is rooted in justice, not hostility, and seeks to draw attention to what they termed "state-sponsored violence" against the Baloch people. Speakers at the rally alleged that enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings have become widespread. Citing figures from BNM's Human Rights Department, they claimed that in 2025 alone, over 1,300 enforced disappearances and more than 200 killings were documented. The trend, they said, has continued into 2026, with over 200 cases of disappearances reported in just the first two months. Activists described a climate of fear in Balochistan, where individuals, including students, teachers, and activists, are allegedly detained without due process. They further accused security forces of targeting entire families and communities, calling it "collective punishment" under the guise of counter-terrorism operations. During the protest, speakers also criticised the alleged exploitation of Balochistan's natural resources, claiming that while the region is rich in minerals and strategic assets, its population continues to face poverty, hunger, and insecurity. The protesters urged the international community, particularly democratic nations, to take a stronger stance. They called for an independent United Nations-led investigation into the situation in Balochistan and demanded accountability for alleged human rights abuses. Additionally, they emphasised the Baloch people's right to self-determination. Addressing the South Korean government directly, demonstrators appealed for diplomatic pressure on Pakistan, urging Seoul to support international scrutiny of the situation in the region. (ANI)
People's Daily Online releases data analysis report on Message Board for Leaders during 14th Five-Year Plan period

People's Daily Online) 09:43, March 23, 2026

Fan Zhengwei, president of People's Daily Online, releases a data analysis report on the Message Board for Leaders of People's Daily Online during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) at an online mass work conference held in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 20, 2026. (People's Daily Online/Fu Hao)

Fan Zhengwei, president of People's Daily Online, released a data analysis report on the Message Board for Leaders during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) on March 20.

The report was presented at an online mass work conference hosted by People's Daily Online in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Su Zheng, assistant to the dean and research fellow at the Institute of Digital Government and Governance at Tsinghua University, which contributed to the drafting of the report, provided an interpretation.

According to the report, during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the number of valid public messages submitted through the Message Board for Leaders surged by 178.8 percent compared with the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020). More than 3.8 million valid messages received responses and were handled by local authorities and government departments.

In his remarks, Fan outlined three notable changes in the messages during the period.

First, consumption-related suggestions have become an increasingly prominent aspect of people's livelihoods, reflecting strong public support for expanding domestic demand and boosting consumption. In 2025, the proportion of messages related to consumption increased by 21.3 percentage points compared with 2023, the largest rise among all sectors.

Second, messages concerning workers' rights and interests have grown significantly, highlighting public concerns amid increasingly diversified forms of employment. The proportion of messages from enterprise employees rose from 6.2 percent in 2021 to 11.7 percent in 2025.

"This shift is closely linked to the rapid development of new forms of business and increasingly diverse employment models, and reflects workers' growing expectations for stronger protection of their rights and interests," Fan noted.

Su Zheng, assistant to the dean and research fellow at the Institute of Digital Government and Governance at Tsinghua University, interprets a data analysis report on the Message Board for Leaders of People's Daily Online during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) at an online mass work conference in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 20, 2026. (People's Daily Online/Fu Hao)

Third, the share of messages related to housing and urban-rural development has declined markedly, demonstrating the solid progress made in safeguarding people's livelihoods. In 2025, the proportion of such messages dropped by 12.7 percentage points compared with 2021.

According to the report, the decline reflects the continuous improvement of China's housing security system and tangible enhancements in urban and rural living environments.

Citing relevant research data, Fan pointed out that nearly 80 percent of English-language academic studies on China's responsive governance have drawn on data from the Message Board for Leaders and the Renmin Jianyi (People's Suggestions) platform on People's Daily Online.

"This suggests, from one perspective, that the interactive platforms we have built on small screens are becoming vivid illustrations of the governance of China. The distinctive strengths of China's governance model are being continuously demonstrated and strengthened through the resonance between the Party's commitment and the people's aspirations," he said.

Photo shows the cover of a data analysis report on the Message Board for Leaders of People's Daily Online during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025).

(Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming)
Greg Davies is set to host the BAFTA Television Awards.

Greg Davies will host the awards show

The 57-year-old comedian has been confirmed as the host of the annual awards ceremony, which is being held at Royal Festival Hall in London on May 10.

Greg 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."

Emma Baehr, the executive director of awards and content at BAFTA, is also thrilled to be working with Greg.

She said: "Were excited to have Greg Davies hosting this years BAFTA Television Awards with PandO Cruises. 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."

Greg worked as a teacher before finding success as a comedian, and the TV star previously admitted that he knows the limits of his own talents.

He told The Independent: "I think that by a certain point in life you have to be comfortable with what gifts youve got. I know what Ive got. I know what I bring. I cant imagine an Olivier Award is ever coming my way. But you just do your best, dont you?"

Greg also revealed that he almost gave up on his comedy dream, before finding success in the TV industry.

He said: "I was fascinated by the question of when you should give up on a dream, on when it might be a delusion.

"For years, the message coming from a lot of people surrounding me (along with my own brain) was: give up on the comedy dream. Thank God I did give it a go because I love what I do."
A civilian has been killed and four others have sustained moderate injuries following an Israeli air strike on the "al Shahabiya district of Tyre" in southern Lebanon, according to Al Jazeera, citing Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA). The strike caused "significant damage to a residential area," marking another escalation in the ongoing conflict. This latest bombardment is part of a broader Israeli air campaign that began after Hezbollah "launched a cross-border attack on March 2," following the outbreak of the "US-Israel war on Iran." Since the commencement of these hostilities, Israeli operations have "killed more than 1,000 people and displaced some one million" across the country. The intensity of the conflict showed no signs of waning overnight, as Israeli jets "pounding Lebanon with air raids" targeted several locations. Reports from the NNA, as relayed by Al Jazeera, indicate that strikes stretched from "Khiam and Nabatieh in the eastern section of the border" to the "municipality of Chehabiyeh near Tyre." These aerial assaults are being conducted in tandem with a "ground operation" that remains "concentrated in a number of key locations in villages close to the Israeli border." According to Al Jazeera's monitoring of the situation, the town of "Khiam" remains a primary flashpoint where Israeli "forces are operating inside the town but do not yet have full control of it." In response to the ground incursions, Hezbollah has maintained a high tempo of counter-offensives. Al Jazeera reports that the "group says it has carried out 63 operations" within the last 24 hours, a "record number of Hezbollah operations" for a single day. These strikes consisted of "mostly rocket attacks as well as some drone and artillery fire" aimed at Israeli "troops operating around" the border towns. Beyond the frontline combat, Al Jazeera highlights a "broader picture" involving the systemic "destruction of civilian infrastructure." Israeli strikes have frequently "targeted" critical transit points, "notably the main bridge on the coastal highway." Early this morning, fresh "images emerged of another bridge" being hit, further isolating southern communities by striking assets that had "previously been targeted but not fully destroyed." (ANI)
Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has cautioned that Beijing could potentially target Taiwanese individuals who openly oppose unification with China, as reported by Taipei Times. In a report submitted to the legislature, the MAC stated that China may use its recently enacted Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress as a tool for transnational repression against Taiwanese citizens. The law, passed on March 12 and scheduled to come into force on July 1, encourages the use of Mandarin, pushes for deeper economic integration, and mandates allegiance to Beijing. Critics argue that the legislation promotes forced assimilation and limits the preservation of minority cultures. The MAC further noted that such actions by Beijing violate international norms, disrupt healthy cross-strait relations, and have drawn increased global attention to China's intentions. It added that the council will work in coordination with relevant bodies to counter these measures and protect the rights and interests of the Taiwanese people. According to the MAC, China continues to adopt a "dual-track strategy" toward Taiwan--combining incentives for integration with coercive pressure. Beijing's latest five-year plan highlights efforts to deepen cross-strait integration and formalises policies aimed at encouraging Taiwanese individuals and businesses in China to assimilate further. The plan focuses on stabilising economic growth, driving transformation, and managing risks, with an increased emphasis on domestic economic circulation. The MAC also pointed out that China's economic approach is becoming more state-driven, with technological self-reliance emerging as a key industrial objective. It said this shift reflects growing structural challenges within China's economy, financial system, and broader social landscape, which in turn raise operational risks for Taiwanese companies operating there. Additionally, the council criticised Beijing for using subsidies and incentives to attract Taiwanese businesses, talent, and investment into its industrial supply chains, while projecting an image of thriving cross-strait engagement to push its long-term goal of integration and eventual unification. The MAC concluded by stating that China is currently facing multiple internal challenges, including economic slowdown, rising social pressures, and increasing public dissatisfaction, all of which pose difficulties for governance and social stability. (ANI)
The United Kingdom's Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday condemned the arson of four ambulances belonging to the Jewish community ambulance service in Golders Green. In a post on X, he underlined that antisemitism has no place in society and urged people with information about the attack to come to the police. In a post on X, he said, "This is a deeply shocking antisemitic arson attack. My thoughts are with the Jewish community, who are waking up this morning to this horrific news. Antisemitism has no place in our society. Anyone with any information must come forward to the police." https://x.com/Keir_Starmer/status/2035984108321386518?s=20 His remarks come as an investigation has been launched, with the Metropolitan Police saying on Monday that the arson attack is being treated as an anti-Semitic hate crime. Met Police, which is the police service for the Greater London area, said in that officers received a call from the London Fire Brigade in the early hours of Monday about a fire on Highfield Road, Golden Greers. "Officers attended the scene where four Hatzalah ambulances were on fire", it said. As per the Met Police, nearby houses have been evacuated as a precaution and road closures remain in place. While no injuries have been reported, all the fires have been put out. "We are aware of reports of explosions - this is believed to be linked to gas cannisters onboard the ambulances", the statement noted. Superintendent Sarah Jackson, who leads policing in the local area, underlined the distress which the incident resulted in and said the police are in the process of examining CCTV footage. "We know this incident will cause a great deal of community concern, and officers remain on scene to carry out urgent enquiries. We are in the process of examining CCTV and are aware of online footage. While no arrests have been made so far, she said that the police are looking for three suspects at the early stage. "We believe we are looking for three suspects at this early stage. There have been no arrests yet, and we would urge anyone with information to please contact us as soon as possible - you can do so anonymously if you wish." Jackson added that engagements will take place with faith leaders, and additional patrols will be carried out in the local area as the police continue the investigation to provide reassurance and a highly visible presence. (ANI)
A video showcasing an expansive underground military complex filled with advanced weaponry has been released by Iranian state media, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), in an effort to disprove the US claim that Iranian military capabilities have been completely destroyed. The footage from IRIB News depicts "rows of missiles inside an underground facility," highlighting the scale of the country's ballistic capabilities. In a clear message to international observers, the strategic site was pointedly "described as "the tip of the iceberg" regarding the nation's hidden arsenal. This visual demonstration of strength coincides with claims from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that it has carried out the 75th wave of missile strikes under the ongoing retaliatory operation "True Promise 4." According to a report by Press TV, the latest strikes targeted Israeli military positions and a key United States military installation in Saudi Arabia, the "US Prince Sultan Air Base." In an official statement, the IRGC said the operation was conducted "in honour of martyred commanders" and described it as a response to what it termed continued aggression by Israel and the United States. It added that the strikes were carried out using "advanced ballistic missiles" and were based on "accurate reconnaissance" by its intelligence units. The statement further claimed that the targets included "new military deployments and hiding places of Israeli troops" across multiple locations. It also asserted that the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia was struck as it serves as a "key hub for US aggressors' deployments and air operations" against Iran. Reiterating its stance, the IRGC warned that Israeli and US forces remain under "constant surveillance" and cautioned that attempts to conceal military assets in civilian areas would not provide protection. It said that "no hiding place or defensive measure will shield the aggressors from accountability," underscoring its intent to continue operations. The development comes amid a sharp escalation in the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States, with multiple missile and drone strikes reported across the region in recent weeks. Reports indicate that Iranian forces have previously targeted several US-linked military installations and Israeli cities using a range of missiles and unmanned aerial systems. The targeting of the Prince Sultan Air Base, located in Saudi Arabia's Al-Kharj region, is particularly significant as it has long been a major hub for US military presence and operations in the region. The broader conflict, which began in late February, has seen repeated exchanges of strikes, raising concerns of a wider regional escalation. These hostilities continue to spark fears regarding potential disruptions to global energy supplies and the overall security dynamics in West Asia. (ANI)
The Embassy of Iran in India has officially dismissed reports suggesting that Tehran is imposing a levy of USD 2 million on vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East. In a post on X, the mission clarified its position regarding the strategic waterway through a formal statement addressing the allegations. "In response to certain claims regarding the alleged receipt of a sum of 2 million dollars by the Islamic Republic of Iran from vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, it is emphasized that such claims are unfounded," the Embassy noted. https://x.com/Iran_in_India/status/2036014063600427042?s=20 The diplomatic intervention follows various media reports which attributed comments to Iranian lawmaker Alaeddin Boroujerdi, suggesting that merchant vessels were being charged USD 2 million for safe passage through the "conflict-hit Hormuz." However, the government has denied these reports, asserting that the legislator's remarks were not sanctioned by the state. "The statements made in this regard merely reflect the personal views of individuals and do not, in any way, represent the official position of the Islamic Republic of Iran," the statement further clarified. This development occurs against a backdrop of severe regional instability, as Tehran recently threatened to "completely" close the Strait of Hormuz. The warning was issued after US President Donald Trump set a "48-hour deadline" on Saturday for the reopening of the strait, specifically threatening to target Iranian energy infrastructure. The Iranian government responded by stating that the vital maritime artery for global oil and gas transport would be "completely closed" immediately if the US administration acts on the ultimatum to attack its power plants. The tension was further inflamed by President Trump's declaration that a failure to open the strait would result in the US military destroying Iran's "various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!" In a direct counter-ultimatum, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf posted on X that any strike against the nation's infrastructure would trigger a massive response. Qalibaf warned that if Iran's power plants are targeted, vital facilities across the region, including energy and desalination facilities, would be viewed as legitimate targets and subsequently "irreversibly destroyed." (ANI)
In a speech delivered by Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira at the summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States on behalf of the Brazilian President, Lula emphasised that the region must act with unity to safeguard its sovereignty and strategic interests.

He described CELAC as a key platform for asserting the unique identity of Latin America and the Caribbean on the global stage, warning that weakening the bloc could expose the region to external influence.

The Brazilian President highlighted growing concerns over political fragmentation, organised crime and economic vulnerabilities, urging countries to adopt coordinated strategies. He stressed that stronger cooperation is essential to tackle transnational crime networks, which thrive in fragmented environments, and called for targeting not just operatives but entire command structures, including financial networks.

Lula also underscored the importance of defending democracy, cautioning against digital misinformation and external interference. He noted that modern threats extend beyond traditional forms of intervention, with technology playing an increasingly influential role in shaping political narratives, as reported by Brasil 247.

On economic priorities, Lula advocated for greater regional integration in infrastructure, trade and production chains. He pointed out that Latin America possesses vast natural and strategic resources, including critical minerals essential for global industries, but must move beyond exporting raw materials to develop value-added industries.

The President further criticised the long-term impact of neoliberal economic policies, calling for stronger state-led development focused on public welfare and inclusive growth. He emphasised the need for improved public services, employment opportunities and social protection.

Concluding his address, Lula urged member nations to transform diversity into strength through unity, reaffirming CELAC's role as a vital instrument for regional cooperation and global engagement. (ANI)
The United Kingdom's Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth, began his three-day visit to India on Monday, aimed at strengthening bilateral military ties between the two countries amid emerging security challenges. According to the British High Commission in India, the visit highlights the deepening defence cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the air domain, through expanded training, operational exchanges, and strategic engagement. The CAS began his visit by paying homage to fallen soldiers at the National War Memorial in the national capital and reviewing a Guard of Honour presented by the Indian Air Force. He also held talks with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, focusing on evolving security threats and ways to strengthen cooperation between the two air forces further. The discussions come as India and the UK continue to expand collaboration through joint training programmes and educational exchanges. The statement noted that in February this year, both countries signed an agreement under which the Indian Air Force will deploy three Qualified Flying Instructors to Royal Air Force Valley, a key training base for British fast jet pilots. An Indian instructor is already contributing at RAF College Cranwell. The two air chiefs are also scheduled to visit Air Force Station Gwalior to gain insights into the IAF's operational procedures and best practices in countering emerging aerial threats. Speaking on the visit, Smyth said it was a privilege to engage with India and build on the strong defence partnership, underlining that ongoing exchanges reflect "depth of trust, shared professionalism, and mutual commitment". "It is a privilege to visit India and further strengthen our defence partnership, hosted by my esteemed colleague and good friend, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh. The planned arrival this September of Indian Air Force Qualified Flying Instructors at RAF Valley - joining the IAF instructor already contributing at RAF College Cranwell - illustrates the depth of trust, shared professionalism, and mutual commitment that underpin our relationship," he said as quoted in the statement. He added that expanding cooperation in training and operations demonstrates the enduring bonds between the Royal Air Force and the Indian Air Force, as well as a shared commitment to security, stability and technological excellence. "I look forward to building on this momentum and continuing to deepen the cooperation between our air forces in the years ahead," he added. Commodore Chris Saunders, Defence Adviser at the British High Commission, said the visit underscores the strategic importance both nations attach to strengthening defence ties. He noted that embedding IAF instructors within UK training establishments and increasing multi-domain cooperation represent a substantive enhancement of bilateral engagement. "This visit by the UK Chief of the Air Staff emphasises the significance of the UK-India defence relationship and the continued momentum with which it is building. Embedding IAF instructors within our instructor cadre at RAF Valley and RAF College Cranwell, as well as those from other Services, alongside increasingly complex air exercises and multi-domain cooperation, represents a tangible and substantive strengthening of defence ties in all domains," he stated. He further highlighted that this marks the fourth and most senior flag-rank visit from the UK to India in 2026, signalling continued momentum in the defence partnership. During his visit, the UK Air Chief is also expected to meet other members of India's civil and military leadership to further advance cooperation. (ANI)
A major aviation tragedy struck LaGuardia Airport late Sunday when a commercial flight collided with an emergency vehicle on the runway, resulting in the death of two pilots and leaving 41 others injured, according to reports by CNN. The incident occurred at approximately 11:40 pm when a Jazz Aviation flight, operating on behalf of Air Canada, "hit an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting vehicle" that was already on the tarmac, "responding to a separate incident." CNN noted that the impact was fatal for the flight crew, with both the pilot and co-pilot losing their lives in the collision. The crash resulted in a large-scale emergency response, as 39 passengers from the aircraft and two fire officers were rushed to local medical facilities. While the injured were "taken to hospitals," officials have not yet released specific "details on their conditions." In the aftermath of the disaster, the airport has been placed under a total lockdown. CNN reported that LaGuardia will "remain closed until at least 2 pm Monday" to facilitate a comprehensive forensic analysis of the accident site. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently "sending a team" to the airport to assist the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) with their investigation. Expressing his condolences via social media, Duffy stated, "Our prayers this morning are with the families impacted by the ground collision at LaGuardia. The @FAANews is deploying a team to the site to support the @NTSB's investigation." He further clarified that the facility "remains closed until 2 pm while the NTSB investigates the accident site." The investigation has taken on an international dimension, as the Transportation Safety Board of Canada announced it is also "deploying a team of investigators" to the site. This team will collaborate with US federal authorities to determine the cause of the deadly encounter between Air Canada Express flight 8646 and the "Port Authority firefighting vehicle." Compounding the regional travel chaos, a separate emergency briefly disrupted operations at Newark Liberty International Airport. CNN reported that a ground stop was implemented following a "tower evacuation around 7:30 am" due to a "burning smell coming from an elevator," though the situation was quickly contained. While Newark has since resumed normal operations and remains "calm inside the airport," LaGuardia continues to face significant disruption. The NTSB and Port Authority police are currently "working with airline partners and federal authorities" to clear the wreckage and ensure the safety of the runway before flights can resume. (ANI)
Venerable Zegya Gyatso, a monk from Tsang Monastery in Ba County of the Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, has been freed after spending six months in detention, but reports indicate that his ordeal is far from over. The monk continues to face serious health complications and remains under strict monitoring by Chinese authorities, as reported by Tibet Times. According to Tibet Times, Gyatso was allegedly detained by police in Xining around July 2, 2025, while he had travelled there seeking medical care. He was reportedly taken into custody without warning and subjected to months of interrogation before being released on January 2. Sources stated that his health has significantly worsened during detention. He is now said to be suffering from severe vision problems in both eyes, along with persistent knee and joint pain. Notably, he had no prior history of eyesight issues, and his current condition is believed to be linked to prolonged exposure to harsh lighting during his detention. However, detailed updates remain scarce due to tight restrictions on information. Even after his release, Gyatso has not regained his freedom fully. Chinese authorities continue to impose heavy surveillance on him, closely tracking his movements and interactions. Within days of returning home, he was reportedly summoned back to Xining and forced to sign a document pledging that he would not engage in any activities deemed unfavourable by the government, as highlighted by Tibet Times. Although he later returned to his monastery following the Tibetan New Year, his present condition remains uncertain. The ongoing restrictions have prevented any transparent updates about his situation. Since the 2008 detention of his cousin, Khedrub Gyatso, authorities have reportedly kept his family and associates under continuous watch. They have faced repeated questioning, warnings over alleged external contacts, and periodic police summons, as reported by Tibet Times. (ANI)
A five-day pause on strikes against Iranian infrastructure by US President Donald Trump could provide a critical tactical window for de-escalation, according to a leading academic. While the move offers a brief reprieve in the ongoing conflict, its long-term impact on regional stability remains uncertain, says University of London's Iran expert Burzine Waghmar. In an interview with ANI, Waghmar noted that while the lull provides a brief reprieve, it must be viewed against the backdrop of conflicting claims regarding diplomatic engagement. "The lull in question that has been proposed by Mr Trump must be foregrounded against this fact: that Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi only a week or so ago was bluntly declaring that we are in communication with Washington and clearly had nothing to do with them since the war started on 28th February. But that is not true. A tacit channel of communication between him and Steve did open last week for the first time," he stated. Explaining the nature of these interactions, Waghmar highlighted that "back-channel talks" likely paved the way for the President's announcement. "So, there was some communication going on between Tehran and D.C., and perhaps this would explain why President Trump has gone ahead and announced it, the lull in question for five days. And it's not a full-fledged formal ceasefire," he remarked. He added that such pauses allow military planners "to take stock of the situation of a very fast-evolving scenario playing out and to check their arsenal logistics". This strategic shift in US policy followed only a day after Washington had issued a 48-hour ultimatum regarding the Strait of Hormuz. Waghmar attributed this rapid transition from coercion to a pause to the inherent unpredictability of the US President. "Well, the only thing consistent is that Mr Trump can be unpredictable. That is something which all Middle Easterners know, not just the Iranians, but even his GCC allies," he said. Waghmar further elaborated that regional partners are increasingly concerned about the endgame of the conflict. "The Arab GCC partners are asking Mr Trump to finish the job with Iran because they cannot afford to have him just hastily pull out, leaving things as they are, because a wounded Iran is a greater risk to their medium- and long-term stability and threat," he explained. The expert suggested that threats to regional resources, specifically water security, may have influenced the decision to stay the military's hand. "Tehran threatened to obliterate desalination plants across the Middle East, not just the oil installations... I think it was the water desalination plants that could have partly led him, I repeat, only partly, to stay his hand for a moment. But it isn't over," Waghmar warned. Addressing the role of traditional mediators like Qatar, Waghmar mentioned unconfirmed reports of financial incentives being discussed to halt the violence. "There are unconfirmed reports that have been circulating, and I repeat, unconfirmed, that Qatar offered Tehran $6 billion with immediate effect to stop firing at it. Not the other GCC, but just at the state of Qatar," he noted, though he clarified that the funds in question have not yet been dispersed. Looking ahead, Waghmar pointed out that Israel's objectives align with the desire for a definitive conclusion to the current regime. "Israel's position concurs with that of the GCC allies in seeing the job done and finished. Israel makes no bones about the fact that it wants this regime to be completely obliterated," he stated. However, he cautioned that aerial supremacy alone may not achieve a total transition of power. "Even Netanyahu himself conceded that despite decapitating so many top brass individuals, you can't bring regime change simply from the air. It has to be done on the ground. And for that to happen, you need some kinetic action, terrestrially, not just aerially," Waghmar said. (ANI)
Millie Gibson urged her social media followers to "listen to [their] bodies" following a recent health scare.

Millie Gibson recently suffered a health scare

The 21-year-old actress has sent the message to her followers via Instagram, after being diagnosed with appendicitis and undergoing emergency surgery.

Millie said: "Hi all, I dont usually post things like this but I just thought it was important to share awareness. On Thursday afternoon I went to AandE with abnormal stomach pain not knowing what it was.

"The doctors diagnosed me with appendicitis later that evening and organised surgery for the morning. Ive never had a health scare like this and if it wasnt for someones advice pushing me to go to AndE my appendix would have ruptured.

"I had no prior symptoms, it cam on in the space of an hour, Please listen to your bodies (sic)"

Meanwhile, Millie quit her role on Coronation Street before joining Doctor Who in 2023, and the actress previously revealed that her parents thought her decision was "crazy".

Speaking on the Conversation Street podcast, Millie shared: "They thought I was crazy! They were like, Why on earth?

"Its such a secure position. I was like, Of course, but thats what the thing is I dont need to be secure at the minute. I need to spread my wings and see what can happen. And nothing could but I would have regretted it if I hadnt tried, so I need to try."

Millie felt the time was right to leave the cobbles, as she'd already accomplished everything she could with her character.

Despite this, the actress admitted that it was still a "hard decision".

She said: "Obviously Corrie is the most incredible job you could ever think of getting, especially at my age. But you get to a point that you feel  I got the most out of it, the most out of the character, Id explored so much with Kelly.

"I just thought whilst Im still young Id go and see what the rest of the world had to offer. It was a hard decision, for sure."
On US President Donald Trump's 'military pause' statement and Iran refuting it, former diplomat Suresh Goel said that for the war to end, Israel must also participate with America. Goel, while talking to ANI, said that a solid political agreement should be drawn between the three. He said, "It's a good thing if the war is being halted for five days. For the war to end, US participation alone would not suffice. Israel should be present in the talks with Iran. A solid political agreement should be drawn between the three, in which all three can be confident that a permanent solution will be found through the proposed conditions. Iran will definitely talk about its security, as it is not being attacked anymore. Israel wants its influence to increase in this area. Till the time its agenda is not fulfilled, will Israel agree to end this war?" Meanwhile, Khatam Al Anbiya Central Headquarters spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari said that Iran will "use every capability to ensure security as necessary", as reported by Al Jazeera. As per Al Jazeera, Zolfaghari said that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has carried out "extensive attacks" in Iraq's Erbil. Forces have also targeted US forces at al-Dhafra airbase in the UAE and Saudi Arabia's Prince Sultan base, as well as the US Navy's Fifth Fleet. Iran has launched missiles at the cities of Ashkelon, Tel Aviv, Haifa and the Gush Dan area in Israel. The IRGC reiterates that the "deceitful" behaviour of Trump will not make Iran "neglect the war front and the battle with the adversary, because the enemy's psychological operations have become apparent," Al Jazeera reported. The US and Israel will continue to retreat, as per Al Jazeera. However, Iran said that no negotiations or discussions with the United States have taken place since the start of the war. (ANI)
A strike on a hospital in Sudan has killed 64 people and injured 89 others, the World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed over the week-end, with 13 children among the dead.

The attack occurred last Friday, targeting Al Daein Teaching Hospital in East Darfur. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the incident as devastating, calling for an end to the conflict which has gripped Sudan since April 2023.

According to the WHO, those killed included patients and medical personnel, among them two female nurses and one male doctor. Eight health workers were also injured. The strike reportedly damaged key departments, including paediatric, maternity and emergency units, rendering the facility non-functional.

A Sudanese rights group, Emergency Lawyers, attributed the attack to an army drone strike. The conflict continues to divide the country, with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces controlling much of the Darfur region, while the Sudanese army holds the east, centre and north.

The United Nations humanitarian office expressed shock over the incident, noting that attacks on healthcare facilities have now claimed more than 2,000 lives since the war began. WHO data indicates at least 2,036 deaths have resulted from over 200 such attacks.

The WHO has since moved to support local health systems by strengthening nearby facilities and deploying trauma supplies and essential medicines.

Tedros reiterated that healthcare must not be targeted, warning that such attacks have both immediate and long-term consequences for already vulnerable communities, and stressing that peace remains the only sustainable remedy.
Armed clashes broke out on Sunday, March 22, in Zawiya, a city about 60 km west of Tripoli, leaving one person dead, according to local media reports.

A member of the citys Council of Elders and Notables, Al-Bashti Al-Zahouf, told Al-Mashhad newspaper that the violence occurred in the Dila-Qamouda area, involving two rival armed factions. Both groups are said to be affiliated with the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU).

The incident highlights ongoing tensions in Zawiya, where clashes between competing armed groups have persisted despite repeated appeals from community leaders for restraint.

Libya remains politically divided, with the UN-recognized Government of National Unity controlling the west, while a rival administration in the east, led by Osama Hammad and backed by Khalifa Haftars Libyan National Army, holds sway.
Trump faces a simple but difficult choice: Irans enriched uranium still needs to be secured, and airstrikes havent accomplished that. The only clear way to control it would likely require U.S. troops on the groundan option that risks widening the conflict and raising the stakes significantly.

That uncertainty has been pouring over into global energy markets.

Oil prices have pulled back from recent highs but remain elevated as the Middle East conflict shows no signs of abating. Europe remains largely non-committal towards using military means to secure the Strait of Hormuz, while U.S. President Donald Trump is still mulling whether to put U.S. troops on the ground in Iran in a bid to secure its cache of enriched uranium. Brent crude for May delivery was trading at $112.02 per barrel at 8:10 pm ET, down from Thursdays peak above $118/bbl, while the corresponding WTI crude contract was changing hands at $98.32 per barrel after hitting $101/bbl on Thursday.

On Thursday, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Japan issued a joint statement condemning Irans attacks on commercial vessels and said they are ready to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. However, they did not commit to a specific, Pentagon-led security mission. Its worth noting that Germany, Italy, and Greece have previously ruled out sending warships to join a US-led military mission in the Gulf, citing that the conflict is not their war and they were not consulted. Previously, EU foreign ministers confirmed they will not expand their current "Aspides" naval mission from the Red Sea into the Strait of Hormuz, with reports suggesting there is no appetite to alter the mission's mandate.

Related: The Three Companies Rebuilding Americas Rare-Earth Arsenal

Trump has slammed Europe for falling to help a landing help in the Gulf mission, calling them cowards, 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. So easy for them to do, with so little risk, he wrote on his Truth Social platform.

And now the onus rests on Trump to make a final decision on whether to deploy U.S. ground troops to seize Irans enriched uranium stockpile in one of the most high-stakes and controversial decisions of the ongoing conflict. The Trump administration's stated goal remains preventing a nuclear-armed Iran, but the president is now caught between maximalist aims and a desire to keep costs low and avoid a long-term regime change war.

Experts estimate that Iran owns 970 pounds of enriched uranium that can potentially be used to build up to 10 nuclear weapons, much of it buried under the mountain facility targeted in U.S. bombings. On Thursday, Trump told reporters he was not putting troops on the ground in Iran, though he added that if he were, he wouldn't telegraph it. Conversely, sources within the administration indicate that the deployment of special forces to secure near-bomb-grade uranium is a live option under review. Expert analysis suggests that extracting or diluting the enriched material would likely require more than 1,000 troops per site.

However, the Trump administration would have its work cut out for it if it decides to send troops into Iran. The Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, testified on Wednesday that U.S. and Israeli air strikes have already "obliterated" Iran's enrichment program and buried underground facilities under rubble, making any recovery mission a physically complex undertaking.

Related: A New U.S. Facility Could Break Chinas Grip on Critical Materials

Further, its unclear whether Trump would be able to garner the necessary approval from the U.S. Congress, with many lawmakers arguing that such a significant escalation would necessitate formal congressional authorization, despite the administrations potential to act under executive authority. Interestingly, the matter is not cleanly split along party lines: lawmakers such as Florida Senator Rick Scott (R) have emphasized that allowing the stockpile to remain in the hands of Iranian hard-liners is untenable, while others like Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal (D) argue that securing the uranium cannot be achieved without a physical presence.

Additionally, the majority of Americans are against such a mission: a recent YouGov poll found Trump has a net approval of -20 for how hes handling the situation in Iran, with 56% disapproving and only 36% approving. This makes it the least popular major American conflict in nearly a century.

And now there are growing concerns that oil prices could spike to levels never seen before. Energy and commodity analysts at Wood Mackenzie have predicted that oil prices could approach $200 per barrel if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked for a sustained period. If that sounds like a stretch, consider that Standard Chartered estimates that the Middle East war has cut global oil supply by 7.4-8.2 million barrels per day. The release of 400 million barrels recently pledged by 32 IEA members over a 12-month period would only cover ~1.1 mb/d of that shortfall, potentially leaving global markets in a huge deficit.



By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Shortly before the war with Iran began, I wrote that the seeming complacency among government officials and financial market participants was based on two assumptions which I argued were unlikely to turn out to be true: 1) President Donald Trump would make a last-minute deal with the Iranians and declare victory and 2) even if Trump didn't make such a deal, the Iranians would not do all the things which they threatened to do if attacked.

Here we are, three weeks into the conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran. There was, of course, no last-minute deal, and the Iranians have done exactly what they threatened to do. Here is what I reported before the war regarding Iran's threats:

Those threats include attacking U.S. bases in the region, attacking any country that assists the U.S. and Israeli war effort, attacking U.S. naval vessels, and, most importantly, closing the Strait of Hormuz through which passes 20 percent of the world's exported oil and liquefied natural gas.

As I suggested, the complacency was likely to turn into panic in many capitals of the world. That has now happened. The governments and peoples of the Persian Gulf states allied with the United States have been directly attacked by Iran in response to attacks on it by Israel and the United States. Governments of countries dependent on the reliable delivery of Persian Gulf oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) are desperately trying to find supplies elsewhere and adjust to the sudden shortage. Since most other oil and LNG is already delivered based on contracts, that has left countries scrambling for Russian oil and LNG on which U.S. sanctions have been lifted. But Russia's exports were already skirting sanctions, so the increase in supply is likely to be minimal.

Given all this, it is somewhat baffling then that in the financial markets - with the exception of the oil market - complacency continues to reign. Stock markets are down, but there has been no crash. The widely followed S&P 500 Index is down from 6,900 at the beginning of the war to near 6,500 on Friday, a level at which the index closed as recently as November 20 of last year. Markets for agricultural products are reflecting higher input costs, but there is no extreme run-up of food prices - yet! Prices for gasoline and diesel have risen quickly, but the public has been told again and again that this is just temporary.

Here is why I believe the complacency in the financial markets is misplaced:

The Iranians closed the Strait of Hormuz except to their own ships and those of friendly countries. But the ship traffic is now just a trickle of what it was before the war started. The Trump administration did not anticipate that the war would go on this long, nor did it believe that Iran would close the Strait. That explains why there was no ready-to-execute plan to keep it open. The U.S. military is telegraphing that it may seize Kharg Island , Iran's major oil port, in order to pressure the Iranian government to allow ships to pass through the Strait. Now this is where, as I said in a previous piece, logic is your friend . Kharg Island is nowhere near the Strait of Hormuz. There is no way a U.S. military presence could possibly affect anything along the Strait directly, so it's possible that the public discussion about seizing Kharg Island is just misdirection.



One thing you can be certain of: Unlike the Trump administration, the Iranian military has already carefully thought through how it would repel and defeat any force trying to take Kharg Island or land far to the east on the Iranian side of the Strait of Hormuz, an area lined with caves and fortifications. Does it look like a small force could even survive such a mission? And how would such a force control the coastline anyway? So far, no massive ground invasion is being contemplated, something that would take months to assemble. If the Strait were to stay closed for several months, such a closure would almost certainly create a worldwide depression.



It is important to understand that if the U.S. military does attempt to take Kharg Island, the battle might result in the destruction of the oil port. Iran has already struck some oil and gas infrastructure in other countries in the Gulf region in response to the destruction of its own gas infrastructure by Israeli attacks on the world's largest natural gas field, known as South Pars. There is every reason to believe that Iran would respond to the destruction of its own oil port in the same way. Persian Gulf oil infrastructure in other major oil and gas exporting countries could be damaged in a manner that could take years to repair or rebuild.



One more thing: Iran doesn't need to control its shoreline on the Persian Gulf to threaten Gulf shipping. Iran has shown that it can target anything it wants with drones and missiles launched hundreds of miles away. Even if the U.S. military could control the entire Iranian Persian Gulf coast, that would not prevent Iran from threatening shipping anywhere in the gulf, including the Strait of Hormuz.



Yet one more thing: Does anyone remember the Houthis of Yemen, allies of Iran, who successfully closed the Red Sea to cargo traffic starting in 2023 in sympathy with Palestinians in Gaza during the war between Hamas and Israel? The Houthis stopped harassing U.S. shipping after the United States agreed to a cease-fire and withdrew. Right now, some of Saudi Arabia's oil has been diverted via pipeline to its Red Sea port . The Houthis could at any time open another front in the already complicated war with Iran. And the Houthis have drones and missiles and demonstrated the will and the ability to use them effectively. The Trump administration believed that heavy targeted bombing and assassination of top leaders would lead to the quick surrender of Iran. That hasn't happened, and so the administration kept bombing Iran, thinking the regime would ultimately collapse, either through surrender or through an internal rebellion that overthrew the government. That still hasn't happened and doesn't look like it will. Any market participant who believes that it may still happen will likely have a long time to wait, during which the world markets will adjust to the loss of energy, fertilizer, and chemicals, and the chaos unleashed in supply chains as a result. Many market participants believe with justification that a frustrated Trump will, at some point, simply declare victory and withdraw. It's hard to see how he would do that, given the strong influence on him of supporters of Israel in the United States and of the leader of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu wants Iran's nuclear program dismantled, all its ballistic missiles capable of reaching Israel destroyed, and a pliant new regime installed in Iran. None of that would be accomplished if the United States withdraws prematurely.



Let's assume though that Trump does simply declare victory and withdraw. That only meets one of Iran's conditions for peace: The U.S. military out of the Persian Gulf. But there are other conditions including the lifting of economic sanctions, security guarantees from major powers (presumably Russia and China) that Iran will not just be attacked again at a later date, and reparations for damage done to the country (which might take the form of tolls for ships carrying cargo for previous belligerents). It's hard to see the Trump administration agreeing to any of these other demands or even considering them seriously.



The bottom line: A U.S. withdrawal from the conflict with Iran will not automatically lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The strait may remain closed until other conditions are met. And, of course, even if the United States withdraws from the conflict, that does not mean Israel will. [ This section was added after I had finished writing and editing this post. It is difficult at this time to weigh the seriousness of President Trump's rant on Truth Social discussed below. ] President Trump announced Saturday night on Truth Social that if Iran does not open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours (which by my calculations means Monday night Eastern time), he will "obliterate" Iran's electric power generation plants. It's hard to know whether this is yet another Trump bluff and if it is not, how many power plants he would order destroyed, and whether the U.S. military would execute the order since to do so would clearly be an internationally recognized war crime.



Beyond that it would be economic suicide for the global system including the United States. Here's why: Such an attack would almost surely result in Iran attacking energy infrastructure throughout the gulf region and in Israel. That might mean major damage to critical oil and gas ports, pipelines and refineries far beyond what has already occured, damage that I indicated above would take years to repair. If Iran manages to do damage that is extensive enough, it would almost surely crash the world economy into an instant depression that would be difficult to emerge from. No amount of government spending or central bank money printing could make up for the lost physical energy supplies.



Please understand what this will mean if both Trump's threat and the expected Iranian response are successfully carried out to the fullest extent. Millions of people will perish within weeks in Iran as economic life comes to a halt. Millions more will flood out of the country in search of water, food and safety. If Iranian leaders believe the country is headed toward such a fate, those leaders may decide to target water desalination plants upon which Israel and several Persian Gulf nations depend for the bulk of their water. Extensive damage would essentially leave large swathes of the region immediately unhabitable. That would in turn lead to an instant mass migration out of the countries affected. All this would almost certainly become the largest humanitarian disaster in history. The result for those outside the war zone would be something akin to a peak-oil-precipitated economic and societal crash beyond any previously contemplated or discussed on this blog.



Will someone talk Trump off the ledge before the power plant bombing campaign begins?

The effects of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on energy and other critical supplies are being discovered daily. There are the obvious effects: quick rises in gasoline prices and a shortage of gas used for cooking in many Asian countries. And there are the not-so-obvious effects: the sudden shortage of nitrogen fertilizer and the loss of an important source of helium. (Just in case you don't know, helium is critical in the manufacture of semiconductors, and there is no replacement.) These and other shortages will mount, and the prices will rise as long as the strait is closed.

How long a closure will it take to finally put the world into a recession or even a depression? Some economists are saying the risk of a recession is rising. I believe that this conflict will continue for much longer, perhaps months, for the reasons stated above. If that turns out to be the case, the very high price of oil and other key commodities could bring what looks like an already overindebted financial system to its knees.

Iran already knows this. That's why it has chosen to use the closure of the Strait of Hormuz for leverage in this conflict. I don't expect the Iranians to give away that leverage for anything short of almost complete capitulation to their demands.

P.S. It is important to understand that even if by some miracle the Strait of Hormuz were opened tomorrow, it would take months before the wells, refineries, and oil and gas ports would return to pre-war levels of operations. What I'm telling you is that immense economic damage has already been baked into the world economy.

By Kurt Cobb via Resource Insights

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The United Nations' top human rights official has warned that reports of torture and abuse in Venezuelan detention centers persist even after the January capture of former president Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces and the backing of an interim government led by Delcy Rodriguez.

Volker Turk, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, told the U.N. Human Rights Council that his office had received information about "the continued torture and mistreatment of detainees, including in the Rodeo 1 and Fuerte Guaicaipuro" detention centers. Turk said many Venezuelans also remain in "arbitrary detention," including at least one child, as BBC reports.

Rodriguez, Maduro's former vice president and now interim president, has overseen the passage of an amnesty law intended to release thousands of detainees. Turk welcomed the measure but said "structural and systemic human rights concerns have persisted" despite Maduro's removal from power.

Venezuela's parliament has said more than 7,700 people were granted "full freedom" under the law, though most were previously under house arrest or parole. The prisoners' rights group Foro Penal said it has confirmed fewer than 700 releases and estimates that more than 500 people remain imprisoned for political reasons.

Turk said the U.N. had requested the official list of those released and access to detention centers but had not received it. "We have requested the official list of those released, as well as unfettered access to several detention centres, so far without success," he told the council.

Venezuela's foreign minister, Yvan Gil, rejected Turk's remarks, calling them "unfounded" and accusing the U.N. rights office of repeating the claims of political opponents. In a statement, Gil said the high commissioner was promoting a "biased narrative" against Venezuela and acting as "a sounding board for falsehoods."

El Alto Comisionado de la ONU para los Derechos Humanos insiste en una narrativa parcializada hacia nuestro pais, repitiendo acusaciones infundadas y omitiendo deliberadamente el impacto de las medidas coercitivas unilaterales sobre los derechos del pueblo venezolano. pic.twitter.com/ds8prFqWIW  Yvan Gil (@yvangil) March 16, 2026

A separate report from the U.N.'s Independent International Fact-Finding Mission, published last week, said the country's "repressive state" remains intact, reporting 87 politically motivated detentions since Maduro's ouster and adding that "institutional structures facilitating human rights violations have not been dismantled."

Lawyer Maria Eloisa Quintero, representing the mission, said Venezuela cannot be considered on a path toward reform "unless and until that repressive apparatus is dismantled."

International human rights organizations have also expressed concern about the situation following Maduro's capture. Human Rights Watch said the change in leadership could "consolidate the country's repressive government so long as it serves U.S. political and business interests" while Amnesty International criticized the operation that removed Maduro, warning it could reinforce authoritarian practices rather than dismantle them.

"Two wrongs don't make a right," Amnesty Secretary General Agnes Callamard said, arguing that both Venezuelan state abuses and U.S. actions should face scrutiny.

Originally published on Latin Times
The nation's escalating lawlessness, fueled by its role as a major transshipment point for 70% of the global cocaine supply, is directly impacting the oil sector through sabotage, extortion, and a more than 20-fold increase in fuel theft.

The once peaceful South American nation of Ecuador is being rocked by cocaine related violence. Since the 2020 pandemic, the tiny countrys murder rate has spiraled higher, hitting an all-time high of nearly 51 murders per 100,000 people during 2025. The tiny impoverished country of less than 20 million is regularly affected by extreme bloodshed, conflict, and lawlessness despite frequent security crackdowns. The rapid rise of cocaine trafficking and related brutality is sharply impacting government finances and Ecuadors broken oil industry. Hydrocarbon production is trapped in a death spiral, with sabotage and oil theft common events.

Ecuador, which is sandwiched between the worlds largest cocaine producers, Colombia and Peru, recently emerged as a hotspot for narcotics trafficking. That geographical location on South Americas northwest coast, coupled with extensive export infrastructure and ports, makes Ecuador an ideal transshipment point for cocaine. According to Ecuadors President Daniel Noboa, 70% of the global cocaine supply, which is produced in Colombia and Peru, is shipped from Ecuador to key markets in Europe, North America, and Asia. This is responsible for soaring lawlessness and bloodshed, which the current administration appears incapable of controlling even with U.S. assistance.

There are fears of further violence as the volume of cocaine shipped from Ecuador continues to expand. You see, Colombias cocaine output has grown exponentially over the last decade, expanding ninefold, from 290 metric tons to 2,664 metric tons, between 2013 and 2023. It is estimated that for 2024, it will have increased by another 13% year over year to 3,001 metric tons. It is this massive surge in cocaine output that is responsible for Ecuadors soaring bloodshed and lawlessness. The volume of cocaine to be shipped through the tiny South American country will expand after U.S. intervention in Venezuela removed another key transit point.

Related: The Three Companies Rebuilding Americas Rare-Earth Arsenal

Surging lawlessness and violence, notably around the southern city of Guayaquil, Ecuadors commercial hub, and the northern port city of Esmeraldas is impacting the economy. An extremely violent 2024 weighed on the economy with gross domestic product (GDP) shrinking 2% that year, but for 2025, Ecuadors economy returned to growth, expanding by a healthy 3%. Despite this notable improvement, a sharp uptick in government spending, primarily for security and law enforcement, caused Ecuadors fiscal deficit to blow out to $5.3 billion or 4% of GDP.

The 2025 deficit was a worrying 71% higher than a year earlier 2024 and blew out because, as Ministry of Economy data shows, there was an 11% year on year spending increase and a 15% decrease in oil revenue. Indeed, Ecuador has reported a fiscal deficit for nearly two decades with Quito last announcing a budget surplus for 2008. This is placing considerable pressure on a cash-strapped Quito, particularly with vital fiscal revenue from Ecuadors oil patch falling. You see, the oil industry is caught in a death spiral, with production falling sharply over the last decade.

Central bank data shows for January 2026 that Ecuador lifted an average of 466,400 barrels per day, which was not only 1.8% less than a year earlier but 13% lower than the same month a decade earlier. For the full year 2025, the Andean nation lifted 440,064 barrels per day, which is not only a worrying 8% lower than a year earlier but represents a whopping 19% decrease compared to the 198,230 barrels per day lifted during 2015. That is especially concerning because Ecuador kept oil production above 500,000 barrels per day during 2015 and 2016 despite the international Brent price plunging to under $40 per barrel as the global oil glut hit harder.

A major reason for the sharp drop in Ecuadors oil production last year was a devastating March 2025 oil spill, which released 25,116 barrels into the environment and forced the closure of the Trans-Ecuadorian Oil Pipeline (SOTE). As a result, operations were shuttered until the pipeline was repaired, causing production to fall to around 451,500 barrels per day for the month. That volume was 4% less than February 2025 and 6.5% lower year over year. Indeed, pipeline ruptures and subsequent production shut-ins are commonplace for Ecuadors oil patch.

Related: The Invisible Metals Powering a Trillion-Dollar Economy

Heavy rainfall and related landslides during July 2025 forced the shutdown of the SOTE and Oleoducto de Crudos Pesados (OCP) pipelines. Consequently, national oil company Petroecuador declared force majeure on oilfields in Ecuadors Amazon, which are responsible for nearly all production, and shut them down. As a result of these events, oil production plunged to 147,500 barrels per day for July 2025 or less than a third of the 467,100 barrels pumped a month earlier. This had a severe impact on Ecuadors petroleum output because of the length of the suspension of operations and the increasing frequency of such events.

You see, since the San Rafeal waterfall, Ecuadors largest such geographical body, on the Coca River collapsed during 2020, increasingly frequent pipeline outages caused by landslides are sharply impacting production. The Coca River, a tributary of the Amazon, is suffering from a phenomenon known as hungry water, which experts blame on the Coca Codo Sinclair 1,500-megawatt hydroelectric dam. Water entering the dam slows and loses its normal sediment load, so when released downstream its erosive capability is far greater. This, coupled with regular heavy rainfall in Ecuadors Amazon, is aggressively eroding the banks of the Coca River and the route taken by the SOTE and OCP pipelines.

Substandard maintenance, poor planning, and aging pipeline infrastructure are all further contributing factors to regular ruptures, environmentally damaging oil spills, and shut ins. Those events pose a considerable threat to Ecuadors oil industry because the SOTE facility transports 57% of petroleum lifted in the country, with the remainder is carried by the OCP pipeline. Whenever pipeline outages occur, drillers are unable to ship petroleum, forcing them to store it locally and then shut down oilfields once those storage tanks are full.

A newly emerging threat to Ecuadors oil industry is soaring violence fueled by the cocaine trade. There is not only the fallout from heightened bloodshed and lawlessness driven by heavily armed criminal bands to consider. Organized criminal groups are engaging in fuel theft to support drug smuggling operations and generate alternate sources of income. This has long been a rampant problem in neighboring Colombia, where petroleum is stolen for resale or refined into a crude form of gasoline, which is used to process coca leaves for manufacturing cocaine.

Gasoline is a key chemical needed in tremendous quantities to manufacture cocaine. An estimated 75 gallons or 284 liters of the fuel is required to process sufficient coca leaves to produce one kilogram of coca paste, an intermediate product that is refined into cocaine hydrochloride. Substantial Additional quantities of gasoline are required to fuel generators powering clandestine narcotics labs. Ecuadors significantly higher fuel prices after Noboa removed a costly and controversial government subsidy further incentivized criminal groups to steal gasoline and even oil by tapping hydrocarbon pipelines.

From 2022 to 2024, fuel theft grew more than 20-fold, with 770 illegal taps found on Ecuadors pipeline network during the first 10 months of 2024 compared to 36 two years earlier. This is soaring because of a marked spike in criminal activity, most of which is associated with soaring cocaine trafficking. It will keep growing not only as smuggling of narcotics intensifies but also because of the recent oil price spike. Brent surged by over 55% to $112 per barrel since the end of February 2026, when Israel and the U.S. started striking Iran. Ecuadors 1,030 miles (1,655 kilometers) of pipelines, much of which runs through remote areas on the Pacific Coast and Amazon, are vulnerable to being illegally tapped by criminal groups.

Violent gangs associated with narcotics trafficking are also attacking oilfields to steal copper, gasoline, and diesel as well as extort energy companies as they seek out alternate sources of illicit income. The growing frequency of those incidents will force drillers, primarily national oil company Petroecuador, to shutter operations, further impacting production volumes. It is feared that the latest security crackdown, where Quito has implemented a nighttime curfew and deployed 75,000 soldiers as well as police across Ecuadors most violent provinces, will have little lasting impact on crime and lawlessness.

Efforts to reinvigorate Ecuadors economically vital oil industry, including through regulatory reforms as well as a $47 billion plan to expand exploration and production deep into Ecuadors Amazon, are failing. Frequent severe infrastructure outages, spiraling violence, and heightened opposition to Quitos plans, notably by indigenous groups, are deterring private investment. This is not only sharply impacting efforts to expand hydrocarbon production, and hence oil rents, but also growing reserves. For those reasons, there is no end in sight for the malaise that is hitting the oil industry and Quitos revenue hard.

By Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com

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Chinese state oil giant Sinopec, Asias biggest refiner by capacity, will not buy Iranian oil even after the U.S. waiver on purchases of crude from Iran loaded on tankers as of March 20, a senior Sinopec executive said on Monday.

Sinopec, officially known as China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, is weighing the potential risks of Iranian oil trade and basically won't buy

Iranian crude, the companys president Zhao Dong said, as carried by Reuters.

The U.S. Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on Friday issued a general license, which basically authorizes until April 19 imports of Iranian crude loaded on vessels as of March 20. The license even includes authorization of U.S. imports of Iranian-origin crude, amid the frantic attempts by the Trump Administration to curb soaring oil prices.

Reports emerged on Monday that Chinese state refiners are considering the pros and cons of buying Iranian crude which is now unsanctioned, as is Russian crude already loaded on vessels.

State-controlled refiners in China are considering whether to buy Iranian crude after the U.S. waiver allows legitimate imports again, sources with knowledge of the situation told Bloomberg on Monday.

China has been the biggest and nearly the only buyer of Iranian crude in recent years amid the U.S. sanctions on Irans exports, but all these sanctioned barrels were flowing on dark fleets to the independent Chinese refiners. These crude processors, commonly referred to as teapots, dont care about any sanctionstheir primary consideration in choosing supply is the price. The sanctioned Iranian barrels have been sold at much lower prices compared to international benchmarks, due to the illegal activity surrounding shipments and trade.

Chinese state oil refiners, however, have been staying away from Irans crude for years to avoid running afoul of the U.S. sanctions.

Sinopec has decided against buying Iranian crude, but it is pushing the Chinese authorities to allow it to tap the massive state petroleum reserves, the refiners president said on Monday.

Currently, Sinopec is buying Saudi crude loading from Yanbu on Saudi Arabias Red Sea coast. It is also sourcing crude from outside the Middle East, the executive said.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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The biggest state-controlled refiners in China are considering whether to buy Iranian crude after the U.S. on Friday issued a one-month waiver allowing imports of Iran-origin crude, sources with knowledge of the situation told Bloomberg on Monday.

China has been the biggest and nearly the only buyer of Iranian crude in recent years amid the U.S. sanctions on Irans exports, but all these sanctioned barrels were flowing on dark fleets to the independent Chinese refiners. These crude processors, commonly referred to as teapots, dont care about any sanctionstheir primary consideration in choosing supply is the price. The sanctioned Iranian barrels have been sold at much lower prices compared to international benchmarks, due to the illegal activity surrounding shipments and trade.

Chinese state oil refiners, however, have been staying away for years from Irans crude, to avoid running afoul of the U.S. sanctions.

But now, the sanctions on imports of Iranian crude loaded on vessels as of March 20 are lifted until April 19, as per the general license the U.S. Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued on Friday amid the frantic attempts by the Trump Administration to arrest the surge in oil prices.

The waiver even allows the importation into the United States of crude oil and petroleum products of Iranian origin, in a highly unusual move, which analysts see as funding the enemy.

Related: The U.S. Just Took a Giant Step in The Rare Earth Race With China

The license quietly opens that door to U.S. importation of Iranian crude that has been prohibited for decades, says Max Meizlish, a research fellow for the Center on Economic and Financial Power (CEFP) at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD).

Other analysts and sanctions experts note that the license to buy Iranian crude loaded on vessels is unlikely to attract a different slate of customers than the typical Chinese teapot customer, due to the other Iran-related sanctions still in place and the uncertainty how low this waiver  currently until April 19  would last.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Europes gasoline exports have started to increasingly shift to Asia in recent weeks as the crude supply shock in the Middle East is tightening Asian fuel supply.

Europe usually ships most of its exported gasoline to the United States, West Africa, and South America. But in these unusual times of the biggest disruption in the oil market ever, more European gasoline cargoes are bound for Asia.

Over the past week, at least 1.6 million barrels of gasoline, carried by three tankers, have loaded from Europe and are en route to Asia, Reuters reported on Monday, citing ship-tracking data and trade sources.

The crude supply crisis in the Middle East, on which Asia relied for a large part of its imports before the war, is sending shockwaves through all Asian countries, which scramble to preserve domestic supply with bans or limits on fuel exports.

Despite sky-high refining margins, Asian refiners are curtailing processing rates amid the crude supply shock. This additionally tightens the fuel markets in Asia.

Related: New Chemistry Breakthrough Could Challenge Chinas Rare Earth Dominance

Sinopec, the biggest refiner in Asia by capacity, has reportedly slashed its run rates by 10%, while China has banned fuel exports.

In Southeast Asia, Thailand and Vietnam have also restricted exports of fuels, while the Philippines and Pakistan have moved to a four-day work week, Pakistans move being implemented under a war austerity plan.

With soaring margins in Asia, traders are now moving more gasoline to Asia and the wider Asia Pacific region, including U.S. cargoes to Australia. Early this month, Exxon was slated to ship its first-ever gasoline shipment from the U.S. Gulf Coast to Australia.

The Asian region is now looking at India as a potential savior, hoping that India could redirect part of its fuel exports from the Middle East to Asia. But some Indian refiners have also reduced fuel export loadings, which further strains the tight fuel supply.

Early this month, Indian state-run refiner Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) declared force majeure on all planned gasoline export cargoes for March and April as the Middle East war is halting crude supply out of the Gulf.

By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com

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The International Energy Agency could release additional volumes of crude from storage should the need arise, the head of the agency, Fatih Birol, said today.

If it is necessary, of course, we will do it. We look at the conditions, we will analyse, assess the markets and discuss with our member countries, Birol said in Australia at the start of what Reuters described as a world tour.

The IEA earlier this month said it would release 400 million barrels of crude from OECD reserves to cushion the blow to oil markets caused by the disruption of tanker traffic in the Middle East. Birol pointed out that the additional release will not be triggered by any particular oil price level.

The coordinated oil release action, announced on March 11th by the IEA, represents the largest emergency oil release ever organized by the group and only the sixth such intervention since the IEA was created following the 1970s oil shocks. The move comes as tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which serves as the critical chokepoint for roughly 20% of global oil and LNG trade, has slowed sharply amid escalating military activity in the Gulf.

Birol has described the current oil supply crisis as worse than both the Arab oil embargo from the 1970s and the effects of the war in Ukraine put together. He also admitted that A stock release will help to comfort the markets, but this is not the solution. It will only help to reduce the pain in the economy.

The war in the Middle East has already prompted oil producers in the region to start slashing production as they run out of storage space. While some oil is leaving the region, it seems to be mostly Iranian oil. The situation has also worsened as a result of attacks from Iran on energy infrastructure in neighboring countries in response to Israeli and U.S. attacks on its own infrastructure, including the giant South Pars gas field.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Indian retail fuel prices are stable despite a surge in the oil basket price to over $155 per barrel, the Hindustan Times reported today, citing energy industry executives.

The Indian oil basket settled at $156.29 per barrel on March 19, overtaking Brent crude in a rare occurrence resulting from the supply disruption in the Middle East. Thats despite Irans statement that it would allow Indian tankers carrying oil for the subcontinent to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. As a result of the disruption, the Indian oil basket has surged by some 120%.

The surge is currently being absorbed by refiners, both state-owned and private, industry executives said on Sunday, as quoted by the Hindustan Times. They also said there is plenty of oil in stock, so a supply crunch is not on the horizon for the time being.

The oil ministry, meanwhile, issued a statement saying In view of the evolving situation in West Asia, the Government of India continues to take proactive steps to ensure preparedness and response across critical sectors, adding that All refineries are operating at high capacity, with adequate crude inventories in place. The country is also maintaining sufficient stocks of petrol and diesel.

India is the third-largest importer of crude oil globally, behind China and the United States. It relies on imports to cover over 80% of demand. However, it has a highly diversified supplier base, the Hindustan Times noted in its report, counting 40 oil-rich countries among its sources. However, the country is still exposed to international oil prices since its oil basket is comprised of Oman and Dubai sour crude plus sweet Brent. The Dubai/Oman benchmark contract ended last week at over $160 per barrel. Brent was trading at $113 per barrel at the time of writing, as the ultimatum that President Trump gave Iran before he starts bombing power plants nears its deadline.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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India-flagged carriers loaded with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) were passing through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday close to the Iranian coastline, in a sign that Iran is allowing some Indian vessels to transit the worlds most vital chokepoint for energy flows.

Around 60% of Indian households rely on LPG for their primary cooking fuel, and the blockage at the Strait of Hormuz, from where 90% of all Indian LPG imports pass, has been immediately felt by consumers.

Indias LPG demand this month has already slumped by 17% from a year earlier and by 26% compared to the first two weeks of February, according to preliminary data cited by The Hindu outlet last week.

Amid the supply shortage, the Indian government has cut LPG supplies to commercial establishments and industries to have more cooking gas available for household use.

The most recent shipping data suggest that Iran has agreed to ensure passage through the Strait of Hormuz to some India-flagged vessels, especially the LPG carriers that deliver the fuel.

The very large gas carriers Jag Vasant and the Pine Gas on Monday traveled from the UAEs coast to the Iranian islands of Qeshm and Larak, which sit on the northern section of the Strait of Hormuz, according to vessel-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg.

The signals from both vessels were that they are India-owned. Although they did not show destination, the ships are likely now heading outbound from the Strait of Hormuz toward India, according to Bloomberg.

LPG exports from the Gulf have now plunged to their lowest levels in at least 12 months, maritime intelligence firm Windward said in a Sunday note.

Over the past seven days, approximately 1.5 million barrels of LPG were loaded, with most volumes directed toward Asia, Windward said, adding that vessels are moving now to Iranian-controlled routes.

Bulk carriers and LPG vessels are increasingly using these Iranian-controlled routes instead of traditional corridors. In most observed cases, these vessels had previously called at Imam Khomeini port, reinforcing the role of Iran in enabling selective passage, Windward noted.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Worldwide LNG exports have plunged in the past week to a six-month low as Middle Eastern supply collapsed with the de facto closed Strait of Hormuz and the outage at the worlds biggest LNG complex in Qatar.

Global LNG shipments have plunged to about 1.1 million tons over the 10-day moving average, down by 20% since the war began, a Bloomberg analysis of Kpler vessel-tracking data showed.

Qatar is the primary driver of the lost LNG supply following the halt of production and exports. Supply is also lost from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), whose shipments are choked and unable to move past the Strait of Hormuz.

At the end of last week, Qatars state firm QatarEnergy said the damage from Iranian missile strikes on the Ras Laffan LNG complex, the worlds single largest LNG-producing facility, would cost it about $20 billion per year in lost revenue and to take up to five years to repair.

The Iranian missile attacks on Ras Laffan Industrial City (RLIC) last week dashed hopes of quick resumption of Qatari LNG flows even if the Strait of Hormuz were to open to unimpeded and safe traffic today.

Related: A New U.S. Facility Could Break Chinas Grip on Critical Materials

None of the other major LNG exporters, including the top exporter, the United States, cannot offset the lost Qatari supply, which sent European benchmark gas prices and Asias spot LNG prices to multi-year highs.

Northeast Asian buyers enter the worst disruption in the history of energy markets with comparatively comfortable stock levels, but Europe faces its toughest restocking season yet, as its gas storage sites are about 29% full at the end of the winter10 percentage points below last years levels, according to Kpler.

As a result of the low storage levels and Qatar and the UAE offline for weeks and possibly months as any restart would only be gradual, Europes restocking will be slower, more expensive, and more dependent on US and West African supply than at any prior point, Kpler says.

European benchmark natural gas prices have doubled since the war began as the supply shock of 20% of global LNG flows halted reverberated through markets and prompted Asia to outbid Europe for spot LNG supply.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Oil prices opened the week elevated but stable in early Asian trading on Monday, holding near multi-year highs after another weekend of escalating tensions between the United States and Iran.

At the time of writing, WTI crude was trading at $98.61, up 0.39%, while Brent crude had inched down 0.24% to trade at $111.90. These muted price moves mask an increasingly uncertain environment, with markets bracing for a very volatile session.

Late on Saturday, President Trump issued a stark ultimatum, warning that the United States would strike Irans power plants within 48 hours unless the Strait of Hormuz is fully reopened. Iran responded by warning that any attack on its countrys energy infrastructure would trigger retaliation against "critical infrastructure, energy infrastructure, and oil facilities throughout the region", with Iran's Speaker of Parliament later adding that "financial entities that finance the US military budget are legitimate targets."

???? 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

The deadline for President Trump's ultimatum, which falls late Monday U.S. time, is sure to drive significant volatility in oil prices and likely result in further escalation across the region. Already, there have been heavy airstrikes across Iran early Monday morning after Iran continued to attack Israel over the weekend.

This latest escalation from the U.S. President has raised fears that the conflict could move beyond military installations into a broader campaign against civilian and economic infrastructure. Partly due to these concerns, Saudi Aramco's CEO has canceled his plans to attend this week's CERAWeek energy conference in the U.S. The CEO of Kuwait Petroleum Cooperation is also set to miss the conference, according to Reuters, although he is expected to join virtually from Kuwait.

In an attempt to help calm oil markets, the IEA's Executive Director said the agency is ready to work with member countries to release more stockpiled oil "if necessary." He did then go on to emphasize that the "single most important solution to the problem" would be reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Beyond energy markets, equity markets in Japan, South Korea, and Australia all opened lower on Monday, reflecting a broader risk-off sentiment as investors grapple with the possibility of further escalation.

For oil traders, Trumps ultimatum has created a defined timeline for potential escalation, with the threat of direct U.S. strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure representing a significant step up in the conflict. Iran has made clear that any such move would be met with retaliation that could further disrupt energy flows across the Middle East.

By Josh Owens for Oilprice.com

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Brent crude is down more than 8% in the minutes following a statement by U.S. President Donald Trump 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.

Brent crude sunk to around $103 prepared in early trade on Monday, with WTI falling to around $90.

Iranian media has claimed there had been no direct or indirect contact with President Trump.

Early on Monday, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) appears to have signaled a shift in tone as the deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump to reopen the Strait of Hormuz approaches, easing earlier threats against civilian infrastructure even as the energy standoff continues to tighten global markets.

Related: The Invisible Metals Powering a Trillion-Dollar Economy

The Strait, effectively closed since late February following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, remains the focal point of the crisis. Roughly 20% of global oil and LNG flows transit the chokepoint, and the disruption has already driven a sharp spike in crude prices and heightened fears of a prolonged supply shock.

In a statement carried by regional outlets, the IRGC denied targeting desalination facilities in Gulf states and instead accused U.S. forces of striking water infrastructure on Irans Qeshm Island. The Guards warned that any U.S. attack on Iranian power plants would be an inhumane act, citing the cascading impact on hospitals, water systems, and critical civilian services.

The messaging marks a shift from earlier threats issued over the weekend, when Iranian officials warned of sweeping retaliation, including mining large parts of the Gulf and targeting regional energy infrastructure linked to U.S. interests.

At the same time, Tehran maintained that escalation remains on the table. The IRGC reiterated that if Washington proceeds with strikes on Iranian energy assets, it would respond by targeting power plants tied to U.S. operations in the region, along with broader industrial and energy infrastructure.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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The death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, longtime leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), has pushed Mexico's most powerful criminal organization into a transitional period.

According to organized crime experts, the feeling of uncertainty inside the group could trigger a reshuffling within the Jalisco cartel on three key fronts, including verifying whether it still has allies, confronting rival groups seeking to seize its territory and preparing for a possible counterattack.

According to security analyst David Saucedo, the CJNG's new leaders have already begun a kind of internal review to determine which groups remain loyal to the organization after the death of "El Mencho," including allies such as mayors, police chiefs and other public officials.

In an interview, Saucedo said that as the CJNG regroups, rival organizations such as the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel in Guanajuato, Carteles Unidos in Michoacan, and La Mayiza in the country's northwest, have increased their presence in territories controlled by the Jalisco cartel, taking advantage of the apparent instability following El Mencho's death.

On the other hand, Saucedo warns there is a risk that previously allied groups, such as Los Chapitos could seek autonomy, which could translate into new outbreaks of violence in several regions.

Almost a month since the military operation that took down El Mencho, Saucedo says there are indications that the CJNG is stockpiling weapons and ammunition and concentrating forces in several regions of the country, suggesting the criminal group could be preparing to launch a counterattack against its rivals and even the government.

"It appears there are movements that suggest the CJNG will carry out a counterattack in some regions of Mexico," Saucedo said, as noted by Infobae Mexico.

Although the Jalisco cartel is focused on confronting its rivals, it also cannot ignore threats from the Trump administration that missiles could be used against Mexican cartels.

As reported by The New York Times, members of the Sinaloa cartel are also stocking up on heavy weapons to prepare for potential U.S. strikes, including grenade launchers and anti-drone equipment. The outlet detailed that cartels are also deploying scouts who scan the skies to spot drones.

Trump appeared to hint at the possibility that the U.S. could conduct attacks against cartels in Mexico earlier this month, telling Latin American counterparts that the U.S. government "will do whatever is necessary to defend our national security."

"The epicenter of cartel violence is Mexico. The Mexican cartels are fueling and orchestrating much of the bloodshed and chaos in this hemisphere," Trump said during the Shield of the Americas Summit.

So far, however, the administration of Claudia Sheinbaum has flatly rejected any kind of U.S. intervention in the country. Last week, Sheinbaum highlighted that the two countries cooperate on security matters, but only Mexican forces carry out operations in the country.

"It's good that President Trump says publicly that when he proposed for the U.S. army to come into Mexico we said no. Because that's the truth. We said no and we proudly continue saying no," she added.

Originally published on Latin Times
Saudi Arabia is slashing its crude oil exports to Asia in April, for a second month in a row, as the de facto closed Strait of Hormuz is stranding most of the supply from the worlds top crude exporter.

Saudi oil giant Aramco has notified customers of term supply in Asia that they would receive in April only the flagship Arab Light grade loaded at the Yanbu export port on the Red Sea, Reuters reported on Monday, quoting sources familiar with the plans.

So far in March, Saudi Aramco has exported about 4.355 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude, according to Kpler data cited by Reuters. Thats way below the 7.1 million bpd in exports in February.

Saudi Arabia is seeking to redirect as many barrels as possible to the Yanbu port on the Red Sea. This export route doesnt need passage through the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran is now selectively and politically ensuring safe passage through the chokepoint for some vessels.

Yanbu is the only currently open export route for the Saudi Arab Light crude, as the Kingdom is scrambling to boost loadings from the port.

The Saudis are expected to boost oil exports through Yanbu to a record high of 3.8 million bpd this month.

Of particular concern to these plans is the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, where the Iran-aligned Houthis targeted vessels two years ago, but have been noticeably absent from the conflict so far.

Vessel-tracking data suggest that Saudi Arabia is betting big on the Yanbu port, but even record-high shipments from the Red Sea port cannot fully offset the supply lost at the Strait of Hormuz.

Saudi Arabia is estimated to have already slashed its crude oil production by over 2.5 million bpd as export routes are constrained.

The substantially lower term supply of Saudi crude to Asia will create further troubles for Asian refiners to seek alternative barrels.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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By Taxpayers Association of Oregon

OregonWatchdog.com

Wow! Among the hot issues being discussed in the Pennsylvania legislature, are bills to either cut back or abolish altogether their state death tax. At the same time, New York just proposed a plan to lower the tax exemption threshold from the current $7.35 million to just $750,000, which would be among the lowest in the country. There is a plan to triple the states top estate tax rate, from 16% to 50%.

Just weeks ago, the Oregon Senate passed a bill to hike Oregons death tax while lowering the tax for lower income citizens. Lucky, the bill died in the House before the 2026 Session ended.

The fact that only 12 states still have a death tax, and one of those twelve (Pennsylvania) may possibly end it this year, is a sign that Oregon and New York on the wrong path.

You can help.

Sign the petition to end the death tax in Oregon.

It is that simple.
By Naomi Inman

Letter by John A. Charles, Jr.

Transportation policy should reflect how people travel today

not how cities worked 125 years ago

This week, Cascade Policy Institute president John Charles sent a letter to every member of Oregons House and Senate about Metros Regional Rail Futures Study, prepared in response to a 2024 legislative mandate in Senate Bill 5701, Section 503.

SECTION 503. In addition to and not in lieu of any other appropriation, there is appropriated to the Department of Transportation, for the biennium ending June 30, 2025, out of the General Fund, the amount of $500,000, for distribution to the metropolitan service district organized under ORS chapter 268 to study the use of existing heavy freight rail assets in the Portland metropolitan area for passenger rail alternatives to existing transportation modes .

John attached a published report by Cascade adjunct scholar, Randal OToole, who reviewed the study which identifies major problems with regional passenger rail in the Portland area, including high operating costs, the need for major infrastructure improvements, congestion on existing freight lines, limited high-ridership along many corridors, and weak ridership prospects in some corridors.

Yet despite those findings, Metro declined to rule out regional rail and instead continued to encourage large-scale rail-oriented investments and additional land-use changes near freight corridors.

That approach reflects a larger planning problem. Portland-area transit has long been organized around downtown as the central hub, even though downtown now represents a small share of regional jobs compared with a century ago. In todays metropolitan economy, over 90 percent are dispersed across the region, not centered on downtown Portland. A transit strategy built around fixed rail and a single dominant hub does not match reality.

A more practical approach would focus on improving bus service and designing a network that better serves the region as it exists today, including suburban employment centers and other major destinations outside downtown. Buses are more flexible, less expensive, and better suited to adapting to changing travel patterns than rail.

Johns letter and supporting report asks legislators to give careful consideration about whether state support for regional passenger rail is justified in light of Metros own findings.

Click here for PDF version

READ JOHN CHARLES LETTER TO OREGON LEGISLATORS ON RAIL STUDY

READ RANDAL OTOOLES REPORT, A REVIEW OF METROS REGIONAL PASSENGER RAIL FUTURES STUDY

Naomi Inman is External Relations Manager at Cascade Policy Institute, Oregons free market public policy research organization.

John A. Charles, Jr. is President and CEO of Cascade Policy Institute, Oregons free market public policy research organization. He researches, writes, and presents testimony and analysis on state and local issues important to the freedom and opportunity of all Oregonians.


By Taxpayers Association of Oregon

OregonWatchdog.com

Today, the United States Supreme Court takes on a key vote-by-mail rule that impacts Oregon and a dozen other states.

The issue is with rules allowing mail ballots to be received after election day if they are postmarked. In Oregon, ballots can arrive up to 7 days after an election. This comes as the Post Office is declaring more mail as delayed. This has turned our elections into a murky mess, which only invites fraud, colossal mistakes, and further distrust among the public.

The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board makes this keen observation:

In 2024 the National Association of Secretaries of State complained to the USPS that officials in multiple states report receiving anywhere from dozens to hundreds of ballots 10 or more days after postmark.Another flub is when ballots show up without any legible postmarks. Sometimes judges rule that if they arrive two or three days after Election Day, it can be simply presumed they were mailed on time.In a close election, the winner might turn on these kinds of postal hiccups and the ensuing litigation. Mississippis definition, that a vote is cast when its given to the USPS, creates a Schrodingers ballot box: The state might say the election is finished, but some candidates political career could be both alive and dead, depending on how much mail gets misdelivered that week or whether the postmark process malfunctioned.By the way, what makes the USPS so special? Mississippis position lacks a limiting principle, as the challengers to its late-ballot law explain. A State could say that a ballot is timely cast once the voter hands it over to a family member or a party operative to deliver, the Republican National Committee argues in its brief. Could states that allow ballot harvesting offer those crews a two-day grace period, as long as they quit collecting on Election Day?

An American Enterprise Institute article featured this insight:

Some states now allow a voter to fix an error on a ballot envelope if, for example, the voter forgot to sign the envelope, or if the signature does not match a signature on file. Some states allow voters to come in after the election to fix the issue. Why is this problematic? Proponents of a post-election deadline make the argument that ballots post-marked by election day are cast by the date of the post-mark, as the ballot is then out of the voters hands. But in the case of curing ballots after the election, voters have the ability to choose to come in to fix their ballots or decide not to pursue curing.Further evidence that this practice cuts against the idea that the ballot was cast by Election Day is the fact that political parties and groups engage in a full-out campaign to contact voters to get them to come in to cure their ballots. And they use all of the sophisticated data targeting techniques to contact and cajole the right voters, to cure their ballots. With all of the post-election campaigning, it is hard to believe that all ballots were truly cast by Election Day.

 Was this article helpful? If yes, please contribute online at OregonWatchdog.com (learn about a Charitable Tax Deduction or Political Tax Credit options to promote liberty).
Phuket, 21 March 2026  TOPS, the food business under Central Retail, continues to strengthen its strategic collaboration with the Australian Embassy in Thailand and the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), together with key Australian industry partners including the Australian Table Grape Association, Avocados Australia Limited, Summerfruit Australia Limited, The Almond Board of Australia, AUSVEG, Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), and the Australian Food & Grocery Council (AFGC), to present Discover Australia: Six States of Excellence. The campaign invites Thai consumers to embark on a flavourful journey through authentic Aussie tastes, featuring premium ingredients and products sourced from six states of AustraliaVictoria, Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, and Western Australia. Over 1,100 Australian products are curated and delivered directly to Phuket, offering a comprehensive selection for consumers to enjoy genuine Australian flavours and effortlessly recreate The Aussie Table at home. The campaign runs from today until 31 March at participating TOPS and TOPS FOOD HALL stores, as well as via TOPS ONLINE.

The event was honored by the presence of Ms. Kirsten Fletcher, Australias Consul-General in Phuket, who presided over the opening ceremony. Mr. Cameron Allan, Trade and Investment Commissioner, Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), also joined the tour of the Australian product showcases. The delegation was warmly welcomed by Mr. Thanawat Jirajariyavej, Managing Director of Central Food Retail under Central Retail.

TOPS invites customers to explore the world of Aussie-style flavours at Discover Australia: Six States of Excellence. In response to the growing popularity of beef and lamb, the campaign features more than 25 premium Australian beef selections, along with premium lamb, offering Thai consumers a wide range of choices. These include premium cuts ideal for steak, shabu, and barbecue, such as Australian Grain Fed Tajima Wagyu Rib Eye from Queensland, alongside other selections including Australian Grain Fed Tajima Wagyu Sirloin and Australian Grain Fed Tajima Wagyu Chuck. Renowned for their tender texture and well-balanced marbling, these cuts deliver rich aroma and juicy flavor without being overly fatty, making them perfect for pan-seared steaks, charcoal grilling, or barbecue dishes.

Beyond premium beef, the event also highlights a diverse range of Made in Australia products from six states, including fresh table grapes, summer fruits, avocados, almond products, premium lamb, and high-quality packaged foods. These offerings invite shoppers to discover The Aussie Table, reflecting Australias dining culturesimple yet centered on high-quality ingredients in every meal, including:

The Aussie Lamb Table  A table crafted for lamb lovers, bringing the premium taste of Australian lamb into one satisfying meal. The lineup features high-quality lamb selections under James The Butcher, offering a variety of popular cuts perfect for different cooking styles. Highlights include James The Butcher Australian Lamb Rack, known for its tender and firm texture, ideal for grilling or roasting; James The Butcher Australian Lamb Shank, prized for its juicy, tender meat that is perfect for slow braising; James The Butcher Australian Lamb Shoulder, suitable for roasting or barbecue dishes; and James The Butcher Australian Lamb Leg Bone-In, which delivers rich, well-rounded flavor from the bone. These premium cuts offer meat lovers a versatile and indulgent dining experience, perfect for a wide range of cooking methods from roasting and grilling to braising and barbecue.

The Brunch & Sharing Table  Experience the relaxed Australian brunch culture with classic breakfast favorites. Featured items include Greens Original Pancake Shake from Victoriasimply add water and shake to create fluffy pancakes; Beerenberg Australian Breakfast Marmalade Jam made from navel oranges from South Australia; Avofresh Classic Guacamole from Queensland, perfect with toast or sandwiches; Woolworths Mozzarella, Cheddar and Pecorino Cheese Blend from New South Wales; and AUS Green Seedless Grapes from Victoriacrisp, sweet, and refreshing, perfect for a leisurely brunch shared with friends and family.

The Clean Eating Table  Reflecting Australias healthy lifestyle with meals focused on fresh, wholesome ingredients. Highlights include Lowan Quick Oats, premium wholegrain oats from Victoria for a nutritious breakfast; Vittoria Arabica Coffee Espresso Ground, made from 100% Arabica beans from New South Wales; Australian Mesclun Salad from Victoria; Tasmanian Salmon, sourced from the pristine waters of Tasmania and renowned for its quality and purityperfect for sashimi or various cooked dishes; and Carrots Snackable, bite-sized carrots from Tasmania that are firm, crisp, and easy to enjoy on the go, completing a light, refreshing, and nutritionally balanced meal in true Aussie style.

The Weekend Picnic Table  A table filled with shareable happiness, capturing relaxed moments where great flavours, fun, and friendship come together in one meal. Inspired by the Australian weekend lifestyle, this table features easy-to-enjoy items that are perfect for sharing. Highlights include Ridiculously Delicious Peanut Butter Bar, an energy-packed snack made from 100% natural ingredientsperfect for a quick bite during the dayand The Natural Confectionery Party Mix Lollies, a beloved Aussie gummy treat from Victoria, bursting with flavor and made without artificial colors or flavours, ideal for sharing joyful moments with family and friends on a laid-back day.

The lineup is further complemented by the popular Grandpawpaw Ointment, a multi-purpose balm enriched with Manuka Honey 20+ and sunflower seed oil, suitable for all generations. Originating from New South Wales, it helps restore moisture to dry, dehydrated skin and brings soothing comfort back to the skin, making it convenient everyday essential to carry with you.

As a special highlight during the festival, enjoy a culinary experience created by Chef Nat, Dr. Natsasi Nooin, also known as Lady Butcher, MLA Ambassador (Aussie Beef Mates), a renowned meat specialist chef. She brings premium Australian ingredients to life with a special Lamb Massaman menu, available for tasting at TOPS EATERY branches at CentralWorld, Chidlom, Ladprao, Pattaya, and Porto de Phuket. The menu invites customers to experience authentic Aussie-style flavours while discovering new taste inspirations from Australian lamb and beef.

Embark on a flavorful journey into the world of Aussie-style tastes at Discover Australia: Six States of Excellence, available from now until 31 March 2026 at participating TOPS and TOPS FOOD HALL branches, as well as on TOPS ONLINE. For more information, please visit www.TOPS.co.th, follow TOPSThailand on Facebook, or add @TOPSThailand on the LINE application.
Joseph Duggar's wife, Kendra Duggar, has now been arrested and charged as well after authorities announced new counts in an ongoing investigation involving allegations related to minors. The latest development significantly expands the case, drawing increased scrutiny as officials confirm the matter remains active and sensitive.

According to a press release issued on 20 March by the Tontitown Police Department, both Kendra, 27, and Joseph, 31, now face four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor in the second degree, as well as four counts of false imprisonment in the second degree. Authorities stated that arrest warrants for the misdemeanour offences have been issued and served through district court.

Arrest Details and Upcoming Court Dates

As reported by People, Kendra Duggar was taken into custody and booked at the Washington County Detention Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Jail records show she was arrested in the late afternoon and released later the same evening.

Her initial court hearing is scheduled for 23 March, with a follow-up appearance set for 29 April. Authorities have not released further details about the specific circumstances surrounding her charges.

Investigation Remains Active, Police Say

Officials from the Tontitown Police Department confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and subject to legal limitations due to the involvement of minors. In their statement, authorities said the case remains active and that Arkansas law restricts the release of certain information.

Police added that no further details would be disclosed at this time in order to protect both the integrity of the investigation and the privacy of those involved.

Background of Allegations Against Joseph Duggar

The charges against Joseph Duggar were initially filed earlier in the week and are linked to a separate but related investigation. Prior to the latest counts, he was already facing serious allegations, including lewd and lascivious molestation of a child under 12 and lewd conduct by an adult.

The accusations stem from an incident first reported on 18 March involving an alleged event in 2020.

Details of Alleged Incident in Florida

The case centres on allegations that Joseph Duggar engaged in inappropriate conduct with a nine-year-old girl while on holiday in Panama City Beach. The investigation is being handled by the Bay County Sheriff's Office.

According to authorities, the alleged incident involved unlawful physical contact after the child was asked to sit close to him. Investigators said the behaviour reportedly stopped after an apology.

Law enforcement officials also stated that the allegations were brought forward years after the alleged incident took place.

Jurisdiction and Legal Proceedings

Joseph Duggar was arrested in Arkansas, where he resides, but the case is being prosecuted in Florida. Authorities have indicated that he must be extradited to Bay County to face the charges related to the alleged incident.

The involvement of multiple jurisdictions has added complexity to the case, with both Arkansas and Florida authorities coordinating aspects of the investigation.

Public Profile of the Duggar Family

Joseph Duggar is known for his appearances on the TLC reality series 19 Kids and Counting and its spin-off Counting On. He married Kendra Duggar in 2017, and the couple have four children together.

As the investigation continues, authorities have indicated that further updates may be released as permitted under the law.

Originally published on IBTimes UK




An environmental educator speaking about sea turtle conservation in front of the turquoise turtle house" on Playa Teopa in Costa Careyes, Mexico, that was funded by Sweed Beauty Sweed Beauty

While the bright blue sky fades into pinks and oranges as the tide sweeps over the sandy beach of Playa Teopa in Costa Careyes in Jalisco, Mexico, its not the scenic sunset that steals everyone attention, but rather the baby sea turtles that have been carefully released at the edge of the water to make their way into the ocean. Part of the Careyes Foundation, the nearly 40-year-old sanctuary oversees educational releases of hatchings and has safeguarded 184 nests, resulting in the release of approximately 6,900 baby turtles.

On the expansive beach sits a turquoise turtle house, a dedicated space for staffers to protect turtle nests from predators, that opened in January 2026. The bright blue is the signature shade of Sweed Beauty, a Swedish brand that donated funds to build the structure. But their sea turtle do-gooder deeds dont end there. For every Sweed mascara sold, the brand rescues one sea turtle with the Florida-based organization Billion Baby Turtles, which has saved more than 20 million turtle hatchlings at 60 nesting beach conservation projects in 25 countries.

Sweed Beauty Cloud Mascara Sweed Beauty

When makeup artist Gabriella Elio founded Sweed Beauty in 2015, she always knew it would be a vegan brand. She wanted to do more than just help women look and feel beautiful. Growing up in Lebanon, her family had a pet turtle, and once they moved to Sweden, neighbors took over their pets care, and Elio still visits him when she goes to Lebanon now. That made turtles an easy choice for Elio.

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Six out of seven species of sea turtles are endangered, Elio says. I love turtles; they are a resilient animal. They are doing so much for nature because 50 to 80% of the earths oxygen comes from the ocean. If we don't have enough turtles, it's really dangerous, because we will have more jellyfish, more sponges and so on. It's very important to help them. Elio was determined to do something concrete to help, so Billion Baby Turtles shared exactly how much it costs to save one sea turtle and Sweed donates that amount from every mascara purchased.

Sweed Beauty Founder and Makeup Artist Gabriella Elio Sweed Beauty

Luckily, between their Lash Lift Mascara and Cloud Mascara, Sweed sells a lot of mascara, which was one of their first products after launching with false lashes. Even Sabrina Carpenter is a fan. When I look back at it, it's so difficult to launch a mascara; if someone would tell me go do a mascara today, I would be so scared, because you want to do something good that is unique, Elio says. After three weeks [post launch], it was sold out. The brush really lifts the lashes, and I think there was a gap in the market for that kind of brush.

Introduced to the US in 2023, Sweed Beauty has gone viral globally for their eye products, especially their Eyelash Growth Serum. Elio was instrumental in its formulation. Our serum is very clean, she says. It doesn't have prostaglandins. It took a couple of years until people understood that it was effective and it doesn't have any hormones. When I did the formula, no one was talking about prostaglandins, so it was just me, trying to do something good, but no one was noticing [at first]. But it spread through word of mouth.

Sweed Beauty The Eyelash Growth Serum Sweed Beauty

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Elio started Sweed Beauty with false eyelashes because at the time it was hard to find natural-looking ones. She has stayed true to her commitment to Scandinavian simplicity and minimalism ever since. When I launched the brand, it was mainly for myself to use it on my clients when I was doing makeup, and then other makeup artists started using the lashes because they were so natural, fine and very easy to applythat's what made them unique, she says. A lot of makeup artists, especially in the US, were using the brand for red carpets and so on, and then our customers were like, you should do makeup products as well.

Now Sweed Beauty offers a full makeup range and brushes, plus their Eyelash Growth Serum has proven so popular that they launched The Hair Serum by customer demand. However, they stick to a tight edit in each category. Elios beauty career started out in retail, when she worked at a popular Swedish beauty brands store. Though the brand no longer exists, she learned exactly what customers are looking forand what they want to avoid.

The Sweed Beauty turtle house" plaque in Costa Careyes, Mexico Sweed Beauty

My philosophy is to simplify it and to remove all the shelf-warmers, Elio says. For example, that store that I worked in, they had almost 50 lipstick shades, so you could find everything, but five of them were the ones that soldthe rest were just there. I wanted to reduce that experience. Why complicate things?

Instead, Elio designed all of the shades to work across a range of skin tones. They are so highly pigmented; we have a makeup artist quality, she says. As makeup artists, we love when you can get a lot of color payoff because we want to see that things happen. The shades work on everyone. You can choose if you want a little bit or more and intensify it. The first hour, it doesn't matter how it looks on the skin; you want to know how it's going to look after 12 hours, 15 hoursthat's when you know the performance of a product.

Sweed Beauty Glass Skin Foundation Sweed Beauty

Sweed came to the US just as Scandinavian beauty brands started to explode in popularity. The brand regularly receives organic celebrity endorsements (including from Jasmine Tookes and Nikki Glaser), and theyve expanded to retailers including Nordstrom, Credo Beauty, Amazon and The Detox Market. The Scandinavian philosophy of how we live is very much part of Sweed, Elio says. I'm all about less is more. It's better to focus on quality with a few things and to stick to that. We love to wear comfortable clothes, comfortable fabrics, timeless styles. When you're doing your makeup, one thing that I learned early on is you don't want to look at a photo and be like, what did I do there? It's so cool to find yourself. I don't believe in trends.

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That always comes through in Elios work as a makeup artist. She would ask clients when they felt the most beautiful and try to emulate that with her work. Women can feel more confident with wearing makeup, in the right way, like it needs to be, she says. They need to feel more like themselves. Thanks to Sweed, they can do that while saving sea turtles.
I perform media scanning on a routine basis. Im constantly on the lookout in publications and the Internet for new products, techniques and hokum. I do this, in part, to keep my ear to the ground, but I also do it to help you save time and money.

Ive been noticing a disturbing trend with some home improvement websites and social media. The websites appear to be hiring people with little, or no, hands-on experience in the topic they write about. Anyone whos done the particular job can see right through the puff pieces these authors churn out. The articles have an over-arching unicorns-and-rainbows theme about how good and easy something is.

The most recent trend talks about using recycled asphalt as an affordable substitute for a concrete or hot-asphalt driveway. But before I go into this, allow me to share a similar DIY trend about creating concrete walkways, slabs or patios. When I saw this one several years ago, I knew the poor-quality concrete would fail.

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Several years ago it was all the rage to watch a video on YouTube showing someone dumping bags of dry concrete mix inside of wood forms. The person on camera would use a straightedge to smooth off the powdery mix so it was flush with the top of the forms.

The next step was to mist the concrete mix with water. The entire point of this process was to avoid the hard work of mixing the concrete in a wheelbarrow, dumping it into the forms, spreading it out with a concrete rake, and then taking the time to screed, bull float and finish the concrete.

I watched these videos (some have hundreds of thousands of views) knowing the concrete would crumble in the very near future. This is especially true if the concrete was exposed to repeated freeze/thaw cycles.

Heres why that concrete shortcut was foolhardy. The biggest reason failure was guaranteed is that the water from the hose was removing much of the Portland cement from the top layer of the concrete. The water was pulling that cement down deeper into the dry mix. The cement is needed at the surface to bond the sand and gravel together. High cement content at the surface prevents spalling and scaling. Remember, the cement is the glue that holds together the sand and gravel in your concrete. You need the cement paste to coat each piece of sand and gravel so the cement crystals interlock much like Velcro.

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The second reason the concrete would fall apart is the person misting the concrete has no idea if theyre adding the right amount of water. Concrete scientists will tell you that strong concrete requires a very important ratio of cement powder to the amount of water added to the mix. Ready-mix concrete plants have computers that ensure the right amount of water is added so the concrete achieves the correct strength.

Lets talk about recycled asphalt now. Thousands of miles of primary roadways in the USA are made using hot-mix asphalt. Its similar to concrete. Hot-mix asphalt has three primary ingredients: stones, sand, and liquid asphalt cement. These are mixed in a huge drum so the asphalt cement coats the stones and sand. When the hot-mixture cools down and the lightweight oils evaporate from the mix, the resulting surface is very hard and durable. The sticky asphalt cement bonds the sand and gravel together.

You know this if you have an asphalt driveway. You can pressure wash it and not cause any visible damage. Concrete is even stronger. Neither of these pavements create dust when you drive on them, and they dont rut in wet weather.

Recycled asphalt is created when its time to repave a roadway. A giant grinding machine equipped with hundreds of carbide tips grinds and planes the roadway surface. Think of a massive belt sander on steroids. The milling process grinds up the old asphalt paving breaking the bonds created by the asphalt cement years before when the paving was put down.

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The grinding process can also happen at a remote site. Some repaving contractors will dig out old asphalt paving in huge pieces and drop them into a dump truck. This material is taken to a remote dumping ground where the chunks of asphalt paving are dumped into a machine that pulverizes it. Think of a massive food processor you might use in your kitchen to mince onions or other vegetables.

This crushed asphalt can be bought. Here in New Hampshire, the cost of the recycled asphalt is about the same per ton as regular crushed gravel. Both materials can be used for a driveway. Ive used both on a 1/2-mile driveway I use to access a 90-acre tract of undeveloped land I own.

The proponents of recycled asphalt say the material will establish some bonds once its compacted and the summer sun heats it up. This may happen on a small scale, but Ive not seen it happen on my driveway.

Heavy rain can wash the recycled asphalt away. You cant hose it off or use a pressure washer on it. Driving on this material in dry weather can create clouds of dust. In the absence of a thick base material under the recycled asphalt, rutting is guaranteed in wet weather.

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The bottom line is this. If youre tempted to buy into some shortcut method you see online, go seek out places where the material has been in place for two or four years. Dont hope for great results when you take a shortcut!
Tahitian pearls are one of the most popular souvenirs to bring back from a visit to French Polynesia. Lustrous, sustainable, and available in a variety of settings, theyre also the countrys top export. Sometimes incorrectly called black pearls (they actually come in a variety of colors, including shades of white), these sought-after jewels are emblematic of French Polynesia, worn widely by both men and women across all the vast countrys island groups, from the Society Islands, which include Tahiti and Bora Bora to the more distant Marquesas, Gambier, and Tuamotu groups of islands and atolls.

Pearls are sold almost everywhere in the country, from tony, air-conditioned boutiques to hotel gift shops to folding tables at village craft markets called centres artisanales. Theyre sold already set in necklaces, bracelets, or earrings, or loose, allowing the buyer to choose a setting of their own design.

Where Do Tahitian Pearls Come From?

Tahitian pearls are made by the Pinctada margaritifera oyster. These oysters like clear lagoon water, so the majority of large-scale production happens on atolls in the Tuamotu and Gambier groups of islands. There are also pearl farms growing pearls in the more-visited Society Islands (including Tahaa and Bora Bora) but these farms are largely for demonstration and sales.

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An atoll is a fringing reef without a central island, with very clean lagoon waters filtered by the surrounding coral reef. The near-atolls of the Society Islands have central islands in the middle of the lagoons, and their rainwater runoff slightly clouds the waters of the lagoon, making them slightly less optimal for pearl production.

The bulk of the countrys pearl production comes from the Gambier Islands, far to the southeast of Tahiti, where the crystal-clear lagoon waters are slightly cooler than those closer to the equator, which produces an especially lustrous, velvety pearl.

How Are Tahitian Pearls Made?

Tahitian pearls, like virtually all pearls sold on the market worldwide, are cultured, meaning theyre given a boost by human farmers to produce a pearl.

When a pearl oyster gets a foreign object inside its shell, it slowly coats the object with a lustrous substance known as nacre, to lessen the irritating effect. This produces a natural pearl, but typically not the spherical pearls were used to seeing. These natural pearls are rare (only one in 10,000 oysters produces one) pearls, and the pearls are often small and irregularly shaped. The pearls also take much longer to develop than the two years needed for a cultured pearl.

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To culture Tahitian pearls, a farmer uses a tool to hold the shell of the oyster open while inserting a spherical nucleus made from Mississippi River mussel shells into the gonad. The first time this is done, a tiny bit of mother of pearl from the shell of another oyster is inserted, which will determine the color of the finished pearl.

The oyster is returned to the ocean for two years, and by the end of that time, it will have coated the nucleus with enough nacre to produce a cultured pearl. Once the pearl is harvested, depending on the age of the oyster, it can be inserted with another nucleus and again returned to the ocean to produce another pearl. Oysters can produce up four pearls during their natural lifespan, but the quality typically diminishes as the oyster ages.

How Are Tahitian Pearls Graded?

Circle pearls can capture the light in attractive ways. getty

Once out of the oyster, pearls are measured to determine their size. The government of French Polynesia once required a specific nacre thickness to ensure quality of exported pearls, but the requirement was retired in 2017. Today, pearls of any quality can be exported, but the government taxes them regardless of quality, so few low-quality pearls are exported.

The only way to determine the thickness of a pearls nacre is to have it x-rayed, so to ensure a high quality pearl it helps to purchase from a reputable pearl shop.

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Tahitian pearls come in a variety of shapes, including round, semi-round, and baroque.

Round pearls are mathematically spherical, while semi-round pearls are not, but the difference in appears to the naked eye is minimal. Baroque pearls are not round, and can sometimes come in quite funky shapes (Ive seen ones that look almost like popped corn). Baroque pearls have two subcategories, which can be concurrent: circle pearls have concentric bands around them, while teardrop-shaped pearls are another sought-after shape.

The pearls are often also graded by the grower. In French Polynesia, pearls are graded A, A/B, B, C, or D, with A being the most lustrous pearls with the fewest imperfections, and D having significant imperfections and duller luster.

Not all pearl sellers use the grading system. Celeste Brash, co-owner of Kamoka Pearls, says the grading is subjective, and they prefer to rely on photos and descriptions to sell pearls from their farm on the atoll of Ahe. This way, people can understand what theyre getting without having to understand pearl grading or trusting someones opinion, says Brash.

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Ive had similar experiences at my preferred pearl shop, near the public market in Papeete. Plenty of times Ive looked at an array of A grade pearls, but found ones I liked better from a selection of A/B graded pearls.

How Are Tahitian Pearls Priced And Sold?

Grade and setting are the two main qualifiers here. The general maxim is the more uniform a string or pair of pearls is, in size, shape, and color, the higher its value (and price). The highest grades also fetch the highest prices. Matching pearls is a labor intensive process, so matched earring pairs and uniform strands are typically priced higher than multicolor strands.

Many shops will a have a variety of necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and money clips, and other items made with pearls. Some shops, including Tahiti Pearl Market and Mihiarii Pearls, also have pearls in plastic buckets sorted by grade, allowing customers to pick their own pearls and have them mounted however they like.

There are benefits to each method. It can be less expensive to select your own pearls and have them mounted, particularly if you have your eye on a multicolor strand or bracelet, or you have a particular length of strand in mind. Theres also value, however, in selecting an expertly curated strand, especially when quantities of teardrop-shaped or circle pearls are limited.

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At my favorite pearl shop in Papeete, a Grade A Semi-Round pearl goes for around 10,000 CFP (French Pacific Francs), or around $97 at press time. A Grade A/B Semi-Round pearl sells for around 7,000 CFP or $68.

At the shop I like, it takes about a day to string a necklace or bracelet; a pair of earrings can typically be set within an hour or two, depending on the shops volume.

When purchasing pearls to have mounted, be sure to count the number of pearls and take a picture before theyre taken back to the workshop. Upon receiving the finished product, count the pearls again, just to make sure youve received each of the pearls youve purchased. Its not to suggest that the pearl shops are actively dishonest, but mistakes and misunderstandings can happen.

I was recently having a string of pearls re-strung in Papeete. I bought loose pearls to replace some pearls that had worn out, but when I got the string back, it was significantly shorter. I counted the replaced pearls that were being returned, and I counted one more than I had purchased, suggesting that one of the new pearls hadnt made it onto the strand.

The Tax Situation For Tahitian Pearls

Mounted Tahitian pearls can be bought tax-free from many shops (craft market vendors arent often set up to do this) as long as theyre exported within a set period. Ive gotten conflicting reports from different shops over whether buying loose pearls and having them mounted in the same shops qualifies for a tax exemption. Some shops its a sale of loose pearls (which dont qualify), while others say its a sale of mounted pearls (which does). Either way, shops arent obligated to offer a tax exemption, so it can be worthwhile to ask up front.

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If a shop offers an exemption, theyll fill out an export form documenting the price of the pearls and the tax being exempted, then theyll run two transactions on your credit cardone for the tax-free price, and an additional authorization for the amount of the tax. At the airport in Tahiti (even if you buy your pearls on another island) youll want to drop by the Customs time stamp machine in the international departure lounge to have your forms stamped before boarding your flight out of the country.

Once the forms are stamped, drop them in the mailbox next to the machine, and once the vendor receives your stamped form proving you left the country with the pearls, theyll release the authorization for the amount of the tax (if they dont receive the form after a set period, theyll charge the card for the taxes).

If youre returning to the United States, youre not done with taxes. The exemption is only for point-of-sale taxes in French Polynesia. If the total value of your purchases while abroad (including Tahitian pearls bought tax-free) exceeds your duty-free limit of $800 per person, youll also need to declare your purchases at Customs when entering the United States. Duty is collected on amounts in excess of the limit, so if your purchases total $1,000, the duty is only payable on the $200 excess.

Sometimes Customs officers in the U.S. will simply wave you through, even if you declare youve exceeded your exemption. The important thing is that you always declare that you have, otherwise you can be fined, have your purchases confiscated, or even lose your access to trusted traveler programs like Global Entry and TSA PreCheck.

The Takeaway On Buying Tahitian Pearls

Tahitian pearls are one of the most sought-after souvenirs for visitors to Tahiti. Not only are they eye-catching, theyre also a naturally produced product of the islands that have few equals anywhere else. Whether multicolored, dark, or light, a strand of Tahitian Pearls easily evokes lurid sunsets, technicolor lagoons, and swaying tropical breezes.
What screams spring more than the release of a lavender and pink tote from Trader Joe's?

While astronomical spring  the vernal equinox  arrived Friday, March 20, for Trader Joe's fans, spring means the arrival of the grocery store chain's newest tote, which was expected to arrive in stores nationwide Monday, March 23.

Trader Joes popular totes regularly sell out and typically attract long lines on release day.

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Here's what to know about the newest totes.

Trader Joe's new tote expected to arrive in stores today, March 23

Trader Joes confirmed a national release date for its newest large canvas tote bag.

The newest addition to the grocery store's popular tote bag line will hit stores Monday, March 23.

"This is a limited-time product, and availability will vary store by store," Nakia Rohde, a Trader Joe's spokesperson, told USA Today.

What color is Trader Joe's newest tote bag?

The large canvas bag has lavender handles with a pink logo.

When will Trader Joe's new tote bag be available?

The large lavendar and pink tote bags were expected to be available nationwide in Trader Joes stores starting Monday, March 23.

"If customers have questions about any products availability, we have friendly crew members in every neighborhood store ready to help," Rohde said.

How much is the new Trader Joe's tote bag?

The large tote measures about 20 inches long, 14 inches tall and 6 inches wide.

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Each large tote costs $3.99, Rohde said.

Why are Trader Joe's totes so popular?

Trader Joe's tote bags cost between $2.99 (for the mini tote) and $3.99 (for the large tote) in stores, but have been seen selling for as much as $50,000 on eBay, according to Forbes and theindependent. Why?

Trader Joe's only has stores in the United States.

 Hype for Trader Joe's tote bags goes global.

"The primary driver of the Trader Joes tote bag trend is the brands geographic limitations," Forbes said.

"Strangely, owning a Trader Joes bag  outside of the U.S.  signals a level of exclusivity you cant replicate by simply buying a Louis Vuitton bag."

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Even in the U.S., Trader Joe's bags draw crowds that line up for the newest bags.

How many Trader Joe's grocery stores are in Florida?

Trader Joe's has stores in 27 Florida cities, including it's newest ones: a store that opened in Daytona Beach in November and another that opened in Melbourne Dec. 3.

 See list of all Florida locations.

Will any new Trader Joe's be opening in Florida?

In its "opening soon" listings, Trader Joe's said it will be soon open eight new stores, including another in Florida:

Florida West Palm Beach, 8111 S Dixie Highway

Georgia Johns Creek

Washington Woodinville

Arizona Tucson

Louisiana Mandeville New Orleans

Kansas Merriam

Texas McKinney



What is Trader Joe's?

Trader Joe's is a grocery store chain in 43 states.

"At Trader Joe's, you wont find a lot of branded items. Instead, youll discover a store full of unique and interesting products, along with everyday basics, in the Trader Joe's label," the company's website said.

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The stores does not have sales, offer coupons, or have loyalty programs or membership cards.

"Trader Joes believes every customer should have access to the best prices on the best products every day," the company said on its website.

When do Trader Joe's stores open?

Stores are generally open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Check your local store for any exceptions.

Contributing: Jason Hidalgo, Reno Gazette Journal; Kate Perez USA Today

Cheryl McCloud is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida's service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Floridas best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.

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This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Trader Joe's new tote released. It's lavender, pink
The widely-anticipated Trader Joe's lavender canvas tote bag is now on Cape Cod.

Trader Joes newest limited tote bag was expected to go on sale nationwide on Monday, March 23. An employee at the Hyannis Trader Joe's location confirmed the totes are in the store as of 9:30 a.m. Monday. The company previously had different release dates for the new product depending on the store.

We have changed our plans, Nakia Rohde, Trader Joes public relations manager, confirmed with the Reno Gazette Journal, which is part of the USA Today Network, via email on Friday, March 20. The new large canvas tote with lavender handles will be available nationwide in Trader Joes stores starting March 23rd.

When is the release date for the Trader Joe's large lavender tote bags?

The release date for the large lavender tote bags from Trader Joe's is March 23, 2026.

What's the deal with Trader Joe's large lavender canvas tote bag?

The large canvas tote with lavender trim and handles and a pink logo is the latest new color for Trader Joes viral bags.

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It is the second special color that Trader Joes is releasing after the limited version in green trim released last December. The $3.99 bags originally came in just the blue trim.

Although not as popular as the viral $2.99 mini canvas tote bags, the large totes have been regularly selling out as well. The original large blue canvas tote bags just saw restocks this week in one Chicago store, according to a popular Trader Joes fan site on Instagram.

Trader Joes just recently re-released its pastel mini canvas tote bags this month. Some stores got an early delivery of the mini totes over the weekend ahead of their expected Tuesday release.

The pastel mini totes were originally released last year in April, with shoppers forming long lines to buy them. Trader Joes also released a special Trick-or-Treat version of the mini totes last October for Halloween.

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The specialty grocer also re-released the original blue, red, green and yellow colors of the mini tote bags in December.

Each time, the Trader Joes canvas tote bags have sold out.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Popular Trader Joe's lavender tote bags now in Cape Cod store
How blue California and red Texas became green powerhouses

Posted on 23 March 2026 by dana1981

This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections

Despite their polar-opposite politics, California and Texas have achieved the same distinction: Theyre both national leaders in producing renewable energy.

Wind and solar today account for 40% of power generation in California and 30% in Texas, well above the national average of 17%.

California and Texas alone account for more than one-third of the U.S.s solar and wind power generation and over half of its battery storage capacity  shares that continue to grow.

The policy approaches used by California and Texas differ dramatically.

California has used centralized state control to achieve lots of wind, solar, and storage, while Texas has accomplished the same outcomes via open-access and competitive choice, said Beth Garza, senior fellow with R Streets energy and environmental policy team and former director of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas Independent Market Monitor, in an email.

Both state governments have invested in power generation, but while California procured clean energy, Texas created the Texas Energy Fund to provide low-interest loans and cash completion bonuses for new natural gas-fueled generation, Garza added.

Rather than halt the growth of renewables, the expansion of natural gas in Texas came at the expense of coal. And all of the growth in electricity generation in both states over the past 15 years has been met by solar panels and wind turbines.

Simple dollars and cents continue to propel the expansion of renewable energy in the two states.

The economics of solar and energy storage as new resources drive them to the top in Californias state power purchases, said Brendan Pierpont, Director of Electricity at Energy Innovation, in an email. And in Texass free market system, wind, solar, and energy storage are leading the way because theyre winners economically, there as well, he added.

The biggest difference is that Texas uses a lot more energy, including more total clean energy, despite having a smaller population than efficiency-minded California.

Power generation by source in California (left) and Texas (right). (Data: Ember. Graphic: Dana Nuccitelli)

The U.S. Energy Information Administration recently forecast that the U.S. will install a record-shattering amount of new power capacity in 2026, with solar panels and battery storage accounting for nearly 80% of those additions. Texas is expected to install 40% of that new solar capacity and 53% of the batteries, with California accounting for a further 6% and 14% of each, respectively.

Comparing the states energy policies

California established a renewable portfolio standard in 2002. This policy required that in-state utilities supply 20% of total electricity generation from renewables by the end of 2010. That standard was subsequently increased several times, most recently in 2018 to require that 60% of the states power be renewable in 2030, and 100% zero-carbon (including nuclear power and hydroelectricity) by 2045. California is on track to meet its goals if rapid in-state clean energy growth continues.

Texas established its own renewable portfolio standard in 1999, three years ahead of California, but with much more modest goals. Texas initial standard mandated that utility companies in the state add just two gigawatts of renewable power capacity by 2009, which amounted to less than 2.5% of the states total. That standard was later increased to 5.9 gigawatts by 2015, or about 4% of Texas total power capacity.

But in 2005, the Texas state legislature took a different tack by passing a law establishing competitive renewable energy zones. These were regions identified as having high potential for wind power but that required a network of electrical transmission lines to deliver those electrons to population centers. Between 2008 and 2019, Texas built 3,600 miles of transmission lines in these zones, which accounted for nearly one-quarter of all new transmission built nationwide during that period.

This policy proved prescient, as wind became the cheapest source of new power generation in the U.S. in 2011. The wind energy industry grew and thrived in Texas, which today generates more annual wind power than the next three states combined.

Levelized cost of energy in the U.S., which estimates the average cost of electricity generation for a power plant over its lifetime. (Data: Lazard. Graphic: Dana Nuccitelli)

Everything is bigger in Texas  including energy bills

In part because it mandated solar and wind power before the costs of renewable energy fell below fossil-fueled alternatives, Californias electricity rates have long been somewhat higher than the national average. Conversely, in part because Texass competitive renewable energy zones created the conditions for wind energy production to grow once the technology became relatively cost-effective, the Lone Star states electricity rates have been below the national average since 2009. Texas also has more industrial activity than California, which translates to more power demand but also greater utilization of power plants, and more electricity customers, helping to keep rates lower.

Average residential electric rates in California (blue), Texas (red), and the U.S. average (purple) since 2001. (Data: U.S. Energy Information Administration and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Graphic: Dana Nuccitelli)

But our energy bills dont depend only on electricity rates; the cost also depends on how much we consume. And Californians average electricity bills remain slightly lower than the average Texans today, because the typical Californian simply uses much less electricity.

In California, most residents live in mild climates that dont require as much heating and cooling as compared to Texas, said Carey King, research scientist and assistant director at the University of Texas at Austin Energy Institute, in an email. But the states energy efficiency programs have also played a big role.

California invested heavily in efficiency, with incentives for appliance efficiency and strong building codes that more than helped offset growing demand, Pierpont said.

California created the countrys first energy conservation standards for buildings and appliances in the 1970s and established the California Energy Commission to continue advancing them.

That efficiency, combined with a less extreme climate, means California households use half as much electricity as Texas households, Pierpont added.

But Californias heavy regulatory hand has also created obstacles to building infrastructure quickly enough to meet the states needs.

Dramatically different permitting systems

In January 1970, President Richard Nixon signed the National Environmental Policy Act. This policy mandated that federal agencies consider the environmental impacts of projects as part of their decision-making process. Eight months later, then-California Gov. Ronald Reagan signed the state-level equivalent, the California Environmental Quality Act.

In the subsequent decades, a growing population has increased the demand for housing and energy, but the slow permitting processes created in part by these federal and state laws have constrained infrastructure development, contributing to a housing crisis and rising energy bills in California.

Efforts to streamline the California Environmental Quality Act to allow a faster buildout of cheap, clean energy sources have been met with resistance by people concerned about the weakening of environmental protections, leading to mixed results in the state capitol. The state legislature has passed some limited reforms in recent years for specific categories of projects like infill housing, and lawmakers have signaled their intent to continue working on energy infrastructure permitting reforms.

Conversely, Texas established a lightly-regulated state energy permitting system. And its power system remains largely unconnected to the rest of the countrys electric grid.

Because of its deregulated markets, its easier to get projects done in Texas, King said.

As Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman recently wrote, building a house in Dallas costs less than half as much as in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The same openness to building that has held the cost of Texas housing down has also helped the state become by far the nations largest producer of wind energy, Krugman said.

In exchange for an expedited permitting and connection process, electricity developers in Texas accept higher risks that their power plants will be curtailed  turned off when the grid doesnt need them. When a lot of new solar and battery installations are built in Texas, there is no guaranteed payback for the existing generators that might lose market share to the new entrants, King said.

This permissive approach has proven successful in inducing the rapid growth of clean energy deployment in the state, first from wind in the 2010s and today predominantly from solar and battery storage.

Climate-worsened grid vulnerability

Both states are vulnerable to high electricity demand during extreme summer heat waves. Californias power supply can also become unstable when threatened by wildfires, and Texass by hurricanes and winter storms.

Read: The many ways climate change worsens California wildfires

Texass grid isolation translates into greater risks of widespread power outages during these extreme weather events, because it prevents the state from importing excess electricity from neighboring regions when its own power plants are compromised. That risk came to fruition during a 2021 winter storm that knocked out power to over 4.5 million homes. Hundreds of Texans died as a result, and the storm is estimated to have cost the state $130 billion. But Texass rapid deployment of solar power and especially batteries in the ensuing years, along with winterization measures, helped prevent a similar fate during another winter storm in January 2026.

Read: How mismanagement, not wind and solar energy, causes blackouts

Californias most recent widespread power outages occurred during an extreme heat wave in August 2020 that triggered rolling blackouts for nearly half a million residents. By the summer of 2021, the California power grid was better able to withstand extreme heat, in part due to adding much more solar power and battery storage. During a 2024 summer heat wave, the California grid operator reported that the state was even able to export energy to other states in need. California is also planning to expand its transmission connections to neighboring western regions in part to increase its resilience to extreme weather events.

Two contrasting ways for clean energy to win

The California and Texas examples illustrate that whether the power sector is heavily regulated by climate-minded policymakers or unshackled in a permissive free market, clean energy now dominates new electricity deployments. Thats because solar and wind have become the cheapest sources of new electricity, battery costs to firm up their intermittency have likewise plummeted, and they dont face the same supply chain limitations as natural gas turbines. Clean energy is the cheapest and fastest option to meet todays rapidly growing demand.

The biggest obstacles in meeting that growing electricity demand nationwide come in the form of slow permitting and interconnection processes, exacerbated by an old power grid with insufficient electrical transmission capacity. But Texas has illustrated that when those constraints are lifted, unleashed cheap, clean energy can meet rising power demand, even in a conservative state where lawmakers might prefer to see fossil fuels proliferate.
Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress Zhao Leji will attend upon invitation the plenary of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2026 in Hainan on March 26 and deliver a keynote speech.

CCTV: This week is the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Week 2026. Can you share the highlights of the events and expectations for LMC development in the future?

Lin Jian: Today marks the 10th anniversary of the first LMC Leaders Meeting. Over the past decade, under the guidance of President Xi Jinping and leaders of Mekong countries, China has forged a community with a shared future with all Mekong countries bilaterally, and trade between the two sides has exceeded US$500 billion, up by 150 percent compared with that of 10 years ago. Thousands of small and smart projects, such as the LMC Bumper Harvest projects and the Lancang-Mekong Sweet Spring Action, have been implemented and delivered tangibly for the people. The six countries have jointly carried out the Safe Lancang-Mekong operations to uphold security in the region. Today, a reception will be held in Beijing to mark the 10th anniversary of the first LMC Leaders Meeting. Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi will attend the reception to talk with friends from various sectors about the future of LMC.

This years LMC Week is themed on jointly forging Lancang-Mekong Cooperation 2.0. Relevant Chinese ministries, local governments and diplomatic missions will hold over 170 celebration events. First, on development, we will hold industrial seminars and experience sharing events on topics including green and low-carbon development and poverty alleviation through agricultural development. Second, looking to the future, we will carry out innovation cooperation and brainstorming through youth innovation contests and youth exchange camps. Third, aiming at serving the people, we will hold events such as the brightness project, non-profit medical activities, film week and art festival. You are welcome to follow and report on these events.

The world today is fraught with transformation and turbulence. Peace and development face severe challenges. China will follow the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness on neighborhood diplomacy, and work with the five Mekong countries to build LMC 2.0, open up a new LMC golden decade, and make new contribution to regional peace, stability, development and prosperity and the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

China-Arab TV: Its reported that online comments made by Japanese citizens on videos about Takaichis visit to the U.S. are mainly negative, criticizing her for her dramatic expression and obsequious manner which undermined national dignity. Some even described the videos as bad as AI-generated. Whats Chinas comment?

Lin Jian: We noted the comments made by some Japanese media, experts and citizens on Takaichis visit to the U.S., including on her response when Japans surprise attack on Pearl Harbor was mentioned and when she visited the Presidential Walk of Fame. Ill make no comment on online criticism on the visit made by Japanese citizens. The U.S. and Japan developing bilateral relations should be conducive to regional peace and stability rather than target any third country or harm their interests.

Beijing Daily: Its reported that 14 people were killed and 60 injured in a fire at an auto parts factory in Daejeon, the Republic of Korea. Would you like to comment on this?

Lin Jian: We have noted the fire that broke out a couple of days ago in Daejeon, the Republic of Korea, which has caused casualties. We express deep condolences for the lives lost and heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families. We wish the injured a speedy recovery.

AFP: U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday gave Iran 48 hours until 11:44 pm GMT today to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, threatening to obliterate Iranian power plants if they do not. Whats the Chinese Foreign Ministrys comment on this?

Lin Jian: The conflict in the Middle East is still spreading and spilling over. If the conflict continues to expand and the situation once again escalates, the whole region will be plunged into chaos. Force will only lead to a vicious circle. China strongly calls on parties to the conflict to immediately stop military operations, return to dialogue and negotiation, and not continue the war that should not have happened.

Reuters: Is China already in talks with Southeast Asian countries such as the Philippines, Laos and Viet Nam on fertilizer supplies? How does China plan to help them address the fertilizer shortage problems? And has China already started shipping additional fertilizers to those countries?

Lin Jian: The situation in the Middle East has dealt a blow to global energy and trade security. Relevant countries should immediately stop military operations and prevent the regional turmoil from causing a greater impact on global economic growth. On the specifics that you mentioned, Id refer you to competent authorities.

Reuters: China has told Iran to ensure the safety of its assets and people in Iran. So has China specifically told Iran to ensure the safe passage of its ships and oil bound to China?

Lin Jian: We once again call on parties to immediately stop military operations, avoid further escalation of the tense situation and prevent regional turmoil from causing greater damage to global economic growth. We are in communication with relevant parties to work for the deescalation of the situation.

Reuters: The Foreign Ministry said last week that its willing to work with other countries in Southeast Asia on energy security. So how does China plan to do so and have talks began with countries in the region?

Lin Jian: Id refer you to competent authorities.

Reuters: The Chinese Embassy in India said on Saturday that Air China is resuming direct flights between Beijing and Delhi. When will this happen?

Lin Jian: The Chinese side and the Indian side maintain communication on promoting cooperation and people-to-people exchange. As to your specific question, Id refer you to the competent authorities.

Bloomberg: Vietnamese officials over the weekend said it opposed Chinas activities involving land reclamation in the Paracel Islands. Does the Foreign Ministry have a response?

Lin Jian: Xisha Qundao is Chinas inherent territory, over which there is no dispute. Necessary construction on our own territory is aimed at improving living and working conditions on the islands and growing the local economy.
On March 21, 2026, the 10th Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) was held in Colombia, the country holding the rotating presidency. President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to the summit.

Xi Jinping noted that since its founding, CELAC has been committed to promoting peace, stability, development, and prosperity in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region, injecting new impetus into the solidarity and common development of the Global South. In May last year, the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum was successfully held in Beijing. He attended the opening ceremony and announced that China and LAC countries would jointly launch five programs for solidarity, development, civilization, peace, and people-to-people bonds, which received positive response from the LAC side. Over the past year, China and LAC countries have worked closely together to deepen and substantiate these five programs, delivering tangible benefits to the peoples of both sides.

Xi Jinping stressed that China will always be a good friend and good partner of LAC countries, and will support them in upholding their sovereignty, security, and development interests. China stands ready to work with the LAC side to uphold international fairness and justice, and jointly write a new chapter in building a China-LAC community with a shared future.
Pay Dirt is Slates money advice column. Have a question? Send it to Kristin and Ilyce here. (Its anonymous!)

Dear Pay Dirt,

Im the sole earner of my household. My salary covers all the expenses, and I max out my 401(k) and put $1,500 in a 529 each month for my one child, who is in college. I dont think itll be enough to get them through all four years, but I can cover what the scholarship doesnt, for now. And theres just enough left over to keep an emergency fund topped off. No debt aside from the mortgage.

If I lose my jobincreasingly possibleI can keep things afloat for six months without dipping into retirement savings, which is only the bare minimum for my age. Of course, if I lose my job, all savings contributions stop. I need to future-proof more and its stressing me to death. I feel like theres no way to cover all the needs AND get ahead a little, and itd be SO EASY to fall into a deep pit, even though Ive worked my whole life to avoid it and Im doing everything right. Right?

What can I change about how I manage what I do have? I keep most of the emergency fund in a short-term CD, but the returns are laughable. The 529 generates enough interest for a nice lunch out once a semester. I apparently dont have enough money for it to make money. Is there anything Im overlooking?

Whats the Trick?

Dear Whats the Trick?

There is no real trick to generating great wealth, which is the question I think youre asking. The missing magic is time. Unless you win the lottery or earn a great deal more than you spend, you have to allow wealth to accumulate over the passing years. Let me assure you: Youre already doing everything right.

Lets review your personal finances: You have no debt except a mortgage. You also have a fully funded emergency fund, a maxed-out 401(k), and a college savings plan for your child, even if you dont have that much in it. Altogether, your finances are ahead of the vast majority of Americans. The anxiety youre feeling isnt a sign that something is wrongits the natural weight of being the only person standing between your family and financial instability. Thats a genuinely hard load to carry, and its okay to name it.

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Now, to your actual question about what else you can do. Here are a few things worth looking at:

Keeping your emergency fund in a short-term CD is actually leaving a little bit of money on the table. It also locks your money in place rather than keeping it liquid. Consider moving it to a high-yield savings accountmany are currently paying 4% or better with full liquidity, no penalties for early withdrawals and you can access funds immediately if you need them.

You say youre covering the difference between your childs needs and their scholarship. Can your child take out a loan for that difference? Can they get a part-time job to help pay for some of these extra items? Allowing that extra cash to percolate for you can help pad both your emergency fund and then perhaps fund a Roth IRA for retirement.

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The 529 returns youre describing suggest that money may have been invested too conservatively. On the other hand, when your child is approaching college or already enrolled, which yours is, conservative is the right approach. As I write this, the stock market has lost between 8 to 10 percent this year, so if you had invested the cash you needed there, youd be watching it shrink rather than grow. If your child was still in middle school, or even in the first year of high school, the money could have been apportioned in some age-appropriate growth funds rather than something that generates so-called lunch money. (I recognize looking backward isnt helpful to you now, but I do hope it will guide other readers.)

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When it comes to losing your job, thats a fear shared by many. The goal, which you may have reached, should be a minimum six months of runway for your emergency fund. If you can redirect even a modest amount monthly into a taxable brokerage account after maxing out your 401(k), youre building flexibility that retirement accounts dont offer.

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At the end of the day, I dont think you have a money management problem. You have a margin problem, and the only real solutions are earning more or spending less. Can your spouse or partner pick up some part-time work? Can you take on a second job temporarily to help bolster your savings?

The fear of falling into a pit of debt is real. In uncertain times, which these certainly are, many people worry that the financial house theyve built for themselves might give way. But unless a catastrophe happens, things generally have a way of working out over the longer term. If you stay focused on the future, and continue to make all the right moves, youll get through this. Again, time is your friend.

Get money advicesubmit a question! Please keep questions short (<150 words), and dont submit the same question to multiple columns. We are unable to edit or remove questions after publication. Use pseudonyms to maintain anonymity. Your submission may be used in other Slate advice columns and may be edited for publication. Thanks! Your question has been submitted. Dear Pay Dirt, * Your letter signoff Your pronouns Your email (optional and confidentialplease include if you're open to Pay Dirt following up) Submit

Dear Pay Dirt,

Jack, a 36-year-old man, and I, a 29-year-old woman, have been dating for about six months and are very deeply in love. Were both weird, introverted nerds who never dreamed wed find someone were so into whos so into us. He is actually my first-ever serious relationship, and Im his second.

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Jack is still close friends with his ex, Ruby, whom he dated in college. (She actually calls him her best friend.) Let me be very clear: I am not jealous or afraid Jack will cheat with Ruby. Not just because I trust him, but because Ruby is not really able to have sex. Ruby developed multiple chronic conditions in her mid-20s that have left her severely disabled. She has very little mobility in any part of her body without terrible pain. She uses a walker for short distances, a wheelchair for long, and often needs help eating, using the restroom, and bathing. Thus, despite coming from a wealthy family, she rarely leaves her parents house. The exceptions are her vacations with Jack, which are typically once or twice a year and consist of cruises and trips to various Disney parks. Ruby pays both of their ways in return for Jack caring for and assisting her throughout.

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If we were also independently wealthy, and didnt have to take vacation days from work, I would be OK with this. But their next trip together is coming up, and Im thinking about how Im going to feel in the future if Jack continues to use up most or all of his vacation time going on trips with Ruby instead of me. I dont want to push to go with them, for several reasons:

While I have compassion for Ruby, shes not someone I enjoy interacting with, and Im sure she feels the same about me. She is very blunt and critical, Im very sensitive, and we have zero common interests. I dont like cruises or theme parks, and the kind of vacations I would like, and Jack admits he would tooremote island getaways or walking through old European citieswould not be possible for Ruby. Having to accommodate Rubys pace and schedule, and having so much of Jacks time taken up with her, would make the trip less fun for me, regardless of the destination. I cant afford to pay my way on so many lavish trips, I wouldnt want Ruby to, and Id prefer Jack save his money for other things.

However, I feel horrible about wanting to ask him to dial these occasions back, because I know they are the highlight of Rubys otherwise very depressing life. How and when can I begin to talk to Jack about this without sounding jealous, possessive, or like Im planning our whole life together too early in our relationship?

Only Jealous of His Vacation Days

Dear Only Jealous of His Vacation Days,

Its evident youve thought about this carefully and honestly. The fact that you can clearly articulate what bothers youand what doesntis exactly the foundation you need for a conversation you need to have with Jack.

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Heres the good news: You dont have to frame this as asking him to dial anything back. Not yet, anyway. Youre six months into this relationship, and what you actually need right now is information. How much vacation time does Jack have? What kind of vacations does he envision for the two of you going forward? Does he want to spend some of that time with your friends? Those are reasonable questions for someone in a deepening relationship to ask, and they dont require you to issue any ultimatums or make any demands. In fact, I wouldnt even mention Ruby.

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So start there. Tell him that youve been thinking about the future and that youd love to talk about what a vacation might look like for the two of youwhat youd both enjoy, whats realistic financially, how youd want to spend that time together. Let him tell you what hes thinking. You may find hes already been wondering how to balance things, or that he has more vacation time than you realize, or that the Ruby trips are more flexible than they appear.

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If you take a few steps back, what youre really asking is this: Is there room for me in your life as a full and primary partner? Thats a fair question at six months, and a necessary one before this goes much further. Again, you dont have to frame it around Ruby at all, who shouldnt be a third partner in your relationship.

Rubys situation is genuinely hard and unfortunate, and your compassion for her is real and evident. Those are wonderful qualities. But you are also allowed to have needs. A partner worth keeping will want to know what they are and find a way to meet at least in the middle.

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(How to Do It columnists Rich Juzwick and Jessica Stoya also received this letter; see how they answered it. )

Ilyce

Classic Prudie

Ive made a terrible mistake. I flirted heavily with a co-worker at our holiday party, much more so than a married woman should flirt. Lots of touching, and there was a moment where we almost kissed but held back. Afterward we exchanged very suggestive texts for a day or two. If Im totally honest I really enjoyed the tension and thrill of it, and I definitely did more than my part to start and keep the situation going.
An Oklahoma City couple accused of using a 14-year-old girl as a surrogate for twins has been arrested in Nevada, and investigators allege the biological father of the children is the teen's mother's boyfriend.

Nathan Potier and Erica Palmer, both 36, were taken into custody on March 17 in Sparks, Nevada, on felony warrants issued out of Oklahoma County. Authorities said the pair left Oklahoma after police moved to collect Potier's DNA to determine whether he fathered the teen's twins.

The couple is being held in the Washoe County Detention Facility and is expected to be extradited to Oklahoma, according to People.

Prosecutors have charged Potier with sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of a child, alleging he impregnated the girl while living in the same home. Palmer faces counts that include enabling or permitting child abuse and desertion of a child under 15, according to court records. Both are being held on six-figure bonds, jail and court records cited by multiple outlets show.

The case began in late 2025 when Oklahoma child welfare workers reported that a 14-year-old girl in the couple's care was pregnant with twins.

Investigators later learned the teen's mother was in a relationship with Potier and that he was suspected of being the biological father. The girl, now 15, and at least one other child from the household have since been placed in state custody, officials said.

According to affidavits, Palmer told investigators she could not have children because she previously had her tubes tied, but wanted to raise a baby with Potier. Officials allege the pair treated the teen as a surrogate, intending to claim and raise the twins as their own, Yahoo News reported.

Detectives obtained a court order to secure Potier's DNA at one of the teen's medical appointments, but the couple allegedly fled Oklahoma before that could happen.

Federal and local task force officers with the U.S. Marshals Service later located Potier and Palmer in the RenoSparks area, more than 1,000 miles from Oklahoma City. Authorities coordinated surveillance and then moved in to arrest the couple without incident, according to law enforcement statements.

The investigation is ongoing, and Oklahoma officials say additional or modified charges could be considered once the pair is returned to the state and further evidence is reviewed, as per the Independent.

Originally published on Lawyer Herald
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The Supreme Court may be poised to commit the single biggest act of disenfranchisement in modern history in a direct assault on the constitutional authority of states to set election laws. During Mondays arguments in Watson v. Republican National Committee, the conservative justices lined up to attack state laws permitting the counting of ballots that arrive shortly after Election Day if they were postmarked on time. About 30 states have enacted similar laws, and they have had a major impact on American elections: In 2024 alone, more than 750,000 late-arriving ballots were counted because of a states grace period. Now there is a very real chance that the Supreme Court will wipe out these laws in one fell swoop, causing chaos in the upcoming midterms that could disproportionately impact Democratic voters.

That news, in itself, is a five-alarm fire for democracy. But what makes it even more disturbing is the fact that so many justices proved eager to embrace a legal theory that is incoherent, dishonest, and rooted in paranoid hostility toward mail voting. The courts right flank spent much of Mondays arguments airing grievances about vote-by-mails supposed potential for fraud alongside partisan hostility toward lax ballot deadlines. Because there is so little evidence of said fraud, these justices warned of the threat of appearance of fraud as being just as dangerouswith little note about who the biggest purveyor of the false perception that fraud infests our elections is and what his real aims are. These justices concocted absurd hypotheticals seemingly designed to highlight the nations ostensible lack of election integrity. Yet they spent remarkably little time offering any legal justification for striking down democratically enacted laws that govern more than half the country. This court may not have endorsed Donald Trumps big lie in 2020, as the president recently griped. But it could be on the brink of imposing one of his favored voter suppression policies by judicial decree.

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Watson began when the Republican National Committee challenged a Mississippi law that directs election officials to count mail ballots postmarked by Election Day, as long as they arrive within five business days of Election Day. The RNC argued that Congress has preempted such laws through federal legislation, mostly passed in the 19th century, setting the date for federal elections. Just before the 2024 election, the far-right 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed, striking down the Mississippi statute. It asserted that the words Election Day, as used in the federal code, mean the date by which state officials must receive an eligible ballot. So federal law, according to the 5th Circuit, nullifies state statutes that seek to count any ballots that come in after that date. When the Supreme Court took up the case, the Trump administration sided with the 5th Circuit, urging the justices to strike down Mississippis statute and those like it.

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The problem with this theoryas the liberal justices hammered throughout argumentsis that it has no basis in law, history, or precedent. Election Day has long been understood to mean the date by which voters cast their ballots. (For federal elections, its enshrined into law as the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.) This settled meaning is, Justice Sonia Sotomayor pointed out, why many states allowed soldiers to vote in the field before Election Day during the Civil War. It is why some of those states established a grace period by which officials could receive absentee ballots from soldiers in the field after Election Day, including through the mail. It is why, in the 20th century, states expanded early in-person voting and mail voting without serious legal issue. And it is why, in this century, Congress deferred to states own ballot deadlines when creating rules to help military and overseas voters participate in elections.

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The unbroken principle is straightforward: Voters must submit their ballots by Election Day. And until Congress declares otherwise, states get to decide how long after that date a valid ballot can arrive. Thats how it works under the Constitution, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson reminded both Paul Clement, arguing for the RNC, and Solicitor General John Sauer, who teamed up to oppose Mississippis law: States have primary authority to regulate federal elections until Congress chooses to override those rules with a clear voice. And Congress has made no such choice here.

One by one, the Republican-appointed justices swatted away these inconvenient facts, fixating instead on wild hypotheticals about voter fraud. Justice Samuel Alito asked Mississippi Solicitor General Scott Stuart, who defended the Mississippi law, if he thought it was legitimate for us to take into account Congress passage of Election Day statutes for the purpose of combating fraud or the appearance of fraud. The justice noted that some of the briefs have argued that confidence in election outcomes can be seriously undermined if the apparent outcome of the election on the day after the polls close is radically flipped by the acceptance later of a big stash of ballots that flip the election.

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Stuart explained that even the Trump administration had failed to identify a single example of fraud from postElection Day ballot receipt in this century. But Alitos argument was not grounded in realityor, for that matter, law. It is not the Supreme Courts job to decide whether Mississippis law increases fraud or the appearance of fraud (though it doesnt). Its job is to decide whether Congress intended to foreclose grace periods for mail ballots when it set federal Election Day more than 150 years ago. It obviously did not; indeed, it could not have foreseen the widespread adoption of mail voting well over a century later. Besides, Alitos logic (to the extent there was any) is circular: The only reason there may be an appearance of fraud is because opponents of mail voting spread unfounded claims of fraud. If the resulting paranoia can be weaponized against otherwise valid voting rules, then the Republican Party has found a cheat code to kill off any election law in court.

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Most of Alitos conservative colleagues, however, shared his suspicion of mail voting, some in conspiratorial turns. Justice Brett Kavanaugh fretted that late-arriving ballots open up a risk of what might destabilize the election results, warning that charges of a rigged election could explode. Should the court, he asked Stuart, safeguard confidence in the election process? He also pressed Stuart to acknowledge that states do not disenfranchise voters by setting an Election Day ballot deadlineevidently to defend the court from charges that it would be putting its thumb on the scale for Republicans at the expense of voters in future elections by invalidating these laws.

Related From Slate The Supreme Court Just Heeded One of Ketanji Brown Jacksons Sharpest Dissents Read More

If the court does strike down these laws in June, giving 30 states fewer than 150 days to change their mail voting rules, the results could be disastrous. Perhaps sensing that threat, Kavanaugh asked Clement if the Purcell principlethe idea that courts cant significantly alter election rules too close to the votewas an issue in this case. Clement waved away that concern, and Kavanaugh seemed satisfied, declining to ask any follow-ups. Of course, neither man explained what such a scenario would look like on the ground: State election officials would scramble to change the rules on the fly and somehow inform millions of voters that they must now mail their ballot well in advance of Election Day.

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With his questions, it sounded as if Kavanaugh was trying to manage backlash to his eventual vote to, yes, disenfranchise countless Americans. The justice continues to transform into the new Alito. Meanwhile, Justice Clarence Thomas questioned whether there was any difference between mailing a ballot and handing it to your neighbor, and rejected the Civil War precedent as irrelevant. (Thomas has previously promoted Trumps claims of widespread voter fraud.)

Justice Neil Gorsuch picked up the baton to spin out a strange scenario in which voters recall their ballots shortly after Election Day in response to a late-breaking sex scandal. In that hypothetical, he asked Stuart, did the election happen on Election Day? Stuart explained that recalling a ballot after Election Day is already forbidden by state law. Gorsuch at first refused to believe him, claiming greater expertise in the minutiae of the Mississippi code. Then the justice asked what would stop it from happening even if it were illegal.

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Stuart did not have a particularly good answer to this and many other bizarre questions, perhaps revealing that, as a MAGA Republican, his heart was not in the case. But he could have pointed out that Gorsuchs hypothetical proves too much: Until a ballot has been counted, it could be changed in any number of ways; a voter could break into the election office and alter her ballot, too. (This scenario is only a tad more fanciful than the justices hypothetical, since there is no evidence of voters recalling a mail ballot after an election.) No state requires every ballot to be counted on Election Day, which undermines Gorsuchs all-on-one-day theory.

So does another point in Mississippis favor: The fact that early voting does not, by definition, occur on Election Day. If federal law really requires voting on the day of the election, as the plaintiffs claim, how can states let people cast ballots well in advance of the election? Both Chief Justice John Roberts and Amy Coney Barrett sounded hung up on this question, and Justice Elena Kagan seemed to angle for their votes by pressing Clement and Sauer on it. Neither Roberts nor Barrett gave away their view, but both sounded genuinely troubled by this issue. Rightly so: Neither Clement nor Sauer could offer a cogent reason why, under their theory, early voting is legal but late-arriving ballots are not. It seems to me, the chief told Sauer pointedly, maybe youre not saying anything other than, Well, thats different.

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Barrett, too, sounded skeptical that Clement and Sauer could insist that Congress preserved one historical aspect of electionsrequiring ballots on Election Daywhile disregarding the rest. After all, when Congress enacted our modern election dates, we didnt have early voting; why isnt that suspect, too? It seems to me if you look at historical practice, she told Clement, what an election meant was showing up in person and casting your vote and being qualified as the voter on that same day. So if were just going to say that historically it needs to look like it always looked, how come those features fall out? Clement told her they probably fall out because nobody thinks theyre essential, a remarkably weak answer: Theres no evidence that Congress thought Election Day ballot deadlines were essential, either.

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As these questions indicate, Barrett and Roberts hold the case in their hands. All three liberals, meanwhile, forcefully argued in defense of Mississippis law. The four most conservative justices trashed it. So it likely comes down to these two, and the stakes are chillingly high for such a photo finish. As the Republican National Committee concedes, Democrats are more likely to vote by mail today and thus more likely to be disenfranchised if late-arriving ballots are tossed out. Three quarters of a million voters relied on these laws to protect their vote in the last federal election. If they are wiped away, Americans voting by mail will have to rely on the vagaries of the Postal Service to ensure their ballots arrive on time. And just last month, the Supreme Court stripped away citizens ability to sue USPS when postal carriers intentionally destroy or withhold their ballots.

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Looming over this dispute is another, more existential concern: Can this Supreme Court be trusted to safeguard free and fair elections in 2026 and 2028 when Trump is committed to subverting them? Mondays arguments indicated that four justices are, at a minimum, easily swayed by Republicans bogus claims of fraud, and open to changing the rules to tilt the playing field. Watson should have been laughed out of court. Instead it received a warm reception. Even if the plaintiffs lose 54and it is an ifthat margin will be far too close for comfort. A democracy that rests on the knifes edge of a single Supreme Court vote is living on borrowed time.
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Even before Donald Trumps improbable victory in 2016, political observers of all stripes have confidently predicted that it was all about to come crashing down.

It happened after the release of the Access Hollywood tape, when dozens of Republican elected officials rescinded their support over Trumps comments bragging about grabbing womens genitals. The end was again nigh in May 2017, when former CBS anchor Dan Rather declared that the curtain may be coming down on this act of this tragedy after Robert Mueller started investigating Trumps ties to Russia. After Trump equivocated over a deadly white-supremacist march in Charlottesville, Virginia, the journalist Matt Taibbi called it the final stake through the Grinch-heart of his presidency. An FBI raid on the office of longtime Trump fixer Michael Cohen the following year emboldened then-New Yorker writer Adam Davidson to argue that we are now in the end stages of the Trump presidency. This fellow finally, totally discredited himself, an exhilarated Sen. Mitch McConnell told a New York Times reporter hours after a pro-Trump mob attacked the U.S. Capitol. Donald Trump is now forever disgraced, the historian Brenda Wineapple opined in the Times after the House committee investigating Jan. 6 referred him for criminal prosecution. Weeks before Trump won the 2024 election, the Republican pollster Frank Luntz predicted that his debate performance against Kamala Harris would cost the former president the race.

Those pronouncements, from a range of observers responding to varied political setbacks, were all wrong. Even so, Trumps latest stumbleinto an unpopular and increasingly costly war in Iranalready has some writing his political obituary. The conservative journalist Christopher Caldwell penned a cover story last week for the Spectator magazine titled The End of Trumpism. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the far-right former Georgia congresswoman who has broken with the president over more than just Iran, claimed this month that the wars supporters have destroyed MAGA. Sohrab Ahmari, a right-wing populist pundit who endorsed Trumps 2024 campaign, now thinks Trump was never the one to wrest the Republican Party from the hawkish forces that dominated it under George W. Bush. Liberals arent immune from the doomsaying either, even if theirs comes tinged with schadenfreude. James Carville, the colorful Democratic strategist, predicts that a tanking economy and catastrophic war will force Trump to abdicate the presidency next year by this time. Or as the progressive writer Matt Stoller tweeted over the weekend in a thread about the wars political blowback, I do not know why people assume Trump will be in office for much longer.

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Yes, some of Trumps typical cheerleaders, including Megyn Kelly and Tucker Carlson, have blasted him for going back on his campaign pledge not to embroil the U.S. in more overseas conflicts. As Caldwell put it in his essay, For Trumps base, the sense of betrayal is acute. But if thats true, someone should tell Trumps base. The evidence suggests most Republicans are brushing off the intramural criticism. In recent polls, vast majorities back Trumps bombing campaign, with self-described MAGA voters even more likely to approve than other Republicans. So far, just three congressional Republicans have voted in ways that suggest they oppose the war.

Where does the chronic impulse to forecast Trumps imminent downfall come from? For Democrats, its at least partly an expression of disbelief that hes gotten this far. Yet the words of Trumps MAGA-aligned Iran critics suggest that both camps are making the same mistake: failingor refusingto see Trump for who he repeatedly shows himself to be. Comeuppance-minded liberals imagine a president who will eventually succumb to scandal or economic catastrophe or electoral defeats. But bowing to those circumstances is a choice, one that Trump, in his shamelessness, has repeatedly refused. Conservatives who think of themselves as Trumps ideological kin, meanwhile, seem to have mistaken him for a man who believes what hes selling. Trump the war-wary populist has now fully given way to his liberal caricature: venal, erratic, childish, a chaos agent, Ahmari wrote, as if Trumps penchant to flip-flop hasnt been on display for years. The president, Ahmari also claimed, failed to rebuff anti-Iran jingoists because of the character factor (emphasis his) that was too quickly dismissed by those of us who were thrilled by his shattering of GOP policy orthodoxies. Its rare to see someone so straightforwardly admit they were clowned.

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Misreading Trump inevitably leads to misreading his movement. Caldwells essay imagines the president as a vehicle for forces bigger than himself: a movement of democratic restoration against a university-educated elite, cultural progressivism, and a bureaucratic deep state. In fact, Trumps base is following him, not the other way around. Sometimes, as with trade, Trump leads his supporters against old-school Republican orthodoxies. Other times, he affirms them without paying much of a price. In January, after Trump ordered the U.S. military to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, the share of Republicans who supported using force to remove Maduro spiked. When pitted against critics who claim to speak for MAGA, Trump wins. In a survey released last week by the conservative pollster J.L. Partners, 83 percent of Republicans preferred Trumps foreign-policy judgment to Megyn Kellys or Tucker Carlsons.

Related From Slate Sam Alitos Latest Reversal at the Supreme Court Is an Absolute Embarrassment Read More

Whether out of affection, shared enemies, or a sense of being in too deep, Republican voters and officeholders have contorted themselves to follow Trump almost wherever goes. The party that blamed Joe Biden for high gas prices now tells Americans to suck it up. Maybe you take one less trip to Starbucks and so that gas goes a little further, Michele Tafoya, a Trump-aligned Senate candidate in Minnesota, said last week. Trump allies who once opposed striking Iran are eating their words. During a hearing this month, Elbridge Colby, a top-ranking Defense Department official, claimed not to recognize his own past quotes when a Democratic congressman read them aloud. Others apparently see no contradiction at all. According to a Politico poll last week, about two-thirds of Trumps 2024 voters either dont think the Iran war broke Trumps campaign promise or was necessary because of changing circumstances. A plurality46 percentsaid the war is consistent with MAGA principles.

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Maybe its only a matter of time. Most Trump voters seem leery of sending ground troops to Iran, something Trump now appears to be contemplating. Trump has also never before presided over a sustained period of economic malaise; consumer sentiment was higher in March 2020, at the dawn of the COVID recession, than it is now. And Iran adds to a list of other issues, from the Epstein files to tariffs, that have stressed his coalition. As Ahmari noted, a subset of Americans who reelected Trumparound 24 percent of his 2024 voters in separate YouGov and Ipsos surveys released last weekalready oppose the war. Many of them seem to be the independent, young, traditionally Democratic, or nonwhite voters who defected to Trump last time and whose growing disillusionment may hurt Republicans in the midterms.

But for now, the evidence of a MAGA schismlet alone Trumps political downfallis weak. As even Caldwell acknowledged, Trump has a gift for escaping seemingly impossible situations of his own making. The strongest proof is in the title of Caldwells essay: The End of Trumpism. When a governing movement takes its name after a political figure, like Caesarism and Stalinism did long before Trumpism, that person usually gets to set its terms. MAGA loves everything I do. MAGA is me, the president said after attacking Venezuela. THEY ARE NOT MAGA, I AM, he wrote on Truth Social last week of the Republicans criticizing him now. Ahmari, Greene, Carlson, and their ilk may have been wrong to take Trumps word on Iran. But they probably should on this.
United Airlines announced on Friday that it will reduce its scheduled flights by 5% during the second and third quarters, citing skyrocketing jet fuel prices fueled by the ongoing Iran war.

The move comes even as travel demand remains strong, allowing US airlines to raise fares.

Chief Executive Scott Kirby explained in a staff memo that the airline is preparing for oil prices to reach as high as $175 a barrel and remain above $100 through 2027.

"There's no point in burning cash in the near term on flying that just can't absorb these fuel costs," Kirby said.

He added that if prices stay at these levels, United's annual fuel bill could rise by roughly $11 billionmore than double the airline's record annual profit, Reuters reported.

Jet fuel costs have nearly doubled since late February, forcing carriers to adjust routes, reroute flights, and deal with airspace restrictions worldwide.

While high demand has allowed airlines to increase ticket prices, United is prioritizing financial caution over serving every passenger.

Kirby noted that the airline would rather leave some demand unmet than operate routes that lose money due to high fuel expenses.

United Airlines planning for oil to reach record $175/barrel, cutting 5% capacity https://t.co/SC3sCiQctU (via TAC/Intel)  Jon Ostrower (@jonostrower) March 20, 2026

United Airlines Suspends Service to Tel Aviv and Dubai

The Chicago-based airline has already reduced flights on weaker midweek, Saturday, and overnight schedules.

In his memo, Kirby said United would cancel about three percentage points of off-peak flights in the second and third quarters, including red-eye services and less busy midweek routes.

According to NTD, another one point of capacity will be removed at Chicago O'Hare, and service to Tel Aviv and Dubai will remain suspended, totaling roughly a 5% reduction in the year's planned capacity.

Kirby emphasized that the full schedule is expected to return this fall.

Despite the cuts, passenger demand remains robust. Kirby highlighted that United's 10 highest-revenue weeks were all recorded in the past 10 weeks.

Airlines such as Delta and American have also leveraged this demand to implement fare hikes to offset rising fuel costs.

"While demand is strong, we still need to be cautious about flying routes that could lose money at current fuel prices," Kirby said, reinforcing the company's focus on financial prudence over simply filling every seat.

Originally published on vcpost.com
Stepping up in class to the Preferred level, Herd Immunity fought off last week's Track On 2 top class winner Sunshine Boy on a mild Sunday afternoon in Lacombe, Alta. on March 22.

With the inside post advantage, Herd Immunity and trainer/driver Nathan Sobey secured the lead in the $6,000 Preferred Pace, pocketing Rum N Custard (Kelly Hoerdt), with last week's winner Sunshine Boy (Phil Giesbrecht) three-wide in the mix early before tucking into third. After opening splits of :28.1 and :57.3, Sunshine Boy made his move and swept up to challenge Herd Immunity, but the newcomer kept him at bay as they raced by three-quarters in 1:25.4 and drew clear on top through the stretch to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:54.2. Herd Immunity paid $4.70 to win as the slight 6-5 favourite while 8-5 second choice Sunshine Boy settled for second this time out. Key Dragon (Chris Brown) edged out Rum N Custard in a show photo.

After moving to the Sobey stable off a seven-week layoff for owner Dr. Fred Kruszelnicki of Brooks, Alta., Herd Immunity prepped for his successful Preferred debut with an impressive 1:55.3 tour of The Track On 2 last week when the track was rated 'good.' The seven-year-old Rockin Image-Cam Swifty gelding now has 10 career wins and earnings of $66,895.

Leading trainer Rebecca Kanak's stable remained red-hot after sending out three winners on Saturday at the mile oval with three more on Sunday's eight-race card, including the streaking Disco Dancer ($3.10).

Driven by Mike Hennessy, the four-year-old Captain Deo-Wedding Dance gelding earned his fifth win in a row with a 1:56.4 season's best effort in a $3,800 conditioned claiming pace, prevailing off cover by a half-length over late leader Matchmakers Pick (Thomas Miller). Disco Dancer has now won seven of his 10 starts and $24,688 in Kanak's stable since being claimed for $15,000 last Halloween at Century Mile by owners Trevor Williams of Landmark, Man., Garett Isman of Calgary, Alta., and Harness The Energy Inc. of Water Valley, Alta.

Kanak also swept the late Daily Double ($8.60) in dominant fashion with nine-year-old pacing Blue Powder (Mike Hennessy) and five-year-old pacing mare Frostfire (Drew Campbell) winning by a combined 20-3/4 lengths. Williams shares ownership of the former with Aurel Vodon of Virden, Man., and the latter with Brock MacLellan of Fort McMurray, Alta.

The Track On 2's spring meet wraps up next weekend with 1:10 p.m. MDT cards scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.

To view Sunday's complete harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - The Track On 2.

(Standardbred Canada)
Manitoba's top performers from the 2025 harness racing season were celebrated at the annual Manitoba Standardbred Racing Industry Awards Banquet this past weekend at the Canad Inns Destination Centre in Portage la Prairie, Man.

The event, presented by the Manitoba Standardbred Sires & Breeders Association (MSSBA) and Manitoba Harness Horsemen Inc. (MHHI), was held on Saturday, March 21, 2026.

Pipers Luna was named the top Manitoba-bred horse after a spectacular debut campaign in 2025 that included winning seven of her eight starts in the province. Among her six stakes victories, Pipers Luna won the 78th renewal of the Manitoba Great Western Stakes at The Loop in a three-year-old track record performance of 1:58.3 on Aug. 30 with Dean Rey driving for trainer Lorraine Rey, who bred and co-owns the filly with Vince Sotheran. Pipers Luna's sire and dam, Im The Pied Piper and Hammers Rainbow, were also honoured.

Also bred and owned by Lorraine Rey, five-year-old pacing mare Grit N Grace, a 2025 O'Brien Award finalist with a lifetime mark of 1:49.3 taken at Woodbine Mohawk Park, was honoured in a new award category for Breeder Excellence. The award is presented to a Manitoba resident breeder of a Manitoba-sired Standardbred that meets at least two or more of the following criteria: is an OBrien Award finalist; attains a win mark under 1:50; attains lifetime earnings of greater or equal to $500,000; and/or wins a $100,000 race. A horse will only be eligible to receive the award once in its lifetime.

Darryl Mason was named Horseperson of the Year in addition to receiving the Ron Waples Award and honours for top driver for wins and URS -- the latter awarded was shared with Marc Fillion. Sherri Mason was top trainer for wins while Melanie Rey-Clark was top trainer for URS. It was a big night for the Mason family with Aaron also feted as a rising star.

A complete list of the award winners follows.

Manitoba-Bred Two-Year-Old Filly

Libbys Delight

Manitoba-Bred Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding

Justcruiseonbye

Manitoba-Bred Three-Year-Old Filly

Pipers Luna

Manitoba-Bred Three-Year-Old Colt/Gelding

Van Goghing Fast

Manitoba-Bred Aged Mare

Fall Out Girl

Manitoba-Bred Aged Horse/Gelding

Fan C That

Top Manitoba-Bred

Pipers Luna

Aged Mare of the Year

Nonversation

Aged Horse/Gelding of the Year

Ginger Tree Finny

Claimer of the Year

Chief Is Boss & Fan C That

Broodmare of the Year

Hammers Rainbow

Sire of the Year

Im The Pied Piper

Top Driver - Wins

Darryl Mason

Top Driver - URS

Darryl Mason & Marc Fillion

Top Trainer - Wins

Sherri Mason

Top Trainer - URS

Melanie Rey-Clark

Horseperson of the Year

Darryl Mason

Rookie/Rising Star Award

Aaron Mason

Caretakers of the Year

Rita Vodon & Ann Fillion

MSSBA Owner of the Year

Cory Manning

MHHI Owner of the Year

Laverne Turnbull

Lifetime Breeders Achievement Award

Betty Manning

MSSBA Breeder Excellence Award

Grit N Grace

See Me Go Award of Sportsmanship

Ann Fillion

Ron Waples Award

Darryl Mason

Lifetime Membership Award

Richard Remillard

(Standardbred Canada)
The 2025 Quebec Champions Gala of Hippodrome 3R was held on Saturday, March 21, 2026 and brought together more than 270 attendees, marking a record turnout for the event.

Jointly organized by Club Jockey du Quebec (CJQ), Association Trot et Amble du Quebec (ATAQ) and Circuit Regional des Courses de Chevaux du Quebec (CRCCQ), the gala celebrated the achievements and dedication of horsepeople, owners, breeders, trainers, partners and sponsors who contribute to the vitality of the industry.

One of the highlights of the evening was the presentation of the Collaborators of the Year Award to the Desrochers family, in recognition of their longstanding involvement and outstanding contribution over the years. Their commitment to the industry was warmly applauded by all in attendance.





Sylvain Descheneaux (President, CJQ), Jean-Francois Reid (President, ATAQ) and Paul-Andre Lavigne (President, CRCCQ), alongside members of the Desrochers family.

The evening also served as an opportunity to highlight several important announcements for the upcoming 2026 harness racing season, including a 40 per cent increase in overnight purses, raising the average race card from approximately $30,000 to $42,000. Additional highlights include the return of the open stretch and the return of claiming races. The CJQ stated that these initiatives reflect a clear commitment to strengthening the appeal and competitiveness of harness racing in Trois-Rivieres, Que.

With a festive atmosphere and a strong sense of community, the 2025 Champions Gala once again demonstrated the engagement and unity within the industry. The CJQ stated that the 2026 season is shaping up to be highly promising and is already generating strong enthusiasm across the industry.

The 2026 meet at Hippodrome 3R will begin on Sunday, May 3 with 44 race dates scheduled through Nov. 1.

(With files from Club Jockey du Quebec)
The Prince Edward Island Harness Racing Industry Association (PEIHRIA) invites all Island harness racing industry participants to attend its annual meeting this Wednesday, March 25 in the grandstand in Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. (ADT), with the meeting commencing at 7 p.m. (ADT).

The agenda for the event is as follows:

A report from Red Shores management outlining wagering numbers for the 2025 season and planned racetrack activities for the 2026 season.

Directors from the PEIHRIA board will present reports from their respective associations.

The PEIHRIA executive will provide statistical racing data from the 2025 season, as well as planned initiatives for the upcoming racing season.

No pre-registration is required to attend the meeting. Refreshments will be available for those in attendance.

(PEIHRIA)
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Biotech Researchers Randy Bean

How is AI transforming the worlds original biotech company?

Genentech is an American biotechnology corporation headquartered in South San Francisco, California and celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Founded in 1976, Genentech pioneered recombinant DNA and essentially founded the biotech industry. Today, Genentech is looking to lead the next revolution in human health by pioneering the integration of AI. For Genentechs leadership, this new technological frontier isn't just a digital upgrade; it is the natural evolution of a 50-year legacy built to solve the most urgent health challenges for patients and society. Genentech's South San Francisco campus serves as the headquarters for Roche pharmaceutical operations in the United States.

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Some of the most important and beneficial applications of AI will be likely made in the life sciences and human health. I recently spoke with members of Genentechs leadership team about how they view the potential of AI and how it can transform the biopharma industry. They note that one of the greatest challenges in the modern healthcare landscape is that while the volume of scientific data is growing exponentially, the time that a physician has available to consume that data is shrinking. We discussed how AI can help overcome this challenge and can be employed to enhance human health.

Data and AI Leadership and Organization Structure at Genentech

Xingchu Liu serves as senior vice president and Chief Data and Analytics Officer, U.S. Pharma Commercial Operations for Genentech. He previously was Chief Commercial Analytics and AI Officer with Pfizer. Liu characterizes the CDAO role at Genentech as being the orchestrator of the common digital thread" at Genentech.

Liu explains, The CDAOs mandate at Genentech is to ensure that data, digital, analytics, and AI work as an orchestrated ecosystem across the commercial value chainnot as isolated tools or pilots. He continues, The role is not about owning technology, but about designing how the enterprise learns, decides, and acts faster. Results include:

Scalable Impact: Capabilities are built once and reused many times, allowing wins in one therapeutic area to be rapidly extended across brands, indications, and markets.

Enterprise Alignment: The CDAO partners with commercial, medical, and market access leaders early, shaping roadmaps and operating models so solutions scale beyond pilots.

Execution at Speed: By embedding AI and analytics directly into workflows, the Data, Digital and Analytics (DDA) organization accelerates decisions and improves execution where it matters most.

The bottom line is that the CDAOs role is to make data and AI a force multiplierdriving faster decisions, better execution, and measurable impact for patients, comments Liu.

Using AI to Transition from a Service Model to a Product Model at Genentech

As the Genentech data and AI leadership team explains, Genentech leadership is focused on turning organizational alignment into muscle memory. Erik Lundgren is senior vice president of Genentechs Commercial Portfolio Organization. He explains that the leadership commitment at Genentech goes beyond budget approval; it is about active immersion.

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Lundgren explains, Our U.S. Leadership Team (USLT) participates in intensive Bootcampsnot to learn how to code, but to create a shared language around AI ethics, the Product Model, and the digital roadmap. He elaborates, Immersion turned AI into leadership muscle memoryso we steer with clarity as the landscape shifts.

This leadership "muscle memory" is what paved the way for System 1.0Genentechs AI and digital-first operating model. By rebuilding its systems to respond at the speed of the physicians and patients needs, the company is ensuring that its technical rigor matches the scale of its innovation. With dozens of new investigational medicines in clinical development, Genentech is using this model to ensure that a technical breakthrough in one area becomes a repeatable success across the entire portfolio. In high-stakes areas like early-stage breast cancer and Multiple Sclerosis, this speed is more than a metric; it is the difference in getting a life-changing therapy to a patient sooner.

At Genentech, we believe the primary application of AI is to act as a bridge between scientific complexity and clinical action. Every delay in that bridge is a delay for patients, which is why speed must be designed into how we operate, and not added on later, notes Lundgren. To achieve this objective, Genentech has undertaken a structural redesign called the "Two-in-the-Box" model, where we pair a Business Leader with a Technology Leader as equal co-pilots for every digital initiative, explains Lundgren. This transformation is driven by the sheer scale of the current Genentech portfolio.

With dozens of new investigational medicines in clinical development, the company has moved toward a unified enterprise strategy. As leadership explains, building AI throughout the end-to-end commercialization cycle is the only way to effectively scale this volume of science to waiting patients. By industrializing how they work, Genentech ensures that a technical breakthrough in one therapeutic area becomes a repeatable success for their entire portfolio of over 40 medicines. The benefits of this shift to an industrialized product model include:

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Speed, Sourcing, and Scale In this new model, we don't just "build to order. We evaluate how our Data, Digital, and Analytics DDA engine and existing tech tools can be leveraged to quickly source, iterate, and test solutions in real-time, explains Lundgren.

Industrialized Building: Because we think in terms of "products" (modular, reusable capabilities), a solution built for one therapeutic area can be immediately adapted for another, says Lundgren.

Responsive Care: Lundgren continues, This shift ensures we are responding to the market at the speed of the physicians need. When a provider seeks information about a complex medicine, our systems aren't "under construction"they are ready and responsive, ensuring that we support the patients who need us most with precision and empathy.

By integrating its DDA Engine directly with its Commercial Strategy, Genentech has built an AI "Back-office Co-pilot." Lundgren comments, We aren't just theorizing about removing administrative friction; we are proving it. In just six weeks, we launched a voice-based copilot assistant with 12 Therapeutic Area Managers. Lundgren concludes, We no longer ask, 'What can we build for you?' but rather 'How can our Data, Digital, and Analytics engine solve this for every patient and get our patients closer to the care they need.

DDA and AI Innovation Initiatives at Genentech

Historically, marketing in biopharma operated as a centralized "content factory." Xingchu Liu explains, We pushed materials out to our field teamsrepresentatives who directly support physicians and healthcare providers (HCPs)hoping the assets were relevant. This was a slow, manual Service Model where teams spent weeks getting a single piece of content approved and distributed. Today, Genentech has industrialized this process.

Liu explains, Weve moved from a Push to a Pull system, co-developed with the field. Instead of waiting on a manual request, our integrated content and analytics engine use real-world signals to 'pull' the exact asset that a representative needs for a specific physician's hurdle. According to Liu, resulting benefits include:

Innovation in Velocity: By utilizing a "modular content" approachwhere AI helps design, deliver, and measure messagesGenentech has transformed throughput. Liu explains, We have moved from a 12-week manual cycle to a process where we can iterate in days. Early returns show a 50% increase in content volume with a 50% reduction in time spent by the team.

Efficiency & Cost: Early returns demonstrate a 45% reduction in cost per asset.

Velocity: The overall approval time for Print, Social, Banner, and Email has been reduced by 45%, effectively moving from 12-week manual cycles to a process that iterates in days.

Industrialized Reuse: This isn't just about speed; it's about scale, comments Liu. He explains that because these capabilities are built as "products" rather than one-off projects, a messaging framework built for one complex therapy can be instantly adapted and deployed across the entire Genentech portfolio of 40+ medicines.

A second pillar of innovation within Genentech is Voice AI, which the company has scaled to power an automated Insight Engine.

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The "Insight" Engine: Previously, capturing what a physician needed required a representative to manually log notes across multiple disparate systems after a meetinga clear bottleneck to real-world intelligence.

The Strategic Shift: Rather than recording live interactions, Voice AI allows field teams to capture spoken insights and post-engagement summaries hands-free immediately after a meeting concludes. This eliminates administrative burden for the representative and provides immediate, actionable themes to better prepare for their next physician interaction.

Liu explains that this shift turns the field force into the company's most valuable data asset: Our field teams are no longer just the end-point of a strategy; they are the strategic sensors for the entire organization. By capturing high-fidelity insights in real-time, our field team provides ground-truth intelligence that allows us to replace intuition with precision. He adds, We co-create these digital tools alongside the field to ensure that the most relevant clinical resources reach the right physician at the exact moment they are needed.

We industrialize innovation. When you can take a complex idea like a voice-based field assistant and put it in the hands of field leadership in just six weeks, youve moved past the 'pilot phase' and into a new era of digital leadership, concludes Liu.

Building a Data & AIDriven Business Culture at Genentech

Genentech believes that an AI-ready culture is built by marrying a 50-year heritage in biological science with world-class technical execution. Jacki Dioguardi, vice president of Roche Digital Technology Global Pharma Commercial Chief Information Officer explains, To own our future, we made a strategic choice to internalize our technical capability rather than relying on a traditional outsourced model. This shift ensures that technical teams are core strategic partners in Genentechs business mission. As Dioguardi explains, benefits include:

Industry-First Talent:  We have aggressively recruited approximately 40% of our technical leadership from Tier 1 tech firms, comments Dioguardi. She adds, By blending high-tech builders who know how to scale systems with deep-pharma experts who know how to solve disease, weve created a unique competitive advantage.

Competitive Advantage of Speed: Pairing deep biology with an "engineering mindset" allows Genentech to build modular, reusable platforms. A technical win in one therapeutic area can now travel to others in weeks, not quarters. This speed is the result of a deliberate, rigorous architectural choice that allows Genentech to scale AI capabilities as a high-velocity commercial engine.

Dioguardi concludes, We are intentionally putting the tech in Genentech. Technology alone doesn't transform a company; leadership does. We initiated a systemic reset of our roles, skills, and even our terminology to ensure we weren't just 'using' AI but were becoming an AI-first organization.

Responsible Use of Data & AI at Genentech

Genentech leadership believes that compliance must serve as a compass, not as a roadblock. Dioguardi comments, In an industry where clinical accuracy and empathy are non-negotiable, we ensure that AI remains human-accountable. We don't build a product and then seek approval; we embed Legal, Risk, and Compliance at the very beginning of our product roadmaps. Illustrations include:

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Guardrails by Design: Genentech co-builds safety frameworks alongside technology. This includes rigorous "Human-in-the-Loop" checkpoints. For example, when exploring AI-generated imagery for patient materials, Genentech label assets clearly and vet them with patient groups and physicians before deployment. This ensures technology augments, rather than undermines, the trust built over five decades.

The Global Blueprint: This commitment to responsible, industrialized AI has become the gold standard for our broader global organization. Genentechs Product Model has inspired global programs which utilize a pilot/co-pilot model to scale AI-driven content generation responsibly across seven functional workstreams.

Weve moved away from seeing compliance as a final hurdle and instead treat it as a compass that guides our design. By embedding these guardrailsweve created a model that is now being adopted as the global blueprint for the entire Roche enterprise. We aren't just protecting our company; we are ensuring that as we scale AI, we keep clinical judgment and human empathy firmly at the center, adds Dioguardi.

This commitment to a global digital backbone is further underscored by the recent announcement of the Roche AI Factory. Powered by a strategic collaboration with NVIDIA, this enterprise-wide initiative provides the high-performance computing infrastructure necessary to scale AI across the entire organization. For Genentech, this represents the 'industrial' scale of their visionpairing their refined Product Model with world-class technical power to ensure that AI-driven insights can be generated and deployed at the speed of the global market.

Looking ahead, Xingchu Liu comments, Our North Star is to serve more patients, faster. He continues, We have moved away from standard financial ROI to focus on Impact for Patients. We measure success by the friction we remove from the patients path to therapy. This means tracking cycle-time compressionthe speed at which a scientific insight becomes a helpful reality for a physician.

Liu concludes, If an initiative doesn't move the needle on patient reach or the speed of clinical support, we reassess. By focusing our data engine on the speed of clinical delivery, we ensure that our technology is always in service of the patients journey. In the Genentech ledger, the ultimate value of AI is measured by how much time it returns to the humans who save lives!
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Credit: DJI, Antigravity

DJI, the market leader in the consumer drone world, has filed six new patent cases against Insta360 Intermediate People's Court, according to posts on social media, the first time DJI has done anything like this in its home market of China.

DJI has been facing growing competition from Insta360, which has created action cameras and recently, its own drone brand Antigravity.

DJI Osmo 360 next to Insta360 X5 | Credit: Future

At the same time, DJI has been creating products in areas that were first occupied by Insta360  not least the Osmo 360 camera, both of which are competing to be the best action camera was well as the best 360 camera.

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Until now, though, DJI has kept the competition in the retail sphere, not the courtroom, unlike, for example, the environment in the US, where GoPro has already sought, unsuccessfully, to make patent claims against Insta360.

Now, though, with the release of the Avata 360  DJI's long-awaited answer to the Antigravity A1 360-degree drone  expected just days away (March 26), it seems that the battle will be fought in the courtrooms as well as the skies.

In a Weibo post  the Chinese short messaging platform  the Independent Photographers Association suggests that core areas will be involved, including patents on flight control, structural design, and image processing.

Perhaps more interestingly for those who enjoy a personal side, they are suggesting that some of this information travelled with an employee who left DJI and moved to Insta360.

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Insta360 CEO Liu Jingkang  often known as "JK Liu"  said in his own Weibo account, he suggested that, in the case of DJI suing Insta360, everyone can simply wait for the courts normal evidence collection and investigation procedures. Such disputes are common in the competition between technology companies, but took the opportunity to point out:

"GoPro and DJI suing us is entirely understandable given the mentality of giants facing market share losses. Conversely, many functions and accessories of DJI's panoramic camera and thumb camera have been reported by the media as "copying" or "strikingly similar"

Component comparison image posted by JK Liu in his response to the DJI case. | Credit: JK Liu

JK Liu sums up his long response: "We respect intellectual property rights, but at the same time, we respect facts, legal procedures, and rulings. We are not afraid of any patent litigation, we do not engage in existing market competition, and we will only use continuous innovation to expand the market and win a place. We will not use weapons unless absolutely necessary."

A message that seems to have earned him a lot of positive responses in the Chinese social platform's chat. It'll be interesting to see if the courts take it the same way.
Last week, cybersecurity researchers uncovered a hacking campaign targeting iPhone users that used an advanced hacking tool called DarkSword. Now someone has leaked a newer version of DarkSword and published it on the code-sharing site GitHub.

Researchers are warning that this will allow any hacker to easily use the tools to target iPhone users running older versions of Apples operating systems who have not yet updated to its latest iOS 26 software. This likely affects hundreds of millions of actively used iPhones and iPads, according to Apples own data on out-of-date devices.

This is bad. They are way too easy to repurpose, Matthias Frielingsdorf, the co-founder of mobile security startup iVerify, told TechCrunch on Monday. I dont think that can be contained anymore. So we need to expect criminals and others to start deploying this.

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Frielingsdorf said that these new versions of DarkSword spyware share the same infrastructure with the ones he and his iVerify colleagues analyzed previously, although the files are slightly different. The files uploaded to GitHub are uncomplicated, just HTML and JavaScript, he said, meaning anyone can copy and paste them and host them on a server in a couple minutes to hours.

The exploits will work out of the box, Frielingsdorf said. There is no iOS expertise required.

Kimberly Samra, a spokesperson for Google, which previously analyzed the DarkSword exploit, said the companys researchers agree with Frielingsdorfs assessment.

Contact Us

Do you have more information about Darksword, Coruna, or other government hacking and spyware tools? From a non-work device, you can contact Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai securely on Signal at +1 917 257 1382, or via Telegram, Keybase and Wire @lorenzofb, or by email.

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A security hobbyist who goes by the handle matteyeux also told TechCrunch that it is indeed trivial to use the leaked DarkSword samples. Matteyeux wrote in a post on X Monday that he was able to hack an iPad mini tablet running iOS 18, the previous generation of the operating system that is vulnerable to DarkSword, using the in the wild DarkSword sample that is circulating online.

Apple spokesperson Sarah ORourke told TechCrunch that the company was aware of the exploit targeting devices running older and out-of-date operating systems and issued an emergency update on March 11 for devices unable to run recent versions of iOS.

Keeping your software up to date is the single most important thing you can do to maintain the security of your Apple products, ORourke said, adding that devices with updated software were not at risk from these reported attacks and that Lockdown Mode would also block these specific attacks.

A spokesperson for Microsoft, which owns GitHub, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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The code, which TechCrunch is not linking to, as it can be used in active attacks, contains several comments that describe how the exploits work and how to implement them.

One comment, likely written by one of the developers who worked on DarkSword, says that the exploit reads and exfiltrates forensically-relevant files from iOS devices via HTTP, referring to stealing information from a persons iPhone or iPad and sending the data over the internet to an attacker-controlled server.

This payload should be injected into a process with filesystem access class, the comment reads.

In one case, the code references post-exploitation activity and describes process after the malware has gained access to the persons phone and grabs its contents, including their contacts, messages, call history, and iOS keychain, which stores Wi-Fi passwords and other secrets, and dumps them into a remote server.

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Another file contains references to uploading data to a popular Ukrainian apparel website, though TechCrunch could not immediately determine why. DarkSword was allegedly used by Russian government hackers against Ukrainian targets.

This particular spyware works specifically against iPhones and iPads running iOS 18, according to iVerify, Google, and Lookout, which also previously analyzed the DarkSword malware.

According to Apples own numbers, about one-quarter of all iPhone and iPad users are still running iOS 18 or earlier on their device. With more than 2.5 billion active devices, that likely equates to hundreds of millions of people whose devices are vulnerable to DarkSword attacks.

Thats why Frielingsdorf recommends everyone upgrade their iPhones operating system.

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The discovery of DarkSword came only a few weeks after researchers discovered another advanced iPhone hacking toolkit known as Coruna. As TechCrunch reported, Coruna was originally developed by the defense contractor L3Harris, whose Trenchant division makes hacking tools for the U.S. government and its allies.
An Ohio jury has awarded $22.5 million to the estate of a newborn after finding that her mother's employer, Total Quality Logistics, denied a critical work-from-home request, which jurors concluded contributed to the baby's death.

The case involved Chelsea Walsh, a claims associate at TQL, who was pregnant with a high-risk pregnancy after undergoing a medical procedure.

According to court documents, Walsh requested to work remotely in mid-February 2021 to follow her doctor's advice, but the company denied her request.

She was told she could either return to the office or take unpaid leave and lose her income and health insurance.

Despite returning to the office on February 22, Walsh's request to work from home remained unresolved.

Only after a third party intervened was she allowed to work remotelybut this approval came mere hours before she went into labor on February 24.

Walsh was admitted to the hospital after experiencing complications and gave birth to her daughter, Magnolia, at nearly 21 weeks of gestation.

According to the lawsuit, Magnolia "had a heartbeat, was breathing, and exhibited fetal movement" immediately after birth, NY Post reported.

She was placed on her mother's chest but tragically died about 90 minutes later.

The wrongful death suit claimed that TQL's denial of remote work against medical advice directly contributed to the loss.

An Ohio company that made a mom return to office during a high-risk pregnancy has been found liable for the newborn's death and ordered to pay $22.5 million in damages.



Chelsea Walsh made a work-from-home request four days after undergoing an operation on her cervix to prevent  More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) March 20, 2026

Ohio Company Liable in Infant Death Case

The jury found TQL liable, initially awarding $25 million in damages and assigning 90% of the fault to the company, resulting in a $22.5 million judgment.

"This is a heartbreaking outcome for a young family," said Matthew C. Metzger of Wolterman Law Office, co-counsel for the Walsh family.

"The evidence showed that Chelsea Walsh was following her doctors' instructions for a high-risk pregnancy and simply asked to work from home. The jury found that TQL's denial of that reasonable request led to the death of her daughter."

Brian Butler of The Butler Trial Firm, also representing the Walsh family, added, "This family, like most plaintiffs, did not want to sit through a trial reliving these events.

But TQL gave them no choice. TQL had multiple opportunities to resolve this case for far, far less than the verdict."

A TQL spokesperson, Julia Daugherty, told People that the company extends condolences to the Walsh family but disagrees with the verdict.

"We extend our condolences to the Walsh family. We disagree with the verdict and the way the facts were characterized at trial. We are evaluating legal options and remain committed to supporting the health and well-being of our employees," she said.

Originally published on vcpost.com
Moi nhat oc nhieu
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Travelers across the country continue to encounter unusually long airport security lines as a partial federal government shutdown strains the Transportation Security Administration.

Some travelers have experienced security lines spilling out into baggage claim or even the parking lots. Over the weekend, a deadly crash between a fire truck and a plane in New York on Sunday night continues to close LaGuardia airport, further impacting TSA wait times.

The Department of Homeland Securitys (DHS) previous funding agreement lapsed on Friday, Feb. 13, as Congress failed to reach a new funding agreement in time. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees TSA. Roughly 50,000 TSA officers are continuing to work without regular pay during the funding lapse.

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ICE agents at Fort Myers airport: ICE agents arrive at RSW in Fort Myers, assist with managing TSA lines

Another contributing factor to long lines is that the partial shutdown is intersecting with spring break. According to USA TODAY, a record-breaking spring travel period is expected, with 171 million passengers expected to fly, up 4% over the same two-month period last year.

"Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) and other Transportation Security Administration (TSA) roles critical to national safety at our nations airports are going without pay for the third time in nearly six months," the Department of Homeland Security said in a release on March 17.

"The undue financial pressure has resulted in increased callouts and agents leaving the force, leading Americans to face at some airports more than three-hour security lines and miss flights."

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Here are the current wait times for TSA at Florida's major airports, as of 8 a.m. Monday, March 23.

TSA wait times at Orlando International Airport , MCO

A statement on its website states, "TSA PreCheck and Global Entry are both active, and the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority does not anticipate major disruptions to operations. We remain committed to the best in traveler safety and security and are working closely with our federal partners, who are critical to air travel."

MCO's website lists the following wait times for travelers:

Gates 1 through 59 : 35 - 39 min

Gate 70 through 129 : 15 - 18 min

Gate C230 through C249: 5 - 8 min

TSA wait times at Miami International Airport, MIA

MIA's website lists the following wait times for travelers:

Checkpoint 1: General: N/A TSA-PRE: 11 minutes

Checkpoint 2: General: 14 minutes Priority: 5 minutes TSA-PRE: Closed

Checkpoint 3: General: 12 minutes Priority: 0 minutes

Checkpoint 4: General: Closed Priority: 0 minutes

Checkpoint 5: General: 16 minutes Priority: Closed TSA-PRE: 4 minutes Clear: 4 minutes

Checkpoint 6: General: 6 minutes Priority: 6 minutes

Checkpoint 7: General: 3 minutes Priority: 3 minutes

Checkpoint 8: General: 19 minutes Priority: 9 minutes TSA-PRE: 5 minutes Clear: 5 minutes

Checkpoint 9: General: 12 minutes Priority: 12 minutes Clear: 12 minutes

Checkpoint 10: General: 3 minutes Priority: Closed

Checkpoint FIS: General: 4 minutes TSA-PRE: Closed



TSA wait times at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, FLL

According to Flight Queue, security wait times at Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport average 24 minutes.

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Check-in typically takes 45 minutes, and immigration processing averages 11 minutes. TSA PreCheck lanes average approximately 12 minutes.

All of its terminals are open, as of 4 a.m. To see hours, check here.

TSA wait times at Tampa International Airport, TPA

On its website, TPA features the current message, "While TPA is currently experiencing high passenger volume due to spring break, our TSA security checkpoints are not seeing any significant delays or backups. As always, passengers should arrive 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours for international travel."

According to Flight Queue, security wait times at Tampa International Airport currently average 8 minutes.

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Check-in typically takes 46 minutes, and immigration processing averages 12 minutes. TSA PreCheck lanes average approximately 4 minutes.

TSA wait times at Southwest Florida International Airport, RSW

According to Flight Queue, security wait times at Southwest Florida International Airport currently average 2 minutes.

Check-in typically takes 46 minutes, and immigration processing averages 12 minutes. TSA PreCheck lanes average approximately 1 minute.

TSA wait times at Jacksonville International Airport, JAX

According to its website, the security wait times at Jacksonville International Airport are:

Standard : 5 minutes

TSA-Pre Check : 2 minutes

Premier/Special Needs/Military in Uniform: 3 minutes

Missed your airport? See list of all Florida airports

See TSA wait times: LaGuardia plane crash adds to Florida travel woes

Is TSA still operating during the government shutdown?

Yes; however, the roughly 50,000 TSA employees deemed essential have been working without full pay since the funding lapse began on Feb. 14. They did receive a partial paycheck on Friday, March 13.

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The Federal Aviation Administration is still fully funded during this partial shutdown.

Is there a way to see current TSA wait times? Find Florida airports' TSA wait times

Although many airports across the U.S. are seeing hours-long lines at TSA checkpoints, Florida airports haven't been affected as much as those in other states. And wait times are shorter for travelers with TSA PreCheck and for families or military members using dedicated lines where available.

Need to know when to be at the airport? Here are some ways to monitor TSA lines in real time:

Airport websites: Many official airports post checkpoint updates so you can see how it's going today.

The MyTSA mobile app: The TSA's free app provides estimated wait times for many U.S. airports based on TSA data and traveler reports, along with other TSA information.

3rd party sites: There are unofficial websites, such as fly.com, takeofftimer.com, flightqueue.com and tsawaittimes.com that provide estimated wait times, but you should double-check official sources for the most up-to-date information.

Contributing: Zach Wichter, USA TODAY

Samantha Neely is a trending reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, covering pop culture, theme parks, breaking news and more. You can get all of Floridas best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.

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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Florida airport TSA wait times for travelers. See MCO, TPA, FLL, MIA
The Carnival Cruise Line ship Carnival Dream is making its way back to Galveston after undergoing a 16-day dry dock in Marseille, France, featuring several onboard upgrades and refreshed spaces.

According to the company, the ship now includes a new Dreams Studio, offering guests professional photography sessions, as well as a new Carnival Adventures Store where passengers can book shore excursions. Retail areas have also been updated, including Effy Jewelry, which features a curated selection of fine jewelry.

The ships casino has also been modernized with a redesigned layout and a new host station aimed at improving the overall guest experience.

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Following its renovations, Carnival Dream is currently sailing a transatlantic Journeys cruise from Barcelona, Spain, with scheduled stops in Alicante, Malaga and Gibraltar. The ship is expected to arrive back in Galveston on April 5.

Once it returns, Carnival Dream will rejoin the cruise lines four-ship lineup based in Galveston, alongside Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Breeze and Carnival Legend.

Carnival Dream will then resume its regular schedule of short cruises to The Bahamas and the Western Caribbean. Those itineraries will include stops at Celebration Key, Carnivals new exclusive destination on Grand Bahama.

Got a news tip or story idea? Email us at newstips@khou.com or call 713-521-4310 and include your name and the best way to reach you.
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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.
Hikers on the Rim Trail look out over the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park. taylor glenn

Since the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) started keeping records in 1904, its mountain landscapes, seaside wildernesses, and high desert acres have registered more than 16.4 billion visits.

Straddling the border between North Carolina and Tennessee, Great Smoky Mountains National Park passed 11.5 million recreation visits in 2025, while more than 3.1 million people took in the massive U-shaped valleys and peaks carved by ice flows long ago at Montanas Glacier National Park.

Visitors are drawn to the vastness and variety of Americas best idea. From sea to shining sea (as well as in the wilds of Alaska and Hawaii), the NPSs 85 million acres encompass 150,000 miles of rivers and streams and over 21,000 miles of trails.

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(Go wild, and skip the crowds, at these 7 spectacular parks.)

These 10 parks are the superstars of the system, but they offer just a glimpse of the variety to be found in the 433 park units (including 63 national parks) of the NPS.

10. Glacier National Park

Set in the majestic Rockies of northern Montana, Glacier National Park takes its name from the rivers of ice and glacial forces that shaped its rugged topography over two million years. In 2025, the parks mosaic of rock, ice, forest, and water attracted 3,136,557 visitors.

Visitors hiking along the trail to Grinnell Lake witness this incredible view in Glacier National Park, Mont. Stephen Moehle, Shutterstock

9. Olympic National Park

In 2025, more than 3.6 million people visited Washington States Olympic National Park. The park comprises 922,651 acres of wild Pacific coast (pictured), rugged glacier-capped mountains, and old-growth temperate rainforest

In Washington States Olympic National Park, an adventurous camper has set up their tent on Rialto Beach near the natural landmark, Hole-in-the-Wall. Cavan Images/Offset, Shutterstock

8. Grand Teton National Park

The peaks of the Teton Range, regal and imposing, soar nearly 7,000 feet above the Wyoming valley floor, making them some of the boldest geological statements in the Rockies. Grand Teton National Parks jewel-like lakes, blue and white glaciers, and naked granite pinnacles enticed 3,800,648 visitors in 2025.

Ski mountaineers ascend the rocky landscape of Garnet Canyon in Grand Teton National Park. Jimmy Chin, National Geographic Image Collection

7. Acadia National Park

Sea and mountains meet at Acadia National Park in Maine, which saw 4,079,318 people visit in 2025. Most of the park is on Mount Desert Island, a patchwork of parkland, private property, and waterside villages.

Acadia National Park in Maine has more than 500 miles of trails that range from easy to strenuous. James Kirkikis, Shutterstock

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6. Rocky Mountain National Park

Sweeping alpine vistas attracted 4.2 million visitors to Colorados Rocky Mountain National Park in 2025. The park contains 150 lakes and 450 miles of streams, plus ecosystems ranging from wetlands to pine forests to montane areas to alpine tundra.

Visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park should not miss a visit to see the headwaters that turn into the mighty Colorado River. Peter McBride, National Geographic Image Collection

5. Yosemite National Park

No temple made with human hands can compete with Yosemite, wrote John Muir, whose crusading led to the creation of Californias Yosemite National Park in 1890. This temple of granite cliffs and towering waterfalls saw 4,278,413 visitors in 2025. Most spent time in Yosemite Valley, a mile-wide, seven-mile-long canyon that was cut by a river and then widened and deepened by glacial action.

(These national parks are best visited by train)

A lunar rainbow or moonbow seen just below Yosemite Falls in Yosemite National Park, Calif. Andrew Coleman, National Geographic Image Collection

4. Grand Canyon National Park

In 2025, Grand Canyon National Park attracted 4,430,653 people to witness one of the largest canyons on Earth, which is a mile deep and up to 18 miles wide at some points. Explore it by hiking, mule riding, or rafting in the mighty Colorado River.

This photo captures an amazing view of Marble Canyon at dawn on the Navajo Nation Reservation in Grand Canyon National Park. Peter McBride, National Geographic Image Collection

3. Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Parkthe worlds first national parkwas visited by 4,762,988 people in 2025. The vast reservecovering 2.2 million acres in Wyoming, Idaho, and Montanahas craggy peaks, explosive geysers, alpine lakes, deep forests, and a wealth of wild animals. The stars are bison, bears, sheep, moose, and wolves.

Yellowstone National Park is home to over 500 geysers like Castle Geyser seen erupting steam and water. Tortoise Shell Spring is in the foreground. Jon G. Fuller/VWPics, Redux

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A black bear cub (Ursus americanus) in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, looks at the camera. George Sanker, Nature Picture Library

2. Zion National Park

Rising in Utahs high plateau country, the Virgin River carves its way through Zion Canyon to the desert below. Zion National Parks striking vertical topographyrock towers, sandstone canyons, and sharp cliffsattracted 4,984,525 visitors in 2025.

Hikers pass each other at the narrowest section of Zion Canyon (also known as The Narrows) in Zion National Park in Springdale, Utah. Morgan Lieberman, Redux

1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park

More than 11.5 million visitors went to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2025. Travelers can explore its misty peaks and waterfall-filled valleys via a mountain-skimming scenic highway or by taking 800-plus miles of hiking trails stretching across North Carolina and Tennessee.

A long exposure image reveals star trails over the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. Babak Tafreshi, National Geographic Image Collection

This article originally ran online on March 8, 2019. It has been updated.

Hike With Us: National Geographics Trails Illustrated maps highlight the best places for hiking, camping, boating, paddling, and wildlife viewing in North Americas rugged frontiers and urban fringes. Created in partnership with local land management agencies, these expertly researched maps deliver unmatched detail and helpful information to guide experienced outdoor enthusiasts and casual visitors alike.
Biopharmaceutical company EyePoint Pharmaceuticals has filed a lawsuit against rival Ocular Therapeutix, accusing it of spreading false and misleading claims about its experimental eye treatment for serious retinal diseases.

The complaint was submitted Friday in Middlesex County Superior Court in Massachusetts.

In the filing, EyePoint alleges that Ocular made statements that misrepresented both the company and the clinical performance of its lead drug candidate, Duravyu.

According to Reuters, the legal dispute comes as both companies compete to develop longer-lasting therapies for retinal conditions such as wet age-related macular degeneration, a major cause of vision loss in older adults.

Treatments that reduce the need for frequent eye injections are seen as a key goal in the field.

EyePoint claims that Ocular's statements went beyond normal competition and crossed into defamation and commercial harm.

The company is seeking damages and legal fees, while also asking the court to require Ocular to stop making the statements and issue a public correction.

EyePoint $EYPT sues Ocular Therapeutix $OCUL over alleged false claims about its eye drug.



Legal battle heats up in competitive sector. $REGN also in focus.



Strategy: Wait for confirmation amid potential sector rotation. pic.twitter.com/ARn8THpOGw  Trevor Hunt   (@trevor_hun_pixe) March 20, 2026

EyePoint Says Rival Hurt Business Ties

In its complaint, EyePoint also accused Ocular of interfering with its business relationships, suggesting that the alleged claims could impact partnerships and investor confidence tied to its drug development efforts.

Duravyu, EyePoint's leading therapy, is currently in late-stage clinical studies for both wet AMD and diabetic macular edema.

The company expects to begin releasing data from its wet AMD trials in mid-2026, a milestone that could shape its future in the competitive eye care market.

Ocular Therapeutix responded to the lawsuit but did not directly address the allegations, Newsbreak reported.

A spokesperson said, "We're confident in our statements and look forward to responding in the course of the legal process."

The company has not yet publicly indicated whether it plans to countersue or seek dismissal.

Ocular is also advancing its own treatment, Axpaxli, which recently met the main goal in a late-stage trial.

According to the company, the drug helped patients with wet AMD maintain their vision when compared to Eylea, an already approved and widely used therapy.

Originally published on vcpost.com
Queens, New York, stands as one of the most diverse places in the world, where nearly every nationality is represented within its neighborhoods. This cultural richness is reflected most vividly in its food, with streets lined by small eateries serving authentic dishes from across the globe. For over two decades, food explorer Joe DiStefano has dedicated himself to uncovering these hidden culinary gems, guiding locals and visitors through a vibrant landscape of flavors. His journey through Queens highlights how food can tell stories of migration, heritage, and community. In areas like Flushing, visitors can find unexpected combinations such as a flower shop that also serves fresh tofu, blending everyday business with traditional cuisine. These spaces reflect the creativity and resilience of immigrant communities who bring their culture with them and adapt it to new environments. From warm and delicate tofu breakfasts to rich and flavorful Thai boat noodles, each dish carries a piece of its origin. Many of these recipes are passed down through generations, preserving traditions that might otherwise be lost. The authenticity of these establishments is what makes them special, as they are not designed to follow trends but to serve the food people grew up with and love.

Beyond individual dishes, the food culture in Queens represents a deeper sense of connection and belonging. Small restaurants tucked between storefronts offer more than meals. They create spaces where communities gather and share their traditions. In one neighborhood, a Tibetan eatery serves handmade dumplings filled with spices such as ginger and peppercorn, offering a taste of Himalayan cuisine rarely found elsewhere in the city. These places often operate quietly, without the attention of mainstream food trends or social media hype. Instead, they rely on word of mouth and loyal customers who appreciate genuine flavors. Joe DiStefano emphasizes that the true value of these spots lies in their honesty and cultural integrity. They are not trying to reinvent cuisine but to share it. Exploring Queens becomes an invitation to step outside familiar comfort zones and experience the world through food. The accessibility of these neighborhoods makes it easy for anyone to embark on this culinary journey. Ultimately, Queens demonstrates that some of the most extraordinary dining experiences can be found in the most unexpected places, where authenticity and community come together on every plate.
NASAs Artemis II mission is set to launch no earlier than April 1, and with Brevard residents and tourists alike making plans to watch the historic liftoff, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is offering a rare opportunity to see the launch up close.

The SLS rocket will send the Orion spacecraft with NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen on a 10-day mission around the moon. This long-awaited test flight marks the first human journey beyond Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972.

One of most popular spots to watch rocket launches is the Kenney Space Center Visitor Complex but you need to book now.

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Tickets can be found here: Artemis II launch viewing tickets.

A limited amount of launch viewing packages will be on sale, beginning at noon March 23. They are expected to sell out quickly.

Even though the launch is set to occur after the visitor complex's traditional closing time, the center said in a news release that only those with these Artemis II launch tickets will be granted admission for Artemis II launch day.

When tickets to watch the launch from the Saturn V Center went on sale earlier this year, the experience was sold out within hours.

It is expected that approximately 400,000 visitors will come to Brevard County to watch the launch.

When is the next Florida launch? Is there a launch today? NASA, SpaceX, Blue Origin launch schedule in Florida

When is the Artemis II launch?

The launch is currently targeting April 1, with NASA officials repeatedly stating they are focused on launching in April.

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So far, the currently announced available launch times are as follows:

6:24 p.m. April 1

7:22 p.m. April 2

8:00 p.m. April 3

8:53 p.m. April 4

9:40 p.m. April 5

10:36 p.m. April 6

6:06 p.m. April 30

Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or on X: @brookeofstars.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Kennedy Space Center VC guests need tickets for Artemis II launch day
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were spotted at airports across the country on Monday, March 23. What does this mean for California travelers?

President Donald Trump announced that ICE would assist with airport operations as the Transportation Security Administration is facing staffing shortages due to weeks of unpaid federal workers, leading to long lines and delays nationwide.

ICE agents walk through the airport drinking coffee as travelers stand in long lines at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on March 23, 2026 in Atlanta.

"There are roles we can play to release TSA officers from the non-significant roles, such as guarding an exit so they can get back to the scanning machines and move people quicker," White House border czar Tom Homan, whom Trump appointed to lead the operation, said. "We're just simply helping our fellow officers at TSA."

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Here's what we know about ICE showing up at airports and any effects on travel times.

How do I check TSA wait times?

TSA and Customs and Border Protection, or CBP, have wait times available for travelers to plan ahead, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport and San Francisco International Airport use private security companies instead of TSA, so their wait times might not be affected by the shutdown.

California residents hoping to travel can check the My TSA app to check current security wait times.

AirlineAirport, a website that tracks airline news and updates, provides average wait times and current wait times for airports across the country, including five in California.

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Wait times for some California airports from 11 a.m. to noon on March 23, according to AirlineAirport:

CBP has its wait times on its official site for land border crossings. San Ysidro, a heavily trafficked border entry for Californians, has a below-average wait time for most of the day, the site shows.

What airports are ICE agents going to?

ICE agents will be present at TSA checkpoints at more than a dozen U.S. airports. USA TODAY reached out to ICE and TSA for comment. The airports reportedly include:

Chicago-O'Hare International Airport

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Houston's William P. Hobby Airport

John F. Kennedy International Airport

LaGuardia Airport

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

Luis Munoz Marin International Airport

Newark Liberty International Airport

Philadelphia International Airport

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

Pittsburgh International Airport

Southwest Florida International Airport

While no California airports are listed, an incident captured on video by travelers at San Francisco International Airport, or SFO, appeared to show federal agents detaining a woman on March 22.

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An SFO spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY that they did not believe ICE would be at the airport and that the March 22 detainment was a separate enforcement incident.

Is ICE getting paid right now?

While TSA workers are not getting paid, ICE and other immigration operations are reportedly getting paychecks during the partial shutdown, thanks to an influx of cash from Trump's big tax breaks bill last year, according to PBS.

ACLU responds to ICE at airports

The American Civil Liberties Union said in a March 22 statement that it's the first time a president has sent armed ICE agents to airports to replace trained security agents, and the move will "instill fear in families and other travelers."

President Trump and his allies in Congress refused to fund TSA and manufactured a crisis at airports across the country," said Naureen Shah, director of policy and government affairs for immigration at the ACLU. "Now, the president apparently wants to use ICE as his private security force, reminding all of us that ICE is not retreating from lawlessness but assigned at will by the president for political retribution."

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USA TODAY contributed to this story.

Natassia Paloma may be reached at npaloma@gannett.com, @NatassiaPaloma on x; natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma Thompson on Facebook.

Ernesto Centeno Araujo covers breaking news for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at ecentenoaraujo@vcstar.com, 805-437-0224 or @ecentenoaraujo on Instagram and X.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: How to check TSA wait times at LAX, SFO, John Wayne
Amid the security line chaos caused by the partial government shutdown, ICE agents were deployed to more than a dozen airports nationwide to assist TSA agents, while a fatal collision closed New York's LaGuardia airport, resulting in flight cancellations and delays.

A deadly crash between a fire truck and an Air Canada plane in New York Sunday night closed LaGuardia airport. Flights to and from the airport were canceled. LaGuardia airport reopened Monday afternoon.

With the partial government shutdown dragging on, TSA agents haven't been paid since receiving a partial check Feb. 28. More than 300 officers have quit and many have called out of work.

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In response, ICE agents were reportedly sent to at least 14 airports nationwide, including Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers, Florida.

Florida airports have seen mostly minor impacts to TSA wait times, though longer lines are possible at larger airports, including Orlando (MCO), Tampa (TPA), Miami (MIA) and Fort Lauderdale (FLL).

While March is typically the busiest travel month at RSW, TSA wait times have seen only minimal impacts.

Here's what to know about the LaGuardia crash, as well as ICE and TSA wait times at RSW airport in Fort Myers and other Florida airports for Monday, March 23:

LaGuardia airport crash

An Air Canada Express jet collided with a fire truck while landing at New York's LaGuardia airport late Sunday, killing both pilots, injuring dozens and closing the airport.

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 Pilot, co-pilot killed after passenger jet hits truck at LaGuardia airport

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration shut down the airport.

The closure of one of New York's busiest airports added to travel disruptions caused by the weeks-long partial government shutdown.

LaGuardia airport was reopened Monday afternoon, March 23.

RSW flight cancellations, delays for Monday, March 23

There were several flight delays and cancellations at RSW as of 10 a.m., March 23, including flights to and from LaGuardia, which was closed after a fatal Air Canada plane collision with a fire truck Sunday night.

Cancellations and delays, per the flight tracking website FlightAware.

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Total delays today at Southwest Florida Intl: 9

Total delays within, into, or out of the United States today at Southwest Florida Intl: 9

Total cancellations today at Southwest Florida Intl: 7

Total cancellations within, into, or out of the United States today at Southwest Florida Intl: 7

Florida flights to, from New York's LaGuardia Airport canceled

A check with flightaware.com, shows several flights to and from Florida to LaGuardia have already been affected, as of 7 a.m. March 23:

At Orlando International Airport, nine flights from MCO to LaGuardia had been canceled and 12 from LaGuardia to Orlando had been canceled.

At Southwest Florida International Airport, three flights from RSW to LaGuardia had been canceled and three from LaGuardia to RSW had been canceled.

At Fort Lauderdale International Airport, 10 flights from FLL to LaGuardia had been canceled and 14 from LaGuardia to FLL had been canceled.

At Miami International Airport, 11 flights from MIA to LaGuardia had been canceled and 11 from LaGuardia to MIA had been canceled.

At Palm Beach International Airport, five flights from PBI to LaGuardia had been canceled and five from LaGuardia to PBI had been canceled.

Is ICE at RSW airport in Fort Myers, Florida?

ICE agents were deployed to Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), according to multiple reports, including CNN.

"There are roles we can play to release TSA officers from the non-significant roles, such as guarding an exit so they can get back to the scanning machines and move people quicker," White House border czar Tom Homan, whom Trump appointed to lead the operation, said. "We're just simply helping our fellow officers at TSA."

What airports is ICE going to? ICE at airports Monday

According to CNN, ICE agents were being sent to at least 14 airports, including:

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Chicago-O'Hare International Airport

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Houston's William P. Hobby Airport

John F. Kennedy International Airport

LaGuardia Airport

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

Luis Munoz Marin International Airport

Newark Liberty International Airport

Philadelphia International Airport

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

Pittsburgh International Airport

Southwest Florida International Airport (Fort Myers, Florida)

Houstons George Bush Intercontinental Airport

What are TSA wait times at Southwest Florida International Airport RSW in Fort Myers, Florida?

Security wait times at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) currently averages 2 minute, according to flightqueue.com at 7 a.m. March 23.

Check-in typically takes 46 minutes, and immigration processing averages 12 minutes.

TSA PreCheck lanes average approximately 1 minute.

What is TSA wait time at Daytona International Airport, DAB?

Security wait times at Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB) currently average 19 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 7 a.m. March 23.

Check-in typically takes 26 minutes, and immigration processing averages 10 minutes.

TSA PreCheck lanes average approximately 10 minutes.

What is TSA wait time at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport, VPS?

Security wait times at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) currently average 7 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 7 a.m. March 23.

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Check-in typically takes 27 minutes, and immigration processing averages 10 minutes.

TSA PreCheck lanes average approximately 4 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 25 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 7 a.m. March 23.

Check-in typically takes 46 minutes, and immigration processing averages 12 minutes.

TSA PreCheck lanes average approximately 13 minutes.

What is TSA wait time at Gainesville Regional Airport, GNV?

Passengers moving through the security checkpoints at Gainesville Regional Airport should anticipate waiting between 1-5 minutes, according to ifly.com at 7 a.m. March 23.

What is TSA wait time at Jacksonville International Airport, JAX?

Security wait times at Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) currently average 9 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 7 a.m. March 23.

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Check-in typically takes 24 minutes, and immigration processing averages 9 minutes.

TSA PreCheck lanes average approximately 5 minutes.

What is TSA wait time at Key West International Airport, EYW?

Security wait times at Key West International Airport (EYW) currently average 9 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 7 a.m. March 23.

Check-in typically takes 26 minutes, and immigration processing averages 12 minutes.

TSA PreCheck lanes average approximately 5 minutes.

What is TSA wait time at Melbourne Orlando International Airport, MLB?

Security wait times at Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB) currently average 10 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 7 a.m. March 23.

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Check-in typically takes 23 minutes, and immigration processing averages 9 minutes.

TSA PreCheck lanes average approximately 5 minutes.

What is TSA wait time at Miami International Airport, MIA?

Security wait times at Miami International Airport (MIA) currently average 5 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 7 a.m. March 23.

Check-in typically takes 45 minutes, and immigration processing averages 76 minutes.

TSA PreCheck lanes average approximately 3 minutes.

You can also check the airport's website at miami-airport.com/tsa-waittimes.asp.

What is TSA wait time at Northwest Florida Beaches International, ECP?

Security wait times at Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) currently average 6 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 7 a.m. March 23.

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Check-in typically takes 21 minutes, and immigration processing averages 8 minutes.

TSA PreCheck lanes average approximately 3 minutes.

What is TSA wait time at Orlando International Airport, MCO?

Security wait times at Orlando International Airport (MCO) currently average 22 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 7 a.m. March 23.

Check-in typically takes 46 minutes, and immigration processing averages 12 minutes.

TSA PreCheck lanes average approximately 11 minutes.

You can also check the airport's website at flymco.com/security/.

What is TSA wait time at Orlando Sanford International Airport, SFB?

Security wait times at Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) currently average 57 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 7 a.m. March 23.

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Check-in typically takes 45 minutes, and immigration processing averages 11 minutes.

TSA PreCheck lanes average approximately 29 minutes.

What is TSA wait time at Palm Beach International Airport, PBI?

Security wait times at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) currently average 9 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 7 a.m. March 23.

Check-in typically takes 23 minutes, and immigration processing averages 12 minutes.

TSA PreCheck lanes average approximately 5 minutes.

What is TSA wait time at Pensacola International Airport, PNS?

Security wait times at Pensacola International Airport (PNS) currently average 11 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 7 a.m. March 23.

Check-in typically takes 17 minutes, and immigration processing averages 12 minutes.

TSA PreCheck lanes average approximately 6 minutes.

What is TSA wait time at Punta Gorda Airport, PGD?

Security wait times at Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) currently average 4 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 7 a.m. March 23.

Check-in typically takes 28 minutes, and immigration processing averages 10 minutes.

TSA PreCheck lanes average approximately 2 minutes.

What is TSA wait time at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, SRQ?

Security wait times at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) currently average 3 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 7 a.m. March 23.

Check-in typically takes 32 minutes, and immigration processing averages 9 minutes.

TSA PreCheck lanes average approximately 2 minutes.

What is TSA wait time at St. Augustine Airport, SGJ?

Passengers moving through the security checkpoints at St. Augustine Airport should anticipate waiting on average of less than one minute, according to TSAWaitTimes.com at 7 a.m. March 23.

What is TSA wait time at St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, PIE?

Security wait times at St. Petersburg Clearwater International Airport (PIE) currently average 6 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 7 a.m. March 23.

Check-in typically takes 32 minutes, and immigration processing averages 10 minutes.

TSA PreCheck lanes average approximately 3 minutes.

What is TSA wait time at Tallahassee International Airport, TLH?

Security wait times at Tallahassee Regional Airport (TLH) currently average 3 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 7 a.m. March 23.

Check-in typically takes 13 minutes, and immigration processing averages 8 minutes.

TSA PreCheck lanes average approximately 2 minutes.

What is TSA wait time at Tampa International Airport, TPA?

Security wait times at Tampa International Airport (TPA) currently average 8 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 7 a.m. March 23.

Check-in typically takes 46 minutes, and immigration processing averages 12 minutes.

TSA PreCheck lanes average approximately 4 minutes.

What is TSA wait time at Vero Beach Regional Airport, VRB?

Security wait times at Vero Beach Regional Airport (VRB) currently average 12 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 7 a.m. March 23.

Check-in typically takes 11 minutes, and immigration processing averages 11 minutes.

TSA PreCheck lanes average approximately 6 minutes.

What are the current wait times at Florida airports? See the list

As of 8 a.m. Friday, March 20, here are the estimated security wait times for Florida airports according to the airports and TSA. Note TSA estimates may not be current due to the shutdown when the MyTSA app is not updated:

Wait times will be shorter for travelers with TSA PreCheck, or for families or military members using dedicated lines, where available.

What are the TSA wait times at MCO, RSW, TPA? See major Florida airports

See the current wait times for TSA at Florida's major airports, as of 8 a.m. Monday, March 23.

How to check TSA wait times

Need to know when to be at the airport? There are a few ways to monitor TSA lines in real time.

Airport websites: Some airports post checkpoint wait updates so you can see how the day is going.

Airport social media: Follow your airport's social media page. Often, when there are significant delays, the airport will post about it.

The MyTSA mobile app: The TSA's free app provides estimated wait times for many U.S. airports based on TSA data and traveler reports, along with other TSA information. However, banners on both the TSA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection websites warn that, Due to the lapse in federal funding, this website will not be actively managed.

Third-party sites: Several unofficial websites, such as airportinsightfind.com, fly.com, flightqueue.com or tsawaittimes.com, provide estimated wait times based on airport reports and traveler submissions.

Contributors: Natassia Paloma, El Paso Times; Jeanine Santucci, USA Today; Reuters

You can get all of Floridas best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://news-press.com/newsletters.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: RSW TSA wait times as ICE arrives, LaGuardia crash cancels flights
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have arrived at some U.S. airports aiming to help with long waits amid the partial government shutdown, but at least one traveler at John F. Kennedy International Airport tells USA TODAY that so far, "Its not helping."

Both masked and unmasked ICE agents in marked vests were seen at JFK and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where travelers were still reporting long airport security waits.

In a post on social media, President Donald Trump weighed in on agents wearing masks, saying he's a "BIG proponent of ICE wearing masks," but said he'd "greatly appreciate, however, NO MASKS, when helping our Country out of the Democrat caused MESS at the airports."

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ICE has been deployed to US airports: Your rights at TSA security screenings

ICE agents walk through the airport drinking coffee as travelers stand in long lines at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on March 23, 2026 in Atlanta.

Which airports have ICE agents?

The New York Times and CNN report that ICE agents are being deployed to more than a dozen airports across the country.

DHS Acting Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Lauren Bis, told USA TODAY that the agency would not confirm the locations of officers, citing "operational security reasons."

According to CNN, the airports are:

Chicago-O'Hare International Airport

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Houston's William P. Hobby Airport

John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York

LaGuardia Airport in New York

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

Luis Munoz Marin International Airport near San Juan, Puerto Rico

Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey

Philadelphia International Airport

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

Pittsburgh International Airport

Southwest Florida International Airport in the Fort Myers area

Without naming each airport, the New York Times similarly reported, "The airports span the country, including Kennedy and LaGuardia in New York, Newark, Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta, New Orleans, Houston and Phoenix."

What is it like at airports Monday?

At JFK, a JetBlue representative was patrolling the line around 9:30 a.m. ET, asking travelers if they had flights departing at 11:30 a.m. or earlier. Those who did were pulled from the line and brought forward.

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One passenger showed the representative her ticket and the representative said, "I dont know if youre going to make a 10:30 a.m. flight, Ill be honest with you."

Nate Bien was waiting in line for a flight to Guatemala for half an hour and still had a long way to go.

"Its a mess," he said. Born in France, Bien has lived in the U.S. for 18 years and compared the lines in the JetBlue terminal to the disruptions that happen during strikes in France.

He didnt see how ICE patrols were alleviating the situation, either.

"Its not helping," he said. "Theyre not helping to reduce that," he added, pointing at the line ahead of him.

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At Atlanta's airport, Saad Hassan of Virginia, who was traveling with his band, said he hoped ICE was helping.

"Yeah, we saw them everywhere. They're outside the doors. They just walk past, a few of them, and I don't know exactly what they're doing," Hassan said.

Asked if he saw them interacting with any passengers or helping the lines, he replied, "No, nothing. Not that we saw."

Why is ICE at airports?

ICE agents have been brought in to help expedite waits amid the TSA worker shortage.

Upwards of 1 in 10 TSA officers have called out in recent days, as they continue to go unpaid due a funding impasse in Congress.

"President Trump is using every tool available to help American travelers who are facing hours long lines at airports across the countryespecially during this spring break and holiday season that is very important for many American families. This pointless, reckless shutdown of our homeland security workforce has caused more than 400 TSA officers to quit and thousands to call out from work because they are not able to afford gas, childcare, food, or rent," Acting Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Lauren Bis said in a statement to USA TODAY. "President Trump is taking action to deploy hundreds of ICE officers, that are currently funded by Congress, to airports being adversely impacted. This will help bolster TSA efforts to keep our skies safe and minimize air travel disruptions.

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Reuters reported that ICE agents would not immediately be deployed in secure areas of the airport because they lack the appropriate security clearances.

How does TSA feel about having ICE at airports?

In a March 23 interview with Fox News, Acting Deputy TSA Administrator Adam Stahl said ICE agents would be "conducting non-specialized security support, manning the exit lanes, crowd management, line control." He also expressed gratitude for easing the challenges being faced by TSA officers and travelers.

The union that represents TSA officers wants to make it clear, though, that they are not being replaced.

"ICE agents are not trained or certified in aviation security," American Federation of Government Employees National President Everett Kelley said in a statement to USA TODAY. "TSA officers spend months learning to detect explosives, weapons, and threats specifically designed to evade detection at checkpoints  skills that require specialized instruction, hands-on practice, and ongoing recertification. You cannot improvise that. Putting untrained personnel at security checkpoints does not fill a gap. It creates one."

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Kelley called on Congress to fund TSA workers immediately.

(This story has been updated with new information.)

Contributing: Irene Smith, N'dea Yancey-Bragg; USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Travelers say ICE at airports isnt helping long security lines
(FOX 5/KUSI)  Travelers arriving at San Diego International Airport are finding themselves joining the security line even before they set foot inside their terminal.

Outside Terminal 1 on Monday morning, stanchions and ribbons were set up to form a line just steps from where vehicles were dropping off travelers.

At SAN, even the CLEAR service line, which in principle should move travelers through security much faster, extended much longer throughout the terminal than it normally does.

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An airport employee told FOX 5/KUSI that the regular security line was taking about 1.5 hours as of the 7 a.m. hour.

Southern California surf coach rescues father and daughter caught in rip current

An advisory from the airport says that long wait times are possible at checkpoints, and that travelers should arrive at least two hours before their flight.

The long lines for TSA checks come after several weeks during which these federal employees have not been paid due to a partial government shutdown.

Similar to previous shutdowns that affected their pay, employees are quitting, calling in sick en masse and taking other actions as a form of protest, leading to longer wait times.

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Tyler Moore, who was traveling out of SAN, said he considers TSA employees essential, and regarding the long wait times, Hopefully it changes soon, as far as getting people back in to work, but thats something that ultimately our government has to work together to come to a better solution.

President Trump said that ICE agents would be sent to certain airports to help with some tasks so that the TSA agents can focus on screening and handling security issues.

TSA lines at San Diego International Airport on March 23, 2026. The long lines were the result of TSA employees calling in sick or quitting due to a partial government shutdown. TSA lines extended all the way to the sidewalk for some time. Airport officials asked travelers to arrive at least two hours ahead of their departure time to make it through security on time.

Watch the report by Wiley Jawhary in the video player above.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Travelers at Orlando International Airport faced wait times of approximately 40 minutes Monday morning as spring break crowds and federal staffing issues slowed operations.

Security lines fluctuated throughout the morning, with some passengers reporting that queues stretched down terminal hallways.

The local delays follow reports of high Transportation Security Administration staff call-outs at several major U.S. airports, including Houston, where nearly half of the workforce was absent on Saturday.

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Additionally, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are scheduled for deployment at 14 airports starting Monday, though Orlando officials say the airport has not yet been notified of its inclusion on that list.

While staffing shortages have caused delays elsewhere, Orlando International Airport is not currently on the list of facilities experiencing high call-out rates.

Travelers are advised to plan for additional time when navigating the airport on Monday.

Security lines are typically heaviest during the morning and late afternoon hours.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
US President Donald Trump issued a sharp warning to Iran late Saturday, threatening to "obliterate" the country's power plants if Tehran does not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.

The announcement marks a dramatic escalation in the ongoing conflict, now entering 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 wrote in a post on Truth Social.

Iran responded quickly, warning that any attacks on its power plants would prompt retaliation against US-linked energy and infrastructure facilities in the region.

Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Iran's Parliament Speaker, said on X that regional infrastructure could be "destroyed in an irreversible manner" if Iran's facilities are targeted.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also threatened to keep the Strait closed until its power plants are rebuilt.

According to CNBC, Trump's hardline stance came just a day after he claimed that the US was "getting very close to meeting our objectives" in winding down military operations in the Middle East.

Despite that earlier statement, the president reiterated that he does not want a ceasefire.

"We could have dialogue, but I don't want to do a ceasefire," he told reporters outside the White House, adding, "You know you don't do a ceasefire when you're literally obliterating the other side."

IMPORTANT UPDATE:



Trump gave Iran a 48 hour deadline to open the Strait of Hormuz or he will bomb their power plants



Iran responded they are open to opening the Straits, but want an end to the war and assurances there won't be more wars



I think we have the foundation for an pic.twitter.com/KrJW8L2MUL  Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) March 22, 2026

Iran-Israel Conflict Disrupts Global Energy

The conflict has already targeted key infrastructure. Iranian missiles struck southern Israeli communities near the country's nuclear research site, injuring dozens, including a 4-year-old girl.

Israeli officials reported that some missiles could not be intercepted. In retaliation, Israel struck multiple Iranian cities, including Tehran, Karaj, and Isfahan, with Iranian media reporting civilian casualties.

The war has also heavily disrupted global energy supplies. The Strait of Hormuz, which channels nearly a fifth of the world's oil, has been effectively blocked to shipping since the conflict began.

Brent crude oil recently surged to $112 a barrel, its highest level since July 2022, while US gasoline prices reached an average of $3.94 per gallon, Time reported.

In response to the energy crisis, the US Treasury temporarily allowed the sale of Iranian oil at sea for 30 days to ease supply disruptions.

Meanwhile, the Group of Seven nations pledged support for global energy security and condemned Iran's attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure.

Iran, however, has sought to reassure some nations, including Japan, that vessels will be allowed safe passage through the Strait if coordinated with Tehran.

Originally published on vcpost.com
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In an interview published in yesterdays Express, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar revealed the principles guiding her administrations policies. As is usual with politicians, however, there was a notable gap between rhetoric and reality.

Asked about her strong and vociferous support for American President Donald Trump, the Prime Minister explained, The current US government believes in conservatism and capitalism, and that aligns with my views.
Tap water eases burden on rural women in arid northwest China

Xinhua) 09:49, March 23, 2026

YINCHUAN, March 22 (Xinhua) -- "Sit down and have a cup of tea," said Feng Xiuhua, greeting guests at her home in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region while asking her son to prepare and serve tea.

"Now we have 'sweet water,' and our tea tastes better," said the 71-year-old resident of Zhouduantou Village in Hanjiaoshui Township in the city of Zhongwei, referring to tap water.

For Feng, life changed in 2020 when her new home gained access to tap water, bringing an end to the days of arduous water collection, long trips to fetch water, and chronic shortages.

The village is located in an arid belt in central Ningxia, where low rainfall and high evaporation once left locals facing severe water shortages. The township name Hanjiaoshui, which literally means "crying out for water," highlights the desperate yearning for water.

"Whenever it rained or snowed, we used every container we had to collect water," said Feng, recalling how families relied on rainwater collected in underground cellars.

Water from a deep well in her village was bitter and saline, and had to be mixed with stored rainwater to make it drinkable, she added. Those who arrived late to draw water from the well often found it already gone.

Across many arid rural regions in northwest China, such experiences were common for generations. Villagers waited anxiously for rain, built storage systems and transported water over long distances, often on foot or using animal-drawn carts.

In many rural families, men work on farms or migrate to work in cities, leaving women to bear the heavy burden of fetching water.

Ma Guolan, deputy Party chief of Yangling Village, Jingyuan County of Guyuan City, still remembers hauling water across mountains with her mother as a child.

They carried large buckets on a two-wheeled cart pulled by a cow along rugged mountain roads. One trip could barely supply their family of nine for three days.

"Once my mother went to fetch water right after farm work without having a meal," Ma said. "She lost strength on the way back. The cart slid down a slope and injured her foot."

Such accounts reflect a broader global challenge. As of 2024, 2.1 billion people still lacked safely managed drinking water, according to the United Nations World Water Development Report 2026, Water for All People: Equal Rights and Opportunities, released by UNESCO on Thursday.

Women and girls are most likely to be responsible for water collection, exposing them to safety risks, especially in remote or insecure areas, and also causing physical strain and injury, the report said.

Sunday marks this year's World Water Day, which carries the theme "Water and Gender."

In rural areas in China's northwest, women no longer face such hardships. Their access to water was first improved through the Water Cellar for Mothers Program, then by water diversion projects and the rollout of clean tap water.

Launched in 2000, the philanthropic program supports rainwater collection and supply projects across the country, particularly in western China.

By 2023, nearly 140,000 rainwater cellars had been built, along with thousands of centralized water supply projects and safe drinking water projects for schools.

Large-scale water diversion projects and tap water networks now play a crucial role. In Ningxia, water has been diverted from the Yellow River for irrigation as well as for drinking since 2004. A supplementary water diversion project began operating in 2018, after which tap water was extended to local households.

"The first time I drank tap water, it tasted incredibly sweet," Feng said.

Over the years, access to water in Ningxia has improved significantly. Official data show that 99.6 percent of local rural households now have tap water, with 96.7 percent of residents covered by large-scale supply projects.

Nationwide, 96 percent of rural households have access to tap water by 2025, according to China's Ministry of Water Resources.

These changes have greatly eased the heavy burden that once fell on women in many arid western regions.

"We even have water heaters at home now," Feng said. "Young girls can take a shower every day. In the past, the whole family shared one basin of water to wash our faces."

Today, many rural households still keep old water cisterns to store rainwater for irrigation and other domestic uses, even though water supply is no longer a concern.

In some parts, improvements continue. "Our village has even built a new water purification plant, further improving the tap water quality," Ma said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Shares of K-pop agency HYBE plunged as much as 16 percent on Monday, Mar. 23, marking the company's biggest single-day stock decline since June 2022, after the highly anticipated BTS comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul drew far fewer fans than authorities had projected.

The concert, titled "BTS The Comeback Live: Arirang," took place on Saturday, Mar. 21, and was the group's first full performance in nearly four years following the completion of all seven members' mandatory military service. Police had initially estimated that as many as 260,000 fans would flood the historic area in central Seoul.

However, the actual turnout fell well short. Official figures varied by source; the Ministry of the Interior and Safety reported roughly 62,000 attendees during the concert hour, Seoul city data placed the count between 46,000 and 48,000, and police estimated between 70,000 and 80,000, as per The Korea Herald.

HYBE itself claimed around 104,000 based on ticket holder data, mobile carrier information, and foreign visitor estimates.

The disappointing crowd numbers sent shockwaves through the stock market. According to the Korea Exchange, HYBE shares traded at 288,500 won ($191) by early Monday afternoon, down from a Friday close of 344,000 won ($227).

The stock hit its lowest point since Dec. 16, 2025, wiping out a significant portion of the rally that had built up ahead of the comeback. HYBE's shares had previously peaked at 401,500 won ($265) on Feb. 23, the Korea JoongAng Daily reported.

Analysts and officials have pointed to several factors behind the lower-than-expected attendance. Stringent crowd control measures, put in place partly to prevent a repeat of the deadly 2022 Itaewon crowd crush, restricted access to the venue and surrounding areas.

Thousands of police officers and emergency personnel were deployed, and movement into the square was tightly managed. Additionally, the concert was livestreamed globally on Netflix across more than 190 countries, giving fans a convenient alternative to attending in person. Netflix is expected to release official viewership figures later this week.

Despite the underwhelming physical turnout, the event itself concluded without any reported safety incidents.

BTS performed 12 songs during the hour-long set, including new tracks from their fifth studio album "Arirang" as well as fan-favorite hits like "Butter" and "Dynamite." The album sold 3.98 million copies on its first day of release, according to the BBC.
Insight: Mar 24

SBS this week asks members of the trans community about striking the right balance in medical care for transgender minors.

Insight this week asks members of the trans community about striking the right balance as medical pathways for trans minors in parts of Australia  and around the world  become restricted.

In Australia, people under 18 generally require guardian consent and a diagnosis of gender dysphoria (also referred to as gender incongruence) for medical practitioners to provide gender-affirming treatments.

However, legislative changes in Queensland and the Northern Territory mean doctors in the public system can no longer prescribe gender-affirming medication to new trans patients under 18. Patients already accessing this care can continue their treatment.

Not all trans and gender diverse people experience gender dysphoria, and the term itself is contentious due to the concern it stigmatises trans healthcare as a mental health condition.

In 2019, the World Health Organization approved changes to its ICD-11 manual (effective 2022) to declassify transgender health issues as mental disorders and reclassified gender incongruence under sexual health.

Gender dysphoria still appears in the American Psychiatric Associations diagnostic manual (DSM-5) as a diagnosis of distress that can help provide access to medical treatment and support.

Gender-affirming medical treatments currently available in Australia to trans youth include puberty blockers, gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT), typically from age 16, and in rare cases, gender-affirming chest surgery (more commonly known as top surgery).

Puberty blockers, administered in the early stages of puberty, are a medication that temporarily suppresses sex hormone production to delay puberty and its physical changes, such as breast development or voice deepening.

Teens usually around age 16 and adults can be prescribed GAHT, which is the medical administration of estrogen or testosterone to help align a persons secondary sex characteristics (such as body fat distribution, voice pitch and body hair) with their gender identity.

8:30pm Tuesday on SBS.

transcend.org.au

gendercentre.org.au

humanrights.gov.au
Mass for You at Home in the Pilbara

Australias longest-running commercial program is to be shown to communities in the Pilbara.

Mass for You at Home, Australias longest-running commercial program, will be shown on Ngaarda TV for the first time on Palm Sunday (March 29).

Ngaarda Media was created by the Yindjibarndi community for all Aboriginal people of the Pilbara region 22 years ago, when it was initially known as Juluwarlu Media.

It is the only licensed Aboriginal broadcaster across the 500,000 square kilometre region of Western Australia and the collective voice of more than 30 language groups of Traditional Owners.

Ngaarda head of programming Andrew Sharps said, Ngaarda is proud to bring Mass for You at Home to the Pilbara.

This partnership will allow Ngaarda to each Sunday bring to our audiences a multi-award-winning program which beautifully presents messages of hope, love, fellowship and connection.

Mass for You at Home, screening since 1971, is produced by the media team in the Catholic Diocese of Wollongong and managed by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conferences Media and Communications Department.

Source: catholic.org
The National Election Council on the afternoon of March 21 held a press conference to announce its resolution on the election results and the list of elected deputies to the 16th National Assembly.

Nguyen Huu Dong, Head of the Committee for Deputy Affairs and a member of the National Election Council, said a total of 500 deputies were elected from 863 candidates. Among those nominated by central agencies and organizations, 214 candidates were elected while two were not.

The results indicate a shift in the structure of the new legislature, with a reduction in deputies concurrently holding positions in executive and judicial bodies, and an increase in full-time lawmakers. The proportion of full-time deputies is expected to reach 40 percent - the highest level ever recorded, up 1.4 percentage points compared to the 15th term, 5.5 points compared to the 14th, 7.2 points compared to the 13th, and 10.6 points compared to the 12th.

Nguyen Huu Dong, Chairman of the Committee for Deputy Affairs, speaks at the press briefing.

For the first time in 16 terms, the success rate of candidates nominated by central authorities to run in local constituencies reached its highest level, with 214 out of 216 candidates elected. Notably, 100 percent of those expected to serve as full-time deputies were elected.

Dong also noted that the new National Assembly includes, for the first time, a representative from the O Du ethnic group - one of the smallest ethnic communities in Vietnam. The proportion of female deputies remains high at 30 percent.

At the local level, elections also filled all 2,552 seats in provincial Peoples Councils and 72,437 seats at the commune level.

Regarding re-elected deputies, 230 members of the 15th National Assembly secured seats again in the 16th term. In addition, 17 deputies from earlier terms (11th to 14th) returned, bringing the total number of experienced lawmakers to 247. Meanwhile, 253 deputies are serving for the first time.

In terms of qualifications, 593 candidates held postgraduate degrees (68.63 percent), 261 had university degrees (30.21 percent), and only 10 had qualifications below university level. Based on these figures, Dong emphasized that the overall quality of elected deputies is expected to be high, with representation of youth, ethnic minorities and women maintained or improved compared to the previous term.

We hope that with higher-quality deputies, legislative work, oversight and decision-making on major national issues will continue to improve, he said.

Responding to questions about self-nominated candidates, Dong confirmed that all five failed to secure enough votes to be elected.

It is regrettable that none of the five self-nominated candidates received sufficient votes, he said, noting that in previous terms, one or two such candidates had been elected and performed effectively.

According to the official results, there are 150 female deputies (30 percent), 76 deputies from ethnic minority groups (15.2 percent), and 18 non-party members (3.6 percent), an increase of about four compared to the previous term.

The number of young deputies under 40 stands at 33 (6.6 percent), lower than expectations.

Regarding education levels, 418 deputies hold postgraduate degrees (83.6 percent), 80 have university degrees (16 percent), and two are below university level (0.4 percent).

With such a high level of education, Dong expressed confidence that younger deputies will quickly adapt to parliamentary work, contribute to lawmaking and fulfill their commitments to voters. He added that in previous terms, many young deputies, after serving two or three terms, advanced to positions such as deputy ministers and ministers.

Tran Thuong - Thu Hang
Tucked deep inside a narrow alley at No. 50 Hang Ma Street in Hanoi, a small sticky rice stall run by Thu Thao operates without a prominent signboard or spacious seating. Yet, it remains a familiar stop for Old Quarter residents and a must-try spot for visitors.

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Seen too often ADBRO is the full service ad network for high impact contextual advertising with direct access to the exclusive in-image inventories across major local publishers. We provide free creative adaptation into rich media, interactive and playable ads formats. Campaigns in our channel are delivered under guaranteed prices for actions with programmatic & managed delivery. We provide contextually segmented in-target audiences for over 60 industries with a full range of brand safety solutions. ADBRO operates across SE Asia, including Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines and Malaysia. To test our channel for your advertising campaigns or consider partnership programs for publishers, please contact us at www.adbro.me Mrs. Thaos sticky rice stall is tucked away in a small alley, surrounded by numerous other eateries.





By 7am, the alley is already alive with activity. Customers move in and out continuously, forming a steady queue that fills the narrow passage. Behind a small counter, Thao works swiftly - scooping sticky rice, adding toppings - her hands rarely pausing as she keeps pace with the morning rush.

The stall has been open for more than 20 years. In its early days, Thao sold on the sidewalk along Hang Ma Street, where it quickly gained a reputation for drawing crowds. Even after relocating deeper into the alley, making access less convenient, the number of regular customers has remained steady.

Many locals jokingly refer to it as a sticky rice stall not for late risers, as it typically sells out by around 8:30am - just over two hours after opening.

A simple dish with a distinct touch

Each serving of sticky rice is priced from VND25,000 to VND40,000 (approximately US$1 to US$2). The bowl pictured costs VND40,000 (US$2).

Each day begins long before sunrise. Thao prepares ingredients the night before and starts steaming sticky rice at around 4am. By 6am, when the stall opens, she focuses on serving while her husband helps fry pate and cook eggs to keep up with demand.

There is nothing elaborate about the presentation, but each portion reflects careful preparation. The sticky rice is soft yet fluffy, with plump grains and a gentle aroma of fresh glutinous rice. Braised pork is cut into neat cubes, tender and richly seasoned. Additional toppings such as fried eggs, Vietnamese sausage, and Chinese sausage cater to different tastes.

The fried pate, however, is what sets the stall apart. Cut into small squares and pan-fried until lightly crisp on the outside, it remains soft, smooth, and rich inside. When paired with hot sticky rice, the outer layer gives way easily, while the creamy interior blends into the warm grains.

According to Thao, achieving this balance required repeated experimentation. The pate needs to be lightly crisp outside but still soft inside. I had to try many times to get it right. Once the quality is consistent, customers remember and return, she said.

A loyal following over the years

Customers wait in line to buy sticky rice.
Unexpected strategy: holding prices despite rising costs

Following the official release of the iPhone 17e lineup, attention has quickly shifted to the next generation, particularly the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Notably, multiple credible sources indicate that consumers may receive welcome news: prices could remain unchanged.

Renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of TF International Securities believes Apple is likely to maintain current pricing for its upcoming premium models. This would be a significant move at a time when component costs, especially for memory and chips, are rising sharply.

According to Kuo, Apple is leveraging fluctuations in the component market to strengthen its competitive advantage. Instead of passing increased costs on to consumers, the company may choose to absorb them to expand market share.

This strategy reflects a clear direction - accepting lower hardware margins in the short term in exchange for long-term growth, particularly in services, which generate higher profits.

Another notable point lies in Apples product release strategy. Several sources suggest the company will launch the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max in the second half of 2026, while the standard iPhone 18 could be delayed until 2027.

If confirmed, Apple would continue prioritizing the premium segment, where it can maximize revenue and reinforce its brand positioning.

Currently, the iPhone 17 Pro starts at US$1,099, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max is priced from US$1,199. If these price levels are retained for the next generation, it would be a major advantage for consumers, especially as many competitors are raising prices.

Samsung, for example, has already increased prices for its Galaxy S26 lineup. This upward pricing trend is expected to spread across the industry due to mounting component cost pressures.

Further confirmation from analysts

Ming-Chi Kuo is not alone in this view. Another analyst, Jeff Pu of GF Securities, has offered a similar assessment, suggesting Apple is working to keep iPhone 18 Pro pricing in line with the previous generation through what he describes as cost management.

Specifically, Apple is reportedly negotiating with major memory suppliers such as Samsung and SK Hynix to secure more favorable component pricing. At the same time, the company is seeking to reduce costs in other areas, including camera modules and displays.

This comes as prices for DRAM and NAND - two critical components in electronic devices - have risen significantly in recent months. The surge is largely driven by booming demand from companies building AI infrastructure, which is pushing up production costs across the consumer electronics sector.

Foldable iPhone: high price, high expectations

Alongside the Pro lineup, another product drawing attention is Apples first foldable iPhone. While not yet officially confirmed, multiple reports suggest it could debut around the same time.

However, one thing appears almost certain: the price will be high.

At present, Apples most expensive model is the 2TB version of the iPhone 17 Pro Max, priced at US$1,999. This figure is also expected to serve as the starting price for the foldable iPhone.

Estimates suggest the 256GB version could begin at around US$2,000, with the 512GB and 1TB variants potentially reaching US$2,199 and US$2,399, respectively.

While these figures may seem steep, they are still lower than some earlier projections, which suggested the base model could start at US$2,399.

Launching an entirely new product line like a foldable iPhone amid volatile component markets presents significant challenges. Yet Apple appears willing to make a long-term bet.

A strategic move in a shifting industry

As the global tech industry faces mounting cost pressures, Apples decision to hold prices - if realized - would be a bold move.

Beyond attracting consumers, the strategy underscores a broader vision: sacrificing short-term margins to capture market share and build a foundation for future growth, particularly in AI-driven services.

From this perspective, the iPhone 18 Pro is not merely a hardware upgrade, but a strategic card in the intensifying global technology race.

Hai Phong
In Da Nang, health facilities have recently recorded five severe poisoning cases linked to the consumption of fermented fish, a staple in many family meals.

According to Dr Nguyen Trung Nguyen, Director of the Poison Control Center at Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi, botulinum toxin is one of the most potent neurotoxins known, produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. This bacterium thrives in anaerobic environments - those lacking oxygen - commonly found in sealed, fermented or improperly stored foods. Once inside the body, the toxin can cause muscle paralysis, respiratory failure and can be fatal without timely treatment.

Vietnam has documented several serious botulinum poisoning incidents related to homemade foods. In 2020, a family in Quang Nam was hospitalized after consuming home-fermented carp, exhibiting symptoms such as drooping eyelids, difficulty speaking and limb weakness, with some requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation.

In 2023, a cluster of severe cases occurred in Ho Chi Minh City after people consumed fermented fish and homemade paste, with many patients treated at Cho Ray Hospital suffering progressive paralysis and respiratory failure. In 2024, a similar case was reported in Binh Duong after a family consumed fermented snakehead fish.

Associate Professor Nguyen Duy Thinh, former lecturer at the Institute of Food Technology, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, noted that protein-rich foods such as meat and fish are particularly vulnerable to bacterial contamination, especially when fermented or sealed under unhygienic conditions. Manual processing without proper control of temperature and environment can create ideal conditions for anaerobic bacteria to grow.

Most concerning is that food contaminated with botulinum toxin often shows no signs of spoilage - no unusual odor, discoloration or slimy texture - making it extremely difficult for consumers to detect and increasing the risk of accidental poisoning.

A major challenge in treating botulinum poisoning is the scarcity and high cost of the specific antidote, Botulinum Antitoxin (BAT). According to health authorities, the drug is not readily available in many facilities in Vietnam and often must be urgently supplied by the World Health Organization from international stockpiles in Geneva. Each vial costs about US$8,000 (approximately VND200 million) and must be transported quickly to be effective.

Dr Nguyen Trung Nguyen emphasized that there is currently no alternative to BAT. If administered within the golden window of 48 to 72 hours after symptom onset, patients who require mechanical ventilation for one to two days may recover more quickly, potentially coming off ventilators within five to seven days and beginning rehabilitation early. However, delayed detection can result in prolonged, complex treatment with significant risks.

Due to the relatively low number of cases and the high cost, hospitals face difficulties in maintaining stockpiles of the antidote, making prevention especially critical.

High-risk foods include homemade canned products, fermented fish and meat, fish sauce, pickled vegetables, pate, sausages and other sealed foods stored for long periods. To reduce risk, experts advise following strict food safety practices, avoiding products that are swollen, dented, rusted or have unusual odors. It is also recommended to boil or steam canned foods for at least 10 minutes before consumption to neutralize toxins.

In particular, if symptoms such as drooping eyelids, muscle weakness, difficulty swallowing or speaking occur after consuming suspected foods, individuals should seek immediate medical attention for timely diagnosis and treatment.

Phuong Thuy
Northern Vietnam may not experience the traditional Nang Ban cold this year, as experts point to an unusually warm winter and shifting seasonal patterns that could instead bring more extreme weather during the transition to summer.

In folk understanding, the Nang Ban cold typically occurs in the third lunar month, marking the shift from spring to summer in the north. During this time, temperatures may have already risen, even reaching hot conditions, before an unexpected cold spell returns. In 2026, the third lunar month begins on April 17.

However, experts from the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting say the region has just gone through an abnormal winter - the second warmest on record.

Based on a 65-year observational dataset, the average temperature this winter reached 18.37 degrees Celsius, second only to the 2018-2019 winter, which recorded 19.3 degrees.

Notably, throughout the entire season, Northern Vietnam experienced only three widespread cold spells. These were all short-lived, with temperatures not dropping too low - ranging from 8 to 11 degrees, 5 to 7 degrees in mountainous areas, and below 4 degrees in high-altitude regions. No snowfall was recorded, and frost was rare.

In an unusual instance, Song Ma in Son La reached 37.8 degrees Celsius on February 5, 2026.

Given these conditions, meteorologists believe the likelihood of a Nang Ban cold event this year is very low. At the same time, a warm winter occurring during a La Nina phase raises concerns about a potentially harsh summer ahead.

Nguyen Van Huong, head of the Weather Forecast Department, said that from now until mid-April, there may be three to four cold air waves. However, most will be weak, mainly bringing transitional rains to the north, along with risks of whirlwinds, lightning, hail and strong gusts.

As cold air activity is weaker than average, its cooling effect will be limited. Prolonged cold conditions both day and night are unlikely, with cooler temperatures mainly occurring at night and early morning.

As for the Nang Ban cold this year, we are still monitoring, but given the current higher temperature trend, the probability is very low, Huong said.

Experts warn of extreme weather during seasonal transition

Looking ahead to the next month, from March 21 to April 20, the meteorological agency forecasts that weak cold air combined with a low-pressure trough over southern China could trigger thunderstorms, accompanied by dangerous phenomena such as whirlwinds, lightning and strong winds in Northern Vietnam.

During this period, several widespread rainfall events are expected across the country, with heavier precipitation concentrated in the northern mountainous areas.

Regarding heat, hot weather is expected to persist in the southeastern region through the end of March. By April, the intensity is likely to increase and expand to the southwestern region and parts of the Central Highlands.

In the northwestern region and the western parts of the north-central region, localized heat may appear from late March.

Overall, average temperatures in Northern Vietnam and the area from Thanh Hoa to Hue are forecast to be 1 to 1.5 degrees higher than the long-term average, with some places even warmer. Other regions are expected to remain close to seasonal norms.

In the short term, over the next 10 days from March 21 to 31, Northern Vietnam and the north-central region will see scattered showers, along with morning mist and light fog. From March 23, sunny conditions are expected in the afternoon.

In mountainous and midland areas of the north, rain and scattered showers with thunderstorms are forecast between March 21-22 and again on March 27-28.

Other regions nationwide will generally experience sunny days, with localized heat in the southeast. Showers and thunderstorms may occur in the late afternoon and evening.

Amid increasingly complex and extreme weather patterns driven by climate change, experts advise both authorities and the public to closely monitor short-term forecasts, particularly within one to three days, to ensure timely preparedness and safety.

Ret nang Ban is a Vietnamese folk expression referring to an unusual spell of cold weather that appears late in spring, typically around the third lunar month. The phrase is linked to a traditional legend about a woman named Ban, who hurriedly sewed a shirt for her husband but finished it late, when the weather had already turned warm. Out of sympathy, the heavens sent back a brief cold snap so the shirt could still be worn. Since then, this late-season chill has been called ret nang Ban. In reality, it describes a short period when temperatures suddenly drop after the onset of warmer spring weather, something that still occurs in northern Vietnam from time to time.

Bao Anh
The Song Mun Festival, held in Quang Duc commune, Quang Ninh province, vividly reflects the cultural identity of the Dao Thanh Y community. The event plays a meaningful role in preserving traditions while promoting community-based tourism.

On March 21, at Khay Phau village, Quang Duc commune, the 2026 Song Mun Festival officially opened, drawing large numbers of local residents and visitors. It is one of the most representative festivals of the Dao Thanh Y people, carrying wishes for peace, good fortune and abundant harvests.

The ceremonial part of the festival was conducted solemnly, featuring the Song Mun offering ritual at the village shrine, praying for favorable weather and prosperity. The traditional cap sac initiation ritual, a distinctive cultural feature of the Dao people, was reenacted, creating a sacred atmosphere. Visitors and locals were also given fragrant sachets as symbolic wishes for peace and luck.

The festive section unfolded in a lively and engaging manner, with activities such as traditional hair arrangement competitions, embroidery contests, leaf horn performances, tug-of-war and stick pushing. Cultural exchanges including duet singing, traditional costume showcases and ethnic feast competitions further highlighted the rich spiritual and cultural life of the Dao Thanh Y community.

Beyond its role as a cultural celebration, the festival serves as a platform to strengthen community bonds while preserving and promoting traditional values. At the same time, it offers Quang Duc an opportunity to showcase its identity, attract visitors and foster the development of cultural tourism.

The Song Mun Festival takes place over two days, from March 21 to 22, 2026.

Unique cultural performances at the festival opening ceremony.

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Seen too often ADBRO is the full service ad network for high impact contextual advertising with direct access to the exclusive in-image inventories across major local publishers. We provide free creative adaptation into rich media, interactive and playable ads formats. Campaigns in our channel are delivered under guaranteed prices for actions with programmatic & managed delivery. We provide contextually segmented in-target audiences for over 60 industries with a full range of brand safety solutions. ADBRO operates across SE Asia, including Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines and Malaysia. To test our channel for your advertising campaigns or consider partnership programs for publishers, please contact us at www.adbro.me A staged portrayal of agricultural life among the Dao Thanh Y community.

Reenactment of the Dao Thanh Y cap sac initiation ritual.

Fragrant sachets symbolizing wishes for peace and good fortune presented to locals and visitors.

Traditional costume performance competition.

My Dung
BTS leader RM was spotted using crutches in New York City on Sunday, March 22, following a recent ankle injury sustained during rehearsals.

The seven-member K-pop groupJin, Jimin, Jungkook, J-Hope, Suga, and Varrived in the city shortly after their full-group comeback concert, which streamed live on Netflix.

According to JustJared, BigHit Music confirmed that RM suffered an ankle injury on March 19 during a rehearsal.

"A medical diagnosis confirmed a sprain of the accessory navicular, a partial ligament tear, and a talus contusion," the company said in a statement on Weverse.

RM was advised to wear a cast and strictly limit movement for at least two weeks to focus on recovery.

Despite the injury, RM remained committed to participating in the comeback performance.

"Although RM's on-stage performance will inevitably be limited, he will do his best to participate on stage and engage with ARMY and the audience," BigHit stated.

BTS's RM heads to New York in just 12 hours... Pushing ahead on crutches, When will he rest?



 BTS RM, Bright look to reassure fans



 BTS RM, It's Not Easy to Depart on Crutches



 BTS RM, Looking cheerful despite using crutches



RM, bright expression despite injury#RM pic.twitter.com/BBreU49AJj  RM_Moonchild (@RMMoonchild101) March 22, 2026

Fans Praise RM's Dedication

During the Saturday night event at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, RM performed while seated on a stool during parts of the concert and skipped some choreography, assuring fans, "It is not a very serious injury."

The group's swift travel from Seoul to the United States drew attention online, as fans expressed both concern and admiration for RM's dedication.

At Incheon International Airport, RM arrived in a casual outfit with a cap and sunglasses while using crutches, highlighting the challenges of balancing rigorous tour schedules with health concerns, TheKoreaTimes reported.

BTS is now preparing for a two-night appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" and will embark on a 79-show world tour following the release of their new album, ARIRANG.

This tour marks the group's first global tour in five years, making RM's health a critical concern for both fans and the agency.

BigHit emphasized that RM's participation is being carefully managed.

"The company, in close consultation with the artist, has made the decision to prioritize the medical opinion to preemptively prevent any further strain on his injury," the statement read.

Originally published on Music Times
Vietnam is considering accelerating the nationwide rollout of E10 gasoline to as early as April 2026, ahead of its previously planned schedule, as part of broader efforts to strengthen energy security and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Under the existing roadmap, from June 1, 2026, all unleaded gasoline meeting national technical standards must be blended into E10 for use in gasoline-powered vehicles nationwide. At the same time, E5 RON92 gasoline will continue to be produced and used until the end of 2030.

However, amid mounting global energy uncertainties, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on March 19 issued a directive calling for stronger energy-saving measures, accelerated energy transition, and the promotion of electric transport. The Ministry of Industry and Trade has been tasked with advancing the use of biofuels, reviewing conditions, and potentially bringing forward the E10 transition to April 2026, with a target of cutting fossil gasoline consumption by 10 percent.

Accelerating the adoption of biofuels not only helps create stable demand for agricultural products and reduce environmental pollution, but also significantly lowers dependence on fossil fuels, said Bui Ngoc Bao, Chairman of the Vietnam Petroleum Association, in an interview with VietNamNet on March 22.

An earlier nationwide rollout of E10 could also help ease fuel prices, as environmental protection taxes and excise taxes on biofuels are lower than those on conventional gasoline.

According to fuel traders, Vietnam consumed around 11.37 million cubic meters of gasoline in 2025. With E10 blending, which contains 10 percent ethanol, the amount of fossil fuel replaced would be substantial. If the country moves further toward higher blends such as E15, E20, or biodiesel variants like B15 and B20, as seen in other countries, the reduction in fuel import dependence would become even more pronounced.

Currently, Vietnam meets only about 30 percent of its domestic fuel demand, with the remaining 70 percent relying on imports. Any program that helps reduce dependence on fossil fuels carries strategic significance, Bao emphasized, noting that the conditions are now in place to expand E10 use nationwide from April.

Local companies step up biofuel production

Ho Ngoc Linh, Deputy Head of Petroleum Engineering at Vietnam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex), said the company has been piloting E5 and E10 gasoline sales in Ho Chi Minh City since August 2025.

Petrolimex currently operates seven blending facilities ready to distribute E10 nationwide, supported by a network of more than 2,800 retail stations that have already prepared the necessary infrastructure and transition plans. The company is also accelerating distribution timelines in line with Circular 50.

In terms of supply, Petrolimex alone is estimated to require between 45,000 and 50,000 cubic meters of ethanol per month for E10 blending.

Amid escalating tensions in Iran that could impact global energy markets, Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Joint Stock Company (BSR), the operator of the Dung Quat refinery, has proactively developed operational scenarios to ensure a stable supply of biofuel for the domestic market.

BSR said that by the end of March 2026, the refinery is expected to receive around 60,000 tonnes of ethanol (E100) from the Central Biofuels Plant for blending into E10 gasoline. This supply is expected to help boost domestic fuel output at a time when imports may be constrained due to export restrictions from some countries.

Pham Van Vuong, Director of the Central Biofuels Plant, said the facility began trial operations on January 20, 2026, and produced its first batch of fuel ethanol by February 6. In the initial phase, output reached around 470 cubic meters, and by February 12, the plant had delivered its first shipment of 210 cubic meters to BSR for blending into E10 RON95 gasoline.

Following the trial phase, the plant has continued to refine and optimize its operations. From March 20, it is expected to reach optimal capacity of around 60,000 tonnes of ethanol per year, equivalent to more than 5,000 tonnes per month.

Cassava chips serve as the primary input material, secured through long-term contracts to ensure stable supply. On the output side, the company is initially focusing on supplying ethanol to BSR via a direct pipeline system connected to storage tanks at the Dung Quat refinery. Road transport systems have also been invested in to support future market expansion.

As demand for biofuel is projected to rise, restarting domestic ethanol plants is seen as a key solution to improving energy supply autonomy. With existing blending infrastructure and integrated systems, the Dung Quat refinery is expected to play a significant role in supplying E10 gasoline to the market.

The Chairman of the Vietnam Petroleum Association also noted that the transition to E10 does not pose major technological challenges, nor are there significant concerns about supply. Globally, E10 is not a new product, and Vietnam can draw on the experience of countries that have implemented it for years.

Moreover, domestic companies have already gained experience from long-term E5 gasoline blending, while E10 has been piloted at multiple fuel stations nationwide since August 2025.

The June 1 roadmap remains mandatory. However, given current supply pressures, companies that are ready in terms of infrastructure can move ahead with blending and begin distributing E10 earlier, Bao said.



Tam An
Thanks to a surge in demand from China, Vietnam earned nearly VND6.812 trillion (US$309 million) from lobster exports in just the first two months of this year, reaffirming the products status as a luxury seafood in global markets.

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), China continued to be the largest export market for Vietnamese shrimp during the period.

In February alone, shrimp export turnover to China reached US$168 million, up 131 percent compared to the same period last year. In the first two months of the year, total shrimp exports to China, including Hong Kong, reached US$309 million, up 58 percent and accounting for 45 percent of Vietnams total shrimp export value.

VASEP noted that the strong growth of lobster exports helps explain the overall surge in shrimp export turnover to China.

Within two months, Vietnam generated US$259 million from exporting this high-end seafood, marking a 65 percent increase compared to the same period in 2025.

Of this, green lobster exports reached US$206 million, up 32 percent year-on-year. Ornate spiny lobster brought in nearly US$1.3 million, rising 43 percent, while other lobster varieties recorded US$52 million in export value, a dramatic increase of 6,138 percent.

China remains the dominant buyer, absorbing nearly all of Vietnams lobster exports.

The association emphasized that China is a major consumption market for fresh, high-value seafood, particularly in the period surrounding the Lunar New Year. As demand in this market continues to recover strongly, lobster has emerged as a new growth driver, complementing the traditional role of whiteleg shrimp.

In 2025, lobster exports to China also saw a sharp increase, reaching US$845 million, compared to US$363.5 million in 2024.

According to Le Hang, Deputy Secretary General of VASEP, Chinese consumers are increasingly favoring high-quality seafood that is safe and traceable, while also being willing to pay premium prices for unique culinary experiences.

Notably, demand is shifting away from low-cost frozen shrimp toward higher-end segments such as large-sized shrimp, live or fresh lobster, and processed products tailored for restaurants and hotels.

This shift in consumption trends is providing a strong boost for Vietnams lobster industry, which is widely recognized for its quality and well suited to the premium segment.



Tam An
On March 10, the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (CASE) announced a list of 36 leading experts elected as members. These individuals are scientists and engineers recognized for outstanding contributions across science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine.

Among them is Dr Thanh Nguyen (Nguyen Duc Thanh), Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Connecticut. His election to CASE acknowledges his exceptional scientific contributions, particularly in pioneering fields.

Associate Professor Nguyen Duc Thanh elected as a member of the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (CASE), US. Photo: Engineering.uconn.edu

According to CASE, he was honored for his research on biodegradable piezoelectric materials and microneedle vaccine patches capable of self-boosting immune responses. His work has advanced biomedical engineering through innovative biomaterials and translational technologies, contributing to improved global health and strengthening scientific innovation in Connecticut.

Journey from Da Nang to leading global universities

Nguyen Duc Thanh was born in 1984 in Da Nang and was a physics-specialized student at Le Quy Don High School for the Gifted. He later graduated from the advanced engineering program in physics at Hanoi University of Science and Technology before pursuing doctoral studies in the US.

In 2013, he earned a PhD in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University, where he contributed to the development of bio-integrated nano piezoelectric materials - a field combining materials science, electronics and biology at the nanoscale.

He then conducted postdoctoral research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) under the guidance of Professor Robert Langer, focusing on platforms for fabricating 3D microstructures from biomaterials.

Since 2016, he has been working at the University of Connecticut, pursuing interdisciplinary research at the intersection of engineering, materials science and biomedicine.

Nguyen Duc Thanh was also named one of Vietnams 10 Outstanding Young Faces in 2018.

Pioneering biomaterials and next-generation medical technologies

His research centers on transforming biodegradable materials - such as polymers used in surgical sutures and natural amino acids - into smart structures at the nano and micro scale.

He developed the SEAL platform technology, enabling the fabrication of three-dimensional microstructures from biodegradable polymers. This breakthrough has led to the creation of microneedle patches capable of delivering multiple vaccine doses over time with a single application, offering a potential alternative to traditional injections.

In the field of biodegradable piezoelectric materials, he and his team have created materials that convert mechanical force into electrical signals. These innovations could be applied in self-degrading implantable devices, sensors monitoring internal organ pressure, or drug delivery systems capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier - one of the major challenges in treating diseases such as brain cancer.

His research also extends to applications including biodegradable medical materials, artificial cartilage and medical devices that do not require surgical removal, helping reduce risks for patients.

To date, he holds more than 20 patents in biomedical engineering and has secured millions of US dollars in research funding from federal agencies and scientific foundations.

International recognition and technology commercialization

His work has been published in leading scientific journals such as Science, Nature Nanotechnology, Nature Communications, PNAS and Advanced Materials, and has been featured by major media outlets including The New York Times, BBC and The Guardian.

He has received numerous prestigious awards, including the NIH Trailblazer Award for Young Investigators, the Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award, MIT Technology Reviews Innovators Under 35 Asia-Pacific and the Young Investigator Award from the journal Biomaterials.

Beyond academia, he has co-founded technology startups to bring laboratory innovations into real-world applications, particularly in microneedle vaccine technology and bio-piezoelectric materials.

In a conversation with Da Nang Newspaper, he shared that he remains deeply connected to his homeland and envisions building a structured biomedical engineering training program in Vietnam - a field still facing a shortage of high-quality human resources.

Biomedical engineering is inherently interdisciplinary, requiring substantial investment and long-term strategy. Vietnam has strong potential, but needs systematic development in human resources, he said.

Hoang Linh
According to the list announced by the National Election Council, Bao Vy was elected in constituency No. 1 of Nghe An province, marking the first time the National Assembly has included a representative from the O Du - one of the smallest ethnic groups in Vietnam.

O Du ethnic National Assembly deputy - teacher Lo Thi Bao Vy. Photo: NVCC.







Currently a teacher at Quynh Lap A Primary School in Tan Mai ward, Nghe An, Bao Vy has just turned 24. She expressed both pride and a deep sense of responsibility as she takes on the role of the first female National Assembly deputy from her ethnic group.

The promises I made to voters during the campaign and pre-election meetings remain vivid in my mind. With youthful enthusiasm and a strong sense of responsibility, I will gradually turn those commitments into concrete actions, she said.

Bao Vy is the eldest of four siblings from Vang Mon village in Nga My commune - the only O Du village in Nghe An. Growing up in a mountainous area marked by hardship, she and her siblings were driven to pursue education as a way out of poverty.

She considers herself fortunate that her parents valued education and encouraged their children to study. Following her path, her two younger sisters are now students at Vinh University, while her youngest brother attends Nghe An Ethnic Boarding School.

Reflecting on her journey, Bao Vy said the challenges of life in remote areas helped her better understand the value of knowledge and appreciate educational opportunities.

Her path to becoming a teacher was not only a personal effort but also supported by policies aimed at improving education in mountainous regions. These efforts have enabled her to go further in her academic journey and return to inspire children in remote communities.

Knowledge is the most important asset for changing ones life. As a National Assembly deputy, I will focus on proposing improvements to education policies, especially support for disadvantaged and ethnic minority students, while contributing to building a humane and high-quality education system linked to preserving cultural identity, she said.

The promises made during the election campaign will be the guiding commitment for the O Du ethnic female National Assembly deputy. Photo: NVCC.

The O Du ethnic teacher is inspiring passion among her students. Photo: NVCC.

Bao Vy takes part in supporting underprivileged children through meaningful gifts. Photo: NVCC.





Beyond her teaching role, Bao Vy has actively participated in social initiatives. In 2022, she became involved in the Hoc cung em program, which supports underprivileged children with books, school supplies and scholarships.

She immediately felt a strong connection to the initiative, seeing it as a meaningful way to help children in difficult circumstances continue their education.

If children do not have access to proper education and knowledge, it becomes very difficult to break the cycle of poverty and backwardness, she shared.

Recognizing her passion and commitment, the program selected her as a goodwill ambassador.

In recent years, Bao Vy has actively engaged in volunteer work, mobilizing resources to support disadvantaged students. Through these efforts, many children have received books, clothing and scholarships, improving their learning conditions.

She continues to promote the program, calling for broader community support so that more children can stay in school and pursue their dreams.

Bao Vy believes the initiative will remain an important part of her future work. In her role as an elected representative, she intends to continue advocating for meaningful and humane values that expand educational opportunities for all.

Thanh Hai
According to Maybank Investment Bank, the Philippines is the most vulnerable, with 95 per cent of its crude oil imports sourced from Persian Gulf countries. The countrys oil import dependency is at nearly 100 per cent. Persian Gulf oil imports account for some 88 per cent of Vietnams crude oil imports, 69 per cent of Malaysias, 59 per cent of Thailands and 52 per cent of Singapores. Indonesias crude oil imports are more diversified, with 20 per cent coming from Gulf countries.

Diesel import dependencies are the highest for Singapore (16 per cent from the Gulf), Indonesia (8.4 per cent), and Thailand (6.8 per cent).

Dependencies on Persian Gulf gas are sizeable. Vietnam is the most dependent, with some 49 per cent sourced from Gulf countries. Most of this reflects LPG, with around 70 per cent of imported LPG originating from the Middle East.

The Gulf accounts for 37 per cent of Indonesias gas imports, with Gulf-produced LPG accounting for 30 per cent of total imports. Thailand imports 28 per cent of its gas from the Gulf. Singapore imports about 17 per cent of its gas from the Gulf. Specifically for natural gas, nearly a quarter of imports came from Qatar. Singapore relies on natural gas for 95 per cent of its power generation needs.

Thailand is heavily reliant on nitrogen fertilisers from the Gulf, with Saudi Arabia being its biggest supplier. 67 per cent of Thailands nitrogen fertiliser imports were sourced from the Gulf as of 2024. An even larger 74 per cent of urea fertiliser came from the Gulf countries. Other ASEAN countries are less dependent on Middle Eastern nitrogen fertilisers, with Philippines (10 per cent) and Malaysia (7 per cent) coming next.

Maybank Investment Bank said that ASEAN countries have modest oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) reserves as the first line of defence, leaving them vulnerable to a long-drawn supply shock. Oil reserves are low in Indonesia and Vietnam.

Thailand has the longest buffer at about 95 days. Philippines has 5060 days of petrol, diesel and fuel oil supply. Vietnams reserves cover just 3045 days of domestic demand.

Indonesias fuel reserves are sufficient for only around 23 days of consumption. Singapore has months worth of LNG and diesel stockpiles, according to Energy and Technology Minister-in charge Tan See Leng, although the exact number is not disclosed.

Countries are scrambling to secure alternative supplies of LNG from the US and Australia, competing with Europe. The US is the worlds largest producer and exporter of LNG, accounting for a third of global exports.

Industries could fall back on coal as an energy source if they are priced out by high LNG prices from alternative markets, which could benefit the regions dominant producers, Indonesia and Australia.

In Vietnam, policy responses have included tax cuts, usage of the Fuel Price Stabilisation Fund to smooth price hikes, and fuel rationing (encouraging work-from-home, public transport usage, potential flight cuts).

The government has secured 4 million barrels of oil from partners (10 days of petroleum consumption) while seeking help from Japan and Korea with crude oil supply.

In the medium term, Vietnam will seek to boost oil exploration by offering incentives for offshore field investment. It wants to raise the recoverable reserves by 13 million to 17 million tonnes of crude oil equivalent a year from 2026-2030.

Middle East conflict disrupts supply chains, pressures logistics firms The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is placing significant pressure on logistics companies in Vietnam, disrupting supply chains and international transportation activities.

Domestic fundamentals hold firm as markets reprice global risk Domestic fundamentals remain solid as markets reassess global risk, with Middle East tensions causing volatility.
On March 17, the National Power Transmission Corporation (EVNNPT) and Bac Lieu Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Power Co., Ltd. (BLLP) signed the Principal Agreement on Grid Connection for the plant, which will evacuate power via the 500 kV Bac LieuThot Not transmission line. The agreement establishes the technical, investment, metering, protection, control, and cybersecurity framework for connecting the facility.

Under the agreement, four generating units will connect through a dedicated 500 kV switchyard designed on a 3/2 breaker scheme. A double-circuit 500 kV transmission line of approximately 130 km, using phase-split conductors, will run from the plant's switchyard to the 500 kV Thot Not Substation.

Phased commercial operation is targeted for 2030. The project aligns with Power Development Plan VIII (PDP 8), as revised under Decision No.768/2025, and complies with the technical regulations outlined in Circular 05/2025/TT-BCT and related laws.

Canh Do, general director, BLLP, said This signing marks a decisive step forward for the 3,200 MW Bac Lieu LNG-to-power scheme. We greatly appreciate EVNNPTs professional support and look forward to continued collaboration to deliver clean, affordable and reliable energy to the national grid on schedule.

The Bac Lieu LNG-to-power plant is a nationally significant undertaking aimed at strengthening energy security and supporting socioeconomic development. Its combined-cycle gas turbines will provide flexible generation capacity to facilitate Vietnam's transition towards cleaner energy sources in the Mekong Delta sub-region.

The transmission line will also enable access to renewable power generation in the Mekong Delta, which can be balanced and supplemented by flexible generation from the Bac Lieu facility.

In addition, the international feasibility study for the transmission line was funded by a grant from the United States Trade Development Agency (USTDA) and has been completed as well as submitted to the relevant Vietnamese authorities as a gift from the US to Vietnam. The international feasibility study of the Transmission Line was conducted by Black & Veatch and the Institute of Energy of Ministry of Industry and Trade. The grant recipient was Mekong Clean Energy Interconnection Co., Ltd., an affiliate of Delta Offshore Energy Americas LLC.

Bobby Quintos, co-founder and managing director of Delta Offshore Energy, said, The international feasibility study funded by a grant from USTDA and gifted to Vietnam from the US government is a representation of American energy abundance and reliability in accordance with President Trumps Executive Order on Unleashing American Energy, especially in the Indo-Pacific region which includes Vietnam, a comprehensive strategic partner of the US.

This international feasibility study enables the owner of the 500kV Bac LieuThot Not transmission line to use the engineering study to issue a request for proposal to contractors globally interested in building the transmission line. This international feasibility study also considers various commercial models to entice various funding sources, including both public and private capital from abroad.

Ian Nguyen, chairman of BLLP and co-founder and managing director of Delta Offshore Energy, said the signing of the Principal Agreement and the completion of the international feasibility study for the transmission line will help Vietnam achieve its grid infrastructure goals.

"We are sourcing blended financing that combines public sector solutions to crowd-in and de-risk private sector capital from the US and partner countries," he said. "This model can be replicated across the country and could serve as a successful case study for electrifying the wider Indo-Pacific."

According to recent planning estimates, $136.3 billion is required over the next five years to implement the revised PDP 8, which aims to nearly double electricity generation by 2030 to power Vietnam's rapidly growing economy. Of this, $18.1 billion is allocated for grid infrastructure. Within 2026 alone, EVNNPT targets commencing construction on 87 grid projects.

"Given the significant imported content for both generation and grid infrastructure, a significant majority of this funding is likely required from global capital sources," Nguyen added.

Nghe An establishes task force to help implement LNG thermal power plant Nghe An Peoples Committee has created a task force to direct and supervise the $2.3 billion Quynh Lap Liquefied Natural Gas thermal power project.

EVN awards EPC contract for Quang Trach II LNG project Vietnam Electricity and a consortium signed the engineering, procurement and construction contract for the first component (power plant) of Quang Trach II LNG Thermal Power Plant on February 9.
Getting children to sit down and finish their homework without repeated nagging is one of the most common struggles parents face, but child development experts say the solution lies not in more reminders but in building routines, offering autonomy, and teaching self-regulation skills early on.

Why Constant Reminders Do Not Work

Research published in November 2025 in the journal Behavioral Sciences found that parental autonomy support, not control, drives children to develop self-regulation skills that lead to better homework completion. Children who received high levels of autonomy support used more self-regulation strategies during homework. Stepping back and guiding rather than hovering produces better results.

The Child Mind Institute, in a February 2026 guide, reinforced this by noting that building choice into the homework process reduces power struggles. When kids feel ownership over their work, they are more likely to follow through without being pushed.

Set Up a Consistent Routine

One of the most effective steps is to establish a predictable homework routine. According to the Child Mind Institute, this means setting a specific time and place for homework every day. Some children work best right after school, while others need time to unwind first. Let your child have some say in the decision.

A September 2025 article from Raising Arizona Kids Magazine recommended setting a timer for focused work intervals of 15 to 30 minutes, depending on age, followed by short breaks. Having all supplies within reach before starting also helps reduce avoidance behaviors.

Create a Distraction-Free Workspace

A dedicated, clutter-free workspace signals to a child's brain that it is time to focus. A September 2025 piece in Psychology Today advised placing the desk away from windows and doorways. All electronics, especially phones, should be out of reach to remove the temptation to check notifications.

The workspace does not need to be elaborate. Even a small table or corner works as long as it is used regularly and kept clear of unnecessary items.

Read more: New York Parents Express Concern Amid Rising Costs and Competition at Top Schools

Break Assignments Into Smaller Pieces

Large assignments can feel overwhelming, leading to procrastination. Experts recommend breaking homework into smaller chunks. According to K12 Tutoring, setting small goals, such as completing three math problems before taking a break, helps children stay motivated and gives them a sense of accomplishment.

Visual timers or checklists can also help younger children. When kids can see what needs to be done and check off completed tasks, they are more likely to stay on track without being told.

Use Positive Reinforcement Instead of Nagging

Rather than repeating instructions, parents should praise effort. Raising Arizona Kids suggested using "First/Then" statements, such as "First, we finish two math problems, then you can play outside." This rewards the behavior you want to see without creating conflict.

The Child Mind Institute also recommended an incentive system where children earn points for completing homework goals. These points can be traded for rewards the child chooses, like extra screen time or a favorite weekend activity.

Add Movement Breaks

Physical activity before and during homework helps children focus. Psychology Today noted that a bike ride, trampoline time, or jumping jacks before sitting down can improve attention. During longer sessions, movement breaks every 15 to 20 minutes allow the brain to reset.

These breaks do not need to be long. A quick stretch or a walk around the room for a minute can make a noticeable difference in concentration.

Know When to Seek Help

If homework battles continue despite a solid routine, it may signal something deeper. Raising Arizona Kids pointed out that frequent conflicts may indicate a skills gap rather than a motivation problem. Consulting a tutor or requesting a school evaluation may be the right next step.

Helping children focus on homework is not about being more forceful. It is about creating the right conditions, routine, autonomy, encouragement, and structure, so children can learn to manage their work on their own.
Held on March 19, the webinar gathered market participants to discuss the structural transition required to secure and sustain secondary emerging market status. The impending upgrade of Vietnam's equity market is expected to reshape capital flows and investor composition.

The consensus among insiders is that achieving secondary emerging market status is merely the starting point for a broader evolutionary process within the country's financial ecosystem.

As the anticipated FTSE Russell classification inclusion targets a September timeline, local market participants are observing a significant undercurrent of preparation from global entities.

Thomas Nguyen, chief global markets officer at SSI Securities Corporation, highlighted that this milestone will fundamentally alter operations and demographics of the Vietnamese stock exchange.

My primary expectation is that this institutionalisation will lead to reduced volatility over time, Thomas said. Transitioning away from a retail-dominated market fundamentally changes how profit is made and how stocks behave.

The traditional structure of the Vietnamese stock market has long been characterised by a heavy reliance on individual day traders. Thomas noted that the historical rule of thumb saw a market split of 90 per cent retail and 10 per cent institutional participation.

However, his observations indicate this ratio has already begun to shift to approximately 85 per cent retail and 15 per cent institutional. Looking ahead to the end of 2027, Thomas forecasts an estimate of 20 per cent institutional participation and 80 per cent retail.

This demographic shift is being preceded by tangible preparations from the global financial ecosystem, which comprises international brokers, custodians, and ultimate funders.

SSI Securities has reported a 52 per cent on-year surge in overseas institutional account openings for the year-to-date. While these accounts are not yet executing trades in high volumes, their establishment strongly signals that global participants are laying necessary technical groundwork to embrace the market.

"We often hear that the actual fund flow entering Vietnam will be approximately $1.5 billion," Thomas said. "The players indexed to FTSE will become significant shareholders, holding 5 per cent or more of every major Vietnamese company. When substantial overseas investors hold stakes in companies like FPT, Vinamilk, or Vingroup, the presence of these massive, passive holders changes the dynamic."

"My primary expectation is that this institutionalisation will lead to reduced volatility over time, along with an increase in fundamental investors who take a long-term view rather than focusing on day-to-day fluctuations," he added.

The necessity of this institutional transition is strongly echoed by those deploying capital on the ground in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

Thu Nguyen, deputy CEO of Vinacapital Fund Management, provided a practitioner's perspective on how current retail dominance creates market inefficiencies.

"Retail investors account for 85-90 per cent of trading volume, often exhibiting the irrationality or extreme behaviour seen in other markets," she explained. "This retail-driven environment has historically cemented the country as a prime market for alpha generation, where active managers can uncover undervalued assets and overlooked 'hidden gems' based on strong fundamentals."

The influx of overseas institutional capital is expected to correct these mispricings gradually and reduce market blind spots.

While passive flows will largely chase market size, active international flows are forecast to be even more substantial. Thu noted that enhanced transparency and normalisation of corporate governance are critical byproducts of this institutionalisation process, which will make the market more efficient over time.

To truly accommodate this institutional capital and ensure sustained momentum, the nation must actively expand its investable universe.

Vu Viet Linh, thematic strategist for Institutional Research at Maybank Securities Vietnam, outlined the broader macroeconomic requirements of the market upgrade.

From our perspective, the imminent upgrade is like Vietnam receiving a ticket to a much larger market, said Linh.

He estimated that total portfolio inflows could range between $5 billion and $6 billion from both passive and active financiers in the short term.

To fully capitalise on this capital influx and match regional peers, Linh identified two critical solutions for market expansion.

The first is actively encouraging foreign invested companies to list locally. While the foreign direct investment (FDI) sector is vital and accounts for over 20 per cent of GDP, it represents a mere 2 per cent of total stock market capitalisation.

Linh pointed out that current equity book value of FDI firms operating here stands at approximately $200 billion. Tapping into this sector, replicating successful models seen in India and Malaysia, would drastically improve market depth and assist global institutional investors with their diversification strategies.

The second avenue is accelerating IPOs of prominent state-owned enterprises.

Driven by Circular 57, which prioritises non-bank sectors like telecommunications, transportation, and minerals for ownership restructuring, Linh estimated an additional $60 billion in market capitalisation could be unlocked.

Ultimately, he noted that these structural improvements could pave the way for the countrys national sovereign credit rating to be upgraded to investment grade, an event that historical case studies of Indonesia and the Philippines suggest could boost stock indices by up to 50 per cent over a two-year period.

Securing and maintaining this heightened institutional interest requires continuous regulatory evolution from local authorities.

Meanwhile, Wanming Du, director of Index Policy for Asia-Pacific at FTSE Russell, explained that criteria for emerging market status have evolved significantly over the past two decades to reflect modern global market best practices.

Vietnam cannot simply remain stationary. They must improve in tandem with their peers to sustain their status, Wanming warned. It is important that we see continued momentum in building a proper central counterparty system that is functional and practical for the Vietnamese market. Additionally, we are looking at foreign ownership restrictions to ensure a larger, more investable portion of the market becomes accessible to international investors.

Looking ahead, Wanming stressed the importance of fostering a mature investment landscape to replace traditional saving habits, especially to cater to the nation's energetic younger demographic. Introduction of diverse, cost-effective passive products, such as exchange-traded funds, fixed income offerings, and index funds, will be crucial. These structured products are deemed essential to help the next generation build and sustain long-term wealth within a newly institutionalised and internationally integrated market environment.

Vietnam closer to key FTSE upgrade Vietnam is now edging even closer to the coveted emerging market status, after FTSE Russell announced that the country is now on the watch list to join its secondary emerging market ranking.

Vietnam after FTSE upgrade: a shift in both quantity and quality of foreign capital FTSE Russell's decision to upgrade Vietnam from frontier to secondary emerging market status has spurred optimism in the stock market. Le Hoai An, founder of Integrated Financial Solutions JSC, spoke with VIR's Van Dung about the impact of the milestone.
The event took place on March 20, organised by Hanoi Sub-Department of Animal Husbandry, Aquaculture, and Veterinary Medicine, in collaboration with Soi Dog Foundation and Vietnam Social and Behaviour Change Communication for Sustainable Development Company (SBCC Vietnam). The conference aimed to promote a phased transition to more sustainable and civilised occupations.

This marks the second training session in the programme series, a core activity of a project approved by the Hanoi People's Committee last July aimed at piloting a model for rabies prevention and the phased transition away from dog and cat meat trading in selected wards of the city. The scheme pursues two parallel objectives: contributing to the national goal of zero human rabies deaths by 2030, while strengthening disease management and control capacity and gradually applying animal welfare standards in line with international practices.

The initiative represents a significant step towards building a more civilised and safe urban environment, aligning with global trends in animal welfare. Through the project, the city is demonstrating a proactive commitment to supporting residents in a sustainable livelihood transition  a long-term direction being implemented systematically.

According to data from early 2026, Vietnam has recorded 10 suspected rabies cases and deaths across 10 provinces and cities. Hanoi has reported rabies outbreaks in three hamlets across two communes  Ha Lac and Ha Bang  resulting in the culling of 28 animals (27 dogs and one cat) and a significant number of people requiring post-exposure prophylaxis treatment. The figures reflect a persistent and complex disease situation, highlighting the need for more coordinated and decisive intervention measures.

At the conference, experts presented updates on the current situation and new 2026 regulations, highlighting the direct link between dog and cat slaughter and trading activities and the risk of rabies transmission  particularly in the context of Hanoi having just recorded two local outbreaks.

The city is tightening control over food traceability, eliminating street vending stalls and makeshift markets on pavements and roadways, and conducting multiple surprise and periodic inspections of business licences, invoices, and documentation proving product origin, and facility hygiene conditions throughout 2026.

Nguyen Dinh Dang, head of Hanoi Sub-Department of Animal Husbandry, Aquaculture and Veterinary Medicine, stated, "We commend the pioneering spirit of the nearly 10 business households who registered for transition after the first training session. They are seen as positive change catalysts  role models to inspire their communities. We wish to make one thing clear: the city is not here to create obstacles, but to accompany and genuinely support residents through this transition."

"The recent rabies outbreaks occurring within Hanoi itself serve as a stark warning that the rabies pathogen remains an active public health threat, necessitating the coordinated implementation of comprehensive prevention and control measures  including the regulation of the trade and slaughter of dogs and cats. The proper management of dog and cat meat processing and commercial activities contributes to upholding urban civility and public order, safeguarding the lives of residents, and advancing the vision of Hanoi as a civilised, modern, and disease-safe capital city," he added.

Faizan Jalil, senior manager at Soi Dog Foundation

According to Faizan Jalil, senior manager at Soi Dog Foundation,"Market data shows that Hanoi's pet services industry is growing strongly, creating numerous career opportunities with stable income and a more professional working environment."

"Drawing on our implementation experience in Thailand and other countries in the region, we can confirm that when people are provided with viable livelihood alternatives  with a concrete, step-by-step roadmap and meaningful accompanying support  the vast majority are willing and successful in transitioning to new, safer, and more sustainable occupations, with income equal to or even greater than before," he said.

"Soi Dog Foundation is committed to providing comprehensive support, from vocational skills training and startup assistance to market linkages and business partner networking," Jalil added.

Bui Thi Duyen, director of SBCC Vietnam, said, "We are delighted that nearly 10 households registered to join the transition after the first training session. This is testament to the spirit of daring to change for a better future. We hope more dog and cat slaughter and trading business owners will register after today's training."

"These trailblazers are finding a more sustainable path for themselves  their courage in leaving behind old habits will be a powerful inspiration for the broader community," she added. "We are committed to providing dedicated support to those who register early, so we have time to walk this journey together and make the most of available resources."

Tran Van Tuan, a dog meat business owner in Duong Noi ward who registered for the initiative, said, "Having worked in this trade for over a decade, I know its instability. The economy is declining, customers are few, and regulatory pressures keep tightening."

"Living amid unsanitary conditions with health risks constantly lurking, I know I cannot keep going down this road. When I learned there was a structured support programme, I saw this as a genuine opportunity to change. I want my children to see their father doing work they can be proud of," he added.

The scheme offers free support to dog and cat slaughter and trading establishment owners who voluntarily join, including vocational training, startup assistance, business consulting, market linkages, and legal support.

The conference marks a milestone in integrating disease prevention with sustainable development. Organisers hope the pioneers will become role models, motivating more to join the transition.

Hanoi strengthens rabies control and supports transition of dog and cat meat trade A training conference was held in Hanoi on October 28 to discuss how to strengthen rabies control and facilitate the transition of the dog and cat meat trade.

Conference focuses on switch from dog and cat meat trade to sustainable, safe jobs A training conference on "Sustainable Livelihood Phased-Transition: From Dog and Cat Meat Trade to Sustainable, Safe, and Civilised Occupations" took place in Hanoi on December 10.
On March 20, the company announced that 10 passenger buses  including both internal combustion and electric engine models  had been shipped as part of a contract for 300 vehicles to be exported to Thailand in 2026. The milestone underscores the manufacturer's production capacity and the growing regional recognition of Vietnamese-made automobile products.

Researched and developed by Kim Long Motor's engineering team, the buses are designed to meet Thailand's terrain, transport infrastructure, and customer requirements. With a localisation rate exceeding 80 per cent at the company's Hue factory, the vehicles qualify for tax exemptions when imported into Thailand and across ASEAN markets.

Among the vehicles being shipped, the 12m Kim Long 99-seat buses stand out with their contemporary design and upgraded amenities, catering to the high-quality passenger transport segment.

The buses are equipped with a new-generation YUCHAI K11 engine designed for strong and stable performance. Fuel consumption of just 1921 litres per 100km helps keep operating costs competitive. The integrated body and chassis design is researched and optimised using modern design and simulation software to enhance load capacity, reduce vehicle weight, and adapt to diverse operating conditions in Thailand.

In contrast to products that rely on fragmented supply chains, the chassis and YUCHAI K11 engine of Kim Long's seated buses are manufactured at the company's Hue factory, offering a competitive advantage by ensuring consistent quality while strengthening supply chain control.

Alongside traditional internal combustion models, Kim Long Motor has also exported 12m electric buses to Thailand  a significant step in the development of green, environmentally friendly commercial vehicles.

The electric bus is equipped with a new BYD battery system, with average power consumption of just 0.8 kWh per km. The battery pack is produced at Kim Long Motor's commercial electric vehicle battery plant in Hue.

With modern battery technology, the bus can travel more than 400km on a 90 per cent charge, supported by regenerative braking to optimise energy efficiency. The solution enables smooth and stable operation while significantly lowering operating costs compared with traditional vehicles.

The models' energy efficiency and reduced emissions align with the green transportation trend and support Thailand's push towards clean energy transition.

With this shipment, Kim Long Motor has taken a step towards establishing its manufacturing capabilities and product quality in international markets. The company aims to strengthen collaboration with strategic partners, advance development of environmentally friendly vehicles, and enhance competitiveness as it works towards becoming a recognised commercial vehicle brand in the region.

Beyond accelerating exports, Kim Long Motor is investing in a comprehensive factory system covering research and development, component manufacturing, vehicle frames, engines, and electric vehicle batteries.

By managing its value chain, the company aims to ensure consistent product quality, control costs, and tailor products to specific market requirements. This provides a foundation for increasing competitiveness, accelerating product rollout, and deepening integration into global supply chains.

With a clear focus on sustainable development, Kim Long Motor is positioning itself as a Vietnamese vehicle brand ready to integrate and compete internationally.

Kim Long Motor and BYD Battery start electric vehicle battery plant in Hue On January 27, Kim Long Motor, in collaboration with BYD Battery, held the groundbreaking ceremony for the BYD battery manufacturing plant at Kim Long's manufacturing and assembly industrial park, with a total investment of $130 million.

Kim Long Motor and AOJ Suzhou enter strategic partnership Kim Long Motor and AOJ Suzhou signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Ho Chi Minh City on February 14.
At an event on March 17 discussing Vietnam's urban transformation towards 2035, Cushman & Wakefield released data showing GDP growth of 8.02 per cent in 2025. Over the past decade, including the pandemic period, the economy has averaged annual growth of 6.2 per cent  the highest among major economies in the region.

Foreign investment inflows reached more than $38.4 billion last year, while total trade turnover exceeded $930 billion  a new record that placed Vietnam among the world's top 25 largest trading economies. China and the United States remained its key partners.

GDP per person nearly doubled, rising from $2,290 to $5,026. The population also reached 102.3 million, with a rapidly expanding middle-class driving domestic consumption and urban demand. Together, the indicators reflect an economy that has strengthened both its external competitiveness and internal resilience.

Source: GSO, Ministry of Finance of Vietnam, Cushman & Wakefield Vietnam

Hoang Nguyet Minh, country head of Cushman & Wakefield Vietnam, described the country's development as a deep structural transformation from rapid expansion to more sustainable, higher-quality growth.

"From the early years of market formation and policy reform, through global integration, to today's push towards higher-value growth, Vietnam has steadily evolved into one of Southeast Asia's most dynamic economies," Minh said. "The country is now entering a more mature phase of development, where growth is increasingly defined by scale, productivity, innovation, infrastructure readiness, and the quality of investment."

Cushman & Wakefield noted that Vietnam's economic transformation over the past 30 years has unfolded through clearly defined stages: market-opening reforms and private land-use rights in the 1990s, acceleration after accession to the World Trade Organization, a post-2014 diversification phase, and a recent period of market recalibration and institutional refinement.

"The next cycle, towards 2030 and beyond, will be driven by greater legal transparency, more strategic infrastructure development, and the national ambition to become Southeast Asia's third-largest economy before 2030 and a developed, high-income country by 2045," Minh added.

The briefing also noted that Vietnams foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction strategy has remained broadly consistent over the past decade, with manufacturing and processing continuing to account for nearly 60 per cent of total FDI, followed by real estate at close to 20 per cent. However, the countrys export structure has undergone a major transformation.

From an economy once concentrated on phone assembly and garment manufacturing, Vietnam has expanded its export value by 166 per cent, driven by the growth of electronics, computers, machinery and mechanical equipment, mobile phones, and related industries.

In the next phase of economic development, with a stronger focus on improving the quality of FDI, Vietnam is placing greater priority on strategic sectors such as semiconductors and chip manufacturing, AI, robotics, biotechnology, and nuclear energy. In doing so, the country aims to strengthen its competitive advantage and reposition itself from a low-cost labour and manufacturing destination into a high-tech investment hub.

Against this backdrop, a central theme throughout the briefing was that urban planning and infrastructure development must move in parallel with economic transformation. As Vietnam evolves into a more complex, higher value-added economy, its cities can no longer continue expanding in a fragmented manner.

Instead, planning must support integrated urban areas, stronger infrastructure connectivity, the formation of employment clusters, education and healthcare ecosystems, and the creation of a higher-quality living environment.

Ngoc Le, senior director of Strategic Consulting at Cushman & Wakefield Vietnam, said the strongest lesson from their urban planning case studies is that successful urbanisation is never just about adding housing stock.

"It is about creating a complete urban logic, where infrastructure, jobs, education, healthcare, public amenities, and quality of life evolve together," Le said. "Vietnam's larger planning footprint gives it a real opportunity to develop integrated mega-townships more effectively, but this requires long-term discipline and a planning mindset that builds districts, not just buildings."

Through the case studies presented at the briefing, Cushman & Wakefield identified several recurring principles for Vietnam's urban future: infrastructure connectivity must come early; planning discipline creates long-term commercial value; and mixed-use ecosystems incorporating schools, healthcare, offices, retail, and public spaces are more resilient over time. Examples from China and Vietnam show how coordinated planning can support both population growth and price resilience while enhancing urban quality of life.

Looking ahead, Anshul Jain, chief executive for India, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa at Cushman & Wakefield, said Vietnam remains one of the region's most compelling long-term growth markets because its story is no longer just about speed of expansion, but about the quality of that expansion.

"From a regional perspective, the direction is increasingly clear: urban planning, infrastructure investment, and economic strategy must become more closely aligned," Jain said. "If this alignment continues, Vietnam will be exceptionally well positioned to create more competitive cities, more investable urban corridors, and a stronger platform for long-term real estate growth."

The 2026 forecasted GDP Growth of Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand were adjusted based on the governments target. Source: Moodys Analytics, Cushman & Wakefield Research, Vietnam

Cushman & Wakefield believes Vietnam is entering a pivotal period in which economic fundamentals and urban planning are becoming more closely interconnected. With stronger infrastructure ambitions, a broader domestic market, continued foreign investment interest, and an increasing focus on integrated urban development, the country is well positioned to shape the next generation of metropolitan growth in a more strategic and sustainable way.

Hanoi strives to raise urbanisation rate to 75 pc by 2030 The capital city of Hanoi is striving to increase its urbanisation rate to 60-62 per cent by 2025 and around 65-75 per cent by 2030.

Tall building forum held in Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City is one of the fastest growing spots for urbanisation and tall buildings in Southeast Asia, and there is great potential to develop this segment further, according to experts at the Tall Buiding Forum held in Ho Chi Minh City on May 28.
Photo: Thoibaotaichinhvietnam.vn

On March 19, the Department of Domestic Market Management and Development under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, together with the Vietnam Mercantile Exchange (MXV), businesses, and banks, convened to discuss plans for listing and trading silver bullion.

According to MXV, the roadmap for listing silver will be implemented in two phases. In the initial pilot stage, silver bullion will be traded domestically with both exchange transactions and physical delivery. Once the market stabilises, the system is expected to gradually integrate with regional and international commodity exchanges.

Major gold and silver traders  including Phu Quy Group, Bao Tin Manh Hai, Bao Tin Minh Chau, Saigon Jewelry Company SBJ, and Digi Invest  have expressed readiness to ensure production capacity and physical delivery. These firms are expected to play key roles in supply, custody, and trading operations.

Globally, silver prices have risen in line with broader precious metals trends, reaching a peak of nearly $108.6 per ounce on January 26. Domestically, silver bullion prices have also seen strong fluctuations, at one point exceeding $4,400 per kilogram, before easing to around $3,100 per kilogram.

Silver trading in Vietnam is largely conducted through direct transactions between parties. However, this fragmented model lacks a centralised pricing mechanism and standardised product and information frameworks, posing risks for both investors and businesses.

Tran Huu Linh, director general of the Department of Domestic Market Management and Development, noted that demand for silver trading has been on the rise.

The proposal to list silver on MXV aims to gradually standardise trading activities amid strong price volatility and wide fluctuations, he said.

Nevertheless, he stressed that implementation requires comprehensive evaluation to ensure transparency, system safety, and the protection of market participants. Authorities will assess economic and social impacts, while also considering risk management mechanisms such as position limits, speculation controls, and measures to safeguard market stability.
The event marks a milestone in SLPs ongoing expansion strategy to deliver high-quality, operational-ready manufacturing infrastructure in key industrial corridors across Vietnam.

Scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2027, SLP Park Tien Du represents SLPs eighth project in Vietnam and fourth development in Bac Ninh, strengthening the companys footprint in one of the countrys most established and competitive manufacturing clusters.

In 2025, Bac Ninh ranked third nationwide in attracting foreign direct investment, with the total value of newly registered and adjusted capital reaching $18.5 billion. Home to major global manufacturers, the province offers a robust industrial ecosystem that supports scalable, wellconnected manufacturing operations.

SLP Park Tien Du is positioned as a next-generation single-story ready-built factory project

As a ready-built factory (RBF) project, SLP Park Tien Du is strategically located within a 30km radius of Hanois central business district, placing it in one of northern Vietnams most mature manufacturing ecosystems with well-established supplier networks and supporting industries.

The location offers seamless access to key transport corridors including HanoiBac Giang Expressway, National Road 18, and the HanoiHaiphong Expressway, enabling efficient regional and export connectivity. Its proximity to Hanoi also supports access to a deep pool of skilled technical and managerial talent, an important advantage for manufacturers seeking both operational efficiency and workforce quality.

SLP Park Tien Du delivers a Grade-A, single story RBF complex with a total gross floor area of 74,414 square metres across eight buildings. Unit sizes range from approximately 2,800 to 3,600 sq.m, offering flexible leasing configurations for manufacturers with varying scale requirements.

Engineered with a focus on manufacturing efficiency and operational flow, the initiative features an eight-metre clear height and floor loading capacity of 23 tonnes per sq.m to accommodate a wide range of production lines and equipment requirements.

Complementing its technical specifications, the venture also includes a two-story customer service centre, supporting a customer-centric service model and contributing to a balanced working environment with enhanced onsite engagement areas.

Through SLPs One-Stop Service Station framework, tenants receive lifecycle-oriented setup support, with SLPs local expert teams providing direct consultation and coordinating with qualified external partners across key implementation stages including licensing, fit-out planning, financing introductions, labour sourcing, and early operational preparation. This integrated support model helps streamline project rollout and accelerate customers transition from setup to full operation.

Groundbreaking ceremony of SLP Park Tien Du in Bac Ninh province

SLP Park Tien Du is targeting LEED Gold certification, underscoring SLPs commitment to ESG-driven development. Key sustainability features include a 130 kWp rooftop solar system, electric vehicle charging ready parking, low volatility organic compound and sustainably sourced building materials, and water efficient fixtures. Green landscaping and shaded outdoor areas are integrated to mitigate heat island effects and strengthen the sites overall environmental performance.

Based on SLPs leasing performance across our portfolio in 2025, we are accelerating the construction and development of SLP Park Tien Du to meet increasing customer demand and expand our service capabilities. On completion, the project will deliver high-quality, operational-ready manufacturing infrastructure, helping customers move faster from setup to production, said Dinh Hoai Nam, principal and head of leasing at SLP.

In 2025, SLP maintained a portfolio lease ratio above 97 per cent, underscoring strong market demand and operational performance. SLP operates as part of Ares Management Corporation, a global alternative investment manager.

With SLP Park Tien Du, the company continues to expand its network of professionally managed industrial facilities, supporting manufacturers and logistics operators with reliable infrastructure, technical standards, and long-term partnership across their investment journey in Vietnam.

SLP is a leading industrial and logistics infrastructure platform in Southeast Asia, delivering technology-driven RBF and readybuilt warehouse facilities that meet modern manufacturing and supply chain requirements.

Operational efficiency is ensured via SLPs offerings SLP, a part of GLP, is poised to expand its impact on Vietnams industrial and logistics infrastructure with its robust investments in modern warehouses and factory facilities. Edwin Chee, chief operating officer of SLP Vietnam, discussed with VIRs Thanh Van his insights into the emerging trends in the Vietnamese market and the companys strategies to unlock potential.

SLP charts strategic path through Vietnams industrial real estate market SEA Logistics Partners (SLP), an industrial and logistics infrastructure developer, has fared well in the Vietnamese market. Nam Dinh, head of business development and commercial at SLP, spoke to VIR's Thanh Van about the company's development plans.
The proposal was voiced during a meeting on March 19 in Rome, Italy when Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung met with Stefano Pontecorvo, chairman of Leonardo Group.

At the meeting, the DPM praised Leonardo Groups standing as one of Europes and the worlds leading aerospace and defence technology groups, and welcomed the signing of an MoU between Leonardo and the National Innovation Centre (NIC) at the VietnamItaly Business Forum 2025, laying the groundwork for expanded cooperation between the two sides.

Vietnam-Italy Strategic Partnership relations have continued to develop positively in recent years, with economic, trade, and investment cooperation as a key pillar. Vietnam remains Italys largest trading partner in ASEAN, while Italy consistently ranks among Vietnams top five trading partners in the EU, the DPM said.

The semiconductor industry is one of the key foundations of the modern economy

At present, Vietnam is continuing to refine its institutional framework, renew growth drivers, and remove bottlenecks to establish a new growth model.

These efforts aim to achieve a growth rate of 10 per cent or higher and realise the countrys two centennial development goals. The twin goals are becoming an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income developed country by 2045.

Vietnam has identified sci-tech, innovation, and national digital transformation as the primary drivers of development in the new era

The government has designated 11 strategic technology sectors and is simultaneously implementing a wide range of solutions to develop both the semiconductor industry ecosystem and the national innovation ecosystem.

According to Leonardos chairman, Vietnams perspectives and development are well aligned with the Groups vision and strategic direction.

DPM Dung proposed that Leonardo strengthen cooperation with Vietnam in several key areas.

First, the Group should expand its commercial presence and investment in Vietnam, initially by effectively implementing the MoU with NIC.

Second, Leonardo is encouraged to participate in developing sectors where it has strengths and Vietnam has strong potential and demand for cooperation, including aviation economy, space economy, satellites, cybersecurity, semiconductors, and AI.

Vietnam has recently inaugurated a Space Centre in Hoa Lac, Hanoi, with sufficient resources to engage in substantive cooperation with leading global partners in this field.

Third, the Group is invited to study the establishment of a R&D Centre at NIC Hoa Lac, serving as a foundation for joint research, testing, and commercialisation of new technology products.

Fourth, Leonardo helps connect and support partners within its global network to explore cooperation and investment opportunities in Vietnam.

Fifth, the Group is encouraged to collaborate with Vietnamese institutes, universities, and organisations in training stronger workers, with an immediate priority of supporting the implementation of Vietnams programme to train 50,000 semiconductor engineers.

Sixth, Leonardo is expected to assist Vietnamese technology enterprises in enhancing their technological capabilities, enabling deeper participation in value chains, supply chains, and high-tech industrial projects between the two countries.

The Vietnamese government will create better conditions for Italian partners in general, and Leonardo Group in particular, to expedite effective, sustainable, and long-term cooperation in the country, the DPM said.

Founded in 1948, Leonardo currently ranks 12th globally in aerospace, defence and security, cybersecurity, helicopters, space, and advanced technology systems.

In 2025, the group reported revenues of approximately 19.5 billion ($22.8 billion) and operates in more than 150 countries, with a global workforce of around 50,000.

International groups eye high-tech investment opportunities in Vietnam Vietnamese and international businesses gathered at a roundtable on January 21 in Davos, Switzerland to discuss high-tech investments in Vietnam.

Asia-Europe forum strengthens high-tech investment As Vietnam sharpens its focus on attracting high-quality foreign direct investment, capital flows from Europe are gathering pace, underpinned by the implementation of new-generation free trade agreements and growing investor interest in high-tech and sustainable industries.
Le Trieu Dung, director general of MoIT's Multilateral Trade Policy Department

The launch introduced the projects objectives and key activities, providing a platform for government authorities, business support organisations, industry associations and the business community to exchange views on implementation and utilisation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

At the launch ceremony, Le Trieu Dung, director general of MoIT's Multilateral Trade Policy Department, stated that the RCEP, signed in November 2020 between ASEAN and China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, is the worlds largest free trade area, covering 2.3 billion consumers, approximately 30 per cent of global GDP.

The implementation of the RCEP has helped facilitate regional trade and investment, enabling businesses to make more effective use of regional supply chains.

For Vietnam, the partnership is becoming a key driver in expanding export markets and deepening international economic integration. In 2025, Vietnams exports to RCEP markets reached $172.1 billion, up approximately 30.3 per cent compared to 2021.

He added that, alongside traditional benefits in trade in goods, services and investment, the evolution of international trade is increasingly intertwined with digital transformation and the growth of digital commerce.

Leveraging free trade agreements, including RCEP, goes beyond tariff reductions and opens up chances for businesses to expand their operations through digital platforms, e-commerce and cross-border digital business models. The participation of the private sector, business associations and stakeholders is key to capturing opportunities presented by the agreement, especially in digital trade.

By strengthening dialogue and cooperation among government authorities, the business community and development partners, we can foster a more enabling environment for Vietnamese enterprises to engage more deeply in digital trade and regional value chains, Dung said.

Discussions clarified the objectives and planned activities of the project, with particular emphasis on digital trade and inclusive private sector engagement. Participants also received an updated overview of Vietnams free trade agreements, including RCEP, highlighting progress in international economic integration and key implementation challenges.

The discussions identified opportunities for increasing RCEP utilisation among micro small and medium-sized enterprises, addressing practical challenges, digital trade opportunities, participation in regional value chains and trade facilitation.

Caroline Beresford, Ambassador of New Zealand to Vietnam emphasised New Zealands partnership with Vietnam through the RT4D initiative in support of effective the RCEP, noting that the project was expected to help Vietnamese small businesses seize opportunities in digital trade and regional value chains.

Renee Deschamps, Deputy Ambassador of Australia, said, Australia sees the RCEP as an important tool to support trade and investment in the region. We support this initiative as recognising the need for industry, businesses and consumers of all sizes to contribute to, and benefit from, economic integration and digital trade inclusively. It also reflects growing importance of digital trade between Australia and Vietnam.

RT4D, funded by both the governments of Australia and New Zealand, assists ASEAN Member States in meeting their commitments and realising the advantages offered by the Agreement establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area, and the RCEP Agreement.

Launching economic and technical support programme RT4D A conference for the Regional Trade for Development (RT4D) support programme under the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) took place in Hanoi on January 9.

Vietnam reinforces free trade deal advantages Three years after the entry into force of a landmark regional free trade agreement, Vietnam is poised to deepen trade and investment ties, leveraging the deals favourable rules of origin to boost exports and attract foreign funding.
Student misbehavior in American classrooms continues to worsen years after the pandemic, and a growing number of teachers say a lack of parental support is a major part of the problem.

Data from the EdWeek Research Center's 2026 State of Teaching survey, which polled more than 5,800 teachers nationwide, found that 35% of respondents said their students' behavior was "a lot worse" than the previous year, while 64% reported that behavior has worsened overall.

The problem is especially severe at the elementary level, where 76% of teachers said behavior has declined, according to The Hill.

These findings build on a trend that has only intensified since students returned to classrooms after COVID-19 shutdowns. A separate EdWeek survey from December 2024 found that 72% of educators said students were misbehaving more than in fall 2019, up from 66% in 2021. A nationwide NEA poll of 2,889 educators found that 81% said students are acting out, making behavior nearly as pressing a concern as pay.

Teachers describe students who are more disruptive, defiant, and sometimes physically aggressive. According to a 2024 Pew Research Center report, 80% of teachers said they address behavioral problems at least a few times a week, with 58% saying it happens daily.

Read more: More Schools Are Closing as Districts Grapple With a Decline in National Birthrate

In Delaware, a state education survey found the average teacher spends seven hours per month managing outbursts, with middle school teachers losing closer to 10 hours of instruction time, Education Week reported.

When asked what would help, teachers consistently pointed to parents. In the Education Week survey, 58% said parents need instruction on teaching their children to behave in school. More than half also said limiting how much parents can undermine school consequences would have a major positive impact.

Teachers say when they reach out about issues, they are often met with defensiveness. "When you call parents to speak to their child, either you're not getting an answer, or you're getting negative feedback, as if you're saying something bad about their child," one Chicago teacher told Education Week. "We're just looking for their support."

Experts say the roots of the crisis run deep. Children born during the pandemic missed critical early social experiences, and a 2025 survey found that 76% of elementary school leaders agreed the pandemic continues to harm behavioral development. Excessive screen time, rising child poverty, and reduced recess have also been cited as factors.

Schools are responding with varied strategies. Some have adopted restorative practices focused on conflict resolution, while states like West Virginia have passed laws giving teachers more authority to remove disruptive students. Still, more than 75% of educators in the NEA survey reported a lack of parental support in handling discipline, as per the Los Angeles Times.
Royal Navy warship HMS Dragon has arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean as part of Britains increased defensive presence in the region.

HMS Dragon is one of the Royal Navys Type 45 destroyers, renowned for their advanced capabilities in air defence and their striking red dragon emblem on the bow.

In December 2024 the Honorary Freedom of Wrexham County Borough was awarded to HMS Dragon, and in June last year crew members exercised that award with a parade through the city centre with drums beating, flags flying, swords drawn, bayonets fixed.

The Secretary of State for Defence John Healey MP updated the House of Commons earlier today on UK military operations in the middle east, stating I can confirm that HMS Dragon has arrived in the eastern Mediterranean, and will tonight begin operational integration into Cypruss defence alongside allies.

Conservative James Cartlidge MP asked later, The reports that an Iranian missile headed for Diego Garcia was intercepted by a US destroyer underline the critical importance of our Type 45s to our own air defence, so while we welcome HMS Dragon finally arriving, does the Secretary of State regret not sending her much sooner?

The Defence Minister did not mention Dragon but replied, I want to reassure the public, however, on the concern that the hon. Gentleman raises about long-range Iranian missiles and any question of Iran targeting the UK, and to say, quite clearly, that there is no assessment that we are being targeted in the UK in that way. We have the resources and the alliances in place to keep the United Kingdom safe from any kind of attack. We operate a layered defence of this United Kingdom. Our Navy, our RAF and our Army are all involved, and we operate our defence with other NATO allies. That layered defence against missiles or any other sort of threat is an important part of keeping this country safe.

Conservative Ben Obese-Jecty asked, The Secretary of State talks about missile defence for the UK. I appreciate that he has had his Weetabix this morning, but can I gently remind him that he was a Minister in the last Labour Government, who halved the number of Type 45 destroyers, meaning that we do not have enough? They also equipped them with WR-21 engines, and as a result, we have only one that is currently seaworthy, HMS Dragon.

The Defence Minister fired back, Turning to HMS Dragon, we only have it available to deploy to the eastern Mediterranean because it was ordered by a Labour Government, and over 14 years, Conservative Governments did not order a single new destroyer.

In the update the Defence Minister also noted wider service deployments, RAF and Navy pilots have now racked up nearly 900 flying hours in defence of Cyprus, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. We have more jets in the region than we have had at any time in the last 15 years. There are an extra 500 air defence personnel in Cyprus, and as more military capabilities are committed to the eastern Mediterranean, we are working closely with the Republic of Cyprus to co-ordinate the contributions of allies, including the US, France and Greece, to reinforce the security of Cyprus.

More widely, UK Space Command is monitoring daily Iranian missile activity, and provided early warning to our armed forces and our allies operating across the region.

Spotted something? Got a story? email us at Got a story? email us at news@wrexham.com
Wrexham Councils controversial hybrid working scheme could be suspended due to cost of living concerns caused by the Iran conflict.

Cllr Stella Matthew put forward the recommendation to the councils Customers, Performance, Resources and Governance Scrutiny Committee during a hybrid working review.

Last September the authority introduced a standard hybrid working policy requiring staff to be in the office for four days per week  despite a consultation finding 90.7% of staff preferred a different model.

But Cllr Matthews said she is now concerned that policy, coupled with the conflict in Iran, is hitting council staff in the pocket.

The situation has changed considerably since we brought in the policy. she said. I think its pretty obvious from the news that when they report that oil has gone up to over 100 dollars a barrel our staff are going to feel it. Its our responsibility to think about our staff.

Very soon I think therell be numbers of our staff struggling and I think we should start looking at it now. We should recognise that circumstances have changed substantially and I hope the executive board are big enough to have another look at this.

Despite her plea to make the recommendation to the executive board, the committee chose to direct it to the councils cost of living sub-committee which is monitoring all rising costs impacted by the conflict.

It will maintain a review of the economic effects of the conflict and recommend whether the hybrid working policy is amended to support staff if costs increase further.

Deputy Leader of Wrexham Council, Cllr David Bithell, said that he did not believe the situation required action yet.

Obviously we have seen a rise in fuel costs but nothing significant at this stage, he said. We are monitoring it, closely and myself, Alwyn (Jones  Wrexham Council Chief Executive) and Darren (Williams, Chief Officer Environment and Technical) from the fleet perspective.

Were not concerned at this moment in time about the rising cost in fuel.

We cant really blame another crisis in another country for what we do here in Wrexham Council. We are fully aware and monitoring the situation closely.

Cllr Matthews disagreed with the deputy leader regarding the need for action and the committee agreed, supporting her recommendation.

I know David said its business as usual, she told members. But I dont think it will be over the next few months.

The report also highlighted concerns council staff have since the introduction of the new hybrid model, which to date has cost the authority 130,000.

It cited reports that some affected staff felt the authority no longer trusted them to be empowered with regards how they complete their duties. Some employees also felt that their voice was not considered within the consultation.

I never thought I would read in a Wrexham Council report that some of our staff feel that the organisation no longer trusts them, said Cllr Matthews.

Cllr Anthony Wedlake challenged cost-benefit of the move, with the report highlighting negative feelings among the workforce.

Weve just spent the best part of 130,000 to just create more mistrust amongst our employees. he said.

If somebody can actually outline the concrete benefits of this decision and the return on investment of the 130,000 of council tax payers money that we spent, then Ill quite gladly be quiet and shut up, he said. But until then, I wont.

His challenge drew a curt response from Cllr Beverley Parry-Jones, Lead Member for Corporate and Customer Services who was responsible for introducing the hybrid working policy.

We did listen to people, she said. They might not have liked what they heard  and I am going to say this because I think its true of society as a whole. Unfortunately, there are some people in society who dont like or understand the word no.

This was a political decision and we noted the comments that were made at the time. We did acknowledge the concerns raised and it was debated. So in my opinion, this has already been discussed and the decisions been made.

By Alec Doyle  BBC Local Democracy Reporter

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A Wrexham-based production company has secured a major contract with S4C to create new factual programmes.

Tyr Ddraig, based in Wrexham, has teamed up with Carmarthenshire company Captain Jac to win a two-year factual content deal with the Welsh-language broadcaster.

The companies will work on a mix of series, documentaries, short form content for YouTube and content for social media  including original formats, true-crime documentaries and an American travel series.

Llion Iwan, Chief Content Officer at S4C said: Were delighted to award these tenders to Tyr Ddraig, Captain Jac and Boom Cymru; all strong and creative voices within the production sector. T

he commissions reflect our commitment to creating first-class factual content, which is not only relevant, but will also entertain our diverse audiences across Wales and beyond. These companies bring experience as well as new and bold ideas, and we cant wait to see their ideas come to life on S4C.

According to Catrin Rowlands and Trystan Dafydd Rowlands from Captain Jac, securing the tender allows them to open the door to the next generation of creative people: Creating powerful documentaries and compelling factual content sits at the heart of everything we do, and were excited to continue doing what we love  while championing our talented freelance colleagues and opening doors for the next generation of creative talent in West Wales.

Were also looking forward to the opportunity to collaborate with the brilliant team at Tyr Ddraig.

Ben Smith from Tyr Ddraig, part of Banijay UKs Workerbee Group added: We are honoured to be awarded the factual tender by S4C  its a transformative moment and opportunity for Tyr Ddraig and our partners Captain Jac.

As well as being an exciting chance to make new, agenda setting formats and documentaries, were also looking forward to working with and developing new production talent from across our respective regions.

Spotted something? Got a story? email us at Got a story? email us at news@wrexham.com
A man is dead after a shooting on Sun Valley Boulevard on Sunday night.

Deputies initially responded to a call for a battery with a deadly weapon between the driver of a car and a motorcyclist. When they arrived on scene, they found a man with a gunshot wound.

He was taken to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries.

His name has not been released.

The intersection was temporarily closed for the investigation, but is now back open.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Washoe County Sheriffs Office Detective Division at (775) 328-3320 or Secret Witness at (775) 322-4900.

Original story 3/22:

The Washoe County Sheriff's Office is investigating an incident near the Rainbow Market at El Rancho Drive and Sun Valley Boulevard in Sun Valley. No details have been released.

The Washoe County Sheriff's Office posted on their Facebook page around 8 p.m. Sunday that the situation prompted the closure of the intersection at Clear Acre Ln./Sun Valley Blvd and Dandini Blvd./El Rancho Dr.

They say there is no danger to the public.

We will update this story when we learn more.
A deaf couple from Crofton, Maryland, is challenging common misconceptions about deaf parents raising hearing children, from assumptions about their kids' speech development to doubts about their ability to manage everyday family life.

Janet and Daniel Moreno, who are both deaf, are raising four hearing children between the ages of 1 and 7. In an interview with People magazine published on March 22, 2026, Janet, 39, addressed the most common myths she encounters as a deaf mother.

One widespread misconception is the belief that children born to deaf parents will automatically be deaf. "That's just not true," Janet told People.

"Many Children of Deaf Adults (CODAs) are hearing, and they grow up thriving in both worlds." Data from the National Institute on deafness and Other Communication Disorders supports this, noting that more than 90 percent of deaf children are born to hearing parents, meaning deafness does not follow a simple hereditary pattern.

Another assumption Janet frequently confronts is that hearing children raised by deaf parents will struggle with speech. "Some people think hearing kids of deaf parents won't learn to speak properly," she said. "Honestly, our kids learn just like any other child, sometimes with a little more exposure to sign first, but they pick up spoken language just fine."

Research published in the Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education has found that hearing children of deaf parents often develop bimodal bilingualism, becoming proficient in both sign language and spoken language, the NCBI reported.

The Moreno family communicates primarily through sim-com, which involves talking and signing at the same time. When a parent is feeling unwell, the family switches entirely to American Sign Language. Janet noted that her children adjust based on the situation  signing only when shy in public and using sim-com around familiar people.

Janet also pushed back against the belief that deaf parents cannot handle emergencies or daily parenting demands. "We manage just like any parent, we just have our own ways of doing things," she said, adding that the idea of deaf individuals being disconnected from the hearing world could not be "further from the truth."

The most frustrating misconception, she shared, is what she called a "quiet assumption" that deaf parents must be overwhelmed and cannot balance work and family. In reality, Janet and Daniel run an online business selling ASL apparel, Daniel works full-time, and Janet homeschools their oldest child.

"Deafness has not made us incapable of balance," she said. "It has taught us to be intentional, to plan carefully, to lean on each other, and to trust God in the middle of busy seasons."

Janet's advice to other deaf parents raising hearing children was simple. "Trust yourselves," she said. "You know your kids better than anyone else, and your instincts are usually right," as per the NIDCD.


GREEN IRON SA Advances Port Pirie Iron Ore Export Concept

Adelaide, Mar 23, 2026 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Magnetite Mines Ltd ( ASX:MGT ) ( R8Q1:FRA ) ( RRSXF:OTCMKTS ) issues joint release with GREEN IRON SA as it advances the Port Pirie Iron Ore Export Concept.



HIGHLIGHTS:



- Port Pirie export pathway clarified: A high-level engineering assessment of Port Pirie's existing infrastructure and logistics options by Green Iron SA has outlined a potential iron ore export configuration from train arrival through to ship loading at Flinders Ports' Berth 7.



- Leverages existing infrastructure: The concept intentionally makes best use of existing industrial land, port precinct infrastructure and transport corridors, consistent with the consortium's objective of enabling iron ore concentrate export as a precursor to downstream pellet and/or green iron production.



- Designed to limit community impacts: The proposed configuration prioritises measures to reduce dust and noise impacts, and to minimise vehicle-rail interface impacts, including transport corridor selection, covered storage and a sealed conveyor system.



- Consortium alignment: All Green Iron SA consortium members support the continued advancement of the Port Pirie export concept, subject to further technical and economic modelling, approvals and stakeholder engagement.

*Please refer to the Joint Media Release for further details.

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/M03A1L7D





About Magnetite Mines Ltd





Magnetite Mines Limited (ASX:MGT) holds a fully-owned Mineral Resource of 6.6 billion tonnes and is advancing its flagship Razorback Iron Ore Project, located approximately 240 kilometres northeast of Adelaide. Razorback is one of the few undeveloped magnetite projects globally capable of producing premium Direct Reduction (DR) grade concentrate at scale  a key feedstock for green iron and lower-emissions steelmaking  positioning the Company to benefit from growing demand for high-purity iron ore products. The Project recently received Major Project Status from the Australian Government and is currently the only iron ore project in Australia to hold this designation. Magnetite Mines also holds an extensive South Australian tenement portfolio prospective for rare earth elements, copper, silver and gold, providing disciplined exposure to critical minerals aligned with global electrification and decarbonisation trends.

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Jim Carrey receives an Honorary Cesar, gets emotional during tribute, and reveals his French roots in a heartfelt Paris speech.

AceShowbiz - Jim Carrey, the star of The Truman Show, made a public appearance at the 51st Cesar Awards held in Paris on Thursday evening. The event marked a moment as Jim Carrey was presented with an Honorary Cesar Award, celebrating his contributions to cinema.

During the ceremony, the actor became visibly emotional when director Michel Gondry reminisced about their collaboration on the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The tribute was followed by remarks from actor Emmanuel Curtil, who serves as Jim Carrey's official French voice, pleading with the star not to retire from his profession.

Jim Carrey accepted the award with a speech delivered in French, marked by a strong accent that added a personal touch to the moment. In his remarks, he reflected on his heritage, revealing that his great-great-great-grandfather, Marc-Francois Carrey, had emigrated from the French port city of Saint Malo to Canada. From there, Jim Carrey himself had journeyed onward to Los Angeles, where he built his career.

The honorary trophy, distinguished by its rectangular block shape, symbolized both recognition and a deep connection to Jim Carrey's roots. His presence at the event was notable given his recent withdrawal from the public eye, making this appearance a glimpse of the actor embracing both his past and his achievements.
Eric Dane of Grey's Anatomy & Euphoria passes at 53. Stream his hit series The Last Ship on HBO Max before it leaves April 11.

AceShowbiz - Veteran actor Eric Dane passed away in February at the age of 53 after a long battle with ALS. A day following his death, Netflix aired an episode of Famous Last Words featuring a heartfelt message from Dane himself. Known for his breakout role in the medical drama Greys Anatomy, Dane had recently enjoyed a career resurgence with notable roles in the HBO hit series Euphoria and the blockbuster film Bad Boys: Ride or Die, which earned over $400 million worldwide.

Before these recent successes, Dane starred in a popular TV series executive-produced by famed director Michael Bay. That series, The Last Ship, is currently available on HBO Max but is scheduled to depart the streaming platform on April 11.

The Last Ship was created by Hank Steinberg and Steven Kane, adapting William Brinkleys book of the same name. The series aired for five seasons from 2014 to 2018 on TNT. Set in a post-pandemic world where a virus has wiped out 80% of the global population, the story follows the crew of a U.S. Navy vessel that remains mysteriously unaffected. Danes character rises through the ranks, ultimately becoming an admiral by the series conclusion.

The cast also included Rhona Mitra, Adam Baldwin, Charles Parnell, and Hiroyuki Sanada of Sh?gun fame. Behind the camera, the series featured Lost alum Jack Bender directing several episodes, while the pilot was directed by Jonathan Mostow, known for Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.

Upon its debut, The Last Ship received a 65% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which grew to 86% by its second season. In a review for Collider, Amanda M. Castro praised the show for deserving a second look and highlighted Danes performance. She noted that Dane, often typecast as a charming foil, brought a new depth to his role as Chandler. He wasnt witty or sexy  he was tired, angry, and burdened by violent instincts. That vulnerability gave the series an emotional core, Castro wrote.
Explore Miriam Margolyes' life in an accidental documentary. Filmed on a phone over two years, join her journey from London to Australia, with friends, royal...

AceShowbiz - Miriam Margolyes is the focus of the documentary Miriam Margolyes Made Me Me, which captures her life journey from London to Australia and back again. The film showcases a variety of moments, including visits with old friends, live stage performances, and even an encounter with royalty.

The documentary was created by BAFTA-winning director Simon Draper, who spent two years filming Margolyes using just his phone. Interestingly, the project was not originally intended to be a film. Drapers initial goal was to produce a podcast featuring the celebrated actor, known for her vibrant personality and frequent television appearances, often noted for her colorful language.

In an interview with Deadline, Margolyes described the film as something of an accidental creation. She admitted to feeling confused about the process, stating she didnt know what the f**k was going on. Despite that, the resulting documentary offers an intimate look at her life and career, revealing the candid and lively spirit that fans appreciate.

The films spontaneous origins and unfiltered portrayal make it a unique addition to the range of content about Margolyes. It highlights not only her professional endeavors but also personal moments that contribute to her distinctive public persona.
Charlie Cox addresses Daredevil's MCU future. Will Matt Murdock appear in the new Spider-Man film? Find out what he revealed.

AceShowbiz - Charlie Coxs return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been one of the most celebrated developments in recent years. After a lengthy hiatus following the cancellation of his critically acclaimed Netflix series, Charlie Cox made a surprise comeback with a brief cameo in Spider-Man: No Way Home, then appeared in a supporting role in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, and later guest-starred in the series Echo. These appearances paved the way for Daredevil: Born Again, the Disney+ revival that officially integrated the Defenders-era continuity into the MCU canon.

With the second season of Daredevil: Born Again just days away from its premiere and Spider-Man: Brand New Day set to hit theaters in July, fans have been eager to find out whether Matt Murdock will appear on the big screen once again.

During a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to promote the upcoming season, Charlie Cox addressed the speculation directly. No. Now, if I were in the movie, I would also say no, to be clear. Right. But Im not in the movie, he said. When Kimmel pressed him further, Cox repeated, Im definitely not in the movie. This exchange mirrored the classic Marvel style of denials that are technically true but often leave fans unconvinced.

The tone shifted when the conversation moved to Avengers: Doomsday. Cox said, I dont think so. No as far as I know, Im not in the Avengers. His more resigned tone here contrasted with the playful secrecy around Brand New Day.

The storyline of Spider-Man: Brand New Day itself hints strongly at connections to Charlie Coxs corner of the MCU. The movies first trailer suggests the presence of the Hand, the ancient ninja clan that was the primary antagonist throughout multiple seasons of the original Netflix Daredevil series. Since Daredevil has the most established history battling the Hand, it would be natural for the film to involve his character.

Further strengthening the ties, Daredevil: Born Again Season 3 is already confirmed to be in development, with Elodie Yungs Elektra rumored to play a major role. A sequence in Brand New Day that reactivates the Hand within the main MCU timeline would serve as a direct narrative link to the upcoming season of the series.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is also expected to feature Jon Bernthals Frank Castle, a character closely connected to Daredevil. The political backdrop of the film further ties into Charlie Coxs storyline, as the trailer includes Zabryna Guevara reprising her role as Sheila Rivera, the political advisor to Wilson Fisk (played by Vincent DOnofrio) from Born Again.

Interestingly, eagle-eyed fans have noticed that a critical scene in the Brand New Day trailer, where Spider-Man faces off against a group of Hand ninjas clad in red, appears to have been digitally altered. Additional figures seem to have been removed from the frame, which aligns with Marvels past practice of editing out allies from trailer footage to maintain surprise reveals.

Given Charlie Coxs denials and the numerous narrative clues linking Brand New Day to the Daredevil storyline, its plausible that the Devil of Hells Kitchen could soon make his theatrical MCU return.

Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 is set to premiere on Disney+ on March 25th, while Spider-Man: Brand New Day will be released in theaters on July 26th.

Do you believe Daredevil will make an appearance in Spider-Man: Brand New Day? Share your thoughts below.
Keanu Reeves' band Dogstar announces new album 'All in Now.' Hear their comeback energy and studio excitement. Out May 29.

AceShowbiz - The rock trio Dogstar, featuring Keanu Reeves on bass, guitarist and vocalist Bret Domrose, and drummer Robert Mailhouse, announced their fourth studio album titled All in Now, set to be released on May 29 via their own Dillon Street Records label.

After a long hiatus, the band is making a strong comeback, following their 2023 album Somewhere Between the Power Lines. The new collection was produced by Nick Launay and marks another chapter in Dogstar's revitalized career.

"We couldn't f-ing wait," Reeves said about returning to the studio. "Personally, I loved it all. For me, the attitude was like, 'let's work hard and let's go.'"

Mailhouse added, "The album really sets up the energy at the heart of this album and the fun that we've always had playing together." This sentiment reflects the band's enthusiasm and chemistry that fans have long appreciated.

To promote the upcoming album, Dogstar released a music video for the title track, All in Now. Directed by Carlos Garcia Medina, the minimalist video features the trio performing the melodic three-minute song in a dimly lit room, emphasizing their raw and authentic sound.

Discussing the track, Mailhouse said, "'All In Now' just whacks you in the head. Talk about a live song. Keanu came up with the title for that song too, and it sort of summed up where and who we are as a band today. It just feels true to us. We're leaning in, and we are going to keep going."

In addition to the album, Dogstar announced a 25-date U.S. summer tour supporting the new release. The tour kicks off on May 28 at Yaamava' Resort & Casino in Highland, California, with another California show before the band takes their performances overseas to the United Kingdom and Europe through late July.

The band will return to the United States on August 1, performing at ACL Live at the Moody Theatre in Austin, Texas. Their tour will continue with appearances in major cities including Atlanta, Nashville, Philadelphia, Boston, New York, and Denver. The trek concludes on September 3 at The Complex at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Dogstar's return not only highlights their enduring bond but also their commitment to their craft after years away from the spotlight. Fans eagerly await the new album and the opportunity to see the band live once again.

For updates and tour information, fans can check out Dogstar's official social media channels.
The Tank, a WWII thriller, topped Prime Video's charts after its acquisition. Follow a Tiger tank crew's perilous rescue mission behind enemy lines.

AceShowbiz - Earlier this year, Prime Video quietly acquired The Tank, a World War II thriller directed by Dennis Gansel, following its brief theatrical release in Germany. The film made an immediate impact on the streaming platform, rapidly climbing to the top spot on Prime Videos most-watched movies list. The Tank held this position for several weeks until it was overtaken by the action-comedy The Wrecking Crew, starring Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista. According to data from FlixPatrol, the movie has now vanished from Prime Videos global charts and is steadily disappearing from country-specific rankings as newer titles are added to the services catalog.

The Tank centers on a tense mission involving a five-man crew operating a German Tiger tank during World War II. Their objective is to rescue a comrade trapped behind enemy lines. As the mission unfolds, the soldiers are tested not only by external dangers but also by the psychological strain of confinement and fear within the cramped tank. The film delves deeply into the characters evolving mental states as they navigate perilous territory, attempting to evade enemy traps while confronting their own fears. The cast is led by David Schutter, alongside Laurence Rupp, Leonard Kunz, Sebastian Urzendowsky, Yoran Leicher, Tilman Strau, and Andre M. Hennicke.

Dennis Gansel is known for making films with strong political and social themes, such as the anti-Nazi drama Before the Fall and The Fourth State. However, for his upcoming project, he is shifting genres to science fiction with his new movie titled The Prototype. This film explores a futuristic scenario involving artificial intelligence, where a man attempting to steal an AI-controlled vehicle instead becomes its captive. The concept highlights potential complexities and dangers in a world increasingly influenced by AI technology.

While The Tank fades from the charts, Prime Video continues to find success with its youth-oriented content. The platform has built a reputation for popular young adult movies and series, including hits like The Summer I Turned Pretty and Red, White, and Royal Blue. Currently, the top-ranking movie on Prime Video is Love Me Love Me, an Italian teen romance that combines elements of The Summer I Turned Pretty and Maxton Hall. The film stars Mia Jenkins, Pepe Barroso Silva, Luca Melucci, Andrea Guo, Michelangelo Vizzini, Madior Fall, and Vanessa Donghi.

The official synopsis of Love Me Love Me describes the story as follows: After the death of her brother, June (played by Jenkins) relocates to Milan for a fresh start and enrolls in an elite international school. There, she finds solace in dating Will (Melucci), the school's model honor student. However, June's newfound stability is disrupted by a fierce rivalry with Wills best friend James (Barroso), a charismatic but troubled youth hiding a secret life in underground MMA fights. This rivalry transforms from resentment into an intense attraction, forcing June to choose between a safe relationship and a love that challenges her beliefs.

The Tank originally premiered on September 18, 2025, with a runtime of 117 minutes. The film is categorized as an action, war, and drama movie. It was written by Colin Teevan and produced by Dan Maag. Fans of gripping World War II narratives and character-driven war dramas are encouraged to watch the movie while it remains available on Prime Video.

As streaming platforms constantly refresh their libraries, movies like The Tank may experience fluctuations in visibility. However, the films intense portrayal of wartime camaraderie and psychological tension has already left a strong impression on audiences. Viewers interested in high-stakes military stories should keep an eye out for Dennis Gansels upcoming sci-fi project The Prototype, which promises to explore provocative themes in a very different setting.

Stay tuned for further updates on Prime Videos evolving content lineup and new releases in the war and sci-fi genres.
Awaiting news for It: Welcome to Derry Season 2? Dive into the acclaimed 1962 prequel that expands the It universe with new horrors in Derry.

AceShowbiz - It: Welcome to Derry has captivated audiences and critics alike as a compelling prequel to the popular It film series, yet fans remain in limbo awaiting official confirmation of its second season. HBOs recent release strategies, which have been praised for other high-profile shows, have only heightened frustration surrounding the uncertainty of this shows renewal and release timeline.

The series transports viewers back to 1962, focusing on a distinct group of children in the eerie town of Derry, haunted by the malevolent shapeshifter known as "It." Alongside these young protagonists, the military is drawn into a disturbing search for Its lair, hinting at sinister plans involving the creature. This fresh narrative, set decades before the events of Andy Muschiettis feature films, has enriched the lore of the It: Welcome to Derry universe and garnered significant acclaim.

Despite the positive reception and strong viewership, HBO has yet to officially renew It: Welcome to Derry for a second season. Reports from January 2026 indicate that HBO is already working on season 2 behind the scenes, but the lack of formal announcements leaves the future of the series in a state of ambiguity. Andy Muschietti, the shows creator, has revealed intriguing plans for the series trajectory. The production team intends to explore the 27-year cycles during which Pennywise awakens to terrorize Derry, with each season stepping further back in time. Season 1 laid a solid foundation by delving into a specific era, but future installments could potentially depict the creatures arrival in the town and its earliest murders.

While development on season 2 might be underway, the vague status of pre-production and the absence of an official renewal suggest a lengthy wait before new episodes arrive. The Hollywood Reporters coverage confirms that although production is in progress, the show remains unrenewed publicly, leaving fans unsure when they can expect to see the continuation of It: Welcome to Derry.

This delay stands in contrast to HBOs established release formula for other acclaimed projects. Shows like The Pitt and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms benefit from consistent yearly releases, while flagship series such as House of the Dragon receive swift renewals and have subsequent seasons already planned and mapped out. The cautious approach to It: Welcome to Derry renewal and production timelines breaks from this pattern, raising questions about the networks strategy for this particular series.

Fans and observers of HBOs programming have noted the networks tendency to move deliberately when it comes to confirming renewals and scheduling releases. This careful pacing might be tied to the complexity of the shows narrative or strategic decisions about content rollout. Whatever the reason, it means that viewers eager for season 2 of It: Welcome to Derry will likely face an extended wait, despite the creative teams enthusiasm and ongoing work behind the scenes.

The premise of the show, which hinges on Pennywises cyclical awakenings every 27 years, offers a rich vein of storytelling potential. Each season could traverse to a different time period in Derrys dark history, revealing new facets of the towns troubled past and the far-reaching influence of the creature. This expansive timeline promises to deepen the mythology in ways that could rival or even surpass the original film adaptations.

However, the slow renewal process and lack of clear communication from HBO about the shows future have left many fans frustrated. In the current streaming landscape, where timely renewals and regular release schedules are often key to maintaining momentum and viewer engagement, the uncertainty surrounding It: Welcome to Derry season 2 poses a challenge.

For now, subscribers and horror enthusiasts can only speculate about when HBO will officially announce the next chapter of this chilling series. The hope remains that the network will soon provide clarity, enabling the production team to move forward with confidence and giving audiences a concrete timeline for when they can return to the unsettling world of Derry and Pennywise.

In summary, while It: Welcome to Derry season 2 appears to be in the early stages of development, the absence of an official renewal and HBOs notably slow release strategy for the show have made its future more frustrating for fans. The unique storytelling approach, involving a 27-year rewind with each season, promises rich narrative possibilities, but the wait for confirmation and release dates continues. Industry watchers and viewers alike remain hopeful that an announcement will arrive soon, allowing the series to continue exploring the dark history of Derry and the terrifying presence of It.
Explore the dark, Southern charm of HBO's True Blood, a gritty vampire series that blends politics, fantasy, and grounded storytelling.

AceShowbiz - True Blood stands out as a 2008 HBO fantasy series that skillfully brought Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire Mysteries novels to the small screen. The show carved a unique niche by combining dark, gritty themes with a blend of graphic content, political undertones, and a distinctly Southern charm. Unlike many vampire series of its time, including titles like The Vampire Diaries and The Originals, True Blood maintained a grounded feel through its characters and storytelling, particularly through its central figure, waitress Sookie Stackhouse.

Adapting a sprawling series of over 13 novels into a television format is a considerable challenge. The Southern Vampire Mysteries feature more than a dozen books and additional short stories, all centered on Sookies experiences in a supernatural-infused Louisiana. HBO, during its Peak TV era, was known for pushing boundaries with taboo subjects often involving sex and violence. However, True Blood found a subtler yet powerful approach by focusing on the heart of the novels: Sookie herself.

The novels are not defined by explicit content or shock value but instead offer a unique perspective through Sookies voicea blend of femininity, strength, and unwavering honesty. True Blood retained this delicate balance by telling a dark and violent story from Sookies point of view, which added levity and Southern politeness to otherwise brutal fantasy conflicts. This approach allowed the show to satisfy HBOs brand expectations visually and thematically, portraying a nighttime world filled with vampires, werewolves, and other creatures without losing the storys charm.

The series also embraces the visual storytelling opportunities that television offers. The nighttime setting intrinsic to vampire lore creates a naturally dark and atmospheric backdrop. True Blood does not shy away from graphic scenes of blood and violence, which contrast with Sookies polite Southern demeanor and the quaint town of Bon Temps, Louisiana. This juxtaposition elevates the narrative, challenging traditional vampire genre tropes while engaging with contemporary social themes.

While the show follows the novels closely, it makes necessary adjustments to adapt the extensive source material into a coherent TV narrative. Certain characters and plotlines from the books are omitted or simplified to avoid overwhelming viewers with too many threads. For example, Sookies high school admirer JB du Rone is entirely removed, and Jason Stackhouses encounter with the werepanthers is significantly downplayed. Conversely, the show expands the roles of some characters who become fan favorites, such as Lafayette, Taras cousin who is killed early in the novels but plays a larger role onscreen, as well as the troubled Terry Bellefleur and Bills protege Jess. These changes highlight the series emphasis on Sookies open-mindedness and its critique of Southern traditions and prejudices.

Despite these alterations, True Blood remains faithful to the core themes of the Southern Vampire Mysteries. The books often depict frightening and violent events through Sookies mild-mannered and introspective narrative voice, which includes her thoughts on mundane matters like cleaning and tanning. While this internal monologue softens the darkness in the novels, the TV adaptation intensifies these elements, allowing the themes of acceptance, otherness, and morality to resonate more powerfully with viewers.

One of the shows most striking achievements is showing a polite, small-town woman like Sookie physically immersed in battles involving supernatural monsters. This visual representation underscores the uniqueness of her character and the storys setting. The supernatural elements feel even more out of place against the familiar backdrop of Bon Temps, making Sookies courage and tolerance all the more compelling. Her willingness to defy the townsfolks often hostile attitudes toward the supernatural community is a central element that drives both the novels and the show.

The Southern Vampire Mysteries novels stand as captivating reads on their own, but their adaptation into True Blood demonstrates how a well-executed television series can elevate and expand the source materials impact. The HBO series exemplifies how to translate complex, multi-book franchises to the screen successfully, preserving the originals spirit while making necessary adjustments for the medium.

In summary, True Blood is a prime example of an adaptation done correctly. It balances graphic content with charm, stays true to its protagonists perspective, and carefully selects which plot and character elements to highlight or omit. By doing so, it offers a fresh, compelling take on vampire lore that remains relevant and engaging years after its debut.
Warrior, the Bruce Lee-inspired martial arts crime drama, has left Netflix. Discover where to stream all three seasons of this action-packed series set in 19...

AceShowbiz - Warrior is no longer available on Netflix, much to the disappointment of its fans. This three-season martial arts crime drama, which has captivated viewers with its intense action and compelling storytelling, has recently left the Netflix platform. However, viewers can still catch the show on HBO Max, the streaming service that revived it for its third season after its initial run on Cinemax.

The series is notable for its roots in the creative vision of martial arts legend Bruce Lee. The show is based on a treatment by Lee himself, which was discovered years after his untimely death by his daughter, Shannon Lee, who also serves as an executive producer. The involvement of the Lee family lends the show a deep authenticity and connection to martial arts culture, setting it apart from other genre entries.

Warrior is set in late 19th century San Francisco during the turbulent Tong Wars, a period marked by violent conflicts between rival Chinese and Irish gangs. The story follows Ah Sahm, a gifted martial artist from China portrayed by Andrew Koji, who immigrates to the United States with the goal of finding his sister, Mai Ling, played by Dianne Doan. Unlike many immigrants of the era seeking economic opportunities, Ah Sahm becomes entangled with Chinatowns underworld as an assassin working for a powerful gang. His sisters marriage to a crime boss complicates his search and deepens the narratives intrigue.

Executive produced by Shannon Lee and co-produced by Justin Lin, famed for his work on the Fast and Furious franchise, the show expertly blends martial arts spectacle with gritty crime drama. Created by Jonathan Tropper, known for his work on series like Banshee, Warrior balances high-energy fight sequences with rich storytelling and complex character development.

The series explores the immigrant experience with a raw and unflinching eye, showcasing the harsh realities faced by newcomers in a city rife with poverty, discrimination, and violence. The contrasting fighting styles of the Chinese and Irish gangsgraceful, precise martial arts versus brutal, bare-knuckle brawlingserve as a metaphor for the cultural and social clashes at the heart of the show.

Warrior also incorporates elements of classic Western storytelling. Ah Sahms journey reflects the archetype of the lone outsider who confronts hostile forces in a harsh new environment. The shows frequent shifts between Cantonese and English dialogue heighten the tension and underscore the multicultural melting pot that was early San Francisco, where language and identity often played critical roles in survival and deception.

Critics and fans alike have praised the series for its dedication to authentic martial arts choreography, drawing inspiration from icons like Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee himself. The fight scenes are meticulously crafted and provide a thrilling visual spectacle that complements the show's dramatic weight. Beyond the action, the show delves into personal relationships and romantic subplots, giving depth to the characters and grounding the high-octane combat in emotional reality.

Despite leaving Netflix, Warrior remains accessible to viewers eager for its unique blend of operatic drama, intense martial arts sequences, and historical context. The series offers a rich viewing experience that highlights the brilliance of East Asian film traditions while weaving a compelling narrative about identity, loyalty, and survival in a hostile land.

For those who have yet to discover Warrior, its availability on HBO Max provides an excellent opportunity to binge all three seasons over a weekend. The shows compelling mix of crime, drama, and martial arts action makes it a standout in todays crowded streaming landscape and a must-watch for fans of genre television and East Asian culture alike.

Subscribing to newsletters that track streaming availability can help viewers stay updated on where to watch series like Warrior as they move between platforms. With the shifting nature of streaming rights, knowing the current home of a favorite show ensures it can be enjoyed without interruption.

Ultimately, Warrior stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of Bruce Lee and his vision. The shows combination of dazzling martial arts, gritty crime stories, and heartfelt drama reflects a passion project that Lee might have spent decades developing himself. Though its streaming home has changed, the series continues to captivate audiences and honor the spirit of its legendary inspiration.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- RSA Conference LLC ("RSAC"), the premier global platform for the cybersecurity community and host of the world's largest and most influential cybersecurity conference, opens its annual flagship event today in San Francisco at the Moscone Center. Taking place through Thursday, March 26, RSAC Conference is in its 35th year, convening the world's top cybersecurity, government, and business leaders to learn, explore current and future trends, and strategize on best practices to tackle the threats of today and tomorrow, while working to create a safer society.

RSAC Conference will feature more than 700 speakers, 31 session tracks, 570+ sessions, and 600+ exhibitors Post this RSAC 2026 Conference kicks off at the Moscone Center in San Francisco on Monday, March 23

"RSAC is thrilled to once again welcome the global cybersecurity community to San Francisco," said Jen Easterly, CEO of RSAC. "With tens of thousands of attendees from more than 100 countries, RSAC remains the trusted forum where practitioners, researchers, innovators, and leaders come together to tackle the challenges shaping our digital world. This year's conference comes at a pivotal moment as AI accelerates both cyber risk and cyber defensea moment where the security community has never been more relevant. We look forward to spotlighting breakthrough research, thought-provoking content, and cutting-edge innovations, all focused on building a more secure and resilient world."

RSAC 2026 Conference will support two keynote stages featuring visionary industry experts, compelling panels, and esteemed guest speakers. Both stages open today with a renowned lineup of notable speakers.

"For 35 years, RSAC Conference has been built, backed, and supported by the Power of our Community  our theme for 2026," said Linda Gray Martin, Senior Vice President, RSAC Conference. "We are proud to reflect on those 35 years as we honor the past, while working together to build a powerful and secure path forward. And of course, there will be some fun surprises along the way."

In addition to its keynotes, RSAC Conference will feature more than 700 speakers, 31 session tracks, 570+ sessions, and 600+ exhibitors from across the industry. Additional highlights include:

* numbers according to Crunchbase as of March 11, 2026

Content for most keynote and track sessions is available for All Access Pass holders within four hours after the live occurrence. For more information regarding RSAC 2026 Conference, taking place at the Moscone Center in San Francisco this week, visit our website at www.rsaconference.com/usa.

RSAC Conference thanks its 2026 sponsors:

Diamond Sponsors: Cisco, CrowdStrike, Microsoft Security, Teramind, and Ubiquiti

Platinum Sponsors: Armis, Axonius, Check Point, Cloudflare, ExtraHop, Fortinet, Google Cloud Security, IBM Security, Illumio, Rubrik, SentinelOne, Splunk (a Cisco company), Tenable, and Varonis

Gold Sponsors: Akamai, AT&T Business, Broadcom, Commvault, Elastic, Entrust, ESET, Exabeam, Expel, Island, ManageEngine, Mimecast, Okta, OpenText, Synk, TeleTrusT  IT Security Association Germany, ThreatLocker, Veeam, Wiz, and Zscaler

Silver Sponsors: Bitdefender, Black Duck, BlinkOps, Cohesity, Corelight, Cribl, CyberArk, Delinea, F5, Fortra, iboss, Ivanti, JFrog, Keyfactor, KnowBe4, Netskope, Proofpoint, ReliaQuest, RSA, SailPoint, SecurityScorecard, Sumo Logic, Thales, and Yubico

Bronze Sponsors: AhnLab, A-LIGN, AppOmni, AppViewX, BigID, Capital One Software, ColorTokens, Darktrace, Datadog, Forward Networks, GitLab, GTB Technologies, Halycon, Harness, HiddenLayer, Kyndryl, Lumu, Mondoo, OneTrust, Pentera, ReversingLabs, Saviynt, SecPod, Sonatype, SpecterOps, Thinkst Canary, Tufin, UpGuard, Utimaco, and Veza.

About RSAC

As the cybersecurity industry's convening authority, RSAC brings together diverse minds to exchange perspectives, knowledge, and ideas. RSAC provides the world's leading platform for uniting and advancing the cybersecurity community to create a safer society. RSAC is at the cutting edge of cybersecurity innovation and education. The company's flagship event, RSAC Conference, is the largest and most influential global gathering in cybersecurity. RSAC gives cybersecurity professionals a platform to connect and grow. To learn more, visit www.OneRSAC.com.

About RSAC Conference

RSAC Conference is the largest and most influential Conference in the cybersecurity industry. Today, under the expanded RSAC brand, the Conference is central to a larger mission that unites the cybersecurity community to create a safer society. To learn more, visit www.rsaconference.com/usa.

SOURCE RSAC
Revitalize the Flash in the DCU with Wally West. Discover why this fan-favorite hero is the fresh start the Scarlet Speedster needs.

AceShowbiz - While The Flash under Zack Snyder gained attention for its unusual Oscar recognition, the character still has significant room for growth in the DC Universe (DCU). The clearest and most effective strategy for James Gunn and Peter Safran to revitalize the Scarlet Speedster is to pivot towards a version of the character that mainstream audiences likely haven't experienced yet: Wally West.

Wally West stands apart in DC Comics lore with a unique story that has extended from the comic pages to animation and live-action, yet remains relatively unfamiliar to many fans. This distinctiveness makes Wally an ideal candidate for Gunn and Safran to reintroduce the Flash in a fresh way that distances from previous portrayals.

Before becoming a hero, Wally was the quintessential Flash fan. Hailing from Blue Valley, Nebraska, he was fortunate to have an aunt living in Central City, the home of the Flash. More importantly, his aunt Iris West was dating the Flash himself, although she was unaware of his secret identity. An otherwise uneventful visit to his aunts boyfriends laboratory unexpectedly transformed Wally into Kid Flash, propelling the small-town kid into a life of crime-fighting alongside his idol. This transformation realized the fantasy that every comic book reader dreams ofturning wish fulfillment into reality.

What makes Wally West particularly compelling is how relatable he is to audiences. Every comic fan imagines having superpowers, picturing themselves in the shoes of their heroeswhether thats driving the Batmobile or thwarting villains like the Joker. But Wallys story resonates deeper because he embodies the readers dream and the self-doubt that often accompanies achieving it.

Throughout his journey, Wally has battled impostor syndromea common psychological struggle where one questions their worthiness and capability. Even though this doubt has lessened over time for the third Flash, it remains a defining part of his character. This vulnerability allows audiences to connect with him on a genuine level, as his internal struggles mirror real human emotions.

James Gunn has already demonstrated his understanding of the importance of relatable heroes. The recent 2025 Superman film ended with a powerful speech emphasizing this connection. Wally West naturally incorporates this relatability into his core, making him a perfect hero for the DCUs reinvention.

By introducing Wally West as the new Flash, the DCU can effectively move past the negative perceptions left by the previous Flash movie and the characters more comedic portrayal in the DCEU. This fresh take would present a hero who is not only celebrated on the comic page but also embraced on screen for his depth and authenticity.

In summary, the smartest path forward for James Gunn and Peter Safran is to embrace Wally West as the Scarlet Speedster. His unique backstory, combined with his relatable flaws and growth, offers a rich foundation for the DCU to build a Flash that resonates with both longtime fans and new audiences alike.
Andrew Scott delivers a career-best performance as the iconic con man in Netflix's dark, intense psychological thriller Ripley. A fresh take on the classic n...

AceShowbiz - Ripley stands out as one of the finest original crime thriller series Netflix has released in recent years. Starring Andrew Scott, this eight-part adaptation of the classic novel that introduced the infamous con artist Tom Ripley offers a dark, intense journey into the mind of a sociopath. Known for his work in films like Spectre and series such as Fleabag, Scott delivers what many consider a career-best performance in this gripping psychological drama.

The series is a faithful yet fresh take on Patricia Highsmiths 1955 novel The Talented Mr. Ripley, which was famously adapted into a 1999 film featuring Matt Damon, Jude Law, Cate Blanchett, and Gwyneth Paltrow. Unlike the film, which portrayed Tom Ripley as somewhat sympathetic or charming, Netflixs Ripley delves deeper into the characters darker, more manipulative nature. The story follows Tom, a low-level grifter in 1960s New York who is tasked with traveling to Italys Amalfi Coast to retrieve the wealthy Dickie Greenleaf. Once there, Tom abandons the plan to bring Dickie home and instead schemes to assume his identity through deceit and violence.

Ripley combines elements of a crime thriller with a psychological study, making it a standout in Netflixs diverse lineup of original crime dramas. The shows deliberate pacing and cinematic style, enhanced by creator Steven Zaillians sharp monochrome visuals, create an immersive viewing experience. Unlike many fast-paced thrillers on the platform, Ripley unfolds as a slow burn, building tension through subtle character interactions and mounting suspense.

Andrew Scott is the undeniable centerpiece of the series, bringing a complex and chilling dimension to Tom Ripley. His portrayal captures the full extent of Ripleys sociopathic tendencies, providing viewers with an unsettling but compelling look at the characters psychology. While the show won four Emmy Awards, including Best Directing and Cinematography, Scotts transformative performance stands out as the heart of the series and arguably the best depiction of Ripley on screen to date. This is notable given the strong legacy of previous portrayals, such as Dennis Hoppers role in Wim Wenders The American Friend.

Ripley excels in maintaining a steady undercurrent of suspense by revealing just enough of Toms capabilities to keep viewers on edge. The series invites audiences to watch Ripleys calculated moves as if observing a predator lurking in the grass. This meticulous exploration of a criminal mind adds layers of complexity that elevate the show above typical genre fare.

For those seeking a crime thriller that combines psychological depth with cinematic quality, Ripley is an ideal choice. Its eight episodes offer a perfectly paced weekend binge on Netflix, rewarding viewers with a rich narrative and outstanding performances. Given its acclaim and production values, this series will likely remain a benchmark for crime dramas on the streaming service.

In conclusion, Ripley is a must-watch for fans of crime thrillers and psychological dramas alike. It boldly reinterprets a beloved literary character with a fresh, darker edge, brought to life by Andrew Scotts masterful lead performance. The shows careful attention to mood, character, and suspense solidifies it as one of Netflixs best original crime series in years, making it essential viewing for those who appreciate well-crafted storytelling and complex characters.
Liza Minnelli's memoir reveals her childhood among Hollywood royalty. Hear stories of Bogart, Monroe, Astaire & more from inside the ultimate Hollywood fairy...

AceShowbiz - Liza Minnelli, daughter of legendary stars Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli, has lived surrounded by Hollywood royalty her entire life. In her new memoir, Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!, she opens the door to her unique upbringing and the dazzling array of celebrities she encountered from childhood through adulthood.

Growing up in a world populated by A-listers, Liza Minnelli recalls neighbors such as Lauren Bacall, Humphrey Bogart, Fred Astaire, and Bing Crosby. Her childhood friends included Mia Farrow, Candace Bergen, and Cheryl Crane, daughter of Lana Turner. She describes being a silent observer at lavish gatherings attended by luminaries like Henry Mancini and Marilyn Monroe.

One memorable anecdote from her youth is when she went trick-or-treating dressed as the Wicked Witch of the West at the home of Gene Kelly. Reflecting on her early years, Liza writes, "To outsiders, this was a fairy-tale world, but we kids had no idea our lives were unique. There was nothing to compare it to."

Despite joking about being the original nepo baby due to her famous parents, Liza Minnelli reveals in her memoir that her life was far from easy. The EGOT winner shares a childhood marked by both magic and hardship.

As she matured, Lizas circle expanded to include iconic figures such as fashion designer Halston, pop artist Andy Warhol, and composer Marvin Hamlisch. Her romantic life was equally headline-worthy. Notably, while married to her second husband, she embarked on a romance with director Martin Scorsese during the filming of New York, New York.

Among the many famous names featured prominently in her memoir is Frank Sinatra, whom Liza affectionately calls Uncle Frank. When she decided to pursue her career independently as a teenager and move to New York City, Sinatra offered her a $500 check. However, she declined to cash it, determined to succeed on her own merits.

Liza also discusses the romantic relationship between Sinatra and her mother, Judy Garland, in the 1950s. She describes their connection as a deeply romantic love, though her mother often hesitated to deepen the commitment. "It diminishes their relationship to call it an 'affair.' It was certainly more than that," she writes.

In the late 1980s, Liza Minnelli toured with Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr., stepping in for Dean Martin when he fell ill. Although she grew closer to Sinatra during that time, she admits that he could sometimes be difficult, recalling, "He got cranky some nights, and when that happened I'd just leave the room. You didnt want to be around when he got into one of those moods."

Randy Newman is another notable figure in Lizas story. While recording her fourth studio album, she helped boost the then-emerging songwriter by including three of his compositions on the record. This collaboration proved to be an important step for Newmans career.

After landing her first significant film role in 1968s Charlie Bubbles, Liza received a memorable piece of advice from co-star and director Albert Finney: "Tone it down, luv." This guidance helped shape her approach to acting on screen.

Lizas legendary partnership with director and choreographer Bob Fosse during the filming of 1972s Cabaret is also a major highlight of her memoir. She admits their working relationship was intensely personal and charged with sexual energy. "Did we get physically close? It would have been impossible not to," she writes. "We had a chemistry, a back-and-forth that was electric and sometimes felt like a bonfire."

In 1973, Liza Minnelli sparked a romance with actor Peter Sellers while already engaged to Desi Arnaz Jr., son of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. After meeting Sellers, she publicly ended the engagement. However, her relationship with Sellers quickly turned turbulent. She recalls that he would scold, taunt, and bully her by adopting various character voices, often triggered by minor provocations.

On the set of the 1975 film Lucky Lady, Liza worked alongside Gene Hackman. According to her, the experience was difficult due to a lack of chemistry and Hackmans dismissive attitude. "Stanley Donen later shared publicly that Gene was very dismissive of me during the film," she says. "Its hard to go to work when the chemistry is absent. I think its fair to say that Gene was downright rude."

Liza Minnelli also reveals details about her affair with director Martin Scorsese during the filming of 1977s New York, New York. Married at the time to her second husband, Jack Haley Jr., she recounts Scorsese confronting her about rumored infidelity involving ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov. Liza writes that despite the language barrier when she first met Baryshnikov, they immediately connected and eventually became intimate.

Her relationship with Scorsese eventually ended on a sour note. Years later, at the 2014 Oscars ceremony, she attempted to greet him, but he turned away, signaling a final rupture between them.

Iconic actress Elizabeth Taylor appears throughout Lizas memoir as a steadfast presence during key moments, including her third and fourth weddings. Taylor also intervened during one of Lizas struggles with sobriety, encouraging her to seek rehab again.

In the late 1980s, Kiss frontman Gene Simmons played a pivotal role in encouraging Liza Minnelli to explore a more pop-oriented sound. After their meeting, Simmons helped connect her with contacts at Epic Records, leading to her 1989 album Results, produced with the Pet Shop Boys. This marked a significant reinvention in her musical career.

Throughout her new memoir, Liza Minnelli offers a rich tapestry of celebrity encounters and personal revelations, blending the glamour of Hollywoods golden era with candid reflections on her own lifes challenges and triumphs. From childhood playdates with the children of famous stars to high-profile romances and collaborations, Lizas story is a fascinating glimpse into a world few ever experience firsthand.

Her book not only chronicles the glitz and glamour but also highlights the complexities behind the scenes, revealing the human side of iconic figures and the emotional realities of growing up and living in the spotlight. Kids, Wait Till You Hear This! promises to captivate readers with its blend of nostalgia, honesty, and Hollywood lore.
Timothee Chalamet reflects on his role in Nolan's Interstellar, revealing why the sci-fi epic remains his most-watched and cherished film.

AceShowbiz - Interstellar has become one of Christopher Nolans most celebrated films, admired by fans and critics alike for its emotional depth and ambitious storytelling. Among its cast, Timothee Chalamet stands out as a young star whose performance helped cement his status in Hollywood. Despite having a relatively modest role, Chalamets portrayal of Tom Cooper, the teenage son of Matthew McConaugheys character Cooper, resonated strongly with audiences and remains a highlight of his early career.

At a recent special screening of Interstellar in Los Angeles, Chalamet and Christopher Nolan reunited to discuss the film and its enduring legacy. During their conversation, Chalamet revealed that although his role was small compared to the leadsMatthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, and Michael CaineInterstellar holds a special place in his heart as the project he has watched the most and considers his favorite.

Interstellar originally had a different script focus. The initial screenplay, penned by Jonathan Nolan with intentions for Steven Spielberg to direct, emphasized the relationship between Cooper and his son Tom more deeply. Chalamet recalled that the news of his role being reduced was devastating, causing him to "weep for an hour." However, Christopher Nolan clarified that this version no longer exists, and the film that audiences know today took a different narrative path.

The emotional core of Interstellar centers on the fathers journey away from Earth and the family he left behind, including Tom and his sister Murph, played by Jessica Chastain as an adult. One of the most poignant moments in the movie comes when Cooper listens to messages from his family transmitted across space and time. It is during these scenes that Chalamet delivers a particularly powerful and sensitive performance, portraying Toms emotional vulnerability while struggling with the absence of his father.

Interestingly, Christopher Nolan admitted that he was not entirely pleased with the tone Chalamet chose for one of his scenes. He described the actors performance as having a "dark tone" and said, "It felt too much for me. I didn't particularly like it." Despite being directed by one of the most respected filmmakers in the industry, Chalamet stood firm and went with his instincts, choosing to portray the scene his own way.

Nolan recounted the interaction with a mix of respect and amusement, noting, "I told you about it, and you went ahead and did whatever the f--k you wanted and carried on." This candid admission highlights the mutual respect between director and actor, with Nolan appreciating Chalamets commitment to his artistic vision, even if it initially clashed with his own ideas.

The final version of the film vindicates this creative risk. The scene remains one of the most emotionally impactful moments in the movie, with Chalamets portrayal of the conflicted and distant son unfolding with grace and real emotional weight. His ability to show a gradual reveal of vulnerability while speaking to his father across the vast emptiness of space adds a layer of depth to the story that resonates with many viewers.

Christopher Nolan is renowned for being an actors director, giving performers room to contribute creatively and express themselves fully. This approach explains why many prominent actors are willing to take on smaller roles in his films, trusting in his vision and the collaborative environment he fosters. For a then relatively unknown actor like Chalamet, this was an invaluable opportunity to leave his mark and develop his craft.

Sharing scenes with established stars like Matthew McConaughey and John Lithgow, Chalamet made a memorable impression early in his career. His role as Tom Cooperan archetypal moody adolescent grappling with the fear of losing his father and the fate of humanityforeshadowed the emotionally complex characters he would become known for. This performance came just three years before he earned his first Academy Award nomination for Call Me by Your Name, signaling the arrival of a new generation of talent.

While Chalamet has since showcased his range in larger, more flamboyant roles, including those in films directed by Martin Scorsese, his strength lies in his nuanced, introspective portrayals. The restrained yet powerful performance in Interstellar exemplifies this ability, making the movie not just a sci-fi spectacle but also a deeply human story.

Fans of Interstellar and Chalamet can look forward to revisiting this compelling film, which continues to be available for streaming on Paramount+. The movies blend of scientific imagination and heartfelt emotion ensures it remains a defining piece of Nolans career and a milestone in Chalamets rise to stardom.

As Christopher Nolan prepares to bring his adaptation of Homer's Odyssey to theaters this July, the industry eagerly anticipates more of his signature blend of epic storytelling and nuanced character work. Meanwhile, Timothee Chalamets early collaboration with Nolan remains a testament to how even smaller roles can have a lasting impact when approached with passion and integrity.
Martin Clunes stars as disgraced BBC presenter Huw Edwards in a chilling drama. Explore the scandal that shocked the UK. Premieres March 24 on Channel 5.

AceShowbiz - Martin Clunes has spoken candidly about his role as disgraced BBC news presenter Huw Edwards in the groundbreaking two-part drama Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards. The series, airing on Channel 5 and its streaming platform My5 on March 24, dramatizes the chilling scandal that shocked the UK.

The drama centers on Edwards grooming of a vulnerable young man and his subsequent conviction on child abuse image charges. At a London screening event, the actor revealed how deeply involved the creative team was in researching the case. They meticulously examined police reports, media coverage, and spoke extensively with the victim and family, as well as journalists from The Sun, who initially exposed the story.

Clunes described the script by writer Mark Burt as a really, really good read, praising Burts skill as a dramatist. He acknowledged the name Huw Edwards carries significant weight in British broadcasting history, but admitted he was unaware of the full extent of the scandal until reading the script.

Once one of the UKs most trusted newsreaders, Edwards was known for anchoring major events including the coverage of Queen Elizabeth IIs death and the 2012 London Olympics. However, his career ended abruptly in 2024 after being convicted of serious child sexual offences. Prior to his conviction, it emerged that Edwards, who is married with children, had solicited explicit photos from young men and groomed a 17-year-old.

The drama reveals a disturbing connection: the young man groomed by Edwards was introduced to him through Alex Williams, an online acquaintance who had sent Edwards child abuse images from December 2020 to August 2021. Edwards pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images, including the most extreme Category A images, and received a six-month suspended sentence.

Some critics have questioned whether the dramatization is being released too soon after Edwards conviction. However, executives at Channel 5 emphasized the importance of educating the public on the mechanics and dangers of grooming. An executive at the screening event stated the shows intent to show how grooming works and the insidiousness of grooming.

Discussing how the role came to him, Clunes joked about his initial reaction: My first thought was, Michael Sheens busy, eliciting laughter from the audience. When asked about mastering Edwards Welsh accent, he admitted it was his own interpretation rather than an exact mimicry. He sort of seeps in a bit, he explained, referencing the extensive footage the team watched to capture Edwards mannerisms.

Clunes emphasized his approach to portraying real-life figures: My task is always just to breathe life into something with this, gather as much information as you can, especially about a real-life person, and then off you go. He stressed the importance of investing each moment with authenticity based on the available information.

Co-star Osian Morgan, who plays the victim identified as Ryan (not his real name), shared his personal connection to the project. This role marked his first opportunity to portray a sympathetic character after a string of antagonist roles. Morgan expressed pride in taking on the role, calling it one of the proudest moments in my journey thus far as an actor and one of the proudest things Ive ever done in my life. He praised Clunes as not only an exceptional actor but also the nicest person he has worked with.

Samantha Anstiss, CEO of Wonderhood Studios and executive producer of the drama, described the experience of reviewing the real text messages exchanged between Edwards and the victim as going into the heart of darkness. She highlighted the imbalance of power in these communications and the trauma-informed approach the production took to protect the victim from further harm. Anstiss said meeting the victim, an incredible young man with resilience and kindness, was a profound experience.

She also commended writer Mark Burt for his openness to making changes requested by the victim throughout the production process. He was the absolute front and center of our production approach, she said, ensuring sensitivity and respect were prioritized.

Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards promises to be a hard-hitting exploration of grooming and abuse within a high-profile public figures life, aiming to shed light on the complexities and dangers involved. The dramas release is set for March 24 on Channel 5 and My5, inviting viewers to engage with this difficult but important story.
Shia LaBeouf's latest outburst in Rome captured on video. See the actor's recent troubling incidents, from hotel lobby to police confrontations.

AceShowbiz - Shia LaBeouf has once again made headlines after being captured on video angrily shouting at a woman at an outdoor cafe in Rome. The viral clip shows LaBeouf approaching a seated woman and suddenly yelling, "F-k off!" The woman does not respond, and the footage continues with the actor pacing and yelling down the street.

This incident is the latest in a series of troubling moments involving LaBeouf. Just days before the Rome outburst, he was filmed inside an Italian hotel lobby wearing only boxer briefs, asking a passerby, "C'mon, bro... give me a f-king match. You got a match?"

Additionally, LaBeouf was involved in a tense encounter with police outside his home in New Orleans. During the confrontation, he told officers, "You gotta understand who I am. I'm a target," later adding, "I don't trust you at all."

These recent events come after his February arrest during Mardi Gras, where authorities accused him of a physical altercation at a bar. He was charged with two counts of simple battery. In a subsequent interview, LaBeouf admitted, "I am wrong for touching anyone, ever," while also acknowledging that "I had been drinking."

Following these incidents, LaBeouf has been ordered by the court to undergo treatment and comply with specific legal requirements. The escalating series of events has drawn considerable attention, highlighting ongoing struggles faced by the actor.
Guillermo del Toro reimagines Frankenstein for Netflix, focusing on emotional depth and modern resonance over horror. A fresh take on Shelley's classic.

AceShowbiz - Frankenstein by [c=Guillermo del Toro offers a fresh cinematic take on one of literatures most enduring stories. While Mary Shelleys 1818 novel has been adapted numerous times, del Toros Netflix film reimagines the tale with a focus on emotional depth and philosophical questions rather than traditional horror elements.

The director has openly acknowledged that Shelleys novel was a vital inspiration during the making of the film. In an interview with Netflixs Tudum, he described the book as his "Bible," highlighting its profound existential and moral themes that resonated deeply with him. Yet, del Toro aimed to reinterpret the story with a unique emotional tone, describing his approach as singing it back in a different key.

Unlike many adaptations that emphasize historical period details, del Toro wanted his film to feel immediate and alive. He pointed out that when Shelley wrote her novel, it was a contemporary work rather than a period piece, and accordingly, he avoided a stylized, pastel-colored historical setting.

There are several notable differences between the characters and plot points in del Toros Frankenstein and the original novel by Mary Shelley. Hollywood Life explores these contrasts to highlight how the film diverges from the source material.

Victor Frankensteins FatherIn Shelleys book, Victors father, named Alphonse, is depicted as a kind and loving parent who dies from grief. However, in the 2025 film, Victors father is reimagined as Baron Leopold Frankenstein, an authoritarian and abusive doctor who harshly disciplines Victor and expects him to uphold the family legacy as a surgeon. This shift adds a darker, more oppressive dynamic to Victors upbringing.

Victors MotherThe book features Caroline Frankenstein, who dies of scarlet fever. The film changes her name to Baroness Claire Frankenstein and portrays her death as violent, occurring during the birth of Victors younger brother, William. This alteration introduces a more dramatic and tragic element to the familys backstory.

Elizabeths CharacterElizabeths role differs significantly between the two versions. In the novel, Elizabeth Lavenza is Victors childhood companion and fiancee. In contrast, the film renames her Lady Elizabeth Harlander and makes her the fiancee of Victors younger brother William. Elizabeth and Victor share a playful bond rooted in their mutual interest in science, but Elizabeth ultimately rebuffs Victors romantic advances and sympathizes with the Creature.

The wedding night scenes also differ sharply. In Shelleys novel, the Creature kills Elizabeth by strangulation on her wedding night as revenge against Victor. The movie, however, depicts a tragic misunderstanding: Victor catches Elizabeth speaking to the Creature, and in a moment of impulsive rage, he shoots at the Creature. Elizabeth takes the bullet instead and dies in Victors arms while the Creature carries her to a secluded cave-like grave. This change places more emphasis on Victors personal flaws and the emotional tragedy of the moment.

The Creatures Request for a CompanionIn the original novel, the Creature asks Victor to create a female companion. Victor initially agrees but later destroys the unfinished female creature, fearing the consequences of allowing the two beings to reproduce. The film diverges here by having Victor immediately reject the Creatures request and express disdain for the idea of a reproducing female creature. Consequently, no attempt is made to build a companion in the movie.

The Creatures FateAt the novels end, the Creature encounters an Arctic expedition and tells the captain of his plan to self-immolate, though whether he follows through remains unknown. The film, however, depicts the Creature as immortal, impervious to burning, stabbing, or shooting. His fate is left ambiguous as he walks alone into the Arctic after aiding the soldiers escape, suggesting a lingering mystery about his ultimate destiny.
A star-studded Sheridan drama. Pfeiffer & Russell shine, but the show's disdain for NYC overshadows its compelling family story.

AceShowbiz - The Madison is Paramount+s latest family drama created by Taylor Sheridan, known for his work on Yellowstone. The series features a strong cast including Michelle Pfeiffer, Kurt Russell, and Patrick J. Adams, yet it struggles under the weight of Sheridans apparent disdain for New York City and its inhabitants.

The show attempts to explore complex family dynamics and themes of loss, healing, and cultural contrasts between urban and rural life. Unfortunately, Sheridans personal contempt for New York City colors much of the narrative, detracting from the otherwise compelling performances and beautiful cinematography.

Michelle Pfeiffer delivers an award-worthy portrayal of Stacy Clyburn, the family matriarch managing the challenges of a fracturing clan in New York. Her performance is one of the series highlights, embodying strength and vulnerability. Alongside her, Kurt Russell plays Preston Clyburn, a Montana resident who finds peace in the rural setting, contrasting sharply with the citys chaos.

The tension between these two worldsurban New York and rural Montanais central to the story. Prestons younger brother Paul (Matthew Fox) lives a spiritually fulfilling life in Montana, fishing and enjoying natures tranquility. Meanwhile, Preston juggles his Montana identity with his demanding life as a New York finance professional.

Back in New York, Stacy struggles to hold her family together. Her eldest daughter Abigail (Beau Garrett) is divorced, a casualty of the citys influence, and her granddaughters Bridgette (Amiah Miller) and Macy (Alaina Pollack) are growing up immersed in progressive, woke New York schools. The show critiques the citys liberal attitudes, portraying them as destructive to traditional family values.

The youngest daughter, Paige (Elle Chapman), represents the most exaggerated example of Sheridans negative view of New York. After a daylight mugging on 5th Avenue, Paige becomes comically unable to describe her attackers race, illustrating the series awkward attempt to tackle issues of race and guilt. Her husband Russell (Patrick J. Adams) is portrayed as emasculated by city life, a metaphor Sheridan uses repeatedly to criticize New Yorks culture.

The arrival of Stacy and other family members in Montana marks a tonal shift in the series. The show paints Montana as an idyllic land where freezers overflow with wild game, cowboys are kind but tough, law enforcement officers are handsome and brooding, and Native Americans insist on being called Indians. This romanticized depiction of rural life clashes jarringly with the harsh caricatures of city dwellers.

The series cinematography, handled entirely by Christina Alexandra Voros, is stunning. Voros direction captures the breathtaking beauty of Montanas landscapes and even manages to make scenes set in New York visually appealing despite Sheridans negative script. Her use of lens flares and natural lighting elevates many scenes, providing a visual richness that the writing sometimes lacks.

A particularly notable example of Voros skill is a scene where Paige is stung by hornets in a Montana outhouse. Though the script frames it as a crude comedic moment, Voros films it with a delicate, almost painterly quality that softens the scenes intent and adds unexpected depth.

The series is divided between two conflicting narratives: one a somber, heartfelt meditation on loss and healing in nature, and the other a simplistic and often clumsy critique of urban life, especially New York City. This binaryCountry People Are From Mars, City People Are From Hellfeels childish and undermines the shows more thoughtful elements.

Paramount+ has kept plot details under wraps, but the early episodes establish this stark divide clearly. The contrast between Prestons peaceful Montana existence and Stacys fraught New York life serves as the backbone of the story but also reveals Sheridans biases.

Despite these flaws, parts of The Madison shine. Episodes four and five stand out for their mature storytelling and emotional resonance, especially when focusing on the natural world and the familys healing process. The performances of Pfeiffer and Russell anchor these moments with authenticity and grace.

However, the shows attempt to vilify New York parents and children, portraying them as indoctrinated and unpleasant, drags down the narrative. Several characters become so unlikable under Sheridans pen that its difficult to discern whether the actors are underperforming or simply victims of poor writing.

New York scenes were partially filmed in Fort Worth, Texas, yet the locations are still beautifully shot, which contrasts with the bleak depiction of the citys culture. This aesthetic choice highlights the disconnect between the shows visual appeal and its thematic execution.

The final touchstone of the series is its dedication to Robert Redford, referencing his film A River Runs Through It. The pilot episode features extended sequences of poetic fly-fishing, signaling Sheridans attempt to connect his story to Redfords legacy of nature-focused storytelling. This homage suggests Sheridans respect for such themes, even if his portrayal of the city falls short.

Ultimately, The Madison is a mixed bag. It offers moments of profound emotional insight and remarkable visual artistry but is hampered by a reductive worldview that alienates much of its urban setting and characters. Sheridans contempt for New York undermines what might otherwise be his most mature and nuanced work for television.

Fans of Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell will find much to admire in their performances, and the shows gorgeous Montana vistas provide a compelling backdrop. Yet, viewers seeking a balanced portrayal of the intersection between city and country life may find themselves frustrated by the simplistic dichotomy Sheridan constructs.

As the series progresses, it remains to be seen whether The Madison will evolve beyond its initial flaws or continue to be weighed down by Sheridans biases. For now, it stands as a visually stunning but narratively uneven exploration of family, place, and identity.
J. Cole & Cam'ron discuss their $500K lawsuit over "Ready 24" in a candid new video. Hear their side of the legal battle.

AceShowbiz - J. Cole and Cam'ron have publicly discussed the lawsuit filed by the Harlem rapper against the North Carolina artist concerning the song "Ready 24."

On Monday, March 23, Cam'ron shared a video on his Talk with Flee Instagram page, featuring a candid conversation between himself and J. Cole. The discussion focused on the legal dispute that arose when Cam'ron sued J. Cole in October 2025. The lawsuit claimed that J. Cole did not reciprocate after Cam'ron appeared on the track, and that he had not been compensated for his contribution. The Harlem rapper sought $500,000 in damages.

In response, J. Cole countersued in February 2026, requesting a judge to dismiss the case brought by Cam'ron. The recently released clip reveals that J. Cole initially felt disappointed and frustrated by the legal action. He shared, "When the lawsuit came out, I was like, 'Come on Cam,' My ego reaction is like, quietly, I'm like, 'f**k this ni**a.' But quickly I'm like, 'But nah I get it though.'"

J. Cole explained that after calming down, he gained perspective and understood Cam'ron's feelings of being overlooked, which led him to pursue legal means to secure what he believed he was owed.

Meanwhile, Cam'ron admitted that the lawsuit was, in part, a publicity tactic. He stated, "Of course it was never gonna go anywhere, but for me it was like, 'I need to get this ni**a attention,'" acknowledging the stunt-like nature of the legal move.

The interview also touches on J. Cole's views regarding the ongoing rap feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. He shared insights into how his interactions with both artists have evolved since their rivalry began.

J. Cole's full conversation with Cam'ron will be available on Tuesday, March 24, on Revolts YouTube channel as part of the Talk with Flee podcast series.

This discussion marks a significant moment as both rappers openly address the dispute that had caused tension between them, shedding light on the complexities of collaboration and compensation in the music industry.
ST. GEORGE'S, Grenada, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- St. George's University School of Medicine announced today that 818 students and graduates have secured residency positions across the United States so far in this year's Match cycle.

Students matched into 23 specialties across 42 states and the District of Columbia, with additional graduates expected to secure placements in the coming weeks as the Match process continues.

"Match Day is a pivotal milestone at the start of a doctor's career," said Dr. Marios Loukas, President of St. George's University and dean of the School of Medicine. "On behalf of the entire SGU community, I congratulate this remarkable class of medical students on their success. We are proud to see them take the next step in their journey to serve patients and communities."

Graduates will begin residency training in a wide range of specialties, including highly competitive fields such as surgery to neurology, as well as essential primary care disciplines like pediatrics, emergency medicine and family medicine. Many will return to their home states and communities to begin their medical careers.

For the past twelve years, St. George's University has been the largest provider of new doctors to the US healthcare system. Approximately two-thirds of SGU School of Medicine graduates enter primary care specialties, and a significant number go on to practice in medically underserved areas.

"St. George's University graduates have been meeting the medical needs of communities across the United States for decades," Dr. Loukas said. "We look forward to the meaningful impact this newest class of SGU-trained physicians will make in the years ahead."

About St. George's University

St. George's University is a center of international education, drawing students and faculty from 140 countries to the island of Grenada, in the West Indies. This year, SGU celebrates the 50th anniversary of its founding in 1976. More than 33,000 SGU graduates are physicians, veterinarians, scientists, and public health and business professionals around the world. St. George's University School of Medicine is accredited by the Grenada Medical and Dental Council, and its programs across all schools are accredited and approved by many governing authorities. For more information, visit www.sgu.edu.

MEDIA CONTACT

Evan Cobb

St. George's University / Medforth Global Education

[email protected]

SOURCE Medforth Global Education
By People's Daily reporters

As dawn breaks over Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in east China's Zhejiang province, the sea breeze carries the sounds of industry awakening. "Let's begin!" directs a foreman. A massive bucket-wheel reclaimer swings into action, processing iron ore recently arrived from Brazil. The ore travels along conveyor belts to a loading terminal, where a ship loader precisely transfers the cargo into an ore carrier's hold.



Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, the world's busiest cargo port for 17 consecutive years, handled over 1.4 billion tons last year. Its daily throughput averages approximately 3.9 million tons -- equivalent to moving 45 tons every second. This activity reflects a broader reality: across China, more than 2,900 berths capable of handling vessels over 10,000 tons facilitate a constant flow of goods, linking China's economy with global markets.



China's economic engine hums with remarkable momentum.



Within a single minute: China generates more than 200 million yuan ($29.13) in GDP and over 80 million yuan in goods imports and exports.



Within an hour: more than 2 million garments are produced, and over 30,000 kilograms of crops are harvested by intelligent combine harvesters.



Within a day: China smelts more than 3.9 million tons of steel and manufactures over 90,000 vehicles.



During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), the Chinese economy achieved four consecutive leaps with an average annual growth rate of 5.4 percent, the highest among major global economies.



A collaborative push in humanoid robotics technology unfolds across the Yangtze River Delta. At Shanghai Jiao Tong University, associate research fellow Yan Weixin from the Institute of Robotics spreads his palm, grips a test tube, draws liquid and gently shakes it. Nearby, a humanoid robotic arm mimics every subtle movement he does.



Two hours away in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu province, Li Qian, deputy general manager of Leaderdrive, a manufacturer specializing in precision robotic components, is examining a harmonic reducer used in the elbow joint of a humanoid robot, exploring ways to make it lighter and more efficient.



As the world's largest producer of robots, China holds more than 190,000 valid patents related to robotics, accounting for roughly 2/3 of the global total.



The rapid development of China's humanoid robotics industry is driven by the country's most complete industrial system in the world, its vast application scenarios, and reliable energy supply, according to Qiao Hong, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.



In a day, China's space station orbits the Earth 16 times, enabling astronauts to witness 16 magnificent sunrises and sunsets.

In a day, China's Supercomputing Network processes more than one million API calls.

In a day, thousands of invention patents are granted across the country.



In 2025, China's R&D investment accounted for 2.8 percent of the country's GDP, and the country entered the global top 10 in the global innovation index for the first time. This just demonstrates the powerful vitality of China.



Along Guangzhou's Pearl River banks, crowds gather. "Look -- the 'Slim Waist'!" On a sightseeing boat, a foreign visitor named Nazer and his family point excitedly at the brightly lit Canton Tower, one of the iconic landmarks of Guangzhou in south China's Guangdong province. From savoring Cantonese roasted meats at local eateries to enjoying a cup of aromatic coffee, the Nazer family has woven themselves into daily life in China.



Meanwhile, at a community canteen on Jiangyuan Road in Shanghai, the aroma of freshly prepared dishes fills the air. "Regular customer" Sun Yuhua walks in hand-in-hand with her husband.



"With affordable, home-style cooking, we feel good about our meal, and that reassures our children," Sun says.



Behind the vibrant glow of city life lies the resilience and potential of China's economy, demonstrating how the country's openness brings shared opportunities to the world.



Over the past five years, China has connected every county in formerly impoverished regions with expressways, paved roads reached every village, and telecommunications signals covered every corner. These achievements have solidified poverty eradication gains, proving to the world that poverty is not an insurmountable challenge.



Since the beginning of this year, senior foreign leaders have visited China in succession to explore business opportunities. Meanwhile, foreign tourists have flocked to China to celebrate the Spring Festival, experience traditional customs and witness firsthand a prosperous, open and inclusive nation.



In 2025, China imported 18.48 trillion yuan worth of goods, maintaining its position as the world's second-largest import market for 17 consecutive years. Cherries from Chile, durians from Malaysia, flour from Kazakhstan, and beauty products from France--the world is sharing the dividends of the growing Chinese market.



In 2025, China received more than 150 million inbound foreign visitors, who spent over $130 billion in the country. China has granted unilateral visa exemption to 50 countries, while transit visa-free arrangements now cover 55 countries. The experience of "becoming Chinese" has become a new global trend, offering people around the world fresh enjoyment and cultural resonance.



During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China contributed around 30 percent of global economic growth.



"The attractiveness of China to foreign investment lies not only in the enormous size of its market but also in the high quality of that market," said Jiang Ying, chair of Deloitte China. Increasingly, foreign enterprises are treating China as a source of innovation and research and development, using innovations developed in China to serve global markets.



Every 24 hours of China's economy injects new momentum into global development.



Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), one conclusion is becoming ever clearer amid the uncertainties of the global landscape: despite a complex international environment, China's economy will continue moving toward higher quality and new growth drivers, offering the most stable, reliable and positive energy to a world navigating turbulence and changes.
By He Yin, People's Daily

"Amid global turbulence, China is charting a course for the future," reads a recent international media commentary on China's "two sessions" -- the annual sessions of China's top legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC), and top political advisory body, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).



The commentary highlights how China utilizes this crucial political platform to shape its own trajectory and influence the world's direction.



Today, changes unseen in a century are unfolding at a faster pace, the world is undergoing greater transformation and turbulence and recurring conflict. The pressing question of humanity's future path demands clear direction, renewed confidence, and collective strength. Major countries must shoulder greater responsibilities and play a larger role.



Pointing to a world facing various risks and challenges, Chinese President Xi Jinping stated that a collective response from the international community is essential, and major countries, in particular, should take the lead in upholding equality, the rule of law, cooperation and integrity. His remarks underscored the importance of stability -- precisely what the world seeks amidst current uncertainties.



Head-of-state diplomacy serves as the anchor of China's diplomacy. Since the beginning of the year, China's head-of-state diplomacy has gathered strong momentum.



On the day of "Lichun, the traditional Chinese solar term marking the Beginning of Spring, the Chinese and Russian Presidents held a virtual meeting, while the Chinese and U.S. presidents talked over phone, demonstrating China's active efforts to promote the stable development of major-country relations.



Xi also held talks and meetings with a number of visiting foreign leaders -- both from Global South and Western countries -- bringing together forces for cooperation amid uncertainty. Through letters and other forms of communication, he has also maintained warm interactions with international friends, helping sustain the cause of people-to-people friendship.



This series of major diplomatic engagements vividly embodies China's conviction: As changes not seen in a century are unfolding at a faster pace, countries should tackle challenges together and pursue a shared future.



The international community increasingly recognizes that China's diplomacy -- personally charted and guided by Xi -- has provided the most valuable stability and certainty to a turbulent world, serving as an indispensable pillar amid global uncertainty.



Safeguarding peace is China's mission and commitment. In the face of protracted crises, China has always stood on the side of peace and justice. The situation surrounding Iran has recently drawn widespread international attention. China has put forward five points to help create conditions for a ceasefire and an end to hostilities, urging all parties to work together to restore order in the Middle East, bring tranquility to its people, and return peace to the world.



In the face of unilateral bullying that tramples on international law and the basic norms governing international relations, China firmly maintains that all countries should abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, thereby strengthening the foundations of global peace and security and preventing the world from sliding back into a "law of the jungle."



China also leads by example in promoting cooperation. The imposition of tariffs and attempts by a handful of countries to pursue decoupling and disrupt supply chains are tantamount to adding fuel to the fire and will ultimately backfire. China firmly supports the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment, safeguards the stability and smooth functioning of global industrial and supply chains, and upholds the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core, while defending a fair and open international economic and trade order.



In response to the headwinds confronting economic globalization, China advocates addressing these challenges through more sustainable development and more equitable and effective governance, while continuing to build consensus for an economic globalization that is universally beneficial and inclusive.



China practices what it advocates in strengthening global governance. At a time when global challenges are emerging one after another, governance deficits are becoming more pronounced, and multilateralism faces serious headwinds, China has proposed the Global Governance Initiative, supports the leading role of the United Nations, and promotes reform and improvement of the existing international system and multilateral mechanisms.



The "Group of Friends of Global Governance," initiated by China, has been launched at both the UN Headquarters in New York and the UN Office at Geneva, attracting broad participation from countries around the world, especially those of the Global South.



Principles such as sovereign equality, international rule of law, multilateralism, the people-centered approach, and real actions are increasingly being translated into concrete efforts to build a more just and equitable global governance system.



The true greatness of a major country lies in its efforts to seek benefits for all. China is vigorously advancing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, with more and more "roads to happiness" extending across borders. It continues to expand platforms for international cooperation such as the China International Import Expo, the China International Fair for Trade in Services, and the China International Consumer Products Expo, steadily expanding institutional opening-up. In doing so, China not only fulfills its role as a "world factory," but also strives to create opportunities as a "world market."



China will soon fully implement zero tariff treatment on 100 percent of tariff lines for African countries. By making this "subtraction" in tariffs, it aims to achieve "addition" in trade and "multiplication" in the well-being of the people. As the 15th Five-Year Plan period (20262030) begins, China will continue to act in the shared interest of the Chinese people and peoples around the world, working with all countries to paint a new picture of win-win cooperation.



Transformation and turbulence intertwine, while hope coexists with challenges. As one of the world's most important forces for peace, stability and justice, China remains confident in humanity's future and steadfast in its commitment to building a community with a shared future for humanity.



China stands ready to work with all parties to gradually turn the vision of a community with a shared future for humanity into reality, continuing to write new chapters of peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit for the times.
By Wang Zheng, People's Daily

China's new energy vehicle (NEV) industry is accelerating its shift from rapid expansion to higher-quality growth, driven by breakthroughs in key technologies such as intelligent driving systems and advanced batteries.



In early March, Chinese companies unveiled a new round of innovations in the core technologies underpinning smart, connected NEVs.



On March 4, Chinese technology giant Huawei launched the world's first dual-optical-path imaging-grade 896-line LiDAR system under its Qiankun intelligent driving solution.



Compared with conventional 192-line LiDAR, the new system offers four times the resolution and addresses a long-standing industry challenge -- wide-angle sensors that capture the full scene but miss details, and telephoto sensors that capture details but sacrifice field of view.



This breakthrough enables vehicles traveling at 120 km/h to reliably identify small obstacles, such as 14 cm-high stones, from 120 meters away.



The following day (March 5th), BYD, China's leading new energy vehicle manufacturer, unveiled the second generation of its Blade Battery. The upgraded battery delivers what the company calls a breakthrough flash-charging experience: under normal temperatures, it can charge from 10 percent to 70 percent in just five minutes and from 10 percent to 97 percent in nine minutes.



Even at temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius, the charging process takes only about three minutes longer than under normal conditions. The new battery also increases energy density by five percent and supports a driving range exceeding 1,000 kilometers.



From LiDAR systems for intelligent driving to next-generation power batteries, Chinese companies have achieved fresh breakthroughs in key technologies for smart NEVs in the first quarter of 2026.



How can China's NEV industry further accelerate its transformation during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030)?



China's 2026 government work report emphasizes building a modernized industrial system and create new forms of smart economy. Automotive experts noted that China's auto industry is entering a critical stage, shifting from scale expansion toward higher quality and efficiency. Leveraging its industrial chain strengths and economies of scale, the sector is expected to optimize product structures, refine industrial layouts and strengthen brand value.



According to Wang Jianqing, chief master technician at the vehicle assembly plant of Dongfeng Trucks, a subsidiary of Chinese automobile group Dongfeng Motor Corporation, the industry is moving toward greater intelligence, greener technologies and deeper industrial integration.



He stressed the importance of strengthening fundamental research, investing in cutting-edge technologies, and enhancing industry resilience to support this shift.



Vehicles equipped with the Geely's Qianli Haohan intelligent assisted-driving system have delivered notable performance results. Recent data shows that the system has accumulated over 110 million kilometers of assisted-driving mileage, equivalent to circling the Earth about 2,750 times, while its active collision-avoidance function has prevented 225,000 potential accidents.



"Safety is the core of any intelligent driving system," said Li Chuanhai, president of the Geely Automobile Research Institute. He said that in 2026, Geely plans to introduce Level-3 high-speed autonomous driving and Level-4 low-speed autonomous functions where regulations permit, while steadily advancing the deployment of Robotaxi vehicles.



China's push toward higher levels of autonomous driving gained regulatory momentum in late 2025. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology granted China's first Level-3 autonomous driving vehicle permits, marking a transition from technological testing to the early stages of large-scale commercial application.



Feng Xingya, chairman of GAC Group, a major Chinese automaker, has urged the establishment of a nationally unified standards and evaluation system for autonomous driving. He proposed opening key testing scenarios such as highways and urban expressways to support testing and commercialization of Level-3 autonomous driving for consumer vehicles, while expanding pilot applications of Level-4 autonomous driving in logistics and mobility services.



Yin Tongyue, chairman of Chery Holding Group, another major Chinese automobile manufacturer, has emphasized the importance of data security in intelligent driving systems. He suggested establishing standardized procedures for data collection, transmission and use, ensuring privacy protection while enabling large-scale Level-3 deployment.



Inside a vehicle assembly plant of mobility technology company Magna International in Graz, Austria, engineering teams from China and Europe are conducting intensive adjustments around production rhythms, process validation and quality inspection. The preparations are aimed at the mid-March rollout of the Aion UT, produced by GAC Aion, an NEV brand of GAC Group.



Following the earlier production of the Aion V, the Aion UT will become the second GAC model to be manufactured locally at the plant.



According to Ma Haiyang, an executive of GAC Group, cooperation with Magna International allows the company to integrate more efficiently with Europe's mature engineering systems and local supply chains, accelerating the implementation of localized production.



"GAC is steadily advancing local research and development, procurement and manufacturing," Ma said. "By developing products according to European standards, we aim to better understand and meet the needs of the European market and provide high-quality products and services for local consumers."



China exported over 7 million units of automobiles in 2025, with NEV exports reaching 2.615 million units, more than doubling year on year and highlighting the industry's growing international competitiveness.



Despite progress, challenges remain. Limited overseas operational capacity and risks related to global industrial and supply chains continue to test Chinese automakers as they expand abroad.



For Chery Holding Group, globalization means integrating more deeply into local markets. "Our global strategy is to be rooted where we operate and contribute to local development," said Yin. He noted that Chery's project in Spain has not only enabled localized vehicle production but also created more than 1,500 local jobs.



"During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, we hope to replicate this model in more parts of the world," Yin said. "Our goal is to ensure that our products and pricing are acceptable to local consumers, our business models are welcomed by local governments and societies, and our development approach remains environmentally sustainable."
By He Yin, People's Daily

During recent China's "two sessions," the annual meetings of the country's top legislature, the National People's Congress, and top political advisory body, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, how the country will elevate the quality and level of trade and investment cooperation as it advances high-level opening up has become a major focus of international attention.



In an increasingly turbulent global landscape marked by economic uncertainty, China's capacity for long-term stability makes it an increasingly vital destination for international business.



This appeal is reflected in the numbers: more than 70,000 foreign-invested enterprises were established across China in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 19.1 percent. This trend underscores a clear and consistent reality: China remains, and will continue to be, an attractive, secure, and promising market for foreign investment.



Partnering with China means embracing opportunity. Believing in China reflects optimism about the future. And investing in China is, ultimately, an investment in tomorrow.



Stability breeds long-term confidence. France's Schneider Electric has been present in the Chinese market for nearly four decades. From an initial team of just 10 employees, the company has grown to establish five R&D centers, an AI innovation laboratory, and 30 factories and logistics centers across the country. It is China's developmental stability that has enabled such long-term planning and sustained growth.



Schneider's experience exemplifies a shared commitment to long-termism. China's own consistent, long-range development approach increasingly shapes the strategic outlook of foreign enterprises operating there. By aligning with China's five-year plans, monitoring policy signals, and assessing industrial prospects, many foreign companies are translating the conviction that "investing in China is investing in the future" into concrete action.



Stability also nurtures fertile ground for innovation. China is firmly advancing scientific and technological innovation, while new quality productive forces are taking shape at a faster pace. As a result, more and more foreign enterprises regard China as a "gym" where they can strengthen their innovative capacity and competitiveness.



Germany's Volkswagen has accompanied China's automotive industry through decades of growth. Today, the company works closely with Chinese partners in mutual learning, joint innovation, and collaborative research. The combination of China's speed and German experience, as well as Chinese wisdom and German craftsmanship, is injecting new momentum into the development of the new-energy vehicles industry.



Stability carries the aspirations of entrepreneurs. China's expanding opening up continues to attract entrepreneurs from around the world. Statistics show that in Yiwu, east China's Zhejiang province, more than 30,000 foreign merchants are active every day, and the number of registered foreign-invested market entities has exceeded 11,000. Yiwu, known as the "world's supermarket," has also become a vibrant international community marked by diversity and integration.



Danish entrepreneur Simon Lichtenberg has run a business in Shanghai for more than 30 years. He has also actively participated in consultations organized by grassroots legislative outreach offices, offering suggestions on the draft revision of the Company Law.



His story illustrates how a safe and friendly environment, together with an open, inclusive and harmonious social and cultural atmosphere, further strengthens foreign investors' confidence in building their future in China.



The growing scale of investment and the upgrading of cooperation models reflect foreign investors' deepening understanding of the opportunities China offers. From recognizing the enormous potential of China's market to appreciating the institutional strengths behind its unique appeal, many in the international business community increasingly see China as an irreplaceable partner.



The draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan proposes to coordinate foreign investment attraction and outbound investment to cultivate new strengths in international trade and two-way investment cooperation, make greater efforts to attract and utilize foreign investment, and promote international industrial and investment cooperation. The stability of these policy directions, rooted in practical experience, will continue to unleash new momentum for future development.



Together, China and foreign enterprises have written a story of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, forming an important chapter in the history of economic globalization.



As the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030) begins, China will remain committed to opening up, cooperation, and win-win outcomes. By steadily expanding institutional opening up, China will create an even more enabling environment and broader space for foreign enterprises, while continuing to provide new opportunities for the world through its own development.
In Florida, immigration policy is not some empty, red-meat issue for cynical, blowhard career politicians. Brick by brick, the state has built Americas most aggressive sub-federal control system for illegal aliens.

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This was driven by a clear premise: unlawful immigrants are bad news for Americans.

That effort reached a turning point on May 10, 2023, when Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1718, a sweeping measure that required larger employers to use E-Verify. The law also restricted identification access for illegal aliens. It furthermore penalized the transport of unlawful immigrants and tightened the incentives that draw illegal aliens into the state.

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The law took effect on July 1, 2023, with the explicit goal of deterring illegal employment and reducing the taxpayer burden.

Florida did not stop there.

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In March 2024, additional legislation increased penalties for illegals re-entering the state and barred recognition of certain foreign-issued identification documents. This closed loopholes that had allowed unlawful aliens to carry on across Florida.

Then, in February 2025, the state went further still.

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New laws criminalized illegals being present in Florida and mandated full local cooperation with federal deportation efforts. They also expanded immigration law enforcement funding and imposed enhanced penalties for crimes committed by unlawful immigrants. There is far too much more to itemize.

These reforms were not symbolic. They were deliberate steps to align state authority with immigration law enforcement in a way few states had attempted.

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Within that context, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd became, for many conservatives, a symbol of clarity and resolve. His reputation was built on blunt speech and visible action, in a rapidly growing area between Orlando and Tampa.

On March 5, 2024, after a human-trafficking operation that resulted in 228 arrests, including 21 illegal immigrants, Judd condemned federal inaction in unmistakable terms. He warned that weak Biden-Harris policy was a public safety threat.

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On February 19, 2025, the Florida Senates president appointed Judd to the State Immigration Enforcement Council, a body tasked with coordinating state and federal enforcement efforts. The sheriff, already a darling of Florida conservatives, quickly became the national personification of allegedly based, purportedly red-pilled, and seemingly right-wing law-and-order.

Of course, Judd once said this about inmates in his jail: I dont care whether they re guilty or not  What is of concern to me is that theres probable cause to believe that theyre guilty.

Conservatives should have been highly skeptical of him. If not for their starstruck gaze, they might have seen the rupture coming.

On March 16, 2026, at a meeting of Judds council, he took a position that stunned scores of his supporters.

He argued that while illegal aliens who committed crimes should be deported, there should be a structured path for other individuals who entered the country unlawfully. He described certain illegals as people who came here inappropriately but were adding to the American dream, and said plainly that we need to find a path for them. The sheriff stated his plan to write a letter to politicians in Washington, D.C., promoting his vision of amnesty.

The next day, Judd doubled down, emphasizing that some illegal aliens who are working and not engaged in criminality should be considered for amnesty. He said they are folks we need in this country that we embrace, because we are a country of immigrants. Judd also claimed that his favored illegals are adding to the wonderful society that we have in the United States and helping the community.

This was hardly a minor adjustment in tone. It might as well have been a speech from Joe Biden or Kamala Harris, delivered with serpentine charm to swing voters.

Republicans do not buy this snake oil.

A June 2024 Pew Research Center poll found that 66 percent of Republicans oppose legal status for unlawful immigrants, while 63 percent support a national deportation effort. A March 2025 Pew survey reported that 54 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents support deporting all illegal aliens. A June 2025 Quinnipiac poll found that 61 percent of Republicans prefer deportation, while only 31 percent embrace a pathway to legality.

Judds position is not aligned with that consensus, but in direct conflict with it.

Thankfully, the response from Sunshine State leadership was swift and decisive.

On March 19, 2026, DeSantis rejected Judd outright, stating that allowing illegals to remain unless they commit serious crimes is not consistent with our laws and not good policy. He warned that such an approach would undermine law enforcement and contradict the principles on which recent legislation had been built.

On March 17, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier made clear that law enforcements role is not to reinterpret statutes but to enforce them. He elucidated that illegal aliens are breaking the law and will be treated accordingly. There was no ambiguity in his message.

Even within local law enforcement, the break was unmistakable.

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, who serves the Space Coast, publicly distanced himself from Judds position. He said that illegal entry is an unambiguous offense and that unlawful aliens should be deported, regardless of subsequent conduct. He described illegal immigration as an affront to those who follow the legal process.

What happened here matters far beyond one official or one state. Indeed, the Judd episode exposes a crucial flaw: The assumption that many Republicans make about whom they elect.

Words are worthless. Titles are formalities. However, when extraordinary policy decisions arise, when high-stakes trade-offs become real, and when gut-wrenching pressure mounts, people reveal who they actually are.

Judds earlier rhetoric made him a hero to many Republicans. His later advocacy placed him in a position that mirrors arguments shrewdly advanced by commonsense Democrats. The language is milder than Gavin Newsoms. The framing is more ornate than Chuck Schumers. Yet the core idea is the same: amnesty for illegal aliens based on their perceived contributions.

This is a real wake-up call.

Primary elections determine who carries the GOPs banner, up and down the ticket. Those choices shape policy outcomes for years, possibly decades, and perhaps even generations. In this midterm cycle, and well beyond, the temptation to rally behind familiar figures will be strong. It always is.

But familiarity is not reliability.

The lesson is simple, no matter how uncomfortable. Do not assume alignment based on tone. Do not presume conviction based on rhetoric. Do not infer that a title guarantees adherence to principle. Evaluate actions. Consider positions for the consequences they carry. Research what someone has supported when required to make a tough decision.

Judds amnesty advocacy did not occur in isolation. It occurred within a broader national debate that will only intensify. There will be more figures who speak forcefully about immigration control, then slickly subvert it. There will be more proposals framed as pragmatic solutions that, in reality, harm Americans.

Recognizing that pattern is the first step in resisting it.

This is not about personal attacks. It is about preserving first-world nationhood. It is also about ensuring that the policies voters support are the policies that are actually pursued.

The Grady Judd episode is not an anomaly. It is a warning.

For concerned citizens paying even the slightest attention, it is a siren that demands to be heard time and again.

YouTube screen grab.

Dr. Joseph Ford Cotto is the creator, host, and producer of News Sight, delivering sharp insights on the key events that shape our lives. He publishes Dr. Cottos Digest, sharing how business and the economy really impact us all. During the 2024 presidential race, he developed the Five-Point Forecast, which accurately predicted Donald Trumps national victory and correctly called every swing state. Cotto holds a doctorate in business administration and is a Lean Six Sigma Certified Black Belt.
If President Eisenhower were alive today he would doubtless bolster his warning about the Military Industrial Complex -- and that the combination of science and federal money was gravely to be regarded -- with a grave regard for the Fraud Industrial Complex of which weve heard tell from Nick Shirley.

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But I think we can all agree that the time for gentlemanly grave regard for the corrupt monstrosity that is our government sector today is over and done with.

What we need is a nice short phrase suitable for printing on the mostly peaceful protest signs that our liberal activist groups churn out by the jillions, something short and sweet. I axed Grok to come up with a sign and this is what it came up with:

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It looks almost real, doesnt it! But Grok being Grok, it provided a fake print-shop sign as well as the fake hand-drawn sign.

So now, whenever you are eating lunch in a lefty lesbian-owned restaurant and you hear the blue-haired staff talking excitedly about their next Indivisible-funded No Kings! peaceful protest you can bellow Blue State Fraud as they kick you out for making them feel unsafe.

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By the way, now that Nick Shirley is encountering threats to his safety as he performs his mild-mannered investigation of Blue State Fraud, he has decided it is time for you to help him hire his own personal security.

Now, I understand that many readers at AT must be shocked that Nick Shirley is getting threatened as he peacefully investigates fraudulent misappropriation of our hard-earned tax dollars by devoted activists. But that is life in the 21st century.

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Gosh! I never thought of that: blue-haired lesbians in blue states where Blue State Fraud rears its ugly head! It all connects!

But here is my question. This Blue State Fraud, that has been reported in Blue Fraud State Minnesota and Blue Fraud State Washington and Blue Fraud State California, seems awfully well organized. Nick Shirley finds learing centers, presumably run by people that cant spell. He encounters a whole community of hospice providers all located in a converted motel.

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You think that people that cant even get their signs spelled right have the institutional knowledge to work the Blue State Fraud machine? I mean: here in the City of Seattle a homeowner needs to navigate a vast regulatory minefield in order to get permission to cut down a tree in the planting strip out front. You think that all it takes to open a childcare or a hospice business is signing on the dotted line?

I tell you what I think. I think that after various migrant communities have helped the local Democrat machine get out the vote they get a visit from someone in the know who tells them how and where to qualify for providing childcare or hospice services.

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And I doubt if the process is as simple as go to this office and tell them Gavin sent you. I expect that the morbidly obese women bureaucrats that spend their days at the office discussing how long till they get advanced from Level 4 to Level 5 would want their union representative to find them a safer job rather than risk disciplinary action.

But what does it all mean, this Blue State Fraud? It is simple really.

Our rulers cant get elected by shoveling out more money at workers, or pensioners, at the poor, not anymore. I guess that they must have maxxed out the national credit card on that. So now, the only way for them to win elections is by getting innocent asylum-seeking migrants to the polls. And vote by mail. And for that they need skilled people connected to the migrant community and energetic people who can collect ballots and stuff them in the ballot drop boxes of a Tuesday.

So today, our rulers shovel money not at ordinary American voters but at the subordinates of the deep state operatives that keep the rulers in power. And they reward them with childcare grants and hospice businesses.

That, too, is what the NGO Industrial Complex is all about, only the educated class needs to be persuaded not just with money but by the certain knowledge that they are fighting injustice and oppression.

Let me be clear. All the world knows that there is nothing more important for the survival of the human race than that every credentialed educated person be provided with a fulfilling career in the non-profit sector fighting for the oppressed. The alternative is not to be imagined.

And if it takes a bit of Blue State Fraud to get there, too bad, you racist.

Because you know what? Just about every regime on this planet, whether Iranian, European, or our own Blue States, would rather the country be destroyed than give up its grip on power.

What a world!

Christopher Chantrill @chrischantrill blogs at The Commoner Manifesto and runs the go-to site on US government finances, usgovernmentspending.com. Also get his American Manifesto and his Road to the Middle Class.
There is a cognitive bias called the DunningKruger effect, which -- in my opinion -- would be better called the Obama-Mamdani effect today. Dunning-Kruger describes a delusional mindset where People with low knowledge or skill in an area tend to overestimate how competent they are. In biblical terms, this kind of hubris is defined by Paul in Romans 12:3 as one ...think[ing] more highly of oneself than one ought. That Scripture verse captures the essence of two popular, similar politicians who, despite having little knowledge or skill, have convinced many Americans of an expertise that simply doesnt exist.

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The Dunning-Kruger effect is a significant issue in politics and governance. When leading people, a lack of self-awareness about personal experience or expertise, combined with excessive charm, can harm large groups of innocent citizens, leaving them vulnerable to those with delusional self-perceptions who wield more power than they can manage.

Those who enforce the delusion of Dunning-Kruger on others are often people who perform poorly but lack the self-awareness to see that their confidence is unfounded. For some of us, that kind of overconfidence despite clear incompetence was evident in both Obama and Mamdani.

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Judging by the arrogance assessment, Zohran and Barack are men cut from the same egotistical cloth. Why? Both clearly overestimate how past experience of stirring up trouble for poor people translates into the ability to manage complex government systems. Barack Hussein Obama and Zohran Kwame Mamdanis deception about their own abilities is so deep and wide that each ran for and won political offices they weren't truly qualified for. In fact, these guys are so similar that it takes only 1 hour and 30 minutes to fly from Baracks home country in Kenya" to Zohrans birthplace in Uganda.

Granted, both men are eloquent, engaging speakers, and they smile a lot. One will occasionally even croon an Al Green tune for relatability, and both, to varying degrees, promote Islam. They entertain radical friends, dare to speak for all Americans, and, in Mamdanis case, for all New Yorkers; equally opinionated are their controversial spouses, who have expensive tastes and angry chips on their shoulders -- one concerning race, the other religion.

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But before they ran for office, neither Obama nor Zohran had experience dealing with the complexity of what they believed they were prepared to handle. In their inflated self-image, community activism somehow convinced them that their abilities were sufficient to lead the most powerful country and, more recently, the wealthiest city on the planet.

Who can forget Obamas opening salvo, the disastrous $831 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), also known as the Obama Stimulus Package? Three days after being sworn into office, Obama, who, like Democratic Socialist Mamdani, believes that wealth should be shared by raising taxes, reminded Republicans who were concerned about the burden this bill would place on the middle-class taxpayer, listened to their concerns, and then arrogantly reminded them who was in charge, by saying, I won!

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Without a modicum of humility, Dunning-Kruger speechifier extraordinaire, Obama, appeared on the scene, believing he had the power to control rising oceans and to embody The Ones We've Been Waiting For." Instead, he allowed the rise of the terrorist group ISIS and oversaw a healthcare system that leaves Americans waiting months to see a doctor. When his many promises didnt materialize, instead of accepting responsibility for obvious incompetence, Obama blamed Republicans for partisan gridlock and only later admitted his attempt to change Washington was overly optimistic. Ya think?

Unbeknownst to Barack, who built his self-esteem by scribbling agitation techniques and advancing rules for radicals on a church basement chalkboard, he was unprepared to run the world. Like Zohran, Barack believed he could handle incredibly complex issues he knew nothing about, such as the American economy, healthcare, and foreign policy.

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In Obamas world, leveling the playing field was a priority, as was punishing the rich, sending billions to Iran, and leaving Americans to die in Libya. Obama failed to enforce the red line in Syria; he and his associate Eric Holder smuggled guns into Mexican cartels, disrespected our veterans, initiated an infiltration of men into womens bathrooms, breached private data, fatally used a drone against an American citizen, and at every opportunity, praised Islam. Obama was so committed that he believed weaponizing the federal government against American citizens was fair recompense for disloyalty, as was stirring racial animosity and hatred wherever he showed up toting his teleprompter and his wife.

Nevertheless, all this incompetence was a walk in the park for a novice Marxist socialist community organizer from the streets of Chicago. Trust me, this was a man who saw himself as much more than he truly was. And to prove it, Americans expecting hope and change are still reeling from his Oscar-winning performance as president.

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Similarly, with a strangely familiar, pompous, and woefully inexperienced attitude, Zohran Mamdani has won over the hearts and minds of activist types at Columbia University who have plenty of opinions but lack critical thinking skills.

Ironically, Zohran, who has hardly worked a day in his life, affiliates himself with the Working Families Party. Zohran began his career by trying his hand at rap music, dropped out after for six months in a year-long community organizer training program, stepped into roles as a political organizer and staffer for Muslim politicians, advocated for fair housing, and served as a New York Assembly member from Queens, which, apparently, in his mind, fully prepared him to rule that world for Allah.

Zohran Kwame Mamdani's self-perceived expertise spans the budget, economy, housing, law enforcement, education, fire services, sanitation, and the Muslim call to prayer. Except for things like positioning prayer rugs, he knows nothing about these areas. Undeterred, a few weeks after being sworn in, Zohran the Mighty proved he was fit for the job when snow and piles of garbage created what he promised as free shelter, except in this case, it accommodated NYCs resilient rat population. Meanwhile, eighteen homeless New Yorkers looked like Jack Torrance, frozen to death in a hedge maze in the 1980 movie, The Shining.

Zohran, who promised to transform NYC into a Metropolitan East Coast Mecca of sorts, is now living on the taxpayers' dime at New York Citys Gracie Mansion with his Syrian/socialist wife, Rama Duwaji, whom, with eyes on the White House, he refers to as the First Lady. Much like Michelle Obama, who once said, someone is going to have to give up a piece of their pie so that someone else can have more, Rama, a supporter of democratic socialism, wears designer outfits, dons high-priced witch boots, and posts on social media celebrating dead Israelis.

And when not illustrating books for a Jewish-hating author, Susan Abulhawa, who has been criticized for referring to Israelis and Jews as vampires, demons, ghouls, parasites, and cockroaches, and who also celebrated the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel as a spectacular moment -- Rama dutifully serves Iftar meals to pro-Palestinian activists.

Meanwhile, her husband, who considers himself the Islamic Savior of the Big Apple, has promised to freeze the rent for one million rent-stabilized tenants, become the new Trump construction czar of affordable housing, introduce free buses, universal childcare, and distribute free groceries to people already struggling with metabolic syndrome by improving access to affordable food, whatever that means. The Kruger side of the Dunning-Kruger analogy has also promised to raise the minimum wage to $30 per hour by 2030 and plans to do this by increasing taxes on individuals and businesses fleeing in droves from Zorans socialist sanctuary city.

The new and improved New York City is rapidly becoming a place where Muslim Rikers Island inmates roam freely while NYPD overtime is reduced, turning the Big Apple into a haven for criminals, freeloaders, and people eager to tour Manhattan for free.

And so, as a nation that often values superficial charm over competence, our only hope to combat this widespread cognitive bias -- where ignorance is easily mistaken for skill -- is to stay true to what is authentic and let the Dunning-Kruger effect reveal itself.

Jeannie hosts a blog at www.jeannieology.us
The energy transition in the U.S. is visibly taking shape. In Tennessee, a massive nuclear power project is emerging as a U.S.-Japan joint venture. Decision-makers in business and politics would do well to study closely what is happening in the U.S. Here, we find the blueprint for breaking out of the intellectual and ideological trap.

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Big developments are underway in Tennessee and Alabama. Over the next five years, the joint Japanese-American project will bring several so-called small modular reactors (SMRs) of the BWRX-300 type online. Almost one percent of U.S. electricity production -- slightly more than three gigawatts -- will be added to the existing energy mix by reactors designed by Hitachi and GE Vernova.

A caveat for purists of market economics: this is a hybrid project. While the majority is privately financed, export support from Japan as well as offtake guarantees and credit facilities accounting for roughly one percent of the total volume come from the U.S.

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Overall, this project represents an investment of $40 billion. It joins a number of major initiatives currently being driven largely by the private sector in the U.S. Major platform operators and tech giants -- Google, Meta, and Microsoft -- are deeply involved in building new nuclear capacities. This disproves, above all, the claims of most German ideologues who insist that nuclear power has no future worldwide.

The fog has lifted. The truth is indisputably on the table. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz completes the evidence that Germanys energy transition has not only failed but has destroyed hundreds of billions, if not trillions, of euros. Once the work of the eco-socialists is complete, we must conclude, more than a years worth of economic output may have gone up in smoke. This is economic substance and the guarantee of our prosperity. It is a reminder that the societal damage of this policy far exceeds what GDP figures alone can convey.

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In the wake of this realization -- now felt in everyones wallet -- several fatal insights emerge, describing the current state of the Federal Republic. First is the successful narrowing of public discourse to Merkels principle of no alternatives. Like a pyramid scheme set from the top, the issue of CO2-driven climate change dominated not only politics. State-aligned media and corporations closely tied to the government played along, submitted to the rules, and positioned themselves at the forefront of executing this new moral framework.

After the Fukushima accident, Germanys nuclear phase-out was sealed: too dangerous, not future-oriented. The future would lie in energy forms that, according to the green agitprop department, sent no bills. Nearly all politicians joined this intellectual blackout, enacting a monogenetic correction of party DNA across the spectrum, which now sits in front of the firewall.

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The narrative frame was set, deeply embedded into public consciousness by the omnipresent NGO influence. A chain of guilt linked every action to a supposedly burning planet. It helped install subsidy and redistribution mechanisms and drowned even the faintest critique of the grand looting in a mixture of climate apocalypticism, moral sauce, and Thunberg-style infantilism.

That this looting continues unabated through the productive sectors of our society, and even accelerates, speaks volumes about the state of our society. Political apathy among voters combines with extraordinary arrogance and ideological stupidity in the highest ranks of this catastrophic regime.

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Alongside intermittent green energy, a megastructure of new backup gas plants is to be built. Authorities speak of up to 50 such backstops to prevent the country from literally collapsing into social chaos during a dark doldrums period.

The statistics are indisputable. Since 2004, electricity production in China has increased by over 330 percent; in the U.S., roughly 11 percent. Germany, however, has lost 13 percent of its electricity production since its peak year 2021 and is now a net importer. Prosperity derives from energy production. Any self-imposed restrictions at this point lead society down the path of impoverishment. A historical and economic lesson, apparently never contemplated in union seminars or green think tanks. Meanwhile, in the circles of degrowth enthusiasts, rationality and bourgeois values trigger an immune-like resistance similar to the effect of advanced humanistic education.

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In the U.S., President Donald Trump set in motion a shift back in 2016, briefly interrupted by the Biden administration: away from the European model of artificially constrained energy production and toward a deregulated market. Trumps slogan Drill, Baby, Drill benefits the United States as a net exporter of oil and gas in the current crisis. Across the Atlantic, it is understood that autonomous control over energy capacities translates seamlessly into geopolitical leverage. The U.S. seeks strong access to energy markets to maneuver more effectively against China, for example, in the area of rare earth elements.

The emerging U.S. energy power structure, controlling Venezuelan oil, soon the Strait of Hormuz, and fostering closer ties with Arab energy states, is likely to consolidate Americas dominant position for the foreseeable future.

While Germany sheds crocodile tears over shifting geopolitics and remains frozen watching events in the Strait of Hormuz, one must ask: what is to be made of a chancellor who, despite the failed energy transition, ostentatiously rejects a return to nuclear power? Merz embodies with full force the destructive spirit of ideological blindness, too often mingled with foolish power-seeking in Berlin.

Or will the Social Democrats continue to suffice to form another left-ecologist coalition and carry Merkels globalist project into the future?

Germany gives the impression of a stagnant pond, where sedated frogs have grown accustomed to the stench of decay. The fresh stream flowing past them is unseen -- or unwelcome.

Even so, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has finally noticed, years late, that something is moving in the nuclear sector.

Tactically following Brussels handbook, she announced support for existing and planned nuclear projects across the EU. Whether in France, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, or even Italy, where further nuclear investment is under consideration -- the political dam is broken. From nuclear investment, we can gauge Europeans efforts to preserve national sovereignty against Brussels green transformation machine.

It is obvious: technological progress will not stop even European utopians in Brussels.

To counteract the erosion of her influence, von der Leyen offered a fund of 200 million -- a joke against the backdrop of hundreds of billions burned in the green crony economy. Yet she seeks to publicly position herself at the head of a caravan long already in motion. It is a display of power, not real politics, but at least a form of indirect acknowledgment that ideological, irrational policies have pushed the old continent deep into an economic dead end.

The entry into modern forms of nuclear power, driven by free markets, backed by reintegration of cheap Russian gas to buy time, would shatter the walls of the green trap. Yet Degrowth Chancellor Friedrich Merz shows no interest in this path.

Image: NRC
For nearly a decade, Americans were told that powerful institutions had been weaponized against a sitting president and his supporters. Intelligence agencies, federal law enforcement, and political operatives were accused of bending the machinery of government toward partisan ends.

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The promise from President Donald Trump was clear: expose it, clean it up, and drain the swamp.

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Now more than a year into Trumps second term, many voters are beginning to ask a simple question: Where are the results?

A recent Rasmussen Reports survey suggests that frustration may be growing. Approval ratings for FBI Director Kash Patel are slipping. Only 40 percent of likely voters view Patel favorably. Even more striking, just 32 percent believe he is performing better than previous FBI directors, while 37 percent think he is doing worse.

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Those numbers are not catastrophic. But they are a signal.

For the mainstream press, this is just another fluctuation in Washington approval ratings. For many Trump supporters, however, it reflects something deeper  the growing perception that promises of accountability have yet to materialize.

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The disappointment isnt ideological.

Its transactional.

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Patel built his reputation by exposing what many Americans believe was a coordinated effort inside the national security bureaucracy to undermine Trump during his first term. As a senior investigator for the House Intelligence Committee working with Jim Jordan and Devin Nunes, Patel helped uncover problems with surveillance warrants targeting Trump associate Carter Page.

He later documented what he viewed as systemic corruption in his book Government Gangsters, arguing that unelected bureaucracies had accumulated enormous power with little public accountability.

In other words, Patel understands the problem.

Thats precisely why expectations for him are so high.

For years, Trump and his allies faced a barrage of investigations, subpoenas, indictments, and televised hearings. The Russia collusion probe. The Mueller investigation. Two impeachments. Criminal indictments. The unprecedented FBI search of Trumps home at Mar-a-Lago conducted by the FBI.

Supporters watched these events unfold in real time.

Yet controversies involving Hillary Clintons email server, Joe Bidens handling of classified documents, and Hunter Bidens abandoned laptop appeared  at least to critics  to receive far gentler treatment.

Whether one agrees with that interpretation or not, millions of Americans clearly believe there was a double standard.

Trump returned to office promising to correct it.

But visible accountability has been scarce.

There have been no sweeping prosecutions tied to the origins of the Russia investigation. No major trials involving alleged surveillance abuses. No public reckoning for the officials accused of misusing federal power.

After years of relentless investigations aimed at Trump, the lack of reciprocal accountability is glaring.

Trumps political base doesnt want rhetoric.

It wants results.

But the frustration goes beyond the Russia probe.

During the campaign, Trump promised unprecedented transparency on a series of long-running controversies that many Americans believe were never fully explained.

These include the still-classified records related to the September 11 attacks, unanswered questions surrounding the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting, the long-promised audit of Americas gold reserves at Fort Knox, and the complete investigative files surrounding convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and his mysterious death inside a federal jail.

There are also lingering questions about the two assassination attempts against Trump during the 2024 campaign  incidents that shocked the country but remain only partially explained.

Each of these issues carries its own history of secrecy, redactions, and incomplete disclosures.

Trumps promise to drain the swamp created the expectation that Americans would finally see the full record.

So far, that reckoning has not arrived.

That helps explain Patels declining numbers. It is not necessarily distrust.

Many supporters still see him as one of the few people in Washington who genuinely understands how the system works  and how it may have been abused.

But that familiarity invites an obvious question:

If he knows what happened, why hasnt anyone been held accountable?

To be fair, there are institutional constraints.

The FBI cannot arrest people simply to satisfy political impatience. Cases must withstand courtroom scrutiny, often before judges who may already be skeptical of politically charged prosecutions. A weak case would collapse quickly and likely strengthen the very institutions critics believe have been corrupted.

There are also legal realities. Many of the controversies that inflamed political debate occurred eight or nine years ago. Federal statutes of limitations may already have expired for some offenses unless prosecutors can prove continuing conspiracies or obstruction.

Those constraints make sweeping prosecutions far more complicated than campaign speeches suggest.

Still, politics operates as much on perception as on procedure.

Trump was indicted. He was fingerprinted. His home was searched  even his wifes personal belongings examined during the Mar-a-Lago raid.

Supporters saw the spectacle firsthand.

When no comparable accountability appears on the other side, restraint can easily be interpreted as protection rather than prudence.

Patel may believe the FBI must first be stabilized before it can be transformed. Internal reforms, new investigative standards, and rebuilding institutional credibility may matter more than prosecutions that look backward.

That approach may be prudent. But it is not what many voters expected.

In politics, timing matters.

If Republicans lose control of Congress in the midterm elections, many investigative efforts will stall. Should the White House change hands in 2028, the likelihood of additional disclosures would disappear entirely.

Files will be sealed. Witnesses will fade from public view. Political priorities will shift.

History shows that Washington has an extraordinary ability to bury uncomfortable truths beneath layers of bureaucracy.

And once buried deeply enough, they rarely reemerge.

The Rasmussen numbers should be viewed less as a verdict on Kash Patel than as a warning flare. Trump supporters elevated him precisely because they believed he understood how federal power had been misused. If accountability never arrives, voters may conclude that the system cannot be reformed from within.

For millions of Americans who spent years watching investigations aimed at one side of the political aisle, the question is becoming unavoidable.

If the swamp was supposed to be drained, why does it still look so healthy?

Brian C. Joondeph, M.D. is a Colorado ophthalmologist who writes frequently about medicine, science, and public policy.

Follow Brian at Twitter @retinaldoctor, Substack Dr. Brians Substack. Truth Social @BrianJoondeph, LinkedIn @Brian Joondeph and email [email protected].
Building on its sectorspecific research program, Alithya presents insights that benchmark AI readiness, business pressures, and technology investments shaping enterprise strategy.

MONTREAL, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Alithya is unveiling the latest edition of its industry research series, providing datadriven insights into the business pressures, operational challenges, and technology priorities shaping 2026 strategies across financial services, manufacturing, and healthcare. The findings highlight how organizations are accelerating AI adoption, navigating financial pressures, and strengthening the data and technology foundations needed to compete in an increasingly complex environment.

Across financial services, respondents point to three shifts defining the year ahead: the executive priorities driving investment, the push to manage enterprise complexity through cloud, agentic AI, and automation, and the hurdles slowing generative AI deployment. These insights provide a detailed picture of the pressures financial institutions face and the capabilities they expect from technology partners as they modernize.

In manufacturing, leaders across multiple subsectors evaluated their AI readiness, automation roadmaps, workforce modernization efforts, and the obstacles preventing them from scaling digital and operational transformation. The responses underscore broad recognition that productivity, resiliency, and AIsupported decisionmaking are central to future competitiveness.

Within healthcare, executives from both provider and payer organizations highlighted ongoing financial strain, persistent labor cost challenges, and the technologies they believe will drive the greatest impact in the year ahead. Payers emphasized investment in data modernization and analytics, while providers cited the urgent need for systems that reduce administrative burden and support sustainable care delivery.

"Our ongoing research series reflects our commitment to understanding industry challenges and tracking how they evolve," said Paul Raymond, President and Chief Executive Officer of Alithya. "Technology, especially AI, is now at the center of every longterm strategy. But leaders are clear: AI only delivers value when built on strong data foundations. Our role is to help them build these capabilities and translate them into measurable business outcomes."

The findings of this research series further expand Alithya's sector intelligence, providing organizations with evidencebased insight into market dynamics and technology maturity trends. Additional reports and deeper industryspecific cuts will be released throughout the year.

To explore sectorspecific insights:

About Alithya

We are trusted advisors who provide AI-centric strategic consulting and digital transformation services. We help solve business challenges that enable our clients to unlock new opportunities, modernize processes, and gain efficiencies. We leverage a world-class team of passionate industry experts, AI-based IP solutions, the latest digital technologies, a solid understanding of mission critical business applications and a partner ecosystem to accelerate results. We've built a foundation of success that includes a specialized global delivery network to provide end-to-end solutions.

We strive to make a difference. We are Alithya.

SOURCE Alithya Group inc.
President Trumps determination to get the military installations we need on Greenland is, with the Iran conflict, temporarily on the back burner. Many have likely forgotten Trumps implied--never explicitly stated--intention to militarily conquer Greenland and Denmark.

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Graphic: Truth Social Post Excerpt

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There is little doubt Americas future security depends on the strategically located Greenland, which is the 12th largest country in the world in area. Greenlands population is only about 57, 000 people. A possession of Denmark, Greenland is about 88% Greenlandic Inuit and the rest are white Europeans of mostly Danish extraction.

The American media is always willing to ignore Trumps bargaining technique, which virtually always begin with an aggressive posture which is later pared back to something all parties can accept. They prefer to portray him as a madman and fascist, but he plays by the rules of our republic and capitalism.

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Canny observers understand American presence and investment in Greenland would be of enormous benefit to Greenlanders and to Denmark, and negotiations are underway to ensure American national security interests are secured and Greenland and Denmark benefit, not just financially, but in terms of their own national security. Theres little doubt a deal that will make everyone happy will eventually be struck.

However, it seems the Danes listened a bit too much to our anti-America and anti-Trump media:

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Fearing a U.S. invasion of Greenland in January, Denmark allegedly drew up plans to destroy the islands runways to prevent American aircraft from landing, according to a Thursday report from Danish public broadcaster DR. Citing 12 high-level sources inside the Danish government and military sources among Denmarks allies in France and Germany, the outlet said it had reviewed a January 13 military operations order outlining a secret plan to deploy Danish troops to Greenland equipped with explosives and blood supplies in the event of military conflict. Advertisement Euronews reported that the plan was conceived after President Donald Trump signaled at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January that the U.S. would seek to annex the autonomous Danish territory. [skip] In fairness, Trump also told attendees, I dont want to use force. I wont use force. All the United States is asking for is a place called Greenland. Advertisement

While the Iranians would be wise to listen to everything President Trump promises to do to them, the Danes took a while to understand he was never going to conquer either Greenland or Denmark and was demonstrating The Art of the Deal.

The Danes, having seen what happened to Maduro and Venezuela, were panicked. Denmark is among our NATO allies, and despite Trumps distaste for NATO in general, and particularly after experiencing NATOs fecklessness in dealing with Iran, he was not, and likely is not, ready to abandon Americas place in that alliance.

What chance would Denmark have against our military? Less than none. Damaging runways could only slightly delay an actual invasion, which would have been the smallest and briefest invasion in history. Parking a carrier task force with a Marine expeditionary unit off Greenland would provide more than enough manpower and equipment not only to seize and quickly repair airfields, and the Danes would surely have been sufficiently wise not to exchange fire with us.

Elizabeth Stauffer ended her Legal Insurrection article with this:

If accurate, the episode marks one of the most extraordinary chapters in modern transatlantic relations: a moment when NATO allies, behind closed doors, contemplated sabotaging one nations infrastructure to defend against a member-nation of the alliance. Even if never enacted, the plan reveals just how close the NATO alliance may have come to an unprecedented internal rupture.

As Stauffer wrote, if accurate, and I suspect it is, this is a rare look behind the scenes of international diplomacy we never get to see. One can only imagine how close we came, or may yet be, to American withdrawal from NATO, a move that may ultimately be to Americas financial and national security benefit.

As for Greenland, cooler heads will surely prevail and things will be settled amicably, as Trump always intended. Enhanced tourist trade alone may convince Denmark and Greenland to invite us, and our dollars, to their largely empty country whose runways will remain intact.

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.
One of the most passionate arguments about the Iranian War is whether the U.S. and Israel should be fighting for regime change; the question erupts on many levels. Is regime change possible without putting boots on the ground? Are the Iranian people prepared to take back their country, or are they too frightened? Will the IRGC and the Basij smash any efforts to overthrow the regime?

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In some ways, these are outdated arguments, because much has changed in the war since it began a mere 21 days ago. The military achievements of the U.S. and Israel have been historic, as theyve wiped out the Iranian spiritual and military leadership, destroyed strategic sites, and eliminated most of Irans munitions. While all these actions were taking place, the Iranian people were told to hunker down in their homes so they wouldnt get caught in the crossfire.

But President Trump, as well as President Netanyahu, have called out to the people, not just with the hope that they will eliminate the regime one day, but with the call for the people to act now.

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Several circumstances have changed the facts on the ground. For one, Mossad has hacked most of the technical infrastructure:

Over time, Mossads focus expanded beyond Irans nuclear program and support for terrorism. The agencys operatives penetrated Irans regime and infrastructure with ruthless efficiency. Everything from Tehrans traffic cameras to the countrys wireless networks have been hacked. Earlier this month, Israeli jets pounded the data center for Bank Sepah, which processes the salary payments for Irans military and Revolutionary Guard Corps. Advertisement

One Iranian American believes that Israels strategy will make regime change possible, with the efforts of the Iranian people:

Mehrdad Marty Youssefiani, an Iranian American political consultant who has worked on changing the Iranian regime for most of his adult life, told The Free Press that he thinks Israels strategy can work. Advertisement [snip] Its beyond a biblical relationship. Its civilizational and deeply rooted, he said. The Jewish Persians lived in Iran a thousand years before the birth of Islam. What does that say? Its in our DNA. This is a 3,000-year history. Advertisement

Israels second effective strategy is to attack the Basij, the paramilitary branch of the IRGC. The Basij has a long history of fiercely fighting for Iran, particularly in the Iran-Iraq war, where they died in huge numbers trying to defuse mines in the field. They also killed tens of thousands of protestors in January 2026. But Israel has demoralized and alarmed them:

The Israeli military is waging an intense campaign of tracking and destroying checkpoints and other locations manned by the feared Iranian regimes Basij militia in Tehran, according to the IDF, multiple Israeli media outlets and observations of Euronews Persian service of social media activity out of Iran. Advertisement The Israeli objective appears to be destroying and demoralising the Basij units  the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) paramilitary militia  and in general to degrade the Iranian regimes internal security apparatus used for repression.

In spite of regime directives to kill any protestors at this time who go into the streets, the fourth strategy has come from Iranians, who have made a stunning use of technology to aid Israel in its bombing:

In a striking development, multiple social media accounts observed by Euronews Persian team claim that ordinary Iranian citizens film Basij checkpoints or military hideouts, posting the videos on social media as a form of opposition after thousands of Iranian protesters were killed and injured by the militia and other security forces during the violent crackdown on protests preceding the war.

Fifth, Israel, through multiple media, has told the Iranian people that they are supporting them and will be there for them. President Netanyahu, as well as Mossad, has broadcast assurances to encourage them:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly called for protests during the campaign, saying in a message to the people of Iran, The regime  has never been weaker. This is your opportunity to stand up and let your voices be heard. [snip] While Israeli intelligence support for the protests is difficult to trace, some hard evidence is available. The most concrete evidence of involvement comes from the Israeli intelligence community itself. On Dec 29, the Mossads official Farsi X (Twitter) account posted: We are with you. Not only from a distance and verbally. We are with you in the field. This post served as an addendum to Mossad Director David Barneas statement following the June 2025 strikes, warning that Israel will continue to be there [in Iran], as we have been there.

Thus, there are still many unknowns that are difficult to predict for the future, and Irans people may still be reluctant to take to the streets once more. But they know that they are backed by one of the most powerful militaries in the world. Maybe they are finally prepared to take back their country.

Image created using AI.
Did I just hear Governor Hochul say that its time to weaken New Yorks climate change law? Well, yes, she did. In fact, here it goes:

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Gov. Kathy Hochul is backing measures that would weaken the strict deadlines for implementing New Yorks landmark climate law and make the targets easier to meet. Hochul has formally proposed changing the way the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act calculates New Yorks emissions, effectively requiring less aggressive reductions, according to three people familiar with the proposal who were granted anonymity to discuss the ongoing negotiations. Advertisement The governor has also proposed delaying the timeline to establish regulations to achieve the goals  which is the subject of ongoing litigation  to 2030, while keeping the laws emissions deadlines intact. The undeniable fact is we cannot meet the Climate Acts 2030 targets without imposing new and additional crushing costs on New York businesses and residents, Hochul wrote in an opinion piece outlining her proposal in the Empire Report. Advertisement

We cannot meet the targets? Wait a minute. I thought that the coastlines would flood, and the sun was going to burn everything down. Or I thought that the Yankees would have to play indoors because everythingd be frozen soon. That sounds too serious to let a target go by.

What happened to all the hysterical warnings? Well, hysterical warnings met economic reality, and Democrats dont want to be punished politically for high electricity rates. All those stories about protecting the bears in the North Pole are great until someone gets their electric bill, I guess.

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I wonder who will be the next Democrat governor who will talk about not meeting their targets. Dont think it will be Governor Newsom because hell be out soon, but whoever follows him will have to address the issue.

In the end, lets understand that all these climate change concerns had nothing to do with clean air or water. It was all government controls and pleasing the climate change lunatics who show up in primaries.

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As we learned last week, Governor Hochul wants New Yorkers to pay taxes in New York again. I guess that one way of getting that money back is to make New York more suitable for business again.

Time will tell if all of this works, but reality is clearly hitting Democrats between the eyes.

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Image created using AI.

P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos.
A new batch of oral histories of the Obama presidency published Monday includes a telling admission from a top strategist.

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According to reporting by The New York Times' Peter Baker, David Plouffe, Obamas 2008 campaign manager, reveals that in 2015, he personally delivered a message to Joe Biden that was meant to shut the door on a 2016 run. Obama had decided Hillary Clinton was the stronger candidate, and Plouffe was sent to make sure Biden got the message.

I talked to Biden many times during this period. What I would say is: "Listen, sir, first of all, Im concerned about you as a human being. Im not sure youre in a state to run. But if this was six, seven months ago, its a different conversation. Theres no room. Theres just no room for you. Advertisement

Biden later wrote in his memoir, The president was not encouraging.

So Biden backed off. Publicly, he cited his grief over the death of his son. He stepped aside and watched as Hillary Clinton marched straight to defeat against Republican nominee Donald Trump.

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Biden was the stronger general-election candidate in 2016. He was seen as a blue-collar Catholic guy from Scranton, not as Clinton Foundation baggage. He could talk to union voters without sounding like hed been focus-grouped. The Rust Belt Democrats who drifted to Trump in 2016  and ultimately decided the election  were exactly the kind of voters Biden had spent decades working with.

Further, these same Obama-world geniuses were simultaneously treating Donald Trump like comic relief. The 2026 oral histories make clear that Obamas team was dismissing Trump as a joke as far back as 2011. David Axelrod recalled laughing off Trumps ambitions around the White House Correspondents Dinner. Later, Axelrod admitted his mistake:

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I don't think any of us really anticipated that Donald Trump would be a serious candidate for president, much less president.

Plouffe eventually admitted what this whole machine helped create. But it took him until the 2025 book Original Sin to say it out loud, and even then, he didnt exactly do any soul-searching. Instead, he blamed Biden:

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He totally f---ed us. Its all Biden.

The man who helped push Biden out in 2015  clearing the runway for Hillary Clinton, who then lost to Trump  spent the next decade acting as though Biden was always the problem. In 2015, Biden was supposedly too weak to win. In 2024, Biden was too frail to finish the race. But in Plouffes mind, the Obama machine itself is never wrong.

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Conservatives, on the other hand, understood what was happening in real time.

Democrats didnt lose in 2016 because of Russia, James Comey, or Jill Stein. They lost because a smug, insider group of party operatives decided the nomination was theirs to hand out, picked the wrong candidate, and then spent the next decade dodging responsibility.

David Plouffe delivered the message in 2015 that helped clear the path for Hillary Clinton. Hillary Clintons nomination cleared the path for Donald Trump.

A decade later, they still cant see their handiwork staring them in the face.
Chuck Norris doesnt cross streets  streets change their names for Chuck Norris.

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OK, so thats not the best Chuck Norris joke ever written. But one San Francisco firefighter and former candidate for District 7 supervisor isnt kidding around with his petition to rename the citys Cesar Chavez Street as Chuck Norris Boulevard.

Stephen Martin-Pinto posted the effort to his X account, including renderings of the current street sign bearing the name of the actor and martial arts expert, who died last week at age 86.

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Please help us in our effort to rename Cesar Chavez Street to Chuck Norris Boulevard! Sign our jotform and tell the San Francisco Board of Supervisors WE WANT CHUCK NORRIS BOULEVARD!!!https://t.co/P1t14vueDd https://t.co/Xz3uV3nxn5 pic.twitter.com/l8x1fuBXh2  Stephen Martin-Pinto (@StephenMPinto) March 20, 2026

The legacy of Chavez, the labor leader who died in the early 1990s, has come under fire in recent days as allegations of sexual misconduct involving women and young girls have emerged. His name is ubiquitous across California on school buildings, parades and elsewhere, but efforts have quickly been launched to distance institutions from Chavez amid the allegations.

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Still, a proudly liberal city like San Francisco is unlikely to embrace renaming the street for Norris, who backed conservative and Christian causes and supported President Donald Trump. And the closest tie he appears to have had to the city was his 1974 martial-arts film Slaughter in San Francisco.

Unlike Norris, Chavez had an established civic footprint in San Francisco: the city renamed Army Street for him in 1995, and for years also honored him with a parade, a school, and a student center  even if his strongest personal ties were elsewhere in California.

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The more likely scenario is that the street reverts to its former name, Army Street. Though one X user had this take:
Not yet consigned to the dustbin of history are the gross excesses and weaponization of the Federal Government against Normal Americans by the Bidens Handlers Administration. Among the most bizarre was the FBIs focus on what they called Radical Traditional Catholics. FBI Director Christopher Wray lied to Congress, saying the illegal and idiotic surveillance was limited to only a single FBI field office. He was shocked, shocked(!) and immediately put an end to it. We later learned multiple field offices were involved and Wray apparently wasnt as shocked as he claimed.

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Graphic: C-Span Post

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But why would the FBI, with tens, even hundreds, of thousands of Islamist terrorists and Chinese spies pouring over the border unvetted and unidentified waste time focusing on Catholics? Those traditional radicals appreciated the Latin Mass, which the DEI dimwits at multiple FBI field offices apparently saw as an imminent threat to America, or at least to the Bidens Handlers Administration. Somehow, I doubt many, if any, FBI agents, spoke Latin.

Bizarrely, the FBI thought those Catholics were somehow aligned with White Supremacists. How they got that idea remains unexplained.

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Carol Rhodes, a member of a conservative Catholic media organization based outside Detroit, was shocked recently to learn that her group was one of nine traditional Catholic groups being cited by the FBI as radical and extremist. We dont hate anyone. Were very peaceful, Rhodes, a member of the traditional Catholic media site Church Militant, told The Post. This is America. We have the right to practice our faith. It was really over the top to hear all this. This is crazy and doesnt make any sense. Advertisement

Yes, it was and no, it didnt. But that was mild indeed compared to what Bidens Handlers' CIA was doing:

President Donald Trumps administration released a mostly redacted version of a Biden CIA memo marking traditional motherhood and motherhood as signs of white extremism. Advertisement

But of course! If the Latin Mass is a deadly threat, why not traditional motherhood too?

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Graphic: X Post

The memo, titled Women Advancing White Racially and Ethnically Motivated Extremist Radicalization and Recruitment, tarnished females who hold traditional values.

REMVE?! Has any sapient being outside the CIA and Bidens Handlers ever heard, or understood, that acronym? Does such an organization exist? Apparently, the CIA imagined it into existence.

The memo claimed the CIA focused on a subset of women who are supporters of, or sympathetic to, transnational white RMVEs [racially and ethnically motivated violent extremist], including groups such as National Action and Nordic Resistance Movement, as well as the broader global movement. White RMVEs and their sympathizers have claimed in online posts that it is essential for white families to have as many biological children as possible to counter the rising birthrates among non-white populations; white RMVEs allege that this rise is a conspiracy, which they have termed the great replacement, according to an Open Source Enterprise assessment, according to the memo.

Has anyone ever heard of National Action and the Nordic Resistance Movement? And what might the broader global movement be? A movement of who or what? And isnt the CIA prohibited from operating in America?

Graphic: X Post

Oh. Its redacted female members from abroad. Im sure the Bidens Handlers CIA would never violate the law to pursue white, traditional mothers within the United States, even if they were so deadly dangerous as to be "spanning traditional motherhood-focused roles." The horror. Heres how dangerous these women abroad were:

The agency defined white RMVE-sympathetic actors as people or groups who may not openly advocate violence but amplify RMVE narratives regarding perceptions of racial and ethnic hierarchy, as well as perceived threats from those they see as advocating multiculturalism and globalization.

So. If youre a white, traditional American mother who might be RMVE-sympathetic," even though youve never heard that acronym and have no idea what it might mean, and you dont advocate violence, as most traditional mothers dont, you amplify RMVE narratives regarding perceptions of racial and ethnic hierarchy, as well as perceived threats from those they see as advocating multiculturalism and globalization.

What?!

Somehow, I see the left hand of DEI in that Kamalaesque word salad. Its worse:

One group that the CIA redacted supposedly has lauded motherhood and homemaking as womens most important responsibility. The same group boasted of seeing an increased number of female recruits in 2017. In other words, the government must keep an eye on white women who stress the importance of motherhood and homemaking.

Well, sure, I mean, some mothers are babes, but only such women abroad. The Bidens Handlers Administration was very careful never to violate the law [snicker, cough]. Sanity, the law and common sense? Thats another story.

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.
Imagery from Cubas precipitous decline demonstrates yet again the vacuous evil of American and European leftists. Amidst crushing poverty, the communist regime that caused Cubas dissolution hangs on by its fingernails, and our leftists are always ready to fly in first class, hang out in five-star hotels and praise the communist monsters that gladly kill millions and destroy everything and everyone they touch.

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Graphic: X Post

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Their message: save Cuban communism at all costs.

Hundreds of left-wing activists from the United States, Europe, and Latin America descended on Havana this weekend, meeting with communist officials, staying in upscale hotels, and traveling in air-conditioned buses as ordinary Cubans grapple with widespread blackouts and severe shortages of basic necessities. Advertisement The Nuestra America Convoy, also called the Our America Convoy to Cuba, brought roughly 650 delegates from 33 countries and more than 100 organizations to the island, transporting about 20 tons of humanitarian aid, according to organizers.

Some of the activists reportedly brought hospital supplies, which is odd because Cuba is supposed to have the finest, best equipped, hospitals in the world, where every peasant has the best medical care available. The Party elite have decent hospitals; every day Cubans have virtually nothing. Their hospitals and clinics have no drugs, no bandages, not the most basic medical supplies and treatments.

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There was electricity for leftist rock concerts and their five-star hotels, but not for hospitals:

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Graphic: Social Media Post

And of course, its all Donald Trumps fault:

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The Cuban government and activists have blamed U.S. energy restrictions, particularly moves by Donald Trump to target oil shipments, for exacerbating the islands economic collapse. Organizers framed the convoy as a direct challenge to what they describe as collective punishment. We cannot allow this, said David Adler of Progressive International, one of the groups behind the effort. We cannot normalize it. Cuban officials echoed that message, with Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio insisting that the countrys political system is not up for negotiation in any talks with Washington. At the same time, critics argue the regimes decades of centralized control and economic mismanagement have played a central role in the islands long-running hardship.

And the critics are right. Communism is one of mankinds premier evils. It kills its own people by the millions and spreads disease, war, poverty and misery far beyond its own national borders. It has turned Cuba, one of the jewels of this hemisphere, a nation with industrious, hard-working people, into a garbage dump where there isnt sufficient gas to run most of Cubas garbage trucks, leaving garbage overflowing in the streets. Ordinary Cubans make about $4 dollars a month and food is as scarce as cooking gas.

The visiting leftists also expressed support for yet another murderous ideology:

The assembled leftists took time out to express their support for Palestine, which again raises the question, what does Islamic extremism have to do with Communism? The answer is that leftism is anti-civilization. Leftists will happily endorse any movement or theory that tries to destroy civilization. They have gotten their way, as civilization in both Cuba and Palestine has been thoroughly destroyed. And leftists will continue to cheer on that destruction, right up to the last gasp of the evil regimes that have perpetrated it.

Graphic: X Post

The communist system is up for negotiation in talks with Washington that the Cuban communists begged to have. They know their system is collapsing around their ears and theyre trying to get out with their miserable lives. Costa Ricas president-elect understands whats happening:

The Communist regime has held power for decades only because fellow communist regimes like Russia, Venezuela and China, and more recently Islamist regimes like Iran, have propped it up. With that support ended, Cuba is finally collapsing. Among the ironies of that collapse is with gasoline scarce and unaffordable, China began flooding Cuba with cheap, electric scooters and motorcycles. But now, Cubas decrepit electric grid has entirely failed. Theres a little power for the Party elite and visiting communists and Islamists, but no power to charge those Chinese two wheelers.

Its no coincidence that Iran and Cuba are both on the verge of collapse, their peoples close to experiencing liberty. Donald Trump is making possible what past Presidents have wanted but lacked the ability and courage to do. Its also no coincidence both regimes are desperate to make a deal with Trump while publicly shouting defiance. He, on behalf of the Cuban and Iranian people, has the upper hand.

Like the whining of Code Pink and their leftist comrades, that defiance will amount to nothing as one by one, remaining Communist and Islamist tyrannies fall onto the ash heap of history, ash soaked with the blood of the monsters who imprisoned, tortured, raped and murdered their own people.

Become a subscriber and get our weekly, Friday newsletter with unique content from our editors. These essays alone are worth the cost of the subscription.

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
In a March 20, 2026, Hannity appearance, Stanford University professor, military historian, and Hoover Institution senior fellow Victor Davis Hanson once again demonstrated why he's one of Americas sharpest strategic minds.

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Hanson urged viewers to ignore the blizzard of propaganda on Iran and focus instead on what the relevant players are doing.

His conclusion: the tide has turned decisively in Americas favor against the Iranian regime in Operation Epic Fury. If Trump sees it through  and he will  the regime falls, Hanson declared. "Not in years. Pretty soon."

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Hansons framework is simple and historically grounded: Europeans never commit until they can smell victory; Gulf states survive by reading the room perfectly; and even adversarial media outlets reveal their true assessments through subtle tone shifts. The battlefield itself tells the rest of the story.

Start with Europeans quietly moving assets and offering support.

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Early in the conflict, there was silence from Brussels and most NATO capitals. Silence and support declinations have been replaced with quiet logistical assistance and force repositioning to secure energy routes through the Strait of Hormuz, especially after Iranian strikes near Cyprus. This is a classic European calculus: they smell success.

Then look at Gulf petrostates placing massive bets on America.

Saudi Arabia has expelled Irans military attache and multiple embassy staff, declaring them persona non grata. Multiple Gulf states, including the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait, are actively intercepting Iranian missiles and drones over their own territory. Most telling, the UAE formally reaffirmed its $1.4 trillion investment commitment to the United States in a letter delivered mid-war. These represent heavy wagers on American victory.

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What's more, even Al Jazeera senses the shift.

The Qatari state network that routinely criticizes U.S. policy and hosts Hamas offices published an op-ed declaring, The US-Israeli strategy against Iran is working. When the outlet that simultaneously hosts Americas largest air base in the region and Hamas leadership calls American operations brilliant and underestimated, the message is unmistakable.

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Military reality confirms the collapse of Iranian defenses. A-10 Warthogs and Apache gunships, slow, low-flying platforms that only operate when enemy air defenses are effectively neutralized, are now conducting strike missions inside Iranian airspace and against naval targets in the Strait of Hormuz at will. Their presence is testimony to how degraded are Iranian assets..

To Hansons already compelling list, several additional data points further reinforce the conclusion that Iran is losing badly. Iranian ballistic missile and one-way drone launches have plummeted by 86%-94% since the opening salvos of the campaign. What began as hundreds of projectiles per wave has been reduced to sporadic harassment fire.

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The Iranian navy has also been largely dismantled, with more than 100 vessels interdicted or destroyed in Hormuz operations alone. With missile capability and the navy nearly obliterated, Irans ability to project power is hobbled.

Leadership decapitation has also been devastating. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in the initial phase of the operation. His son Mojtaba Khamenei, installed as the new figurehead, has been largely invisible, reduced to issuing only audio messages and written statements amid credible reports of injury or internal power struggles. The regimes command-and-control structure is fractured.

Illustrative of Irans desperation is recent missile performance. Some barrages have demonstrated greater range, accuracy, and evasion capabilities than pre-war Western intelligence assessments had projected. Iranian missiles reached distant targets, including strikes near sensitive Israeli facilities and a joint U.S.-U.K. base, prompting analysts to acknowledge that Tehrans arsenal may have been underestimated.

Far from undermining Americas position, this revelation actually strengthens it, by proving demonstrably that the Iranian threat was as real and advanced as Trump warned. Yet even when the regime unleashed its most sophisticated systems, the results were strategically insignificant. Launch volumes collapsed lmost immediately. Air and naval domination of Iran were achieved anyway. The mullahs crown jewels, production facilities, launchers, and command nodes, have been systematically dismantled anyway. In other words, Iran played its strongest hand and still lost the table. The evidence paints a picture of overwhelming dominance, followed by a desperate Iranian act of defiance.

Irans only remaining strategy is to drag out the conflict in the hope that American and world public opinion sours, and political forces compel cessation of hostilities. Given Trumps track record and stated resolve, even that bet looks desperate.

The accumulating signals do not lie. Europeans are hedging toward the winner. Gulf monarchies are voting with their money and their airspace. Even traditionally hostile voices in the media are quietly conceding effectiveness. Missile volumes are cratering, leadership is decapitated, and even Irans best technological surprises have failed to change the strategic equation.

As Victor Davis Hanson has taught for decades, wars are won not by rhetoric but by realities on the ground, and the realities today all point in one direction: toward the imminent collapse of the worlds leading state sponsor of terrorism.

Image: Screenshot from Hoover Institution video, via X
When news broke this morning about the Air Canada flight that crashed while landing at LaGuardia, the national response was immediate and instinctive. Before investigators reached the wreckage, the conversation had already turned to prevention. Aviation experts filled the airwaves. Analysts walked through possible mechanical failures, weather conditions, and procedural breakdowns. The tone was solemn but focused: How did this happen, and how do we make sure it never happens again?

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This is the reflex of a society that understands the value of human life. In aviation, every tragedy is treated as a systemic failure. Every life lost demands accountability. Every accident becomes a catalyst for reform. We do not shrug. We do not minimize. We do not move on. We investigate, we learn, and we change.

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Graphic: Social Media Post

But when 18yearold Sheridan Gorman was shot executionstyle while walking with friends in Chicago  killed by a man who, according to reports, was in the country illegally and had a prior criminal history  that reflex was nowhere to be found.

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No panels of experts. No national soul-searching. No urgent demand to examine the policies and decisions that allowed a dangerous individual to remain in the community. Her death was briefly acknowledged, then quietly set aside as an unfortunate incident.

The contrast is not just stark, it is revealing. In one case, the country mobilizes its full moral and institutional machinery to prevent future loss of life. In the other, the country barely pauses to register the tragedy. The difference is not the value of the lives lost  both the pilots and Sheridan were human beings with futures, families, and dreams. The difference is the narrative. A plane crash is politically neutral. An executionstyle murder by an illegal immigrant is not.

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If we applied the aviation mindset to Sheridans death, the questions would be immediate and unavoidable:

Why was a man with prior arrests released back into the community?

Why was an ICE detainer ignored or unenforced?

What policies allowed this risk to exist?

What must change so this never happens again?

These are not ideological questions. They are moral ones. They are the same questions we ask after every aviation tragedy, every bridge collapse and every industrial accident. They are the questions a healthy society asks when a life is lost.

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But in Sheridans case, those questions threaten the ideological commitments of the media and the Democrat Party. They challenge narratives about immigration, enforcement and public safety. They force a reckoning with the consequences of decisions made in the name of compassion that protected no one. And so the questions are not asked. Instead, the story is softened, coverage is limited, outrage is muted and the tragedy is treated as an unfortunate incident  sad, but not worth rethinking anything over.

This is the moral inversion of our time: ideology has become more precious than human life.

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When a tragedy reinforces a preferred Democrat narrative  as in the Minnesota ICE incidents  the coverage is wall-to-wall. Politicians rush to microphones. Protests erupt. The story becomes a national crisis. The deaths of two citizens during confrontations with federal agents were framed as proof of government brutality before the facts were known. The narrative was too useful to wait for clarity.

But when a tragedy challenges the narrative  when it reveals the cost of ignoring enforcement, the consequences of sanctuary policies, or the failures of local prosecutors  the silence is deafening.

The media that once demanded accountability suddenly loses interest. The politicians who once spoke with moral urgency suddenly have nothing to say. The activists who once marched in the streets suddenly look away.

The message is unmistakable: some tragedies matter, and some do not  and the difference is ideological, not moral.

This is not the behavior of a society committed to human dignity. It is the behavior of a society committed to protecting Democrat narratives at any cost. It is a society where empathy is conditional, where outrage is selective, where the value of a life is measured not by its humanity but by its political utility.

And that is why the contrast between the airline accident and Sheridans murder is so revealing. One tragedy triggers the best of our instincts  accountability, investigation, reform. The other exposes the worst  indifference, avoidance, ideological selfpreservation.

And until we confront that truth  until we demand that every life be treated with the same seriousness, the same compassion, the same commitment to prevention  we will continue to repeat the tragedies we refuse to examine.

Because in the end, the real question is not how Sheridan died; it is why so many people in power dont seem to care.
NEW YORK, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Armadillo unveils its new showroom in New York City with a 4,000-square-foot space that embodies the brand's evolving design language and purpose-led philosophy. Situated on Broadway overlooking Madison Square Park, the showroom marks the Australian-born rug brand's most ambitious expression yet - an environment that invites calm reflection amid the city's pulse.

Armadillo

Conceived in collaboration with Klein Agency, longtime creative partners of the brand, the interior balances historical integrity with contemporary sensibility. The 1897 building's original pine floors, columns and mouldings are preserved as a tactile reminder of the past, while contoured walls finished in textured plaster are carved in softness. This dialogue between eras is deliberate - a study in contrast where craftsmanship both old and new find equilibrium.

"Our intent was to honor the building's heritage while layering in a distinctly modern rhythm," says Armadillo co-founder Jodie Fried. "Every curve, every material has been considered to create a sense of quietude and an atmosphere where our rugs can be experienced not as product, but as living, breathing works of design."

The sun pours in from Broadway and 25th Street, filtering across tonal surfaces and casting a shifting play of shadow and texture that ensures each rug reveals its innate depth and hue throughout the day. "Architecturally, we were given a stunning shell - tall ceilings, sweeping views and generous natural light," says Masa Kleinhample, Founding Partner at Klein Agency. "Our intent was to introduce a series of gentle curves and sculptural walls that invite discovery, allowing visitors to move intuitively through the space and find inspiration in its unfolding."

The space is punctuated with thoughtful gestures that not only reflect Armadillo's enduring relationships within the design community but heighten this effect. Furniture by AUDO Copenhagen grounds the interior in artful simplicity, complemented by Everhem drapery that softens the showroom's expanse. Pendant lighting by Lumiere Shades casts an ethereal glow against richly patinated wall finishes by Bauwerk Paint, a fellow antipodean brand known for its sustainability. Each element balances precision with warmth, extending the language of innovative artisanship that defines the brand.

"The New York location represents an evolution, both for Armadillo and for how we invite people to experience our world," reflects Sally Pottharst, Armadillo's co-founder. "It's not a showroom in the traditional sense. It's a place for pause and connection, mirroring the material honesty we hold at the heart of everything we make."

In support of the showroom opening, Romilly Newman will bring her layered, textural sensibility to the space, marking her first interior design collaboration. Her approach to styling deepens the dialogue between the building's 1897 bones and Klein Agency's sculptural modernity, offering warmth against Armadillo's refined restraint. It is a partnership rooted in a shared reverence for craftsmanship and the quiet art of bringing old and new into harmony. The showroom opening, and Newman event, coincides with the global launch of Armadillo's upcoming latest collection, debuting March 17th.

Romilly's thoughtful, intentional, and signature eclectic aesthetic infuses elements of romanticism and neoclassicism into the styling of the space. Furnishings from Nickey Kehoe and Athena Calderone's furniture line create a welcoming vignette, offering a pause from the city's pace, while lamps by Louis Poulsen and forged iron candle sconces provide soft, layered illumination. A selection of carefully curated accentscrystal vases by Lalique, antiques from Sylvie Home, and an airy linen textile from Cultiverinvite texture and charm. Overhead, two birdcages by Rachel Wolf from Palo Gallery hang from the high ceilings, offering a quiet sculptural presence, while a signature scent by Diptyque softly completes the atmosphere.

Open to the trade Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., the new Armadillo showroom joins a growing global footprint that spans Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide - each one a spatial meditation on permanence, where beauty, integrity and time converge in material form.

Press Contact

Rachel Yules

DADA Goldberg

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SOURCE Armadillo
Technology boosts spring farmland management across China

People's Daily Online) 10:52, March 23, 2026

As spring plowing gets underway across China, smart equipment is transforming the way farmers work. Scientific and technological advancements now contribute over 64 percent to the country's agricultural output growth.

In Wucheng county, Dezhou city, east China's Shandong Province, Liu Kai and his fellow villagers no longer need to head to the fields early as they used to. Instead, Liu simply taps his phone to access an agricultural big data platform, which provides real-time information on crop seedling growth and soil moisture.

"The platform uses a satellite remote sensing system to monitor the fields," he said. "Now, my smartphone has become a farming tool."

Drones conduct agricultural management operations over rapeseed fields in Xiushan county, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. (Photo/People's Daily Online)

Liu, a major grain grower in the county, manages 20,000 mu (1,333 hectares) of farmland across eight townships and towns. In previous spring plowing seasons, field management was done manually, requiring more than 10 people working for seven to eight days, and even then keeping everything organized was a challenge.

Now, with the adoption of new technologies, spring plowing is less labor-intensive and more time-efficient, giving farmers greater peace of mind.

Smart technology is also reshaping how specialty crops are grown. Strawberries are coming into season at a solar greenhouse fruit and vegetable park in Jiutai district, Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province.

Wang Yinan, head of the park, said the strawberry harvest season will last until May. Most of the strawberries here aren't grown in the ground, but "in the air," on raised racks filled with substrate, with leafy greens planted underneath.

The strawberries are grown using a range of modern technologies. According to Wang, these include an integrated water and fertilizer system that uses data collection and modeling to precisely regulate the mix of nutrients and water. In addition, a network of neatly laid pipes delivers water and fertilizer directly to the plants, enabling precise irrigation.

The greenhouse is also equipped with a range of sensors that monitor temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide levels, while also tracking the growth of the strawberries. Agricultural experts are invited to provide guidance as well, Wang added.

In Lujiang county, Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, vast rapeseed fields have turned the landscape into a sea of gold. Xia Weiqing, a grower from Nihe town, looked at his field with delight.

"The favorable weather this spring, combined with effective field management, is expected to bring yields to 220 kilograms per mu, about 20 percent higher than in previous years," Xia said, as he operated a drone to spray pesticides along a preset route.

Xia added that the drone has been used for pesticide spraying since the seeds were sown last October, and can cover up to 200 mu of farmland in just one hour.

He began using drones for pest control in 2017. In the early days, a drone could carry less than 10 kilograms of pesticides and had to be piloted by hand. "Now, a drone can carry up to 50 kilograms and follow precisely programmed routes," Xia said.

Xia has purchased eight drones for pest control and set up an agricultural services center, helping more than 100 farming households adopt technology in their work.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chaolan)
Medical record review plays a critical role in ensuring compliance across federal healthcare programs and identifying potential instances of fraud, waste, and abuse. Through this engagement, Basys.ai and ePathUSA will contribute its agentic AI infrastructure designed for healthcare workflows and Fraud, Waste, and Abuse (FWA)-tested, helping augment human reviewers with systems capable of interpreting medical records, analyzing documentation, and supporting transparent, auditable review processes.

"This collaboration represents an important opportunity to apply agentic AI to one of the most complex operational challenges in healthcare," said Amber Nigam, CEO of Basys.ai. "Program integrity requires systems that can interpret complex medical documentation while maintaining accuracy, transparency, and alignment with regulatory frameworks. Our focus is on leveraging our deep expertise on utilization management and FWA, and building new AI systems that can operate reliably in real healthcare environments."

Basys.ai develops domain-specific AI systems designed to support complex clinical and administrative workflows across healthcare organizations. The company's technology helps healthcare stakeholders interpret policies, analyze medical records, and improve the efficiency of operational processes that traditionally require extensive manual review.

"As the prime contractor for the AI Medical Record Review pilot, ePathUSA is focused on bringing together operational expertise and advanced AI capabilities to support CMS's program integrity mission," said Hari Nallure, President of ePathUSA. "Our collaboration with Basys.ai allows us to combine innovative AI technologies with practical implementation experience to evaluate how AI can improve the efficiency, accuracy, and transparency of medical record review."

Through this collaboration, Basys.ai's AI infrastructure is designed to support reviewers in navigating complex medical documentation and policy requirements while maintaining transparency and auditability.

"Medical record review has historically relied on time-intensive manual processes," said Arpan Saxena, CIO of Basys.ai. "Applying domain-specific AI models and structured reasoning frameworks can help reviewers surface relevant clinical information more efficiently while maintaining the transparency required in regulated healthcare environments."

The engagement builds on Basys.ai's growing recognition for its work in applying AI to regulated healthcare workflows. The company was selected as one of the Top 10 finalists from more than 250 submissions in CMS's "Crushing Fraud, Waste, and Abuse" Chili Cook-Off competition, which highlighted innovative approaches to improving program integrity.

Basys.ai's work has also been recognized across the healthcare AI ecosystem. The company has been featured in Gartner's Healthcare AI landscape, highlighting its role in advancing AI-driven healthcare operations. Basys.ai's perspectives on deploying generative AI in regulated environments have also been published in Harvard Business Review, where the company shared lessons from implementing domain-specific AI systems for utilization management and prior authorization.

Basys.ai has contributed to broader conversations on responsible AI deployment in healthcare. Nigam has previously shared the company's perspectives on aligning incentives across healthcare stakeholders and addressing structural challenges in healthcare delivery through forums such as TEDx and discussions hosted by leading academic institutions. Basys.ai has also been invited to participate in conversations on healthcare innovation and data science at The Harvard Chan Studio.

The company's work has been acknowledged across the digital health ecosystem. Basys.ai has been recognized by Rock Health among the Top 50 in Digital Health, highlighting organizations shaping the future of healthcare innovation. The company and its leadership have also been recognized by the Boston Business Journal's 2025, reflecting growing impact across the healthcare technology sector. Basys.ai's work has also been highlighted in several industry forums and publications, including STAT News, reflecting increasing attention to the role of reliable AI systems in regulated healthcare environments.

Basys.ai continues to focus on developing agentic AI systems designed for complex healthcare operations, combining policy interpretation, medical record analysis, and explainable decision workflows while maintaining reliability and compliance with healthcare regulatory frameworks.

"Healthcare is entering a phase where AI will increasingly support complex operational decisions," Nigam added. "Our objective is to build agentic AI systems that healthcare institutions and regulators can trust - systems that improve efficiency while maintaining the transparency and accountability required in public healthcare programs."

About Basys.ai

Basys.ai is a healthcare AI company focused on building domain-specific agentic AI systems for clinical and administrative workflows, including prior authorization, utilization management, and payment integrity. The company develops AI systems designed to support healthcare organizations with transparent, auditable, and operationally reliable decision support.

Learn more: https://www.basys.ai

About ePathUSA

ePathUSA is a technology services company providing digital transformation, data engineering, artificial intelligence, and cloud modernization solutions to federal, state, and commercial organizations. Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Iowa, ePathUSA supports agencies such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). The company specializes in secure data platforms, AI-enabled analytics, and enterprise system modernization supporting mission-critical government programs.

Learn more: https://www.epathusa.net

CONTACT: [email protected]

SOURCE basys.ai
An 11-year-old boy has been named as a defendant in a wrongful death lawsuit involving the death of a 4-year-old boy after an e-bike struck an SUV.

According to the lawsuit, the 11-year-old was riding his e-bike with his 10-year-old sister in Burlingame, California, near San Francisco on August 8, 2024. The bike collided with the back of an SUV which was exiting a parking lot. The 19-year-old driver of the SUV accidentally accelerated after the collision, going over a curb across the street and killing 4-year-old Ayden Fang.

Prosecutors in San Mateo declined to pursue charges related to the death, but Fang's parents have now brought a wrongful death lawsuit against both the 19-year-old driver, the 11-year-old e-bike rider, both of their parents, and the city of Burlingame, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

While it's unusual for a child to be named in a wrongful death lawsuit as a defendant, it's not unprecedented as the law does not establish a universal minimum age for legal liability. Rulings holding young children accountable for negligence are rare.

In California, the courts have generally maintained that children under the age of five cannot be found negligent, but that doesn't prohibit plaintiffs from naming them in civil cases.

An 11-year-old rider of an e-bike has been sued in a wrongful death lawsuit after a collision with an SUV ended in the death of a 4-year-old boy playing near a California street (PA Archive)

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the state uses a framework referred to as the "Rule of Sevens," which stipulates that children under seven are presumed incapable of negligence, and those between seven and 14 are presumed capable, but a compelling argument can prove otherwise. Children over the age of 14 are presumed capable of negligence.

Anh Phoong, a personal injury attorney, told the Chronicle that she was not aware of any cases in which a child as young as 11 has been successfully sued, though noted some instances may have been settled out of court.

The complaint alleges that the children who struck the SUV caused its driver to accidentally hit the accelerator rather than the brake, which caused her to drive forward unexpectedly. The vehicle reportedly reached 27 miles per hour before leaving the parking area, according to the lawsuit.

Ayden had been playing outside at the time of the crash. The complaint says Ayden's parents rushed outside to find him pinned beneath the SUV. Tragically, he died at the scene of the crash.

Ayden was cheated of his years, Ming Fang, Ayden's father, told Fox 2. My wife and I were cheated of the sacred right of parents, watching their child grow from a toddler into a teenager and into an adult.

The lawsuit claims that the 11-year-old defendant was operating the bike outside of the vehicle manual's recommended minimum ride age of 12-years-old. It also accuses the child's parents of negligence for allowing him to ride the bike in areas with vehicle traffic.

Some models of e-bikes can reach speeds of more than 20 miles per hour and there are no minimum age-limit laws regulating who can use the vehicles.

The plaintiffs have also accused the SUV driver of being inexperienced, noting she had only recently obtained her driver's license. The lawsuit also claims the driver was taking medications at the time of the crash that could have impaired her judgement.

The city of Burlingame was also named in the lawsuit and has been accused of failing to address safety concerns at the site of the accident. The lawsuit claims that the driveway where the incident occurred has visibility problems preventing drivers from seeing oncoming traffic.

The filing claims that city has received nearly a dozen complaints about the parking lots layout in the years prior to the incident.

Fang said the lawsuit is not only intended to seek accountability for the accident but also to push the city to implement better protections for pedestrians.

It pains me to think about Aydens smile, his hugs and his kisses, Fang said. But we hope this litigation will help make sure another family does not suffer the same unimaginable pain.
Larry Fink says the AI boom risks accelerating a trend where leading companies pull ahead while others struggle to keep pace. Photograph: Dado Ruvic/Reuters (Photograph: Dado Ruvic/Reuters)

The boom in artificial intelligence risks widening inequality, with only a handful of companies and investors likely to reap its financial rewards, the BlackRock chief executive, Larry Fink, has said.

The boss of the $14tn (10.4tn) asset manager used his annual letter to investors on Monday to highlight potential hazards around the exponential growth in AI, which has attracted rapid investment and become, he said, central to strategic competition between global powers such as the US and China.

The massive wealth created over the past several generations flowed mostly to people who already owned financial assets, Fink said. And now AI threatens to repeat that pattern at an even larger scale.

He warned that the AI boom risked accelerating a trend where leading companies pulled ahead while others struggled to keep pace.

AI-focused tech stocks have made significant gains in recent years  the market leader, the chipmaker Nvidia, is now valued at $4.3ttn.

Fink said companies with the data, infrastructure and funding to deploy AI on a large scale are positioned to benefit disproportionately. That could end up exacerbating a gulf between the rich and the poor, he said.

History suggests that transformative technologies create enormous value  and much of that value accrues to the companies that build and deploy them, and to the investors who own them, Fink said.

That is not unusual, and none of this is inherently problematic, he added, noting that the winds had often shifted with technological change.

However, the broader question is who participates in the gains, Fink warned. When market capitalisation rises but ownership remains narrow, prosperity can feel increasingly distant to those on the outside.

Finks comments come weeks before BlackRock is expected to disclose his pay for 2025. He was given $30.8m a year earlier, prompting concern among some shareholders, with only 67% approving the eye-watering package last spring.

One thing is clear, Fink added in his letter. AI will create significant economic value. Ensuring that participation in that growth expands alongside it is both the challenge and the opportunity.

However, there are also growing concerns of an AI investment bubble, with some experts warning that the industrys rapid growth mirrored the conditions that led to the dotcom crash.

The Bank of England in October warned there were growing risks of a sudden correction in global markets linked to soaring valuations of leading AI tech companies.

There has been increased scrutiny of various multibillion-dollar deals, including circular investments between leading AI companies. That has included cases where Nvidia has invested in a company that later bought Nvidia chips, sparking some fears that the AI industry is on riskier footing than its backers are willing to admit.

Fink stopped short of offering a direct solution to AIs impact on inequality but urged more people to start investing in stocks rather than focusing on home ownership to build wealth.

The BlackRock boss said rising housing costs and stricter lending rules had made it tougher to own a home, while taxes, insurance and maintenance resulted in lower returns for those who managed to get on the housing ladder.

Its hard not to empathise with people dealing with this, Fink said. If you no longer believe your job is a path to success, believe that you cant afford a home, or believe that even if you can, it wont build a lot of wealth, then the economy doesnt feel like its working for you. No country can prosper if thats how its citizens feel.

Instead, the boss of the asset manager  which charges a fee to help people invest  said people should be turning to financial markets to grow their wealth

If prosperity is increasingly being created in the capital markets, part of the answer is to make sure more people are invested in them, he said.

That doesnt diminish the real challenges around housing affordability or the fact that earnings for many households have not kept pace with asset values, Fink added. It simply means a critical part of the solution is bringing more people into the capital markets  so they can share in the growth already taking place, not just watch it from the sidelines.
Antipathy to Britains two legacy parties is driving unprecedented electoral fragmentation. Photograph: Alicia Canter/The Guardian (Photograph: Alicia Canter/The Guardian)

Local elections are often regarded as a referendum on the sitting government, with many previous administrations taking a bloody nose from the electorate but successfully fighting back by the next general election.

Senior Labour figures have taken to reeling off a list of midterm results  1999, 2003, 2012  to prove that point. As we get closer to the general election, it will be less about peoples view of the parties generally and more about the actual choice in front of them, one said.

But even against that backdrop, this Mays local and devolved elections look to be a uniquely negative series of contests, in part because Nigel Farage now generates as much ill feeling across the country as Keir Starmer.

Some voters are urgently hoping to teach the government a lesson, but others want just as strongly to keep Reform UK out of power. Rather fewer appear likely to cast their ballots with a positive view of who they support.

Whether that sentiment translates into an anyone but Labour choice or an anyone but Reform one, the pattern looks clear: This will be an anyone but set of elections.

Its rare to hear so much discussion about tactical voting among the public. But across the country more and more people are describing their vote in terms of who they want to stop rather than who they want to win, said Luke Tryl, director of More in Common.

At the Gorton [and Denton] byelection we heard repeatedly from progressive voters that they just wanted to know who was the best stop Reform choice, and that is something we now hear from progressives right across the UK.

At the same time in many English councils that will be voting in local elections, we are repeatedly hearing from voters who just want to back the punish Labour option, be that Greens and Gaza independents on their left or Reform on their right.

In counties like Essex, voters on the right still want to punish the Conservatives, in what used to be a traditional stronghold, for the legacy of the last government and failures to control migration, and so are backing Reform.

As Reform has plateaued in the polls, the number of people saying they would vote against Farages party has grown. Overall, 38% of Britons would do so, up nine points since November last year.

It is the first time More in Commons polling has had Reform, rather than Labour, as the most unpopular party. Labour was on 34%, down four points, and the Conservatives and Greens were on 7% each, down one and up four points respectively. The Lib Dems stuck at 3%.

Reform acknowledges that many centrist and left-leaning voters may vote tactically against it, but suggests that shows the mainstream parties are all the same and only it offers a true alternative.

Prof Tony Travers, a local government expert at the London School of Economics, suggested the anyone but sentiment would not apply towards Reform universally, because the appetite for tactical voting appeared to be uneven across the political spectrum.

In the inner cities, for example, Labour would be more vulnerable to parties such as the Greens or the Workers Party of Britain, he said. But that meant there was an opportunity for Farage to win big where Reforms support was already concentrated.

The two main parties have held a firm grip on the electoral system for decades, picking up the majority of the vote between them. But in the 2024 general election Labour and the Tories only accounted for 57% of votes between them, the lowest on record, as the system fragmented.

Rob Ford, professor of political science at the University of Manchester, believes voters are sending a message to what he describes as the legacy parties.

They sent it in last years local elections. They sent it in Gorton and Denton. And theyre going to be sending it in the devolved elections coming up as well. We really dont like you. Were not going to vote for you.

He told the Guardians Politics Weekly podcast: The question that weve got to hash out is: where is this all leading when we come to a general election? And the honest answer is, we dont know.

Given the public mood towards the pro-system parties, the election of more than 5,000 councillors and six mayors in England, as well as the Scottish and Welsh elections, on 7 May brings a moment of deep uncertainty.

Labour is braced for heavy losses to Reform and the Greens across England, including in the partys former heartlands in the north-east, West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester. In London, where the party holds 21 of the 32 councils, party insiders fear a bloodbath.

In Wales, where Labour has dominated for more than a century, it looks to be squeezed from left and right, with Reform challenging in traditional working-class communities while Plaid Cymru takes the progressive vote.

It will be in the interests of both insurgent parties in Wales to portray the election as a battle between the two of them. That could win over voters to Plaid, in particular, who might not usually back the party, and set it on course to be the biggest in the Senedd.

The anyone but sentiment will apply in Scotland too, where Labour wants to fight as insurgents, focusing on the SNPs record during almost two decades in power, including on the NHS and education, while the nationalists would rather campaign on the UK picture.

Scotland has become defined by which government people like least, Westminster or Holyrood, said Tryl.

The SNP is leading the polls, well ahead of Scottish Labour whose previously buoyant support collapsed in the face of repeated Westminster missteps. But some in Labour believe the party has an edge with its ground operation and charismatic leader, Anas Sarwar.

The focus elsewhere in the UK is on Reform and whether theyll win, but Scotlands had multiparty politics for a long time and its a different story here, one senior figure said.

One undernoted aspect of the May elections is that if nationalist parties win in Scotland and Wales, three of the four UK nations could be committed to independence, heralding a potential constitutional crisis for Westminster.

At last Tuesdays political cabinet, the secretary of state for Scotland, Douglas Alexander, and Torsten Bell, a Treasury minister with a Welsh seat, presented to colleagues on their prospects. One attender said: Things are not as bad as you might think.

Other ministers present were more despondent. Were going to get a trouncing. Whatever spin we put on it, May is going to be a nightmare for us. Not just in Scotland and Wales, but across England too, one said.

Whatever the scale of Labours losses, party officials are hoping for enough bright spots that they can argue they are just a classic symptom of voters midterm frustration.

Its an expectations game for the Labour leadership, said Travers. Its like one of those Private Eye front pages comparing the incumbent party to the Titanic. Labour will try to spin it as being a disappointing night for the iceberg.

Starmers unpopularity means some voters will be motivated by the chance to destabilise him at the polls to the point of departure. Anxious Labour MPs are watching and waiting.

If they feel there is little chance of him turning around the anyone but mood before the next general election, May might not only be catastrophic for the Labour party, but also for his leadership.
Injury headaches: Mikel Arteta (Action Images via Reuters)

Leandro Trossard has become the fifth Arsenal player to withdraw from international duty following Sundays Carabao Cup final defeat by Manchester City.

The Belgian was called up by Rudi Garcia for this weeks friendlies against the United States and Mexico, both of which will be staged Stateside, but his decision to pull out of the camp was confirmed today, less than 24 hours after he was on the receiving end of a harsh 2-0 defeat at Wembley.

Trossard started on Sunday as Arsenal looked to end their six-year wait for a title, but was hauled off in favour of Gabriel Martinelli with just under ten minutes left to play.

A statement from the Belgian national team suggested Trossard had pulled out due to a lack of fitness, but did not specify an injury.

It read: Due to injury, Leandro Trossard and Hans Vanaken will miss the squads trip to the United States. Wishing both players a swift recovery!

Hans Vanaken plays as an attacking midfielder for Club Brugge. It is not yet clear who Garcia will call up to replace the pair, if anyone.

He follows a wide range of his team-mates in excusing themselves from international duty this month.

Gabriel Maghalaes pulled out of Brazil duty on Monday due to knee pain, while William Saliba and Jurrien Timber have decided against representing France and the Netherlands, respectively.

Eberechi Eze could not contribute in the Carabao Cup final due to a calf injury, and has been withdrawn from England duty so as to recover in London. He is due to undergo scans this week.

Ben White was a late call-up to Thomas Tuchels squad, though, replacing the injured Jarrell Quansah, and will join up with his team-mates Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice at St Georges Park.
Security agencies are investigating whether a group linked to Iran is behind an arson attack on four ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity in north London.

The Metropolitan police said efforts to authenticate a claim of responsibility made by a group known as Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI) were a priority as the force sought to track three hooded people caught on CCTV at the scene.

It is understood MI5, which is working closely with counter-terrorism officers, has not ruled out Tehrans involvement in the explosions in Golders Green, an area of north London that has a large Jewish community.

But security sources also cautioned against a rush to tie Iran to the arson, leaving open the possibility of an antisemitic attack with no link to Iran or any organised group. It has not so far been designated as a terrorist incident.

The group, whose name translates as the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right, and which the Israeli government has linked to Iran, has claimed responsibility for similar attacks against Jewish institutions in the Netherlands and Belgium in recent weeks.

Last year Ken McCallum, the director general of MI5, warned that Iran represented a serious threat in the UK and said security agencies had tracked more than 20 potentially lethal Iran-backed plots in the previous year.

Kevan Jones, also known as Lord Beamish, the chair of the intelligence and security committee tasked with overseeing the UKs spy agencies, said Iran was increasingly using individuals or groups at arms length to execute attacks in Europe.

He said: They are doing this through organised crime and through individuals by paying them and thats what it is more likely to be here  if it is indeed linked to Iran.

Beamish said the diffuse organisational structure made such operations more difficult to prevent. We are not always talking about highly sophisticated individuals who are involved but people doing it for money, he said.

Related: As Jewish ambulances are set ablaze, we must quell the flames of hate from Golders Green to the West Bank | David Davidi-Brown

Two Iranians were charged last week with conducting hostile surveillance on Jews in London for Tehran. Last week an Iranian man and a Romanian woman were arrested and charged after allegedly trying to enter Britains Faslane nuclear base.

On Monday, the man was released pending further inquiries, while prosecutors said the woman will face no proceedings.

Speaking at the scene of the fires in Golders Green, DCS Luke Williams said the attack had not been declared a terrorist incident although counter-terrorism policing was leading the investigation.

He said: We believe we are looking for three suspects at this early stage. CCTV footage appears to show three people in hoods pouring an accelerant on to the vehicles before igniting them and fleeing.

While this has not been declared a terrorist incident at this stage, the investigation is now being led by counter-terrorism policing with all the specialist expertise they bring, and all lines of inquiry remain open.

We are aware of an online claim from a group taking responsibility for this attack. Establishing the authenticity and accuracy of this claim will be a priority for the investigation team but it is not something we can confirm at this point.

In a post for the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism, Julian Lanches, a junior research fellow, said claims of responsibility for another attack made by HAYI had appeared on a Telegram channel affiliated with a pro-Iranian Shia militia with reported ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

He cautioned there was no unequivocal proof of Iranian involvement in the series of attacks in Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK but said the surrounding circumstances appeared to point to an Iranian link.

He also noted other attacks claimed by HAYI in France and Greece, as well as another in the Netherlands, were all probably disinformation.

Officers were called to Highfield Road in Golders Green at about 1.45am on Monday after receiving reports of ambulances on fire near the Machzike Hadath synagogue.

A member of the leadership team for the synagogue near the arson attack in Golders Green said the CCTV footage showed three individuals placing rags at strategic points on the ambulances.

Jack Taub, 33, said: Ive seen some footage shared locally of incredible, huge explosions. If you look at the block of flats over there, theres four, five, six storeys. At one stage, one of the explosions literally reached almost the top of the building.

He claimed people had been spotted staking out the nearby synagogue and its security had been upped recently.

The torched emergency vehicles were run by Hatzola Northwest, a Jewish charity established in 1979 and run by volunteers providing free medical transportation and emergency response to Jewish and non-Jewish people in north London.

Oxygen canisters in the vehicles exploded in the heat of the fire, causing damage to the windows of nearby residential properties. Thirty-four residents were temporarily displaced while the fire was brought under the control.

The HAYI group posted a video online claiming responsibility for the attack, containing text in Hebrew, English and Arabic. It claimed a historic bond between the Machzike Hadath synagogue and Israel and said it has become one of the main bastions of support for Israel in Britain.

The Met said the incident was being treated as an antisemitic hate crime.

Speaking in parliament, Keir Starmer said the government would fund the replacement of the ambulances and discussions had begun about an increased police presence in areas with large Jewish communities.

He said: The idea that ambulances could be considered a target is simply horrendous, and I know the impact that that will have had on so many individuals, not just those in the area.

After a meeting with Starmer in Downing Street, Keith Black, the chair of the Jewish Leadership Council, said: Jews dont feel as safe as they should. Yes, they should feel safe, but they feel very vulnerable today.

I mean, we saw the attacks in Manchester. We saw Iranians arrested a couple of weeks ago for surveying Jewish establishments, and we see today, and we dont know what is around the corner.

Weve seen identity politics turn violent and for one reason or another Jews are caught in the crossfire. And so we do call upon all political parties to make sure that Jewish people are not caught up in this crossfire and we are allowed to live our peaceful lives.

Dan Jarvis, the security minister, told the Commons that MI5 and the police were engaging in a relentless national security effort.

He said: The prime minister has been clear that this government will lead the way, including through a relentless national security effort, which is being mounted around the clock by MI5 and the police, who of course, have our full backing in their work to detect and disrupt plots targeting the Jewish community in our country.
Donald Trump has called off plans to obliterate Irans energy network as he claimed there had been productive talks on ending the war.

Writing on Truth Social he said he would "postpone any and all strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure" for a five-day period.

He raised hopes of a swift resolution to the conflict as he said America had had very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East in the past two days.

In startling remarks, he also suggested he could run the Strait of Hormuz with Irans Ayatollah, without giving any detail of who he meant, having ruled out any deal with the countrys Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

Asked who could in charge of the vital waterway, the US president said: Maybe me...and...whoever the next Ayatollah (is).

Mojtaba Khamenei, Irans Supreme Leader (Hamed JAFARNEJAD / ISNA / AFP via Getty Images)

Britain has been urging Trump to quickly de-escalate the conflict.

Speaking about his decision to postpone the strikes, Trump claimed Tehran very much wanted to make a deal and we'd like to make a deal too, suggesting we're going to get together today, by probably phone".

But in a surprise development, Iran's foreign ministry cast doubt on Trumps account of significant talks, even indirectly.

"We deny what US President Donald Trump said regarding negotiations taking place between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran, it said.

However, there were soon reports that talks could take place, possibly in Pakistan, within days.

There was also speculation that Trump made his statement to calm the oil markets as he plays for time to get more US forces, including ground troops, in place for an attack on Iran.

Donald Trump spoke to reporters before boarding Air Force One in Florida (Getty Images)

Following the US presidents post the price of oil plummeted, with crude falling 13% to about $96 (72) a barrel. Gas prices also fell from 159p a therm to about 139p.

Trump's written statement saw the FTSE 100 quickly bounce back into positive territory after losing nearly 250 points on Monday morning.

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.

"BASED ON THE TENOR AND TONE OF THESE IN DEPTH, DETAILED, AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS, WITCH WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, I HAVE INSTRUCTED THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR TO POSTPONE ANY AND ALL MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRANIAN POWER PLANTS AND ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A FIVE DAY PERIOD, SUBJECT TO THE SUCCESS OF THE ONGOING MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS....

BREAKING: Trump:



I HAVE INSTRUCTED THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR TO POSTPONE ANY AND ALL MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRANIAN POWER PLANTS AND ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A FIVE DAY PERIOD, SUBJECT TO THE SUCCESS OF THE ONGOING MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS. pic.twitter.com/HmCFLFYSa1  Clash Report (@clashreport) March 23, 2026

Oil prices have soared since the conflict with Iran and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which carries a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas.

But market graphs showed the dramatic fall in prices following Trumps announcement.

Oil prices tumbling pic.twitter.com/jQis5FAaDl  Ed Conway (@EdConwaySky) March 23, 2026

Iran had earlier threatened to lay sea mines across the Persian Gulf if Trump attacked the countrys vital Kharg Island oil export hub.

The US has been considering plans to occupy, bomb or blockade Iran's Kharg Island to pressure Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to all shipping.

In response, Tehran issued a strongly-worded statement, stating: Any attempt to attack Iran's coasts or islands will cause all access routes in the Gulf (...) to be mined with various types of sea mines, including floating mines that can be released from the coast.

Trump had threatened to obliterate Iranian power plants if the Strait of Hormuz was not opened within 48 hours.

That deadline was due to expire at midnight on Monday, before his announcement that he had suspended the plan amid the progress in talks.

Sir Keir Starmer spoke on Sunday to Trump who has heavily criticised the UK for not fully backing his war.

On the reported talks, the Prime Minister told the Commons Liaison Committee: The immediate priority has to be a swift resolution of the conflict and delivering a negotiated agreement, which puts tough conditions on Iran, particularly in relation to nuclear weapons.

But he also warned against taking false comfort that the conflict was on track to end soon.

We have got to plan on the basis it could go on for some time, he said.

Meanwhile, a former Nato chief said Trump was losing the Iran war while Tehran effectively blocks the strait.

General Sir Richard Shirreff, who was Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, stressed that this left the US president with the stark choice of de-escalating the conflict or launching what he believes would be a catastrophic ground war.

Thousands of American Marines on the aircraft carrier USS Tripoli are already heading to the Middle East which Trump could use as a force to seize Kharg Island in the Gulf, which would cripple Tehrans oil exports, or to be deployed on operations on mainland Iran.

The US Navys USS Tripoli is heading to the Middle East with thousands of US Marines (AFP via Getty Images)

Earlier, the president of Iran dismissed US threats to strike its energy sites as an act of "desperation", adding that "threats and terror only strengthen our unity."

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian took to X, where he wrote: "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."

Iranian missiles can now reach London, Paris or Berlin, it is said (Ben Birchall/PA) (PA Wire)

Meanwhile, Britain is ready to defend itself against a potential missile attack by Iran on London, a Cabinet minister has said.

Communities Secretary Steve Reed insisted the UKs armed forces have the capabilities to protect the capital and other parts of the country from such a threat.

He was speaking on Sky News Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips after Tehran fired two ballistic missiles towards the UK-US military base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, a distance of more than 2,300 miles, raising concerns about the potential reach of Irans arsenal.

US aircraft at the joint base with the UK on Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands (PA Media)

Israel seized on the Diego Garcia attack to argue that European cities some 2,500 miles from Iran were now at risk from the Tehran regime.

The Iranian terrorist regime poses a global threat, the Israeli Defence Forces said.

Now, with missiles that can reach London, Paris or Berlin.

British former military officers have also raised concerns over how prepared the UK is to defend against an Iranian missile strike, if the threat is genuine.

Defence scientists, though, say that if Tehran can fire missiles to reach European cities their explosive payload would have to be so small to keep down the weight of the projectiles that they would cause limited damage on impact.

With Trumps war now in its fourth week, Mr Reed insisted that Britain would not be dragged further into the conflict despite senior former military chiefs saying this was already happening.

A US Air Force B-1 bomber is loaded with bombs at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire (PA Wire)

The UK has now allowed RAF bases, including Diego Garcia and Fairford in Gloucestershire, to be used by US bombers for airstrikes to re-open the Strait of Hormuz.
HMS Dragon had been undergoing a six-week refit in Portsmouth but was made seaworthy in six days. Photograph: Trevor Boston/Alamy (Photograph: Trevor Boston/Alamy)

HMS Dragon has arrived in the eastern Mediterranean, three weeks after an Iranian-made drone hit the British base of RAF Akrotiri, the defence secretary has said.

The Type 45 destroyer will begin operational integration into Cypruss defence from Monday night, John Healey told MPs.

The British government has faced criticism for the slowness to deploy a warship to the region, after moves by Greece and France to send extra naval support to Cyprus after the attack.

The Cypriot government has also expressed concern that the drone was able to hit the base, suggesting that the presence of the British base on the island should now be reviewed.

The vessel had been undergoing a six-week refit in Portsmouth but was made seaworthy in six days, with crews working 22-hour days. Opposition parties said the UK government should have anticipated the US-Israeli conflict with Iran and how Tehran would retaliate, and moved assets closer to the region in advance.

Healey also confirmed reports over the weekend that Iran had attempted to launch two strikes on the joint UK-US base on Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands.

There is no assessment that we are being targeted in the UK in that way. We have the resources, we have the alliances in place in order to keep the United Kingdom safe from any kind of attacks, he said.

Healey said there were now an extra 500 air defence personnel in Cyprus. As more military capabilities are committed to the eastern Mediterranean, were working closely with the Republic of Cyprus to coordinate the contribution of allies, including the US, France and Greece, to reinforce the security of Cyprus, he said.

RAF and navy pilots have now racked up nearly 900 flying hours in defence of Cyprus, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. We have more jets in the region than at any time in the last 15 years.

HMS Dragon has a Sea Viper missile system, which intercepts drones and missiles, which the Ministry of Defence said would play a vital role in safeguarding UK assets and interests in the Middle East.

Healey confirmed that the prime minister had authorised the use of UK bases for the US military to launch defensive strikes against specific Iranian targets, including their missile sites and capabilities that threatened the strait of Hormuz.

The strait, which is a major route for global energy shipping, has been near impassable in recent weeks with vital energy infrastructure damage.

Healey said Iran was holding the strait of Hormuz hostage by laying mines, targeting ships, including Red Ensign vessels, and putting lives in danger and said the UK was deploying military planners into US Central Command to develop options to reopen the strait.

We are determined that the UK plays a leading role in securing the strait so commercial ships can move freely and confidently again, he said.
A shrine to Saint Rafqa in the Christian village of Ras Baalbek, Lebanon - Simon Townsley

The complexity of Lebanon is apparent in few places more than Ras Baalbek, a Catholic Christian town in Lebanons northern Bekaa Valley close to the borders with Syria.

The town, which boasts two Byzantine churches, has teamed up with Hezbollah in a bid to preserve its heritage and protect its 6,000 devout Catholic residents.

So close are the two communities that the Iranian-backed militant group buys a Christmas tree each year for the village.

The relationship between the village and Hezbollah is stronger than with the Pope, Rifiat Nasrallah, 60, a quarryman and village leader whose marble sarcophagi line the village cemetery, told The Telegraph during a visit in the midst of war.

The Vatican did nothing for us but Hezbollah spilt their blood to protect us. The Pope only has prayers.

Two soldiers from the Lebanese army, whose political leaders have vowed to disarm Hezbollah, sit in Mr Nasrallahs home as he explains the local politics. A crucifix hangs next to a portrait of Hassan Nasrallah (no relation), Hezbollahs former secretary general, on one of the rooms walls.

Shia refugees play with a toy gun in the village of Ras Baalbek - Simon Townsley

The Bekaa Valley is beautiful, dangerous and cosmopolitan in equal measures. Christian, Sunni and Shia Muslim villages sit cheek by jowl.

As The Telegraph drives there, Israeli jets and drones are hunting Hezbollah positions in the hills to the west after the militants let rip one of their long-range ground-to-ground missiles towards the entity the previous night.

These missiles are large and said to be launched from adapted shipping containers carried by articulated trucks, which makes the drive there hazardous.

But the threat that brought the Christians of Ras Baalbek and Hezbollah close came from the east. The village sits at the foothills of the arid Qalamoun mountains, over which you can trek just a few kilometres into Syria.

It was from there, between 2013 and 2017 during the height of the Syrian civil war, that Islamic State (IS) fighters launched several assaults on the village, threatening to wipe it from the map and behead its Catholic residents.

The village sits at the foothills of the arid Qalamoun mountains, over which you can trek just a few kilometres into Syria - Simon Townsley

The first attack came from a village called Qasr, just seven kilometres from here in Syria. IS came over the hills and reached the edge of the village and kidnapped some of my workers and tortured them, he said.

At first, it was only Hezbollah and the villagers who fought back against the Salafists. We fought together with missiles and rockets. Many were wounded and some died. I was almost killed with shrapnel in my back from a mortar.

Mr Nasrallah did not say so, but the bond between the villagers and Hezbollah, is a case of the enemy of my enemy is my friend  or thats how it started.

During the Syrian civil war, Hezbollah sent thousands of fighters in support of the Iranian-backed Assad regime. Their adversaries included jihadist organisations such as Isis and the al-Qaeda-linked Jabhat al-Nusra.

When IS first struck on Lebanese soil in 2013, the group was quick to the defence of the villagers, unlike the Lebanese army, which only became involved later.

The army was weak. The leader of the army at the time was not strong. He did not have the political support for the fight. Only later in 2015 and 2017 did they help, said Mr Nasrallah.

A cross stands above the Christian village of Ras Baalbek - Simon Townsley

One of the two Lebanese soldiers said: I lost five friends. One Humvee we were following was blown up by a mine. Three colleagues died in that. We had good-quality soldiers but, at first, we lacked logistics and equipment.

In 2017, the Lebanese army did see IS off, and is credited for doing so in much of Lebanon. The Dawn of the Jurds (hills) anti-terror operation was documented in official dispatches at the time.

The army liberated today around 30 square kilometres, making the total liberated space since the beginning now around 80 square kilometres out of 120 square kilometres, said an official army memo dated Aug 20 2017.

It added: During the military operations, three soldiers fell and a fourth was severely injured as a result of the explosion of a landmine that hit a military vehicle. Moreover, two other soldiers were slightly injured during the clashes while the operations resulted in the death of 15 terrorists and the destruction of 12 posts containing caves, tunnels, communication paths, fortifications and different weapons.

Today in Lebanon there are again widespread fears, so far unsubstantiated, that Syria will become involved in the war. Hezbollah suspects that the Israelis are making use of Syrian airspace to launch commando attacks on places like Nabi Sheet, which was attacked two weeks ago. And the Christians of Ras Baalbek are worried about renewed attacks from Syrian Salafist groups like IS.

His history speaks for itself, said Mr Nasrallah of Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa, the new Syrian president, who once led the al-Nusra Front, the al-Qaeda affiliate that fought against Hezbollah in Syria. We have a saying, You cannot change a wild animal. He is what he is. And he is at our border.

Rifiat Nasrallah: The Vatican did nothing for us but Hezbollah spilt their blood to protect us. The Pope only has prayers - Simon Townsley

There is no evidence that al-Sharaa has any plans to attack Lebanon, let alone Christian villages. Most analysts say he has enough on his plate stabilising Syria, and on Friday the IDF announced it was again bombing areas in the As-Suwayda area of Syrias south in defence of Druze communities there.

Nevertheless, fears persist, binding the Christians of Ras Baalbek and Hezbollah ever closer together. So much so that Mr Nasrallah said that Israel is our first enemy... Hezbollah is our friend.

He and a Shia refugee from a Hezbollah village further down the valley recounted the many thousands of Israeli air strikes that occurred during the 13 months of the last ceasefire, which ended when the Iran war started.

The period, said the refugee, Ahmad, 30, was the cruellest part of the war. There were violations every day. Bombs in the front of our houses. Drones always overhead. There were mothers that saw their children killed in front of them and children who saw their parents killed.

There were cases where the Israelis would call and say, do you want to die with your family or die alone?. They would then walk out and be killed in front of their children. How much courage does that take? And how much cruelty?

A statue of the Holy Mary stands on a house in Ras Baalbek - Simon Townsley

Israel said all its air strikes during the ceasefire were in response to Hezbollah violations.

But the toll was significant. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon recorded more than 10,000 ceasefire violations over the period, including air and ground incursions. The Lebanese authorities reported 331 deaths and 945 injuries in the first 12 months alone.

This has left many, like Ahmad, traumatised. And like Mr Nasrallah, they are reaching for conspiracy theories to explain things some ancient, some much more modern.

We are at war with the Epstein people. The people eating, frying and raping kids. They are monsters, beasts. They are not humans. But the worst part is they are the ones that rule the world, said Ahmad.

Does Mr Nasrallah worry that Christian Ras Baalbeks relationship with Hezbollah may now place the village in peril as Israel and the Lebanese army seek to disarm the militant group? His answer was an emphatic no.

How can we as Christians in this area not be with Hezbollah?, he said. They protect our churches. They helped us fight Isis. During Covid they gave us free care in their hospitals. When there was no electricity they gave us generators. They even put up a Christmas tree at Christmas. How can we not be with them now?
A Colombian military transport plane with 121 people on board, mostly soldiers, crashed shortly after takeoff in the countrys south, killing at least 66 people, authorities said.

The defence minister, Pedro Sanchez, said the accident happened as the Lockheed Martin Hercules C-130 plane was taking off from Puerto Leguizamo, deep in Colombias southern Amazon region, on the border with Peru, as it transported troops from the armed forces.

Images shared online by Colombian media outlets showed a black cloud of smoke rising from a field where the plane crashed and a truck with soldiers rushing to the site.

The air force said in a statement that at least 77 people were rescued from the crash site with injuries. A spokesman from the defence ministry said that officials are still investigating the final number of fatalities.

Media outlets shared videos of soldiers being rushed from the site on motorcycles driven by local residents, while another group of residents tried to put out the fire that the plane crash had created in a field surrounded by dense foliage.

Carlos Fernando Silva, the commander of Colombias air force, said details of the crash were not yet known, except that the plane had a problem and went down about two kilometres from the airport.

Gustavo Petro, the Colombian president, described the crash as a horrific accident that should never have happened.

In a lengthy post, apparently attempting to pre-empt potential criticism, Petro said he had been trying to renew the military fleet for years but has been hindered by bureaucratic difficulties.

If the civil or military administrative officials are not up to this challenge, they must be removed, said Petro.

The leading candidates for the Colombian presidency  the first round of which will take place in late May, when Petro will not run as there is no re-election  also posted messages mourning the tragedy and calling for investigations into its causes.

Sanchez said rescue teams had been sent to the site of the crash and that the cause of the accident still had not been determined. Officials said two planes, with 74 beds, had been sent to the area to fly the injured back to hospitals in the capital, Bogota, and elsewhere.

This event is profoundly painful for the country, Sanchez wrote. We hope that our prayers can help to relieve some of the pain.

Sanchez later said: The aircraft was in airworthy condition and the crew was duly qualified.

The minister added that, while the causes are still under investigation, it is already possible to rule out that the crash was caused by an attack from any of the numerous armed groups that plague Colombia.

A spokesperson for Lockheed Martin said the company was committed to helping Colombia as it investigates the incident.

Hercules C-130 planes were first launched in the 1950s and Colombia acquired its first models in the late 1960s. It has more recently modernised some older C-130s with newer models sent from the US under a provision that allows for the transfer of used or surplus military equipment. Hercules C-130s are frequently used in Colombia to transport troops as part of the militarys operations amid a six-decade-long internal conflict that has claimed more than 450,000 lives.

The tail number of the plane that crashed on Monday matches that of the first of three planes delivered by the US to Colombia in recent years.

At the end of February, another Hercules C-130 belonging to the Bolivian air force crashed in the populous city of El Alto, barely missing a residential block, killing more than 20 people and injuring another 30.
Joint offerings combine AI intelligence and identity governance to help organizations deploy AI that is intelligent, secure, compliant, and operationally resilient from day one

SAN FRANCISCO, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- BeyondID, a leading AI-powered Managed Identity Solutions Provider (MISP) and KeyData Cyber Family Company, and Nexera, a leading provider of production-grade AI systems and managed operations, today announced a strategic partnership to help organizations accelerate AI adoption without sacrificing security, compliance, or control.

As enterprises rapidly deploy AI platforms, such as Anthropic, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, and OpenAI, they often lack the foundational identity governance required to operate AI safely at scale. Non-human identities (NHIs) such as AI agents, automated workflows, and service accounts represent a growing and largely unmanaged attack surface. Without proper governance, organizations face significant compliance, operational, and security risk.

The BeyondID and Nexera partnership directly addresses this gap. Nexera brings the Intelligence Layer, designing, building, and operating production AI systems from strategy through managed operations. BeyondID secures the Identity and Trust Layer, governing every AI agent, model, and workflow with identity-first architecture, least-privileged access, and continuous monitoring.

"Enterprises are under enormous pressure to deploy AI quickly, but speed without governance is a liability," said Arun Shrestha, Founder of BeyondID. "Nexera builds intelligent AI systems while BeyondID ensures every AI agent, model, and workflow is securely identified, governed, and monitored. Now, organizations no longer have to choose between moving fast and staying secure."

The partnership introduces four integrated go-to-market offerings designed to take enterprises from AI strategy to secure, scalable production deployment:

AI Identity Readiness Sprint (3045 Days): A rapid assessment that covers AI use cases, platform evaluation, identity and access risk, governance blueprint, and a 90-day execution roadmap.

90-Day Secure Agent Launch: Production-grade AI agent deployment with identity architecture embedded at the build stage, including access controls, secrets management, monitoring, and compliance validation with measurable ROI.

Enterprise AI Platform Hardening: Secure rollout for Anthropic, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, and OpenAI deployments, including shadow AI detection, AI privilege tiering, data segmentation, and regulatory alignment.

AI Operations + Identity Monitoring (Managed): Ongoing managed services covering drift and model monitoring, identity anomaly detection, agent access recertification, and continuous governance optimization.

Unlike large systems integrators that offer AI strategy without deep identity specialization, BeyondID and Nexera deliver an integrated, execution-focused model. Engagements move from strategy to production in 90 days. Identity governance is embedded at the architecture stage, not bolted on afterward. And both companies offer ongoing managed services  meaning clients receive continuous AI and identity operations support, not one-time project delivery.

"AI is only as powerful as the trust placed in it," said Tom Wisnowski, CEO at Nexera. "With BeyondID, we can now offer our clients the full stack, from intelligent systems to the identity infrastructure that makes those systems safe to operate at enterprise scale."

Availability

Joint offerings are available immediately. Organizations interested in an AI Identity Readiness Sprint or a 90-Day Secure Agent Launch are encouraged to contact BeyondID or Nexera directly to schedule an initial consultation.

About Nexera

Nexera designs, builds, and operates production-grade AI systems  from strategy to intelligent applications and managed AI operations. Nexera helps enterprises accelerate from AI concept to production in 90 days, delivering custom AI agents, platform integrations, application modernization, and ongoing managed operations through its Pulse service. Learn more at https://nexeradigital.com/

About BeyondID

BeyondID is a leading AI-powered Managed Identity Solutions Provider (MISP) and a KeyData Cyber Family Company. Wholly focused on identity, BeyondID delivers end-to-end services spanning strategic advisory, implementation, and 247 managed security operations. Its AI-powered Identity Command Center orchestrates and automates identity-first, zero-trust solutions across leading platforms including Okta, CyberArk, SailPoint, Saviynt, Microsoft, BeyondTrust, and Ping Identity. With operations across five countries and a track record of more than 3,100 identity-first, zero-trust security projects for enterprise and public sector organizations, BeyondID helps clients transform identity into a strategic advantage. Learn more at www.beyondid.com.

SOURCE BeyondID
Hours before Donald Trump deployed Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to major transit hubs across the country, two federal agents were seen struggling with a woman inside San Francisco International Airport in front of her child.

The incident has drawn intense scrutiny across social media and from state and local officials, though San Francisco officials stress that it remains an isolated incident unrelated to Trumps latest surge.

The arrest also demonstrates how ICE relies on charter and commercial flights through major transportation corridors to support the Trump administrations vast deportation efforts.

Plain-clothes ICE agents were in the process of transporting a Guatemalan woman and her child on an outbound flight around 10:30 p.m. Sunday when bystanders crowded around them.

The mother attempted to flee and resisted law enforcement officers when agents pinned her to the ground and handcuffed her, according to a spokesperson for Homeland Security.

SFPD officers surrounded ICE agents as they struggled with a woman who was being escorted to a deportation flight inside San Francisco International Airport on March 22 (din_jarring/Reddit)

ICE is working as quickly as possible to repatriate the family unit to their home country of Guatemala, the spokesperson said.

An immigration court judge ordered their removal in 2019, according to DHS. It remains unclear whether they were seeking legal status or had any pending asylum claims.

Videos from the scene show federal agents holding the woman in handcuffs while she screams and a young girl cries behind her. The two men, who are both wearing black hooded sweatshirts, did not respond to demands from bystanders to see their badges.

San Francisco Police Department officers can also be seen forming a barrier between the family and bystanders.

At one point, the agents can be seen pulling the womans arms behind her and dragging her to a wheelchair while she is lying on a bench, surrounded by bystanders telling them to leave her alone.

This is un-American, a person can be heard saying.

Moments later, the agents are seen whisking the woman away in a wheelchair.

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and SFO spokesperson Doug Yakel both said they believe the arrest is an isolated incident unrelated to Mondays surge of ICE agents into U.S. airports, though the scene echoed the violent arrests of immigrants and citizens alike that have played out in Democratic-led cities and elsewhere under Trumps mass deportation campaign.

"Like many San Franciscans, I found the incident at SFO last night upsetting, he said in a statement.

We have no reason to believe there is broader federal immigration enforcement at SFO, according to Lurie. SFPD officers remained at the scene to maintain public safety and were not involved in the incident. Under our citys longstanding policies, local law enforcement does not participate in federal civil immigration enforcement. Those policies keep us safe and will not change as long as Im mayor.

SFO was not involved in or notified in advance of this incident, according to Yakel.

Airport operations continued without disruption, and there was no impact to flights or passenger processing, he said in a statement.

SFPD responded to the scene after receiving a 911 call at roughly 10 p.m.

SFPD officers were not involved in the incident but remained at the scene to maintain public safety, police officials said in a statement. SFPD has a large presence and is responsible for public safety at the airport.

ICE relies on charter and commercial airlines for deportation flights (REUTERS)

ICE deportations can include both escorted and unescorted removals, including commercial flights with ICE escorts.

California state Sen. Scott Wiener, who represents San Francisco, stressed during a press conference Monday that ICE is not welcome in San Francisco or at San Francisco International Airport.

We don't need ICE or Border Patrol or any of these other thugs in our city and our airport," he added. Theyre not welcome here, and they need to stay the hell out.

House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Kevin Mullin, both of whom represent San Francisco in Congress, issued a joint statement rebuking the aggressive arrest as another heartbreaking example of how Trumps inhumane immigration enforcement is terrorizing communities across America.

The hardworking TSA staff at SFO are contract employees, and we are relieved to hear this incident is not related to Trumps threat to send ICE agents into airports to perform sensitive airport security for which they are not trained, they said.

Trump and Republicans are failing to keep communities safe and posing risks to families across America, the lawmakers added.

ICE agents were deployed to more than a dozen US airports March 23 to help relieve TSA, though the officers were there largely to patrol terminals (AP)

SFO is among more than a dozen U.S. airports that use private contractors for security screening at checkpoints to enter terminals rather than federal Transportation Security Administration employees.

Because those are privately funded airport staff, SFOs employees continue to be paid during the partial government shutdown  which has left federal TSA workers without paychecks for nearly a month as travelers endure hours-long wait times getting through security.

Armed ICE officers wearing military-style vests moved into at least 13 major airports on Monday, including airports in New York City, Houston and Atlanta, to supplement essential TSA workers who are unpaid during a congressional deadlock over future funding for the DHS, which oversees TSA as well as ICE and other immigration agencies.

ICE officers, who are still being paid during the shutdown after the agency saw a multi-billion dollars injection of taxpayer cash last year, were seen largely standing around and patrolling airport terminals on Monday.

Travelers, meanwhile, continued to queue through hours-long lines despite the expected relief from federal agents, making it unclear what impact, if any, the deployment of armed officers into American airports will have on wait times plaguing security checkpoints.
A view of Liathach from Loch Clair, with the slopes of Beinn Eighe on the right. Photograph: Uwe Moser/Getty Images (Photograph: Uwe Moser/Getty Images)

The waymarked quartzite path glimmers in the sun, flanked by amber-gold grassland. Beyond, one of Scotlands finest landscapes opens up before me, a woodland of ancient Caledonian pines leading my eye to the metallic glint of Loch Maree. On the other side of the water, a winding river separates the steep, stacked rocks of Beinn aMhuinidh from Slioch, one of the great mountains of Wester Ross, rising to a knuckle ridge of Torridonian sandstone.

Im walking the four-mile mountain trail looping through Beinn Eighe national nature reserve (NNR), Britains first NNR, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. In a crowded list, youd be hard pushed to find a more soul-stirring landscape in all of Scotland.

The mountain path gives you a real flavour for Beinn Eighe, the reserve manager, Doug Bartholomew, told me earlier. It takes you right through the heart of the ancient Caledonian pinewood, then you climb steeply up to this rocky upland with views of Beinn Eighe mountain itself.

When I reach the high point, at about 550m (1,805ft), Im awed by the views across a lonely valley to the jagged ridgeline of mountain, which surges and falls like Atlantic waves locked in stone.

Its a rare Scottish landscape where you can walk beneath twisted and gnarled pine branches hundreds of years old, but also alongside younger trees

Beinn Eighe NNR stretches 48 sq km from Loch Maree to the eponymous mountain summit. When it was created in 1951, a key mission of the NNR was to protect Coille na Glas Leitir (the Wood of the Grey Slope), which is the largest remaining fragment of ancient Caledonian pinewood in north-west Scotland. The woodland was felled by some of Scotlands earliest ironworks in the 1600s, and forestry and farming took its toll over the generations, but it is believed to have been here for the last 8,000 years.

After the Highland clearances, the lower slopes of Beinn Eighe were increasingly used for grazing. Deer-stalking, grouse-shooting and muirburn (when old growth is burnt off to encourage new growth for grazing) followed. The final exploitation happened during the second world war, when lumberjacks were brought in from Newfoundland and British Honduras to fell the trees for ammunition boxes. But thanks to pioneering landscape restoration work, namely deer management and tree planting, woodland cover has increased by more than 40% in the 75 years since the reserve was created.

Today, its a rare Scottish landscape where you can walk beneath twisted and gnarled pine branches hundreds of years old, but also alongside younger, conical trees.

In the past, we had a tree nursery; so we collected seeds from the reserve, grew them in our nursery and planted them, said Bartholomew. Weve now got continuous woodland linked from Glas Leitir all the way through to Coulin Estate, where youve got other remnants of ancient woodland, and were moving more to natural processes  conditions that will allow the woodland to regenerate and expand naturally.

I soon descend into Coille na Glas Leitir on the mountain trail, passing a mosaic of birch and pines, draped in lichen. This path was a public access landmark when it opened in the early 70s, encouraging visitors to explore the mountain, and its still perfectly marked (though snowfall can obscure it in winter). Stags roar from the other side of Loch Maree as I walk. Tougher to pick out are the crossbills, with crossed mandibles to prise open pine cones. In warmer months, dragonflies with magical names  northern emerald, azure hawker  nose around rare mosses.

While steep, the mountain trail isnt technical. Along with the easier woodland path, which showcases the ancient forest, and short loops from the excellent visitor centre, the beauty of this reserve really is accessible. Local providers such as Shieldaig Outdoor Adventures also offer days out exploring the islands of Loch Maree by canoe or kayak in warmer months.

This is a place of grandeur  of immense, intimidating mountains set on some of the oldest rocks in Britain

Im staying in Torridon youth hostel, at the head of Upper Loch Torridon, south-west of the Beinn Eighe massif. Its a 20-minute drive from Coille na Glas Leitir via the village Kinlochewe, passing beneath the bulky mass of Beinn Eighe before Liathach, an icon of Glen Torridon, is revealed. The hostel is tucked beneath this mighty mountain, not in the nature reserve itself, but in an ideal place to explore it and the Torridon hills beyond.

When we mention that we live in Torridon, people get misty eyes, jokes Debbie Maskill, manager of the youth hostel. For us, its the best part of Scotland. A real jewel. Its true that few place names roll so sweetly off the tongue of a hillwalker as Torridon. This is a place of grandeur  of immense, intimidating mountains set on some of the oldest rocks in Britain; of shifting light and uncompromising ferocity  with a beauty verging on myth.

The hostel  which itself turned 50 last year  is a pilgrimage site for hikers; its in close reach of some of Scotlands finest scrambles, as well as the family-friendly nature reserve. Walkers and climbers trade stories and photographs in the communal kitchen and dining area. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the cosy lounge allow you to watch the weather roll over the Wester Ross peaks.

I stay in a comfy private room, and regret my early bedtime when a French guest shows me the photographs he took of the aurora shimmering above Loch Torridon the next morning. Winter really captures the far north essence here, but by February, its getting lighter, says Paul Thompson, duty supervisor at the hostel. In the middle of winter, we dont see the sun here, but in February its above the hills for quite some time. Then you get to May, a stunning time of year, when everything is fresh and youve got almost endless daylight. I love it all.

On a six-mile loop of Loch Clair and Loch Coulin, just outside the reserve, I stroll beneath more tall pines, looking on to the Torridon beasts. The grey, dotted ridge of Beinn Eighe looks like it has a snow leopards coat draped over it, and the pyramidal mass of Liathach reflects back off the water.

I plan to walk to the Triple Buttress of Coire Mhic Fhearchair on my final day (three glacial rock towers in a corrie of Beinn Eighe), but heavy rain arrives. Its all the excuse I need for a venison lunch at Bo & Muc, a field-to-fork restaurant at the swanky five-star The Torridon hotel.

Related: Scrambling, walking and swimming in splendid isolation: 75 years of the UKs national parks

I leave Torridon via the road to Achnasheen, stopping at the Glen Docherty viewpoint for one last look over the road to Kinlochewe, the lapping mountains and Loch Maree.

After centuries of deterioration, its heartwarming to see the fragments of ancient pinewood reconnecting here, in this immediately spellbinding landscape. In another 75 years, the young pines of Beinn Eighe will stand taller and, if all goes to plan, those who pass by them will be walking through a fully regenerative forest.

Accommodation was provided by Hostelling Scotland. Torridon youth hostel has private rooms for two from 52 a night, dorm beds from 20.50. The Beinn Eighe NNR trails are open year-round and are free to visit. The Beinn Eighe NNR visitor centre (with info on the reserve) is open April to October, 10am to 5pm

 This article was amended on 23 March 2026. The main image features the peak of Liathach, not Beinn Eighe as an earlier caption suggested. The slope of Beinn Eighe is to the right.
Emperor penguins are seeing their habitat cut back by climate change with potentially deadly consequences.

The amount of heat trapped by the Earth reached record levels in 2025, with the consequences of such warming feared to last for thousands of years, the UN warned Monday.

The 11 hottest years ever recorded were all between 2015 and 2025, the United Nations' WMO weather and climate agency confirmed in its flagship State of the Global Climate annual report.

Last year was the second or third hottest year on record, at about 1.43 Celsius above the 1850-1900 average, the World Meteorological Organisation said.

"The global climate is in a state of emergency. Planet Earth is being pushed beyond its limits. Every key climate indicator is flashing red," said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

"Humanity has just endured the 11 hottest years on record. When history repeats itself 11 times, it is no longer a coincidence. It is a call to act."

For the first time, the WMO climate report includes the planet's energy imbalance: the rate at which energy enters and leaves the Earth system.

Read moreFlights, petrol cars and cruise ships: Amsterdam bans fossil fuel ads

Under a stable climate, incoming energy from the Sun is about the same as the amount of outgoing energy, the Geneva-based agency said.

However the increase in concentrations of heat-trapping greenhouse gases  carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide  "to their highest level in at least 800,000 years" has "upset this equilibrium", the WMO said.

"The Earth's energy imbalance has increased since its observational record began in 1960, particularly in the past 20 years. It reached a new high in 2025."

Ocean heat record

WMO chief Celeste Saulo said scientific advances had improved understanding of the energy imbalance and its implications for the climate.

"Human activities are increasingly disrupting the natural equilibrium and we will live with these consequences for hundreds and thousands of years," she said.

More than 91 percent of the excess heat is stored in the ocean.

"Ocean heat content reached a new record high in 2025 and its rate of warming more than doubled from 1960-2005 to 2005-2025," the WMO said.

Read moreThe race for Paris: Why Frances capital has likely gone green for good

Ocean warming has far-reaching consequences, such as degradation of marine ecosystems, biodiversity loss and reduction of the ocean carbon sink, the agency said.

"It fuels tropical and subtropical storms and exacerbates ongoing sea-ice loss in the polar regions."

The Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets have both lost considerable mass, and the annual average extent of Arctic sea ice in 2025 was the lowest or second-lowest ever recorded in the satellite era.

Last year, the global mean sea level was around 11 centimetres higher than when satellite altimetry records began in 1993.

Ocean warming and sea level rise are projected to continue for centuries.

'Dire picture'

WMO scientific officer John Kennedy said global weather is still under the influence of La Nina, a naturally occurring climate phenomenon that cools surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. It brings changes in winds, pressure and rainfall patterns.

Conditions oscillate between La Nina and its warming opposite El Nino, with neutral conditions in between.

Read moreTrump revokes Obama-era climate finding on greenhouse gas risks

The warmest year on record, 2024, was around 1.55C above the 1850-1900 average, and started in a strong El Nino.

Forecasts indicate neutral conditions by the middle of 2026 with a possible El Nino developing before the end of the year, said Kennedy.

If so, "then we're likely to see maybe elevated temperatures again in 2027", he told a press conference.

The World Meteorological Organisation's deputy chief, Ko Barrett, said the outlook was a "dire picture".

She said the WMO provided the evidence it sees, hoping that the information "will encourage people to take action".

But there was "no denying" that "these indicators are not moving in a direction that provides for a lot of hope", she said.

With war gripping the Middle East and fuel prices soaring, Guterres said the world should heed the alarm call.

"In this age of war, climate stress is also exposing another truth: our addiction to fossil fuels is destabilising both the climate and global security," he said.

"Today's report should come with a warning label: climate chaos is accelerating and delay is deadly," he said.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
A prominent journalist at two right-leaning outlets has compared President Donald Trumps Iran war messaging to that of Saddam Husseins notorious chief spokesperson during the invasion of Iraq, Baghdad Bob.

Gerard Baker, a Fox News contributor and the former Wall Street Journal editor-in-chief compared Trump to Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf, Iraq's minister of information during the 2003 U.S. invasion. He earned the nicknames "Baghdad Bob" and "Comical Ali" in the west due to colorfully delivered and optimistic but wildly inaccurate statements about the ongoing war.

Baker, now editor-at-large for the WSJ and a columnist for British newspaper The Times, made the comparison after a back-and-forth between Trump and Iran concerning the state of negotiations left people on both sides of the conflict confused.

In a long, all caps Truth Social post, Trump declared 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."

He continued: BASED ON THE TENOR AND TONE OF THESE IN DEPTH, DETAILED, AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS, WHICH WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, I HAVE INSTRUCTED THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR TO POSTPONE ANY AND ALL MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRANIAN POWER PLANTS AND ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A FIVE DAY PERIOD, SUBJECT TO THE SUCCESS OF THE ONGOING MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER!"

U.S. President Donald Trump claims that the U.S. and Iran have been in negotiations, but Iranian officials claim they have had no contact with any American officials (Reuters)

However, Iran's state-controlled media disputed Trump's claims, insisting that there "has been no direct or indirect contact" between Washington, D.C. and Tehran. It further claimed that Trump "backed down" after Iran threatened to attack "all power plants in West Asia."

"The US Presidents statements are within the framework of efforts to reduce energy prices and gain time to implement his military plans," Iran's foreign ministry said in a statement. "There are initiatives by regional countries to de-escalate tensions, and our response to all of them is clear: We are not the party that started this war, and all these requests should be referred to Washington."

That's when Baker stepped in. The veteran journalist suggested the messaging coming from Iran might be more credible than Trump's Truth Social post.

The unsettling reality is that with this president, Americans in wartime are in the unprecedented position of having to suspect that the enemys version of events is more likely to be true than our own, he wrote after Iran denied Trump's claims. We have become Baghdad Bob.

Along the same lines, Edward Luce, associate editor of the Financial Times, tweeted: Strange situation where we await a statement from Iran to check whether there's any truth to what US president is saying.

Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf, otherwise known as Baghdad Bob and Comical Ali, served as the Iraqi minister of information during the 2003 U.S. invasion. He was known for his colorful and often propagandistic reports about the state of the war (AP)

Another wrinkle was added to the story on Monday morning, when U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed in comments to the U.K. Parliaments Liaison Select Committee that talks between Trump's representatives in the region and Iranian officials did occur and that his government had been aware they were happening.

However, Iran's parliament speaker denied on Monday that any negotiations had occurred.

During the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003, al-Sahhaf became famous around the world as he gave international news crews optimistic but far-fetched predictions of imminent Iraqi victory, claiming that invading forces were committing suicide under the walls of Baghdad and that we are destroying them. However, Saddams armed resistance lasted just 43 days, although violence continued in the country for years.

Al-Sahhaf, now 85, went into hiding after the U.S. victory he had so often predicted would not happen. He was captured by coalition forces but was not charged with any offenses. He went on to work as a commentator for Abu Dhabi TV in 2004, and by 2008 had taken up residence somewhere in the United Arab Emirates, according to The Times.

The Independent has contacted the White House for comment.
Police say no arrests have been made yet for the attack, which took place at Highfield Road, Golders Green (AP)

Metropolitan Police are investigating an apparent arson attack on four ambulances belonging to the Jewish Community Ambulance service in London as an antisemitic hate crime.

Officers were called to Highfield Road, Golders Green about 1.45am on Monday after receiving reports of a fire.

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) said no injuries had been reported and declared the fire under control at 3.06am.

Superintendent Sarah Jackson, who leads policing in the local area, said: We know this incident will cause a great deal of community concern and officers remain on scene to carry out urgent enquiries.

We are in the process of examining CCTV and are aware of online footage. We believe we are looking for three suspects at this early stage.

There have been no arrests yet, and we would urge anyone with information to please contact us as soon as possible  you can do so anonymously if you wish.

We will be engaging with faith leaders and carrying out additional patrols in the local area as we continue our investigation to provide reassurance and a highly visible presence.

We are investigating an antisemitic arson attack on Jewish ambulances in Golders Green.



We know this will cause significant concern in the local community and are stepping up patrols and engaging with faith leaders.



Read more here: https://t.co/oHdieofyaw  Barnet MPS | North West BCU (@MPSBarnet) March 23, 2026

Police said reports of explosions are believed to be linked to gas canisters on board the ambulances.

Nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution and road closures in the area remain in place.

Health secretary Wes Streeting said in a post on X: This is a sickening attack on Jewish ambulances. Thank goodness there appear to be no injuries.

Anyone with information should come forward to the Police. We must stand together against antisemitic hatred.

Shomrim, a non-profit organisation which operates a neighbourhood watch in the Golders Green neighbourhood, said it was aware of loud explosions early on Monday morning.

Emergency services are on scene following a deliberate incident involving #Hatzola ambulances being set alight, the group said in a post on X.

The explosions were caused by oxygen tanks, not a bomb or explosive device. Although some buildings have been evacuated, no casualties have been reported.

Please avoid the area while investigations continue.

A police officer guards the road in London after the apparent arson attack (AP)

Shomrim said the northwest London facility run by fellow Jewish charity Hatzola remained fully operational.

Hatzola, which was established in 1979 and is run by volunteers, provides free medical transportation and emergency response to those living in north London.

The fire brigade said around 40 firefighters were called to the fires and that multiple cylinders on the vehicles had exploded, causing windows to break in nearby flats.

Golders Green ward councillor Dean Cohen, who was at the scene, told Jewish News the fact the incident was taking place in the car park of a synagogue is particularly chilling and will send shockwaves through our community at a time of already heightened fears over antisemitism in the UK.

He said: Its beyond time for the authorities to wake and do more to tackle this hate running riot.

We are aware of loud explosions heard in the past hour.

Emergency services are on scene following a deliberate incident involving #Hatzola ambulances being set alight. The explosions were caused by oxygen tanks not a bomb or explosive device.



Hatzola NW remain fully operational. pic.twitter.com/Hz3rIVjTRS  Shomrim (North West London) (@shomrimlondon) March 23, 2026

Community Security Trust (CST), a charity which monitors antisemitism in the UK, confirmed in a statement on X that it was assisting police in their enquiries.

The statement said: We are aware of multiple Hatzola ambulances that have been deliberately set alight in London.

This has obvious comparison to similar antisemitic arson attacks recently in Belgium and the Netherlands.

No injuries have been reported at this time and we are helping @MPSBarnet with their enquiries.

Local resident and councillor Shimon Ryde told the BBC: Its very shocking, its not unexpected.

The Jewish community is very aware of the danger we live in.
Frances Socialists tightened their grip on four major cities following municipal elections over the weekend while the far right fell short of a wider breakthrough ahead of the 2027 race to succeed president Emmanuel Macron.

Socialist candidate Emmanuel Gregoire won the Paris mayoral race on Sunday, succeeding fellow party member Anne Hidalgo in the French capital.

The results of the final round of municipal elections showed clear gains for the traditional left and right, and one major win for the far-right in the French Riviera city of Nice.

The vote was seen as a test of the balance of power before the 2027 presidential race began to take shape. Definitive results were still pending in some cities.

In major cities such as Paris, Marseille and Lille, incumbent Socialist administrations were comfortably returned after distancing themselves from the far left amid accusations of antisemitism within its ranks.

Mr Gregoire claimed victory after estimates based on partial results placed him well ahead of conservative rival Rachida Dati, who acknowledged defeat.

Tonight is the victory of a certain vision of Paris: a vibrant Paris, a progressive Paris," Mr Gregoire said before heading through the streets of Paris to the City Hall on a bicycle.

Tonight is the victory of a certain vision of Paris: Emmanuel Gregoire at Paris City Hall on Sunday (Reuters)

French voters returned to the polling booths on Sunday for the final round of municipal elections in 1,500 communes, including major cities. Mayors and municipal councillors are elected for six years.

Turnout at 5pm local time was just over 48 per cent in the mainland, higher than in the 2020 vote held during the Covid pandemic but four points lower than in 2014, according to the interior ministry. Polling stations were open until 8pm in the biggest cities.

Nice, Frances fifth largest city, became the most resounding win of the far right with the victory of Eric Ciotti, a former conservative who allied with Marine Le Pens National Rally.

However, Le Pens party lost in several cities it had identified as top priorities.

Those included the Mediterranean city of Marseille, Frances second-largest city, where the incumbent left-wing mayor Benoit Payan won over far-right candidate Franck Allisio.

Gregoire beat conservative rival Rachida Dati to become Paris mayor (AFP/Getty)

Far-right candidates also lost to mainstream rivals in the southern cities of Nimes and the port of Toulon, a major naval base on the Mediterranean, which were two key targets for the National Rally.

By Sunday, voters had chosen mayors in about 93 per cent of 35,000 villages, towns and cities, where mostly one or two candidates, not associated with any party, competed.

Some linked this weekends vote to a darker international backdrop and to the presidential race looming next year. We have war in Ukraine, war in Gaza, war in the Middle East, said Elena Van Langhenhoven, 81. And France, will it see a major shift next year, in the presidential elections? Its horrendous.

Additional reporting by AP
Glasgow Central station confirms when it will fully reopen after devastating fire

Glasgow Central station is poised for a full reopening on Wednesday, more than two weeks after a significant fire in a neighbouring building led to its partial closure.

All train services operating from the major transport hub are set to resume, Network Rail Scotland has confirmed.

The main section of the station remained shut for over a week while demolition work continued on the fire-damaged structure.

Although platforms seven to 15 were reinstated on Wednesday, 18 March, the remaining platforms, one to six, will now follow suit on 25 March.

The blaze, which began in a vape shop on Union Street on Sunday, 8 March, spread extensively through the building and around the corner, leaving only the facade of the Victorian building at the junction with Gordon Street standing.

Significant progress on the demolition has allowed for a reduction in the exclusion zone, facilitating the complete resumption of services.

This means all platforms will be fully available for passenger services from Wednesday, encompassing those run by ScotRail, Avanti West Coast, TransPennine Express, CrossCountry, and Caledonian Sleeper.

Workers demolished the facade of the damaged building (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Ross Moran, route director at Network Rail Scotland, said: Glasgow Central is at the heart of the city and is Scotlands busiest station, and weve been fully focused on getting everyone back safely.

The aftermath of the fire has been a significant challenge for everyone involved, but our teams have been working tirelessly to restore the station and support our passengers, train operators and retailers.

Id like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding. Their co-operation has made a difficult situation easier and were grateful for the support shown.

Our priority now is to keep people moving safely and give everyone who relies on this station a smooth and welcoming experience on Wednesday.

The low-level station, which is below the main concourse of the high-level station, reopened for train services from Wednesday, 11 March.

The reopening of the high-level station comes after detailed inspections, operational checks, repairs and cleaning.

Station facilities including the main toilets and shops will also reopen, and mobility support will continue to be available.

A small exclusion zone will remain in place on the high-level concourse as work continues on the fire-damaged building.

The building at the corner was ravaged by the blaze (Network Rail/PA)

The entrances on Gordon Street and Union Street will remain shut as part of the small exclusion zone still in place.

The upper Hope Street entrance, the Hope Street driveway and the low-level entrances will be open and staff will be on hand to guide passengers.

ScotRail said it will resume its normal timetable from Glasgow Central high level on Wednesday.

David Ross, ScotRail chief operating officer, said: This is excellent news for our customers and I am very pleased we will be able to resume our normal timetable when Glasgow Central high level reopens for business on Wednesday.

We understand how frustrating the closure has been for customers whose journeys have been disrupted and were very sorry for the impact it has had.

The safety of our customers and staff is our priority, and the decision to reopen the high level has only been taken following comprehensive safety checks by Glasgow City Council and Network Rail.

We know some people will be travelling by rail for the first time since the fire, so we will have staff on hand at Glasgow Central and across the network to support customers and answer any questions.

The main part of the station partially reopened last week (Lucinda Cameron/PA)

ScotRail said there may be some minor alterations to services as some trains may be out of position following the station closure and advised passengers to check their journey before travelling.

Glasgow City Council said on Sunday that the facade of the fire-damaged building on Gordon Street has now been demolished by contractors and work to remove rubble from the site has begun in earnest.
Irans control of the Strait of Hormuz has created chaos in the global economy and has become the most urgent problem facing Donald Trump and Israel as they prosecute their war against Tehran.

Iranian attacks in the vital channel have reduced commercial traffic by as much as 95 per cent in just three weeks, forcing energy prices up and piling on the pressure to find a resolution.

But, underlying the dramatic clashes across the region, forces are quietly fighting an invisible war by land, air and sea, distorting tracking information to sow chaos or hide in plain sight.

GPS interference across the Middle East has spiked since the US and Israel struck Iran on 28 February, plunging both sides into an electronic warfare arms race to contain the impact and get an advantage, analysts told The Independent.

While the targets are primarily military, disruption is also hurting commercial shipping off the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Iran, fortifying Tehrans chokehold on the Strait and adding another dimension to the spiralling conflict.

How does GPS manipulation work?

Jamming and spoofing are among the most common forms of interference, and can affect anything using a satellite to determine its location, from a mobile phone to an aircraft carrier.

GPS works by calculating how long it takes signals from a satellite to reach a receiver on the ground. Because those signals are quite weak by the time they reach Earth, they are fairly easy to disrupt.

An attacker can jam a signal by overwhelming the real messages from global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) with electromagnetic noise, affecting how they reach the receiver. On a phone, you might see your map freezing or jumping around.

Spoofing is a more sophisticated manipulation of signals. It works by transmitting fake satellite signals designed to mimic the real ones. The receiver then accepts these signals and provides a false location.

The Pentagon announced last week that the A-10 Warthog (pictured) is back in action (US Centcom)

This can have devastating effects for civilian and military operators. Last May, the container ship MSC Antonia began showing positions far from its true location while transiting the Red Sea.

On board, the crew would have seen that they had moved hundreds of miles south. The crew became disoriented, and the ship eventually ran aground.

The grounding caused millions of dollars in damage and required a salvage operation that lasted over five weeks.

How do militaries use jamming and spoofing?

Philip Ingram, a former British Army colonel and intelligence expert, told The Independent that jamming has been an essential feature of modern warfare since the Second World War.

Its an integral part of your planning. You plan it the same way as you plan the ammunition youre going to put in your rifle, he said.

Iran  prolific in spoofing  will be using interference in the Gulf to add confusion and disrupt any of the allied intelligence gathering, he said.

Other kinds of jamming can stop aircraft communicating and cut electronic signals to projectiles flying in their direction.

Oil tankers and cargo ships line up in the Strait of Hormuz, seen from Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, March 11, 2026 (AP)

Alex Lungu, co-founder of Stockholm-based aviation intelligence company Wingbits, said that GPS interference is an efficient tool for confusing your adversaries and then also protecting yourself.

Mr Lungu told The Independent that all parties involved in the conflict could stand to gain from using the technology.

They all have an interest in taking the ability to navigate from the other, he said.

Mr Ingram agreed, saying Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar would all be using spoofing for defensive purposes, too.

What theyre trying to do is confuse the Shahed drones that are coming in. Thats really what theyll be focused on, he said.

But the reality is, as weve seen, [with] the Shahed 136 drone that hit the UK Sovereign base area in Cyprus, the guidance mechanism thats in there has come from Russia and the guidance mechanism has got anti-jamming capability built into it.

So its sophisticated technology thats been passed from Russia back to Iran for Iran to incorporate into their Shahed drone, he said, framing it as a big electronic warfare arms race.

The US continues to target Iranian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz (US Centcom)

Intelligence experts believe Iran has strengthened its offensive capabilities since the 12 Day War last June, which also saw widespread jamming and spoofing across the region.

Former French foreign intelligence director Alain Juillet told Frances Tocsin podcast that the regime in Tehran has likely procured Chinas BeiDou satellite navigation system, as its targeting has become much more accurate since last summer.

Military analyst Patricia Marins told bne Intellinews that the sophisticated Chinese tech is essentially unjammable, using a complex frequency hopping and navigation message authentication (NMA), which prevents spoofing.

How are commercial flights and ships being affected?

Most countries in the Middle East have closed their airspace since war erupted. Commercial airlines have cited safety risks in their decision to postpone flights, costing the travel industry around 450m per day.

In the first days of the war, the UK government organised flights back from Oman for Britons stuck in the region. Some flights are still leaving Muscat.

Mr Lungu said that all flights through Omani airspace could have been affected by the growing pattern of indiscriminate interference.

GPS jamming is inherently difficult to contain within precise geographic boundaries. While the range and directionality can be influenced by the source, spillover into neighbouring airspace and countries is common.

Restricted flights over the Middle East on Friday, 13 March (Wingbits)

Charlie Brown, senior advisor to United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) and a former US Navy officer, said the enhanced risks to ships caused by interference would figure into risk assessments for the owners of commercial ships, operators and insurers.

The result to shipping, which depends on [GPS] for routine operations, causes extra confusion and hampers safe navigation. Its not impossible for shipping to navigate without GPS... The men and women on the ship can still navigate. Its just harder and they need to be more aware of what theyre doing, he told The Independent.

Mr Brown explained that there have been efforts in recent years to ensure that mariners are not overly reliant on their GPS navigation systems and are still using multiple sources and cross-checking data for when automatic systems fail.

It is serious. It adds complexity. It adds risk. And it adds inconvenience both to the people on the ships, but also the people ashore trying to understand whats going on at sea.

GPS accuracy around the Gulf as of 23 March, in which red/orange indicates degraded accuracy and green indicates normal navigation performance (Wingbits)

Both sides are doing it for offensive reasons, and both sides are doing it for defensive reasons, he added.

At the time of writing, at least 22 civilian ships, including tankers, container ships and other bulk carriers, have been attacked, according to data from the Institute for the Study of War and AEI Critical Threats Project.

The risk from drones and missiles is compounded by unreliable GPS data in narrow channels like the Strait of Hormuz, where even small navigation errors can lead to groundings or collisions.

The US Navy is trying to undermine Iranian efforts to obstruct traffic around the Persian Gulf (US Centcom)

When will it end?

GPS interference has played a vital role in intelligence for decades. The war in Iran is just the latest conflict to force innovation as adversaries try to outmanoeuvre each other.

Looking at the data from what happened in the conflict with Israel and Gaza, and whats happening in Russia, my guess is that it will keep going on while the conflict is in progress, assessed Mr Lungu.

Mr Ingram pointed to Ukraine as an example of how electronic warfare, through drones, has shaped and reshaped the conflict as new technologies cancel each other out.

It hasnt quite got to that level in the Middle East yet, but the arms race is on.
Starbucks has launched a new secret menu item to celebrate Hannah Montanas 20th anniversary  but fans are insisting that Miley Cyruss iconic character would never order the drink.

The Secret Popstar Refresher is not on the official Starbucks store menu, but starting Monday, customers can order the refresher variation on the mobile app or by repeating the recipe in person: a grande Strawberry Acai Refresher with raspberry cold foam, two pumps of raspberry syrup and no strawberry inclusions.

The bright pink drink is thought to be what Hannah Montana would order at the coffee chain, but devoted fans of the iconic Disney Channel show quickly called out the fact that the fictional pop star famously hated raspberries.

In season one episode 25 of the show, titled Smells Like Teen Sellout, Hannah Montana tells her best friend Lilly that raspberries made her sick after she ate too many of them at a county fair pie-eating contest as a kid.

Even a whiff of raspberries makes me sick, she says in the 2007 episode.

The Hannah Montana-inspired Starbucks drinks includes raspberry syrup and cold foam  which does not add up with the fictional character's preferences (Starbucks)

Fans were quick to point out the irony on social media.

Hey [Starbucks]... there was literally an entire episode about Miley hating the smell of raspberries, one fan called out on Threads. As Hannah Montana said, everybody makes mistakes. You had the opportunity for a lavender lemonade or a loco hot cocoa RIGHT THERE.

One person wrote on X, Whoever came up with this needs their Hannah Montana fan card REVOKED. Another complained: starbucks having a raspberry hannah montana refresher when hannah HATES raspberries is so funny to me like did they think this through or ?????

Another fan joked, raspberry cold foam for a HANNAH MONTANA DRINK? real ones know shes allergic to raspberries whos flop idea was that?

One commenter wrote on a Starbucks Instagram post, doesnt Miley dislike raspberries? prompting the brand to respond, 20 years later and Miley decided shes so over that.

Starbucks did not immediately return The Independents request for comment on the ingredient choice.

According to a press release from Starbucks, the limited-time drink will be available to order until April 5. Fans can also expect to hear a Hannah Montana-inspired playlist Tuesday at U.S. stores.

The Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special will be available to stream on Disney+ starting Tuesday. The tribute special, filmed in front of a live audience, will feature an interview with Cyrus as well as archival footage of the show that has never been seen before.
HAMILTON, Bermuda, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Borr Drilling Limited (NYSE and Euronext Growth Oslo: "BORR") ("Borr Drilling" or the "Company") announced today that it has entered into definitive agreements to acquire five premium jack-up rigs from Fontis Finance Ltd. ("Fontis") for a purchase price of $287 million (the "Transaction").

The acquisition will be completed through BC Ventures Limited, a newly established 50/50 joint venture between subsidiaries of Borr Drilling and its long-term well construction partner in Mexico.

Under the Transaction, the joint venture will acquire the rig-owning entities, which own two Friede & Goldman JU-2000E design rigs and three LeTourneau Super 116-C design rigs. These five rigs are currently located in Mexico.

The Transaction is expected to be financed through a $237 million non-recourse seller's credit, in addition to a cash contribution of $25 million from each of Borr Drilling and its local partner at closing. The seller's credit will have a 2.5-year maturity from the date of closing and will be secured by, among other things, a first lien on the five jack-up rigs.

Commenting on the Transaction, Borr Drilling CEO Bruno Morand said, "We are pleased to execute this acquisition alongside our longstanding partner. Together, we have built a strong brand with a proven operational track record in Mexico. These rigs are being acquired at an attractive valuation and at a lower debt per rig and cash breakeven level than our existing fleet.

We continue to see shallow-water rigs as strategically important for our customers, particularly at a time when security of energy supply and reliability of execution are of heightened importance. In the current environment, we expect demand for jack-up rigs to increase, and the acquisition of these units positions us well to capture future opportunities in Mexico and globally."

The Transaction is expected to close within Q3 2026, subject to customary closing conditions, including merger control approvals.

About Borr Drilling

Borr Drilling Limited is an international drilling contractor incorporated in Bermuda in 2016 and listed on the New York Stock Exchange since July 31, 2019 and on Euronext Growth Oslo since December 19, 2025 under the ticker "BORR". The Company owns and operates jack-up rigs of modern and high specification designs and provides services focused on the shallow-water segment to the offshore oil and gas industry worldwide. Please visit our website at www.borrdrilling.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release and related discussions include forward-looking statements made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements do not reflect historical facts and may be identified by words such as "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "intends", "may", "should", "will", "ensure", "likely", "aim", "plan", "guidance" and similar expressions and include statements regarding the acquisition of rigs as described above, the expected benefits of the acquisition, the financing of the acquisition, the expected debt levels of the acquired and existing fleet, the cash breakeven of the acquired and existing fleet and other statements relating to the acquisition, and other non-historical statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors could cause actual events to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements included herein, including risks relating to acquisition, including risks relating to completion of the acquisition, the financing of the acquisition, the risk that the expected benefits discussed herein are not realized and other risks relating to the acquisition, and other risks and uncertainties described in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors could cause actual events to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements included herein. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this release. We do not undertake to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This information is considered to be inside information pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and was published by Magnus Vaaler, CFO of the Company, on the date and time provided herein.

CONTACT:

Questions should be directed to: Magnus Vaaler, CFO, +44 1224 289208

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/borr-drilling-limited/r/borr-drilling-limited---acquisition-of-five-premium-jack-up-rigs-through-new-joint-venture,c4325601

SOURCE Borr Drilling Limited
Who are Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia? The terror group linked to Golders Green arson attack

An attack on four Jewish community ambulances in Golders Green has shocked the nation as counterterrorism police are investigating the incident in northwest London.

The incident is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime by the Metropolitan Police, but not as terrorism at this stage, although counterterrorism police are investigating an online claim by a suspected terror group that has taken responsibility for the attack.

A Telegram post from Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI) has circulated online which claims to be the group behind the arson.

An unverified video, posted after 6am on Monday on the groups Telegram channel, showed street view Google Maps, images of the ambulances and footage of explosions.

The incident took place in Highfield Road, Golders Green, London (PA)

Who are they?

Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia is a new group with suspected links to pro-Iranian networks, according to Israels Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism. Their name translates to the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right[eous].

The groups Telegram channel, which appeared to only be created on Saturday, includes numerous videos from alleged incidents. This includes unverified footage of the explosions in Golders Green, and of an attack in Amsterdam targeting a US bank.

Earlier this month, the Israeli diaspora ministry released a report which said the attacks appear to be part of intimidation and psychological warfare against Jewish communities in Europe.

Israels minister in charge of combating antisemitism Amichai Chikli said the attacks in Europe were part of a disturbing pattern of action (Getty)

Diaspora affairs and combating antisemitism minister Amichai Chikli told The Times of Israel: The recent events in Europe are not isolated incidents but part of a disturbing pattern of action: Terrorist networks affiliated with the Iranian axis are trying to expand their arena of operation into the cities and Jewish communities of Europe.

The report also said that the group operates through local cells or individuals who are directed from abroad.

It highlighted that the organisations name is similar to one used by the Iraqi militia, Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya, which was described as a terrorist organisation by the US State Department.

The groups logo also closely resembles the symbols used by Iranian-aligned militant groups, according to The Times of Israel.

A Met forensic team investigate a location near to where four Hatzola ambulances were set on fire (Getty)

What has the group claimed?

The terror group issued a statement at the start of an unverified video on its Telegram channel which claimed its primary target was the Machzike Hadath Synagogue due to its links to Israel.

The post also cited Conservative former prime minister Rishi Sunaks visit to the synagogue during the election campaign in June 2024 to express his countrys unwavering support for Israel.

What other incidents are they linked to?

Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia has claimed responsibility for an attack at a synagogue in Liege, Belgium (AFP/Getty)

The group previously claimed responsibility for several attacks on Jewish sites in Belgium and the Netherlands between 9 and 14 March, according to the Israeli ministry.

They included an explosive attack at a synagogue in Liege, Belgium, an arson attack on a Rotterdam synagogue and an explosive device set off at a Jewish school in Amsterdam.

Police outside a Jewish school following an explosion that caused minor damage, in Amsterdam, for which Harakat Ashab al-Yamin claimed responsibility (Reuters)

HAYI was also suspected to be linked to an attack at a Jewish site in Greece, according to the Israeli diaspora ministry.

Israels ministry of foreign affairs posted on X (formerly Twitter) on 15 March that HAYI was a jihadi group tied to an Iranian proxy, responsible for attacks at a Jewish site in Greece.

It said the IRGC continues to sponsor and export terror across the globe.

The police response

Metropolitan Police Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams said: We are aware of an online claim from a group taking responsibility for this attack.

Establishing the authenticity and accuracy of this claim will be a priority for the investigation team, but it is not something we can confirm at this point.

Police are currently looking for three people in hoods, seen on CCTV pouring accelerant on the vehicles, which belong to Jewish community ambulance service Hatzola, before setting them on fire and running away.
HS2 bosses could explore the possibility of making the high-speed trains slower as ministers consider ways to cut spiralling costs on the beleaguered scheme.

The government is expected to tell the projects leaders to officially explore the option of reducing the trains speed in order to avoid sending them abroad or face delays to testing.

Under the current specifications, the trains are set to have a maximum speed of 360kmph (224mph), making them the fastest trains anywhere in the world.

However, this could now be reduced. Transport minister Heidi Alexander is said to be weighing up all options to claw back taxpayer time and money.

Under the current specifications, the trains are set to have a maximum speed of 360kmph (225mph), making them the fastest trains anywhere in the world (AFP/Getty)

Government sources say if the trains were built to current speed specifications, they would either have to be sent to China to be tested on existing tracks already engineered to run at that speed, or wait until such a track was built in the UK.

They say it could delay completion by several years and cost billions more.

Its no secret that HS2 was originally conceived as a gold-plated project, a source with knowledge of the plans told The Independent.

Following a litany of failure, this government is doing the hard work to pull HS2 out of the dirt and get on with delivery.

As we reset the project, we will take every opportunity to claw as much time and taxpayers money back as possible, as we deliver this railway line as fast as possible.

This is the team that turned the overbudget and delayed Crossrail project into the much-loved Elizabeth line. We have done it before, we will do it again.

But the TSSA, the union representing staff employed by HS2, has said the suggestion to run trains at a slower speed is very unwise.

HS2 must be safe but instead of offering a choice between further delays or reduced speeds ministers should be seeking solutions now so that HS2 is running at full speed on day one, TSSA general secretary Maryam Eslamdoust said.

Transport minister Heidi Alexander is said to be weighing up all options to claw back taxpayer time and money. (PA Wire)

Frankly, anything else will leave Britain in the slow lane not just in comparison with other countries in Europe but also China. HS2 is vital because a vibrant growing economy in the 21st century needs reliable high-speed rail links.

Last year, Ms Alexander told the Commons she was drawing a line in the sand over the project, which she described as an appalling mess.

She is expected to give a six-monthly update to parliament through a written statement on Monday afternoon.

HS2 was originally planned to run between Euston and Birmingham, then on to Manchester and Leeds, but the project was severely curtailed by the Conservatives in 2023 because of spiralling costs.

In 2013, HS2 was estimated to cost 37.5bn (at 2009 prices) for the entire planned network, including the now-scrapped extensions from Birmingham. But in June 2024, HS2 Ltd assessed the cost for the line between London and Birmingham would be up to 61.8bn, excluding Euston.

A revised cost and schedule for HS2 will be published this year following a comprehensive review by chief executive Mark Wild, who began his role in December 2024.

A DfT spokesperson said: We do not comment on speculation.

Following years of mismanagement, poor decisions and spiralling costs, the government has taken decisive action to reset HS2 and ensure the safe delivery of the line between Birmingham and London at the lowest reasonable cost.

We will share an update on the resets progress shortly.
Anyone who's rescued a dog knows how grateful they are to be saved and loved. Many rescue dogs never stop wagging their tails once they realise they're going home, but one lucky dog met his perfect match the moment he was saved from the street. @Fisher.shreds is a 1-year-old Siberian Husky who's living his best life in Phoenix, Arizona, but it wasn't long ago that he was a lonely stray puppy asking for help.

Help and love came in the form of a doting dog dad, but he knew the right thing to do was to bring the stray pup to the shelter to check for a microchip. However, when his stray hold was up, and no one came forward, the excited puppy was reunited with the man who rescued him. Judging by their elated reactions, these two were meant to be!

Now that's one happy dog! Fisher's dad may have shared this video to reminisce on some of his first memories with his boy, but it's also the most inspiring rescue story for other dog parents to appreciate. The puppy's unbridled joy is just the cherry on top!

"I love when dogs get in wiggly worm mode and just cant contain their excitement to see you," commented @soysantiago39. It's the biggest compliment ever! Dogs couldn't care less whether they haven't seen their person for 5 minutes or 5 years; they'll always greet them as if their reunion is the greatest thing on Earth.

Related: Husky Siblings Howling Alongside New Puppy Sibling Is the Ultimate Sign of Acceptance

In this case, their reunion really is the greatest thing to happen! At the time, Fisher was just a stray puppy who hadn't known the comfort and love of a home, but that was all about to change. Now, the happy Husky is a sassy, adventurous, and food-loving dog who makes the most of every day.

Rescuing Stray Dogs

Videos like this could inspire others to adopt a pet, especially when they see the close bond Fisher and his dad have already built in such a short time together. Any dog can be a loyal companion, but rescue dogs are some of the most grateful and loving pets anyone could have.

Some rescued dogs, like the Chihuahua mix my husband and I adopted in 2024, bond with their new families right away. Others will need time to adapt to a new environment and trust new people, and that's ok! No two pups are on the same timeline, but videos like Fisher's demonstrate how a little love can go a long way.



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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.
Huw Edwards has furiously hit out at a new Channel 5 factual drama exploring his grooming of a 17-year-old, claiming it is hardly likely to convey the reality of what happened.

The one-off special, titled Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, dramatises the events leading up to Edwards pleading guilty to making indecent images of children in 2024, with Martin Clunes playing the disgraced newsreader.

In July 2023, it was reported by The Sun that a top BBC star had paid a teenager for sexual images, with Edwards wife naming him as the presenter shortly after.

According to Edwards, 64, Channel 5 and production company Wonderhood made no attempt to check with me the truth of any aspect of their narrative before starting work on the project.

They belatedly asked for a response after the drama had been made, while reserving the right to edit any such response, Edwards added in a statement shared with the Daily Mail.

They also refused to disclose whether any of those making allegations had been paid for their contributions.

For the drama, writer Mark Burt spoke to Edwards anonymous victim, who was involved in every stage of the production.

He based the script on affidavits and firsthand primary source materials provided by The Sun  including court documents that detailed Edwards psychological reports and text messages.

Martin Clunes plays Huw Edwards in new Channel 5 drama (Channel 5/ITV)

The 17-year-old  who remains anonymous  is given the fake name Ryan Davies in the drama and is played by former Emmerdale actor Osian Morgan. Edwards was never charged with a criminal offence in relation to the victim of the grooming.

Edwards resigned from the BBC on medical advice in April 2024, three months before the then-62-year-old pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children. He was handed a six-month suspended sentence, sealing an extraordinary fall from grace following a four-decade career at the corporation.

In his new statement, Edwards expressed his deep regret and remorse for the crimes he committed, stating: In pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity, I took full responsibility for my reprehensible actions.

I am repelled by the idea that some people enjoy viewing indecent images of children. Every image represents an innocent victim. I offer my sincere and profound apologies for what I did.

He also revealed he wants to produce his own account of these terrible events, but said the fragile state of his mental health is making that a slow process.

Edwards added that while mental illness can never be an excuse for criminality, he believes it can at least help explain why people sometimes behave in shocking and reprehensible ways, and why things fell apart for me in the way they did.

Channel 5 said in response to Edwards statement: Power: The Downfall Of Huw Edwards is based on extensive interviews with the victim, his family, the journalists who revealed his story, text exchanges between the victim and Edwards, and court reporting. It has been produced in accordance with Ofcoms Broadcasting Code.

All allegations made in the film were put to Huw Edwards via his solicitors six weeks before transmission.

The drama screens on Channel 5 on Tuesday 24 March.
Former BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards has said the upcoming Channel 5 drama about his downfall is hardly likely to convey the reality of what happened.

Doc Martin actor Martin Clunes stars in the two-part drama, Power: The Downfall Of Huw Edwards, which starts on Tuesday and recounts the events that led to the disgraced presenter pleading guilty to making indecent images of children in July 2024.

The former presenter was handed a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

Edwards claimed the production company, Wonderhood Studios, failed to check the truth of the narratives shown in the series relating to allegations made by The Sun in July 2023 which claimed that a top BBC star paid a teenager more than 35,000 for sexual pictures.

Huw Edwards was one of the BBCs highest-paid newsreaders (Aaron Chown/PA) (Aaron Chown)

In a statement, he said: Wonderhood Studios made no attempt to check with me the truth of any aspect of their narrative before going ahead with the production.

They belatedly asked for a response after the drama had been made, while reserving the right to edit any such response.

They also refused to disclose whether any of those making allegations had been paid for their contributions.

It is difficult to see how this approach can be considered remotely responsible or fair, or be in compliance with key sections of the Ofcom code on broadcast standards.

Channel 5s factual drama is hardly likely to convey the reality of what happened.

In his statement, Edwards added that he felt deep regret and remorse for his crimes and said his behaviour was reckless, shameful, and damaging.

He said he was making an effort to produce my own account of these terrible events.

This is a slow process given the fragile state of my health.

I have been open about my struggle with persistent mental illness over a period of 25 years, he added.

Mental illness is misunderstood by many but can never be an excuse for criminality.

It can, however, at least help explain why people sometimes behave in shocking and reprehensible ways, and why things fell apart for me in the way they did.

Edwards was one of the BBCs highest-paid newsreaders, known for presenting the BBCs News At Ten for decades and delivering some of the biggest stories to the British public including Queen Elizabeth IIs death.

He pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children and admitted to having 41 photographs on WhatsApp, including seven of the most serious type.

A Channel 5 spokesperson told The Guardian: Power: The Downfall Of Huw Edwards is based on extensive interviews with the victim, his family, the journalists who revealed his story, text exchanges between the victim and Edwards, and court reporting.

It has been produced in accordance with Ofcoms broadcasting code.

All allegations made in the film were put to Huw Edwards via his solicitors six weeks before transmission.

Wonderhood studios have been contacted for comment.
Credit: ATLUncensored|Oliya Scootercaster |Matt Van Swol

Airports across the United States risk being shut down amid escalating air travel chaos.

Spiralling security wait times linked to the government funding shutdown could see major transport hubs closed indefinitely before the Easter holidays, a senior transport security administration (TSA) official warned.

On Monday, Donald Trump announced that immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) agents were being deployed to fill in for TSA staff as wait times for some security screening queues stretched to more than three hours.

Its not hyperbole to suggest that we may have to quite literally shut down airports, particularly smaller ones, if call-out rates go up, Adam Stahl, the acting deputy TSA administrator, told CNN.

Photos and videos shared online showed long queues of travellers stretching into car parks, baggage claim areas and even into a metro station at airports in Atlanta, Houston, and New Orleans.

At some airports passengers are being warned to arrive at least five hours in advance - Yuki Iwamura

Almost half of TSA staff are not showing up to work in the worst-affected airports as the shutdown enters its sixth week.

On Sunday, the average absence rate of TSA staff across the country hit a new high at 11.8 per cent of all 60,000 workers.

As the weeks continue, our TSA officers, as long as they dont get paid, theyre going to continue to call out, they cant afford to come in, and theyre going to quit altogether, Mr Stahl added.

FlightAware data tracking delays and cancellations indicate at least 22,000 delayed and 1,375 cancelled flights covering both internal and international routes since Friday.

Announcing the new measures, Mr Trump said: 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.

Donald Trump has now deployed ICE agents to 13 airports to assist with staffing - Megan Varner/Getty

Queues stretch outside the airport and into the street - Megan Varner/Getty

It is not clear what responsibilities ICE agents will take over from TSA staff, who primarily perform security checks.

Tom Homan, Mr Trumps border tsar, said officers are being deployed as a force multiplier to relieve understaffed TSA officers from duties such as guarding exits, so they can get back to security screenings.

Agents from homeland security (DHS) and ICE are reportedly being deployed across 13 airports in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta, New Orleans, Houston and Phoenix.

Mr Homan said that Mr Trump was tired of watching American travellers suffer at the hands of Democrats.

The government partially shut down on Feb 16 when Democrats refused to vote through a DHS funding bill following the killing of two American citizens in Minneapolis by border officers.

In the meantime, some airports have advised travellers to arrive up to five hours early.

Travellers in long queues at New Yorks LaGuardia airport - Charly Triballeau/AFP

One person complained they had missed two flights while waiting in the security queue, despite arriving three hours early.

Another user complained that they were going to miss their brother-in-laws funeral owing to the delays, despite arriving four hours before their flight.

LaGuardia Airport in New York remains closed after a crash killed two pilots and injured dozens of passengers on Sunday. The aircraft was rolling down the runway when it struck the fire engine.
Tottenham interim boss Igor Tudor is mourning the death of his father Mario.

Tudor was unable to fulfil his media commitments after Spurs damaging 3-0 Premier League home defeat to relegation rivals Nottingham Forest due to a bereavement to an immediate family member.

It meant Tottenham assistant Bruno Saltor stepped in and the Spaniard declined to give away any details on Tudors family issue.

Tudors Spurs suffered a damaging 3-0 home loss on Sunday (Bradley Collyer/PA) (Bradley Collyer)

Juventus announced on Monday their former player and manager was grieving the death of his father.

Juventus stands with Igor Tudor and his family at this difficult time. Juventus joins in mourning the passing of his father, a club statement read.

The Press Association understands Tudor discovered the news about his father after full-time.

Everyone at Tottenham Hotspur is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Igor Tudor's father, Mario. Our thoughts and condolences go out to Igor and his family during this incredibly difficult time   Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) March 23, 2026

Saltor said at the time: Its a personal family issue and obviously its a difficult moment for him. Im just trying to support the best way we can.

A statement by Tottenham on Monday read: Everyone at Tottenham Hotspur is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Igor Tudors father Mario.

Our thoughts and condolences go out to Igor and his family during this incredibly difficult time.

Relegation-threatened Spurs are without a fixture for three weeks and return to action away to Sunderland on April 12.
Smoke rises above Tehran after an Israeli airstrike on Sunday evening. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images (Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images)

Tehran has said it will irreversibly destroy essential infrastructure across the Middle East, including vital water systems, if the US follows through on Donald Trumps threat to obliterate Irans power plants unless the strait of Hormuz is fully opened within two days.

As Iranian missiles struck two southern Israeli cities overnight, injuring dozens of people, and Tehran deployed long-range missiles for the first time, the developments signalled a dangerous potential escalation of the war, now in its fourth week, with both sides threatening facilities relied on by millions of people.

Related: Iran war timeline: civilians bear brunt of US and Israels weeks-long campaign

The speaker of the Iranian parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said on Sunday that vital infrastructure in the region  including energy and desalination facilities  would be considered a legitimate target and would be irreversibly destroyed if his countrys own infrastructure was attacked.

Amnesty International said this month there was a substantial risk that attacks on systems providing essential services such as electricity, heating and running water would violate international law and in some cases could amount to war crimes because of the potential for vast, predictable, and devastating civilian harm.

The Iranian militarys operational command headquarters, Khatam al-Anbiya, said Iran would strike all energy, information technology and desalination infrastructure belonging to the US and Israel in the region.

The statement also said that if Trumps threat was carried out, the strait of Hormuz would be completely closed, and will not be reopened until our destroyed power plants are rebuilt.

Irans president, Masoud Pezeshkian, said threats and terror were only strengthening Iranian unity, while the illusion of erasing Iran from the map showed desperation against the will of a history-making nation.

The US president said on Saturday that he was giving Iran 48 hours  until shortly before midnight GMT on Monday  to open the strait of Hormuz, a vital pathway for the worlds oil flows, or the US would hit and obliterate Iranian power plants starting with the biggest one first.

The US ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, defended Trumps threat on Sunday, insisting that Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) controlled much of the countrys infrastructure and used it to power its war effort.

He said Trump would start by destroying one of Irans largest power plants, but did not identify it. There are gas-fired thermal power plants and other type of plants, and the president is not messing around, he said.

A No 10 spokesperson said Keir Starmer spoke to Trump on Sunday evening about the need to reopen the strait of Hormuz.

Irans representative to the International Maritime Organisation, Ali Mousavi, said on Sunday that the strait was open to all shipping except vessels linked to Irans enemies, with passage possible by coordinating security arrangements with Tehran.

Iranian attacks have in effect closed the narrow strait, which carries about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, causing the worlds worst oil crisis since the 1970s and sending European gas prices surging by as much as 35% last week.

Only a relatively small number of vessels, estimated at about 5% of the prewar volume, from countries that Tehran considers friendly  including China, India and Pakistan  have been allowed to pass.

More than 2,000 people have been killed in Iran since 28 February, when the US and Israel began their attacks, and Tehran in turn has struck targets in Israel and the Gulf states. Lebanon was drawn in after Iran-backed Hezbollah attacked Israel.

Air raid sirens sounded across Israel from the early hours of Sunday morning, warning of incoming missiles from Iran after scores of people were injured overnight in two separate attacks on the southern towns of Arad and Dimona.

The Israeli army said on Sunday morning that it would strike Tehran in retaliation. The countrys prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said during a visit to Arad that senior IRGC commanders would be pursued.

Were going after the regime. Were going after the IRGC, this criminal gang, he said. Were going after them personally, their leaders, their installations, their economic assets.

The Iranian health ministry spokesperson, Hossein Kermanpour, said patients had been evacuated from the Imam Ali hospital in the south-west city of Andimeshk on Sunday after an airstrike a day earlier.

Israels military said it had not been able to intercept the missiles that hit Dimona and Arad, the nearest large towns to the countrys nuclear centre in the Negev desert, which houses what is widely believed to be the Middle Easts only nuclear arsenal.

Israel has never admitted to possessing nuclear weapons, insisting that the site is for research. The strikes marked the first time that Iranian missiles had penetrated Israels air defence systems in the area.

The strikes wounded about 200 people, including a 12-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl, both reported to be in a serious condition. The Israeli broadcaster Channel 13 reported early indications of possible deaths but there was no official confirmation.

Iran said the attacks had been launched in response to a strike on its main nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz on Saturday. Israel denied responsibility for the attack and the Pentagon declined to comment.

In Tel Aviv, 15 more people were injured on Sunday morning in a separate incident involving a cluster bomb. The attacks are adding to mounting pressure on Israels air defence systems as Iranian strikes increasingly test their limits.

The World Health Organization said that the war was at a perilous stage and called for restraint. Attacks targeting nuclear sites create an escalating threat to public health and environmental safety, the WHO director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said.

Tehran also fired long-range missiles for the first time on Saturday, the Israeli military chief, Eyal Zamir, said. Two ballistic missiles with a range of 2,500 miles (4,000km) were fired at the US-British Indian Ocean military base at Diego Garcia, he said.

The British cabinet minister Steve Reed said one missile had fallen short and the other had been intercepted. There was no assessment backing claims that Iran was planning to strike Europe, he said.

The Israel Defense Forces had said Iran had missiles that could reach London, Paris or Berlin, but Reed said he was not aware of any assessment at all that Iran was even trying to target Europe, let alone that they could if they tried.

He said in a separate interview that Trump had been speaking for himself when he threatened to obliterate Irans power plants.

Asked about Israels claims, Nato chief Mark Rutte said: We cannot confirm that [Israels claims] at the moment. We are looking into that.

What we know for sure is that they are very close to having that capability.

Analysts said Trumps threat had placed a 48-hour ticking timebomb of elevated uncertainty over energy and financial markets, with a black Monday of plunging stock markets and surging energy prices looming unless it was rowed back.

At least six overnight attacks targeted a US diplomatic and logistics centre at Baghdad airport, Iraqi officials said, while Saudi Arabia said three missiles had been detected over Riyadh. The UAE said it had responded to Iranian missile and drone attacks.

In southern Lebanon, Israel said its military had raided Hezbollah sites on Sunday and killed 10 of the groups fighters. It said it was expanding its ground campaign in Lebanon, warning of a lengthy operation. Hezbollah said it had attacked several border areas in northern Israel. One person was killed in an Israeli kibbutz, emergency services said.

At least 10 Palestinians were injured on 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.

Videos obtained by the Associated Press appeared to 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.

Three Turkish nationals, including a soldier, and three Qatari service personnel were killed when a helicopter crashed in Qatars territorial waters, the countrys defence ministry said on Sunday.

According to an academic analysis seen by Reuters, an interceptor missile that injured dozens of civilians in Bahrain 10 days into the war was probably fired by a US-operated Patriot air defence battery.

Manama and Washington have blamed an Iranian drone attack for the explosion on 9 March, which Bahrain has said injured 32 people including children, some of them seriously.
An Iranian man who was charged after allegedly trying to enter the naval base where Britains nuclear submarines are based has been released from custody pending further inquiries, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said.

Prosecutors said they have decided there should be no proceedings against a 31-year-old Romanian woman who was also arrested and charged by police following the alleged incident.

The man and woman were arrested on Thursday March 19 following the alleged incident at HM Naval Base Clyde, which is known as Faslane, and later charged, and had been expected to appear at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Monday.

Faslane is home to the core of the UKs submarine fleet and the Trident nuclear deterrent.

HM Naval Base Clyde (PA Archive)

A Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service spokesperson said: The Procurator Fiscal received a report concerning a 34-year-old man in connection with an alleged incident on March 19 2026.

After full and careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case, he was liberated from custody pending further inquiries and did not appear in court.

The case against him remains live and under consideration.

In relation to the woman, the spokesperson said: After careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case, including the available admissible evidence, the Procurator Fiscal decided that there should be no proceedings.

The Crown reserves the right to proceed in the future should further evidence become available.
For me, polyamory is about the ability to love multiple people, says Naomi Aldwyn-Allsworth

A fashion designer turned survival instructor from Pembrokeshire, Naomi Aldwyn-Allsworth, 30, has appeared on reality shows such as the Channel 4 survival show Alone in 2023. Her latest project, the Welsh-language film Cariad Heb Ffiniau: Poliamori a Fi (Love without Limits: Polyamory and Me), explores Naomis polyamorous lifestyle and how she balances it with motherhood.

Naomi lives in London and divides her time between her new partners place and the family home she shares with her former partner, Christopher, and their 7-year-old son Barnaby.

I was 19 when I realised that relationships could look different from the one Id grown up seeing my parents have. Theyre a brilliant example of love and have a conventional marriage, but after I moved to London 12 years ago from Crymych, Pembrokeshire, I opened up to the realisation that I wasnt straight.

Id known that for a long time, and it was something I wanted to try, but I was also in a very happy relationship with my former partner, Christopher, whom I met at school and started dating when I came to university in London in 2014.

Naomi accepted that she wasnt straight when she moved to London from Pembrokeshire 12 years ago

The thought of suppressing that part of me was sad, and I had conflicting ideas of how I should be doing love and life. I couldnt make sense of how I could be in a relationship with Chris while also feeling able to explore my sexuality. But then I met a couple of people at university who were polyamorous and dating multiple people, and it felt wonderful to know it was an option.

The film documents a period when I was in a relationship with Christopher and Matt, who had moved over from the United States to be with me. Matt and I met when I was in the Philippines running a survival course, and we were friends for over a year before dating.

I was also seeing a married couple, Molly* and Connor, for four years, where I was the unicorn. This is a term for a person, typically a bisexual woman, who enters an established heterosexual couples relationship to form a triad.

The film crew was with me for 18 months, and I think it was probably the busiest period Ive ever had in terms of romance. It was an unusual experience, but the team were respectful and focused on telling the story honestly without sensationalising it. From the beginning, we made it clear that Barnaby wouldnt be interviewed or questioned, and if there was ever a day he didnt want to be involved, we wouldnt include him.

A still of Naomi and Connor from the documentary, Cariad Heb Ffiniau: Poliamori a Fi (Love without Limits: Polyamory and Me)

Ive been on a few adventure/reality shows before, but this felt different  much more personal and reflective. Im not doing it for attention or to be provocative. Im sharing my experiences honestly in the hope that it can help others understand a different way of life. The documentary grew from a desire to show the realities of polyamory, and the production team and I were put into contact through social media.

Teenage trauma affected how I live my life

Chris and I had an open relationship from the beginning, and we both dated other people on and off in the nine years that we were together. But the show encouraged us to have deeper conversations about our relationship, and weve slowly shifted from a beautiful, long-term relationship to a platonic, co-parenting dynamic.

Ironic as it sounds, getting pregnant unexpectedly at 21 influenced my desire to lead a different kind of life. I wanted to be myself as well as being a mum. I want to travel the world and experience life with all its highs and lows, and that includes romance and sex.

Naomi says that her parents are a brilliant example of love and have a conventional marriage

On reflection, Ive come to realise that a traumatic event in my teens has also played a part in the way I live my life. I open up in the documentary about the fact that I was raped when I was 15 and I can see now how this has shaped me forever. Prior to that, I was a happy, outgoing teenager. It was my first sexual experience and a horrible thing to go through. But I want to show anyone who has experienced something at that level that it doesnt need to define them and affect their relationships.

I didnt tell anyone about what happened to me until I was in my mid-20s as I didnt know how to. I had a boyfriend at the time, and I felt guilty that it had happened. I think you can go one of two ways  you can close yourself off to love and intimacy and shut it all down and let the rapist win. But Ive always been such a passionate lover that I never wanted a life without love. That wasnt an option, and I used it as a way to navigate my control within relationships in a healthy way.

At the end of the film, you see me talking about someone new who Im with. Im no longer with Matt. We had some great moments, but being in a non-monogamous relationship didnt work for him, and that was tough. This happens all the time, where I fall into something with someone who was monogamous before, and Im often the one who gets hurt because they realise they cant do it.

Viewers might wonder how ending things with Matt affected Barnaby (you see them spending time together in the documentary). But Barnaby had only ever known Matt as my friend, and nothing intimate was ever shown in front of him. Im glad I didnt introduce him as a partner, because it wasnt the right relationship.

Naomi and Chris are now maintaining a friendship. Barnaby will always be their priority

My relationship with Molly and Connor hasnt formally ended, but its gone quiet while I focus on my new relationship and reflect on how I feel about certain dynamics. I sometimes felt like a secret in Mollys life, which can be difficult.

Our unconventional family life

Chris doesnt have a partner at the moment, as hes working flat out with his job in finance. Religion has also become more important to him [hes a Christian], so I think hell enter a new relationship more slowly next time. Weve just moved into a new family home, where weve separated our bedrooms, and our focus is now just maintaining this wonderful friendship. Barnaby will always be our priority, and it works for us.

Im away a bit for work, but Chris and I plan everything together. When Im working, he looks after Barnaby, with support from family and close friends if needed. People always ask me how being polyamorous works with being a mum, but from the moment I was pregnant, the conversations were always clear between Chris and me about not letting just anyone into our family. When it comes to new partners, we have a shared approach and wait until a relationship feels stable and appropriate before any introductions. If someone isnt accepting of me as a mother or accepted by my son, then they shouldnt be in my life.

Im really impressed with how beautifully understanding Barnaby is about our unconventional family life. We talk about love and how that can look different in different homes. Every family has its own little quirks, and theres not one way a family should look.

Also, because of my job as a survival instructor, I teach him about how different tribes around the world and different cultures live, so he knows that theres not just one universal template for family and child-rearing.

Barnaby attends a really unique outdoor school in London, so hes surrounded by a very diverse friendship group. Its not awkward on the school run, as all the parents and his friends know about my relationships, and theres never been any judgement. Im not sure if it would be the same back in Pembrokeshire, where Im from.

The biggest misconception when it comes to polyamory is that its all about sex and we have a green card to sleep with whoever we want. The reality is so far from that. For me, polyamory is about the ability to love multiple people. I love the highs of a new relationship, and I think if youre not hurting anyone, whats the harm? I dont see why people have such a strong judgment on that if its not impacting them directly.

Ive had couples turn around and say, Oh, we could never do that, because we love each other so much. That really offends me, its as if they are saying that the love I have for my partners cant possibly be as deep as the love they have for each other. Love is not like a cake where theres only so many slices. When a new partner comes in, yes, your physical time is shared, but my love isnt shared.

Im on a mission to crush the whole oversexualised misconception that people have about non-monogamy. Sex in a relationship is important, and its a lovely way to connect with someone. But I think romance can be displayed in lots of ways.

Naomi says that being polyamorous can be isolating because monogamous people dont understand it

I fell in love with my current partner very deeply and very quickly. For Barnaby, it has only made his world bigger. He sees it as having another friend to play with  someone else to love him, and for him to love.

Before me, my partner was in an eight-year relationship, where they tried to open it up, but it didnt work for her. So he was keen to experience polyamory properly in his future relationships. We want to explore it together, but we definitely both feel jealous, and weve both been surprised by that.

If I feel a connection is rising with someone else, I will go back to my partner and talk about it and see whether following it through is appropriate. But I would never go out and just hook up. That would be cheating.

Being polyamorous can be quite isolating because of people not understanding it and thinking its a phase. But Ive found a core group of 15 or so women who are leading similar lives. We come together once a month or so, and sometimes well do a girls night, and intimacy is on the cards for some of us. But its nice to have a group of women who can emotionally support one another and just talk about these things with no judgement in the room.

Time management is the biggest challenge with polyamory, and I do need a partner whos going to understand my child comes first, and that adds complexities. But I think the joys of it outweigh the negatives, and Id rather be in a healthy, open relationship than a suppressed version of myself.

*Name has been changed

As told to Rhona Mercer

Cariad Heb Ffiniau: Poliamori a Fi (Love without Limits: Polyamory and Me), comes out at 9pm on S4C and BBC iPlayer on March 24.
SINGAPORE and SHENZHEN, China, March 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Circles, a global digital telecom software company, and Huawei, a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices, have signed a strategic collaboration agreement to explore the joint delivery of AI-native, next-generation digital telecom solutions for operators worldwide.

Sanjay Kaul, Chief Revenue Officer at Circles (left) and Alex Kang, Huawei Cloud Ecosystem President (right) sign the strategic collaboration agreement at MWC26

The collaboration aims to combine Huawei's robust network and cloud capabilities with Circles' digital BSS vertical SaaS platform to enable telecom operators to accelerate digital transformation, unlock real-time monetization opportunities, and deploy intelligent, AI-driven services at scale.

Setting the Foundation for AI-Native Telecom Innovation

Under the agreement, the parties will explore strategic integration across key telecom domains including charging, policy control, cloud infrastructure, and intelligent automation.

As part of this collaboration, Circles and Huawei will assess potential integration between Huawei's policy and charging capabilities and Circles' digital BSS SaaS platform. This includes enabling:

Real-time monetization through advanced charging and policy orchestration

through advanced charging and policy orchestration AI-driven policy optimization to dynamically manage network resources and service quality

to dynamically manage network resources and service quality Intelligent customer lifecycle management powered by data-driven automation and personalization

By combining network intelligence with digital customer engagement and monetization capabilities, the integrated solution aims to help operators launch innovative services faster, optimize revenue streams, and enhance customer experiences in increasingly competitive markets.

"Telecom operators are at an inflection point where AI is no longer optional - it is foundational," said Sanjay Kaul, Chief Revenue Officer at Circles. "Together with Huawei, we're combining network expertise and our AI-native digital BSS to help operators accelerate monetization and deploy intelligent services at scale."

Alex Kang, Huawei Cloud Ecosystem President, expressed appreciation for Circles' decision to work with Huawei and highlighted Huawei Cloud's extensive experience in the telecom industry. "Huawei Cloud has been deeply engaged in supporting telecom operators' digital transformation worldwide. We look forward to working with Circles to develop joint solutions and bring Circles' products onto the Huawei Cloud Marketplace. Through joint marketing and market expansion, we aim to create greater value for operators and achieve a true one-plus-one greater-than-two collaboration."

Scalable, Sovereign-Ready Deployments

The parties will also explore deploying Circles' SaaS platform on Huawei Cloud environments. This approach is designed to support scalable, secure, and sovereign-ready AI workloads, enabling telecom operators to meet regulatory, data residency, and performance requirements across diverse markets.

Leveraging Huawei's cloud infrastructure and Circles' AI-native digital stack, both parties aim to work together toward an integrated end-to-end, network-to-digital architecture that supports rapid service innovation, automation at scale, and operational efficiency.

Exploring Joint Go-to-Market Opportunities

In addition to technology collaboration, Circles and Huawei may explore joint go-to-market initiatives to position an integrated network-to-digital stack solution for telecom operators globally. This includes jointly engaging operators seeking to modernize legacy systems, deploy AI-enabled capabilities, and transition toward fully digital, software-driven operating models.

This strategic collaboration reflects a shared commitment to advancing intelligent telecom infrastructure and accelerating the industry's evolution toward AI-native operations.

About Circles

Founded in 2014, Circles is a global technology company reimagining the telco industry with its innovative SaaS platform, empowering telco operators worldwide to effortlessly launch innovative digital brands or refresh existing ones, accelerating their transformation into techcos.

Today, Circles partners with leading telco operators across 14 countries and 6 continents, including KDDI Corporation, Etisalat Group (e&), AT&T, and Telkomsel, creating blueprints for future telco and digital experiences enjoyed by millions of consumers globally.

Circles is backed by renowned global investors, including Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia), Warburg Pincus, Founders Fund, and EDBI (the investment arm of the Singapore Economic Development Board), with a track record of backing industry challengers.

To learn more about how Circles enables digital transformation for leading telcos worldwide, visit circles.co

About Huawei

Founded in 1987, Huawei is a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices. We have more than 207,000 employees, and we operate in more than 170 countries and regions, serving more than three billion people around the world.

Our mission is to bring digital to every person, home and organization for a fully connected, intelligent world. To this end, we will drive ubiquitous connectivity and promote equal access to networks; bring Cloud and artificial intelligence to all four corners of the earth to provide superior computing power where you need it, when you need it; build digital platforms to help all industries and organizations become more agile, efficient, and dynamic; redefine user experience with AI, making it more personalized for people in all aspects of their life, whether they're at home, in the office, or on the go.

For more information, please visit Huawei online at www.huawei.com

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2938821/MWC26.jpg

SOURCE Circles.co
The markets have been subject to wild fluctuations amid US President Donald Trumps statements on the war in Iran.

Trump had threatened to bomb Iranian energy infrastructure - and Iran vowed it would retaliate by hitting water and energy facilities in the Gulf - unless it reopened the Strait of Hormuz, the vital global oil artery in which the Tehran regime has a stranglehold.

Following Trumps comments, in which he gave Iran a 48-hour deadline, financial markets were in a tailspin and oil prices were rising again.

The Strait of Hormuz (PA Graphics)

But a statement from Trump on Monday saying he would pause strikes amid very good and productive conversations with Tehran sparked a volatile swing back the other way.

Earlier, Londons FTSE 100 Index was at one stage 250 points lower, before reversing to stand just 8.6 points down.

The pan-European STOXX 600 rose over 1%, having fallen close to 2.5% earlier in the session.

Frances Cac40 and the Dax in Germany both experienced steep early session falls, before recovering to stand over one two percentage points higher respectively.

Oil prices tumbling pic.twitter.com/jQis5FAaDl  Ed Conway (@EdConwaySky) March 23, 2026

And Brent crude oil, which had earlier hit 114 dollars a barrel, is around 96 US dollars at the time of writing.

Trumps usual surprise on the markets actually leaves big questions unanswered, according to IGs Chief Market Analyst, Chris Beauchamp.

Hormuz remains closed, the damage to energy infrastructure is still there and it is unclear whether air strikes on other targets will continue, he said.

This is absolutely insane:



At 7:04 AM ET today, President Trump said the US and Iran have had productive discussions" to end the Iran War.



By 7:10 AM ET, the S&P 500 surged +240 points adding +$2 TRILLION in market cap.



27 minutes later, Iran completely denied all of pic.twitter.com/yFpqpJo6aG  The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) March 23, 2026

While this was the headline investors have been hoping for, the fact that Brent has rebounded back above 100 dollars shows that markets remain sceptical.

Iran parliament speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf denied talks and accused Trump of trying to manipulate the markets.

No negotiations have been held with the US, and fakenews is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped, he said.

It is not yet clear how this comment may further impact market fluctuations.

Trumps decision to postpone strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure was welcomed by Downing Street.

Even if the war ended tomorrow, we estimate that it would take at least four months to bring energy markets back to some semblance of normalcy:



- it will take two to four weeks to rev up oil production, and up to seven weeks to restart Qatar's LNG plant



- shippers may hesitate  Gregg Carlstrom (@glcarlstrom) March 23, 2026

We have always said that a swift resolution to the war is in global interests and the Strait of Hormuz specifically needs to be reopened, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's official spokesman said.

This afternoon, Sir Keir is due to chair an emergency COBRA meeting, which will have a focus on the economic impact of the war.

The PM will examine every lever thats available to Government, he said.

Joining senior ministers including Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, is Bank of England chief Andrew Bailey.

Sir Keir Starmer speaking to the Liaison Committee earlier today (House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA)

And Ms Reeves is set to announce support measures for the economy in Parliament tomorrow, following the meeting.

Trump has been critical of Sir Keirs response to the crisis, but the PM said he spoke to his American counterpart on Sunday night, with the pair agreeing that opening the strait was essential to a stable global energy market.

Sir Keir also warned the UK must be prepared for the Iran war to continue for some time.

I think all our focus and energy has to be in the swift de-escalation, but weve got to plan on the basis that it could go on for some time, and thats the way in which well plan this afternoon, he said to MPs at a meeting of the Liaison Committee.

He also said he had been aware of the talks between the US and Iran.
Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, casts her vote during the referendum on reforms to Italys justice system - Remo Casilli/Reuters

Giorgia Meloni has suffered a defeat in a referendum widely seen as a verdict on her leadership of Italy.

Exit polls pointed to a comfortable victory for the opposition-backed No bloc in the first major political setback for the Italian prime minister, who must call a general election next year.

The Brothers of Italy leaders call for judicial reform in the referendum appears to have been rebuffed after a concerted campaign by Left-wing opposition groups to damage her re-election campaign.

Ms Meloni conceded the vote, posting on X: The Italians have decided. And we will respect this decision.

We will go forward, as we have always done, with responsibility, determination and above all respect for the Italian people and for Italy.

The No bloc was projected to secure about 54 per cent of the vote, against 46 per cent for the governments Yes camp, with counting still ongoing.

Struggled to deliver growth

Ms Meloni has been praised for bringing stability to the unpredictable world of Italian politics since taking power in October 2022.

But the Roman single mother gambled with a plebiscite on the obscure issue of whether or not public prosecutors and judges should be allowed to switch roles.

Ms Meloni, a hard-Right politician who marries populism at home with pragmatism abroad, insisted before the vote that she would not resign if she lost.

She insisted that the vote was purely on that niche issue rather than her government, which has struggled to deliver growth and increase wages.

Turnout was much higher than expected and followed an ill-tempered campaign that revealed a deep, mutual animosity between the Right-wing coalition and Italys judiciary that will leave lasting scars.

Her political rivals used the referendum to mobilise their support in a plebiscite marked by a high turnout in Left-leaning areas.

Temptation of early election

It now appears that they have managed to strike a rare blow against Ms Meloni, who until recently, appeared impervious to their efforts to damage her re-election hopes.

Francesco Galietti, the founder of Policy Sonar, a risk consultancy, said Ms Meloni might be tempted to cut her losses and request an early election, to pre-empt a longer period of attrition.

But Galeazzo Bignami from Ms Melonis Brothers of Italy party told Italian TV: Ive known Giorgia Meloni for some time now, and I cant recall a single political battle shes shied away from.

So I didnt expect her to do anything different from what she did, because Giorgia Meloni always puts herself on the line. I dont think theres any doubt about that.

Galeazzo Bignami predicted that Ms Meloni will not shy away from a political battle - Guido Calamosca/LaPresse/Shutterstock

Ms Meloni could also have been damaged by her closeness to Donald Trump. The US president is unpopular in Italy, with 77 per cent of Italians holding an unfavourable view of him, according to YouGov, the polling group.

Mr Trumps war with Iran is also exacerbating fears about an energy price shock at a time when Italians are already disgruntled about expensive energy bills, static wages, the high cost of living and public services.

Ms Melonis coalition government said it would make judges more impartial by cutting their ties with prosecutors, while critics said it is an attempt to increase political control over the courts.

For decades, the Right has claimed that judges and magistrates in Italy are biased against them, alleging that they have Left-wing sympathies.

Silvio Berlusconi, the former prime minister, railed against what he termed toghe rosse  literally, the red togas, which is Italian shorthand for supposedly Communist judges.

Franco Zaffini, a senator from Ms Melonis party, described the judiciary as a cancer and an execution squad, prompting condemnation from opposition parties before the vote.

In 2016, Matteo Renzi, who was prime minister and leader of the centre-Left Democratic Party, was forced to resign after staking his reputation on a referendum that would have reformed Italys political system.

He had proposed strengthening central government and weakening Italys upper house of parliament, the Senate.

Although the referendum was about constitutional reform, it morphed into an assessment of establishment politics  and of Mr Renzi himself.

Mr Renzi said after Mondays vote: When the people speak, the government must listen.
Two more London Labour councillors have defected to the Green Party, blaming the Prime Ministers response to conflicts in the Middle East.

The move by Lewisham councillors Tauseef Anwar and Rudi Schmidt means more than 50 Labour representatives have joined the Greens since the 2024 general election.

It comes as polls suggest Zack Polanskis party are set to make significant gains in London at the council elections on May 7 at the expense of Sir Keir Starmer and Labour.

Mr Schmidt, who represents the Evelyn ward, said: The Labour government has failed our community through continued austerity, welfare cuts affecting disabled people and its complicity in the genocide in Gaza.

Crofton Park councillor Mr Anwar added: My decision to leave Labour did not start today. It began when Keir Starmer justified Israel cutting of power and water to civilians in Gaza. This is why I have decided to join the Green Party.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (PA Wire)

Polls predict a bleak night for Sir Keirs party at the upcoming local elections - particularly in the capital, where 1,817 council seats are up for grabs.

A surge in the cost of living linked to the Iran war could turbocharge Labours decline in London at the votes, party insiders fear.

Senior Labour figures have warned the threat from Greens must be urgently addressed. London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has said his party faces an existential threat in parts of the country in May.

Labour currently runs 21 of Londons 32 boroughs. But the party is facing a significant threat from the Greens on the left and Reform UK on the right.

The most recent bombshell poll predicts the reshaping of Londons political map, suggesting Labour could be almost wiped out in the city, losing all but two of its councils.

Zack Polanski (PA Wire)

Modelling, from data firm Bombe, forecasted Mr Polanskis Green Party could seize control of nine local authorities - Hackney, Lambeth, Lewisham, Wandsworth, Hammersmith and Fulham, Greenwich, Brent, Hounslow and Waltham Forest.

It predicted Merton, Southwark, Westminster, Camden, Islington, Enfield and Ealing could fall from Labour-run to no overall control.

The poll, which used machine learning, national polling and London data to forecast the outcome of the elections, suggested Reform UK would win one council from Labour - Barking and Dagenham.

But elections expert Lord Hayward dismissed the prediction, saying he was absolutely confident Labour would not face a complete wipeout in London.

In local by-elections across the country since May 2025, Labour has lost 51 of the 68 council seats it was defending and gained just one.
Champion Bumper hero The Mourne Rambler will look to double his Grade One tally at next months Punchestown Festival.

A winner at Leopardstown over the Christmas period, the five-year-old followed up at Cheltenham a fortnight ago, providing trainer Noel Meade with his seventh Festival success and his first since Jeff Kidder landed the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle five years ago.

Six-time Irish champion Flat jockey Colin Keane was on board at Prestbury Park, but an amateur rider will have to take over when he looks to add the Race And Stay At Punchestown Champion I.N.H. Flat Race to his CV on April 29.

Meade said: He came back from Cheltenham fine, couldnt be better  hes happy out.

Its great when they win and he looks decent. Hell go to Punchestown hopefully if everything is OK and then hell have a break. We can decide what were going to do after that.

Well certainly consider running him on the Flat, but well see. Well get Punchestown out of the way first.

The Tu Va stables handler had hoped to saddle his Savills Chase winner Affordale Fury in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but he pulled a muscle when pulling up in Februarys Irish Gold Cup and failed to fully recover in time to make the trip to the Cotswolds.

He just went off his feed a bit and we werent happy with him, so we didnt go to Cheltenham, Meade added.

Hes 100 per cent sound and seems to be in good shape and hell go to Punchestown (Punchestown Gold Cup) as well, all being well.
Manchester Citys Carabao Cup final hero Nico OReilly is smelling blood in the title race after delivering a major blow to Arsenal at Wembley.

OReilly capped a remarkable few days  that included an England call-up and 21st birthday celebrations  by scoring both goals as City beat the Gunners 2-0 in Sundays showpiece.

The victory has given City renewed hope in their pursuit of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League.

Highlights from our historic League Cup win over Arsenal  pic.twitter.com/ApAvQ4deKh  Manchester City (@ManCity) March 23, 2026

They currently trail the leaders by nine points but have a game in hand and host the Londoners in a crunch fixture next month.

Asked by CBS if City now sensed an opening in the title race, OReilly said: Yes, 100 per cent. The blood never went  weve always smelt blood. Were confident in ourselves, we know we can do it.

Theyve got to come to our place which is a tough place to come to as everyone has seen this season. So we do smell blood and weve got to keep going.

It does a lot for us, (we can) build momentum and just push on now. Obviously its a big blow for them. They were going for everything.

City dominated the contest but OReilly settled it with two close-range headers in the space of four minutes after an hour.

It was the perfect way to bounce back after Champions League elimination by Real Madrid and, with an FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool still to come as well, City have a big run-in ahead.

OReillys double stunned Arsenal (Ben Whitley/PA) (Ben Whitley)

OReilly said: I thought when we came out in the second half we came out with a lot of energy and threat to their goal.

Our pressing was on it, on the ball we were on it and it looked like they didnt know what to do to be honest.

We will keep going. As soon as the international break is over we need to kick on and fight hard.

We just need to focus on ourselves. The changing room is happy, everyone is happy with each other and we need to keep going.
Oil prices (BZ=F, CL=F) cratered by the afternoon on Monday, as traders remain on edge about the likelihood of the Strait of Hormuz reopening.

President Donald Trump said the US and Iran have held productive conversations about a "complete and total resolution".

In a post on TruthSocial all in capital letters, Trump wrote: "BASED ON THE TENOR AND TONE OF THESE IN DEPTH, DETAILED, AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS, WITCH [sic] WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, I HAVE INSTRUCTED THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR TO POSTPONE ANY AND ALL MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRANIAN POWER PLANTS AND ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A FIVE DAY PERIOD, SUBJECT TO THE SUCCESS OF THE ONGOING MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS."

Oil prices whipsawed, having spent most of the morning in the green. Brent crude futures (BZ=F) fell 13.2% to the $97.50 per barrel mark on Monday, while West Texas Intermediate (CL=F) traded nearly 12.2% lower, above $86.26 per barrel.

This afternoon US Energy secretary Chris Wright called the elevated oil prices temporary. "Markets do what markets do," he added.

On Sunday night, Trump and prime minister Keir Starmer held a 20 minute phone call about the situation.

"They agreed that reopening the Strait of Hormuz was essential to ensure stability in the global energy market, a Downing Street spokesperson said.

On Saturday, Trump gave Iran a 48-hour deadline to reopen the Strait  a measure set to expire shortly before midnight UK time on Monday.

In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote: "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!

This morning Irans Defence Council said in a statement that the only way for non-hostile countries to pass through Strait of Hormuz is coordination with Iran.

The Strait is typically the venue for the passage of about a fifth of the worlds oil (BZ=F, CL=F) reserves, much of which is shipped to China and Japan. The closure has also affected the worlds liquefied natural gas (NG=F) supplies. Its closure in recent weeks as pushed up oil prices and prompted the International Energy Agency to release some of its reserves in order to try to calm the market.

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OnlyFans owner Leonid Radvinsky has died at the age of 43 after a long battle with cancer, the company announced.

The billionaire Ukrainian-American entrepreneur bought Fenix International Limited  the company that owns the adult content site  in 2018 and has been a director and majority shareholder since then.

A spokesperson for OnlyFans said: We are deeply saddened to announce the death of Leo Radvinsky.

Leo passed away peacefully after a long battle with cancer.

His family have requested privacy at this difficult time.

Mr Radvinskys deal to buy OnlyFans followed just two years after the site was launched by British father and son Guy and Tim Stokely.

The firm behind OnlyFans, which is based in the UK, has paid out eye-watering dividends to Mr Radvinsky since he acquired the company, with a record 701 million dollars (522 million) paid out in 2024 as the streaming site saw user numbers jump by almost a quarter to 377.5 million globally.

The company is headquartered and pays tax in the UK but makes the majority of its money in the US.

Mr Radvinsky  who was born in Ukraine and grew up in Chicago  had reportedly been in talks to sell a majority stake in the site, with discussions recently believed to have been held with investment firm Architect Capital in a deal that values the service at around 5.5 billion dollars (4.1 billion) including debt.

Mr Radvinskys deal to buy OnlyFans followed just two years after the site was launched by British father and son Guy and Tim Stokely (Alamy/PA)

The most recent Companies House accounts showed that OnlyFans revenues grew by 9% to 1.41 billion dollars (1.05 billion) in 2024, compared with the previous year, helping pre-tax profits grow by 4% to 683.6 million dollars (509.5 million).

It took in around 7.2 billion dollars (5.4 billion) from subscribers over the year, and paid out 5.8 billion dollars (4.3 billion) of these back to creators.

OnlyFans reported that the total number of creator accounts producing content for the site grew by 13% to 4.6 million as more people used it as an opportunity to make a living.

The stronger financial performance led to significant cash windfalls for Mr Radvinsky, with OnlyFans paying 497 million dollars (370 million) in dividends to Mr Radvinskys Fenix International in 2024, with a further 204 million dollars (152 million) of dividends between December and April.

Mr Radvinsky is understood to have transferred his shares in Fenix International to the LR Fenix Trust in late 2024.

He also ran a Florida-based venture capital fund called Leo, which he founded in 2009 to focus on investing in tech firms.
The pilot and co-pilot of an Air Canada Express regional jet have been killed after it collided with a fire truck while landing at New Yorks LaGuardia airport, in an incident that closed the airport for several hours.

The Air Canada Express CRJ-900 plane, operated by Jazz Aviation, was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members from Montreal. Nine people remain hospitalized after the collision, which happened at about 11.45pm ET on Sunday as the firefighting vehicle was responding to a separate incident.

Quebecs TVA News identified one of the pilots as Antoine Forest, 30, of Coteau-du-Lac, a city south-west of Montreal. He joined Jazz Aviation in 2022. The other pilot was Mackenzie Gunther, Radio-Canada sources have confirmed.

In a press conference on Monday evening, National Transportation Safety Board chair Jennifer Homendy said an investigation was under way. The planes flight data recorder, or black box, was recovered, as was the cockpit voice recorder.

LaGuardia reopened at 2pm on Monday and the airport told passengers to expect delays and or cancellations. Homendy said the runway where the crash took place would remain closed for some time due to the amount of debris and hazardous material at the site.

Its going to be days, she said.

In the moments before the crash, an air traffic controller could be heard on a radio transmission giving clearance to a vehicle to cross part of the runway, then trying to stop it.

Stop, Truck 1. Stop, the transmission says. The controller is then heard quickly diverting incoming aircraft from landing. Following the collision, audio released by LiveATC appears to show an air traffic controller discussing the incident with a pilot.

The pilot says the impact wasnt good to watch. Another responds: Yeah, I know, I was here. I tried to reach out  We were dealing with an emergency earlier. I messed up.

Nah, man, you did the best you could, the pilot says in the recording.

Donald Trump told reporters in response to the incident: They made a mistake; its a dangerous business. Thats terrible.

Mark Carney, Canadas prime minister, said the collision was deeply saddening.

Sean Duffy, the US transportation secretary, said in a statement that our prayers this morning are with the families impacted by the ground collision at LaGuardia, and that the FAA was deploying a team to the site to support the investigation. Officials will look at whether air traffic control staffing levels were an issue in the deadly crash.

Kathryn Garcia, the Port Authority executive director, said at a news conference that Forest and Gunther were both based in Canada.

The loss of our two fellow crew members onboard Flight 8646 is a profound tragedy, said Jason Ambrosi, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, the largest airline pilot union in the world.

These pilots dedicated their careers to the safe transport of passengers, and we are all thinking of their families, loved ones, and colleagues at Jazz Aviation during this devastating time.

Photos showed significant damage to the nose of the plane, which was tilted upwards. Stairways used to evacuate passengers from aircraft were pushed up to the emergency exits on the jet.

A photo of the fire vehicle showed it had tipped on to its side. NBC News had earlier said a sergeant and an officer had broken limbs and were in stable condition at a hospital.

The truck had been responding to a United Airlines flight, which had declared an emergency due to an odor reported onboard. Controllers told the aircraft that fire trucks were available on site.

A 2025 FAA database showed that LaGuardia was in 2024 the 19th busiest out of more than 500 US airports, with more than 16.7 million passengers boarding there.

A ground stop was also put in place on Monday morning at Newark Liberty international airport in New Jersey. ABC News reported that an air traffic control tower was evacuated due to reports of smoke. Separate reports indicated that a bus had caught on fire on the New Jersey Turnpike expressway near the airport and was sending smoke billowing into the air.

Flight delays there subsequently mounted, with some exceeding an hour, as CNN transportation reporter Pete Muntean reported.

The Associated Press contributed reporting

 This article was amended on 25 MArch 2026 to clarify that the audio recording released by LiveATC is of a conversation between an air traffic controller and a pilot, not two controllers.
Rhun ap Iorwerth is the leader of Plaid Cymru, which is poised to make big gains in the May elections - PA

Wales is facing independence by stealth if Plaid Cymru wins control of the Senedd, opponents have warned.

The Welsh nationalist party has been accused by the Labour Party and Reform UK of plotting a secret split from the UK, but playing down the prospect to avoid putting off voters at the May 7 polls.

Labour is expected to lose control of the Welsh Government for the first time, while Plaid, Reform and others are expected to make sweeping gains. The latest polls suggest Plaid stands a strong chance of winning the most seats in the Senedd, opening the door to Waless first nationalist-led government.

Labour and Reform have seized on Plaids plan for its first 100 days in power as evidence of creeping independence under its control. These include a pledge to encourage more Welsh students to attend Welsh universities by investing more in higher education at home.

The party previously suggested this could involve scrapping 1,000 grants for students choosing to go to universities outside Wales  a policy branded extremely divisive by the Tories.

Nigel Farage named Dan Thomas, a former Tory councillor, as Reform UKs Welsh leader - Getty

Plaid has pledged to examine options for reforming the Seren programme  a gifted and talented scheme for Welsh teenagers  to reduce the focus on sending students to Oxbridge and other leading universities outside Wales.

The party would aim to break up the judiciary of England and Wales by creating a Welsh crime and courts system, in line with similar arrangements in Scotland and Northern Ireland. It would also demand total control over Welsh rail and more welfare powers.

Rather than holding an independence referendum in its first term, Plaid had said it would begin the work of establishing a standing national commission to spark a national conversation about the next steps on our constitutional journey.

While, according to polls, Plaid has become more popular, the public are not convinced about independence. In January, 26 per cent of Welsh voters were in favour of splitting from the UK, but many more  54 per cent  opposed the move.

However, opponents fear the party is plotting an unofficial split from the UK by locking in young talent and wresting control of key services from Westminster.

Plaid Cymru would demand total control over Welsh rail in a strengthened devolution package - Getty

Dan Thomas, Reforms leader in Wales, accused Plaid of pursuing independence by stealth, while a Labour source urged the party to be honest with voters about its real intentions. Mr Thomas, who launched Reforms Welsh manifesto earlier this month, warned that a vote for Plaid was a vote for Wales leaving the UK.

He told The Telegraph: Plaid might try and keep that quiet, because they know it is deeply unpopular with the people of Wales, but it is one of the founding principles of that party.

This would make the whole UK worse off and cause havoc on issues like studying, cross-border working and funding our struggling public services. The only way to stop independence by stealth is to vote Reform in May.

A Welsh Labour source accused Plaid of making secret independence preparations. They said: Independence is Plaids reason for being and they should be honest about that with voters. Instead, they say they wont pursue independence in their first term, while actively laying the foundations.

The source added: One of the few concrete actions in their 100-day plan is to set up a national commission to look at Waless constitutional future, another step in the independence plan they claim to not be pursuing. Their Westminster leader has at least been honest in saying theyre avoiding talking about independence to avoid losing voters.

Theyre actively spending on their secret independence preparations, while talking about making efficiencies in the child poverty strategy funding. They need to sort out their priorities if theyre going to say theyre serious about leading Wales.

A recent poll by More in Common put Plaid and Reform neck and neck on 26 per cent of the vote in Wales, which would give them 28 seats each in the Senedd. While Reform is on track to do well, it would struggle to form a coalition with left-wing parties such as Labour and the Green Party, making its path to power more complicated.

A Plaid spokesman said: Plaid Cymru will never apologise for believing in Wales and having ambition for our nation. Labour has had its chance. Their legacy is nothing but record high NHS waiting lists, struggling public services, falling standards in our schools, and an unfair system that denies Wales more powers and fair funding.

They added: Reform UK is using Wales as Nigel Farages stepping stone to 10 Downing Street. They show no respect for our language, culture or the priorities of Welsh communities.

Neither party is offering leadership that actually works for Wales and their shameless fear-mongering just wont work. The people of Wales are ready for change and they are ready for new leadership with Plaid Cymru.

On their plans for Welsh students, the spokesman said: Plaid Cymru is calling for a full review of how universities are funded, because after 27 years of Labour, Welsh universities are struggling to survive.

Universities themselves have said this is needed, but Labour have done nothing to help them. Plaid Cymru wants a comprehensive and independent review of higher education funding to make sure our universities thrive and give Welsh students the opportunities they deserve.
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A professional cornhole player and quadruple amputee has been accused of murdering a man and dumping his body in a front yard in rural Maryland.

Dayton James Webber, 27, is a prominent American Cornhole League player and disability rights advocate who had frequently written and been interviewed about his rocky journey to sporting excellence.

Having lost parts of all four limbs to a severe streptococcus infection at 10 months old, he was known for not using prosthetic limbs on the court even while holding his own against non-disabled players.

Police in Charles County in southern Maryland  about 40 miles south of Washington, D.C.  said Webber will face a first degree murder charge after being arrested over the fatal shooting of 27-year-old Bradrick Michael Wells on Sunday night.

"On March 22 at 10:25 p.m., officers with the La Plata Police Department were flagged down by two people near the area of La Plata Road and Radio Station Road in La Plata," said the Charles County Sheriff's Office in a Facebook post Monday morning.

In many ways, surprising people has always been part of my life, Webber wrote in a 2023 article discussing his background (Albemarle County Police Department, Virginia)

"A preliminary investigation revealed the witnesses were in the back seat of a car when the driver, Dayton James Webber, 27, of La Plata, shot and killed the front seat passenger during an argument.

"Webber pulled over in the area of Radio Station Road and Llano Drive and asked the passengers to help pull the victim out of the car; however, the witnesses refused, got out of the car, and left the scene.

"Webber then fled with the victim still in the car. All occupants of the car are known to each other."

Officers ultimately found Wells' body in a yard on Newport Church Road in Charlotte Hall, Maryland, before tracing Webber to a hospital in Virginia where he was arrested pending extradition to Charles County.

When Dayton Webber contracted streptococcus pneumonia as a baby, doctors were forced to amputate his hands, forearms, and most of his legs in order to stop the infection from spreading, giving him only a 3 percent chance of survival.

Webber not only survived but became an accomplished athlete, taking pride in his ability to do almost anything a non-disabled person could do without the use of hands or feet.

"In many ways, surprising people has always been part of my life," Webber wrote in a 2023 article. "People often underestimate me when they see me  no matter the context."

In 2021 he was accepted as a pro player in the American Cornhole League, becoming the first quadruple amputee in the body's history.

Webber said he uses a hoverboard to navigate the cornhole court, and that he doesn't like to wear prosthetic limbs because they don't offer enough sensitivity and control.

Even outside of professional play, he said he only sometimes uses a wheelchair  employing an all-terrain model with tank-like treads for outdoor expeditions such as fishing and hunting.

Webber had a YouTube channel, on which he posted videos of himself loading and firing a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and firing a historic muzzle-loading long gun, using the narrowest part of his arm stump to pull the trigger.

"Teaching myself how to do various tasks  such as writing, picking things off the floor and even driving  helps me with cornhole, too," Webber wrote back in 2023. "Ive had to adapt my style to fit what works with my body," he wrote.

[Disabled people] will definitely surprise you. If we say we can do it, we can do it.

Asked by The Independent if Webber was suspected of using a prosthetic limb during the alleged murder, a sheriff's office spokesperson declined to comment.

But she said: "If you have any question about his abilities or capabilities, Google search him, and you will see many videos of him showing his abilities."

A spokesperson for the American Cornhole League said Webber had not been an active participant in the league since late 2024.

The ACL is aware of the reports regarding allegations involving Webber. This is an extremely serious matter and our thoughts are with all those impacted, including the family and loved ones of Bradrick Michael Wells, the spokesperson said.

At this time, this remains an active legal situation. We respect the judicial process and will not comment on specific allegations or details while proceedings are ongoing.

The sheriff's office asked anyone with information about Sunday's killing to call Detective R. Johnson at 301-609-6453, or submit a tip anonymously at 1-866-411-TIPS.
HVAC companies can now provide customers with upfront information about relevant incentives, reducing friction around cost and affordability

LEBANON, Ohio, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Contractor Commerce, a leading e-commerce and sale enablement platform built specifically for home service contractors, announces the launch of automated energy rebate integration within its Instant Estimate tool, empowering contractors to present rebate-adjusted pricing to homeowners in real time.

The new functionality automatically identifies eligible federal, state and local utility incentives and applies them directly within the online estimate journey, giving homeowners a clear view of their total savings and projected out-of-pocket costs.

Contractor Commerce has launched automated energy rebate integration within its Instant Estimate tool, empowering HVAC contractors to present rebate-adjusted pricing to homeowners in real time.

Reducing Friction in the Customer Journey

By embedding rebate data directly into the online estimate process, contractors can now provide transparent, savings-inclusive pricing before a homeowner ever picks up the phone. The result is a smoother buying experience, with greater transparency and trust as well as fewer questions about affordability.

"By automatically calculating eligible incentives within the estimate, we're giving homeowners clarity on what they'll actually pay," said Paul Redman, president of Contractor Commerce. "At the same time, we're giving contractors a powerful way to build confidence from the very first interaction."

Further Momentum for Contractor Commerce

The new rebate launch comes amid strong momentum for Contractor Commerce. The company was recently certified in the ServiceTitan App Marketplace, reinforcing its commitment to helping home service businesses streamline operations and drive sales.

"Homeowners are more motivated than ever to invest in energy-efficient upgrades," Redman said. "Contractors shouldn't have to manually track shifting rebate programs or rely on homeowners to find them. Our platform does the behind-the-scenes work, which means contractors can focus on closing more jobs while delivering a smooth, transparent buying experience."

For more information about Contractor Commerce, visit ContractorCommerce.com.

About Contractor Commerce

Contractor Commerce is the pioneer and industry leader in providing e-commerce services for contractors, offering plug-and-play online stores for home service companies so they can grow their sales and serve customers with convenience and transparent pricing. To learn more about Contractor Commerce and its innovative solutions, visit ContractorCommerce.com.

SOURCE Contractor Commerce
Rege-Jean Page says SNL UK reunion with Nicola Coughlan was delightful

Bridgerton star Rege-Jean Page has said it was delightful to reunite with Irish actress Nicola Coughlan during the Saturday Night Live UK premiere.

Page, 38, starred alongside Coughlan in the first season of the Netflix period drama as Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings.

The pair appeared separately during the launch of the UK version of the US comedy show which saw Page ask out the host Tina Fey during one of the sketches while Coughlan made jabs at the comedian during her opening monologue.

Speaking about how it felt to reunite with Coughlan, Page told the Press Association: Delightful. Lovely to see Nicola again.

She was so funny and her comedy chops are wonderful.

The night was amazing. I got to act with Tina Fey which kind of made my life.

Rege-Jean Page arriving for the special screening of You, Me & Tuscany at the Ham Yard Hotel in London (Ian West/PA) (Ian West)

And it was a joy to go step in and help kick that show off because I think it is a really good opportunity for British comedy, for British writers.

Everything about the evening was wonderful.

Coughlan interrupted Feys opening monologue to ask: 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.

Following her stint on the show, she posted a photograph of herself alongside Fey and said: My life is made.

Thank you SNL UK and congratulations on a very excellent first show, total joy.

The first episode also featured guest appearances from TV presenter Graham Norton and Canadian actor Michael Cera.

Page is also known for the 2025 drama Black Bag and stars in the upcoming rom-com You, Me and Tuscany alongside Halle Bailey.
The students bringing the claim have undergraduate degrees have received offers from universities including Oxford, pictured. Photograph: Paul Thompson Images/Alamy (Photograph: Paul Thompson Images/Alamy)

Six students from Sudan and Afghanistan have accused the home secretary of racial discrimination and launched legal action to try to overturn a ban on them taking up university places in the UK.

The students  five from Sudan and one from Afghanistan  have undergraduate degrees in medicine and science-based subjects and received offers from universities including Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial College London.

However, this month the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, announced a ban on student visas for people from Sudan, Afghanistan, Myanmar and Cameroon, which will come into force on 26 March.

The emergency brake on visas has been imposed after a surge in asylum claims from people in country after finishing their studies. The Home Office said applications by students from the four countries rose by more than 470% between 2021 and 2025.

The six students claim in a letter before action that the decision to bar students from four countries only is unlawful, irrational, a violation of human rights laws and a misdirection of law.

Their letter also accuses the home secretary of racial discrimination and of failing to provide any justification for differential treatment of students from these four countries.

They are calling on Mahmood to withdraw the visa brake or at least to suspend it for students due to come to the UK to start courses later this year.

The legal action states: The unprecedented and harsh, directly racially discriminatory effect of this measure is to immediately terminate eligibility for sponsored study visas for all nationals from four countries.

Home Office sources say study routes should not be the mechanism for claiming asylum, but critics say very few safe and legal alternatives exist.

Government sources said visa brakes may be applied to other countries where there is a high asylum risk.

According to lawyers for the students, dozens more from the four banned countries have contacted them expressing interest in joining the legal challenge.

The ban has financial implications for universities that have offered places to students now barred, as well as a major impact on the students career and life plans.

The universities may not be able to offer the currently vacated places to other students not affected by the study visa ban at such a late stage.

The letter cites countries unaffected by the ban with much larger numbers of students or others who come to the UK on visas and then go on to claim asylum, such as Pakistan, 89% of whose nationals who claim asylum come through a visa or similar route before making an asylum claim.

It claims that the home secretary has overlooked the profound impact of this measure on equality of opportunity for women from the banned countries, including those from Afghanistan where women and girls are denied access to secondary school and higher education because of Taliban rules.

Ahmed Aydeed, of Deighton Pierce Glynn solicitors, who is representing the six students, said: This racist study ban by the home secretary will do nothing but detract the brightest in the world from studying in the UK.

This government has abandoned a purposive and evidence-based approach to lawmaking.

A government spokesperson said: Study routes are being widely abused, creating a backdoor to claim asylum into this country. That is why we are taking unprecedented action to suspend routes from four countries.

And while we remain committed to expanding safe and legal routes to those fleeing persecution and welcoming the brightest talent in a fair and managed way, we cannot allow exceptions to study routes to prevent further abuse of our migration system.

We consider visa brakes to be lawful and will defend any legal challenge robustly.
Experts argue that the UK is no longer operating in a two-party environment. Illustration: Guardian Design (Illustration: Guardian Design)

Cabinet reshuffles, party infighting, policy reversals, byelections, defections and apparently huge swings in support  the UKs political news cycle feels especially relentless at the moment.

But if you look closely at the polls since last years local elections, remarkably little has changed.

While there have been some noticeable individual polls, most movements have been limited to a small number of percentage points. The big parties are roughly where they were. Reform has had a comfortable lead for almost a year.

As the local elections loom in May, analysts will be scrutinising the polls more closely  testing how these shifts will translate into electoral swings and the extent to which Keir Starmers Labour will struggle.

This became even more apparent as Nigel Farage complained about YouGovs methodology potentially underestimating Reforms support, suggesting that he values polling coverage as a way to drive increased coverage of his insurgent party.

So why do the polls feel so volatile?

These charts show how, in what is looking like a fragmented five-party system, small movements can produce dramatic political consequences  even as the underlying balance between the left and right remains relatively stable.

***

Headline numbers havent moved much

Every poll has a margin of error, often of two or three points  a number that can produce quite different headline results in a close multiparty contest. This means that we shouldnt pay too much attention to any one poll  rather, look at the longer-term shifts in the overall average of polls.

Since the 2025 local elections, the changes on the main political parties polling ratings have been muted.

Labours drop and the Greens gain are notable, but these swings are quite normal in polling across an entire year.

***

Fragmentation changes the meaning of small swings

Experts argue that the UK is no longer operating in a two-party environment.

Five parties now poll at meaningful national levels: Labour, the Conservatives, Reform, the Lib Dems and the Greens. This is alongside the SNP in Scotland and Plaid Cymru in Wales.

Joe Twyman, the founder and director of the public opinion consultancy Deltapoll, said that this helps create a confusing picture: A five-party system makes polling more difficult. It amplifies a lot of the problems that pollsters were already facing.

Exacerbating the problem, Twyman says, is the instability that often goes along with a sharp surge in popularity for a party that was previously on the fringes. Some of these parties are on the rise. Parties like the Greens and Reform have new support, so that creates uncertainty. How do we precisely gauge the popularity of these new movements?

In a five-party system, a two-point swing becomes much more significant as it can alter entire races.

A shift of a couple of points nationally could move Labour between second to fourth, put the Greens into second, bring Reform and Labour neck-and-neck, or push the Conservatives into a clear second.

Over the past month, Labour, the Conservatives and the Greens have each been in second place in individual polls. In each of these polls, the gap between the second- and third-placed party has been no more than five points.

***

Wider voter blocs are stable 

Looking at the broader leftwing and rightwing groups of parties, there has been little shift in the polls.

Combined support for left-leaning parties (Labour, the Lib Dems and the Greens) has remained between 43% and 47% since January 2025.

While the Lib Dems have appealed to wavering Conservative voters, especially in the south of England, overall they position themselves on the progressive side of politics.

Meanwhile, the right-leaning bloc (the Conservatives and Reform) has hovered between 44% and 49%.

Since 2013, which is when PollBase has consistent data from, the leftwing bloc has shifted between 40% and 66%, while the rightwing bloc has shifted between 29% and 54%.

The movement between these groups is significantly less when you exclude the years 2021 to 2024, when there were big swings in public support after the pandemic and partygate.

While the progressive parties SNP and Plaid Cymru have significant support in Scotland and Wales, they have not been included due to data availability and the fact that they do not stand for election across the whole of Britain.

Jane Green, professor of politics at Oxford University, pointed to the fact that these blocs of voters have stayed broadly stable over time to argue: Whats going on isnt random at all. Its highly structured.

There is a huge amount of stability across the structure of the two blocs. They have the same demographic structure as before.

***

 but the leadership of these blocs is changing

There has been a decline in Labour and the Conservatives dominance over their respective blocs, says Green: What were seeing is the leftwing bloc fragmenting and the rightwing bloc is consolidating towards Reform.

Over 2025, Labours share of the leftwing parties collective vote share declined from 56% to 39%  a drop of 17 points.

This came as some leftwing voters switched to the Greens, which commanded 32% of the collective leftwing vote  an increase of 14 points over the year.

At the turn of 2025, the Conservatives held 50% of the collective rightwing vote  but this had dropped to 40% by December 2025.

Three in five people who picked a rightwing party in the polls said they supported Reform. This is the highest level for a non-Conservative rightwing party for over a decade.

Prof Sir John Curtice, of the University of Strathclyde, said: There are the two blocs  and most of the movement is between either Conservative-Reform or between Labour-Green-Lib Dem.

In the recent byelections in Caerphilly, then Gorton and Denton, the vote fractured both to the left, with Plaid Cymru and the Greens winning the seats, and to the right, with Reform claiming second place in both seats. In Gorton and Denton, the two insurgent parties collectively won 69.4% of the vote.

Green argued that, compared with previous election cycles, it is likely that we could see different parties representing these blocs across different constituencies.

Pointing to the importance of tactical voting, she added: What we might see is that people still identify with being on the right or left, but being more willing to switch within those sides.

***

First-past-the-post amplifies volatility

Under first-past-the-post, the UK runs 650 separate constituency races. With the rise of Reform and the Greens, many seats are now three- or four-way contests with thinner winning margins.

Twyman noted: Individual constituency polling is costly and difficult so we use methods like MRP [multi-level regression and post-stratification] modelling to replicate it. But this doesnt take into account hyper-local factors. And when parties are winning seats on 20 to 25% of the vote, in five-party races, any small swings  including those caused by hyper-local factors  become more significant.

Two recent MRPs  by More in Common and Find Out Now/ Electoral calculus  both had Reform on 31% of the vote. However, More in Common forecast Reform would win 381 seats, compared with the predicted 331 seats in the other  a huge difference between a strong or fragile majority.

Prof Curtice said that under first-past-the-post, there are no rules dictating the relationship between a partys share of the vote and share of the seats. The crucial thing is that it all depends on geography.

A swing of two points between two parties which are both geographically distributed across the country is very significant. Its not so important if the two parties are focused in specific geographical areas.

The Lib Dem vote is geographically concentrated around the south of England, compared with Reforms, which is more spread out.

Prof Curtice added: If you are first, you want to have a geographically-even spread of your vote. But if you are second or third, you want a geographically concentrated spread.

The system that was the ballast of the two-party system for decades could become its undoing.

***

Higher levels of voter switching

Voter volatility remains historically high, with more people saying they might switch parties than in previous decades.

But a lot of this switching is people moving within their voter coalitions, meaning that the overall balance of left and right doesnt hugely change.

Prof Green said: There is greater churn among voters, and thats increasing between elections. It hasnt been the majority of people, but its increasing. The broad trajectory is moving towards switching parties, with a greater proportion of people wanting to reject the major parties.

Green argued that we are now in the middle of this movement from establishment to insurgent parties, within the two major voter blocs.

It is part of a longer-term trend of increased voter fluidity, but now appears to have come to a head as two charismatic leaders  Zack Polanski and Nigel Farage  seek to capitalise on the feeling of disillusionment with the two major parties.

Warning that history doesnt give us clues on where we are heading, Curtice said: We have never had five-party politics before. Were in unprecedented territory and none of us know exactly where this will go.
Donald Trump appeared to fall asleep during a televised National Guard briefing in Memphis on Monday (23 March).

During a law enforcement roundtable on efforts to address crime in the city, the US president could be seen struggling to keep his eyes open as he was praised for helping lower crime rates.

Following the briefing, where he claimed that Memphis has been fixed amid a crime crackdown, Mr Trump toured Elvis Presleys Graceland as part of an impromptu trip.

Back in January, the US president disputed that he had been dozing during a recent briefing, instead claiming that simple closed his eyes as it got pretty boring.
Donald Trump: We have points, major points of agreement, I would say, almost all points of agreement. Photograph: Bruce Newman/AP (Photograph: Bruce Newman/AP)

Donald Trump has claimed there have been talks between the US and Iran over the past day in which the two sides had major points of agreement, appearing to avert a potentially severe escalation of the conflict.

Tehran has denied the claim, in which Trump also speculated that a deal could soon be done to end the war. Irans foreign ministry spokesperson said no talks had been held with the US since the bombing campaign began 24 days ago.

Trumps threat at the weekend to hit and obliterate Irans power stations and energy infrastructure if Tehran did not allow shipping to move freely through the strait of Hormuz, and Irans threat to destroy infrastructure across the Middle East in retaliation, had raised fears of a deepening conflict and global economic crisis.

In a flurry of presidential announcements on Monday, Trump first posted on social media that he had extended his deadline by five days, saying the US and Iran had held very good and productive conversations in recent days, then told reporters in Palm Beach, Florida, that his Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, and close aide and son-in-law Jared Kushner had held very, very strong talks with the Iranians a day earlier.

Later on Monday, Trump played up the chances of a deal, saying: Were giving it five days and then were going to see where that takes us. And I would say at the end of this period, I think it could very well end up being a very good deal for everybody.

A European official said that while there had been no direct negotiations between the two nations, Egypt, Pakistan and Gulf states were relaying messages. A Pakistani official and a second source told Reuters that direct talks on ending the war could be held in Islamabad this week.

The Pakistani official said the US president, JD Vance, as well as Witkoff and Kushner, were expected to meet Iranian officials in Islamabad this week, after a call between Trump and Pakistans army chief, Asim Munir.

The White House confirmed Trumps call with Munir. When asked about a possible visit by Witkoff and Kushner to Islamabad, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said: These are sensitive diplomatic discussions and the US will not negotiate through the press. This is a fluid situation, and speculation about meetings should not be deemed as final until they are formally announced by the White House.

Oman, Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan have all been reported to have been involved in efforts to broker an end to hostilities in recent days, but it is unclear how substantial or productive such contacts have been. Omans foreign minister, Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, said on Monday that Oman was working hard to secure safe passage through the strait of Hormuz.

Keir Starmer told a parliamentary committee on Monday that the UK was aware discussions were happening. Starmer and Trump talked late on Sunday by telephone, according to Downing Street.

The EU chief, Ursula von der Leyen, called for an immediate end to hostilities, describing a critical situation for energy supply chains globally.

We all feel the knock-on effects on gas and oil prices on our businesses and our societies, von der Leyen said on Tuesday, on a visit to Australia. It is of utmost importance that we come to a solution that is negotiated, and this puts an end to the hostilities that we see in the Middle East, she added.

In reaction to the intensifying energy crisis, Japan said it will release another part of its strategic oil reserves from Thursday, and will tap into joint stockpiles held by producing nations in the country by the end of the month.

Early on Tuesday, state-run Iranian media reported another round of missiles fired at Israel, and rescue services in Israel showed images of a damaged building in the north but reported no casualties.

Lebanese state media said Israel carried out seven air raids on south Beirut overnight.

In all his comments, Trump declined to say with whom the US was speaking in Iran. Were dealing with the man who, I believe, is the most respected and the leader. Its a little tough  weve wiped out everybody, Trump said, stating only that the US had not talked to current supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.

A senior Iranian official told Reuters the US had requested a meeting with Irans parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, but that the supreme national security council had yet to decide on any proposed talks and Iran had yet to respond. Qalibaf himself described fake news  used to manipulate the financial and oil markets.

The Fars news agency, which is linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), had earlier also denied any talks, saying there were neither direct nor indirect communications with the US. Irans IRGC said they were launching fresh attacks on US targets, and described Trumps words as psychological operations that were worn out and having no impact on Tehrans fight.

The Iranian state news agency Irna quoted a foreign ministry spokesperson as saying friendly countries had sent messages indicating that the US wanted talks to end the war but none had taken place.

Iran has been defiant in the face of Trumps threats and more than three weeks of the joint US-Israeli offensive. In response to Sundays ultimatum, Tehran threatened to target power plants supplying US bases across the Middle East, vital desalination facilities in Gulf countries, and to intensify strikes on Israel.

More than 2,000 people have been killed in the war that the US and Israel launched on 28 February, the majority of them in Iran. In Lebanon, authorities said 1,039 had been killed in Israels offensive against Hezbollah, with 2,876 others wounded.

Additional reporting by Saeed Shah in Islamabad
Donald Trump speaks to members of the media on the south lawn of the White House before boarding Marine One for a trip to Florida in Washington DC on 20 March. Photograph: Andrew Leyden/NurPhoto/Shutterstock (Photograph: Andrew Leyden/NurPhoto/Shutterstock)

Donald Trump has given 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 president 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 US 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.

Tehran in response said it will irreversibly destroy essential infrastructure across the Middle East, including vital water systems, if the US follows through on Donald Trumps threat.

Here are the main stories:

Trump tells Iran it has 48 hours to open Hormuz or US will obliterate its power plants

Trumps ultimatum came hours after two Iranian missiles struck southern Israel, injuring more than 100 people in the most destructive attack since the war began. The Israel prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, vowed to retaliate on all fronts.

Read the full story

ICE agents will be deployed to US airports on Monday to ease long lines

Donald Trump and his border tsar, Tom Homan, have confirmed that the presidents administration is sending Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to US airports beginning 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.

Read the full story

Trump to blame for Iran crisis, ex-CIA chief says

He tends to be naive about how things can happen, Leon Panetta, a former US defence secretary and Central Intelligence Agency director, told the Guardian. If he says it and keeps saying it theres always a hope that what he says will come true. But thats what kids do. Its not what presidents do.

Read the full story

Trump lauds Viktor Orban as Europes far-right leaders gather in Budapest

Donald Trump has endorsed Hungarys prime minister, Viktor Orban, who faces his toughest electoral challenge next month since taking power 16 years ago, as Europes far-right leaders gather for a grand assembly in Budapest.

Read the full story

New crypto regulations likely to be big favor to the Trump family, industry insiders say

During Donald Trumps second administration, the SEC has retreated from its prior approach under Joe Bidens administration, as well as the first Trump administration, which entailed regulating the sector through frequent enforcement actions and approaching a wide slate of crypto-assets as securities.

Read the full story

What else happened today:

Catching up? Heres what happened on 21 March 2026.
Donald Trump said on Monday that ICE agents deployed to the nations airports would go maskless after his administration deployed hundreds of agents to deal with a worsening shortage of TSA agents.

His statement came as his administration is struggling to deal with the effects of a DHS shutdown that is now in its second month. Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill have been unable to strike a deal to fund the agency after Democrats demanded a slate of reforms to Trumps immigration enforcement programs in exchange for their votes. As of yet, the White House and GOP majorities in Congress havent budged.

On Monday morning, the president wrote on Truth Social: I am a BIG proponent of ICE wearing masks as they search for, and are forced to deal with, hardened criminals, many of whom were let into our Country by Sleepy Joe Biden and his wonderful Border Czar, Kamala (she never even went to the Border!), through their absolutely INSANE Open Border Policy.

I would greatly appreciate, however, NO MASKS, when helping our Country out of the Democrat caused MESS at the airports, etc. Thank you! he then added.

Adding to the chaos, New Yorks LaGuardia Airport was also forced to close on Monday due to a fatal collision between an Air Canada flight and a Port Authority vehicle that was crossing the runway. The pilot and co-pilot of the flight were reported killed, and dozens of others are being treated for injuries.

ICE agents are seen on duty at Altanta's international airport (Getty)

Speaking to reporters in a gaggle before departing Palm Beach, Florida on Air Force One, the president said that he spoke to his border czar Tom Homan and told him that he didnt think masks were appropriate when ICE was interacting with the general population, but remained important for the agency to use when dealing with undocumented immigrants  whom he referred to as murderers and thugs.

I've requested now, now you know I'm a big believer that they should be able to wear masks when they go knock down, you know, murderers, criminals and others. But for purposes of the airport, I've requested that they take off the masks. I don't like it for the airport, and I believe they are willing to do that, said Trump. The people coming into the airport, typically speaking, aren't murderers, killers, drug dealers, et cetera.

For nearly two months the Department of Homeland Security has been in shutdown mode due to congressional inaction on legislation to fund the agency. Democrats have repeatedly offered legislation to fund parts of the department, to no avail.

Among the reforms Democrats posed to their Republican colleagues last month were an end to ICE agents using masks while on enforcement operations, as well as an end to roving enforcement raids altogether and the requirement that agents obtain a judicial warrant before carrying out searches of private property.

Trump told reporters on Monday that he didnt believe it was appropriate for ICE agents to wear masks when interacting with Americans at airports (AP)

Despite the White Houses resistance, many Senate Republicans have signaled an openness to at least some reforms to the agency. Support for ICE and DHSs heavy-handed tactics plummeted on the Hill after the shooting deaths of two Americans, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, during confrontations with immigration enforcement agents in Minneapolis. In both cases, critics said that agents used deadly force in situations that didnt warrant such a response.

At the beginning of last week agents at TSA missed their first full paychecks of the shutdown. Call-outs surged nationwide, and security screening lines quickly piled up at airports including Houston, Atlanta and dozens of others, though wait times appeared to be sporadic and inconsistent. While some airports reported hours-long waits for TSA pre-check and standard entry, others reported no wait times at all.

The White House responded over the weekend with an announcement that ICE agents would be temporarily taken out of the field to fill staffing gaps at major airports. But initial reports from cities like Atlanta and Houston on Monday indicated that agents were largely milling about and were not performing the tasks that TSA agents were trained to do, such as perform X-rays and other parts of the security screening process.

Trump administration officials including Homan had insisted in interviews Sunday that this wouldnt be the case.

When we deploy tomorrow, we'll have a well-thought-out plan to execute, border czar Tom Homan told CNNs Dana Bash on Sunday.

How much of a plan does it [require] to guard an exit, to make sure no one comes through that exit? Homan continued. "Again, ICE has been at airports across the country for a long time. It's just expanding those things."

The agencys acting director told journalists last week that some individual airports could be forced to shutter temporarily if the agency cant staff TSA checkpoints at every location.
I allowed myself to dream  Shahira Sadat, from Afghanistan. Photograph: Supplied image (Photograph: Supplied image)

Shahira Sadat was thrilled. She had received an invitation to interview for the prestigious Chevening scholarship. I cannot describe the joy I felt, she says. I was hopeful. I allowed myself to dream. The scholarships are funded by the UK government, enabling future leaders from all over the world to pursue their studies in the UK  most often a one-year masters degree  developing skills they can use in their home countries.

In recent years, under Taliban rule, Sadats home country of Afghanistan has become increasingly hostile to women and girls, and the mother-of-ones recent career achievements have happened behind closed doors. She is a software engineer, with an interest in AI and how it might help reduce the education gender gap and the digital exclusion of young people of both genders. Her skills could help generations of Afghan women, including her own daughter.

After receiving three offers from UK universities, she poured everything she had into her scholarship application. I rewrote my essays again and again. I asked for feedback, reviewed every sentence, refined every idea. I spent sleepless nights thinking about how to best represent my goals and my country.

On 5 March she received a devastating email. Her Chevening application, including an interview scheduled for 9 March, could no longer be taken forward, due to the visa brake. I was so shocked, she says. I cried and cried for hours and woke up the next morning with a bad headache because I had cried so much.

Related: What are Shabana Mahmoods changes to the asylum system?

The offers were withdrawn because of a surprise announcement earlier that week from the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood. This stated that study visas for students from four countries  Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan  are to be suspended. Mahmood considers that there has been abuse of the immigration system by some students from these countries, who have gone on to claim asylum in the UK.

There are other countries whose students come to the UK in much larger numbers  a proportion of whom also claim asylum after completing their studies  that are not facing a similar ban. A Home Office statement noted that asylum claims by students from Cameroon and Sudan had spiked by more than 330% before adding that this poses an unsustainable threat to the UKs asylum system. However, while the percentage increase between Covid-era 2021 and 2025 is significant, the actual numbers are small  just a few hundred students. Nonetheless, Mahmood insists this emergency brake is necessary to control overall migration.

The women affected by the ban have always regarded the UK and its academic institutions as a beacon. In the worlds worst conflict zones, gifted young women study in hiding, swerving militias, earthquakes, power cuts, internet outages and the threat of starvation. Ironically, they want to study in the UK not to swell the countrys asylum figures, but so they can develop skills to help strengthen the fragile infrastructure back home, which may help reduce the number of people leaving these countries in future.

For Afghan women, says Sadat, opportunities like Chevening are not just academic programmes  they are lifelines. They are rare doors that allow us to grow, to contribute and to remain connected to the world.

Afra Elmahdi was floored by Mahmoods announcement. A Sudanese dentist, she was looking forward to taking up a place at Oxford for an MSc in applied cancer science. Her research focuses on head and neck cancers, with a particular focus on oral cancers, researching saliva as a crucial biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis. As a clinician in Sudan, she has witnessed the human cost of late diagnosis, she says, and wants to address the cancer survival inequalities between developing and developed countries.

We have applied for these scholarships while being displaced and surviving a war, she says. Although we have fulfilled all the universities requirements and got a yes, the Home Office is saying a bold, generalised and unjust no.

Last year, Mariam* graduated from the University of Khartoum, in her home country of Sudan, with first class honours in planning. She was hoping to do her masters in the field of the built environment, using her skills to help rebuild her war-torn country, and had been offered places at top universities, including University College London, the London School of Economics and the University of Manchester.

This is the most difficult period Sudan has ever faced, she says, and for me, personally, the situation is fragile. We dont have the resources for education right now and all the infrastructure is collapsing. I dont have a plan B.

I spent a long time writing a personal statement, obtaining and authenticating my certificates, and preparing a suitable CV. It took a lot of time and effort, because the internet network in my village is very bad. She says Mahmoods decision has turned my life upside down. Now I will have to go back to square one.

Sitara* from Afghanistan was entering her fifth year at medical school in Kabul when the Taliban took over and cut off university access for women. It was like losing a part of my life, she says. My father works as a driver and he encouraged me to study medicine. I wanted to make my dads dream come true and to help people in my country, particularly women, who would often prefer to be treated by a female doctor, but they cant, because there are so few.

She applied to UK universities, hoping to finally qualify as a doctor. Now that dream is over.

The Taliban dont want girls to study, but now the UK is saying the same thing as the Taliban. All the doors have closed for us.

Like Sadat, Phyu Nwe Win, a masters student in economics from Myanmar, had applied for the Chevening scholarship. She studies the relationship between economic development and womens empowerment.

Much of my work involves supporting young people, she says, particularly girls and adolescents, in areas such as leadership, gender equality, and sexual and reproductive health and rights. Studying abroad has become one of the few ways young people in Myanmar can continue their education, she says.

Like all the other distraught students from the four banned countries, Sadat is hoping for an 11th-hour reprieve from the home secretary.

This is not just a simple scholarship to a UK university  it is something life-changing, she says. I dont want to do this just for me, but also for my daughter, to build a better future for her and all the other girls in my country.

* Some names have been changed
Credit: The Daily News | Yaroslav Trofimov/X

Ukraine has struck Russias largest western export terminal in an effort to stifle Moscows windfall from rising global oil prices.

A wave of drones targeted the Baltic Sea port of Primorsk, which exports one million barrels of crude a day and serves as a hub for the Kremlins sanctions-busting shadow fleet of oil tankers.

Satellite images showed a huge fire and thick plumes of smoke above the facility near Finland, 570 miles from the Ukrainian border, after several fuel reservoirs were hit.

Ukrainian drones struck Primorsk last September, but the considerably more explosive results of the latest attack have fuelled speculation missiles were used, specifically the new Flamingo weapon, which has a 1,150kg warhead.

An oil refinery in the central Russian city of Ufa was also targeted and forced to suspend operations.

The attacks on Primorsk and Ufa mark a significant feat in Kyivs long-range strike campaign against Russian energy targets to undermine its war economy.

With its mass-produced drones, Kyiv has been striking such targets with increasing frequency and efficiency for months.

But amid the war in the Middle East that broke out on Feb 28, that effort has taken on a new urgency.

Russia earned about 6.6bn in fossil fuel exports in the first two weeks of the conflict as a result of rising energy prices and the easing of US sanctions on Moscows oil.

According to industry data, that is roughly 14 per cent higher than in February, offering the Kremlin an economic lifeline for its strained war machine.

However, analysts say Moscow is struggling to capitalise on the surging oil prices because of persistent Ukrainian drone attacks and bad weather.

Alexander Drozdenko, the governor of the Leningrad region, said several fuel reservoirs in Primorsk had been set ablaze after drone attacks, but did not mention the suspension of oil exports.

Satellite images of the site showed several reservoirs ablaze and billowing thick black smoke.

Several fuel reservoirs were hit at Primorsk

Ukraines unmanned forces systems claimed responsibility, saying the export hub  which serves as the endpoint of the Baltic pipeline system  was used by the enemy to bypass international sanctions.

Kyivs drone had already attacked the heavily guarded Primorsk oil hub in September, interrupting loadings of oil, but this time the damage appears more severe.

By Monday afternoon, the terminal was still closed, industry sources told Reuters.

Ukraines general staff later confirmed both the tank farm and the oil loading infrastructure were hit. A fire was also reported at the Ust-Luga export hub, which handles 700,000 barrels of oil a day.

Both facilities  Russias largest petroleum export outlets  had previously suspended exports since Sunday following drone attacks.

According to Reuters, citing sources, Ust-Luga exported 32.9 million tons of oil products last year, and Primorsk 16.8 million tons.

This month, oil exports from Novorossiysk, Russias largest Black Sea port, were also affected by drone attacks.

Thick smoke rises from the oil facility near Finland, 570 miles from the Ukrainian border - AFP

Late last week, sources told Reuters that oil export and transit flows through Novorossiysk were running up to 10 days behind schedule amid both persistent storms and drone strikes.

The latest attacks on Russias oil infrastructure will add to the global shortages caused by Tehrans de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital water artery in which a fifth of the worlds oil flows through.

Yet, with the war in Iran dominating global attention, Kyiv is concerned that its fight against Russia has started to slip from the agenda.

It came at a critical moment as Russian forces intensified their offensive across multiple fronts in Ukraine, carrying out 619 assaults in the four days, albeit failing to make inroads.

Russian troops attempted to breach Ukrainian defences across several sectors of the front line between March 17 and 20, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Kyivs military chief, said.

Volodymyr Zelensky, the president, had warned that Ukraine had been repelling a large-scale Russian offensive planned since late 2025 and set for early March.
Zelenskyy has said he has a very bad feeling about the impact of the war in the Middle East on the efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine and on defending his country while it remains ongoing. The Ukrainian president also addressed the strain on the special relationship between the UK and US amid the Iran war, saying the history between the two nations is stronger than the emotions of two or three people. He highlighted that Russian president Vladimir Putin will want a long war in the Middle East as it helps weaken Ukraine.
BELLEVUE, Wash., March 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Edelson Lechtzin LLP, a national class action law firm, is actively investigating data privacy claims arising from the Navia Benefit Solutions, Inc. data breach. Edelson Lechtzin LLP, a national class action law firm based in suburban Philadelphia, is investigating data privacy claims against Navia Benefit Solutions, Inc. On January 23, 2026, Navia Benefit Solutions discovered a data breach affecting its computer network.

Key Facts About the Navia Data Breach

Navia Benefit Solutions is a nationwide administrator that manages health and financial benefit programs for over 10,000 employers and more than 1 million participants, including FSAs, HSAs, commuter benefits, and education benefits.

According to a March 18, 2026, filing with the Maine Attorney General, Navia identified unusual activity in its network on or around January 23, 2026. An investigation determined that between December 22, 2025, and January 15, 2026, an unauthorized party accessed and obtained certain personal data.

Exposed information may include names, birth dates, Social Security numbers, phone numbers, email addresses, and health plan details. More than 2.6 million individuals have been impacted.

Are You Affected by the Navia Benefit Solutions Data Breach?

If you received a data breach notification, you may be at increased risk of identity theft and fraud. Recommended steps include regularly reviewing account statements and monitoring credit reports for suspicious activity.

Our Investigation and Your Legal Options

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating a class action seeking legal remedies for individuals whose sensitive personal data may have been compromised in the Navia breach. We can help you evaluate your rights and potential claims at no cost.

Contact Us for a Free Case Evaluation

Speak confidentially with a data privacy attorney today: Marc Edelson, Esq., Edelson Lechtzin LLP, 411 S. State Street, Suite N-300, Newtown, PA 18940; Phone: 844-696-7492 ext. 2; Email: [email protected]; Web: www.edelson-law.com. Or click [HERE] to request a free consultation.

Why Choose Edelson Lechtzin LLP

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is a national class action law firm with offices in Pennsylvania and California. Beyond data breach litigation, our attorneys handle class and collective actions involving securities and investment fraud, federal antitrust violations, ERISA employee benefit plans, wage theft, and consumer fraud.

Protect Yourself Now

Confirm whether your information was involved in the Navia incident





Place fraud alerts and consider credit monitoring [if available]



alerts and consider credit monitoring [if available] Preserve any letters or emails you received about the breach



Contact our firm to discuss your legal options and next steps

Media and Partnership Inquiries: Use the contact information above to connect with our team regarding interviews, co-counsel opportunities, and referral partnerships.

Legal Notice: This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions.

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Donald Trump has been accused of creating fake news in an attempt to soothe financial markets after he hit a pause on striking Irans energy infrastructure and announced that the US was having productive discussions with Tehran on ending the war.

Irans parliament speaker quickly denied any discussions had taken place, and condemned the US president for spreading misinformation in a bid to escape the quagmire.

Mr Trump said on Monday he was extending a 48-hour deadline for Iran to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on its power plants, saying it has an additional five days.

He told reporters Iran wanted "to make a deal," and claimed US envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner had held talks with an Iranian leader on Sunday. UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer indicated he was aware of talks without giving further details.

But Irans parliament speaker Mohammad Bager Galibaf said: No negotiations have been held with the US, and fake news is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped.

Mr Galibafs claims have contradicted Mr Trump, who said the two countries had been in discussions to end the war since Saturday night.

Donald Trump has insisted the US is negotiating with Iran (Getty)

Speaking from Memphis, Tennessee, on Monday, the president said: We were planning tomorrow on shooting down some of their power plants, were gonna hold that up, hopefully we won't have to do it.

We are now having really good discussions, they started last night, a little bit the night before that. I think theyre really good. They want peace, they agreed they will not have a nuclear weapon.

I think there's a very good chance we're going to end up with a deal and so we're giving it five days and then we're going to see where that takes us.

Mr Trump said the pause on the planned airstrikes was subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions - following it, oil and gas prices plunged, with security in the Strait of Hormuz key to worldwide supplies.

In response, Iranian state television showed a TV banner, which read: US president backs down following Iran's firm warning.

Over the weekend, Iran said it would strike the energy and water systems of its Gulf neighbours in retaliation if Mr Trump followed through with his threat to attack energy infrastructure.

The Middle East has been plunged into conflict following initial strikes last month (AFP/Getty)

Despite Mondays claim by Mr Trump that the war in Iran could soon come to a close, Israel launched new attacks on Tehran, saying it was targeting infrastructure. Explosions were heard in multiple locations.

Professor Maziyar Ghiabi, the director of the centre for Persian and Iranian studies at the University of Exeter, said: The offer of five days to reach a deal by US President Donald Trump has provided relief to financial markets. However, while the US president announced diplomatic communication with his Iranian counterpart, the Israeli air force carried out extensive bombing of Iranian infrastructure.

The objectives of the United States and Israel appear to differ, with Tel Aviv preparing for a prolonged conflict that, so far, has had only limited material impact compared to that experienced by GCC countries and US bases.

The key question is whether the US administration will be able to disentangle itself from Israeli strategy, or whether it will be drawn into a prolonged war with global repercussionsas well as domestic unpopularitydue to Israel's military offensive. Based on precedents, it is unlikely Israel will restrain from the current strategy unless there is a strong US pressure, which is currently lacking.
Matthew Collings, 70, denies that his works are anti-Semitic, but that his target is always Zionism

Matthew Collings is best known as a broadcaster, critic and artist who helped introduce large audiences to modern art with his combination of knowledge and humour. He has appeared on screen with the likes of Tracey Emin, and won acclaim for defying the traditional, stuffy arts programmes with something livelier and altogether more fun. Collings hosted Channel 4s coverage of the Turner Prize and won a Bafta for his own series, This is Modern Art.

Now 70, Collings finds himself at the centre of a media storm after the opening of an exhibition of his work in Margate, Kent, that critics claim contain anti-Semitic tropes. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, criticised the local Labour council for supporting an openly anti-Semitic exhibition. These pictures are dripping with sickening anti-Semitic tropes, and all those involved in this should hang their heads in shame.

The works include drawings of blood-drenched Israeli soldiers standing amid piles of skulls, two staff at Sothebys  the auction house owned by the French-Israeli Patrick Drahi  eating babies with blood dripping down their sharpened teeth and the Nazi swastika near the Star of David. Collings denies that his works are anti-Semitic, but that his target is always Zionism.

The exhibition, Drawings Against Genocide, features drawings allegedly showing Jewish people eating babies - Matthew Collings

This is not the first time that Collings has caused controversy. Collings reviewed for Londons Evening Standard following the death of the long-serving Brian Sewell in 2015, in what would prove to be the end of his mainstream career as an art critic. At the paper, he made no secret of his Left-wing, anti-Brexit political leanings  in one review, of a William Blake retrospective at Tate Britain in 2019, he appeared to compare the leader of the Labour Party to a deity. Unasked for meaning rushes in too. A Jeremy Corbyn god rolls a sun along the ground as if hes rolling away Boris Johnsons no deal: a British lion laughs.

His being an out-and-proud Corbynista was not why he ended up losing his sinecure at the Evening Standard, which at the time was edited by former Conservative chancellor, George Osborne. Collings was selected as the Labour candidate to contest South West Norfolk  the parliamentary seat held by Liz Truss, who was then international trade secretary  at the 2019 general election. However, he was removed after one day following the emergence of social media posts in which he dismissed allegations of anti-Semitism in Jeremy Corbyns party as a witch hunt, and described a former chief rabbi as a notorious hate-filled racist. His Evening Standard column quietly disappeared.

Its around 2019 where he suddenly  or seemingly suddenly, in my mind  went really off the boil on Twitter [X] and got very anti-Zionist to a point where it became uncomfortable, a former colleague says. Since then, its gone from bad to worse, and now hes doing this crap art We are where we are now, which is a pretty f---ing awful state.

Someone who has encountered Collings on-and-off over the years says that his career seems so divided, in the sense that he was for a long time in the thick of things, but then completely dropped out before suddenly doing really well with his pictures.

Other drawings feature blood-drenched Israeli soldiers standing amid piles of skulls - Matthew Collings

In the years after the Covid-19 pandemic started, the newly-unemployed Collings made thousands of drawings about art history that became commercially lucrative after he posted them on his Instagram account. His conceit was to draw artists (and other historical figures) from different times and places, and put them together, like a visualised fantasy dinner party. The Beatles feature, as do members of the Royal family, Jesus Christ and Friedrich Nietzsche. Hilma af Klint and Philip Guston also often appear.

Collings had a tumultuous upbringing. In 2023, he told the International Gallery of Contemporary Art in Alaska that American suicide poets of the 1950s allowed me to explore ideas about my father, who [died by] suicide before I was born, and that family madness, severe material and emotional deprivation were in the background of his life.

All that contributed to an outsider-insider mentality Ive always had in relation to art as social climbing or societys celebration of art as a celebration of privilege, he added. The irresponsible reason-unreason off [sic] the sequence and the drawings generally, is a related syndrome.

When he was six, both Collings and his mother were under observation for psychosis at a mental hospital. She was mad as a hatter, as the explanatory text for one of his recent exhibitions explained, and he was sent to a childrens home for seven years. Then he was kidnapped to Canada when he was 14, and brought back by Scotland Yard after a worldwide police search involving Interpol and the FBI. Writing in the third person about himself in The Observer almost 25 years ago, Collings said that what had actually happened was a campaigner for world peace gave him money to run off to Canada, and he was picked up by Interpol and the Mounties.

Collings was a judge on BBC Twos School of Saatchi in 2009 (pictured with fellow panellists Frank Cohen, Tracey Emin, Kate Bush, and Rebecca Wilson)

After studying painting at the now-closed Byam Shaw School of Art, he moved into the world of art magazines such as Artscribe, which he was credited with transforming as editor in the 1980s. By the end of that decade, he had become a producer and presenter for The Late Show on the BBC, and took a degree at Goldsmiths.

Collings later had a long-lasting professional relationship and friendship with David Bowie. The pop superstars publishing house released his book on British art, Blimey!  From Bohemia to Britpop: London Art World from Francis Bacon to Damien Hirst, in 1997.

Before I met him at the London launch for Blimey!, my mother told me hed rung her up recently. I asked him about it, and he said it was true, Collings recalled. Shed written a letter to him in a breakdown addressed David Bowie BBC. It somehow got to the BBC and was forwarded to his management. He kindly phoned and was very calm. He told her about his schizophrenic half-brother, Terry.

Unlike many of his fellow critics, Collings had always remained a practising artist whose views on others work were informed by developments in his own. Theres nothing quite like the pleasure of painting, he wrote in The Observer in 2009. The subtle nuances of differences, one colour next to another, each affecting how the other is seen. They build up on the canvas one by one. Through a mixture of observation and instinct, you must navigate these many different patches until they blend seamlessly and realistically.

Subtle nuance appears to be absent from his new show in Kent. The exhibition was closed when The Telegraph visited Margate on Monday afternoon, as it is due to run from Thursday until Sunday. The gallery building itself, which is located on an unprepossessing street near the centre of town, is named after a tenant from the Victorian era and has variously been a boat builder and seaside rock factory. Across the road lies a large branch of Poundstretcher, the budget retailer.

The Margate exhibition is due to run from Thursday March 26 until the following Sunday - Matthew Collings

Before the Margate exhibition opened at the weekend, Collings posted excerpts of his work on Facebook. He claimed that today Israel is murdering Muslims and no artists say anything, implying that he had missed the frequent protestations about the war in Gaza from the artistic community since the conflict began in the aftermath of the Hamas massacre of Oct 7 2023.

Despite what Collings says, the lasting impact of the Israel-Hamas war, as well as conflicts that the Jewish state has had in recent years, from Iran to Lebanon, has, in actual fact, caused ructions in the art world. Almost 200 artists and curators involved in this years Venice Biennale, which runs from May until November, have signed an open letter calling for Israel to be excluded from the jamboree in solidarity with Palestine.

Since the Margate furore started, after the Jewish Sunday Telegraph columnist, Zoe Strimpel, visited the exhibition and confronted Collings, he has addressed criticism by posting on his Facebook page. He claimed, without evidence, that this was a coordinated effort to produce a two-tier chilling effect: a direct one against me personally, through intimidation; and an indirect one aimed at younger artists who might think twice for fear of losing commissions or exhibition opportunities.

Collings does not appear to have been cowed by the public backlash to his latest work. In a comment on the Labour MP Nadia Whittomes Instagram account, Collings asked whether anybody thought the arson attack on a Jewish volunteer ambulance service on Sunday night was a false flag (i.e. that the victims had done it themselves in order to pin the blame on someone else).

I always did get a slightly mad, eccentric vibe from him  but in a way felt quite harmless and affable, says the former colleague who has worked with him. Over time, that madness became no longer quite mad, but very mad. And, actually, very nasty.
Sion Hughes was able to pick out his 14 stolen cows from a field of around a hundred cattle - Wales news service

A farmer who had 14 of his cows stolen has said he believes rustlers were tipped off that farmers in the area were at a stag do.

Sion Hughes, from Anglesey, North Wales, had his cattle stolen by a gang, who took his livestock more than 120 miles away to Stoke.

After a police investigation tracked down the thieves, Mr Hughes was taken to a field containing more than 100 cows and spotted 14 of his herd.

He was able to identify and recover his livestock, which had an estimated value of 20,000, even though the rustlers had cut off their ear tags.

Mr Hughes said that on the night of the theft, in December 2022, most of the farmers in the area were away in Ireland on a stag do and he believed the rustlers had been tipped off.

North Wales Police used CCTV footage to identify a lorry heading to and from the area and able to link the vehicle to Liam Kettleborough, 29.

Mr Hughes said he had forged a bond with the animals when hand-rearing them - Wales news service

Kettleborough, 30, Stanley Jones, 27, Michael McLeod, 57, and Jack Billington, 23, admitted to conspiring to commit a burglary in a building other than a dwelling with intent to steal at Caernarfon crown court.

Smith, 65, pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods.

In a victim impact statement, Mr Hughes said many of the cows had been home-bred, and that theres more of an attachment and sense of pride as you often have to help them survive their first few months by bottle-feeding.

He added: Not knowing of their welfare was an awful feeling. My biggest concern was that theyd suffered at the hands of the thieves, and if they were stressed or injured.

Judge Nicola Jones said: These people are feeding the nation and farming is massively built on trust. These animals were transported in the most inhumane way. Its an absolute disgrace.

The gang transported the cows in this truck in what Judge Nicola Jones described as an inhumane way - Wales news service

Billington, of Burton, near Wrexham, was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months. He must complete 250 hours of unpaid work and 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days, and will pay 1,000 in compensation.

He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Kettleborough received a 19-month jail sentence suspended for two years. He must complete 250 hours of unpaid work, a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement and pay 1,000 in compensation.

McLeod, of Llay, near Wrexham, was also given a 19-month sentence which was suspended for two years. He is subject to an electronically monitored six-month nightly curfew and will pay 500 in compensation.

Jones, of Pentre Broughton, near Wrexham, was given a 19-month sentence which was suspended for a year. He was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days, and pay 1,000 in compensation.

Smith, of Crewe, Cheshire, was given a 12-month sentence which was suspended for a year. He must complete a 12-month mental health treatment programme and pay 200 in compensation.

After the sentencing, Pc Michelle Allsup, the investigating officer, said: Thefts of this nature are thankfully rare, but they have a significant financial and emotional impact on businesses and families, often leaving rural communities feeling vulnerable and intimidated.
Counter-terror police are leading the investigation into an anti-Semitic firebomb attack feared to have been orchestrated by Iran.

Scotland Yard confirmed that officers with specialist expertise were investigating the arson, in which four ambulances were set on fire outside a synagogue in Golders Green, London, on Monday morning.

Israeli embassy sources told The Telegraph that the firebombing had the hallmarks of an Iran-backed attack.

Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya, a new Islamist militant group linked to Iran, appeared to claim responsibility for the attack in an online video.

The arson, which is being treated as a hate crime, will raise concerns that Iran is mounting a concerted campaign of attacks across Europe following similar incidents in recent weeks.

Det Ch Supt Luke Williams, of the Metropolitan Police, said the force was looking into three suspects seen approaching the ambulances on Highfield Road at around 1.45am on Monday.

He said: CCTV footage appears to show three people in hoods pouring an accelerant on to the vehicles before igniting them and fleeing.

While this has not been declared a terrorist incident at this stage, the investigation is now being led by counter-terrorism policing with all the specialist expertise they bring, and all lines of enquiry remain open.

We are aware of an online claim from a group taking responsibility for this attack. Establishing the authenticity and accuracy of this claim will be a priority for the investigation team, but it is not something we can confirm at this point.

Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiaf apparently shared a video on Telegram that showed footage of the arson along with a statement in English, Hebrew and Arabic.

It described the Machzike Hadath synagogue, near where the attack took place, as one of the most important centres of Orthodox Judaism and one of the main bastions of support for Israel in Britain.

The fires were brought under control by 3.06am and no one was injured - Hannah McKay

The group, whose Telegram account was only created on Saturday, had claimed responsibility for attacks across Europe in the past 10 days, including explosions outside Jewish sites in Belgium and the Netherlands.

An internal report by the Israeli government, seen by The Telegraph, claimed the group probably hired local criminals online to carry out the attacks.

Mark Gardner, the chief executive of the Community Security Trust, which monitors anti-Semitism in the UK, said there was an obvious parallel to other attacks on Jewish communities, which have surged in the wake of the Gaza war.

This comes after basically two and a half years of war in the Middle East  going back to Oct 7, 2023  various cycles of war, a very, very large increase in anti-Semitism here in the UK and against Jewish communities around the world, specifically the Iranian component, he told the BBC.

Mr Gardner added that Iranians have long used terrorism against Jewish communities around the world for decades.

The London Fire Brigade sent six fire engines and 40 firefighters to Highfield Road after it received calls from residents in the early hours of Monday.

Multiple cylinders exploded inside the four ambulances set on fire, smashing windows in an adjacent block of flats.

The fire was brought under control by 3.06am and no one was injured. Nearby houses were evacuated as a precaution and road closures remained in place throughout Monday.

The ambulances were owned by Hatzola Northwest, a Jewish charity that provides free emergency medical care and hospital transfers. It has operated in Golders Green, home to one of Britains largest Jewish communities, since 1979.

The area has more than 30 synagogues and nearly half of its residents identify as Jewish, according to the 2021 census.

Forensic officers at the scene of the fire - Eddie Mulholland for The Telegraph

Nearby houses in Golders Green were evacuated as a precaution - Marcin Nowak

Synagogue officials claimed they had noticed people acting suspiciously around the site in the past few weeks.

Jack Taub, 34, part of the synagogues leadership, told The Telegraph: We have noticed people staking out the synagogue.

We upped a lot of security, but it was a calculated attack.

He said he was not aware of how far the reports went or whether the police were notified, but added that CCTV of the individuals had been passed on.

Sir Ephraim Mirvis, the Chief Rabbi, called the firebombing a terrorist attack.

Were not going to be intimidated by terrorists, and this was a terrorist attack, he said at the scene. Nothings going to stop us from standing tall as Jews and behaving in a way, according to our tradition, as proud British citizens.

Ephraim Mirvis, the chief rabbi, visiting Golders Green on Monday - Henry Nicholls

Attacks on the Jewish community had already risen worldwide since Hamass assault on Israel on Oct 7, 2023, and the war in Gaza that followed.

Last year, two Jewish worshippers were killed during Yom Kippur in an attack on a synagogue in Manchester.

The ongoing conflict in Iran has also fuelled fears that sleeper cells or proxies of the regimes Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) could be planning terror attacks within Britain.

Security services have thwarted 20 Iranian-sponsored terror attacks in the UK in recent years, according to MI5.

Charred remains of ambulances belonging to Hatzola Northwest, a Jewish community organisation, which were set on fire in what police are treating as an anti-Semitic hate crime - Isabel Infantes/Reuters

Last May, three Iranian former asylum seekers were charged with spying for Tehran. The men had been granted leave to remain after arriving in the UK in lorries and small boats.

Last week, two Iranian immigrants were charged with spying following a counter-terror investigation into alleged surveillance of locations and individuals linked to the Jewish community in the London area.

Two days later, Police Scotland said a 34-year-old Iranian man and a 31-year-old Romanian woman had been charged after reports of two people trying to enter Faslane naval base, where Britains nuclear submarines are housed.

Seyed Ali Mousavi, Irans ambassador to the UK, was summoned by the Foreign Office on Monday over his countrys reckless and destabilising actions in Britain over the allegations.

However, on Monday police announced that the man had been released and no further action would be taken against the woman.

Sir Keir Starmer, who said earlier this month that the war in Iran was being used to divide Muslims and Jewish people, condemned the deeply shocking attack.

The Prime Minister, who met Jewish community leaders in Downing Street on Monday morning, said: The idea that we live in a society where people should feel they need to hide their identity or their religion is, frankly, abhorrent.

Anti-Semitism is an old hatred, but it requires constant vigilance to overcome it.

But Suella Braverman, the Reform UK education spokesman, blamed the attacks on years of weak leadership by Labour and the Conservatives, who she accused of failing to tackle Islamism and anti-Israel marches.

She told The Telegraph: All we get are warm words, Im shocked and Im upset, by prime ministers, whether its Starmer or Sunak, but nothing changes.

Jews are leaving the country because they dont feel safe here. They feel safer in Israel, a war zone, than they do in London at the moment.

Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, warned that Britain had an open door to potential enemies with the current migration crisis.

The horrible attack on volunteer ambulances is part of a rising tide of hate against Jewish communities in Britain, he said.

As I write, more undocumented young men are crossing the Channel. Many will be from Iran  we have an open door to potential enemies.

The London Fire Brigade sent six fire engines and 40 firefighters to the scene in Golders Green - Isabel Infantes

Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, added: Whoever is guilty of this sickening crime must go to jail for a long time  and if they are not British citizens, they must then be deported.

Mike Freer, the former Conservative MP for Finchley and Golders Green, who stood down after receiving death threats for his pro-Israel views, told Times Radio that it was important to reiterate why British values are important.

We need to start talking about very serious prison sentences, not just community service or a slap on the wrist of a couple of years, serious jail time  or if someone is here and theyre not British citizens or theyve been granted citizenship, that should be revoked and people should be deported, he added.

Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, told MPs that the perpetrators must be in no doubt that they will be caught.

She said: We will pursue them and make them face the consequences of this wicked crime.

Speaking at the scene, Wes Streeting said the Government would fund replacement ambulances for Hatzola Northwest, adding: Those responsible for this attack must know that the Jewish community will not face up to this hatred alone, the whole country will stand with them.

As he spoke, the Health Secretary was heckled by a member of the public, who said: Youre not wanted here. Your party caused this.

Wes Streeting speaking to reporters on Highfield Road in Golders Green after the arson attack - Jonathan Brady

A fundraiser set up by Hatzola Northwest to fund new ambulances and strengthen security has already raised around 350,000.

A spokesman for the Israeli embassy said: Anti-Semitism is rampant on the streets of London... Firebombing ambulances is not an anomaly, it is the consequence after years of hate-filled marches, incitement and intimidation being tolerated in plain sight.

Enough is enough. There must be a thorough investigation and decisive action to put an end to this climate of intimidation before it spirals further. Silence and inaction are no longer an option.

Supt Sarah Jackson, of the Met, said that police would engage with faith leaders and carry out additional patrols in the area as investigations continued.

She said: We know this incident will cause a great deal of community concern and officers remain on scene to carry out urgent enquiries.

We are in the process of examining CCTV and are aware of online footage. We believe we are looking for three suspects at this early stage.

There have been no arrests yet, and we would urge anyone with information to please contact us as soon as possible.
The judge told Belal Amine, 26, and Gabriel Kamali, 23, that they should expect to be deported

Two Algerian boat migrants ripped a 65,000 designer watch from a drivers wrist as he photographed his Bentley, a court heard.

Belal Amine, 26, and Gabriel Kamali, 23, snatched the Patek Philippe watch from Besart Krasniqi in Mayfair, central London, on May 11 last year.

Mr Krasniqi was with his wife, who was pregnant with their first child, and was taking pictures of his car when he inadvertently photographed the men as they robbed him, Southwark Crown Court heard.

He chased the men along Carpenter Street, but lost track of them after Kamali pushed him into a car parked nearby.

Mr Krasniqi said in his statement read to jurors: At about 4pm, I was with my wife at the Hideaway cafe.

I walked around the front of my car and took a picture of my car in the sun... I was pushed on the left shoulder by a male. A second male ripped the watch off my left wrist.

He added: Both males ran off along Carpenter Street. A third male picked up the leather watch strap [and] ran after me. I ran up Carpenter Street chasing the males. After a few metres the third male pushed me and then knocked me to the floor.

Besart Krasniqi had been at the Hideaway cafe in Mayfair before taking photos of his Bentley nearby

Amine and Kamali were smuggled across the Channel into the UK in 2019, the court heard.

Tim Williams, defending Amine, said: He has been here for three years. He wanted to work in the UK. He is interested in working. That is what he would like to do. He would like to get a job and stay in the UK, but that is clearly not going to be possible after Your Honour passes a sentence that will inevitably lead to his deportation to Algeria.

Anne Asfaw, defending Kamali, said: He came in 2019, he was very young at the time. His English is not very good.

Sentencing the pair, Judge Gregory Perrins said they had been looking for wealthy individuals to rob.

The two of you sold the watch quickly and no doubt made a considerable amount of money. On any view this was a serious, planned group attack. You were both in this together.

He added: There is, Im afraid, very little mitigation for either of you. You are both in the country illegally. Neither of you has a legitimate source of income.

Amine was jailed for four years while Kamali was sentenced to three years.

Judge Perrins told them: Given the length of the sentence you will both be subject to an automatic deportation provision. My expectation is that you will be deported upon the completion of your sentence.

Kamali had admitted robbery, while Amine denied the charge and was convicted by the jury.
Dept Chief Constable Rob Griffin told an inquest he regretted the choice of words in his press statement

A senior police officer has apologised to the bereaved families and survivors of the Nottingham attacks for a press statement that lacked empathy.

Rob Griffin, who was Nottinghamshire Polices Asst Chief Constable at the time of Valdo Calocanes triple murder, told the public inquiry into the killings that he regretted a statement which said the police could not have stopped what happened.

Calocane fatally stabbed University of Nottingham undergraduates Barnaby Webber and Grace OMalley-Kumar, both 19, and grandfather Ian Coates, 65, and attempted to kill three more people in the early hours of June 13, 2023.

(L-R) Ian Coates, Barnaby Webber and Grace OMalley-Kumar who were killed by Valdo Calocane in June 2023 - Nottinghamshire Police/Inquiry

Mr Griffin is now the forces temporary Dept Chief Constable.

On Monday, a public inquiry being held in central London was shown a statement made by Mr Griffin to the media after the attacks.

In the statement, he said: Im really confident that everything that we did was thorough and professional.

I wouldnt have looked to have changed anything, and tragically, we couldnt have stopped any of what happened.

Asked about this statement by Julian Blake, counsel to the inquiry, Mr Griffin said: When I reflect on it now, I can see the impact those words are likely to have on the bereaved families and survivors. They are words I regret, yes.

I want to say again, Im so, so sorry about that. There are many parts of those statements that I believe are true  it was the tone and the choice of the words and the lack of empathy that is what I really reflect on, and I apologise for that again.

Chairman Deborah Taylor heard that when Calocane was sentenced to a hospital order in January 2024 after pleading guilty to three counts of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and three counts of attempted murder, the bereaved families were not liaised with about police press statements.

A warrant was issued for Valdo Calocanes arrest after he failed to attend court in September 2022 - The Nottingham Inquiry

Mr Griffin said of this: I can see, and saw on the day of sentence, the hurt that I had caused which was quite the opposite of my intention.

I have never had the opportunity to say it to the families, that Im so, so sorry about that.

The officer also told the inquiry that the search for Calocane should have been conducted more effectively after Mr Webber and Ms OMalley-Kumar had been killed.

The inquiry heard that it took 91 minutes from when the first call was made about the attack on the students, at around 4am, until Calocane was found and arrested. In that time he had killed Mr Coates and run over three other people.

Mr Griffin said: The co-ordination of that search activity should have been better, there is no question about that.

The officer said that by 4.41am Calocane had ended up almost a mile and a half away, adding: Reflecting on all of that, I can understand now why we didnt find him.

A warrant had been issued for Calocanes arrest after he had failed to attend court in September 2022 on a charge of assaulting a police officer, but this was not executed in the months leading up to the fatal attacks.

Mr Griffin said in his witness statement that the failure to arrest Calocane was a serious, systemic, operational failure on the part of Nottinghamshire Police.

In a draft press release about why the warrant for Calocanes arrest had not been executed, a press officer suggested he had not been found because of his nomadic lifestyle.

Mr Griffin told the inquiry that this was not true.

He added: But I think the person that drafted this thought it was true.

The inquiry heard that in a statement released to the press, Mr Griffin said that, had Calocane been arrested, it would have been highly unlikely he would have received a custodial sentence for his assault on the police officer.

Mr Griffin agreed it was not an appropriate thing to say, but added: I know this is a highly controversial point, so I take great care when I say this: but it remains my opinion that it is highly unlikely that he would receive a custodial sentence for the assault on the police officer, had he been arrested on the warrant.

The inquiry heard that Mr Webbers identity was known from around 4.20am on the morning of the attacks.

Mr Griffin said he would have preferred the bereaved families to have been told about the attacks earlier.

He said: The parents of Barney and Grace should have been told just as soon as was humanly possible. And I completely understand the impact of them not having been.

The inquiry continues.
[The attack] was obviously shocking, but not totally surprising with the rise in anti-Semitism, says Yossi Pincus, a Hatzola volunteer senior paramedic - Eddie Mulholland

Shortly after 1.30am on Monday, Yossi Pincus heard chatter on his radio. Someone had spotted one of the ambulances parked outside the Machzike Hadath Synagogue on Highfield Road in Londons Golders Green on fire. The ambulances are owned and run by the Jewish Hatzola charity, for which Pincus is a volunteer senior paramedic and a registered manager.

Half asleep in bed, Pincus pondered whether he needed to get up when there was more chatter. It wasnt just one ambulance, but four. He started to get dressed.

As he was still getting dressed, one of the ambulances exploded after the flames hit an oxygen canister. He ran down the street to the car park where the ambulances were kept. It was just a few minutes from his house. When local volunteers saw suspicious-looking characters hanging around outside the synagogue recently, they immediately intensified security, and with good reason.

For residents of the largely Jewish area of Golders Green, vigilance has become a part of daily life. Anti-Semitic threats from neo-Nazis, Islamist extremists and Iranian terrorists mean the community can never drop its guard. Following the attack, a group with links to Iran, whose name translates as Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right, circulated footage of the burning ambulances with its logo on Telegram.

The scene where the ambulances are normally parked was a bit surreal, Pincus says, with four ambulances on fire, and the windows of a nearby block of flats blown in. He was there as the police and the London Ambulance Service arrived. Normally, Pincus says, he is the one who helps.

The whole day has been surreal for Pincus, but he remains defiant. Its obviously shocking, but not totally surprising with the rise in anti-Semitism. Certain things become inevitable if they are not dealt with. But when it happens to you, it still has the power to surprise, he says.

Even as weve been dealing with the after-effects of what these thugs did, weve been answering calls and helping people, he adds. It doesnt knock us. We pick ourselves up, and we carry on, because thats what we have to do. Thats what people expect of us. We wont be beaten by thugs. We cant let fear dictate our lives.

Hatzola was founded in Brooklyn, New York, in the late 1960s by the citys ultra-Orthodox community because of slow ambulance response times. Over the years, branches that work independently from each other have grown across the world. Almost wherever there are Orthodox Jews, Hatzola is there to help them.

Like the St John Ambulance service, it works closely with the NHS and the police, and is run almost entirely by volunteers. Most of those volunteers come from the Orthodox community, which understands some of the rules of the people they serve  such as sensitivity towards modesty and the need to bury bodies quickly  and it is funded and used by the Jewish community at large. However, the service is used by everyone in the districts it serves. Dispatchers never ask the religion of a caller, only how they can help.

The key is that the volunteers live in the community. Emergency calls go to volunteer dispatchers, who will start by calling the person who lives nearest. Their aim is to get to all call-outs within five minutes, day or night.

The police and the London Ambulance Service will also contact Hatzola if there is an emergency, and they are likely to get there first.

Pincus has delivered babies, helped people breathe again and assisted at the scenes of car crashes  all within a few streets of where he lives. One memorable time, he helped revive a nine-year-old  who wasnt Jewish  who had collapsed in the street. It took eight minutes to get his heart beating again. Pincus accompanied him to the hospital, where doctors eventually found a heart defect and operated.

Hopefully he will go on to live a happy life, and it is knowing that we are helping people which is so rewarding, he says.

For 10 years, Pincus has answered emergency calls in his neighbourhood, helping save lives just streets from his home - Eddie Mulholland

Pincus works in property, but had always harboured dreams of being a doctor when he started volunteering with Hatzola a decade ago. All the volunteers are given paramedic training, which takes at least a year. Many of the volunteers go on to become the highest level of paramedic, with almost weekly training sessions, as well as between 10 and 20 hours a week volunteering.

He loved it so much that he now works professionally as a paramedic and as a healthcare adviser in a GP surgery, while still maintaining his hand in his property business.

I cant explain how rewarding it is, just being able to help people, he says. It is fantastic to be able to give back to the community and to help and meet those who really need you.

It isnt easy. The radio is almost always on him. Even on a Saturday in synagogue, when religious Jews are not meant to do any work or get in a car, if the radio goes off, helping people takes priority. Saving lives is above and beyond anything else, he says. We do everything we can to save lives or alleviate suffering.

Often it also means leaving his family  he is a married father-of-three  during Sabbath dinners or Jewish holidays.

I always tell my children that this is them helping people, too, he says. It can have a big impact on family life, and the family has to be on board with that. When we take on new volunteers, it is something that we really emphasise  this is about the whole family sacrificing something and also being rewarded.

As well as trying to sort out new ambulances  both the London Ambulance Service and St John Ambulance have offered vehicles  Pincus has been fielding calls from well-wishers and MPs all day. One woman called me from somewhere up North. She said shed never heard of Hatzola, but wanted to send me some money. She was in tears as she said she was so upset about what had happened and what it said about our society.

In the early hours of Monday morning, three men firebombed four ambulances owned and run by Hatzola - Eddie Mulholland

Hatzola is not an organisation that has ever courted publicity. Now, it is firmly in the spotlight. Pincus, who has had no sleep since the attack in the early hours, isnt quite sure what happens next. Already, its 70 volunteers are stretched thin, answering between 15 and 20 calls a day. Some of those calls can take hours, as the volunteers taking people to hospital need to stay with patients until there has been an official handover.

We just have our catchment and dont really have the infrastructure to start responding to a huge increase in calls, says Pincus.

This attack was the action of a few evil people. We know they are not the majority who are outraged. It has been very special to hear from people offering support and even banding together to raise money for us. Those thugs tried to hurt us, but there is more good in the world than bad.

We are privileged to do what we do  not everyone has the opportunity to give back  and we will continue to do our work. We wont stop.
NINGBO, China, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- In March 2026, Deye held the "Green Industry, Bright Future  Frankfurt Summit," bringing together 100+ European distributors and partners to showcase achievements, explore energy transition opportunities, and strengthen collaboration for a greener future.

Deye 2026 Frankfurt Distributor & Partner Summit Concludes Successfully Speed Speed

Chairman Zhang Hejun highlighted Deye's commitment to technological innovation and high-quality manufacturing as core drivers for supporting Europe's low-carbon energy transition. The company will continue investing in R&D and leveraging expertise to expand the commercial and industrial (C&I) energy storage market.

The Inverter Division showcased its latest technological achievements, highlighting Deye's leading strength in residential and commercial & industrial (C&I) energy storage. The 2.56 kWh and 5.12 kWh micro-storage systems feature IP65 protection and support flexible stacking, adapting to diverse home and outdoor energy scenarios. In the C&I sector, Deye launched 100 kW2.5 MW PCS units for MW-scale flexible expansion, while upgrading 30 kW125 kW inverters in power and size to precisely match commercial applications, enhancing energy efficiency and operational value.

The Energy Storage Division presented a complete product portfolio covering residential, C&I, and utility-scale applications. Residential SE-F and AI-W series systems combine high safety and modular design to meet home energy management needs. Key C&I and utility-scale products include indoor stackable GB-W and BOS-B Pro, outdoor cabinet GE-F128/256, and MC-L(C)430 series, offering high power density and flexible adaptability; large-scale storage solutions of 2 MWh, 4.3 MWh, and 5 MWh provide reliable support for utility projects.

The HVAC and Solar Solutions Divisions presented all-scenario comfort energy solutions. Heat pumps, water pumps, and solar air conditioners deliver efficient temperature control and energy savings, while humidity control systems optimize indoor air quality, enhancing comfort in homes and workplaces.

Deye Cloud Platform introduced the new Deye Wise AI smart terminal, serving as a personal "energy manager" with natural language interaction for instant energy analysis and customized saving strategies. The platform upgrade enables seamless cross-scenario data integration, real-time monitoring, intelligent scheduling, and precise load forecasting, transforming users from "passive energy consumers" to "active energy controllers," achieving precise energy management and intelligent decision-making.

The summit unveiled Deye's upgraded marketing and service strategy in Europe and honored top partners with the Golden Partnership, Market Pioneer, and Strategic Contribution Awards, highlighting trust, collaboration, and Deye's leadership in advancing a sustainable, smart, green energy future.

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uur2DYmHMkg
The federal government is set to capture the growth of global investment in AI with the release of its Expectations of data centres and AI infrastructure developers framework.

Coming under the Albanese governments National AI Plan, released in December 2025, the commitment was designed to make it easier to invest in Australia.

By setting clear, nationally consistent signals, the government supports smoother engagement with communities, stronger coordination with states and territories, and faster progress for projects that are aligned with Australias priorities.

Australia is open for business  but the kind of business that puts Australias national interest first, said Minister for Industry and Innovation and Science Tim Ayres in a media statement.

Under the framework, the federal government has made clear that data centre developments must put the needs of the Australian people first, ensuring that local communities benefit directly through jobs, investment in skills and innovation.

It was developed to strongly support Australias clean energy transition and safeguard its long-term water security, said Ayres.
Leonard Bernstein celebrated Dmitri Shostakovichs sixtieth birthday by proclaiming him an authentic genius  and there arent too many of those around anymore. That took courage in 1966, when Shostakovich  the leading Soviet musician  remained a Cold War cartoon of the stooge and simpleton. As Bernstein appreciated earlier than others, Shostakovichs ultimate genius was to bear witness to terrible times: Stalinist terror, World War II.

No other composer has enjoyed a comparable surge in reputation since 1966 (I would nominate Sibelius for second place). I am now reading an upcoming compendium of Boston Globe reviews by Michael Steinberg  with Conrad L. Osborne (still going strong), the pre-eminent American music critic of his generation. Steinberg wrote in 1962: We are faced at every turn with the legend that [Shostakovich] was a great talent destroyed, or at least hampered, by political oppression. A hearing of the First Symphony, written at nineteen, makes it perfectly clear that there is no reason to have expected Shostakovich to become a better composer than the one he in fact became. Three decades later, in his incomparable volume of program notes (The Symphony: A Listeners Guide), Steinberg recanted.

Encountering Steinbergs revisionism, I am suddenly reminded of my own. Back in my New York Times days, I once reviewed a performance of Shostakovichs Second Piano Trio by the Beaux Arts Trio  and took a swipe at the piece. Digging up my 1977 review online, I find that I wrote that it is music that sounds older than it should, and asks to be taken more seriously than it deserves. It was the Zeigeist, ruled by Igor Stravinsky. I am now the author of a book  The Propaganda of Freedom: JFK, Shostakovich, Stravinsky, and the Cultural Cold War  that according to a Russian musician of my acquaintance turns the tables by demonstrating that Shostakovich more greatly mattered.

Virgil Thomsons Shostakovich putdowns were the most notorious: the Leningrad Symphony, he wrote, was written for the slow-witted, the not very musical and the distracted. Shostakovich had deliberately diluted his matter, adapted it, by both excessive simplification and excessive repetition, to the comprehension of a child of eight  an approach that may even disqualify him from consideration as a serious composer. A year later, Nicolas Nabokov, in Harpers Magazine, called Shostakovich old-fashioned, provincial, dreary and monotonous, summarizing: It is as difficult to describe the music of Shostakovich as to describe the form and color of an oyster . . . it is shapeless in style and form and impersonal in color  a metaphor privately endorsed by Stravinsky in a congratulatory note. In 1951, Nabokov was named General Secretary of the Congress for Cultural Freedom, the CIAs covert propaganda arm.

Looking back, one must inquire: What accounts for such a drastic re-consideration? Yes, its partly the end of the Cold War, partly the end of Stravinskys modernist regime. But its also because  as Bernstein would so grimly prophesize  the times have greatly changed. Shostakovich, alas, gauges the magnitude of our contemporary malaise. Once bearing witness to twentieth century Russian travail, he today bears witness to twenty-first century American travail.

Six weeks ago  in the wake of the christening of the Trump-Kennedy Center and an impending two-year shutdown  Gianandrea Noseda conducted his National Symphony Orchestra in Shostakovichs Eighth Symphony, composed in 1943. Philip Kennicott wrote in the Washington Post that this hour-long symphony reflects on the cost and absurdity of war. . . . It is about needless suffering caused by the recklessness and cynicism of people who are wanton with chaos, who know only how to destroy and tear down, not to build or nurture.

Two weeks ago, the same Symphony No. 8 was performed by Delta David Gier and his South Dakota Symphony as part of a Shostakovich festival that I helped to plan as the orchestras scholar-in-residence. The concert began with a half-hour scripted exegesis with musical examples  the same approach we applied to the Leningrad Symphony two seasons ago. I have written and broadcast about the shattering impact of that performance.

Absent the story of the Nazi siege of Leningrad, the Eighth Symphony is a harder sell  and we did not know if we could repeat our success. Our script suggested that Shostakovich learned three things about bearing witness: The first was that he could convey extra-musical messages in a wordless symphony. The second was that  because music is less explicit than words  these messages could actually be subversive, connecting with needs and beliefs that could not safely be spoken. The third was that he could become a true peoples artist  not by serving an autocratic state, but by serving more profound human needs, groping for a common humanity more fundamental than any ideology. We sampled the music, movement by movement. We also sampled some of what was said about Shostakovichs Eighth during the interesting deliberations over whether to award Shostakovich a Stalin Prize for music so difficult and pessimistic. The eventual verdict was no.

Though there is no Kennedy Center debacle in Sioux Falls, Shostakovichs Eighth was heard with such rapt attention one could actually track the audiences immersion. As the long first movement progressed inexorably towards its seismic climaxes, scattered coughs and throat-clearings vanished. The pauses between movements were rapt: not a sound. The ending  as original and subversively serene as any in the symphonic literature  was greeted with what seemed a full minute of silence. The orchestra then joined in the ovation, with the players applauding one another. Listeners and musicians shared testimony during a one-hour post-concert discussion. Some wept. The present moment  the White House, the war in Iran  weighted the room.

Readers of this blog are doubtless tired of hearing about the South Dakota Symphony. We have at hand an exemplary American cultural institution, onstage and off. In a couple of blogs about Klaus Makela, I found myself reflecting on an intangible prerequisite in symphonic performance: feeling it. The South Dakota violins feel it.

How is it possible that this orchestra achieves a gravitas I do not experience from the upper strings of the Boston Symphony, the Chicago Symphony, or the New York Philharmonic? No one could claim that the South Dakota performances are more precise. But it is the most engaged professional orchestra I have ever encountered in the United States. Consider, for a start, its make-up. There are nine full-time salaried players, comprising a string quartet and a wind quintet, both first-class. These are the happiest orchestral musicians I know. They play more than 100 times a season  mainly as chamber musicians. Some of those performances take place on Indian reservations as part of the signature SDSO initiative: the Lakota Music Project. Others transpire in public schools, universities, and hospitals. The remainder of the roster is paid per-service. A large contingent comes from Minneapolis-St. Paul. They dont come for the money, but for the experience. Talk to them, and they will speak about the vibe of the South Dakota Symphony, about the adventurous repertoire, about the feeling of camaraderie and mission. In other words: the musicians of this non-union orchestra are largely self-selected. Think about that.

I have been curating thematic festivals with orchestras since the 1990s. They prioritize exercises in contextualization that might take the form of talks from the stage with musical examples, or the use of a screen. Some musicians resent this intrusion. In South Dakota, the musicians are grateful because they appreciate that the audience is appreciative. That is what ultimately matters to them.

Nothing is more singular about the South Dakota Symphony than its educational outreach. For most American orchestras, education is a cash cow  a sparsely populated department mainly charged with producing young peoples concerts and enticing grants. Neither the music director nor the mainstream subscription concerts contribute. In South Dakota, thematic festivals on the main subscription series generate linkage to Sioux Falls high schools and to universities an hour away. For the recent Shostakovich festival, the main ancillary event was a screening with live music of The New Babylon  a classic 1929 Soviet silent film launching Shostakovichs historic fifty-year relationship with the director Grigori Kozintsev. It was performed with live accompaniment  a 17-piece theater orchestra  at Augustana University in Sioux Falls and at South Dakota State University in Brookings (population 24,000). Compare that to the San Francisco Symphonys current roster of films with music, including Vertigo, Barbie, Home Alone, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Crouching TigerHidden Dragon.

A final factor: Delta David Gier, the SDSO music director since 2004. He oversees the orchestras myriad activities with a missionary zeal. He also possesses a rare gift for calibrating long-range musical structure. Next seasons programs include Beethovens rarely heard Missa solemnis (with the SDSO chorus), four world premieres, and an ambitious new installment of the Lakota Music Project (which may generate a documentary film).

The recent termination of Andris Nelsons as music director of the Boston Symphony (in addition to the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra), the controversial engagement of 30-year-old Klaus Makela to lead the Chicago Symphony (in addition to Amsterdams Concertgebouw Orchestra), the impending New York Philharmonic music directorship of Gustavo Dudamel (who having resigned his position at the Paris Opera will have no overseas commitments) are in different ways pertinent to Giers exceptional tenure as a full-service music director residing for twenty years in Sioux Falls as a civic fixture. The jet-set music director, a witless 1960s invention of Ronald Wilford at Columbia Artists Management, may at last be waning. Or maybe not. Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Cleveland are all shopping for new leaders.

To read about the South Dakota Symphony and Shostakovichs Leningrad Symphony, click here.

To read about Klaus Makela and the Chicago Symphony, click here.

To read about Esa-Pekka Salonens departure from the San Francisco Symphony, click here and here.

To read about the Boston Symphony in trouble, click here.
by Maria Casadei

The decision by Narendra Modis government to revoke a code that came into force in November to improve infrastructure safety in high-risk areas has drawn strong criticism from the scientific community, whilst builders have welcomed the reduction in costs and regulatory constraints. Several new infrastructure projects are set to be built in high-risk areas such as the Himalayas and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

New Delhi (AsiaNews) - The Indian government has recently revoked the seismic code introduced in November 2025 to boost the construction sector, fuelling concerns across the scientific community about the future of the countrys high-risk areas.

The legislation had taken into account the earthquake resistance of infrastructure and provided guidelines for building regulations and the planning of new projects. Among the various guidelines, drawn up with the help of the Indian scientific community, was also a new map showing the regions with the highest seismic potential.

In the previous document, dating from 2016, Indian territory was divided into four seismic zones plus a fifth high-risk zone. In the updated classification released last November, a new category had been introduced: Zone 6, considered to be of the highest risk.

This included much of Kashmir and the Himalayan range, parts of Gujarat, the north-east of the country, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands  areas whose seismic vulnerability had previously been underestimated.

The now-revoked map had been drawn up by incorporating previously overlooked data, such as fault systems, attenuation characteristics, tectonic context and lithology: a targeted and fundamental study for a country highly exposed to earthquakes.

The study highlighted in particular the tectonic threat along the boundary between the Indo-Eurasian plates, responsible for devastating events such as the 2001 Bhuj earthquake and the 2015 Nepal earthquake.

The revoked code also introduced stricter safety measures, such as tougher regulations against structural irregularities and more in-depth geotechnical analyses. These changes had immediately alarmed construction firms, which had approached the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), highlighting financial difficulties that would have a significant impact on the implementation of various projects, including those for the construction of metro systems.

According to others, however, the new classification would have slowed down development in regions already economically fragile, with the risk of encouraging illegal construction, which already accounts for around 80% of housing in the country.

The government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi justified its decision by arguing that the code had been introduced without adequate consultation with the companies involved, creating significant uncertainty in the sector: many projects had been put on hold because they did not comply with the new guidelines, others were approved with a six-month transition period, whilst construction costs had in some cases risen by up to 20%.

It is therefore unsurprising that the repeal has been welcomed by developers. The scientific community, however, takes the opposite view, regarding this U-turn as a danger: the codes provisions would have made infrastructure safer and better prepared for seismic disasters, introducing standards calibrated to the actual risk in different regions.

A missed opportunity to strengthen Indias resilience to disasters, commented the experts, emphasising that the code also aimed to align national practices with updated international standards.

Globally, in fact, most countries adopt PSHA (Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Assessment), a method that estimates seismic risk through simulations based on the probability of ground motion. Until now, however, India had relied on a more static and simplified model, which is less accurate in predicting the impact of earthquakes on infrastructure.

The issue of seismic risk in India is by no means marginal: around 61% of the territory, where 75% of the population lives, is exposed to moderate or strong tremors. The consequences of the repeal are of particular concern in the most vulnerable areas, such as the Himalayas and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where ambitious (and controversial) government-funded infrastructure projects are underway.

One example is the large port planned for Galathea Bay on Great Nicobar Island, which would fall within the new Zone 6, the highest-risk category. With the repeal, builders can revert to applying the 2016 standards, which scientists now consider outdated.
by Vladimir Rozanskij

The Patriarch Emeritus of Kiev has passed away at the age of 98. He had long been described as the most Soviet of the metropolitans, but in 1990 he was bypassed by Alexy in Moscow following the death of Pimen. In 1992, he was the first to break communion with the Russians, taking a large part of the clergy with him. Until, during the turbulent negotiations under President Poroshenko, it was Kirill who rejected an agreement, thinking (wrongly) that he could render it irrelevant in Ukraine.

Kiev (AsiaNews) - On 20 March, Filaret, Patriarch Emeritus of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, returned to the Fathers house at the age of 98, after 77 years of monastic life and 65 years of episcopal ministry, with condolences from Metropolitan Epifanyj of Kiev (Dumenko), his long-time secretary, who emphasised how Filaret had occupied a special place in the contemporary history of the Church and of the whole of Ukraine, beginning the separation from Moscow in 1992.

Born Mikhail Denisenko on 23 January 1929 in the Ukrainian village of Blagodatnoe in what was then known as the Stalinsky Okrug, the Stalin Province, he himself assumed the title of Patriarch of Kiev and All Rus-Ukraine on 20 October 1995, after being excommunicated by Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow (Ridiger) for having sought autocephaly for the Ukrainian Church immediately following the collapse of the USSR.

He had held the office of Metropolitan of Kiev since 1966, as patriarchal exarch of all Ukraine, and for two months, MayJune 1990, he had also been the regent (lieutenant) of the Moscow Patriarchate, following the death of Patriarch Pimen (Izvekov). According to various accounts, he had obtained a guarantee from the Soviet KGB, which still controlled ecclesiastical affairs, that he would be elected Patriarch of the entire Russian Orthodox Church.

Instead, Alexy, then Metropolitan of Leningrad, was elected in his place, reportedly through the intervention of Metropolitan Kirill (Gundjaev), the current Patriarch of Moscow, who at the time held the post of chairman of the Patriarchates Council for External Affairs and was the most influential figure in relations with the political sphere.

Kirill had been consecrated bishop in 1976 at the age of just 29, and among the celebrants was Filaret himself, who in turn had become a bishop at the age of 33 in 1962, as auxiliary bishop of Leningrad. The relationship between the two patriarchs remained rather conflictual, representing two different conceptions of the post-Soviet Orthodox Church.

Following the refusal to grant autonomy, he was the first to break with Moscow in 1992, taking a large part of the clergy with him, and remained until 2018 an autonomous figure within the Orthodox landscape as a self-proclaimed patriarch and closely linked to the autonomist movements across Ukraine, which had become an independent state after the end of the USSR and had since been torn between dependence on Russia and the desire to establish itself as a country integrated into Western Europe.

In 1997, he was stripped of his clerical status by a definitive anathema from the Moscow Patriarchate, until in 2018 the Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople accepted his appeal, reinstating him to the episcopal rank, but without confirming his patriarchal title, referring to him merely as the former Metropolitan of Kiev and Galicia now in retirement, as he was already approaching the age of 90 at the time.

However, he did not welcome this decision, and when his secretary Epifanyj was finally appointed by Patriarch Bartholomew II (Archontonis) as Metropolitan of Kiev of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), he was redesignated Patriarch Emeritus, the title by which he is commemorated today; but he rejected this decision too, remaining separated even from the national Church, in an isolation comforted only by the solidarity of a few priests and a handful of faithful who remained by his side until the end.

Filaret has been described as the most Soviet of metropolitans, due to his active participation in the activities of the Council for Religious Affairs, which, on behalf of the CPSU, managed matters concerning the Orthodox Church and other religious associations in the Soviet Union, and it was partly for this reason that he was expected to rise to the patriarchal throne in Moscow.

During the turbulent negotiations between Kyiv, Moscow and Constantinople during the Ukrainian presidency of Pavlo Poroshenko (20152019), many in Russia too advised Patriarch Kirill to grant autocephaly directly to the Kyiv Church, which had been dependent on the Russians since the late 17th century, first and foremost the then auxiliary bishop of Moscow, Tikhon (Shevkunov), Putins spiritual father, who wished to avoid a rift with the Ukrainians and suggested that Filaret should make a request to this effect to Moscow.

Kirill rejected the appeal, due to the invincible hostility he harboured towards his episcopal consecrator, thinking thereby to nullify his influence over the Ukrainians. This was not to be, and a schism ensued that was not only religious but also ideological and political, eventually escalating into an endless military conflict, which Filaret now observes from above, confident of a victory to be celebrated on an apocalyptic scale, as a perennial reflection of the aspirations of the Russian and Ukrainian worlds.
The ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan for the end of Ramadan is part of a broader objective, namely possible talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad to halt the war in the Middle East. US President Donald Trump reported "very good and productive conversations," ostensibly with the speaker of the Iranian parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Saudi Arabia is also playing a central role.

Islamabad (AsiaNews)  Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia have brokered a ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan. But only today, the mediation reportedly had another purpose, holding talks between Iran and the United States to end the war in the Middle East in the coming days in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan.

US President Donald Trump today said that Washington and Tehran had had "very good and productive conversations" over the previous two days.

After making threats against Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, the US president announced instead a five-day delay in new US military strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure.

Although Iranian media have denied any recent contact between the two sides, an Israeli official told Axios that Steve Witkoff, US envoy for the Middle East, and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, had spoken with the speaker of the Iranian parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

The same official also explained that the mediating countries are trying to arrange a meeting in Islamabad, which is expected to be attended by Ghalibaf and other Iranian officials. Vice President Vance, in addition to Witkoff and Kushner, may also represent the United States.

The meeting is expected to take place by the end of this week, a sign of Pakistan's growing ambition (and likely Chinas, Islamabad's main ally) in regional and Middle Eastern politics.

Last July, Field Marshal Asim Munir, Chief of Defence Forces and Pakistans dominant political figure, met with President Trump for the first time. Islamabad then joined the Gaza Peace Council, set up by the US president.

In September, the South Asian country signed a mutual defence agreement with Saudi Arabia, to which it also sold several JF-17 fighter jets, jointly manufactured with China.

In the recent past, Riyadh had spoken repeatedly of the need for a nuclear umbrella to defend itself from possible future Iranian attacks. Pakistan possesses nuclear weapons, like its archenemy India (the real loser of the whole affair after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Jerusalem before the war began).
The monastery, re-established in 2004 by Korean nuns on the ashes of the previous contemplative community wiped out by Pol Pot's persecution, has closed. The decision is due to a lack of new vocations. Bishop Schmitthaeusler expressed his gratitude: "The fruits of your presence will continue in our community.

Phnom Penh (AsiaNews)  After 21 years of contemplative pastoral service, the Catholic Church in the Cambodian capital gratefully bid farewell on 19 March to the Discalced Carmelite Nuns of Phnom Penh, who are preparing to end their presence in the Southeast Asian country due to a lack of new vocations. This concludes a discreet and constant presence in the Cambodian Church's journey of rebirth.

The monastery was founded in 2004 by the nuns of the Carmelite monastery in Seoul. In Cambodia, which was then just beginning to emerge from the terrible legacy of Pol Pot, they chose to continue the legacy of the order's presence that began in the capital in 1940 with a group of French nuns. The arrival of the Khmer Rouge in 1975 forced its closure, resulting in the destruction of the building itself.

The mission in Cambodia was the first contemplative evangelisation initiative outside Korea for the Carmelite nuns of Seoul, and for 21 years, it has significantly accompanied the journey of the Cambodian Church in Phnom Penh with its prayers. At the time, the Church had been almost completely wiped out by persecution, but today it numbers approximately 23,000 faithful in three dioceses.

The closing ceremony centred on the Eucharistic celebration led by the apostolic vicar, Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, and concelebrated by Coadjutor Pierre Hangly Suon, the second Cambodian bishop after Bishop Joseph Chhmar Salas, who died during the Khmer Rouge years and whose beatification process is underway.

Present at the service, along with numerous priests, were around a hundred members of the local Catholic community who gathered to express gratitude for their precious presence over the years.

In his homily, Bishop Schmitthaeusler expressed deep regret for the closure, acknowledging the spiritual richness that the presence of the Carmelites brought to the local Church.

At the same time, he encouraged the faithful to keep hope alive and remain united in prayer, emphasising the timeless value of the contemplative life.

The Carmelite nuns initially resided in a house in Phnom Penh, before moving in 2010 to a purpose-built monastery in Ang Snuol, a district in Kandal province, which borders the capital.

At its peak, the community consisted of seven Korean nuns, many of whom learnt Khmer and English to better connect with the Church and the local community.

Their monastery was a place of peace and spiritual refuge amidst the rapid development and social changes taking place in Cambodia.

The faithful often described a profound sense of tranquillity as soon as they crossed the threshold of the complex, where the rhythm of prayer punctuated daily life and the worries of the outside world seemed to vanish beyond the surrounding walls.

Despite their limited presence outside the monastery, they carried with them a universal mission through prayer for the Church, society, and the entire world marked by suffering and division.

Bishop Schmitthaeusler encouraged the faithful to pursue this task in Phnom Penh even without the physical presence of the monastery.
Dapr Agents v1.0 reaches stable release, bringing production-grade resiliency and security to AI agent frameworks

Key Highlights

Dapr Agents v1.0 is now generally available as a Python framework for building resilient, production-ready AI agents.

Dapr Agents provides durable workflows, state management and secure multi-agent coordination needed to move AI agents from prototypes to production.

Platform engineers, application developers and enterprises deploying AI agents on Kubernetes and cloud native platforms can use Dapr Agents to achieve production-grade reliability and security.

AMSTERDAM, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- KUBECON + CLOUDNATIVECON EUROPE - The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), which builds sustainable open source ecosystems for cloud native software, today announced the general availability of Dapr Agents v1.0, a Python framework built on Dapr's distributed application runtime to help teams run reliable, secure AI agents in production environments.

The 1.0 release marks the project's transition from early experimentation to stable production use. As organizations move AI agents into real business workflows, they face challenges such as failure recovery, state management, cost control and secure communication. Dapr Agents addresses these needs with a durable workflow engine that maintains context, persists memory and recovers long-running work without data loss.

"The Dapr Agents v1.0 milestone provides the essential cloud native guardrailslike state management and secure communicationthat platform teams need to turn AI prototypes into reliable, production-ready systems at scale," said Chris Aniszczyk, CTO, CNCF. "We look forward to the Dapr community continuing to innovate and build a community around building AI agents at scale."

AI adoption is rapidly increasing in cloud native environments. With Kubernetes widely used in production across industries, teams increasingly need infrastructure that allows AI agents to operate consistently within existing platforms. Dapr Agents is designed to integrate with those environments while reducing the operational burden on developers.

With v1.0, Dapr Agents provides:

Durable, long-running agent workflows

Automatic retries and failure recovery

Persistent state across more than 30 databases

Secure communication and identity using SPIFFE

Multi-agent coordination and messaging

Built-in observability and monitoring

Flexibility to switch language model providers without code changes

"Many agent frameworks focus on logic alone," said Mark Fussell, Dapr maintainer and steering committee member. "Dapr Agents delivers the infrastructure that keeps agents reliable through failures, timeouts and crashes. With v1.0, developers have a foundation they can trust in production."

At KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe, ZEISS Vision Care will present a real-world implementation using Dapr Agents to extract optical parameters from highly variable, unstructured documents. The session will detail how Dapr Agents power a resilient, vendor-neutral AI architecture that reliably drives critical business processes.

"Dapr is becoming the resilience layer for AI systems," said Yaron Schneider, Dapr maintainer and steering committee member. "By integrating across the agent ecosystem, developers can focus on what their agents do, not on rebuilding fault tolerance, observability or identity."

Dapr Agents 1.0 is the result of a yearlong collaboration between NVIDIA, the Dapr open source community and end users building practical AI agent systems. The project builds on Dapr's distributed application runtime, which provides standardized APIs for service-to-service communication, state management and security.

For more information, visit the Dapr Agents documentation, explore quickstarts on GitHub, enroll in Dapr University or join the community on Discord.

About Cloud Native Computing Foundation

Cloud native computing empowers organizations to build and run scalable applications with an open source software stack in public, private, and hybrid clouds. The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) hosts critical components of the global technology infrastructure, including Kubernetes, Prometheus, and Envoy. CNCF brings together the industry's top developers, end users, and vendors and runs the largest open source developer conferences in the world. Supported by nearly 800 members, including the world's largest cloud computing and software companies, as well as over 200 innovative startups, CNCF is part of the nonprofit Linux Foundation. For more information, please visit www.cncf.io.

The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see our trademark usage page. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.

Media Contact

Kaitlin Thornhill

The Linux Foundation

[email protected]

SOURCE Cloud Native Computing Foundation
23 March 2026 14:29 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

The announcement that the International Bank of Azerbaijan (ABB), the nations largest financial institution, is preparing to acquire a stake in a foreign bank marks a transformative moment for the countrys financial landscape. While some may view this purely through the lens of a corporate balance sheet, the reality is far more significant. This is not just a financial transaction, it is a declaration of Azerbaijans growing economic maturity and a strategic pivot toward global integration.

By planting its flag in international markets, ABB is signaling that the Azerbaijani banking sector is no longer content with being a domestic player. Instead, it is ready to compete, innovate, and thrive on the global stage.

The first and perhaps most immediate benefit of this move is increased visibility. In the world of global finance, perception is currency. When a state-backed institution like ABB acquires assets abroad, it boosts the credibility and prestige of the entire national banking sector.

For years, Azerbaijan has been known primarily for its energy exports. However, a successful foray into foreign banking sends a clear message to the international community: Azerbaijan is diversifying its influence. This move acts as a "confidence magnet," drawing the attention of institutional investors who may have previously overlooked the region. By demonstrating the capacity to manage and own foreign assets, Azerbaijan strengthens its economic diplomacy and paves the way for future foreign direct investment (FDI) into its non-oil sectors.

The acquisition of a foreign bank stake serves as a two-way bridge for knowledge transfer. We live in an era where financial technology (FinTech) and regulatory standards are evolving at breakneck speed. By operating within a different jurisdiction, ABB gains front-row access to modern management practices, sophisticated credit policies, and advanced risk management frameworks.

When these international benchmarks are brought back home and integrated into the domestic market, the ripple effect is profound. It elevates the level of professionalism across the local sector, ensuring that Azerbaijani businesses and citizens have access to a more resilient, modern, and efficient financial infrastructure. In essence, ABB is not just buying a stake; it is buying a seat at the table of global innovation.

From a purely fiscal perspective, the logic of risk diversification is undeniable. Relying solely on a domestic market leaves a financial institution vulnerable to local economic cycles. By spreading its assets across different geographies, ABB creates a protective "cushion."

Dividends and profits generated abroad provide additional capital that can be reinvested into the Azerbaijani economy.

Foreign assets act as a hedge against domestic fluctuations, ensuring the bank remains robust even during challenging times at home.

Increased profitability abroad enhances ABBs capacity to support local entrepreneurs and small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) through more favorable lending terms and expanded resources.

We must also view this through the lens of state strategy. Given that the Azerbaijani state is the majority shareholder of ABB, this expansion is a direct reflection of the governments broader economic policy. It aligns with the national goal of international economic integration.

When a domestic bank establishes a footprint in a foreign market, it lowers the barrier to entry for other Azerbaijani companies looking to export or expand. It creates a familiar financial partner in a foreign land, facilitating smoother trade and investment flows. This is economic diplomacy in its most practical formusing financial institutions to anchor the countrys presence in strategic global regions.

ABBs move is a vote of confidence in the future. It demonstrates that Azerbaijani financial professionals have the expertise to manage complex international portfolios. It reinforces the trust of local investors and entrepreneurs, who can now look to their primary bank as a global entity capable of defending their interests anywhere in the world.

Ultimately, ABBs pursuit of a foreign bank stake is a strategic masterstroke. It is an investment in reputation, a quest for knowledge, and a shield against economic volatility. By stepping outside its comfort zone, ABB is not just seeking profit; it is architecting a more competitive and diversified future for Azerbaijan.

As the bank integrates into new markets, the benefits will be felt far beyond the halls of its headquarters in Baku. It will be felt by the startup looking for a modern credit facility, by the investor looking for a stable market, and by the nation as its international standing reaches new heights. This is more than a deal; it is the beginning of a new chapter in Azerbaijans economic success story.
23 March 2026 17:44 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

As elections approach in Armenia, the governments efforts to normalize relations with Azerbaijan are being met with a wave of domestic populist pressure and a refusal to reckon with international legal realities. In a village that two people call by different names, history is being rewritten from below, and the consequences reach all the way to Yerevan's ballot box

The dust has long settled on the battlefields of the 2020 and 2023 conflicts, but in the corridors of power in Yerevan and the reconstructed villages of Azerbaijans liberated territories, a new and perhaps more complex struggle is unfolding. It is a war of narratives, where the clinical requirements of international law collide with decades of deeply entrenched national sentiment.

At the heart of the current tension is the village of Xanyurdu (known in Armenian sources as Khnatsakh). Recent reports from monitoring groups have highlighted the removal of monuments and the resettlement of Azerbaijani civilians to the area. While Armenian advocacy groups characterize these actions as a "destruction of heritage," a more neutral lens reveals a different story: the complex, often painful process of a sovereign state reasserting control over its internationally recognized borders and dismantling the political symbols of a three-decade-long occupation.

Azerbaijan resettled the village in 2025 and distributed photographs confirming the return of its population. According to Monument Watch, the Azerbaijani side had, back in July of that year, destroyed monuments erected in honour of victims of the Second World War and the Karabakh wars, as well as the graves of village defenders from the First Karabakh War. Significant excavation work accompanied the demolition, visible when satellite images from 2023 are placed alongside more recent ones, as a wound in the landscape.

Monument Watch has argued the destruction violates Article 4 of the 1954 Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in Armed Conflict, its 1999 Second Protocol, and binding decisions issued by the International Court of Justice in December 2021, which specifically obliged Azerbaijan to prevent and punish acts of vandalism against Armenian cultural heritage, churches, monuments, cemeteries and artifacts.

Under the 1954 Hague Convention, cultural property is indeed protected. However, a significant legal nuance arises when the "monuments" in question are heritage sites of a defunct, unrecognized separatist entity. For Azerbaijan, the removal of symbols celebrating what it views as a period of illegal occupation is not an act of vandalism, but a necessary step in urban renewal and the restoration of constitutional order.

The renaming of the village to Xanyurdu is not "fictitious" in a legal sense. It is the restoration of an indigenous toponym within the sovereign jurisdiction of Azerbaijan, a fact recognized by the United Nations and the broader international community.

That 2021 ICJ order had, for a time, appeared to produce a degree of restraint. Researchers noted that while some cemeteries and churches had been damaged since 2023, there had been no large-scale erasure of heritage sites comparable to what occurred in Nakhichevan, where between 1997 and 2006, Azerbaijan eradicated the entire known inventory of Armenian Christian sites, an estimated 89 churches, over 5,800 carved stone crosses, and more than 22,000 tombstones.

The geopolitical reality, however, is being increasingly obscured by the fog of domestic Armenian politics. As Nikol Pashinyan prepares for upcoming parliamentary elections, he finds himself walking a tightrope between pragmatic statecraft and a public still reeling from territorial loss.

Recent incidents underscore the volatility of the mood in Yerevan. In a widely circulated video from the citys metro, a former resident of the Karabakh region confronted the Prime Minister, accusing him of "selling the land." Similarly, during a recent campaign stop, an elderly womans plea that Pashinyan had "given away Artsakh" highlights a profound disconnect.

They are the result of decades of internal narratives that framed these territories as an existential part of the Armenian state, despite their status under international law as Azerbaijani soil. This "brainwashing", a term used by some critics to describe the persistent refusal of the radical opposition to acknowledge the 1991 Almaty Declaration, now acts as a shackle on the peace process. Pashinyan has framed his project under the slogan "Real Armenia", contrasting pragmatic reconciliation with what he calls his opponents' vision of a "Historic Armenia" built on territorial claims against neighbours.

There is, however, an emerging fear among regional analysts that some foreign powers and "home-grown" revanchist groups are exploiting these emotions to delay the peace treaty. The strategy is to paint each move towards rebuilding in Azerbaijan as a "cultural genocide" in an attempt to undermine the legitimacy of the normalization process.

If peace is ever to take hold in this region, the conversation has to move beyond the emotional symbols of the past to the practical necessities of the future. The rebuilding of Xanyurdu and the return of displaced persons to Azerbaijan are signs of a new status quo, however uncomfortable they may be to accept in Armenia, which is the only foundation upon which a new border can be constructed.

The tragedy of the current moment is that while the politicians in Baku and Yerevan may have never been in a better position to negotiate a peace treaty, the "home-grown" resistance in Armenia, driven by a lack of willingness to accept the finality of international law, is the biggest impediment to a South Caucasus free from the shadow of war.
23 March 2026 12:42 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Kazakh scholar Mukhit-Ardagher Sydyknazaro, a researcher of the historical geography and historical cartography of Turkic states (9th20th centuries), Doctor of Political Science, Professor, and laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Science, has discovered an important artifact attesting to the continuity of Azerbaijani statehood, AzerNEWS reports.

In the course of archival cartographic research conducted in Europe and the United States, an impression of the state seal of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (19181920) was identified and studied on letters by Alimardan bey Topchubashov, Chairman of the Parliament of the ADR and head of its peace delegation to the Paris Peace Conference.

The impression of the state seal of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was found within a unified archival collection together with an original map and an accompanying letter among the documents of Alimardan bey Topchubashov. This seal impression is currently the only known example and is being introduced into scholarly circulation for the first time.

The state seal belongs to the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, proclaimed on May 28, 1918.

This important artifact is directly linked to the life and work of an outstanding statesman of Azerbaijan and the Turkic world, Alimardan bey Topchubashov, Chairman of the Parliament of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.

A symbol of Azerbaijani statehood, this rare artifact dates to the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (May 28, 1918  April 28, 1920).

This discovery holds significant scholarly value. As a key attribute of sovereign authority, the state seal serves as an essential source for studying the institutional formation of Azerbaijani statehood in the early 20th century.

The introduction of this seal impression into academic circulation substantially expands the body of primary sources on the continuity of Azerbaijani statehood and the diplomatic history of the ADR, and contributes to clarifying issues related to symbolism, record-keeping, and the international representation of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.
23 March 2026 16:53 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

The national photography contest FotoBax has officially been launched in Azerbaijan as part of the international Childrens Eyes on Earth project. The initiative is supported by Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and founder and leader of the IDEA Public Union, and was initiated by internationally renowned photographer Reza Deqati, founder of the Reza Visual Academy association.

According to IDEA Public Union, the contest is organized in partnership with the union and is dedicated to the theme I Love Nature  Azerbaijan. The competition officially began on March 23, 2026, and applications will be accepted until September 21, 2026.

The contest is open to children and teenagers under the age of 18 and covers the spring and summer seasons. Participants are invited to capture Azerbaijans rich natural landscapes, including forests, rivers, lakes, flora, and fauna, through their lenses.

The aim of the contest is to support young photographers, create opportunities for creative expression, and promote environmental awareness among children and teenagers. Through the competition, participants will have the chance to express their perspectives on nature and the importance of environmental protection through photography.

The Childrens Eyes on Earth initiative, implemented in partnership with IDEA Public Union and led by Reza Deqati, seeks to showcase childrens views of the environment through photography. Held internationally, the project has already gathered more than 7,000 photographs from over 100 countries.

For contest rules, photo submissions, and more detailed information, participants are encouraged to visit the official website: www.fotobax.az

.
23 March 2026 11:51 (UTC+04:00)

AzerNEWS Staff Read more

Pakistan has expressed gratitude to Azerbaijan for its continued solidarity on the Jammu and Kashmir issue, highlighting the importance of international support in addressing the long-standing dispute.

As reported by AzerNEWS, speaking at a flag-raising ceremony marking Pakistan Day in Baku, Pakistans ambassador to Azerbaijan, Qasim Mohiuddin, emphasized that lasting peace in South Asia remains unattainable without resolving the Kashmir issue in line with United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The developments of the past year have once again clearly demonstrated that peace in South Asia will not be possible until the Jammu and Kashmir issue is resolved in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions, the ambassador stated.

He also thanked Azerbaijan for its consistent diplomatic and moral support, underscoring the strength of bilateral relations between the two countries.

Addressing broader regional dynamics, the ambassador pointed to ongoing instability in Afghanistan, noting that its consequences continue to affect the wider region. He stressed that Pakistans leadership remains committed to pursuing all possible measures aimed at de-escalation and conflict resolution.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by conflict, both within and beyond our region. We sincerely hope for the establishment of peace, security, and stability, Mohiuddin added.
23 March 2026 12:53 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

On the auspicious occasion of the National Day of Pakistan, flag-hoisting ceremony was held at the Embassy of Pakistan, AzerNEWS reports.

The ceremony brought together Azerbaijani brothers and sisters as well members of the Pakistani community in a spirit of fraternal solidarity.

Messages from the President, the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister were read out to the audience, highlighting the significance of Pakistan Day.

The Ambassador thanked the Pakistani community and the Azerbaijani brethren for participating in the ceremony and prayed for peace and prosperity of Pakistan.
23 March 2026 13:08 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev sent a letter to Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif, AzerNEWS reports.

"Esteemed Mr. Prime Minister,

My dear Brother,

On behalf of myself and the people of Azerbaijan, I am pleased to extend to you and your brotherly people my sincerest congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of 23 March  Pakistan Day.

Today, Azerbaijan-Pakistan relations, which stem from the will of our brotherly peoples, bound together by deep historical roots and common religious and spiritual values, are at a high level. Regular high-level reciprocal visits, our close contacts, and active dialogue between us provide a significant boost to the strengthening of interstate relations between the two countries across all areas, and the implementing new partnership opportunities both bilaterally and multilaterally. In this regard, I would like to specially mention your visits to our country last year.

Azerbaijan-Pakistan relations encompass a multifaceted cooperation agenda. The mutually beneficial cooperation between our countries in political, economic, trade, industry, energy, transport, logistics, defense, investment, humanitarian and other spheres is enriched with new content day by day. The recent inauguration of the first ASAN Khidmet Center in Islamabad serves as a new practical outcome of the large-scale interstate cooperation between the two countries. The achievements we have attained in a short period through bilateral cooperation contribute to ensuring the well-being and prosperity of our peoples and fostering regional cooperation.

The cooperation between Azerbaijan and Pakistan, based on mutual trust and support, continues to advance successfully on a multilateral basis, as well. Our common stances on regional and global issues, our mutual support within international organizations are a clear manifestation of Azerbaijan-Pakistan brotherhood and solidarity.

I highly value your determination and commitment that you have constantly demonstrated for the sake of further strengthening and deepening our interstate relations and strategic partnership.

I am confident, that thanks to our joint determined efforts, the Azerbaijan-Pakistan strategic partnership, which has been established between our brotherly countries and fully meets the common interests of our peoples, will continue to strengthen and deepen in the future.

On this festive day, I once again cordially congratulate you and wish you robust health, happiness, success and new achievements in your responsible and honorable mission to ensure peace and prosperity of the brotherly people of Pakistan," the letter reads.
23 March 2026 13:58 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Peoples Republic of China Xi Jinping has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, AzerNEWS reports.

"Dear Mr. President,

I sincerely express my gratitude for your congratulatory letter on the occasion of the Spring Festival. On behalf of the Government and the people of China, I cordially congratulate you, as well as the Government and the entire people of Azerbaijan, on the traditional Novruz holiday.

China and Azerbaijan are comprehensive strategic partners. In recent years, mutual political trust has been strengthened, and cooperation across all spheres has continued to develop. I attach great importance to the advancement of ChinaAzerbaijan relations and stand ready to work together with you to further enhance and elevate the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Azerbaijan to a new level, for the benefit of our peoples.

I wish you robust health and well-being," the letter reads.
WASILLA, Ala., March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- What truly guides custody decisions in Alaska courts? That question is answered in a HelloNation article that explores how judges determine child custody arrangements based on a clear legal principle: the best interests of the child.

Jeremy Collier, Attorney Speed Speed

The article outlines how Alaska child custody laws are designed to protect children's emotional well-being, physical safety, and long-term stability. It explains that decisions are not based on parental preferences or past conflicts, but on what best serves the child's needs. Drawing from the insights of Jeremy Collier, a Family Law Expert based in Wasilla, the piece helps parents understand how the law evaluates each family's unique circumstances.

For families facing Wasilla child custody disputes, the article notes that courts take a comprehensive approach. Judges consider a child's emotional and developmental needs, as well as how well each parent supports routines such as school attendance, medical care, and emotional growth. The emphasis stays firmly on child-centered outcomes, with the goal of preserving stability wherever possible.

A major theme in the article is the importance of ongoing parental involvement. Alaska law recognizes that children generally benefit from relationships with both parents when safe and appropriate. As the HelloNation article points out, judges evaluate each parent's willingness to cooperate and foster a healthy co-parenting environment. When one parent tries to interfere with the other's relationship with the child, this can negatively influence the outcome of custody decisions.

Another issue addressed is the balance between legal custody and physical custody. The article explains that legal custody involves making decisions about a child's healthcare, education, and general welfare. Physical custody concerns where the child lives and how time is divided between the parents. Wasilla child custody cases often involve parenting plans that blend these two aspects, depending on what arrangement works best for the family.

The HelloNation article also highlights the central role of parenting plans in Alaska child custody cases. Courts often encourage parents to develop their own detailed plans that specify parenting time, communication rules, and responsibilities. These plans can help reduce conflict and create consistency for the child. When parents cannot reach an agreement, the court will intervene and determine custody based on the child's best interests.

In assessing a child's needs, courts also consider the environments each parent can provide. The article explains that credible concernssuch as domestic violence, neglect, or substance misuseare taken very seriously. Alaska law prioritizes a child's safety above all else, which can significantly impact final custody decisions.

The child's own perspective may also play a part, depending on their age and maturity. However, as the article clarifies, this input is considered alongside other factors and is not the deciding element. Judges assess whether the child's preference reflects genuine feelings rather than pressure from either parent.

Maintaining a child's connection to school, friends, and local support systems is another important consideration. The article notes that judges often seek to preserve familiar environments when those connections are healthy and supportive.

Ultimately, the article explains that Alaska's child custody law does not aim to choose the "better" parent. Instead, the focus remains firmly on crafting arrangements that support children's safety and development. The process may be challenging, but the goal is always the same: promoting the best interests of the child.

How Alaska Courts Determine the Best Interests of the Child in Custody Cases features insights from Jeremy Collier, a Family Law Expert in Wasilla, Alaska, on HelloNation.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is a premier media platform that connects readers with trusted professionals and businesses across various industries. Through its innovative "edvertising" approach that blends educational content and storytelling, HelloNation delivers expert-driven articles that inform, inspire, and empower. Covering topics from home improvement and health to business strategy and lifestyle, HelloNation highlights leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

SOURCE HelloNation
23 March 2026 11:06 (UTC+04:00)

AzerNEWS Staff Read more

Major stock markets across Asia tumbled on Monday as escalating threats between United States and Iran deepened investor concerns, with the ongoing conflict now entering its fourth week, AzerNEWS reports, citing foreign media.

Japans benchmark Nikkei 225 dropped nearly 3.6%, while South Koreas Kospi plunged close to 6%, reflecting heightened vulnerability among energy-importing economies.

Tensions intensified after Donald Trump warned that Washington could obliterate Iranian power plants if Tehran fails to reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz -a key global oil transit chokepoint. In response, Iran signaled it would target strategic infrastructure across the region, including energy facilities, in the event of an attack.

The situation has had a disproportionate impact on countries such as Japan and South Korea, both of which rely heavily on oil and gas shipments passing through the Strait. Since late February, Iran has effectively restricted access to the waterway, through which around 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) flows.

The disruption has already driven global fuel prices higher and intensified concerns over supply shortages. International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol warned that the world could be heading toward its most severe energy crisis in decades. Speaking in Australia, he compared the current situation to the oil shocks of the 1970s and the fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

This crisis, as it stands, is now two oil crises and one gas shock combined, Birol noted, underlining the scale of the disruption.

Meanwhile, the conflict has continued to escalate militarily. Iranian missile strikes targeted Israeli cities, including Dimona and Arad, prompting further threats from Tehran. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that any attack on Irans power plants would trigger irreversible damage to regional energy and desalination infrastructure.

Broader Asia-Pacific markets also declined, with Hang Seng Index falling nearly 3.5% and Chinas Shanghai Composite Index down 2.5%.

Despite the geopolitical turmoil, oil prices showed relative stability on Monday. Brent Crude rose 0.45% to $112.69 per barrel, while WTI Crude increased by 0.7% to $98.93.
23 March 2026 13:43 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Russias foreign intelligence service allegedly considered staging an assassination attempt linked to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbans ruling Fidesz party in a bid to boost its popularity ahead of elections, according to a report, AzerNEWS reports.

The Washington Post, citing European intelligence sources, said the idea was discussed amid concerns in Moscow over declining public support for Orbans party.

According to the report, recent polling shows Fidesz at around 40%, trailing the opposition Tisza Party, which is said to have support exceeding 46%.

Responding to the allegations, the Kremlin dismissed the claims, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov describing the report as disinformation.

No independent confirmation of the claims has been provided, and details surrounding the alleged plot remain limited.
23 March 2026 16:22 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Missile strikes by Iran on a joint UK-US military base on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia have raised concerns that Iranian missile capabilities could potentially extend as far as London, according to a report by The Daily Telegraph, AzerNEWS reports.

The newspaper noted that if Tehran were to reorient its missile launch positions, parts of Europe, including London, could theoretically fall within range.

Earlier, Mehr News Agency reported that Iranian authorities confirmed launching two ballistic missiles toward the British-American base on Diego Garcia.

The developments come amid escalating conflict in the region. Since February 28, the United States and Israel have carried out strikes on Iranian territory, targeting major cities including Tehran. In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched retaliatory attacks against Israel.

The conflict has since widened, with reported strikes targeting facilities in Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, raising fears of a broader regional escalation.
23 March 2026 15:38 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Armenias Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said on Monday that dialogue with Turkiye has reached a level where full diplomatic normalization and the reopening of borders are now within reach, AzerNEWS reports.

Speaking at a parliamentary committee session, Mirzoyan stated that the ongoing talks between Armenia and Turkiye have matured enough to deliver concrete results, including the establishment of formal diplomatic relations.

The ArmeniaTurkiye dialogue has matured enough that, alongside the ongoing processes, it can achieve a complete outcome, namely, the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the full opening of the border, he said, responding to a question from opposition MP Gegham Manukyan.

Mirzoyan added that there is no fundamental disagreement on this objective and emphasized that Yerevan is conveying the same message to its Turkish counterparts, signaling a potential breakthrough in long-stalled normalization efforts between the two neighbors.
23 March 2026 14:45 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Iran's Defence Council threatened on Monday to mine the "entire Persian Gulf" if the Islamic Republic's coasts or islands are attacked, AzerNEWS reports.

"Any attempt by the enemy to attack Iranian coasts or islands will naturally, and in accordance with common military practice, cause all access routes and communication lines in the Persian Gulf and the coasts to be mined with various types of naval mines, including floating mines that can be released from the coasts," the statement read.

The warning follows Iran's military's declaration that if US President Donald Trump follows through on his threat to destroy Iran's power plants if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened by Monday night, it will seal the waterway and target regional US infrastructure.

Over the day, Israeli forces blow up the Qasimiyah Bridge in south Lebanon, in an attack President Joseph Aoun says is a prelude to ground invasion.

US and Israeli forces continue to pound Iran as Israels military intercepts more Iranian missiles.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledges to destroy Iran after an attack that wounded more than 180 people in the cities of Arad and Dimona.

Air strikes target the headquarters of the Iran-aligned Popular Mobilisation Forces in Iraqs Baghdad after attacks on a US diplomat and logistics centre at the citys main airport.
23 March 2026 17:03 (UTC+04:00)

AzerNEWS Staff Read more

Oil prices are set for a sharp upside risk as geopolitical tensions intensify, with analysts at BMI forecasting that Brent Crude could climb to $110$130 per barrel in the near term, and potentially reach $150 or higher if the Middle East conflict persists, AzerNEWS reports.

Since the outbreak of hostilities, Brent prices have already surged by more than 50%, with forward contracts trading above $109 per barrel, highlighting mounting pressure in global energy markets.

According to BMI, the price rally is driven by escalating attacks on energy infrastructure across the region, raising concerns over sustained supply disruptions. Analysts note that investors remain highly sensitive to any threats to oil flows, which could delay post-conflict market stabilization.

Although Brent traded within the $90$110 range over the past two weeks, BMI believes this band is unlikely to hold. If the conflict continues, we expect a sustained move into the $110$130 range within one to two weeks, the report states.

In the longer term, BMI maintains its baseline forecast for Brent at $70 per barrel for 2026 but signals a potential upward revision to $75$82. This adjustment reflects a shift in expectations, from a short-lived conflict scenario of up to four weeks to a more prolonged one that could extend to eight weeks or beyond.

A key pressure point remains the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20 million barrels of oil per day flowed prior to the conflict. While mitigation measures, such as rerouting supplies via the Red Sea, utilizing strategic reserves, partial easing of sanctions on Russia, and modest demand reductions, have helped, significant supply shortfalls persist.

BMI estimates that daily disruptions could range between 7.5 million and 15 million barrels during the conflict. Market impact will accumulate over time, while physical dislocations intensify, the report notes.

The outlook remains highly volatile, with several upside risks that could push prices beyond $130 per barrel. These include further escalation in the Strait of Hormuz, disruptions in the Red Sea or key export hubs such as Yanbu, and potential attacks on major oil production and export infrastructure in Iran and other Gulf states.
23 March 2026 21:22 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

At least six tanker fuel shipments to Australia have been canceled amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, raising concerns about potential disruptions to the nations fuel supply, AzerNEWS reports.

According to officials, the overall schedule of fuel deliveries remains largely stable, but some individual shipments have been affected. Minister Chris Bowen noted that out of approximately 80 tanker shipments the country receives monthly, six have been canceled. Most of these deliveries originate from Asian suppliers, including Singapore, South Korea, and Malaysia.

The minister explained that the cancellations are linked to operational difficulties at refineries in these countries caused by disruptions in crude oil supply, which in turn affect their ability to export refined petroleum products. Despite these setbacks, Bowen emphasized that some of the canceled shipments have already been replaced through alternative supply routes, and the government does not anticipate a sudden halt in imports. He added that the likelihood of all fuel supplies being simultaneously disrupted is extremely low, although localized shortages may occur.

At present, the authorities are not considering fuel rationing. Australian refineries continue to operate at full capacity, ensuring domestic production remains steady. As of March 23, gasoline reserves are sufficient for roughly 38 days of consumption, while diesel and aviation kerosene stocks can meet demand for about 30 days.

The supply disruptions coincide with rising global oil prices, driven by geopolitical instability in the Middle East. In some regions of Australiawhere the country imports about 90% of its gasoline and dieselfuel stations have reported temporary shortages, particularly of diesel. Officials attribute these shortages not only to supply issues but also to spikes in local demand.

Experts warn that while Australias fuel system is generally resilient, continued volatility in international oil markets could increase the frequency of such disruptions. Authorities are reportedly monitoring the situation closely and exploring options to diversify import sources and strengthen strategic reserves to buffer against future shocks.
23 March 2026 22:55 (UTC+04:00)

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Indonesia expects to save approximately $4.7 billion from its national budget as it contends with the economic fallout from escalating tensions in the Middle East and the recent joint operations of the United States and Israel against Iran. The measures aim to soften the impact of rising global energy costs on the economy, AzerNEWS reports.

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ISTANBUL, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Karsan, the world's technology-oriented mobility brand in next-generation public transportation, increased its turnover by 11% to 330 million Euros in 2025. Karsan, which generated 220 million Euros of turnover from electric vehicle sales, saw a 43% increase in its exports to 197 million Euros. Aiming to maintain its growth in Europe, Karsan plans to begin driverless autonomous public transportation operations in 2026. Stating that Karsan e-JEST and e-ATAK models preserve leadership in their segments in the European public transportation market, Karsan CEO Okan Bas said, "Turkiye is Europe's production base in bus & midibus manufacturing. Karsan conducted 80% of the electric minibus and bus exports from Turkiye to Europe between 2019 and 2025." Emphasizing that they aim to maintain their growth in Europe by boosting their EV sales in 2026, ranking among the top 5 players in Europe in the next five years, Okan Bas mentioned, "Of course, we are aware that our presence in the existing markets is not sufficient to achieve this target. Accordingly, we will expand into new markets. We will focus on some northern countries in 2026. We do not operate in the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, or Germany. In these markets, we will first initiate our organizational structuring. We will also increase our strength in the Spanish and Polish markets we entered last year. We aim to expand our electric vehicle fleet in Europe to exceed 2,800 units, representing over 30% growth. Autonomous mobility is among our strategic focal points. We will concentrate on Europe with the 8-meter Autonomous e-ATAK, and on America with the 6-meter Autonomous e-JEST. In the autonomous mobility field, we have started our efforts to remove the safety driver from the vehicle. We aim to initiate fully driverless operations in Stavanger by Q3 2026. Towards the end of 2026, we will add another electric vehicle to the product range. We constantly strengthen our presence by expanding our product range and accelerating our development in technology."

Okan Bas 2026

Playing a leading role in transforming public transport globally with "One Step Ahead in the Future of Mobility" vision, Karsan left behind another successful year. Karsan, which has leveraged strong momentum in public transport with electric and autonomous vehicles, continues to strengthen its global presence through a vehicle park in 27 countries. Karsan, made a significant contribution to the transformation of public transportation with over 2,100 electric vehicles, setting a higher target for 2026.

Karsan CEO Okan Bas, said, "We increased our total turnover by 11% compared to 296 million Euros in 2024. Electric vehicles account for 220 million Euros of this figure. Thus, we enhanced our electric vehicle turnover by 59 million Euros. Our electric vehicle turnover, which delivered a significant growth of 37%, also accounted for 67% of our total turnover. Last year, we increased our export turnover by 43 % to 197 million Euros and boosted our EBITDA from 32 million Euros in 2024 to 54 million last year."

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2936973/OKAN_BAS_KARSAN.jpg

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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/

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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.
The political right, and especially its populist nationalist anti-immigration elements had a trifecta in Sunday's elections, taking control of parliament away from the left in Slovenia and electing lots of new local officials in France, in addition to kicking the Social Democrats out of control in the German state of Rheinland-Pfaltz for the first time in 35 years. While the German election got the most attention, the results in France and Slovenia are also significant.

In Slovenia, the left-liberal globalist coalition went down to defeat, losing a total of 13 seats in the 90 seat parliament. Those 13 seats instead fell to parties of the populist nationalist right and the traditional conservative, whose four parties are expected to form the new government. In the new parliament, parties of the right hold 48 seats to 40 seats for pareis of the left, with two held by ethnic minority parties representing the Italian and Hungarian minorities.

Two of the ruling coalition parties lost seats, the left li9beral globalist Freedom Movement lost 12 seats and its Social Democrat allies one seat. However, because his party got one more seat that the Slovenian Democratic Party, the outgoing prime minister is claiming victory and saying he intends to try to form a coalition. In the meantime, there are numerous reports of election fraud by the ruling coalition.

On the right, the populist nationalist anti-immigration Slovenian Democratic Party of former Prime Minister Jansa won 28 seats, a gain of one, and his opposition allies in the traditional conservative New Slovenia Party also gained a seat to win 9. A new traditional conservative party The Democrats, running for office for the first time won 6 seats, and a populist nationalist party, Rasni, won 5 seats, its first time winning seats. Rasni was originally organized by opponents of Covid lockdowns and other extreme measures related to Covid..

In France, the National Rally won at least 50 mauors around the country in the runoffs to add those those they won outright in the first round. This is a big milestone for them, as they now lead in the polls for the next presidential election. Other parties ganging up on them in the runoffs is not working any more, although it was tried again this time. In addition, a breakaway faction of the traditional conservative Les Republicains that is closely working with the National Rally, scored some gains of its own, including winning the mayor of the major city of Nice.

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2026/03/23/french-elections-le-pens-national-rally-claims-historic-breakthrough-establishment-erodes-and-far-left-alliances-flop/

https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/french-municipal-elections-rn-strengthens-its-local-presence/

https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/slovenia-conservatives-contest-election-result-jansa-golob/
BENNINGTON  A gang-affiliated individual from Manhattan is facing a possible life sentence after he was busted in Pownal early Monday morning when police found 150 grams of cocaine in his possession.

Stephon Sullivan, 29, from Upper Manhattan, was arraigned Monday afternoon on one count of felony cocaine trafficking. He faces a possible life sentence as a habitual offender due to several drug and other convictions from Maine and New York.

According to an affidavit in the case, the Bennington Police Department received a tip from a concerned citizen that a silver Lincoln sedan was leaving Depot Street in Bennington and heading to Peaks Pine Road and Grandview Drive in Pownal with approximately two pounds of cocaine inside. Police caught up with the Lincoln near the intersection and witnessed two individuals exit the vehicle, Sullivan and Richard Pecor. Police made contact with the two males.

Sullivan, carrying a black/blue backpack on his left shoulder and a paper grocery bag in his hands, and Pecor both showed their identification and spoke with the officers, telling them that they had just arrived from New York City, and that they didnt know what was inside the bags that they were carrying.

When police asked permission to look inside the bags, Sullivan allegedly looked away and didnt answer.

A check through the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) showed an officer alert stating Criminal Gang Member- Caution. Both individuals were then detained. Pecor waived his rights, telling the officers that he had just picked up Sullivan, whom he knew as Derek, at the Albany Bus Station, and that he did not know him well, but had met him in Manhattan three months prior. Pecor also told police that he had picked up Sullivan five times from Albany over the past three months.

While police were on scene, the initial citizen caller called the Bennington Police back and provided a sworn statement that said, Richard Pecor, and Derek from New York City came to my house, were disrespectful, and attempted to sell drugs from my residence. That caller told police she had kicked them both out, and that they were heading to Pownal.

Both Sullivan and Pecor were detained and transported to the Bennington Police Department. The bags that the men were carrying were seized pending a search warrant. When the men were personally searched at the station, police allegedly found crack cocaine and a glass pipe. Both substances later tested positive for cocaine.

Police deployed Grizzly, one of the Bennington K-9 team, to sniff for possible drugs; Grizzly alerted to the presence of drugs immediately.

A search warrant was later granted, turning up approximately 162 packaged grams of a white, powdery substance, which later came back positive for cocaine. Police also found $12,495.00 in US currency and a digital scale.

Sullivan has an extensive criminal record, including convictions in both Maine and New York. Convictions include unlawful trafficking, criminal possession with intent to sell, and sale of a controlled substance. A quick online search of Stephon Sullivan revealed a felony conviction in Augusta, Maine, in 2017 for drug trafficking, in which he was sentenced with another individual to 30 months in prison.

Sullivan pleaded not guilty to the single charge and was held without bail pending an as-yet unscheduled weight-of-evidence hearing. Pecor was cited and released until his later arraignment on related charges.

Sullivan is facing a life sentence due to Vermonts Habitual Offender statute, which allows prosecutors to pursue a life sentence if a defendant, already convicted of two or more felonies, is charged with a fourth.

Vermont statute holds that all defendants are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The Banner will update this story as more information becomes available.
Senior Chinese official meets chairman of Singapore's Temasek

Xinhua) 14:49, March 23, 2026

BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- China welcomes Singapore's Temasek and investors from all countries to invest and start businesses in China, and share the opportunities of China's high-quality economic development, a senior Chinese official said here on Sunday.

He Lifeng, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the office of the Central Financial Commission, made the remarks when meeting with Teo Chee Hean, chairman of Singapore's Temasek Holdings.

Noting that this year marks the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan, He said China's economy has made a strong start, better than expected, continuously injecting stability and certainty into the global economy.

China will unswervingly expand high-level opening up to the world, and continuously boost and upgrade its domestic market, he added.

Teo said that Temasek is confident in the prospects of China's economic development, and is willing to continue to expand its investment and cooperation in the country.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Next-Generation Analyzer Delivers Improved Sensitivity with Proven Marine Chemistry Methods

WESTBOROUGH, Mass., March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- KPM Analytics is introducing enhanced seawater nutrient analysis capabilities on its next-generation NexaFlo Continuous Flow Analyzer, providing marine laboratories with improved sensitivity and expanded analytical flexibility ahead of Analytica 2026 in Munich, Germany.

NexaFlo 400 (left) & NexaFlo 450 (right) Continuous Flow Analyzers for Seawater Testing.

Monitoring nutrients in seawater is essential for understanding ocean productivity, tracking ecosystem health, and supporting environmental and regulatory programs. Analytical challenges are significant: while seawater contains high concentrations of major ions, critical nutrients such as nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, silicate, and ammonium can occur at extremely low concentrations, particularly in open-ocean and deep-water environments. Reliable detection of these trace nutrients requires stable baselines, precise reagent handling, and instrumentation capable of delivering low limits of detection with consistent signal quality.

The NexaFlo platform, KPM Analytics' next-generation continuous flow analyzer, addresses these requirements with upgraded electronics and improved signal processing that reduce background noise and improve measurement stability. For marine nutrient applications, NexaFlo delivers 23 better analytical performance compared with the previous-generation Futura platform, enabling laboratories to quantify very low nutrient concentrations with greater confidence.

A major advantage of NexaFlo is its compatibility with the extensive library of analytical manifolds developed for the Futura platform. Laboratories can continue using established chemistries and validated methods while benefiting from the improved performance of the new instrument architecture. The system supports proven Grasshoff chemistries for nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, and silicate analysis, as well as fluorometric methods for very low ammonium detection.

To simplify implementation for marine laboratories, KPM Analytics is also introducing a dedicated bundle of height seawater analysis manifolds covering the most common nutrient measurements (Nitrates, Nitrites, Silicates, Phosphates, Ammonia with fluorescence, Ammonia with phenol, Total Phosphorus, Total Nitrogen). The bundled configuration provides a ready-to-deploy solution for oceanographic research institutions, government monitoring programs, and commercial laboratories performing routine seawater testing.

KPM Analytics brings decades of experience supporting nutrient analysis in environmental and marine laboratories worldwide. The NexaFlo platform builds on the proven performance of the company's continuous flow technology while delivering improved sensitivity and modernized instrumentation for demanding marine applications.

See the NexaFlo Continuous Flow Analyzer at Analytica 2026

The expanded NexaFlo seawater analysis capabilities will be showcased at Analytica trade show in Munich, Germany, Hall A1, booth 312, where visitors can learn more about KPM Analytics' continuous flow solutions for marine and environmental testing.

About KPM Analytics

KPM Analytics is a global leader in scientific instrumentation, providing analytical and vision inspection solutions to laboratories and industrial operators in the food, feed, agriculture, industrial and environmental sectors. KPM products have a long history of helping companies secure product quality, optimize production processes, and make confident, data-driven decisions through reliable solutions, supported by dedicated application expertise and local service. Visit https://www.kpmanalytics.com to learn more.

Media contacts:

Delphine Cornic

Marketing Manager

[email protected]

+33 6 32 86 38 99

SOURCE KPM Analytics
Last week, Sharp Sterile Manufacturing opened its doors to a room full of local and regional community leaders. It wasnt a ribbon cutting. It wasnt a press event. It was a conversation.

Company leaders walked us through their facility in Lee, explained the precision behind sterile fill-finish manufacturing, and  most notably  asked for input. They wanted feedback. They wanted to understand how they could better engage local suppliers, restaurants, service firms and educators. They talked about workforce. They talked about students. They talked about long-term partnership.

That meeting came just days after the company announced a $28 million expansion of its Lee facility  a significant investment that will expand capacity, add cutting-edge sterile filling lines, and strengthen its role in global pharmaceutical manufacturing. For many, $28 million is simply a headline. For the Berkshires, it is a signal.

From Startup Vision to Regional Anchor

This story began in 2014, when Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing was founded in Lee with a focused vision: build a specialized sterile fill-finish operation capable of supporting complex injectable drug products for biotech and pharmaceutical companies. At the time, it was a startup with just a few employees and a highly technical strategy  isolator-based filling, lyophilization, formulation development. This is sophisticated, highly regulated work often tied to clinical-stage and commercial drug production.

Over the next decade, that startup grew deliberately. Local financing partners  including Berkshire Bank (now Beacon Bank), Lee Bank, and MassDevelopment  supported facility upgrades and expansion. A $16.5 million financing package in 2020 enabled continued growth. A $20 million expansion followed in 2021.

Employment climbed steadily from a handful of employees to more than 150  and today, more than 230. In 2023, the company was acquired by Sharp Services and rebranded as Sharp Sterile Manufacturing, integrating the Lee operation into a global pharmaceutical services network.

What followed is what matters most. Rather than consolidating operations elsewhere, Sharp doubled down on Lee. The newly announced $28 million investment expands capacity here. It adds advanced equipment here. It reinforces the Berkshires as a viable location for advanced sterile manufacturing. Everything I have seen reflects a clear commitment to growing this operation in the Berkshires and serving as a responsible steward of the community.

Careers in One of the Worlds Most Dynamic Industries

What Sharp offers is not just jobs. They are well-paying career opportunities in one of the fastest-growing and most impactful industries in the world  life sciences and advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing. Inside the Lee facility, employees operate state-of-the-art sterile filling lines and isolator technology. They work in engineering, quality assurance, validation, and regulatory compliance at global standards. They help produce and support life-saving treatments.

This is precision work. It demands technical skill, discipline and continuous training.

Just as important, the vast majority of hires are local. These are Berkshire residents building careers without leaving the region. These are young professionals entering a global industry while remaining rooted in their community. These are pathways into engineering, operations and leadership roles that can span decades.

For students in our high schools and colleges, this matters. Companies like Sharp Sterile Manufacturing make it possible to imagine a future here  one that is technologically sophisticated, economically stable, and connected to something larger than ourselves.

The Ecosystem Behind the Growth

The companys founding in 2014 coincided with sustained statewide investment in life sciences.

The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC), established in 2008, has invested more than $1 billion across the commonwealth to strengthen the life sciences ecosystem. That strategy has included tax incentives, workforce programs, and infrastructure funding designed to expand advanced manufacturing beyond the urban core.

In the Berkshires, those policies aligned with entrepreneurial initiative and local capital.

An experienced founder launched a specialized company in Lee. Local banks provided early financing. State-level life sciences strategy supported sector growth. Skilled workers stepped into highly technical roles. And over time, the company built enough credibility and capacity to attract global investment. This is what long-term ecosystem building looks like. Not overnight success, but disciplined expansion sustained over a decade.

Growth That Engages the Community

What stood out most during last weeks visit was not the machinery  impressive as it is  but the mindset. Company leaders spoke about supporting local businesses. They recently sponsored the Berkshire Robotics Challenge and expressed eagerness to engage regional students and educators. They asked how they could strengthen ties across the community. That posture matters. When growth is embedded locally  when it invests in students, supports small businesses, and invites collaboration  it strengthens the entire region.

A Clear Signal

A $28 million investment in Lee is more than square footage and equipment. It is a vote of confidence in our workforce, in our community, and in our region.

A decade ago, Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing was a startup with a clear technical idea and a small team. Today, Sharp Sterile Manufacturing employs more than 250 people and is expanding again. That arc tells an important story. Entrepreneurs can start here, local institutions can support them, state policy can reinforce their growth, and global firms will invest where performance and potential align. For the Berkshires  and for the next generation considering where to build their future  that is a powerful message.

As James Hamilton, president of Sharp Sterile told me, This is a great entrepreneurial success story. At Sharp, we feel a tremendous responsibility to continue the journey that began over 10 years ago for our employees, the community, and most importantly, the patients that depend on our services.

Sharp Steriles expansion is a reminder of what is possible. We should be proud of this growth  and intentional about creating the conditions that allow the next generation of entrepreneurs to launch, scale and create the careers of the future right here in the Berkshires.

At the Berkshire Innovation Center, we are committed to doing our part to help build those conditions  supporting talent, strengthening industry connections, and ensuring that the next success story has the opportunity to begin here.
The East Housatonic Street bridge will close for at least six weeks starting Wednesday for state-managed repairs to structural damage, with traffic detoured via Main Street.
The School Committee and administration are considering which path would be more educationally and fiscally sound: Pouring more than $5 million into the school, or sending Morningside students  with resources following them  to classrooms with walls and doors.
SANDISFIELD  A judge dismissed Carl Nett, a moderator of a local Facebook page, as a defendant in a lawsuit stemming from an inadvertent dial that went straight to voicemail that he shared.

Why? Judge David Hodge found that Nett was protected under the state's anti-SLAPP statute. The SLAPP, or Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation, law protects peoples right to petition the government under the First Amendment.

Meanwhile, the civil rights case plods on in Berkshire Superior Court.

Former Sandisfield Fire Chief Ralph E. Morrison and Ricardo "Rico" Sanchez sued current Sandisfield Fire Chief Michael Grillo, who played the recording of the conversation between Sanchez and Morrison at a Sandisfield Select Board meeting July 14.

Also named as defendants are Select Board Chair Steven Seddon, Select Board member John Field Jr., and former Select Board member Robert Fedell II.

On Aug. 4, Morrison and Sanchez sued over the public dissemination of the recording. Nett, who declined comment, was included because he posted a transcript of the recording on the Connect Sandisfield Facebook page, which he is a moderator of. The post garnered more than 140 comments and was shared seven times, according to the lawsuit. Grillo had released the transcript.

The conversation revolved around Grillo and the Sandisfield Fire Department.

Morrison, then president of Sandisfield Fire Department Inc., and Sanchez believed their July 7 conversation had been secretly recorded and filed suit against all defendants based on the Massachusetts Wiretap Act, which bars recording conversations without all parties knowledge. In addition, they cited the states right to privacy and claimed the dissemination violated their constitutional rights.

But the judge found that the anti-SLAPP statute requires dismissal of the claims against Nett.

It is no great stretch for the court to conclude that Netts post was reasonably likely to encourage the (Select) Board to review and reconsider the degree of influence SFDI  Morrisons company  had on the (Sandisfield Fire) Department, and/or reasonably likely to enlist public participation in an effort to effect such consideration, Hodge wrote in his decision. Although Hodge, in his ruling, referred to SFDI as Ralph "Morrison's company," the association to it being Morrison's company was incorrect; Sandisfield Fire Department Inc. is the nonprofit fundraising arm of Sandisfield Fire Department and Morrison is president of that entity.

He also noted that Netts disclosure of the recording constituted both the alleged Wiretap Act violation as well as the protected activity of petitioning government.

Put more simply, a Venn diagram illustrating the overlap between the plaintiffs' complaint of and the conduct that constituted petitioning activity would be a circle, Hodge wrote.

All defendants argued that the recording didnt fall under the Wiretap Act because it was not made by an intercepting device and that there was no violation of privacy because there was no dissemination of personal or intimate facts.

Jeff Pyle, partner at Prince Lobel, said that as a First Amendment lawyer, he finds Hodge's decision to remove Nett from the suit interesting.

The court finds that Nett is protected from this Wiretap Act claim under the anti-SLAPP law, he said. Its the first case dismissing a claim under the Wiretap Act based on the Anti-SLAPP Law."

The electronic docket does not list the next court date for this case.
Many Evangelical Christians will argue that there is no such thing as Christian antisemitism. For them, it is a contradiction of termsan oxymoron. They do not believe a true Christian can be antisemitic. Unfortunately, history has proven otherwise.

Jews and Christians have had a history of contentious relations. What started in the first century as an internal squabble among Jews over the messiahship of Jesus became a split into two separate religions, both struggling to differentiate from the other and survive under brutal Roman rule. Once Christianity became the official state religion of the Roman Empire in the fourth century, anti-Jewish theology paved the way for degrading laws and state-sanctioned persecutions, ghettos, and expulsions. Centuries of this type of religiously motivated and state-empowered antisemitism prepared the way for the Nazi Holocaust. While Christianity did not cause the Holocaust, Christian antisemitic writings were distributed widely by the Nazis to silence church opposition to the annihilation of the Jews. Christian anti-Judaism and the centuries of antisemitism it spawned made the Holocaust possible.

What Is Christian Antisemitism?

Let me be clear that Christianity is not antisemitic. Hundreds of millions of Bible-based Christians around the world today love Israel and the Jewish people. They understand that Christianity would not exist were it not for the Jewish people and their everlasting covenant with the God of Israel. But the Bible can be used by twisted minds to say all sorts of things. Hateful people can interpret and quote Scripture in hateful ways and use it to support their antisemitic sentiments. When professing Christians use Scripture to denigrate the Jewish people and support antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories, it is referred to as Christian antisemitism.

What Is Christian Antisemitism Based On?

The theological foundation for Christian teaching against the Jewish people is known as Replacement Theology. Replacement Theology posits that the Jews were cursed by God for their rejection of Jesus messianic credentials and therefore have been replaced by the church in the plans and purposes of God. Historically, this theology often led to the teaching of contempt for the Jews as Christ-killers and gave sanction to their maltreatment.

Where Is Christian Antisemitism Today?

Not everyone who holds to a form of Replacement Theology is antisemitic. Some theologians simply interpret the New Testament in this wayand therefore spiritualize much of the Old Testament to support itbut have absolutely no ill intent toward anyone. Many pastors hold replacement views as a theological assumption, yet have never been taught the ramifications of such faulty hermeneutics required to support it. This more benign form of American Evangelical Replacement Theology may not be the antisemitic version of the past that went on to call for the persecution and demonization of the Jews. Nevertheless, it is the same theological foundation from which Christian antisemitism sprouts, and we must correct it in all its variants.

In 2018, a well-known pastor of one of the largest churches in America published his concerns about the loss of Christian faith among young people. He blamed the influence of Judaism and the Old Testament, which he described as irrelevant and having been replaced by the brand-new and different teachings and ethics of Jesus. He portrayed Judaism as hypocritical, self-righteous, and exclusivist, and claimed the apostle Paul considered it an eroding influence on the beauty, simplicity, and appeal of the early church. He went so far as to blame the sins of the church throughout history on the influence of Judaism and the Old Testament.

This kind of distancing rarely appears as open hostility. More often, it emerges subtlythrough teaching that sidelines the Hebrew Scriptures, ignores the Jewish context of Jesus, or frames Judaism as a hindrance to Christian grace. Over time, however, these types of assumptions normalize the idea that the church has replaced Israel, whether it was intended or not. History has shown that these types of theological assumptions do not remain abstract. When repeated over time, they can shape cultural attitudes toward the Jewish people and Israel. Modern antisemitism did not emerge overnight; many scholars agree that the Holocaust could never have happened had it not been for the centuries of Christian antisemitism rooted in this type of theology.

A more recent disturbing trend influencing Christians views about Israel is right-wing media voices willing to platform antisemitic rhetoric. Tucker Carlsona conservative American political commentator and a self-described Christianhas echoed themes consistent with Replacement Theology. This false belief suggests the church has replaced Israel in Gods purposes and plans and, thus, the modern Jewish State has no biblical or covenantal significance. By doing so, he positions Israel as just another geopolitical performer, rather than the set-apart nationrooted in eternal covenant promisesthat God created them to be.

From that theological stance, Carlson has increasingly amplified voices hostile to Israel and the Jewish people. Last year, for example, he interviewed and affirmed extremist commentator Nick Fuentes, who claims that Zionist Jews put Israels interests before American interests. Fuentes, who has a large following, has openly praised Adolf Hitler, promotes the idea that a Jewish-led elite is deliberately replacing white populations with non-white immigrants, and says Jews hold dual national loyalties.

Carlson and podcaster Candace Owens both compared Charlie Kirks assassination to the killing of Jesus, reviving the deicide or Christ-killer charge against the Jewish people. And Owens has increasingly leaned into overt antisemitismeven claiming Zionists were behind the transatlantic slave trade. She has grossly characterized Israel as an occult nation by citing the Star of David as a cultic hexagram. This is why the spike in antisemitism we are witnessing today in America matterswe should be deeply concerned by what we are seeing and hearing and learn to refute it.

While this generation is privileged to witness a historic correction in the churchs relationship with the Jewish people, we must not take this progress for granted. Antisemitism is surging, and disturbing trends within American churches must be confronted if this budding partnership is to endure. Christian antisemitism should be an oxymoronbut making it so requires vigilance. The responsibility begins at home. If antisemitism is to be pushed back in our nation, the American church must lead the way and relegate so-called Christian antisemitism to the dustbin of history.

This article was originally published on May 13, 2020, at: https://icejusa.org/2020/05/13/does-christian-anti-semitism-exist/

Related podcast from OnePlace.com:

Photo Credit:GettyImages/MaryLB

For over 40 years, Dr. Susan Michael has advanced the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) in the USA and worldwide. She serves as the USA President and sits on the ICEJs international Board of Directors. She is frequently asked to address complex issues to diverse audiencesincluding antisemitism, Jewish-Christian relations, and Middle East affairsand does so with clarity and grace. Dr. Michael leads the American Christian Leaders for Israel (ACLI) network, has authored books, such as Encounter the 3D Bible: How to Read the Bible so It Comes to Life, and has developed educational resources, including the IsraelAnswers website, ICEJ U online courses, and curricula for Christian colleges.
American Lung Association volunteers will ask members of Congress to take action to end lung cancer

WASHINGTON, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Lung Association will hold its 11th annual LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day on Wednesday, March 25. More than 50 people from across the country whose lives have been impacted by lung cancer will travel to Washington, D.C. to meet with their members of Congress. These LUNG FORCE heroes, who include lung cancer survivors, caregivers and loved ones, will share their personal stories with lawmakers and ask them to support $51.3 billion in research funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and $11.6 billion in public health funding for the Centers for Disease Control Prevention (CDC), as well as improve access to quality, affordable healthcare coverage.

"Lung cancer is a devastating disease that impacts far too many families. It is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. But thanks to the courageous advocacy of our LUNG FORCE Heroes, who are using their voices to inspire action, we have made significant strides to defeat this disease," said Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association. "That's why we are calling on Congress to keep up the momentum by supporting lifesaving research funding for NIH and public health funding for CDC, and improving access to quality, affordable healthcare coverage. These three asks are critical for developing the next generation of treatments and cures, funding state cancer prevention initiatives so fewer people get this disease and ensuring everyone can access the screening and treatments they need."

Since 2016, thousands of LUNG FORCE Heroes from across the country have put a human face to the nation's leading cause of cancer death and urged lawmakers to support robust, sustainable and predictable federal funding increases for lung cancer research and prevention, as well as quality and affordable healthcare. These efforts have contributed to increasing the five-year lung cancer survival rate to nearly 30%, which is a 26% increase over the last five years.

On March 25, support the LUNG FORCE Heroes by visiting LUNGFORCE.org/AdvocacyDay, and contact your senators and representative and ask them to support $51.3 billion in research funding for the NIH and $11.6 billion in public health funding for the CDC, as well as improve access to quality, affordable healthcare coverage.

For more details about the American Lung Association's ongoing efforts to end lung cancer, visit LUNGFORCE.org.

About the American Lung Association

The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and to create a tobacco-free future. For more information about the American Lung Association, which has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a Platinum-Level GuideStar Member, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org. To support the work of the American Lung Association, find a local event at Lung.org/events.

About LUNG FORCE

The American Lung Association's LUNG FORCE initiative unites women, men and caregivers across the country to stand together against lung cancer, the leading cancer killer. Increased awareness about lung cancer, more education on lifesaving screening and more research funding are critical to fuel lifesaving breakthroughs. Through education, advocacy and research, LUNG FORCE works to provide hope to all those impacted by the disease and save more lives. Find out more at LUNGFORCE.org.

American Lung Association  55 W. Wacker Drive, Suite 1150  Chicago, IL 60601

1331 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Ste. 1425 North  Washington, D.C. 20004

1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) Lung.org

CONTACT: Victoria O'Neill|American Lung Association

P: 312-273-5890 E: [email protected]

SOURCE American Lung Association


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Gift from Connie and Dennis Keller Honors Legacy of Late University of Chicago President and Strengthens MBL's Path to Financial Sustainability

WOODS HOLE, Mass., March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) today announced the establishment of The Robert Jeffrey Zimmer Chair for Financial Leadership. This gift from Connie and Dennis Keller honors the legacy of the late University of Chicago President, a committed advocate for the MBL. It also honors the long and productive relationship between the MBL and the University of Chicago.

The Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA

The new endowed position will support the MBL's Chief Financial and Operating Officer (CFOO) and reflects the MBL's commitment to strengthening the institution's financial sustainability, while fulfilling its mission of scientific research and education.

Damian Desiderio, MBL's Chief Financial and Operating Officer, will serve as the inaugural holder of the chair. By creating this endowed position, the Kellers highlight the critical role of strong financial and operational leadership in ensuring the institution's continuing excellence.

"We believe the leadership of the Chief Financial and Operating Officer will be crucial to maintaining and advancing the scientific and educational contributions of the MBL," said Connie and Dennis Keller. "At the same time, this role is essential in discovering ways to do more with less, reducing and eliminating deficits to make the MBL financially sustainable."

Through this gift, the Kellers also express their belief in the continued importance of the MBL's work.

"The MBL's storied research and teaching achievements in its nearshore domain have brought enormous benefits to life on Earth and to the Earth itself," the Kellers said. "We are very happy to play a small part in supporting this mission, and we invite others who want to honor Bob Zimmer and the University of Chicago and support the future of the MBL to join us in contributing to this endowment."

About the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL)

The Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) is dedicated to scientific discovery  exploring fundamental biology, understanding marine biodiversity and the environment, and informing the human condition through research and education. Founded in Woods Hole, Massachusetts in 1888, the MBL is a private, nonprofit institution and an affiliate of the University of Chicago. Sixty-three Nobel laureates have been engaged in the research and teaching activities of the MBL.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Samantha Cummis

[email protected]

508-289-7725

SOURCE Marine Biological Laboratory
A young mother who was the victim of a savage assault on a roadside in Co Tipperary on Saturday continued to fight for her life on Sunday.

As the Irish Examiner reports, the victim, named locally as Scarlett Faulkner, 20s, was found by emergency services with catastrophic head injuries on the side of the R494 at Birdhill.

The scene where Ms Faulkner was found seriously injured, a short distance from the lakeside towns of Ballina and Killaloe, located between Nenagh and Limerick, remained cordoned off by gardai on Sunday.

Road users who were on the R494 between Birdhill and the M7 motorway between 5pm and 6pm on Saturday are asked to contact gardai.

In particular, they are seeking information on the movements of two vehicles, a grey 162 Ford Transit van and a blue 161 Volkswagen Touran people carrier, travelling in convoy or driving dangerously in the area between 4.30pm and 5.30pm.

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Gardai said they are aware of video footage of the incident circulating online and have asked people not to share it on social media or messaging apps.

Gardai were working on several theories as to the background of the assault, including that Ms Faulkner may have been travelling in a car that was rammed by a group in another vehicle, dragged from her car, and attacked with implements at the side of the roadway.

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Ms Faulkner was initially attended to by HSE paramedics at the scene and then airlifted by a Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter to University Hospital Limerick (UHL) on Saturday evening.

Doctors continued to monitor her at UHL, where she underwent scans as her devastated family maintained a vigil.

On Sunday, paramedics transferred Ms Faulkner from UHL to Cork University Hospital's head trauma unit, where her condition remained serious.

Family members posted photographs of Ms Faulkner on social media and asked that people pray that she would recover from her injuries, which gardai described as critical.
A woman who was orally raped when she was a child has said she refuses to remain silent anymore about the abuse.

Noel O'Neill (30) was convicted after a trial earlier this year at the Central Criminal Court of three counts of raping the child when she aged between six and 12 years old by putting his penis into her mouth.

The offending started in October 2012 when O'Neill was aged 17. The last offence took place in October 2018 when he was aged 22.

O'Neill, of Castlekeely Lawn, Daingean, Co Offaly had pleaded not guilty to the three offences, which were committed at his former family home in Edenderry, Co Offaly.

In her victim impact statement, the victim, now aged 19, told the court that she was waiving her anonymity so that O'Neill could be identified.

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I refuse to remain silent anymore, she stated.

In her statement, read into court by prosecuting counsel Fionnuala O'Sullivan SC, the woman said that what O'Neill did took her innocence away and lived on in her mind every day.

She said his refusal to own up to what he did broke me even further.

The court process traumatised me. Being forced to relive the worst moments of my life; it felt like being abused again.

I felt small and vulnerable, she said. She said there were times that she felt that ending my life would be easier than going on with the trial.

She said the abuse changed who she was, and she struggles every day with its effects.

The damage isn't visible, but it is constant. I feel empty, mentally the scars will never fade.

I struggle every day, I can barely leave my bed. I am scared of relationships, I am scared of the future, she said.

Sexual assaults

Garda Tara Corrigan told the court that the victim first disclosed the sexual assaults in 2021 to her mother, who knew O'Neill through another relationship.

The court heard that O'Neill would get the victim to play a game called guess the finger where he would put a hat on her head and over her eyes and tell her he was going to put his fingers in her mouth.

O'Neill would initially put fingers into her mouth but at some point, he would place his penis into her mouth. On the last occasion in 2018, the victim was able to see through the material of the hat and saw what O'Neill was doing.

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Evidence

Ms O'Sullivan told the court that the victim's evidence was that these games took place every second Sunday for a few years. During the trial O'Neill gave evidence before the jury during which he denied the allegations.

Ireland Stephen McCullagh found guilty of murdering Natalie McNally Read more

Barry Ward SC, defending, asked the court to take into consideration as mitigating factors his client's young age at the time, his lack of any other criminal offending and his good history of employment.

A reference from the defendant's employers, which described him as trustworthy and well-mannered, was handed into court on his behalf. Mr Ward said there is evidence that the offences carried out by his client were an aberration.

Justice Eileen Creedon adjourned finalisation of the case to June 15 next and remanded O'Neill in continuing custody to that date.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help. In the case of an emergency, always dial 999/112.
A self-described jihadist who set fire to a pub owned by Conor McGregor and later stabbed a garda on a Dublin street while shouting 'Allahu Akbar' told detectives he was inspired by the founder of Isis, Musab al-Zarqawi, and had pledged his allegiance to the terrorist organisation.

A sentencing hearing at the three-judge Special Criminal Court also heard on Monday that 24-year-old Abdullah Khan, who describes himself as a Salafi jihadist, is part of a "wider group of people of a like-minded mindset".

Det Inspector Gavin Ross of the Garda Special Detective Unit said an investigation is ongoing with lines of inquiry still open.

He said that statements made to gardai by Khan's associates are also the subject of ongoing investigations.

Khan's defence counsel, Michael Bowman SC, suggested that there may be others who are "operating in the shadows" and preferred to have Khan, who has a history of social isolation, depression and paranoia, operating in broad daylight.

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Motivation

Ross said that when Khan was asked for the motivation behind his crimes, he said he wanted to send a message to McGregor and others with a "right-wing mindset" not to insult the Prophet Muhammad.

He said he was angry that the State allowed people to insult the Prophet and attacked the garda to show his anger and make his protest known.

He said he had listened to speeches by al-Zarqawi, who was killed in 2006, and was inspired by them. He said he found al-Zarqawi "charismatic" and his message resonated with him.

Khan, with an address in Dublin that cannot be published due to a court order, previously pleaded guilty to eight charges.

He was charged that on July 25th 2025, at the Black Forge Inn, Drimnagh Road, Dublin 12, he committed arson by pouring petrol on the front door of the pub and lighting it with a match.

He was charged four days later, on July 29th 2025, at Capel Street, he assaulted Gda Gary Lynch causing him harm, and attempted to assault Gda Patrick Nevin.

He was further charged with producing a knife during the same incident and two counts of endangerment, in that he intentionally or recklessly engaged in conduct which created a substantial risk of death or serious harm to the two gardai.

Khan was further charged with two counts of engaging in terrorist activity or terrorist-linked activity on the dates of each offence.

Det Sgt Liam McLoughlin told the sentencing hearing that Lynch and Nevin were on foot patrol near Little Britain Street in Dublin city when Khan ran up behind them carrying a knife and stabbed Gda Lynch in the arm while shouting 'Allahu Akbar'.

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The gardai put distance between themselves and their attacker as he continued to wield the knife and tried to move towards them.

They used their 'ASP' batons and pepper spray, and a member of the public brought Khan to the ground before the two gardai moved in to arrest.

Lynch suffered two lacerations to his arm that required stitches and nerve damage that required surgery.

In a victim impact statement handed into court, the garda described his "shock and disbelief" that there was nothing he could do to prevent such a violent attack.

He described ongoing pain, discomfort and stress.

During his first interview following his arrest, Khan immediately admitted to setting fire to Mr McGregor's pub four days earlier, saying it was "better to get that over with now than have it come back to me later."

Khan said he came from a professional family, but when he had issues with his mental health, he resisted their efforts to find help and he became homeless for some months prior to the offences.

Radicalised

Det Insp Ross told prosecution senior counsel Gerardine Small SC that the Special Detective Unit (SDU) became involved due to the concern that Khan had been radicalised by Islam.

The use of the term, Allahu Akbar and an attack on police was similar to terrorist attacks elsewhere in Europe, he said.

In his first interview with the SDU, Khan said it was "undeniable" that what he had done was terrorism. He later explained that from the age of 18, he had started listening to people like al-Zarqawi online, and his beliefs progressed in his early 20s.

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Det Insp Ross said Salafi Jihadism is a puritanical and literal interpretation of Muslim law that was adopted by Isis.

In his interviews, Khan referenced the four core principles of Salafi, including a rejection of man-made laws and the ability to declare those who do not follow the religion as apostates and legitimate targets.

His beliefs removed prohibitions on attacking members of the security forces in any country where the State does not follow a literal interpretation of the Koran, the inspector said.

Ross said that when it became more difficult to visit ISIS territory in Iraq and Syria, the leaders of the movement declared that individuals could take responsibility for their own jihad wherever they lived.

During his garda interviews, Khan declared his support for Isis ideology, saying he had a love for them and had pledged his allegiance to the organisation.

Insults

Khan spoke of being motivated by insults against the prophet by "people with a right-wing mindset" and said he was angry at the Irish State.

He described such insults as "outrageous and unacceptable" and said they made him sad and angry.

He said McGregor had helped the far-right to grow in Ireland, so he held him responsible for the insults.

He said he wanted McGregor to know that he was "playing dangerous games". He added: "When it comes to the prophet, we don't see it as a matter of freedom of speech." He said insults to the prophet are always provocative, and there is a "duty on the state anywhere in the world" to denounce such insults.

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Ireland Man convicted of orally raping woman when she was a child Read more

When he attacked Gda Lynch, he said he did not expect his victim to die, but he wanted to "injure him to make the point".

He added: "This was a message to the Irish government that if, under the name of free speech, you insult our prophet, there will be people who are angry."

In mitigation, Bowman asked the court to consider his client's early guilty plea and his admissions to gardai. He said his client was in a "state of mental crisis" and apologises to his victims.

Justice Karen O'Connor, presiding, commended the bravery of the two gardai who arrested Khan. She adjourned sentencing to April 20th and remanded Khan in continuing custody.
A clinical nurse manager who failed to call an ambulance for a dementia patient who drank cleaning fluid has been suspended from the nurses register for nine months by the president of the High Court.

Ann Marie Ryan, a registered psychiatric nurse, with an address at Milford, Co Donegal, is to remain suspended until she has successfully completed three courses, including dealing with emergencies, ethics and leadership in nursing.

High Court president Judge David Barniville, confirming the decision of The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland following an inquiry by the fitness to practice committee, said there was no good reason why it should not be confirmed.

The judge noted that Ryan, in an email to solicitors for The Nursing and Midwifery Board in November last year, had indicated she was not seeking to reregister as a nurse in 2026, and she claimed the facts were incorrect.

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The inquiry by the Fitness to Practise Committee found that two allegations were proven against Ryan, and it amounted to poor professional performance and non-compliance with a code of professional conduct.

They relate to an incident at a psychiatric unit in the east of the country where at the time in March 2021, Ryan was a clinical nurse manager and the nurse in charge.

The allegations include that after being notified by a staff nurse of a medical emergency in relation to the patient who had ingested a cleaning fluid, Ryan failed to act in a timely manner, did not call an ambulance and instructed nursing staff who were monitoring the patient not to call an ambulance.

Ireland Owners of demolished Meath house swear not to interfere with ongoing clean-up works at site Read more

The second allegation, which was found to be proven, was that Ryan had instructed a staff nurse to continue giving the patient water and observe her despite the fact that the staff nurse had advised that the patient needed to be taken to hospital.

The inquiry was held over three days in February last year. Evidence was heard that a doctor who happened to be on site at the unit was asked by Ryan to attend to the woman, and he advised an ambulance be called.

A nurse gave evidence that an ambulance was called but the patient died days later in hospital.

Ryan, who is now a director of education, training and professional development at a major psychiatric hospital in Dubai, chose not to attend the inquiry.
The owners of a now-demolished house built without planning permission almost two decades ago have sworn in the High Court not to interfere with ongoing clean-up works at the site.

Chris and Rose Murray appeared before Judge Richard Humphreys on Monday after gardai arrested them at the Four Courts on foot of a court order for their attachment.

The Murrays arrest followed the judges finding that they were in civil contempt of undertakings to give Meath County Council vacant possession of their house at Faughan Hill, Bohermeen, Co Meath.

The couple mounted five unsuccessful retention bids, and three failed appeals to keep the 588sq m (6,220sq ft) home intact. The Murrays attempts to save the house failed last November when the Supreme Court declined to hear the case.

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The house was demolished last week after the council took possession of it.

At Mondays hearing, the judge discharged the order of attachment against the Murrays after they gave various undertakings under oath.

In addition to swearing not to interfere with the councils ongoing works at the site, the Murrays swore they would assist gardai in identifying third parties who may seek to obstruct the works.

The court heard evidence from a garda witness of purported threats made to contractors working at the demolition site. No formal complaint was made to the Garda in respect of the alleged incidents, the court heard.

Neil McNelis, a solicitor for the Murrays, stressed his clients disassociated themselves from any acts of criminality or unlawful interference.

In the witness box, Chris Murray said the property was his until it was flattened last week, and was now a ball of rubble.

He said that he wanted to get out of the court with his wife and return to his family. He also referred to the repossession of the house last week, claiming his children were dragged from the kitchen table by masked men.

Rose Murray, in the witness box, said there was no property left, that it was a pile of rubble.

Det Sgt Mark Looby gave evidence of arresting the Murrays at the Four Court prior to Monday's hearing.

The detective also gave evidence of complaints raised by contract workers at the demolition site.

He said he was aware a haulage subcontractor received a call on Friday from an individual with a Northern Irish accent. The contractor described how the caller advised him not to have anything to do with removing rubble from the site, the detective said.

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The caller said that if an individual named the Bull heard of the contractor moving rumble, "there will be nothing left of his own home, the detective said.

The haulage company withdrew their services as a result, the court heard.

Looby said he was also aware of an alleged incident involving a security van being burned out near the property.

Ireland Woman tells Confirmation congregation she allegedly had bomb strapped to her Read more

McNelis, for the Murrays, complained to the judge that he was not on notice of the detectives evidence, and said it was hearsay on hearsay. The judge said the evidence was being heard de bene esse, or provisionally, without determining admissibility.

He added that it served his client no benefit for people to indulge in criminality.

The Murrays are seeking to bring a case to the European Court of Human Rights, claiming a breach of their rights.

The case returns next month.
The victim of a fake taxi scam was pushed out of a moving vehicle, a court has heard.

Maria Muntean (37) was driving a black Volkswagen car, which pulled upside beside the 19-year-old victim, who had fallen asleep while waiting for a night bus near Kildare Street on March 19th, 2023.

Her son, Damit Rostas (22) got out of the car and offered the injured party a taxi. The victim agreed, then got into the back of the car beside Rostas.

The victim asked to go to Portobello, as he believed at this point it was a legitimate taxi and plugged his phone in to charge.

At some point, he felt the car was going the wrong way and asked to be let out. Rostas told him he had to pay the fare, and there was a discussion that the injured party would pay this using Revolut.

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Rostas took his bank card, saying he would sort out the fare.

As the car drove along Serpentine Avenue, a marked garda patrol car was behind it. Det Gda Kelly said they saw a rear passenger door open, and the victim pushed out of the moving car onto the road.

The car continued to drive, and the gardai activated their blue lights, signalling for it to stop.

After it pulled over, the victim came up to gardai while they were speaking to Muntean and Rostas, explaining that he had been robbed of his bank card.

Detective Garda Gillian Duffy told Shaun Smith BL, prosecuting, that this was a fake taxi scam where a drunk person was preyed upon and offered an illegal taxi.

Muntean, of Swanhall Apartments, Belgard Square West, Tallaght, Dublin 24, pleaded guilty to robbery and endangerment.

Her son Damit Rostas (22) of Virginia Hall, Belgard Square, Tallaght Dublin 24 received a sentence of 27 months last year at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his role.

The victims phone was later found in Rostas underpants during a search at the garda station. A victim impact statement was handed into the court and not read aloud.

Nothing of evidential value was obtained when Muntean was interviewed. She has 50 previous convictions, including 16 for theft and 20 for trading offences.

Det Gda Kelly accepted a suggestion from Gregory Murphy BL, defending, that his client was the follower while her son was more of a leader.

It was further accepted that Muntean complied with her bail conditions and the majority of her previous convictions were from the District Court.

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Murphy told the court his client has seven children, the youngest of whom has serious medical issues and requires significant ongoing care.

Counsel said he is instructed to apologise to the court and the injured party and that his client takes full responsibility. A gesture of remorse of 1000 was also available.

Murphy noted his clients most recent conviction was from 2021 and that she has some work history after coming to this jurisdiction in 2002.

He asked the court to differentiate between the roles played by Muntean and her son.

He said the court often sees in families that come from Romania, in which the males are the leaders while the females are more subservient.

Murphy submitted that his client has turned her life around and asked the court to consider imposing a suspended prison sentence.

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After hearing the facts of the case on Monday, Judge Martin Nolan said this was a rather serious offence and it was very hard to say if Muntean would re-offend, given her record of previous conviction, adding that the courts are always optimistic.

He said the court was aware when considering a custodial sentence of the potential impact on third parties, especially children.

However, the judge said the court had concluded that the defendant could not avoid a custodial term on the basis of what she had done.

Judge Nolan said the court would give Muntean time for arrangements to be made for the care of the child and adjourned finalisation until May, remanding her on continuing bail.
Irans defence council has threatened to deploy naval mines across the entire Persian Gulf if a land invasion happens.

The council issued the statement as concern in Tehran grows about the potential arrival of US marines in the region.

Any attempt by the enemy to target Irans coasts or islands will, naturally and in accordance with established military practice, lead to the mining of all access routes  in the Persian Gulf and along the coasts, the council said.

The US has been trying to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, to energy shipments.

US marines could come ashore to seize either islands or territory in Iran to support that mission. Israel also has suggested a ground operation could take part in the war.

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Earlier, Iran warned it will strike electrical plants across the Middle East if US president Donald Trump follows through on his threat to bomb power stations in the Islamic Republic.

The threat by Tehran puts at risk both electrical supplies and water in the Gulf Arab states, particularly as the desert nations commingle their power stations with desalination plants crucial for drinking water supplies.

Following the threat, Irans semi-official Fars news agency published a list of such facilities, including the United Arab Emirates nuclear power plant.

Over the weekend, Iran launched missiles targeting Dimona in Israel, near a facility key to its long-suspected atomic weapons programme. The Israeli facility was not damaged in the barrage.

Mr Trump said the US would attack Irans power stations unless the country releases its stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz.



Israeli air strikes have continued on targets in Lebanon (AP)

His self-declared 48-hour deadline expires just before midnight GMT on Tuesday, further raising the stakes of the ongoing war with Iran that has disrupted global energy supplies, sending natural gas and petrol prices soaring.

Fatih Birol, the head of the Paris-based International Energy Agency, said: No country will be immune to the effects of this crisis if it continues to go in this direction.

He told Australias National Press Club in Canberra on Monday that the crisis in the Middle East has had a worse impact on energy markets than the two oil shocks of the 1970s and the Russia-Ukraine war combined.

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On Monday, Israel launched new attacks on the Iranian capital, saying it had begun a wide-scale wave of strikes on infrastructure targets in Tehran.





 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

United States Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper claimed in an interview that Iran was launching missiles and drones from populated areas, and suggested those areas would be targeted.

You need to stay inside for right now, Admiral Cooper told Iranian civilians on Monday in the interview with the Farsi-language satellite network Iran International.

There will be a clear signal at some point, as the president has indicated, for you to be able to come out.

Air defences in the United Arab Emirates intercepted a ballistic missile near the Al Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi, and one person on the ground was injured when hit with shrapnel.



Mr Trump has threatened to target Iranian power plants (AP)

Warning sirens sounded in Bahrain and Kuwait, while Saudi Arabias defence ministry said it had intercepted a missile targeting Riyadh, and had destroyed drones over the kingdoms oil-rich Eastern Province.

Oil prices remained stubbornly high in early trading, with the price of Brent crude, the international standard at around 112 dollars a barrel, up nearly 55% since Israel and the US started the war on February 28 by attacking Iran.

The war has also caused wild fluctuations in global stock markets as traders grow increasingly concerned about a world energy crisis and other issues.

In addition to targeting Israel and American bases, Iran has been hitting the energy infrastructure of its Gulf Arab neighbours.

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It also has a tight grip on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which leads from the Persian Gulf toward the open ocean and through which a fifth of the worlds oil is shipped, along with other important commodities.



International Energy Agency executive director Fatih Birol has warned over a looming energy crisis (AAP/AP)

Mr Trump said in a social media post that if Tehran did not open the strategic waterway to all ships, the United States would obliterate Irans power plants.

Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said on Monday that if the US did that, Iran would respond by hitting power plants in all areas that supply electricity to American bases, as well as the economic, industrial and energy infrastructures in which Americans have shares.

The Fars news agency, which is close to the Revolutionary Guard, published a list of such sites in what appeared to be a veiled threat, including desalination plants as well as the UAEs Barakah nuclear power plant, which has four reactors out in the western deserts of the country near its border with Saudi Arabia. The judiciarys Mizan news agency also published the list.

Iran has also said it will completely close the strait if Mr Trump follows through with the threat to attack Iranian power plants.

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf also said Iran would then consider vital infrastructure across the region  including energy and desalination facilities critical for drinking water in Gulf nations  as legitimate targets.





PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH. pic.twitter.com/KfFqefMrId  The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 23, 2026

In his first one-on-one interview since the war started, Admiral Cooper said the campaign against Iran is ahead or on plan and that the US and Israel were targeting infrastructure and manufacturing facilities to destroy Irans capabilities to rebuild its military.

Its not just about the threat today, he said. Were eliminating the threat of the future, both in terms of the drones, the missiles as well as the navy.

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He suggested Iran could bring a quick end to the war if it stopped firing back, though did not say whether that would prompt Israel and the US to relent before all infrastructure targets have been destroyed.

They could stop this war right now, absolutely, if they chose to do so, he said of Iran. They need to stop putting the wonderful Iranian people at risk by firing missiles and drones from inside populated areas. They need to stop immediately attacking civilians throughout the Middle East region.

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.

In Lebanon, authorities say Israeli strikes targeting Iran-linked militia Hezbollah have killed more than 1,000 people and displaced more than one million. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has fired hundreds of rockets into Israel.
Emmanuel Gregoire, a Socialist little known to the French public, has been elected as mayor of Paris in a run-off vote, succeeding fellow party member Anne Hidalgo.

Soon after claiming victory, Mr Gregoire, 48, took a city bike through the streets of Paris toward City Hall, echoing his promise to make the French capital greener.

Mr Gregoire won more than 50% of the votes, beating prominent conservative contender Rachida Dati on 41%, while hard-left contender Sophia Chikirou received 8%.

The race for Paris mayor was part of Frances second round of municipal elections. Sundays vote showed clear gains for the traditional left and right, and one major win for the far right in the French Riviera city of Nice.



Anne Hidalgo greeted her successor in the French capital (AP)

Long a discreet figure in French politics, Mr Gregoire had for years worked by Ms Hidalgos side.

Ms Hidalgo was elected in 2014 and re-elected in 2020 but chose not to seek a third six-year term after leading the city through the 2015 extremist attacks and the 2024 Paris Olympics.

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Mr Gregoire, for whom the housing issue has been central to his campaign, has repeatedly said that Airbnb is my enemy.

Im fine with Parisians renting out their primary residence when they go on vacation. But I dont want entire neighbourhoods in Paris to be emptied of their residents because apartments are used exclusively to house tourists, he said during the campaign.

With Paris long one of the worlds top tourist destinations, tens of thousands of apartments are used as tourist rentals instead of being available to Parisians, Mr Gregoire said.

He pledged to create 60,000 new social and affordable housing units as mayor.

Mr Gregoire hit the headlines recently after he revealed he had been a victim of sexual abuse while in elementary school between the ages of nine and 10.



Mr Gregoire has pledged to make Paris greener (AP)

This is the story of a child who  was sexually abused for several months during after-school activities at a municipal swimming pool, Mr Gregoire told France Inter Radio last year. At the time, I couldnt find the strength, the means, or the words to express that pain and suffering.

Child abuse has been a key topic in Paris electoral campaign, as several reports of alleged abuse in Paris public schools recently broke out, which Mr Gregoire said reopened his own scar.

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Mr Gregoire was long seen in the Socialist camp as the favourite to succeed Ms Hidalgo, but a dispute between the two in 2024 almost derailed his bid.

Anne Hidalgo didnt back me. She did everything she could to torpedo my candidacy. I am neither her candidate nor her heir, Mr Gregoire told the Franceinfo news broadcaster about the feud last month.

However, Mr Gregoire acknowledged their closely shared views but said his approach is different, describing himself as available, accessible and always listening.

Ms Hidalgo initially supported another Socialist figure to succeed her, but she ultimately endorsed Mr Gregoire after he was chosen as mayoral candidate by party members last year.

She welcomed him with a hug and a rose at the City Hall on Sunday evening, praising his very, very beautiful victory.
PITTSBURGH, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Mindmatrix (mindmatrix.net), the pioneer of the industry's only unified Channel Operating System, has been honored with the AI Pioneer Award by Baptie & Company at Partner TechX 2026 (#PTX2026). The award recognizes the company's continuous dedication to driving significant AI innovation within the channel and partnership ecosystem through its flagship software, Mindmatrix BridgeAI.

Mindmatrix BridgeAI Wins 2026 "AI Pioneer Award" for Unified PRM and Partner Marketing at PartnerTechX

During the PartnerTechX event, Mindmatrix demonstrated how its platform is actively redefining the partner ecosystem. Everything Mindmatrix builds is centered on a powerful, AI-powered, four-pillar framework designed to elevate modern sales ecosystems:

Partner Relationship Management (PRM) [Think  Build  Operate]: BridgeAI by Mindmatrix moves beyond static databases with automated onboarding and multi-tier lead management. Powered by intelligent agents that enhance productivity for partners and internal teams, it provides AI-driven partner insights and real-time pipeline visibility without the manual chase. Partner Marketing (TCMA) [To  Through  With  For]: Mindmatrix bridges the "Content Gap" by making assets instantly usable through automated social selling and co-branded video. With powerful generative AI capabilities, users can transform a single piece of corporate content into thousands of personalized partner campaigns instantly. This also features Byte-size Learning, offering TikTok-style enablement built for the future of partner training. The Marketplace [Discover  Configure  Procure]: BridgeAI provides a self-service storefront where partners can seamlessly bundle vendor technology with their own services. Intelligent matchmaking leverages AI to deliver cross-sell and up-sell suggestions during the quoting process to maximize overall Deal Value. Ecosystem Orchestration [Connect  Enable  Orchestrate]: Mindmatrix BridgeAI unifies all partner types, including Referral, Reseller, Software, Technology and Alliance partners, into a single, cohesive revenue engine. Ecosystem Intelligence uses AI to identify influence revenue and suggest strategic partner teaming to win complex enterprise accounts.

This prestigious award represents a major milestone in a 28-year journey for Mindmatrix. Always ahead of the curve, Mindmatrix has successfully evolved since its founding during the dot-com era. Two years ago, the company officially shifted its focus from "DOT-COM to "DOT-AI."

"The opportunity before us today is ten times bigger than anything we have seen in the past," said Harbinder Khera, CEO of Mindmatrix. "Winning the AI Pioneer Award is an incredible honor and a testament to our team's hard work, but we are just getting started. We are taking on a massive new challenge to make a global impact. In the coming months, we are preparing for a major AI-driven launch that will combine nearly three decades of experience with cutting-edge technology. The ultimate goal is to elevate partner marketing, partner enablement, and CAM/PAM enablement to an entirely new level by focusing on what matters most: the undeniable value of human relationships."

About Mindmatrix

Mindmatrix is an AI-native Partner Operating System that consolidates PRM, Through-Channel Marketing (TCMA), Channel Sales Enablement, and Partner Ecosystem Orchestration into a single, high-performance partner technology solution. Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Mindmatrix serves enterprise, midmarket, and early stage partner organizations across 25+ countries, consistently recognized as an IDC PRM Leader and a Forrester Wave Leader in Partner Marketing.

The Mindmatrix platform provides a unified "pane of glass" for the entire partner lifecycle, including automated onboarding, deal registration, co-selling, and MDF management, along with many other solutions needed to manage your partnerships. Unlike fragmented legacy systems, Mindmatrix utilizes a single code base to eliminate administrative debt and manual synching processes.

The platform's core differentiator is BridgeAI, an embedded agentic architecture that powers hyper-personalized partner journeys, automated profiling, and "next-best-action" workflows. This intelligence layer drives 40-70% gains in marketing execution and activates partners 30-60% faster. By integrating bi-directionally with Salesforce, HubSpot, and Microsoft Dynamics, Mindmatrix ensures seamless data continuity while offering the flexibility of an unlimited user and partner model. Organizations choose Mindmatrix to transform their indirect channels from static portals into predictable, high-adoption partner revenue growth engines.

SOURCE Mindmatrix
The top commander of the US militarys Central Command said the campaign against Iran is ahead or on plan, as the Israeli military began what it called a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting Iranian terror regime infrastructure early on Monday.

As US President Donald Trumps deadline on opening the Strait of Hormuz approaches, Iran on Monday threatened to attack Middle East electrical plants powering American military bases.

US Navy Admiral Brad Cooper gave his first one-on-one interview of the war to the Farsi-language satellite network Iran International, which aired it early on Monday.

He said Irans continued attacks on Gulf Arab states and the wider Middle East region put civilians at risk and that the US and Israel were targeting missile and drone manufacturing sites as well.

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Were also going after the manufacturing, he said. So its not just about the threat today. Were eliminating the threat of the future, both in terms of the drones, the missiles, as well as the navy.



Smoke rises from an Israeli airstrike that hit the Qasmiyeh Bridge near the coastal city of Tyre, Lebanon, on Sunday (AP Photo/Mohammad Zaatari)

Mr Cooper also said it is not the time for the Iranian public to come to the streets, although both Israel and the US have said they hope the Iranian public would topple the countrys theocracy as a result of the strikes.

Theyre launching missiles and drones from populated areas and you need to stay inside for right now, he said. There will be a clear signal at some point, as the president has indicated, for you to be able to come out.

Theyre operating in a sign of desperation. In the last couple of weeks, theyve attacked civilian targets very deliberately, more than 300 times.

He also noted the slowdown in Iranian incoming fire across the Middle East as the war has entered its fourth week.

At the beginning of the conflict, you saw large volumes in the dozens of drones and missiles, Mr Cooper said.

You no longer see that. Its all one or two at a time.

Israel did not elaborate on the latest strikes, but Iranian media reported Tehran was being targeted early on Monday without identifying any locations.





PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH. pic.twitter.com/KfFqefMrId  The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 23, 2026

The previous day, Tehran warned it could attack US and Israeli energy and infrastructure assets if Israel or the US attempted to follow through on President Donald Trumps threat that the US would obliterate Irans power plants if it did not fully open the Strait of Hormuz.

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.

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A statement from Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, read out on state television on Monday morning, marks the latest attempt by Tehran to try to explain its attacks on the Gulf Arab countries.

What we have done is to announce our decision that if the power plants are attacked, Iran will retaliate by targeting the power plants of the occupying regime and the power plants of regional countries that supply electricity to US bases, as well as the economic, industrial and energy infrastructures in which Americans have shares, the statement said, referring to Israel as an occupying regime.

Do not doubt that we will do this.

The US president wrote on his Truth Social website early on Monday: PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, TO PUT IT MILDLY!!!

Earlier, Israels military said it detected missiles launched from Iran toward central Israel and parts of the occupied West Bank.

Loud booms were heard in Tel Aviv, where cluster bomblets hit several places earlier on Sunday.



People look at residential buildings damaged by an Iranian missile strike in Arad, southern Israel, on Sunday (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said their air defences were dealing with missile and drone attacks from Iran early on Monday, while air raid sirens sounded in Bahrain.

An Indian national living in the UAE was hurt by falling shrapnel after the interception of a ballistic missile over an industrial area near Al Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi, authorities said on Monday.

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In Saudi Arabia, the Defence Ministry said it destroyed drones in the kingdoms oil-rich Eastern Province.

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that maritime traffic is not passing through the Strait of Hormuz because insurance companies are concerned about the US-initiated war, not because of Irans actions.

Freedom of Navigation cannot exist without Freedom of Trade. Respect bothor expect neither, Mr Araghchi wrote on X. He added that further threats will not sway Iranians nor insurers.

Mr Araghchi wrote to the UN Security Council, urging them to compel the aggressors to immediately cease all unlawful attacks and make them pay reparations for damage to Irans nuclear and other sites. Irans main enrichment site, Natanz, was struck again on Saturday.



A cargo ship carrying vehicles sails through the Arabian Gulf toward the Strait of Hormuz in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday (AP)

Iran insisted safe passage in the Strait of Hormuz is possible for non-enemies. A Foreign Ministry statement said vessels, equipment and any capacities belonging to the US and Israel, as well as other participants in the aggression, do not qualify.

It also said any security arrangements in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Sea of Oman must be coordinated with Irans competent authorities, while taking into account realities around armed conflict.

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An Israeli strike in the Gaza Strip hit a vehicle in the central Nuseirat refugee camp and killed three police officers, according to officials with Awda Hospital.

Eight others were wounded, the officials said, and another Palestinian was killed in Gaza City, according to Shifa hospital.

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 that no one was killed.

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 death toll from the war has risen to more than 1,500 people in Iran, more than 1,000 people in Lebanon, 15 in Israel and 13 US military members, as well as a number of civilians on land and sea in the Gulf region. Millions of people in Lebanon and Iran have been displaced.
President Donald Trump says Iran wants to make a deal, and claims US envoys have been holding talks with a respected Iranian leader.

Mr Trump told reporters on Monday that his Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner conducted talks on Sunday into the evening.

He said talks would continue today.

Mr Trump did not name any official or officials representing Tehran.



(PA Graphics)

Mr Trump said the US has not talked to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.

The US president added that if a deal is reached, the US will move to take Irans enriched uranium critical to its disputed nuclear programme.

However, on Monday Irans parliament speaker denied there have been any negotiations with the United States.

Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf wrote on X that No negotiations have been held with the US, and fakenews is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped.

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Earlier, Mr Trump extended his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying the US will hold off on power plant strikes for five days.

Mr Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social site, just hours ahead of a deadline later in the day.

Writing in all capital letters, he said the US and Iran have had very good and productive conversations that could yield a complete and total resolution in the war.

Talks will continue throughout the week, Mr Trump said.

Shortly after Mr Trump made the announcement, Iranian state television put up a graphic that read: US president backs down following Irans firm warning.



(PA Graphics)

Mr Trump did not elaborate on the diplomatic negotiations that had taken place.

Iran did not immediately acknowledge any talks between the countries, but foreign minister Abbas Araghchi did say he spoke by phone with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan.

Turkey has been an intermediary before in negotiations between Tehran and Washington.

Mr Trumps announcement came as the United Arab Emirates reported its air defence was attempting to intercept new incoming Iranian fire on Monday afternoon.

Mr Trump said that the suspension of his threat to attack power plants was subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions.





The war, now in its fourth week, has already seen several dramatic turning points  the killing of Irans supreme leader, the bombing of a key Iranian gas field, and strikes targeting oil and gas facilities and other civilian infrastructure in Gulf Arab nations.

The conflict has killed more than 2,000 people, shaken the global economy, sent oil prices surging, and endangered some of the worlds busiest air corridors.

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Mr Trumps ultimatum and Irans promise of retaliation threatened to raise the stakes yet again, with potentially catastrophic repercussions for civilians across the region.

If carried out, the attacks could cut electricity to wide swaths of people in Iran and around the Gulf and knock out desalination plants that provide many desert nations with drinking water.

There are also increasing concerns about the consequences any of strikes on nuclear facilities.

The fever pitch of the rhetoric shows how the war has spiralled to a point unimaginable at the start of the conflict on February 28, when the United States and Israel began bombing Iran.



Iranian Red Crescent emergency workers use a bulldozer to clear rubble from a residential building in Tehran (Vahid Salemi/AP)

Meanwhile, Israel launched new attacks on Monday on the Iranian capital, saying it had begun a wide-scale wave of strikes on infrastructure targets in Tehran without immediately elaborating.

Explosions were heard in multiple locations in the afternoon. It was not immediately clear what had been hit.

With the US deploying more amphibious assault ships and additional Marines to the Middle East, Iran warned against any ground attack.

Any attempt by the enemy to target Irans coasts or islands will, naturally and in accordance with established military practice, lead to the mining of all access routes  in the Persian Gulf and along the coasts, Irans Defence Council warned said in a statement.

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The widespread use of mines could imperil not only military vessels but scores of commercial ships waiting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, and a clean-up would last long after the conflict ends.

Mr Trump has said he has no plans to send ground forces into Iran but also has said that he retains all options. Israel has suggested its ground forces could take part in the war.

Israel has also targeted the Iran-linked Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon during the war, while the group has fired hundreds of rockets into Israel.

In recent days, Israel has hit many apartment buildings in Beirut and bombed bridges over the Litani river in the Lebanons south.

Lebanese president Joseph Aoun called the targeting of bridges a prelude to a ground invasion, while Egypt denounced the strikes as the collective punishment of civilians for the actions of Hezbollah.

Authorities say Israeli strikes have killed more than 1,000 people in Lebanon and displaced more than one million.

Irans death toll has surpassed 1,500, its Health Ministry has said. In Israel, 15 people have been killed by Iranian strikes. At least 13 US military members have been killed, along with more than a dozen civilians in the occupied West Bank and Gulf Arab states.
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Review Eating outGlebe Laksa bombs are a Ho Jiak signature. Chef Junda Khoo drops another at his new spin-off Tam Jiaks surf-and-turf concept couldve landed like a bad joke, but the Sydney Fish Market restaurant explores the full spectrum of Malay cooking. David Matthews Updated April 10, 2026 ,first published March 24, 2026 Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

1 / 11 The fitout at Tam Jiak is heavily polished. Edwina Pickles 2 / 11 King crab char kwai teow. Edwina Pickles 3 / 11 Tom yum "bomb" dumplings. Supplied 4 / 11 Edwina Pickles 5 / 11 Tong mo sausage. Edwina Pickles 6 / 11 Cooking pipis in black pepper curry with egg noodles. Edwina Pickles 7 / 11 Edwina Pickles 8 / 11 Black duck with pancakes and condiments. Edwina Pickles 9 / 11 Edwina Pickles 10 / 11 Edwina Pickles 11 / 11 Edwina Pickles Previous Slide Next Slide 14 / 20 How we score Tam Jiak Malaysian$$$$ The Sydney Fish Market, in with the throng of auctions, live tanks and the diversity of its species, has always harboured elements of culinary conservatism. Fixed onto the building like a limpet is an obsession with value and a mild 60s scepticism about the quality of fresh seafood. Your biggest, cheapest lobster drowning in cheese please, cooked until we know its dead. Piles of oysters Kilpatrick and mornay, sweating hard in the hotbox. Decades since it first opened, the market has never really shaken this off. It explains why public discourse, after $836 million launched the new site, undoubtedly the most impressive in the southern hemisphere, continues to fixate on price rather than the vastly improved range or quality. But then, we kind of love this about the market, too. The excess, the appetite, the hulking lobsters, the heaving platters.

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Related Article Exclusive We took Rick Stein to the Sydney Fish Market for what to buy and eat Whats the right restaurant to open here, anyway? Maybe, just maybe, it looks like Tam Jiak. Named for the Hokkien term for gluttonous, it leans into rather than eschews these facets of the Fish Market, embracing the kitsch with a surf-and-turf concept, filtered through the eyes of a Malaysian chef who credits both his amah and Ian Huey Hewitson for inspiring him to cook. Junda Khoo, the chef in question, was one of the first major names to be announced going into the new building. Given his success with the Ho Jiak restaurants  three in Sydney, one in Melbourne  launching another here, just with a stronger seafood presence, would have been the money move. Instead, Tam Jiak brings land and sea together at every opportunity. In some cases, its an overt marriage, like in a tandoori pappadum topped with diced raw tuna and beef striploin, folded together with garam masala over coconut yoghurt, an eye-opening, textural bite. In others, its a more restrained nod, as in the sambal belachan kangkung  a Ho Jiak staple of water spinach stir-fried with shrimp paste  strewn with popping deep-fried hunks of lard and slippery squid rings. King crab char kwai teow. Edwina Pickles

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One of Tam Jiaks strengths is its willingness to explore the full spectrum of Malay cooking. A squid and lamb biryani, like the pappadum, tugs at threads with India. Teow Chew soy sashimi, Nyonya mignonette and plenty more are drawn from the Malay-Chinese repertoire. But then the curry Kilpatrick oysters couldnt exist anywhere other than right here. Deep, bowl-like Pacifics are scattered with bacon, before Khoo spoons over a reduction of curry paste, barbecue sauce and Worcestershire sauce and flashes them under the grill. You have to like grilled oysters to enjoy them, but if you do, its a successful, subversive spin. Tom yum "bombs" (dumplings). Theres so much opportunity for this concept to land like a bad joke  the most expensive thing on the menu served with the second-most expensive thing; lobster stuffed with tacos  but in many instances, the dishes fit neatly in Khoos repertoire. Tom yum bombs, a sequel to Ho Jiaks har mee and laksa bombs, present as dumplings stuffed with chicken, prawn and squid in a galangal and coconut-scented dressing. A tumble of king crab atop the lup cheong-studded char kwai teow brings jolts of sweetness to the fiery, soy-darkened noodles. Tom yum bombs, a sequel to Ho Jiaks har mee and laksa bombs, present as dumplings stuffed with chicken, prawn and squid in a galangal and coconut-scented dressing  all the potency and punch of the soup, wrapped up in neat little packages that literally burst with flavour.

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When Tam Jiak falters, its by trying too hard to hit the brief in every single dish. Its a novel idea to list handmade chicken noodles and to then actually make the noodles out of chicken, fish-paste noodle-style, but their thickness means the things theyre stir-fried with, including thinly shaved conch, dont really cling to them when you pick them up. Glazing duck with squid ink so its skin turns black is striking, but the dish would be better served by getting the texture of the meat more supple first. Tong mo sausage. Edwina Pickles One of Khoos wilder ideas is combining lamb and barramundi in the tong mo, a take on the beef sausage popularised in Malaysia by Cham refugees. But the barramundi flesh does wonders for the texture, supplanting the lamb minces natural mealiness with levity and bounce. Chalk it up as a win, especially wrapped in betel leaves with house hot sauce. Like Khoos more recent openings, the fitout here is heavily polished, the only real colour a vibrant Penchan Pumila artwork inspired by Nyonya batik and Peranakan heritage, which draws the eye to Blackwattle Bay. Despite the soul in the cooking, though, its hard to shake the sense of sitting inside a 3D render, all hard edges and smooth surfaces. Photo: Edwina Pickles

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But then comes the live crab, a big Northern Territory muddie in a cascade of Malaysian chilli. You pull on plastic gloves, crack a claw and suck out the flesh, sweep up the belachan-scented sauce with mantou. You add a bowl of pipis, tossed in black pepper curry, and prise them from their shells. Theres no turf in this section, the concept collapsing into pure, animalistic deliciousness. The mission is admirable, but this is where Tam Jiak makes most sense, centred around exceptional seafood and nothing else. More please. The low-down Atmosphere: A little stilted and stiff, softened by cheery waiters, then broken wide open when a whole crab lands on the table Go-to dishes: Tom yum bomb ($22); king crab char kwai teow ($35); live pipis with black pepper curry (market price); live mud crab with Malaysian chilli and mantou (market price, plus $20 for mantou) Drinks: Restricted to Asahi 0%, teas and mocktails, like an alluring salted plum, calamansi and bitters, until it gets its licence and the bar starts firing. Until then, its BYO, with Fishermans Fine Wines around the corner Cost: About $175 for two, excluding live seafood and drinks Good Food reviews are booked anonymously and paid independently. A restaurant cant pay for a review or inclusion in the Good Food Guide. Related Article Our first verdict on the new Sydney Fish Market Related Article How to make Ho Jiaks signature char kway teow (plus three other cult noodle dishes)
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NationalPetrol prices Opinion Nightmarish decisions lie ahead on fuel rationing, but better to go hard early Allan Fels Former chairman Australian Competition and Consumer Commission March 23, 2026  10:50am

March 23, 2026  10:50am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Fuel rationing is looming as a real possibility in coming weeks. Theres already discussion of some relatively soft steps that could include rationing of access to petrol based on odd/even number plates; driving every second day; working from home; and speed limits. One problem with soft approaches (often proclaimed by governments with much fanfare) is that rather than reducing demand, they induce a rush to the bowsers by a public troubled by the adoption of rationing. The war in Iran has pushed petrol prices to record highs. Jamie Brown It is instructive to look at what happened in World War II. Every vehicle owner received a ration book with coupons that allowed purchases of a fixed amount of petrol. Without a coupon, motorists could not buy petrol. In addition, allocation was prioritised for essential industries (farming, freight, doctors and emergency services). This left very little available for everyday motorists, but supplementary rations were allocated if justified, such as for business needs. There were heavy penalties for black marketing and fuel coupon forgery. The result was a massive decline in the use of personal cars, a surge in public transport use, and greater use of bicycles and carpooling.

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Of course, WWII rationing occurred in a different environment from now. The size of population and number of cars was smaller; the needs of industry and the public were not as complex; most people lived within close walking distance of shops; there was considerable time to set up a rationing system; and, in wartime circumstances, there was general public and nonpartisan support for rationing. Related Article Opinion

Petrol prices Weve survived oil shocks before  by changing our energy use. We must again Nick O'Malley Environment and Climate Editor This wartime approach wont be replicated, but it indicates some of the difficult issues that arise in liquid fuel rationing. What is likely is that federal and state liquid fuel emergency legislation of the 1980s could soon be activated to introduce rationing. Apart from early soft steps, a more substantial early step may be government-enforced allocation to users such as transport, agriculture, industries deemed essential and emergency workers. There will also be special allocations to rural and remote areas.

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The choice of essential users will be controversial, much more than the COVID selections of essential industries and workers. These allocations will mean that less fuel will be available for non-prioritised users, including the public, which will experience disproportionately high cutbacks, shortages, queues and high prices. The higher prices stemming from the shortages themselves play a role in rationing demand, but the effect is modest. The demand for essential fuels is insensitive to price, with a 10 per cent price rise, say, likely to lead to limited cutbacks of perhaps 1 to 2 per cent. A 100 per cent price rise might reduce demand by 10 to 15 per cent. This suggests that very difficult, potentially nightmarish, decisions lie ahead for the government on rationing. But also, whatever form rationing takes, it will require associated price regulation. As motorists already know, they will not be shielded from a painful pass-on of high world fuel prices, but the public will want constant reassurance that the increases do not constitute price-gouging. The present price powers of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission are limited to attacking proven price collusion or false claims about the war as the cause of exorbitant prices. These powers do not address directly the scourge of price gouging.

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Related Article Tony Wrights Column

Middle East tensions Petrol queues and rationing: How Trump and his secretary of war ignored the lessons of history The required legislation may be based on the mild price surveillance laws used in the Iraq-Kuwait War of 1991, or the sterner-but-temporary Howard-Costello laws used for the introduction of the GST in 2000. All of this constitutes a potential horror story to play out if the shortages appear. Meanwhile, Australia will do all it can to protect supplies, or at least to stop a fall in our share of dwindling Asian supplies. Lets hope that theres a solution other than rationing or price control, but the government needs to plan for this contingency, and if it proves to be inevitable, it is better to act sooner rather than later given our limited reserves and the spectre of early fuel price buying, queuing and hoarding. Professor Allan Fels of University of Melbourne and Monash University is former chair of the ACCC. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter.
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Exclusive NationalNSWCourts An open secret: Member of Parkway Drives inner circle admits sex with child Perry Duffin and John Buckley March 23, 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

A touring family member of Parkway Drive, one of Australias most successful rock bands, has pleaded guilty to a child sexual offence, prompting young women to denounce the open secret of the hardcore music scene, where predatory older men targeted female fans with impunity. Jed Chode Gordon, the brother of band drummer Ben Gordon, last week told Byron Bay Local Court he was guilty of sexual intercourse with a person between the ages of 14 and 16 years old. Jed Chode Gordon has pleaded guilty to sexual intercourse with an underage girl. IMDB Parkway Drive has since condemned the behaviour. In response to questions from this masthead, the band said its members did not know about the seriousness of this until last week. They said they completely support the victim. We didnt know about the seriousness of this until last week, Parkway Drive said in a statement, via a spokeswoman.

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Jed always had his issues, just thinking about how he treated people in general and specifically women, but the extent of this 2002 incident is genuinely shocking. We werent a band then, but we bear moral responsibility for contracting him from 2003, on and off, over the years. There were warning signs that we should have taken more seriously. Parkway Drive performing in London last year. Getty Images A journalist and anti-sexual abuse campaigner within the NSW hardcore scene has told this masthead that fans hope it will cause a long-overdue reckoning about predatory behaviour in the music business. Police were told Gordon had texted the girl in 2002 when he was 21 years old and met her in a park, where they had sex. She was 15 at the time.

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The sexual contact went on through 2003 when Gordons brother, Ben, started Parkway Drive with his friends in Byron Bay. It ceased around the time the girl turned 16  by that time Gordon was 22. In 2021, the woman attempted to reconnect with Gordon before going to police in 2023. He was arrested in July 2025 and pleaded guilty on March 16 to the single count of sexual intercourse with an underage person. He was released on bail and will face sentencing on May 19. Gordons conviction sent shockwaves through Australias tight-knit hardcore music scene because of his prominent supporting role with his brothers band.

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Parkway Drive is one of the most successful Australian bands of the past two decades and Gordon, who goes by the nickname Chode, was part of the bands inner circle for years. He has held roles managing the bands tours, lighting and merchandise. No members of Parkway Drive, including Ben Gordon, have been accused of any wrongdoing, and there is no suggestion that they knew of Jed Gordons criminal acts. No longer involved Parkway Drive said in a statement that Gordons last tour with the band was in January 2018. He also filled orders as part of the bands Australian online merchandise team more recently, the band said. We did terminate his contract when we became aware of this incident, the band said in response to questions.

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Hes no longer involved with Parkway Drive in any capacity. Hes closely associated with us and the entire Australian heavy music scene. Hes also Bens brother, so there is a family connection. The band also acknowledged Byron Bays toxic culture, not only in music but in other parts of the region. The band said that power imbalances, consent issues, and bullying were everywhere growing up. They said its heartbreaking and unacceptable. What we want to say to any victims, both those who are coming forward and those who havent, is that we see you and we hear you. We take your pain and trauma seriously, the band said. Wed love to say that we get it. We cant. But as men in a place of privilege, we need to do better. This Byron Bay hardcore scene of the time was meant to stand for equality, friendship and social justice. It didnt always live up to those values.

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Anti-abuse campaigner Rory Banwell. Despite no longer being associated with Parkway Drive, as news of his plea broke last week, Jed Gordon was described by members of the metal scene as an unofficial sixth band member and a habitual creep. This has been an open secret for 20 years  everyone knew it, Rory Banwell, a journalist and anti-abuse campaigner within the hardcore music scene, told this masthead. [The band] have failed to mention its the drummers brother. Banwell said she has been inundated over the past week with messages from young women approached by Jed Gordon while they were teenagers at shows and parties, including at the famous home on Parkway Drive at Ewingsdale near Byron Bay, after which the band was named.

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I was the one who got therapy [because] everyone told me it was legal and no ones business, one woman said. Jed Gordon, like others, used his proximity to the bands to approach young fans, Banwell said. An 18-year-old Banwell was at a Parkway Drive show in Coffs Harbour in 2005 and sustained a concussion. I was sitting behind the merch table, essentially out of it, and Jed was saying oh, you should come hang out with me, she said. Banwell was with another male friend who led her away, she said.

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Jed Gordon also acted as a tour planner for other metal and hardcore bands around Australia. Safe space for misfits The hardcore music scene was supposed to be a safe space for misfits, Banwell said, but it was also a place that put predators in the same room as vulnerable young people at all-ages shows. In Byron Bay, there was a [youth centre] where most of the shows were placed, she said. It was very about the elite Byron Bay hardcore people and people who were underage, able to go to shows and have access to bands who werent huge, but big in the scene.

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If you said you were friends [with Parkway Drive], you were the coolest person at the party. But there was so much accessibility to creeps. Its been an open secret Jed was a creep. Another person, in a message sent to Banwell and passed on to this masthead with the senders consent, said Jed Gordon had creeped on my friend at a show in Newcastle a decade ago. Banwells posts, including aggregated comments from other fans, have been shared widely around social media over the weekend, particularly from Byron Bay, where Parkway Drive was founded.

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I think its where a lot of shame has come from for victims, they dont want to be ostracised in their community, Banwell said. Byron, being this elite community in Australia, celebrities live there theyve been willing to look past it because theyre so proud of what [Parkway Drive] has done. But Jed is attached to them  whether they like it or not. Hope for a reckoning Banwell said many women who grew up in the scene had hoped a reckoning would follow the conviction of paedophile promoter John Raymond Zimmerman more than a decade ago. Zimmerman, in 2011, was sentenced to 16 years in prison after abusing 55 girls, many of whom were fans of bands he promoted, including The Getaway Plan.

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All but two were aged between 12 and 15, the eldest was 17. Zimmerman elicited sexualised photographs of the girls and groomed them online for sexual abuse. He used his proximity to the bands he promoted to bribe one victim with tickets. Three years after Zimmermans conviction, Banwell launched a viral photographic project, Still Not Asking For It, which she hoped would help push back against the normalisation of sexual and domestic offending. Parkway Drive, pictured in 2018, is one of Australias biggest bands of the past two decades. PA Images via Getty Images

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Me and my friends have all been like, Oh my god, is this finally happening?  I think there would be a lot of scared older men right now, Banwell said. Its a weird time because sometimes theyre people we know getting outed. Its really difficult. Some of the posts circulating online also highlighted a now-defunct website, which this masthead has chosen not to identify. The forum included a trade forum where hardcore music fans could swap scene nudes along with shirts and merchandise. Anyone needing support can contact National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732); Lifeline 131 114; Beyond Blue 1300 224 636. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
Among those at the rally are teachers who joined the last strike in 2013.



Sue Davis, a teacher at Richmond West Primary School, has worked at the school in two stints since 1983 and believed the pay deal on offer was unfair.



She said school was closed on Tuesday as all of its union members walked off the job.

Richmond West Primary School teacher Sue Davis also took part in the 2013 strike. Jackson Graham

We have photos on the staff room wall of the group who went to the last strike. I was in that, she said.

We were just as angry last time.



Teachers by nature, they want to do things in a fair way. The government doesnt treat us like that. So you have to strike and stop work and show them you are serious about this.

She said she worries about the next generation of teachers.

Many young teachers feel so disappointed about the amount of work they need to do. And the stress theyre under because they dont have the resources they need, its very difficult.

To get us to be like this it requires a lot, and weve been pushed to the limit. The offers theyve given us, theyve taken away much more than theyve given.
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PoliticsFederalEnergy Economic carnage worse than 70s as PM admits stable, predictable world is gone Mike Foley Updated March 23, 2026  6:30pm ,first published 11:26am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Governments have failed to inform their citizens of the scale of economic carnage being wrought by the Iran war, International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol warned Australians, describing the fuel crisis as worse than the combined impacts of the three biggest energy shocks in modern history. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged on Monday in his most pessimistic remarks to date that Australians would continue to face economic aftershocks long after the conflict ended, declaring that the decades of global economic growth enjoyed since World War II are over. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol. Alex Ellinghausen Even if we were to wake up tomorrow to the welcome news that this conflict was over, there would still be a long economic tail to reckon with, Albanese said in an address to the Minerals Council annual dinner on Monday night. All of this underlines a simple reality. The stable, predictable world of ever-expanding free trade is gone - and it will not be returning any time soon.

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Middle East at war Albanese steps in on fuel supply as Coalition floats Russian sanctions pause Birol said his bleak message on the economic impact from Irans closure of the Strait of Hormuz was needed because the depth was not very understood. This crisis, as things stand now, is two oil crises and one gas crisis, put all together, he said in an address to the National Press Club in Canberra on Monday. Households need to be better informed about the magnitude of the challenge we are facing. I think theyd be better prepared if they understood what kind of challenge we are facing today. Birol cited the 1973 oil crisis when Arab nations refused to supply oil to the US, as well as the 1979 Iranian revolution, which cut off about 5 per cent of global oil supply, and the 2022 gas crunch caused by Russias invasion of Ukraine.

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The amount of oil we lost is equal to two oil price shocks in the 70s, which led the world to recession, Birol said. He said the current block on fertiliser shipments from the Middle East, which produces about 30 per cent of global supply, would drive up food prices. Birol is executive director of the IEA, an influential agency that advises on global energy security and coordinates strategic oil reserve releases. He met Energy Minister Chris Bowen and Albanese on Monday, and confirmed that the IEA was discussing with the agencys 32 member countries a second release of oil to tackle the crisis. He warned that Asian nations, particularly developing countries with weaker economies, would be among the hardest hit by the unique combination of challenges caused by the Iran war. Again, I go back to 1970s. Many of the emerging and developing countries in [Asia], also in Latin America, went into a spiral of international foreign debt, which became a major problem for those countries [for] years and years to come, Birol said.

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The IEA last week called on countries to consider drastic fuel-saving measures, such as encouraging people to work from home, drive at reduced speeds and cut back on flights. Australia has so far resisted these measures, even as Bowen told parliament on Monday that 37 service stations in NSW were out of fuel, 47 in Queensland had run dry and 109 in Victoria had at least one type of fuel unavailable. Weighing up energy options: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese could restrict LNG exports. Alex Ellinghausen Bowen warned of a continued bumpy supply of fuel to Australia in coming weeks, but insisted imports remain secure as the government works on contingency plans as the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz enters its third week. The resources sector has been the mainstay of Australias export revenue for decades and Albanese acknowledged the unprecedented turmoil to the sectors supply chains as well its supplies of liquid fuel.

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Australia imports about 90 per cent of its liquid fuels, and Albanese has said he would use Australias gas exports as leverage to ensure Asian nations maintain their exports to the country. Photo: Matt Golding The prime minister announced on Monday that he had struck an agreement with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to support the flow of LNG and petroleum oils, including diesel, between the two countries. Singapores refineries are a major liquid fuel supplier to Australia. The government is being pressured by crossbench MPs, trade unions and energy experts to impose a new tax on gas exporters windfall profits, as gas shipments from the Middle East to Asia are due to run out within days after Qatars gas fields were attacked by missiles and its ships blockaded in the Strait of Hormuz. Birol declined to weigh in on Australias response to the crisis, but said it was important a fair share of profit was collected by governments on behalf of their citizens, who are the real owners of the resource endowment.

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However, he said countries should be wary of taxation changes that may undermine critical export industries. Energy investors are like butterflies. When they are scared, they fly away. Related Article Opinion

Petrol prices Nightmarish decisions lie ahead on fuel rationing, but better to go hard early Allan Fels Former chairman Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Birol said the oil crunch would spur a dramatic increase in renewable energy investment, as countries seek to increase their energy security by reducing their reliance on imported fossil fuels. I expect one of the responses to this crisis will be acceleration of renewables, not only because they are helping to reduce the emissions, but they are also a homegrown domestic energy source.

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He said 40 per cent of the worlds nuclear power plants were built in response to the 1970s oil shocks and backed the technology as a crucial electricity source for many countries. But he said Australia did not need nuclear power and should be proud of its renewable energy rollout. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.
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Foundation welcomes Helvethink, Spectro Cloud, Quantrexion as members, offers Kusari Inspector for free to projects, and celebrates increased investment in AI security

AMSTERDAM, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Open Source SecurityCon Europe -- The Open Source Security Foundation (OpenSSF), a cross-industry initiative of the Linux Foundation that focuses on sustainably securing open source software (OSS), today announced new members and key project momentum during Open Source SecurityCon Europe.

New OpenSSF members include Helvethink, Spectro Cloud, and Quantrexion, who join the Foundation as General Members. As members, these companies will engage with working groups, contribute to technical initiatives, and help guide the strategic direction of the OpenSSF. Together, members support open, transparent, and community-driven security innovation, and the long-term sustainability of the Foundation.

"Open source security continues to evolve significantly in the face of new, automated threats," said Steve Fernandez, General Manager of OpenSSF. "Our member organizations are seeding a more secure future, built with longevity in mind, by working with the OpenSSF. This network of projects, maintainers, and thousands of contributors is key to reinforcing reliable, sustainable open source software for all."

Foundation Updates and Milestones

In the past quarter, OpenSSF has furthered its mission to secure open source software with the following achievements:

A new partnership with Kusari to offer Kusari Inspector at no cost to OpenSSF projects  this offering provides maintainers with deeper visibility into their software supply chains and enables proactive security checks at the pull request level.

The SLSA (Supply-chain Levels for Software Artifacts) project achieved Graduated status  this recognition advances SLSA's stability, maturity, and broad adoption as a critical framework for supply chain integrity.

The release of the Gemara Project's inaugural white paper  the findings outline a new framework for integrating security-as-code principles directly into the software development lifecycle.

The launch of new Special Interest Groups focused on Model Lifecycle Provenance and GPU-Based Model Integrity  these groups, under the AI/ML Security Working Group, expand the Foundation's focus on securing the rapidly evolving field of AI/ML software security.

OpenSSF is approved as a CEN / CENELEC Liaison Organization for cybersecurity  this designation, through the Linux Foundation Europe, strengthens OpenSSF's position in global standards development and policy influence.

The official launch of the OpenSSF Ambassador Program  applications are now open for the initial cohort.

Over 7,300 learners enrolled in OpenSSF's free course, "Understanding the EU Cyber Resilience Act (LFEL1001)"  the Foundation has had over 75,000 enrollments in OpenSSF training programs to date.

OpenSSF growth follows the announcement of $12.5 million in grant funding awarded to OpenSSF and Alpha-Omega from leading AI providers. Funding from these leaders underscores broad industry support for more sustainable AI security assistance that empowers maintainers. Learn more about how OpenSSF and Alpha-Omega are using this grant to build long-term, sustainable security solutions, here.

Supporting Quotes

"At Helvethink, we work at the intersection of cloud architecture, platform engineering, and DevSecOps. Open source components are foundational to modern infrastructure from Kubernetes and IaC tooling to CI/CD pipelines and security automation. Strengthening this ecosystem requires measurable standards, robust software supply chain security practices, and active collaboration across the community. By joining OpenSSF, we are actively participating in several working groups to contribute to initiatives focused on supply chain integrity, secure-by-design principles, and the continuous improvement of cloud-native security practices."

 Jose Goncalves, co-founder, Helvethink

"Quantrexion is proud to join OpenSSF and support its mission to strengthen the security, resilience, and trustworthiness of open source software. As a company focused on governance and human risk management, we see secure open ecosystems as a critical part of long-term digital resilience."

 Dionysis Karamitopoulos, CEO, Quantrexion

"Open source is the foundation of modern infrastructure  and its security is a shared responsibility. By joining the OpenSSF, Spectro Cloud is investing directly in the community work that raises the bar for everyone. Just as importantly, it strengthens the standards and practices behind the software we ship, so our customers can deploy Kubernetes with confidence in the integrity of every component. We're proud to support the OpenSSF mission and to keep translating that momentum into real product capabilities that make secure software a default, not a bolt-on."

 Saad Malik, CTO and co-founder, Spectro Cloud

Events and Gatherings

OpenSSF members are gathering this week in Amsterdam at Open Source SecurityCon Europe. To get involved with the OpenSSF community, join us at the following upcoming events:

Additional Resources

View the complete list of OpenSSF members

Contribute efforts to one or more of the active OpenSSF working groups and projects

Sign up for the OpenSSF newsletter to receive updates on upcoming events, resources, and community news.

About the OpenSSF

The Open Source Security Foundation (OpenSSF) is a cross-industry organization at the Linux Foundation that brings together the industry's most important open source security initiatives and the individuals and companies that support them. The OpenSSF is committed to collaboration and working both upstream and with existing communities to advance open source security for all. For more information, please visit us at openssf.org.

Media Contact

Grace Lucier

The Linux Foundation

[email protected]

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For one student, Jacobs School became safe place after family tragedy

Fourth-year UB medical student Maureen Fagan found support at the Jacobs School after the devastating loss of her sister, Adeline, to COVID-19. Photo: Sandra Kicman

In these last five years, this is kind of what I needed  to have a safe space, basically a comfort blanket community; a place where I could figure out who I wanted to be and grow into my own person.  Maureen Fagan, fourth-year medical student Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

As Match Day approaches on March 20, when graduating medical students learn where they will train in residency, fourth-year UB medical student Maureen Fagan is reflecting on the journey that got her here. And shes feeling extremely grateful for the support of the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and the Buffalo community. Shes also thankful for the insight and perspective she gained while navigating medical school after her family suffered a tragedy that was deeply felt throughout the Jacobs School community. Maureens older sister, Adeline Fagan, a member of the Jacobs School Class of 2019, died at the age of 28 in September 2020 from complications of COVID-19. She was just beginning her second year of residency in obstetrics and gynecology in Houston and was working to deliver babies of COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

Close-knit family

Maureen Fagan is one of four daughters of Brant and Mary Jane Fagan of the Syracuse area, all of whom pursued careers in health care. The family has always been close-knit, Maureen says. We grew up hearing my mom say, promise me you will always be close to each other. When Adeline began her residency in Houston and found the transition difficult, Maureen packed up and moved there to keep her company. Our family, Maureen says, has always embraced the idea that when one of us is struggling, the question becomes who is free? Maureen had just graduated from Canisius University and was planning to study for the MCAT and apply to medical school. I figured I could do that from wherever, so it was like, I guess I am moving to Texas, she says. When Adeline was diagnosed with COVID-19, Maureen was her quarantine partner and the one who took her to the emergency room after she noticed Adeline was getting blue around her lips due to a lack of oxygen.

Clarity arises out of grief

Maureen had originally planned to take six months off between her undergraduate studies and medical school but wound up taking 18 months to cope and grieve the loss of Adeline. It was hard, but I knew Adeline in life and she was very selfless, she says. She would not want me wallowing and wasting my life. She would want me to make something of myself, whatever that is, to make myself happy. Amid the sadness, Maureen found an even deeper clarity about what truly matters. During my first two years of medical school, I went home at least once every month, she says. Not because I thought I couldnt make it in med school, but because thats what I wanted out of my life at that time. I have two nephews and I really wanted them to know me. Could I have gotten better grades? Could I have been higher up in my class had I studied more? Probably. But the perspective I gained from Adeline dying is that I dont need to be at the top of my class. Because at the end of the day, Adeline died and she was a doctor. But that is not what I think about when I think about her, Maureen adds. I think about her personality and what a great person she was. I dont think about the fact that she became a doctor. I do not think that is the end all, be all.

Finding passion in emergency medicine
Swypes is calling attention to a critical gap in healthcare hygiene: although hospitals and nursing homes enforce strict infection-control protocols, CDC figures and published research suggest mobile phones remain an overlooked risk in daily care settings, with one meta-analysis finding contamination on 84.5% of healthcare workers' devices.

CHICAGO, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Hospitals and care facilities have rigorous handwashing protocols, glove changes, and sanitation procedures in place. Yet, one of the most frequently handled items in healthcare still moves largely unchecked between patient rooms, nursing stations, offices, and common areas: the mobile phone.

Phones now travel everywhere healthcare happens. They move from patient rooms to nurses stations to break areas and back again, yet theyre rarely part of the cleaning routine. Thats the gap we believe needs more attention.

Healthcare-associated infections continue to challenge hospitals and long-term care settings. According to the CDC, about 1 in 31 U.S. hospital patients has a healthcare-associated infection on any given day, and about 1 in 43 nursing home residents does as well. In this environment, Swypes sees an urgent need to call attention to what it sees as a major blind spot in modern infection-control: phone hygiene.

Healthcare workers now rely on mobile phones throughout the day to communicate with colleagues, coordinate care, review information, and stay connected across fast-moving clinical environments. But while hands are cleaned repeatedly, personal devices are rarely included in any hygiene routine. In fact, published research also shows healthcare workers' phones are frequently contaminated. A 2023 meta-analysis found bacterial contamination on 84.5% of devices used by healthcare workers.

"Hand hygiene is routine in healthcare. Device hygiene should be, too," said Josh Bilow, Founder and CRO of Swypes. "Phones now travel everywhere healthcare happens. They move from patient rooms to nurses' stations to break areas and back again, yet they're rarely part of the cleaning routine. That's the gap we believe needs more attention."

What's Living on Healthcare Workers' Phones

Studies have identified potentially harmful bacteria on healthcare workers' phones, including drug-resistant organisms associated with healthcare-associated infections. As mobile devices become more embedded in care delivery, the conversation around cleaner environments needs to evolve with how clinicians work in hospitals and beyond. In nursing homes, assisted living communities, and other long-term care settings, staff move continuously between residents, rooms, and shared areas. For older and medically vulnerable populations, overlooked hygiene gaps can carry greater consequences.

"This is not about replacing existing protocols," Bilow said. "It's about recognizing that phones are now essential tools in healthcare and giving professionals a quick, practical way to add mobile devices to the existing cleaning protocols."

Swypes are individually packaged wipes formulated with 70% isopropyl alcohol and designed for phones and other personal electronics. Created for convenience and portability, they are designed to help remove fingerprints, oils, and everyday buildup without adding extra steps to already demanding workflows.

In clinical environments where speed matters, Swypes positions phone hygiene as a simple habit that can fit naturally between tasks, whether at a nursing station, on a charting desk, in a staff lounge, or during transitions throughout the day. As hospitals, nursing homes, and care teams continue looking for ways to strengthen hygiene awareness, Swypes believes one of the simplest places to start is with the device already in every worker's hand.

About Swypes

Swypes is more than a phone wipe; it's a movement aimed at closing the biggest gap in modern hygiene. Founded on the belief that better health starts with the things we touch most, Swypes is on a mission to make phone cleaning as second nature as handwashing. Swypes' vision is a world where the simple act of swiping a screen doesn't mean spreading illness.

Built on science, designed for daily life, and backed by global health research, Swypes offers safe, effective wipes that protect both people and their devices. By targeting phones  today's most overlooked germ carriers  Swypes empowers individuals, workplaces, and communities to build healthier habits and safer environments.

Learn more at Swypes.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2026, January 29). Current HAI Progress Report. www.cdc.gov/healthcare-associated-infections/php/data/progress-report.html

Zenbaba, D., Sahiledengle, B., Beressa, G., Desta, F., Teferu, Z., Nugusu, F., Atlaw, D., Shiferaw, Z., Gezahegn, B., Mamo, A., Desalegn, T., Negash, W., Negash, G., Mama, M., Nigussie, E., & Chattu, V. K. (2023). Bacterial contamination of healthcare workers' mobile phones in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Tropical Medicine and Health, 51, Article 55. doi.org/10.1186/s41182-023-00547-3

Corrected Scharbaai-Vazquez reference: Scharbaai-Vazquez, R., Garcia-Aponte, A. N., Huertas-Ayala, C., Martinez-Monegro, E. Y., Guadalupe-Rios, G. M., Diaz-Portorreal, J., Gonzalez-Torres, M. I., & Fernandez, N. M. (2025). Bacterial burden and drug-resistant bacteria in healthcare workers' mobile phones: A study in Puerto Rican outpatient clinics. Infection Prevention in Practice, 7(1), 100432. doi.org/10.1016/j.infpip.2024.100432

De Groote, P., Blot, K., Conoscenti, E., Labeau, S., & Blot, S. (2022). Mobile phones as a vector for healthcare-associated infection: A systematic review. Intensive and Critical Care Nursing, 72, 103266. doi.org/10.1016/j.iccn.2022.103266

Thursky, K., Dunt, D., Worth, L. J., James, R., Tanamas, S. K., Sluggett, J. K., Bennett, N., Ierano, C., Malloy, M. J., & Watson, E. (2024). Healthcare-associated infections in long-term care facilities: A systematic review and meta-analysis of point prevalence studies. BMJ Public Health, 2(1), e000504. doi.org/10.1136/bmjph-2023-000504

Media Inquiries:

Karla Jo Helms

JOTO PR

727-777-4629

Jotopr.com

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GARDAI are appealing for witnesses after two people broke into Costcutters, Graiguecullen Village at 5am on 19 March.

Two individuals gained entry to the shop through the front door, damaging the glass panels in the process.

The break-in was captured on CCTV, but after breaking into the shop the pair did not take anything.

Gardai said that the individuals left the scene in a dark coloured vehicle.
THE number of persons convicted of drug offences at Carlow District Court fell to 60 in 2025, the lowest figure recorded in the six years covered by Courts Service of Ireland data and a sharp decline from a peak of 192 in 2021.

The figures, released to Fionna Fail MEP Cynthia Ni Mhurchu under the Freedom of Information Act, cover district court convictions nationally for the period 2019-2025 and show Carlows conviction total has fallen by 69% from its 2021 high, now less than half the 124 recorded in 2020.

Ms Ni Mhurchu, a former barrister, said the disparity in drug conviction figures across district court offices warrants investigation and described drugs in the community as a major concern raised by parents, community leaders, pub owners and gardai.

Nationally, the overall number of persons convicted of drug offences at district court level stood at 5,440 in 2025, compared to 5,202 in 2024 and a high of 6,047 in 2021. Carlow accounted for approximately 1.1% of all drug convictions nationally in 2025, down from 3.2% at its 2021 peak.

The most common offence recorded in Carlow across all years was possession contrary to section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act or simple possession, which accounted for the bulk of convictions. In 2025, 45 of Carlows 60 convictions were for this offence, with 14 for possession with intent to supply and only one for cannabis cultivation. Nationally, the figures also include a small number of convictions for attempting to smuggle drugs into prisons, along with forged prescription cases.

Among comparable Leinster court offices, Carlows 2025 total was the lowest. Naas recorded 149 convictions, Tullamore 171, Waterford 160, Wexford 77, Trim 87 and Kilkenny 71.

Portlaoise recorded 248 convictions in 2025, among the highest outside Dublin and Cork, but its total includes a category of offence not recorded in most other court areas, that of unlawful supply of controlled drugs into a place of detention. Portlaoise District Court covers the area surrounding the Midlands Prison and the Irish Prison Services main campus at Portlaoise Prison, meaning a significant quantity of its drug convictions relate to prison specific offences rather than community level drug activity.

Clonmel recorded 281 convictions in 2025, the highest single court total outside Dublin, while Cork recorded 504 and Limerick 211.

Dublin District Court continued to dominate national figures, recording 2,071 convictions in 2025, more than a third of the national total and up from 1,858 in 2024. Ms Ni Mhurchu has also previously highlighted a 37% year-on-year rise in drug-driving offences nationally.

The MEP has called for the swift implementation of the governments National Drugs Strategy 2026-2029, which is currently being finalised. She has also called for a range of measures including community-based sanctions for those convicted of recreational drug use, higher fines for casual drug use, additional detox beds for those with addiction issues, restorative justice programmes and public awareness campaigns to tackle social drug use.
A HACKETSTOWN woman was sentenced to 200 hours of community service and a two-year suspended prison sentence on 4 March after pleading guilty to 33 charges relating to theft and forgery.

Amanda Doyle (40) Ballybrack, Borkhillmore, Hacketstown faced 11 charges of theft, 11 charges of forgery and 11 charges of using a false instrument.

The charges arose from Ms Doyle stealing cheques from a person in Raheengraney, Clonegal and using false instruments, that is, the cheques, in Byrnes SuperValu, Hacketstown and OReillys service station, Hacketstown on various dates between July and September 2024.

Judge Mary Morrissey imposed a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years, on Ms Doyle for four counts of theft contrary to section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2001, on the condition that she engage with the probation services for one year.

On one of the counts relating to making a false instrument by means of forging a signature contrary to section 26 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001, Judge Morrissey approved the order of 120 hours of community service in lieu of two years in prison and imposed 80 hours of community service for the same offence. The remaining 27 counts were taken into consideration.

The case came before Carlow District Court in early 2025, but Judge Geraldine Carthy refused jurisdiction on the basis that the case was too serious to be dealt with at district court level and sent the case back to the director of public prosecutions office.

At a sitting of Carlow Circuit Court on 27 November 2025, Judge Eugene OKelly made orders on the condition that the defendant was deemed suitable for community service. Judge Morrissey affirmed this order.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
RESIDENTS and businesses around Tinryland could see improved mobile and wireless broadband coverage under Three Ireland if planning permission is granted for a new 30-metre telecommunications mast on farmland at Rathcrogue.

A planning application was submitted on 10 March by Icon Tower, an Irish-based subsidiary of APW UK WIP Limited, with a team based in Galway. Three Ireland says it intends to use the proposed structure to provide improved mobile and wireless broadband coverage to the area.

The planning statement says that the Tinryland area currently suffers from a lack of high-speed wireless broadband and data services, with coverage maps showing fair or fringe coverage for customers of multiple operators around the site location. The proposed mast would serve residential premises and businesses in Tinryland, as well as travellers along the M9 motorway.

The application seeks permission for a lattice telecoms support structure on lands at Rathcrogue owned by local farmer Patrick Egan. The proposed development would include antennas, dishes, remote radio units, ground-based equipment cabinets, a 2.4-metre-high palisade fence with access gate and a new 17-metre access track connecting to an existing track on the site.

The site is located north-east of Tinryland village, just north of the N9 Carlow bypass.

According to the planning statement, the 30-metre height is the minimum needed to achieve a clear line of sight for wireless signal transmission above surrounding vegetation and buildings. The applicant states that five existing telecommunications sites within a five-kilometre radius were investigated for co-location but were found to be too far from the coverage objective to be suitable.

The planning statement argues the lattice design, which is proposed in a galvanised finish, minimises visual intrusion by allowing the eye to see through the structure rather than perceiving it as a solid object in the landscape. A visual impact assessment claims that two of four viewpoints would experience a moderate to low level of effect, while the remaining two would experience a negligible effect due to screening by mature trees and vegetation.

Carlow Co Council received the application on 13 March and a site inspection will be carried out within the minimum five-week period before a decision is made.
SAN DIEGO, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Realty Income Corporation (Realty Income, NYSE: O), The Monthly Dividend Company, today announced the successful closing of a $694 million U.S. dollar-denominated, unsecured term loan (Term Loan) due January 2036 with an affiliate of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. The Term Loan priced at an all-in fixed rate of 4.91%. In conjunction with the closing, Realty Income executed a cross-currency swap for a portion of the proceeds, swapping $500 million of proceeds for approximately 431 million (in addition to the related interest payments) over the term of the loan. As a result of the swap, Realty Income achieved an effective blended borrowing rate of 4.34%.

The financing is associated with a broader transaction that supports San Diego Community Power (Community Power), California's second largest Community Choice Aggregator (CCA) serving nearly 1 million customers in the San Diego region where Realty Income is headquartered. Realty Income's role is limited to the Term Loan and related swap.

Transaction Overview

San Diego Community Power has entered into a longterm electricity supply arrangement to secure clean, costeffective power on a forward commodity contract. To facilitate this arrangement, Community Power utilized a wellestablished municipal prepay structure that enables a public agency to issue municipal bonds and use the proceeds to prepay for electricity deliveries. The recipient of the prepayment, Aron Energy Prepay 60 LLC, an affiliate of Goldman Sachs, is lending a portion of the proceeds to Realty Income through the unsecured Term Loan.

For Community Power, the transaction supports longterm energy procurement objectives, contributing to the achievement of its goals on behalf of residents and businesses throughout San Diego County.

"Transactions like this demonstrate how community choice aggregators like San Diego Community Power can use sophisticated, responsible financial tools to advance our climate goals without sacrificing affordability," said Karin Burns, CEO of San Diego Community Power. "It supports our longterm clean and renewable energy strategy while keeping fiscal responsibility front and center for the communities we serve."

For Realty Income, the transaction represents a strategic addition to its capital markets toolkit, further diversifying its long-term debt funding sources at attractive all-in rates.

"We are pleased to partner with San Diego Community Power for our debut transaction to support its prepayment of commodity costs," said Jonathan Pong, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Realty Income. "This transaction allows us to support our local community by providing dependable monthly income to San Diego Community Power to achieve a fixed discount for a portion of its future energy needs. Moreover, this unique source of capital represents further diversification of our sources of long-term capital, providing us with a cost of fixed-rate debt priced below that of similar tenor public unsecured debt."

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC served as sole underwriter on the municipal bond financing.

Realty Income is not issuing municipal bonds, is not guaranteeing or otherwise obligated to make any payments on such municipal bonds and does not receive taxexempt financing in connection with this transaction. The Company has no exposure to electricity markets or commodity price risk. Its role is limited to the Term Loan, which is a bilateral financing arrangement with Aron Energy Prepay 60 LLC, pursuant to which Realty Income makes fixed, scheduled monthly payments over the term of the loan. The Term Loan is structured as a senior unsecured obligation of Realty Income, ranking pari passu with its other senior unsecured indebtedness.

About Realty Income

Realty Income (NYSE: O), an S&P 500 company, is real estate partner to the world's leading companies. Founded in 1969, we serve our clients as a full-service real estate capital provider. As of December 31, 2025, we have a portfolio of over 15,500 properties in all 50 U.S. states, the U.K., and eight other countries in Europe. We are known as "The Monthly Dividend Company" and have a mission to invest in people and places to deliver dependable monthly dividends that increase over time. Since our founding, we have declared 669 consecutive monthly dividends and are a member of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats index for having increased our dividend for over 31 consecutive years.

About San Diego Community Power

San Diego Community Power is a community choice energy program that gives customers an option to run their businesses and homes on significantly higher levels of renewable power at competitive rates. It serves nearly 1 million customers in San Diego, Chula Vista, Encinitas, La Mesa, National City, Imperial Beach and the unincorporated communities of San Diego County. Learn more at SDCommunityPower.org.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. When used in this press release, the words "estimated," "anticipated," "expect," "believe," "intend," "continue," "should," "may," "likely," "plans," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include discussions of our business and portfolio and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions about us, which may cause our actual future results to differ materially from expected results. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions about us, which may cause our actual future results to differ materially from expected results. Some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are, among others, our continued qualification as a real estate investment trust; general domestic and foreign business, economic, or financial conditions; competition; fluctuating interest and currency rates; inflation and its impact on our clients and us; access to debt and equity capital markets and other sources of funding (including the terms and partners of such funding); volatility and uncertainty in the credit and financial markets; other risks inherent in the real estate business including our clients' solvency, client defaults under leases, increased client bankruptcies, potential liability relating to environmental matters, illiquidity of real estate investments (including rights of first refusal or rights of first offer), and potential damages from natural disasters; impairments in the value of our real estate assets; volatility and changes in domestic and foreign laws and the application, enforcement or interpretation thereof (including with respect to tax laws and rates); property ownership through co-investment ventures, funds, joint ventures, partnerships and other arrangements which, among other things, may transfer or limit our control of the underlying investments; epidemics or pandemics; the loss of key personnel; the outcome of any legal proceedings to which we are a party or which may occur in the future; acts of terrorism and war; the anticipated benefits from mergers, acquisitions, co-investment ventures, funds, joint ventures, partnerships and other arrangements; and those additional risks and factors discussed in our reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future plans and performance and speak only as of the date of this press release. Actual plans and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted and expectations and forecasts made in the forward-looking statements may not materialize. We do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements or to publicly release the results of any forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date these statements were made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

SOURCE Realty Income Corporation
Bill repeals accountability measures in ESA voucher program

3:30 p.m. - Senate Regular Calendar - SB 1585 *Johnson

After years of state test results that showed private school vouchers were an academic failure, the Senate will vote on a Republican-sponsored bill that repeals the academic accountability measures included in one of Tennessees voucher programs.

Senate Bill 1585 would exempt Education Savings Account private school voucher recipients from having to take the states end-of-year student assessment known as TCAP, which every other publicly funded student has to take.

Earlier this year, state education researchers issued a scathing audit highlighting failures of the ESA voucher program. Private school students who received an ESA voucher almost universally underperformed their public school peers..

Freedom for who? G.O.P. bill limits lawsuits against fossil fuel corporations

3:30 p.m. - Senate Regular Calendar - Watch - SB 2560 *Reeves

The Senate is expected to vote today on Republican-sponsored Senate Bill 2560, which would effectively ban climate-related lawsuits in Tennessee courts against fossil fuel companies.

The bill is designed to protect Big Oil and fossil fuel corporations by enshrining in state law a rigged emissions accounting formula that allows companies to have their Tennessee emissions legally declared zero  no matter how much they actually pollute.

Its called the Regulatory Freedom Act, which begs the question: Freedom for who?

Bill allows for publicly-funded church schools

3:30 p.m. - Senate Regular Calendar - Watch - Senate Bill 2318 Hensley

The Senate will vote on legislation that would for the first time in state law explicitly divert public funds from public schools to churches or religious organizations that seek to establish a public charter school.

Theres a nationwide movement by religious organizations to challenge the prohibition on publicly-funded schools promoting religious doctrine. In Tennessee, the Knox County Board of Education rejected a charter school application from a group that wanted to provide an "explicitly biblical and Christian education.

Bill gives Williamson County special exemption if it sells its public benefit hospital

3:30 p.m. - Senate Regular Calendar - Watch - SB 2194 *Johnson

Williamson County elected officials have floated the idea of selling Williamson Health, a government-owned public benefit hospital.

But, under state law, the proceeds from selling a government-owned, public-benefit hospital are required to go into a trust where funds are spent on public health initiatives.

According to the sponsor of Senate Bill 2194, his legislation would create a special exemption to this rule for hospitals worth more than $500 million, allowing county governments to divert proceeds away from the trust to the political priorities of the county government.

Crypto mining data centers would need local approval under bill

3 p.m. - Senate Regular Calendar - SB2053 by Yager

Senate Bill 2053, up for a vote in the full Senate, would require a local legislative body to approve the location of a data center that is mining digital assets, such as Bitcoin.

This legislation comes after several communities in Tennessee have begun pushing back against new crypto mining data centers due to the noise they create and adverse effects on property values.

Taylor vs. Shelby Co.: Bill gives sheriffs an edge over county governments in funding disputes

Noon - Judiciary - SB 2043 *Taylor

Sen. Brent Taylors Senate Bill 2043 would stack the budget process in favor of county sheriffs over county commissions, which control funding decisions.

Under this bill, county legislative bodies would no longer be allowed to override a sheriffs budget decisions, meaning the only way to amend a sheriff's budget is to have express written approval from the sheriff.

G.O.P. bills shield state government from constitutional accountability

3 p.m. Tuesday - Senate Judiciary Committee - Watch & Agenda -SB 1958 *Stevens

A bill receiving scorn from both sides of the political aisle is back after previously failing to gain a majority vote of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Senate Bill 1958 repeals a citizens' affirmative right to sue the state government for violations of the Tennessee Constitution. The bill instead establishes absolute sovereign immunity for state laws, officials and agencies. Tennesseans could no longer seek court orders stopping unconstitutional laws before they cause harm.

The bill instead establishes absolute sovereign immunity for state laws, officials and agencies. Tennesseans could no longer seek court orders stopping unconstitutional laws before they cause harm. Tennessees Attorney General, which is charged with defending unconstitutional laws, is pushing for the bill, which would insulate the legislatures unchecked power to ignore constitutional mandates.

Full Committee Calendar:

Noon Judiciary

A staffer said the committee will focus on bills sponsored by members of the committee

56. SB 1602 *Hatcher, Harshbarger (HB 1967 by *Farmer)

Sentencing- As introduced, increases the penalty for leaving the scene of an accident resulting in injury from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony; increases the penalty for leaving the scene of an accident that the person knew or should reasonably have known resulted in death from a Class E felony to a Class D felony. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13 and Title 55, Chapter 10.

57. SB 1633 *Hatcher (HB 1525 by *Stinnett, Moon)

Sentencing- As introduced, requires a sentencing court to order the sentences for two or more offenses involving more than one minor victim to run consecutively unless the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the facts of the case do not warrant the imposition of consecutive sentences and the imposition of consecutive sentences would not be in the best interest of justice. - Amends TCA Title 40.

59. SB 0662 *Akbari (HB 0625 by *Hardaway)

Mental Illness- As introduced, establishes a rebuttable presumption that a person poses an imminent substantial likelihood of serious harm and needs emergency detention and examination if the person was charged with one of certain criminal offenses and ordered by the criminal, circuit, or general sessions court to undergo an evaluation to determine whether the person is incompetent to stand trial or the person's mental capacity at the time of the commission of the crime; requires clear and convincing evidence to rebut the presumption. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 40 and Title 52.

60. SB 0833 *Akbari (HB 0626 by *Hardaway)

Law Enforcement- As introduced, requires a law enforcement officer who becomes aware that an order of protection has been entered against a person in the officers presence but has not been served on the person to take appropriate steps to facilitate service of the order of protection, including notifying the sheriffs department of the persons immediate location; requires the curriculum of the Tennessee peace officer standards and training commission to include instruction on such requirements. - Amends TCA Title 36, Chapter 3, Part 6; Title 38 and Title 40.

61. SB 1182 *Akbari (HB 1111 by *Salinas)

Sentencing- As introduced, requires a local community corrections advisory board to provide its annual report to the county legislative body on the progress of community corrections programs by February 1 of each year. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 16; Title 37; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 41.

62. SB 1186 *Akbari (HB 0629 by *Hardaway)

Children- As introduced, authorizes a juvenile court to order a child who is accused of being delinquent or unruly and released prior to a hearing to wear a global positioning monitoring system device; if the court issues such an order, requires the entity operating the global positioning monitoring system to notify the probation officer or other entity ordered to take charge of the child if the child violates the instructions issued by the court upon release; requires students who are expelled for committing a zero tolerance offense for threatening mass violence on school property or at a school-related activity to undergo counseling and a mental health evaluation before returning to school. - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 39; Title 40, Chapter 11 and Title 49.

63. SB 1187 *Akbari (HB 1064 by *Hardaway)

Bail, Bail Bonds- As introduced, makes various changes to criminal law, including requiring defendants accused of certain offenses to be subject to a global positioning monitoring system as condition of bail. - Amends TCA Title 10; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Chapter 969 of the Public Acts of 2024 and Chapter 1033 of the Public Acts of 2024.

64. SB 1191 *Akbari (HB 0947 by *Brooks, Jones J, Powell, Salinas, Mitchell, Dixie, Johnson, Hardaway, Glynn, Hemmer, Towns, Camper, Clemmons, Parkinson, Shaw, McKenzie, Miller, Chism, Behn, Hakeem, Harris, Freeman, Pearson, Love)

Firearms and Ammunition- As introduced, enacts "Akilah's Law," which creates the offense of selling, offering to sell, delivering, or transferring a firearm to a person knowing the person has been a patient in a mental institution at any time within the previous five years. - Amends TCA Title 33 and Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

67. SB 1698 *Akbari (HB 1441 by *Brooks, Salinas, Glynn, Freeman, Howell, Raper, Mitchell, Towns, Russell, Harris, Hakeem, Camper, Farmer, Dixie, White, Jones J, Parkinson, Reedy, Pearson, Travis, Hardaway, Hemmer, Miller, Shaw)

Criminal Offenses- As introduced, increases the penalty for criminal impersonation of a law enforcement officer from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony if the offense occurs while the defendant is committing or attempting to commit a crime of violence. - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 39 and Title 40.

68. SB 1906 *Akbari (HB 2001 by *Powell)

Criminal Offenses- As introduced, adds as an affirmative defense to the offense of criminal exposure of another to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), proof by a preponderance of the evidence that a person infected with HIV was in compliance with a treatment regime prescribed by the person's healthcare provider to medically suppress the risk of HIV transmission. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13.

70. SB 1976 *Akbari (HB 2436 by *McKenzie)

Law Enforcement- As introduced, requires a law enforcement agency that uses body cameras to adopt a written policy for the use of the cameras by its law enforcement officers; establishes certain requirements for the policies. - Amends TCA Title 38, Chapter 1.

71. SB 1977 *Akbari (HB 1861 by *Brooks)

Probation and Parole- As introduced, specifies that if the trial judge finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant has violated conditions of probation and suspension of sentence for a felony offense by engaging in conduct that constitutes a drug offense, then for the first instance of such a violation, the trial judge must order the defendant to attend a substance abuse treatment program and must not revoke the defendant's probation and suspension of sentence. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 35.

72. SB 2095 *Akbari (HB 2062 by *Towns)

Criminal Offenses- As introduced, increases the amount of marijuana that may be possessed, from one-half ounce to five ounces, for it to be considered a small amount of marijuana and punishable as a Class A misdemeanor; revises penalty to make it punishable by a $500 fine for a first offense and a $1,000 fine for a second or subsequent offense. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17.

73. SB 2099 *Akbari (HB 2144 by *Glynn)

Courts, Administrative Office of the- As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Court Appearance Reminder Program Act." - Amends TCA Title 16 and Title 40.

74. SB 2380 *Akbari (HB 2232 by *Dixie)

Criminal Procedure- As introduced, allows a misdemeanor offender to petition to have the offender's criminal history records sealed after completion of all requirements of sentencing and at least five years without being convicted of a new offense; excludes domestic assault and driving under the influence from eligibility to be sealed. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

76. SB 2662 *Akbari (HB 2439 by *McKenzie)

Safety, Dept. of- As introduced, enacts the Oral-Fluid DUI Testing and Evidence-Based Enforcement Safeguards Act." - Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 10, Part 4.

77. SB 2664 *Akbari (HB 2298 by *Hardaway)

Criminal Offenses- As introduced, adds to the criminal offense of aggravated assault, an assault that involves brandishing a deadly weapon; defines brandish to mean waving or exhibiting a weapon in a manner that would be found by a reasonable person to indicate a threat to use the weapon. - Amends TCA Title 39.

78. SB 2665 *Akbari (HB 2296 by *Hardaway)

Bail, Bail Bonds- As introduced, requires a court or magistrate to impose global positioning monitoring as a condition of release for a defendant accused of certain offenses, unless the court or magistrate enters written findings that the defendant does not pose a threat to the victim or public safety; requires the administrative office of the courts to compile an annual report of the number of defendants subject to such an order. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 40 and Title 55.

80. SB 1204 *Yarbro (HB 1191 by *Shaw, Hakeem)

Firearms and Ammunition- As introduced, enacts the "Anti-Road Rage Act of 2024," which creates a Class E felony for the reckless discharge of a firearm while operating, or as a passenger in, a motor vehicle; creates a Class A misdemeanor for the reckless brandishing or display of a firearm while operating, or as a passenger in, a motor vehicle. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 55.

81. SB 1830 *Yarbro (HB 1769 by *Clemmons)

Criminal Offenses- As introduced, enacts "The Intercollegiate Student-Athlete Protection Act," which creates a criminal offense of student athlete harassment; punishes the first offense as a Class A misdemeanor and a second or subsequent offense as a Class E felony; and specifies that a student athlete who is the victim of student athlete harassment has a private right of action against a person convicted of the offense. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 49; Title 39 and Title 49.

82. SB 2395 *Yarbro (HB 2212 by *Powell)

Privacy, Confidentiality- As introduced, enacts the "Fourth Amendment is Not for Sale Act"; creates a Class B misdemeanor offense for officers, employees, or contractors of a state agency or local governmental entity that is required by law to be issued a warrant prior to obtaining personal information or sensitive data about an individual to knowingly purchase, license, or otherwise obtain the personal information or sensitive data from a controller in lieu of the warrant requirement. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 39 and Title 47.

83. SB 2619 *Yarbro (HB 2285 by *Mitchell)

Sentencing- As introduced, increases from one year to three years the amount of time a defendant receiving a split sentence of confinement and probation may be required to serve a portion of the sentence in continuous confinement in the local jail or workhouse; specifies that the state is responsible for all costs of incarceration after the first year. - Amends TCA Title 40 and Title 41.

84. SB 0034 *Campbell (HB 0599 by *Freeman)

Criminal Offenses- As introduced, creates a Class A misdemeanor for knowingly giving, selling, lending, delivering, or otherwise transferring a firearm to a person when the transferor knows or reasonably should know that the person receiving the firearm is prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm under state or federal law. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

85. SB 0632 *Campbell (HB 0944 by *Mitchell)

Firearms and Ammunition- As introduced, prohibits the possession of an assault weapon; directs those in possession of an assault weapon before July 1, 2025, to apply for a certificate of possession; creates the Class E felony offense of purchasing, selling, possessing, or using a part, component, device, or attachment designed to accelerate the fire of a semiautomatic rifle and makes any semiautomatic rifle that includes an accelerated fire part, component, or device a prohibited weapon. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 54; Section 38-3-119 and Title 39, Chapter 17.

87. SB 1104 *Campbell (HB 1058 by *Mitchell)

Firearms and Ammunition- As introduced, requires a gun dealer to ensure that three days have passed since the transaction was initiated by the purchaser before transferring a firearm to a purchaser if the purchaser is older than 17 but younger than 21. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

89. SB 2440 *Campbell (HB 2525 by *Behn)

Controlled Substances- As introduced, enacts the "Pot for Potholes Act"; establishes a regulatory structure for the cultivation, processing, and retail sale of marijuana and marijuana products in this state to be administered by the department of agriculture. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 29; Title 33; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 41; Title 43; Title 45; Title 50; Title 53; Title 54; Title 63; Title 67; Title 68 and Title 71.

90. SB 0903 *Lamar (HB 0956 by *Brooks)

Firearms and Ammunition- As introduced, requires, subject to certain exemptions, that a sale or transfer of a firearm be done through a federally licensed gun dealer; creates a Class B misdemeanor offense for sales or transfers that are not conducted through a gun dealer. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 54; Title 38, Chapter 3, Part 1 and Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

Closes firearm private sale loophole

91. SB 0904 *Lamar (HB 0954 by *Brooks)

Law Enforcement- As introduced, requires each law enforcement agency to develop and implement an alternative crisis response unit; requires the Tennessee peace officer standards and training commission to establish uniform training standards for alternative crisis response units in all law enforcement agencies. - Amends TCA Title 33 and Title 38.

Alternative crisis response team, not just police

92. SB 1599 *Lamar (HB 1721 by *Brooks)

Criminal Procedure- With amendment, establishes that if a defendant pays court costs that the government was actually responsible for, such as in cases of acquittal, dismissal, or indigency, they have the legal right to get that money back. To receive this refund, the individual must file a formal petition specifically within the court where those charges were originally applied.

93. SB 1768 *Lamar (HB 1774 by *Freeman, Farmer, Chism, Harris, Powell, McKenzie, Hakeem, Brooks, Towns, Behn, Glynn, Miller, Shaw, Camper, Johnson, Clemmons, Mitchell, Hemmer, Reedy, Travis, Salinas, Dixie, Love, Pearson)

Health Care- As introduced, requires the secretary of state to place an advisory ballot question on the November general election ballot in 2026 regarding the legalization of a regulated medical cannabis program. - Amends TCA Title 2; Title 4; Title 39; Title 43; Title 53; Title 57; Title 63; Title 67 and Title 68.

Medical cannabis ballot question

94. SB 2289 *Lamar (HB 2209 by *Powell, Jones J, Salinas)

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation- As introduced, enacts the "Federal Enforcement Accountability and Community Protection Act." - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 38 and Title 50.

95. SB 2343 *Lamar (HB 2229 by *Dixie)

Sentencing- As introduced, establishes parole criteria for certain persons convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to imprisonment for life; specifies that if a person is convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to imprisonment for life, then the sentence must automatically expire after the person has served 40 years. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13 and Title 40, Chapter 35.

96. SB 0846 *Harshbarger (HB 1268 by *Scarbrough)

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation- As introduced, requires the annual written report submitted to the committee of the house of representatives with jurisdiction over criminal justice matters and the judiciary committee of the senate regarding activities of narcotics investigations by the bureau and the assistant director of the narcotics investigation division be submitted by February 15 of each year. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 10; Title 16; Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 41 and Title 55.

97. SB 1210 *Harshbarger (HB 1254 by *Alexander)

Law Enforcement- As introduced, requires a state or local law enforcement officer to be given written notice by a state or local governmental entity or official prior to being placed on a Brady list setting forth the allegations for placement on the list, and to be given at least 10 business days to respond to such allegations before placement on the list is finalized. - Amends TCA Title 38, Chapter 8.

99. SB 1467 *Taylor (HB 1484 by *Gillespie)

Criminal Offenses- As introduced, enacts the "Memphis Safe Task Force Accountability Act." - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 7 and Title 39.

Unnecessary paperwork requirement for the Shelby County district attorney

100. SB 1929 *Taylor (HB 2465 by *Rudder)

Criminal Procedure- As introduced, adds to the list of certain offenses required to be served at 100 percent of the sentence imposed by the court undiminished by any sentence reduction credits, the attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation to commit those offenses. - Amends TCA Section 40-35-501.

101. SB 1984 *Taylor (HB 1933 by *Vaughan)

District Attorneys- As introduced, requires TACIR to study and prepare a report on pay equity for assistant district attorneys general in this state. - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 8, Chapter 7.

102. SB 2043 *Taylor (HB 1931 by *Vaughan)

Sheriffs- As introduced, prohibits the county legislative body of a county with a charter form of government from adopting a budget that reduces the budget for the sheriff below the budgeted amount for the previous fiscal year unless the reduction is approved in writing by the sheriff; authorizes a sheriff to approve or disapprove a budget amendment that would reduce personnel, operational, or capital expenditures below the level proposed by the sheriff; authorizes the county legislative body to override the sheriff's disapproval by a two-thirds vote. - Amends TCA Title 5, Chapter 1, Part 2; Title 5, Chapter 9, Part 4 and Title 8, Chapter 20, Part 1.

103. SB 2056 *Taylor (HB 2035 by *Harris, Camper, Chism, Parkinson, Towns, Miller, Pearson, Salinas, White, Leatherwood, Vaughan, Hardaway, Glynn, Russell, Shaw, Brooks, Mitchell, Hemmer, Freeman, Love, Clemmons, Travis, Behn, Gillespie, Johnson)

Judicial Districts- As introduced, creates an additional criminal court in the thirtieth judicial district to be designated as part IX; requires the governor to appoint a criminal court judge to serve until the person's successor is elected at the August 2028 general election. - Amends TCA Title 16, Chapter 2.

104. SB 2429 *Taylor (HB 2401 by *Sparks)

Criminal Procedure- caption

105. SB 1734 *Stevens, Walley (HB 1964 by *Farmer, Lamberth, Martin B)

Courts- As introduced, effective September 1, 2030, divides counties into five, instead of seven, different classes by population for the purpose of determining the compensation of general sessions and juvenile judges; revises provisions setting minimum salary requirements for general sessions and juvenile judges; establishes a county litigation tax on each civil, criminal, juvenile, and traffic case initiated in a general sessions or juvenile court to defray general sessions and juvenile judges' salaries; makes other related revisions. - Amends TCA Title 16, Chapter 15, Part 50.

Court fee increase to fund judicial salaries

106. SB 1908 *Stevens, McNally (HB 1837 by *Hicks T, McCalmon)

Real Property- As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Private Property Vesting Rights of 2026," which entitles a property owner to just compensation from a public entity if the public entity enacts a land use regulation that has the effect of reducing the fair market value of the property. - Amends TCA Title 29, Chapter 16.

NOTES: This bill would prevent cities and counties from enforcing laws about what and where developers can build. Generally, governments place restrictions on land use through zoning laws. Common land designations are agricultural, residential, commercial and industrial. The idea is to prevent land conflicts, such as a chicken processing plant next to a school or a landfill next to a church. The proposed bill could effectively prevent local authorities from enforcing these zoning laws. Over time, local governments may become less able to plan for population growth, respond to trends in industrial expansions or protect natural resources.

This bill is written to benefit real estate developers and property investment interests. In practical terms, it creates significant leverage for anyone who wants to challenge zoning restrictions, environmental buffers or density limits  not by winning in court on the merits, but by forcing governments to either pay up or back down.

Local governments and municipalities bear the real burden here. Every new zoning update, environmental protection ordinance, or land use plan becomes a potential liability. Smaller counties and cities with limited legal budgets would be especially vulnerable to litigation pressure, effectively chilling legitimate regulatory action in the public interest.

WPLN coverage https://wpln.org/post/landfills-churches-meat-plants-and-schools-a-tennessee-bill-could-strip-boundaries-between-industry-and-communities/

107. SB 2137 *White (HB 2504 by *Sexton, Doggett)

Sentencing- As introduced, requires a defendant to be sentenced to imprisonment for life as a repeat violent offender under certain circumstances. - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 41.
Solid growth driven by strong performance in international markets, with the injectables business accelerating rapidly

DAXXIFY shows promising results from initial commercialization in China, with expansion plans underway

HONG KONG, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Sisram Medical Ltd (the "Company" or "Sisram", 1696.HK; together with its subsidiaries collectively referred to as the "Group"), a global wellness group offering Energy-Based Devices (EBD), injectables, and other complementary solutions, today announced that its audited consolidated annual results for the year ended December 31, 2025 (the "Reporting Period"). During the Reporting Period, the Group's clear strategic focus and disciplined execution drove steady revenue and profit growth, supported by strong injectables momentum and robust expansion across international markets.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Revenue was US$365.3 million, representing an increase of 4.7% year on year ("YoY").

Revenue from injectables was US$28.0 million, representing an increase of 185.6% YoY.

International markets [1] (excluding North America) grew 20.1% YoY.

(excluding North America) grew 20.1% YoY. Revenue in APAC increased by 26.9% YoY to US$147.4 million, accounting for 40.4% of total revenue and making it the Company's largest revenue-contributing region. Revenues in Europe, and Middle East and Africa were US$56.4 million and US$36.4 million, representing increases of 11.7% YoY and 5.3% YoY respectively. Revenue in North America was US$111.0 million, representing a decrease of 19.2% YoY.

Gross profit margin was 58.9%, compared with 62.1% in 2024, mainly due to changes in geographic and product mix, as well as newly established import tariffs.

Net profit decreased by 13.1% YoY to US$25.0 million from US$28.8 million in 2024. Net profit margin was 6.8%, compared with 8.2% in 2024. Adjusted net profit increased by 7.9% YoY to US$31.0 million from US$28.7 million in 2024. Adjusted net profit margin was 8.5%, compared with 8.2% in 2024.

FINAL DIVIDEND

The Board has resolved to declare a final dividend of HK$0.095 per share (inclusive of tax) for the year ended December 31, 2025.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

EBD Reinforcing Core Strengths and Industry Leadership

Sisram's energy-based device portfolio continued to reinforce the Company's leadership in the global aesthetics market. Alma Harmony maintained strong international traction, with its Harmony Bio-Boost treatment receiving multiple prestigious recognitions, including the ELLE Awards, positioning the platform among leading patient choices. Alma Hybrid also delivered its fifth consecutive year of growth, highlighting the durability of the Company's core EBD platforms. In China, the launch of "" further strengthened Sisram's presence in the premium medical aesthetics segment.

Injectables Expanding Market Presence with Strong Growth

Sisram continued to expand its injectables portfolio across key global markets. In Mainland China, DAXXIFY achieved important milestones, including regulatory approval and its first clinical applications. Since then, the product has been rolled out across multiple provinces and cities, with shipments surpassing ten thousand units and usage demonstrating a steady upward trend. At the same time, Profhilo maintained strong momentum in Thailand and Revanesse delivered solid performance in the United Kingdom, reflecting growing practitioner adoption. The Company also advanced the rollout of Hallura, a next-generation hyaluronic acid filler, following a successful launch in Israel.

Building an Intelligent Aesthetics Ecosystem

As part of its strategy to build an intelligent aesthetics ecosystem, Sisram introduced several key innovations during the year. Universkin by Alma, an AI-powered personalized skincare platform, enables physicians to generate customized formulations based on advanced skin analysis. The system was launched in the United States and Hong Kong, extending personalized care from clinical treatments to daily skincare routines. Complementing this platform, Alma IQ, developed with Sylton, provides advanced skin imaging and diagnostics that support more precise treatment planning.

OUTLOOK

Sisram is entering a strategic phase aimed at creating a fully integrated medicalaesthetics ecosystem, building on its operational resilience. The Company will strengthen its local footprint worldwide, most notably by establishing a manufacturing facility in China to support regional R&D and production of core EBD technologies, and will increase R&D investment across EBD, injectables, diagnostics, and personalized skincare to deliver distinctive aesthetic solutions.

In 2026, Sisram will prioritize commercializing DAXXIFY in mainland China while advancing regulatory approvals for additional injectables. Simultaneously, the Company will drive broader adoption of Alma Harmony, Universkin by Alma, and Alma IQ, and expand AI integration across diagnostics, personalized treatment planning, and ongoing patient care. In addition, Sisram will explore strategic M&A opportunities to strengthen its ecosystem and innovation capabilities.

Execution will focus on APAC and North America. In APAC, Sisram will deepen market penetration with ecosystem-driven, locally tailored solutions. In North America, amid challenging market conditions, Sisram will concentrate on operational discipline and strategic capacity building, supported by deeper market analytics and optimized regional resource allocation to position the business for long-term growth.

MANAGEMENT COMMENTARY

Mr. Lior Moshe Dayan, Chairman of Sisram Medical, commented: "The medical aesthetics industry continues to demonstrate strong long-term fundamentals, driven by rising patient awareness and broader treatment adoption. Anticipating this shift early, Sisram has been building an integrated ecosystem spanning devices, diagnostics, injectables, and AI-driven skincare. Supported by our global footprint and strong physician partnerships, these foundations drove Sisram's performance in 2025 and position the Company well for the years ahead."

Mr. Eyal Ben David, CEO of Sisram Medical, added: "2025 marked an important step in strengthening the foundations for Sisram's next phase of growth. Strong demand for our EBD portfolio and the continued expansion of our injectables business reflect growing practitioner confidence in Sisram's integrated approach to aesthetic care. During the year, we also made significant progress in advancing our ecosystem strategyenhancing consultations with Alma IQ and introducing AI-driven skincare with Universkin by Almabringing greater value to our partners and clinics while positioning Sisram to capture long-term opportunities across the global aesthetics market."

Mr. Jiahong Li, Co-CEO and CFO of Sisram Medical, said: "In 2025, Sisram proactively addressed external challenges, advanced its strategic agenda in an orderly manner and delivered solid financial performance. Revenue grew 4.7% year-on-year, with double-digit growth in both year-on-year and sequential terms in the second half, reflecting a stable growth trajectory. Driven by disciplined cost management and operational efficiency, profitability further improved, with adjusted net profit rising 7.9% year-on-year. Looking ahead, we will continue investing in core businesses and new growth engines, pursue ecosystemaligned M&A opportunities to broaden our product portfolio and boost innovation, and expand localized R&D and manufacturing to lay a solid foundation for long-term growth and shareholder value creation."

[1] International markets refer to all markets globally, excluding North America.

About Sisram Medical Ltd

Sisram Medical Ltd (1696.HK) is a global leader in medical aesthetic solutions with over 25 years of expertise in Energy-Based Devices (EBD). Built on a legacy of innovation and clinical excellence, the Company's synergistic ecosystem spans EBD technologies, injectables, diagnostics, and complementary solutions. Serving customers in over 110 countries and regions, Sisram delivers award-winning products that set new standards in safety, efficacy, and personalized aesthetic care for millions of patients worldwide. Majority-owned by Fosun Pharma, Sisram has been listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since September 2017.

For more information, please visit: www.sisram-medical.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

The information communicated in this press release contains certain statements that are or may be forward-looking. These statements typically contain words such as "will," "expects," "believes," "plans" and "anticipates," and words of similar import. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. There may be additional material risks that are currently not considered to be material or of which the Company is unaware. These forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance. Against the background of these uncertainties, readers should not rely on these forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no responsibility to update forward-looking statements or to adapt them to future events or developments.

SOURCE Sisram Medical Ltd
Chattanooga State Community College has selected Dr. Karen Eastman its new Vice President of Academic Affairs, recognizing more than two decades of leadership, teaching excellence, and service to the College.

Dr. Eastman joined ChattState in 2003 as an adjunct faculty member before becoming a full-time Anatomy and Physiology instructor in 2004. Over the years, she has helped shape academic programs, mentor faculty, and support thousands of students pursuing careers in health care and other fields.

Dr. Eastmans career at ChattState reflects the very best of our institution: dedication to students, commitment to teaching excellence, and a passion for collaboration, said ChattState President Dr. Rebecca Ashford. Her leadership will help ensure that our academic programs continue to evolve in ways that serve both our students and the workforce needs of our region.

During her time as a faculty member, Dr. Eastman developed the Colleges first fully online Anatomy and Physiology course and received the Teaching Excellence Award for Arts and Sciences in 2013.

She later served as Department Head for Life Sciences, Interim Dean and Dean of the Math and Sciences Division, and Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Blue Horizon corporate training partnership , expanding workforce development opportunities for students and employers in the region. For the past eight months, Dr. Eastmans work as interim Vice President has included leading academic planning and collaboration across the College. In that role, she helped develop the, expanding workforce development opportunities for students and employers in the region.

She was selected for the inaugural cohort of the Tennessee Board of Regents Academic Affairs Leadership Academy, a program designed to develop future leaders across the states community college system.

Our dedicated and experienced faculty and staff are the heart of ChattStates success, Dr. Eastman said. Im grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with such a dedicated team as we continue building innovative programs, supporting student achievement, and responding to the needs of our community. Together, we are ensuring that every student who learns with us is ready to step into a rewarding career and open new doors for them and their families.
A new lecture series at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga will honor one of the most influential figures in the citys astronomy history while bringing a distinguished alumnus back to the observatory where his career began.The inaugural Karel Hujer Memorial Lecture, co-hosted by UTCs Clarence T. Jones Observatory and the Barnard Astronomical Society, will take place at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 10, in Grote Hall Room 129. The event is free and open to the public.The event coincides with the 90th anniversary of the Clarence T.Jones Observatory, one of Chattanoogas longest-running educational attractions.Chattanooga native Dr. Harold A. Hal McAlister, Regents Professor Emeritus of Astronomy at Georgia State University, founder of the Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy and a 1971 UTC physics alumnus, will present a lecture titled Karel Hujer: Chattanoogas Astronomer and Citizen of the World.Parking for the Grote Hall lecture is available in the adjacent Lupton Hall parking garage (700 Vine St.) and is free beginning at 5 p.m.In addition to the lecture, a public open house at the observatory will take place from 710 p.m. on Saturday, April 11. The event will give visitors an opportunity to meet McAlister and explore the observatory. The Clarence T. Jones Observatory is located at 10 Tuxedo Ave. , about 4.5 miles east of the UTC campus in the Brainerd area. Visitors are encouraged to park in the upper lot behind Brainerd United Methodist Church for easier access to the facility.Admission to both events is free. Space at the Saturday open house is limited and advance registration is requested We have been looking to honor Karel Hujer, a big figure in local astronomy and a longtime faculty member here, said Observatory Director Steven Kline, an astronomy lecturer in UTCs Department of Physics and Astronomy. He was also a very notable international figure.The lecture series is being organized in partnership with the Barnard Astronomical Society, which has supported the observatory since its inception.The observatory has been taking on some really positive legs latelynot just the building itself, but the use of the space, said Kevin Hon, president of the Barnard Astronomical Society. We have been looking for additional ways to strengthen the relationship between the University and the Barnard Astronomical Society. The new lecture series offers an opportunity to highlight Karel Hujers legacy while reconnecting the community with the observatory.Hujer is this figure who has been recognized but not necessarily highlighted as much as he could be. We feel like he is the perfect person to honor because he was here for almost 30 years.For the inaugural lecture, Kline and Hon invited a speaker whose own career was shaped by Hujers mentorship.McAlister grew up just a few blocks from the observatory in Chattanoogas Brainerd neighborhood. As a child, he visited the observatory during a class session led by Hujer, an experience that helped set the course for his future in astronomy.Hujer had an influence on so many students at the time, and Hal happened to be one of those students who went on to become a very prominent astronomer, Hon said.McAlister earned a bachelors degree in physics from UTC before completing graduate studies in astronomy at the University of Virginia. At Georgia State University, he founded the Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy in 1983 and led the development of the CHARA Array at Mount Wilson Observatory in California, which produces some of the highest-resolution images obtained of stellar surfaces.For Kline, the new lecture series is both a tribute to an influential educator and an effort to reconnect the public with a historic campus resource.Its a cool piece of Chattanooga history, Kline said. Hes a cool figure from Chattanooga history that most people dont know about. If we can fix that, thats even better.
In a recent column, we wrote about judicial restraint and its critical role in retaining public respect and support for the federal judiciary. In this column, we will write on a related topic: judicial temperament.Judicial Temperament: How Judges Conduct ThemselvesLike judicial restraint, judicial temperament concerns how a judge conducts him or herself. And like judicial restraint, it is often taken for granted or not noticed until it is absent.Judicial temperament is not easy to define.At a minimum, it includes patience, open-mindedness, courtesy, humility, and a disciplined commitment to impartiality. Above all else, judicial temperament requires judges not to hold themselves above others or think too highly of themselves. It places a premium on respect for all people a judge encounters, both in and out of the courthouse. It requires a judge to listen carefully, treat every litigant and lawyer with dignity, and approach each case with an open mind. It demands steadiness under pressure and requires judges to remain above the fray, especially when cases stir strong emotions or involve divisive issues.Judicial temperament is not an abstract virtue for rare occasions; it is a daily practice. It is reflected in how a judge greets a nervous witness, rules on a contentious objection, or explains a decision that one side will inevitably find disappointing. It is reflected in how the judge interacts with the public, both in and out of the courthouse. These choices, repeated day in and day out, shape the publics perception not just of individual judges, but of our justice system itself.Judicial Temperament Grounds Public Opinion Of The Courts.For most people, judicial temperament will form the basis of their opinion of the courts.Most people will not read judicial opinions in full or follow cases directly. Rather, the average citizen will form impressions of the men and women who inhabit the judiciary from any courtroom proceedings they may see and from news accounts, public encounters with judges, or perhaps even civics education. A judge with good judicial temperament will be respectful, attentive, and even-handed. These qualities provide a foundation from which the public can conclude the judicial system is fair. Conversely, a judge with poor judicial temperament, who is dismissive, superior, impatient, angry, or biased, will erode confidence not only in that particular case or judge, but also in the judiciary as a whole.Both The Executive Branch And The Senate Care About Judicial Temperament.Judicial temperament is an important consideration in selecting judges. When a presidential administration considers making a nomination and when members of the Senate consider whether to confirm a nominee, both typically raise issues of judicial temperament with the candidate. In fact, judicial temperament often ranks among the top concerns in judicial selection. Senators, regardless of their party affiliation, frequently question nominees during confirmation hearings about their temperament and how it will apply if they are confirmed to the bench. This focus on temperament reflects an understanding that a lifetime judicial appointment demands more than mere intellectual ability; it requires the character and judgment to wield judicial power responsibly over many decades.This emphasis on judicial temperament also underscores an important truth: the legitimacy of the judiciary depends not only on what judges decide, but also on how they conduct themselves in making their decisions. Even controversial rulings can earn acceptance, or at least respect, when the process is seen as fair and the judge as principled. Judicial temperament is what allows courts to navigate difficult cases without fueling public distrust.Conclusion.For a judiciary that relies on public confidence and acceptance, rather than force, good temperament is not optionalit is imperative. It is the cornerstone on which public respect and support for the federal courts are built.United States District Judge Curtis L. Collier, chair, Eastern District of Tennessee Civics and Outreach CommitteeCarrie Brown Stefaniak, law clerk to the Honorable Curtis L. CollierMeghna Melkote, law clerk to the Honorable Curtis L. CollierAlex Tritell, law clerk to the Honorable Curtis L. Collier
Here are the new marriage licenses from the County Clerk's office:

DARON WALLACE JOHNSON MADISON ELIZABETH MINTZ

725 TALLEY RD 725 TALLEY RD

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37411 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37411



FAITH LEE COOPER RODRIGO ROSAS

6002 RAMSEY FORGEY RD 6002 RAMSEY FORGEY RD

HARRISON, Tennessee 37341 HARRISON, Tennessee 37341



JAMES KYLE TRULOCK VICTORIA LYNN BROCK

3450 FAIRMOUNT PIKE 3450 FAIRMOUNT PIKE

SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, Tennessee 37377 SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, Tennessee 37377



GAVIN COLE HEADRICK ALLIE GRACE GILLIAM

7291 VALLEY LANE 7291 VALLEY LANE

HIXSON, Tennessee 37343 HIXSON, Tennessee 37343



ELIZABETH SPAK SPENSER COOPER RUSSELL-SNYDER

1909 E 12TH ST 1909 E 12TH ST

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37404 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37404



JESUS DAVID LUGO MORALES ANYIBEL COROMOTO GUILLEN DELGADO

4301 12TH AVE 4301 12TH AVE

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37407 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37407



TYLER SAMUEL JONES LEXIE MICHELLE HARNESS

326 TRINITY WAY 326 TRINITY WAY

HOSCHTON, Georgia 30548 HOSCHTON, Georgia 30548



MATTHEY WAYNE MOORE MARLY ELIZABETH ESPINO

104 MIGLIA ST 104 MIGLIA ST

HUTTO, Texas 78634 HUTTO, Texas 78634



JESSE WILBURN PEARDON RHONDA HATTIE MARIE SMITH

109 IVY ST 109 IVY ST

ROSSVILLE, Georgia 30741 ROSSVILLE, Georgia 30741



KAMERON WADE OLIVER GRACIE LEIGH PETTY

5721 SCOTT ST 5721 SCOTT ST

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37412 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37412



JAYDEEP DHAKAL KATARINA ROSE RADU

1134 CHIPPEWAH DR 1134 CHIPPEWAH DR

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37412 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37412



THOMAS WILLIAM CAGLE JESSICA MARIE LENNEN

538 LAYFIELD RD 538 LAYFIELD RD

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37412 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37412



PATRICK MELVIN HENLEY HAMMOND NATASHA DAWN SMITH

651 HOWARD LEONARD RD 651 HOWARD LEONARD RD

RInggold, Georgia 30736 RInggold, Georgia 30736



LEDARIUS TREY DAVIS JO'NAE SHYAN BLAIR

3818 MONTVIEW DR 3818 MONTVIEW DR

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37411 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37411



JOSHUA MARQUEZ PEARSON MADELYNE KAY CHEAK

27364 ST ANDREWS AVE 27364 ST ANDREWS AVE

WESLEY CHAPEL, Florida 33544 WESLEY CHAPEL, Florida 33544



ROBERT IRA HIRSCHI NELIA RODRIGUEZ DE FRANCO

7516 PINEWOOD DR 7516 PINEWOOD DR

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421



AUSTIN HENRY WALDO MORGAN FAY HARDING

6707 BIG RIDGE RD 6707 BIG RIDGE RD

HIXSON, Tennessee 37343 HIXSON, Tennessee 37343



DANIEL PATRICK WILLWERTH KAYLA BLAIR WHYARD

7512 IRONGATE DR 7512 IRONGATE DR

HIXSON, Tennessee 37343 HIXSON, Tennessee 37343



RUVIM IVAN ZAVALIN NELYA VLADIMIROVNA MARUSHKA

8905 APISON PIKE 8905 APISON PIKE

OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363 OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363



ANDREW THOMAS FLANNERY ITA CRISTAL VITERVO ROSENDO

365 E 14TH ST 365 E 14TH ST

COOKEVILLE, Tennessee 38501 COOKEVILLE, Tennessee 38501



ANTHONY LANIER HAMMONDS KIM LOUISE NOBLE

160 BLUE JAY PARKWAY 160 BLUE JAY PARKWAY

RInggold, Georgia 30736 RInggold, Georgia 30736



REGENE' SAMONE ELZORA WHITE RODNEY RASHAD BOSTON

3004 TAYLOR ST 3004 TAYLOR ST

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37406 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37406



LYNETTE MAE CARLSON LORI JANE MOSS

2627 OAKWOOD CIR 2627 OAKWOOD CIR

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415



NEKA RASHIDA WELLS WILLIE JAMES ROSS

8813 WACONDA LN 8813 WACONDA LN

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37416 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37416



PATRICIA LAUREN WILBANKS JONATHAN RAYMOND MACHOVINA

4627 ARDMORE DR APT 211 4627 ARDMORE DR APT 211

OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363 OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363



ROBERT DAVIS HINTON CHRISTINA JOY NASON

138 COUNTY RD 619 138 COUNTY RD 619

MENTONE, Alabama 35984 MENTONE, Alabama 35984



GAVIN REECE MILLER LILY ANN WILSON

8602 SUMMIT PEAK WAY APT 11 301 8602 SUMMIT PEAK WAY APT 11 301

OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363 OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363



ADAM RUARK JOHNSON EMILY ANN ADAMS

203 HUNT AVE 203 HUNT AVE

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37411 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37411



JAMES MICHAEL GARREN LISA GAYLE STEELE

7513 WILD IRIS WAY 7513 WILD IRIS WAY

OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363 OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363



BRYAN JAH-RULE PALMER AMBER SUE LYNN MILLER

1717 WHITE OAK RD APT A4 1717 WHITE OAK RD APT A4

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415



ELIZABETH ALISE WOOD MATTHEW ROSS SHEETS

144 N VICTOR DR 144 N VICTOR DR

FLINTSTONE, Georgia 30725 FLINTSTONE, Georgia 30725



WILLIAM TYLER KRAUSE PAIGE ALEXIS PIERCE

4995 EASTVIEW TER 4995 EASTVIEW TER

APISON, Tennessee 37302 APISON, Tennessee 37302



ASHTON ELIZABETH ROCK JAMES CALEB HEDRICK

3645 GARRETT DR 3645 GARRETT DR

FRANKLIN, Ohio 45005 FRANKLIN, Ohio 45005



TERRENCE LEVERNE STALLION CARDENIA KESHAUNNA CURRY

12321 ANARANIA DR 12321 ANARANIA DR

JACKSONVILLE, Florida 32220 JACKSONVILLE, Florida 32220



BRANSON LEVI WHITE CHELSEA LEANNE NUNLEY

6320 HIXSON PIKE APT C139 6320 HIXSON PIKE APT C139

HIXSON, Tennessee 37343 HIXSON, Tennessee 37343



CHRISTOPHER LLOYD GROSS SHAYLA NICOLE HEADLEE

10116 WALDEN ST 10116 WALDEN ST

SODDY DAISY, Tennessee 37379 SODDY DAISY, Tennessee 37379



STEPHEN DAVID ROBINSON CAREY REBECCA OSBOURN

7781 ALDERBERRY DR 7781 ALDERBERRY DR

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421



HAILEY MADISON KING BRADLEY TAYLOR SHRADER

1223 ABBY LN 3535 MOUNTAIN CREEK RD

HIXSON, Tennessee 37343 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415



STEVEN WAYNE WALKER ALEXIS STORM CENTER

3661 BLUE SPRINGS RD 3661 BLUE SPRINGS RD

CLEVELAND, Tennessee 37311 CLEVELAND, Tennessee 37311



ALLEN DANIEL BYRD ALLISON KATHRYN FEIKE

6243 SUMMER POND DR APT N 6243 SUMMER POND DR

CENTREVILLE, Virginia 20121 CENTREVILLE, Virginia 20121



ELIZABETH JOY DAVIS ROSS STEPHEN HORVAT

2350 IGOU FERRY RD 2350 IGOU FERRY RD

SODDY DAISY, Tennessee 37379 SODDY DAISY, Tennessee 37379



TYLER DALE DASBURG ISSAC LEE SIRMONS

3218 JOSELIN LN 3218 JOSELIN LN

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415



RYAN ALEXANDER MOUNT REBECCA MARIE CHESNUTT

112 SWEETLAND DR APT 1 112 SWEETLAND DR APT 1

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415



SAUL JASON GOMEZ MARISSA ROSE BELL

1911 BENNETT AVE 1911 BENNETT AVE

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37404 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37404



CARLOS APARICIO DOMINGO AIDA YOLANDA SANCHEZ

7255 LEE HWY APT 508 7255 LEE HWY APT 508

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421



GARY DEWAYNE CROSS LISA BAIN WILKERSON

509 BAIN RD 509 BAIN RD

WALLING, Tennessee 38587 WALLING, Tennessee 38587



EMILY ANN HILL DAVID RUSSELL HOPKINS

309 TENNESSEE AVE 309 TENNESSEE AVE

ROSSVILLE, Georgia 30741 ROSSVILLE, Georgia 30741



MOHAMED FADUL AMIRA OUNIS

6220 SHALLOWFORD RD APT 118 6220 SHALLOWFORD RD APT 118

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421



WERNER CASPER KUHLKE TRACY LYNN SHOPE

11 LAKEVIEW ALY 11 LAKEVIEW ALY

DAWSONVILLE, Georgia 30534 DAWSONVILLE, Georgia 30534



DAILY MADISON MOLLYHORN JERRY DEWAYNE COTNEY

3725 FOUNTAIN AVE APT 68 3725 FOUNTAIN AVE APT 68

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37412 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37412



JUHO HWANG TIFFANY TAE EUN YI

9298 APISON PK STE 204 9298 APISON PK STE 204

OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363 OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363



MASHA COLLIN ASHE SHAWN CLAYTON STUART

1319 BRADT ST 1319 BRADT ST

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37406 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37406



DAVID LEE LEDBETTER LITA MARIE HERMANN

4814 BASSWOOD DR 4814 BASSWOOD DR

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37416 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37416



SIMON DANIEL SIERRA GINA DE JESUS GONZALES

4881 FANNON DR 4881 FANNON DR

OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363 OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363



TYLER ALLEN SCHERBARTH MADELINE MARIE HANKINS

3411 ALTA VISTA DR 3411 ALTA VISTA DR

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37411 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37411



ALEXANDER CLARK PERRY CHEYANNE DAWN HUSTON

9191 WOOD LN 9191 WOOD LN

SODDY DAISY, Tennessee 37379 SODDY DAISY, Tennessee 37379



KRISTINE CAROLINE HART TIMOTHY ROBERT SORGEE

1066 RUDDER AVE 701 OLD SALUDA DAM RD

MANAHAWKIN, New Jersey 08050 EASLEY, South Carolina 29640



RAE'VEN NICOLE OFFUTT AARON MICHAEL HODNETT

4701 LAKE HAVEN DR 4701 LAKE HAVEN DR

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37416 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37416



ADAM MICHAEL ENGESATH CHELSEA FAYE POTEET

1397 MEADOWOOD DR 1397 MEADOWOOD DR

HIXSON, Tennessee 37343 HIXSON, Tennessee 37343



WILLIAM PARKER GIVENS JENNIFER CAWTHORN STEWART

500 DODDS AVE 1514 MITCHELL AVE APT 1

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37404 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37408


James Slick Smith, 93, of Ooltewah, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 20, 2026.

Born on June 28, 1932, James was a lifelong resident of the Chattanooga area and a man deeply rooted in his community. He was the beloved son of the late Melvin Smith, Sr., and Leona V. Donaldson Smith. He was also preceded in death by his devoted wife of 68 years, Sue Smith; his son, Randall Smith; his brothers, Melvin and Don Smith; and his brothers-in-law, Jerry Miller and Teddy Smith.

James lived a life marked by dedication, service, and hard work. He retired from Combustion Engineering after 32 years, where he worked as a skilled boilermaker and later as a carpenter. Never one to slow down, he went on to work as a realtor, continuing to serve others in his community. In addition, James proudly served his country in the Navy Seabees Reserves for 34 years, retiring with the rank of Chief. He was a member of NMCB 24 and concluded his distinguished service with NMCB 13.

James was a longtime member of St. James Methodist Church.

He leaves behind a loving family who will cherish his memory: his daughter, Susan (Frank) LeQuire; grandsons, Justin (Jessica) Smith and Matt (Angel) LeQuire; and great-grandchildren, Ansley and Julian Smith. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law, Phyllis Miller, Marylynn Sis Smith, and Sandy (Paul) Weeks, along with numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members who will remember him fondly.

A celebration of Jamess life will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, in the Valley View Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Valley View Chapel, with Pastor Fred Layne officiating. Interment will follow at Chattanooga Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home.

Please share your thoughts and memories online at www. ChattanoogaValleyViewChapel. com

Arrangements are by Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, Valley View Chapel, 7414 Old Lee Highway, Chattanooga, Tn. 37421.
The Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), the HelmholtzZentrum Berlin (HZB) and Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin (HU) officially inaugurated the Berlin Battery Lab (BBL). At this new research platform, BAM, HZB and HU jointly develop and test resource-efficient battery technologies with a focus on sodium-based systems. Together, they develop new materials, investigate innovative cell chemistries, and produce battery prototypes. The research infrastructure of the Berlin Battery Lab is also open to external partners from science and industry and is designed to accelerate the transfer from research to application.

In recent years, Berlin has developed into a leading location for battery research. Sustainable alternatives such as sodium-ion or lithium-sulfur batteries are increasingly coming into focus.

Within this context, the Berlin Battery Lab functions as a central platform that strategically integrates the complementary expertise of the participating institutions. BAM contributes internationally recognized expertise in battery safety and the development of innovative energy materials. HU is one of the leading academic research institutions in the field of sodium-ion batteries. HZB provides long-standing experience in lithium-sulfur battery research and operates BESSY II, one of the worlds most powerful X-ray sources for studying battery-chemical processes.

With the Berlin Battery Lab, BAM, HU Berlin and HZB are creating a research environment in the German capital that systematically combines fundamental research, materials development, cell design and safety testing at a single location. This bridges an important gap on the path to industrial application. Start-ups and technology-oriented companies stand to benefit in particular: the lab is open for cooperation and aims to significantly support the development of locally produced, sustainable battery technologies.

At the inauguration, the Berlin Senator for Science, Health and Care Dr. Ina Czyborra, stated: "The Berlin Battery Lab illustrates Berlin's strength in strategically bringing together top-level research and technological needs  through close cooperation between three outstanding partners and a short path from research to application. Battery research is a key technology on the High-Tech Agenda. The Berlin Battery Lab strengthens Germany's technological sovereignty by reducing dependence on critical raw materials and increasing the resilience of key value chains. These national challenges can only be met through close collaboration  with a clear joint commitment from the federal and state governments, including appropriate funding instruments. The State of Berlin is pleased to support this goal and is providing the Berlin Battery Lab with an additional 2.4 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) between 2026 and 2028."

Prof. Dr. Ulrich Panne, President of BAM: Many new battery technologies are being developed in Germany, but they are not reaching application quickly enough. This is exactly where the Berlin Battery Lab makes a difference: here in Berlin, we bring together research, development and cell manufacturing while integrating safety considerations and regulatory requirements to help transfer sustainable innovations into practice.

Prof. Dr. Julia von Blumenthal, President of Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin: Batteries are a key technology for the sustainable energy supply of the future. The Berlin Battery Lab consolidates the expertise of three outstanding research institutions in this field at the Berlin location. The Berlin Battery Lab will span the entire research chain, facilitate collaboration with industry and accelerate the processes leading to practical application. It will create innovations and thus make an important contribution to addressing one of the central challenges of our time.

Prof. Dr. Bernd Rech, Scientific Director of HZB: At the Berlin Battery Lab, we combine our diverse competencies to accelerate development and technology transfer to industry. At HZB, we are establishing a new pouch-cell laboratory for sodium-ion batteries and providing state-of-the-art characterization methods at BESSY II.
The Canberra Declaration highlighting Judeo-Christian Aussie values. | Photo credit: Canberra Declaration Facebook page

An Australian Christian advocacy group has introduced a new index aimed at documenting what it describes as increasing restrictions on religious freedom, particularly affecting Christians across the country.

The Canberra Declaration, which calls for a renewed commitment to Australias Judeo-Christian heritage, unveiled the Australian Christian Freedom Index (ACFI) alongside a report examining trends related to anti-Christian sentiment in 2025.

According to Christian Daily International, speakers at the launch event argued that existing anti-discrimination laws are being used in ways that suppress Christian expression and limit the Churchs voice in public life.

The ACFI brings together multiple lines of evidence to paint the most comprehensive picture of Christian freedom in Australia ever produced, said Kurt Mahlburg, a leader within the Canberra Declaration.

Another leader, Warrick Marsh, described the initiative as a defining moment intended to demonstrate the importance of religious liberty to public officials and broader society. He said the Index serves as a line in the sand to emphasize the role of Christian freedom as a foundational national value.

Concerns raised in the report include what speakers called a growing rule of silence, with Christians feeling pressure to keep their beliefs private, particularly on topics such as gender, parenting and education. George Christensen, a former member of Parliament affiliated with CitizenGO, highlighted this issue as a significant cultural shift.

Mahlburg also pointed to legal developments across Australian states, noting cases in which Christian schools have reportedly faced pressure to employ staff who do not share their beliefs. He further referenced situations involving medical professionals being compelled to participate in abortion or euthanasia, as well as restrictions on street preaching near abortion facilities.

Comparing Australia to the United States, Mahlburg argued that while American religious freedom is grounded in constitutional protections, Australia relies more on limited exemptions. He described Section 116 of the Australian Constitution as offering only a nod to religious freedom and said it has not been meaningfully strengthened.

Christensen echoed concerns about growing constraints, stating that many believers feel they are being told to remain silent about their faith.

He also challenged the idea that the freedom to attend church services alone constitutes genuine religious liberty, dismissing it as a hollowed-out version of faith. He added that the U.S. State Department has shown interest in the findings of the index.

Legal scholar Augusto Zimmerman, who is working to establish a Christian law school in Sydney, criticized the role of anti-discrimination laws, arguing that government intervention has gone too far.

I want the state to leave me alone, Zimmerman said. The greatest sin of Australia is the idolatry of the government. We need to stop asking for more laws and start voting for politicians who will repeal them. I dont feel we are free in this country anymore. What God gives, no man can take away.

The group said it plans to expand the index by compiling additional data, including documented cases and survey results, to demonstrate what it sees as increasing pressure on Christian freedoms. Organizers intend to present their findings to policymakers and media outlets as evidence of growing challenges faced by believers in Australia.
American and California Flags. | Photo credit: Unsplash/ Craig Marolf

A newly resurfaced COVID-era interview with the wife of California Gov. Gavin Newsom has gone viral for her claim that Evangelicals are pulling us back as a country.

Jennifer Siebel Newsom, California's first partner, made the comments in a 2022 interview with former Fox journalist Elex Michaelson in which Siebel Newsom advocated for the political left to redefine the traditional meaning of the pro-life movement.

So many progressives are leaning into redefining what pro-life is really about, and that's what we're doing in California, she said. You know, pro-life is about prenatal care and universal preschool and universal after-school and universal healthcare and taking care of foster kids and feeding kids universal meals and childcare. Like, that's pro-life. It's not about conception.

Siebel Newsom then took aim at folks on what she called the far right, including Christians and conservatives. Theyre living in this Evangelical, conservative silo that, ultimately, is just pulling us back as a country to a time and a place where we don't deserve to be and we're not gonna be, said Siebel Newsom. Because honestly, young women and fathers of daughters are awake now, and they're woke, and they're not going to let us go back.

She went on to express optimism about this shift, stating it filled her with so much hope and emphasized California's role in the process: I have so much hope because of that. And obviously, California has a huge responsibility to lead.

The resurfaced footage drew criticism from conservative groups like American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), which called Siebel Newsoms comments a radical attack on Christians.

Noting that California has the ACLJs largest donor base, Logan Sekulow, director of media for the ACLJ, wrote, That means a vast number of Evangelicals and conservatives in that state support our work and oppose the far-left radicalism of the Newsoms. So Jennifer is completely out of touch with millions within her own state.

Sekulow added that although these views might appeal to liberals during the primary, such a political disconnect could spell trouble for a long-rumored plan for Newsom to run for the White House in 2028. How will that affect her husbands eventual presidential bid?"

Siebel Newsom's official biography on the state website explains her preference for the title "First Partner" over "First Lady" as a deliberate choice intended to send a signal of inclusivity, recognizing that one day there will be a woman or [LGBT] Governor of California, and to elevate the importance of partnership and the need for, and benefits of, a caring, inclusive government."

Newsoms office did not respond to a request for comment from The Christian Post.

The resurfaced footage of Siebel Newsoms views on Evangelicals revived controversy over Gov. Newsom's actions during the COVID-19 pandemic, when his administration imposed strict public health restrictions on in-person religious services that drew widespread criticism from churches and led to multiple high-profile lawsuits.

In March 2020, Newsom issued statewide stay-at-home orders that classified houses of worship as non-essential, effectively banning indoor services for churches while allowing certain secular businesses to operate with modifications.

Churches, like South Bay United Pentecostal Church, Harvest Rock Church and Grace Community Church, led by then-Pastor John MacArthur (now deceased), challenged the restrictions as discriminatory, arguing they violated First Amendment rights by treating religious gatherings more harshly than comparable secular activities.

Lower courts initially upheld many of the orders, but the U.S. Supreme Court intervened multiple times, most significantly in February 2021, when the Court struck down California's ban on indoor services, allowing limited capacity while prohibiting outright bans.

This article was originally published by The Christian Post.
Former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams. | Screenshot: YouTube/ The Institute of Art and Ideas

Former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams has raised doubts about the long-term future of the Anglican Communion, suggesting it may struggle to endure amid deepening internal divisions.

In a recent interview with Clerical Whispers published last week, Williams openly questioned the Communions survival.

"I don't know whether the [Anglican] Communion will survive," Williams said.

Williams, who led the Church of England from 2002 to 2012, made the remarks as his latest book, Solidarity: The Work of Recognition, is set for release this week.

He also revealed that he would not attend the installation of Archbishop Sarah Mullally, who is scheduled to become the 106th archbishop of Canterbury on March 25 at Canterbury Cathedral after completing an 87-mile pilgrimage from London.

Explaining his decision, Williams said, "You don't want to be Marley's ghost," referring to his reluctance to overshadow his successor. Mullallys installation follows her formal confirmation at St. Pauls Cathedral in London last month, where a protester, the Rev. Paul Williamson, was ejected from the service for shouting his objection to her confirmation.

Reflecting on his own tenure, Williams described the role of archbishop as demanding and often difficult, noting it was "no walk in the park" and that he frequently questioned whether it was "worthwhile."

He warned that Mullally is likely to face many of the same contentious issues that defined his leadership, particularly debates over womens ordination and what he referred to as "the same-sex question."

While Williams acknowledged that tensions over womens ordination have somewhat eased in England, he said disputes over gender and sexuality continue to divide the global Anglican Communion. Mullally has publicly supported both the ordination of women and the blessing of same-sex relationships.

Recent developments within the Church of England underscore those tensions. Last month, the General Synod voted to abandon plans for standalone blessing services for same-sex couples following prolonged debate.

Williams suggested that these theological disputes reflect broader societal challenges, including rapid social change, environmental concerns and a growing sense of instability.

He attributed the divisions in part to "the pace of social change, the environmental crisis, a sense of a loss of control on lots of people's parts  of decisions being made elsewhere."

"And particularly that sense of powerlessness  'I do not know where the levers are that will give me some control.'"

Mullallys appointment has also drawn criticism from conservative Anglican groups. Following the announcement last October, leaders within the Global Anglican Futures Conference (GAFCON) rejected her authority as a spiritual leader.

GAFCON, which was established in 2008 in Jerusalem, recently held the first official gathering of the Global Anglican Communion in Abuja, Nigeria. Although there had been speculation that the group might appoint a rival figure to the archbishop of Canterbury, it ultimately chose not to do so.
Home News China ramps up pressure on lawyers of jailed church leaders: report

Chinese authorities are intensifying pressure on lawyers defending jailed leaders of Beijings Zion Church, a prominent Protestant house church whose founder, Pastor Ezra Jin, was detained five months ago in a crackdown that drew calls from Washington for his release.

Authorities revoked the legal license of Zhang Kai, a lawyer involved in the case, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday, saying several other lawyers connected to Zions defense also had their licenses suspended or received verbal warnings in meetings with officials.

Representatives of the church said in a letter that the treatment of the lawyers amounted to a trampling of justice and the rule of law.

Grace Jin, the pastors daughter, was quoted as saying that the pressure on lawyers could make it harder for the family to learn about his condition and build a legal defense.

Jin, also known as Jin Mingri, was detained at his home in Beihai, Guangxi Province, in October 2025. Around the same time, nearly 30 Zion Church leaders and members were either arrested or reported missing in several cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen.

Eighteen people, including Jin, are currently being held in a detention center in Beihai in southern China, WSJ reported.

The pressure on lawyers has deepened concern about a case that already carries diplomatic and religious significance.

Jins family has close ties to the United States. His daughter lives in the Washington area and works as a U.S. Senate staffer. His wife, Chunli Liu, has lived in the United States since 2018 with the couples three children, all of whom are American citizens.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called for Jins release, and members of Congress have done the same.

Rubio said the crackdown shows hostility by the Chinese Communist Party toward Christians who reject party interference in their faith and worship in unregistered churches. He urged Beijing to allow people of all faiths to worship without fear of retribution.

Jin, 56, founded Zion Church in 2007 after studying at Fuller Theological Seminary in California. He converted to Christianity after the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, in which he took part, and became one of the best-known leaders in Chinas house church movement.

Zion grew into one of Chinas largest underground Protestant churches.

After authorities raided its Beijing sanctuary and shut the church in 2018, it moved services online and built smaller branches around the country. Its virtual services often drew as many as 10,000 participants on Zoom, YouTube and WeChat.

The online growth increased official scrutiny.

Xi Jinpings government has tightened control over civil society and religious practice since he took power in 2012.

The Chinese Constitution promises freedom of religion, but the Communist Party recognizes only state-approved religious bodies. For Protestants, it is the Three-Self Patriotic Movement, and for Catholics, the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association. Even the approved groups operate under surveillance, censorship and political control.

Tens of millions of Christians in China are believed to attend house churches, which often face police harassment because they operate without government registration.

Chinese authorities have also branded some unofficial religious groups as cults and have urged citizens to report them.

Church leaders fear Jin could face charges tied to the online dissemination of religious content, an allegation linked to regulations issued last September requiring religious activity to take place only through state-registered channels.

Grace Jin said her father had been under constant surveillance and barred from leaving China while continuing to lead the church remotely.

She also said that, before his detention, he tried to visit the U.S. Embassy in Beijing to renew his visa, but authorities intercepted him, drove him to the airport and forced him to leave the capital.

After his detention, the family lost contact with him, and it remains unclear whether he has been formally charged.
MONTREAL, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Strategic Resources Inc. (TSXV: SR) ("Strategic" or the "Company") announces an amendment to its C$10 million non-brokered private placement.

The Company intends to issue up to 40 million units (the "Units") for gross proceeds of C$10 million. Each Unit is priced at C$0.25 and will consist of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and onehalf of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one additional Common Share at an exercise price of C$0.40 for a period of 36 months from the closing date.

Of the total of 40 million Units, the Company intends to issue up to 29,500,000 Units for aggregate gross proceeds of up to C$7,375,000 pursuant to the amendments to National Instrument 45-106  Prospectus Exemptions set forth in Part 5A thereof (the "LIFE Offering"). The Warrants comprising the Units issued in connection with the LIFE Offering will not be exercisable prior to the expiration of a period of 60 days following the closing of the LIFE Offering.

Concurrently with the LIFE Offering, the Company intends to issue up to 10,500,000 Units for aggregate gross proceeds of up to C$2,625,000 (the "Concurrent Offering" and together with the LIFE Offering, the "Offering").

There is an offering document related to the LIFE Offering that can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.com and at https://strategic-res.com/ . Prospective investors for the LIFE Offering should read this offering document before making an investment decision.

The Concurrent Offering will be made by way of a private placement to accredited investors and other eligible purchasers (i) in all provinces of Canada pursuant to applicable prospectus exemptions, (ii) in the United States on a private placement basis pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and (iii) in such offshore jurisdictions as may be agreed by the Company pursuant to available exemptions under applicable securities laws. Unless otherwise exempted, all securities issued under the Concurrent Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the applicable closing date in accordance with Canadian securities legislation.

The closing of the Offering is expected to occur on or about April 15, 2026, or on such other date or dates as may be determined by the Company, and may occur in one or more tranches. Completion of the Offering is subject to the execution of definitive subscription documentation, the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"), and other customary closing conditions. There is no assurance that the Offering will be completed, whether in whole or in part.

Strategic has engaged Integrity Capital Group Inc. to support its efforts. For further information, please contact Jeremy Rogers at [email protected]. In connection with the Offering, the Company may pay cash finder's fees and issue finder's warrants to certain eligible arm's length parties, all in accordance with the policies of the TSXV and applicable securities laws.

The net proceeds of the Offering are expected to be used to advance the Company's iron ore pellet plant development activities, including final engineering and the construction readiness plan and also for general working capital purposes.

No securities of the Company offered in the Offering have been or will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Strategic Resources

Strategic Resources (TSXV:SR) is a critical mineral development company focused on vanadium, high-purity iron and titanium; metals needed to decarbonize the global economy. Our main projects are the construction-ready BlackRock Project in Quebec and the previously operated Mustavaara mine in Finland. Phase 1 of the BlackRock Project envisages a 4 million tonne per year high-purity iron ore pelletizer at Port Saguenay, Quebec with full access to the St. Lawrence Seaway. The Company's Head Office is in Montreal, Quebec.

Further details are available on the Company's website at https://strategic-res.com/ . To follow future news releases, please sign up at https://strategic-res.com/contact/ .

Follow us on: Twitter or LinkedIn.

STRATEGIC RESOURCES INC.

Signed: "Sean Cleary"

Sean Cleary, CEO

Direct other inquiries to [email protected]

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements and information herein, including all statements that are not historical facts, contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements or information can be identified by the use of words such as "will" or "projected" or variations of those words or statements that certain actions, events or results "will", "could", "are proposed to", "are planned to", "are expected to" or "are anticipated to" be taken, occur or be achieved.

Although management of the Company believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by all forward-looking statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that a forward-looking statement or information herein will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. These factors include, but are not limited to: risks associated with the business of the Company; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; the supply and demand for labour and other project inputs; changes in commodity prices; changes in interest and currency exchange rates; risks relating to inaccurate geological and engineering assumptions (including with respect to the tonnage, grade and recoverability of reserves and resources); risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of materials and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters); risks relating to adverse weather conditions; political risk and social unrest; changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets; and other risk factors as detailed from time to time in the Company's continuous disclosure documents filed with Canadian securities administrators. Strategic does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Strategic Resources Inc.
Home News Judge drops charges against woman mistaken for Cities Church protester

A federal judge has dismissed with prejudice charges against Heather Denae Lewis, a woman falsely accused of particpating in the Jan. 18 protest that disrupted a worship service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The dismissal Friday ended the case against Lewis permanently after prosecutors accused her of being part of a group tied to the church protest, The New York Times reported. The case against the other 38 defendants continues.

Brock Hunter, a Minneapolis attorney representing Lewis, said prosecutors withdrew the case after she showed she had not attended the demonstration. Hunter said Lewis was charged because she resembled a woman seen in protest video footage.

Lewis, 50, said in a statement that the case was one of mistaken identity and that the prosecution placed strain on her family.

I am glad this simple case of mistaken identity is finally coming to an end for me, and I am happy that my family no longer has to worry that I could be arrested again at any moment, Lewis said.

Court documents gave no reason for the dismissal, even as the judges order barred any future refiling of the same charges, FOX 9 reported.

In a separate filing, a magistrate judge who had early oversight of the case said the government produced no evidence and rebuked prosecutors for failing to meet discovery obligations months after launching the case.

The protest took place during a church service on Jan. 18 and focused on David Easterwood, a pastor at Cities Church who also serves as acting director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in St. Paul.

Protesters entered the church, interrupted the sermon and brought the service to a halt. Video from the scene showed chants and shouting inside the sanctuary.

According to charging documents, protesters interrupted the sermon with loud declarations, including chants of ICE Out! and Stand up, fight back!

Federal prosecutors said the action targeted both the congregation and Easterwoods dual role as pastor and ICE official. Lewis dismissal leaves the larger prosecution intact, with the rest of the criminal case still moving through federal court.

Two journalists, former CNN anchor Don Lemon and independent reporter Georgia Fort, were among those charged. Prosecutors said they joined a pre-operation briefing at a shopping center with protest leaders before the group arrived at the church.

Fort and Lemon have said they were there only to cover the event as journalists.

Federal prosecutors used the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, or FACE Act, which includes protections for houses of worship against physical intimidation.

Prosecutors said in the indictment that the group carried out a coordinated takeover-style attack involving oppression, intimidation, threats, interference and physical obstruction.

The protest also sparked a civil lawsuit filed by Ann Doucette, a Cities Church member, in U.S. District Court for Minnesota. Doucette accused protesters of civil conspiracy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, aiding and abetting, trespassing and interference with religious exercise. The suit named Lemon, Fort and several others who entered the church during the protest.

The complaint said protesters called congregants Nazis and told children that their parents would burn in hell.

Doucettes filing said the service had been one place where she felt safe before the disruption and that she later suffered insomnia and anxiety.

One of the defendants, activist Trahern Crews, called the arrests a waste of time in a statement. Crews said he denied the allegations in Doucettes lawsuit with empathy and compassion.
Home News Kendra Duggar facing charges of child endangerment and false imprisonment

Kendra Duggar, the wife of former 19 Kids and Counting cast member Joseph Duggar, is facing charges in Arkansas of child endangerment and false imprisonment, in a case police said is separate from the Florida case in which her husband was arrested last week.

In that Arkansas case, Kendra Duggar, 27, and Joseph Duggar, 31, are each accused in Washington County of four counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of second-degree false imprisonment, KNWA reported, citing Tontitown police.

Kendra Duggar was arrested on Friday, according to E! News.

Joseph Duggar is being held in the Washington County Detention Center in connection with the Florida case.

Separately, his booking record in Arkansas shows that he is due in Elm Springs District Court on April 29 at 2 p.m. on the Arkansas charges.

Tontitown police said the Arkansas charges are separate from Joseph Duggars Florida case, though the Arkansas investigation began after the Florida allegations surfaced. Police said the Arkansas case remains active and that no further details would be released because minor victims are involved.

Joseph Duggar was arrested on Wednesday and is facing a Florida charge of lewd and lascivious behavior involving unlawful sexual activity with a minor.

Authorities detained him after a 14-year-old girl took part in a forensic interview and disclosed several incidents involving Joseph Duggar during a family vacation in Florida.

The girl alleged that Joseph Duggar sexually abused her several times when she was 9 during a family vacation in Panama City Beach in 2020. The girl first made the allegations to the Tontitown Police Department in Arkansas.

Joseph Duggar repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap, asked her to sit next to him on a couch and covered them with a blanket, according to authorities. He allegedly manipulated her underwear, grazed her genitals and rubbed her thighs.

Investigators also said Joseph Duggar later apologized and that the incidents stopped. They added that the girls father confronted Joseph Duggar on the day before his arrest and that Joseph Duggar admitted his actions to investigators.

Joseph Duggar is awaiting extradition to Bay County.

Joseph and Kendra Duggar married in September 2017 and have four children.

The Duggar familys reality television franchise ended after earlier criminal allegations involving his older brother, Josh Duggar.

TLCs 19 Kids and Counting aired from 2008 to 2015, following Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and their 19 children in Arkansas.

The show was pulled in 2015 after Josh Duggar was accused of molesting his sisters, and was later convicted in December 2021 of receiving and possessing child pornography.

Josh Duggar is serving a 12-year prison sentence.

Josh Duggars lawyer told Daily Mail he is not in frequent communication with Joseph Duggar and hopes and prays for his brothers well-being.
Home News Oklahoma pastor deported to Mexico after decades of ministry

Pastor Wulfrano Portillo, a longtime church leader in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has been deported to Mexico after immigration authorities detained him during a scheduled check-in in Oklahoma City, separating him from his family and congregation after decades in the United States.

Portillo, who leads La Hermosa Church in Tulsa and was subject to a 2007 removal order, was taken into custody March 10 during a regular immigration appointment, News On 6 reported last week.

His daughter, Tania Portillo, said he had been reporting to immigration officials for years while waiting on pending applications and that the family had long feared he might be detained at one of those visits.

She said her father had lived in the United States since he was 16 and had built his life in Oklahoma, where he served for decades as a pastor. She also said he had a valid work permit and a Social Security card at the time of his detention, though he remained subject to a removal order.

The order dated to 2007, after her parents were detained following a car accident. She said an immigration judge ordered them to leave the country after that incident and that they spent years trying to remain in the United States.

She said her father is now alone in a city he has never been to, without money and without anyone nearby who can reach him quickly after his removal.

He has been trying to do everything the correct way, fighting to stay in this country, and yet that has not been good enough," Portillo told 2 News Oklahoma on Saturday. "Most of his life he's lived it here, so he was sent to a country he doesn't know anymore."

His absence was felt immediately at La Hermosa Church, where the congregation gathered for Sunday services without him that weekend.

Pastors in Mexico reportedly contacted Portillo to offer support as he searched for a place to stay.

The case in Oklahoma comes alongside other recent deportations of pastors and immigrants with long ties to the United States.

Last April, Maurilio Ambrocio, a pastor who led Iglesia de Santidad Vida Nueva, a 50-member Hispanic church in Wimauma, Florida, was deported to Guatemala after more than two decades in the country.

Ambrocio, 42, had been arrested during a check-in at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Tampa in mid-April. He entered the country illegally but had been allowed to remain under a stay of removal. The conditions included annual meetings with federal agents and avoiding any crimes.

That month, a coalition of Christian groups, including the National Association of Evangelicals and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Department of Refugee and Migration Services, estimated that Christians make up about 80% of the 10 million immigrants living in the United States without legal status who could face deportation.

The White House pushed federal agents at the time to arrest up to 3,000 people per day, a pace that would amount to more than 1 million arrests in a year.
Home News Patriarch Filaret, who championed Ukrainian Orthodox church free from Russian rule, dies at 97

Patriarch Filaret of Kyiv, an Orthodox Church leader who helped create a denomination independent of the Russian Orthodox Church, has died at 97.

The Ukrainian news site Ukrinform reported Friday that Filaret had died after being hospitalized earlier that month due to worsening health. His funeral was held Sunday at St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery, with hundreds attending. He was laid to rest in the crypt of St. Volodymyr's Cathedral.

Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kyiv and All Ukraine, head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, released a statement offering condolences following Filarets death.

The person and numerous good deeds of the late Patriarch Filaret rightfully occupy a special place in the modern history of both the local Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Ukraine as a whole, Metropolitan Epiphanius said, as quoted by The Associated Press.

[Filaret] did much to preserve church life during the years of Soviet oppression of the Church, during the spiritual revival of Ukraine, and especially during the years of the struggle for the establishment of church autocephaly.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed condolences, calling Filarets death a great loss for Ukrainians and describing him as one of the most steadfast defenders of the Ukrainian church, independence and statehood.

Without the energy, character and courage of Patriarch Filaret, many of Ukraines accomplishments simply would not have been possible, Zelensky said, as quoted by the AP.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also issued a statement in response to Filarets death, commending his longtime service to Ukraine.

We mourn the loss of His Holiness, Patriarch Filaret, and extend our heartfelt condolences to the people of Ukraine and all the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox community, Rubio said.

His steadfast life of service shaped Ukraines spiritual identity during pivotal moments in its history, and his legacy will endure in the strength of Ukraines religious and national life. May he rest in peace.

Patriarch Filaret was born Mykhailo Denysenko in 1929 in Ukraines Donetsk region and pursued a ministry career despite living under Soviet rule.

During the 1960s, reported the AP, he was the Russian Orthodox Churchs top official in Ukraine and was at one point considered for the position of head of the Moscow-based church.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Filaret championed efforts to establish an independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which led to him being defrocked by the Russian Orthodox Church.

In 2019, his efforts contributed to the official recognition of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine as an independent church by Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, who is regarded as "first among equals" in the Orthodox Church.

By July of that year, more than 500 congregations in Ukraine switched their affiliation from the Moscow-controlled Ukrainian Orthodox Church to the newly formed Orthodox Church of Ukraine. In 2022, in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church announced it had cut ties with Moscow.

The Russian Orthodox Church has denounced the creation of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and severed ties with the global Orthodox community over Patriarch Bartholomews decision.

Filaret had long been a critic of Russian expansion into Ukrainian territory. In October 2014, after Russia occupied Crimea, he sent a letter to then-President Barack Obama urging U.S. intervention.

For if the aggression of [the] Kremlin is not stopped now, the consequence will be a third world war, in which nuclear weapons may be used, the church leader wrote at the time.

Therefore, on behalf of millions of Ukrainians I urge the United States  to help Ukraine to stop the aggressor and restore our countrys sovereignty within its internationally recognized borders, by all necessary means.
Home News United Methodist Church, SMU to continue relationship, end lawsuit

The United Methodist Church and Southern Methodist University have agreed to end litigation in which the Texas-based school was attempting to leave the denomination.

SMU and the UMC South Central Jurisdiction (SCJC) issued a joint statement last week that they had reached an agreement that provides a clear framework for their relationship moving forward and affirms their shared commitment to the Universitys mission.

The agreement ends litigation that began in 2019, with SMU agreeing to amend their Articles of Incorporation to preserve the relationship between the university and the UMC regional body.

The Board of Trustees, the University, and I are pleased we have reconciled with the SCJC, and we very much look forward to a collaborative and enhanced relationship into the future, said SMU President Jay Z. Hartzell, as quoted in the statement.

At SMU, we have an unwavering commitment to excellence and the cultivation of principled leadershipa commitment strengthened by our renewed relationship with the SCJC.

The Rev. Derrek Belase, chair of the SCJC Mission Council, was quoted in the statement as saying that he is grateful for the spirit of collaboration shown throughout this process, and especially for the thoughtful engagement of Hartzell as well as Provost Rachel Davis Mersey.

These conversations have not only helped us address important matters but have allowed us to begin imagining what the future of this relationship can look like, Belase continued.

SMU was founded in 1911 and houses the Perkins School of Theology, which is one of 13 UMC seminaries that receive aid from the mainline denominations Ministerial Education Fund.

According to its own figures, as 2025, the university has an endowment of $2.3 billion, over 1,700 staff and administrators, and approximately 12,000 students. It is also home to the President George W. Bush Library and Museum.

For decades, the UMC had a divisive debate over whether to change its Book of Discipline to allow for the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of people in same-sex relationships.

In February 2019, at a special session of UMC General Conference, the delegates passed The Traditional Plan, a measure that reaffirmed the rules on ordination and marriage.

Later that year, the SMU Board of Trustees voted to affirm that they, not the UMC, were the ultimate authority for the university. In response, SCJC filed a lawsuit accusing SMU of unauthorized acts and stating that the regional body was supposed to be the electing, controlling, and parental body of SMU.

Although a Texas district judge ruled in favor of SMU in 2021, a three-judge panel of Texas Fifth Court of Appeals reversed the ruling in July 2023, noting that the UMC has a detailed history with the university.

While the appeals court panel rejected the district judges dismissal of the SCJCs breach-of-contract claim, they upheld the dismissal of the claim that SMU had breached its fiduciary duty when it moved to leave the UMC.

In 2024, as the litigation was ongoing, the UMC General Conference voted in 2024 to strike down the rules on marriage and ordination after thousands of mostly conservative congregations had left the denomination.

In June of last year, the Texas Supreme Court released a decision concluding that the SCJC could sue SMU over the effort to leave the UMC.

Justice Debra Lehrmann authored the majority opinion, concluding that the UMC regional body has statutory authority to sue SMU to enforce its rights under the articles and the Texas Business Organizations Code and that the Conference may pursue, at least at this stage, its breach-of-contract claim as a third-party beneficiary of SMUs articles of incorporation.

For its part, the UMC issued a statement in response to the state supreme court ruling, saying that the favorable opinion from the Court supports our original position that SMU must seek the approval of the SCJ when making changes to its amendments.
Home News US planning potential weeks-long operation to reopen Strait of Hormuz, possibly seize Kharg Island

As the United States sends additional forces to the Middle East, and following threats from President Donald Trump to obliterate Iranian power plants if the Strait of Hormuz is not opened within 48 hours, the critical waterway is emerging as perhaps the most important factor in the war.

A Washington Post report on Sunday claimed that the U.S. push to reopen the strait for all shipping traffic could become its primary objective for the war.

U.S. officials notified Israel of the shift to focusing on the strait, while indicating that such an operation could prolong the war by several weeks, Israels Channel 12 News reported.

The U.S. administration emphasized that the goal is a broad strategic change, not only the opening of Hormuz, but also preventing Iran from destabilizing oil and gas prices.

We want a strategic change, even if it takes time," U.S. officials reportedly said.

Following the recent deployment of a naval task force to the Middle East  including the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and around 4,500 U.S. sailors and Marines  the United States appears to be preparing for a prolonged operation, despite President Trumps statements that the war would end in the very near future.

An Israeli official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Washington Post, Those Marines arent coming for decoration.

He said that this deployment, along with Trumps ultimatum, may suggest a plan to take the island and the strait, cutting the Iranian regime off from its primary source of revenue.

The Strait of Hormuz has emerged as the primary pressure point for the Iranian regime to retaliate for the war launched by the U.S. and Israel on Feb. 28. The Islamic Republic has used drones and missiles to bring sea traffic through the strait to a near-total standstill, causing spikes in global oil prices, as supply is constrained.

While the U.S. has struck multiple Iranian positions along the strait, the vast length of the Iranian coastline  and the number of small military outposts designed for attacks on vessels in the waterway  has kept the strait practically closed.

Irans ability to threaten freedom of navigation in and around the Strait of Hormuz is degraded as a result, and we will not stop pursuing these targets, US CENTCOM head Admiral Brad Cooper said last week.

After Trump gave Iran 48 hours to open the strait to all traffic, or risk strikes on Iranian power infrastructure, the Iranian military threatened to retaliate, striking Israeli and Gulf power and water infrastructure.

At the same time, both U.S. and Israeli officials have assessed that seizing the Strait of Hormuz, and possibly Kharg Island  the home to most of Irans oil refinery infrastructure  could lead to the collapse of the Iranian regime. While this was a hoped-for outcome in the war, it was not a stated military objective for either country.

At no stage did we think the regime would fall during the war, an Israeli official told Ynet News on Sunday. 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 seizure of Irans main oil infrastructure and the removal of its ability to threaten the Strait of Hormuz would harm the regimes financial lifeline.

It would create extreme economic strangulation, the official said, estimating that it could lead to a collapse, as the regime struggled to pay salaries to officials and security forces.

The Israeli official also believes that despite pressure from Qatar and several European states to end the war quickly, President Trump wants a surrender deal on his terms.

This article was originally published by All Israel News.
Home News WH erects replica of Christopher Columbus statue destroyed in 2020 BLM riots, calls explorer a 'hero'

The White House erected a marble statue of Christopher Columbus outside the neighboring Eisenhower Executive Office Building over the weekend to honor the 250th anniversary of the United States and the enduring legacy of European civilization in the New World.

The statue, which stands 13 feet tall and weighs approximately one ton, was installed Sunday. It was made from the remnants of a similar statue that was torn down and thrown into Baltimore's Inner Harbor during the Black Lives Matter protests that roiled the city in 2020.

Trump has now installed the Christopher Columbus statue on the White Houses grounds.



He ended up putting it outside the EEOB building, per our photos snapped today. https://t.co/tBR9WvQaXupic.twitter.com/1VaMVsUTdm  Dan Diamond (@ddiamond) March 22, 2026

The original statue was dedicated in 1984 by then-Baltimore Mayor William Donald Schaefer and President Ronald Reagan. When it was destroyed in 2020, Baltimore's then-Mayor Jack Young said the statue "may represent different things to different people."

"We understand the dynamics that are playing out in Baltimore are part of a national narrative," his office told The Baltimore Sun at the time.

A White House spokesperson struck a different tone in a recent statement to The New York Times.

"In this White House, Christopher Columbus is a hero, and President Trump will ensure he's honored as such for generations to come," the spokesperson said.

The replica statue was commissioned by the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations. Its president, Basil M. Russo, praised the statue's prominence in a statement.

"Columbus statues have long stood as symbols of pride and cultural identity for more than 18 million Americans of Italian descent," Russo said. "For over a century, Columbus' 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," he added.

Some legacy media outlets, including The Associated Press, described the Columbus statue or Columbus himself as "controversial," while hedging on the legacy of the devout Roman Catholic explorer who brought Christianity to the New World.

On Oct. 9, Trump signed a proclamation honoring Columbus as "the original American hero, a giant of Western civilization, and one of the most gallant and visionary men to ever walk the face of the earth." The proclamation emphasized the role of Columbus' Christian faith while condemning modern-day attacks against him as "a vicious and merciless campaign to erase our history, slander our heroes, and attack our heritage."

One of the goals of Columbus' voyages was to spread the Gospel to distant lands, and his diaries recount what he believed were supernatural events and experiences.

Columbus, whose worldview was steeped in medieval thought, claimed to have seen "sirens," or mermaids, emerging from the water on Jan. 8, 1493, though some modern historians believe he was describing manatees, which are not exclusive to the Western hemisphere.

On the night of Oct. 11, 1492, hours before he and his crew landed in the Bahamas, Columbus claimed he and one other crew member perceived a flickering light in the distance that appeared faintly before vanishing, which he interpreted as a potential sign of land.

He wrote that he and a crew member "perceived it once or twice, appearing like the light of a wax candle moving up and down, which some thought an indication of land." Another crew member was unable to see it.

Some modern scholars have dismissed Columbus' flickering light story as the luminescent glow of Bermuda fireworms.

After striking land on modern-day Hispaniola on Oct. 12 and unfurling the royal standard bearing the Cross, Columbus recounted that he was moved with pity when they encountered the native people there, whom he described as "very friendly" and handsomely formed, but totally naked.

After perceiving "that they could be much more easily converted to our holy faith by gentle means than by force," Columbus wrote that he presented them with gifts that delighted them and that they swam out to his boats to give gifts of their own to the Europeans.

The inhabitants of the island "became wonderfully attached to us," Columbus said, adding, "But they seemed on the whole to me to be a very poor people."
Viral Gavin Newsom Wife Interview, Steve Gaines Dies At 68, Talarico Clashes With Trump Over Jesus Claims

link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 06:39 06:39

Top headlines for Sunday, March 22, 2026

We break down the viral resurfaced interview with California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, sparking debate over her remarks about Evangelicals. We also reflect on the life and legacy of Steve Gaines, the former Southern Baptist leader who passed away at 68. Plus, Texas state Rep. James Talarico responds to President Trumps sharp criticism, defending his faith and political stance.

00:11 Wife of California Gov. Newsom says Evangelicals pulling us back

01:01 Former SBC President Steve Gaines dies

01:49 Supreme Court revives preachers free speech lawsuit

02:39 Talarico hits back at Trump's claim he is insulting to Jesus

03:29 Group launches database of anti-Christian violations of religious

04:16 Anglican Communion might not 'survive,' Rowan Williams warns

05:03 Comedian Tim Hawkins talks faith and the Almighty Fist Bump'
Home Opinion 8 steps to scapegoating: How smart people end up believing conspiracy theories

If you think conspiracy theories spread only because people are stupid, this essay probably isnt for you. Conversely, if you think every conspiracy theory out there is secretly true, it probably isnt for you either.

I want to examine something more difficult: how intelligent, sincere people end up believing things that eventually turn brother against brother. And why antisemitism  or hatred of the Jews  so often shows up at the end of that road.

This isnt abstract for me. Ive watched it happen in real time to people I know. Ive counted eight steps in the process. They happen slow at first, then all at once.

My hope is that once you see the pattern, youll recognize it everywhere.

Step one: Perceived elite coordination

Global media has long embraced the idea that conspiracy theories only spread among the ignorant, the malicious, and the unstable. Theyre not entirely wrong about that; fringe ideas do have a certain appeal for fringe types.

But at the same time, that alone cant account for the whole conspiracy phenomenon.

Often conspiracy thinking begins not with delusion, but with reasonable perception  specifically, that powerful people coordinate with one another in ways ordinary people dont have access to.

And that perception is not wrong.

Anyone paying attention can see that global elites share language, values, incentives, and priorities across the institutions they control. For example, every June during Pride Month, global corporations with completely unrelated products adopt the same moralizing language at the same time. YouTube is full of compilations of local media outlets repeating the same phrases word-for-word. And politicians across different countries communicate to their citizens the same idea about global social and political change: This is inevitable, there is no alternative.

Weve seen it with public-health debates over the last few years, especially with COVID. You dont have to believe in a conspiracy to notice the mass coordination that took place for years in plain sight. You literally just have to have eyes.

And thats step one. Often, theres nothing irrational about it.

Step two: Abstract, faceless power

Where things start to break down is not in that perception itself, but in what happens next.

Perception of coordination alone doesnt explain how coordination works, or what kind of coordination it is. Is it a conscious effort, with deliberate execution, and explicit goals? Or is it an emergent phenomenon from people with shared incentives, class backgrounds, and ambitions? Perhaps some combination of the two?

These are genuinely difficult questions, and unsurprisingly, most elites refuse to answer them.

That leaves observers with speculation as their only option for understanding what they see. So, the human mind starts filling in the gaps. That leads to step two: powerful elites become abstract and faceless.

Most people never meet the individuals who actually shape policy, culture, or media narratives. You might know the name of your favorite TV news presenter, but not the name of his or her producer. Similarly, you know the name of the president or your governor, but not the identity of their advisors.

This transforms power into something bureaucratic, distant, impersonal. You can feel the effects of this power everywhere  in hiring practices, in school curricula, in what you can and cant say online. But you cant point to a single person and say, Thats the one responsible.

This is psychologically intolerable.

Human beings want agents. We want authorship. We want names! Our minds are built for a world of tribes and chieftains, not a world of algorithms, NGOs, and anonymous institutional capture.

So, when names arent available, we go looking for them.

Step three: History supplies an archetype

Human beings dont reason in a vacuum. When we try to make sense of complex systems and unseen power, we tend to rely on stories that already exist. Every culture has them.

The ancient Greeks explained chaos and fortune through gods hidden on Mount Olympus. Medieval societies explained misfortune through demons and curses. Modern societies have their own versions, and some of those versions are very old.

Once a plausible story is available, it doesnt just explain events; it organizes our perception. This is called a conceptual grid. New facts get filtered through it. Facts that dont fit get filtered out. This also removes the ambiguity and uncertainty from facts that dont seem to fit together. Because the grid is doing the thinking for you.

At first, this can feel like relief. Finally, an explanation makes sense! Finally, it all ties together.

But theres a hidden cost. Explanations quietly generate false positives in pattern recognition, before hardening into assumptions. Then, the story stops being tested against reality. Instead, reality starts being fitted to the story.

Step four: Elite power becomes Jewish power

This is where things become morally, intellectually, and spiritually dangerous.

Its important to note first, however, that this shift usually doesnt happen through a sudden embrace of open hatred. In other words, no one wakes up one day thinking, after years of feeling ambivalent about them, I have decided to hate Jews.

Instead, the shift from elite power to Jewish power happens through association. Jews are historically visible in finance, law, medicine, media, the arts, and intellectual life. But not because of a coordinated plan of infiltration. Rather, its the result of their diaspora, literacy rates, intact families, and centuries of genuine persecution that pushed them into particular indispensable economic niches.

My parents didnt want me to be a doctor or a lawyer as part of a coordinated plot from Central Command. It was just our family values, as well as those of every other Jewish family I knew.

Thats why Jewish achievement in certain fields is not a myth. There are real facts at play here.

But what happens next is the distortion.

A vague, impersonal system (see step 2) suddenly gets mapped onto a people. The language changes just enough to feel like theyre being careful: Not all Jews, but  Jewish elites  no wait, Zionists. Each qualifier sounds more precise than the last, but their function is the same: to collapse a complex web of institutions, incentives, and ideologies into a single, identifiable group.

In other words, power has stopped being abstract and finally gets a face. And that feels like relief.

Once power has a face, it feels understandable. You can get a handle on it or get your mind around it. Blame feels possible. Anger finds justifications. Then, the anxiety of not knowing whos responsible gives way to the soothing clarity of accusation. Unfortunately, its a false clarity.

At this point, Jews are no longer being treated as individuals with wildly differing beliefs, loyalties, and politics  even within Israel! Instead, they start being treated as symbols. Theyre a stand-in for globalism, modernity, materialism, irreligion, rootlessness, and more. Everything confusing or destabilizing about the modern world gets projected onto Jews.

Power finally has a face. But its the wrong one.

Step five: Analysis becomes myth

At this stage, the explanation stops needing actual proof. Not because the evidence is overwhelming, but because the story has become self-sustaining. It can explain everything if you just try hard enough.

Any apparent contradiction becomes a confirmation. Any counterexample becomes evidence of how hidden the truth really is.

The presence of Jews who oppose the supposed conspiracy?

Theyre controlled opposition.

The absence of evidence?

Proof of how deep the rabbit hole goes.

The existence of powerful non-Jews?

Theyre puppets or useful idiots to the real power source.

The belief now no longer functions as an explanation of reality, instead its a closed or self-sealing system. It cant be tested, corrected, or falsified. And most importantly, it cant be escaped without significant psychological cost.

Its a bit like a prison. Because at this point, abandoning it would mean admitting that the soothing clarity you felt was an illusion. This allows anxiety back in the front door, often holding hands with public humiliation. For many disaffected and isolated young men, this is an intolerable duo to entertain.

But once a belief cant be falsified, its no longer analysis. Its a mythology. And mythology has a dangerous advantage: it feels deeper than facts, like a soul-level insight. Youve finally seen behind the curtain to where the puppet masters pull the strings. You dont have to guess or speculate, you know.

This would be bad enough. But sadly, in the modern world, conspiracy thinking almost never stops here.

Step six: Myth becomes moral signal

This is when conspiracy thinking stops being a private explanation held by an individual and instead becomes a public signal to others.

You can hear it in the language:

Were not allowed to say this, but

If you dont see it, youre asleep.

Once you see it, you cant unsee it.

These arent arguments, theyre markers of identity. They communicate something about who you are ... and who youre not.

Believing the theory now says youre not naive. Unlike the normies, youre not fooled. Youre brave enough to name the truths that others are afraid to say! The belief becomes a confession, or even a slogan. Either way, its a public declaration of moral awareness, which takes it into territory far beyond the mere inner description of reality.

This is psychologically powerful. In a world that feels chaotic and dishonest, being among the few who really understand whats happening is intoxicating. It provides certainty, superiority, and community all at once. Especially for young men whose entire social life is now conducted online.

But notice whats happened: the belief is no longer primarily about understanding the world. Its about performing a certain kind of identity.

Truth has been subordinated to belonging.

Step seven: Belief becomes belonging

Once a belief functions as an in-group signal, it inevitably becomes a gate.

This is where online communities form around shared ideas. Group chats, Telegram channels, Discord servers, and more are where the dissident right / alt right / Dank Right congregate. Theyre spaces where rebellious irony and edginess are encouraged, and where memes do the work that printed manifestos used to do.

In these spaces, agreement with the consensus earns status. Questioning earns silence, ridicule, and exile. Belonging with the bros becomes more important than truth.

Antisemitism in these contexts still often functions less as open hatred and more as an in-group password. You dont have to add anything to the discussion. You just have to signal your affirmation at the right moments. Use the right euphemisms. Signal that youre one of us not them  the normies, the cucks, the Boomers, the controlled.

Increasingly, these spaces are pulling in Christian men as a substitute for vibrant (and male-friendly) real-world church community. These men feel abandoned by mainstream institutions. They sense something is deeply wrong with the modern world and are looking for both belonging and answers.

They find both in these spaces. But at a cost they dont understand, at least not right away.

Step eight: Doubt becomes betrayal

Once belief is tied to belonging, questioning it is no longer mere intellectual disagreement. Its a grievous moral failure requiring the imposition of guilt and shame.

If you ask for evidence, youre compromised. If you introduce complexity, youre controlled. If you refuse scapegoating, youre either a coward or an infiltrator.

The very act of critical thinking has thus become suspect.

At this stage, antisemitism doesnt even require Jews to be named as the sole enemy. The real enemy is now the skeptic, the moderate, the Christian who insists on theological precision and intellectual honesty over in-group solidarity.

This is how conspiracy thinking consumes its own. It starts by naming an enemy outside the group. It ends by making enemies of brothers inside the group.

The logic is relentless: if you wont join the accusation, you must be part of the conspiracy. Theres no middle ground. No room for nuance. No possibility that you might simply disagree. The gravity of the consensus has developed the inescapable pull of a black hole.

The choice is stark:

Endure the guilt and shame of men you once called friends, and then be cast into exile. Or deep-freeze your conscience, bow the knee, and continue along with the crowd. Or reinvest and demonstrate your loyalty by redoubling your commitment, darkly repenting for your error.

Young men are seeking a story to explain their lives, and a community to ground themselves in. They find both.

Its fun for a minute before it devours them.

Why this matters

Conspiracy thinking often begins with legitimate grievances and rational observations. People sense real dysfunction, elite insulation, ideological capture, and institutional cowardice. They feel genuine contempt from people who hold power toward those who dont.

These arent imaginary. The sense that something is deeply wrong with our modern institutions is not paranoia. Its an accurate perception.

But instead of naming those forces accurately  ideology, incentives, institutional design, careerism, cowardice, sin, and simple folly  conspiracy thinking adopts a simplistic explanation that feels satisfying and community-forming. But ultimately, it poisons its own cause.

By contrast, Christian theology gives us a far better diagnostic framework than conspiracy thinking ever could.

Scripture takes evil seriously without granting human beings godlike competence. It recognizes spiritual realities that transcend any ethnic group:

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).

It shows that these spiritual realities share information with each other through unknown means:

But the evil spirit answered them, Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you? (Acts 19:15).

It teaches that folly, pride, and fear destroy more societies than grand plots ever do:

The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him, but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming. The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose way is upright; their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken (Psalm 37:12-15).

And it explicitly forbids scapegoating, because false accusation corrodes the soul of the one who tells it as surely as it harms the one accused:

You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. You shall not fall in with the many to do evil (Exodus 23:1-2).

He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord (Proverbs 17:15).

Each will have to bear his own load (Galatians 6:15).

Yes, there is real elite ideology. There are real structural incentives. There is real institutional cowardice and moral corruption. The task is to name them accurately, which requires more intellectual heavy-lifting than simply identifying a historically convenient group to blame.

Paradoxically, when we collapse complex realities into a mythology, we stop being able to resist these realities effectively. If you misdiagnose the disease, youll prescribe the wrong remedy, and nothing gets healed.

Far worse, if you identify the wrong enemy, the real enemy can use that cognitive weakness against you, to your destruction.

As for the group chats, in-group belonging built on a lie will always demand more lies to sustain it. The commitment to the uncomfortable truth costs more for every member of a group. But if that commitment is shared, its the only thing that wont eventually turn brother against brother.

The pattern

If you zoom out, what you see isnt a single bad belief. Its a progression:

Insight turns into suspicion. Suspicion turns into myth. Myth turns into belonging. And belonging eventually demands the explicit identification of an other to blame, at all costs.

Thats the pattern. Eight steps from legitimate observation to moral, social, and spiritual catastrophe.

And this is whats happening to young Christian men online in private, and increasingly in public.

The antidote isnt naivety on one hand, or censorship on the other. It isnt pretending that elites dont coordinate or that institutions arent captured. Nor is the solution to shut down conversations about those facts. Doing either will only drive the discussion underground, meaning it will emerge again.

Instead, the true antidote is better thinking: more precise diagnosis, more careful attribution, a biblical conceptual grid, and genuine theological depth about the nature of evil.

And perhaps most importantly: the willingness to belong to communities that tolerate doubt rather than shaming it.

If your community treats questions as betrayal, its not seeking truth. Its enforcing conformity with a tribal mask.

Christ calls us to something better.

Originally published at the Will Spencer blog.




Home Opinion How God got so great (according to a Sikh anthropologist)

If you ever wondered how God got to the lofty place He is today in the hearts and minds of so many around the world, Manvir Singh, a Sikh anthropologist who is a professor at UC Davis, explains the whole thing in his recent article that appeared in The New Yorker entitled How God Got So Great.

Singh, who recently authored Shamanism the Timeless Religion, says, Before he was God, Yahweh was a subordinate figure in a polytheistic drama headed by El, the white-bearded king of the gods. El was worshipped throughout the ancient Levant, and, together with his consort Asherah, he presided over an assembly of deities who included the storm god, Baal; the sea god, Yam; and the ruler of the underworld, Mot.

Singh then goes on to assert: El, not Yahweh, was probably the original patron deity of the people called Israel ... Yahweh was a god of weather and war, bursting with thunder and rain clouds and associated with a mountainous wilderness beyond the Dead Sea. Around the turn of the first millennium B.C.E., he displaced El as Israels heavenly head.

If this is news to you where the elevation of God to His current status is concerned, Im not surprised. You may also be in the dark as to the primary reason God exists for us.

Singh argues that the true significance of God lies less in theology and more in His social and political function. Belief in one God, Singh says, helps create strong group identities, moral cohesion, and large-scale cooperation among believers, which he thinks explains the global expansion of Christianity and Islam.

So, if youre a Christian, the value in your faith is not in God being the ultimate reality, and having salvation and eternal life, but in its social mechanism for building trust with culture and a shared identity with others like you. Thats why and how God got so great.

Except it isnt.

Why God is actually great

As you might imagine, theres lots to unpack in a long article like Singhs and, unfortunately, I dont have room here at CP to respond to it at length. So, let me give you the Cliff Notes version by highlighting the top three problems I see with his thesis.

First problem: Singh assumes a naturalistic framework that excludes divine revelation

This isnt surprising given hes a secular anthropologist and thus treats religion as something that evolved sociologically, rather than something revealed by God. This is a foundational methodological error.

As Christians, we affirm first that God did that whole creation thing, which makes Him pretty great to begin with. After that, He revealed Himself progressively through Scripture, acted and continues to act in history, and is the ultimate reality that brings us truth, clarity of ourselves, life, and is by no means a cultural invention. Singh doesnt consider this a possibility.

Second problem: Singh's claim that Israels God evolved from polytheism isnt well supported

He asserts that God was originally a subordinate deity under El, early Israelite religion was polytheistic, and later in the article claims its monotheism only developed during the Babylonian exile. Singhs not alone in saying this; its a common modern critical theory.

However, the Bible presents the concept of one true God not as a late development, but as a core early fact. Scripture says, The LORD is God; there is no other besides Him (Deut. 4:35) and I am the LORD, and there is no other (Is. 45:5). Of course, some Israelites practiced idolatry (which the Bible condemns), but that does not mean Israel itself was polytheistic.

As to El being a primary deity over Israels God, the Bible often uses 'El' simply as a generic word for God. In Hebrew, El can mean either a proper name or a title, and so they can refer to the same reality using different labels, not different gods. Lastly, there is no clear archaeological record showing the biblical God being subordinate to El in Israelite worship.

Third problem: The process of reducing religion to just social cohesion fails to ask the right question

Singh says God became great because the deity concept creates group identity, builds trust, unifies societies, provides a moral pathway, and motivates conquest. God is a kind of sociological glue that regulates behavior, promotes cooperation, and organizes societies.

By contrast, as Christians, we reject this reductionism and affirm that God is real, biblical doctrines correspond to truth, and moral law comes from Gods nature, not social needs. Singh tries to explain Christianity without ever asking the most important question: Is it true?

Moreover, the moral recommendations made by Singh are particularly bothersome. He concludes his article by saying that one God and religion is problematic because:

Cohesion built on exclusion sits uneasily with the ambitions of pluralistic democracy. It offers a veneer of solidarity while forcing Jains, Hindus, Buddhists, Taoists, agnostics, and genuine nonbelievers to perform moral acceptability in unfamiliar languages. If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him, Voltaire famously declared. The harder, and more valuable, task is to construct moral communities that can function without Him.

As even atheists admit, without God, absolute morals are an impossibility. But with God, you have universal human dignity, real moral accountability, and equality before divine law.

Absent God, the world devolves into the worst form of polytheism imaginable: billions of little gods deciding what is right and wrong based on their individual feelings.

And history is replete with dark examples of how thats worked out.

In the end, Singhs religious backwards-facing roadmap follows a secular academic approach called the history of religions school that presuppositionally assumesreligions evolve naturally, myths develop into theology, and religious teachings reflect social pressures. Its philosophical framework starts with the assumption that divine revelation did not occur and then reconstructs history to fit it.

Singhs idea that the Christian faith is instrumentally useful but not necessarily true is a category mistake. Christianity is not asocial technology, moral myth, or political identity marker. Instead, it makes a statement about ultimate reality and says its theological claims are not mere sociological phenomena.

Instead of asking what social function Christianity serves, Singh needs to ask: Is it true? The answer to that fundamentally changes the conversation and perspective and reveals the real reason why God is so great.
The Popular 5K Fundraiser Returns This Summer with a Communitywide Invitation to Participate

ORANGE, Calif., March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The popular annual 5K fundraiser CHOC Walk in the Park, presented by Disneyland Resort, returns Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, to raise funds for Rady Children's Health in Orange County, formally CHOC, a leading pediatric health care system in Southern California. Proceeds support pediatric programs, specialty care, education, and research at Rady Children's, helping provide exceptional care to children regardless of a family's ability to pay.

Registration is now open for the 2026 CHOC Walk in the Park!

At sunrise, participants will step onto an approximately 3-mile route through Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park, where memorable moments, familiar sights, and a festive atmosphere create a special morning before the parks open to the public. Beyond the experience itself, CHOC Walk in the Park continues to make a meaningful impact: In 2025, the event brought together more than 6,500 participants on 350 teams and raised more than $3 million to support children's health and well-being.

"CHOC Walk in the Park brings our community together in a truly meaningful way to support children and families," said Kimberly Chavalas Cripe, co-president and CEO of Rady Children's Health. "We're grateful to Disneyland Resort and its cast members, as well as the thousands of participants whose generosity helps us give kids their best chance at happy, healthy futures."

Now in its 34th year, CHOC Walk in the Park has become a cherished community tradition that unites individuals, companies, schools, and more to support pediatric health. Based on past CHOC Walk events, this year's fundraiser is expected to feature 350 to 400 teams, with participants coming from across the United States and as far away as Canada, Mexico, Australia, and Japan.

"It is a privilege to once again host CHOC Walk in the Park and welcome this extraordinary community into the parks for such a meaningful cause," said Cathi Killian, vice president of communications and public affairs for Disneyland Resort. "Over more than 30 years of collaboration with Rady Children's, Disneyland Resort has helped raise $49 million for children and families, and we are proud to continue Walt Disney's enduring legacy of caring for and supporting the community around us."

"The fun and unexpected surprises our friends at Disneyland Resort bring to CHOC Walk help make this event unlike any other," said Jessica Miley, senior vice president and chief development officer of CHOC Foundation, part of Rady Children's Health. "Each CHOC Walk offers something new, and that spirit of discovery is part of what makes the experience so memorable for everyone who takes part."

Event details, registration information, and instructions on joining or starting a team are available at https://www.chocwalk.org/. You can also stay updated about the event through "CHOC Walk" on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. The social media hashtag is #chocwalk.

Media materials can be found at: https://www.dropbox.com/t/O27Dlc0fBW4y9x5x

ABOUT RADY CHILDREN'S HEALTH

Rady Children's Health (RCH) is one of the largest pediatric health care systems in the nation, recognized for excellence and innovation. Created in January 2025 through the merger of the parent companies of Rady Children's Hospital San Diego and Children's Hospital of Orange County, RCH includes three children's hospitals, a growing network of primary and specialty care centers across six counties, and two of the region's Level 1 pediatric trauma centers. RCH is a trusted partner for families seeking exceptional and compassionate care. Building on a combined legacy of more than a century of clinical excellence, RCH is dedicated to advancing children's health through leading-edge research, innovative treatments and compassionate care. For more information, please visit CHOC.org.

ABOUT DISNEYLAND RESORT

Located in Anaheim, Calif., the Disneyland Resort features two spectacular theme parks  Disneyland Park (the original Disney theme park) and Disney California Adventure Park  plus three hotels and the Downtown Disney District dining, entertainment, and shopping complex. The Hotels of the Disneyland Resort are Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, the Disneyland Hotel  both AAA Four Diamond properties  and Pixar Place Hotel. When it opened on July 17, 1955, Disneyland introduced the world to a new concept in family entertainment and continues to use creativity, technology, and innovation to bring storytelling to new heights. Open daily, year-round. For more information, guests can visit Disneyland.com.

SOURCE CHOC Foundation
Home Opinion The Bible does not support abortion

In February, James Talarico, a U.S. Senate candidate from Texas, claimed that the biblical story of the Annunciation from the Gospel of Luke supports his pro-abortion position. On the Joe Rogan podcast, Talarico asserted that because the angel sought Marys consent, a woman has a right to choose her own procreative destiny.

The most obvious flaw with this assertion is that the angel did not ask Marys permission. In fact, the angel of the Lord said, And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. Mary submits to accept Gods will, but the only person with questions in that conversation was Mary. The angel declared what was going to happen. Mary was humbled and accepted it as the calling on her life.

The deeper flaw in this and most other pro-abortion arguments is the assumption that whatever is in the womb is not a human life worth protecting. The inherent value of life in the wombas evident throughout Scripture from Psalms to Jeremiah to Isaiah to Job to Joshua  is something Christians have insisted upon since the earliest days of the Church. To deny that theological reality, as Talarico did, is also to commit a Christological heresy. In the same chapter in Luke, Elizabeth declared that her baby, who was John the Baptist, leapt in her womb when he heard the voice of the mother of her Lord. In other words, both John in the womb and Elizabeth out of the womb sensed that the Lord was present though still in His mothers womb.

Other passages of Scripture that are wrongly used to argue for abortion include Exodus 21. In the middle of several laws covering violent crimes, the text reads, When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined. If there is harm, the passage continues, then there is a harsh penalty.

Pro-abortionists argue in this passage that only harm to the woman matters, and the child is not as valuable. However, the more reasonable interpretation is if, because of a fight, a woman goes into premature labor and the baby lives, then there is no harm. Thus, theres a financial penalty. If the baby dies or is injured  if there is harm  the attacker should face punishment up to death.

Another example is Numbers 5. In a list of rules, Moses provided a test for a husbands claim of his wifes unfaithfulness. The accused woman was to take an oath of innocence and drink a mix of water and dirt from the tabernacle floor. If innocent, nothing would happen. If guilty, then, among other things, she would become infertile.

It is a strange passage, and theologians differ on how best to understand it. Some suggest it is a psycho-somatic test to root out a womans guilty conscience. Others think it is a sneaky way for a defenseless woman to escape her husbands jealousy. Pro-abortionists assert that it is an example of an abortion ordered by Gods law. For that to be the case, however, the punishment would involve the death of a baby. However, the curse reference here is not the ending of a current pregnancy but the prevention of future ones.

These etymological gymnastics attempts aside, the Bible is consistent. Human life is sacred. In the womb, babies are valued, purposed, and yes, human. Throughout the biblical text, including war and sacrifice as in Leviticus, 2 Kings, or Jeremiah, the worst crimes and horrors someone can commit are to murder children. In no way does Gods Word dismiss, much less justify, the slaughter of the innocent.

Contrary to Talaricos claim, the message of Annunciation Day is not that life and death is left to our choice. Rather, it is in Gods hands. Even in the womb of His mother, Jesus Christ was the Messiah, fully God and fully human. Even in the womb of our mothers, we are fully human, in Gods image.

Originally published at BreakPoint.
By Chalabala, Adobe

Four ambulances operated by Jewish medical service charity Hatzola have been damaged or destroyed in an arson attack in London in the early hours of this morning.

At around 1:45am this morning, police were called by the London Fire Brigade to reports of a fire in Golders Green, in the northwest of the city, and found that four ambulances had been burnt by the fire.

Metropolitan Police officers remain on the scene and the arson attack is now being treated as a antisemitic hate crime, the service confirmed in a statement this morning.

Nearby houses were evacuated as a precaution. No injuries have initially been reported and all the fires have since been extinguished.

Hatzola was established in 1979 and is run by volunteers, providing free medical transportation and emergency response to those living in north London.

Regulator offers support

Superintendent Sarah Jackson, who leads policing in the local area, said this morning that the service was initially looking for three suspects, with no arrests made at the time.

We will be engaging with faith leaders and carrying out additional patrols in the local area as we continue our investigation to provide reassurance and a highly visible presence, she said.

In a further update , the Metropolitan Police said the investigation was being led by Counter Terrorism Policing.

Chief executive of the Charity Commission, David Holdsworth, said: The commission stands with the Jewish community and the organisations that work to keep Jewish people in this country safe.

When charities representing different parts of our society are increasingly victims of vilification and violence, it is for all of us to speak out and stand with those being attacked.

We have offered support and assistance to the leaders of Hatzola Northwest Trust, the charity which runs the ambulance service, and will do what we can to support them in continuing the charitys life-saving work.

The Community Security Trust, which monitors antisemitism in the UK and assists victims, said in a statement on social media : The antisemitic arson attack against Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green has obvious comparison to similar recent attacks in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Hatzola later said in a statement on social media that it was deeply saddened and shocked by the senseless attack.

It added: Hatzola NW, along with all Hatzola organisations, provides life-saving services without discrimination, regardless of faith or background. It is extremely distressing and difficult to comprehend that such a vital service could be targeted and attacked in such a way.

We are working closely with the police and relevant support agencies to ensure the safety and security of our premises and resources, so that we can continue to respond swiftly to emergencies.

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